Hong Kong’s Migrant Community
Pinoy connection: Filipino youths in Hong Kong
Issue 19
Dec ‘24 / Jan ‘25
Editors:
Aileen Alonzo-Hayward & Martin Turner
Lead writer: Aileen Alonzo-Hayward
Front cover:
Designed by Martin Turner
Design: Martin Turner (based on original template designed by Steve Ellul of Cedar Hong Kong)
Special thanks: Lie Fhung
A word from the founders
HI PANGYAOS!
In this issue, Leo Selomenio shares details of the Christmas Family Day celebration hosted by the Philippine Overseas Worker’s Welfare Administration (OWWA), to be held on December 8th, 2024 at Chater Road in Central. Open to everyone, there will be a range of competitions, performances, and a raffle.
Our main feature talks about how Filipino youths who grew up in Hong Kong connect with their parents’ heritage; our community group is the 500-strong dance ensemble, Kulay Pinoy; resident columnist Ron R. Lacson talks about dealing with change; Aileen shares her personal views about the uniting power of boodle fights; and much more besides!
This holiday season, we wish everyone a prosperous and peaceful year ahead. 2025 is just around the corner, so let’s keep caring about one another and make the world a better place, one small act of kindness at a time. Happy holidays!
Aileen & Martin
PCG message
Con Gen Germie’s message for the Filipino community
Community Voice: Leo Selomenio (Filipino)
OWWA Family Day and Paskong Pinoy 2024
Conversation with Ron Change, and why we should welcome it
Pinoy connection
Growing up Filipino in Hong Kong
Boodle fights: feeding the soul Aileen hosts traditional birthday celebrations
Anti-Scam Carnival
ADCC hosts their latest event on 14th-15th December
Kulay Pinoy: a movement of colour A 500-strong Filipino community dance group
Consul General Yul Edison
Con Gen Yul’s message for the Indonesian community
Aku Keliru by Yeti Kristiana (Indonesian)
Latest blog from our TCK Learning Centre collaboration
and more...
Consul General
Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan’s message for Hong Kong’s Filipino community
SEASON’S GREETINGS to the officers and staff of Pangyao magazine and to our beloved kababayans in Hong Kong.
Thank you Pangyao magazine for your support to the Consulate and to our kababayans. Thank you as well for this opportunity to convey a message to my 220,000 kababayans living in Hong Kong.
This year, with the full opening of Hong Kong, the Philippine Consulate General was able to stage many meaningful events with the active participation of the Filipino community (FilCom) in Hong Kong.
In February, the Consulate opened its Sining Malaya “Freedom” Art Corner, where Filipinos are able to display their artistic works (i.e. paintings, poems, sculptures etc.) every month, in conjunction with the Philippine government’s monthly commemoration of various significant events or celebrations.
In March, the Consulate hosted the Meet and Greet reception for the Filipino community leaders, the very first since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June, the Filipino community in Hong Kong joined the Philippine Consulate in celebrating the 126th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, where a vast array of Filipino talents in music, dance, and culture were displayed during the Migrant Workers’ Day, Philippine Independence Day reception, and the Kapangyawan Friendship Festival.
In July, books and films by Filipino authors and filmmakers were placed on centre stage during the 2024 HK Book Fair. The Consulate showcased the works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal before an international audience of book lovers.
In September, the Consulate participated in the ASEAN Film Festival to highlight Filipino artistry in film making to local and international audiences. Three (3) distinct Filipino films were featured, namely Hello Love Goodbye, The Missing, and K’na: The Dreamweaver, at the highly regarded film festival in the city.
This November, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Hong Kong (OWWA-HK) will launch the first ever OWWA OFW Global Centre abroad, located on the 18th floor of United Centre in Admiralty. This centre is dedicated to the Overseas Filipino Workers in Hong Kong, where they can avail of OWWA services, conduct FilCom activities, or simply relax during their “rest day”.
The Christmas holidays are the perfect time for spending time with our loved ones and friends, giving thanks for our blessings, and reflecting on the events of the current year. We have this opportunity to take time off from the hectic and ever fast-paced life in Hong Kong, and to prepare ourselves for the coming year.
In December, the Consulate will stage the OFW Family Day, “Pastaran”, and the “Misa de Aguinaldo”, all meant to bring everyone closer to home.
