You are not alone, Congen tells OFWs in distress

Congen Israel receives a plaque from Social Justice officers led by Marites Palma (in plain black)

 If you are going through difficulties, do not feel you are alone because we have a government that cares for you.

This was what Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. said in his message at the 6^th anniversary celebration of Social Justice for Migrant Workers, held at the OFW Global Centre in Admiralty yesterday, July 13.

Congen Israel spoke after hearing the contestants in a story telling competition speak of the many struggles they had to face to ensure they got to hold on to their jobs so they could continue providing for their family back home, in particular ensuring that their children finished school.

He said the Philippine government strives to ensure the wellbeing of some 10 million Filipinos abroad, about a tenth of the country’s total population. He said the task has not been easy, but the government has “come a long way” since Filipinos started emigrating in the ‘70s.

Israel said that the stories shared by the contestants showed the immense pain they had to bear in leaving the country and their families behind so they could give them a better life. “You did not let that pain undermine your determination to achieve your goal,” he said. “

“Nangingibabaw ang pagmamahal ninyo sa inyong pamilya.” (Your love for your family is overwhelming).

Winners in the Storytelling contests pose with their awards and Social Justice officers, 
along with Attache Rem Marcelino

Though the stories shared by the OFW-contestants were replete with heartaches, mostly brought about by harsh work conditions to serious health problems and being scammed of their hard-earned money, they all ended on an upbeat mode, with their children obtaining college degrees, many with honors.

Another speaker, The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap, paid tribute to Social Justice for actively helping their fellow migrant workers in need, particularly when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, barely a year after the group was founded by longtime OFW Marites Palma.

“Born just before Covid, but you were fast to respond to the crisis,” said Mandap. She recalled how the group provided “ayuda” or food and other provisions for migrant workers in quarantine, and helped look for shelter for those who were thrown out of their employers’ house after they tested positive for the virus.

Mandap also recalled how the various “admins” or officers of Social Justice took on a number of tasks in a bid to help the community ride out the crisis, from rescuing MDWs sacked unceremoniously by their employers amid the pandemic, to ensuring those seriously ill and wanted to go home were looked after until they reached their destination.

She, however, reminded the group that their being “mabuting tao” (good people) should extend first to their family members. They should keep their eye on saving up and focusing on their goals so they could reunite with their families the soonest time possible.

Chosen by the three-member panel of judges as Best in Storytelling was Venus Marasigan, who also received the Most Imaginative Story Award. Apart from Mandap, the other judges were Shiela Cancino and Laila V. Tungcab from Pinoy Impact HK.

The other contestants were also among those who received awards in pre-selected categories: Merlyn Tayona, “Most Hearfelt,”  Mary Ann Inovejas, “Best Story of Resilience,” Mhel Larios, “Best Message of Hope,”; Yrine Monforte, “Best Being Migrant Worker,”; Jocelyn A. Manzano, “Most Inspiring Work-Life Balance”;  Naty Manalo, “The Journey to the Future.” and Jocelyn A. Manzano, “People’s Choice Award.”

Among the other guests at the event were OWWA Welfare Officer Marilou Sumalinog, Social Welfare Attache Rem Marcelino, Dr Zoe Cheng, Serena Clarke from the Cervical Screening Team, and Dr. Brenda Alegre and Edgardo Ranosa, Social Justice advisers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Labour import scheme to continue, says govt

 

Worker shortage is acute in the catering sector (File)

Labor Secretary Chris Sun has ruled out suspending the importation of workers, in the wake of a rise in unemployment figures, and complaints from locals that they are being deprived of jobs.

Sun said on a TVB programme that there is an acute labour shortage in many sectors, and there is hardly any basis for the claim that imported workers are displacing locals under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS).

Out of more than a hundred complaints about employers sacking locals after hiring imported labour, only two appear to have bases, he said.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

“We are looking into whether any employers laid off local workers after hiring imported labourers and have identified two cases where preliminary evidence suggests this might have occurred,” Sun said, adding the companies have been given time to appeal to comply with due process.

But, in the meantime, they have been put on Labour’s watch list, which means their ongoing import applications have been suspended.

