Migrant worker becomes first Filipino to win ‘Spirit of Hong Kong’ award

By Daisy CL Mandap

Villar cradling her 'Lion Rock' trophy

She’s made it.

Rodelia Pedro Villar, “nanay” to tens of thousands of Filipino domestic workers who are members of the group, Domestic Workers Corner, won the “Lion Rock: People’s Choice Award” in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards.

Six individuals and one group made up the list of winners in the contest organized by  Hong Kong’s leading English-language daily, South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group, to honor community achievers.

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The names of the winners were announced Thursday, although they had been pre-selected previously from among hundreds of nominees.

Villar, who used to contribute articles to The SUN, is the first Filipino to win the award.

“Isang malaking karangalan po ito sa akin bilang first Filipino to be nominated, at (maging) winner. Hindi ko po ito mararating kung wala ang suporta ng bawat miyembro ng DWC,” she said.

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 (It is a great honor to be the first Filipino to be nominated, and to win the award. I wouldn’t have done it without the support of every member of DWC)

Villar also thanked the Philippine Consulate for affirming her group’s work, and various non-government organizations that guided and supported their advocacy. In particular, she thanked PathFinders, an NGO that helps migrant women and their children, for nominating her for the award.

The other winners were:

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Spirit of Teamwork Award: HandsOn Hong Kong

Spirit of Community Award: Lau Kim-hung, a stroke survivor who helps others recover and get back on their feet.

Spirit of Perseverance Award: Yip Cham-kai, a polio victim who has done far-reaching community work

Spirit of Innovation Award: Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan, who uses robots he built to treat cancer;

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Spirit of Culture Award: Ken Ho Chung-man, who writes musicals and teaches adults living with intellectual disabilities to perform;

Spirit of Youth Award: Saad Hemyar Hussein Abdo Ayedh, who has worked for the empowerment of ethnic minority members.

Villar, as Lion Rock People’s Choice awardee, won through online voting by SCMP’s readers.

Villar and fellow DWC admin Baby Jean de Leon during a recent fund-raising drive for flood victims in Phl

In a tribute to the winners, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she had seen benevolence and generosity in all their work.

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“They reveal the true spirit of Hong Kong and I am confident that [acts like these] will take Hong Kong through the current difficult times and enable us to overcome any challenge in the future,” she said.

Anna Wu Hung-yuk, chairwoman of the judging panel, said the awardees dared go beyond their limitations.

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“They selflessly lead by example and demonstrate the true spirit of Hong Kong,” she said at the virtual event.

Villar, 42, and married, started DWC on Facebook in 2017 in her desire to connect instantly with her fellow Filipino domestic workers, especially newcomers who needed help adjusting to life in Hong Kong.

Over time, what started as an initiative to help new migrant workers cope with cooking Chinese food morphed into several sub-groups, including “DWC Help” which tackles hard issues faced by workers; “DWC Learning and Social Group” which provides tutorials on various subjects; and Villar’s personal “DWC Lovely Corner”.

But their work has gone beyond holding hands with timid migrants. Led by Villar, they have done volunteer work for the Consulate and its attached agency, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

Their most recent community involvement was raising cash and goods donations to the victims of two powerful typhoons in the Philippines. DWC raised more than $70,000 cash for the victims, and sent them about 30 boxes filled with clothes and grocery items. 

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CG pushes for migrant workers to benefit from $5k aid to Covid-19 patients

By Daisy CL Mandap 

CE Lam briefs diplomats and business reps on her policy speech

Consul General Raly Tejada has asked the Hong Kong government to include migrant domestic workers among those who would be given $5,000 financial assistance in case they contract Covid-19.

ConGen Tejada made his appeal during Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s briefing on her policy speech before diplomats and business representatives today, Nov 26.

ConGen said he pushed for the Covid relief aid to be extended to all non-permanent residents, particularly migrant workers.

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“I had to ask on behalf of our community (and the rest of the ethnic minorities),” he said.

In reply, CE Lam reportedly said that everyone in need would be helped.

The financial grant, announced earlier this week by Health Secretary Sophia Chan, was meant to encourage people to submit themselves to testing and not be held back by fears that they’d lose income if they were found infected.

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Chan said the grant will be given to those in need, but also said no means test will be used to screen applicants. No cut-off date was announced, either.

The news came as Hong Kong confirmed 81 new coronavirus cases Thursday, with 59 of the patients belonging to the dance cluster.

The total number linked to this group, from which the first infections were found only last Friday, now stands at 311.

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It is the third day in a row than more than 80 new coronavirus cases were reported. The highest daily tally for the current wave was the 83 posted yesterday.

The new cases brought the city’s total tally of confirmed infections to 5,947, with 108 deaths. More than 60 preliminary positive cases were also reported on Thursday.

Among the new cases were six imported ones, including two male air crew members who arrived from the United States, and returnees from Qatar and Turkey. The information on the sixth is still pending.

