filipino globe

22
filipino globe forum
July 2007
Malaking tulong ang paglalabas
ninyo ng pahinang Lingkod-
Bayan.
Sa wakas, madaling mahanap
na ang kasagutan sa ilang
simpleng bagay na di sana’y
kailangan pang tumawag o
magsadya sa Konsulado para
makuha.
Napansin ko po na nakasaad
doon ang mga bayarin sa
Konsulado at ang hulog sa SSS.
Meron po ba kayong balak na
maglabas naman ng “table” ukol
sa Pag-IBIG?
Ronel Trino
Discovery Bay
I was in NAIA on my way back
to Hong Kong when a group of
Filipinos were escorted out of the
immigration area for questioning.
Later, I learned that there had
been a crackdown on would-be
OFWs posing as tourists.
I assumed some of those I saw
in NAIA were bound for Hong
Kong. Reports said most were
bound for Dubai and Singapore.
I wonder if the Bureau of
Immigration is doing this for real.
Not too long ago, their own
agents were implicated in a
scam involving the smuggling of
illegal workers.
Name and address supplied
Tila hindi tayo makapaghintay
na mahusgahan nang maayos si
dating pangulong Estrada.
Maging ang Malakanyang
TINGINNAMIN
All we need is a kind word or two
Insensitive remarks directed at
certain people are either just
that – insensitive – or downright
discriminatory.
But in a society that prides itself
on rule of law and claims to be more
enlightened than most, Hong Kong
has some way to go before it can
effectively tackle discrimination.
That the government is trying to
address the issue is a good start, but
in the end, it is people that determine
whether a society is fair, just and
sensitive to others.
Scratch the surface and you’re
likely to find people embarrassed
by their own kind because of their
prejudices.
These are the people on whom
hopes for harmony rest because
they have taken the first step in
confronting the ogre – by being
ashamed of themselves.
Yet, many others will ignore the
moral burden of a biased society and
leave it to others to bear.
These are the people on whom the
seeds of disharmony will grow.
Whether we are one or the other
is not only a matter of choice. It is
a matter of morals. We have been
raised to respect our parents and
elders, to be kind to animals, to
protect nature.
Surely, we can spare a kind word to
the next person, or at least say or do
nothing out of prejudice.
There is always enough goodwill
to go around, and it takes very little
to spread it.
You know what we are talking
about.
SULATLETTERS
ay nakilahok na rin sa mga
haka-haka tungkol sa magiging
sentensya sa kanya.
May mga naglabas pa ng mga
anunsyo sa diyaryo na tila baga
kinukondisyon ang tao sa “guilty
verdict”.
Ito ang masasabi ko:
Ipaubaya natin sa hustisya ang
kahihinatnan ng paglilitis at
pagsentensya kay Erap.
Salome Buena
Makati
Kahit hindi tayo sang-ayon sa
kakapirasong dagdag sa ating
suweldo, wala tayong magagawa
kundi maghintay na magbigay
uli ng umento ang gobyerno ng
Hong Kong.
Hindi natin makukuha ‘yan sa
pag-iingay at kung anu-anong
protesta.
Lovely Bergonia
City One
Bigo sa Brunei: pait ng
kuwento ng taxi driver
Aksidenteng kuwento ang
nasagap nang sumakay
ng taxi mula Megamall
patungong Senator Gil Puyat
Avenue (dating Buendia),
bandang alas-otso ng gabi.
Katatapos magkarga ng beer sa
Dencio’s kasama ang dating kaopisina
sa TLRC.
Napansin kong bata pa ang
drayber. Naitanong ko tuloy:
“Di ka ba mag-aabroad?”
Nasa unahang upuan ako’t katabi
ko lang siya. Bahagyang nangiti at
walang sigla, “Nag-abroad na po
ako sa Brunei, pero nabulilyaso,”
sagot niya.
Doon nagsimula ang kuwento
ng drayber. May sakay siya noong
isang matandang babae na nagamuki
sa kanya na mag-abroad
sa Brunei. Inayos ang kanyang
mga papeles, nagbayad siya at
walo silang naaprubahan ang mga
papeles.
