‘Tortured’ Indonesian maid’s Hong Kong employer found guilty

 News
Feb 092015
 
‘Tortured’ Indonesian maid’s Hong Kong employer found guilty

Indonesian former maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih (C) leaves the court of justice in Hong Kong on February 10, 2015 after her employer was convicted of beating and starving the Indonesian maid in a “torture” case that sparked international outrage and spotlighted the plight of migrant domestic workers in the Middle East and Asia. AFP HONG KONG — A Hong Kong woman was convicted Tuesday of beating and starving her Indonesian maid in a “torture” case that sparked international outrage and spotlighted the plight of migrant domestic workers in the Middle East and Asia. The verdict, read out to a courtroom packed with journalists and activists, was met with cheers by supporters of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, a former domestic helper who has become the face of a campaign for improved workers’ rights in the financial hub. Pictures of the injuries sustained by Sulistyaningsih, who was admitted to hospital in her home country emaciated and in a critical condition, at the hands of mother-of-two Law Wan-tung fuelled anger in Indonesia and shocked Hong Kong. “She was, for want of a better word, a prisoner on those premises,” Judge Amanda Woodcock said, referring to Sulistyaningsih, who told the court she had been “tortured.” “I am sure she was telling the truth,” Woodcock said, adding: “She was completely isolated. “She did not complain about the abuse because of fear… When Erwiana left Hong Kong, she was a shadow of her former self.” “You are remanded in custody,” Woodcock told Law, after announcing that the 44-year-old had Read More …

Honest OFW feted in Dubai

 News
Feb 092015
 
Honest OFW feted in Dubai

popular Campos family taps $100M loan from BPI for Del Monte Pacific Firm disputes ‘windfall’ report on Macapagal Boulevard PSEi hits new high, gaming stocks tumble on China crackdown 2 taxi robberies, 1 modus operandi The rebels will never return the guns Biz Buzz: Sold! Is Pagara ripe (for the big time) like Duterte? Campos firm taps $100-M BPl loan videos MILF official: ‘We are not terrorists’ Napeñas admits proceeding with ‘Exodus’ sans ‘direct order’ from Aquino MILF remains a ‘revolutionary organization,’ says Iqbal Aquino briefed on ‘Oplan Exodus’ to get Marwan – Napeñas Lacson wishes ‘normal life’ for accuser Mancao MANILA, Philippines—An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in the United Arab Emirates has been honored after she returned a Dh4,300 or around P50,000 found uncollected from an automated teller machine (ATM), a report from Gulf News said. The reports said the OFW, who was identified only as “Jean,” was recognized by the Dubai Police for her honesty. The report said Jean found the money on the ATM’s cash slot on New Year’s Eve as she was about to withdraw from an ATM outlet in Deira City Center. It said Jean took the money and handed it over to the police. The report said that on Jan. 15, police received a report from an Arab man who claimed that he lost the same amount of money as the bank credited him but he never received it. According to the report, the OFW failed to attend the press conference by the Dubai Read More …

Man convicted of preying on undocumented immigrants

 News
Feb 092015
 
Man convicted of preying on undocumented immigrants

Convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Bugai SAN FRANCISCO –A jury on February 3 found Jeffrey Bugai, 36, of San Francisco, guilty on 17 felony counts, for he preying upon undocumented immigrants, with some of his crimes being committed with the use of a handgun and others by drugging the victims. “The facts of this case highlight why we desperately need immigration reform,” said District Attorney George Gascón. “When victims are afraid to come forward and cooperate with authorities because of their immigration status the whole community suffers,” Gascon explained. “Had some of the undocumented victims come forward earlier, authorities could have intervened and prevented others from being victimized by this predator,” he added. Evidence presented at trial showed that Bugai, a licensed security guard, would lure unsuspecting male victims to his house to sexually assault them. Bugai, under the color of authority, used a handgun to intimidate his victim on at least one occasion.  In other instances he drugged his victims in order to make them comply with his demands.  In one instance, Bugai used his fictitious authority to extort money from an unsuspecting victim. Bugai victimized five adult males between January 2008 and the end of March 2014.  The jury found him guilty of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, sodomy, assault, sexual battery, forcible oral copulation, attempted forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment, extortion and unlawfully administering a drug. He faces life in prison and will be sentenced on March 6. This successful prosecution would not have been possible without the hard work Read More …

Nevada high court hears Marinduque mine disaster lawsuit

 General
Feb 092015
 
Nevada high court hears Marinduque mine disaster lawsuit

LOS ANGELES – Nevada’s Supreme Court heard a nearly 10-year-old state lawsuit on Tuesday, February 3, filed by the Philippine island province of Marinduque for the contamination it suffered during a 1996 mining waste disaster involving Barrick Gold Corporation. Attorney James McCarthy, who represented Marinduque, told the justices that Philippine courts ruled Barrick couldn’t be sued in the country because the Toronto-based mining company did not do business there. Since Barrick has substantial operations in Nevada, McCarthy told justices the province should be allowed to sue in the state. “We filed here for all the right reasons,” McCarthy said, according to the Associated Press. “We chased them here. They fled the Philippines.” About 15 protesters led by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) demonstrated on Tuesday in support of the Philippines, saying the state is faced with similar ecological damages from the company’s activities, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. “Barrick must be held accountable for the mining disaster in the Philippines in which children died,” PLAN spokeswoman Laura Martin told the Associated Press. Protesters also call the Marinduque incident “the largest mining disaster in the history of the Philippines,” the Review-Journal reported. Among damages for which the province is seeking compensation include tailing dam failures in 1993 and 1996 that sent contaminated mine waste into a river, leaving two children dead. The lawsuit alleges the river leading to Boac, Marinduque’s capital city, was polluted with tons of waste laden with arsenic, nickel, sulfate and lead among other chemicals. Marinduque sued in Nevada Read More …

