Be wary of snake bites!

Lamma residents Cris and her sister Lolit, along with their friend Dolly, were preparing to go to the beach on Lamma Island on Oct 5 to watch the lantern display in celebration of the Mid-Autumn or Mooncake festival, when the unexpected happened.

Dolly is wheeled into an ambulance in Yung Shue Wan (above). 

Dolly was bitten by a green viper snake as she and Lolit were walking through a grassy patch near their homes in Hung Shing Ye Village, Yung Shue Wan.

Dolly, who was no stranger to snake bites as she had been bitten previously by a king cobra, was immediately taken by ambulance to the Lamma North Clinic. From there, she was airlifted by a helicopter to a hospital on Hong Kong island where she was confined for a few days.


Cris recounted the incident in a message to The SUN:

“My sister said Dolly was behind her as they walked down in the residential area , heading for the beach, when Dolly suddenly shouted out loud, saying she got bitten by snake. They (both) saw the green viper snake on the ground ready for a fight with no plan to run away. Both were in panic as the snake poison was setting off a reaction inside Dolly’s body. My sister made her sit down and called for friends’ help, including 911 (emergency service).”

Close-up of the injured foot.

While waiting for the ambulance the two reportedly poured alcohol on Dolly’s wound and tied something around her legs to stop the venom from spreading.

Cris added: “I was right away worried and at the same time wondering how and why snakes love to bite her. This was the second time. Last time it was a king cobra.”

That first time, which happened four years ago,  Cris remembered so well because she was around when it happened. She said Dolly had picked up a $500 bill she dropped on the ground when the cobra pounced.

Making the two snake incidents more unfortunate is Dolly’s allergic reaction to anti-venom medicines, which makes it necessary for her to stay in the hospital longer each time.

Cris said Lamma is a great place to live, with its clean beaches and fresh air, apart from having neighbors who are always ready to extend a helping hand to anyone in trouble.

But, she said people who are living here, or in any mountainous or grassy places, should be extra careful because snakes abound, and not a few people have been bitten.

She advised people who walk about here to be mindful of their surroundings, and to always use a torch a night so they will see the path ahead of them.

“My friend was aware of snakes around but she still got bitten for the second time,” said Cris, in an effort to emphasize the need to be extra careful about the dangers that lurk in otherwise idyllic places like Lamma.— DCLM

Pagbabago sa takbo ng buhay

Ang trabaho ng seaman ay parang sa domestic helper: dahil ang tirahan ay nasa pinagtatrabahuan mo na rin, walang gastos sa renta, pamasahe at pagkain. Pero hindi gaya ng DH na buo ang nakukuha nilang sahod buwan-buwan, ang personal na pera ng seaman ay galing lang sa mga ekstrang kita gaya ng allowance at overtime, dahil buong sahod nila ay diretsong napupunta sa kanilang pamilya.

Marami ang masaya sa ganitong kalakaran, lalo na ang mga pamilya ng seaman, dahil sigurado silang makatatanggap ng perang panggastos sa araw-araw. Ganito rin si Jun delos Reyes Domingo, na naninirahan sa Lipa City, dahil sarili na lang niya ang iniisip.

“Hindi ko na kasi pinoproblema ang pera para sa pamilya,” ika niya sa isang pagtitipon ng CARD OFW Hong Kong Foundation kamakailan.

Mula nang unang sumakay siya ng barko pagkatapos mag-graduate sa kolehiyo, hanggang mag-asawa na siya, ang naiipon niya habang nasa barko ay pambili na lang ng pasalubong sa pag-uwi niya kapag nakatapos siya ng kontrata.

“Nagkaka-problema lang kung may biglang pangangailangan, gaya ng kung may naospital sa mga kamag-anak ko,” dagdag pa niya.

Nabago ang pananaw niya noong 2002 nang matapos ang kanyang kontrata at bumaba siya upang maghanap ulit ng susunod na barkong sasakyan. Panahon  iyon ng panghihina ng industriya ng shipping, kaya mahirap makakita ng lilipatang barko.

“Kapag umuwi tayo, walang hanap-buhay,” aniya. “Kaya kapag naubos na ang uwing pera, kahit pambili ng gatas ay wala. Pambayad sa bahay na hinuhulugan, hindi alam kung saan kukunin. Pang araw-araw, inuutang. Kapag lalapit sa mga magulang, aabutin ka pa ng maraming sermon.”

