‘Katutubo 2018’: First Philippine native design fest in HK

Connie Atijon, a multi-awarded weaver who has been invited to various exhibition events in the Philippines and in Canada and Australia, turns out hablon from her traditional loom.

By Daisy CL Mandap

The first thing that struck guests at the first-ever Philippine fashion show to be held in Hong Kong on Nov. 10 was the presence of a woman quietly weaving Iloilo’s famous hablon cloth in one corner of the Sheraton Hotel in Kowloon, where the event was  held.

Even more striking was her use of a heavy-looking handloom weaver made entirely of wood, a sight that looked totally anachronistic in a modern city like Hong Kong.

The events catalogue for “2018 Katutubo Haute Couture” named her as Connie Atijon, a multi-awarded weaver who has been invited to various exhibition events in the Philippines and in Canada and Australia. Her presence at “Katutubo” highlighted what organizers Likhang Pamana wanted to achieve, which was to focus on the weaver as she sets off the magic that ultimately leads to the creation of beautiful native Filipino outfits.



At the opening cocktails for the event, Consul General Antonio A. Morales paid tribute to the four women who set up Likhang Pamana, and conceived the Katutubo runway show and exhibition as their first project in Hong Kong. He said they helped raise the awareness of Philippine culture among the local people.

“It is ironic that despite the fact that there are many Filipinos in Hong Kong, the knowledge of Hong Kong people about the Philippines is still lacking. And we need more of these activities to make them more aware of the richness of Philippine culture, so thank you Likhang Pamana for making Hong Kong people more aware of Philippine culture.”



But Morales said the benefit from the landmark project also extends to Filipinos in Hng Kong.

“We hope that through this event we get a better appreciation of our Filipino identity, recognizing the country’s multi-cultural heritage, and harnessing the power of our culture as a means, not to focus on differences of which we have many…but to bring out commonalities and humanity to the fore.”



Ana Briones-de Guzman, operations director of Likhang Pamana, responded by saying that their group was formed out of a desire to give back to the Philippines by promoting its rich cultural heritage as reflected in its local products.

The three other women who make up Likhang Pamana are Myrna Pama Hill, who serves as PR director; Catherine Tating-Marsden, artistic director; and Jhoannaliza Timbreza-Siao, creative director.

Aside from Atijon the weaver, the other artists and groups that took part  in the group’s initial foray into Philippine arts promotion were Joanique Studio, Kandama Social Enterprise, Narda’s, Zarah Juan, Antique Provincial Tourism, Jaki Penaloza, Joy Anya Hill of Anthill, Regine Sarabia Espinosa, Galleria Camaya and Everyday PNay.  The two-day event culminated in an arts fair on Chater Road the next day, Nov 12.

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BSK HK holds livelihood festival to mark 24th year

One of the booths features the handcrafted output of members.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Rare are the Filipino community organizations in Hong Kong which can lay claim to having survived for more than two decades without losing focus on their objectives, and with most key officers remaining on board.

BSK HK leader Chuing Baltazar bades goodbye.

But rarer are those that can lay claim to having helped their fellow Filipinos in a big but quiet way, without asking for anything in return.

To this latter category belongs Balikatan sa Kaunlaran (BSK) Hong Kong Council, which celebrated its 24th year anniversary with a show on Chater Road on Nov. 11, and on the side, held the first ever OFW Livelihood Festival.



Spearheaded by one of its founders, Ching Baltzar, BSK has over the years, resolutely stuck to its goal of providing free livelihood training to overseas Filipino workers, despite not having any budget, nor space for its programs.

With only a narrow pedestrian overpass in Admiralty as its base, BSK has provided crafts training such as ribbon folding, macramé weaving, balloon design and beadwork to hundreds, if not thousands, of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong.



Many of these graduates have moved back to the Philippines to start their own businesses, or formed their own groups in Hong Kong through which they have started their own skills training for fellow migrant workers.

This year, Baltazar decided to celebrate its anniversary in a big way, with Consul General Tony Morales and Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre leading its list of guests. Senator JV Ejercito, whose mother Guia Gomez, founded BSK in Manila, also flew in to join the celebration, as well as Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles.



All the guests extolled Baltazar and BSK for focusing on the mission of getting Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong prepare for their eventual return home by providing them with skills that they could use in starting their own businesses.

ConGen Morales urged migrant workers to spend a few hours of their precious day-off in the week to learn a new skill which could help provide them with a source of livelihood when they return home.



“Hindi naman masamang tumambay dahil isang lingo naman tayong nagtatrabaho, pero kung sa buong araw na iyan, maaari naman nating bigyan ng ilang oras…ang makakuha tayo ng bagong kaalaman sa ikabubuti din ng ating kinabukasan,” he said.

Labatt dela Torre also asked migrants to look after their health, and take advantage of the free medical check-ups that is being offered to them by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office through its HealthWise program.

