DH eyes more world runs after London Marathon

Theresa Calo waves the Philippine flag at the finish line of the Lndon Marathon.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Filipina domestic helper Theresa Calo is setting her sights on other major runs overseas after her successful finish in the grueling 26.2-mile (42-kilometer) London Marathon on Apr 23.

That includes running in the Kobe Marathon in Japan this November, and joining the London Marathon again next year.

“I want to run more, both trail running here in Hong Kong and more marathons overseas,” the 37-year-old Calo said in reply to emailed questions from The SUN, shortly after returning from Britain on May 3.

Calo shrugged off a swollen ankle to finish on 25,269th place overall in a record crowd of more than 40,000 runners who took part in the 37th London Marathon to raise funds for charity group Oxfam.

The Baguio native, who has been a helper in Hong Kong for the past 15 years, clocked 4 hours, 48 minutes and 40 seconds as she joined the run from Blackheath to Westminster.

Her record run was sponsored by local gym, Pheform, while she helped raise nearly 1,500 pounds for Oxfam’s poverty alleviation program through the online fundraising platform, JustGiving, by taking part in the marathon.

The tall, trim and charming Calo was full of excitement after finishing her first marathon event.
“I enjoyed my first 26.2-mile run! I managed to finish it and, yeah, 1 down, 5 stars to go!” she told The SUN in a message two days after the event.

She thanked her employer for the past six years, an Irish corporate banker who lives in Central and a marathon buff himself, for being very supportive of her running activity, including her London campaign.

 “My employer runs a lot also and has done several marathons himself, including London Marathon and New York Marathon.  In fact, he was scheduled to run in this year’s London Marathon but had to pull out for work reasons.  Several months ago he asked me to cancel his place in the race and it was then that I got the idea to see if I could take his place instead.  It worked. I eventually found a spot with Oxfam,” Calo said.

Calo has been running seriously for less than two years and trains most of the time in Taipo, where her mother and a sister married to a local man live.

She said her boss’ frequent business trips abroad allowed her to visit her family members in the New Territories regularly and train in country parks and sections of the MacLehose and Wilson Trails.

That training and participation in several trail races had prepared the Baguio Colleges Foundation/University of the Cordilleras BS Information Technology Computer Science graduate for the London marathon.

Calo ran with three London-based and one Italy-based Filipinas in the marathon, and she finished second in the group, just five minutes behind the front-runner.

Aid from friends and Good Samaritans as well as her own savings helped her fulfill her dream of running in London. She stayed with friends who live there. Another friend who she used to work for sponsored her flight and accommodation for a few days.

“Salomon HK heard about my story and contacted me on Facebook and contributed some running equipment like shoes and clothing also,” she said.

Her fundraising for Oxfam is continuing. “I set up a ‘justgiving’ page and lots of people have contributed – friends, family, other Filipinos I run with here in Hong Kong and even my employer!  Even some complete strangers have contributed money,” she said.

Anyone can give to her fundraising for Oxfam at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TheresaCalo2017.

Filipina softbelles dominate locals

Members of the all-Filipina softball team, Fate, celebrate after the game.

By Emz Frial

The all-Filipina softball team, Fate, is celebrating after scoring a decisive win over its local rival Villas, 19-0, on Apr 30 at Shek Kip Mei field.
The game lasted four innings, with Fate starting as the away team.
Fate did not lose time piling up points from the first inning. The team collected six homes straightaway, courtesy of Myra Japitana, Don Gaborno, Liezeal Algonez, Romela Osabel, Emily Mabaquiao and Editha Hidalgo.
When the locals took their turn to bat, the fast balls of Fate pitcher Gaborno resulted in two batters standing out. A third batter from Villas was caught on a flyball by Fate shortstop Rubuieline Ondayang.
The inning ended with a score of 6-0 in Fate’s favor.
In the second inning, the locals took a more aggressive stand.
But the Filipinas were equally aggressive in fending off their rivals’ attempts to score, and in adding to their already sizeable lead. By the end of the second inning, the Filipinas added three more points to their haul, resulting in a total score of 9-0 in their favor. Those who scored were Japitana, Gaborno and Algonez.
Fate did not rest on its laurels, and again started scoring in the third inning, while Villas was again left blank. Four more points were added to Fate’s score, courtesy of Cherry Octaviano, Percy Jayme, Japitana and Gaborno. The inning ended on a score of 13-0 in Fate’s favor.
In the fourth and final inning, Villas again tried their best to stop the Filipinas from scoring but appeared powerless. Fate gained six more points through Katherine Gerpacio, Ma. Luz Mandia, Japitana, Gaborno, Ma. Eva Mendez and Osabel. Villas, which must have been demoralized by this time, again failed to find its mark.
With the result, Fate remains unbeatable in the regular league. After playing six games, the Filipinas have six wins and no loss.
But a tougher time awaits them on their next game on May 14. They will come up against Phoenix Ghost, the team that overwhelmed them in the championship of the annual knock-out game, Festival of Sports.

Ilocos OFWs oppose entry of mining firm

Ilocos Sur and Cordillera OFW groups show their opposition to mining, saying it is the people who will lose out in the future.

By Vir B. Lumicao

People of Cervantes in Ilocos Sur are up in arms against the entry of a mining company in their quiet agricultural highland town to explore and mine for gold and minerals in its mountains bordering the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Hong Kong-based OFWs from Cervantes voiced their opposition to plans by Cordillera Exploration Inc, or CEXCI, to mine the mountains in their town during festivities celebrating Cordillera Day on Chater Road on April 30.

CEXCI, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia, is planning to expand its mining operations to Cervantes and Suyo in Ilocos Sur and parts of Benguet and Mountain Province.

The company said it had applied for a financial and technical assistance agreement over its property in Mankayan, part of which is in the process of conversion to an exploration permit.

“We were surprised when people from the company visited our town starting in 2012 and consulted us residents about its exploration plans in our localities,” Norma Ayala, president of Cervantes Association of Hong Kong, said during the Chater event.

She said the company representatives returned every year until 2016 when the issue blew up because six out of the town’s barangay captains voted in favor of the company’s exploration plan while three others who understood the impact of mining opposed it.

The six village leaders approved the plan because they did not understand the issue as the company did not explain it very clearly, she said. The townspeople were also surprised when they heard that the municipal mayor also approved it, Ayala said.

“We oppose the project because it will destroy our Paradise which is Cervantes,” Ayala said.
She said the company had already carried out explorations in the adjoining town of Mankayan and is planning to extend this to the Ilocos Sur town of Suyo.

Ayala said the river in Cervantes that irrigates its farmlands come from the highlands of Mankayan, Tadian and Bakun, and flows down to Suyo. The mine tailings from the explorations would reportedly drift and poison the water and lands downriver, killing the fish and ruining the farms.
Ayala appealed for support from Hong Kong-based OFWs for the Cervantes people’s signature campaign expressing their opposition to the CEXCI’s exploration plans.  

 Genie Sacla, president of the Suyo, Ilocos Sur Association and Cervantes Group, said people in the adjoining towns of Suyo and Cervantes are divided over the mining issue because of their lack of understanding and explanation of its ill-effects.

She said residents were attracted to the company’s promises of development, such as building roads, a hospital and other projects, because the two towns were so poor and neglected. Now the roads have been built, but the company has gained entry, she said.