Sa paghahanap ng pagkakakitaan sa harap ng pagdarahop, napag-usapan nilang mag-asawa na mag buy-and-sell.

“Mamimili kami ng anu-ano sa Divisoria at ilalako namin  saan-saan. Nakakaabot kami sa Cavite, Bulacan ay Nueva Ecija.” Gamit nila ang isang owner jeep na nirentahan. Karamihan sa mga gamit-bahay ay hulugan, kaya nakakabalik sila sa mga napagbentahan upang magdala ulit ng mga bagong produkto.

At sa mga lugar ding iyon namimili sila ng bagong paninda, gamit ang pinagbentahan, upang may maibenta sa susunod na pupuntahang lugar. Isa sa pinakamibili noon ay isang frame ng batis na mukhang  may tunay na tubig na dumadaloy, na binibili nila sa Divisoria.

Nakaraos silang mag-anak ng 18 buwan dahil dito. Nagbigay din ito ng leksiyon sa kanya. Kaya nang makakita ulit si Jun ng barkong masasakyan, hindi na siya gaya ng dati na umaalis sa Pilipinas na walang wala at minsan ay lubog pa sa utang, at dumarating pabalik na may pera .

Dahil sa natutunan niyang hanapbuhay, hindi na niya pinalampas ang  pagkakataong kumita ng ekstra: nagdala siya ng mga produktong maibebenta sa magiging kasamahan niya sa barko, gaya ng SIM card, cell phone at mga sitsirya.

May apat na cell phone siyang hindi maibenta, dahil hindi angkop sa mga lugar na dinadaungan ng kanilang barko. Kaya iniuwi niya ito ay ipinabenta sa isang kaibigan.

Ang siste, nagamit ng kaibigan ang pinagbentahan, kaya nangako itong babayaran na lang kapag naibenta niya ang bahay na hinuhulugan.

Nagka-ideya si Jun. Para sigurado siyang mabayaran, bakit hindi na lang siya ang bumili ng bahay at ibawas na lang ang utang ng kaibigan sa ibabayad niya, at siya na rin ang magtutuloy ng paghuhulog sa developer. Lumabas na mga P30,000 ang total na utang ng kaibigan, kaya dinagdagan na lang nila ito nang kaunti upang makuha ang bahay. Dito itinayo noong 2012 ang negosyong nagpabago ng kanyang buhay.

Habang nakatayo sila sa harap ng bahay at iniisip kung ano ang gagawin dito, nagsalita ang asawa niya: “Tindahan.”

“Ako naman, sumasang-ayon lang sa kanya, dahil nakikita ko naman kung paano siya magdala, lalo na noong walang wala kami” dagdag ni Jun.

Binutas nila ang isang bintana, at nagsabit ng pouches ng kape at Milo. Naging popular ito, dahil nag-iinit sila ng tubig sa madaling araw para sa mga construction worker na papunta sa mga bahay na itinatayo sa subdivision.

Gamit ang inutang na P5,000 mula sa malapit na CARD SME Bank, na madali nilang nakuha dahil kasapi ang asawa niya sa CARD, namili sila ng iba pang paninda.

“Hindi naman kailangang magsimula sa malaki,” ika ni Jun. “Tingnan muna natin kung tatakbo tayo.”

Ang binibili nilang paninda ay iyong hinahanap ng tao, gaya ng sardinas, sabon at iba pa. Halimbawa, nang may maghanap ng bigas, lumuwas siya sa bayan at nag-bitbit nito pauwi, kahit ang tubo ay P50 lang bawa’t sako.

Noong makasakay ulit siya ng barko, nagpapadala na rin siya ng pandagdag sa puhunan.  Habang dumarami ang mabibili ng mga tao sa tindahan, lumalaki rin ang kanilang benta araw-araw.

Pagdating niya pagkatapos ng isa pang kontrata ay nagulat siya at puno na ito ng paninda. Ito ang naging pinaka-malaking grocery store sa buong subdivision nila, kaya naging puntahan na sila ng mga residente para sa pag-araw-araw na pangangailangan nila.