If the allegations are proven to be true, he said immediate sanctions will be imposed on the errant employers. This means all their import applications will be withdrawn, and they will be prevented from applying to import workers for two years.

The ESLS is up for review in September this year.

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Government figures show that as of March this year a total of 54,278 workers were permitted to enter Hong Kong for 26 new job types, including waiters, junior chefs, and other catering staff.

A big number of them had come from the Philippines, according to officers of the Migrant Workers Office. Apart from waiters, the new hires also included dishwashers, cargo company staff and even hairdressers.

But the biggest number of imported Filipino workers, all 600 of them, were reportedly hired as aircraft mechanics for Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Limited (HAESL), a company engaged in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of Rolls-Royce and Trent engines which are used extensively in many aircraft nowadays.

Unionist lawmaker Bill Tang has called for imported labour for the catering sector to be suspended, saying the influx of workers from overseas is causing concern among locals.

The Society for Community Organization (SoCO) has echoed the call, saying many residents in the low-income groups are complaining about finding it hard to get a job because a lot of the vacancies were being taken up by foreigners.

SoCO is urging the government to re-evaluate the ESLS and give support to marginalized communities, especially in light of Hong Kong’s unemployment rate hitting a new high of 3.5 percent in the past two-and-a-half years.

But Sun said the complaint could have stemmed from a mismatch in the job market, where some employers consistently struggled to find staff while some jobseekers are unable to find a suitable position.

He said there should be a broader picture when reviewing the scheme.

He also said the ESLS already ensures that locals got job priority, as employers can only import workers if they are unable to hire a local after a four-week recruitment exercise.

Fund drive set up for Filipina student burnt in US 'flame jetting'

 

Young and lovely Yvette before the fire

Friends of a Hong Kong-based Filipina law student and singer who got severely burned in a  “flame jetting” accident in a United States university while she was attending a party hosted by her fraternity, are appealing for help with her medical bills.

Yvette Digan, 22, who is being treated at the Massachussets General Hospital (MGH) for extensive burns to her body, limbs and part of her face, is also calling for a ban on the highly flammable product, Everclear, that caused the fiery accident at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where her fraternity, Zeta Psi, is based.

"Flame jetting" is said to occur when flammable liquids are poured into or near an open flame or other ignition source, causing the vapor above the liquid to ignite and be propelled outwards in a high-speed jet of flame, which could result to serious burns, injuries or even death to people around.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DIT

Yvette, a comely student taking up law at City University of Hong Kong, had just arrived in the United States for a prestigious exchange program at Boston University when the tragedy, which was caught on video, happened last May 21. Someone had poured Everclear at the gathering, and immediately, a massive fireball engulfed many students around, including Yvette.

The young Filipina was rushed to MGH with a number of second and third-degree burns to more than half of her body. And yet, after the excruciating pain and initial despair at being far from home when it happened, Yvette has chosen to take the path of positivity and gratitude.

A GoFund Me appeal set up by her family said, “Yvette’s spirit is unbroken, but her road to recovery is long. She faces multiple surgeries, skin grafts, physical therapy and counseling to cope with the emotional toll. These treatments come with staggering medical bills, and her studies and music career are on hold.”

Yvette shortly after the accident: It will take a long time for her to heal

Yet, they said Yvette is determined to rise from the tragedy, a statement the young woman herself affirms in a post she made on LinkedIn.

“I’m writing to share my story, express my gratitude, and raise awareness about the dangers of Everclear and flame jetting. But more than that, I want to share a message of hope and healing, because even in the darkest moments, I’ve seen the light,” she said.

She thanked the medical staff at MGH, the Boston U community, her US lawyer, Adam Clermont, as well as her family and friends, whose love and support, she said, “have been my anchor through this ordeal.”

Basahin ang detalye!

But she expressed disappointment at the initial reaction of WPI to the tragedy, especially after learning of another flame jetting incident involving Everclear in Massachussets last year, which left another young student in hospital with severe burns.

If this was acted upon, her own accident could have been prevented, she said.

