Bar patrons must show negative test result from Thursday

by Daisy CL Mandap 

6 officials led by Health Secretary Sophia Chan (3rd from left) were at today's press briefing

From next Thursday, anyone who enters a bar or a pub in Hong Kong will have to present a negative result for a rapid test taken within 24 hours, before they can gain entry.

This was announced by Health Secretary Sophia Chan at the daily press briefing on Tuesday, when an additional 752 Covid-19 cases were reported, 97 of them imported.

Chan said that as announced earlier by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, all the social distancing measures will be extended until her term ends at the end of June.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

However, because of the outbreak of Covid-19 cases in several bars, some of which were found to have violated anti-pandemic rules, the testing requirement for patrons will be implemented for at least 14 days, or from Jun 16 to 29.

To gain entry, all customers must show a photo of their negative test result which also shows their name and the date and time it was taken.

Director for Health Ronald Lam said about 350 cases have been detected in six bars since they were allowed to reopen last month.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

Lam said the bars are considered as high-risk places because their customers tend to take off their masks for an extended period. Some of these customers were also found to have gone bar hopping, which could have helped the virus to spread further.

Chan also said that judging from the recent rebound in cases, the daily tally could breach the one thousand-mark within the month.

“With this increasing trend, we think that within this month the number of cases will reach four digits,” she said.

But she said that the government remains “cautiously optimistic” that the coronavirus situation will remain stable, especially in the lead-up to the 25^th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China.

"It's an important milestone for Hong Kong. We will do our best to ensure the celebrations can go ahead. The cooperation of businesses and individuals is important to ensure our coronavirus situation remains stable," she said.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

Earlier, CE Lam reiterated the need for Hong Kong to open its borders, saying “connectivity with the outside world is very important, whether it is for Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre or an international innovation and technology hub.”

However, she said there is a need to balance this with the need to secure quarantine-free travel to the Mainland as Hong Kong is an integral part of China.

Lam spoke to reporters before convening the final meeting of the Executive Council during her term.

She said that as she is due to step down soon, she should no longer make a decision on whether the city’s quarantine rules ought to be eased or not.

CE Lam says she will keep the status quo until she steps down on Jun 30

“Naturally, as we are approaching the end of our term - there's only two more weeks to go - if we were to relax the quarantine rules tomorrow, but then in two weeks' time the new government decided that perhaps this needs to be reverted to a more tightened approach, that would create a lot of confusion and uncertainty for a lot of people,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection said that the new cases included 348 that were confirmed through PCR and 404 rapid test results that were confirmed by laboratories.

They took Hong Kong’s total infection tally in the fifth wave to 1.28 million.

A 79-year-old male patient with chronic illnesses passed away, taking the death toll in the same period to 9,178.

A total of 134 cases were reported by 112 schools, involving 103 students and 31 teachers.

Five schools have seen small outbreaks, while classes in 10 other schools have been suspended to prevent further transmission.

At the bars, five additional cases were added to two clusters – four at FLM on Jervois Street, where the infection tally has now gone up to 28, ded; and one at Racks City on Wyndham Street, which now has 22 cases in total.

Genome sequencing results showed 25 additional cases involving the BA.2.12.1 sub-variant, and 10 of them are unlinked, while the 11 others are their family members.

The patients reside in various districts, including Kennedy Town, North Point and Tseung Kwan O.

Of the 97 imported cases, 40 were detected at the airport, 39 at quarantine hotels, while the remaining 18 tested positive after ending their seven-day quarantine.

A total of 391 patients are being treated at public hospitals and the North Lantau infection control centre. Among them, 15 are in critical condition – two of them in intensive care – and eight are in serious condition.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

PRs, mainland newcomers to get additional $5k spending money starting Aug. 4

Hong Kong permanent residents and qualified newcomers from the mainland will get the second $5,000 of their consumption voucher scheme (CVS) cash handouts, with the first payment of $2,000 being released on Aug. 7 and the remaining $3,000 on Oct. 1.

Finance Secretary Paul Chan said the scheme, which was intended to stimulate the local economy by  enabling residents to spend more, will include 300,000 more people as beneficiaries. He described them as those who may become permanent residents, such as quality migrants, entrepreneurs and students pursuing studies in Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

These people will be in addition to the old beneficiaries -- permanent residents and new arrivals from the mainland aged 18 and above.

"We do think that given the affordability and the overriding objective, it would be good to include additional beneficiaries so we can share the joy of spending the consumption vouchers together," he said.

