$50 bail gets Filipina freed in $90 theft case

 

The alleged theft happened in this Tseung Kwan O estate (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina has been freed after posting bail of $50 for two theft charges based on a complaint by her former employer.

The case against A. Delon, 36 years old, was adjourned to Jan. 13 next year after she appeared on Thursday (Dec. 12) in Kwun Tong court before Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie.

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The first charge in the complaint filed by Tseung Kwan O police last Oct. 17, was based on Delon's employer Chen Tianyan's accusation that she stole one face mask costing $30 and a Dove hair conditioner worth $30.

In the second charge, Delon was accused by her employer of stealing one Dove hair conditioner worth $30.

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The alleged thefts happened on Sept. 14 and 15 inside Chen’s flat in Tower 3, Monterey, Tong Chun St., Tseung Kwan O.

Meanwhile, prosecutors withdrew a theft charge against F. Cac, 47 years old, after she agreed in Eastern Court to a bind-over agreement under which she would be fined $1,000 if she reoffends.

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In addition, she was made by Principal Magistrate Don So to pay compensation of $500 to the person she was accused of stealing the amount, Lu Wentao.

The alleged theft happened in a Wellcome store on Queen’s Road West, Western District last Sept. 30.

 

Coldest day this winter recorded in HK today

 

It will be even colder in higher places or those in wide, open areas like Disneyland

The Hong Kong Observatory said the temperature dipped to 13.8 degrees in the urban areas this morning, Saturday, the lowest so far this winter.

It was much colder in some parts of the territory, however, with temperatures dropping to a as low as 3.3 degrees in Tai Mo Shan and around 12 degrees in other parts of the New Territories.

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Tomorrow  is forecast to be even colder as a strong northeast monsoon comes closer to Hong Kong. Temperatures will dip to between 12 and 17 degrees in the city, and a couple of degrees lower in the New Territories, especially on high ground.

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The daytime temperatures will rise gradually early next week, but it will remain cool in the morning and at night.

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Temperatures will range between 14 and 19 degrees on Monday, rising to 16 and 22 degrees on Friday, before dipping a few degrees lower for the rest of the week.

14 persons arrested in latest anti-illegal work sweep

 

One of the women arrested for suspected illegal work is led away

A total of 10 suspected illegal workers, three employers and one aider and abettor, were arrested in a series of territory-wide operations conducted by the Immigration Department over four days,  from Dec. 9 to 14.

In the first phase 13 premises were targeted in different location, including hotels, restaurants and flats under renovation.

Two suspected illegal workers, one man and woman aged 38 and 41 were arrested, along with a 55-year-old woman suspected of employing them.

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Separately, 24 locations in Eastern and Western districts were located, resulting in the arrest of eight suspected illegal workers, two employers and one aider and abettor.

The suspected illegal workers comprised five men and three women, aged 29 to 57. Among them, two men and one woman were found to possess forged Hong Kong identity cards.

Two men, aged 29 and 41, who were suspected of employing the illegal workers, were also arrested. Another man,  aged 65, was also detained on suspicion of aiding and abetting a person in breaching the condition of stay in Hong Kong.

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Illegal work is a serious offence in Hong Kong, for which an immediate custodial  sentence of up to two years and a maximum fine of $50,000 is prescribed.

The length of imprisonment could go up to the three years if the offender is an overstayer, illegal immigrant or a refugee.

Those found to be in possession or have used a fake Hong Kong ID card, or one belonging to another person, could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $100,000.

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Employers  are meted the highest sentence, with the prescribed maximum fine of $500,000 and 10 years in prison.

DH jailed 16 months for money laundering, 2 others await sentence

 

File photo from HK Monetary Authority

A domestic helper became the latest Filipina to be jailed for money laundering after she pleaded guilty at West Kowloon court Friday (Dec. 13).

Alma Natano, 36 years old, was jailed for 16 months after she admitted to dealing with a total of  $1,272,079.08 that flowed in and out of her Bank of China account from March 29 to April 18, 2021.