She expressed hope that WPI would join her quest to get Everclear removed from shelves not only in Massachussets but across the United States.

Clermont, her lawyer, echoed this sentiment in a LinkedIn post. He described Everclear as “a 190-proof grain alcohol, 95% ethanol, 5% water, so potent that a single spark can trigger an explosion.”

Yet, he said it is being marketed as safe for use around fire, with social media posts and its dedicated website (www.diywitheverclear.com) showing it being used for cooking near gas stoves, in fondue pots with open candles, and even as a candle fuel ignited by lighters. 

Still shot from a promotional video for Everclear posted on a dedicated website

These promotions “falsely suggested Everclear was safe for such high-risk applications, downplaying its volatility and leading to tragedies like Yvette’s,” said Clermont.

He also claimed Luxco, the company that manufactures Everclear, removed “critical, prominent warnings” from labels on the bottles of the flammable liquid in a rebranding campaign in 2018, to shed the product’s alleged notoriety in favor of a shinier image.

These warning labels reportedly read: “Caution: do not apply to open flame. Keep away from fire, heat and open flame- contents may ignite or explode” and “Caution! Extremely flammable. Handle with care.”

This choice, he said “scarred lives forever,” like Yvette’s.

But as he and Yvette await the outcome of their efforts to hold Everclear’s makers accountable, the Digan family is beginning to feel the pinch from her medical treatments. A close family friend said their hospital bill is now more than US$300,000 and is still rising. It is money that the middle-class family living in Hong Kong is hardly able to afford.

And while they despair over the hospital bill, a bigger worry is the road ahead for Yvette. When will she bounce back enough to continue her studies, and sing again? 

Luckily, Yvette herself is upbeat.

“I’m still healing, emotionally and physically, but I’m starting to believe in possibility again…” she wrote in her LinkedIn post.

“With the support of MGH, BU, Adam and so many others, I’m finding hope and strength. I hope my story can inspire you to help make our communities safer, so no one else has to face what I have. Together, we can turn pain into purpose and build a brighter, safer future.”

(To help Yvette recover from the tragedy, please click on this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-yvette-rise-again-after-a-preventable-tragedy )

 

Pinay serving jail term admits to new offenses

 

A Filipina is back in jail to await her sentence at Shatin Court for two cases of conspiracy to defraud – signing up as a fake employer for another Filipina who was applying for a domestic helper visa, and entering into a fake marriage to obtain her own resident’s visa.

Jessebel Questo, who is also known as Jessebel Questo Clarke, pleaded guilty to both charges last Monday (July 7), but Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong adjourned the case to Aug. 4 for sentencing. s

Questo, a 47-year-old Hong Kong resident who works as a cleaner, is currently serving a 10-month jail term for money laundering after admitting her role in dealing with $1.2 million proceeds of crime.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

In the first conspiracy to defraud case, Questo is accused in a police complaint of signing an employment contract with Maria Chona Cagol, with the help of agent Homer Herrera between 2021 and May 28, 2022, “dishonestly and falsely representing” that Cagol will work for her.

Such lies induced “the Immigration Director and his officers to act contrary to their public duty” and thus granted Cagol “permission to remain in Hong Kong, in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted."

In the second charge, Questo is accused of conspiring with Shafqat Zaman and her agent Herrera by contracting a fake marriage with Zaman by “dishonestly and falsely representing to the Director and his officers that the entries and remaining of Zaman, Shafat in Hong Kong were for the purpose of visiting and reuniting with you.”

Basahin ang detalye

Both offenses are contrary to Common Law and punishable under Section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap.200), Jaws of Hong Kong.

Last April 2 at Eastern Court, Questo was jailed for dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable crime, in violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

She pleaded guilty to allowing the use of her Hang Seng Bank account in money laundering, having received deposits of $1,200,321.71 from Nov. 9 to Dec. 2, 2022.

Questo’s conviction also activated a one-month suspended sentence that was meted to her in a 2022 case in the Kowloon City Court.

But Principal Magistrate Don So ordered that the old penalty run at the same time as the new jail term.