Apat na babae at apat na lalaki
na pawang drayber din. Mas may
pinag-aralan ang mga babae sa
kanilang mga lalaki.
Sa madaling sabi, nakarating
sila ng Brunei at kasama pa mismo
ang matandang babae. Pinatira sila
sa isang hotel at masaya naman
silang lahat. Maayos naman ang
kanilang tinitirhan pansamantala.
Pero nahiwatigan nila na hindi yata
nagkasundo ang matandang babae
at ang kausap sa Brunei. Umalis
sila sa hotel. Isinakay sa barko
patungong Sabah, Malaysia at
doon ay iniwan na sila.
May mga kababayang
Pilipino na nagpatira sa kanila
at tumulong upang makauwi sa
Pilipinas. Biyaheng Zamboanga
ang nasakyang malaking bangka
ng apat na lalaki. Nagpaiwan
ang apat na babae sa Sabah.
Makikipagsapalaran daw sila dahil
nagbenta ng kalabaw at nagsanla
ng lupa ang mga magulang.
Nahihiya silang umuwi na walang
dalang perang pambayad ng utang
ng magulang.
Pagdating ng Zamboanga ay
tumawag kaagad si Eliseo (di
tunay na pangalan), ang drayber
na nakilala ko. Nagpadala naman
ang pamilya ng perang pamasahe
pauwi. Gayundin ang isa niyang
kasamahan. Dalawang kasamahang
lalaki ang naiwan sa Zamboanga
Teo
Antonio
ITAASMO
kabayan
dahil di pa dumarating ang
pamasahe pauwi.
Maraming naniniwala na ang
ating bansa ay isang kahig, isang
tuka. Kahit tumatlong kahig ay
isang tuka lamang ang makakamit.
Sa ibang bansa, doble ang
suweldong kikitain kahit drayber
ng taxi, kaya nakakatukso ang
magtrabaho sa abroad.
Pero may suwerte at malas sa
paghahanap ng trabaho sa ibang
bansa. Hindi lahat ay nakakatagpo
ng gintong gusi sa dulo ng
bahaghari. Pero tuloy pa rin ang
maraming Pilipino na mangarap
nang mangarap at magbakasakali
upang umasenso ang buhay. Si
Eliseo, ay nagbalik, sa gusto man
niya o hindi, sa ating bansa. Mula
sa mapait na karanasan patungo
sa Brunei ay bumuong muli ng
bagong pangarap.
Napaso man sa unang
pagtatangkang magtrabaho sa
abroad, ang lupang tinubuan pa rin
ang huling sandigan ng pag-asa
laban sa pag-asa. Naisip lang niya
ang apat na babaeng kababayan na
naiwan sa Sabah. May mga pinagaralan
naman, ay naglakas-loob
ding lumaban at makipagsapalaran
upang hindi umuwi na luhaan.
Dalawang mukha ito ng
pakikipagsapalaran. May
nagpaiwan upang makidigma sa
ibang bansa. May bumalik upang
sa sariling bayan ipagpatuloy ang
laban sa buhay. Isang aksidente
ang kuwentong ito na hindi
nalathala sa iba’t ibang pahayagan
sa bansa. Isang pangyayaring
laging nagyayari at di nabubunyag.
Kay Eliseo, ang taxi driver sa
Brunei at sa maraming katulad
niya na di sumusuko at patuloy na
nakikipagsapalan sa maalong dagat
ng buhay, itaas mo kabayan.
Ang pagkabigo sa paghahanap
ng trabaho sa ibang bansa ay di pa
katapusan ng mundo.
Kung hanggang airport ka lamang, hindi ka nag-iisa. Marami ang
bigo sa pag-aabroad. Marami rin ang umaasa at nagtatagumpay.
