Election fever sweeps Hong Kong

Chater Road is ablaze with different political colors on March 27, 2016.

By Daisy CL Mandap

Pre-election frenzy is sweeping the Filipino community in Hong Kong, days before the start of the month-long overseas voting on Apr 9.
Several groups are gearing up for the final Sunday of campaigning on Apr 3, with the biggest event likely to be staged by supporters of presidential bets Mar Roxas and Rody Duterte.
It is the first time Hong Kong is seeing fierce campaigning by supporters of several candidates since the first overseas voting was held in 2004, which could largely be due to the slim margins separating the four candidates for the top post.
Roxas’ running mate, Leni Robredo, is set to give their supporters a boost when she visits key Filipino haunts in Central and holds a dialogue with community leaders in Edinburgh Place. She will get support from Roxas’ wife and TV personality Korina Sanchez-Roxas, who will also be in town to attend a community event on Chater Road where she is expected to rally supporters.
A big public rally is also set to be held at the General Post Office nearby by Duterte supporters. Organizers are reportedly exerting efforts to get the Davao City mayor himself to grace the occasion, but as of this writing, only his trusted aide Manny Pinol and folk singer Freddie Aguilar are confirmed to attend. There is however, a plan to hook up with Duterte via telephone so he can address his Hong Kong supporters on site.
Supporters of vice presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos had earlier sent out invites via Facebook for a “Unity Rally” on the same day, but for unknown reasons, had scrapped the invitation.
A week earlier, the OFW and Marcos Loyalist International group staged a massive campaign rally on Chater Road, but their favored candidate failed to show up, despite announcements on radio the night before that he would attend. A few expressed disappointment at the no-show, but most of those who gathered for the whole-day event visibly perked up when they heard his voice via phone patch and amplified from the stage,
Senator Marcos told his hundreds of supporters who gathered at the event that he would continue fighting for their rights and welfare, in recognition of their great contribution to the country’s economy.
Marcos also promised to pursue efforts to provide scholarships to children of overseas Filipino workers, and asked why Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was not using its funds set aside for this purpose.
Also part of his advocacy is job generation in the Philippines, saying this will help OFWs to eventually be reunited with their family members back home.
Standing in for him was Cong. Anton Lagdameo, husband of popular actress Dawn Zulueta, who rallied the groups to continue their support for Marcos.
On the other side of Chater Road, hundreds of Roxas-Robredo supporters held their first General Assembly, their first show of force since official campaigning for the Philippine presidential elections got underway.
The two leading administration candidates had expressed an intention to join the gathering initially, but cancelled at the last minute due to scheduling problems.
Liberal Party leaders were, however, quick to assure the supporters that at least one of the two top bets would be in town the following Sunday.
Months earlier, Duterte had visited Hong Kong for fundraising events and meet supporters.– with a report from Marites Palma

OFWs overcharged by agencies urged to back up claims

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre

Remittance slips, bank payment slips and financing loan agreements are just some of the documents that Filipino domestic workers can submit to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to prove a claim of overcharging against their recruitment agency.
This was what new labor attaché Jalilo dela Torre told The SUN during an interview on the day he assumed his post on Mar 16.
De la Torre urged the workers to substantiate their claims so his office could go after the rogue agencies.
The Hong Kong government, meanwhile, reiterated that it does not require domestic workers to go through employment agencies.
The Labour Department also emphasized in a statement on Mar 15 that local agencies are allowed to charge no more than 10% of the first month’s salary of the helpers under Hong Kong laws. It urged those who have been overcharged by agencies to file complaints with the department.
“The debts owed by FDHs might be related to the charging of intermediary or training fees back in (their) home countries before they come to Hong Kong. This issue needs to be tackled at source,” the department said, adding it has been in talks with the Philippine and Indonesian governments on ways to alleviate the helpers’ debt burden.
In the interview, De la Torre said, “I would like the Hong Kong government and the Philippine Consul General to closely cooperate in substantiating these complaints, kasi if they remain to be complaints not written down, hindi namin maaksiyunan,” De la Torre said.
He also appealed to Filipino workers here who are facing such problems “to substantiate their complaints in the form of affidavits” so that he could discipline both the Hong Kong and Philippine agencies involved.
“Madali lang kasi because we have the authority to suspend the processing of their documents. Ang suspension itself of the agencies does not belong to us, it belongs to the POEA, but we can suspend the processing of their documents,” De la Torre said.
He started his first day at work by paying a courtesy call on Consul General Bernadita Catalla, then met his staff at POLO, before paying a visit to the Filipino Workers Resource Center, the Consulate’s shelter for distressed migrants.
During his visit to the shelter run by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, he interviewed some of the helpers who moved there after their contracts were prematurely terminated. One of them, a long-time resident named Amal from Nueva Vizcaya, had suffered a stroke.
“Ang sabi ko sa mga shelter wards natin kanina, ‘Mas gusto ko pang umuwi na lang kayo, sa piling ng inyong mga pamilya,” Dela Torre said.  
Coinciding with the new labatt’s arrival was a statement from the Hong Kong government, reiterating its commitment to protect the rights of foreign domestic helpers.
“Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world which grant statutory labour rights and benefits to FDHs, same as those enjoyed by local workers,” the statement said in response to media enquiries on foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.
 “Both the Government and the Hong Kong community do not tolerate any abuse or exploitation of FDHs. The Government has been encouraging FDHs to file reports with the authorities and to act as prosecution witness if they have been or suspect that they are subject to abuse or exploitation (e.g. underpayment of wages and non-granting of statutory holidays),” it said.
The government vowed that the authorities would thoroughly investigate all reported cases and promptly prosecute if there was sufficient evidence.

