Lakas-loob na nagsumbong

Naglakas-loob si Marlyn na ipa watchlist ang kanyang amo dahil noong nakaraang taon ay binuhusan ng mainit na tubig ang kanyang kamay ng kanyang alagang matanda habang siya ay naghuhugas ng kamay, at nitong huli ay sinaktan pa siya, ngunit hindi pinigil ng anak.

Isa pa, kahit nasa iisang building ay magkahiwalay ng tirahan ang kanyang amo at ang matanda, kaya bale dalawang bahay ang pinagsisilbihan niya. Lagi pang pinahihirapan ng matanda si Marly; lagi siyang kulang sa tulog at pagkain.

Pagkatapos siyang buhusan ng mainit na tubig ay sinubukan niyang magsumbong sa kanyang agency, pero ipinaabot lang nito ang reklamo niya sa matanda, kaya lalo itong naging maging mabangis. Nang sumunod na saktan siya ay hindi na nagdalawang isip pa si Marlyn na magpunta sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office para magreklamo at ipalagay sa watchlist ang amo.

Sinusubukan pa rin niyang magtiis ngayon dahil ayaw niyang matanggalan ng trabaho, ngunit hindi niya alam kung hanggang ano ang kaya niyang tanggapin. Natatakot din kasi siya na baka sa susunod ay mas grabe pang pananakit ang gawin sa kanya ng matanda.

Noong una ay atubili pa rin siyang magsumbong, mabuti na lang ay may nakilala siyang kapwa Pinay na nagbigay ng lakas ng loob sa kanya para magreklamo at ipaglaban ang kanyang karapatan. Si Marlyn ay naninilbihan sa dalawang bahay sa Tsing Yi at tubong Bulacan.

Dahil sa dalawang anak na nasa kolehiyo kaya nagtitiis si Marlyn. Gusto sana niyang matapos ang kontrata at nang sa gayon ay maluwag siyang makakahanap ng ibang amo pagkatapos. — Rodelia Villar

Filipino in child porn case jailed for 12 months

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipino sales executive who pleaded guilty to child pornography was sentenced to 12 months in jail by a District Court judge earlier today, May 7.

Lordjel Gelizon, 33, single, was found to have downloaded 32 photos and 138 video clips from child pornography websites as early as August 2013, and stored them in his notebook PC.

He was arrested during a police raid on a flat he shared with his family in Tsimshatsui at early on Apr 19, 2016, during an anti-child pornography operation. He was charged in January last year and the case was first heard in September.

His lawyer argued vigorously for a significant discount to the 18 months used as a starting point in sentencing, citing the two-year delay in prosecuting the case.

“We were sitting here two years after the event waiting when he’ll go to prison,” the lawyer said. He said his client’s life was on hold and under the strain of waiting because of the delay in taking the case to court.

But Judge Isaac Tam stressed repeatedly that “delay will not be a mitigating factor”. He said the prosecution was delayed because it needed more time to find out the ages of the children in the sex videos and photos, as well as to seek further legal advice.

Court records showed the images found in Gelizon’s computer were of children aged from 5 to 15 years doing erotic poses and sexual acts, including “penetrative activity” with adults without the use of condoms.

The prosecution submitted to the court a folder of photos and still shots from the videos

The judge pointed out that while the defendant suffered stress after his arrest, he managed to stay on his job as a sales manager and resigned only after he was charged.

The psychiatric report said Gelizon was now stable after being reclusive and anxious after he was charged in court.

The psychological report said his downloading the child pornography photos and videos was insufficient to suggest he was suffering from pedophilic disorder. The report also said the risk of re-offending was not high.

In mitigation, his lawyer said Gelizon had a clear record. He was born in Hong Kong where he attended elementary school, but left for the Philippines after his third year in high school. After high school, he enrolled in a marketing course but did not finish it.

He then set up a concrete block production business where he employed 12 relatives, but sold the business following a downturn.

He returned to Hong Kong and worked for various companies, where he rose from being a customer service officer in a logistics solutions firm to sales executive in an electronic services company, the defense counsel said.  All rights reserved.

Mahirap maintindihan ang gusto

Bago pa lang si Airen sa kanyang amo na nakatira sa MidLevels pero gusto na niyang sumuko dahil mahirap itong pakisamahan.

