Police confirm arrest for assault of Filipina's employer in viral video

 

Still from the video taken near Olympic MTR station

Hong Kong Police have confirmed the arrest last Thursday of the employer of a Filipina helper seen on various videos uploaded online being apparently assaulted, but said the suspect was released on police bail afterwards..

The confirmation of the arrest came five days after the videos were posted, including the last one taken just outside the Olympic MTR station where the employer was seen slapping and pulling the hair of the Filipina, oblivious to the people passing by and shouting for the police to be called.

Subsequent footage showed rescuers at the scene talking to the Filipina, while one officer could be seen talking to the employer on the other side.

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In an email sent to The SUN earlier today, Tuesday, the police said they received a report at about 11:30am on Jan. 15 of a woman “suspected of assaulting a foreign woman by hand near MTR Olympic Station.”

The police said the 58-year-old local woman was arrested for common assault but was later released on bail and is required to report back in mid-February.

The Filipina, described in the police report as a “33-year-old foreign woman” was sent to Kwong Wah Hospital for a medical check-up.

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The investigation by the police in Mong Kok is said to be underway.

The police report came after Philippine Migrant Workers Secretary Hans J. Cacdac issued a statement Monday night saying the Filipina migrant worker called “Bernadette” was being assisted in her case by the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong.

Cacdac said the worker was to be accompanied to the police station today “for the formal investigation” by Hong Kong Labor Attache Cesar L. Chavez, Jr and a lawyer.

Cacdac (centre) says 'Bernadette' is getting full assitance from the MWO

The statement also said that after learning about the alleged assault, a team from the MWO sought out Bernadette and took her to a hospital for a medical examination, then to a “protected” shelter where she is now staying.

Bernadette is said to remain under observation while waiting for her medical results.

Based on several other videos that surfaced online, the worker was apparently assaulted at least twice before by her employer, one inside a mall just before the MTR incident, and another inside a house.

Netizens claiming to be her friend said Bernadette had been working for her employer for just a month.

DH gets 23 months for stealing 10 watches, then claiming burglary

 

Estate where theft took place

By Leo A. Deocadiz

A domestic helper who stole 10 wristwatches from her employer and then tried to cover it up by claiming a burglar had entered their house from the roof of their three-floor house, was jailed for 23 months today at the District Court.

Vanessa Vallespin, 39 years old, tearfully confirmed she understood the sentence when asked by Deputy District Judge Pang Leung-ting.

The sentence came after she pleaded guilty last Jan. 7 to two counts of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, and to having "knowingly misled" a police officer by giving false information that the house was broken into, contrary to section 64(b) of the Police Force Ordinance.

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In the first charge, Vallespin was convicted of stealing a Rolex Daytona watch worth $200,000 from her male employer Gary Lau at Sunderland Estate in Kowloon Tong on Dec. 2, 2024. Two days later, she stole nine more watches worth $599,780, for the second conviction.

As recounted by Judge Pang, the thefts were discovered on Dec. 4 after Vallespin called his employer to say that she found the door leading to the roof of their house’s third floor, as well as a drawer in the master’s bedroom, had heen opened.

During investigation at the Hunghom police station, she told a police officer that their house in Sunderland Estate on Hereford Road, Kowloon Tong, had been burgled.

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But she later confessed that she stole the Rolex Daytona watch and pawned it, then stole nine more watches of various luxury brands two days later.

All the watches have been subsequently recovered -- the Rolex was retrieved from a pawnshop in Central and the nine other watches were found in a bag which she hid among plants in their garden. 

Judge Pang acknowledged the defense lawyer’s mitigation that in the end, the employer suffered no loss, that Vallespin confessed to the crime, that the crime was due to poor judgment rather than malice to the employers, that she was nervous when she gave misleading information to police, and that she had apologized to her employers.

He also noted that she thought of stealing the watches to be able to pay off a $30,000 loan she took to help out a friend, a certain Mary Ann, who needed money to go to Albania to work but who later abandoned the promise to pay her back.

Judge Pang said that if sentencing guidelines were followed for each of the items stolen, the total would be 40 months. Instead, he chose a starting point of 33 months, from which he deducted one third or 11 months.

For misleading the police, he chose a starting point of three months, of which only one month was added to Vallespin’s sentence for theft -- for an overall total of 23 months.