The offence violates the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance which imposes a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail and a $5 million fine. 

On Thursday, a District Court judge divulged that the Court of Appeals has recently adopted sentencing guidelines that raised the jail term for people found guilty of money laundering, due to the rising prevalence of the offence.

Two other DHs also pleaded guilty Friday at Kwun Tong Court and were detained until their sentencing which was put off pending a background review. 

Separately, the trial of another Filipina who pleaded not guilty at Eastern Court ended on the same day, with the verdict scheduled for Jan. 21 next year. 

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Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi imposed a starting point of 24 months' jail on Natano, but gave her one-third discount for her guilty plea. 

In  Kwun Tong court,  Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie put off the sentencing of Katrina Zafra and Antoneth Libaten to Dec. 27 for a background review.

“I need to get information on your background first,” Magistrate Leung said. 

The two Filipinas claimed they had lent their ATM cards to friends who asked for help, In mitigation, their long-time employers sent letters to the court, praising them for their honesty and diligence.

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Zafra and Libaten were detained in the meantime, along with Indonesian DH Sugiarti. Their bank accounts were found to have been used in dealing with money obtained from the same victim in a scam.

Their Chinese co-defendant Lui Shu-wa, was freed on $5,000 bail while her case was adjourned to Feb. 14 next year for further legal advice.

According to the information read out in court, Zafra, 40 years old, handled $539,294.72 through her Hang Seng Bank account, after she lent her ATM card to a certain Estella Corpus. Zafra was said to have been helped in the transaction by a certain Valentin Sunday.

In mitigation, her lawyer said Zafra has worked for the same employer since she arrived in Hong Kong in 2013, taking care of an elderly couple, 79 and 68 years old, and a dog. 

Her employer asked the court to be lenient to her, and vowed to ask the Immigration Department for authority to resume her employment after her release from prison.

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Libaten, 44 years old, handled $1,023,500 through deposits and withdrawals in her HSBC account from 8^th to 15^th of June 2021. She lent her ATM card to Sunday, who said he needed it to remit money to his family.

“She was only helping out,” her lawyer said to describe Libaten, who arrived in Hong Kong in 2009 and had been with one employer for 12 years before she was terminated because of this case.

Over at Eastern Court, Marjorie Tayaoa, 44 years old, went through trial after she pleaded not guilty to handling a total of 1,136, 868.02 using her Mox Bank account from July 20 to Aug. 1, 2023.

She was remanded in jail until Deputy Magistrate Paul Yip hands down his verdict on Jan. 21.

Enjoy the ‘snow’ and lots of shopping in HK this Christmas

 

'Snow' first fell on Lee Tung Avenue last weekend

Are you one of those wishing for a White Christmas in Hong Kong? Fret no more, as you can experience the thrill of being covered with frothy white ‘snow” this weekend on Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai.

The popular snow show at the festive street is held every Friday,  Saturday and Sunday, as well as on public holidays and New Year’s Eve, every 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm, with each lasting 15 minutes.

The show will be extra special on Dec 25, Christmas, as it will be accompanied by an appearance by Sinterklaas and a masquerade ball.

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Throughout the festive season until Jan. 1 the popular thoroughfare will be adorned with beautiful Christmas decorations, including stunning light installations inspired by Belgian lace, featuring a 27-meter long arch and an eight-meter-high Christmas tree.

There will also be interactive workshops and live performances, including music by Belgian artists, and a magic show.

Before heading out to Lee Tung for the snow show, you may want to hop on a bus to Stanley Market, where the popular Christmas market will be held for the next two weekends, or on Dec 14-15 and Dec 21 to 26.

Stanley Market adopts Black Gold theme for its Christmas bazaar this yeat

The Noir Gold (Black Gold) Christmas Soiree features over 120 stalls spread across the open-air amphitheatre and Murray House by the beach where visitors can shop for a variety of holiday goodies and handicraft, and enjoy live performances by Ramon Lo from Midline, Sing & Shine.

There will also be a charity sale with all proceeds going to the Little Life Warriors Society.