Executive EDITOR: Rex Aguado PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Philip Evardone ADVISERs Therese Necio-Ortega, Prof Dr Maurice Teo BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Ricky Sumallo
CORRespondents Eddie Alinea (Manila), Celeste Terrenal (Manila), Terrie Fucanan (Manila), Chito Manuel (Jeddah). Rick Sumallo (New Jersey), Loi Liwanag (Los Angeles)
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Bernie Domantay, AccessPoint (Philippines) Josephine Miranda (Philippines), TJ Badon-Doble (Philippines), Bob Waterfield (Hong Kong)
EDITORIAL BOARD Rex Aguado, Philip Evardone, Prof Dr Maurice Teo CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Beting Laygo Dolor, Teo Antonio, Chito Manuel, Danny Vibas, Dante Vino
Filipino Globe is published once a month by Apex Services (HK) Ltd, Suite 1905, Lippo Centre Tower 2, Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong, telephone (852) 2918 8248, email info@filglobe.com. No part of this publication
may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. Printed by Premier Printing Group, Yuen Long, New Terrories, Hong Kong
filipino globe lingkod-bayan
July 2007 23
ASK OUR CONSULATE
Q: The consulate piloted a
scheme last year in which
certain applications could be
sent by mail and the applicants
would be notified of the result
of these applications also by
mail.
Is this service still available?
If so, are there any plans to
expand it?
It would be a great help if all
applications could be handled
in this way. Also, it would
ease congestion at the service
counters and cut the long
queues.
A: The scheme that was
implemented middle of last year
in which applications for renewal
of employment contracts could
be sent by mail after paying the
processing fee at any HSBC
branch has been revised since
August 2006.
The new scheme, called
Express Processing, requires
applicants to proceed directly
to the Cashier’s Counter at the
Philippine Consulate to submit all
contract-related documents and
pay the HK$297.50 fee.
Under this scheme, applicants
are informed of any problems
with their applications within 24
hours of filing.
Contracts that are in order are
released three working days after
the filing date.
Another scheme that aims to
minimise queues and waiting
time is called File Easy.
Under File Easy, applicants
can submit their contracts to a
placement agency, which files
the applications on their behalf
with the POLO. Please visit www.
philcongen-hk.com/labor/main.
htm for more details.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Education placement test
The Consulate General wishes to announce that the
acceptance of applications for the Philippine Educational
Placement Test is still ongoing. On matters
concerning Filipino organizations and associations
in Hong Kong, all are requested to register or update
their records with the Cultural Section for inclusion
in the list of accredited organizations.
Finally, organizations and associations that participated
in the Independence Day Celebration at
Chater Garden last 03 June are invited to contact
the Cultural Section regarding the possibility of creating
permanent committees or core groups that will
assist in carrying out cultural projects for the Filipino
community.
For any inquiries on the foregoing, please contact
Cultural Officer Eric Derupe or Ms Marie Docas at
2823-8513 or 2823-8536.
Pag-IBIG slashes rates
The Pag-IBIG Fund is pleased to announce the reduction
in the loan rate it charges for housing loans
ranging from P300,000 to P750,000.
The rate for such loans is now seven percent (7
per cent), a significant reduction from the previous
loan rate of 10.5 per cent. According to Vice President
Noli De Castro, who is also the chairman of the
Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, the latest round
in the interest rate reduction is “aimed at the middleincome
bracket earning an estimated P16,000 to
P20,000 per month, and which constitutes 23 per
cent of the labor work force, according to the National
Statistics Office. This is the next logical step
to take.”
Q: Is an endorsement from
the Consulate required for
applying for a permit to stage a
public event?
In events in which the
Consulate is directly involved,
would it be right to say the
Consulate itself files the
application?
How about for community
groups?
A: An endorsement from the
Consulate is not necessary.
Organizations, associations and
community groups can apply for
a permit directly with the
Leisure and Cultural Services
Department. For official functions
carried out with the community’s
support, it is the Consulate itself
that applies for a permit with the
LCSD.
Permits for events organized by
the Consulate in partnership with
Hong Kong government agencies
are usually secured by
these agencies.
Send your questions to Filipino Globe,
Suite 1905, Lippo Centre Tower 2,
Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong or
send an e-mail to info@filglobe.com
Filipinos in Hong Kong who wish to avail of Pag-
IBIG housing loans and other services can contact
Mr Michael Azucena or Mr Raymond Francis Ramos
at 2823-8501 for more information.
