Finest of Philippine art on show in Hong Kong

 

BenCab cuts ceremonial ribbon assisted by Gail Hills and Deanna and David Sutherland

Possibly the biggest and most diverse collection of Philippine art is currently on show in Hong Kong, courtesy of Galleria Camaya, and will last until Monday, Nov. 20.

No less than the Philippines’ National Artist for Visual Arts, BenCab or Ben Cabrera, was on hand to open the exhibit on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre on Kennedy Road, along with Galleria Camaya’s owner, Gail Hills, and  David and Deanna Sutherland of International Care Ministries.

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A sample of BenCab’s priceless works are among those on display at two back-to-back exhibits painstakingly gathered and curated by Hills, who is herself a renowned artist and philanthropist, and former president of Pintura Circle, a group made up of Hong Kong-based Filipino artists.

The exhibits include “This is Philippine Art,” where a collection of the most outstanding works of emerging new artists in the Philippines can be viewed.

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They include Abi Dionisio,  Addie Cukingnan, Ardien Aspan, Armando “Pirasso” de la Cruz, Bullet Dematera, Enrie Nicdao, Gerrico Blanco, Guada Ramos Funtilar, Jaime Gubaton, Jeff Dahilan, Jerrico Eniel, Jojo Ramirez, Jo Uygongco, Julmard Vicente, Keith Paras, Loida Uncianco Bernardo, Maryrose Gisbert, Marius Black Funtilar, Noel Ceriola, Norlie Meimban, Rica Cena, Rosa Maria Manayon, Rene Resella, Stella Tansengco-Schapero, Wence Zyl and many others.

Separately, a solo show  by Kenneth John Montegrande titled “A Light on my Path” and featuring his moonscape series, opened at the same time.

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This is  Montegrande’s 19^th solo exhibition worldwide, and follows his acclaimed show in New York last year. His works are included in the Tokyo Contemporary Museum and are with various international art collectors.

A video of the collection can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/gailhk/videos/713357757039780 

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Apart from dabbling in various art forms, most notably ceramic painting, Hills has been collecting Philippine art and identifying outstanding Filipino artists to help them shine on the international stage. Through Galleria Camaya, Hills has mounted shows not just in Hong Kong, but also in Vienna and New York.

Hong Kong being her home base, Hills has also undertaken various activities to help raise money for the underprivileged, particularly migrant workers. During the pandemic she even sewed face masks using the best weather-proof textile, to help finance the needs of clients at Bethune House Migrant Women’s Shelter.

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From the beginning she has given back to the community by donating a big part of the proceeds of her successful exhibits to various causes.

For this show, Hills has earmarked as beneficiaries Bethune House and the International Care Ministries, which has for years raised money for the “poorest of the poor” in the Philippines.

All the art works on display, except for those of BenCab, are for sale, either through direct purchase, or silent bidding.

The show is open to everyone, from 10am to 9pm everyday. The Visual Arts Centre is located at No 7 Kennedy Road, Central.

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Filipina admits stealing employer’s luxury outfits, makeup

The Eastern Court magistrate said stealing from an employer is a 'serious offence'

A Filipina about to leave her employer’s flat on Nov. 8 following a fight over some missing red packets containing cash, was found to have a number of luxury items belonging to the employer in her suitcase, including a Burberry coat. She was promptly arrested.

Yesterday, Nov. 11, Mary Ann B. Canlas, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of theft before Eastern Magistrate Minnie Wat, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

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In sentencing, Magistrate Wat noted that the employer suffered no financial loss as all of the stolen items estimated to be worth more than $23,000 were all recovered. She also took note of the defense lawyer’s submission that Canlas was remorseful and determined not to reoffend.

“However, this is a serious case involving a breach of trust so an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable,” said the magistrate.

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She adopted a starting point of 4.5 months imprisonment, and after giving a one-third discount for the defendant’s guilty plea, reduced the jail term to three months.

The magistrate also ordered the December 7 hearing set earlier for the case, after Canlas initially indicated she wanted to enter a “no guilt” plea, abandoned.