Stanley Plaza is offering complimentary shuttle bus services to and from Admiralty (outside Admiralty Centre MTR station exit A) and Oi Tung Shopping Centre in Shau Kei Wan during the event. The free shuttle bus will be available every 30minutes from 12pm to 7pm.

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At the nearby Repulse Bay, there will also be one-day Christmas market on Sunday, Dec 15.

Shops at The Marquee and The Seaview Terrace will offer products made by some of Hong Kong’s finest crafters and artisans, including Handmade Hong Kong, CRAFTY BITCH, Yan’s Yarn Crafts, and others.

The West Kowloon Cultural District is also holding its own Christmas Market, which is set to run until Dec. 19.

The market features around 30 specialty stalls selling a wide variety of festive treats, drinks and holiday gifts.

From Dec 21 to Jan 25, 2025, the world-famous Big Bounce World Tour from the United States will also hold shows at the Great Lawn of the WestK Art Park.

Anyone who wants to feel the Christmas  spirit may just drop in
at any mall, including this one at Citygate in Tung Chung

Over at K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui, its popular Christmas Village will return bigger than ever, from Dec 20 to Jan 1, 2025. Entrance is free.

More than 50 local and international lifestyle brands will be putting up products on sale, along with stalls offering festive food and beverages around the mall.

A unique Multicultural Christmas Market by Africa Center HK will also be held on Saturday, Dec. 21, starting at 2pm.

The fair which will be held on the 8^th floor of the Breakthrough Centre at 191 Woosung Street in Jordan, will feature a diverse array of vendors selling accessories, clothing, food and drinks, mostly from Africa.

Those who want to enjoy a specialty meal can book tables at the Centre for a Pan-African Lunch or Ghanaian dinner at $150-$180 per head.

Those who live on Hong Kong island may opt to soak in the festive spirit at  the Murray Christmas Village Market at The Murray on Cotton Tree Drive in Central. The bazaar which opened last weekend, and will reopen on Dec 13-15 and 20-22.

Unique Christmas gift ideas and home decors will be on sale, including perfumes, wines, gourmet treats, photography, and jewelry from renowned brands like Azquare Circle Ltd, CANDLE UP, and Deror Jewellery.

Shoppers can enjoy mulled wine while browsing, and may even be offered complimentary hand massages!

A one-day Christmas pop-up market will also be held by Women of Hong Kong on Dec 14, 12noon to 5pm, at The Women's Lounge, 4th floor, Hollywood Commercial House, 3-5 Old Bailey St, Central.

The market features goods by local craftsmen, including gemstone jewelry, scented candles and gourmet deli treats. Kids get a face-painting treat from by Soosdoodle, while grown-ups sip free hot chocolate or mulled wine, which is free for the first 100 attendees.

The Gold Coast in Tuen Mun is also holding its Christmas Market at the Piazza on weekends until Dec 22.

A wide array of locally made products and other unique gift ideas will be available, along with one-of-a-kind confectionery, desserts, and festive goodies.

In many other places, including theme parks like Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, special treats are also in store for guests. Check out their websites for their holiday offerings this Christmas season.

 

Pinoy gets 2 months, 1 week for “Peeping Tom”, drug charges

 

The alleged peeping incident happened inside this Kwai Chung mall

A Filipino asylum seeker originally hailed to court on a voyeurism charge at West Kowloon Court, was sentenced yesterday, Thursday, to two months and one week’s imprisonment on three charges -- after spending almost six months in jail.

F. Magallanes, 34 years old and holder of a recognizance form as identity document, had earlier pleaded guilty to voyeurism, possession of a dangerous drug and possession of an apparatus fit and intended for the ingestion of dangerous drug.

Magallanes was remanded in jail custody when his case was adjourned last June 25 after being charged with “surreptitiously“ observing a woman identified as X while she was relieving herself last June 25 at a women’s toilet on the third floor of Kwai Chung Plaza, a mall in Kwai Chung, New Territories, in violation of Section 159AAB or Section 159AAC of the Crimes Ordinance.