“We had a national road, but it was so dilapidated that AFreight didn’t want to deliver to our towns because the road was so bad,” Sacla said.

She urged the people of the affected towns and the Filipino nation to oppose mining and exploration “because there are no winners in mining but the mining companies and their top officials who move to other places after doing damage to a locality,” she said.

She said she was able to go to school because her father was a miner working for mining companies in Benguet and Zambales, but she saw how the industry poisoned waterways and laid waste to farmlands.

“Sa bandang huli, walang panalo, talo tayong lahat sa mining,” she said.

OFW cooperative opens in Ifugao

Managers, staff and suppliers attend the opening ceremonies to launch The House of Ekolife Ifugao.

By Cristina B. Cayat

A cooperative fully owned by overseas Filipino workers officially opened for business on Apr 28 in Banaue.

The House of Ekolife Ifugao, owned by the Overseas Filipinos Worldwide Marketing Cooperative, is the first of five outlets being lined up to open across in the country in the next few months.

The project was initiated by the Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative, Inc., a non government organization based in Laguna, as part of its Coming Home Pinoy WISE project funded by UN Women.

Atikha’s executive director Estrella Dizon-Anonuevo said in her speech at the launch that it was while working closely with local communities that she saw the opportunity to bridge the missing link between overseas Filipino workers and their families.

She said that a research conducted by her institution showed that 80% of businesses put up by OFWs fail due to several issues. In line with the study, they were able to identify potential industries that could supplement or support the OFWs even while they are still working abroad so that by the time they decide to leave their host country they are better prepared to take the journey back home.
OFWs who went through the financial education course provided by Pinoy WISE, Atikha’s overseas group of speakers, are given priority to invest in the cooperative. Providing both the knowledge and the skills needed in running a business through seminars is the best way to equip would-be entrepreneurs among them, Anonuevo said.

Atikha deputy executive director Aileen Penas-Constantino said the project gives work not only to former OFWs but also to local people.

Some of the products on display.

House of Ekolife operates as the buyer and retailer of products produced by families of OFWs.

The social enterprise in Banaue is manned by former HK OFW Grace Ananayo. It  involves managing the coffee shop directly across the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces, a bakery that serves western bread ‘using flour produced by local people, a mini restaurant that serves both local and western delicacies, an arts and crafts shop that sell ornaments made by former OFW in Hong Kong Marilyn Nanglihan, and a “pasalubong corner” where products from a Iloilo, Quezon, Laguna and Baguio City are sold.

During the opening, officials of Ifugao province showed up to show support and give their blessings to the project. Among them were Banaue municipal administrator James N. Damoyan and Hingyon mayor Jerry Luglug who came with his wife Lily.

Also among the guests were engineer Carmel Buyuccan, who worked closely with Atikha in planning the enterprise, as well as Joyce Niwane of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office who is involved in helping OFW families that are in need.

An OFW from Singapore, Joyce Dinulug, and this writer from Hong Kong also attended the ribbon-cutting, which was preceded by a blessing by Pastor Herman Dinumla.

The House of Ekolife is poised to open other outlets in Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur and Iloilo.

Singer-comedian Mikey Bustos to perform in Hong Kong

Filipino-Canadian entertainer and YouTube star Mikey Bustos is coming to Hong Kong for an afternoon of music and laughter on May 28 at Duke of Windsor Social Service Building in Wan Chai. The event is presented by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association.

Dubbed as “The PinoyBoy”, Mikey achieved YouTube celebrity status due to his humorous videos about different aspects of Filipino culture. His music video parodies of contemporary pop songs and a capella covers have consistently garnered millions of views in the popular video streaming site.

Prior to his online fame, Mikey started his entertainment career as a contestant on the talent reality show Canadian Idol in 2003. He has toured internationally since 2004 and has performed as front act for major pop stars such as The Pussycat Dolls and Christina Aguilera. He now appears in Philippine TV shows and commercials while continuing to produce YouTube videos for his global audience.

For tickets and other details about Mikey Bustos’ performance in Hong Kong, contact 9203 0872.

Students condemn overcharging by job agencies

Filipina SAFE member Kathleen Magramo
says the undercover operation caught most targeted
Hong Kong employment agencies charging excessive
placement fees.

By Vir B. Lumicao

A group of students has called for tighter regulation of Hong Kong’s 1,300 employment agencies and criminalization of their illegal activities, saying it has gathered evidence showing migrant helpers are charged placement fees 25 times above the legal limit.

The call was made by the Students Against Fees and Exploitation (SAFE) during a forum held on May 11 at the University of Hong Kong, where it disclosed findings of undercover investigations it conducted on over 100 agencies since October 2016.

Human rights lawyer Patricia Ho who was a guest speaker at the forum said she would look at the evidence later, which apparently show that many local agencies are engaging in forced labor and human trafficking.

Another guest, ex-legislator Emily Lau, urged the Hong Kong government to criminalize agency malpractices. She also said Filipinos here should lobby President Rodrigo Duterte to crack down on agencies in the Philippines that initiate overcharging, migrant worker exploitation and human trafficking.

Guest speakers Emily Lau and Patricia Ho
at the forum of the Students against Fees and Exploitation.

Tiffany Chan, a member of SAFE, told The SUN most Hong Kong employers are not aware their maids are being treated illegally by agencies, so, there is a need to educate them about this breach of the law.

Ho, a partner at solicitors firm Daly and Associates, said the findings showed agencies are exploiting the domestic workers who are vulnerable, “and it is the minority vulnerable ones that we protect and it’s the agents that we shall bring to justice.”

Citing international definition, she said: “If a party recruits, receives and then, by use of deception or abuse of a traditional vulnerability or gets payment to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation, that’s human trafficking.

“And, if the domestic helpers are held in debt bondage as they often are, and they have their passports retained by their employers or agents, and they are being taken advantage of, for example, they work excessive hours and in poor condition, then that forced labor.”  

Lau, a rights advocate, said it is a disgrace that a wealthy city like Hong Kong cannot criminalize and impose harsher punishment on rogue agencies.

The government is going to make the Code of Practice a law to give it more teeth, and public consultations will begin next month, Lau said. She urged those in the forum to send in their recommendations and comments so these could be considered by LegCo.

SAFE member Kathleen Magramo, who introduced the project dubbed “Exposing Hong Kong’s Employment Agency Black Market” said, “There is one black market that continues to exist in Hong Kong and that is the employment agency black market”.

She said SAFE observed that Hong Kong has 1,300 employment agencies, “exceeding the total number of Starbucks, Macdonald’s and 7-11s combined” and mostly operating in alleyways without signage and old buildings like a black market.

The investigations observed that most of the agencies targeted by members, posing as either employers or workers, “openly expressed charging illegal placement fee”.

“The investigation therefore puts into question the accuracy of government investigations … that consistently passed a low number of prosecutions,” Magramo said.

As of January 2017, only 12 of the 1,300 agencies listed by the Employment Agencies Administration had been prosecuted for charging illegal fees, she said.

Magramo, a Hong Kong-born Filipina and third-year economics student, said many agencies engage in fraudulent activities, like causing a maid’s pay to be delayed, or prodding an employer “to hire a new worker so you could train her better”.

So, if the helper underperforms, the employer fires her and pays the agency again to hire a replacement.