Hindi naman mahirap dapat ang kanyang trabaho dahil mag-asawa lang ang kanyang pinagsisilbihan, pero lagi na lang siyang nakikitaan ng mali ng among babae, gayong sinusunod naman niya ang lahat ng utos at gusto nito.

Halimbawa na lang sa pagluluto. Ang utos ng amo ay gayahin niya ang turo sa cookbook na sinusunod naman ni Airen, ngunit palagi pa rin itong may reklamo. Kung hindi maalat ay overcooked naman daw ang niluto niya. Upang hindi na lumalala pa ang usapan ay humihingi na lang siya ng paumanhin sa amo kahit na sa tingin niya ay umaarte lang ito, at gusto lang na may masabi.

Kasi naman, laging ubos ang pagkain na inihahain niya.

Sa sumunod niyang pagluluto ay sinubukan ni Airen na baguhin ang timpla at sukat ng mga sangkap ngunit hindi pa rin siya pumasa sa masungit na amo. Nalilito na si Airen kung ano ang gagawin dahil ni hindi naman marunong magluto ang amo, at sa cookbook lang umaasa.

Sa ngayon ay hinahayaan na lang ni Airen na pumasok sa isang tenga, at labas sa kabila, ang mga sermon ng amo upang hindi siya materminate. Si Airen ay tubong Quezon at may isang anak sa Pilipinas. – Ellen Asis

Why religious leaders support war on drugs

By Leo A. Deocadiz

“Thou shalt not kill,” says the fifth commandment.

But majority of pastors and priests who were surveyed in the urban poor community of Payatas, Quezon City, are not swayed by this invocation—they support the government’s war on drugs, or have remained silent even after it has left more than 20,000 people dead in the last two years.

In a way, this reflects the national sentiment towards the drug war. A recent survey by Pulse Asia shows that 88% of adult Filipinos support the war on drugs.

The view has not been swayed by the mounting number of extrajudicial killings, which have claimed the lives of even innocent people such as student Kian de los Santos, who was dragged from his family’s sari sari store and shot by policemen.

The main reason is that drug users are viewed by these religious leaders are swine or sinners, according to Dr. Jayeel Cornelio, an Ateneo de Manila social science professor who is a visiting professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “It has nothing to do with church-state relations, is has nothing to do with the management of religion. It has to do with theological vision.”

Cornelio’s study on the religious responses to the war on drugs in Payatas is part of a three-part research funded by the Australian National University. The two others are being done by Ging Gutierrez, a sociologist of crime from the University of the Philippines Diliman, who is looking into the negotiated identities of drug dependents arrested and detained in the war on drugs; and by Nicole Curato, a political sociologist from University of Canberra who is looking into why victims of the war on drugs are not given as much compassion as victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

“When we embarked on our research in 2017, our working hypothesis was this: that a religious leader would become socially and politically involved against the anti-drug campaign if and when the congregation was directly affected.... We thought the Catholic parish set the precedent because it was clear to us that they became more involved when many of their parishioners were being killed,” Cornelio said in a lecture recently at the City University of Hong Kong. “But we noticed that this could not explain why other churches with similar experiences did not follow suit.”

Cornelio said his research revealed two groups of religious leaders in Payatas: those who believed that drug users were swine or sinners, and those who regarded addicts as poor and victims of their poverty.

Dr. Jayeel Cornelio discusses his findings during a lecture at the City University of HK.

“If the drug user is a sinner/swine, then the response is spiritual, nothing to do with politics,” he said. “If the drug user is a victim of injustices, then the response is political.”

Majority of religious leaders see taking drugs as being away from God, and a deliberate act of sinning.

“To them the problem of substance abuse is a function of the failure of their relationship with the Holy Spirit,” Cornelio said.

He cited a pastor who likened drug dependents to swine, and quoted Jesus’ injunction to “Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet. (which means that you don’t reveal the Gospel to people who are not interested in it).” (Matthew 7:6)

“He rightly says that there are more kids in Payatas than there are drug addicts,” Cornelio added.

He quoted a number of church leaders, whose identities he withheld. A pastor of a mega church, with outreach in Payatas, told him: “God gave us government to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. They have swords and guns for a reason.”

The minority view, on the other hand, characterized drug users as victims, “In their view, criminal acts are committed not because of individual choices but because of structural causes like extreme poverty, unemployment and derpessed psychosocial conditions of the area.”

