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Isang Lunes ng hapon, day off ni Carmen, at katulad ng nakasanayan ay nag-ikot ikot muna siya sa isang mall bago umuwi. Tumitingin siya ng mga relo sa isang tindahan nang may tumabi sa kanya na mag asawang Intsik.

Itinuro ng babaeng Intsik ang isang hilera ng mga relo at tinanong si Carmen kung alin ang maganda. Tapos, bigla siyang kinuwentuhan ng babae, at sinabing kamukha ni Carmen ang anak nila na nasa UK.



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Binili ng mag-asawa ang tinuro niyang relo, at ganoon na lang ang gulat ni Carmen dahil ibinigay sa kanya.

Kinabahan si Carmen at sinubukang tanggihan ang relo na nagkakahalaga ng $950 (ang original price niya ay $1,990) ngunit pinilit ibinigay ng mag asawa. Sabi lang nila, “It’s a simple gift,” tapos umalis na sila.


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Hindi makapaniwala si Carmen sa nangyari, at umuwing hindi maintindihan ang pangyayari. Masaya na may kaba.

Ngayon ay lubos na iniingatan ni Carmen ang natanggap na regalo at pinapalangin niya na sana ay marami pang biyaya ang dumating sa mabait na mag-asawang Instik.  Taliwas ito sa ugali ng amo niyang Intsik na pinagtitiisan lang niyang pakisamahan dahil ayaw niyang mawalan ng trabaho.

Si Carmen ay 37 taong gulang, solong magulang ng isang anak at tubong Tarlac. Kasalukuyan siyang nagtatrabaho sa Tsing Yi. — Rodelia Villar

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Batas sa long service hindi patas

“Hindi patas ang batas sa paggawa!” Iyan ang nasambit  ni Dolpo, 57, drayber na taga Pampanga. Nagpanting kasi ang kanyang mga tenga nang sabihin ng kanyang amo na susundan nito ang minimum pagdating sa pagbabayad ng long service payment. Ibig nitong sabihin, kapag si Dolpo ang nagbitiw o umayaw sa trabaho ay wala siyang makukuhang LSP mula sa amo, kahit 20 taon na siyang naninilbihan.

Si Dolpo ay dumating sa Hong Kong noong 1994 at nagpalipat-lipat ng employer hanggang nitong huli ay pumirmi siya sa iisang amo at tumagal ang 10 kontrata. Mabait naman ang kanyang mga amo ngunit ngayon lang niya napagtanto na hindi pala ito makatao. Yung iba kasi ay nagbibigay ng kusa, lalo at matagal at tapat na nanilbihan sa kanila ang kanilang trabahador.


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Dahil lagi siyang nakaantabay sa mga balita, alam naman ni Dolpo ang nakatakda sa batas tungkol sa LSP. Ang isang manggagawa sa Hong Kong, domestic worker man o hindi, ay makakatanggap lang ng LSP kung:
• nanilbihan siya ng hindi kukulangin sa 5 taon na tuloy-tuloy;
• kung siya ay pinaalis o hindi na itutuloy ng employer ang kontrata, maliban lang kung may ginawang malubhang masamang asal ang manggagawa;
• may patunay ang isang rehistradong doktor na hindi na niya kayang gampanan ang kanyang trabaho;
• umabot siya sa edad 65
• namatay siya habang nanilbihan.


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Himutok ni Dolpo, kahit ganito rin ang patakaran sa mga nagtatrabaho sa opisina, mayroon naman silang MPF o mandatory provident fund, kaya sa kanilang pagtanda ay may ipon pa rin sila mula sa pwersadong ambagan nila at ng kanilang kumpanya.

Yung sa SSS naman sa Pilipinas e maganda nga ang benepisyo, pero ang pwersadong mag-ambag ay ang manggagawa lang.

Ganito din ang sentimyento ng kasama niyang kasambahay, na halos kasabayan niya sa paninilbihan sa mga amo. Lagi nilang napag-uusapan kung dapat na ba silang umuwi para magsimulang muli sa Pilipinas, kahit alam nilang wala silang makukuha kahit isang kusing.

Masama ang loob ni Dolpo dahil hindi na siya bata, at gusto na niyang umuwi para makasama nang muli ang pamilya. Gusto din niyang magnegosyo dahil sawa na siya na may amo, lalo at kasama pa niya ito sa bahay.

