Page 29 Page 6 Page 18 As fans prepare for his Disneyland Hong much-awaited fight Kong launches its on May 3, Manny exclusive “Buy One, Pacquiao’s life has Get One Free” ticket also been turned into promo for foreign a film for moviegoers. domestic helpers. Take an adventure to Sai Kung this summer and dip into the inviting turquoise waters of The No.1 Filipino Newspaper Vol.VI No.324 May 1, 2015 Long Ke Wan. No to racism! By Philip C. Tubeza REJECTING Regina Ip’s apology, hun- dreds of Filipinos marched through the streets of Hong Kong on April 26 to con- demn her article which claimed that “a great number” of Filipino domestic help- ers” had become “sexual resources for expat males.” On April 28, Feliza “Guy” Benitez, chair of the Filipino Migrant Workers Un- ion (FMWU), also filed two formal com- plaints against Ip before the Equal Oppor- tunities Commission (EOC) for allegedly violating the Racial Discrimination Ordi- nance and the Sexual Discrimination Or- dinance. “We want the EOC itself to say if her statements were racist or if (Ip) was just misunderstood. We want the EOC to decide if her comments were denigrat- ing to women, particularly to domestic workers,” said Eman Villanueva, chair of Bayan-Hong Kong and Macau, and one of the protest leaders. The formal complaints were filed after Ip met with protest leaders. Civic Party lawmaker Claudia Mo earli- er filed a complaint with the EOC but the commission told her that she was “unqual- SHAME on you! Filipinos in Hong Kong, joined by some locals and expats, march to the Central Government Office in Admiralty on April 26 to Turn to page 16 condemn the controversial statements of lawmaker Regina Ip about Filipino domestic workers. (By Philip C. Tubeza) 2 HK employment agencies to lose accreditation for human trafficking By Philip C. Tubeza accreditation of the two agencies---with within a month’s time. (Philippine Overseas Employment Ad- Kong but they ended up being employed initials F.E.T.S. and P.S.E.S.C.L.---after Also last month, the POLO recom- ministration) follows our recommenda- and overstaying in Xiamen, China. IT’S a crackdown. they deployed two Filipinos to work in mended the cancellation of another agen- tion that their accreditation be cancelled,” Barola arrived in Hong Kong on Sept. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office Xiamen. cy’s accreditation after the police rescued the source added. 3, 2014 but then left for China two days (POLO) has recommended the cancel- “By allowing the OFWs to work with two Filipina domestic workers who were Cancellation of accreditation means the later to work with another employer. lation of the accreditation of two more employers different from those stated in locked up in its apartment in Macau. agencies can no longer process the hiring The government considers Barola as employment agencies in Hong Kong af- their employment contract, (they) vio- “There are just too many agencies here of domestic workers from the Philippines. a “victim of human trafficking,” Garcia ter they sent Filipino domestic workers to lated the Migrant Workers and Overseas (that recruit Filipino domestic workers). The case of the two agencies stemmed said. work illegally in China. Filipino Act of 1995,” Garcia said in the We need to cut down their number,” said from the complaints of domestic workers One of the two agencies was also sus- In a memo to Labor Secretary Rosalin- memo dated April 15. one source at the POLO. Sheryl V. Barola and Julita Vicente who pended earlier for its refusal to attend a da Baldoz, Labor Attaché Nenita Garcia The two agencies are the second and “So when they commit a violation, we were recruited in Mnaila. recommended the cancellation of the third Hong Kong agencies to get the axe go after them. And usually, the POEA They were supposed to work in Hong Turn to page 12 PUBLISHED BY HK PUBLICATIONS LTD. TEL: 2851 1766 WEBSITE : WWW.HONGKONGNEWS.COM.HK 2 NEWS May 1, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Indonesia spares Mary Jane By Cheryl Arcibal of Mary Jane Veloso was not carried recruiter surrendered in Nueva Ecija and “There was a request a.m. On April 28. out tonight. The Lord has answered our president Aquino again requested for a from the Philippine Sergio, who along with Julius Lacanilao “The Lord has answered our prayers.” prayers,” said Department of Foreign Af- stay in the execution. president regarding and a certain “Ike,” is facing cases of traf- The Indonesian government has spared fairs spokesman Charles Jose on April 29. In a text message to media, Tony Spon- the perpetrator who’s ficking, illegal recruitment and estafa with the life of Mary Jane Veloso, the 30-year- Veloso was supposed to be executed by tana, the spokesman for Indonesia’s Attor- suspected of commit- swindling, said