Patuloy pa rin silang sensitibo sa ano ang hanap ng mamimili. Noong may magtanong kung mayroon silang cooking gas, bumili siya nito sa bayan para ibenta sa tindahan. Nagsimula siya sa padala-dalawang tangke, na naka-display sa harapan ng tindahan. Nang dumami ang bumibili nito, hinanap niya ang wholesaler at doon siya nakakuha ng gas sa mas mababang halaga, at free delivery pa.

Maya-maya, mayroon na rin siyang water filling station.

Ang dating P5,000 na utang niya sa banko ay naging P500,000, isang pagpapatunay na may tiwala sila sa kanyang kakayahang magbayad.

Noong 2015 ay pumasa si Jun sa exam upang maging opisyal ng barko pero hindi na siya sumakay ulit dahil hindi na niya kailangang mawalay pa sa pamilya para maghanapbuhay.

Ang tindahan niya ay sapat na upang matustusan ang pagiaaral ng mga anak, mabayaran ang mga utang, at maging masagana ang hinaharap ng kanyang pamilya. --LD

Depressed Filipino in hospital after cutting off penis

The man is in serious condition at the
Pamela Youde Eastern Hospital

A 42-year-old Filipino driver is in serious condition at the hospital where he was rushed after cutting off his penis and throwing it into a toilet yesterday, Oct. 22, in his Shau Kei Wan flat.

Reports say the Filipino named Andy was found by his live-in girlfriend at about 7:30am in the room they shared on Ngoi Man Street, bleeding heavily and without his penis.

The woman yelled for help and a male neighbor called the police. When the paramedics came, the man reportedly told them he had flushed his missing penis down the toilet.

He was rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan where he remains under observation.

Initial investigations revealed the man was depressed, but the cause was not revealed.

The police classified the case as a suicide attempt although no suicide note was found.

A neighbor told The SUN Andy had been upset for some time because his penis had begun to swell for reasons that are still not clear. He reportedly asked a woman who lived in the same boarding house to go with him to the hospital to have it checked but she refused, saying she was embarrassed.

All the other people living in the boarding house reportedly did not have any clue as to why Andy had gone to the extreme of cutting off his penis. – with a report by Merly Bunda

Sa halip na masayang ang talento ng OFW

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Puspusan ang pagsasagawa ng iba’t ibang samahan ng mga OFW, mga NGO at ng gobyerno ng mga programang nagbibigay-daan sa pagbabalik ng marami sa mga kababayan nating kasambahay dito sa mga gawaing angkop sa kanilang pinag-aralan.

Nababahala ang pamahalaan sa nasasayang na kaalaman ng maraming Pinoy na nagtatapos sa pamantasan taun-taon dahil nauuwi sila sa pagkakatulong sa ibang lugar dala ng kakulangan ng trabaho o maliit na sahod sa atin.

Nakapanghihinayang na marami sa libu-libong kababayan nating kasambahay dito sa Hong Kong ang nagtapos ng mga kursong pampropesyon ngunit walang mapasukang akmang trabaho sa ating bayan.

Kaya ang pangingibayong-dagat, anumang trabaho ang mapasukan nila, ang lohikal na pinuntirya ng mga manggagawang ito.

Noong nakaraang Marso at Abril ay tinatayang nasa isang milyon ang bilang ng mga nagtapos sa mga kolehiyo at unibersidad sa Pilipinas. Ang bilang na iyon ay humigit-kumulang sa 10% ng populasyon ng bansa.

Ang mga nagtapos na kabataan na dumagdag sa hanay ng mga manggagawa ayon sa estadistika ng pamahalaan, ay umabot na sa 42 milyon noong Enero. Ngunit saan mamamasukan ang karamihan sa mga kabataang ito?

Dahil sa dami ng ani sa akademiya taun-taon, naging mahigpit ang labanan para sa trabaho at naging mapili ang malalaking kumpanya. Dahil sa labis-labis na bilang ng mga manggagawa ay nauso ang “contractualization” sa maraming negosyo at opisina, na tuluyang tumibag sa tradisyon na ang trabaho ng isang tao ay panghabambuhay dahil protektado ng Labor Code.