The cost of including these new beneficiaries is $1.5 billion.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

But Chan also said the scheme will exclude those who have withdrawn their MPF (Mandatory Provident Fund) even if they are younger than 65, those who have been abroad since June 2019 for reasons other than study or business trips, and who appear to have no intention to come back.

Chan said there had been criticism that the money should not go to people who have left Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

Registration can be made through this page between June 23 and July 23: https://www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk/en/register.html.

Those who have received the previous batch of $5,000 through the four online payment platforms -- Alipay Hong Kong, Octopus, Tap & Go and WeChat Pay HK -- need not register again.

Only those who are newly eligible and those who want to switch to a different online payment platform, plus the two new platforms BoC Pay and PayMe, need to register.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Experts say Covid tally could hit 4 digits, as 737 infections detected

By The SUN 

Ho says the surge in cases is still part of the fifth wave of infections (File)

A health expert advising the government on its Covid-19 response says the daily caseload could reach four digits by the end of the month due to residual infections from the fifth wave.

Director of Hong Kong University’s Centre for Infection Dr Ho Pak-leung made the statement on a radio program earlier today, as health officials reported 737 new Covid cases.

Ho said the recent rebound in cases is still part of the ongoing infection wave because no new variants are involved. While the daily caseload could rise some more, people need not worry as long as the city’s vaccination targets are met, he added.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The last time Hong Kong's daily infection tally hit the thousand-mark was on Apr 14, when 1,043 cases were posted.

Ho's forecast was supported by Dr Albert Ho of the Centre for Health Protection who noted at today’s press briefing that the daily tally has gone up considerably to around 800 in the past few days from between 200 to 300 two weeks ago.

He said the government continues to monitor the situation but there has been no great cause for worry since most of those who test positive are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

"The most important thing is we have to ensure there is no increase, or we need to monitor the trend of severe diseases, hospitalisation and the number of deaths. So far, we haven't noted a continuous increase in these parameters," he said.

Of the new cases, 305 were confirmed through PCR tests while the remaining 432 were from self-reported rapid test results that were confirmed by laboratories.

The number of imported cases continues to be on the high side, with 104 new ones being reported. Among these, 54 were detected at the airport, 41 at quarantine hotels and nine post-isolation.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

Schools reported 272 new cases, the biggest local cluster, involving 216 students and 59 staff from 193 campuses. The bulk of the infections, or 220 of the cases, were positive results reported today.

Small outbreaks were reported in four of the schools, prompting officials to order the suspension of affected classes for a week.

The schools affected are Tsang Mui Millennium School in Sheung Shui, Deborah Anglo Chinese Kindergarten (Site 2 Whampoa Garden) in Hung Hom, Kin Sang Baptist Church Bradbury Pre-school in Tuen Mun and International College Hong Kong in the North District.

Previous clusters also added more cases, including one at 4B at Po Leung Kuk English Primary School; and two each at Joyful World Kindergarten and Pooi To Primary School in Ma Tau Wai.

Two Covid-stricken bars also added more infections. Racks City in Central has three additional cases, rounding up the tally there at 21; while FLM in Sheung Wan now has 24 cases after seven more infections were reported.

The new cases also include two female cleaners at Regala Skycity Hotel, where a room attendant had earlier tested positive for Covid; and three workers at the Central-Kowloon Route construction site in Ho Man.

Five residents at Fu Hong Society Yuet Kwan Home in Aberdeen also caught the virus, prompting the evacuation of 36 other people living there. They will be required to undergo quarantine at AsiaWorld-Expo.

Meanwhile, genomic sequencing showed 21 more patients carrying the Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 cases. They comprise 19 local infections and two imported cases. Twelve of them have no links to previous cases.

In addition, six new cases were detected carrying BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants. Four of the cases are imported and two are local.

No new deaths were reported on Sunday so the tally remains at 9,177. 

Currently 371 patients are being treated in public hospitals and the North Lantau infection control centre. Among them, 15 are in critical condition and seven are serious.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Pilipina na yumugyog at nanakot sa dating alaga, ligtas sa kulong

Ni Daisy CL Mandap 

Parang nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib ang Pilipina nang marinig ang sentensya sa Eastern Court

Napahagulgol sa Eastern Court kaninang umaga ang isang Pilipina matapos malamang hindi siya makukulong kahit inamin ang pag-alog sa ulo, pagtulak at pananakot sa dating alagang lalaki na limang taong gulang, dahil hindi niya ito mapatulog.

