Page 21 Page 10 Page 13 TRUE LOVE? Showbiz SUSPENDED. The personality Mahal Philippine Overseas marries her 25-year- Labor Office suspends old boyfriend Jobbie 12 Hong Kong Hebrio in civil rites in employment agencies . for OEC fraud. SUCCESS. Kata CEO and founder David Chen shares his inspiration and journey in leading a global brand which offers products known for “making life easy.” The No.1 Filipino Newspaper Vol.VI No.337 November 15, 2015 Nanay Gloria is returning to HK By Maia Lopez and Bing Jabadan

WELCOME back. Domestic worker Gloria Ortinez is set to return to Hong Kong to talk to her em- ployer and retain her job after the Depart- ment of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the case against her. Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said Ortinez will fly back to Hong Kong on November 14 after the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the case of illegal possession of ammuni- tion filed against her. Ople will accompany Ortinez together with her lawyer, Spocky Farolan, and La- bor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III “Nanay Gloria is so traumatized to enter the airport again. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz gave instructions to her undersecretary to assist us until Hong Kong,” Ople told Hong Kong News. “Regaining her job is a vital step to- wards her recovery from the trauma caused by the ‘tanim-bala’ syndicate,” she added. PROTEST. Overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong hold a protest action in Central on November 1, All Saints’ Day, to condemn the arrest of Turn to page 12 domestic worker Gloria Ortinez, an alleged victim of the “tanim-bala” scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. (Cheryl M. Arcibal) Employer of ‘live-out’ FDH charged for trying to stop her arrest By Philip C. Tubeza charge of obstructing members of the Mary Rose was charged earlier with Rose was going to use it to challenge the after getting a tip that a foreign domestic Immigration service who arrested his do- making false representation to an Immi- constitutionality of the Hong Kong regu- worker was living there. A Canadian professor is in hot water after mestic worker, Filipino Mary Rose A. gration officer but the government decid- lation requiring foreign domestic workers “We arrived at 6:23 a.m. and I knocked he allegedly tried to stop Immigration of- “He ignored my warnings. He tried to ed not to pursue the case after it was re- to live in the residence of their employers. on the door. I heard a female voice say, ficers from arresting his “live-out” Filipi- pull away Mary Rose towards the direc- vealed in court that Immigration officers The incident allegedly happened at `Who is it?’” Ho said. no domestic worker in Ma Wan. tion of Park Island,” an immigration of- interrogated her although she was sick. around 7 a.m. on January 28 at Tin Yu “I replied, ‘This is an immigration of- Joseph James Unrau pleaded not guilty ficer surnamed Ho told the court on Oc- They only relented when she started New Village in Ma Wan. at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts to the tober 30. vomiting. If her case had proceeded, Mary Ho and his team went to a village house Turn to page 12

PUBLISHED BY HK PUBLICATIONS LTD. TEL: 2851 1766 WEBSITE : WWW.HONGKONGNEWS.COM.HK 2 NEWS November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS PCG tells OFWs to file complaint vs Emgoldex By Cheryl M. Arcibal Code (SRC). SEC’s March 3 advisory said that “the Guzman-Quintin said three persons public is...warned that all other purported THE Philippine Consulate General has came to the PCG two weeks ago to com- public advisories regarding Emgoldex that urged Filipinos who fell prey to invest- plain about the investment scam and were ostensibly carry the name of SEC or any ment scams involving Emgoldex and two told to make the complaint formal by sub- of its officials are unauthorized, fictitious other companies to file their formal com- mitting a complaint affidavit. and fabricated, especially if these are not plaints. “Hindi pa sila bumabalik, but what we found or posted in sec.gov.ph.” “In case they will approach the consu- can do is we can take their affidavit, and It also reiterated that Emgoldex Philip- late, they will be helped in filing the - af then notarize it here,” she said. pines “is not a registered corporation or fidavit and we will forward it to the SEC In February, then SEC Commission partnership in the ...[and] is (Securities and Exchange Commission) Secretary Gerard Lukban said the regu- not also licensed or authorized to solicit thru the DFA (Department of Foreign lator has coordinated with the National investments from the public in the Philip- Affairs),” said Vice Consul Fatima Guz- Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine pines.” man-Quintin. National Police regarding the activities According to previous Facebook posts, The SEC has sued Emgoldex, and its Emgoldex. investing in Emgoldex Philippines “Pinoy related entities Global Intergold, and In March the SEC issued another warn- Style Patak Patak” will earn profits of Prosperous Infinite Philippines Holdings ing against Emgoldex following a “ficti- P5,000 to P10,000 for a mere P1,000 in- Corp. for allegedly selling unregistered tious” advisory supposedly clearing the vestment. A placement of P35,000 will securities to the public without a license, investment activities of Emgoldex Phil- have an interest of between P180,000 and or violating the Securities and Regulation ippines. P360,000. DOLE accepts MR on Roldan case By Maia Lopez Roldan liable only for “simple miscon- on August 7. duct” during his tour of duty here in Hong Panares said CSPEM, which filed the THE Department of Labor and Employ- Kong, DOLE sources said. complaint against Roldan, was waiting ment (DOLE) has received a motion for Adrielle Panares, a CSPEM leader, had for the DOLE to invite its members so reconsideration on Labor Secretary Ro- questioned Baldoz as to why she made a that they could present their evidence. salinda Baldoz’s decision about former ruling even when the coalition had yet to The group accused Roldan of abusing Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan. formally present their evidence. his authority and other offenses during The DOLE accepted the letter sent “Bakit naman ho kayo nagdesisyon na his stint here in Hong Kong. One accusa- by the Coalition of Service Providers ang complainant ninyo hindi niyo tina- tion was Roldan’s alleged approval of the for Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong nong?” Panares pointedly asked Baldoz accreditation of an employment agency (CSPEM) as a formal motion of reconsid- during a tense Filipino community meet- owned by the daughter of his staff mem- eration on Baldoz’s ruling which found ing at the Philippine Consulate General ber. Roldan denied the charges. ‘Drug mules could be victims too’ THE High Court has issued a landmark ruling which freed six elderly drug mules from Australia, Europe, and the United States. High Court Judge Kevin Zervos ordered the release of the drug mules after the prosecution offered no evidence against them. In his ruling, Zervos said the illegal drug trade “does not simply rest on drug mules” who “maybe victims too.” He also faulted the prosecution for taking too long before deciding not to pursue the case. “Never have the words been truer than now, that justice delayed is justice de- nied,” the judge said. “The decision to terminate these cas- es…has taken far too long,” he added. The defendants were arrested last year while they were about to exit Hong Kong for Australia and New Zealand with 1.6 kilos to 4 kilos of ice or methamphetamine hydrochloride. Observers noted that the ruling might offer hope to Filipino drug mules jailed in Hong Kong. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 3 4 November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 5 6 NEWS November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Illegal fees from FDHs could reach HK$700 M By Cheryl Arcibal paying for education and building all these things,” said Stiles during a talk with Fil- ANNUAL illegal fees collected from mi- ipino domestic workers on October 4 at grant domestic workers in Hong Kong Enrich’s office in Sheung Wan. could amount to at least US$100 million Rice, who is leading the seminar as or HK$700 million. part of the knowledge transfer project of James Rice, assistant professor at the Lingnan University, said that the estimate Department of Philosophy of Lingnan is based on HK$15,000 that Filipino do- University; and Scott Stiles, general man- mestic workers usually pay agencies for ager of the Fair Employment Agency placement fees, while Indonesians are (FEA), both came up with the estimate usually charged higher fees. The Enrich forum based on the amount of illegal fees col- “To me it’s quite shocking because that lected by shouldn’t be the case. It’s illegal, the bulk having a massive tax fraud in their hands. employment agencies from Filipino and of this money is ill-gotten gains. My ques- My question is why does the Hong Kong Indonesian domestic helpers and the num- tion is, one of the questions that I asked is government does not enforce its own tax ber of contracts that these agencies pro- do these employment agencies pay tax? If law,” Rice said in an interview. cess yearly. they do pay tax, then the Hong Kong gov- The Philippines has a policy of zero “Our guess is HK$700 million. We ernment must know that they’re cheating placement fee, while Hong Kong allows heard that 50 percent of that money should these domestic helpers. agency fee amounting to 10 percent of have been remitted to the Philippines or “If they don’t pay tax, then that leads to the foreign domestic helper’s first month Indonesia, and that they should have been other questions. It seems to me that you’re salary. LD shuts down two agencies By Peter Castillo