Pinoy DH gets suspended sentence for illegal work

 

2 other Filipinos charged with working illegally in a warehouse are on trial at Shatin court

A 60-year-old Filipino domestic worker was bound over for $1,500 over 12 months after pleading guilty to illegal work as he was due to stand trial at Sha Tin court starting today, Monday.

But while he managed to walk free from court, Rodrigo Sarabia was ordered to pay costs of $500 to be deducted from his $1,000 bail.

Two other Filipinos who were charged with him maintained their innocence as their trial began before Magistrate Raymond Wong.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Junipher R. Sambalod, 41 years old and Marcelino G. Guisinga, Jr., 44, are out on bail of $10,000 cash and $10,000 surety each, pending the outcome of their trial which is due to end on Thursday.

The three were among seven Filipinos arrested on March 4 last year on suspicion of working illegally in a cargo company in Kwai Chung.

Six of those arrested were asylum seekers and were charged with “taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order is in force.”

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Sarabia, who was the only one on domestic worker visa, was charged with breaching his condition of stay.

Four of their co-accused all pleaded guilty earlier to working illegally and were each sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.

In a statement issued on March 5 last year, the Immigration Department announced it had arrested nine persons in an anti-illegal work operation conducted by its agents in Kwai Chung  eight of whom were Filipinos.

The eighth Filipino was a female overstayer while the ninth was a 51-year-old male Hong Kong resident who was suspected of employing the Filipinos.

The Immigration statement said the eight suspects were caught while performing transporting and wrapping duties in a unit of the industrial building.

The maximum penalty for illegal work is between two and three years in jail and fine of up to $50,000.

 

113 failed asylum seekers deported from HK

 

Some of the women deportees are escorted to a van that took them to the airport

Hong Kong has sent back 113 non-refoulement claimants over the past week (Jan 12 to 18) after failing to convince local courts to allow them to remain here.

A statement from the Immigration Department said those removed comprised 68 men and 45 women, who mainly came from Vietnam, Indonesia and India.

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They were either illegal immigrants or overstayers who had applied to remain in Hong Kong, claiming they could be tortured, persecuted or even killed if they returned home. Some were recently released from prisons after being convicted of criminal offences.

While Hong Kong does not accept asylum seekers, it does grant non-refoulement or an assurance that someone facing torture or persecution back home would not be forcibly returned.

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But under an updated policy that took effect on Dec. 7, 2022, Immigration was allowed to remove a claimant whose judicial review application has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance.

Immigration said in its statement that it remains committed to stepping up the removal process in collaboration with government of major source countries of non-refoulement claimants, airline companies and other government departments “as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures.”

Filipina whose bank account got linked to money laundering jailed 6 months

 

Another Filipina domestic helper whose bank account ended up being used as depository for money raised from crime, has been jailed for six months after pleading guilty at West Kowloon Court.

Arlice Reyes, 42 years old, admitted dealing with $81,600.23 through deposits and withdrawals n her Bank of China account between Dec. 8, 2023 and Apri 25, 2024.

The offense was committed with a person known as “Janet”, the police complaint alleged.

She pleaded guilty on Thursday (Jan. 15) to dealing with property known or believed to represent. proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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The ordinance prohibits handing of property, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that” it  “represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence”, in whole or in part and directly or indirectly.

Principal Magistrate Don So handed down the sentence after deducting the usual one-third discount for those who plead guilty.

PH allows Chinese nationals visa-free entry to boost tourism

Number of Chinese tourists in the Philippines has dwindled since the pandemic (PNA file photo)

Starting last Friday, Jan. 16, Chinese nationals have been allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 14 days.

According to the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs, the move is aimed at increasing Chinese trade, investments and tourism in the country.

Previously, Chinese nationals could stay in the Philippines without a visa for up to seven days if they had a return ticket and valid visas to Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan and Schengen countries.

The new policy applies only to Chinese tourists entering through the airports in Manila and Cebu, and their stay cannot extend beyond two weeks.

In addition,  they have to present a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, confirmed hotel booking, and a return or onward ticket to the next country of destination.

The visa-free entry arrangement is valid for only a year and will be reviewed before the deadline.