OEC outlets opened at Worldwide, Admiralty

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre and POLO staff at an OEC mobile site at the World-Wide House. 

By Vir B. Lumicao

Off-site processing of the overseas employment certificate or OEC was held at two busy hubs on Mar 27, a Sunday, for those trying to secure the all-important document during the long Easter break.
One of the OEC desks was set up on ground floor pedestrian walkway in Worldwide House in Central, while the second was at the Metrobank branch in United Centre in Admiralty.
The Worldwide desk was set up in cooperation with PLDT-Smart, which held an Easter event at the site.
Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre made the arrangements as part of his bid to shorten the queues for the travel clearance at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty Centre.
De la Torre said he was worried some Filipino workers would need to go home urgently during the Easter break, when both the Consulate and POLO were closed for four straight days, from Thursday, March 24 to Monday, March 28.
De la Torre said he was hoping to secure a permanent space in Smart’s office at Worldwide where applications for the OEC from those who are not in a hurry to go home can be filed.
“I-accept lang nila yung information sheet at yung payment and then dadalhin sa amin, iisyuhan namin ng OR sa OEC, ibabalik sa kanila and then yung worker babalik sa amin a few days later, yung mga hindi nagmamadali,” he added.
De la Torre said he might adopt the same arrangement for Metrobank’s branches across Hong Kong, while the bank is securing accreditation to accept OEC payments here.
In the Philippines, Metrobank is already authorized to receive OEC payments in all its branches, he said.
Currently, only i-Remit is accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to accept OEC payments in Hong Kong.
But POLO still has to resolve one issue with i-Remit: the company’s insistence that applicants print out their emailed confirmation reference number before it would accept payments.
The new labatt said he planned to bring up the matter with iRemit and point out that the trend now is paperless transactions.
He also said the POEA is now working on an app for androids that will allow domestic workers to just use their cell phones in applying for the travel clearance.
Apart from these measures, de la Torre is planning to move back the OEC issuance on Sundays to the Bayanihan Centre to put an end to the long queues at POLO during the peak travel season.
On a drizzly morning on Mar 20, more than 1,000 workers had already formed three long lines on the Admiralty Centre footbridge waiting for their turn to go up to the POLO offices for their OEC.
“Kaninang alas-otso pa ako nakapila rito,” said one woman who before 10:30am had already filled up an application form stamped with a 12 noon-1pm appointment.
A POLO staff said he began giving out the forms at 8am and estimated that he had distributed about 1,300 by that time. He said the lines remained long because those who had obtained their forms were reluctant to leave the queue.

Buses to be deployed again to bring voters to Bayanihan

Transport committee members discuss details of their plan.

Eight places have been designated as pick-up and drop-off points for voters on five Sundays of the month-long overseas voting in the Philippine general elections that will be held at the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town starting Apr 9.
This was agreed on by a panel of Filipino business executives that met with Vice Consul Alex Vallespin at the Consulate on Marc. 15.
The group chose Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Ma On Shan, Sai Kung, Shek Kip Mei, Tai Wai, Choi Hung and North Point as the places where chartered buses will pick up voters and take them to Bayanihan Center.
Voters can use the same buses to return to their districts, but they would be dropped off only at the pick-up points.
The practice of busing voters to Bayanihan to encourage them to vote has been in place since the 2007 mid-term elections when the turnout dipped significantly, prompting overseas voting volunteers to look for ways to arrest the decline.
At least 40 buses will be hired to transport voters from these points during an eight-hour period, 7:30am to 3:30pm, on Apr 10, 17, 24, and May 1 and 8.
Other voters may, however, go there by themselves using public transport.
As of Mar 15, the executives had committed to sponsor 22 of the 40 buses needed to service the eight routes on the specified dates.
Among the companies that will sponsor the trips are AFreight, LBC, Prime Credit, Roberto V. Ongpin group, SMART-PLDT, CSL, the Philippine Bankers’ Club and Peya Travel.
Vallespin is hoping that more sponsors will come forward to fill the deficit.
The UP Alumni Association-Hong Kong agreed to post marshals at the pick-up points to shepherd voters who would take the buses, and assign a marshal on each of the vehicles.
No campaigning will be allowed on the buses but sponsoring companies can display their streamers on the sides of the vehicle and distribute flyers on board. – Vir B. Lumicao

