Bethune House sends out SOS saying it faces closure because of lack of funds

 

Volunteers help lighten the load of Bethune's clients

One of the biggest and longest-serving shelter home for distressed migrant workers has issued an urgent appeal for financial help, saying it only has enough funds to cover expenses for the next two months.

In a letter sent to supporters and various media outlets, the Bethune House Migrant Workers Refuge through its executive director, Edwina Antonio, said it is launching the “SOS” or “Save Our Shelter” campaign in hopes of raising enough cash to tide it over at least until the end of the year.

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“We humbly appeal to your kindness and compassion to help us raise HK$1 million in order

to sustain our operations until the end of the year,” said Antonio.

 “This would cover rent and utilities for our two shelters and provide food and other necessities such as personal hygiene items, medical needs, visa extension fees, transportation, and documentation during their legal processes.”

Antonio at a  recent fundraising bid for Bethune House

Antonio said Bethune House had counted on receiving “anticipated grants” this year, but these fell through at the last minute.

“Sadly, this reflects the reality that funding opportunities for the welfare needs of distressed migrant domestic workers are indeed wanting in Hong Kong,” Antonio said.

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Bethune House which was established 38 years ago, has been providing not just shelter but also sustenance and moral support to hundreds of migrant women who find themselves homeless, jobless, vulnerable, distressed, or abused while in Hong Kong.

Volunteer case workers accompany the shelter’s clients to police, the court, consulates and other support organizations depending on their needs, so they could get redress for their problems or help them assert their rights.

Clients learn cross-stitch while at the shelter

During the pandemic, Bethune House was among a few organizations that actively supplied affected migrant workers with food, medicines, masks and other needs, and gave them counseling as they faced the prospect of being sent home after getting infected with Covid-19.

Every week, more than five of distressed migrant women seek refuge at the shelter, which is able to accommodate up to 30 women daily and more than 680 annually.

These are women who are facing charges or are seeking just compensation from their employers and are not allowed to take up work, so they rely solely on Bethune House and other charitable groups while awaiting the resolution of their cases.

A few migrants are given shelter while undergoing expensive treatment for an ailment they acquired while working in the city.

Kind-hearted donors footed the bill for this Disneyland visit for clients and volunteers

Here are the ways you can make a donation: to Bethune House:

• To support online: https://donorbox.org/bh-raise-the-roof 

• By Direct Deposit The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge Limited Hang Seng Bank 284-8-241309 HSBC 808-312649-292 

• By cheque Payable to The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, Ltd. All cash donations of HK$100 and above are tax deductible. (We will gladly assist interested donors to set up an autopay system if they wish to do so to become our regular pledgers.)

*By transfer through Alipay by scanning the QR code below: 

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Typhoon signal lowered to 3

 

Day remains overcast despite the lifting of T8 after Yagi's departure from HK

The Hong Kong Observatory downgraded the storm signal to 3 at 12:40 pm today,  as Typhoon Yagi moved away from the territory. It replaced the Storm Signal No 8 which was raised at 6:20pm yesterday, Sept. 5.

According to a government statement, a total of 274 people sought refuge at 30 temporary shelters set up by the Home Affairs Department in various districts.

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As of 12:30 pm today, nine people were injured during Yagi’s onslaught and sought treatment at various public hospitals

The Fire Services Department, the Government's 1823 Call Centre and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department received  a total of 119 reports of fallen trees while the Drainage Services Department received one confirmed case of flooding and another of landslide.

Among the various government offices that resumed operation in the afternoon was the Immigration Department which announced that its headquarters and all branch offices would reopen two hours after the lifting of T8.

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Courts remain closed throughout the day, and the Judiciary said that everyone who was supposed to attend court today should do so at 9:30 on Monday, Sept. 9 which is the next working day. Court and tribunal offices will resume services as usual in the afternoon.

All services provided by public clinics under the Department of Health also resumed two hours after the lifting of T8.

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T8 raised as Super Typhoon Yagi moves closer to HK

Dark clouds hang over Central as of 6:15pm Thursday (HK Observatory photo)

The No 8 signal was hoisted at 6:00pm today, as Super Typhoon Yagi moves closer to the territory.