Maliban sa matitibay at matatandang kumpanya, sa serbisyo-sibil at sa pribadong sektor, marami ngayon ang “contractual” na trabahador, yaong mga nakakontratang papasok lang ng anim na buwan at pagkatapos ay sisisantihin na ng kumpanya upang mabigyang-daan naman ang iba pang manggagawang naghintay sa mababakanteng puwesto.

Panandaliang trabaho man ang mga ito ay isinasama rin sila sa estadistika ng gobyerno, kaya sa likod ng matataas na numero ay nagkukubli ang tunay na larawan ng kawalang-trabaho, paghihikahos, desperasyon, at pagpupuyos.

Hindi naman maisisisi sa gobyerno ang lahat ng suliranin sa kabuhayan. Ang kakulangan sa trabaho ay sanhi ng mabagal na pagsulong ng ekonomiya na nagsimula noong Dekada 70, nang humina ang mga industriya sa Pilipinas dulot ng mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis at krudo sa pandaigdigang pamilihan, at pagbagsak ng halaga ng piso.

Marami namang dayuhang mangangalakal ang umalis dahil sa kabulukan sa gobyerno lalo na nang idiniklara ang batas-militar. Yaong mga pabrika ng mga kapitalistang dayuhan na dating nagluluwas ng mga produkto natin sa ibayong-dagat ay napilitang magsara nang iginiit ng mga manggagawang Pilipino ang kanilang mga karapatan.

Kasabay ng ganoong sitwasyon sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ang mabilis na pagdami ng populasyon dahil sa pagsayaw ng mga lider ng bansa, mambabatas at pulitiko sa tugtog ng Simbahang Katoliko laban sa “birth control”.

Nakita ng mga tagaplano ng ekonomiya sa hindi makakasabay ng pagpapalago sa mga industriya at pagpaparami ng trabahong mapapasukan ang pagputok ng populasyon. Kaya noong 1973 ay inumpisahan na ng Pilipinas ang maramihang pagluluwas ng mga manggagawa sa ibayong-dagat upang doon maghanap-buhay.

Kung noong mga naunang dekada ay mga duktor, nars, musikero at manananghal ang iniluluwas ng Pilipinas, ang mga ito ay nasundan ng mga iba’t ibang uri ng manggagawa.

Simula noon ay sa ibayong-dagat na rin nakatanaw ang marami sa mga nagtatapos sa mga kolehiyo at unibersidad. Nang lumaon ay “mag-abroad” na ang nasa isip ng bawat magsasaka at manggagawa, at mga propesyonal. Maging ang mga titser, nars at komadrona ay namasukan na ring kasambahay.

Nakalulungkot dahil ang mga propesyonal na nagdudulot nga mga batayang serbisyo sa komunidad ay nauwi sa pagiging kasambahay sa ibang bansa. Iniwan nilang kapos sa guro ang mga paaralan at kulang sa nars at komadrona sa mga pagamutan.

Nararamdaman ngayon ng ating bayan ang pagkawala ng mga talentong dapat sana ay mga kababayan natin ang makikinabang. Kaya ngayon ay sinisikap ng mga organisasyon at gobyerno na ibalik sila sa mga sektor na pinagmulan upang doon muling maglingkod.

Palaro ginanap ng The Adventurers

Ipinagdiwang ng “The Adventurers” ang unang taon ng pagkakatatag ng samahan sa pamamagitan ng palarong palakasan at kasayahan sa Repulse Bay Beach noong Okt 1.

Pangkalahatang kampeon sa mga ginanap na palaro ang Red Team, na nag-uwi ng pinakamalaking tropeo at papremyong $300.

Pumangalawa ang Black Team, na nabigyan din ng tropeo at papremyong $200, samantalang pumangatlo ang Blue-Green Team, na nag-uwi ng $100 bilang premyo.

Ang lahat ng manlalarong lumahok ay may natanggap na regalo batay sa bilang ng ma sinalihang palaro, talo man o panalo. Nabigyan din ng mga medalya ang mga mahusay na manlalaro.

Nagdagdag anghang sa programa ang paligsahan sa cheerleading, na napanalunan ng Black Team.