Si J. Manalo ay nakasuhan ng “willful assault by those in charge of a child,” o sadyang pananakit sa isang bata na nasa kanyang pangangalaga.

Sinentensyahan siya ni Magistrate Ada Yim ng apat na buwang pagkakakulong, na suspendido ng 24 na buwan. Ibig sabihin, hindi siya ikukulong maliban na lang kung gumawa siya muli ng paglabag sa batas sa loob ng dalawang taon.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Inutos din ng korte na ibalik na ang piyansang $1,000 na inilagak ni Manalo dati.

Ayon sa mahistrado, isinaalang-alang niya na malinis ang record ni Manalo at ang nangyari ay isang minsanan lang na pagkalimot sa tama, bukod pa sa pinagsisihan niya ang nagawa kaya agad siyang umamin.

Binanggit din ng mahistrado na ayon sa pagsusuri ay walang natamong sugat o sakit sa katawan ang bata na isang French national.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

Gayunman, sinabihan ni Yim ang Pilipina na sinira niya ang tiwalang ibinigay sa kanya ng mga dating amo, at ginamitan niya ng sobrang dahas ang isang napakabata pang alaga.

Inaresto si J. Manalo, 39, noong Sept. 29, 2021, matapos siyang i-terminate ng mga amo nang mapanood ang CCTV kung paano niya sinaktan ang kanilang anak na lalaki sa kanilang bahay sa Tower 4 ng Hong Kong Parkview sa Tai Tam.

Nangyari ang pananakit sa batang si Tristan noong gabi ng Aug 29, 2021, matapos umalis ang mga magulang nito para kumain sa labas. Naiwan sa pangangalaga ni Manalo ang ang bata at ang kakambal nitong babae.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

May apat na buwan pa lang siyang naninilbihan sa pamilya noon, at lumipat doon matapos magdesisyon na hindi na pumirma ulit ng kontrata sa mga dating amo na may dalawang anak din, at apat na taon niyang pinagsilbihan.

Unang nakita ng mag-asawa sa CCTV na nakahiga sa kama ang kanilang anak at nagsisigaw na ayaw niyang matulog. Ilang sandali pa, ayon sa mga ito, ay nakita nilang inalog ni Manalo sa ulo ang bata, bago sinampal ng dalawang beses sa mukha.

Narinig din siya sa video na tinatakot na lalagyan ng duct tape ang bibig ng bata at ikukulong sa banyo kapag hindi pa rin natulog. Umiiyak daw ang bata habang sinisigawan ni Manalo na matulog na.

Kinabukasan ay tinanong ng mag-asawa ang bata at si Manalo tungkol sa nangyari. Hindi inamin ni Manalo na sinaktan niya ang alaga, lalo na ang akusasyon na sinampal niya ito. Sinabi niya na gusto lang niyang balaan ang bata dahil ayaw nitong matulog.

Agad pinababa si Manalo noong araw ding iyon. Hindi naman siya nahirapang makakuha ng bagong amo pero pinatigil ng Immigration pansamantala ang pag-aayos sa kanyang bagong kontrata habang dinidinig pa sa korte ang kanyang kaso.

Makalipas ang ilang araw ay tinawag ng Immigration si Manalo, at pagdating doon ay sinabihan siyang mag report sa Aberdeen Police Station dahil sa reklamo ng dating amo. Inaresto siya noon din at kinuhanan ng salaysay.

Ayon sa kanyang abugado, “entirely out of character” o hindi sadyang gawain ni Manalo ang manakit ng bata dahil bago siya lumipat sa mga amo ay nanilbihan siya ng maayos sa loob ng apat na taon sa isang mag-asawa na may maliliit na anak din.

Nawalan lang daw ng kontrol sa sarili si Manalo dahil naipit sa isang sitwasyon na hindi niya makontrol ang dalawang alagang bata.

Mahirap daw pasunurin ang bata kahit sa simpleng utos (photo for illustration only)

Sa labas ng korte, sinabi ni Manalo na hirap siyang pasunurin ang dalawang bata sa mga simpleng utos. Ni lock din daw nila ang pinto ng kanilang kuwarto noon, at pinagtatawanan siya habang paulit-ulit niya silang sinasabihan na matulog na.

Ayon sa kanyang abugado, sa katotohanan ay mahilig sa mga bata si Manalo dahil siya mismo ay may tatlong anak na edad 14, 10 at 6, na mag-isa niyang sinusuportahan.