New venues, times for OEC
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong
wishes to inform all OFWs of its new schedule and
venues where Overseas Employment Certificates
can be secured. Please refer to the table below:
DAY TIME PLACE
Sundays 9am-4pm Bayanihan Centre
Tel: 2817-8928
Mon-Thu 9am-4pm Philippine Consulate
Tel: 6080-8323
Fri-Sat 10am-3pm Filipino Workers
Resource Centre
Cheung Sha Wan,
Kowloon
Tel: 2546-1441
Requirements for OEC application:
1) Passport with valid work visa. If you renewed the
passport containing your work visa, bring it along
with your new passport.
2) Completely filled-out OFWInformation Sheet,
which can be obtained from the abovementioned
venues.
Note:
Overseas Employment Certificates are valid for 60
days from the date of issuance.
OFWs who have changed their employers and
consequently must return to the Philippines before
starting their new contracts must obtain their OEC at
any POEA office in the Philippines.
CONSULAR FEES AND CHARGES
Passport services
New/renewal 32 pages $425 New/renewal 64 pages
Replacement of lost passport 32 pages
$510
$765
Replacement of lost passport 64 pages $1,190
Issuance of travel document $255
Amendment of passport entries $170
Visa services
Single entry (3 months) $212.50 Multiple Entry (6 months) $680
Multiple Entry (3 months) $425 Multiple entry (1 year) $1,020
Special investors resident visa $3,400
Special resident retiree’s visa $3,400
Notarial services
Affidavit of support/consent $212.50
Acknowledgment of instruments (deeds, powers of attorney) $212.50
Authentication of documents $212.50
Jurat (sworn statements, letters) $212.50
Original Seen $212.50
Seen and noted
Contracts (authentication and verification)
$212.50
$297.50
Issuance of certified true copy of document $212.50
Taking of deposition $212.50
Report/registration of marriage/birth/death $212.50
Any other certification $212.50
SSS CONTRIBUTION SCHEDULE
All OFW members
Salary
bracket
Compensation
range
(pesos)
Monthly
salary
credit
(pesos)
New
monthly
contributions
(pesos)
1 4,750 – 5,249.99 5,000 520
2 5,250 – 5,749.99 5,500 572
3 5,750 – 6,249.99 6,000 624
4 6,250 – 6,749.99 6,500 676
5 6,750 – 7,249.99 7,000 728
6 7,250 – 7,749.99 7,500 780
7 7,750 – 8,249.99 8,000 832
8 8,250 – 8,749.99 8,500 884
9 8,750 – 9,249.99 9,000 936
10 9,250 – 9,749.99 9,500 988
11 9,750 – 10,249.99 10,000 1,040
12 10,250 – 10,749.99 10,500 1,092
13 10,750 – 11,249.99 11,000 1,144
14 11,250 – 11,749.99 11,500 1,196
15 11,750 – 12,249.99 12,000 1,248
16 12,250 – 12,749.99 12,500 1,300
17 12,750 – 13,249.99 13,000 1,352
18 13,250 – 13,749.99 13,500 1,404
19 13,750 – 14,249.99 14,000 1,456
20 14,250 – 14,749.99 14,500 1,508
21 14,750 and over 15,000 1,560
Comparative schedule
Before Now Before Now Before Now Before Now
470 520 705 780 940 1,040 1,175 1,300
517 572 752 832 987 1,092 1,222 1,352
564 624 799 884 1,034 1,144 1,269 1,404
611 676 846 936 1,081 1,196 1,316 1,456
658 728 893 988 1,128 1,248 1,363 1,508
1,410 1,560
Flexi Fund
Contributions must not be less than P200 a month
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL
14/F UNITED CENTRE, 95 QUEENSWAY, ADMIRALTY
Hotlines: 9155-4023 (Consular), 6080 8323 (Labor), 6345 9324 (OWWA),
Trunkline: 2823 8501 Fax: 2866 9885
Working hours and statutory holidays
The Consulate is open from 9 am to 4 pm, Sundays to Thursdays,
except during the following holidays:
1 July Hong Kong SAR
Establishment Day
26 September Chinese
Mid-Autumn Festival
1 October China National Day
19 October Chung Yeung
Festival
1-2 November All Saints’
and All Souls’ Day
30 November Bonifacio Day
22 December Chinese Winter
Solstice Festival
24-25 December Christmas Day
30 December Rizal Day
Note:
Other holidays may be declared
by the Philippine government