People like politics of change, say Migrante bets

Martinez, Colmenares and Bachiller

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Voters are wary of the ways of “trapos”, or traditional politicians, and are eager to embrace the politics of change, according to Migrante Partylist candidates for the Lower House, Garry Martinez and Caring Bachiller.
People have got tired of the campaign tactics of trapos and now regard candidates with distrust because of recent controversies and scandals such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), said Migrante International chairperson Martinez.
It was only when they said they were from Migrante did the people realize the difference from the rest, as it was Migrante that brought the PDAF scandal into the open, he said.
Martinez, Migrante’s first nominee, and Bachiller, the second, visited Hong Kong for Migrante’s global “miting de avance” on Mar 6.
Both former OFWs, Martinez and Bachiller hoped they would get enough votes from Filipino workers around the world to win any of the 56 partylist seats in the House.
Martinez said Migrante needed to gain at least 1 million votes to get three seats in the House.
Each of the three nominees — the third being United Filipinos in Hong Kong founder and Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragado – were uncertain of getting the required 300,000 votes to win a seat.  “That’s a tall order right now because not all OFWs would be able to vote, especially in the Middle East. In Riyadh and Jeddah alone, the distances are great and it takes about seven to 12 hours’ drive from their worksites to the voting centers,” Martinez said.
Bachiller said one reason many OFWs would not be able to vote is their work situation.  “They just can’t go out of their work places if it’s not their day off, and many domestic workers in the Middle East have no day off,” she said.
Bachiller was a helper in Hong Kong for several decades before she returned home to continue working for OFW rights in Abra. She is officer-in-charge of ATIS Abra Migrants Desk, an NGO operating out of the Bishop’s House Compound in Bangued.
Both acknowledged the advantage of Hong Kong when it comes to voting, as the city is a very small place with efficient transport system, and adheres strictly to democratic processes like elections, a legacy of the British.
They also cited the great interest of OFWs here in political developments at home because of Hong Kong’s proximity to their homeland and their awareness of what’s going on there from day to day.
Back home, people have realized there are fakes among the 150 accredited partylist groups or large political parties have had wrongdoings, so they seek alternative groups. This is helpful to progressive partylist groups like Migrante, which is promoting the agenda of the people and of OFWs and is making an impact, he said. “We are not going to be complacent just because people already know us. Our objective is to further expose and advance the politics of change in the country. People are still seeking, there’s no more alternative, and this is the most tricky part of our campaign – to carry not just our platform but to advance the politics of real change.”

Money problems the biggest source of depression: doctor

Dr. Manio

By Daisy CL Mandap

Avoid taking out loans as this could lead to depression, and even suicide. This was the stern warning aired by Dr. Michael Manio in a lecture at the Consulate on Mar 20, held to mark International Women’s Day.
Dr. Manio, who is with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, was asked to speak on depression and suicide, in the wake of a rise in the number of Filipino domestic workers taking their own lives in the territory.
He said financial pressures are the biggest source of depression among migrant workers, who are already at high-risk for this ailment as they are working away from their loved ones who give them emotional support.
The depression, if left unchecked, could lead to suicide.
“Walang nagsu-suicide kung walang na de-depress,” he said.
Dr. Manio was joined at the lecture by Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, who heads the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section; and social welfare attache Beth Dy, who offered help for those who suffer depression.
Dr Manio said Filipino community organizations could help prevent suicides by ensuring that their members are not burdened with work, or pressured into raising money for the group.
“Refrain from doing money contests, especially beauty contests,” said Dr. Manio.
As part of a study that he did, Dr. Manio said he listened to staff of a financial company exerting pressure on a domestic worker who had defaulted on her monthly payment and was surprised by the extreme tactics used.
He advised organizations to help members de-stress by holding team-building exercises twice a year.
At a question and answer session that followed his lecture, Dr. Manio also acknowledged that forming a peer support group would also be useful in preventing depression and suicides.
From the medical viewpoint, he said depression is seen as a mood disorder that causes people to lose interest in everything around them. The person feels very sad, hopeless and unimportant, and often is unable to live in a normal way. The afflicted may even turn to excessive drinking, or other forms of reckless behavior.

When feelings such as these persist for weeks, the person affected should immediately talk to a friend, or seek professional help.
While depression can be genetic, meaning one is born pre-disposed to it, it could also be brought on by extremely stressful life events such as the loss of a loved one, or the combination of a series of mood-altering incidents.
Dr. Manio said depression comes in different types, including one that is persistent or major, or is due to bipolar disorder, season affected disorder (often induced by the onset of winter), psychosis, post-partum (after childbirth), or pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder.
Apart from financial strain, the other non-medical causes of depression are marital or relationship probles, loneliness, lack of social support, a recent stressful life experience, a family history of depression, early childhood trauma or abuse, unemployment or underemployment, and chronic pain.
To ease or prevent depression, Dr Manio said one’s diet should also be checked. Food that help elevate serotonin levels in the body like lacto bacilli drinks (such as Yakult), coffee (no more than four cups a day), dark chocolate, walnuts and fish and tuna are said to be good at lifting spirits.
Finally, he advised workers to hold on to their faith, whatever their religion, and to try to always keep a positive attitude to avoid depression.
“Suicide is not a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” said Dr. Manio. – with a report from Lenin Flores