The Hong Kong Observatory said the No 8 signal, the first to be hoisted this year, is expected to remain in place until at least noon tomorrow, Friday.

Strong winds are forecast to affect many places in the territory, with occasional gale-force winds. The weather will deteriorate progressively tonight.

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Given its present track, and intensity Yagi is expected to remain at super-typhoon force at it skirts around 300 kilometers to the southwest of Hong Kong Friday morning.

Ahead of Hong Kong Observatory’s issuance of the T8 signal, the Education Bureau announced that all evening classes today and day classes tomorrow, will be suspended.

At 5pm, Yagi was tracked at 9.3 degrees north and 114.8 degrees east, traveling at  210 km per hour near the center.

The Observatory said gale-force winds associated with Yagi will cause the weather to deteriorate tonight and tomorrow, with heavy squally showers and thunderstorms.

However, a spokesman said Yagi poses a minor threat compared with previous super typhoons like Mangkhut and Hato. But the shift in wind direction could make people think it is stronger.

At the same time, the very hot weather warning was issued.

Everyone is advised to drink lots of water and remain indoors as much as possible.

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Young Pinoy designers join HK’s Centrestage

 

The Philippine booth is right beside the entrance to Centrestage

Fifteen young Filipino designers are on the spotlight in Centrestage, the premier annual fashion and creative event in Hong Kong, currently ongoing at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai.

An eyecatching booth right by the entrance to the trade fair houses all of the outstanding creations by the 15 Filipino artists, from apparel, footwear, bags, jewelry and other accessories.

Weather permitting, they will be able to show more of their talent and artistry at 3pm tomorrow, when they take the center stage for a fashion show featuring their own creations.

Noelle with her O'El bags

Among those who flew into stormy Hong Kong to take part in the exhibit is  Noelle Llave of O’El Designs, whose quirky bags are mostly made of the softest leather trimmed with native materials like capiz  and abaca hemp, and handles made of ethically sourced plastic.

Unusually designed and beautifully made bags are also on offer from Cali Bags, owned by  Tessa Nepomuceno; Vesti, owned by Martha Rodriguez; and Virtucio, owned by Christine Virtucio.  All four women also act as creative directors of their respective companies.

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Also proudly showcasing her own creations is Davao native Nurainie Ampatuan, who uses indigenous Mindanao fabrics like inaul from Maguindanao and landap from Maranao in her eye-catching and well-stitched modern outfits that carry the brand name Hilyah.

Nurainie uses only fabrics woven and sourced in Mindanao

Bright, soft and and colourful, with one-of-a-kind prints, are what make Basil Malicsi’s shirts and lounge wear, stand out. A graduate of California State University and the University of the Philippines, Malicsi brings to his creations bearing his namesake brand, years of experience working in ateliers in Los Angeles, Bangkok and Dubai.

Basil is proudly Pinoy

The other brands featured in the Fashion Philippines team are Toping Zamora, owned and fashioned by Christopher Zamora, StrongVillage by Russell Tero Villafuerte, Thian Rodriguez Manila by Christian Rodriguez, Erich Minoza by Richard Minoza, Zapateria, with managing director Glice Batulan, Roweliza by Roweliza Landicho, Beatriz by Carissa Evangelista and Charlene Nocom, Majorian by Marigrace Reano, and Agsam Fashion Fern by Gina Nebrida-Ty.

Centrestage opened yesterday, Sept. 4, and will run until Saturday, Sept. 7.

The Philippine participation in the fashion fair is made possible by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, through its attaché in Hong Kong, Vice Consul Roberto Mabalot, Jr.

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2 drivers charged with wounding, assault

 

Where the alleged offense took place (Google Maps photo)

A Filipino driver walked free on bail of $10,000 from Eastern Court today after the prosecutor asked for an adjournment on a case in which he is accused of wounding a man last May.

Hernal Cuaton, 50 years old, is accused of violating the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance as a result of an altercation last May 13 in front of 10 Canal Road West in Wanchai, in which a certain Robert Ayun was wounded.

The prosecutor asked for an adjournment to wait for the medical report on Ayun and for legal advice from the Department of Justice.

