Homesickness ng isang bunso

Sa edad na 26 ay nagdesisyon si Ruth na mamasukan bilang kasambahay sa Hong Kong kahit walang karanasan sa gawaing bahay, dahil gustong makaipon at matupad ang pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling bahay at lupa. Mababa lang kasi ang kanyang sweldo bilang cashier sa kanilang bayan, at hindi sapat para makatulong ng kahit na kaunti lamang sa kanyang ina, na mag-isang nagtaguyod sa kanilang magkakapatid simula nang mamatay ang kanyang ama.

Sa unang mga araw niya sa Hong Kong ay halos hilahin ni Ruth ang mga oras, at walang gabi na hindi siya umiiyak. Tuwing umaga ay laging namumugto ang kanyang mata kaya panay ang tanong ng kanyang amo ng “Is there something wrong with you?” Lagi namang “Nothing ma’am” lang ang sinasagot niya.

Bunso siya sa kanilang magkakapatid at hindi kasi siya sanay na malayo sa kanyang pamilya, lalo na sa kanyang ina.

Mabuti na lang at may mga naging kaibigan siya na humikayat sa kanya na mag miyembro ng kanilang “spiritual community” upang siya ay malibang at mapawi ang kanyang homesickness. Ito ang nakatulong ng malaki para maibsan ang kanyang pangungulila.

Tuwing araw ng Linggo ay masaya silang nagtitipon-tipon, at lubhang kinasabikan ni Ruth ang kanilang mga gawain, lalo na ang bible study na nagpatibay ng kanyang pananampalataya at pananaw sa buhay. Pagkatapos ng kanilang mga gawain sa simbahan ay masaya silang nagsasalo-salo at nagkukwentuhan.

Ngayon ay malapit nang matapos ang kontrata ni Ruth, at balak niyang pumirma ng panibago dahil mabait ang kanyang mga amo at sanay na rin siya sa buhay at trabaho niya sa Hong Kong. Si Ruth ay dalaga at tubong Negros at kasalukuyang nangangamuhan sa mag-asawang Intsik na may isang anak at naninirahan sa Cheung Sha Wan. – Ellen Asis

Pinatatag ng problema

Na-terminate bigla si Dolor nang hiniling niya sa amo na payagan siyang umuwi sa Pilipinas para saksihan ang pagtatapos ng elementarya ng anak. Ayon sa amo, kailang tapusin muna niya ang kanyang kontrata bago siya umuwi, at makakapagtapos naman daw ang kanyang anak kahit wala siya doon.

Hindi inaasahan ni Dolor na ganoon ang magiging reaksyon ng amo dahil kahit mabunganga ito ay maayos naman ang kanilang samahan. Malapit na ding matapos ang kanyang kontrata kaya inasahan niya na papayagan siyang umuwi bilang kunsiderasyon sa kanyang maayos na pagseserbisyo.

Masakit man sa damdamin ang ginawa ng amo ay wala siyang nagawa kundi umuwi at ituloy ang balak na saksihan ang pagtatapos ng kanyang anak. Mabuti na lang at ginamit niya sa mga libreng oras sa Hong Kong sa pagsali sa mga iba-ibang pagsasanay kaya marami siyang natutunan na pwede niyang magamit sa paghahanap-buhay sa sa Pilipinas.

Dahil sa mga livelihood training na sinalihan niya ay natuto siyang mag-beading, maggantsilyo, at pati na rin kung paano magpalakad ng negosyo.

Sa ngayon ay nag-umpisa nang mangasiwa ng isang munting tindahan si Dolor sa Baguio, at malaki ang kumpiyansa sa sarili. Naging malaking tulong daw ang kanyang mga karanasan sa Hong Kong para lumakas ang kanyang loob na harapin ang mga hamon ng buhay. Si Dolor ay 46 na taong gulang at dating nagtrabaho sa pamilyang Intsik na nakatira sa Tsuen Wan. – Ellen Asis

Reference lang, pero ginulo

Hindi mapagkatulog si Ann ng mabuti nitong nakaraang buwan matapos siyang bulabugin ng kolektor sa isang pautangan. Si Ann na isang Ilongga, may asawa at apat na anak, ay ngayon lang nasabit sa ganitong problema sa tagal nang paninilbihan niya sa Hong Kong.

Ang masaklap, nag “reference” lang siya sa isang kaibigan na nangutang ng $10,000, at pagkatapos ay biglang naglaho. Lumipat ito ng tirahan at pinaputol ang kanyang telepono kaya nang hindi na mahagilap ng pautangan ay si Ann ang ginulo.