500 people to form into RP flag to climax Kapangyawan

By Vir B. Lumicao

Preparations are under way for the Kapangyawan Friendship Festival on June 12 this year, with organizers saying there will be unique features in this year’s celebration of the annual event that was launched three years ago.
The technical working group for the event disclosed this in a meeting with Filcom leaders and media on Mar 13 at the Consulate public hall.
Kapangyawan is a colorful pageantry of native dancing, music and food to usher in the celebration of the 118th anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Organizers say that for the first time, festivities will include a choreographed performance by 500 dancers to form a giant Philippine flag as the highlight of the celebration.
The festival will also feature a 30-minute performance of the Hong Kong Police Marching Band, 10 minutes longer than last year. It will be climaxed with a regional food competition where the regional booth that sees its prepared menu consumed first wins and gets a cash prize.
As in the past three years, this year’s working group consists of the Consulate, Philippine Association of HK and Philippine alliance.
However, vice consul Alex Vallespin who heads the cultural section said the event is open to all Filipino community groups. “We do not choose which group is welcome, everybody’s welcome, everyone can participate,” he said.
As June 12, the exact date of the Philippine Independence Day anniversary falls on a Sunday this year, the celebration is expected to be especially big. “(This means) we can celebrate Kapangyawan festival with the entire Filipino community,” said Vallespin.
The celebration will open with an interfaith mass to be celebrated by Hong Kong’s archbishop, Cardinal John Tong, together with Fr. Jay Flandez. This will be followed by a parade, regional cultural dances, and street dance numbers to be capped by a band concert courtesy of the Hong Kong Musicians Union.
The parade participants comprising various Filcom groups will come from three points: Bus No 13 stop beside City Hall, Chater Garden and Chater Road, beside Alexandra House.
The parade will begin with a “Parade of Colors” by Black Panther Musang International Martial Arts Society and the Mindanao Federation band and Vizmin Music and Dance Ensemble right behind the flag bearers.
Cultural troupes of 120 dancers making up the Cordillera suite, Maria Clara suite, Southern Islands suite, and Barrio Fiesta suite will provide a colorful spectacle of costumes and dances in “Sayaw Pinoy”.
Up next will be the Hong Kong Police Marching Band which will play martial music for a segment that has been extended due to popular demand. An assortment of street dances will follow to promote festivals from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. For Luzon, it will be the Ilocos region’s Pamulinawen, Dinagyang for the Visayas, and Sinalag for Mindanao.
But the human monogram in which 500 dancers will form the Philippine flag along Chater Road will be the main spectacle. The celebration will be capped by a band concert before the program ends at 2:30pm to give way to a variety show.
Another first for this year’s celebration of Kapangyawan will be the regional food competition where groups from the country’s various regions will prepare and feed the hungry performers at eight booths on Chater Road.

121 Filipinos in Hong Kong prisons at end-’15, up 14%

There were 121 Filipinos in Hong Kong jails serving sentences for various offenses led by trafficking in dangerous drugs and theft as of the end of December 2015, an increase of 14.2% from the same period last year, according to figures from the Consulate.
The statistics, gleaned from visits of staff of the assistance to nationals section to the SAR’s prisons last year, was alarmingly dominated by drug trafficking cases, which climbed 23.3% to 37  last year, from 30.
Officers of the ATN section, however, explained that the data do not reflect the actual number of Filipinos sentenced to jail for both last year and 2014, as most of the prison sentences lasted less than a year.
So, there could be more Filipino inmates in any given month than in December, but if most of them were sentenced for only two to six months, they would not reflect on the figures culled as of the end of the year.
The dominance of drug trafficking convicts in the 2015 statistics carried over from the previous years as the offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $5 million fine.
But none of the mostly Filipino women who were in Hong Kong’s maximum security prisons last year for drug offenses was serving a life sentence.
The other crime with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment is murder, for which two Filipinos are now in jail. Theft was the second-most common offense by Filipinos in Hong Kong, with 29 persons locked up as of Dec 31, 2015, or 13% more than the 26 inmates as of the end of 2014.
Not all the offenders, however, are OFWs; about half of the number comprised thieves coming to Hong Kong as tourists to pick pockets or steal jewelry while others were torture claimants or Filipino residents here who were caught burgling homes or business premises, or shoplifting.
The third most common offense was breach of condition of stay, for which 12 Filipino domestic helpers were in detention as of end-December. They were found to have worked outside their contractual addresses or were doing illegal work.  This was double the number posted at the end of 2014.
Another offense, overstaying, landed 10 Filipinos in prison last year, compared with 6 in 2014.
There were 8 convicted burglars in 2015, compared with 6 in the previous year.
ATN officers gathered the statistics during visits to various prisons around Hong Kong. – Vir B. Lumicao

Two overstayers jailed for drugs, bullet possession

Two overstaying Filipinas were sent to jail on Mar 29 after pleading guilty to five charges involving drug-related offenses, violating their conditions of stay, and possession of a live bullet.
The first, Rema B. Cacabelos, was sentenced to a total of seven months in jail for a variety of offences, including drug possession and overstaying.
The second, Judy V. Bautista, was jailed for two months for possessing a live bullet, and seven months’ jail suspended for two years, for overstaying.
Cacabelos pleaded guilty to a charge of possessingf 2.67 grams of methamphetamine. She also pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of condition of stay for overstaying for about two-and-a-half years, and to a charge of possession of equipment intended for inhaling dangerous drugs.
Eastern Court magistrate Lee Siu-ho sentenced her to six months in jail for drug possession and three months for possession of equipment fit for inhaling drugs, both to run concurrently.
Cacabelos also received a two-month sentence for overstaying for more than two years. Lee said the first month would be served concurrently with the first sentence, thus bringing the total sentence to seven months.
The case report says the two Filipinas were arrested in a flat on Hennessy Road, Wanchai at 12:06am on Nov 12 last year during a police operation.
Armed with a search warrant, the officers raided the flat and found the drugs in two plastic bags. When police checked a cupboard, they found two test tubes and two glass beakers, one of which contained 1 milligram of methamphetamine.
The officers also discovered that the two women had overstayed a 14-day visa extension granted to them by the Immigration Department after their employment contracts were prematurely terminated by their employer.
Cacabelos arrived in Hong Kong on Apr 12, 2013 to work as a domestic helper but was dismissed at an unspecified date before her two-year contract expired. Bautista came  here on May 21, 2014 but was fired on Jul 10 last year.
Police arrested the two and took them to the station, where the unspent bullet was found in Bautista’s pocket. During investigation, she said the bullet was given to her by her mother, a former domestic worker in Hong Kong, as an amulet to ward off evil spirits. – Vir B. Lumicao