she was receiving death old mother of two, who was set to be exe- firing squad before dawn on April 29 with ney General, said Veloso’s testimony was ting human trafficking threats. cuted for drug trafficking. eight other death row inmates but Jakar- needed to prosecute her illegal recruiter, and surrendered in According to the National Bureau of “We are relieved that the execution ta decided to spare her after her illegal Maria Kristina Sergio. Veloso the Philippines. MJ is Investigation’s complaint against Sergio, needed for her testimo- Veloso “does not know that there were ny,” Spontana said. illegal drugs in the luggage she was carry- President Aquino has made a last-ditch ing and that she was a victim of deception effort to save Veloso by urging Jakarta to and manipulation by her illegal recruit- tap her as a state witness to combat the ers.” drug trafficking problem in Indonesia. The NBI also found that Sergio and Sergio, voluntarily turned herself in to Lacanilao had no license or authority to police authorities in Nueva Ecija at 10:30 recruit persons for overseas employment. HONG KONG NEWS May 1, 2015 3 4 May 1, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS HONG KONG NEWS May 1, 2015 5 6 NEWS May 1, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS Disneyland offers ‘promo’ for FDHs By Peter C. Castillo run from April 1 until June 23, 2015 and “To top off the trip, they will receive foreign domestic helpers could enjoy will cater exclusively to FDHs or those two coupons for a free frozen lollipop,” it enchanted rides and all the spectacular BECAUSE of its success over the years, with HKID card with a W/WX prefix. added. shows in Hong Kong Disneyland togeth- Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has again “Foreign domestic helpers can enjoy an The amusement park said FDHs can er with friends, creating memorable mo- launched an exclusive “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” exclusive offer of Buy 1 Get 1 Free Hong avail of the promo at the ticket booth of ments to treasure forever,” the park said. ticket offer for foreign domestic helpers Kong Disneyland 1-day ticket and have the Hong Kong Disneyland Main En- “Over the second half of 2014, many (FDHs). fun with their friends,” the amusement trance. new attractions were introduced, includ- The amusement park said the promo will park said in a statement. “With so many wonders to explore, ing the adored Frozen characters.” Mickey Mouse at Disney Xyza speaks at TEDx Hong Kong By Peter Castillo XYZA Cruz Bacani continues to makes waves. The former domestic worker and noted street photographer was featured as one of the speakers in the popular TEDx talks here in Hong Kong. Bacani, who is now a full-time pho- tographer, spoke during the session enti- tled “Sights and Sounds” at TEDx Hong Kong on April 18 at Cyberport. “Ms. Bacani talked about her life as a HSW, her passion for photography, and the acclaim she garnered for her work. She also spoke of her struggles in life, and how her passion for photography has made her see Hong Kong from a different perspective and how she is able to project Hong Kong to the world,” a Department of Foreign Affairs statement said. “Ms. Bacani said that being discovered and featured in the New York Times Lens Blog and CNN, and her being awarded as a Magnum Fellow for the 2015 Magnum Foundation Fellowship for Human Rights in New York did not stop her from honing her craft,” the statement said. “These recognitions have also inspired her even more to help her fellow (house- hold service workers) in Hong Kong in anyway she can,” it added. The DFA added that some audience members who were inspired by Bacani’s story gave her a standing ovation after her speech. TEDx Hong Kong is a non-profit project which gathers leading thinkers and doers to share their respective experiences in the fields of Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED). The other speakers included Benjamin Grubbs, YouTube Asia Pacific Head of Family Entertainment & Learning; Piotr Grzywacz, Head of Learning & Devel- opment at Google Japan; and Ronald Li, Founder of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Consortium. Bacani giving her talk (DFA photo) HONG KONG NEWS May 1, 2015 7 8 NEWS May 1, 2015 HONG KONG NEWS FDH acquitted in child abuse case By Philip C. Tubeza an audible sigh of relief inside the court- The Filipina was accused of hitting her charge…(The boy) gave confusing and room after Magistrate Jason Wan Siu- ward on the face while they were playing sometimes contradictory evidence even “May Diyos talaga.” ming junked the “assault occasioning inside his bedroom on October 29 last on the most important issue,” Judge Wan Because of her four-year-old ward’s actual bodily harm” case against her on year.