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According to the charge sheet, the Filipina who started working for the employer on April 4, 2022 at Tung Shan Terrace in Happy Valley, stole, apart from the Burberry coat, the following items: a Moncler sweater, a Hollister t-shirt, two Hollister vests, one Ganji Lang long-sleeved shirt, one Forever coat, one Nike sweatpants, and six pieces of cosmetics including items from Shisheido, Bare Minerals and Smashbox.

The items were found in her suitcase by police officers who were called by her employer, Jocelyn Kwan, on Nov 8 as Canlas was preparing to leave after indicating she wanted to terminate their contract.

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Court records showed that Kwan had confronted Canlas earlier after allegedly noticing that money inside some red packets she had been keeping was missing. Apart from the helper, there was only the employer's eight-year-old daughter staying in the house with them, so suspicion fell on Canlas.

The Filipina was said to have become emotional and readily packed her suitcase. But the employer decided not to make her leave until after the police were called in.

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The police did not find any red packets in her bag, but found the other items the employer did not initially realize had been taken. 

When asked why she had her employer’s personal belongings in her suitcase, Canlas remained silent. However, she later said they were given to her by Kwan.

In asking for a lenient sentence, the defense lawyer said that Canlas who first arrived in Hong Kong in 2014, is now jobless and in jail, and will unlikely be allowed to remain here to work and provide for her family back in the Philippines, all because of “momentary greed.”

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Filipina charged with laundering money using 2 bank accounts

 

A Filipina domestic helper whose two bank accounts ended up being used in money laundering, pleaded not guilty when two charges were read to her today at Kwun Tong Court.

Roselyn Eliponga, 30 years old, faces two counts of violation of Sections 25 (1) and (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance filed by Tseung Kwan O Police.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Daniel Tang set the trial for Feb. 19-20.

He freed her on bail of $500.

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The prosecutor said they will present six witnesses, and will rely on an admission made by Eliponga during the investigation by police.

But her defense lawyer said he will challenge the admission and will present one witness.

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The first charge arose when Eliponga’s China Bank account received deposits from Oct. 5, 2020 to March 11, 2021 that accumulated to $132,030.

The second charge arose due to a deposit of $30,835.18 into another account she had with HSBC.

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In both charges she is accused of handling the money “knowing or having reasonable grounds” that they “directly or indirectly represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence….”

According to the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, the punishment for such an offence are:

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(a) on conviction upon indictment to a fine of $5,000,000 and to imprisonment for 14 years; or

(b) on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for 3 years.

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DH jailed 4 months for stealing $35k in Stanley Prison staff house

 

The theft happened inside a flat at Stanley Prison Staff Quarters (File)

A Filipina domestic worker who admitted stealing $35,167 in various denominations from her employer who works at Stanley Prison was sentenced to four months in jail earlier today, Nov. 17, at Eastern Court.

Susan P. Palacio, 40 years old, a single mother to seven children, pleaded guilty to one count of theft, which happened between July 15 and Oct 1 this year at her employer’s residence at the Stanley Prison Staff Quarters in Stanley.

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The amount lost consisted of HK$30,500 cash, AUD200 and EU500 which Palacio’s employer put inside an unlocked cabinet in his room on July 15.

On Oct. 3, the employer checked the CCTV in his room and saw the helper enter two days earlier at 6:51am, and take something out of the cabinet. After seeing the missing cash, he immediately called the police who arrested Palacio.

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In her cautioned statement, Palacio said she found the money while fixing clothes inside the cabinet. But she insisted that what she took was only HK$10,000 plus EU500 and AUD 200, which she said she had intended to send to her family in the Philippines on Oct. 1, but was unfortunately picked from her backpack.

In court, her lawyer said the helper did not have the means to repay the money lost as she had lost her job, and was not even able to collect her salary for the month of September. She said she was willing to give up her claim to her salary, but that was all she could give back to her employer.

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The defense lawyer asked for a lenient sentence, saying Palacio was the sole breadwinner in her family, and that she sent most of her salary to her seven children back in the Philippines, as she had separated from her husband.