Overstaying mom jailed

A former domestic helper who overstayed in Hong Kong for more than five years so she could stick to her man was jailed for five months on Mar 18 after pleading guilty to breaching immigration laws.
Shatin Court Principal Magistrate Andrew Ma meted the sentence on Maria Erina dela Cruz, 49, after scolding her for failing to show up in court for a scheduled hearing a day earlier.
The prosecution said a warrant of arrest had already been issued against Dela Cruz for failing to turn up in court. Her $100 bail was also forfeited.
The prosecution had originally filed two charges of overstaying against Dela Cruz. The first covered the period of Aug 29 2005 to 28 June 2010, and the second, from June 6, 2010 to Feb 16, 2016.
But the prosecution applied to withdraw the first charge.
The court was told that Dela Cruz came to Hong Kong on Aug 29, 2005 to work as a domestic worker. She stayed and worked legally until Jun 6, 2010, after which she remained in the city without the authority of the director of Immigration.
During the time she lived in with a Pakistani man by whom she bore two children, a boy aged 10 and a girl, 9.
Dela Cruz approached the Immigration Department some time between 2006 and 2010 to register her two children. When officers saw that she had overstayed, they told her to report on Jul 20, 2010 but she did not show up. She surrendered on Feb 16.

Live-out maid to help probe of boss’ role in illegal work

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker has agreed to help in the investigation of her employer after she pleaded guilty in Shatin Court to an amended charge of conspiracy to defraud and another charge of breach of condition of stay.
Catherine P. Senica, 40, had just been led away from the court after being convicted of the charges on Mar 18 when Principal Magistrate Andrew Ma asked her duty lawyer if he had proposed to her the idea of helping in the investigation of her employer so she could get a lower sentence.
When the lawyer answered “no,” Ma instructed the lawyer to do so and delayed the sentencing.
Before the court took a break, the lawyer returned and told the magistrate that Senica had agreed to assist investigators. Ma then ordered the helper to return to the court on Apr 1.
The prosecution said investigation of the case was continuing, after it was found out that Senica was working two days a week in the pet shop at the instruction of her employer, Pang Chi-wai of Kowloon City.
Senica was arrested by Immigration officers who raided the QQ Fuku pet shop in the afternoon of Feb 16 this year after receiving information that a Filipina was working there illegally. The prosecution said she was found brushing the dog’s hair when the raiders arrived.
A record check revealed Senica was a domestic helper in Hong Kong, Under caution, she admitted Pang had instructed her to work on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:05pm to 10pm in the shop where she took orders from the person-in-charge, the employer’s sister.
The officers also discovered that the helper was not staying in the employer’s flat on 49 South Wall St as her contract indicated, but with her boyfriend in another flat at 45 Kai Tak Road.
The prosecution said Senica had admitted that she was aware of the condition of her stay after starting to serve in Pang’s household in 2013. But after discussing with Pang, she moved in with her boyfriend on Jan 8, 2014.
When Senica applied for an extension of her work contract on Jan 6, 2014, she declared that she would work and reside in the house of Pang, thus conspiring with her employer to defraud the Immigration Department, the prosecutor said.

BSK ribbon folding exhibit

Six members of Balikatan Sa Kaunlaran Hong Kong Council who received weeks of training in ribbon folding presented their handiwork to two experts at the group’s haunt on Admiralty Bridge on Mar. 13. The two judges who evaluated their work were Benita Nava and Emma Ballesteros from the Methodist International Church in Wanchai, who are both seasoned trainors of the craft. The students’ trainor,  Ela Pascua, said some of the finished products received top marks, and will be presented during the awards ceremony on July 19 aboard MV Star Cruises. The selected works will be chosen for any one of the following categories: Best in Bouquet, Best in Ribon Folding, Best in Creativity and Best in Motiff. There were, however, some which did not make the grade. Lufrecia Ruiz, BSK’s head of livelihood training, said some of the workshop participants needed to practice some more to improve their craft, but on the whole, they all managed to show that they learned the basic steps in ribbon folding. The event ended with a sharing of the lunch prepared by members who were celebrating their birthdays during the month. – Marites Palma

9th Lang-ay Day held in HK

By Marites Palma

Community dance.

Amid heavy showers and cold weather, natives of the 10 municipalities of  Mountain Province celebrated their 9th Lang-Ay Day at Edinburgh Memorial Garden in Central on Mar. 13.
This year’s celebration focused on the theme of preserving Igorot values and cultural traits.
Lang-Ay is held annually in Bontoc every first week of April. The word “Lang-Ay” is a native term which means sharing anything, including time, resources and talent.
A key highlight of the celebration is a street dancing competition among participating municipal associations, which are exhorted to exhibit their indigenous music, dance, costumes and other cultural symbols through a dance.
This year’s champion in the street dance competition was the group from Bontoc, followed by those from Bauco, and then Sadanga.
In the cultural dance presentation, Bauco performers who staged a traditional wedding tableau was named champion. Next came Bontoc with a similar theme, followed by Tadian which focused on the “San Kataguan,” or the planting to harvest season.
Guest speaker was Cyril Cacay, adviser of the Mountain Province Association and Cordillera Association of Macau.
He said in his speech that their indigenous practices and traditions were blessings from Kabunyan or God, who also gave them their lush mountains and crystal clear rivers. The dances and music performed on Lang-Ay Day are said to be ways of praising Kabunyan for the countless blessings they receive.
The program started with a colorful parade from all the municipalities of Mountain Province followed by a Eucharistic celebration led by Fr. Dwight dela Torre.