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Observers note that the new policy was announced just days before the spring festival holiday which starts on the first day of the lunar new year and will last for nine days, indicating Manila’s desire to reverse the marked drop in tourist arrivals from China.

Before the pandemic, China was the second largest source of foreign visitors in the Phlippines after South Korea.  In 2019, a total of 1.7 million Chinese visited the Philippines, but the number dipped to only 262,144 as of Dec. 20, 2025.

China is now the sixth source of foreign visitors in the country, lagging behind South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada.

But doubts persist about whether the visa-free policy could lure back many Chinese travellers to the Philippines, given persistent tensions in the West Philippine Sea between the two countries.

On the other hand, many Filipinos have expressed concerns that the move could allow easy access to Chinese visitors involved in scams and illegal gambling.

Some insist that there should be a reciprocal gesture from Beijing toward Filipino tourists. However, this is not likely to happen, given the huge number of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong and Macau who could take advantage of the concession to swarm and overwhelm the mainland.

Filipina DH gets 18 months’ jail for theft

 

Community where theft took place (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina domestic helper was sentenced to 18 months in jail after she pleaded guilty at District Court to stealing jewelry, cash and other items from her employer.

Jennifer Ducusin, 40 years old, admitted stealing two bracelets, 17 rings, 3 necklaces, one necklace with pendant, 5 pair of earrings, one pendant, 3 coins, 9 wrist chains, two scarf, one. handbag, two watches, one scale and cash of ¥2,500 Renminbi, all owned by Cheung Yee-wah.

The theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, was committed on Nov. 5, 2024 in a flat at Green Park on Razor Hill. Road, Sai Kung.

Deputy District Judge C.H. Li handed down the sentence after Ducusin pleaded guilty in a District Court case at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building in Cheung Sha Wan.

The case originated from the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court, which put Ducusin on remand after she was charged with stealing $772,161 worth of items and $2,500 Chinese yuan in cash.

Information filed by Tseung Kwan O Police included the following items in the original list: three necklaces, 17 rings, five pairs of earrings, eight bracelets, three gold chains, one gold coin, two gold ingots, three pendants, two watches, one handbag, one scarf, one shawl, one ivory scale and 2,500 yuans in cash.

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However, the list was amended in the statement of offense filed on April 15, 2025 with the District Court.

The new list, which did not estimate the value of the stolen items, served as the basis for Ducusin’s conviction.

Tulfo seeks reimbursement for offloaded passengers, scrapping of travel tax

 

Passengers leaving Manila airport face the longest wait at the immigration counters

Senator Raffy Tulfo has filed a bill that will reimburse Filipino travellers who are offloaded or barred from boarding their flights at Philippine airports because of unjust and prolonged questioning by officers of the Bureau of Immigration.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, said Senate Bill No 1657 or the “Passenger Protection and Reimbursement for Deferred Departures Act,” seeks to provide relief to passengers who fail to catch their flights due to inordinate delays at the immigration counters.

“Prolonged immigration interviews … have resulted in Filipino passengers missing their scheduled flights despite the absence of a formal court order,” Tulfo said.

In many of these cases, passengers are not even given a clear explanation as to why immigration officers are taking a long time in clearing them for their flight.

The bill does not cover passengers who lack required documents, those with court orders preventing them from leaving the country, those linked to human trafficking offenses.

eTravel and travel tax payment are required of most passengers departing from the Philippines

Earlier, Tulfo also filed Senate Bill No 88 which provides for the scrapping of the travel tax for Filipinos who are travelling on economy class, but not for those on business or first class.

The tax, which is imposed on most passengers traveling out of the Philippines, amounts to t Php1,620 per passenger on economy and business class, and Php2,700 for first-class passengers.

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Certain groups like overseas Filipino workers, Filipino residents abroad, foreign diplomats, are exempted from paying the tax, while reduced rates apply for children aged up to 11 years old, and dependents of OFWs.

Tulfo said the levy imposes an “undue financial burden” on travelers already paying various taxes, including income and consumption taxes.

“It cannot be denied that the ordinary Filipino traveler, particularly those who travel on economy class, bears an undue financial burden because of travel tax,” Tulfo said.

He clarified that his bill does not seek to abolish the travel tax for all.

