'Bayle sa Kalye’: showcase of the Philippines’ rich and vibrant culture

The country's incomparable mangoes take centerstage in this colorful dance number

 It may have lasted an hour and a half, but those who watched the colorful and vibrant dancing by various groups of overseas Filipino workers at the “Bayle sa Kalye” segment of the Kapangyawan Festival on June 9 hardly felt the passing of time.

As before, OFW-driver Lee Ann E. Mas did not disappoint with her on-point choreography, conceptualization and direction of the segment that featured the country’s various native dances performed at a fast but fun pace.

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The near-flawless performance of OFWs belonging to FLAG (Federation of Luzon Active Groups) and Philippine Alliance of Hong Kong made this part easily the most-admired  during the day-long program held to celebrate the 126^th Philippine Independence Day.

Mas joins finale with the Filipinos' favorite mascot, Jollibee

In introducing “Balye sa Kalye”, Mas said the segment was also a tribute to the Philippines’  unsung heroes who continue to make the country proud. Here is what she had written to introduce the show: 

“Bayle sa Kalye showcases our rich and vibrant culture…ang ganda ng Pinas at ang tapang at lakas ng bawat Pilipino. (the beauty of the Philippines and the bravery and strength of every Filipino).

The country's everyday heroes are featured in the giant billboards paraded to start the segment

“Ang Bayle sa Kalye ay nagbibigay-pugay din sa mga Bagong Bayani sa makabagong panahon.

“Ngayon, sana ay mabigyan ng pagkakataon na mayakap at makilala ang mukha ng mga bayani…

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“Mukha na hindi man napatayuan ng bantayog, o kinailangang mag-alay ng buhay… pero patuloy na nagpapakita ng kanilang lakas, tapang at ganda hindi lang sa bansang sinilangan kundi maging sa buong mundo.

“Minsan nababago na ang mga idolo at (kinikilalang) bayani ng mga kabataan ngayon…pero sana ang prinsipyo ng mga bagong mukha ng bayani na lumalaban sa buhay ay mabigyan din ng pagkakataon…

The iconic 'sorbetero' delights the crowd

“Sana hindi maiwan sa dilim ang ipinaglalaban nilang mithiin..dahil sila ang lumalaban para sa kalayaan, karapatan at pagpapahalaga sa lupang tinubuan.

“Sama-sama nating salubungin ang magandang bukas…sabay-sabay na abutin ang tagumpay..dahil tiwala sa Diyos ang ating sandata’s gabay.”

(The full video of “Bayle sa Kalye” can be found here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=7FYyBoHBS36aIHvO&v=NzZc3lnEa50&feature=youtu.be 

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3 accused of money laundering await case in jail

 
Money seized by police from an unrelated scam and money laundering case 

Three Filipinos accused of money laundering are spending their time in jail after their hearings Friday (June 14) to await their next date in court for allegedly letting their bank accounts be used as depository for proceeds of crimes.

Aster Leo Balucang, 38, was told at a hearing at Kwun Ting Court to return on July 12.

Among the three defendants, he had the biggest amount linked to his bank account, with a total of $2,182,836 being deposited into and withdrawn from his HSBC Hong Kong account between Oct. 10, 2022 and June 10, 2023.

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Marcela Awingan, 38 years old, who appeared at Eastern Court Friday, was told to return on Aug. 6.

A total of $1,231,539.07 entered and left her Standard Chartered Bank account between March 12 and April 13, 2023, according to the complaint filed by police.

Awingan, who was detained at the Hong Kong International Airport on Jan. 28 while she was seven months’ pregnant, and held on suspicion of money laundering, had said in open court last May 17  that she would plead guilty to the charge.

When it was her turn to appear at Eastern Court, Ma. Rochel Fuentes, aged 35, was told to return on Aug. 22 for the transfer of her papers to another court.

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Like Awingan, Fuentes was also arrested at the airport as a result of the movement of a total of $666,300 within two days, from April 4 to 6, 2023 in her Standard Chartered Bank account.

The three are facing the charge of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense.”

They are accused of violating Sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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Video: Independence Day reception 2024

Philippine Consulate General hosts reception to mark 126th Anniversary of Philippine Independence 

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POdm1z3Oy34

PAHK to host first-ever OFW Independence Day fest

 

Kwong (in pink), and her directors offer a toast at the PAHK Independence Day Gala

Hong Kong’s oldest professional and business group, the Philippine Association of Hong Kong, will host its first-ever Independence Day luncheon gathering for overseas Filipino workers tomorrow at Hotel Alexandra in North Point.