IsaFed holds Easter get-together

The 12 chapters of Isabela Federation basked in the heat of the sun as they celebrated Easter Sunday at Edinburgh Place in Central on Mar 27. The group tucked into delicious cho
colate eggs and held various contests to mark the occasion. In egg painting, Jones Chapter bagged the first place, followed by United San Manuel Association (Usmia) in 2nd, and Quezon chapter in 3rd. In the egg nest decoration, Burgos took the top slot, followed by Usmia and Quezon. In the egg and peanut eating game, Usmia won the first prize, then Roxas, while the 3rd place was a toss-up between Quezon and San Mateo. And what’s Easter without an egg hunt? Taking top honors in the traditional game which took place in Edinburgh’s vast park was Quezon, followed by Roxas, and then Burgos. Cash prizes were awarded to the winning team. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. It is traditionally associated with eggs, which are seen as a  symbol of spring, or of rebirth and reinvigoration after the harshness of winter – Marites Palma

Designers boost Bethune

Global fashion brand Kaprice joined forces with jewelry designer Gosia Orlowska, Carla Personal Styling and Pakt on Mar 17 to celebrate International Women’s Day and raise money for Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.
About a dozen women attended the benefit show organized by Kaprice’s Ana Briones, where clothes, jewelry and other designer items were put up for sale, with part of the proceeds going to Bethune House.
Bethune executive director Edwina Antonio was unable to join the event as she was attending to a sick client, but extended her gratitude to the women who extended help.
Celebrity photographer Xyza Cruz-Bacani, who was a former OFW herself, spoke of how she got to be where she is now, and of her own fundraising efforts for Bethune.
Also among the guests was The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap, who has been designated Bethune’s Ambassador of Goodwill not just for raising funds for the shelter, but also for raising awareness about its work and its needs.
Briones said the money raised from the charity event will be handed personally to Antonio sometime this month.

Porcelain painting, jewelry making lessons at PCG

. The porcelain painting students display their works.

Hong Kong-based Filipina artist and finance executive Gail Camaya-Hills held two consecutive art workshops at the Consulate as part of Pintura Circle’s program to provide livelihood training to overseas Filipino workers.
Hills first taught porcelain painting, an art form she is noted for,  on  Mar 13 at the Consulate. The full quota of 12 OFW students was quickly filled, with one Pintura friend, Naty Panuncialman and her two children, joining the lessons.
The result was a collection of fine porcelain artwork by the participants, that will be exhibited at the Consulate during Philippine Independence Day celebrations in June.
On Mar 20, Hills, in cooperation with another Pintura member, Janeth Weil, conducted lessons on jewelry making, also at the Consulate. Again, the reserved slots for 12 OFWs were quickly filled, with a few Filipino residents also taking part.

The jewelry class with Gail Hills (second left, standing)

What looked like an easy task of stringing pearls took all of three hours to complete, with Hills patiently teaching participants the intricate task of tying several knots after each pearl to make the strand extra strong.
Those who finished early were rewarded with a second lesson on doing bead tassels for their pearl chokers.
At the start of both lessons, Hills gave an overview lecture; first,  on the history of porcelain making, and second, on how pearls became highly prized accessories of women, from the time of Cleopatra until the present.
The two lessons were the second and third in a series of art workshops offered by Pintura Circle free to OFWs in Hong Kong, in cooperation with the Consulate’s cultural section. The first was a lesson on acrylic painting conducted by Grace Pineda Camacho on Jan 31, while the fourth and last will be on oil pastel painting, to be held on Apr 3 and handled by Irene Bernarte Haagen. Those who wish to take part may reserve their place by emailing cultural_hk@yahoo.com with “Art Workshop” as subject. – DCLM

PGBI Aguila marks anniversary with charity drive

True to their advocacy of helping people in need, members of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Incorporation (PGBI) – Aguila (or Advocator of Guardians United In Love and Achievers) Hong Kong Chapter celebrated their 4th anniversary recently with a fundraising for charity.  Those who got together for the special occasion on Mar 3 at Pier 3 (Discovery Bay Pier) in Central all pitched in and raised a total of $1,423 which was later donated to the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos for its charity work. The group also got four stickers for the Coins for Bethune Project, which is meant to raise funds for the shelter for distressed migrant women. The gift giving was led by the group’s founder, Gener Bain. The day-long celebration was made livelier by parlor games where other PGBI chapters took part, and the Filipino lunch by members and visitors. – Marites Palma

Mapa re-elected Lakbay Dangal head

Lakbay Dangal’s new officers led by Marites Mapa who was reelected as president, were inducted into office by Consul General Bernardita Catalla at the Consulate on Mar 20.
Several of the group’s  members came to witness the ceremony.
The other officers who took their oath were Gloria Petrola, vice president; Victoria Munar, secretary; Cecilia Eduarte, treasurer; Janeth Ann Floro, training coordinator; Ely Ambi, welfare officer and Thess Palma, P.R.O.
Lakbay Dangal is known as the only association in Hong Kong which promotes the unique history and diverse culture of Filipinos in Hong Kong.
The group conducts a tour for anyone interested in the life and times of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, during his brief stay in Hong Kong.
Lakbay Dangal was founded on Mar 14, 2010 by “running priest”, Fr Robert Reyes and had among its initial members, Soosot Zerrudo, who acted as mentor, and Alex Aquino and Girly Payne as advisers.
Those who want to join the group or inquire about its walking tour may call 68481641(Cecil) or 94167012 (Tess).  – Marites Palma

Women biggest source of remittance, says expert

By Marites Palma and Ellen Almacin

Seminar participants and speakers are joined by Consul General Bernardita Catalla.