LCSD to allow free use of public sports venues on Aug 3

 

Swimming pools will be open for walk-ins though queueing will be enforced per session

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is set to again open for free public use sports facilities across the city on August 3, a Sunday.

That is this year’s designated Sport for All Day (SFAD) 2025, when the public is given free access to indoor and outdoor venues, including swimming pools, badminton and tennis courts, fitness rooms and waters sports center, in order to encourage an active lifestyle for all.

To ensure equal access, the free sessions at the various venues will be allocated through a ballot system for bookings that will be made from, July 17 to 23 via the SmartPLAY platform. Each applicant can choose up to three time slots.

The results will be announced on Saturday, July 26.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

From July 28, any remaining slots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through bookings on the SmartPLAY platform for those who missed the ballot.

Each person can secure only one free session, regardless of the booking method.

The LCSD reminds registered users to arrive on time, as latecomers might lose their slots. Penalties will apply for no-shows under the department’s facility usage policy.

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The only venues where prior booking is not needed are the swimming pools, where admission will be on a walk-in basis, with queues being enforced before each session

There will also be free sports programs across Hong Kong’s 18 districts from 2pm to 6pm on August 3, including fitness classes and recreational games, to be held at designated venues across the city.

Free coupons for those who want to take part will be distributed later this month, and details of each activity will be announced beforehand.

Several community groups will also open their facilities or host free sports programs on the same day.

All final details will be posted on the official SFAD website.

 

MTR rides at half price this Sunday

 

The half-fare deal is part of MTR's rebate pledge for costly service disruptions

Foreign domestic workers out on their only day off in the week are likely the ones to benefit the most from the half-price fares on the MTR this Sunday, offered as a “Thank You Day” to commuters.

The rail operator is obliged to declare a special fare day as part of its service performance rebate arrangement when its fines accumulate to $25 million.

The recent disruption on the Tseung Kwan O line, caused by power and signaling system failures, and which lasted for more than three hours, resulted in a HK$19.2 million penalty for the MTR.

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The half-price deal applies to all MTR heavy rail lines, light rail services and MTR buses in the Northwest and New Territories routes, when using Octopus cars or QR code tickets.

The discount includes cross-border trips to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations on the East Rail Line.

Additionally, the discount can be combined with other promotions, including interchange discounts, "MTR Fare Saver" concessions, and the 25 percent off for connecting journeys by Monthly Pass holders.

MTR said it will deploy extra staff at various stations to assist passengers and monitor passenger traffic, so that train frequencies and manpower may be adjusted as needed.

 

 

 

Court absence worsens Filipino’s illegal gambling case

 

The gambling establishment is in one of these North Point buildings (Google Maps photo)

A Filipino is in deeper trouble than he originally got into for having been arrested for illegal gambling, when he failed to show up for his hearing at the Eastern Court.

RJ Raqueno, 36 years old, faces a charge of violation of section 6 of the Gambling Ordinance, for “gambling in a gambling establishment” on June 11 on the fourth floor of 453 King’s Road in North Point.

Raqueno was listed as absent after court security failed to find him inside and outside the courtroom when his case was called just before lunch break on Thursday (July 10) .

Basahin ang detalye!

For such absence, Raqueno now faces an arrest warrant issued by Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung, loss of his bail money to forfeiture and a ban from posting bail if arrested.

Gambling Ordinance outlaws gambling in Hong Kong, and prescribes jail sentences of up to three months and fine of up to Level 1 ($5,000) for the first offense of “gambing in a gambling etablishment.” For repeat offenders, the penalty is nine months in jail and fine of up to Level 3 ($50,000).

Pinoy remains in jail despite non-custodial sentence

 

Store where Prado was arrested (Google Maps photo)

A Filipino was supposed to walk free after a hearing at Eastern Court today because he was given a suspended jail sentence for drug possession and was fined for shoplifting.

But R. Prado, 49 years old and a deliveryman for restaurants, will have to remain in jail because he is facing a separate robbery charge with two others, also at Eastern Court.