Dahil sa nangyari ay halos isang taon na siyang walang trabaho at nakikitira lang ngayon sa isang boarding house kasama ang mga kaibigan. Humingi siya ng tulong sa kaso mula sa Mission for Migrant Workers, na kasalukuyang nasa korte para alalayan siya.

Hiniling niya na huwag nang ikulong si Manalo dahil ito ang una niyang pagkakasala na lubos niyang pinagsisisihan.

Nauna rito ay sinubukan din ng abugado na hilingin sa tagausig na payagan na lang na isailalim sa “bind over” si Manalo para hindi ito magka record, at manunumpa na lang na hindi lalabag sa batas sa loob ng itatakdang panahon, pero hindi pumayag ang kabilang panig.

Kinasuhan si Manalo ng paglabag sa Section 27 ng Offences Against the Person Ordinance: Ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person.

Ang batas na ito ay nagtatakda ng parusang pagkakakulong ng hanggang tatlong taon (o sampung taon kung isasampa sa mas mataas na korte ang kaso) kapag napatunayan ang pagkakasala ng nasasakdal.

Pagkatapos ng pagdinig ay agad na nagpasalamat sa abugadong tagapagtanggol si Buhay Bangcawayan, case officer ng Mission, dahil sa naging masusi nitong pag-aaral sa kaso, at mahusay na pagdepensa kay Manalo.

Pero nang tanungin niya kung may pag-asa ba na payagan si Manalo na manatili sa Hong Kong para makapagtrabaho pang muli ay sinabi ng abugado na tanging ang Immigration Department lang ang makakasagot sa tanong.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Officials warn Covid infections may rise as 814 cases reported today

By The SUN

 

Staff at a quarantine hotel wait for new arrivals from the airport: 106 imported cases were reported

Health officials are warning that the daily Covid-19 infections may rise further, as they reported 814 new cases on Sunday, slightly lower than yesterday. A recordp-high 106 imported cases were among them.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said cases are being found in various districts, so it is likely that the clusters would get bigger.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

"We won't rule out the chance that the figures could go up further, especially when you see the new cases weren't outbreaks concentrated in specific areas but territory-wide," Chuang said.

She added there has also been surges in the amount of virus detected in sewage, as well as the reproductive rate of local cases as seen in studies conducted by the University of Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Since it is estimated that there are still between two to three million people in Hong Kong who have not been infected in the fifth wave of the pandemic, there is a big possibility of a further rebound in cases if social distancing measures are not observed.

Of today’s cases, 364 were confirmed through PCR tests, while the remaining 450 were self-reported rapid test results that were confirmed by the authorities.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

The total tally from the fifth wave has now exceeded 1.205 million. No new death was reported, so the mortality figure from the same period remains at 9,177.

Of the imported cases, 64 were detected at the airport, 34 at quarantine hotels and eight after the patients had ended their isolation.

BAN ON FLIGHTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES LIFTED ON APRIL 1. BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

FLM, one of two bars where clusters of infections were first detected Friday, added four more cases today, involving three guests and one staff. They took the tally there to 17.

There were no new cases at the other bar, Racks City, so the cluster tally there remains at 18.

Chuang said 18 environmental samples taken from Racks City all tested negative for the virus, except for one that came from a pool table, which had an indeterminate result.

The number of cases involving the Omicron sub-variant, BA.2.12.1, has gone up. Sixteen suspected cases were reported by CHP, including a close contact of a previous case who was under quarantine at home, and five who live in two separate units in a Tai Koo Shing block.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

The other patients live in Wan Chai, Ho Man Tin, Ap Lei Chau, Tai Kok Tsui, Mong Kok, Yuen Long, Ma On Shan and Tuen Mun.

Dr Lau Ka-hin of the Hospital Authority said 361 patients are receiving treatment in public hospitals and the North Lantau Infection Control Centre.

They include 15 who are in critical condition and seven in serious condition.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!

Protesta laban sa dagdag-bayarin sa Araw ng Kalayaan

 

Ilan sa mga nagsalita sa protesta sa tabi ng gusali ng Konsulado.

Itinaon sa mismong Araw ng Kalayaan ang protesta ng ilang grupo ng mga migrante kanina, laban sa mga sapilitang dagdag-bayarin ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFW), na ipatutupad ng gobyerno.