“As a result, employment agencies make overcharged business over and over again,” she said, likening it to a black market that has existed for the past 30 years.

Agencies “continued to charge illegal and excessive fees that on average were up to 25 times more than the legal limit, yet the government continues to gloss over this issue,” she said.

She called government moves like the passing of a Code of Practice for Employment Agencies in January as mere distractions.

Cancer-stricken OFW dies 9 months after being fired

By Vir B. Lumicao and Marites Palma


Former Hong Kong-based domestic worker Lorenza A. Tabucol was laid to rest on May 13 after succumbing to breast cancer, barely nine months after returning home for good, then being fired by her employer.

The late Lorenza Tabucol (right)
at the graduation of her daughter Fritzie.

Tabucol, a 47-year-old mother of two, died without filing any claims against her employer for her termination and a snake bite she reportedly suffered a year before she was sent home by her employer.

Tabucol’s daughter Fritzie T. Fonbuena, told friends in Hong Kong her mother died  penniless because her savings of just under Php100,000  all went to her medication and day-to-day expenses.

Fonbuena, 25, and her younger brother, were helped by an uncle who paid for their mother’s funeral. The children still have to file a claim for death and burial benefits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Fonbuena said her mother told their family in March 2016 that she had Stage 4 breast cancer. Nine months before that – or about June 28, 2015 — the helper reported being bitten by a snake while walking her employer’s dog in Quarry Bay. She did not file a complaint over this incident.

Her relatives and friends are now wondering whether the snake bite had anything to do with Tabucol contracting cancer, saying no one in their family had the disease.

Tabucol, a widow, reportedly went to a hospital where she was treated for the snake bite. Three months later, Fonbuena said her mother started feeling unwell every so often until a blood test showed she had cancer. Then she became too ill to work.

Tabucol returned home to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, on Aug 5 last year. Her daughter said Tabucol’s employer, Agnes Ip, had told her mother to go home for medical treatment. “Biglaan po na pinauwi siya…agad-agad po na binilhan siya ng tiket pauwi,” Fonbuena said.

But when the helper got home, Ip allegedly terminated their contract, and did not pay for long service for the 13 years that the Filipina had worked for her.

Had a claim been filed, Tabucol could have claimed roughly $36,000 based on last year’s minimum salary for foreign domestic workers.

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre said Tabucol’s next of kin could no longer claim for long service pay as the helper was dismissed nine months ago. “Long service pay claim lapses three months after termination of employment,” the labor official said in reply to a query from The SUN.  As for the 2015 snake attack, work-related compensation lapses after one year, he said.

In addition to such payouts, Tabucol could have applied for a maximum of Php50,000 financial aid from OWWA under the Supplemental Medical Assistance Program for OFWs under treatment for cancer, kidney ailments, emerging infections like Zika, Ebola and other illnesses requiring longtime care.

Tabucol arrived in Hong Kong in 1997 to work for her first employer, then moved to Ip around 2004.
Her daughter was 5 years old and her son, 3, when she left them. The daughter managed to finish university, but the son was not able to complete his studies since Tabucol got ill.

NGOs bat for decent accommodations for FDHs

By Daisy CL Mandap

Air-conditioned dog house
on the balcony was upheld as “suitable”
by a magistrate’s court

Foreign domestic workers who are not given suitable living quarters by their employers should at least be allowed to remain in Hong Kong while they process new work contracts.

This was what Eni Lestari, chair of Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, told the group that gathered for the launch on May 10 of an in-depth study conducted by the Mission for Migrant Workers on living accommodation of women migrant workers (MDW).

“We should be able to change jobs if we are not given suitable accommodation,” said Lestari. “This is basic respect that must be given to a worker”.

At the launch of the study titled “Pictures from the Inside”, program coordinator Norman Carnay said there was a need to define what constitutes “suitable accommodation” which under the standard employment contract, is supposed to be given a MDW.

But what is considered unsuitable? As it is, Carnay said only two examples are listed in the standard contract: makeshift beds in corridors, and a room shared by the worker with an adult or teenager of the opposite sex.

Given this, almost everything else appears fair play, especially since the policy is premised on what Carnay said was “an excuse” about the small sizes of flats in Hong Kong.

Thus, in the study, a number of the 3,075 MDWs who took part provided extreme examples that could put the “suitable” requirement to the test.

Pictures provided in the study showed the workers sleeping in coffin-like spaces inside kitchen cabinets, in storage rooms, living room sofas with the wet laundry hanging overhead, and in an airconditioned “dog house” in a balcony.

Initially, more than half (57%) of those surveyed said they had their own room, while a smaller number, at 42%, declared outright to not having this privilege.

But on further inquiries, a third of those who said they had their own room admitted that their room was being used for other purposes, mainly for storage.

Thus, it appeared that 61%, or 3 out of 5 of the more than 340,000 FDWs in Hong Kong either do not have a room to sleep in, or are put in a room that is used for purposes.

He cited one case where the worker was made to sleep in the living room which doubled as travel agency, where male workers would work up to late at night sometimes.

More troubling was the finding that 5 of the respondents were made to sleep in toilets. Extrapolating, Carnay said that “around 500 MDWs currently declare they sleep in toilets”.

Lestari also cited cases handled by AMCB where the worker had to sleep on the bare floor for seven months, or one who contracted cancer after sleeping for five years on the living room sofa for only four to five hours each night.

“Maybe if you’re a house guest, sleeping on the sofa for one week is okay, but beyond that, it makes you crazy,” she said.

Asked to provide definite examples of what the Mission would consider “unsuitable accommodation”, Carnay said sleeping in the toilet, kitchen or cupboard or a space where wet laundry is hanging overhead, are definitely no-no. Living room spaces, especially if the flat is small, could be acceptable unless there are male adults who could intrude into the worker’s private space while she is resting.

“But of course, we can discuss this further,” he said.

What is important, Carnay said, is that there are definite figures to back up any petition to press on the government to provide better accommodation for MDWs.

To do this, the Mission hopes the authorities would (1) define categorically what “suitable accommodation” mean; (2) institutionalize effective regulatory and monitoring mechanisms on accommodation provided to MDWs; (3) develop a complaint system for migrant workers that will address accommodation issues; (4) raise awareness among employers about unsuitable accommodation and the rights of helpers regarding living standards; (5) align Hong Kong’s policy with international standards; and (6) make live-out arrangement for helpers optional.

Referring to the proposal to restore live-out arrangement, Carnay said the idea is to make this an optional arrangement.

“We are not advocating for everyone, or a majority of domestic workers, to live out. What we want is to take out the criminalization aspect (of the live-out ban), said Carnay.
He also dismissed what he called as “malicious allegation” that workers will abuse the live-out option by moonlighting.

“These are fulltime workers who work 10-12 hours, they will be too tired to moonlight,” said Carnay.

Duterte treats HK Pinoys to trademark speech

By Vir B. Lumicao

President Rodrigo Duterte, regaling Hong Kong-based Filipinos on May 13 to his brand of public speaking, announced a series of measures meant to provide relief to overseas Filipino workers.
Foremost among these  is the creation of a Department of OFWs and an OFW Bank to serve the needs of the country’s estimated 10 million overseas workers.