This group believes that people, especially the religious, need to give drug users a chance. “As a matter of fact, for a female youth minister, not giving them a chance is a form of injustice itself. She’s alluding to the extrajudicial killing in the community itself,” Cornelio added.

“They also instituted many interventions. The Catholics are so good at this. Everything from helping the families, providing scholarships to the children, setting up psychological trauma support system for them, and even providing legal services for them. One reasons is they have the resources and the network,” he said,

Cornelio quoted a lay leader, a lawyer: “We are not fighting the anti-drug campaign, we are fighting summary executions. They destroy the bill of rights, the very pillar of our democracy.”

And worse, killing drug dependents merely worsened the poverty of the families they left behind.

Filipina DH held for alleged theft of diamond ring

Magistrate said the Filipina can go to the High Court to apply for bail

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker accused by her female employer of stealing a diamond ring has been denied bail by a Kwun Tong magistrate despite an offer of guarantee from the Consulate that she won’t abscond.

Jeambreth Algura appeared on May 4 before Magistrate Chu Chung-keung to apply for her temporary release eight days after she was charged with theft by the police.

The defendant was arrested and taken into custody on Apr 24 after the employer called the police to report that her ring was missing. The ring was allegedly found later by the employer in a pocket of Algura’s backpack.

The defendant’s mother, who also works in Hong Kong, attended the hearing accompanied by Danny Baldon, an officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section.

The counsel assigned by the Duty Lawyers Service to represent Algura applied for bail on her behalf. He said she had offered to post a $1,000 bail and that the Consulate had agreed to house her in its shelter for troubled workers.

The Consulate has also offered to guarantee that the defendant will not leave Hong Kong while the case is not resolved, the lawyer said. Pointing to the gallery, the lawyer said a consular officer was, in fact, in the courtroom.

But Magistrate Chu refused the application, but told the defendant she could apply for bail at the Court of First Instance.

He adjourned the hearing until May 31 and ordered the helper remanded in custody.

Beyond grief

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

Coping with grief is not the easiest thing to do, more so if the cause was the untimely demise of a loved one. Things get more tough when the death happens abroad, and the victim is a migrant worker.

Lucky are those who have friends or family members at the worksite who can attend to the numerous tasks that need to be done before the remains of a loved one can be brought home. Beyond coping with the pain, it is the nitty-gritty of attending to the paperwork, dealing with the police and the morgue, and deciding on whether a public viewing should be held, that could prove taxing to whoever has to deal with this unenviable task.

Fortunately, Hong Kong has an efficient system in place that allows even tourists to get through this unsavory part of dealing with a loved one’s death rather quickly, at least in most cases. Complications may arise only if there are matters that need to be addressed first before the body is sent for its final journey home.

Such complications could result if there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, or it was the result of an accident.

A recent example of the first was the unfortunate death of Lorain Asuncion, who fell from the house of her employer’s father in Shenzhen in July last year. After three autopsies conducted over four months, her family had to finally come to terms with the fact that she had committed suicide.

Death from an accident, in particular, a traffic accident, could result in even more prolonged mourning for the family. A case in point was the death of Geraldine Betasolo who was hit by van while rushing to deliver a spare car key to her employer in November last year.

Geraldine’s grieving husband and teenage son were lucky in that they got full support from her friends in Hong Kong, including her employers; the mayor in their hometown of Inabanga, Bohol, who paid for their air fare to Hong Kong and ensured they got passports quickly; and staff at the Consulate, particularly Danny Baldon, who took them to nearly all the government offices they had to deal with.

But five months since the tragedy, her family still has to deal with claiming the compensation due them under both Hong Kong and Philippine laws.

In helping them get through the hurdles, we were struck by how seemingly simple the procedures were in filing claims. Immediate members of the family can do all the paperwork, or appoint someone to act in their stead.

It turned out it wasn’t so simple, especially since Geraldine’s next of kin live in a barangay four hours away from the capital of Tagbilaran, and snail mail is even more slow in their part of the country.

Given this, the task of having documents notarized, then authenticated in the nearest Chinese consulate in Cebu, took far longer than usual, and they nearly missed meeting the deadline for filing refunds for funeral expenses.

The requirements for pursuing the bigger claims – for compensation due to death, personal injuries, and from the traffic accident victims assistance scheme - are even more formidable, and will entail them going back to square one with the new documents they need to submit.