Magistrate Minnie Wan sentenced him to two weeks in jail suspended for 12 months, for drug possession, which means he would not have to serve a day in jail if he keeps the peace and avoids reoffending within the next 12 months. She also fined him $800 for theft.

Basahin ang detalye!

Prado had pleaded guilty in an earlier hearing to possession of 0.06 gram of methamphethamine hydrochloride (also known as shabu or ice) last April 29 on Queen’s Road West in Sai Ying Pun, and for shoplifting eight ice cream cones and three packs of cheese sausage worth a total of $216.80 at a nearby Wellcome Supermarket on Pitt street in Sai Ying Pun, where he was arrested later that  day.

Before he was sentenced, Prado tearfully promised to Magistrate Wan that he would stay away from drugs. “No more. Hindi na po,” he said

“Remember your word today,” she advised. “It appears to me that you undersestimated the drugs’ effects. You need to quit dangerous drugs.”

His duty lawyer said Prado is not formally employed and has struggled finding a job despite having studied in college in the Philippines. His rejecting drug rehabilitation, which would prevent him from working, and the items he shoplifted indicate his need to provide for his family, he added.

"He is just someone who fell into bad habits,” he added, noting that the drug found on him was minimal.

Magistrate Wan may have been moved by his promise and his lawyer’s plea to give him a non-custodial sentence, despite noting the negative recommendations in the probation and drug reports she had ordered earlier.

Meanwhile, he remains in detention until another case resumes on Aug. 27.

Prado is charged with robbery, together with R. Malonzo, 38 years old and a bartender, and A. Arceo, 29 years old and construction worker for allegedly entering a “Green-Kennedy Town” store on Water St. in Sai Ying Pun last March 20 and stealing an iPad worth $3,999.

Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung ordered the three returned to jail last July 2.

Money lender wins collection suit vs 3 Filipina DHs

 

All money lender's actions are heard at the District Court

In a case that could have far-reaching effects on debt-collection practices of money lenders in Hong Kong, the District Court ruled earlier today that employers could be contacted to confirm the whereabouts of a domestic worker who has defaulted in paying off a loan.

Judge Louise Chan made the ruling in a money lender’s action filed by Pacific Ace Finance Ltd. against three Filipina domestic helpers who failed to repay in full two separate loans they took out from the lending company in 2015.

Judge Chan found that the action of a Pacific Ace collector of going to the house of the employer of one of the defendants, Gilda H. Delay, and afterwards, leaving a letter in their mailbox requesting the helper to contact the money lender, did not violate the Licensing Conditions for money lenders.

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“I incline to think such arrangement was reasonable for the Plaintiff to locate and confirm if Delay was still under the same employment as specified in her Application Form and to make demand for repayment from Delay. I do not consider there has been any breach of the lenders’ obligation under the Licensing Conditions Condition 10,” said the judge.

In her decision handed down today, Judge Chan allowed Pacific Ace’s bid to collect the unpaid amounts from two separate loans taken out by Delay and two of her friends, plus costs. As the financing company was represented by a lawyer, its legal costs that could be charged to the defendants could be far more than the amount of their unpaid loans.

Delay, who was the only one present in court today to receive the written judgment, said she would appeal.

She also vowed to pursue her opposition to Pacific Ace’s application for the renewal of its license at the Magistrates’ level, which she said was adjourned to a future date pending the decision on the District Court case.

Pacific Ace’s claim was over two separate loans incurred by the three defendants: the first was for $10,000 taken out on March 28, 2015 by Rosalina J. Villasfer with Delay as co-borrower; and the second on May 4, 2015 for $13,000 by Delay, with Andrenee Villasfer as co-borrower.

By the time the financing company filed the writ for compensation in 2018, only the first of four monthly installments amounting to $2,750 was repaid for the first loan, which together with interest of 30% per annum, should have amounted to $11,000.

For the second loan, which should have amounted to a total of $14,874 ($13,000 with 28.8 % annual interest payable over six months), the amount repaid as of Jan. 17, 2018 was only $13,432.

By this time, the two Villasfers had already gone back to the Philippines, and only Delay had remained in Hong Kong to face the lawsuit.