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When he appeared at West Kowloon court again on Aug. 28, he faced two additional charges of violating the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, resulting in his being returned to jail until his case is finished.

He was accused of possessing 0.13 gram of methamphetamine hydrochloride in a plastic bag found in his pocket while he was being investigated for the “Peeping Tom” charge at the Police Room of the Kwai Chung MTR station last June 25.

Also found on him was a straw and an ice bottle, used for inhaling meth.

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“Considering the seriousness of charges you are facing, the only sentence I think appropriate is a prison term,” Magistrate Li told him.

After deducting one third of the penalty for Magallanes’ guilty pleas, Li jailed him for two weeks for the “Peeping Tom” charge, and two months for each of the drug charges.

Li also ordered that the sentences for the drug cases run at the same time, along with half of the voyeurism penalty, leaving a final sentence of two months and one week.

Suspended 10-week jail sentence for inhaling meth

 

Photo from Narcotics Division 

A Filipina who uses a recognizance form as identification document, avoided jail today when her 10-week sentence for inhaling a dangerous drug was suspended by 18 months.

Maricris Soliano, 42 years old, was charged with inhaling methamphetamine from an unknown date in February 2023 to June 2023.

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She pleaded guilty in a hearing at the West Kowloon Court.

Magistrate Vivian Ho suspended her sentence for 18 months, admonishing her not to reoffend within the next one and a half years or else she would be jailed for 10 weeks in addition to serving the penalty for her new offense.

HK courts to impose higher sentences for money laundering offences

 

The stricter penalties were announced in a District Court case involving $8.8M in illicit funds

The Department of Justice in Hong Kong is seeking to get higher sentences imposed on people found guilty of money laundering,  in line with new sentencing guidelines set by the Court of Appeal.

This was disclosed in today’s hearing of a case filed against Filipina Lynie B. Acosta, who is charged with three counts of money laundering involving a total of $8.83 million, the highest amount ever recorded for a case involving a foreign domestic helper.

District Court Judge Wong Kwai Kin told 39-year-old Acosta that she will be facing a higher sentence, as advised in a letter sent to her by the DOJ, citing the new guidelines set by the CA as a result of the growing prevalence of money laundering cases in the community.

The gravity of the sentence will depend on the amount involved, and could be mitigated if the accused pleads guilty to the offence. 

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Judge Wong then granted Acosta’s application for an adjournment so she could seek further legal advice. He set the next hearing on Feb. 25 next year and remanded her in custody, after noting that she failed to meet the $100,000 bail recommended for her temporary release by a magistrate earlier.

During the hearing on Oct 3 before Principal Magistrate Don So at Eastern Court, Acosta offered to post a $5,000 bail, saying her employer needed her help in looking after her son and sick mother.

Acosta’s lawyer also told the court her husband died recently in the Philippines, and she was desperate to continue working to pay off the hospital and burial bills and support her children.

Magistrate So said he would allow Acosta to post bail, but raised the amount to $100,000.

The Filipina faces three counts of dealing with “property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offense,” otherwise known as money laundering, n violation of section 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

She is charged with dealing with a total amount $8,597,833.36 in her Mox bank account between March 25 and May 19, 2023. She is alleged to have dealt with the money with the help of two persons, one named Jane Corpuz and another unknown.

The same persons were also cited as having helped Acosta deal with $192,940.08 in her account with Standard Chartered Bank, and with $45,100.78 in her account with with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, both on March 31, 2023.

Under the Ordinance, the maximum sentence for money laundering is imprisonment for 14 years and a fine of $5 million.

One of the highest sentences on record was that imposed on former employment agency owner Ester Ylagan, who was ordered jailed for 32 months in Febuary this year. 

Ylagan admitted laundering a total of $5.7 million, which she made by offering non-existent jobs in Canada and United Kingdom to Filipinos in Hong Kong and Macau.

