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Peso drops to historic low again, at 57.18 to a dollar

Posted on 08 September 2022 No comments

By The SUN

 

HK OFWs will now get around ₱7.26 for every HK$1 they send home

The Philippine peso fell to another historic low against the US dollar for the fifth trading day, closing at P57.18 on Thursday.

It began its record decline on Friday, Sept 2, when it fell to ₱56.77; Monday, ₱56.999, Tuesday, ₱57; and Wednesday, ₱57.135.

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Analysts say the peso could weaken further to ₱58 or even ₱60 to the greenback, unless the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas does not hike interest rates to match what the US Federal Reserve has been doing.

They expect the BSP to announce a rate increase at its next meeting on Sept. 22.

Other Asian currencies also fell with the strengthening of the US dollar, including the Japanese Yen and the Korean Won.

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Since the HK dollar is pegged to the US currency, it will similarly rise in value compared with the declining currencies, like the Philippine peso. Currently, the rate of exchange is ₱7.26 to HK$1.

While the peso depreciation means higher prices for imports, which now include such staple food as rice, sugar, salt, and even onions, analysts say the upside is that it also reflects the country’s economic recovery.

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Overseas Filipino workers who are mostly paid in US dollars will be getting higher peso value for their earnings, but this is offset by higher prices in the Philippines, which means they should be sending more money home.

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LIBRENG $20 CAFÉ DE CORAL MERON NA SA SMARTONE SPOINTS!

Posted on No comments

 

May promo ulit sa Barkadahan sa SmarTone. 

Ito naman ang SPoint na Café De Coral na worth $20 at libre ito basta may Points ka! 

Paano? Simple lang! Kapag may 150 Spoints ka, pwede kang maka redeem nito. Tama! 150 Spoints lang may katumbas na agad na $20 Cash Coupon sa Café De Coral.  

Pwede ka na agad kumain ng libre! Ano ba ang Spoints at paano maka redeem nito? Sa Barkadahan sa SmarTone, kada $1 spending mo, may katumbas na 1 SPoint. Ang mga SPoint ay may katumbas naman na regalo gaya ng $20 Café De Coral. Para maka-redeem nito, dapat mong malaman muna ilan ang Spoints. 

Ganito lang yan: 

(1) Open “My SIM Account”, tap “Reward”, “SmarTone Point”, "Shop Now Na" at i-select ang Café De Coral $20 E-voucher. I-press ang “Buy” para ma confirm ang pag redeem mula sa Spoints. 

(2) Para naman magamit ito sa Café De Coral, i-open muli ang “My SIM Account” at pumunta sa “My Order”, i-press ang “E-coupon” at “Redeem Now”. 

(3) Lalabas ang “Yes o Cancel” buttons. Kung ito ay gagamitin mo na, dapat ikaw ay nasa Café De Coral restaurant na. Reminder na kapag nai-press mo na ang “Yes”, meron ka lang 30 minutes para magamit ito. Kung hindi mo ginamit, forfeited na. Kaya siguraduhin muna kung kelan mo ito gagamitin. Basta i-press mo lang ang Redeem at Yes pag gagamitin mo na agad agad. 

(4) Pag press mo ng “Yes”, lalabas ang QR code at ipakita ito sa Cashier para mai-scan at i-press “Finish”. 

Isang e-voucher ang pwede ma-redeem kada isang account sa ngayon. Abangan baka susunod mas madami pwede na. Ganun lang kadali ang pag redeem at paggamit ng e-coupon. 

Kung wala ka pang “My SIM Account” App, i-press mo lang ito: https://wap.smartone.com/bssapp/ gamit ang iyong Barkadahan sa SmarTone na SIM. Pwede rin ito i-download sa Google Play Store or Apple App Store. 

Lahat ng mga details ng SPoints ay nasa My SIM Account app. Dito rin sa app malalaman kung paano mas madaling i-manage ang iyong SIM card. Para naman malaman mo ang mga latest promos o offers, tingnan Barkadahan leaflets o tap here https://bit.ly/2Uy81zi

Mas bongga talaga sa Barkadahan, pramis! 

