DHs given access to HK gov’t help

Do you have problems with your employer or the emploment agecy that placed you there? Call 2157 9537. That’s the hotline set up last Dec. 19 by the Labour Department (LD) to provide support for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs).

The Labour Department website for FDHs.

In addition, FDHs can also ask about their employment matters in Hong Kong and file complaints when their employment rights are infringed through the dedicated FDH email account (fdh@labour.gov.hk) and the online form on the FDH Portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk) of the LD.



To report a crime or during an emergency when one’s personal safety is at risk, the FDH should immediately call 999 for help.



The 2157 9537 hotline provides one-stop support services to FDHs, including:
(1) providing advice to FDHs on their employment rights and obligations under the Standard ?Employment Contract and relevant labour laws;
(2) referring any enquiries, requests for services or assistance and complaints on relevant labor matters, such as employment claims or complaints against employment agencies, to the relevant divisions of the LD for follow-up and/or investigation; and
(3) advising FDHs on the appropriate law enforcement agencies to which they can file enquiries, requests for services or assistance and complaints involving suspected exploitation or physical abuse.



The hotline is manned by operators of the 1823 hotline service who are conversant in Cantonese, English and Putonghua and which operates 24 hours a day.



An interpretation service in seven languages (namely Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Nepali, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu) is available from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday (excluding public holidays).

Families of 2 OFWs killed in accidents awarded $800k in labor compensation

By Daisy CL Mandap

Family members of two Filipina domestic workers who were killed in separate accidents in Hong Kong have been awarded a total of more than $800,000 in employee compensation.

The amount, which is given to workers killed in the course of work, does not include other claims they might be entitled to from other sources, like for personal injury, unpaid salary, long service, and others.

The husband and minor son of Geraldine Betasolo, 37, who died a few days after being hit by a van in Taipo in November last year, got the bigger compensation award of $437,220. The amount was split between her husband Ricardo and 17-year-old son Kyle Joseph.

Geraldine Betasolo and the busy corner where she was hit by a van.

Geraldine’s parents who, under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, are entitled to a minimal share of 5% of the compensation award, chose to give up their claim.

The second case involves the legal heirs of Rinalyn Duollog, 35, who was killed after she fell while cleaning the windows of her employer’s high-rise flat in Tseung Kwan O on Aug 9, 2016.

Her death prompted Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre to include a prohibition against dangerous window cleaning by Filipino domestic workers, which was subsequently affirmed by the Hong Kong Labour Department, and included in the standard employment contracts of all foreign domestic workers.

As Rinalyn was unmarried, her young son Tristan Jay was given the bulk – or 80% of the compensation – totaling $375,950.



The remaining 20% of the compensation was split three-ways among her parents and a
grandfather, in accordance with the EC Ordinance.

Also in line with the ordinance, the share of the minor children of both Geraldine and Rinalyn are to be locked in a trust fund until they reach the age of majority.

According to Labatt dela Torre, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was already in the process of setting up a trust fund for Tristan Jay Duollog at the Land Bank, to satisfy the requirement imposed by the insurance company that will pay the compensation.



The same arrangement is being made for the remaining tranche of payment to Kyle Betasolo
amounting to $120,000 (or more than Php800,00) which was paid to the family’s appointed representative in Hong Kong.

According to the Ordinance, an employer is liable to pay compensation to a worker “who sustains an injury or dies as a result of an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.” The compensation is normally paid through employee insurance which all employers are obliged to take.



The compensation has to be paid even if the worker might have committed an act of negligence (such as crossing a road at non-designated crosswalks) when the accident occurred.

The minimum compensation to be awarded for work-related deaths that occurred after April 2017 has been set at $408,960. But the total payout could be more, depending on the salary and age of the worker, as in Geraldine’s case.

Earlier, Ricardo and Kyle were also granted compensation amounting to $170,950 under the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) scheme of the Social Welfare Department. But the amount had to be refunded after the labor claim had been paid out, in accordance with TAVA rules.



As Geraldine had been working for her employer for six years, her family also received a total of more than $17,000 from her employer to cover long service pay, unpaid salary and other benefits.

Her employer, Cheng Rojas Kalay, also paid for the repatriation and funeral expenses for Geraldine, in accordance with EC rules.

