ATIS-HK, 30 taon na!

 

Masaya ang naging pagdaraos ng ika-30 anibersaryo ng ATIS HK sa Victoria Park

Tagumpay na nairaos ng mga miyembro Abra-Tingguian Ilocano Society (o ATIS) Hong Kong ang selebrasyon ng kanilang ika-30 taong anibersaryo sa Victoria Park sa Causeway Bay nitong Linggo,  Nov 20.

Buong-galak na sinalubong ng kanilang pangulong si Ludy Guinaban ang may 100 katao na nagtipon-tipon para samahan sila sa pagdiriwang ng isa sa pinakamahalagang okasyon para sa kanilang grupo.

Aniya, tatlong taon nilang hindi naisagawa ang nakagawian nilang malakihang pagtitipon para ipagdiwang ang kanilang anibersaryo ng dahil sa pandemya, kaya natutuwa siya na nagawa nila ito ngayon, sa kanilang ika-30 taong anibersaryo.

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Isang hamon naman sa grupo ang naging mensahe ng kanilang tampok na panauhin na si Cynthia Tellez, general manager ng Mission for Migrant Workers.

Pagkatapos niyang batiin ang ATIS sa pagiging matatag nito sa loob ng nagdaang tatlong dekada ay sinabi niya na sana ay makahanap pa sila ng mas makahanap pa sila ng bagong paraan para mahikayat na sumapi sa kanila hindi lang mga taga Abra, kundi pati yung mula sa iba pang parte ng Pilipinas.

“Pero kaya pa ninyong pasidhiin, kaya pa ninyong payabungin (ang inyong grupo),” sabi ni Tellez, gaya daw ng tema ng kanilang pagdiriwang na “Advancing the rights and welfare of migrants and their families.”

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Dagdag pa niya, kailangan ng kasapian na pakinggan pa nang mas mabuti ang mga pananaw ng mga miyembro, kahit yung taliwas sa sarili nilang adhikain; pero kasabay nito ay dapat din nilang ipaunawa na mahalaga na ang katotohanan lang ang kanilang dapat paniwalaan.

“Unity, truth and peace with justice” (pagkakaisa, katototahan, at katiwasayan na may hustisya) – ito daw ang dapat na maging sandigan ng grupo.

“Walang imposible sa ATIS,” sabi ni Tellez bilang pangwakas.

Nakisali si Tellez (may ribbon) sa pagsasayaw ng katutubong sayaw ng mga Abraeno

Ang isa pang tagapagsalita, si Eman Villanueva, pinuno ng Bayan Hong Kong at Macau at isa sa mga pangunahing lider ng mga migrante sa Hong Kong, ang nagbigay-pugay naman sa tatag ng ATIS.

Marami nang mga organisasyon ang nabuwag nang dahil sa usapin sa pera o intriga, sabi niya, pero nanatiling buo at matatag ang ATIS sa loob ng 30 taon.

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Sa tagal ng kanilang pagsasama ay napatunayan nila na ang kanilang grupo ay nabubuhay dahil sa malalim na prinsipyo ng pangangalaga at pagsasamahan, dagdag ni Villanueva.

Pinuri naman ni Daisy CL Mandap, editor ng The SUN, ang husay ng pamamahala ng mga lider ng ATIS mula sa founder nilang si Caring Bachiller, dating president na si Vicky Cabantac, hanggang sa kasalukuyang pamunuan, dahilan para patuloy na maging matatag ang grupo.

Bukod sa pagtutok sa mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga miyembro at kababayan ay aktibo din sila sa pagpapalalaganap ng mga makatotohanang pananaw sa mga usapin na may kinalaman sa mga migrante at pati na ng lahat ng mga Pilipino.

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Hindi daw makakalimutan ng The SUN na sa pagpili nila ng pinakamahusay na grupo ng mga migrante may 20 taon na ang nakakaraan ay ang ATIS agad ang lumutang na panalo dahil sa dami ng kanilang mga makabuluhang proyekto hindi lang sa Abra kundi pati sa Hong Kong.

Ang pasinaya ay tinampukan din ng pag-aabot ng mga premyo ng mga nanalo sa patimpalak para sa Miss Atis 2022, na nauna nang napili sa pamamagitan ng balota.

Ang nagkamit ng titulo ay si Marielle S. Lingbaoan ng Licuan-Baay HK Association, pumangalawa si Faye Averille B. Tacanay ng Bangued Migrants Organization, pangatlo si Marisol C. Bites ng Timpuyog ti Tayun at pang-apat si Jellybin T. Balbalec ng Lagangilang Overseas Association.

Kasali din sina Shirley G. Biares na taga Manabo, Joanalyne Mae A. Dreu ng La Paz, at Liwanag T. Pacios ng San Juan.

Napili ng mga hurado si Biares para sa kategoryang Miss Congeniality at si Balbalec para sa Best in Ethnic Attire.

Natapos ang pagdiriwang sa masayang kainan at pagpapakuha ng litrato ng lahat ng mga dumalo.

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March 6-7 trial set for Filipino accused of threatening Consulate staff

By The SUN

Bondoc is accused of entering the Consulate 3x to threaten staff  (File)

The case against a Filipino accused of entering the Philippine Consulate three times last February and March, and threatening its staff, will be tried on March 6-7 next year, with Eastern Court Principal Magistrate Ada Yim telling both prosecution and defense to ensure it pushes through.

“We do not want this to be a test of memory of the the defendant and prosecution witnesses,” she told both sides after noting that due to postponements, the trial would be held one year after  the incident that gave rise to three criminal charges against Ronald Bondoc, 41 years old.

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Bondoc, whose bail of $500 was extended, is accused of criminal intimidation for a telephone call last Jan. 22 in which he threatened a female staff member, Lhyndzie Anne M. Orozco, with “injury to the property of the Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong” and with injury to a male employee identified as Arnel.

He is also accused of common assault for returning to the Consulate two days later and pushing down to the floor a male employee named Edmound Cortes.

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The third charge, loitering causing concern, arose from his returning to the Consulate on March 28, causing “any person reasonably to be concerned for his safety or well-being.”

The defense lawyer said only Bondoc will testify on his behalf to explain his behavior.

He also said defense will question the admissibility of a voice recording to be presented as evidence for the first charge, saying the way it was recorded – using a mobile phone to record the telephone conversation between Bondoc and Orozco – makes it susceptible to tampering.

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But Magistrate Yim told the defense lawyer to prove his assertion with evidence during the trial.

She also advised the prosecution to serve a copy of any new witness statement to the defense by Dec. 28.

The trial was supposed to have been held last Oct. 30 in Court No. 5 but was adjourned to today due to a delay in getting permission from the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines to allow Orozco, an attache with diplomatic status, to testify.

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When both sides appeared, and the prosecutor said the prosecution witnesses were ready, presiding magistrate Philip Chan sent the case back to Magistrate Yim’s Court 1 so that a new trial schedule could be set.

“I don’t want this trial to be aborted because of this issue,” she said, referring to the problem with the witness.

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Chief Executive John Lee tests positive for Covid-19

 

 

CE Lee with his officials who joined him on the visit to Bangkok (Govt file photo)

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has tested positive for Covid-19 on his arrival last night, Nov. 20, from his first overseas trip as the city’s leader.

His office made the announcement early this morning through a press release posted on the government’s news site.

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The statement said the Chief Executive is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection but will work from home, and attend meetings via videoconferencing if needed.

The results of his daily antigen tests conducted during his four-day visit to Bangkok had all been negative.

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During his visit, he attended the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) summit and met with various leaders in the region, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He spent the last day of his trip visiting two major Thai companies, as part of the city’s bid to expand trade ties.

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Speaking to reporters at the end of the two-day conference, Lee had said he had separate meetings with the leaders of Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam, and they had agreed to strengthen ties.

He also said he had updated President Xi on the latest situation in Hong Kong, and that the latter encouraged him to keep up his hard work.

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According to the government statement, all officials who accompanied CE Lee on the trip to Thailand all tested negative through PCR tests done on their arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport.

CHP is still assessing whether they should be classified as close contacts, but have been told to temporarily work from home until the assessment is completed.

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Fr. Emil back in HK, but stay to last only 2 weeks

 

Parishioneers of St. Jude’s Church in North Point were pleasantly surprised to hear a familiar voice from the altar during the English Mass at noon today.

And when, starting his homily at the pulpit, he said he was glad to be back, the church burst into applause as the parishioners confirmed it was Fr. Emil Lim, Filipino chaplain for 10 years until 2014 when he had to go to Rome for further studies and later as parish priest of St. Jude’s Church near Malacanang in Manila.

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Although he was Filipino chaplain for 10 years, Fr. Emil actually lived in Hong Kong for twice that long, during which he learned to speak fluent Cantonese.

In this trip, however, Fr. Emil will be in Hong Kong only until Dec. 5.

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“My travel documents are expiring,” he said as he was being mobbed outside the church by those who remembered him.

He said he is in Hong Kong to relieve work pressure from the current Filipino chaplain. Fr. Jay Flandez, who took over from him in 2014.

“We’re really shorthanded in Hong Kong,” he said.

Among other things, he would take over the mass scheduled to be handed by Fr. Flandez for two Sundays. Both are members of the Missionary Society of the Divine Word.

After saying Mass at St. Jude’s, he proceeded to St. Joseph’s Church in Central to say the 2:20 pm and 4 pm Masses.

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Before he left Hong Kong, Fr Lim told the Mabuhay page of the Catholic newspaper Sunday Examiner, that he asked to be replaced to allow for a change both for him and the Filipino people in Hong Kong.

"It is time for the chaplaincy to have new ideas and new energy," he said then. "If a priest stays too long, it is the people he serves who will suffer".

There was no question. however, that he was popular to the community that he served and even the locals.

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Aside from doing the usual hospital and prison visits, Fr. Emil also took an active part in such activities as the Philippine Independence Day celebration, the midnight mass in Chater Garden, and even with information dissemination for registration of overseas voters.

In 2013, he introduced a new initiative to bring Filipino Catholic couples closer to the church by organizing the "Kasal ng Bayan", the first mass wedding of Filipinos in Hong Kong.

 

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But what makes him stand out as a priest and chaplain is his courage in speaking out on issues that affect the community he has sworn to serve.

Many residents will always remember the time he spoke with palpable passion and concern at a meeting called at the Consulate in April 2009 to denounce a Hong Kong columnist who had called the Philippines "a nation of slaves". Later, he helped organize one of the biggest delegations of Catholics to a rally called for the same purpose.

Later, Fr. Emil also bravely took to the front line of another rally called to denounce anti-migrant policies by the government.

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Filipino fest and fund-raising show for St Joseph’s Church set on Dec 4-5

By The SUN 

The renovation work at St Joseph's Church is estimated to cost $25 million

A weekend Filipino festival is set to be held on December 4 and 5 to wrap up the 150^th anniversary celebration of St Joseph’s Church, one of the oldest churches in Hong Kong.

The event will be held on the church grounds throughout both days, and will feature booths, performances and a chance for worshippers to get together ahead of the Christmas holidays.

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The celebration is also intended to raise much-needed funds for the 54-year-old church building which has been undergoing renovation in recent months to address problems of water seepage, electrical re-wiring, security upgrade, and refurbishment of its facilities,

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A letter sent out by parish priest Fr. Joseph Tan Leitao, SVD, said that the $25-million renovation plan is aimed at making St Joseph’s Church a “Home Away From Home” for parishioners, particularly Filipino migrant workers who comprise the bulk of those who regularly attend masses there.

In line with this plan, a San Lorenzo Ruiz Corner will be set up beside the “bahay kubo” that was recently built in the church compound. A footpath from the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto will also be laid, linking it to three new bronze statues – that of St Joseph, Resurrection Jesus and the Black Nazarene.

Donors who give a specified amount will get to have their names printed on metal plates to be placed at the bottom of the statues.

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The two-day event will start with a mass at 10:30 am on Saturday, with Fr. Leitao officiating. This will be followed with the cutting of the ribbon to mark the start of the festivities, with Consul General Raly Tejada doing the honors.

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On both days, there will be performances by church-based groups as well as community organizations, and various products will be sold at the booths to help in the fund-raising.

The fund-raising poster for St Joseph's

The event is organized by Jong Inocencio and his VIP group and supported by the Philippine Association of Hong Kong, Wimler, Photographers and Guitar Students Groups, TFC, PTS and Metroplus Radio 1044, PNB, PLDT and USend.

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For information on how to make a donation, please call 2522 3992 or 9195 9040.

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Hospital chief warns new Covid surge may lead to cut in services

By The SUN

 

Public hospitals have been taking in 360 new Covid-19 patients each day (File)

Hospital Authority Chief Executive Tony Ko has warned that some non-emergency services may have to be cut again amid a continuing surge in Covid-19 infections.

His comments came as the Centre for Health Protection reported a daily tally of 8,060 on Saturday, the third consecutive day that the caseload has topped 8,000. Public hospitals also said they are admitting more than 360 new Covid patients each day.

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Among those who were recently infected were at least five foreign domestic workers staying in two shelters, one in Kowloon and the other on Hong Kong island. They were all taken to Penny’s Bay for isolation as they only had mild symptoms.

Speaking to reporters after a radio program, Ko also said more elderly patients are seeking treatment due to long Covid symptoms.

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The patients complain of having lost their appetite and are experiencing mobility problems.

Ko said there has been a significant increase in the number of cases in the past two weeks, and that the surge has been more rapid than what was recorded two months ago.

"If the number remains high, or even further increases, inevitably we will have to reduce part of our elective service, for example, elective surgeries or elective diagnostics, to allow us to have adequate manpower to deal with the recent surge," he said.

Ko said the HA has been sending patients to private hospitals so they could continue being looked after, while private doctors and organizations have been tapped to help with elderly care and telemedicine services.

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Meanwhile, the CHP said the latest Covid caseload included 7,559 locally acquired infections and 501 that were imported.

Among the additional imported cases, 241 were detected at the airport, 173 were from samples taken during Day 1 to Day 3, and the remaining 87 were from Days 4 to 7.

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Most of the new cases involve the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron mutant strains.

Nine more Covid patients died as of the latest count.

A total of 2,407 patients are currently receiving treatment in public hospitals, including 308 new patients. In the past 24 hours, 256 patients have recovered, including 211 who have been discharged.

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Among the patients in hospitals, 44 are in critical condition and 48 are in serious condition.

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