Nagsimula ang pagdiriwang sa pamamagitan ng  pag-aalay ng pasasalamat at paghingi ng gabay sa Panginoon sa pamumuno ni Mirasol Salanga, ang bise-presidente ng Kapatid-Kaibigan-Kapamilya o KKK.

Sinundan iyon ng nagbigay-inspirasyong mensahe ni Reynaldo Macalalad, ang nagtatag at presidente ng KKK.

Naging malaking bahagi  ng programa ang  mga panauhing pangdangal na sina Sanny delos Santos, ang nagtatag ng Fat Big Heart, na isa sa mga nagtalumpati; ang kanyang maybahay na si Liezel; at si Regina de Andres, na nagtatag at administrador ng OFWs in Hong Kong, na isa rin sa mga nagsalita.

Ang mag-asawang Delos Santos at si De Andres ang tumulong at umalalay sa The Adventurers hanggang sa matapos ang programa.

Nairaos ang pagdiriwang pagkaraan ng isang buwang pagod, puyat at emosyon na ginugol ng bawat miyembro sa paghahanda para sa espesyal na araw. Kabilang dito ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang  lider ng koponang sumali.

Tumulong naman sa pangangailangang pinansyal ang mga kaibigan sa komunidad at isang kumpanya.

“Ang lahat ng pagod at puyat bilang namumuno sa aming kapatiran ay nasulit sa tagumpay ng anibersaryo. Kaysarap pagmasdan ang mga ngiti at pagkakaisa ng lahat,” sabi ni Analyn Soriba, ang pangulo ng The Adventurers.

Ang samahan ay bukas sa lahat ng mga nais sumali, sabi pa niya.

Pinay’s victory ends Nepali-led team’s 15-year drought

Amy Muya (center) beams with her gold cup at the awarding ceremony. With her are (from left) So Sze Ting, Tong Ka Man, Sheryl Rinopa, and an HKTA official.

Filipina jin Amy Arnaez Muya endured an injury she suffered in July and fought her way to win the featherweight gold cup in Kyorugi (sparring) in the Hong Kong National Ladies Taekwondo Championship 2017 held recently in Shamshuipo.

Muya’s victory snapped a 15-year gold drought for her team, the Himalayan Dragon Taekwondo Academy. It was also the first gold of the Hongkong Nepalese Taekwondo Association, of which HDTA is a member, since the group was founded in 2002.

Muya’s Filipina opponent, Sheryl Rinopa of Chung Do Kwan, fought bravely but could not take the heat off the Ilongga’s determined attack. After three two-minute rounds, the judges scored the duel 56-10 for Muya.

The score soared quickly as Muya, determined to fight, delivered some head shots that earned 3 points and connected multiple body shots.

 “Kahit pagod na kami, pinilit naming dalawa, sipa pa rin. Na-enjoy ko ang laban kahit masakit na ang hita ko. Pero mababa na ang sipa niya sa pagod,” Muya said.

 A well-placed kick in the finals helps win Muya the top spot.

Muya beat So Sze Ting of International Taekwondo Association in the semifinals with a score of 50-30 over two rounds to set up the final match with Rinopa.

HKNTA grandmaster Tulsi Kumar Gurung and HDTA master Devchandra Gurung, who have been very supportive of OFWs in taekwondo, as well as team coaches Julie Ann Dalit, Mohan Singh Thapa and Thapa Thanda were overjoyed at Muya’s triumph.

“Finally, Amy grabbed the elusive gold cup for our team, our first gold ever,” Dev Gurung exclaimed as both the HDTA and HKNTA celebrated their four Filipina jins sparkling performances in very tough matches against local and Chinese university students at the Pei Ho Street Sports Stadium in Shamshuipo.

Aside from Muya, three other HDTA cup winners were Mary Rose H. Niebla of Iloilo, who got a silver cup in the finweight category; Rosalina F. Buncag of Isabela, who took a silver cup in welterweight, and Beskie C. Lacaden of Baguio City, who won the bronze in welterweight.

In the past years, Niebla and team members Josie Wayan of Baguio City settled for just the bronze cups in finweight while Lexa of Indonesia also took a bronze in flyweight.

The tournament was hosted by Hong Kong Taekwondo Association on Aug 20-27.

In all, 44 affiliated HKTA member associations comprising local Chinese and ethnic minority Nepalese, Indonesian and Filipino clubs participated in the tournament.