Hindi lang siya tinawagan ng ilang beses sa landline ng amo niya, nilagay pa ang pangalan niya sa Facebook para siya mapahiya, at ang saklap, ay nag viral pa ito.

Sa hiya ay umiiyak na humingi ng paumanhin si Ann sa amo niya dahil sa 10 taon niyang paninilbihan sa kanila ay noon lang nangyari ang ganoon. Hinanda ni Ann ang sarili na mawalan ng trabaho kahit kailangan pa niya ng pera para sa mga anak.

Ang bunso niya ay kakaumpisa pa lang sa kursong civil engineering, yung panganay niya ay kakasampa pa lang sa barko, ang pangalawa na nagtapos ng aeronautical engineering ay naghahanap pa ng trabaho, at yung pangatlo na nag graduate na cum laude sa chemistry ay kasalukuyan pang nag rereview para sa board exam niya.

Mabuti na lang at naging maunawain ang amo ni Ann at tinanggap ang paliwanag niya. Suwerte din niya dahil nagsisikap ang mga anak niya para hindi masayang ang pagsasakripisyo niya ng dahil sa kanila, samantalang ang kanyang asawa ay tapat na gumagabay sa kanilang pamilya habang siya ay nasa ibang bayan. – Merly Bunda

Ayaw sa utang

Ganoon na lang ang gulat ni Mary Ann nang bigla siyang tanungin ng kanyang amo kung nasaan ang pasaporte niya, araw ng Lunes, bago ito pumasok sa trabaho. Agad naman itong ipinakita ni Mary Ann. Pero nang hanapin na naman ito ng amo noong sumunod na Lunes ay hindi na napigilan ni Mary Ann ang magtanong.

Sa loob kasi ng limang taong paninilbihan niya sa mga amo ay noon lang nito hinanap ang kanyang pasaporte. Diretsong sinabi ng amo na naninigurado lang ito na hindi ginamit ni Mary Ann ang pasaporte na collateral para makapangutang. Nadadalas daw kasi ang mga balita sa dyaryo at TV tungkol sa pasaporte ng mga kasambahay na nasamsam ng mga pulis mula sa mga loan shark.

Naiintindihan naman ni Mary Ann ang pangamba ng kanyang amo, dahil hindi biro ang perhuwisyong binibigay ng mga kolektor kapag pumalya sa pagbabayad ang isang katulong. Pati ang amo ay damay sa pagtawag-tawag at pambabastos ng mga ito sa telepono, at kung minsan ay umaakyat pa sa kanilang bahay para maningil at magpahiya.

Para hindi na magduda ang amo ay lagi nang iniiwan ni Mary Ann sa kanyang kama ang kanyang pasaporte bago siya lumabas sa araw ng Linggo.

Sa kabilang dako, hindi din naman masisi ni Mary Ann ang mga kababayan na kumakapit sa patalim dahil sa hirap ng buhay sa Pilipinas at ang walang tigil na panghingi ng pera ng mga iniwang kapamilya, na hindi batid ang paghihirap ng isang nangangamuhan sa ibang bansa.


Masuwerte si Mary Ann dahil pinapahalagan ng kanyang pamilya ang pinapadala niyang pera, kaya balak na niyang mag for good sa susunod na taon pagkatapos ng kanyang kontrata. Si Mary Ann ay 45 taong gulang, may apat na anak, at tubong Batangas. – Rodelia Villar

HK activists join anti-govt, anti-martial law protest at PCG

Protesters who denounced martial law also called for an end to Duterte's 'tyrannical rule'

By Daisy CL Mandap

Local activists led by former legislator Leung Kwok-hung, better known as “Long Hair”, joined a protest at the Consulate on Sept. 20, a day ahead of the 46^th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the deposed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.

Leung, who represented the League of Social Democrats, said that both Marcos and the incumbent President, Rodrigo Duterte, promised a new society to Filipinos seeking changes. “But where is it now?” he asked.

He expressed concern at what he said were the “tens of thousands of people being threatened by secret police,” in reference to the reported extra-judicial killings being carried out in the Philippines in pursuit of Duterte’s war on drugs.

 

Speakers included Pelaez (foreground), Villanueva (with cap),
and beside him, 'Long Hair' Leung  and Mong

Another local activist, Mong Siu-tat of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, said: “We are fighting not just for the dead, but also for the living.”

Mong said that if no one protested now, the killings in the Philippines will continue, as they have in other parts of the world.

“The fight must continue regardless of who you are, no matter where you are from,” he said. “Together let us build a more democratic society.”

The organizers of the protest, made up of various militant Filipino organizations and individuals in Hong Kong, said in a statement: “There are many signs that the Duterte government is setting the stage for the declaration of a nationwide martial law or a similar draconian measure on a national scale.”