On top of this, the grief-stricken employer paid extra for the return air ticket of Ricardo and Kyle when they came to Hong Kong to claim Geraldine’s body, and for their accommodation.

Father and son also received Php220,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as compensation for an OFW’s death due to accident, and burial assistance. The same amount was paid to the heirs of Rinalyn.

But as a third party was involved in Geraldine’s accident, the Betasolos could still pursue a personal injury claim against the insurers of the van that hit her. To pursue this, however, the Betasolos would have to get help from the Legal Aid Department and its appointed solicitors.

The personal injury claim could be pursued within three years after the accident, even if the van driver was let off lightly by the court, which imposed a mere $700 fine on him on a charge of “using defective vehicle not fitted”.

For more information about employee compensation, click on this link: https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/ecd/pco360.pdf

Film on gays wins big in MMFF

“Rainbow Sunset,” a film about a gay elderly couple, was the big winner at the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal held on Dec 27.
The film directed by Joel Lamangan won a total of 11 awards, including best director and best picture.

Below is the complete list of the winners:
Best Picture: ”Rainbow Sunset”
Best Actor: Dennis Trillo, “One Great Love”
Best Actress: Gloria Romero, “Rainbow’s Sunset” 
Best Director: Joel Lamangan, “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Second Best Picture: “Aurora”
Third Best Picture: “One Great Love” 
Special Jury Prize: Eddie Garcia, “Rainbow's Sunset”
Special Jury Prize: Max Collins, “Rainbow's Sunset”
Best Supporting Actor: Tony Mabesa, “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Supporting Actress: Aiko Melendez,” Rainbow’s Sunset”
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award: “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Child Performer: Phoebe Villamor, “Aurora”
Best Production Design: ”Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Visual Effects: ”Aurora”
Best Sound Design: ”Aurora”
Best Musical Score: ”One Great Love”
Best Original Theme Song: ”Sa’yo Na” from “Rainbow’s Sunset”
Best Editing: ”Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles”
Best Cinematography: “Aurora”
Best Screenplay: “Rainbow’s Sunset”
FPJ Memorial Award: ”Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles”
Best Short Student Film: ”Kasilyas” - Bulacan State University
Best Float: ”Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles”
Stars of the Night : Jericho Rosales (“The Girl in the Orange Dress”), Anne Curtis (“Aurora”)

Fantastica at Jackempopoy, nangunguna sa takilya sa mmff

Mulingdumagsa ang mga manonood nitong Pasko sa pagbubukas ng Metro Manila Film Festival.

Agad na humataw sa takilya ang mga pelikulang JackEmPopoy napinagbibidahan nina Vic Sotto, Coco Martin at Maine Mendoza; at Fantastica nina Vice Ganda, Richard Gutierrez, Dingdong Dantes at marami pang iba. Maaga pa lang ay wala nang mabiling tiket sa mga sinehan dahil naubos agad sa mga nag-advance booking.

Nag-ikot din sa mga sinehanan ang mga bida sa mga pelikulang kalahok sa MMFF, at balitang magkakasamang nanood din ng kanilang pelikula ang mgabida ng Fantastica. Kasama ring nanood sina Marian Rivera, bilang suporta kay Dingdong, at Sarah Lahbati, para kay Richard.

Mga poster ng pelikulang kalahok sa MMFF.

Malakas din sa takilya ang pelikulang “Aurora” ni Anne Curtis, at inaasahang marami ring manonood saiba pang kalahok, ang “One Great Love’”, “Mary, Marry Me”, “Otlum”, “Rainbow’s Sunset” at “The Girl in the Orange Dress”.

Ang magkapatid na sina Toni at Alex Gonzaga, na bida sa “Mary, Marry Me” ay sinorpresa ang mga nanood nangbatiin nila ang mga ito at pasalamatan. Si Luis Manzano naman ay nagbigay-suportasa girlfriend na si Jessy Mendiola nang magpa-block screening ito para mapanood ng mgakaibigan at kamag-ana kni Jessy ng pelikula nitong”The Girl in the Orange Dress”

Ang mga mananalo sa awards night ang magbibigyan ng tsansa nalumakas pa ang kita sa takilya.