But the rewards for putting up with the paper and leg work are real, and within reach. In Geraldine’s case, the compensation alone for death resulting from an accident - which now stands at about $400,000 (Php2.5 million) — is substantial, especially if spent in the Philippines. It should be enough to feed her family for months, and if her husband so wishes, use it to start a business. The money that will go to her son, Kyle, could see him through college, and hopefully, improve on the life they used to have.

It wouldn’t be hard to provide help to families like them if support groups including the Consulate could all sit together and come up with an action plan to address their concerns in the quickest time possible. All we need to do is to draw from our shared experiences and create a blueprint that ensures help is given when it is needed, and who would be in the best position to provide it.

All it takes is a community that cares and works together to ensure the grief does not last longer than necessary.

Magbasa ka kasi

Hindi namin napigilang matawa nang mabasa ang isang balita na inilathala ng Inquirer, na nagsasabing ang Pilipino ang isa sa pinaka-mali ang pag-unawa sa nangyayari sa mundo.

Ayon sa Perils of Perception 2017 survey ng Ipsos, isa sa pinakamalaking kumpanyang gumagawa ng market research sa mundo, pumapangalawa lamang ang Pilipinas sa Brazil.

Ang basehan ng resultang ito ay mga tanong tungkol sa murder at suicide rates, terrorism death rates, at teenage pregnancy at health issues — mga tanong na may eksaktong kasagutan kaya madaling malaman kung ang sumasagot ay tama o nagdudunung-dunungan lang.

At hindi lang iyan. Ang mga Pilipino rin ay pumangalawa lang sa India sa pagging sigurado na sila ay tama, kahit sa katotohanan ay mali ang kanilang sagot.

May paliwanang ang gumawa ng pagsusuri kung bakit nangyayari ito. “We are often most incorrect on factors that are widely discussed in the media, such as deaths from terrorism, murder rates, immigration and teenage pregnancy,” ayon kay Bobby Duffy, ang managing director of Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute sa London. “There are multiple reasons for these errors – from our struggle with maths and proportions, to media and political coverage of issues, to social psychology explanations of our mental shortcuts or biases.”

Mayroon din kaming paliwanang kung bakit ganito ang Pilipino—mula sa aming sariling karanasan.

Tingnan mo ang aming Facebook page (hanapin ang The SUN Hong Kong) at makikita ang pagmamagaling ng Pilipino. May mga komento pa nga na malinaw na nagpapakitang hindi man lang nila binasa ang balitang kanilang tinutuligsa.

Hindi masamang magbigay ng opinyon. Magbasa nga lang muna para maintindihan ang sinasalihang diskusyon, at upang maiwasang ipakita na sila’y tanga.

May payo si James Madison Jr., ang ika-apat na pangulo ng Estados Unidos at isa sa sumulat ng Saligang Batas nito, sa mga pinipiling maging mangmang: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives.”

Bail refused for Pinoy tourist gang of pickpockets

Eastern Court in Sai Wan Ho

A magistrate in Eastern Court rejected on May 3 a bail application by two of five Filipino tourists who are facing an attempted theft charge following a botched bid to pick the wallet of a Korean woman in April.

Four of the defendants appeared in court before Magistrate Peter Law. They were Rasim Linambos, Arlene Gerodias, Manuelito Camacho and Delia Neri.

A fifth defendant, Zenaida Aviles, was absent, as she was reportedly taken to a hospital a few days earlier because she vomited blood. She was scheduled to appear solo in the same court on May 2, but failed. Magistrate Law was told she remained in hospital.

Aviles, Linambos, Gerodias, Camacho and Neri were arrested on Apr 24 after their failed attempt to steal the Korean woman’s wallet in an MTR station on Hong Kong Island.

The attempt failed because the Korean felt someone was tugging at her wallet. It turned out the wallet was secured by a chain to the bag. Plainclothes police who were nearby arrested the five.

On May 3, the duty lawyer representing the five said Linambos was offering to put up a $2,500 bail for his temporary release while Gerodias was offering $1,650, but Law rejected their applications.

The magistrate adjourned their case until May 24 and ordered them remanded in custody.  - Vir B. Lumicao. All rights reserved.

