‘Marcos billions’ myth revived in fake US$5b bank draft case

By Vir B. Lumicao

The myth of the hidden Marcos billions was resurrected in Eastern Court on Aug 9 as an affidavit presented as evidence by one of three defendants in a fake US$5 billion bank draft case linked it to the late Philippine dictator.

Marcos reportedly fled into exile in the US in 1986 with
gold bullions and up to US$2 billion in stolen wealth

The affidavit came with an engagement agreement between a company headed by Ruben Soliman, the purported owner of the bank draft, and a law firm that employed the 43-year-old defendant Eliseo L. Martinez.

The company, Soliman Property Ventures & Holding Corp, was allegedly owned by the Soliman patriarch described as a “caretaker” of deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

The Marcos billions twist came as Martinez and co-accused Elmer Soliman, 57, and his son Eric Jude Soliman, 31, returned to Eastern Court on charges of “using a false instrument” for allegedly trying to pass off the bank draft as genuine.

Martinez submitted the documents as his lawyer again applied for bail, saying the defendant’s wife was in town. Martinez offered $15,000 cash bail and another $15,000 as surety from his friend, a Hong Kong resident named “Pieter”.

The defense counsel said the documents showed Martinez was assigned by his law firm to handle the bank draft claim although he came to Hong Kong as a “companion” of the Solimans.

But after reading the affidavit, Magistrate Peter Law said Martinez “just made his situation worse than before” while trying to clarify his role in the case.

The affidavit indicated that Soliman Property had engaged Martinez & Lim Law Office in verifying the bank draft validity. Accordingly, the elder Soliman sent his son Elmer and grandson Eric Jude to Hong Kong, accompanied by Martinez, to present the original of the bank instrument to HSBC for verification.

Elmer Soliman said his son had earlier shown a copy of the instrument to staff at the HSBC headquarters in Central, but he was advised to present the original. But when they returned in April with Martinez, they were arrested and their hotel room raided by police.

 “If your client is a lawyer hired by (the Solimans), how and where did he get the bank document and in what capacity did he come to Hong Kong to claim the money? We’re talking here of billions of US dollars,” Law told the defense lawyer.

The lawyer requested for a 15-minute break to take instructions from his client. When the hearing resumed, the counsel said Martinez was assigned by his law firm to handle the bank draft case.

However, the lawyer maintained the defendant came to Hong Kong “only as a companion” of Soliman.

Law said if a lawyer agrees to serve a client to claim a certain amount of money without ascertaining from the client the source of the money, the relationship raises questions.

Not having done that, the magistrate said Martinez “just made his situation even worse than before.”

Law adjourned the hearing until Sept. 23 but told Martinez to return to court after eight days for the result of his bail application.

Filipina in reported suicide dies in hospital

By Vir B. Lumicao

A newly-wed Filipina domestic helper who reportedly hanged herself in her employer’s house in Sheung Shui on Aug 1 has been taken off life support machines after being pronounced clinically dead, according to Consulate officers.

The cause of the apparent suicide was not immediately known, and no suicide note was reportedly found.

North District Hospital in Sheung Shui where the victim
was declared dead

 According to Consul Paulo Saret, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, staff at North District Hospital in Sheung Shui took off the instruments attached to the 32-year-old victim at 2pm earlier today, Wednesday.

The victim, who had been working in Hong Kong for eight years, was reportedly found hanging by her neck in her bedroom by her 39-year-old male employer, who took her down and called police. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

At 3:23 pm on Aug. 6, she was declared brain-dead, said Lorna Obedoza of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office.

By noon the next day, the victim’s husband whom she married only on Jun 25, arrived from Antique, and was escorted directly to the hospital by OWWA staff. He arrived just in time to witness his wife being taken off life support.

A source said the victim went home only recently to wed her husband in civil rites, with plans to follow it up with a church wedding.

Obedoza said a cousin of the victim had earlier begged doctors not to unplug the machines yet, but they were told of the Hospital Authority’s policy to keep life support on only for 24 hours after a patient is declared brain-dead.

The cousin reportedly wanted the patient to be kept alive until Sunday so her friends could come and say goodbye.

Consul Saret said his office is now preparing to repatriate the victim’s remains. 