Tinatayang aabot sa Php50,000 taon-taon ang babayarin ng isang OFW sa Hong Kong dahil sa sapilitang pangungulekta ng kontribusyon para sa Philhealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System, at mandatory insurance.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Sinabi ni Dolores Balladares, lider ng Asian Migrants Coordinating Body: “Sana pakinggan ang mga daing ng mga OFW. Wakasan na ang pagturing sa atin na gatasang baka.”

“Maraming pagkakataon nang pinahiwatig natin ang ating kahilingan na bigyan ng trabaho ang mga Pilipino para hindi na tayo mapwersa na mangibang bansa. Pero sa halip na tugunan ang pagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga Pilipino, hindi ito nangyayari. Sa halip ay pinalakas pa ang pangungulekta, ang pangingikil, ang panggigipit sa mga OFW,” ika niya.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

“Nais naming iparating sa ating gobyerno ngayon at sa susunod na gobyerno na hangga’t hindi nareresolba ang pangmatagalang problema natin -- ang kahirapan, kagutuman at kawalan ng trabaho -- patuloy na lalabas ng bansa ang mga migranteng Pilipino,” dagdag niya

Sinabi naman ni Shiela Tebia, na kumatawan sa Gabriela Hong Kong at Bayan Hong Kong-Macau, na huwad ang kalayaang ipinagdiriwang ng mga Pilipino.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

“Hindi natin ramdam na may tunay na kalayaan ang mga Pilipino at mga OFW dahil hindi tayo malaya sa mga bayarin, hindi tayo malayang mamili kung kaya ba natin itong bayaran o hindi. Ang ating pamilya ay wala ring kalayan dahil hndi rin nila maiwasan ang mga taxes na ipinapataw ng gobyerno sa atin.”

Ang kinatawan ng Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society naman ay nagtanong: Bakit pagdating sa koleksyon, ang bilis nila, pero pagdating sa serbisyo, galaw-pagong? Ito ba ang gobyernong nagmamalasakit sa mga OFW? Hindi pa man natatapos ang pandemya, bakit parang tinapos lang ang eleksyon at sinalubong tayo ng sandamakmak na listahan ng sapilitang bayarin?”

BAN ON FLIGHTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES LIFTED ON APRIL 1. BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

Dapat pa nga, ika niya, ay exempted na ang mga OFW sa mga singilang ito.

“Bakit? Kulang pa ba ang mahigit 30 bilyong dolyar na remittance na kinikita ng gobyerno mula sa atin at kailangan pang dagdagan ang mga bayarin?”

Ayon naman sa tagapagsalita ng Cordillera Alliance, “Walang malasakit ang gobyernong Duterte sa ating mga OFW. Ang mahalaga lang sa kanila ay remittances at kita na nakukuha nila sa mga koleksiyong ito."

"Sa halip na bigyan ng tunay na serbisyo, tulong at proteksiyon ang mga OFW, lalo tayong pinapahirapan ng mga dagdag-singilin na ito.”

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

Daing ng tagapagsalita ng Unifil-HK: “Hindi man lang tayo kinunsulta kung tayo ba ay payag na magbayad ng expanded insurance na isa pang pabigat sa atin. Ang mga amo ay mayroon nang insurance na ipino-provide sa atin dito sa Hong Kong. Bakit dadagdagan na naman ng expanded insurance ang mga OFW bago umalis at tuwing mag-renew ng ating kontrata?”

Sinabi naman ng tagapagsalita ng Mamamayang Liberal na ang gobyerno ay walang malasakit sa mga OFW.

“Ang Philhealth hindi natin kailangan dahil alam natin na libre ang pagpapagamot natin dito. Para saan ang karagdagang bayaring hinihingi sa atin ng gobyerno? Bakit tuwing may ayuda sa Pilipinas, hindi nabibigyan ang ating pamilya?"

Sana raw ay kasing bilis ng pagpataw ng mga dagdag-singil ang pamimigay ng ayuda sa mga OFW na nagigipit.

Ang Filipino Migrant Workers Union naman ay nakiisa sa mga manggagawa sa Piliinas sa na itaas sa P750 ang minimum wage sa buong Pilipinas. “Hindi na nakakaagapay ang mga manggagawa sa Pilipinas sa sobrang taas ng bilihin at mga bayarin,” ika ng tagapagsalita nito.

Nagpahiwatig din ng pagkabahala ang mga nagprotesta sa biglang pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina at bunsod nito, ang pagtaas din ng halaga ng iba pang mga bilihin, kaya napipilitan silang dagdagan ang ipinapadala nilang pera sa Pilipinas.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!