Delay responded by filing a counter-claim for $10 million in punitive damages, saying that because of the financing company’s “unlawful debts recovery practice,”  she “suffered tremendously for 6 years of fear.” She later reduced her claim to $3 million so it still fell within the DC’s jurisdiction.

In her defense, Delay claimed that the plaintiff had charged excessive interest for the loans (up to 300% by her reckoning), that it employed illegal debt collection tactics like harassment and violation of privacy laws, and had forged documents.

She did not take the witness stand, but chose to rely on the witness statement prepared by one Steven Tam-Ang, whose testimony was all based on information passed on to him by Delay.

The judge dismissed Tam-Ang’s evidence as hearsay, as he had no personal knowledge about any of the allegations made by Delay. He was not present at the time Delay applied for the loans and/ or signed the promissory notes, nor did he witness the alleged harassment.

On the other hand, Pacific Ace presented two witnesses whom the judge found credible. One was Monaliza Bautista who is the company’s director and loan approving officer and has worked with the plaintiff company for 28 years. The other was Aldrin Samoza, who is a collection supervisor and has worked for the company for 29 years.

Bautista told the court that “co-borrowers” act as sureties or guarantors taken out by somebody else, and this is fully explained to all parties concerned before a loan application is approved.

This was to dispute Delay’s claim that the plaintiff runs a debt-trapping scam by having a principal borrower and co-borrower for its loans. She said the co-borrower was “fake” and was made to act as a “human form of securities” in what she called a scam.

The judge dismissed this argument, noting that most financial institutions require borrowers to nominate a security or guarantor, especially when borrowers could not provide any collateral for their loans.

This also does not violate the Money Lender Regulations which prohibits only three forms or security for loans, namely the identity card of a person, bank passbooks or photos of the borrower or surety, or that of their family member.

Judge Chan also dismissed Delay’s allegation that Pacific Ace had charged excessive interest for the loans, noting that the calculations provided the borrowers had clearly indicated that an annual interest rate of 30% was imposed on the first loan, and 28.8% on the second loan.

At the time the loans were provided Delay and her co-defendants, the legal interest rate was 60% although it has been reduced to 48% from Dec 30, 2022.

She said Delay had wrongly calculated the interest for the subsequent month’s instalment based on the remaining balance of the loan instead of the loan principal. Second, she considered all her late repayments over more than three years as settling the total loan amount without calculating the default interest, or what she should have paid in excess because of her late payments.

This kind of calculation, said the judge, is what is often called an “amortized loan” repayment, often agreed upon by a bank and a borrower, where monthly payments chip away at the principal, as well as the accrued interest.

But according to the judge, what the defendants had secured from Pacific Ace were “simple fixed interest loan”, where lenders use the loan principal and the fixed interest rate to calculate the total amount of interest to be paid over the entire instalment period.

This kind of loan “is commonly available among financial institutions (and certainly legal), said the judge.

(The full judgment can be found here: https://legalref.judiciary.hk/lrs/common/ju/newjudgments.jsp

Look for case numbers DCCJ 3298/2018 & DCCJ 3299/2018 )

IBP agrees to provide legal services, access to OFWs

 

The IBP and DMW officers agreed to sign a MOA after lengthy discussions

In a landmark move, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Department of Migrant Workers have agreed to collaborate in providing legal protection and expanded access to justice for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

IBP National President Alan G. Panolong and DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac met Tuesday, July 8, to finalize a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that they are set to sign before the end of the month.

The MOA aims to establish mechanisms for sustained knowledge sharing, capacity building, and legal aid initiatives between the IBP and DMW.

Basahin ang detalye!

It will enable both organizations to jointly conduct training, seminars, and legal assistance programs to ensure OFWs have substantive and accessible legal support wherever they may be in the world.

Panolong, who assumed his IBP post only this month, led a delegation from the national lawyers’ group and emphasized the importance of providing legal assistance to Filipino migrant workers.

“This partnership is part of our shared commitment to elevate service and empower progress by ensuring that no Filipino is denied access to justice—no matter the distance,” said Panolong. “We are hitting the ground running because our OFWs deserve no less.”