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Pioneering court interpreter passes on after lingering illness

Menchu Rivera with her closest friends among the interpreters:
Jo Ann Bautista, Yollie Santos and Gigi Wearing-Smith

A well-loved member of the Filipino community who spent nearly four decades working as a court interpreter in Hong Kong, died in Manila early on Apr. 24.

Carmen Eizmendi Rivera, 75, who was fondly known as “Menchu” in the community, passed away due to bladder cancer. She left behind two children, Louie and Socci. A third, her youngest son Ramon, died from drowning three years ago.

Socci said in a message to Menchu’s friends in Hong Kong that her mom passed away peacefully after fighting a “very painful battle.” Socci said Menchu was cremated on the same day that she died, and her remains interred at the St. Therese Columbarium in Pasay City on Apr 29.

Mercifully, Menchu’s last hours were reportedly “filled with laughter, love and prayers.”

Menchu with Jan Yumul, who became close to the affable
interpreter while covering court stories for The SUN 

The jovial and sharp-witted interpreter was known for her fluency in Filipino, English and Spanish, and was often called upon to handle difficult court cases. She was friendly with many in the community, and was known for always turning up smartly dressed and well-coiffed for any occasion.

Told of how saddened people in the community were on hearing of her mother’s death, Socci said: “We all miss her. Her smile, her colourful and matching accessories…that's my mom!”

A longtime Hong Kong resident, Menchu joined the interpreter’s office of the Hong Kong Judiciary in 1981, and served until November last year, when she had to go home for medical treatment. She had noticeably lost weight by then, but remained her funny self that many of her friends were shocked to hear of her untimely death.

Several masses were offered for Menchu in Hong Kong, including one on Apr 21 by her interpreter-friends, shortly after news about her deteriorating condition was relayed by her son Louie; and another at the Philippine Consulate on Sunday, Apr 22. More masses were offered after she passed on. – Daisy CL Mandap

 

Louie Rivera (leftmost, on the floor) and Socci Cristi (in pink dress) were joined by relatives
at the inurnment of Menchu's ashes at St Therese Columbarium on Apr 29.

A memorial mass for Carmen “Menchu” Rivera will be held on May 19, 2018 (Saturday), 6pm, at the Catholic Centre on the 18th floor, Grand Building, 15-18 Connaught Road, Central. Join her family, friends and colleagues in commemorating Menchu’s life and passing.

Filipina in Fortress MTR incident taken to hospital

By The SUN 

(first posted: May 3, 2019)

A Filipina domestic worker is now under observation at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital after she was found acting strangely at Fortress Hill MTR Station on May 1.

Footages of the worker who appeared to be deep in prayer while reportedly chanting, “Ako ang tagapagligtas ninyong lahat”  went viral on Facebook after they were posted by fellow Filipinas who were at the MTR station at the time.

At one point, the OFW prostrated herself on the floor beside the station’s turnstiles, while security officers and other people watched. A Filipina in one of the videos could be heard telling the people around her that “she is Filipina.”

'Ako ang tagapagligtas ninyong lahat',
she reportedly chanted

The worker falls flat on the floor

A netizen later posted in one of the Facebook chats that the woman was her townmate in Southern Leyte. She said she had informed the OFW’s relatives of what happened, but assured them that she was already in the hospital.

Lorna Obedoza from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office in Hong Kong confirmed to The SUN that the woman is a domestic helper working in North Point. Her employers had reportedly been told about the incident, and had visited her in the hospital.

Obedoza also confirmed that the worker's relatives in Southern Leyte had been informed.

The worker is said to be single, and has been working for the same employer for the past seven years. It is unclear what had caused her apparent breakdown.

The Police Public Relations Branch said in an emailed statement that the police received a report at about 9:15 am on May 1 about a “44-year-old foreign woman” causing obstruction to other users inside Fortress Hill Station.

“Upon police arrival, the woman was brought to Ruttonjee Hospital for medical treatment. The case was classified as ‘suspected mentally disordered person found’,” the police said. 

The helper was apparently moved afterwards to Eastern Hospital which has a psychiatric ward. 

Obedoza said OWWA was informed by friends of the worker about her situation on May 2. The welfare officer said her staff would visit her in hospital tomorrow afternoon.

Soon after the videos of the helper were posted, a clamor went up for the footages to be deleted, but some are still online, and continue to be shared. All Rights Reserved