Last Aug. 23, her daughter was bitten by a snake, adding to her worries.

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In sentencing, Magistrate Minnie Wat pointed out that the offence lasted for two months, and involved a serious breach of the employer’s trust. Also, aside from her uncollected salary, the defendant was unable to pay full compensation to the employer.

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After giving due weight to her clear record and admission of guilt, the magistrate said the suitable starting point for the sentence was six months, but after the prescribed one-third discount  for a guilty plea, reduced it to four months.

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PCG to hold forum on ending violence against women

 

As part of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, the Consulate General of the Philippines will hold a forum titled “Juana Knows!” on Dec. 6 from 2-5 pm at the Sentro Rizal room.

The forum will focus on RA 9262, otherwise known as the law to stop Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC), and related issued.

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The VAWC law in the Philippines seeks to address the prevalence of violence against women and their children (VAWC) by their intimate partners like their husband or ex-husband, live-in partner or former live-in partner, boyfriend/girlfriend or ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend, dating partner or former dating partner.

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Consul Paul Saret of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section and Vice Consul Allan G. Revote, of the civil registry unit, along with topnotch lawyer and legal advocate Anna Theresa L. Licaros will serve as panelists.

Interested participants may register through this link https://bit.ly/EndVAWCampaign or by scanning the QR code in the attached poster.

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For any questions or clarifications, please send an email to info.hkpcg@gmail.com.

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‘T-back queen, nanghingi ng dispensa dahil sa viral video

 

Balot na balot si 'T-back Queen' nang humingi ng dispensa gamit ang Facebook

Sa loob lang ng ilang araw ay biglang gumuho ang umaapaw na tiwala sa sarili ng isang Pilipinang domestic helper na ginamit ang pangalang “T-back Queen” sa Facebook at buong pagmamalaking gumagala-gala dati sa Hong Kong na kakaunti ang saplot sa katawan.

Kahapon, ika-15 ng Nobyembre ay buong pagpapakumbaba itong humingi ng paumanhin matapos kumalat ang isang video na siya mismo ang kumuha at nagpapakita sa kanya habang nasa kama kasama ang isang Intsik na lalaki na nilalaro ang kanyang mayamang dibdib.

Ayon sa Pilipina na ayon sa ilang kakilala ay Cherry daw ang tunay na pangalan, 41 taong gulang at may asawa’t anak sa Pilipinas, pinost niya sa Tiktok ang video pero naka private daw ang setting, at hindi niya alam kung sino ang naka hack nito at nagpakalat.

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“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin at sorry sa lahat. Alam kong mali ang ginawa ko,” ang sabi ni Cherry na balot na balot ang katawan, taliwas sa mga litrato na pino post niya dati sa mismong Facebook account niya na nakalabas ang T-back panties sa suot na maiksing shorts, at madalas na bra lang ang pantaas.

 “Humihingi ako ng tawad so please, huwag na po ninyong i-share yung video ko,” dagdag pa niya. “Wala akong sinendan ng video na yan, akin lang talaga.”

Kasabay ng pagkalat ng video at iba pang mga litrato na galing sa kanyang TikTok account ang pagtanggal niya ng kanyang Facebook account gamit ang pangalang T-back Queen.

Nabahala ang nag-post ng litratong ito ni T-back Queen na namamasyal sa Word-Wide Plaza

Nangyari ang pagkalat ng video ilang araw matapos maglabasan ang mga litrato niya na buong tapang na rumampa sa isang car show sa Chater Road noong Nov. 7, na ang tanging suot ay isang maiksing shorts na butas ang magkabilang gilid at tinernuhan ng backless na brang maong.

Pagkatapos niyang magpakuha ng litrato sa itaas ng kotseng naka display doon ay lumakad naman siya papasok sa siksikang WorldWide Plaza kung saan di iilan katao ang hindi nakatiis na kunan siya ng litrato at ipost ang mga ito sa Facebook.

Bago ito ay sumakay pa siya sa tren ng MTR at ginulantang ang mga tao doon dahil sa buong tapang niyang pagpapakuha ng mga litrato.