Duterte’s announcement confirmed plans disclosed in February by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and reportedly affirmed earlier in the day to militant OFW leaders. However, the president held back information on new directions for the overseas employment certificates (OEC) which Bello whispered to him in the middle of his speech.

Duterte addressed a select group of about 400 Filipino religious leaders, businessmen, professionals and household workers in Hong Kong in his first meeting with them since he became president in June last year. He stopped over on his way to the two-day “One Belt, One Road” forum in Beijing starting May 14.

Spicing up his lengthy impromptu speech with his trademark humor, expletives, jokes about women and tirades at Catholic bishops and media-owning “oligarchs”, the President reaffirmed his resolve to rid the government of corruption and continue his campaign against drugs.

The former Davao mayor used his usual cusswords to cheers from his supporters as he blasted the bishops for hitting his bloody campaign against drugs and his fondness for women, and those who were giving OFWs a hard time. “Kung sila ang sinasabi na mga bagong bayani natin, bakit pinahihirapan nyo ang mga bagong bayani? Bakit binubuksan mo ang bagahe? ‘Stop it! I don’t like it,’ sabi ko. Kasi kung may magbubukas ng bagahe niyo,  there has to be a compelling reason,” he said. Customs officers at NAIA open baggage only on the back of outside information.

He advised OFWs not to bring home “shabu” when they go on vacation. “Baka mamaya, instead of your relatives going to you para sa pasalubong, pupunta sila may dalang abuloy,” he  added.
Warning those in the drugs trade, he said: “Do not destroy the country, do not destroy the Philippines.”

On his trip to Beijing, Duterte said China would build two bridges across the Pasig River for free to help boost economic activity such as trade and tourism. “At this moment I can only thank China profusely for helping us without conditions,” he said.

Duterte said joining the “One Belt, One Road” economic initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping would allow his government to promote trade in agricultural products with other countries.

Duterte said that as the country’s economy is agriculture-based, it needs to find markets for its farm products. He said China is willing to help the Philippines revive its economy without any conditions because that country is awash with money.

“Mine is really to provide employment, so I invite people to invest in the Philippines,” he added.
“Today, walang akong masabi except my profuse thanks to China for helping us out. Remember that there was a time when lahat ng export natin ay hindi tinatanggap dito,” Duterte said.

About 100 people who wanted to see their president were refused entry to Regal Airport Hotel by the strict security, made up of  Hong Kong Police’s Special Branch and personnel of the Malacanang Presidential Security Group.

Representatives of militant groups who
had invitations were held off two and a half hours
before being allowed in and asked to sit in the last rows.
(Photo by Bing Yungco)

Among those refused entry were Bayan Hong Kong & Macau, and Unifil Hong Kong officers led by Eman Villanueva, who said they had invitations and were invited by Bello to the meeting after a dialogue at the Consulate. “Ayaw silang papasukin ng PSG,” said Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.
Consul General Bernardita Catalla, in her welcome speech,  apologized to those who were not allowed in.  “Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa napakaraming gustong makita si Presidente ngunit di namin napagbigyan dahil sa kakulangan ng lugar at oras...”

But she was interrupted noisily by a group of Duterte supporters who shouted, “Dito, maraming bakante!”

Catalla replied, “Nais nating ipaalala na mayroon tayong security arrangements na sinusunod.”
But in a lengthy Facebook post afterwards, Villanueva challenged the decision to ban them from the venue initially, and made to wait for more than two hours being finally allowed in.

“Maraming dapat ipaliwanag mga kinauukulan sa Konsulado.Hindi dapat palampasin  ang nangyaring  pambabastos sa mga progresibo at lehitimong OFW,” said Villanueva .

If the Consulate’s purpose was as they said, they did  not want to embarrass the President, then Villanueva said they did exactly that when they banned the militants  as it led to commotion and undue publicity from the international media.

D30 on ‘Vanessa’, OFW concerns

President Rodrigo Duterte meets with the Filipino community before flying out to China.  (Photo by William Elvin)

By William Elvin

A mysterious woman called "Vanessa" dominated a press-conference President Rodrigo Duterte had shortly after speaking before members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong on May 13.

President Duterte said Vanessa was a "rich" woman who had been giving him money so his net worth jumped by Php3 million since he took power in June last year.

But he was coy about giving more information about the woman with whom he said he has been having an affair since becoming president.

He said the only time he would give specifics about the relationship and its financial implication is if the Bureau of Internal Revenue asks him about it.

The president is accompanied on his trip by his common-law wife, Veronica "Honeylet" Avancena and their daughter, Kitty.

Duterte also spent a substantial amount of time answering questions about OFW issues.

He reiterated his desire to have a one-stop shop where workers can process all their documents to save them time, effort and money.

But he was quick to say that the plan is still under study.

He also promised to crack down on abusive recruitment agencies preying on OFWs.
"We need an agency dedicated just to regulate recruitment,” he saiid.

He did not elaborate on whether this would mean dismantling the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, which currently regulates agency activities.

As for the controversial overseas employment certificate (OEC) which many OFWs want scrapped, Duterte admitted not being familiar with the issue.

He said that the Department of Labor and Employment, led by Secretary Silvestre Bello III, will conduct a study regarding the matter.

The impeachment case filed against him, which is due to be heard starting Monday, May 15, was also raised during the media conference.

But Duterte brushed it aside with a flippant comment: "Kung ano ang totoo, e di yun na ‘yun,” he said.

When asked about his trip to Beijing, he refused to give specific details, only saying that it had to do with the economy.

No Chater walkabout for PRRD during lightning visit to HK

By The SUN Team

President Duterte will visit HK for the first time
since taking office in June last year

Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte is set to meet with a select group of Filipino community leaders in Hong Kong this Saturday, May 13, on his way to China after attending the World Economic Forum in Cambodia.

But while the meeting has been confirmed by both Malacanang and the Consulate, reports that the President will spend the next day, Sunday, doing a walkabout in Central to meet overseas Filipino workers, appear to be false.

Vice Consul Bob Quintin, who is coordinating the preparations for the presidential visit, said President Duterte is only scheduled to address Filcom leaders at the Regal Airport Hotel starting at 5pm on Saturday.

“No other event, just the Filcom event,” Quintin said in response to an online query from The SUN on whether other activities had been lined up for his visit.

However, over at Worldwide House in Central, people remain abuzz with speculation about the supposed walkabout by the president at OFW hangouts in the area.

“Haven’t you heard? President Duterte will be at Chater Road on Sunday?” one shopkeeper said confidently on Wednesday when asked what the OFWs nearby were all so excited about.

Another OFW who was told that the meeting with the President would take place a day earlier at the airport hotel, excitedly said, “Can I go? I want to see him!”

Unfortunately for many, only those given an invitation by the Consulate – and cleared by both the Philippine and Hong Kong governments - could gain entry into the meeting venue. All invitees were asked for their full name, HKID and passport numbers, and mobile telephone numbers.

The vetting is apparently so strict that about a week after the invitations had been sent out, the names of guests who had been cleared were still not known.

“(The) list is still being vetted, so no figures yet,” Quintin said, when asked how many people were expected to attend the meeting.

He also said they had yet to be informed on who would be accompanying the president to the meeting.

Among those hoping to take part in what could be their first dialogue with a sitting president are members of militant Filipino community organization, United Filipinos-Migrante Hong Kong.