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Principal Magistrate Don So scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 30, and continued Cuaton’s bail terms.

Yesterday (Sept.3), Magistrate So released on no-cash bail another Filipino, M. Petalio, who is charged with common assault on his wife, who was named in the police complaint, at their residence on Fleming Road, Wanchai ,last Sept. 2.

Magistrate So set conditions for the bail, which included Petalio prohibited from going back to their house while the case is pending and contacting his wife, who is the prosecution witness.

So set the next hearing on Sept. 26.

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T8 to be raised at 6:20pm

 

Yagi intensified as it moved closer to Hong Kong 

The Hong Kong Observatory has announced that it will raise T8 at 6:20pm as Super Typhoon Yagi continues to strengthen as it moves closer to the territory  

Classes in kindergarten and special schools were suspended earlier today with Yagi’s approach  

The Observatory raised Strong Wind Signal No 3 at 6:40 pm on Wednesday due to the worsening weather condition.

The Observatory also said a higher signal might be raised, depending on the intensity and the path taken by the typhoon.

As of 11am today, Yagi was estimated to be about 380km south-southeast of Hong Kong.

It is expected to come within 300km of the territory tonight or early Friday as it makes its way towards the mainland .

In the past few hours it was noted to have intensified as it steadily moved westward.

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Local forecast indicate it will strengthen gradually tonight, and could come closest to the territory tomorrow afternoon or evening. It is expected to make landfall in China on Friday  

The Observatory said it recorded more than 9,000 lightning strikes from 10pm to midnight on Tuesday amid an Amber Rainstorm Warning signal due to Yagi’s approach.

Earlier, Severe Tropical Storm Yagi, combined with the effects of “habagat”or monsoon rains, caused widespread flooding and a number of landslides in the Philippines, where it was called Enteng.

Schools and offices were shut for three days, and 15 people were killed and 21 others were reported missing.

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HK starts pre-boarding checks on inbound travelers

 

The new system will bar certain travelers from seeing the inside of the HK Airport

Those planning to go to Hong Kong to apply for non-refoulement or asylum, take note. You may not even get to board that plane that you hope would take you to the city. 

That's because from Tuesday, September 3, Hong Kong Immigration began implementing its Advance Passenger Information (API) System, which could lead airlines to refuse boarding certain inbound travelers.

According to a press release issued by Immigration yesterday,  the API system has been put in place in line with aviation security requirements of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to align Hong Kong with other aviation hubs worldwide.

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But at the same time, it will allow Immigration “to further enhance its passenger clearance and enforcement capabilities to prevent undesirables, including potential non-refoulement claimants, from boarding flights heading to Hong Kong.”

Immigration hastened to add that all permanent residents will not be stopped from boarding a flight to Hong Kong, as their right to travel, as well as leave and enter the city, are guaranteed under the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights Ordinance.

“The API system will not issue a no-board direction against Hong Kong permanent residents who enjoy the right of abode in Hong Kong,” assured Immigration.

Under Hong Kong’s API Regulation, aircraft operators are obliged to transmit advance information to Immigration about flights and passengers heading to Hong Kong.

“During check-in for a flight heading to Hong Kong, the aircraft operator will capture the required API data from a traveller's travel document and transmit the API data of each traveller and the aircraft information to the API System, which will instantly process the information and provide a response message, i.e. a board or no-board direction, for each traveller back to the aircraft operator,” said the statement.

“The aircraft operator shall act upon the direction given through the API System, i.e. to allow or not allow specific travellers to board the aircraft heading to Hong Kong."

Immigration added that the rollout of the API system will be done in phases to allow sufficient time for over 100 aircraft operators to get connected. Once in place, a transitional period of around 12 months will also be adopted before the Regulation providing for offences and defences take effect starting from Sept 1, 2025.

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DH accused of borrowing ATM card charged with money laundering

 

File photo

A Filipina accused of borrowing a fellow domestic helper’s ATM card that ended up being used for money laundering, was returned to jail today after her offer of cash bail was refused at Eastern Court.

Michelle Valenzuela, 46 years old, was charged with money laundering for her role in the case.