Namulat kasi ang isip niya dahil sa pagsali niya sa iba’t ibang seminar na tumatalakay sa pagnenegosyo. Alam niya na  kung papalarin at pagsisikapan niya ng husto maaari siyang umunlad sa maiksing panahon. Kalayaan sa pangangamuhan kumbaga, sabi niya sa isang kaibigan. – George Manalansan

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Labatt Jolly abruptly recalled, says he’s retiring after HK stint

By The SUN

Labatt Jolly has been told his last day at his HK post is July 7

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre has been recalled from his Hong Kong post yet again, and told that his last day in office is tomorrow, Jul 7.

The shock order was relayed to Dela Torre just days before he was supposed to give up his post at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. Filipino community leaders who were set to throw him a farewell party on the last Sunday of July, scrambled to organize a send-off for him on his last day instead.

Dela Torre told The SUN he received orders to move to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where thousands of Filipino workers who knew him when he served there in the early 2000s, are also clamoring for his return. But he said he is planning to retire instead.

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“I have orders to assume the post in Riyadh,” said Dela Torre, or “Labatt Jolly”, as he is fondly called by friends, colleagues in the service and the legion of OFWs who have protested his recall twice during his controversial stint.

“I plan to retire in my farm and do some writing,” said the 62-year-old bar topnotcher,  author, and chronicler of the Filipino workers’ journey through life, who was also a stage actor in his student days at the University of the Philippines.

“I have not closed the door on Riyadh, but my family (is) all against my continuing to stress myself over my work. My mother couldn’t sleep well because of what she perceives as my risky advocacies,” Labatt Jolly said.

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But he said he has asked for a month's extension at his post to wrap up things, and also to comply with the required notice to his landlord.

Labatt Jolly's going into retirement puts a full stop to a career with Department of Labor and Employment that began in 1979, and was punctuated only by a three-year stint as a private lawyer in Cebu from 1995 to 1998.

He was first sent abroad to work as assistant labor attaché in Hong Kong in 1999, and later became labor attaché in Riyadh, Tel Aviv and Canberra. He was sent back to Hong Kong on Mar 25, 2016 to replace Nenita Garcia.  

But just two years into his current term he was told to return to Manila by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, purportedly to answer charges of favoritism in granting accreditation to employment agencies in Hong Kong.

Labatt Jolly complied with the order, but only after Filipino community leaders in Hong Kong held two massive protests supporting him, which were widely covered by both Philippine and foreign media.

The protesters had blasted Bello for the recall order, saying he had favored illegal recruiters and human traffickers instead of protecting vulnerable overseas Filipino workers.

They alleged the recall was instigated by a Hong Kong group that had applied for visas for sexy dancers in Wanchai, but was turned down by Labatt Jolly.

In October last year Labat Jolly was allowed to go back to Hong Kong after being asked to write a letter of apology to Bello, purportedly for instigating the rallies against his recall. 

A second attempt by Bello to recall him just before the mid-term elections in May was stymied yet again when it emerged that DoLE had not secured authorization from the Commission on Elections as mandated by law.

By the same law prohibiting the movement of civil service personnel before and after an election, Labatt Jolly is not supposed to be taken out of Hong Kong until early August.

But possibly the most loved labor attaché ever posted in Hong Kong is done resisting his recall.

Asked what he wishes his replacement would do, Labatt Jolly said: “I hope he will work hard to deserve the support and respect of the community. Particularly, the crusade against traffickers and rogue and abusive agencies.”

What advice does he have for the legion of Filipino workers here who feel being orphaned by his leaving?

“They just have to be strong and not to be afraid to exercise their rights, and to look beyond themselves to protect and help others in need. And to be always mindful of their health, while in Hong Kong, and to always be inspired by their own dreams and aspirations,” he said.

Apart from waging a relentless and vocal campaign against illegal recruiters, human traffickers and organizers of sleazy beauty contests, Labatt Jolly will be remembered by many in Hong Kong for his humility, accessibility, and genuine concern for Filipino migrant workers.

He responds directly to appeals for help using his private Facebook account and mobile phone number, and has gone on outreach missions to remote areas in Hong Kong to provide basic medical check-ups to OFWs, and information about POLO’s services.

His HealthWise project, through which thousands of OFWs have been given free tests for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and uric acid levels, was made available at POLO six days a week, and during the outreach services.

Assistant LaborAttaché Antonio Villafuerte has been designated as officer-in-charge until a replacement for Labatt Jolly has been designated.

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Those 54-55 years old due for HKID replacement

The new HK Smart Identity Card.

It will be the turn of those born in 1964 and 1965 to replace their Hong Kong ID. They can do so from July 27 (Saturday) to September 23 (Monday) at Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres all over Hong Kong. Those born in 1966 and 1967 have until July 26 to replace their HKID cards.