The Hong Kong Nepalese Taekwondo Association has been actively participating in national tournaments garnering medals and trophies since its founding in 2002 by Grandmaster Tulsi Kumar Gurung.

The association has opened its doors to athletes of diverse cultures and religions in Asia,  kids and adults, as well as migrant workers such as Filipinos and Indonesians to promote friendship, sportsmanship, discipline and stimulate health consciousness among peoples.
Through taekwondo, individuals of all ages not only enhance their skills and potentials, but also to encourage foreigners like OFWs to spend their weekly holidays productively, maintain physical and mental fitness, lessen homesickness, and exercise positive habits while working away from their loved ones. (contributed by By Lara Kim Maruquiz)

Getting sick while employed

By Cynthia Tellez

Today’s column is about getting sick during your employment. Getting sick or sustaining injuries during the course of work as a domestic worker is understandable, as the work involves exhausting activities. With no established acceptable working hours in Hong Kong, it is no surprise that working hours of domestic workers are long and arduous. No matter how much you take care of yourself to avoid sickness or injury, due to the nature of your work and Hong Kong’s confined spaces, being under the weather is unavoidable. Many do not get enough rest, sleep, or appropriate and nutritious food. It is for these reasons that knowing your rights regarding illness and injury is important.

Clause 9 of the ID 407 (or Employment Contract For a Domestic Helper Recruited From Abroad) deals with injury and illness of the domestic worker while employed here in Hong Kong. It states that:

“9. (a) In the event that the Helper is ill or suffers personal injury during the period of employment specified in Clause 2, except for the period during which the Helper leaves Hong Kong of his/her* own volition and for his/her* own personal purposes, the Employer shall provide free medical treatment to the Helper. Free medical treatment includes medical consultation, maintenance in hospital and emergency dental treatment. The Helper shall accept medical treatment provided by any registered medical practitioner.

(b) If the Helper suffers injury by accident or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment, the Employer shall make payment of compensation in accordance with the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, Chapter 282.

(c) In the event of a medical practitioner certifying that the Helper is unfit for further service, the Employer may, subject to the statutory provisions of the relevant Ordinances, terminate the employment and shall immediately take steps to repatriate the Helper to his/her* place of origin in accordance with Clause 7.”

As we can glean from this text, every employer in Hong Kong is required to get employee’s compensation insurance for their domestic worker. Getting medical insurance for the employee is encouraged, not required. However, if you sustain an injury during the course of your work for your employer (say, you slipped and fell while carrying grocery items), your employer should pay for your medical needs. The law says that you should agree to your employer’s decision regarding treatment, as long as the doctor is a registered medical practitioner.

If your employer opts or agrees to send you home to be treated, do make sure that you have a recorded agreement that she or he will shoulder your medical treatment while in your home country, and that you are to come back after treatment. This document (or recording) will come in handy should you pursue this further.

If for example, on your last day of sick leave, you still feel ill, you should go back to the doctor the next day. This is for your wellness. Furthermore, this is as well for public safety. You do not want to spread a virus in Hong Kong’s cramped living spaces, as the rate of contaminating others will be faster. You must do this even if you have not set an appointment with the doctor, or you have not asked your employer’s permission.

Your sick leave allowance is four-fifths (4/5) of your average daily wage. This can only be claimed if you have been on sick leave for four days or more. You shall receive this allowance on the next pay day. Whether you can claim this or not, if you are still feeling ill, it is your civic duty to bring yourself back to the doctor.

There are some employers who do not honor medical certificates, and instead, make their domestic workers still work. You should still keep the certificate for future claim even if your illness or injury was not a result of your work. Note clause 9(a) of the contract as stated above.

Regarding claims, you must inform your employer as soon as possible that you have been injured. Your employer should then inform the Labor Department. If your employer is unable to inform the Labor Department, you must inform them immediately. Then the Labor Department will inform you of the process.