Migrant women are the biggest source of remittances to the Philippines, according to a migration expert who lectured at the Consulate on Mar. 20 in celebration of International Women’s Month. Joy Tadios-Arenas of Wimler Hong Kong cited studies that showed 85% of all women who work abroad send money regularly to the Philippines, accounting for a large chunk of the US$25 billion total remittance from abroad that was recorded last year. Of this amount, US$780 million came from Hong Kong.
The staggering amounts indicate that up to 54 percent, or more than half of the total Philippine population, is sustained by money sent by overseas Filipino workers, said Tadios-Arenas.
She said her own study conducted between 2012 and 2014 showed that migrant women tend to associate remittance to maintaining relationships with family members or as a tool to repay a debt of gratitude (or utang na loob). Some, however, revealed an active financial management style.
Her study involved 50 migrant women who had families back home, are mostly mothers with more than three dependents, college graduates, and have been working in Hong Kong for more than five years. Three men working abroad were also included in the study.
The money they send home has led women to become empowered enough to set parameters in their remittance, including the selection of the beneficiaries, and determining how often money should be sent.
One of the mothers in the study reportedly said she chose her daughter to be the recipient because she couldn’t trust her husband anymore. Another decided to send money four times a month, fearing her family would spend it all if she sent it all in one go.
To ensure the money is allocated properly, the women have resorted to using the internet to check on projects which they paid for. One participant said she decided to do this because she had been fooled by her own family once into sending money that was not used properly.
Despite having financial freedom, however, many migrant women still resort to taking out loans.
Several reasons were cited for this, including an increase in the number of beneficiaries. Katherine de Guzman of the Philippine National Bank HK said that before, the only recipient for married women were their husbands, and for single migrants, their parents. Now other relatives are added, including children and other relatives, friends, and even alumni associations and investment schemes.
She said migrants should be particularly wary of so-called investments offered by friends and relatives, especially now that scams are very rampant.
Tadios-Arenas said her research showed that Hong Kong migrants took out loans for education, housing, going to Canada, buying a motorcycle or jeepney for the husband, gadgets and even to pay for weddings.
This indicates, according to her, that the loans turn the migrants into heads of the family, homebuilders and decision makers. The borrowed money is used to either manage their family members, or turn them into entrepreneurs or investors.
The downside is that they are forced to accept illegal part time jobs, suffer emotional and psychological stress, and are exposed to a huge risk of delay in repayment. This in turn results in even higher interest rates for their loan, and makes them vulnerable to being abused and harassed by debt collectors.
She exhorted the participants to avoid taking out unnecessary loans so they become truly empowered.
“Yes you are the new heroes of the Philippines. But be a financially wise hero, not a martyr,” she said. “Employ tough love, educate your family members, mind your action and decision, set parameters, criteria and restriction in remittance recipients and allocation.”
In closing the forum, Consul General Bernadita Catalla called on participants to spread the word about what they had learned so friends, relatives and family members would understand and see the real situation of migrant workers.