“It merely introduces a more equitable structure by retaining the imposition of travel tax on passengers traveling via business class or higher, whose financial standing affords them greater capacity to contribute to national development,” he said.

Proceeds from the tax goes to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Commission on Higher Education, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

9 people arrested in latest crackdown on illegal work

 

2 of those arrested are led to an Immigration van

A week-long operation mounted by the Hong Kong Police to flush out illegal workers has resulted in the arrest of nine people, eight of them suspected illegal workers and one employer.

The suspects comprised two men and six women aged 32 to 57. They were detained during raids conducted from Jan 9 to 15 in multiple locations, including wet markets, hair salons and retail stores.

Among them, one man and one woman were found to hold recognizance papers which allow them to stay in Hong Kong as asylum seekers, but not to work.

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Their suspected employer who is aged 32, remains under investigation by Immigration authorities, who did not rule out further arrests.

Immigration warned that anyone found to have violated the condition of their stay in Hong Kong by taking up work, whether paid or unpaid, shall be prosecuted and upon conviction, be subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years in prison.

Those who are found to have overstayed their visas or entered Hong Kong illegally are meted a more severe penalty.

“As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business,” said the Immigration statement.

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

In addition, section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance provides that the Chief Executive may order the deportation of the offender, and prohibit the person from returning to Hong Kong in future, if the offense committed is punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.

Employing an illegal immigrant is a more serious offence for which the maximum sentence is imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of $500,000.

“According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment,” said Immigration.

The director, manager, secretary or other officers of the company that knowingly hired, or failed to make enough effort to ascertain the visa status of the illegal worker, may also be prosecuted.

The High Court has prescribed immediate custodial sentence for the employer of an illegal worker under sentencing guidelines prescribed for the offence.

 

6 months’ jail for Pinoy who found credit card and used it

 

First purchase was made in this store (Google Maps photo)

An unemployed Filipino was jailed for six months for stealing a credit card and then using it five times to buy inexpensive items, spending a total of $673, after he was convicted of six counts of theft today at Eastern Court.

J. Padua, 58 years old and a Hong Kong resident, had earlier pleaded guilty on all counts and thus received a one-third discount on the nine-month starting point set by Principal Magistrate David Cheung for each of the six offenses, which he ordered to run at the same time.

Magistrate Cheung also ordered Padua, who had four previous convictions, to pay a compensation of $673.00 by Feb. 16 to the credit card’s owner, Lai Kwan-chor.

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The first case of Cheung violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, arose after Padua found Lai’s lost credit card on Nov. 30, 2024 and kept it.

On the same day, he used the credit card to: 

• buy merchandise valued at $95 at a 7-Eleven store in Bo Fung Gardens, King's Road, Quarry Bay.
• buy merchandise worth $10.50 at a 7-Eleven store at Fok Cheong Building on King's Road, Quarry Bay.
• buy merchandise worth $10.00 at a 7-Eleven store on Bo Fung Gardens.
• buy merchandise worth $98.00 at a 7-Eleven store on Hoi Kwong Court, Hoi Kwong St., Quarry Bay.
• buy items worth $459 at Free Running Shop at Provident Centre on Wharf Road, North Point.

In the same hearing, Magistrate Cheung imposed a $300 fine on L. Mendoza, 43 years old and former domestic helper, after she rejected his offer of free duty lawyer services and admitted shoplfting two boxes of coffee worth $59.80 from the AEON Supermarket, G/F, Kornhill Plaza (South) in Quarry Bay.

Cheung had earlier asked Mendoza why she was unrepresented when he advised her in the previous hearing to go to the Duty Lawyer Service. He offered to adjourn the case so she can get legal advice.

“You are facing a criminal charge. If you are found guilty you will have a criminal record,” he added.

“I want to finish the case today,” said Mendoza, who was fired by her employer after she was arrested. 

“Taking into account your circumstance, I will impose a small fine of $300,” he said. “You still have $200 from your $500 bail.”

Mendoza tearfully thanked him.

Filipina seen in videos being assaulted by employer now in Phl shelter

 

Still shot from a video shows the employer viciously pulling hair of Filipina 

A Filipina seen in various videos uploaded on social media being physically assaulted by her Hong Kong employer has been rescued by police officers and is now at the shelter of the Philippines’ Migrant Workers Office.