It is important that you keep all related documents from the hospital. This includes medical records, certificates (for your sick leave), doctor’s prescription, etc. As much as possible, have lots of copies of these documents. Have a copy of each document for your own records. When filing employees’ compensation, make a document stating in a list the documents you have attached. Have this signed by a staff of the Labor Department or have them officially stamped or chopped with “Received” including the date when the documents were submitted. This document is your receipt, proof that you did file the claim with the required documents. Also ask for the telephone number you can call when following up the claim, as well as the name of the person you should talk to when following up. Get as much information as you can.

There are times when the Employees’ Compensation Division under the Labor Department will want to have you examined by their own medical practitioner before giving their final decision on your claim. You have to submit to this, as the medical practitioner can ascertain if your capacity to work or life expectancy was lessened. If this is the case, you can apply for legal aid.

Migrant service-providers, such as the Mission For Migrant Workers, can assist you in this matter.

Filing claims for compensation due to injuries or illnesses sustained may be a daunting task, even if you are in your home country with people you can trust to advise you on the correct process. There is no harm in asking questions, so if you need more information, do visit one of the migrant service providers in the city.

You are always welcome!
---
This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Enrich partners with KPMG in investments lecture series

A “lunch and learn investments series” co-organized by Enrich Hong Kong and KPMG kicked off at Hysan Place in Causeway Bay on Oct. 8, with 74 Filipino domestic workers taking part.

The training began with a lecture on the basics of investment, including a look into such financial concepts as risk, return and liquidity.

The lecture was conducted by Craig Nastanski, a licensed broker and a self-made  “technopreneur”.

He told participants to first read, learn and understand, before investing in anything. The initial series will comprise nine two-hour sessions over a one year period.

Those who are interested to take part can visit Enrich HK’s Facebook page, or email participant@enrichhk.org. – Ellen Almacin

Enrich KPMG speakers brief participants on finance and how it can be managed.

Mindanao lawyers join IBP’s outreach in Hong Kong

Off-site (church-based) forum and free one-on-one legal consultation 

By Vir B. Lumicao 

For the first time since coming to Hong Kong for their outreach mission, lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines brought along a team from Eastern Mindanao on Oct 7-8 to serve OFWs from the south of the country seeking help.

More than 1,200 availed themselves of the free legal counseling and legal forums offered by the lawyers, as they expanded their services further, from the Consulate and Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Admiralty to six churches across the city.

The team dropped the usual forum at the Consulate and joined the post-arrival orientation seminar at POLO to discuss human trafficking issues, financial literacy, human loss and violence against women.

Carmelita Eleazar, governor of the Central Luzon IBP which spearheaded the latest mission, said bringing along the southern lawyers was the practical thing to do to respond to issues raised by Mindanao OFWs.

She told The SUN that in past missions, problems raised by workers from Mindanao were referred to the regional IBP chapters.

“Yung mga abogado namin sa chapters ang sasalo sa kaso. Mas magastos kasi kung ipadadala namin sa Mindanao ang mga abogado namin sa Central Luzon,” Eleazar said.

On Oct 7, about 100 Filipinas consulted the lawyers at the Consulate about problems, which Eleazar said consisted mainly of debt, marriage failure and separation, as well as money they send to their spouses or children going to naught.

The next day, the mission comprising about 50 lawyers from Bataan, Pampanga and Eastern Mindanao broke up into smaller groups to attend outreach sessions pre-arranged by the churches.

At the Consulate in United Centre alone, about 200 OFWs were served during the two-day mission, said Eleazar. That excluded those who consulted the lawyers at the POLO.

Such was the enthusiasm of the OFWs in consulting the lawyers about their problems that Eleazar said they were planning to return in February or March for her group’s sixth mission.

“Natutuwa kami na nakakatuwang namin dito ang Consulate, ina-advertise nila ang ‘Idulog Mo Kay Atorni’ bago kami dumating,” Eleazar said.

She recalled that the first time her group came to Hong Kong was at the height of the Umbrella Revolution in 2015, and the lawyers were apprehensive that things might get out of hand. Only about 80 OFWs sought their services at the time.

The second time around, some 200 came for the consultations, and for the third, the number ballooned to 2,000 as the lawyers farmed out to various parts of Hong kong.

Eleazar said the lawyers offered their services for free, including follow-through of cases brought up by OFWs, but it would be easier to handle cases if the workers came prepared, with documents to back up their cases or complaints.