MISS UNIVERSE CATRIONA GRAY MAGANDA ANG REGALO SA MGA PINOY
Ang pagkapanalo bilang Miss Universe ang pinakamagandang regalo para sa Pasko na inihandog ni Catriona Gray sa mga Pilipino. Ipinagbunyi ng buong bansa ang kanyangpagkapanalo, at marami siyang pinahanga sa kanyang naging performance, lalo na sa kanyang mga matalinong sagot sa question ang answer portion. Maging ang kanyang pagrampa suot ang swim wear at gowns ay umani ng papuri lalo na dahil sa ginawa niyang “lava walk”.



Pinasalamatanni Catriona ang kanyang mga magulang na nanood sa venue ng Miss Universe sa Impact Arena sa Bangkok, Thailand, kasama angmarami ring Pinoy na dumayo rin doon upangsuportahan ang kandidata ng Pilipinas. Pagkatapos ng pageant ay umuwi muna sa Pilipinas si Catriona upang makita siyang muli ng mga kapwa Pinoy at mag courtesy call kay Presidente Duterte bago siya tumulak papuntang Amerika. Nakatakda siyang manirahan doon ng isang taon habang ginagampanan ang kanyang mga tungkulin bilang Miss Universe.

Si Catriona ang pang-apat na Pinay na nanalosa Miss Universe. Ang iba pa ay sina Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973) at Pia Wurtzbach (2015).



Samantala, nangungulila ang boyfriend ni Catriona na si Clint Bondad, isang commercial model ng Filipino German. Dahil sa dami ng mga commitments ng dalaga bilang Miss Universe, wala na raw silang oras magkita o magkausap. Naiintindihan daw naman niya ito dahil alam niyang matagal nang pinaghandaan ito ni Ctariona. Hihintayin nalang niyang lumuwag-luwag ang schedule nito para makadalaw siya.



CAMILLE, BUNTIS ULIT
Noong Pasko ay masayang ibinalita ni Camille Prats, asawangsi VJ Yambao at mga anak nila na madadagdagan na sila dahil buntis ulit ang aktres. si Camille. Nine weeks na raw ang kanyang ipinagbubuntis.

Ito ang pangatlong anak ni Camille. Ang kanyang panganay nasi Nathan ay anak niya sa unang asawa niyang si Anthony Linsangan, na namatay sa sakit na cancer noong 2011. Ang pangalawa ay ang anak nila ni VJ, na si Nala, na mahigit isang taon pa lang. Mayroon din siyang stepson, si Isaiah, na anak ni VJ sa dating karelasyon.



IZA, LOTLOT, IKINASAL NA
Magkasunod na ikinasal sina Iza Calzado at Lotlot de Leon.

Si Lotlot ay ikinasal sa kanyang long-time partner na isang Lebanese businessman, si Fadi El Soury noong December 17. Dumalo ang apat na anak niya sa dating asawa na si Ramon Christopher Gutierrez na sina Janine, Diego, Maxine at Jessica Gutierrez.

Naroon din ang adoptive father niyang si Christopher de Leon, asawa nitongsi Sandy Andolong at kanilang mga anak. Pero hindi dumating ang adoptive mother niyang si Nora Aunor, na balitang hindi in good terms sa mga anak niya.

Samantala, si Iza ay ikinasal noong December 19 sa Palawan sa kanyang matagal nang boyfriend na si Ben Wintle.

Dahil pareho nang namatay ang mga magulang ni Iza, itinali niya sa kanyang bouquet ang locket na may mga larawan ng kanyang mga magulang na sina LitoCalzado at Mary Ann Ussher.

Kabilang sa kanyang mga bisita ay ang kanyang mga matalik na kaibigan at naging kasamahan niya sa orihinal na Encantadia na sina Sunshine Dizon at Karylle.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94/06
Mahihirapan ka sa pera sa taong ito dahil hindi maganda ang kita sa negosyo. Pero huwag pabayaan ang kalusugan ng dahil sa sobrang pagta-trabaho, sa halip humanap ng mas magandang kita gamit ang meditasyon at pag-iisip. Ugaliin ang pagbabasa upang madagdagan ang kaalaman at magiging maganda resulta nito para sa iyo sa taong ito. Lucky numbers: 7, 12, 31 at 46.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95/07
Halos wala kang magiging problema sa taong ito. Mas tataas ang karisma mo sa opposite sex, at makakaranas ng masasayang sandali sa pag-ibig. Higit sa lahat, marami ang hahanga sa iyong talino at magandang pananaw. Malapit ka sa tukso, piliting maging tapat at huwag gumawa ng kataksilan na maaring magdulot ng kahihiyan o makasira sa iyong katahimikan ng loob. Lucky numbers: 19, 26, 30 at 40.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96/08
Asahan ang pagkakaroon ng problema sa pagsasama o pamilya, gaya ng karamihan, sa taong ito. Sa halip na harapin ang problema ng buong tapang, mas pinipili mong magmukmok. Walang mangyayari kung hindi mo tatanggapin ang problema, kahit wala pang solusyon ito sa ngayon. Ang mahalaga ay maging matapang ka upang mabago ang pananaw at mabawasan ang sakit ng ulo. Lucky numbers: 7, 12, 15, 23.                                                                                                                                                                 