66-year-old Filipino gets 24 years in jail for drug trafficking

 

The sentencing was held at the Court of First Instance in the High Court

An uneasy silence followed the pronouncement today of a 24-year jail term for 66-year-old Antonio S. Leybag, Jr., a Filipino tourist who was found guilty after trial of trafficking nearly four kilos of cocaine into Hong Kong more than two years ago.

Everyone who attended the sentencing at the Court of First Instance was acutely aware of what Judge Amanda Woodcock had said in passing - that Leybag, given his advanced age, would probably spend the rest of his life in a Hong Kong jail.

But Judge Woodcock said the sentence followed the guidelines set down by the Court of Appeal for cocaine trafficking, and there being not much to be said in terms of mitigation in the case.

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Leybag had maintained his innocence throughout the five-day trial, saying he had thought all along that the two bags he was made to carry from Sao Paulo to Dubai and then Hong Kong, contained only important documents.

Despite this, a jury made up of six men and one woman voted 6-1 in favor of convicting him of drug trafficking, after deliberating for about half a day on Tuesday.

Judge Woodcock said that for cocaine trafficking in which the amount involved was between 1,200 to 4,000 grams, the prescribed sentence is between 23 and 26 years. As Leybag had brought in nearly 4 kilos of cocaine, the correct sentence, “mathematically speaking,” should be well over 25 years.

“But I will proceed on the basis that he was a drug courier,” the judge said, before setting down a starting point of 24 years’ imprisonment, with no mitigating or aggravating factor being considered.

Under Hong Kong laws, the maximum sentence that can be imposed in cases of drug trafficking is  life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.

Leybag hardly showed any emotion after the sentencing, although he was immediately approached by the defense team and the interpreters who offered him words of comfort before he was led away.

The Ilocano-speaking Leybag was described in court as a mechanical engineer who had previously worked in the Middle East. He is married with seven grown-up children. However, no one from his family was in court during his trial.

The 9 parcels of cocaine found in Leybag's luggage

He was stopped on his way out of Hong Kong International Airport on May 23, 2022, during a random check by customs authorities.

A secondary inspection of a briefcase and a small suitcase he was carrying yielded nine packets of cocaine hidden inside glued compartments of the two bags which altogether weighed 3.95 kilos.

Prosecutor Lawrence Hui said the market value of the drugs was $3.588 million.

When questioned, Leybag admitted being paid US$1,000 by a man called Johnson Wilson in Brazil to hand carry the bags to Dubai and then Hong Kong, but thought they contained only important documents.

He said Mr Wilson had invited him to go to Brazil to inspect houses which, upon questioning by the prosecution, were said to be owned by “Sotheby’s” and cost tens of millions. This was because of his work experience and his having a construction business in the Philippines, said Leybag.

He said it was the third time he had gone to Brazil, but he was not asked to carry documents during his two previous trips.

Hui, however, revealed text exchanges between Leybag and the man he called Mr Wilson, in which the defendant was given detailed instructions on what he must do during his trip. They included a reminder that Leybag must not show the “documents” to immigration officers in Dubai and Hong Kong.

Hui said the term “document” referred to the drugs in the bags which Leybag must have known about. But Leybag said it referred to his passport, air tickets and his PCR test result, as it was then the height of the pandemic.

Leybag insisted he did not know about the drugs, and he was not in the habit of lying as he is a Christian.

Leybag arrived in Hong Kong on board a Qatar Airways flight from Doha at about 5pm on May 23, 2022. He had flown out originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and passed Doha on the way to Hong Kong.

One  of  the customs officers who arrested him said Leybag  had used the “green lane”” which is reserved for travelers who do not have dutiable goods to declare to customs.

After his bags were put through an X-ray machine, the officer saw some items inside that were not readily apparent from the outside. The suitcase was also unusually heavy.

On inspection, the officer noted that the inside flaps of the suitcase had been glued shut. A hole was then punched into the top of the suitcase, and white powder trickled out. The nine packets of cocaine were eventually found hidden in the two bags.

 

Pinay fights $2.2M money laundering case

 

A Filipina former domestic helper today denied her role in two cases of money laundering involving a total of $2.2 million in crime money.