Talk to people or call hotline, distressed OFWs urged   

Consul Paul says, call us if you need help

The Consulate is advising Filipino workers in Hong Kong to talk with relatives and friends about their problems to unburden themselves, or call for help.

Consul Paulo Saret, head of the assistance to nationals section, gave the advice in the wake of reports that a Filipina domestic worker had hanged herself on Aug. 1.

If they are too shy to share their problems with those close to them, the Consulate’s hotline is open 24 hours a day with an officer ready to listen and advise them, said Saret.

“Iyong mga kababayan nating may dinadalang mabigat na problema, nandito naman tayo, bukas itong ating Konsulado from Sunday to Thursday,” Saret said.

He said that apart from ATN staff manning the hotline, the Consulate also has a social welfare attaché, Beth Dy, who is a qualified counselor and could be contacted for one-on-one consultation.

Saret said that whatever problem a worker has, be it over money, or problems with employers, a solution can be found.

“Yung pera, hindi naman yun ang be all and end all ng buhay natin. Yung employer naman po, kung anuman ang problema, nandito kami sa ATN at POLO,” Saret said.

Those who need to contact ATN may call the consular hotline, 9155 4023. For work-related concerns, they may call OWWA’s hotline, 6345 9324 or 5529 1880 for the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. – VBL

.

FDWs take up demand for $5,500 monthly wage with HK labour officials

By Daisy CL Mandap

Migrant workers want the HK government to give serious thought to their demands

Leaders of Filipino and Indonesian migrant organizations emerged from an hour-long meeting with Hong Kong labour officials today, unsure if their demand for a minimum monthly wage of $5,500 and food allowance of $2,500 will be given serious thought.

Eman Villanueva, spokesman of the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, said that as in previous years, the migrants delegation failed to get assurance from the government panel headed by Assistant Commissioner for Labour Queenie Wong, that their concerns would be addressed.

The meeting, held at the Labour Department offices in Sheung Wan, was sought by the government side ahead of the yearly assessment of the minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

Villanueva said all that they had put on the table was the “bare minimum” that foreign domestic helpers need to survive in Hong Kong. He described the minimum pay that they are asking for as a “living wage”, while the new food allowance was said to be based on the per capita food spending in Hong Kong.

$5,500 a month is just a "living wage" say migrants

“So we are not asking for too much,” he said.

He decried that the government panel was unable to show the same kind of serious analysis of available economic data when assessing how much salary FDWs are entitled to each year.

Video: Villanueva on lack of transparency in MAW assessment

During the meeting, the migrants said they also brought up up other serious concerns, such as overcharging and other illicit practices of some employment agencies, suitable accommodation for domestic workers, rest hours and the strict enforcement of the window cleaning ban.

For the first time, the migrants asked labour officials to identify in their work contracts the parts of their employer’s house that do not qualify as “suitable accommodation” for them, such as toilets, kitchens, cupboards and living rooms.

The migrants also reiterated a demand for work hours to be made part of their contracts, and specifically asked that they be allowed to rest continuously for at least 11 hours each day.

Another concern was the so-called “lack of teeth” in the ban against unsafe window cleaning by domestic workers. Citing the recent death of an Indonesian domestic helper who fell while cleaning windows, Villanueva said there clearly is a need to include a penalty provision in the ban which took effect last year.

Payong kaibigan

Nalulungkot si Noemi dahil medyo napapagod na siya sa kanyang trabaho, lalo na at may dinaramdam pa siyang sakit-sakit sa katawan, kaya naisipan niyang tawagan ang matalik niyang kaibigan.

Ang dating positibong mag-isip na si Noemi ay nagsabing parang nagsasawa na siya sa araw araw na pag-aalaga sa mga alaga, paglilinis ng bahay, pagliligpit ng mga kalat, pagluluto, pamamalengke at pamamalantsa.

Naunawaan naman ng kanyang kaibigan ang kanyang mga hinaing, pero pinayuhan siya ng ganito: “Isipin mo na lamang kaibigan na ang bawat pinupulot mong laruan at inililigpit mo ay nagkakahalaga ng 50 dolyar, mawawala na yang kapaguran mo at magiging inspired ka ulit. Gaya ko, araw araw na naghihila ako ng kung ano ano, nagbubunot ng damo,nagdidilig ng maraming halaman, depende sa utos ng amo ko, pero di ako napapagod at nayayamot dahil iniisip ko na 50 dolyar ang halaga ng bawat hila ko, at sa loob ng isang buwan ay ilang libo ang mapapasaakin. Kasi kapag di ka nagtrabaho mawawalan ka ng sahod buwan buwan.”

