Pinoy flies home after court drops case

Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre

A Filipino who claims to be a businessman has returned to Manila after the prosecution withdrew a case of money laundering filed against him for an allegedly suspicious transaction in his bank account.

Armando Seguis was released on Nov 30 from Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre and was immediately escorted to the Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport for his flight home on the same evening, according to an officer of the Consulate.



Seguis had been held at Lai Chi Kok since his arrest in September after a huge amount of money was allegedly deposited in his local bank account, then withdrawn on the same day.



The prosecutor gave no reason for withdrawing the charge.

He was charged with one count of “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence”, a euphemism for money laundering.



Magistrate Daniel Tang ordered Seguis released after prosecution dropped the case.



However, as soon as he obtained a clearance from the court and the Correctional Services Department on the same day, Seguis was put on a flight back to Manila.

Diwa’t Kabayan marks 19th year with graduation

Graduates and guests pose for a souvenir photo at the end of  the program.

Diwa’t Kabayan Benlife Society Club celebrated its 19th annversary last Dec. 9 at with the theme, “Sabay-sabay na hakbang na mag-impok, magsanay, tungo sa maunlad na kinabukasan.”

The guest speaker, Labor Attache Jsalilo dela Torre, praised the organization headed by Naty Manalo for its contiued efforts to train OFWs in skills that could prepare them for when they have to go home “for good”.



He also reiterated his call to avoid organizing or participating in beauty contests because of the financial burden they have become to the contestants and their families.

“We have seen some OFWs falling into debt because of all the financial requirements of being a contestant,” he said.



The event was held at U-Banquet at Lee Theatre Plaza in Causeway Bay.

For her part, the Consulate’s social work attache Elizabeth Lim Dy invited OFWs to seek assistance and counsellng if they have problems coping with life in Hong Kong.

Lester Paul S. Mata, the Social Security System Representative in Hong Kong, described the various benefits enjoyed by SSS members.



The program, emceed by Claire Apilado of TUCSO Organization and Edna Liboon of the National Professional Teachers’ Organization, was highlighted by the awarding of medals to outstanding trainees in beadscrafting, fashion accessories, ribbon folding, stocking flowers, basic bread baking, meat processing and cake decoration.

The trainees also displayed the products they made using their newfound skills.



In all, more than a hundred tainees received their certificates of completion in the graduation ceremonies.

The graduates were the products of a year-long training program conducted by trainors led by Manalo, in sessions done mostly at their gathering place on a pedestrian bridge in Central.

Manalo thanked the members and supporters for helping produce the latest harvest of trainees who now number in the thousands over the last 19 years.

Many of the former trainees have since etsablished their pown busnesses, Manalo told The SUN.

Taekwondo group goes sailing to celebrate Christmas

United Philippine Taekwondo Organization (Upto) Hong Kong pose for souvenir photo.

Daisy CL Mandap

They look good and fit, and they know it – but don’t flaunt it.

These are the members of the United Philippine Taekwondo Organization (Upto) Hong Kong who went sailing around Saikung on Dec. 2 aboard the pleasure yacht Angus, for a Christmas and 6th anniversary celebration.

Part of the entertainment was a limbo-rock contest, and many of the contestants were limber enough to go under a bar set just about three feet above the ground. A bit higher up, and even a heavily pregnant member managed to clear the hurdle.



This is obviously what engaging in taekwondo does to anyone who regularly engages in the sport, which is what Upto is all about. Regular practitioners are fit and nimble and have bodies to die for, but they see no reason to flaunt them.

The first Filipino Taekwondo group in Hong Kong formed in June 2012 has four 3rd dan Kukkiwon Taekwondo black belters, including three of its founders and members of the Board of Directors: Mercy Permales, Eric Jacinto and Ednalyn Serran.



Two are 2nd dan black belters, including the current president Wilma Colobong, and Christine Gaylan.

Below them are many members who regularly take part in competitions held around Hong Kong, with the next one coming up in January.



Upto members are happy enough attending regular training and competitions, but also take time off to have fun, like holding a hula contest in Repulse Bay, or going on charity walks.

As a public service, they also provide free training on Sundays to Filipinos interested to join them at four places across Hong Kong: Sheung Wan, Western, Tung Chung and Shatin.



The other officers, apart from Colobong are: Marilyn Anorico, vice president; Melinda Monsalud, internal secretary; Rizalyn Magon, external secretary; Soledad Flores, treasurer; Lerma Mansilungan, auditor; Josephine Rebenque, PRO; Letecia Cayudong and Virginia Isla, business managers; and Joyce Ramirez, coordinator.

The instructors are Permales, Jacinto, Serran, Colobong, Gaylan, Rebenque, Ruth delos Santos, Rey Aldea and Margie Nava. Their technical adviser is Master Tze Hong Lai.