The event called “Alab,” will gather Filipino leaders from various sectors to celebrate the 126^th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence from Spanish rule. Everyone is encouraged to come in Philippine native attire for the festivity.

“Alab” comes close on the heels of the PAHK Annual Independence Day Ball called “Hiraya,” held on Jun 8 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, a traditional fund-raising event held each year by the 63-year-old organization.

PAHK officers in last-minute planning for 'Alab'

PAHK chairperson Scylla Kwong said “Alab” is the group’s way of giving OFWs a chance to enjoy the same experience that its members and guests had at the Saturday dinner gala, but held on a Sunday and at a time that is most convenient for migrant workers.

“We are thinking of doing this as a PAHK signature event in the future,” said Kwong, who is head of OSW PrimeCredit Ltd., which is co-organizing both Alab and Hiraya with First Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

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It is not, however, the first dress-up Independence Day gathering to be organized for the OFW community in Hong Kong. Philippine Alliance, a mostly OFW group, first staged the “Kalayaan Ball” more than a decade ago. However, a fiasco that erupted last year about how the yearly event was allegedly turned into a business seminar by the organizers, Global Alliance, disheartened many OFWs.

Guests at the 'Alab' luncheon will be able to 'dance, dance until the end'

The PAHK decided to step in and organize an event separate from the one being held this year by GA on the same date and time at the Grand Ballroom in Tsim Sha Tsui, in hopes of allowing OFW leaders a chance to have a really good time.

At “Alab,” there will be a live band, a raffle draw, and lots of chances for the guests to mingle with each other and dance to their heart’s content, all for the heavily subsidized ticket cost of $150.

According to Kwong, the tickets should have cost $550 each, so the sponsors who are footing the rest of the bill will be given the chance to speak, but their pitch should not last longer than five minutes to prevent the party event turning into another business event.

TAWAG NA!

“The program rundown is simple,” said Kwong. Apart from the sponsors’ time, the program will only include a speech from Kwong and Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, and a presentation of the PAHK’s Board of Directors.

“We will have a band and singers so our OFWs will be able to dance, dance until the end of the program,” said Kwong.

Some of the past chairpersons of PAHK lent support for this year's Ball

Until last year, the PAHK was a key organizer of the Filipino community’s Philippine Independence Day celebration on Chater Road, which has traditionally followed its Ball the previous night. In fact, until only a few years ago, PAHK was the main organizer of the event, with the Philippine Consulate General billed as the main supporter.

When the Consulate took over the helm, it started tapping OFW groups like Global Alliance and Philippine Alliance to organize the whole-day show, including getting corporate sponsors and inviting Manila-based talents to entertain the crowd.

This year, PAHK decided to bow out of the bigger extravaganza for the first time in decades, but not without trying.

“We reached out to both the PCG and GA at the beginning of the year to see how the PAHK could continue playing a role in the celebration of Philippine Independence Day with the community,” said Kwong. “But we were given the impression by GA’s Leo Selomenio that she needed $300,000 to cover the expenses of the Sunday event.”

Since the PAHK did not have the money they were quoted, and since its sole purpose for organizing events has always been to raise funds for charity, Kwong said her Board of Directors decided to opt out of the Chater event and allow GA to go to corporate sponsors directly.

She said the PAHK has not given up entirely on being part of the event it started in the first place, and for which transparency in the handling of funds is its key asset, being a registered non-profit with the Hong Kong government.

But for now, it has “Alab” to show that PAHK remains committed to providing the kind of quality entertainment that the country’s unsung heroes in Hong Kong richly deserve.

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Checks on people bringing fresh meat, eggs into HK stepped up

 

Sniffer dogs are deployed at the border to detect regulated food being brought in

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has stepped up its campaign against people illegally bringing regulated food into Hong Kong, in particular raw meat.

The effort includes taking interception and enforcement actions against violators, including the use of quarantine detector dog duties at various land boundary control points.

This comes amid concerns about the rise in the number of people bringing in raw meat from the mainland, which experts say could lead to a spike in food poisoning and other health problems.

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CFS said that on Wednesday alone, a woman entering from the mainland was detected by a quarantine detector dog of bringing in regulated food.

Subsequent investigations revealed that she had in her luggage, various raw meat packaged in foil, which did not come with an import licence and an official health certificate issued mainland authorities.

Fresh meat seized from inbound traveller last Wednesday

According to the CFS, prosecution may be instituted if sufficient evidence is found against her. An investigation into the case is ongoing.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), each consignment of imported meat and poultry must be covered by an import licence from the FEHD.