After a Catholic mass that kicked off the celebration, the event was officially opened with a ribbon cutting by Baltazar and the VIP guests.

In between the speeches, various groups provided dance numbers, before about 100 graduates of BSK’s livelihood programs were called to the stage to accept their certificates of completion from Congen Morales, Labatt dela Torre and Rep. Nograles.

To wrap up the celebration, BSK awarded prizes to the winners in its livelihood contests.

Here is the complete set of winners:
Group Entries:
Ribbon Folding: Kailangan ang Kabuhayan para sa ating Kinabukasan (KKK)
Beads & Accessories: Overseas Kapuso Livelihood Association (Kapuso)
Macrame: United Migrants Entrepreneurship & Livelihood Association (Umela)
Stocking Flower Making: Filipino Workers Livelihood Association (Fiwla)

Individual Entries:
Cross Stitch: Delia A. Palma
Fruit & Vegetable Carving: Elpie Leba
Upcycling: Meriam C. Asiong
Painting: Noemi Manguerra


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Umela holds 6th graduation

United Migrants Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Association (Umela) Hong Kong officers, members and guests celebrate the graduation of the latest batch of trainees.

By Daisy CL Mandap

About 100 Filipino migrant workers in scrub suits and outfits they made themselves proudly marched in front of an assembled crowd at Bayanihan Centre on Nov. 4 to claim their certificates for completing massage therapy or livelihood training courses.

These were the latest graduates of the year-round training offered for free by United Migrants Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Association (Umela) Hong Kong, under the leadership of its founder, Ofelia Baquiran.

Topping the list of graduates was Donabelle D Uanang, who was named “Best Student” of batch 34 of the massage therapy class.



She received her medal from Consul Paul Saret, who lauded Umela for focusing  on helping Filipino migrants learn new skills in preparation for their eventual return home.

Saret also shared how the Consulate has been tackling head-on the debt problem of many overseas Filipino workers, by asking the Hong Kong government if it was possible to lower the legal interest rates for loans, which is 60%.



In turn, Hong Kong, through Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, reportedly asked the Consulate to step up its education drive so Filipinos will avoid signing up for loans they don’t really need, or cannot repay.



Another guest, welfare officer Marivic Clarin, told the graduates that their skills training is one of those that could merit livelihood assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Office in Hong Kong.



She advised them to approach the office if they want to know more about the kind of help they could get should they decide to go home for good.

Aside from massage therapy, Umela also provides training in dressmaking, macramé bag making, ribbon folding, bead works, and other crafts.

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HK govt asked to explain early release of Erwiana’s employer

At the press conference denouncing Law's early release. Tutik is 3rd from left

By Vir B. Lumicao

Indonesian former domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih has called on the Hong Kong government to protect migrant workers from abuse, as she expressed sadness at the early release from jail of her former employer and torturer Law Wan-tung.

Erwiana with her parents at her graduation .

Law was sentenced to six years in jail in February 2015 for the abuse she inflicted on Erwiana and another Indonesian helper, Tutik Lestari, but was reportedly allowed early release a few months ago by the Correctional Services Department.

Erwiana expressed her dismay in a voice message played at a media briefing held by the Justice for Erwiana and All Migrant Domestic Workers Committee at KUC Space at 2 Jordan Road on Nov. 22.

“I feel very sad and disappointed when I learned that my former employer Law Wan-tung was released from jail earlier than the actual imprisonment that she had to serve,” Erwiana said in her message which was beamed live from Indonesia.

“The six-year sentence is not even adequate for the terrible crimes that she committed against me and her other victims,” she said.

Tutik, who was present at the conference, said she is now afraid for her safety because of Law’s previous threats to kill her and her family.

Supporters of the migrant workers’ cause called the early release a great injustice. One, Mission for Migrant Workers general manager Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, said they would take legal advice on what action should be taken in response to Law’s early release.

Tellez expressed anger at the decision to set Law free early, since she has refused to admit her guilt and show remorse.

She also asked how prison authorities could override a sentence imposed by a court.

“How can one say that the decision of a higher body which is the court is undermined by an implementing body like a correctional institution? The people need to know.”

Law’s release just three years into her six-year sentence was revealed in District Court on Nov 21 by Justice Department lawyer Yvonne Cheung, who is chasing Law for $200,000 in court costs for one of her failed legal actions.

Cheung told local media that Law “was released a few months ago,” adding that the department found out only when a call was made to the Lo Wu Correctional Institution, where the convict was serving her sentence.

In December last year, Law was ordered to pay $809,000 in compensation to Erwiana for her suffering.

“It is my hope that Law Wan-tung can admit to her wrongdoing, apologize to her victims, and resolve never do the same thing to anyone ever again,” Erwiana said.

She also urged the Hong Kong government to immediately reform the unfavorable regulations for foreign domestic workers and ensure that there will be no more victims of domestic violence and slavery in the city.

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