Analiza Talay, 48 years old, shook her head as she denied the charges – two counts of “dealing with property known or believed to be proceeds of indictable offense,” in violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance -- when read to her at the Eastern Court.

Principal Magistrate Don So adjourned the case to Feb. 12 next year for a pre-trial review as he released her on $5,000 bail.

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The first charge accuses her of dealing, together with an unknown person, with $1,746,610.41 “representing the proceeds of an indictable offense” that flowed in and out of her Mox Bank account between 19 and 28 of March 2023.

In the second charge, her ZA Bank account was used to deal with $478,121.52 in crime proceeds between 19 and 27 March 2023.

3 Chinoys jailed 5 days, fined for shoplifting

 

North Point street where theft allegedly happened (Google Maps photo)

The three Filipino Chinese visitors whose bail offer of $30,000 each for two cases of shoplifting was rejected at Eastern Court last week, were sentenced to five days in prison and fined – after spending six days in detention.

G. Ong, 66 years old, P. Sy, 74, and P. L. Sy, 47, each pleaded guilty today to one count of theft for stealing 34 pens worth $2,012 from the Yu Shu Fong stationery store on Electric Road in North Point last Nov. 30.

Go pleaded guilty to a second theft case for stealing a toy train worth $68 from the same store on the same date.

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Principal Magistrate Don So punished Go with $2,000 fine and five days in prison for the two thefts.

The two Sys, on the other hand, were each fined $1,000 and five days in prison.

Since they had been detained for six days, Magistrate So told them to proceed to the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, where they had been detained, so they could be released immediately.

So ordered them detained last Thursday (Dec. 5) until today’s hearing after their lawyer said they were allowed by the Immigration Department to stay in Hong Kong only until this week.

The lawyer was seeking their release on bail, saying they were established business people in the Philippines, with the elder Sy even owning a flat in Hong Kong, and were willing to each post a $30,000 bail.

Business Ideas: Want to go home for good? Check out DMW’s Reintegration Program

 

DMW ASec Francis Ron De Guzman explains Reintegration Plan Roadmap 

By Leo A. Deocadiz

Inaul, a fabric native to Maguindanao, is now one of the country’s emerging exports as its production has increased to meet buyers’ need for bigger quantities, with the help of former OFWs who have gone home for good and joined a cooperative that makes it.

In Aklan, a group of former OFWs are producing barong and export-quality products such as placemats made of nito fabrics which they now sell abroad.

These are just some of the ex-OFWs who have found new livelihoods under the Reintegration Program of the Department of Migrant Workers, according to Francis Ron de Guzman, DMW assistant secretary for reintegration services.

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The program includes financial literacy  and business development training. “When you finish the two-day training, and you have chosen what you want to finance, we will give you P10,000 to start with.  It’s a small amount but it’s a big help,” he said.

De Guzman, who spoke in an orientation for a group of OFWs recently at the City University of Hong Kong, said the Maguindanao OFWs got into their new trade after being introduced by the DMW Region 12 office to a cooperative whose members have woven inaul for decades.

The OFWs were given training and became members of the cooperative. Now, with government help and bigger production, the inaul weavers have found buyers abroad.

“In Aklan, the PESO (Public Employment Service Office) introduced us to makers of barong and products made of nito fiber, who were beneficiaries of DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and DOST (Department of Science and Technology) export engagement program,” he said. “So we helped ex-OFWs there to train in producing those products and join the export enterprise as suppliers.”

Ex-OFWs show their checks to serve as starting capital after completing their training

De Guzman said DMW’s reintegration program has evolved over the last decade to become a part of OFWs' life even before they leave for abroad.

It starts in the pre-departure orientation seminar that OFWs are required to take online before they leave; it now includes financial literacy, which shows them how to manage their finances so they can  save for their return home.

Various government offices are also cooperating with DMW to offer programs for returning OFWs.

“In Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, we are piloting programs with the Department of Agriculture on backyard gardening, to provide access to all DA services to improve the quality of their land to make even a small plot of land more productive.”