The Immigration Department said the exercise, which will be on its 5th phase to cover those who are 54 and 55 years old, includes not just residents but also foreign domestic helpers.

To make it convenient for applicants, Immigration has introduced a mobile phone app that enables people to make prior appointment and prefill the application form online so they can finish the process faster.



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In addition to making the ID application process easier, the Immigration Department Mobile Application contains the following information:
i) Appointment Booking.
ii) Application Services.
iii) Form Filling for application of Hong Kong Identity Cards.
iv) Land Boundary Control Points.
v) My Tag Status.
vi) Application Status Enquiry.
vii) Submissions of Documents.
viii) Other Services; and
ix) Easy Access YouTube
The app can be diwnoaded here:
For Android phones: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?=hk.gov.immd.mobileapps
For iPhones: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xiang-gang-ru-jing-shi-wu-chu/id578918010?ls=1.

The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart identity cards in person at Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres during their specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in Hong Kong. Employers of foreign domestic helpers should also arrange for their helpers to apply for the new identity cards during the latter's specified periods.

Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234.


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Applicants need to bring along their existing smart identity cards when they proceed to the SIDCCs.

For this replacement exercise, the ImmD is implementing a new caring arrangement under which eligible applicants may bring along up to two family members or friends aged 65 or above to replace their smart identity cards together during the same visit.

Those who have not applied for the new identity card should do so as early as possible in order to avoid a last-minute rush. If eligible Hong Kong residents are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.

For details of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk or call the enquiry hotline 2824 6111.

Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres:
1. Hong Kong Island Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, Room 200, 2/F, Shui On Centre, 6-8 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
2. East Kowloon Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, Unit 1, 2/F, Manulife Financial Centre and Unit 1B, 3/F, Manulife Financial Centre, Tower A, 223-231 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong
3. West Kowloon Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, 12/F, Gala Place, 56 Dundas Street, Mong Kok
4. Tsuen Wan Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, Shop S201, 2/F, Smartland, 50 Texaco Road, Tsuen Wan
5. Sha Tin Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, Shop G26, G/F & Shop 123, 1/F, Kings Wing Plaza 1, 3 On Kwan Street, Sha Tin
6. Sheung Shui Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, 7/F, Spot, 48 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui
7. Tuen Mun Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, Shop L414B, Level 4, Leung King Plaza, Leung King Estate, 31 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun
8. Yuen Long Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, Shop 50, G/F, Manhattan Plaza, 23 Sai Ching Street, Yuen Long
9. Tseung Kwan O Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre, Shop 20-26, G/F, Corinthia by the Sea, 23 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung
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Employer, maid to be tried in DC for living off prostitution, money laundering

The District Court is in Wanchai Tower

An elderly Hong Kong woman and her Filipina maid will stand trial in District Court later this year on charges of conspiring to live on the earnings of prostitutes and money laundering.

Heidi Wong Pui-ting, 69, and her domestic helper Jo-an Palpal-latoc, 44.

appeared before Judge W.K. Kwok on Jul 2 after their cases were consolidated and moved up from Eastern Court.

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Wong’s other Filipina maid, Jeanette Gallego, 47, was supposed to enter her guilty plea on the pimping charge, but that was postponed until Aug 22.

All three are out on police bail.

Wong, the alleged mastermind of an online prostitution ring based in her luxury flat on Tregunter Path, Mid-Levels, is charged, along with Palpal-latoc, with laundering $14.85 million allegedly earned from the sex booking services.

Palpa-latok and Gallego were reportedly caught operating from Wong's flat several dating websites offering sex for a fee, and taking orders from prospective foreign clients.

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Wong, her 72-year-old sister, a male relative and the two Filipinas were arrested in a police raid on May 17 last year in the employer’s flat on the 43rd floor of Tavistock II residential block on Tregunter Path, Mid-Levels.

In applying to consolidate the cases, the prosecution said both arose from the same illicit operation that was busted by police in May 2018.

The prosecution charged that between Jan 1, 2010 and May 15, 2018, Wong and Palpal-latoc had kept money suspected to have been earned from operating the online prostitution ring in Wong’s HSBC account.

Wong’s syndicate allegedly offered women to foreign clients for as high as US$7,000 per hour.

The lawyer representing Palpal-latoc applied for an adjournment until Aug 22 to give him time to study the documents and seek legal advice for the maid.

The prosecution did not opposed the adjournment, but voiced concerned that the three defendants had not yet surrendered their travel documents to the court despite being out on bail.

Judge Kwok extended the defendants’ bail but ordered them to surrender their travel documents within the day. – Vir B. Lumicao

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