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May ilan pang naglabasan na litrato na nagpapakita din kung paano siya naglalakad-lakad tuwing day-off na pawang mapang-akit ang mga suot, kabilang ang isang kulay kahel na damit na hapit na hapit, at kita din sa butas nitong tagiliran na wala siyang suot na panloob.

Marami ang nagulat at nagalit sa kapahangasan niyang maglantad ng katawan, pero may ilan ding kumampi sa kanya, kabilang ang litratista niyang Abby Sugar ang pangalan sa Facebook, na buong tapang na nagsabi na inggit lang ang mga pumupuna sa magandang hubog ng kanyang katawan.

Ang iba naman, sinabi na karapatan niyang gawin ang anumang gustuhin niya sa sarili niyang katawan.

Pero mas marami ang hindi natuwa, kabilang si Marites Palma, founder ng Social Justice for Migrant Workers.

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Pagkatapos sabihin na “tinamaan na din ng hiya finally” si Tback Queen dahil sa lumabas nitong video, sinabi ni Palma ang: “Kung may angking kagandahan at kakayahan gamitin sa tama para gumanda ang image nating mga Pilipino, hindi yang kutyain tayo…”

Sumang-ayon naman dito si Leo Selomenio, founder ng Global Alliance Hong Kong, at kilala sa pag-oorganisa ng mga patimpalak-kagandahan sa Hong Kong.

Sabi ni Selomenio, “Kaya nga lumakas lalo ang loob dahil kahit nakita nang mali ang ginagagawa pinagtatanggol pa din. Pumunta tayo dito para magtrabaho, hindi magkalat na damay ang lahat. Marami ang nagsasabi (huwag) makialam kahit maling mali ang nakikita, pikit mata lang. Kagigil ang mga ganyang prinsipyo. DH ka tapos ganyan ang gagawin mo.” 

Galing daw sa isang local resident ang galit na reaksyon na ito sa pakulo ni T-back Queen

May ibang hindi nakapagpigil at isinumbong ang lantarang pagpapakita ng katawan ng mapangahas na Pilipina sa Konsulado.

Ayon kay Konsul Heneral Raly Tejada, “According to our ATN (assistance to nationals section) may nag email to report this matter. We invite the email sender to see our ATN section walang masyadong detalye ang email niya.”

Hindi siya nagbigay agad ng komento kung maari bang pagbawalan si T-back Queen sa ginagawa niyang pagbilad ng kanyang katawan sa publiko, bilang isang Pilipino at residente ng Hong Kong.

Pero batay sa section 101 ng Criminal Procedure Ordinance ng Hong Kong, ang paggawa ng anumang bagay na nakakabahala sa moralidad ng publiko (“outraging public decency”) ay maaring parusahan ng pagkakakulong ng hanggang pitong taon.

Tinutukoy ng batas na ito ang anumang gawain na nagdudulot ng eskandalo o pandidiri sa iba, at posibleng makasira sa moralidad ng publiko dahil maaring pamarisan.

Kung ang pagbabasehan naman ay ang “Code of Discipline for Overseas Filipino Workers” ay maari ding ituring na may ginawang paglabag si T-back Queen, dahil sa paulit-ulit niyang paggamit ng mga mapangahas na kasuotan sa publiko, at ngayon ay may sex video pa.

Kabilang sa mga pinagbabawal sa ilalim ng panuntunang ito ang paggawa ng isang OFW ng mga bagay na makakasira ng interes at kapakanan ng kanyang kapwa manggagawa, at paglabag sa mga batas at patakaran ng bansang kanyang pinagtatrabahuan.

Nakaatang din sa balikat ng bawat OFW ang obligasyon na maging “ambassador of goodwill” ng Pilipinas saan man siya makarating.

Kabilang sa mga maaring ipataw na parusa sa mga lalabag sa Code of Discipline ay ang pagbabawal na mangibang bansa siyang muli na ang tagal ay depende sa kung gaano ka seryoso ang ginawa niyang kasalanan.

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