Kung may tanong, pwede kayong mag Whatsapp Hotline, press https://wa.me/94478231 

Kaya kung hindi ka pa Barkadahan, mag Barkadahan na, now na! 

Barkadahan sa SmarTone for the OFW, with the OFW!



HK posts 10,194 new Covid cases with 16 deaths

Posted on 07 September 2022 No comments

By The SUN

 

The Covid tally has remained at around 10,000 in the past few days 

Hong Kong’s daily Covid-19 tally breached the 10,000 mark again on Wednesday, with 16 related deaths.

According to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection, 10,030 local infections  were recorded yesterday, along with 164 imported cases, for a total tally of 10,194.

At the same time, health authorities announced the extension of the current social distancing measures for another two weeks. 

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This means, no more than four people may gather together in public, though up to eight people may sit together in restaurants.

For large-scale banquets, or that where more than eight people are allowed to sit together, all guests and staff must present a negative result for a rapid test taken within 24 hours.

Among the death cases, ten are believed to have been due directly to the coronavirus, while the rest died from unrelated ailments although they did test positive for the virus.


They included the youngest patient, a 47-year-old man who did not show any sign of pneumonia but was declared dead on arrival at Queen Mary Hospital. He had no known chronic ailment and tested positive on a rapid antigen test at the hospital.

The other deceased patients comprised 12 men and four women aged up to 99 years old. Nine received three vaccine shots while the seven others either had incomplete, or no vaccination at all.

Chuang also said 1,361 cases were reported from 799 schools involving 1,140 students and 221 faculty members.

One school, Malvern College in Tai Po, had all of its 26 primary grade classes suspended for a week after 30 students and five staff from various grades tested positive for the virus.

A total of 2,870 patients are now receiving treatment in public hospitals, after 342 were admitted yesterday while 349 of those who recovered were discharged.

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Among those in hospitals, 50 are in critical condition and 55 are in serious condition.

Of the 164 imported cases, 71 were detected on arrival at the airport, 46 during hotel quarantine, 43 between days 4 and 7, and 4 afterwards.

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The newly arrived patients came from 34 places, and five of these had more than 10 infections each. They are the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States.

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Overstayer na DH, nakaiwas sa kulong

Posted on No comments

 

Pauwi na si Sheryl matapos marinig ang hatol sa kanyang kasong overstaying.

Hindi agad naintindihan ni Sheryl Arquiza ang hatol sa kaso niyang overstaying, o pagtira sa Hong Kong nang walang visa sa nakalipas na 11 buwan, kaya balisa siya nang lumabas sa korte sa Shatin Magistracy.

Hinatulan kasi siya ni Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai ngayon (Sept. 7) ng 12 araw na pagkabilanggo para sa kasong paglabag sa kondisyon ng kanyang pagtira sa Hong Kong. Pero nagtaka siya kung bakit itinuro siya ng mga guwardya palabas.

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“Ay salamat, Lord,” ang bulalas niya nang ipaliwanag sa kanya ang nangyari -- na suspendido ang kanyang sentensiya nang 12 buwan, kaya hindi siya makukulong kung hindi siya magkakasala ulit sa loob ng isang taon.

Nakangiti siyang naghintay sa kahera ng korte sa ikalawang palapag, kahit natagalan ang pagbaba ng papeles ng kaso niya, upang bawiin ang $300 na inilagak niya bilang piyansa.


Kinasuhan ng Immigration Department si Arquiza matapos siyang sumuko noong July 7.

Ayon sa kanya, hindi na siya naghanap ng employer simula nang ma-terminate siya bilang domestic helper noong July 21, 2021, dahil ikalawa na niya itong pagkasisante.

“Natakot ako na hindi na ako payagan ng Immigration na mag-process ng papeles ko dito,” ika niya.

Sa 11 buwan niyang buhay patago-tago sa Hong Kong, may nagmagandang loob na bigyan siya ng tirahan at part-time na trabaho, at natutunan niyang magtinda ng ukay-ukay sa mga kababayan.