This is said to be seen in the removal of the Chief Justice, the filing of trumped-up charges against known personalities in the opposition and the progressive movement, and the declaration of martial law in Mindanao under the guise of fighting terrorism.

The statement likened Duterte’s crackdown on the united opposition to Marcos’ brutal suppression of Filipinos’ struggle for land, decent employment, human rights and justice.

One of their leaders, Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, zeroed in on two major concerns: the violent killings of more than 20,000 Filipinos in line with Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, and the eviction of tribal people from their lands, notably the lumads.

Leung said Duterte, like Marcos, failed to deliver the promised change

In closing, another speaker, Eman Villanueva, noted that the International People’s Tribunal had just declared Duterte guilty of “gross human rights violations.”

He said the Hong Kong protesters fully support the findings, and will continue their fight against Duterte’s tyrannical rule to ensure the dark days of martial in the Philippines “never happen again.”

Villanueva also announced that on the next day, tens of thousands of Filipinos were due to hold various rallies in the Philippines “not only to commemorate martial law, but also to oppose Duterte’s looming dictatorship.”

Martial law in the Philippines was declared by Marcos on Sept 21, 1972, purportedly to avert subversion by anti-government forces, but in reality, was meant to allow him to extend his iron-fist rule for 20 years.

Marcos lifted martial law in 1981, and was overthrown through a popular revolt on Feb. 25, 1986.

According to the human rights group, Amnesty International, more than 70,000 Filipinos were arrested during martial law, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed by the military and the police.

No-show Pinay and twin daughters fail in bid to stop deportation

A Filipina who claims her ex-partner might kill her and her twin daughters if they returned home has lost her bid for a judicial review of the government’s decision to deny their application for non-refoulement, or against deportation.

The Court of First Instance rejected on Sept 7 the application for leave to apply for a judicial review filed by Jeneth Pepito who was not in court. The court said it was not convinced of her ground for appealing the dismissals by the Immigration director and Torture Claim Appeal Board of her application for non-refoulement.

The High Court, where the Court of First Instance is located.

Pepito had asked for more time to apply for leave for herself and her daughters Zainab Iftikhar Ahmed and Ayesha Iftikhar Ahmed, on the ground that they were not represented in their appeal before the Board, and they were not assisted by an interpreter.

But after considering the documents and as the applicant was absent, Judge Bruno Chan refused to extend the deadline for applying for leave, and dismissed Pepito’s application.

The judge said Pepito was able to argue her case fully when she appeared before the Director. She was able to testify and make representation in the appeal hearing before the TCAB and to answer questions put to her by the adjudicator without difficulty, Chan said. 

“I do not find anything amiss arising from the lack of legal representation in the appeal process, and I do not think this ground is reasonably arguable,” Bruno said.

The judge also said that a rigorous scrutiny of the decisions of both the director and the TCAB, failed to show any error of law or procedural unfairness, nor did they fail to apply high standards of fairness in considering the applicant’s claim.

Pepito, 33, last arrived in Hong Kong on Apr 9, 2015 to work as a domestic helper. She overstayed after May 8, 2015 when she was dismissed prematurely.

The Filipina surrendered to Immigration on July 20, 2015 and filed for non-refoulement, claiming that if she returned home, she would be harmed or killed by her former common-law husband, a certain “JE”, after he learned that she bore two daughters by a Pakistani man. 

Pepito gave birth to her twin daughters on Oct 29, 2015 in Hong Kong. She subsequently also lodged a non-refoulement claim for the girls, citing the same grounds.

In her application, Pepito, a native of Dolores, Abra, said she started living with JE after her
studies, and they had a son and a daughter. She claimed JE had been abusive when drunk, at one time breaking her nose with a punch and threatening her with a kitchen knife. 

On Aug 11, 2016, the director of Immigration rejected Pepito and her daughters’ claim on all
applicable grounds, including risk of torture, risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment, and risk of persecution, saying the risks were low.

On Jan 4, 2017, he refused their claim again because of their failure to submit additional facts that may be relevant to their non-refoulement claim.

By then, Pepito’s appeal to the TCAB filed on Aug 29, 2016, on behalf of herself and her daughters against the earlier decision of the director, was in progress. On Jun 30, 2017, the appeal was dismissed and the Board confirmed the decisions of the director.

Pepito applied for leave for a judicial review of both decisions on Dec 7, 2017, but did not include her two daughters as co-applicants, nor did she attend the oral hearing, Bruno said. – Vir B. Lumicao

Wise si amo

Tatlong buwan nang nakakaramdam ng pananakit ng likod, pagkahilo at sakit sa ulo si Tess, 47, Capampangan at taga North Point, pero tuwing nagpapatingin siya sa ospital na pampubliko ay laging alta presyon lang ang laging sinasabi sa kanya ng doktor.