THE Labour Department (LD) has closed down two agencies for overcharging for- eign domestic workers. The LD said it has revoked the licenses of Maidhouse Employment Agency (lo- cated in Tsuen Wan) and Smile Sunshine Employment Limited (located in North Point). “The licensee of Smile Sunshine Em- ployment Limited has been convicted of overcharging a jobseeker and was fined $10,000, while the licensee of Maidhouse Employment Agency also operated anoth- er EA (employment agency) which was convicted of overcharging, and thus she was considered not a fit and proper person for operating an EA,” the department said in a statement on Nov. 6. The LD reminded employment agen- cy operators to conduct their business in compliance with the law, or they may face prosecution or risk their licences being re- voked or their renewal refused. “Under the Employment Ordinance, the Commissioner for Labour may refuse to issue or renew, or may revoke a licence of an EA if the person operating or intending to operate an EA has contravened any pro- vision of Part XII of the said Ordinance, or if he is considered not a fit and proper person to operate an EA,” a spokesman for the LD said. For enquiries or complaints about un- licensed operation or overcharging job- seekers’ commission by EAs, please call the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD at 2852 3535, or visit its office at 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 7 8 NEWS November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Baldoz nixes FDH hiring in HK for work in Turkey By Philip C. Tubeza ippine Overseas Employment Administra- Kong could make representation with the cies like Artellect and applying for a visa tion (POEA) can recruit Filipino domestic Turkish Consulate that only POEA accred- to work as (domestic workers) in Turkey,” LABOR Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has workers for work abroad. ited/license recruitment agency must be she added. warned against the recruitment in Hong Baldoz said the Philippine Consulate involved in the recruitment of (domestic Labor Attache Nenita Garcia earlier Kong of Filipino domestic helpers for General should inform the Turkish con- workers) bound for Turkey,” Baldoz said. said that the Labour Department was in- work in Turkey. sulate in Hong Kong about this stringent “It is also recommended that the PCG vestigating the hiring of Filipina domes- Baldoz In a letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary requirement. launch an information campaign to warn tic worker here in Hong Kong for Turkey Albert del Rosario, Baldoz said only em- “On the reported recruitment of Filipino OFWs about the possible consequences of after one helper said she paid HK$19,000 ment fee,” Garcia said. ployment agencies accredited by the Phil- workers, the DFA through the PCG Hong engaging the services of recruitment agen- for a job in Turkey but was fired after only She said the Philippine Overseas Labor 45 days. Office in Hong Kong had not verified any “Ni-report lang namin sa kanila and they job order for Turkey. said they will look into it---kung licensed Garcia said they had also raised the is- ba talaga yung agency; ano ang kanilang sue during a meeting with officials from ginagawa; at magkano ang kanilang place- the Turkish consulate. Agency recruiting FDHs for Turkey convicted By Peter Castillo for overcharging of commission. The EAA investigated the case and AN employment agency Tuen Mun hiring found sufficient evidence showing that Ar- Filipino domestic helpers for work in Tur- tellect had “collected excessive placement key was fined $45,000 for overcharging a fees” from an FDH. job seeker, the Labour Department (LD) According to the law, employment agen- said. cies are not allowed to collect from job The LD said Artellect Limited was seekers any fees or charge other than the convicted at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ prescribed commission, “which is set at 10 Courts on October 29 for overcharging a per cent” of the applicant’s first month’s foreign domestic helper (FDH). salary “upon successful placement.” “We are glad that the FDH concerned The Labour Department said Artellect was willing to come forward to report her was the eighth EA convicted of overcharg- case to the EAA (Employment Agencies ing this year. Administration) and act as prosecution “The LD reminds EAs to operate in full witness,” a spokesman for the LD said. compliance with the law. Failure to do so “The LD will not tolerate any EAs may lead to prosecution and possible rev- (employment agencies) overcharging job ocation of licences,” the department said. seekers and will act promptly upon receipt For complaints about overcharging, of any complaints,” he added. please call the EAA at 2852 3535 or visit The LD said a complaint was filed in its office on 12/F, Harbour Building, 38 April against Artellect Limited at the EAA Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 NEWS 9 Pinay insists $500 ‘planted’ in wallet By Philip C. Tubeza The domestic worker’s employers had open court during the hearing. was set to give birth on Nov. 7. the case after recusing himself because of accused her of stealing $500, which was “They don’t want to pay wages in lieu “The wife is about to give birth and the the comment he made during the hearing. DESPITE a judge’s doubts about her de- found in her old wallet. of notice or around $4,000. In order not money was planted in the defendant’s wal- “I discharge myself from this case. De- fense, a Filipino domestic helper accused Nora claimed that her employers framed to pay the amount, the couple fabricated let. Off the cuff, it rather sounds like a thin fendant, you don’t have to worry about of theft is insisting that she was framed up. her up because they did not want to pay this and is willing to go to court to commit defense,” Magistrate Wahab said. any views I expressed,” he said. Nora L.A. insisted on her innocence at her wages in lieu of notice after terminat- perjury,” Wahab said, laying out Nora’s Nora was unperturbed and insisted that The Philippine Consulate General is the Eastern Magistrates Courts on Novem- ing her. defense. the $500 was planted in her wallet. The providing assistance to the domestic help- ber 3 even after Magistrate Abu Bakar bin Judge Wahab, however, was not entirely However, the magistrate noted that No- case was reset to December 8. er, who used to work for her employers in Wahad said her defense was “thin.” convinced by Nora’s claim and said so in ra’s female employer was pregnant and Judge Wahab will no longer be hearing Hong Kong island. Judge scolds lawyer for being unprepared to defend Pinoy By Philip C. Tubeza tourists, who went into the Jordan MTR station and then boarded a train back to the A District Court judge scolded the lawyer Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, where they of a Filipino pickpocket after he came to found their victim. court unprepared November 6. “(Abiera) pointed to the (the male vic- Judge Eddie Yip scolded the lawyer of tim and his female companion) and they defendant Jeric F. Abiera after he could not followed the couple as they went up the tell the judge how long his client, based of escalator to the concourse,” Judge Yip legal precedents, should be imprisoned af- said. ter the Filipino and his accomplice, Jenifer The two pickpockets then flanked the C. Manio, pleaded guilty to theft. male victim from behind. Using a paper Yip was irritated after the lawyer had to fan as cover, Manio, and then Abiera, un- borrow the case files of Manio’s defense zipped the victim’s bag. Abiera then took counsel to argue about Abiera’s proper jail the shoulder bag but the police caught up sentence. with him. “It appears you are far from being fully During the police investigation, it was prepared. This is a sad day. I don’t want to discovered that Abiera was issued a depor- put your client any one more day (in jail) tation order on June 12, 1998 and was told if you can help it,” Yip said. not to return to Hong Kong again. “How about your client? Are you giving But using different names, Abiera was your best? If you are not comfortable with able to come back here and was arrested in court work, don’t do it,” he added. 1999, 2001, and 2006 for different crimes. Abiera and Manio were arrested at the The police said he used eight aliases. Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station after they tried He had been also been convicted 12 to take a red and black shoulder bag from times in Hong Kong. These included two a tourist who was in Hong Kong with a convictions for theft in 1997, once for at- fermale companion. tempted theft in 1999, once for conspiracy The tourist’s bag contained two pass- to steal in 2006, and thrice for obtaining ports, HK$1,859.9, and 23.5 in Macau property by deception in 2001. patacas. Abiera, 44 years old and a part-time “The police noticed that (Abiera and taxi driver, said he committed his latest Manio) looked suspicious when they crime because he needed money to pay a kept on staring at the bags of people near $10,000 debt for a liver surgery in 2013. the corner of Nathan Road and Nanking He claimed he did not know Manio and Street,” Judge Yip said. that they only met here in Hong Kong at The police followed the two Filipino the MTR.

District Court 10 NEWS November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS 12 agencies suspended for OEC fraud