“Mas mahirap ang buhay,” ika niya. “Minsan nakakapagpadala lang ako ng $100 o $300 sa isang buwan. Minsan talagang walang kita, kaya walang padala.”

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Si Arquiza ay single parent sa dalawang anak na lalaki, edad 13 at 11, na alaga ng kanyang ina at ama sa Zamboanga.

Nagdesisyon siyang umuwi nang mamatay ang kanyang ama noong Hulyo.

Pero bilang overstayer, alam niyang pipigilan siya ng Immigration sa airport kung magtangka siyang umuwi.

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Bago sumuko sa Immigration ay dumaan muna siya sa Konsulado upang humingi ng sulat upang hindi siya masyadong idiin sa kanyang kasalanan. Kinuha ng Immigration ang kanyang passport bago siya sinampahan ng kaso.

Nakatulong ang kanyang pagsuko dahil, maliban sa 1/3 na discount sa pagkakakulong sa 24 na araw dahil umamin siya sa sakdal, ay binawasan pa ni Magistrate Cheung ang kanyang sentensiya ng apat na araw, kaya 12 araw na lang ang natira.

Nakatakda siyang mag-report ulit sa Immigration bukas (Sept. 8) upang bawiin ang kanyang passport, at iba pang papeles na kailangan niya para makalipad pauwi sa Sept. 10.

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Ex-HK OFW with contagious disease seeks help for treatment

Posted on No comments

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

Michelle stayed at Eastern Hospital for 2 days, during which she underwent all sorts of tests

When 27-year-old Michelle C. Casogoc arrived in Hong Kong on April 21 this year, she, like thousands of other Filipina migrant workers before her, had only one thing in mind: to provide for a better future for her family. 

Little did she know that less than four months after she would be diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis, a viral infection with symptoms that usually last for only two weeks, but in her case, dragged on for more than two months that she was forced to return home on Aug. 27.

Now, she is stuck at home with the little money she had brought with her all used up for doctor’s consultation and related expenses, but remains sick.

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She had thought that because she lives in Pampanga she could easily get into the OFW Hospital there and be treated for free, but was told she needed to make an appointment to be seen – and because of the long queue, the earliest she could schedule a consultation is next month.

Before leaving Hong Kong, Michelle said she went to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office but was only assured of someone picking her up at the airport in Manila, and taking her home.

In going to the Hong Kong International Airport, she would have been on her own, if it were not for some kind-hearted fellow domestic workers from the group, Social Justice for Migrant Workers, who took her there.


Thanks to the group, as well as Social Welfare Attache Rem Marcelino, she managed to go home with $1,000 in her pocket. This was soon gone, though, as she sought to follow up on whatever medical assistance could be given her by the government when she got back home.

Apart from having her escorted to her home in Pampanga from the Manila airport, she said all that OWWA Hong Kong told her was “to reach out to OWWA Region 3 for medical and financial assistance" despite her saying that she could no longer work, and needed to get treated immediately.

But to her extreme disappointment and frustration, Michelle said she was told by the OWWA regional office that she needed to undergo another round of medical tests she had to pay for herself, so she could be issued a medical certificate by a Philippines-based doctor.

Nagpa check-up naman ako ako pero ang sabi ang kailangan ko ay infectious disease specialist at baka I biopsy po ako. E kaya nga ako nanghihingi ng medical assistance dito dahil hindi ko kayang magbayad sa specialist, pati mga lab tests, pero yun ang gusto nilang mangyari,” she said in a message.

(I did go for a medical check-up but I was told (by OWWA) that I need a referral from an infectious disease specialist who might carry out a biopsy test. But that’s precisely why I am seeking medical assistance. I don’t have the means to pay a specialist, or for lab tests, but that’s what they want me to do.”)

Last Monday, she tried her luck again, and appealed to the regional OWWA staff to get her seen by a specialist doctor, but was told that she needed to spend her own money to get the referral that they needed.