Unifil Secretary-General Eman Villanueva told The SUN that the Consulate had asked them to submit the names of officers they wanted invited to the meeting, but they have yet to receive word on whether they would actually be allowed to take part.

Just the same, they had prepared a “migrants’ agenda” in hopes of having even just a brief meeting with him. In the agenda are long-standing concerns such as the high government fees and illegal exactions made by recruiters on OFWs, the extension of the passport validity from five to 10 years, and the continuation of peace talks between the government and the leftist National Democratic Front.

But while many are excited to come face to face with the President, who overwhelmingly won the OFWs’ vote in last year’s national elections, some of those invited, OFWs and residents alike, have turned down the invitation.

“I cannot bear to see and hear him speak,” said one OFW, who said she was offended by the President’s anti-women remarks and repeated cussing.

Another invitee, a resident, said she “happily declined” the invitation “at baka ikahiya ko pang Pilipino ako”.

President Duterte will be in China for the two-day “Belt and Road Summit” which will be attended by more than 1,000 delegates and government leaders from 28 countries.

For good na nga ba?

Ni Liezl Mercado

Hanggang kailan nga ba talaga ang dapat na pangingibang bansa? Ilang taon nga ba ang dapat na bunuin para matupad lahat ng gustong makamit sa buhay? Ikaw, naalala mo pa ba kung ilang taon lang ang binalak mo na mangibang-bayan bago ka umalis ng Pilipinas? Dalawang taon? Apat o hanggang anim na taon? Kumusta na? Asan ka na ngayon kababayan?

Hindi ako naiiba sa karamihan.

Bago ako umalis sa Pilipinas ay sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hanggang dalawang taon lang ako; mag-iipon lang para may pampuhunan. Pero nang matapos ko ang unang kontrata, naisip kong isa pa! Sayang naman at mabait ang amo, at madami ang nagpapakahirap sa Pilipinas para makaalis lang ng bansa. Mga ganyang bagay ang pumasok sa isip ko noon. Natapos ang pangalawang kontrata, at nagpasya akong pumirma ulit ng pangatlo dahil hindi pa tapos ang bahay, at may iba pa akong obligasyon. Dumami nang dumami ang mga gusto kong makamit, at dumami din ang mga responsibilidad na hindi naman kasama sa unang plano ko. Madami pang ibang plano ang nabago na bunga na rin ng desisyon na mangibang bansa.

Nakalipas ang 17 taon nang hindi ko namamalayan. Pero dumating sa punto na tinatanong ko ang sarili ko na hanggang kailan nga ba talaga ang pagho-Hong Kong? Magkano ba talaga ang dapat kong maipon para masabi kong sasapat na sa pagpo for good?

Sa kabila ng 17 taong pangingibang bansa, hindi ko masabi kung nagtagumpay na ako. Madami ang pagkakataon para mapaunlad ko pa lalo ang sarili ko, pero paano ang pangarap ko kung di ako maglalakas loob na umuwi na at sundin ang plano kong magtayo ng sariling negosyo?

Noong nalaman ng iba na magpo for good na ako, iba-ibang reaksyon ang narinig ko.

Merong nagsabi na ano ba daw ang nakain ko at naisipan ko umuwi? Babalik din daw ako after one year dahil ganun daw talaga ang madalas na nangyayari. Meron din namang nagsabi ng, “buti ka pa pauwi na”. Sila yung sumasaludo dahil sa lakas ng loob ko at hangad ang tagumpay ko sa pagbabalik-bansa.

Bilang isang domestic helper/driver, hindi biro ang ginawa kong desisyon dahil bukod sa mataas ang palit ng dolyar sa piso ngayon, nandoon din iyong tumalon ka ng trabaho mula sa malaking sahod kapalit ng kita na halos kalahati lang ng dati. Gayunpaman, masasabi kong maswerte pa din ako dahil hindi lahat ng mga bumabalik na OFW ay may nadadatnang trabaho. Maraming pagba-bago sa buhay ang nararanasan ko sa ngayon, pero pilit kong nilalabanan ang panghihinayang para lagi akong maging matatag. Nasanay na din kasi ako sa sa sistema ng buhay sa Hong Kong kung saan ay walang trapik, at mabilis kang nakakarating sa paroroonan. Sa Pilipinas madaming oras ang nasasayang sa biyahe pa lamang. Higit sa lahat, sa Hong Kong ay ligtas kang naglalakad at hindi mo iniisip na baka madukutan ka o maagawan ng cellphone. Nasanay din akong sumasahod ng neto na, o walang kaltas, dahil hindi ako kailangang magbayad ng upa ng bahay, kuryente, at tubig.

Nandito pa din ang takot at pangamba, at naiisip ko din kung maiiba ang kapalaran ko sa mga nauna ng nagbalak na nag for good pero hindi rin nagtagal sa Pilipinas. Ang tanging nagbibigay ng lakas sa akin ay ang katotohanang di permanente ang buhay sa Hong Kong. Uuwi at uuwi din tayong mga migranteng manggagawa. Ayokong umuwi na huli na ang lahat dahil hindi ako naglakas-loob na sumubok na ipaglaban ang aking mga pangarap. Ayokong umuwi na sakitin na ako o kapag mas minalas, ay naka-kahon na. Ano pa ang halaga ng lahat ng iyong pinagpaguran kung hindi mo din mae-enjoy, at makasamang muli ang iyong pamilya?

Mas pinili kong maging matapang na lumaban sa buhay at sundin ang mga pangarap ko habang bata pa ako at may pagkakataon pang bumangon. Sakali mang hindi ako maging matagumpay sa itatayo kong negosyo, naniniwala pa rin ako na kahit saan ako mapunta, basta may sipag at tiyaga, ay mabubuhay ako. Taglay ko ang maraming karanasan na dulot ng pagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong sa loob ng 17 taon.

“For Good” na ba talaga ako? Nasa diskarte na lang yan! Mahirap man sa umpisa, pero mas masarap pa din ang manirahan sa sariling bayan, mainit at ma-traffic man, nag-uumapaw man ang mga masamang balita, kabilang na ang patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin at pagtaas ng palitan sa dolyar. Totoo nga, “it’s more fun in the Philippines”.

Lahat naman tayong mga OFW ay sa Pilipinas din ang bagsak balang araw, kaya kailangan lang na paghandaan ang araw ng pag uwi. Paunlarin ang sarili, magtipid at mag-impok, at huwag maging kampante dahil walang forever sa Hong Kong. Huwag nating hayaan na tumanda tayo sa paninilbihan at umuwing bigo.

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Nagbabalik sa pagsusulat para sa The SUN si Liezl Mercado, isang dating helper/driver at opisyal ng ROAD-HK, isang grupo ng mga kababaihang drayber sa Hong Kong. Noong isang buwan ay nagdesisyon siyang bumalik na sa Pilipinas para maging trainer ng Fair Training and Assessment Center para sa mga manggawang paalis ng bansa. Nagbalik-Pinas siya matapos ang 17 taong pagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong. Sa kanyang artikulo, sinagot ni Liezl ang tanong kung tama ba ang naging desisyon niyang mag “for good” na. Si Liezl ay dalaga at tubong Davao City.—Ed

Huwag magpaapi

Ni Ate Kulit

Isang amo ang naparusahan dahil sa pagpakita ng ari sa kanyang Pilipinang DH, na natakot na baka siya’y magahasa. Sa simula ng kaso ay hindi pinaniwalaan ng prosecutor ang Pinay pero nagpursigi ito, hanggang umabot sa korte, at napatunayang may sala ang amo. Sa katapusan, inutusan ng District Court na magbayad ang amo ng danyos na $210,000 sa DH sa pambabastos niya. Isa sa mga ebidensiya ay ang video na kuha ng DH gamit ang kanyang telepono, na nagpapakitang inilalabas ng amo ang kanyang ari.