By Philip C. Tubeza “It turns out that this practice is quite inungaling kahapon. Nagawa ko po yun Wan, was suspended after the POLO widespread. We want this stopped because dahil wala po akong pera na pang gastos learned that its worker, Marissa G.C., had THE Philippine Overseas Labor Office we don’t want our workers to come here uli sa mga training,” Natalie said. already been terminated but she still ap- (POLO) has suspended 12 employment undocumented and unprotected,” German She promised that she would not re- plied for an OEC. agencies after it discovered that they were said. peat her offense and that she would apply Marissa was terminated on August 3 but telling their “terminated” Filipino domes- She said OEC applications of workers with a licensed agency to get work here in the worker still applied for an OEC from tic workers to get overseas employment who have been with their employers for Hong Kong. the POLO on August 9. She was given certificates (OEC), acting Labor Attache less than a year are now being thorough- “Inaamin ko po ang aking nagawang one. The following day, Marissa’s agency Ma. Nena German said. ly checked at the POLO to stop the illegal pagkakamali. Humihingi po ako ng kap- submitted her new employment contract. German said the POLO temporarily practice. Tianero and German atawaran. Ito po ay magsisilbing aral po The POLO ordered the agency to ex- stopped the 12 agencies from hiring Fil- “We want to know if they were really sa akin, na ang pagsisinungaling ay hindi plain why Marissa had to obtain an OEC ipinos because they were instructing the allowed to go on vacation or if they were The worker Natalie broke down before maganda ang naidudulot,” Natalie said. when her new contract was already being workers to lie and obtain OECs although terminated,” German said. Tianero on November 3 and begged that “Gusto ko pong magtrabaho dito. Na- processed. they had been terminated from their jobs. She noted the case of one terminated she be allowed to get an OEC because she way mabigyan niyo po ako ng isa pang “Pending compliance with this directive If terminated workers get OECs, they worker—identified as Natalie A.B.—who had to go home after “her father died.” pagkakataon,” she added. and resolution of this issue, all actions would be able to come back to Hong Kong even cried and pretended that her father However, a check with her employ- The POLO earlier suspended two agen- for verification of documents such as job and work under a new contract without go- died so that Assistant Labor Attaché Hen- er showed that she had been terminated. cies after their domestic workers obtained orders and employment contracts (of the ing through the Philippine Overseas Em- ry Tianero would just give her an OEC. The following day, the worker wrote the OECs but came back here to new employ- agency), including that of (Marissa), are ployment Administration and the Over- “They are telling our workers to lie. POLO to apologize. ers. put on hold,” said a POLO letter on Au- seas Workers Welfare Administration. This has to stop,” German said. “Sir, sorry po sa nagawa kong pagsis- One of the agencies, located in Chai gust 12. Selling liquor in ‘alley-alley’ Pinoy acquitted in ‘Peeping Tom’ case By Philip C. Tubeza ushered them into the bar and later asked By Philip C. Tubeza ber 10. But during the Filipino’s court trial, them if they wanted a drink. “The standard of proof here is beyond the female victim could not say for sure THE police have charged three Filipino The two officers ordered San Miguel A magistrate has acquitted a Filipino reasonable doubt, which is very high…I that the culprit was Eduardo. women for illegally selling liquor in an beer after Ortiz said each bottle costs $20. accused of loitering and peering into a give the defendant the benefit of the “She agreed with the defense counsel “alley-alley” bar in Central. Ortiz allegedly brought them two. toilet for women in Kowloon City. doubt and acquit him accordingly,” he that she could not recognize the face of Carmen C. Ortiz, Rose C. Maceda, and They also allegedly saw Maceda clean- Deputy Magistrate Lee Kwok-fu dis- added. the man who peeped under her skirt,” Esperanza V. Villareal, were charged with ing one of the tables and so they later or- missed the charge of loitering causing Upon hearing his acquittal, a relieved Judge Lee said. selling liquor without a license at the Car- dered and got two more bottles of beer concern against Eduardo P., married and Eduardo said: “Thank you, Your Honor.” Eduardo’s defense was also bolstered lan Bar along Lee Yuen Street West in from her. a Hong Kong resident, after his alleged The incident allegedly happened on after the policeman who investigated the March. The police allegedly confiscated at On the other hand, Villareal allegedly female victim could not positively iden- June 22 after an unidentified man peered CCTV footage admitted in court that he least 450 bottles of beer. approached their table later and asked if tify him. “under the skirt” of a woman in a toilet “would not be able to identify the man” Maceda was also charged with overstay- they wanted some “wine.” “(Although the face of the culprit in in Kowloon. in the video. ing and illegally taking up employment “(My colleague) asked what wine? She the CCTV pictures) was very similar to She filed a complaint with the police, “Therefore, I’m unable to put any The police raided the bar on March 27 said ‘gin’ and asked if we had money,” the (that of the defendant), this is a criminal who arrested Eduardo on August 10 weight on (the investigator’s) evi- after two policemen in civilian clothes officer told the court. trial and mere suspicion or similarity is based on the CCTV footage of the area dence...A mistaken witness can be a very pretended to be customers and ordered “After I heard this, I took out $500 (in not enough,” Judge Lee said on Novem- around the toilet. convincing one,” the judge said. beer. marked money) to pay for it,” he added. One of the police officers said Ortiz The trial of the three accused continues. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 11 12 NEWS November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Employer... DOJ... From page 1 NBI para alamin kung sino talaga,” Faro- The DOLE assistance shall include legal From page 1 “He used one of his arms to embrace Mary Rose while using the other to block lan said. advice; psycho-social counselling; free ficer. Please open the door for an identifi- the hand of Mary Rose,” Ho said. The DOJ prosecutor dismissed the case “Pagnalaman po natin ang katotohanan, communication lines to immediate family, cation check,” he added. He said he asked the Filipino woman against Ortinez for “lack of probable dun na po..sunod-sunod na po ang mga friend, recruitment agency, or lawyer; and But instead of opening the door, the why she was living in the village house cause.” kaso diyan. Kung kinakailangan na pum- food and accommodation. female inside did not answer any more but Mary Rose allegedly only answered “Assuming for the sake of argument that irma si Nanay Gloria para maging com- The POEA and OWWA shall immedi- while the lights inside were shut off. that she was Unrau’s domestic worker. the ammunition was recovered from her plainant ay gagawin po namin,” he said. ately advise the ILAB when an OFW is At around 6:42 a.m., Unrau arrived at Ho said they then informed Mary Rose possession, nowhere in the entire state- Ortinez had insisted that she was a vic- arrested. The ILAB will then communi- the scene and asked who and what Ho that she had to be detained but Unrau al- ments of the complainants will show that tim of the “tanim-bala” modus operandi at cate with the concerned Philippine Over- and his team were doing there. legedly started “pulling” her away. (Ortinez) had any intention to possess the the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in seas Labor Office (POLO) to advise the Ho said he introduced himself and his “At that time, we wanted defendant not subject ammunition,” the prosecutor said. on October 25. foreign agency or employer on the OFW’s team and told the Canadian that they re- to pull away Mary Rose further because Farolan said Ortinez was “very, very To help put an end to the scam, La- situation and, if possible, request that the ceived information that a foreign domes- she was under our detention already (but) happy” with the DOJ decision. bor chief Baldoz has created a task force OFW be given reasonable time to thresh- tic helper was living in the village house. he ignored our warnings,” Ho said. “We’re very, very happy not only for to immediately help overseas Filipino out the issue. “He told us he was the tenant of that “Suddenly, the defendant used his left Nanay Gloria because this decision can workers (OFWs) who fall victim to the The POEA shall also inform the OFW’s village house. When we asked him to hand to pat and hit the left hand of my actually be used by other victims,” Faro- “tanim-bala” modus operandi. recruitment agency of the incident for any open the door, he refused and left, saying colleague (who intended) to bring Mary lan told Hong Kong News. “This deplorable modus operandi is assistance, such as coordination with the he was calling the police,” Ho said. Rose on board a government vehicle,” he Farolan said the Pasay City prosecutor sowing fear among our OFWs who are foreign principal/employer and possible At 6:49 a.m., Unrau returned and again added. stated that “intent to possess” was vital if either going abroad for employment, or placement to other employer in case the asked what Ho and his team were doing Ho said he again warned Unrau, say- an illegal possession of ammunition case coming home to their families for a vaca- OFWs employment is forfeited. and if they had the authority to do so. ing: “You are hitting an Immigration of- were to prosper. tion,” Baldoz said. Baldoz also said that the OWWA 24/7 He also asked them to leave, adding ficer. You are obstructing our duty. Stop “Kailangan alam ng tao na may bala The Inter-Agency Team is composed Operations Center with contact numbers that he would just ask the “person inside it. Do not do it anymore.” siya at kailangan yung kaalaman niya may of Philippine Overseas Employment Ad- 551-6641; 833-6992; 551-1560; and 0917 the village house to go to (immigration) Ho’s colleagues then successfully sep- kaakibat din na plano para gamitin yung ministration (POEA); Overseas Workers 898-6992 shall serve as hotlines for OFWs office with a statement.” arated Unrau and Mary Jane and the do- bala na yun,” Farolan said. Welfare Administration (OWWA); Inter- victimized by “tanim-bala.” “At that time, I declined his request. mestic worker was brought to the waiting “Kung wala po yun at ang kaso mo ay sa national Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB); Meanwhile, PNP-Aviation Security Why? Because we still can’t confirm the government vehicle. Pasay...madidismiss po ang kaso,” he said. Legal Service (LS); and Labor Communi- Group-NCR chief P/Supt. Ricardo Layug, identification of the female in the village Unrau allegedly tried to catch up with Farolan said Ortinez was closely work- cations Office (LCO). Jr., who earned the ire of OFWs especially house,” Ho said. her. ing with the National Bureau of Investiga- Baldoz said that if an OFW is appre- after photos of him wearing an expensive At 7:10 a.m., Mary Rose came out of “Because the defendant was still resist- tion (NBI) so that she could file charges hended for alleged possession of ammuni- watch spread, was sacked from his post. the village house and Unrau hugged her. ing at the time, and I saw him pat on and against those who “planted” the bullet in tion/bullets, the POEA and OWWA shall, Also relieved due to the “tanim-ba- But when she produced her HKID, hit the hands of my female colleague, so her bag. through their respective Labor Assistance la” controversy were AVSEGROUP Unrau embraced Mary Rose “to prevent I told him: ‘You are now under arrest,’” “Wala pa tayong sinasabi na mga pulis Center and Welfare Officers stationed at spokesperson P/Supt. Jeanne Panisan and Mary Rose from producing her ID card.” Ho said. o taga-airport ang gumagawa nito kaya the airports, immediately assist the con- AVSEU-NCR investigation chief P/Sr. In- patuloy ang aming pakikipagtulungan sa cerned OFW. spector Eugene Juaneza. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 PEOPLE 13 Kata founder explains growing success