As the year slowly comes to an end, let us keep our spirits high, and keep the spirit of cooperation and camaraderie alive among us Filipinos in Hong Kong. I wish everyone a healthy, safe, and prosperous year ahead.
Happy holidays mga kababayan! Maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta at pagmamahal. Mabuhay!
Leo Selomenio
Founder & Chairperson of Global Alliance
Malamig ang simoy ng hangin, kay saya ng mga awitin at nakahanda na ang ating mga performers, organisers, sponsors at partners, para sa Pamaskong handog ng Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration o OWWA Family Day and Paskong Pinoy 2024 in cooperation with Global Alliance!
This year, the OWWA Family Day and Paskong Pinoy 2024 will be held on December 8 at Chater Road in Central. There are a lot of fun things to do and see for everyone.
Mayroon tayong Street Dance competition na sinalihan ng anim na mga community groups: La Union Federation of HK (LUFOH), Panay Overseas Workers Association (POWA), One Visayas, AMA Computers, Alyansa ng Samahang Ilocano, Cordillera at Tagalog Association (ASCTI), at ang Kalingan Province HK Workers Association.
Magkakaroon din ng Christmas Tree contest kasama ang susunod na mga organisasyon: Filipino Workers Livelihood Association (FIWLA), Guardians Magic Group Insight Worldwide HK (GMGI), Diwa’t Kabayan, United Migrants Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Association (UMELA), AMA Computers, Anti-Narcotics International Assistance Group (NARAIG), National Council of Solo Parent HK-Chapter, TROPIHK, Kalinga Province HK Workers Association, One Visayas, and Guardians International Seventeenth Confederation Inc. (GISCI).
Siyempre, hindi kumpleto ang Paskong Pinoy kung walang parol!
Ang ating Parol Making contest ay napakapopular at medyo mahaba ang listahan ng mga contestants dito kaya huwag po sana tayong magtampo kung hindi ko na isa-isahin.
Our highlight for the day is the 400-strong dance performance by Global Alliance members with a performance we named “OWWAwSayaw”, mapapa “Oh Wow!” talaga kayo kapag napanuod ninyo itong aming performance.
Schedule of events that day also include: 8:00am Zumba – to warm up before the day starts, at kasunod diyan ang ating Catholic Mass on 10:00am, pagdating naman ng 11:00am maguumpisa ang ating community groups and organisations parade. Welcome po lahat ng grupo at organisasyon na sumama sa parade, dalhin niyo lamang ang iyong banner at isuot ang iyong mga association t-shirts.
Pagkatapos ng parade, ating uumpisahan ang programme proper with our Opening Salvo at mga mensahe galing sa ating mga opisyal ng OWWA at ng Philippine Consulate General. Kasunod na ang mga contests, oathtaking of Global Alliance ExeCom for 2025-2027, OWWAwSayaw, Sayawan na sa daan, at raffle draw!
Kahit anong pagod namin sa paghahanda, it is always a joy to serve the community and to bring all our kababayans Christmas cheer.
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!
Change... and why we should welcome it
A FEW YEARS ago, I was in Seoul and I met an ajumma in an eatery (an ajumma is an old married or unmarried lady in Korea who commands respect and does things her way).
She served us bibimbap (a Korean rice dish), which she prepared out of the gladness of her heart.
She was thrilled and was laughing a lot; even though the wrinkles on her hands and the deep lines at the corners of her eyes were showing – marks of years of pain and hardship – at 68 years old, she was still jolly and excited.
I wondered what made her feel so happy. So, I asked. With my Korean friend helping to translate into English, she answered that she had learned how to deal with all the changes in her life.
I followed up by asking how she was doing it. She responded: “In every change in my life, I pick a flower and pin it on my chest. The bigger the change, the larger and more colourful the flower. That way, every time I look at myself during the day, I know that I am dealing with a change; I am learning and growing with it. It becomes easier for me to adapt.”
That was when I noticed a sizable Rose on her white hanbok (a Korean women’s dress).
“So, what change does that flower symbolise?” I asked.
“New boyfriend!!” she answered excitedly. I almost dropped my bibimbap bowl.
Changes are inevitable. We have already learned to acclimate with them in our own small ways. And for many, it is just very natural.