Below is the schedule of their free Sunday training sessions:
Sheung Wan Sports Centre 10:00am -12:00 noon
Sun Yat Sen Sports Centre (Western)  1:00pm 2:00pm
Tung Chung Sports Centre 1:00pm-3:00pm
Shatin Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre Shatin 10:00am 12:00noon

Bumalik sa Pilipinas at magnegosyo, ang payo ng mag-asawang ex-Hong Kong

Ang pamilya Serrano noong bumisita sa Hong Kong.

Ni George Manalansan

Parang kailan lang nang maging magkasintahan sina Vic at Mel Serrano ng Pampanga. Nabuo ang kanilang pag-ibig sa Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) sa Maynila kung saan sila parehong nag-aral sa kolehiyo, bumuo ng pangarap hanggang maunang mangibang bansa si Vic.

Nagtrabaho si Vic bilang inhenyero sa loob ng 15 taon sa iba-ibang bansa: Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Hong Kong at Bahrain, samantalang si Mel ay nag domestic helper sa Hong Kong ng limang taon.

Dati na silang magkakilala at ang kani-kanilang pamilya dahil pareho silang galing sa pamilyang magsasaka.

Nagdesisyon silang magpakasal noong 1993, pero nagpatuloy si Vic sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.

Noong 1995 ay lumipat siya sa Hong Kong at sumali sa pinakamalaking proyekto dito noon, ang Chek Lap Kok airport, na nakumpleto ilang buwan bago ilipat ng Britanya sa China ang pamamahala sa Hong Kong.

Pagkatapos  nito ay sa Bahrain naman siya nagtrabaho, bago tuluyang nagdesisyon nang umuwi sa Pilipinas noong 2006. Nagtrabaho muna si Vic sa isang pinsan na tumulong para makapagtayo siya ng sariling negosyo.

Tantiya ni Vic, hindi sila sinuwerte ni Mel sa pagiging OFW kaya minabuti nilang gamitin ang kaunting ipon mula sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa para magtayo ng maliit na negosyo.

Hindi naman siya nagkamali ng pagpili ng landas na tatahakin dahil ngayon ay malago na ang itinayo nilang negosyo, ang GWP Electrical, Trading and Construction Company, na may opisina sa Paranaque at Pampanga. May mahigit na 100 trabahador sila at may mga proyekto hindi lang sa Karatig-Maynila kundi pati sa iba-ibang probinsiya.

Ang pangalan ng kanilang kumpanya ay tanda ng kanilang matibay na pananalig sa Diyos, dahil ang ibig sabihin ng GWP ay “God Will Provide.”



Sa mga panahong ito ay mayroon na silang dalawang anak: sina Jhon Ewen na 22 taong gulang na ngayon at isa na ring inhenyero katulad ng kanyang ama; at si Jenz Eries, 20 taon, nagtapos ng medical technology sa University of Sto. Tomas at planong kumuha ng medisina sa darating na pasukan.

Marangya man ang kanilang buhay ngayon, hindi pa rin nakakalimutan ng mag-asawa na balikan ang mga panahon na  nagsusumikap silang magtrabaho para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan, kasama ang kanilang dalawang anak.



Kamakailan ay dinala nila ang kanilang mga anak sa Hong Kong para ipakita kung paano sila namuhay dito noon, lalo na si Mel.

Ayon kay Vic, ipinakita niya sa mga anak ang mga Pilipinang nagsisiksikan sa gitna ng lamig sa mga nakalatag na karton sa Central, at ipinaliwanag sa kanila na ganoon ang sitwasyon ng nanay nila dati.



Gusto daw nilang makita ng mga anak ang hirap na dinaranas ng mga migranteng Pilipino, para lang maitaguyod ang kanilang mga pamilya sa Pilipinas.

Inilibot nila ang mga anak sa taong ito hindi lamang sa Hong Kong, kundi pati sa New Zealand, Korea at Singapore, bilang gantimpala na rin sa kanilang sarili para sa matagal na panahong nagpakahirap silang magtrabaho para makatikim ng kaunting kasaganaan.



Sa Hong Kong, binalikan ng mag-asawa ang kanilang mga masasayang alaala, at nakipagkita sa ilang dating kaibigan na patuloy pa ring nakikibaka para sa kanilang kinabukasan.

Hinihikayat ni Vic ang mga migrante na huwag patagalin ang panahon na malayo sila sa kanilang pamilya. Mag-ipon para makauwi agad, at pag-aralan kung paano makakapag-umpisa ng kanilang sariling negosyo sa Pilipinas. Handa daw siyang maging gabay nila kung kakailanganin.

Ibinigay niyang halimbawa ang isang pamangkin na dating sumasahod ng katumbas ng Php200,000 sa Saudi bilang inhenyero, pero pinili pa ring bumalik na sa Pilipinas para magnegosyo.

Payo ni Vic, gayahin ang ganitong diskarte dahil may pag-asa ding kumita din ng malaki sa negosyo. Huwag daw patatali sa pagiging suwelduhan lang.

Laking pasasalamat daw niya na nagdesisyon siyang umuwi na at hanapin ang kapalaran sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang niya nabantayan ang paglaki ng kanyang mga anak, naranasan din niyang kumita ng ayon sa kanyang pinaghirapan.