Napatawa si Noemi sa tinuran ng kaibigan kaya parang lumakas muli ang kanyang loob, bumalik ang kanyang pagiging masayahin at positibong pag-iisip.

Nasambit niya na minsan sa buhay ng isang OFW, kahit na anong lakas ng loob mo at tibay ng damdamin, dumarating din ang oras na kailangan mong ibulalas ang iyong nararamdaman para maibsan ito at mabigyan ka ng payo ng taong pinagkakatiwalaan mo.

Si Noemi at ang kanyang matalik na kaibigan ay maraming pagkakatulad. Pareho silang tubong Cagayan Valley na naninilbihan sa New Territories, at parehong 40 ang edad, at may pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas. – Marites Palma

Walang awa

Nadatnan ni Mila ang dalawang kababayan na nag-iiyakan sa bus stop. Nagpasya si Mila na manahimik na lang habang hindi pa nahihimasmasan ang dalawa. Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali ay naikuwento din nung isa na kaya siya umiiyak ay dahil namatay ang ina niya ngunit hindi siya pinayagan ng kanyang amo na makauwi para masilayan ito sa huling sandali.

Hindi daw niya maubos-maisip na sa loob ng halos anim na taong paninilbihan sa amo at minsan sa isang buwan lamang siya binibigyan ng day-off ay ipagkait pa ang maiksing panahon para masilayan ang labi ng ina, at maihatid ito sa huling hantungan.

Tunay na walang kunsiderasyon daw ang kanyang amo sa kabila ng matapat niyang pagsisilbi sa loob ng matagal na panahon.

Nagtangka ang Pilipina na sabihin na siya na ang bibili ng kanyang tiket sa eroplano pauwi at ilang araw lang siyang mawawala, pero matigas ang puso ng amo. Sinabi pa daw nito na hindi na naman mabubuhay ang ina niya sakaling umuwi siya.

Hindi naman magawang makipag matigasan ng PInay dahil kung siya ang mag terminate ng kontrata nila ay baka hindi siya bayaran para sa long service.

Nagalit si Mila sa narinig pero alam naman niyang mahirap talagang suwayin ng Pilipina ang gusto ng amo dahil sa malaki-laking halaga rin ang maaring maging kapalit nito.

Ngayong Agosto ay matatapos na ang kanyang pangatlong kontrata pero hindi na raw siya ire-recontract. Gayunpaman, hindi pa rin siya pinauwi dahil hindi pa daw dumating ang magiging kapalit niya.

Ang tatlong Pilipina ay pawang naninilbihan sa New Territories. – Marites Palma

Itlog na nilalaga, sumabog

Si Ana na isang Ilongga ay bagong dating pa lang sa Hong Kong, at wala pang dalawang buwan na nagtatrabaho sa mga among Intsik sa Tseung Kwan O. Sa unang araw ng kanyang paninilbihan noong Hunyo 6 ay may kapalpakan na nangyari na hindi niya makakalimutan.

Pagdating niya sa bahay ng mga amo ay inutusan kaagad siya ng “Ana you cook my one egg.”

Pigil ang tawa na tinanong niya kung anong luto ang gusto nito, kung scrambled, sunny side-up o nilaga, na puwedeng hard o soft-boiled. Ang sagong ng amo ay, “You cook hard my one egg.” Nangingiti na sumunod si Ana sa utos.

Kinuha niya yung nag-iisang itlog sa fridge at inilagay sa tubig bago isinalang sa stove. Nang nag-uumpisa nang kumulo ang itlog ay bigla itong sumabog, kaya tumilamsik sa buong kusina ang laman nito, pati sa dingding. Dahil malakas iyong putok ay narinig ng amo na nanonood ng TV sa salas, at biglang humangos papuntang kusina.

“What did you do to my one egg?”, sabi nito na pasigaw. Hindi na nakapapigil si Ana at bigla niyang sinabi ang, “So smelly your egg.”

Iyon pala ay may tatlong buwan na ang itlog sa ref kaya bugok na nung niluto. Napahiya ang amo dahil na rin sa sumambulat na baho ng itlog. Hindi na napigilan ni Ana ang sarili at biglang napahagalpak.

Lumabas ng kusina yong kanyang amo, sabay sabi ng “chisin”. Kinabukasan ay pumunta sa grocery ang kanyang among lalaki at namili ng mga pagkain. Inilapag sa sahig ang dalawang  plastic bag at sabay sabi kay Anna ng, “Don't forget to check the expiration date of the eggs I bought."

Tuwing naalala ni Ana ang kanyang karanasang ito ay nangingiti siya sa sarili. Si Ana ay 34 taong gulang, may asawa at isang anak na walong taong gulang. — Merly Bunda

Nasarapan sa dog food

Si Jaypee ay 43 taong gulang, tubong Benguet at may asawa. Kalilipat pa lang niya sa among German at French matapos ang dalawang taong paninilbihan sa pamilyang Intsik.

Sa bago niyang trabaho ay agad niyang napansin na maraming stock ng corned beef at omega-3 supplement sa kusina. Sa isip niya, sino kaya ang mahilig kumain ng corned beef sa bahay dahil hindi naman niya nakikita ang mga amo na ito ang ulam.

Nang hindi na makatiis ay tinanong niya ang kanyang amo at ang sabi, “Excuse me sir, I just want to know who eats this corned beef and take the omega 3? Sagot ng amo, “the two doggies,” na ang tinuran ay ang dalawa niyang alaga na mga hush puppies.

“Ah, ok, sagot ni Antonia, na ang nasa isip ay, wow ang sarap naman ng pagkain ng mga aso, at may food supplement pa na parang mayamang tao. Medyo nainggit siya sa mga aso, kaya minsan kapag wala siyang ulam ay kumukuha din sa kanilang corned beef na ang nasa isip ay

“Bakit, ang aso lang ba ang may karapatan na kumain ng masarap?” Maingat naman siya na hindi niya naagawan ng pagkain at sustanya ang mga alaga na na-eenjoy naman niyang alagaan.

Kasalukuyan silang nakatira sila sa New Territories. – Merly Bunda

Cooking is a challenge

Gina N. Ordona

For this issue we feature one of the longtime contributors of The SUN who has transformed herself in recent years as an excellent and versatile cook.

Gina N. Ordona, who has a degree in agribusiness from the Mindanao State University, has been working in Hong Kong for more than 20 years, but it was only when she started working for the family of Filcom leader Daphne Ceniza-Kuok six years ago that she has blossomed into one of the most prolific and talented cooks hereabouts. From cooking mainly Chinese dishes, Gina’s repertoire now extends to all things Asian – including Thai, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Korean, and of course, Filipino - to Middle Eastern and Western dishes.

What’s more amazing is, Gina has practically taught herself to cook many of the dishes, although she also gets a lot of support from her employer who is no stranger to the kitchen herself. Gina attributes much of her cooking skills to challenging herself to come up with a complete meal each time her very popular employer invites friends over. It doesn’t hurt, either, that “Ma’am Daphne” is herself a certified gourmet, and brings home a lot of exotic ingredients from her frequent travels abroad.

We emailed some questions to Gina to find out more about what inspires her to cook and continually search for new dishes, and she came up with very comprehensive answers that we decided to print the Q&A in full, as below:

Q: How long have you been with the Kuoks? Is cooking your main job for the family?
A: I’ve been working with the Kuok family for 6 years now and I am responsible for cooking meals for the family.

Q: How did you develop your love for cooking? 
A: My employer loves to entertain. Definitely the regular flow of guests coming over for lunch or dinner including the weekly Bible Study session is a big factor. It gives me purpose to create something new.  I always challenge myself to come up with cohesive menu so I explore.

Q: How did you learn to cook so many dishes?
A: My employer has given me so much leeway in the kitchen. Our pantry is filled with spices and ingredients to use for different cuisines so I took advantage of it. I also try to understand the flavor profile of each cuisine by reading food blogs and watching cooking shows. 

Q: It’s usual for those who cook to have hits and misses. What is your best “hit” (or favorite culinary creation) and your worst miss (as in “palpak”), and how you tried to remedy this.
A: I don’t have a particular favorite or best “hit” dish but if I am to name my worst miss, it would be Braised Pork Belly (a Chinese recipe). I tried several times to follow different ways of cooking it, but the results were all the same; the meat always comes out tough and dry instead of “melt-in- your-mouth” goodness.