When the weather is sunny and it suddenly rains, we grab an umbrella. When the bus doesn’t arrive on time and we are late for work, we walk or take a cab. If the electricity shuts down and the lamp is out, we light a candle. If only we could extend the same manner of responses to the substantial changes in our lives, then our day-to-day life journey could be less arduous.
Over the years, my relationship with change has been evolving continuously. I have realised that the only way to deal
If we start shaping our inner strengths when accepting the change, we can be helpful contributors on this planet – Ron
Award-winning RTHK Pinoy Life presenter and Pangyao resident wordsmith Ron R. Lacson shares his thoughts
with, and adapt to, a change is to change too. I don’t try to ignore it any longer. Nowadays, each time I see a change coming, I no longer automatically hit the panic button.
The change in my attitude does not make the changes go away. On the contrary, they seem to multiply and divide themselves (yes, it’s like mathematics). I also notice that I am becoming more aware of the changes in my life, which is its way of saying that I must be prepared for the responsibility that a change will bring along.
Once, I was in Singapore, and I noticed a change in me. I gained weight – probably because I had eaten a lot of street food in the last three days.
In an instant, I gained a couple of kilograms. I thought to myself, “Hmm, this must be what they call...Instagram.”
I welcomed the change with humour.
We don’t have to pin a flower on our chest every time we are faced with change (though no one is stopping us, by the way), but we must stop trying to ignore it.
If we start shaping our inner strengths when accepting the change, we can be helpful contributors on this planet (and throughout the universe), who will always know how to pursue the next goal and our approach to the future.
So, this Christmas and holiday season, let’s all embrace change and welcome it. Change is not our enemy. It is our life companion. It happens when we are busy with life. When we treat it as a friend, anxiety is diminished. And as we also seize, cradle and understand it, the opportunity to grow and mature becomes a higher possibility.
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Pinoy connection: Growing up Filipino in Hong Kong
By Aileen Alonzo-Hayward
Left-to-right: Beatrix Pang, Artist, Founder of Small Tune Press; Maria Nemy Lou Rocio, Co-Founder of Migrant Writers of Hong Kong ; Christine Vicera, Co-Founder & Director of be/longing; Yvonne Yu, Writer and Co-Editor of Ingat (photo provided by Christine Vicera)
HONG KONG’S POPULATION, according to the 2021 census, stands at 7,413,070. Of this number, 91.6% – or 6,793,502 – are ethnically Chinese. The next biggest ethnic group are Filipinos.
Numbering 201,291, Filipinos represent 2.7% of the population living, studying, and working in the city, with the majority of those employed as migrant domestic workers (MDWs). Since the early 1970s, Filipino workers have been looking after families and households in Hong Kong – and around the world – as a way of improving their own lives and the lives of their families back in the Philippines.
There is no doubt that MDWs have contributed a lot to Hong Kong’s economy. According to a 2019 study by local NGO Enrich, MDWs have contributed HK$98.9 billion to the city’s economy, or 3.6 % of GDP. Employing a MDW to assist with childcare and household duties has also allowed more women to join the local workforce and focus on their own careers.
There are also many Filipinos who call Hong Kong home. Born to immigrant parents working across all sectors of the community – musicians, engineers, pilots, flight attendants, bankers, business owners, social workers, MDWs, amongst many others –many of these second and third-generation children have spent their entire lives here, growing up and studying in local Hong Kong schools and eventually forging their own career paths in the city. Then there are the children of mixed Filipino heritage, many of which, even if they do not speak Filipino, still carry their Filipino roots with pride.
“I understand Filipino 100%, even if I do struggle to reply back in Filipino. When I speak to a kababayan, I make an effort to let them know that I am also Pinoy (colloquial term for a Filipino person) even if it is in Taglish (a portmanteau of Tagalog and English, an acceptable conversational style of speaking in informal settings),” beams Richard Fernie, a Hong Kong-born, BritishFilipino and Co-Owner of Not 2 Sweet – an eclectic new bar in Peel Street, Central, featuring unique cocktails and a grungy interior featuring art pieces from Hong Kong-based Filipino artists.
“Our Mom, Vianee, has always told us about the importance of family. Although she didn’t specifically teach us how to speak Filipino growing up, my two younger brothers and I understand it well. We have also been immersed in the food and culture. We grew up being close to our Filipino cousins who were also born and raised in Hong Kong,” shares Richard.