By Cheryl M. Arcibal put your idea into a business, you realize also watch movies. Sometimes, kids don’t you don’t know anything. You realize that want to watch TV, they want to play games IT all started when he was 11 years old and you just have the illusion or the perception so that is the ability of the Kata box versus he would always find himself taking apart and you learn that you know nothing about of what’s out there,” he said. and putting back together a VCR tape. servers, switches, and lines, but you learn “Our tablet (T4) has a TV folder, and Since then, David Chen’s quest to build what you need to do,” Chen said. you can access Netflix, CBS and all that his own business and merge it with his in- He soldiered on and, four years after, stuff. No one else has built a device like terest in technology would take him to the he put up Owtel shops which then sold that and we have this because we’re doing US, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, phones from various brands. this as service. We’ve always been a ser- and Singapore. It would also push him to “Back in 2009, I looked around and I vice company. We started out as an IDD draw inspiration from the unlikeliest per- said ‘Hey, that’s not good’. Anybody can company. So now, this device, we flipped sons, and places. sell what we have. The guy next door had it to provide service, and this is what we “That’s always been a childhood dream Nokia, Samsung, and I thought we need- have always been,” he added. of mine. That goes way back when I was ed something different, something better, In the near term, Chen said Kata would in high school and in my college days. something that we have that no one else DAVID CHEN be focused on marketing and getting the I’ve always wanted to have a business, has, and that’s how the Kata brand came public to know about the brand and its but it didn’t happen overnight. My mom about,” he said. and I thought that Kata really sounded so That’s how we came up with the koi fish products better. said: ‘David, you should go get a job, and It was in the Philippines and in a meet- simple, sounded really good,” he added. and the shadow of it,” he said. Presently, Kata products are sold in get some work experience before owning ing with a Japanese guy that Chen’s search He then searched the internet and found “In technology, you gotta catch up, num- Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Sin- a business. It is good to learn and see the for a simple, easy to remember, and easy that Kata means “form” in karate in Jap- ber one. Once you caught up, you need to gapore, the US, and Canada. Next year, world first’,” said Chen, founder and CEO to pronounce brand name ended. anese. level up, and right now we are taking it to Chen said he is eyeing to expand to Ma- of global brand Kata. “We need our own brand. The question “To me, it means simplicity...very sim- different levels. Not only have we learned, laysia and Taiwan. Eventually, he is also And get a job, he did, in the US. He then is ‘What do we call it?’ We looked ple, very easy to remember. It’s the best we have mastered it,” he said. seeking to venture to South Korea and oth- first worked with AT&T, where he got his around and we considered this name and name possible and any Asian can pro- This pursuit is evident in the latest Kata er Southeast Asian markets such as Myan- corporate training, before moving to Bank that name, and we said that it must not be nounce it...we do business in Asia even products - the Kata box, and the Kata tab- mar and Cambodia. of America to learn more about finance. too complicated because you wanted peo- though we are a US company,” he said. let T4. Going public and offering Kata’s shares Finally, he worked with Cisco Systems to ple to be able pronounce the name and re- As for the koi fish as Kata’s logo, he Chen said the Mega VPN app allows to the investors is among the company’s learn more about technology. member it very easily. So, it has to be very said it illustrates the brand’s philosophy of users of both Kata Box and the T4 to play long-term plans, he said. Coming back to Hong Kong, he put up simple,” Chen said. “making life easy.” games, watch movies and shows. Kata has “Going public is the ultimate goal. [It an IDD company - One World Telecom - “And I was thinking one night, and I was “We wanted something different, some- an exclusive partnership with Mega VPN will probably happen] when we are ready, in 1999. As with any other business, the thinking of what should I call it, and there thing unique and no one has ever used it and it is preloaded and free in Kata’s new- and I love it to be in Hong Kong. Hong beginning was challenging. was this fellow from Japan and his name (koi fish). This is an Asian brand and the est devices. Kong would be [a] nice [place to list],” “My experience is that when you try to was Shikata. I was in a meeting with him fish represents zen, energy, and vibrance. “You could play games, but you could Chen said. 14 FORUM November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Editorial As We See it Beyond aesthetics IF an airport is the first and last impres- has finally done something to address the sions that a traveler has of any country, deplorable state of the country’s main what does it say about the Ninoy Aquino airport. Apparently, however, these ef- International Airport? forts did not include a better training and We have heard and read about how orientation for those who run and operate for several years the Philippines’ premier the airport. gateway is one of the world’s worst air- In 2014, the government announced ports. that it would be earmarking as much as Since then the government has em- P1.2 billion for the refurbishment of the barked on rehabilitation efforts to help airport. Yes, NAIA Terminal 1 looks bet- decongest and clean up the airport, par- ter now, but if there’s anything that taught ticularly Terminal 1. us about this alleged scam is that airport And the efforts paid off. The latest sur- management should go beyond the aes- vey of the travel website “The Guide to thetics. Ensure that people managing and Sleeping in Airports” no longer identified running the airport operation are trust- NAIA as among the world’s worst. worthy and with integrity. The tanim-bala/laglag-bala scam, how- The government could spend as much ever, threatens to undo all these efforts. as it wants to erase the tag that NAIA This purported scam has shown that more is decrepit, and unsafe, but if its man- than just physical refurbishment, NAIA agement and its security officers would should undergo a major substantive reha- be the same people to make passengers bilitation and reform. feel uncomfortable and scared, then what It is well and good that the government good are rehabilitation efforts? Equal Norman Uy Opportunities Commission Currents Carnay Protect your health! Ilan pang biktima ng “Laglag-bala”? IN a recent programme that the Equal Op- bility. “Laglag-bala” o “Tanim-bala”, ang pina- hindi pa rin makaalis si manang Gloria pinakamasahol, sinisi maging mismong portunities Commission (EOC) conducted For this reason, we suggest that this ka-kinatatakutang iskema ngayon sa mga dahil sa kailangan pa nyang dumalo sa mga biktima dahil mahilig daw sa “ant- with the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foun- particular domestic worker talk to her em- paliparan sa Pilipinas. Tinataniman ng mga pagdinig sa korte. Nanganganib ang ing-anting” at “souvenir”. dation, we met some domestic workers ployer openly about her health condition isang pirasong bala ang bagahe ng mga kanyang trabaho at gayun din ang kan- Iisa ang malinaw, walang inakong pa- who were required to do follow up tests and ask for permission to take time off to byahero na dumadaan sa NAIA tapos ay yang kalusugan dahil sa tensyong ibini- nanagutan ang pamahalaan sa nagaganap due to lumps found in their breasts. How- see a doctor. If the employer terminates sasabihin ng security na may nakita sa bigay ng problemang ito. na eskandalo sa laglag-bala. Wala ring ever, they were hesitant to ask their em- the contract before the medical condition x-ray machine na bala sa kanyang bag na Isa lamang si manang Gloria sa hindi solusyong inihain ang gobyerno ni Aqui- ployers for time off as they worried that is established because he/she is worried dahilan para siya ay arestuhin. Dito papa- kukulangin sa 139 na insidente ng mga no. their contracts would be terminated if that the helper may have cancer, the do- sok ang “aregluhan” kung desperado na nahulihan ng bala sa mga bagahe nitong Simple lang ang hiling ng mga mi- the employer found out about their med- mestic worker can lodge a complaint to ang biktima na makaalis kaagad. 2015 pa lamang. Ayon sa isang tweet grante – tanggalin sa posisyon ang mga ical needs. In this edition, we would like the EOC for imputed disability discrim- Kamakailan ay isang kapwa migrante ng CNN Philippines, tumaas ng 450 ospiyal na sina Jose Honrado ng MIAA, to discuss what protection you get under ination. If the employment contract is ang hindi nakaalis ng Pilipinas patungong porsyento ang ganitong insidente sa loob PNP-AVSEG director Francisco Balag- the Disability Discrimination Ordinance terminated after the medical condition is Hong Kong nang siya’y arestuhin dahil lamang ng isang taon. tas, DoTC secretary Joseph Emilio (DDO). established and it is due to the domestic sa isang “bala” na natagpuan sa kanyang Sa halip na umaksyon, inuna pa ng Abaya, at si OTS administrator Roland Under the DDO, It is unlawful for an worker’s diagnosed condition, she can bag. Si Gloria Ortinez, 56-anyos at hig- Malakanyang na maliitin ang isyu da- Recomono – sa pagkabigo nilang protek- employer to dismiss an employee on the lodge a complaint to the EOC for disabili- it sa 20 taon nang nagtatrabaho sa Hong hil sa “pailan-ilan lang naman” daw ito syunan ang mga biyaherong biktima ng ground of the employee’s disability, like ty discrimination. Kong, ay inaresto at napilitang magpali- kumpara sa libo-libong umaalis ng bansa. laglag-bala. mental or physical dysfunction, the pres- The implementation of the DDO has pas ng gabi sa PNP sa NAIA. Pinayagan Nasisi din ang media na dapat daw ay Higit sa lahat, dapat panagutan ng ence of virus or bacteria, or physical dis- some exceptions though. siya ng piskal na makalaya nang walang nagbabalita ng tungkol sa pagpapaganda gobyerno ni Aquino ang kabiguan na figurement. Apart from the DDO, the Employment pyansa matapos na ibang bala ang aktwal ng NAIA. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa panin- bigyang solusyon ang problemang ito. Disability Discrimination Ordinance Ordinance, Cap 57 also regulates sick na iprinisinta ng PNP bilang ebidensya isi ang mga kalaban daw sa politika ni Hangga’t walang nananagot, dadami pa also declares prohibits imputed disability leave and unlawful termination. There- kumpara sa nasa larawang isinumite nila. Aquino na posibleng gumagawa daw nito ang biktima ng laglag-bala. Dapat na or terminating an employee based on an fore, it is also advisable for you to famil- Hanggang sa oras na sinusulat ko ito, para siraan ang administrasyon. At ang itong masawata. assumption that the employee has a disa- iarise yourself with this ordinance.