Aside from fees, such as those for National Statistics Office certificates, the IBP lawyers do not charge professional fees for legal aid. “Para kaming PAO (Public Attorneys Office). Ang tinatanggihan ng PAO ay kinukuha ng IBP,” Eleazar said.

Consul General Bernardita Catalla awarded certificates of appreciation and gave souvenirs to the lawyers in recognition of their service to the OFWs.

“Maraming gustong dumulog pero hindi tumama sa day off ng iba… marami kayong natulungan lalo na nang nag-join kayo sa PAOS,” Catalla said.

She added that some employers must have let their helpers work because they had two public holidays during the week.

In turn, Eleazar awarded a plaque of appreciation to Catalla for hosting the IBP missions.

“We hope to replicate this throughout the world kung saan tayo may embassy,” she said.

Part of the lawyers’ outreach was one-on-one counseling sessions for 40 clients of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge and the Mission for Migrant Workers held at St John’s Cathedral in Central.

The other participating churches were Jesus Reigns Ministry in Chai Wan and Sheung Wan; Lifeway Full Gospel in Yaumatei, Kowloon; Grace of Jesus Fellowship in Tsimshatsui, and Family of Christ Fellowship on Nathan Raod, Kowloon.

These churches accounted for 900 participants in the legal forums.

Usapang negosyo ng Card-HK

Ni George Manalansan

Mahigit 200  migranteng  manggagawa ang dumalo sa “Negosyo Talk Series 2” ng CardSMEbank sa pakikipagtulungan ng Card HK foundation, na ginanap sa Bayanihan  Centre sa Kennedy Town noong Okt. 1

Naging panauhin ang mga tauhan ng Card MRI Philippines, kabilang sina Grace Quinola, marketing officer; Allan Dimaano chief information officer; at Epifanio Maniebo, chief information officer ng RMSi.

Tinalakay ni Allan ang tungkol sa mga produkto at serbisyo ng CardSMEbank, na ayon sa kanya ay mas mataas ang ibinibigay na interes sa deposito kaysa sa ibang bangko. Ipinaliwanag din niya ang ibat-ibang uri ng deposito sa bangko, at sa seguro o insurance.

Ipinakilala ang mga serbisyo ng CARD at mga kumpanya nito.

Aniya, pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng Card Bank ang pagbibigay-suporta sa anumang itatayong negosyo ng isang nagbabalik-bayan. Tutulungan sila sa bagay na may kinalaman sa pinansyal at teknikal, at bibigyan ng pagsasanay para sa tamang  pagpapatakbo ng negosyo.

Ang mga nakatapos ng financial literacy training, entrepreneurship seminar at mga dumalo sa Negosyo Talk series ng Card HK ay binigyan  ng I.D. para sa prayoridad na serbisyo ng Card Philippines.

Nagbigay ng dagdag na sigla ito sa mga dumalo, na bakas sa mukha ang pagnanasa na  balang araw ay magkaroon din sila ng sariling negosyo.

Nadagdagan pa ang kanilang inspirasyon nang ibahagi ni Jun Domingo, dating seaman na naging matagumpay na negosyante, ang kanyang mga pinagdaanang hirap at sakripisyo bago nya narating ang kinalalagyan niya ngayon.

Ayon kay Clara Baybay, chairman ng Card HK, napaka halaga sa isang OFW ang paghahanda bago bumalik sa sariling bansa. Sa puntong ito ay malaki diumano ang maitutulong ng Card MRI.

“May  magandang  oportunidad na naghihintay dahil gagabayan kayo ng Card MRI. Mayroong ‘life after Hong Kong’, “ wika niya.

Naging panauhing pandangal si Consul General Bernardita Catalla na nagpahayag ng kanyang hangad para sa kapakanan at magandang hinaharap ng mga migranteng mangagawa sa Hong Kong.

Nagpasalamat din siya sa ibinigay na suporta ng komunidad sa kanyang pagkatalaga bilang pinakamataas ng sugo ng bansa sa Hong Kong sa loob ng nagdaang tatlong taon.

Sa mga nais lumahok sa susunod na Batch 44, ng fin-lit seminar ng Card HK sa Okt 22 sa Bayanihan Centre, tumawag lang para magparehistro sa mga numerong ito: 95296392/ 54238196.