Christine Vicera has grown up in Hong Kong since her family arrived here in the 1990s. She is a writer, researcher, filmmaker, and Co-Founder and Director of be/longing – a community arts-for-education lab that harnesses the transformative power of storytelling and the creative arts to cultivate cultures of inclusion in Hong Kong.
Christine shares how her parents helped both her and her brother connect with their Filipino heritage: “My parents, who are first-generation immigrants, always made it a point to remind my brother and I of our roots. What we know about Filipino culture and what it means to be Filipino would often >
I understand Filipino 100%, even if I do struggle to reply back in Filipino. When I speak to a kababayan, I make an effort to let them know that I am also Pinoy even if it is in Taglish
- Richard Fernie, Co-Owner, Not 2 Sweet Bar, Central
be passed down to us through the stories they shared at the dinner table. There’s something about eating together that makes storytelling so easy.”
Language, in connection with storytelling, is indeed one of the important pillars of culture. It is the way by which people communicate with one another, build relationships, and create a sense of community.
“I often encourage parents to teach the Filipino language to their children so that they will learn to value their culture and heritage, which contributes to a positive selfconcept,” says Catherine Tating Marsden, Founder of Teatro Filipino – a performing arts group that encourages young Filipinos to express themselves through dance, song, and acting – and now Performing Arts Workshop Program Instructor of Silid Kultura (Room of Culture), a cultural immersion-through-arts programme for Filipino children in coordination with the Head of Cultural Affairs of the Philippine Consulate General Vice Consul Allan Revote.
“Second and third-generation immigrants often struggle with a feeling of cultural disconnection amidst a diversified and multicultural environment. Speaking Filipino can help them feel closer to people with similar roots and find a sense of belonging to a community; it will bring about cultural awareness. Being culturally aware can help them recognise and appreciate other people’s beliefs, customs, and values, which will help break down cultural barriers. They can relate better to people with cultural differences as they begin to understand themselves better,” says Catherine.
“The children who attended the Silid Kultura have demonstrated their appreciation of learning the Filipino language and our culture through songs and dances. I have seen their sense of pride being a Filipino after they learned to speak a few Filipino words and spoke the language on stage,” she shares with a smile.
The Filipino diaspora across the globe is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of
Clockwise from top-left: Richard Fernie with his extended family; Richard and younger brother Ronan; Richard with Not 2 Sweet Founder & Director Leo Chan (left) and Chef Noah Chiu (right); Filipino artwork hanging in Not 2 Sweet; Richard’s Filipino mother Vianee (left) and British father Ivan (right)
All photos provided by Richard Fernie
the culture. According to a 2022 government report, there is an estimated total of 10,793,839 Filipinos living outside of the Philippines, more than the population of Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai combined. This dispersion means that in almost every country in the world, there is access to Filipino culture.
“Wherever I travel and meet a fellow Pinoy, you can really feel the camaraderie. It’s like an unspoken rule of ‘Ay, Filipino ka pala!’ (Oh, you are Filipino!), [that’s] immediate bonding right there,” says Richard, as his business partner, Leo, interrupts the interview to ask for help reading a note written in Chinese that a local worker has handed to them. Richard reads the note and explains to the worker – in fluent Cantonese – that they have the wrong address. While the whole interaction lasts only two minutes, it acutely highlights the cross-pollination of cultures and the importance of embracing them.
Music is also a core part of the Filipino psyche. It is what unites us in everything –political upheavals (e.g. Magkaisa – a song associated with the EDSA revolution), folk songs, kundiman (a classic form of Filipino love songs), Original Pilipino Music (known locally as OPM), and many other genres.
“The reason why I can understand Tagalog and Bisaya well is because of the Filipino community I grew up with at Church, and through music,” shares Christine. “In my teenage years, I rediscovered my love for OPM classics, which my parents played a lot of growing up. I then took it upon myself to actively find Filipino bands and singers to listen to as this helped me fall in love with the depth of the language. Eventually, I was given the chance to perform on a small stage at [HK music festival] Clockenflap in 2018, where I sang IV of Spades’ “Mundo” – the same year the band themselves also played at the festival. This was an important experience that allowed me to share the music that I hold so dearly to me. Music was, for me, a safe space through which I could learn more about my culture.” >
Top: Catherine Marsden, Founder of Teatro Filipino, with her son David Middle: Catherine is also Program Instructor of Silid Kultura, a cultural immersion-through-arts programme for Filipino children Bottom: Children attending Silid Kultura learn about Filipino culture through song and dance (middle and bottom photos by Darren Hayward)
Photo provided by Catherine Marsden
There is no doubt that young Filipinos growing up in Hong Kong gravitate towards the language, food, music, and culture of their parent/parents. So how can parents help their children better understand and get the right exposure to the culture?