In court, she paused while being led out of court, to ask if her lawyer’s offer of $1,000 cash bail had been accepted, but Principal Magistrate Don So confirmed he had rejected it.

Earlier, the prosecutor explained the case on questioning by Magistrate So, who asked why Valenzuela was being charged when the Hang Seng Bank ATM (automatic teller machine) card mentioned in the case was not hers.

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The prosecutor said the ATM card was owned by Prosecution Witness No. 1, Richel Gania, who testified that Valenzuela borrowed it from her.

“So you mean she’s a middle man?” he asked.

The prosecutor reiterated Gania’s testimony that it was borrowed from her by Valenzuela before it ended up getting deposits totaling $131,000, described by the police complaint as “any person’s proceeds of an indictable crime,” between January 2020 and March 4, 2020.

The case was adjourned to Oct. 23.

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Unifil warns anew of forced collection of govt fees from OFWs

Unifil protests outside the Consulate against the forced OFW contributions in Taiwan

Members of United Filipinos in Hong Kong staged a rally on Sunday, Sept.1, to protest against the compulsory collection of government fees from overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

According to the protesters, the “No Pay, No Work” order of the Philippines’ Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan took effect on the same day.

The order reportedly states that OFW contracts will no longer be verified unless they can show proof that they are active members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System (SSS) and the government’s home financing agencyPag-IBIG.

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In a statement, Unifil chairperson Dolores Balladares warned Hong Kong could be next in line for the re-implementation of the mandatory collection of government fees from OFWs, a plan that was halted amid the pandemic following widespread protests from Filipinos abroad.

“We are worried that what is happening in Taiwan will also happen in HK, because for the past five years, these mandatory collections of SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and other fees were not strictly implemented because of the loud and wide resistance of OFWs not only in HK but globally,” sai Balladares.

A separate protest was held on Chater Road in Central

She lamented that the current government of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is making only superficial efforts to improve the lives of OFWs through various initiatives by OWWA, such as the provision of OFW lounges and the first-ever OFW Center in Hong Kong.

“Instead, what it has done now is to collect money from OFWs and not give them a choice but to pay because there is repercussion, just like what is happening now in Taiwan,” added Balladares.

She likened the new move to an executive order issued in 1984 by the president’s late father, Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., which directed all OFWs to present proof that they were remitting money to their families in the Philippines, at the pain of not having their contract and passport applications processed.

The protesters also took the opportunity to praise their counterparts in Taiwan for immediately sounding the alarm and calling on MECO to reverse its order and vow not to reissue it.

Unifil vowed to continue its protest against the mandatory fees, saying it was due to concerted action by OFW groups around the world that the law mandating the forced collection of higher membership fees in PhilHealth was held in abeyance in 2021.

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HK raises Signal 1 as storm exits North Luzon

 

Weather map from Pagasa shows storm's track.

Hong Kong raised Standby Signal No. 1  at 5:40 this afternoon as Tropical Storm Yagi swept out of Luzon via Ilocos Norte and set a northwest path through northern China Sea, aiming for Hainan island and threatening to come to within 520 kilometers south of the territory.

According to forecasts, the storm is expected to strengthen into a typhoon from its present maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.

Hong Kong had another hot day today, with a peak of 34 degree Celsius, and is expected to remain mostly sunny and cloudy tomorrow before scattered rains and gusts start by late afternoon.

Friday is forecast to be the wettest day, when the typhoon will be nearest.

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In its forecast, Hong Kong Observatory said: “The weather will deteriorate on Thursday and Friday. Winds will further strengthen progressively. There will be heavy squally showers. Seas will be rough with swells. The weather will still be unsettled over the weekend.”

Flash floods killed at least 3 people in Antipolo city, including a pregnant woman

In the Philippines, where Storm Enteng caused millions in property and crop damage by dumping rains brought by the seasonal Southwest Monsoon on most of Luzon and Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) listed 10 confirmed deaths.

Seven of the fatalities, mostly due to landslide, were reported in Antipolo City, two in Central Visayas, and one in Western Visayas.

The NDRRMC said Enteng affected 147,024 people in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas

Pagasa weather forecasters expect more rains over the next three days, especially on the coastal areas of western Luzon. 

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