Dear Editor Dear Hong Kong News, ko. at kung ano-ano pang sakit ng ulo, ang Magandang araw po sa inyo. Ngunit sa ngayon nagdadalawang-isip bigat sa loob na isipin na ang halos 1/3 ng Nabasa ko po ang mga ulat ukol sa pro- pa din ako dahil sa sobrang taas ng income aking sweldo ay hindi ko man lang maram- Jeneth P. Julve Managing Editor posal na ibaba ang income tax sa Pilipinas. tax sa atin. Biruin niyong nasa 32 percent daman kung saan mapupunta. All rights reserved. No part of this Isa po ako sa mga masugid na nag-aabang ito ng iyong sweldo! Kung tutuusin ang ibig Umaasa po ako na makinig ang gobyerno Philip C. Tubeza Editor publication may be reproduced ng kahihinatnan ng batas na ito. sabihin nito na sa loob ng 12 buwan na at gawan ng solusyon upang mabago ang without the written permission of Sa totoo lang po gusto ko na ding umuwi pagtatrabahuhan ko sa isang taon, tatlong buwis sa atin. Kailangan namin ang swel- Cheryl Arcibal Associate Editor the publisher. sa atin at kahit paano ay may kaunti akong buwan ang mawawala sa akin. do para sa mga gastusin namin sa aming ipon at may mapapasukan naman akong Siguro ok lang kung nakikita mong may pamilya. Corelene B. Cruz Sales & Marketing Executive Published by HK Publications Ltd. Unit 3-9, 10/F, Fook Hong Industrial Building, No.19 trabaho. Hindi kalakihan ang sweldo pero magandang kinapupuntahan ang mga bu- Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon kahit paano ay nandun ako sa sariling wis sa Pilipinas. Pero sa mga nababalitaan Gumagalang, Joko Harjanto Assistant Sales Manager Telephone: 2851 1766 / 3416 3633 Fax: 2858 8979 E-mail: [email protected] bayan natin at kasama ko pa ang pamilya ko dun tungkol sa trapiko, laglag-bala scam Jenny O. Nin Tang Senior Designer PO Box # 60185 at Tsat Tsz Mui Post Office

Advertisers are responsible for the content and accuracy of their advertisements. Printed by Superflag Printing and Communication Limited NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Hong Kong News will not be liable for inaccurate advertising and / or legal disputes involving third parties. 1/F., 8 Chun Ying Street, Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, Hong Kong HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 BALITANG PH 15 P-Noy orders ‘tanim-bala’ scam probe

By Maia Lopez your luggage in plastic as an extra securi- or be very close, never away from these, before you leave for the airport and keep NBI Anti-Organized Transnational ty measure,” read the memo from the UN while these are being checked, and report this inventory with you. Show them to the Crime Division Head Agent Manuel An- PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has or- Department of Safety and Security. any suspicious activity or movement of authorities if necessary before they check tonio Eduarte was designated head of the dered an investigation into a “tanim-bala” Data from the Philippine National Po- airport personnel handling their luggage,” or screen your luggage,” Baldoz added. team with Supervising Agents Manuel scam in Philippine airports where bullets lice Aviation Security Group showed the she said. The National Bureau of Investigation Fayre Jr. and Dennis Asistio; and Special are planted in passengers’ bags as part of number of passengers apprehended with “Don’t leave your luggage. Don’t keep has also formed a special task force that Investigators Joselito Guillen, Aubren Co- an extortion racket. bullets in their luggage rose from only 12 them away from your view. Better still, will investigate the alleged bullet-planting sidon, Rodelio Velez and Marvin Villena The increasing number of incidents of incidents in 2014 to 105 cases from Janu- inventory the contents of your luggage incidents at NAIA. as members. airport passengers being apprehended for ary to November this year. bullets in their luggage has been picked up But Supt. Jeanne Panisan of the PNP by foreign media organizations such as the Aviation Security Group attributed the BBC and Time magazine and has merited spike not to an extortion racket at the air- a memo from the United Nations advising port but to “tighter security screening.” its personnel who have to use airports in This year’s figure is the highest record- the Philippines to secure their bags. ed in four years, with only 20 passengers “Officials at Ninoy Aquino Internation- apprehended in 2012 and 21 passengers in al Airport are allegedly slipping bullets 2013. into passengers’ bags and then trying to Panisan said the arrests this year yield- extort money from them when bullets ed 514 bullets, 24 magazines, 20 firearms, are ‘found’ by security. Surveillance at 139 accessories or parts of firearms, and the airport has been stepped up since the 20 replicas. complaints began and an investigation Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz al- has been launched into the personnel ac- ready warned departing overseas Filipino cused of involvement. Staff members are workers to guard their personal belong- advised to keep your luggage with you, ings from unscrupulous airport personnel. lock your luggage, and consider wrapping “OFWs should hold on to their luggage,

Aquino Another DQ case vs Poe filed By Maia Lopez has thus “met the 10- year residency require- A fourth disqualification case has been ment.” filed against presidential aspirant - Sena He also challenged tor Grace Poe before the Commission on Valdez’s argument that Elections by former University of the East Poe has lost her natu- law dean Amado Valdez. ral-born Filipino status. Valdez, in his 34-page petition, ques- Poe “The express provi- tioned Poe’s natural-born Filipino status, a sions of RA 9225 sub- requirement for any presidential bet. stantiates the fact that she was deemed not “The fact that respondent has to perform to have lost her natural born citizenship an overt act to re-acquire her citizenship when she reacquired her Filipino citizen- by filing a Petition for Re-Acquisition of ship. The act of repatriation is not natural- Philippine citizenship under Republic Act ization,” Gatchalian said. 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-ac- “Like the rest of the petitions, Senator quisition Act of 2003) does not qualify her Poe will answer these suits point per point. as natural-born citizen in conformity with We are ready to face all these petitions and the provisions of Article IV, Section 2 of prove them wrong,” he added. the 1987 Constitution,” Valdez said. Three other petitions were earlier filed Valdez said under RA 9225, Poe was before the Comelec by De La Salle Uni- deemed as having “re-acquired Philippine versity professor and political analyst An- citizenship” but “not natural-born citizen- tonio Contreras, former senator Francisco ship.” Tatad, and lawyer Estrella Elamparo. Poe said she is ready to face all the dis- Poe underwent DNA tests to prove that qualification cases, even as she likened she is a natural-born Filipino, but these these to “unli-load” for cellular phones. turned out negative. Her spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex She reiterated, though, that her defense Gatchalian, said Poe has “met all the pre- does not rely on the DNA tests alone but requisites in seeking the presidency.” on international treaties stating that found- Gatchalian said Poe “has been domi- lings retain the citizenship of the country ciled in the Philippines since 2005,” and where they were found. 16 BARRIO PINOY November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS

Emergency Hotlines Numbers To Remember PH Volcanoes visit Hong Kong EMERGENCY By Cheryl M. Arcibal PAHK Scholarship Grant,” said Gilbert Hong Kong Observatory Legaspi, PAHK chairman. (Weather) 2835 1473 THE Filipino community came out in full Kata was among the event’s sponsors, Police, Fire Services, Hospitals 999 force to support the Philippine Volcanoes, donating a T4 tablet to be one of the raf- Police Report Hotline 2527 7177 the national rugby sevens team, and their bid fle’s top prizes. Benny Dolano was the to book a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics. lucky winner of the Kata T4. PHILIPPINE CONSULATE Organized by the Philippine Association The Philippine Volcanoes, who won the of Hong Kong (PAHK), the 15 members gold in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games For emergency cases, call or text: of the team including the coaching staff held in Singapore, competed in the 2015 Assistance to Nationals 9155 4023 and the physiotherapist were feted by the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Labor 6080 8323 Filipino community at the Grappa’s Cel- Men’s Sevens Championship on Novem- OWWA 6345 9324 lar in Central, Hong Kong on November ber 7-8 at the Hong Kong Stadium. SSS 2823 8552 5, 2015. The Volcanoes were in Pool B with Pag-Ibig 2823 8561 To raise funds for the athletes and other Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia. and causes, tickets for the meet and greet were Iran. Japan, South Korea, China, Singa- Consulate Trunkline 2823 8500 sold at $250 each. Signed jerseys were Kata T4 tablet winner; Legaspi with ConGen Catalla, and the Volcanoes pore, and Chinese Taipei were in Pool A. Office Fax: 2866 9885 auctioned, while raffle tickets and other The Volcanoes finished seventh overall, Email: [email protected] items were also sold. Volcanoes’ Olympic bid, which PAHK (one night), meals and transportation. The while Japan earned the automatic spot in Website: http://philcongen-hk.com/ “Most of the proceeds were used for the partially covered cost of accommodation extra funds raised will be used for the the 2016 Olympics. . Facebook: Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong

Hong Kong GOVERNMENT GALLERY Independent Commission Against The Face of Fashion Corruption 2526 6366 Model 2015 Season Central Government 2835 2500 2 was held on November 8 at Complaint Against Police 2866 7700 Grappas Cellar in 2200 4460 to 62 Central. There were Consumer Rights Hotline 2929 2222 eight candidates for Department of Health 2961 8989 Mrs. Face of Fashion Equal Opportunities Commission category while 11 2511 8211 candidates vied for the title of Miss Immigration 2824 6111 Award-winning photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani speaks on November Face of Fashion. 1 at the video launch for her upcoming photo exhibit, dubbed “Behind Labour Department 2717 1771 The event was also Concrete Walls: Images of Women Migrants,” to help Bethune House. Legal Aid 2537 7677 attended by actress Race Relations Unit 2810 3203 and singer Patricia Social Welfare 2343 2255 Javier, who sang for Transport 2804 2600 our kababayans Postal Hotline 2921 2222

Raffle winners Maggie NON-GOVERNMENT Ojanio and Jenny Arce ORGANIZATIONS pose with their prizes Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants at the Kata raffle draw 2723 7536 held on November 1 Asian Migrant Center 2312 0031 at Owtel Shop 218 in World Wide Plaza. Christian Action - Shine Center 3188 4555 Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos (and other Asian Migrants and Ethnic Minorities) 2526 4249 Alliance of Progressive Labor 2770 0411 Bayanihan Trust Centre 2817 8928 Filipino Migrant Workers Union 9104-1411; 9758-5935 Hong Kong Christian Service - CHEER Ce nter 3755 6811 International Social Services 2836 3598 Mission for Migrant Workers 2522 8264 The Bethune House 2721 3119 2522 8264 Helpers for Domestic Helpers 2523 4020 United Filipinos in Hong Kong 3156 2447

AIRPORT AND AIRLINES Airport Inquiry 2181 8888 Cathay Pacific Airways 2747 5000 Cebu Pacific Air 2722 0609 Philippine Airlines 2301 9300 HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 17 18 BARRIO PINOY November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Nearly 26K register for OFWs in HK may get calamity loan after ‘Lando’ By Cheryl M. Arcibal payment. Processing time is two months. overseas vote in HK State pension fund SSS, meanwhile, FILIPINOS in Hong Kong whose homes issued a statement saying that it has ap- By Cheryl M. Arcibal were damaged or destroyed by Typhoon proved the grant of a calamity relief pack- Lando could seek assistance from either age for SSS members and pensioners af- NEARLY 26,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong the Social Security System or the Home fected by Typhoon Lando. have registered for the overseas absentee Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG). The SSS calamity relief package con- voting for the 2016 polls. Provided that they are members who sists of Salary Loan Early Renewal Pro- Vice Consul Alex Vallespin said that as regularly remit their premiums to these gram (SLERP) which allows members of October 31, the last day for registration, government agencies and that their place to renew their loans earlier than the pre- there were 25,841 new registrants. of residence in the Philippines has been scribed date; the SSS Direct House Repair For the last two days of registration - declared under state of calamity, they and Improvement Loan Program, which on Oct. 30-31 - Vallespin said there were could be eligible for these loans. has a lower interest rate of six percent per about 200 new registrants. Raymond Francis Ramos, Member Ser- year; and three-month advance payment “Compared sa start [ng registration] vices Officer - Hong Kong SAR of the for members receiving pensions under SSS marami iyon, pero yung weekdays namin International Operations Group of Pag- and Employees’ Compensation Program. noong last week ng registration, umaabot IBIG, said members who have paid con- For the advanced pension payments, kami sa 250 a day,” he said. tributions for at least two years may tap pensioners, whose present address is It is estimated that the total number of a calamity loan of 80 percent of their to- different from the address in the SSS registered voters in Hong Kong is 90,000. tal contribution. Interest is pegged at 5.4 database will have to submit a barangay The last month of registration - Octo- percent per year. Loan must also be paid certification to prove that they reside in ber 2015 - netted the biggest number of within two years. a declared calamity area by the National registrants with a total of 4,883, followed “Three months after the calamity, dap- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management by July 2015 with 3,068, and September Vallespin at mag-file na ng loan application. Hindi Council (NDRRMC). 2015 with 2,527. Registration began on pwede ang spot cash para sa calamity loan Qualified SSS members and pensioners May 6, 2014. ng tulong ninyo para masiguro na hindi vote in the 2016 polls. These deactivated at sa multi-purpose loan. Ang spot cash have until December 31, 2015 to apply for After exceeding the 20,000 new regis- lang mapanatili ang record na iyan pero voters have until December 9 to have their o contribution para lang sa housing loan. loans and advance pensions while deadline trants target, the PCG is now looking for a as close as 100 percent as possible sa mga registration reactivated again. Wala kasing collateral sa calamity loan of application for the Direct House Repair higher voter turnout for next year. registered voters dahil sayang, nag-effort “Pwede silang dumiretso sa Comelec o kundi ‘yung savings lang,” he said. and Improvement Loan is up to one year In a meeting between officials of the na sila magparehistro in the first place, dito sa PCG. Kailangan lang nila mag fill Ramos said that after previous calam- from issuance of its corresponding circular. Commission on Elections and the Fili- kumpletuhin na nila ang proseso at bumo- out ng form. Kapag naaprubahan na ang ities including typhoons “Ondoy” and Interest for this type of loan is six percent pino community on October 25, Consul to na sila,” Macaspac said. kanilang ractivation then isasasama na sila “Yolanda” hit the Philippines in 2009 and per annum. Charles Macaspac urged Filipinos in the Vallespin said that in the 2010 polls, sa registered voters dito sa Hong Kong,” 2013, respectively, numerous Filipino As of Oct. 22, the NDRRMC said the territory to go out and vote during the about 39,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong vot- said Vallespin. workers in Hong Kong sought calamity death toll due to the typhoon has risen to overseas absentee voting period next year ed, and in the 2013 mid-term polls, some He also reiterated the PCG’s call for loan from Pag-IBIG. 41. to keep their record of highest voter turn- 28,000 cast their votes. qualified Filipinos here in the territory to Besides the continuous contribution for Various areas in Bulacan, Pangasinan, out among foreign posts. The PCG is also urging the about 14,000 apply as members of the approved 10 Spe- two year, requirements for calamity loan Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva “Kailangan every election perfect ang registered voters in Hong Kong who were cial Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) are photocopies of the following: pass- Ecija, Tuguegarao, Pampanga, and Ben- record natin, parating number one pa din earlier declared as deactivated voters to for Hong Kong with one SBEI handling port; any Philippine government issued guet. among others were placed under ang Hong Kong at diyan po kami hihingi fill out a form to signify their intention to an estimated 10,000 voters. ID; and six months of latest receipt of state of calamity. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 19 20 BUHAY OFW November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Kata OFW of the Month #MakingLifeEasy AN avowed fan and long-time user of Kata yung iba hindi nila natapos pero lahat na- since the brand launched its first product man sila nagsisikap. Sa ngayon may dala- in 2009, 47-year-old Maricel Saberon said wa pa akong pinag-aaral,” she said. Kata devices help her bridge the distance After finishing her contracts with her between Hong Kong and her family in the two previous employers, she is now em- Philippines. ployed by a local family who lives in Re- A mother of eight who hails from Man- pulse Bay. daue, Cebu, Saberon said that Kata devic- Saberon might not be able to come es have satisfied her requirements of being home for Christmas this year, but said that affordable but quality gadgets. she is looking forward to giving her fami- “Hindi ko kailangan ng mga branded, ly new Kata devices. iyong mga mamahalin. Kuntento ako sa “Mura lang ang Kata devices, kayang Kata,” Saberon told Hong Kong News. kayang bilhin. Talagang nagagamit ko Saberon first came to work as domestic siya lalo na ang Facebook at Skype para helper in Hong Kong in 2006 to help pay sa communication ko sa aking pamilya,” for the education of her children. she said. “Dalawa sa anak ko, nakapagtapos na, MARICEL SABERON Nasirang washing machine By Imelda Mae Bustinera lang siya kung bakit tahimik ang washing Wala ring pagbabago kaya tumawag ng machine at madaling natapos . taga-ayos. Siguro raw mali yung function PAKIRAMDAM ni Lucy, 29, dalaga at Nang isasampay na niya ang mga nilab- at sobrang dami nang maglaba ang asawa tubong Iloilo, ay nakakalalake na ang amo han, ay napansin nyang basang-basa pa niya ng mga kumot kaya may hindi na gu- nya sa tuwing makikialam at mag-uutos ang mga ito kaya inadjust niya ang spin maganang piyesa. ito ng kung anu-ano. function. Nawala ang takot at pangamba ni Lucy Minsan isang araw ng Linggo pag-uwi Pero nang bumalik si Lucy matapos na sa kanya ibibintang ang pagkasira at galing sa day-off, napansin ni Lucy na ang ilang minuto na pagspin, napansin ng kaltasan siya o pagbayarin ng $300. Ang may nakasampay na nilabhang mga ku- kasambahay na ganun pa rin---tumutulo ginawa in Lucy ay kinamay na lang niya mot. Naalala ni Lucy na dadalhin pala ng pa rin ang tubig galing sa kanyang laba- ang pagpiga ng mga damit para maisam- alaga niyang panganay ang mga ito sa dor- hin. pay na niya. mitory niya sa ibang bansa, kung saan siya Dala ang isang piraso ng damit, sinabi ni Kinabukasan, may pumuntang taga-ay- nag-aaral ng college. Lucy sa among babae ang problema saka os ng washing machine at sinabi nito na Kinabukasan, isinalang ni Lucy ang tinanong kung ano ang sitwasyon nung may nasira nga. kanyang mga labahin sa washing ma- gabi na paglaba ng mga kumot. Maayos Kaya dinala ang washing machine sa chine. Habang nakasalang ay gumawa na naman daw, sabi ng amo at sinubukan na- pagawaan at, nang ibalik matapos ng tat- rin si Lucy ng ibang dapat gawin. Nagtaka man ng amo na i-spin uli. long araw, ay gumana na ulit ito. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 ENTERTAINMENT 21 Mahal, nagpakasal sa 25-anyos na nobyo By Cristy Kasilag bie Palmones Hebrio sa Quezon City Hall. isang bar ang napakasalan ni Mahal. Belleza Navarro (Aries) na nagsabi na Ang pagpapakasal ng 40-anyos na ak- Samantala, ang reception ay ginawa sa inagaw daw ni Jobbie si Mahal mula sa TILA pagdating sa pag-ibig, walang iisang tres sa kanyang 25-anyos na boyfriend ay family farm nila Councilor Ferrer sa Fair- kanya. formula at hindi masasabi kung kanino tit- sinaksihan nila Quezon City Councilor view, Quezon City. Niloko raw siya ni Mahal dahil mag- ibok ang iyong puso. Victor Ferrer at mga mang-aawit na sina Matatandaan na bago si Jobbie ay na- kasintahan pa sila nuong nakilala niya si Nuong ika-2 ng Nobyembre, nagpakasal Mae Rivera at Kissa Kurdi. link na rin si Mahal sa ibang lalaki. Jobbie. Pero inamin din ni Aries na gan- sa sibil ang midget o unano na si Mahal sa Ayon sa mga naunang balita, isang man- Matapos mapabalita ang kasal, umalma yan talaga ang buhay kaya winawakasan kanyang non-showbiz boyfriend na si Job- gangatay ng karne sa Bicol or waiter sa ang dating nobyo ni Mahal na si Thyrone na nila ni Mahal ang kanilang love team. JOBBIE at MAHAL Bianca Gonzalez, nanganak na