“Having a Filipino role model will help them to have a sense of pride. Learning about our National Hero, José Rizal, and other great women and men from the past can help. Parents can also share stories about their childhood memories, family traditions, practices and values like pagmamano (showing respect to elders), our strong, resilient character, and other positive Filipino traits and skills,” says Catherine.
She continues, “Another way is to get them involved in cultural activities. Hands-on experience will always plant in their heart a deep love for their culture and their country, the Philippines.”
Even in mixed Filipino families, the children will always be in contact with their Filipino heritage. “I love hanging out with our mama and papa – what I call my grandma and grandad. They tell us stories of how they grew up in the Philippines. One of my favourite stories is how my mom and dad met – my dad is British, and my mom is Filipino – how they both travelled so far from where they grew up to find work and ended
up meeting in China. If I do have children in the future, for sure they will learn about their Filipino roots. With how close our family is, there is no escaping it!” laughs Richard.
While growing up as a Filipino abroad has its challenges, there are also many benefits; multiculturalism, being bi- or trilingual, adaptability, education and work advancements, and independence. Hong Kong has been open to Filipinos for many decades and the children of the original immigrants are now children of Hong Kong as well. There will always be a sense of pride in being a child of these cultures. “Growing up in a city like Hong Kong isn’t easy. But when I look around me, and see how much the people from our communities have thrived in spite of it all, makes me so proud,” ends Christine.
Hong Kong is my home. I was born in Causeway Bay and grew up in Aberdeen. I have lived here all my life – more than 40 years. There are times when I do not feel entirely welcome, where the colour of my skin and facial features elicit situations of discrimination and microaggressions. These can really hurt. But oftentimes, my community, culture, and heritage make me proud to be a Filipino, while my upbringing, identity, and inspiration to help my home, make me proud to be a Hong Konger.
Left: Christine with members of Section Juan, a support group for Filipino youths in Hong Kong
Above: Christine Vicera, Co-Founder and Director of be/longing, with her father. The family moved to Hong Kong in the 1990s
Photos provided by Christine Vicera
Boodle fights, salu-salo at kamayan: feeding
loved ones and feeding the
soul
By Aileen Alonzo-Hayward
I WAS FEELING homesick, thinking about the fun times I had with my family back in Jiabong, Samar, and how we would gather in my Mom’s garden and have a big boodle fight to celebrate a special occasion. And when I say big, I mean BIG – a 4-metre-long assembly of lined-up tables covered in banana leaves, with a seemingly endless pile of delicious food in the middle, enough for about 40 to 50 family members to share. Around the table, the air filled with loud and lively conversation in all directions, from raucous laughter to serious family matters.
This got me thinking, many of my friends in Hong Kong have likely never experienced a boodle fight… perhaps they should give it a try! So I decided – I would host a traditional Filipino boodle fight for my birthday, on our rooftop in our home here on Lamma Island.
“Will you be fighting poodles?” my Finnish friend, Sanna, slightly confused, jokingly asked upon receiving her invite. “I can assure you that no poodles will be harmed in this feast,” I confirmed, much to Sanna’s relief.
It is an unusual name though; how and why did it come about?
We need to start with the traditional Filipino dining style of kamayan, which translates to ‘with the hands’. The name describes the process exactly – we eat using our hands. Take a bite-sized portion of rice and place a small bit of meat, vegetable, fish, or any accompanying dish onto it. Using all five fingers of your dominant hand, pinch the mound into a pyramid, using your thumb to gently push the food into your mouth. The fingers and palm do not generally touch the mouth. >
Unlike traditional Western methods of dining, where there are strict rules of etiquette observed, eating kamayan with family and friends is informal, and usually involves vibrant conversation throughout the course of the meal.