May isa pang Pinay, si  Mildred N. Ladia, na pinagbintangan ng amo na nagnakaw ng meatball, dahil ito ay kinain niya at ng kanyang alaga, na sariling ina ng amo. Kinaltas na ang $100 mula sa suweldo ng Pinay para sa nakaing meatball, pero idinemanda pa rin siya. Sa korte, walang nagawa ang hukom kundi pagmultahin siya ng $800, dahil ito ay kaso ng pagnanakaw at umamin si Ladia.

Ang masakit, umuwi na si Mildred at itinigil ang pag-apela sa kaso para linisin ang kanyang pangalan, na kailangan para makabalik siya sa Hong Kong, at ang paghabol ng iba pa niyang benepisyo. “Gusto ko nga po sana, pero maghintay na naman ako ng matagal kasi po wala nga akong work,” ika niya. Isang taon na nga naman siyang walang kita dahil sa kaso.

Nai-ban na ng mga konsulado ng Pilipinas, Indonesia at Thailand ang amo niyang si Gekko Lan Suet-ying, na isang barrister, upang hindi na makakuha ng DH mula sa mga bansang ito. Pero ang tunay na isyu — ang maling pagtrato sa mga DH sa Hong Kong — ay hindi na resolba.

Hindi natin maikakaila na may mga DH na minamaltrato at kalimitan ay isinisikreto nila ito mula sa puwedeng makatulong sa kanila. May hindi pinapakain ng tama, may sinasaktan, may inaalipusta. Masama man ang loob ay tinatanggap nila ang lahat ng ito dahil sa takot mawalan ng trabaho.

Dapat mamulat na ang mata nating lahat sa katotohanang hindi tayo maapi kung hindi tayo magpapaapi. Mahirap bang kumatok sa kapitbahay na Pinay, o tumawag sa Konsulado, sa pulis at mga NGO para magsumbong? Kailangan pa ba na may buhay na nakataya?

Mean balls

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

It’s the season to be mean, as can be gleaned from a rash of cases brought to our attention recently.

First, there’s the case of Mildred Ladia who was hauled to court for admitting that she ate some of the 10 pieces of meatballs she took from her employer’s freezer in May last year. But it was not only she who ate the meatballs, said Mildred, but also the employer’s mother.

Nevertheless, Mildred was arrested (and not the mother, who strictly speaking, could have been held as an accessory to the supposed crime), and allowed temporary liberty after posting a $1,000 bail.

After nearly a year of uncertainty during which she subsisted on the generosity of people at Bahay Natin in Yuen Long where she took refuge, Mildred was prosecuted for theft.

The magistrate, even after noting that the employer had already deducted $100 from Mildred’s salary for the rather pricey meatballs, convicted her of the offence, then imposed a fine of $800.

Terrible as that may sound, it barely compares with the more pernicious consequence of Mildred having to live with a criminal record, and being barred from taking up employment in Hong Kong again.

Little wonder that when the case hit the headlines, the overriding reaction among netizens was one of disgust, even outrage.

Outspoken activist Eman Villanueva was so enraged that he fired off a letter to Consul General Bernie Catalla and Labour Attache Jalilo de la Torre, asking for the blacklisting of Mildred’s barrister employer.

Eman summed up the case best when he used the words “mean balls” to show how one’s lack of compassion could have such dire effects on another person.

More chilling, said Eman, was the implication that a domestic worker could be charged with theft if she ate food taken from inside the house of her employer, who is supposed to feed her in the first place.

Where does the obligation to feed a domestic helper start and where does it end? If the yardstick is taking and eating food without prior permission, then most of our workers are in danger of suffering the same fate.

But what could have been another test case for the rights of migrant domestic workers was not to be. Mildred, who spoke of still being traumatized by her ordeal and listless because she had been jobless for months, decided not to pursue an appeal against her conviction, or a claim for $16,000 in unpaid wages that an NGO supporting her said she was entitled to.

It had been a bruising year for the mother of three, and one would be hard put blaming her for this decision.

While still chewing on this sorry development, another case of unimaginable meanness, even neglect, was brought to our attention.

Leonita Quinto, 46 years old, single and of no known medical condition, died suddenly at her employer’s house on Apr 4. From police records, it would seem that Leonita had lain in bed complaining of severe headache for 15 hours, but the employer did not give her medicine, or seek medical help.

Leonita’s younger sister Imelda, who had flown in to claim the remains, told us that her ate had looked forward to returning home by Apr 19, when the one-month notice she had served her employer would have expired.

The cause of Leonita’s sudden demise won’t be known until the post-mortem results are released in about three months, but for now, Imelda will have to grapple with the thought that her sister could still be alive had she received immediate medical attention.

A third case of meanness came our way as we were about to go to press. Ruth Daria, who we met when she won a case for overcharging against her former employment agency, told us of how she had to file a case of assault against her employer and his new wife.

Ruth said the assault happened when she returned home from her day-off, and was confronted with complaints about how she had caused a hairline crack on a plastic laundry hanger.

The confrontation escalated into a shouting match, until Ruth was allegedly shoved by the couple out of the house. Ruth said she was harmed as she tried to get back inside to get her bag and her cell phone so she could call the police.

From Ruth’s account, it would seem that the assault was just the latest in a string of abuse she was made to endure while at her employer’s house. She showed photos of a wardrobe with a barely noticeable chip which she said she was accused of causing, and for which $200 was deducted from her salary. There was also a bag of rice she was made to pay because it was no longer vacuum-sealed and according to the employer, was already bad. Yet, it was not thrown away.

All the while, Ruth said she was subjected to repeated verbal abuse by the couple.

These three recent examples of how mean-spirited people could wreak havoc on our worker’s lives show that Hong Kong is a long way away from providing adequate protection to one of its most vulnerable sectors.

Thus, we should remain vigilant and ever conscious of the need to keep our workers informed, and to fight for their rights. There simply is no excuse for tolerating discrimination, abuse, or even plain meanness from anyone.

The Spiritual Aspects of Financial Planning – Part 2

Separation from Money

When we do financial planning, we are actually separating ourselves from money. Most people will find this absurd. “I want to have more money. Are you telling me that I shouldn’t want it?” To separate yourself from money simply means not desiring money for its own sake!

Some of you may recall the quote “the love of money is the root of all evils…” (1 Tim 6:10, New American Bible).Money itself is not evil if you read the verse carefully: “For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.” The real evil is to desiremoney for itself that one forgets the most essential things in life. One writer cleverly summarizes it this way: “What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

When you do financial planning, you are telling yourself not to seek money for itself. Seeking money for its sake can corrupt the human soul. How many important relationships have ended because of the distorted desire for money? How many people are miserable despite having lots of money? Self-mastery is an important trait to have when dealing with money. Money is a powerful ally to wealth but it can distort you when not properly handled.