Secretary Cacdac welcomed the initiative and expressed strong support for the collaboration. He also emphasized the need to provide comprehensive protection to OFWs, particularly those who meet legal challenges abroad.

He was joined in the meeting by Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, Asst Secretary Jerome Alcantara, Dir. Geraldine Mendez, Dir. Maria Bernardine Madamba, and their respective teams.

Leaders of the 2 groups pose for photo after the meeting

The IBP delegation also included Governors Elena Go Francisco (Greater Manila Region) and Quirino G. Esguerra, Jr. (Western Mindanao Region) and officers of the National Center for Legal Aid (NCLA) led by its director Pitero M. Reig, overall deputy director Manuel Joseph B. Ibañez III and deputy director for migrant workers Dan Joseph T. Cruz.

 

Pinoy denies hurting Chinese woman

 

Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Google Maps photo)

An unemployed Filipino has denied a charge of assault on a Chinese female in a hospital, setting the stage for his trial next month, during which he is expected to claim that he never had physical contact with the alleged victim.

Arnias Allen Gomez, 51 years old, had been charged by police with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 39 of the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance.

His duty lawyer told a hearing at Kowloon City Court Tuesday (July 8) that their defense will be based on a factual dispute as to whether violence was used in the incident, which took place last April 28 at the Ambulatory Care Centre of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei.

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The prosecutor said four prosecution witnesses will be presented during the one-day trial, scheduled for Aug. 4 by Magistrate Philip Chan.

He was released on $100 bail.

In a separate case, a construction worker was allowed bail of $1,000 in a case where he is charged with wounding a Filipino woman, contrary to section 19 of the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance.

Saudee Tagao, 42 years old, is acused of wounding a certain Maricar at We Hotel Kowloon on Temple Street in Kowloon last March 16.

OWWA scholarship application for OFW dependents to start Jul 16

 

An expanded and more transparent scholarship program for children or sibling of overseas Filipino workers will be rolled out by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) starting next school year.

OWWA today, July 7, announced that applications for the two scholarship categories will be accepted from July 16-31.

OWWA Administrator PY Caunan told The SUN that she has instructed her staff to make more transparent the number of slots that are available as well as the process.

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“We will be working in the long run in increasing the number of slots,” said Administrator Caunan. “Hopefully Congress will support.”

The scholarships on offer fall under two categories, both of which are open to children of OFWs who are active members, or sibling if the OFW member is single or married with no offspring.

Requirements for the higher-category EDSP scholarship which comes with P60k cash benefit

Under the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), the applicant must be enrolled in the second to fifth year in a Philippine-based university or college, must not be over 30 years old, and must have a general weighted average of at least 85% with no failing mark.

Only 600 EDSP scholars are chosen each year, and they each get Php60,000 cash subsidy per year until they complete their course, provided they continue to meet the academic requirement.

ODSP applicants must have at least a passing grade to qualify for the P20k annual grant

The other program is the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP) which has two sub-categories: one is for incoming freshman students who must be no more than 21 years old, and the second is for those enrolled in the 2^nd to 5^th year in college, who should be no more than 30 years old and single.

In both categories, the applicant should have a passing general weighted average (GWA) which means, at least 75%.  Previously, the required GWA was at least 80%.

Each scholar will get Php20,000 each year until they graduate, for as long as they meet the GWA requirement.

The applicants should have an OFW income of no more than US$1,000 per month or its equivalent. .

The number of ODSP scholars that will be admitted for the next school year is not indicated, but last year, a total of 5,000 grants were awarded under this program.

The requirements for the scholar-applicants include the following:

– PSA Birth Certificate (for applicants whose parent is an OFW)

– Certificate of No Marriage (for applicants whose sibling is an OFW)

- OFW Declaration of no Child Dependent (For Married OFW but childless)

– 2 pcs. 2x2 Picture with name tag and white background

– Copy of OFW Passport ID

Application forms and all inquiries related to the OWWA scholarship program may be secured from the following website: https://scholarship.owwa.gov.ph/.

Please also check the official Facebook page of OWWA regularly for any updated announcements.