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Ang dami nilang pinapagawang test, hindi ko na alam kung saan ako kukuha ng panggastos para dito,” said Michelle, in utter frustration. (They want me to undergo so many tests when I don’t even know where to get the money for it).

The first of many tests OWWA wants her to undergo in the Philippines, for which she paid P1,300

Galing na naman po ako ng doctor, nire-refer na naman ako sa neurologist dahil sa tagal daw ng sakit ko e either na mild stroke ako o naapektuhan na ang spinal cord ko. I- CT scan daw ako ulit pero wala na akong pambayad. Wala na ba talagang magagawa ang OWWA? Bakit ganito kahirap makakuha ng medical assistance?”

(I just went to see a doctor again, and I was again referred to a neurologist. I was told that since I have been sick for a long time, I might have suffered a mild stroke or my spinal cord might have been affected. They want me to do a CT scan again but I have no money to pay for it. Is OWWA really unable to help? Why is it this difficult to get medical assistance?”

She also wonders why these are all necessary when she had three doctors in Hong Kong confirming her diagnosis, along with a medical certificate from the Hospital Authority.

Michelle's ailment is written clearly in the medical certificate from HK's Hospital Authority

Michelle is clueless how she came down with infectious mononucleosis, as she had always passed the annual medical check-ups required by the company she used to work for in the Philippines.

Also, she had been in Hong Kong for four months, far too long for the virus to have shown up if she got infected in the Philippines. This could only mean that she was infected in Hong Kong, but as to who or how it was passed on to her, remains a mystery.

Medical websites say the disease is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It is one of the most common infections, especially among adolescents, but its symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and liver as well as high fever, manifest only in a few people.

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Mononucleosis is often called the “kissing disease” because it is known to spread through kissing, or the exchange of saliva. But it could also be acquired by sharing drinks and food with someone infected.

On hindsight, Michelle realizes that she could have asked help from other migrant support groups so she could have stayed for a few more weeks in Hong Kong while awaiting a full diagnosis, but as she explained: “Hindi ko po alam ang mga procedure dyan.” (I didn’t know how to get this procedure done).

All she is hoping for now is to get help from OWWA or any OFW support group or agency so she can be treated immediately.

In a statement she was hoping to send as an appeal to OWWA, Michelle said she started feeling dizzy, tired and weak at around the start of July. But she just took a paracetamol then because she was busy and she thought it was just a regular ailment.

But on July 23 she felt a lump in her throat which hurt, so she decided to see a doctor. That was when she was diagnosed with “right posterior cervical lymphaneditis” or infectious mononucleosis and given antibiotics for five days. She was told the symptoms would go away after two weeks, but they didn’t.

Instead, her dizzy spells worsened, and her stomach began to ache as well, because it turned out, her liver had also swelled up. She consulted another doctor on Aug 8 and she was told to go to a hospital.

That same day, she was admitted to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital where she was subjected to all sorts of tests, then discharged after two days. She was given only pain relievers and was told the laboratory results would be released on Sept 9.

She was told there was no cure or vaccine for her disease, and she should just wait for the symptoms to go away.

After hearing the diagnosis, her employer asked that they mutually terminate their contract. But it was not an easy parting, as her employer had initially insisted on Michelle signing an undertaking that she would pay $30,000 in compensation to cover the costs of hiring her from the Philippines, including the agency fee and other expenses.

Michelle, who is assertive, having worked as a call center agent in the Philippines before coming to Hong Kong, balked. After consulting some leaders in the community, she managed to convince her employer that what she was being made to sign was illegal and could get both of them into trouble.

But she agreed on the mutual termination as she could no longer work properly and was afraid of passing on her illness to her employers and their eight-year-old daughter.

Michelle also felt sorry for her employers as they were left in a lurch, after paying a lot of money to bring her to Hong Kong. Also, her male employer is a friend of her father, who also used to work here as a migrant worker.

But all of that is in the past. All she wants now is to get herself treated so she could get well enough to start building up hopes for herself and her two young children again.