The Filipina who’s said to be named Bernadette, is shown in one video taken at the Olympic MTR station being repeatedly hit in the head and body, and her hair pulled by the employer as she cowered in a corner and cried.

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In the background, a woman who was apparently filming the incident started shouting at fellow Filipinas to call the police.

A succeeding video showed a number of police officers at the scene talking to the black-clad Filipina while a lone officer spoke with the employer who was in a pink dress, a few feet away.

Rescuers talk to Filipina after the latest assault at an MTR station

Other videos surfaced subsequently, including one taken at a mall apparently on the same day, where the Filipina was subjected to repeated hair-pulling by the employer.

The most disturbing was a video taken inside a house and apparently recorded in secret by the Filipina herself, where the employer is seen ending a call on her mobile phone, then without a warning, started hitting the sobbing helper ferociously in the head and face.

According to commenters, the Filipina had been at her job for just a month, and had reportedly told friends her employer had mental issues and would often beat her up for no reason, especially if she failed to take her medicines on time.

Many others called on the Filipina to call the police for help immediately, and not allow herself to be assaulted for whatever reason.

Police subsequently took the Filipina to the Kwong Wah Hospital for a medical examination and held the employer for questioning. However, it’s still unclear whether charges will be laid against the employer. 

Another shot of employer repeatedly pummeling helper's head

Meanwhile, the helper reportedly told a volunteer of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge who happened to be at the hospital at the same time that her employer had dementia, but gave no further details.

Officers from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration arrived at the hospital shortly, and offered to take Bernadette to the MWO shelter to rest and given assistance with her case.

(The SUN has made inquiries with the police on the status of the case, and will update this story once a reply is received).

 

 

Misidentification defense clears Pinay of 3 charges

One of the Goree products found to contain dangerous mercury levels

A Filipina domestic helper was acquitted of three charges at the close of a two-day trial today at Eastern Court and was even granted a reimbursement for the legal expenses she incurred to defend herself by maintaining she was misidentified.

Magistrate Minnie Wat ruled that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Aileen Apigo, 46 years old, committed the three offenses she was accused of: supplying unsafe consumer goods, supplying consumer goods which failed to comply with bilingual warning or caution requirement, and breach of condition of stay.

The charges arose from a raid on a store inside a building on Li Yuen Street West (otherwise known as Ale-ale) in Central on Aug. 2, 2024, in which Customs and Excise Department officers arrested Apigo, along with her co-accused, Pakistani Shah Syed Zaheer Mehmood, owner of the shop.

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The two were charged with selling three units of Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Avocado & Aloe vera; three Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free and three Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream – which were found to have high mercury content, and had no bilingual warning or caution required by the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation.

Apigo was also charged with breach of condition of stay because she was allegedly working as a sales lady for the shop while holding a domestic helper’s visa under an employment contract she signed with Harpaul Singh Brar.

During the trial, prosecutors presented as witnesses the two Customs officers who bought the nine items and then raided the shop, and who identified Apigo in court as the one who sold them the articles.

During cross examination, however, Apigo’s defense lawyer raised doubt about the accuracy of their recollections by asking what clothes she was wearing at the time, whether she had jewelry, what the color of her hair was, and her height.

Magistrate Wat said, “Defense is correct to point out that they had no supporting evidence, no CCTV.”  

What they said was Apigo’s height (1.5 to 1.6 meters) does not match her actual height of 1.4 meters, she added.

She also noted conflicting testimonies; for example, while PW1 (prosecution witness 1) said Apigo did not leave the shop during their operation, PW2 said she went out to make a phone call. 

So while it may be possible that the person they saw in the shop was the same as the defendant, the two Customs officers may have made a mistake in identifying Apigo, Magistrate Wat concluded.

Fireworks display back on Lunar New Year

 

Last year's CNY fireworks display drew more than 250,000 people on both sides of the harbour

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour will again light up on Feb. 18, for the traditional Lunar New Year fireworks display.

The 2026 fireworks show will go ahead as planned, despite the cancellation of the one that was supposed to be held on Dec. 31, New Year’s eve, as the city continued to grieve over the Tai Po fire tragedy on Nov. 26.

As before, this year’s fireworks display will be held on the second day of the Year of the Horse, and will start at 8pm.