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97/09
Magiging maganda ang pasok ng taong ito. Magpapatuloy ang tagumpay na tinatamasa lalo na sa larangan na kailangang maging malikhain. Sa kabila ng panalo, nakakaramdam ka pa rin ng lungkot minsan. Kailangang abalahin ang sarili sa patuloy na pag-aaral upang hindi ka mabagot sa gawain. Lucky numbers: 16, 22, 31 at 44.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98/10
Makakaranas ng panloloko sa taong ito. Mag-ingat sa mga nakakasalamuha at iwasang maniwala at magtiwala agad sa mga sinasabi sa iyo. Bigyan ng oras ang sarili, magpaganda at maki-halubilo at baka makilala mo na ang taong magpapatibok ng puso mo. Magpakita ng kabababaan ng loob. Lucky numbers: 20, 25, 33 at 47.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87/99
Kakasihan ka ng swerte sa taong ito, at magtatagumpay sa maraming bagay na papasukan. Pagdating sa pag-ibig, isa ka sa magiging pinakamapalad, pero mas magiging masaya ka kung ang mahanap na pag-ibig ay matibay at pangmatagalan at hindi panandalian lang. Isa pang magbibigay sa iyo ng kasiyahan at magpapayaman sa kaisipan ay ang pagkakaroon ng  dagdag karunungan.  Lucky numbers: 11, 27, 38 at 45.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88/00
Lagi kang handa ka sa mga mangyayari, pero sa panahong ito ay mababagot ka at magiging pabaya kaya makakagawa ka ng mga pagkakamali. Upang hindi masayang ang oras, sumali sa mga cultural clubs o makilahok sa mga seminar o diyalogo. Magiging interesado ka rin sa pamumuhay ng mga tao sa ibang bansa, sibilisasyon at maraming bagay na ngayon mo lang natutuklasan. Lucky numbers: 4, 18, 36 at 40.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89/01
Ang pananaw mo sa buhay ay ito ay isang komedya, sa halip na trahedya kaya nababawasan ang negatibong pananaw at kabiguan. Mag-i-enjoy ka sa paggawa ng mga bagay, pero laging mag-ingat. Interesado kang mag-aral ng pilosopiya, at kung ipagpapatuloy mo ito ay magiging kapaki-pakinabang sa iyo. Lucky numbers: 12, 29, 34 at 42.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90/02
Mahihirapan kang labanan ang tukso na magkaroon ng bawal na pag-ibig, at hindi rin madali para sa  malalapit sa iyo na pigilan ka dahil alam nilang magiging kumplikado ang buhay mo. Pag-aralan at timbanging mabuti ang lahat bago ka makipagkasundo. Ang love affairs mo sa taong ito ay panandalian lang at hindi lalalim pa tulad ng inaasahan. Lucky numbers: 6, 17, 27 at 44.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03
Walang gaanong kaganapan ang taong ito para sa iyo. Pero magiging masaya at mae-enjoy mo ang buhay kung maglalaan ka ng oras sa pagtulong sa kapwa, lalo na sa mga kababaihang nangangailangan ng tulong na makapamuhay ng maayos, mga biktima ng karahasan o nakakaranas ng pag-aapi. Malaking hamon ang makatulong na maibalik ang dignidad ng kababaihan. Lucky numbers: 12, 13, 21 at 28.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04
Magiging maayos ang kalagayan mo sa taong ito. Ang bagong taon ay maghahatid ng bagong sigla sa pisikal na kalusugan at maging sa pag-iisip. Mas magiging pasensyosa ka at mapagtimpi sa mga nakikitang pagkakamali ng mga taong malalapit sa iyo, kaya mapapanatili mo ang iyong kapayapaan ng loob. Makakatulong ang meditasyon at pagbabasa upang mapanatili ang katahimikan ng loob. Lucky numbers: 4, 14, 16 at 39.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05
Dahil sa tradisyunal na paniniwala sa kasagraduhan ng kasal, hindi ka komportable sa mga nakikitang kababawan at kawalan ng importansya sa relasyon na magiging laganap sa taong ito. Magpakita ng pasensya at sense of humor pagdating sa ganitong sitwasyon sa halip na magalit o mainis upang hindi maapektuhan ang kapayapaan ng loob at maiwasan na tumaas ang presyon ng dugo. Lucky numbers: 16, 28, 31 at 43.

