Editor's Note |
20 years of service to the community
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Time flies.
Exactly 20 years ago this month, The SUN shone for the Filipinos in Hong Kong. It was
the fulfillment of a dream that took shape years earlier, or shortly after I arrived here in 1987 and
realized there was no reliable information channel serving the community.
But turning that dream into reality proved to be difficult. Several people offered to fund
the publication of a news-paper, but everyone wanted a business model different from what we had
in mind.
Details...
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Anak Araw |
Pagpapabaya
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Nitong nakaraang buwan ay naging saksi tayo sa nangyari kay Manang Gloria Ortinez,
ang OFW na biktima ng tanim-bala sa Manila airport. Halos buong araw kasi ay naglagi siya sa
opisina ng The SUN, kasama ang mga naghatid sa kanya na sina Susan "Toots" Ople na tagataguyod ng
mga OFW, at ang abogado niyang si Atty Spocky Farolan, kaya nasaksihan namin siya nang malapitan.
Details...
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Migrant's Forum |
Nanay Gloria's journey to HK
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President Benigno Simeon Aquino III recently told the media that cases of tanim-bala
were sensationalized, citing figures to prove his point. As an OFW advocate, I respectfully
disagree. Looking at this from a purely numbers perspective could lead one to overlook the deep trauma
that such incidents have caused its innocent victims.
Had he met and spoken to 56-year old OFW Gloria Ortinez, our President would have
learned the following:
Details...
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Know Your Rights |
The Mission
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This was the speech delivered by the Mission for Migrant Workers' general manager,
Cynthia Tellez, at the launch of the 10-year Impact Evaluation Report of the Mission's work held on
December 5, 2015 at the Li Hall of St. John's Cathedral.
Details...
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With at least one -- and possibly two disqualification cases in the presidential race --
the Supreme Court has assured the nation politics will not dictate its decisions.
See this month's stories...
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Staff and volunteers at the Mission for Migrant Workers had reason to celebrate when
they launched the non-government organization's 10-year Impact Evaluation Report at Li Hall of St
John's Cathedral on Dec. 4. Nearly all, or 97% of migrants who sought assistance said that they were
helped by the Mission, and more than half of them (57%) said they would recommend the NGO to others.
See this month's stories...
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December 2015
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Hong Kong News
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Consulate officials are asking for a full report from the Hong Kong police on their
investigation into the death of a 26-year-old Filipino domestic worker who fell from her employer's house in
Yuen Long on Nov. 12.
The remains of 29-year-old Janice P. were flown to Manila on Nov 24 and later
transported overland to her hometown in Nueva Vizcaya.
Initial newspaper reports said Janice had committed suicide after allegedly admitting she
stole and pawned her employer's jewelry worth $600,000. But her relatives and friends have
adamantly rejected the suggestions of both theft and suicide.
"I've known Janice for a long time and like her family I strongly believe that Janice is
not capable of stealing, neither committing suicide. She's a kind, loving, trustworthy and
outgoing person. She deserves to have a fair (sic) justice." said one Facebook post.
Police released scanty details of the incident and classified it as "death by falling from
height", as investigations were ongoing.
Contacted by The SUN a week after the incident, the duty officer at Police Public
Relations Bureau also declined to confirm reports from Janice's relatives that a pawnshop receipt was
recovered from the victim's belongings.
"We cannot confirm that because the victim's belongings are private," the officer said.
A cousin of the victim contacted by The SUN had indicated that Janice's employer, former
TVB star and now modeling agency owner Celia Sie, had in her possession an invoice for the jewelry
that the Filipina had allegedly pawned.
Consulate officials are helping relatives of the victim prepare for the repatriation of her
remains which will take place as soon as they receive the coroner's report and a permit to transport
the remains.
Consulate records show Janice who was single, hailed from Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya. She came
to Hong Kong in May 2009 to work for Sie. They were the only occupants of Sie's flat at the
upmarket The Riva residential estate in Yuen Long where Janice was found dead.
The Consulate told the SUN that Sie would pay for all the funeral services for Janice in
Hong Kong as well as the $26,000 cost of transporting her body to Manila.
"The employer is willing to pay for all the costs incurred from the time the victim was taken
to the funeral parlor to the time she would be flown back to Manila," said assistance to
nationals' officer Hermogenes Cayabyab, who was attending to the case.
Vice Consul Fatima Quintin, who heads the ATN section, said police were still looking
thoroughly into the case, as no suicide note was found on the victim.
Hong Kong media reports citing information from the police said the victim jumped out of
the kitchen window on the 21st floor the flat.
The PPRB officer said at 9:55 am on Nov.12, the police received a report that a woman's
body was found on the ground floor of the block where both Sie and Janice lived.
News reports said Janice and Sie were preparing to go to the pawnshop where the maid
had allegedly hocked the missing jewelry. Minutes before that, the helper was apparently distraught
after being confronted by Sie, the media cited police as saying.
On Nov 15, the victim's sister Jennelyn, also a domestic worker in Hong Kong, attended
a Sunday holy mass at the Consulate's public area that was specially offered for the intention of
the deceased, Cayabyab said.
Relatives and friends of the victim used Facebook to express their grief and sympathy
for Janice, and to bash Sie.
"Napakasakit naman ng nangyari... Kilala natin si Anet, hindi niya magagawa yung
ibinibintang ng amo niya sa kanya," Luzviminda Laurian commented on an FB post by the victim's cousin
Gilbert.
Claudia Jakulala Amor was combative: "Kaming mga Filipino ay mahirap lamang pero
hindi kami magnanakaw... mas maganda pa na magtrabaho kami sa abot ng aming makakaya
upang mabigyan lang namin ng konting ginhawa ang aming mga pamilya wag lang kami magnakaw."
Amor urged justice for Janice, adding "huwag natin hayaan na lagi na lang ganito ang
ginagawa sa atin ng ibang lahi, kailangan natin lumaban upang sa ganun ay may takot din sila sa atin..."
Another condoler, Tamayo Pilipina, suggested the victim's relatives seek help from the media
or Vice President Jejomar Binay, and approach Filipino community leaders.
Asked for a comment on the rash of tragic incidents involving Filipinas lately, Quintin said
if OFWs were faced with difficult situations, "there are many support systems (in Hong Kong).
Dito lamang po sa Consulate meron itong ATN, lalo na ang ating social welfare attache who can
advise you."
She also said counseling was available even for those facing moeny problems.
"Marami kaming nase-settle na issues, lalo na on debt. So it should not be your option to
take your own lives....kung nasa ganoong sitwasyon kayo, hindi dapat siguro isipin na iyon ang
paraan para makalimutan ninyo ang problema ninyo," Quintin said.
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