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It will be sponsored exclusively by the Jockey Club whose chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges is expected to make the announcement and give more details at a press conference on Friday.

Last year’s spectacle featured more than 20,000 fireworks being set off over Victoria Harbour, drawing more than 250,000 to the waterfront on both sides of the harbor.

The Lunar New Year fireworks will be held a day after the equally popular Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade is staged along the lively streets of Tsim Sha Tsui.

As before, dazzling floats and captivating performances by artists from all over the world will keep spectators enthralled during the evening parade.

The much-anticipated Cathay Night Parade will also be back on Feb 17, the first day of the LNY

Starting a week before Chinese New Year, or from Feb 11 to 17, several flower markets around the city will be filled with auspicious blooms and traditional treats that will be on sale to the public.

The more popular ones include the one at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, and the Prince Edward Flower Market, where dozens of stalls will be selling not just flowers but also colorful decorations, local handicrafts and snacks.

The new year will not be complete for some people without a visit to the Wong Tai Sin Temple, where they can ask for blessings for the new year. The ritual includes lighting incense sticks for blessings and spinning the fortune wheel at Che Kung Temple for good luck.

For even more blessings, locals flock to Lam Tsuen Village where they can write their heart’s desires on joss paper and toss them into the fabled Wishing Trees. According to folklore their wish will come true if the paper catches on the tree branches – the higher, the better.

 

Pinay jailed 3 months for kicking dog

 

Sky Tower in To Kwa Wan (Google Maps photo)

For kicking a dog she was supposed to be taking care of as a domestic helper, A Filipina is now in jail for three months after being sentenced at the Kowloon City Court.

L. Portelo, 38 years old, pleaded guilty when she appeared Tuesday (Jan. 13) before Magistrate Tsang Hing-tung, charged with cruelty to animal, a violation of section 3(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.

A complaint filed by the Kowloon City Police said the offense took place on Sept. 14 last year at her employer’s flat in Sky Tower, on Sung Wong Toi Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon.

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The police alleged that Portelo “cruelly kicked a dog and caused unnecessary suffering to the said dog.”

Meanwhile, at the Eastern Court, R. R. Ledesma, 56 years old, was jailed for two months after pleading guilty to managing a gambling establishment in North Point, contrary to section 5(b) of the Gambling Ordinance, which prohibits gambling in Hong Kong.

Ledesma, whose occupation was described as deliveryman/courier, was arrested on Sept. 6 at the gambling place at Flat B, 17/F, North Cape Commercial Building, 388 King's Road, North Point.

Prosecution told Principal Magistrate David Cheung that Ledesma has had 23 past convictions, six of them related to the gambling charge, the last of which was in 2023.

So despite the appeal of his defense lawyer for him to be spared of a non-custodial sentence, Magistrate Cheung chose a starting point of three months in jail, he deducted one month for Ledesma’s guilty plea.

Lea Salonga graces Disney’s 20th anniversary concert

 

Lea performs with full ensemble at Castle of Magical Dreams (RM Garcia's photo)

Broadway sensation and celebrated Filipina actress and singer Lea Salonga topbilled Hong Kong Disneyland’s celebration of its 20^th anniversary in a concert held at the park on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Lea, whose iconic singing voice left an indelible mark on Disney’s musical heritage with her rendition of “Reflection” from Mulan in 1998 and “A Whole New World” from Aladdin in 1992, performed in the one-night-only event, dubbed Disney Legend Live in Concert.

She also graced HK Disney’s stage during the park’s grand opening in 2005.

Lea sings with Ana and several of Disney's beloved princesses

Accompanied by the string ensemble from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Disneyland Band conducted by Maestro Gerard Salonga, Lea enthralled the audience, and made them relive the magic of timeless melodies of their favorite Disney films.

The concert unfolded against the enchanting backdrop of Castle of Magical Dreams, where Lea was joined by six beloved Disney princesses and a queen – Jasmine, Mulan, Tiana, Elsa, Cinderella and Pocahontas.

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Together, they performed favorite Disney classics which evoked themes of courage, love and magic.

Fellow Filipino singer and former Disney talent Gian Magdangal joined her in singing "A Whole New World." Video of that number is here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1186864653534581