Purpose-Driven Money

The second spiritual aspect of financial planning is to make your money purpose-driven. Once you have self-mastery over your need of money, it should be clear why you need it. You may need it to buy a house for your family. You may need it to finance your children’s education. Or you may need it to give more to the less fortunate. Any attempt to a financial endeavor without a clear purpose for your money can be likened to blind spending!

Money with a clear and noble purpose can help achieve the ultimate end of human life. Humanity only has one particular calling: to live an authentic life in accordance with the divine will. You can find this at the beginning pages of the Bible:

“God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” (Gen. 1:27-28)

To “be fertile and multiply” not only implies an increase in physical number. Being created in the image and likeness of God, you are expected to live up to it. You must continuously develop yourself to live up to your first true calling. This is what it means to “be fertile and multiply!” When you do financial planning, you make your money help you become a well-rounded person in many aspects: financially, emotionally, spiritually, and others. The same expectation applies when you use your money to help the people around you, particularly your loved ones and your community.

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Francisco J. Colayco is an entrepreneur, a venture developer and financial advisor.  He is the Author of Seven Bestsellers in the Pera Palaguin Series, the latest of which is now available in bookstores:  “Wealth Reached. Money Worked. Pera Mo, Pinalago Mo!” Find his works and catch him on TV and radio.  Check out: www.colaycofinancialeducation.com, www.franciscocolayco.com, www.kskcoop.com, FaceBook and Instagram.

Pinay in shop theft escapes jail under bind-over deal

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker charged with stealing three pieces of chicken from a shop was bound over for $1,000 for 24 months by a Kwun Tong court on May 4.

The order allowed Helen Macaranas to escape criminal conviction although she had pleaded guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Ernest Lin also told her to pay the court cost of $1,000.

The bind-over deal was worked out by the prosecution and defense lawyers before hearing started. It means that the Filipina could still work in Hong Kong as she will have no criminal record on file.
Macaranas had been in jail for three weeks before she was set free as she did not have the money needed for her temporary liberty, and provide the court with an address in Hong Kong.

Lin allowed her bail only after the Consulate agreed to provide her shelter, and the Mission for Migrant Workers put up the bail money.

Under the bind-over deal, Macaranas must not commit any offense in Hong Kong within the next two years; otherwise she would be required to pay the $1,000 guarantee in addition to the penalty for the new offense.

Macaranas was arrested on Apr 3 after she failed to pay for three pieces of whole dressed chicken she had put in her recyclable bag while shopping at Aeon supermarket in Tseung Kwan O.

She told The SUN she forgot to pay for the chickens along with the other items that she had bought. As soon as she stepped away from the counter, supermarket staff stopped her, checked her bag then called the police.

Fate loses in bid for FOS title

Fate members cheer each other up before the final match.

By Emz Frial

The all-Filipina softball team, Fate, has lost its battle for the championship of the Festival of Sports when it suffered defeat at the hands of local rival, Joker, in the final match of the competition held at the Tin Kwong Road playground on Apr 19.

After winning three consecutive games in the knock-out series, Fate lost to Joker on a score of 4-9.
The tight defense of the local team left the Filipinas scoreless in the first three innings. But even Joker failed to score in the first innings, and only managed to hit the mark in the third with 4 points, courtesy of Lai Sze Nga, Lee Hoi Yue, Ng Yan Wa and Sin Chui Ling.

Fate found its mark in the fourth inning with a point each from Ma. Eva Mendez and Don Gaborno, who managed a homerun. They added 2 more points in the fifth inning through Ynez Badajos and Emily Mabaquiao.

But Joker did not let go of its upperhand, scoring 5 more points in the final inning. Those who helped seal its victory were Lee Hoi Yue, Tai Yak Lam, Chau Wing Yan, KamYue Sze and Ng Yan Wa, who blasted a long ball to the outfield that allowed her to do a homerun.

Several catching errors of Fate’s outfielder Editha Hidalgo allowed the locals to pile up scores.
Team captain Gaborno said, “The pressure and lack of defense made us lose the game”.

Also contributing to the loss was the absence of several key players, including prized catcher Leizeal Algonez who was in the Philippines for a vacation, and Katherine Gerpacio and Eunice Locop.
Joker’s victory led to it being ranked 1st in the FOS, followed by Fate.

Meanwhile, back in the regular league, Fate again showed domination when it dumped rival Wei Lun, 20-1, during a game at Shek Kip Mei field on Apr. 23.

The game lasted through five innings despite the heavy rain that soaked the players and left the field muddy.

Fate started the game as an away team, and immediately chalked up 6 homes, courtesy of Ynez Badajos, Romela Osabel, Ma. Eva Mendez, Don Gaborno, Leizeal Algonez and Maribel Sitchon.

When it was Wei Lun’s turn to bat, Fate took no chances and put up a tight defense, coupled with the expert pitching of Gaborno. The inning ended with the locals unable to score.

In the second inning, Fate added 6 more points to its score, with help from Badajos, Osabel, Gaborno, Algonez, Sitchon and Percy Jayme.

The locals made its sole point in the game in the second inning, courtesy of Tam Yu Ham. That ended the inning on a score of 12-1 for Fate.

Coach Mendez called for substitution in the third inning to allow other Fate players the chance to take part in the action. This seemed to energize the team even more, as it added 7 more points to its score, through Osabel, Mendez, Gaborno, Algonez, Octaviano, Sitchon and Katherine Gerpacio.

The inning again ended with Fate taking the upperhand, 19-1. Sealing Fate’s victory was Mendez, who scored another point in the fourth inning.

The win brought a smile to Fate’s manager, Law,  who congratulated the team with his usual remark, “Nice game everyone!”

Cheering from the sidelines were Fate’s loyal band of supporters, who did not let the foul weather stop them from taking their usual place in the stands.

Fate is scheduled for another game at Shek Kip Mei at 4:30 pm on Apr 30.

Nag-for good na pagkatapos ng 18 taon bilang OFW

Ni Marites Palma

Rizalina Balaque

Isang madamdamin ngunit masayang pagtitipon ang isinagawa sa Admiralty rooftop noong Abr 16 bilang pamamaalam para sa isa sa mga kilalang lider ng komunidad na si Rizalina Balaque.

Si Balaque na presidente ng Regional Overseas Workers Filipino Society (RowFils) ay nakatakdang umuwi sa Hunyo nitong taon,  pagkatapos ng 18 taong paninilbihan bilang kasambahay dito sa Hong Kong.

Dinaluhan ang pasinaya ng ilang lider ng komunidad, kasama ang kanilang mga “nanay” na sina Rosabelle Woolf ng AFreight, Merlinda Mercado ng Metrobank, at Katherine de Guzman ng PNB, na nagbigay aliw sa mga manonood sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakitang  gilas sa pagsasayaw.

Nakisaya din sina Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre at ang kanyang deputy na si Henry P. Tianero.

Maraming inihandang pagkain ng mga nagtatag ng pagdiriwang, na nataon sa Araw ng Pagkabuhay, kaya lalong naging makabuluhan ang selebrasyon.

Namigay ng easter eggs si Balaque bilang pasasalamat sa lahat ng nagpakita ng pagmamahal at pagkilala sa mga nagawa niya bilang lider.