Q: You seem to have a big budget for your cooking, but are there dishes that you could recommend for those who are on a tight budget?
A: Dishes that are packed with flavors are not necessarily expensive. For example, the humble bean curd or tofu has so many possibilities, like Chinese mapo tofu, Korean sundubu-jjigae or beancurd stew, Japanese agedashi tofu or deep-fried tofu etc. My advice is, keep exploring and don’t be afraid to try new recipes.

Q: Where do you usually buy your food supplies and ingredients?
A: I go shopping for seafood, fruit and vegetables in the wet market. I buy meat and chicken in the supermarket.

Q: What are your culinary aspirations, if any?
A: As of now, wala po. Just love to cook for family and friends.

Pomelo Salad
INGREDIENTS
Dressing:
1 tbsp palm sugar
1½ tbsp lime juice
2 tsp fish sauce
Thai chilies, to taste
Salad
2 cups Pomelo, torn into chunks
2 tbsp roasted peanuts, coarsely ground
2 tbsp dried shrimp, blitzed in a blender
3 tbsp shallots, thinly sliced
¼ cup mint leaves
¼ cup cilantro leaves

INSTRUCTIONS
 1) In a mortar and pestle, grind the chilies into a paste, then add palm sugar and pound until dissolved.

2) Add fish sauce and lime juice and swirl to mix.

3) Pour the dressing into a mixing bowl, then add all the ingredients and toss to combine.

Green Curry Chicken
 INGREDIENTS
2 cups coconut milk
50 g green curry paste (about 3 Tbsp)
1 cup chicken stock
1 lb chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tbsp palm sugar, finely chopped
1.5-2 tbsp fish sauce
3-4 kaffir lime leaves, roughly torn
1.5 cup bamboo shoots, cooked, sliced into bite-sized pieces
 5 pcs Thai eggplant
¼ cup pea eggplant
1 cup Thai basil
1 spur chilies or ¼ red bell pepper, julienned

INSTRUCTIONS
1) Pour 1 cup of coconut milk in a casserole. Let it boil and reduce until thick and the coconut oil starts to separate from the coconut milk. Add curry paste and sauté, stirring constantly over medium heat for about 2 minutes until the paste.

2) Add chicken thigh and stir to mix with the paste. Add kaffir lime leaves, chicken stock, the remaining 1 cup of coconut milk, palm sugar and 1 Tbsp fish sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is fork-tender.

3) Add bamboo shoots and eggplants. Continue simmering until the vegetables are done. Adjust the taste by adding fish sauce as needed. Remove from heat and stir in Thai basil and spur chilies. Serve with jasmine rice.

Fish with Sweet & Sour Chili Sauce
INGREDIENTS
4-5 cloves garlic
2-3 cilantro roots, chopped
1/4 tsp white peppercorns
2-3 spur chili (diced)
3 tbsp chopped palm sugar
1.5 tbsp fish sauce
2.5 tbsp tamarind juice
¼ cup water
¼ cup chopped cilantro
300 grams of any white fish filet

 INSTRUCTIONS
 1) To make the sauce, pound the cilantro roots, garlic, and white pepper using a mortar and pestle until it resembles a rough paste. Add the spur chili, continue pounding until the mixture is incorporated.

2) In a pan, over medium heat, sauté chili mixture in a little oil and stir constantly. When the mixture starts to dry up, add the palm sugar. Once the palm sugar has melted, add water, fish sauce and tamarind juice. Stir and let simmer for 1-2 minutes until you achieve a thick, syrupy consistency. Taste and adjust to your liking. Set aside.

3) To panfry the fish: In a frying pan, add just enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan and heat over medium-high heat. Fry the fish on both sides until golden brown.

4) To assemble: Place the fish on a serving plate. Spoon a couple tablespoons of the sauce over the fish and pour the rest around the fish. Garnish with cilantro.

Ang nakatagong ganda ng Wang Chung Stream

Ni Marites D. Palma

Ang pamumundok ay isang masaya at kaiga-igayang paraan ng pagsukat sa kakayahang makapaglakad sa kabundukan. Ito rin ay nagsisilbing komunyon o pagniniig ng tao at kalikasan, kaya mahalaga na mapanatili ang kaayusan sa paligid. Dapat siguraduhin na walang mga bakas o basura na maiiwan sa iyong paglisan. Kasabay ng pag-uuwi mo ng mga magagandang alaala ay dalhin mo na rin ang boteng pinaglagyan mo ng inumin at mga gamit sa pagkain. Ang ganitong panuntunan ang magsisiguro na ang mga magagandang alaala mo ng iyong pamamasyal at paglalakad ay mananatili hanggang sa iyong pagbabalik.

Kabilang sa mga magagandang lugar na maaring puntahan ng isang mahilig sa hiking at swimming ang Wang Chung Stream o Dragon Ball Falls na nasa Plover Country Park sa New Territories.

Ang Wang Chung Stream ay matatagpuan ilang metro mula sa sikat na Bride’s Pool na nasa loob din ng parke. Medyo mahirap ang paglalakad patungo dito dahil gugugol ka ng tatlo hanggang apat na oras mula sa bukana kung saan ka ibaba ng bus. Ang paglalakad ay pakanluran at pataas hanggang sa pinakatuktok ng bundok, at madadaanan ang ilang  matataas na talon na may malalim at malamig na pool o languyan. Ang madulas at matarik na lakaran ay di hamak na mahirap lakaran kaysa sa lugar na tuyo at patag.

Ang talon at ang batis sa ilalim nito ay nagbibigay ng panibagong sigla sa mga pagod sa pag-akyat sa bundok.

Magmula sa bus stop ng Brides Pool Road ay kailangan mong lumakad ng mga limang minuto bago marating ang bungad ng sapa. Mula naman sa dulo nito kung saan matatagpuan ang tulay ng Pat Sin Leng nature trail ay aabutin ka ng hanggang 25 minuto na paglalakad bago ka makabalik sa sa bus stop.

Ang antas ng hirap sa paglalakad dito ay 6/10, na ang ibig sabihin ay may kahirapan pero kaya pa rin ng karamihan dahil maraming may mga edad na ang nakakarating dito. Kahit iyong mga matagal nang naglalakad ay mahigpit pa ring pinapaalalahanan na huwag na huwag subukan na akyatin diretso ang mga malalaking talon, dahil may mga nagbuwis na ng buhay dito. Ang dapat gawin ay taimtim na sundan ang direksiyon ng mga nakataling ribbon sa mga sanga ng mga punongkahoy na siyang nagsisilbing gabay kung saan dapat dumaan para malampasan ang mga nagtataasang talon sa paligid at masiguro ang kaligtasan.

Sa mga mahilig ng live streaming sa Facebook, sorry at mahina ang signal ng internet dito dahil napapagitnaan ng mga matatarik na bundok ang sapa. Mag video na lang at i upload ang mga kuha mo habang naglalakad pabalik sa sakayan ng bus dahil tiyak na may signal na ulit dito. Pero ingat din habang nagkukuha ng mga litrato at baka ka madulas sa basang lakaran.

Ang pinakamagandang parte ng lugar na ito ay ang mababang parte ng sapa dahil dito makikita ang mga naglalakihang talon at malalalim at malamig na languyan.

Marami sa mga pumapasyal dito ang lumalangoy, nag da dive o nag I snorkel sa napakalinis at malamig na tubig.

Ito ang dahilan kaya paboritong puntahan ito ng mga turista, dayuhan man o lokal, tuwing panahon ng tag-araw. Hindi makukumpleto ang pagpunta mo dito kung hindi mo susubukang lumangoy o magtampisaw man lang sa malinaw na tubig. Para kasing nagsisilbing pantanggal ng tensyon at lungkot ang preskong tubig na dumadaloy sa mga languyan na ito.Hindi mo iindahin ang hirap at sakit sa pag-akyat dahil kapag nalampasan mo ang pinakamahirap na parte ay maaari kang magtampisaw muli para buhayin ang iyong damdamin.