By Cristy Kasilag

ISINILANG na ng “Pinoy Big Brother” host na si Bianca Gonzalez ang unang anak nila ng basketball player na si John Christopher Antonio “JC” Intal. Hindi naitago ng 31-anyos na si JC ang kasiyahan sa pag dating sa mundo noong Oktubre 23 ng kanilang malusog na anak na pinangalanan nilang Lucia Martine. Kaagad ipinakita ng proud daddy ang it- sura ng kanilang sanggol sa social media. Gamit ang kanyang Instagram account na “jcintal17,” ipinakita ng basketbolis- ta sa mga fans at followers ang pinaka- bagong dagdag sa kanilang pamilya. Kalakip ng litrato ang kanyang nararam- daman nung mga oras na yun: “This is the BEST feeling in the world!” Idinagdag pa niya ang kanyang mensahe para sa kanyang misis: “So proud of you for being so brave and strong for our little princess. Thank you Lord for the healthy, happy, safe, and normal delivery. It’s been only a couple of hours, Lucia, but you al- ready filled our hearts with so much love and joy. We love you!” Matatandaan na nagpropose si JC kay Bianca sa isang publikong lugar sa Ni- noy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) nuong Marso 30, 2014 bago umalis ang girlfriend patungong London para sa kan- yang dalawang linggong pag-aaral. Nanduon sa surpresang proposal ang mga magulang ni JC at mga kaibigan tulad nina Cheska Garcia at asawang si Doug Kramer. Naging magkasintahan ang dalawa simula pa nuong taong 2011. Iki- nasal sila nuong ika-3 Desyembre 2014 sa Lagen Island sa El Nido, Palawan. Namigay ng “survival kits” bilang give- aways ang bagong kasal sa kanilang mga panauhin. Laman ng “survival kit” ang mosquito repellent lotion, isang plastic bottle, at mentos na tamang tama sa isang beach wedding sa Palawan.

BIANCA, JC at ang kanilang baby 22 ENTERTAINMENT November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Angel, hindi na si Vina Morales, tinawag By Cristy Kasilag Nakita siya makalipas ang isang oras at, kahit na bigyan siya ng malakas painkiller, MATAPOS ang dalawang-taong pagha- hindi ito tumalab. handa para gampanan ang role na Darna, Dinala siya sa ospital kung saan sinabi na ‘homewrecker’ kinailangang talikuran na ni ng duktor na maaari siyang operahan at ang paggawa ng nasabing pelikula dahil sa kailangan din niya ng therapy. By Cristy Kasilag Vina ang kanyang ika-40 na kaarawan. problema sa kanyang kalusugan. Dahil sa dinaranas niya, naisipan daw “Then sending nasty comments here & Nagkaroon ng disc bulge sa kanyang ng aktres na iwanan na lang ang showbiz. TILA hindi lahat ay masaya sa pag-iibigan then saying u want to meet my child. Ur d spine o gulugod si Angel dahil sa matindi Subalit, kinausap siya ng mga bossing ng singer at aktres na si Vina Morales at ng biggest plastic loser I’ve ever met. While niyang pagsasanay para sa pelikula. sa ABS-CBN at pinalakas ang kanyang kanyang French businessman boyfriend u shamelessly broadcast ur ‘new found Dati nang gumanap si Angel na Darna loob. Sinabihan siya na hindi sa Darna na si Marc Lambert. love’ on every media possible knowing sa telebisyon nuong taong 2005 nang siya nagtatapos ang buhay niya bilang isang ar- At ito ay dahil kay Avi Siwa, ang I’m a few weeks frm delivery. So much ay nasa bakod pa ng GMA-7. tista, kaya naisip daw ni Angel na manatili ex-girlfriend ni Marc, na nanganak sa for being Single Mom,” sabi ni Avi. Matindi ang sakit na dinaranas ng na lang sa showbiz hanggang merong mga sanggol niya at ng businessman nuong Isa ring single mom si Vina. Meron si- 30-anyos na sexy na aktres dahil sa kan- tao na susuporta sa kanya. isang buwan. yang anak na babae, si Ceana Lee, na love yang karamdaman. Matagal nang naka- Dahil hindi na siya gaganap bilang Dar- Ayon kay Avi, na minsan ng nagpose child niya sa dati niyang nobyo---ang ne- karanas ng back pains si Angel pero hindi na, inalok sa kanya ang ibang pelikula para sa FHM Magazine noong 2009, tila gosyante na si Cedric Lee. niya lang ito iniinda dahil ang akala niya kung saan makakatambal si . nilalayo ni Vina si Marc sa bagong silang Sa mga banat ni Avi kay Vina ay nanatil- ay dala lamang ito ng pagod. Samantala, nakatengga pa rin ang pag- nilang anak na si Victoria. ing tahimik ang singer. Ang tanging sagot Pero umabot na sa punto na isang oras gawa ng pelikula na Darna. Abala ang Sa inis ni Avi ay tinawag pa niyang lang niya ay: “As long as there is SOME- na siyang nakasalampak sa sahig at hindi Kapamilya network ngayon sa paghahan- “homewrecker” ang 40-anyos na Cebuana ONE in the sky to protect me, there is NO siya makabangon dahil sa sakit. ap kung sino ang ipapalit nila kay Angel. singer. ONE on earth who could break me.” Hindi raw siya makasigaw dahil liban Ang ilan sa mga pangalan na lumutang Ito lamang ika-12 ng Oktubre nang isin- Pitong taon na walang karelasyon si sa sinusubukan niyang bumangon mag-isa ay sila , Liza Soberano, ilang ni Avi si Victoria. VINA Vina. Si dating Ilocos Sur Governor Luis ay ayaw daw niyang mataranta ang kan- Maja Salvador, Julia Montes at si Arci Sa kanyang Instagram account nuong “Chavit” Singson ang nagpakilala kay yang mga kasama sa bahay. Munoz. ika-26 ng Oktubre sinabi ni Avi na hindi at sa sanggol nila ni Avi. Vina at Marc. niya nagustuhan ang pag-asta ni Vina at si- “Ur flipping out w/a small cropped pho- Noong nagkakilala daw sila ay hindi nabihan niya ito na, “Stay d hell out of my to of Marc, saying I can’t post his photo w/ alam ni Marc na artista si Vina. Nuon la- parenting w/ MARC LAMBERT.” his child & then stopping his visitation to mang nagsimula nang lumabas ang dala- Idinagdag pa niya na kahit na pakasalan his daughter bec he wasn’t @ your birth- wa, kasama ang ibang mga kaibigan, nal- ni Marc si Vina ay walang karapatan ang day,” dagdag pa ng dating sexy model. aman ng lalaki na isa palang celebrity ang Kapamilya singer na mamagitan kay Marc Nuong Oktubre 17 ipinagdiwang ni babae na kasama niya. Nolyn Cabahug, 58 By Cristy Kasilag Pumanaw ang 58-anyos na mang-aaw- been called to sing and give praise to our it ilang araw bago sana idaos ang isang Creator personally,” ang sabi ni Marian, MALUNGKOT na ibinalita ng mga benefit concert para sa kanya noong ika- anak ni Nolyn. kamag-anak ng napakagaling na singer 5 ng Nobyembre sa International Baptist Anim na taon nang nilalabanan ni Nolyn na si Nolyn Cabahug, na kinilala bilang Church sa Makati City. ang kanyang karamdaman. Nagsimula ito “Tenor of the Philippines,” ang pagpanaw “Thank you all for praying. Papa has left isang araw nuong 2009. Galing sa trabaho nito dahil sa renal failure. and is serving in a higher calling. He has si Nolyn at, sa katunayan, tatlong singing engagements ang pinuntahan niya nuong araw na iyon. Kaya naman pag- uwi niya sa bahay ay pagod na pagod na siya. Paghiga niya ay hindi na siya makahin- ga, at halos hindi siya NOLYN nakatulog ng buong magdamag. Kinabukasan, sinabi niya sa asawa na dalhin na siya sa ospital kung saan nala- man na malubha ang kanyang karamda- man at kaagad siyang dinala sa Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ng ospital. Dito sinabi ng mga doktor na nasa end stage na siya ng renal failure na dala ng di- abetes at kailangan na niyang magdialysis. Pero sa pagsubok na ito ay hindi raw siya nakaramdam ng takot dahil alam niyang ang Diyos ang magdidikta kung ilang araw ka lang sa mundo. Nahirapan siyang makakuha ng donor para sa kidney transplant dahil sa wala sa kanyang pamilya ang nagtugma sa kan- yang kidney at wala rin siyang pera para sa magastos na operasyon. Hanggang sa isang araw ay merong lumapit sa kanya at nagsabi na handa raw ito i-donate ang kanyang kidney. Nalutas din ang kanyang problema sa pera dahil may tumawag sa kanya at sinabi na siya na ang sasagot sa gastusin para sa operasyon. Naging matagumpay naman noon ang operasyon. HONG KONG NEWS November 15, 2015 ATPB 23