Thirteen of the local cases are of unknown sources.

There are now 311 patients linked to the dance cluster 

Included in the dance cluster are a 77-year-old doctor who works part-time in Fu Shan Estate near Diamond Hill and a health care worker in To Kwa Wan.

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Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said that seven more venues had been linked to the cluster. These are Lucky Dragon restaurant in Shek Kip Mei, Lucky Dragon Restaurant in Choi Hung, Bandstage Live Music in Wong Tai Sin, A&B Dance Studio in Causeway Bay, Rendez Vous Arts in Prince Edward, and Philip Wain beauty and fitness centers in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.

She noted in particular the large group of people who gathered at Bandstage on the night of Nov 20.

Chuang said those who have visited these places would also have to undergo mandatory  Covid-19 testing in the next few days.

 

Meanwhile, Hospital Authority chief manager Dr Linda Yu said steps have been taken to stop a vendor from sending wrong results for people who tested for Covid-19.

Six people who tested positive were wrongly told they were virus-free, but Yu said the mistake was immediately detected and the patients were sent to the hospital for treatment.

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But she said the HA is very concerned about the mistake, and advised the vendor to fix its system to prevent a similar incident from occurring.

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Stay in HK for medical treatment instead of going home, say ex-patients

By Vir B. Lumicao 

All the speakers said HK people should take advantage of the city's excellent public health care system

Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong should not be afraid to go for health checkups at the city’s public hospitals which are virtually free so that any health problems they have can be treated before these become life-threatening.

Resource persons in the weekly online show, The SUN Interviews Live, hosted by editor Daisy Mandap, unequivocally said OFWs should take advantage of the top quality public health system that Hong Kong offers.

The guests were former labor attaché Bernie Julve, who had a live liver transplant at Queen Mary Hospital in December 2003 during his term in Hong Kong; Edwina Antonio, executive director of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, and domestic helper Lyn, a survivor of cancer of the uterus.

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Mandap said the topic was timely, as Hong Kong is in the grip of its fourth wave of coronavirus contagion, and being health conscious is the best way to ward off infections.

She said the best way to ensure good health is to seek medical help immediately if one  experiences something unusual. For Filipino migrant workers, they should not worry about finding out that they are sick, or telling their employers about their need to see a doctor, because they also need to remain healthy to be able to do their jobs well.

It is also good to know that Hong Kong is probably one of the best places to get sick in, as one could get excellent treatment here at hardly any cost.

Julve, ex-liver transplant patient,  now counts mountain climbing among his hobbies

Julve, who has retired from public service and is in Hong Kong to see family and friends, said in his time OFWs strongly believed local medical services were bad and that they’d only be used as guinea pigs (“pagpraktisan lang) by doctors.

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The workers also worried they wouldn’t be able to bear the high cost of treatment in Hong Kong hospitals because of their status, but he proved them wrong.

Julve related his experience as a recipient of live liver transplant in Hong Kong.

One day, he collapsed in his office at Polo and was rushed to the clinic of the Consulate’s doctor in Causeway Bay. He continued to feel unwell after being revived and was given medicines. But when his pain persisted, he was examined thoroughly and was told: “Mr Julve, it’s not your heart; it’s your liver, it is dying.”

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That evening he was moved to St Paul’s Hospital where he stayed for about two weeks. But, after it was learned that he needed surgery, he was moved to Queen Mary Hospital, where his doctor said he should have a live liver transplant in 72 hours or he won’t survive.

He said that at time, his surgery would have cost Php4 million in Manila, but because he had HK ID, he was not charged anything for it. He said he paid just $10 each for three month’s supply of five types of medicines. He was taken again to the hospital three weeks later after his wound bled due to infection, and again, hardly paid anything.

Julve commended Hong Kong’s hospital system, which he said continued to monitor his condition even after he had moved to his new posting in Vancouver BC. Such long distance after-care was coordinated with Vancouver Hospital, Julve said.

Antonio has taken care of dozens of ailing migrant women at Bethune House

Antonio, who takes care of three cancer patients at Bethune House, said her wards were getting good care from Hong Kong's public hospital for almost nothing, when such treatment would have cost a fortune in the Philippines.

She said there are OFWs who believe they won’t get the care they need here in Hong Kong or they’d wait too long, so they just decide to go home. Sometimes they also fear that local doctors are not good and would experiment on the helpers.   

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“Meron ganoong mga kababayan na instead na dito magpapagamot, sa Pilipinas ang reason nila dahil nandoon ang pamilya nila at saka, iyon nga, baka kung ano ang mangyari sa kanila,” she said.

(We have fellow Filipinos who choose to go home to the Philippines instead of getting treated here because their family is there, and they worry that something bad might happen to them here).

 Antonio said it is important that the patients get support from their employers.