In addition, the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK), requires each consignment of imported game, meat, poultry and eggs (regulated food), whether for personal use or not, to be accompanied by a health certificate issued by authorities in the place of origin. In the case of China, it is the Mainland Customs authorities.

TAWAG NA!

Violators face a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

As of Wednesday, the CFS said that so far this year, it has initiated 715 prosecutions against inbound persons for illegally bringing regulated food into Hong Kong.

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Filipino’s visa-from-fake-jobs case elevated to higher court

 

The charges were filed by the Immigration Department

An asylum-seeker alleged to have presented fake documents to the Immigration Department on behalf of clients so they could be given employment visas, had his case elevated from the Shatin Magistracy to the District Court today after 16 more charges were added to the original four.

Immigration accuses Homer Herrera, 40 years old, of conspiring with other people to defraud the Immigration director and his officers by “dishonestly and falsely representing” to them that they were to work for named employers in Hong Kong “and thereby induce Immigration to act contrary to their public duty … in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted.”

The offenses  are contrary to Common Law and punishable under Section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance.

Magistrate David Chum sent Herrera back to jail  to await the next hearing.

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The first four charges were amended to conform with newly-acquired evidence, while the 15^th to 20^th were additional charges.

In the first charge, Herrera is accused of conspiring to process through Immigration the visa application of Olivia Carino, who was supposed to work for Ernesto O. Herrera, between 2014 and Dec. 9, 2014.

In the second case, Herrera was accused of conspiring with Saraswati Rana and employer Cham Kam-sze, to file a fake work contract, between 2020 and Nov. 2, 2022.

In the third case, Herrera allegedly conspired with Wong Ka-fai Dick, Daljit Singh, Jo-Anne D. Esrada and a man known only as “Scott” between 2021 and July 25, 2023 to make it appear that Singh would work for Wong.

In the fourth case, Herrera allegedly conspired with Lam Ho ming and Rai Vijayta between 2021 and April 19, 2023 to make it appear that Vijayta would work for Lam.

The 5^th to the 20^th charges, which resulted from a wider investigation conducted by Immigration, accuse Herrera of the following:

5^th: Conspired with Chiu Kenneth Kam-to, Roy Avishek  and Lyn Cheng from early 2021 to May 15, 2021, to make it appear that Avishek will work for Chiu.

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6^th: Conspired with Jessebel Questo Clarke, Maria Chona Cagol and Lyn Cheng,  from 2021 to May 28, 2023, to make it appear that Cagol will work for Clarke.

7^th: Conspired with Jessebel Almira Narag Chow, Aprilyn Tupas, Gina Villareal and Lyn Cheng,  from 2021 to May 28, 2023, to make it appear that Tupas will work for Chow.

8^th: Conspired with Ng So-ling, Priti Tamang and Jo-Ann Estrada,  from 2021 to July 25, 2023, to make it appear that Tamang will work for Ng.

9^th: Conspired with Dhanus Gurung and Analyn Vidal  from 2021 to July 25, 2023, to make it appear that Gurung will work for Vidal.

10^th: Conspired with Limbu Sancha Kumari and Renaby Enmanuel from 2021 to July 25, 2023, to make it appear that Limbu will work for Enmanuel .

11^th: Conspired with Lee Ka-kung Raymond and Sukhjinder Kaur from 2021 to June 21, 2022, to make it appear that Kaur will work for Lee.

12^th: Conspired with Abuskar Gurung, Lorelie Agamata and Jo-ann Estrada from early 2021 to Nov. 19, 2021, to make it appear that Abuskar will work for Agamata.

13^th: Conspired with Gurung Gayan Kumari and Mel Valerie Cabrisante from early 2021 to Nov. 11, 2021, to make it appear that Cabrisante will work for Gurung.

14^th: Conspired with Liza Castillo, Jumiati, Lyn Cheng and Gina Villareal from early 2021 to May 13, 2023, to make it appear that Jumiati will work for Castillo.

15^th: Conspired with Jo-ann Estrada and Tri Wahyuni from early 2021 to July 25, 2023, to make it appear that Wahuni will work for Estrada.

16^th: Conspired with Butt Mohammad Umar Uzair and Mel Valerie Cabrisante from early 2021 to Nov. 11, 2021, to make it appear that Cabrisante will work for Butt.

17^th: Conspired with Analiza Chan and Rai Susma and a person only known as “Scott” from 2021 to April July 11, 2022, to make it appear that Rai will work for Chan.

18^th: Conspired with Virginia Law, Islamiyah, Jo-ann Estrada and Lyn Cheng from 3033 to July 25, 2023, to make it appear that Islamiyah will work for Law.