Ang OFW bilang nobelista

Vanesa Bañares

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Para kay Vanesa Bañares, hindi hadlang ang pagiging isang kasambahay upang makamit ang pangarap na makilala sa naiiba at higit na maipagmamalaki, kapaki-pakinabang at kagalang-galang na larangan – an
g pagiging isang nobelista.
Hindi tulad ng maraming malikhaing manunulat na animo’y nagkukulong sa kanyang toreng garing, si Vanesa ay nakatuntong sa lupa at nakikihalubilo sa mga tao bilang isang tagapayo ng mga may problemang kapwa kasambahay sa kanilang simbahan.
Ang sari-saring kuwentong-buhay na inilalahad sa kanya ng mga OFW ay nagsisilbing isang di-natutuyuang balon ng inspirasyon at materyales para sa kanyang mga katha.
May tatlong taon pa lamang na nagsusulat si Vanesa, ngunit sa loob ng panahong iyon ay nakatapos na siya ng 33 nobela. Ang 23 sa mga iyon ay nalathala sa Wattpad at mayroon nang 70,250 tagasubaybay.
Ang Wattpad ay isang diban ng mga nobela, tula, maikling kuwento at iba pang kathang-isip sa internet na nababasa nang libre ninuman.
“Marami na akong tagasubaybay, hindi lang dito sa Hong Kong kundi maging sa Pilipinas at sa iba pang mga bansa,”  sinabi ni Vanesa sa isang pakikipanayam sa amin sa isang malilim at tahimik na sulok sa Victoria Peak kamakailan.
Ang isa niyang akda, ang “Alex, Alex” halimbawa, ay mayroong 11,600 tagasubaybay at 403 boto ng mga mambabasang nagandahan sa nobela tungkol sa dalawang magkaklase sa high school na magkapangalan ngunit magkaiba ang ugali at nagkakaasaran, hanggang sa nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin.
Ang tema ay pag-ibig at ang inasintang mga mambabasa ay mga kabataan, ang wika ay magkahalong English at Tagalog at gumamit ng mga makabagong salitang-kabataan tulad ng “nerd,” “jock” at iba pa kaya habang binabasa mo ay para ka ring nakapaloob sa eksena, nakikisalamuha at nakikinig sa mga tauhan.
At palibhasa’y online ang nobela, maaring maglahad ng paghanga, magbigay ng opinyon o kumontra ang isang mambabasa sa mga pangyayari sa nobela.
“Kung minsan nga ay sinasabi nilang nabibitin sila sa ending kaya nagdaragdag ako ng isa o dalawang chapter,” sabi ni Vanesa.
Ayon kay Vanesa, hindi siya nag-aral ng pagsusulat, ni hindi rin naging mamamahayag noong siya ay nag-aaral pa. Kamakailan lamang siya nagsimulang magsulat ng mga kuwento at sumuong kaagad sa masalimuot at puno ng paghahamon na daigdig ng nobela. Ngunit napaghandaan daw niya iyon sa pamamagitan ng araw-araw na pagsusulat ng talaarawan.
“Mahilig din ako talagang magbasa ng mga libro,” sabi niya. “Noong araw pa, basta may mahagilap akong libro ay binabasa ko.”
Magugulat kayo kapag nalaman ninyong malayo sa pagsusulat ang tinapos ni Vanesa sa pamantasan at di-hamak na malayo ang kanyang karanasan sa pagtatrabaho.
Aniya, siya ay nagtapos ng agrikultura sa University of the East Caloocan dahil umano ang kanyang ama ay isang magsasaka. Ninais niyang pag-aralan ang siyentipikong kaalaman sa pagsasaka upang mapaunlad ang hanapbuhay na iyon ng kanyang angkan sa Bulid, Masbate, at ng daan-daan pang mga magbubukid sa nasabing probinsiya.
“Marami akong naging trabaho sa Pilipinas. Minsan sa resort, nagbabantay sa swimming. Kung hindi ganoon kalakas, nagdi-design ako ng wedding dress, yaong nilalagyan ng beads. nagtrabaho sa real estate, naging sekretarya…” kuwento ni Vanesa.
“Yaong ibaba ng opisina namin sa real estate ay patahian. Kapag wala akong ginagawa sa itaas ay bumababa ako at nakikialam sa tinatahi nila. Pakialamera ako talaga. Hanggang sa natuto akong manahi at magdisensyo ng mga wedding dress,” sabi ng 34-taong-gulang na nobelista.
Naisip naming ang kaalaman niya sa pananahi marahil ang pinagmulan ng kanyang disiplina at husay sa pagtatagni-tagni ng iba’t ibang mga tauhan at pangyayari upang makagawa ng kuwento.
Tulad ng iba pang manunulat, ang ideya o balangkas ng isang luwento ay bigla na lang kumikislap sa kanyang isip, at hindi niya iyon pinalilipas.
“Kung minsan ay naghuhugas ako ng pinggan, tapos biglang papasok sa isip ko ang ideya. Agad kong isinusulat iyon, kahit sa aking palad, para hindi ko malimutan.” Kapag nasimulan na niyang isulat ay parang batis na raw ang pagdaloy ng ideya mula sa kanyang isipan.
Isang malaking hamon ang pagsulat ng isang nobela, mula sa paggawa ng balangkas, paglikha ng mga tauhang gumaganap sa kanyang nobela at pagdetalye sa pagkakaiba ng kanilang mga pagkatao, pagtatagni-tagni ng mga sitwasyon at pangyayari, pagkukrus ng mga landas ng mga pangunahing tauhan, ang dramatisasyon o mga pag-uusap nila, ang tunggalian, at sa bandang huli, ang kasukdulan at paghupa ng kuwento.
Mula sa pagsusulat at paglalathala ng mga nobela sa Wattpad ay tumanggap siya isang araw ng isang email mula sa Maynila na nag-aalok na bilhin ang ilang nobela niya at ilalathala sa romance series ng Red Room, sa isang kundisyon – na gagamitin ang mga ideya niya para sa aklat sa romance pero iba ang susulat. Dagdag na kundisyon: hindi niya maaaring ilathala sa Wattpad ang nobelang nabili na sa kanya.
Sa ngayon, aniya, ay limang nobela na ang nabibili ng Red Room sa kanya at hindi pare-pareho ang presyo. Noong una, binayaran siya umano ng $4,500 sa nagustuhang nobela at iyon ay ibinili niya ng isang laptop. Tapos nasundan iyon ng tatlong nobela na binayaran sa kanya ng $13,800.
“Hindi ko akalaing kikita pala ako sa mga sinusulat ko,” ani Vanesa, na maybahay ng isang tricycle driver at ina ng isang 16-anyos na lalaki.
Hindi ba siya nababahala sa kasunduan sa Red Room na bibilhin ng naglalathala ng libro ang kanyang mga ideya at ibang pangalan ang ilalagay na may-akda?
“Ang sabi nila, hindi nila gagamitin nang buo ang aking nobela, gagamitin lang nila ang ideya ko, dahil kapag ginamit daw nila nang buo ang nobela ko ay pangalan ko na ang ilalagay nila at magiging exclusive writer na ako sa kanila,” paliwanag niya.
Masaya si Vanesa dahil kahit isa lamang siyang katulong, nagagamit niya ang libreng oras niya sa bahay ng among British upang magsulat. Mababait daw ang kanyang mga amo at dalawang batang anak ng mga ito. Minsan ay napansin raw ng amo na hindi umaabot sa kusina ang wifi connection sa bahay kaya nagpakabit ito ng router.
Limang taon na siya sa Hong Kong at hindi siya nagpapalit ng amo. Wala pa siyang balak bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil mas may panahon daw siya rito para sa pagsusulat at maayos ang kuneksiyon sa internet.
Gusto niyang samantalahin ang kalayaang iyon para pormal na mag-aral ng malikhaing pagsusulat at photography upang sa pagbalik niya sa kanyang pamilya ay may taglay siyang bagong kaalaman at makapagbagong-buhay doon bilang isang manunulat.