Conquering New York with love and flowers

 Entertainment
Feb 092015
 
Conquering New York with love and flowers

NEW YORK – “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere…,” goes the song originally sung by Frank Sinatra that has since been sung by many, even in karaoke bars worldwide. But while others can only sing it, Filipino entrepreneur Dennis Josue is living it. “I am most proud of the fact that I am not only living here in New York; but also thriving,” he said in a recent interview at Fantasia Floral Design, a flower shop he owns and runs in the East Village. The city is often referred to as the “concrete jungle” – busy, bustling with activity, intimidating and known for harsh winters and the perceived I-don’t-care attitude of the people. But florist Josue, who migrated from the Philippines in 1983, cares; and with this Filipino trait of caring, is able to conquer the urban complex with love and flowers. “I love flowers! I love looking at them, working with them. They never complain or talk back to you,” he joked. “They’re very pleasant to see. Seeing them makes me happy.” In the Philippines Josue graduated from San Beda College with a degree in Economics. But eager to pursue his passion for the performing arts, he also took classes at the University of the Philippines School of Dance, with a minor in voice training. After graduation, encouraged by his sister who was already living in New York, Josue packed his bags and the dream to perform in one of the greatest cities on the Read More …

Fuel price hikes seen higher than earlier forecast

 General
Feb 092015
 
Fuel price hikes seen higher than earlier forecast

popular . The agony of a city: Manila 70 years ago Manager gets jail term for refusing to give 20% senior citizen’s discount His absence speaks louder than words Campos family taps $100M loan from BPI for Del Monte Pacific Serendipity, and nice girls on Tinder PAL mulls over P9B Naia 2 expansion plan SAF survivors to tell stories in Senate on Monday ‘Juana Change’ lampoons Kris Aquino at SAF 44 rite videos Lacson wishes ‘normal life’ for accuser Mancao Marcos laments gov’t silence on Mamasapano incident Purisima’s Senate testimony fails to convince Poe, kin of slain SAF men Purisima: I have no role in Mamasapano operation Napeñas: Purisima told me not to tell Roxas, Espina of SAF operation AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Pump prices may rise more than initially expected, petroleum industry sources said on Monday, citing updated market reports. Sources said the first major upward adjustment for 2015 could be “around P2” for gasoline, and not the estimated P1 to P2 range as of the weekend. Diesel prices, on the other hand, are forecast to increase by P1 to P1.50 per liter. Since the start of the year, there has been a net decrease of P3.60 per liter for gasoline and P4.16 per liter for diesel. Speculative trading has driven prices up, however, a source said, due to weak US economic data and concerns that oil drilling activities would be curtailed. It will be recalled that there have been recent reports of oil majors cutting capital expenditures in Read More …

Wear blue jeans and support Rare Disease Day

 General
Feb 092015
 
Wear blue jeans and support Rare Disease Day

Hand in hand, day by day: The world marks the 8th Rare Disease Day, focusing on the daily lives of patients, families, and caregivers who are living with a rare disease.   This may sound strange to you, but did you know that the Philippines has been celebrating National Rare Disease Week on the last week of February since 2010? Last week, we received this invite to celebrate the 6th National Rare Disease Week on Feb. 21-28 as the country joins hands with the rest of the world in marking the 8th Rare Disease Day with the theme “Living with a rare disease: day-by-day, hand-in-hand.” Over 80 countries participated in the celebration last year. Since 2010, the last week of February (yes, after Valentine’s Day and this year, after Chinese New Year) has been declared as National Rare Disease Week in the Philippines by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1989. Since then, the Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders, Inc. (PSOD) has been serving as the central coordinating organization for the Rare Disease Awareness Week campaign as it brings together healthcare institutions, local government units, government agencies, civic organizations, media and other private and public institutions to create awareness and support for Filipinos with a rare disease. This year, the organizers are spearheading a stronger awareness campaign and batting for the early deliberation and passage of a Rare Disease Act currently sitting in the House of Representatives. The campaign is aimed primarily at the general public and “seeks to raise awareness among Read More …

Bed linens company opens satellite office in Mandaue

 General
Feb 092015
 
Bed linens company opens satellite office in Mandaue

(NEW OFFICE). Canadian Manufacturing sales and marketing director Chand Daryanani outside their newly-opened office on A.C. Cortes St. in Mandaue City.  (Amper Campaña) A MANILA – based manufacturer of bed linens and accessories has expanded its presence in Cebu by opening a satellite office in Mandaue City. Canadian Manufacturing, which is operated by Classic Characters Inc., said it wants to grow its market share in Cebu, primarily among hotels, from 15 percent to 20 percent to 25 percent in the next five years, according to its sales and marketing director Chand Daryanani. The Canadian brand has been in the market for 56 years already, but it is only now that it opened an office in Cebu. Aside from hotels, its products also include towels and pillows. It also has a retail presence in department stores. “Cebu is one of the places in the country that is attracting a lot of tourists…Definitely, this is helping us grow,” the official said. Canadian Manufacturing also opened an office in Coron in Palawan and is targeting to open more offices in Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, where tourism is also on the upswing. “(The expansion) now is all about growth. We build and build, (increase our capacity) until we got to a point where we think we can expand,” Daryanani said. He said the company is also riding on the growth of the tourism industry, where more hotel establishments are being built yearly. Canadian Manufacturing has served the A market, down to C and Read More …

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