Bagamat mahaba-haba at may kahirapan ang pagpunta dito ay lubhang ligtas ang paligid kaya maraming mga iba-ibang grupo ang dumarayo dito. Minsan, hindi maiiwasan na nagpapang-abot ang mga grupo ng hiker sa parteng mahirap daanan, halimbawa sa matarik na bangin, ngunit hindi naman ito malaking sagabal dahil maraming mga ugat at sanga ng punongkahoy ang maari mong kapitan para makatawid. At kahit mainit ang sikat ng araw ay hindi mo masyadong maramdaman dahil maraming mga puno sa daanan kaya malilim. Lubos ka ring maaaliw sa paglalakad dahil presko ang hangin sa paligid, at maraming makukulay na paruparo kang makikita sa paligid. Kitang kita din mula sa malinaw na tubig ng sapa ang ibat ibang uri ng isdang tabang na nabubuhay dito.

 Ang  Wang Chung Stream ay isa sa pinakakilalang stream  sa Hong Kong, napakadaling magtungo dito dahil ang bungad ay malapit lamang sa pinakahuling antayan ng bus sa Bride’s Pool Road.

Para makarating dito, sumakay ng MTR papunta sa Tai Po Market, at paglabas ay sumakay ng bus 75K or 20C na green mini bus patungong Tai Mei Tuk. Maiging mag-taxi mula rito papunta sa Bride’ Pool tuwing ordinaryong araw. Kung Sabado o Linggo naman ay maaring sumakay ng KMB Bus 275 K o 20 R mula sa Tai Po Market station at pupunta ito ng diretso sa Bride’s Pool Road.

Maaring padalhan ng mensahe sa Facebook messenger ang may-akda sakaling may gustong itanong tungkol sa hike na ito.

Cricket champs SCC Divas seeks new players as training set to start

By Vir B. Lumicao

All-Filipina cricket champion SCC Divas is looking for more players as it plans to make its presence felt by fielding a team in each of the three leagues on Cricket Hong Kong’s calendar in coming seasons.

A structured training begins this Sunday, Aug 5, for SCC Divas’ players to prepare them for the 16-over Development League, the next-level T20 and the 35 Overs League for the 2018-2019 season beginning on Sept 5.

Coach Najeeb Amar in a groufie with players. Supporters and sponsors  gave them individual trophies for Best Player of the Year, Best Bowler of the Year and Best batsman of the Year and medals for their contributions to the team.

“We are inviting new players. Anyone who is interested, we welcome them,” manager Animesh Kulkarni told The SUN during the team’s victory party at the United Services Recreation Club’s Garden Room in Yaumatei on Jul 22.

The team was awarded the Development League championship trophy, while individual players were given three smaller trophies and six gold medals for special awards. Another 24 gold medals were given those who saw action last season.

“Our vision is to field three teams with a hope that SCC Divas will make an impact and let its presence felt in the Main League, taking forward its performance this year in the Development League,” said Kulkarni, an Indian businessman.

On its cricket debut last season, the all-domestic-worker SCC Divas swept all its nine games to become the grand slam champion in Hong Kong’s Development League.

But Kulkarni admits the triumph of the team, organized by captain Josie Arimas and trained by Pakistani coach Najeeb Amar, may be hard to repeat in the higher leagues because Divas will be facing National Team players distributed in the various sides. “The girls will be playing against the national side. We may not win every game like this time, but we may not lose badly. I’m very confident we will give them a run,” the manager said.

“We know we will have limitations playing against the National Team players, but with the help of coach Najeeb Amar, we will prepare our players through more structured training in skill development starting on Aug 5,” Kulkarni said.

Kulkarni said those of the 32 who played this year will be promoted immediately to the higher league, the T20, where teams will compete in the 20-over format.

He said those who did not play last season will maintain the team’s trophy in the Development League, the 16-over division that is considered the entry level in the sport.

Ravi Lulla, manager of JD Jaguar men’s cricket team and a sponsor of SCC Divas, congratulated the team and promised continuous support to the Filipinas as they move to a higher league.

“It will not be an easy game next season, but if you do half as well as you have done, then you’ll do very well,” Lulla said.

He said the Filipinas will be given T-shirts for their training this Sunday and their official training kits before their next games.

As the SCC Divas advances, Kulkarni said he is seeking their recognition by the cricketing body in Manila. “Now I am in contact with the Philippine Cricket Association to plan future meetings,” he said.

He said he will also train the team members to do scoring and every aspect of cricket as he wants the Filipinas to hone up their skills.

Anyone who is interested to join the team can contact captain Josie Arimas.  He said Divas will form one development team, which will start cross-training on Aug 5.