Those who want to help Michelle pay her medical bills may transfer money directly to her Alipay account, through the QR code below:  

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Male resident who flew in from Manila is HK’s first monkeypox patient

Posted on 06 September 2022 No comments

By The SUN

 

An infected man in Europe shows lesions on his face from monkeypox (Steele)

A 30-year-old male resident who returned to Hong Kong aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila was confirmed today, Tuesday, as the city’s first monkeypox patient.

The index patient, who had earlier spent time in the United States and Canada, flew in aboard flight PR300 yesterday morning.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection, said that their investigations showed the patient had likely acquired the highly transmissible disease in the US.

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"Based on the date of onset of symptoms, incubation period and the high-risk activity, we suspect that the patient might have acquired the infection during his stay in the United States," she said.

Because the man came alone and was in hotel isolation when he was diagnosed with the disease, no close contact has been identified. Still, health officials have advised all the 80-odd passengers of flight PR300 to monitor themselves for any possible symptoms.


Chuang declined to say how the man might have been infected with monkeypox, saying it was a private matter, but pointed out to studies done by the World Health Organization that showed that 95% of the patients had acquired the disease from men to men contact.

According to Chuang, the man had taken the government-provided coach from the airport to his quarantine hotel, the Ramada Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun. There, he developed a sore throat, and had the tell-tale blisters in “hidden parts” of his body.

Following standard medical procedures he was taken to Queen Mary Hospital where an examination showed he had monkeypox. He is now being treated in isolation at the hospital.

Earlier, on Aug 30, the man reported developing a rash and swollen lymph nodes, which are also among the symptoms of the viral infection.

Paalala ng Konsulado tungkol sa monkeypox, bago naibalita ang unang kaso sa HK

According to the WHO, monkeypox is not acquired solely by men who have sex with men. It may also spread via close contact with an infected person through lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated beddings.

Chuang said the infection control measures being enforced at quarantine hotels to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are enough to stop monkeypox contamination.

She also noted that the index patient had worn a long-sleeved shirt and long pants on the plane coming into Hong Kong, so there was just a small chance he would have contaminated people around him with his body fluids.

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CHP controller, Edwin Tsui, said it is difficult to detect monkeypox cases among arrivals at the airport. He also said the risk of being infected was low for people who are not close contacts of a patient.

Still, he said authorities may raise the public health “alert” level over monkeypox as a result of the case.

He also reiterated that the government is close to acquiring the city’s first monkeypox vaccines.

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They will be given initially to close contacts of infected persons, medical and laboratory staff, and people who engage in high-risk activities.

According to the WHO, around 52,000 monkeypox cases have been reported all over the world, along with 18 deaths. It declared a global health emergency alert over the disease in July.

In the Philippines, three monkeypox cases have been identified, and all were said to have been acquired overseas.

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection by the monkeypox, which is part of the same family of viruses as the one that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to those for smallpox, but milder.

Despite its name, the source of the disease is unknown.

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Filipina being sought for splashing bleach on fellow churchgoer

Posted on No comments

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

The incident happened outside St Joseph's Church in Central (Facebook photo)

A church was the scene of a dispute between two Filipinas this morning who reportedly quarreled over the use of the LeaveHomeSafe app, and ended with one getting hurt and the other being sought by the police.

During the quarrel, one of the Filipinas, who is 30 years old, and a volunteer at the church, ended up being splashed with bleach on her face, and had to be sent to a hospital.

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The other Filipina, said to be in her 40s, about 1.6 meters tall, of “fat build” and was wearing black at the time of the incident, is said to be a churchgoer. She fled after the incident and is now being hunted down by the police.

According to a police spokeswoman, the incident happened outside St Joseph’s church on Garden Road, Central at around 7:30am today, Tuesday.

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After an argument erupted between the two women, the “wanted person” reportedly left the scene and came back shortly after with a glass of bleach, which she then splashed on the other woman’s face.

The wanted person then left.

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Staff of the church came to the assistance of the victim, and called the police. The victim was taken to Queen Mary Hospital where she was found to have suffered a “redness in the eye.”

Police are still looking for the alleged assailant and are investigating.

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