Nang lumala na ang kanyang panghihina ay sumangguni siya sa kanyang amo, at ang sabi ng amo ay hindi talaga siya susuriing masyado sa ospital kung hindi malala ang kanyang kundisyon.

Dahil talagang masama na ang pakiramdam ni Tess ay tumawag ng ambulansya ang kanyang amo, at pinagbilinan siya na huwag babangon at tatayo kapag dumating ang sasaklolo. Ayon sa amo, hindi daw siya dadalhin ng ambulansya kapag nakakatayo siya.

Kaya nang dumating ang mga paramedics at sinabihan siya ng isa ng, “Stand up” ay pumikit si Tess at hindi sumagot. Sabagay, talagang hinang hina naman daw ang kanyang pakiramdam. Hindi na nag-atubili pa ang mga sumaklolo at dinala siya sa Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital sa Chaiwan kung saan agad siyang sinaksakan ng dextrose para lumakas.

Ayon kay Tess, may siyam na doktor na lalaki at isang babae ang nag-eksamin sa kanya, at bawat isa ay pumisil-pisil sa kanyang tiyan. Na-admit siya sa ospital pero hindi siya nakatulog sa dami ng mga doktor at nars na tumingin sa kanya.

“Walanghiya pinagpapraktisan yata ako” sabi niya sa kanyang  sarili.

Sa tulong ng kanyang amo ay nakumpleto lahat ng mga test kay Tess, kabilang na ang colonoscopy at gastrocopy.

Doon daw niya napatunayan na tunay na may malasakit sa kanya ang kanyang amo. Matapos ang lahat ng mga test ay pinalabas na si Tess, at nakahinga siya ng maluwag dahil wala namang lumitaw na sakit na dapat niyang ipag-alala.

Ngayon na maganda na ang kanyang pakiramdam ay ayaw nang ituloy ni Tess ang balak na umuwi na sa Pilipinas. Pagkatapos niyang ma general check-up ng libre ay kumbinsido siyang wala siyang dapat ipag-alala. – George Manalansan

Nawala ang gamit sa door to door

Nitong Agosto ilang migranteng manggagawa ang nadismaya sa isang sikat na door-to-door company dahil naglaho sa bodega nito ang kanilang mga gamit na nasa nylon striped bags na inilagak nila doon.

Ayon kay Marilyn Abad, 30, isang Bisaya, noong ma- terminate siya ay kinailangan niyang magpa- storage dahil bigla siyang pinababa ng ng dating amo. Nang umabot sa tatlong buwang palugit ang mga gamit niya sa storage ay tumawag siya sa kumpanya at sinabihan siya na kailangang magmulta siya ng $2 kada araw bilang penalty. Pumayag naman daw siya na bayaran ang multa dahil hindi pa niya maempake agad ang mga gamit.

Nang magkapera siya ay agad siyang tumawag sa kumpanya para bayaran na ang kanyang mga utang at maipadala na ang kanyang mga gamit, ngunit ang sabi daw ng sumagot ay itinapon na ang mga ito.

Kwento naman ni Henlyn Sarmiento, 35, at isang Ilokana, nagpa-storage din daw siya ng mahigit isang buwan. Nang puntahan niya para i-pack ang mga gamit ay nakita niyang sira na ang sakong lalagyan ng mga ito, at wala na ang mga magagandang damit na nasa loob. Panay mga pinagpilian na lang daw ang natira.

Isang kaibigan ang nagpayo na magreklamo siya sa pulis, pero minabuti ni Henlyn na tumahimik na lang daw dahil ayaw niyang maabala pa. Pero masama ang loob niya dahil wala man lang daw humingi ng paumanhin sa kanya dahil sa nangyari, at panay turuan ang nangyari sa mga trabahador sa bodega, sa truck at sa opisina ng kumpanya.

Pati si Teresa Pabalate, 46, na Kapampangan naman, ay nawalan din. Nagpa storage siya ng mahigit isang buwan, at nang balikan niya ang mga gamit para iempake ay nawawala na. Dalawang beses daw siyang bumalik para hanapin ang kanyang mga gamit, nguni’t walang maipakita ang kumpanya, hanggang sinabihan siya na sumama sa bodega nila para siya mismo ang maghanap doon.