 “Hindi nila naiisip na kapag may Hong Kong ID ka kasi, may access ka sa public health. Kapag naterminate ka kasi, wala kang access sa public health. Kung ang employer naman supportive sa pagpapaopera mo, dito na ang piliin mo,” Antonio said.

 

She said a cancer patient pays nothing if she undergoes surgery here. For those who need to undergo chemotherapy, each session costs only about $98, compared with Manila where it is around Php40,000 on the low range.

In the Philippines, it is the costs that kill a patient, she said.

That is why Bethune House, the refuge of distressed workers, would ask the employers not to terminate the workers so they could avail of free treatment and medicines, she said.

Lyn during chemo: She's all praises for the treatment and care that she got from medical staff in HK

The third guest, cancer survivor Lyn, said she chose to be treated in Hong Kong for her cancer of the uterus because she did not want to trouble her family with the cost.

“Siyempre, pinili ko rito kasi naging praktikal ako. Kasi pag doon ako, pati pamilya ko mahihirapan, e mahirap din naman ang buhay doon. At least, pag dito libre lahat ang gamutan,” Lyn said.

(Of course, I chose to be more practical and get treated here. If I had it in the Philippines, my family would also be burdened because life is difficult out there. At least here, you don’t pay anything to get treated).

She said she received 6 cycles of chemotherapy, 33 days of radiotherapy and three session of a third kind of therapy, all free of charge. Her MRI, ultrasound and CTscan were free. The only thing she paid for was registration.

Antonio said the most common health problems of patients she is taking care of are cancer and stroke. They stay in the shelter under an arrangement with the employers who want to keep them but want the helper to recuperate in the shelter.

Lyn herself was lucky because her employer has retained her services, despite the frequent consultations and treatments. When she had to stay in the hospital for two months for treatments, her employer paid her salary in full.

She is also all praises for the medical team at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital who looked after her and even cheered her up when she’d cry in frustration because nobody was by her bedside to comfort her.

Her advice to her fellow domestic workers is not to brush aside symptoms, as she did, when she had menstrual spotting for six months. That was the reason, she believes, why her cancer was found at a rather advanced stage.

She also said they should not be afraid of informing their employers because ultimately, their being able to remain in Hong Kong and get quality health care without spending a fortune, depends a lot on their employer’s support.

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Artemis ladies squeak past all-Pinay softball team Fate, 12-11

By Emz Frial

Fate's just too happy to be back on the pitch despite the initial setback

 

Filipino softball team Fate set the pace as they returned to the Shek Kip Mei pitch on Sunday afternoon, Nov 22, against local squadron Artemis, but luck eluded them as they lost 11-12 in their first game after a long lay-off.

The 3pm match followed a 10-month closure of the pitch as one of several safety measures the Hong Kong government had imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

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Fate’s all-Filipina domestic helper team were full of enthusiasm when the Hong Kong Softball Association reopened the field for the 2019-2020 season.

Siera May Tebia, batting for away team Fate, started the game with a fly ball that was caught by local pitcher Mok Yin Yau. Second batter Maribel Sitchon then hit a short infield ball that allowed her to run to the first base.

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Daisy Maano also struck an infielder for a dash to first base as base runner Sitchon ran to the second. Then an error by Artemis’ catcher drove the two base runners to the next base.

Fourth batter Chelo Garbo also sent the ball flying, but she was caught on a pass ball by the Artemis pitcher to the first baseman. Sitchon sprinted to the third base when Josel Ondrade whacked the ball and ran to the first base.

 

At Percy Jayme’s turn, she smashed an outfield ball that took her safely through the first and second bases while base runners Sitchon and Ondrade ran safely to the home base.

Jayme was the third Fater to run home on hits by Jonalyn Cupag and Belinda Ganitano.

Bambee Abadilla hit a long ball for a dash to the second base that sent Cupag running to the home base. Ganitano was stuck on the third as the inning ended with Fate ahead 5-0. 

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The locals took their chances when new Fate player Garbo took the pitching stand in their first inning. They scored four home runs courtesy of Pang Po-mau, Lai Wing-suan, Siu Wing-chi and Mok Yin-yau to end the inning 5-4 for Fate.

In the second inning, Fate gave their opponents no room to score. 

Before Artemis started their inning, Fate captain Don Gaborno called for substitution and reshuffled her players. She took over pitching and caught two locals standing out with her fast ball.

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Still, Artemis managed to add three home runs through Pang, Siu and Mok that put them ahead of the Filipinas, 7-5, at the close of the second inning. 

In the third inning, Fate added five home runs through Garbo, Ondrade, Jayme, Gaborno and Tebia, while they limited Artemis to two courtesy of Ho Ping-ting and Cho Suet. Fate was back in front, 10-9, at the end of the inning. 

Fate took their last chance to nail the match in the fourth, but Jayme scored a run. The locals then scuttled the Filipinas’ tight defense to add three runs via Leung Wing-yau, Yeung Tan and Ho Pai-ting that ended the match 12-11 for Artemis. 

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