Nora Aunor among 8 new National Artists of the Philippines

By The SUN 

Aunor came to HK in 2013 to receive the best actress award in the Asian Film Awards 

The Philippine government, through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), has conferred the National Artist award to eight Filipino icons who have made significant contributions to the development of local arts.

Eight years after being bypassed for the country’s top award for the arts, actress Nora Aunor has been named National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts. She shares the recognition for the same category with scriptwriter and book author Ricky Lee; and the late movie director, Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

The other awardees are: poet Gemino Abad, National Artist for Literature, soprano Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, National Artist for Music; choreographer Agnes Locsin, National Artist for Dance; the late stage director and theater actor Tony Mabesa, National Artist for Theater; and the late fashion designer Salvacion Lim-Higgins, National Artist for Fashion.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The awarding ceremony is expected to be held sometime next week, before outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from his post.

The Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts in the field of music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, film, broadcast arts and architecture and allied arts.

Previous awardees for film include actor Fernando Poe, Jr. and directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. Significantly, Bernal was the director of “Himala,” which was written by Lee and is widely regarded as Aunor’s best movie. It was voted as the Best Film of All Time in the 2008 CNN Asia Pacific Screen Awards.  

National Artists all: Lee, Brocka, Bernal and Abaya in an undated photo 

Lee and Abaya also collaborated on a number of widely acclaimed movies, including “Brutal,” “Salome,” “Moral” and “Jose Rizal.”

Aunor, dubbed the “Superstar” of Philippine cinema, has received numerous awards in a career that spans more than five decades. She is the recipient of multiple best actress awards from Famas, Urian, Film Academy and the Metro Manila Film Festival; an Asian Film Festival award, another from the Cairo International Film Festival, and the Gawad CCP para sa Sining for Film and Broadcast Arts by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 2015.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Lee is known to be the most sought-after screenwriter in the country, but what many do not know is that he was an orphan who managed to have his first article published when he was just 16 years old, then went on to win the prestigious Palanca award for best short story two years in a row.

A brilliant student, he managed to get into the University of the Philippines where he was getting top marks when martial law was declared. He was arrested, along with many student activists at the time, and was held for years as a political detainee. After his release, he started focusing on scriptwriting and became so successful at it that the free workshops he has been giving since the ‘80s have attracted people from all walks of life, including movie stars and journalists.

In recent years, Aunor and Lee had been to Hong Kong in line with their work. Aunor, to receive her best actress award for the film, “Thy Womb” in the Asian Film Award in 2013; and Lee, to attend the Hong Kong Film Festival in 2018, and on the side, to hold a scriptwriting workshop for Filipino migrant workers.

PRESS FOR DETAILS!

Cuyugan-Asensio is a coloratura soprano, actress and librettist known for being a staunch proponent of opera in the Philippines. She was chair of the UP College of Music for Voice and Music Theater from 1988 until her retirement.

Abad is a renowned poet, editor, and literary critic. He still teaches at the UP Department of Comparative Literature at UP Diliman where he has been conferred the title of Professor Emeritus at the College of Arts and Letters.

Locsin is considered as the most creative among modern choreographers in the country for her ability to blend native Filipino movement and thoughts into her dance. She used to teach at Ballet Philippines and Ballet Manila.

BAN ON FLIGHTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES LIFTED ON APRIL 1. BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

Mabesa, who passed on in 2019, was dubbed “the Lion of the Theater” as he lorded supreme over Dulaang UP and the UP Playwright’s Theater, the university’s foremost theater groups which he founded. Apart from acting and directing stage plays during his seven-decade career, he also starred in movies and TV dramas.

Lim-Higgins is a legend even among the top couturiers in the country. She and her sister founded Slim’s in 1960, and it became the training ground for thousands of local designers. She particularly inspires awe for her classical and timeless designs for the terno, the country’s national costume for women.

Lee (in pink) with the mostly OFWs who attended his scriptwriting workshop in HK in 2018

Apart from the incomparable prestige that comes with the award, the National Artists will also enjoy a monthly pension for life of no less than Php50,000, and a lump sum cash payment of at least Php200,000.

They will also receive medical and hospitalization benefits, life insurance coverage, a place of honor at national state functions and recognition at cultural events, and upon death, a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

For those posthumously awarded, their legal heirs will receive a one-off payment of no less than Php150,000.

The new set of National Artists is only the second set of awardees named by President Duterte who is about to step down after six years at the helm. His first was in 2018.

PADALA NA!

CALL US!

Call us!