 19^th: Conspired with Chan Chung-yin, Kiki-Tamala, Jo-ann Estrada and Lyn Cheng from 2022 to July 25, 2023, to make it appear that Kiki-Tamala will work for Chan.

20^th: Conspired with Gharu Kiranjet Kaur and Jo-ann Estrada from 2022 to April 29, 2022, to make it appear that Gharu will work for Ho Van Hach.

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Filipino tourist arrivals in HK more than doubled from pre-pandemic levels

 

Secretary Sun, Congen Usudan, Secretary Chan and Senator Cayetano 
offer a toast to further diplomatic and trade ties

A total of 763,778 Filipino tourists came to Hong Kong last year, amounting to a staggering 3,529 times more than the 20,000 recorded in 2022.

That’s according to Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan in a speech she gave at the Diplomatic Reception hosted by the Consulate at the Conrad on Wednesday, to mark the 126^th anniversary of Philippine Independence.

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Filipino tourists have been coming in droves that their number has already reached 114% more than in the days before the pandemic, she added.

Her disclosure prompted Financial Secretary Paul Chan – who was the evening’s special guest - to reply in jest, “Do come more often.”

TAWAG NA!

Congen Usudan also revealed a significant rise in the number of Hongkongers visiting the Philippines. From a mere 837 Hong Kong tourists who visited the country in 2022, the number spiked to 80,512 last year, or a rise of 8,589 percent.

She added that the mutually beneficial ties between the Philippines and Hong Kong go a long way back.

“Philippine-Hong Kong relations are rooted both in the past and the present – rooted in our mutual goal of progress and success, and rooted in the friendly relations of our people,” she said.

Chan invites more Filipinos to visit Hong Kong

In turn, Secretary Chan said there is still a lot more that can be done to strengthen the ties between the two places.

“We see a vast room for economic and trade cooperation to grow further,” he said. “After all, the Philippines is among Asia’s top performing economies.

He went on to cite the Asian Development Bank’s forecast that the Philippine economy will grow by 6% this year and 6.2% by next year.

He ended his speech by giving thanks to the 220,000-strong Filipino community in Hong Kong, who he said have played a valuable contribution to the city’s vitality.

Another guest at the event, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, likened the relationship between the Philippines and China, and Hong Kong in particular, to that shared by siblings, which he described as “resilient.”

While the two sides have faced issues and problems, he said “we have always found a way to become brothers and sisters (again).”

Mayor Cayetano and DG Wei join the ceremonial cake-cutting

Their speeches were followed by a toast to furthering ties and celebrating Philippine independence, then a symbolic cutting of a bespoke cake, where the three were joined by Secretary for Labour and Manpower Chris Sun, Wei Wenxiu, Director General of the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong, and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Consuls general of various countries, heads of non-government organizations, business and professional leaders of Hong Kong, also joined the 200 or so Filipinos who were invited to the event.

Hach. 

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$1.75M money laundering case goes to trial

 

Talay appeared in Eastern Court yesterday

A Filipina will go on trial in August over a money laundering case in which some $1.75 million that she did not own flowed in and out of her bank account last year.

Analiza Talay, 48 years old, had earlier pleaded not guilty. Principal Magistrate Don So scheduled a pre-trial review at the Eastern Court for Aug7 when she appeared before him yesterday, Jun 12.

Expected to be discussed will be the readiness of both the prosecution and the defense to present their respective evidence.

TAWAG NA!

Her bail of $5,000 was extended until her trial.

Talay is charged with “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense,” which is punishable under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

The case arose from the inflow and outflow of money totalling $1,745,610 in her Mox Bank account between March 19 and 28 last year.

The police complaint alleged that Talay did the offense with an unknown person.

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Labour offers online briefing to employers of FDHs

 

The Labour briefing will cover FDH rights and employers' obligation

The Labour Department is holding an online briefing for employers of foreign domestic helpers on Friday, July 12, and has opened enrolment starting today.

The briefing will provide an overview of the employment rights and obligations of employers of FDHs. A representative from the Equal Opportunities Commission will also share the best practices for creating an inclusive workplace for FDHs.

Employers of FDHs, especially first-time employers, are welcome to attend.

TAWAG NA!

The online briefing will be conducted in Cantonese via Zoom. It is free but the allocated quota will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Those interested may register online at Labour’s dedicated FDH Portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk/en/home.html), or download the enrolment form and submit it by email (fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk) or by fax (3101 0604).

The deadline for enrolment is July 10 (Wednesday). For enquiries, please contact the LD at 3582 8995.

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