Horoscope What’s Cooking? Here’s a dish to fill up an empty belly as 3. In a medium Capricorn December 22 to January 19 we head into the holiday season. Chili & bowl, mix all Huwag ipilit ang mga bagay. Minsan matuto kang mag let go. Ginger Cream Chicken will not only delight ingredients your taste bud, but will also satisfy your together. tummy. Enjoy! 4. Pour mixture of chicken and Ingredients: cover. Cook at Aquarius January 20 to February 18 2 cups All Purpose cream low setting 30 ¼ cup water minutes to an Ingatan ang mga magagandang pagkakataon na dumadating sa ½ kg. chicken fillet hour and add in iyo. Huwag sayangin at baka hindi na maulit ang mga ito. 3 pcs. kelp (seaweed) kelp (seaweed). 2 pcs. red chili 5. Top with red chili ¼ cup chopped onions pepper. Serve 2 slices of ginger hot. Pisces February 19 to March 20 For more recipes, enroll at Culinary Arts By Chef Jay Dator Iwasan na ang mga taong hindi maganda ang impluwensya sa Procedure: Centre iyo. Piliing maigi ang mga dapat gawing kaibigan. 1. Saute onions together with the two Room 502, 5/F, Winfull Commercial Bldg., # slices of ginger. 172-176 Wing Lok St. Sheung Wan, Hong 2. Add in the chicken until tender and Kong. For enquiries, please call at 2850 7714 done. / 2850 7724 Aries March 21 to April 19 Pedro: Bakit? Ma’am: (Kumuha ng isa at tinikman) Bakit Pagtuonan mo ng pansin ang relasyon mo sa iyong pamilya. Juan: Nakasulat dun sa bar, “21 and up only”. ganito? Panis na? Tandaan mo na hanggang sa huli sila pa din ang makakasama Aapat lang tayo eh! Promo girl: Kita niyo na ma’am? Ganyan ang mo. mangyayari sa pagkain ninyo kapag hindi ninyo Tatay: Anak, kumusta ang pag-aaral mo nilagay sa ref. Kaya ma’am bumili na po kayo ng ngayon? ref sa amin, sale ngayon! Anak: Ok na ok po ‘tay. Taurus April 20 to May 20 Tatay: Paano mo nasabi, anak? Boy: Sabi ng tatay ko nasa dugo raw talaga Anak: Kasi ‘tay nag-exam kami, tapos bagsak namin ang pagiging gwapo. Magpasalamat ka sa mga taong nagsakripisyo at sumusuporta sa silang lahat. Girl: Kaya naman pala ang pangit mo eh. Nasa mga pangarap mo. Tatay: Ganun ba? Ikaw, anong score mo? dugo mo ang kaguwapuhan, wala sa mukha Anak: Siyempre naman, di tayo patatalo. mo. Tatay: Wow, galing talaga ng anak ko, mana sa Juan: Akyatin mo nga kung hinog na iyong atis? tatay. So ano na nga ang score mo anak? Teacher: Kung may 100 ka at humingi ka ng 500 Pedro: (Umakyat sa puno at pinisil ang bunga) Anak: Eh di bagsak din. Di kaya tayo patatalo sa mama mo, magkano na ang pera mo? Gemini May 21 to June 20 Oo, hinog na! ‘tay! Juan: 100 pa rin po. Juan: Sige, bumaba ka na at susungkitin ko! Teacher: Mali. Hindo mo alam ang math mo. Baka kailangan mo ring pakinggan ang kabilang panig. Minsan Sa sabungan, walang entrance fee ang may Juan: Excuse me po, ma’am. Hindi mo alam ang kasi nakakalimutan na nating intindihin na may punto rin ang Pauwi sa Pilipinas sakay ng 737 at katatapos dalang panabong... ugali ng mama ko. lang manuod ng inflight movie: Si Juan para makalibre, pumasok na may dalang iba. Juan: Pwede raw nating iuwi yung headphones sisiw... Juan: Pare dalhin mo naman ako sa hospital. na ginamit natin kanina, sabi ng flight attendant Bantay: (Sinigawan si Juan) Hoy! Ano yan? Pedro: Bakit? Ano nangyari? Pedro: Aanhin natin yung headphones, wala Juan: (Galit) Manok! Bakit? Juan: Nanaginip kasi ako kagabi na kumakain Cancer June 21 to July 22 naman tayong 737? Bantay: Alam ko, eh bakit sisiw? daw ako ng higanteng marshmallow. Juan: Heller! May laban ang tatay niya, siyempre Pedro: Panaginip lang naman yun eh! Tanggalin ang mga agam-agam. Magkaroon ka din ng Nagpunta sa bar ang grupo para mag-inuman moral support! Juan: Kaso paggising ko, nawawala na yung kumpiyansa sa sarili mo. Juan: Lipat tayo sa ibang bar. Di tayo pwede unan ko rito! Promo girl: Ma’am free taste po!

Leo July 23 to August 22 Hindi permanente ang kalagayan mo. Kung nahihirapan ka, may Crossword Puzzle katapusan din iyan. Kung tumatanggap ka naman ng pagpapala, maging masinop ka para naman sa panahon ng kagipitan. PAHALANG 40 Sabik: pabalbal 1 Nanay nina Basilio at Crispin Virgo August 23 to September 22 5 Ibuwelta Hayaan mo, hindi naman lagi kang talo. Pasasaan ba’t PABABA makakabawi ka rin? 11 Lisan 1 Todo 12 Hindi mapalagay 2 Tanong ng bilang 13 Poot 3 Kuwarto 15 Uri ng punongkahoy 4 Kasim Libra September 23 to October 22 16 Hayop 5 Ishmael Bernal Patawarin ang mga taong nakasakit sa iyo. Gayunman, maging 18 Laruang tumatalbog 6 Laguna de ___ mas maingat sa pakikitungo sa ibang tao. 19 Simbolo ng bismuth 7 Harang 20 Bigo 8 Ilak 22 Husto 9 Ilipat ng lalagyan Answer to last puzzle Scorpio October 23 to November 21 24 Gamit sa pag-inom 10 Tanggal ang buhol Kung ano ang tinanim, yun ang aanihin. Mainam na mas maging 26 14 Lusog mabuti sa kapwa. 29 Uri ng punong-kahoy 17 Laos 25 Paswit 30 Lumigaya 21 Natamo 27 Basura 33 Sahig 22 Bayan sa Nueva 28 Tuyot Sagittarius November 22 to December 21 35 Siyudad sa Italy Vizcaya 31 ___del Sol Huwag ikubli ang tunay na pagkatao. Mahirap ang 36 Artistang Jean 23 Boxing promoter 32 Marahil nagpapanggap. 38 Lambot na Bob 34 Taguri sa bayani 39 Gamit sa halalan 24 Hanga 37 Hectare: daglat 24 November 15, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS