Guhit Kulay holds back-to-back shows at Para Site

 

  Fanatic Heart curator Cusson Cheng poses with GK members Marilyn Lopez, Christina Anire,     Cristina Cayat and Jonalyn Molina (Photo by Jonalyn Milante)

Guhit Kulay, a group made up of Filipino domestic workers, will hold the first screening of an animated film produced by its members at Para Site Hong Kong on Feb. 19. The project is in collaboration with Justyna Kabala, a curator and educator based in the United Kingdom.

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Guhit Kulay president Marilyn Lopez, along with members Maria Christina Anire, Jonalyn Molina, Marichel Tomines, and Cristina Cayat worked with Kabala through zoom for over a year to come up with the short film that focuses on the plight of domestic workers during the pandemic.

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The film touches on the workers’ mental and emotional health and how they were able to conquer their fear of uncertainty, including the possibility of losing their jobs, due to Covid.

The film runs for only 10 minutes but the event which starts at 3pm, will last for at least an hour as it will include 35 minutes of sharing with guests and moderators, and another 10 minutes of a question and answer session with the audience.

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Alongside the screening, the Fanatic Heart exhibition which is currently ongoing at Para Site art centre in Quarry Bay will continue to run until Feb. 26. Among the artists exhibiting at the invitation of curator Cusson Cheng are GK members Lopez, Anire, Molina and Cayat.

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The four are among 15 artists from Asia Pacific and the only Filipinos invited to take part in the exhibition which is Cheng’s curatorial debut.

Cheng worked with the artists involved through zoom initially, and got to see them face to face only midway through the preparation.

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The participating Filipino artists were asked to pick a topic from their personal background. Thus, Lopez created a sculpture that relates to the Black Nazarene, Anire painted a detailed art depicting a Babaylan or Filipino shaman, Molina painted a mestiza woman she called Marian Rivera, while Cayat referenced her Benguet heritage by using fabric to express her thoughts on the lost art of tattooing.

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Their works aim to interpret their understanding of the fandom culture in the Philippines.

To get to the Para Site art centre, take the MTR and get off at the Quarry Bay station, then take exit C to King’s Road. The address is 22^nd floor, Wing Wah Industrial Building, 677 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. 

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Non-vaccinated tourists may enter HK from Monday, no more tests to cross border

 

Starting on Monday, anyone can enter HK from abroad regardless of their vaccination status

Starting Monday, Feb. 6, anyone entering Hong Kong from overseas, including tourists, will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination. 

Currently, only Hong Kong residents are allowed to come in regardless of their vaccination status. Tourists are asked to show proof that they have taken at least two doses of a vaccine. 

However, according to a government statement issued today, the testing requirement for inbound travelers from overseas or Taiwan, will be maintained for now.

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This means, presenting a negative result for a PCR test taken within 48 hours before boarding a flight to Hong Kong, or a rapid antigen test taken 24 hours before boarding.

In reality, however, even this testing requirement is no longer being followed by most airlines, as most inbound travelers to Hong Kong since late December can attest.

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Earlier, Chief Executive John Lee also announced the much-anticipated lifting of all pre-departure testing requirements for those traveling between Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland.

But those who had been overseas places in the past seven days will still need to present a negative result for a PCR test done within 48 hours before departure from Hong Kong or Macau to the mainland.

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Travelers will also need to declare their health status when crossing the border. If they have fever they will be made to undergo testing by mainland customs – and if they test positive they can isolate at home or other places, or seek medical treatment.

Hong Kong and mainland officials also announced the scrapping of quotas for those crossing the border - and that all border crossing points, including Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau, will reopen.

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But as before, Hong Kong officials insisted that the pre-departure rapid antigen tests for travelers aged 3 and above who come from overseas and Taiwan will be kept, despite widespread reports that this is no longer being observed by airlines, or at Hong Kong airport.

They also said vaccination will continue to be a top priority, with residents being asked to undergo regular jabs in the future.

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With nearly all the pandemic restrictions about to be lifted, the only measure that remains is mandatory mask-wearing. Officials have said this will likely remain in place until after the winter, to prevent a possible rebound in Covid cases.

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14 people arrested in latest anti-illegal work raids

 

Immigration officers lead some of the suspects to their vehicle following an arrest

Immigration officers rounded up nine workers and five employers in their latest anti-illegal worker operations held for four days ending Feb. 2.

Those arrested were found in some of the 60 establishments that the officers raided all over Hong Kong in operations codenamed "Lightshadow", "Rally" and "Twilight" from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, the Immigration Department said.

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These target locations included a construction site, premises under renovation, a residential building, restaurants and retail stores.

Of the nine arrested for illegal work, four were men and five were women, aged 24 to 53.

Among them, three men and one woman were holders of recognizance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. These forms are issued to those claiming non-refoulement so that they will not be sent back to their countries of origin by force.

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One of the men was suspected of using a forged Hong Kong identity card and one woman was suspected of using a Hong Kong identity card in another person’s name. If convicted, they face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment.

Of those arrested for employing illegal workers, two were men and three women, aged 36 to 61. If convicted, they face a fine of up to $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment if convicted.

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Immigration said illegal workers as those not allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong because of their Immigration status.

"Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence,” Immigration said. “Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration.”

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It added: “Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The rule also applies to illegal immigrants, or whose who are the subjects of removal or deportation orders, overstayers or those refused permission to land.

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These “offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment,” it added.

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Case vs Filipina driver in Central car crash moved to District Court

 

Magsino on her way to her first court appearance after her arrest (The Standard photo)

The case against a 44-year-old Filipina domestic helper whose parked car had killed a French woman and caused serious injuries to four other people more than a year ago in Central, was transferred to the District Court today, Feb. 3.

Eastern Court Magistrate Jason Wan ordered the transfer to the higher court after prosecutors added a second charge against Reshielle Lagurin Magsino, who was, however, allowed to remain on bail until her next court appearance on Feb.23

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Magsino is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, after the car she had parked on Peel Street in Central at about 8pm on Dec 10, 2021, rolled down backwards at a fast clip, hitting a group of people standing at the junction with Staunton Street, before getting wedged on steel rails.

Among those hit was 27-year-old French woman Elodie Ma, who was rushed to Queen Mary Hospital in critical condition, and died less than 24 hours later.

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Initial police report said she was trapped under the vehicle with car plate FL9192, and had to be freed by a group of bystanders.

Dash cam in another vehicle recorded the exact moment the car hit a group of people on Staunton St

The police also said seven other people were injured, including another French woman who was also listed in critical condition initially.

But in court today, prosecutors added a second charge of “causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving” against Magsino and listed only four casualties: Truong Lise Pui Yee, Riachi Julien, Moroz Dean Ian and Hui Yat-yuen.

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The amended charges were translated and read out in Tagalog to Magsino, who looked distraught but answered calmly when asked if she understood what she was being accused of.

As the charges were not read out in their original English version, two court spectators, who turned out to be friends of the deceased Ma, scrambled to ask the interpreter outside court what had just transpired.

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Magistrate Wan told Magsino that because of the seriousness of the charges against her, the case would be transferred to a higher court, either for plea or for trial.

He told the defendant to attend the next court hearing at the District Court on Feb 23 at 9:30am so she can plead to the charges.

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If she planned to give an alibi, she needed to inform the prosecution at least 10 days before the next hearing. 

Meantime, if she needed a lawyer she could apply for one with the Legal Aid Department.

Magsino’s $10,000 bail was extended on the same conditions as before: that she would submit her travel document to court, not leave Hong Kong, remain at the Deepwater Bay address she had given, and report to the Aberdeen Police Station every Sunday, 6pm to 9pm.

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HK to give away 500k air tickets to tourists, 80k to residents

By The SUN

 

CE Lee (middle) says the tourism campaign is probably the world's biggest welcome ever

Hong Kong officials led by Chief Executive John Lee unveiled a massive tourism campaign earlier today, Feb. 2, which involves giving 500,000 free air tickets to visitors from overseas, and a million vouchers worth $100 each for them to spend during their visit here.

A further 80,000 air tickets will be given to residents in the summer, and an additional 80,000 reserved for visitors to the Greater Bay area.

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Speaking at the launching ceremony, Lee said the $100 million “Hello, Hong Kong” campaign is “probably, the world’s biggest welcome ever.”

The aim, he said, is to focus on four major areas that will put the international spotlight on Hong Kong again.

The free tickets will be distributed starting March 1 by Cathay Pacific, HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines through their overseas offices via lucky draws, games and “buy one get one free” promotions.

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They were bought by the Hong Kong Airport Authority about two years ago to help the airlines get over the financial difficulties wrought by the pandemic.

Fred Lam, chief executive officer of the Airport Authority, said each visitor who gets a free ticket would likely bring two or three companions along, which could result in 1.5 million people traveling to Hong Kong in total.

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This would account for about 10 percent of the expected arrivals in the city in the first half of the year.

Lam said the free economy round-trip tickets will be distributed in phases. In the first phase which starts on March 1, the tickets will be distributed to inbound travelers from Southeast Asia, - which includes the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

In the next phase which will take place in April and May the tickets will be handed out in Northeast Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, followed by mainland China.

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Residents will get their round-trip outbound tickets in July onwards.

“This is all part of the idea of 'Hello Hong Kong' within Hong Kong, so we also feel that perhaps this is a way to let Hong Kong people share the same joy that this campaign would bring about,” Lam said.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Board said it will hand out one million cash vouchers of at least $100 each, for tourists to use on drinks, food, shopping or transport.

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Visitors who will stay in the city for no more than 90 days starting at 5pm today can receive the $100 voucher along with a free drink and other goodies including an exclusive gift worth more than $100.

The goodies will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Visitors can collect a redemption card at four locations across the city including the airport, Hong Kong –Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Star Ferry pier in Tsim Sha Tsui, and West Kowloon’s high-speed railway terminus.

They will then have to register an account on the Tourism Board’s website using an overseas number, and scan the QR code on the redemption card to get the e-coupons for redeeming the free drink and gift at selected shops.

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Pilipino, pinayuhang pag-isipan muna ang pag-amin sa krimen

 

Ang kaguluhan ay nangyari sa tabi ng parkeng ito sa Wanchai

Handa na sanang umamin ngayon ang isang Pilipinong driver sangkot sa kasong pananakit, pero hindi ito pinansin ng isang mahistrado sa Eastern Court nang mapansin niyang wala itong abogado.

Nang tanungin si Delfin Villaremo,55 taong gulang, kung bakit wala siyang abugado, sumagot ito na wala siyang perang pambayad.

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Pero dahil libre naman ang serbisyo ng abogado sa ilalim ng Duty Lawyer Scheme sa mga nangangailangan, binigyan siya ni Magistrate Jason Wan ng pagkakataong makahingi ng payong legal.

“Karapatan mong ipagtanggol ang sarili sa isang korte,” ika ni Magistrate Wan. “Pero pinapayuhan kitang magkunsulta sa isang duty lawyer para sa iyong sariling kapakanan, lalo na kung umabot tayo sa paglilitis. Ang Duty Lawyer Scheme ay itinatag para sa mga taong walang kakayanang kumuha ng abogado.”

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Nang tanungin niya si Villaremo kung gusto niyang kumunsulta muna sa abogado, sumagot si Villaremo ng, “Yes, sir.”

Pinagpaliban muna ni Wan ang pagdinig sa kaso habang si Villaremo ay pumunta sa opisina ng Duty Lawyers' Service.

Samantala, ang isa pang akusado sa kaso na si Romeo Miranda, 45, isang construction worker, ay nagtagumpay sa kanyang hiling na payagan siyang magpiyansa, sa halagang $5,000.

Ito ang pangatlong beses na hiniling niya na palayain siya pansamantala para makita ang dalawang maliliit na anak. Nabigo siya sa unang dalawang beses na pagtatangka dahil sinalungat ito ng tagausig.

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Si Miranda ay nahaharap sa kasong wounding dahil hiniwa niya diumano ang mukha ng kapwa niya Pilipinong si Benson Jy Mateo gamit ang kutsilyo, sa gitna ng kaguluhan sa labas ng Tai Wo playground sa Wan Chai noong Oct. 9, 2022.

Si Villaremo naman ay inakusahang sinuntok ang isa pang Pilipino na si William L. Maun sa parehong insidente.

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Pagkatapos dinggin ni Wan ang ilan pang kaso, bumalik si Villaremo upang sabihing pinayuhan siya ng abogado niya na humingi ng anim na linggong pagpapaliban upang pag-aralan nito ang kanyang depensa. Hiningi rin niyang ituloy ang kanyang paglaya sa bisa ng piyansang $1,000.

Dito tumayo ang abogado ni Miranda na nagsabing hindi patas ang pagpapaliban ng kaso dahil noon pang Oktubre nakakulong ang kanyang kliyente.

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Iminungkahi ng abugado na payagang mag-piyansa ng $3,500 si Miranda sa kundisyon na ilalagak niya ang kanyang pasaporte sa korte, magre-report nang tatlong beses isang linggo sa Wanchai Police Station, at iiwasang makipag-ugnayan sa mga testigo laban sa kanya.

Sinalungat ito ng taga-usig na nagsabing mabigat ang kaso ni Miranda, at malakas ang ebidensiya laban sa kanya.

Pero sa huli ay nagdesisyon si Wan na payagang magpiyansa si Miranda sa halagang  $5,000 at sumunod sa mga kundisyong iminungkahi ng kanyang abogado. Itinuloy din nya ang piyansa ni Villaremo.

Itinakda niya ang susunod na pagdinig sa May 16.

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Pilipinong nabaril sa Peng Chau, di nakarating sa korte dahil nasa ospital pa rin

 

Sa lugar na ito nabaril ng pulis si Arimas nang tatlong beses

Muling pinagpaliban ang pagdinig sa kasong isinampa sa isang Pilipinong negosyante na nabaril ng tatlong beses sa Peng Chau noong gabi ng Jan. 24 matapos daw nitong sakalin at itulak sa hagdanan ang isang pulis.

Ayon sa tagausig, nasa ospital pa rin si Oliver Dairo Arimas, 43 taong gulang, kaya hindi nakaharap sa Eastern Magistracy kanina.

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Nahaharap si Arimas sa kasong “assault with intent to prevent lawful apprehension” o pananakit  na ang intension ay pigilan ang pag-aresto sa kanya nang naaayon sa batas.

Sa hiling ng tagausig ay inutos ni Magistrate Jason Wan na ipagpaliban ang pagdinig sa kaso sa Feb. 6, o mas maaga pa, sakaling payagan nang lumabas sa ospital si Arimas.

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Pero makalabas man sa ospital ay mananatili pa ring arestado ang Pilipino hanggang dinidinig ang kanyang kaso.

Ayon sa mga pulis, nangyari ang pagbaril kay Arimas matapos ireklamo ang diumano pag-iingay nito at iba pang mga Pilipino habang nag-iinuman sila sa isang kuwarto sa second floor ng No 6 Wing On Street sa Peng Chau bandang 10:40 ng gabi sa ikalawang araw ng Chinese New Year.

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Dalawang beses na daw silang pinuntahan ng mga pulis dahil sa reklamo pero nagpatuloy pa rin sila sa pag-iingay.

Imbes tumigil ay pinagtulakan daw nito ang isang pulis at dinakma sa leeg kaya napilitan itong paputukan siya ng tatlong beses, na tumama lahat sa katawan niya.

Itinakbo si Arimas sa Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital na kritikal ang kalagayan, bagamat matapos ang ilang araw ay ibinalitang bumuti na nang bahagya ang kundisyon nito.

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May isa pang Pilipinong kainuman ni Arimas na inaresto din ngunit pinayagang magpiyansa ng mga pulis at hindi kinasuhan.

Marami ang umalma sa dami ng bala na pinaulan sa katawan ni Arimas, dahilan para magbigay ng pormal na pahayag ang pulis na naayon sa batas ang ginawa ng tauhan nilang tinawag lang na “SPC 47299”. Malaking tao daw si Arimas, kaya kinailangang magpaputok ng pulis para depensahan ang sarili.

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