A joint project with the Department of Tourism in Nueva Ecija is Kulinaria, which aims to introduce OFWs to the food business by training them in cooking, basic food handling and safety, and then giving them a small capital to start a home canteen business.

One of the graduates cooked a really delicious laing (gabi leaves cooked in coconut milk) and would always bring food to sell in the DMW office. “We realized she already had a small canteen. So what we did was to get her as caterer for events in the office. We then urged her to register with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) so she can bid as a supplier to other government agencies.”

He said catering for government functions is big business.

“For example, in one big event at DMW, the catering can cost about P400,000 to P500,000.  If you can meet that demand, then you would have an edge over commercial caterers simply because you are an OFW catering at a DMW event,” he added.

Beginning next year, he said, reintegration programs that target OFWs’ families will be implemented through local government units in all provinces in the country, with the help of the Department of Interior and Local Government. He said DMW and DILG signed a memorandum of agreement for the project last June.

He said his group refers to DOST those who need to improve their products. “If you are an OFW with a product, reach out to us," he advised. “We will network you with DOST which will provide you with an entire menu of free training, product and packaging design. They will even will help you print your initial packaging for your product.”

UST chorale in HK Christmas serenade

 

The Thomasian Choir with conductor Nobel Gabasan

A mini-concert last Friday, Dec 6, featuring the Thomasian Chamber Choir of the University of Santo Tomas, brought memories of a traditional Filipino Christmas celebration to many of the 100-odd people in attendance.

The choir sang a medley of  well-loved Filipino Christmas songs like “Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit,” “Sa May Bahay,” “Pasko Na Naman” and “Mano Po Ninong,” causing a wave of nostalgia to sweep through the mainly Filipino audience.

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The group, which came all the way from Manila for the performance, also sang Filipino all-time favorites like “Rosas Pandan”, “Ti Ayat ti Maysa Nga Ubing” and “Mariposa,” as well as more contemporary tunes  like “Manila” and “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.”

The open-air amphitheater setting provided the best backdrop for the concert

The concert at the Lippo Amphitheater of the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, as well as the cocktail reception that followd, was hosted by the Philippine Consulate General and was called “Pamaskong Handog ng Konsulado”.

Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan led in welcoming the guests, who included members of the the diplomatic corps, Consulate staff, members of their partner-organizations, and Filipino community leaders.

Congen Usudan told the gathering that this is the last Christmas she’ll be spending in Hong Kong, as she will be recalled to the Head Office of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in March next year.

Congen Usudan who is a UST alumna herself, joins the choir in a photo after the concert

She paid special thanks to UST alumnus and musical conductor Nobel Gabasan, who spent a number of weekends flying to Manila from his Hong Kong homebase, to practice with the choir before their performance.

The Thomasian also entertained overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong when they sang at the celebration of  Migrants Day on Chater Road the next day, Sunday.

 

Temperatures forecast to drop to 13°C on Sunday

 

Discovery Bay residents enjoying man-made snow last Sunday

Hong Kong people were told to bundle up this weekend, as temperatures are expected to fall to as low 13 degrees on Sunday, Dec. 15.

The Hong Kong Observatory said a surge of the northeast monsoon will reach the coast of Guangdong on Wednesday night, resulting in a gradual dip in temperatures.

On Saturday, the lowest temperature expected is 15 degrees Celsius in the urban areas, falling to 13 on Sunday, then back to 14 on Monday.

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A northeast monsoon also brought chilly weather to Hong Kong today, with the barometer dipping to 16 degrees Celsius in urban areas, which was two to three degrees lower than in previous days, and the lowest so far this winter.

The Observatory said the weather will moderate gradually in the next couple of days, before becoming noticeably cooler on Saturday.

Tonight, it will be mainly cloudy with isolated rain patches.  Tomorrow morning will be cool, with the minimum temperature expected to hover around 17 degrees in the city, and slightly cooler in the New Territories.

The day will be sunny, with temperatures hitting a pleasant 21 degrees. Moderate winds are expected, which may become strong at times, especially offshore and on higher grounds.