Sa 18 taong pananatili niya sa Hong Kong ay naitaguyod niya at napagtapos ng pag-aaral ang kanyang tatlong anak sa kabila ng pagiging solong magulang. Bilang ganti sa ginawa niyang sakripisyo ay pinapauwi na siya ng mga anak upang ipalasap sa kanya ang bunga ng kanyang pagtitiis para sa ikakaganda ng buhay ng kanilang pamilya.

Ayon kay Balaque excited na siyang magbalik-bansa dahil uuwi din ang mga anak na nasa ibang bansa bilang mga skilled worker upang ipagdiwang ang kanyang ika-50 taong kaarawan.

Higit sa lahat, nagpapasalamat daw siya na malakas pa siya at malusog sa kanyang pag-uwi. Matatamasa pa raw niya ang sarap ng pagiging ina niya sa mga anak, at lola sa kanyang mga apo.
Nakaipon na din daw siya ng pera na maari niyang gamitin para sa negosyo, at may insurance na makakatulong sa kanyang pagtanda.

Ang mga lider na nanguna sa selebrasyon ay sina Leo Selomenio ng Global Alliance,  Marites Nuval at Liza Mantilla ng Bangar Association HK, Mercy Moncayo ng DomoHK, Raquel dela Cruz ng Mola HK, Audrey Regonil ng Kapuso, TJ Asers ng Feelers, at Marie Carnate ng Rowfils.

Iloilo eyes small businesses for its OFWs

Velma Lao, head of the Iloilo provincial government's local economic development and investment promotion office, fields a question during the forum at the Consulate.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Government and city officials of Iloilo are looking to train Ilonggo overseas workers and their families on how to become small entrepreneurs even as they invite foreign investors to harness the economic potential of the province.

The officials, who were in Hong Kong on an investment promotion mission, said the provincial and city governments have programs to teach Ilonggo OFWs entrepreneurship and help them put up businesses so they won’t have to go abroad again.

“We are here to sell Iloilo to Hong Kong investors, but we realize most of our workers take their day off on Sunday, so we decided to meet you today,” provincial board member Renee Valencia (1st District) said at the community meeting of Ilonggos at the Consulate on Apr 23.

The four-women delegation from the Iloilo provincial and city governments came to Hong Kong at the invitation of the Philippine Association of Hong Kong headed by Rex Aguado, an Ilonggo journalist.

The delegation was led originally by Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, but he reportedly flew back home urgently on Apr 22 because President Rodrigo Duterte was visiting the region and might stop over in the city.

The group met with potential investors from Hong Kong the day before, during which The group led by Mayor Mabilog earlier met with potential investors from Hong Kong,  during which they discussed the potentials and products of Iloilo.

Valencia said the provincial government was looking at how to educate OFWs’ families so that they could appreciate the sacrifices that the workers were making for their sake.

“We have to let them know kung ano ang hirap na pinagdadaanan natin dito, and then, hindi mahirap ang mag-say no kung ang anak ninyo tatawag at magpapabili ng bagong cellphone, o kung anu-ano. Huwag agad magbigay, you have to think twice,” she said.

It is easy to say no for as long as an OFW can explain to the children why she cannot give what they ask for, the official said, adding that the worker should not feel guilty.

Ritchel Gavan, local economic and investment promotion officer who said her father was also an OFW, said Iloilo City would soon start an investment program for OFWs and their families “kasi batid naming kahit may financial literacy program kayo kung ang pamilya ninyo ay hindi alam ang gagawin sa inyong negosyo, it will not succeed.”

 “That’s why the city government will do everything we can do to provide not just employment but entrepreneurial programs para sa inyo where we can help you and your family make it grow so that you don’t have to work abroad again. You spend your time with your family, you grow with your children,” Gavan said.

She added that the city government’s aim is to turn the OFWs and their families into small entrepreneurs who would create jobs for other people while generating their own income.

She said Iloilo City had undergone a big change over the past five years with both new and improved infrastructure in a bid to make the provincial capital more attractive to foreign investors.

“We welcome big investors but we will not abandon small and medium enterprises,” Gavan said.

Velma Lao, the province’s local economic development and investment promotion officer, said the provincial government has entrepreneurship programs where OFWs learn how to run their businesses successfully, which industries they should target, and how to find markets locally and overseas for their products.

“As long as their product is good, we help them connect to the market,” Lao said.

Her advice is for OFWs to tap into the province’s agricultural resources, as agriculture has a big prospect and there is great demand even for such agricultural products as vegetables like kangkong, or water spinach.

“The provincial government is promoting small and medium enterprises because they are the backbone of our economy” and the province is ready to assist micro entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Aguado urged the Ilongga workers to invite their employers to join an investment mission to Iloilo from Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangdong, Shenzhen, Fujian, and Chengdu from May 18 to 21.

 He said amid the negative publicity about the country, “you spread the good word about your province. Tell them it is the most peaceful province where drugs are gone. Be the messengers of the word.”

Other members of the delegation were Lea Lara, executive director of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation/Iloilo Business Club, and Joan Montano, assistant city treasurer of Iloilo City.

Buhay Pinay: Pautang na walang tubo?

Si Elda ay isang Ilonggang sosyalera na mahilig uminom ng kape kaya lagi siyang nakatambay sa Starbucks sa Central. Minsan, habang nakaupo at naghihintay ng kanyang order ay may lumapit sa kanya na kapwa Pilipina at nakipagkaibigan. Nagpakilala ang bagong dating bilang si Ma. Cerila Atienza Robles na nag-alok sa kanya na pauutangin siya ng walang tubo.

Ibalik na lang daw niya ang utang kapag nakaluwag na siya. Agad-agad ay pinahiram siya ni Cerila ng $3,000 at sinabing kung kailangan pa niya ay pahihiramin pa siya dahil may maghuhulog ng pera sa kanyang account noong araw ding iyon.

Ayon kay Cerila ay may kapatid siya sa Korea, at seaman naman ang kanyang asawa.

Ilang araw matapos iyon ay ginulat si Elda sa balitang nabasa niya sa The SUN tungkol sa ginawang panloloko ni Cerila sa maraming mga Ilonggo. Agad niyang tinawagan si Cerila para tanungin tungkol sa balita.

Matapang ang boses ng sumagot, at galit na sinabing hindi totoo ang balita. Pagkatapos nito ay lagi na siyang tinatawagan ni Cerila para singilin ang utang niya. Ang ginawa ni Elda ay nagpadala ng message sa sumulat ng balita para tanungin kung totoong nasa kulungan si Cerila.

Sinabi naman sa kanya na mismong mga pulis ang nagpaabot ng balitang ito sa mga taong nabiktima ni Cerila na nag-alok ng mga pekeng trabaho kapalit ng malaking halaga bilang placement fee.

Biglang natakot si Elda dahil kung totoong nasa kulungan si Cerila ay sino iyong tawag nang tawag sa kanya na naniningil? Ang ginawa ni Elda ay kinontak ang sinabi sa balita na pinakamalaki ang nawalang pera na si Alemar at sa kanya ibinalik ang $2,600 na natira sa utang matapos niyang ihulog ang $400 sa bank account ni Cerila. Ayaw na niyang madamay pa sa gulo. – Merly Bunda