OFW moms most unsettled by rape, assaults on children they left behind

Social welfare attaché Elizabeth Lim-Dy.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Cases of rape and acts of lasciviousness by their own family members were the main worries of Filipina migrant workers in Hong Kong in the past year, according to social welfare attaché Elizabeth Lim-Dy.
She said these concerns highlight the social cost of exporting labor.
But she said most of problems that workers had brought to her attention for help involved child support from errant husbands or partners.
In four rape cases reported to her since she returned to her post in April, Dy described the helplessness of the victims and their OFW mothers in the face of predatory acts of people in whom they have entrusted the care of their children.



The most recent rape case surfaced only in October when the victim’s mother, who was just two months in her employment, went to see Dy to discuss her daughter’s problem after attending a post-arrival orientation seminar at the Consulate.“Pagpasok pa lang dito ay iyak na siya nang iyak,” Dy said. The mother told the social welfare attaché that she had talked to her 17-year-old daughter the night before and learned that her partner had been raping the teenage girl.
The victim reportedly revealed that the sexual assaults began when she was 14, and that soon after the mother left for Hong Kong, the stepfather had been raping her three times a day.




The girl could not tell her mother early on allegedly because the stepfather had been threatening to kill her and her mother if she did so. The distraught mother said her daughter was contemplating suicide as a result.Dy, breaking into tears as she recounted the case, said the first thing she did was to advise the worker to ask her brother to take her daughter away from the house she shared with the stepfather. Then she asked DSWD personnel to report the case to the authorities.
Police, however, were slow to act against the suspect allegedly because the assaults took place well beyond the 72-hour inquest period after the commission of the crime, Dy said. But the legal action is continuing, she said.



In the meantime, Dy said she had to give counseling to both mother and daughter to make sure they remain strong while legal action is under way.She said part of the intervention is to help the mother get permission from her employer to go back home for a while so she could personally attend to the case and comfort her daughter.
“We always see to it na, bilang nanay, mahalaga kasi yung presence niya when the child is really in that situation na, you know, that’s the very case na hindi basta puwedeng akuin ng ibang tao kundi ng sarili niyang magulang,” Dy said.


Dy said she connects the mothers to the government, represented by the Consulate here, if there is a need for legal matters such as affidavits of support and notarization, and with the country partners such as family courts.
NGOs such as the PathFinders, Sons & Daughters, and International Social Service Hong Kong also give a helping hand, she said. Of the three other rape cases, one was committed allegedly by the victim’s father; another by an uncle, and the fourth, by a neighbor. One of the attackers is now in jail while legal proceedings are under way against the perpetrators in the two other cases.
Dy said there have been several cases of acts of lasciviousness committed by relatives on children of OFWs, but the children have been rescued and the culprits are now facing legal action.
As for cases involving child support and custody, Dy said she calls the couples involved to a counseling session at the Consulate where she emphasizes to the fathers their duties under the law.
When they settle the support issue, Dy calls Consul Paulo Saret, who is a lawyer, to a case conference where both parties sign an affidavit stating what they are obliged to do.
“We have to really make them understand na puwede pa rin nilang ihabol ang karapatan, especially yung nanay o yung bata, sa Pilipinas,” Dy said.
“May sarili kayong buhay, may sarili din kayong disposisyon, pero as far as yung parenting roles ninyo, nandito ang gobyerno, hahabulin kayo.”
Dy was reposted in Hong Kong last April by DSWD Secretary Emmanuel Leyco, nine months after she was recalled by his predecessor, Judith Taguiwalo, in a review of staff assignments at the home office.