Hindi alam ni Tess ang gagawin dahil nawalan na siyang maghanap pang muli, kahit may deposito na siyang $50 at isang sakong damit pa ang hindi na niya makita.
Kalaunan ay tinawagan si Tess ng kumpanya at pinagawa ng sulat para ireklamo ang nawala niyang gamit. Ilang araw pa ang nagdaan bago ibinalik ang kanyang deposito na $50 at binayaran ng $500 ang nawala niyang mga gamit. – George Manalansan

3-month hospital treatment for mom who left baby on sidewalk

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina who was found guilty of abandoning her year-old baby boy on a street in Wanchai on Oct 19 last year was sentenced by a magistrate in Eastern Court to three months in a hospital for psychiatric treatment.

Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi meted out the non-custodial sentence on Sept 13 after the defense lawyer presented two psychiatric reports that recommended hospital treatment for the mother, Angelita Labador, for mental problems that led her to commit the offense.

“Defendant, I hear that hospital treatment is recommended for you. You are ordered to serve three months in hospital where you will receive treatment,” Cheng told Labador, who was said to be on recognizance.

“I believe that after treatment, you will feel a lot better. Depending on the results of the treatment, you should be able to resume your normal life,” the magistrate said, after telling the woman she would not be sent to prison.

The defense lawyer told Labador after the hearing that if she decides to go back to the Philippines after her treatment, she can apply for Immigration clearance and ask the Social Welfare Department to arrange her return home with her child.

The child was placed in the custody of the SWD after the incident, the court was told.
Labador, 38, was found guilty after trial on Aug 30 of a charge of “ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person”. Her trial was delayed as the court allowed time for a psychiatric evaluation of the defendant.

The lawyer, briefing Labador at the dock before the hearing, said the doctors who examined her had recommended psychiatric treatment in hospital after finding that her brain had been affected by her regular use of methamphetamine.     

Labador was arrested on Oct 19 after an Indian female neighbor saw her leave her year-old baby boy on the pavement next to a rubbish bin near Tung Wah Centenary Square Garden at 284 Queen’s Road East.

Police found the baby conscious at 6:49 pm and sent him to Ruttonjee Hospital for a check-up. They later arrested Labador, who was crying and hiding nearby. In an interview by police, she claimed she was mentally unfit to give a statement.

After Labador posted bail, she stayed in a shelter run by the International Social Service Hong Kong, which also assisted her.

Deal with accredited EAs, report overcharging, labatt urges

By Vir B. Lumicao

Filipino jobseekers should always find out whether the Hong Kong partner of their Philippine recruiter is accredited with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, or POLO.

And if they are overcharged by their agencies, they should file a complaint immediately.

Labour Attaché Nida Romulo

These were the key messages that Labour Attaché Nida Romulo sent out to those intending to work in Hong Kong, during an interview on Sept. 4

“Kapag nalaman namin ang tungkol sa overcharging, we will act appropriately on the complaint,” the labor attaché said.

Romulo spoke after another victim of overcharging went to the POLO on Sept 2 to complain against a Hong Kong agency that allegedly charged her $5,000 for finding her an employer here.

The agency, named in the complaint as Promise Employment Centre, was not accredited by POLO, nor was it licensed  by Hong Kong’s Employment Agencies Administration. To get the contract processed, it reportedly secured the services of a licensed operator, Top Wealth Employment Agency, which effectively acted as its sub-agent.

Promise allegedly charged the worker $5,000, which she paid in two installments. On top of this, her employer was charged $11,500 to secure her services.

When the worker learned that she was supposed to have been charged only $441 as agency commission, she complained to the agency.

In retaliation, Promise allegedly tried to discredit her with her employers, telling them that she was no longer happy working for them. That prompted her to go to POLO.

The labor office found out that Promise was not an accredited agency so it chased the sub-agent, Top Wealth, and ordered it to return the overcharged amount.

A Top Wealth representative, Jonathan Magbanua, returned $2,500 to the complainant to settle the dispute.

Incidentally, Top Wealth is still suspended by POLO for acting as sub-agent of another unaccredited operator, Vast Sky Employment Agency, which allegedly charged another worker $12,500 as placement fee.

Romulo said workers should deal only with licensed and accredited agencies in the Philippines and Hong Kong in order to be better protected against agency abuse.

“The workers should be discerning of the agencies that process their applications. They should go to accredited agencies and not to the sub-agents,” the labor attaché said.

She also urged all workers to spare time to read the booklets handed out by the Labour Department regarding employment agencies in Hong Kong.

“Tumutulong kami sa kanila sa abot ng aming makakaya,” Labatt Nida said as she urged victims of unscrupulous agencies or abusive employers to come forward and file complaints.

“Pero kung hindi sila magsasabi, hindi namin malalaman ang problema nila,” she said.