The origins of kamayan can be traced back to pre-colonial times when Filipinos would eat with their hands as a way to connect with their food and the earth. It is a practice that emphasises the importance of using all the senses to appreciate the flavours, textures, and aromas of the food.
By eating with their hands, diners are able to engage more fully with the meal and experience a deeper connection to the food they are consuming. Although the practice of kamayan was discouraged by Philippines’ Spanish and American colonisers, its cultural significance has become elevated in the country’s postcolonial culture.
When a meal is shared with one or more people, this is what we call a salu-salo, or gathering in front of food. All social gatherings are included, from family dinners to weddings, from fiesta celebrations to christenings. The first time my husband, Darren, who is British – a culture
known around the world for their, shall we say, ‘meticulous’ etiquette around dining – came to Jiabong to meet the family, he enthusiastically embraced the chaos of a salu-salo. While enjoying our meal of grilled meats, fish, and local root vegetables (including bilanghoy [cassava], camote [sweet potato], and gaway [taro]), my aunties, uncles, and cousins loudly – and often drunkenly – tried to converse with him.
Regardless of the variety of dishes, the focus is always on enjoying the company of friends and family, while savouring the flavours of Filipino cuisine. On the day of my birthday, we made adobong baboy (pork stewed in soy sauce and vinegar), liempo (grilled crispy pork belly), pork chops, chicken wings, ginataang kalabasa (pumpkin in coconut milk), lumpia (spring rolls), pancit (fried noodles), all paired with generous heaps of fluffy, steamed rice.
While I arranged the tables and chairs for the boodle fight, Darren went foraging in the bushes in front of our house to grab some banana leaves. Part of the joy of hosting these events is the preparation of the food. I love marinating the meats the day before they go on the grill, making sure I have the choice cut of pork belly for my adobo, and making sure I have enough rice for everyone (the last salu-salo I hosted I didn’t have enough and I had to cook more –my Filipino ancestors were shaking their heads at me from the grave).
The word boodle does not have a definitive origin but is commonly believed to originate from the American military slang ‘boodle’, meaning ‘contraband sweets’, which they brought with them to the Philippines during World War II. It may also have derived from the term ‘kit and caboodle’ which means ‘everything available’ – which aptly describes the presentation of a boodle fight, which consists of food in one long mound in the middle of the table.
Like a true nanay or matriarch of the house, I made everybody wash their hands before eating. “Paghugas anay hit iyo kamut,” [wash your hands first] my mom would say to us in Waraynon before every meal. I explained the simple rules
My husband Darren searching for banana leaves for the boodle fight outside our home on Lamma Island
of using your non-dominant hand to grab food from the boodle pile, to add to a smaller portion in front of you, and your dominant hand to eat. Before long, we were all tucking into the food.
The concept of a boodle fight is all about sharing and camaraderie. This communal way of eating fosters a sense of unity and togetherness among diners, as they share not just the food, but also stories, laughter, and memories. As my friends and I share the meal, I can feel my homesickness fading away. In between the chats, laughter, and occasional exclamations of how good the food was (mostly from our Swedish friend, Magnus, and his Indonesian wife, Martini), I had waves of what we Filipinos describe as nakakataba ng puso, meaning ‘the heart is full’.
In a boodle fight or salu-salo, there is a sense of equality among diners, as they share a meal together without any hierarchies or divisions. Everyone, regardless of status or background, is equal at the table, united by a common love for food and fellowship. Being the only Filipino at my birthday salusalo, I did not feel alone. Far from it.
“I loved enjoying the delicious food while chatting with friends. It’s also a bit like Chinese family drinking occasions. There are always some small dishes to go with the drinks. We Asians love to have food!” says Viola, who originates from Harbin, China. “Eating with your hands is much more efficient!” exclaims Sanna’s British husband, Rob.
Boodle fights, salu-salo and kamayan are more than just ways of eating; these communal dining styles symbolise the Filipino values of unity, camaraderie, and generosity. Through boodle fights and kamayan, the rich culinary traditions of the Philippines are preserved, celebrated, and shared, ensuring that the flavours of Filipino cuisine continue to thrive for years to come. I just need to ensure there’s enough sinaing (steamed rice)!
Top: It’s a family affair – a traditional boodle fight at my home in Jiabong, Samar, Philippines, normally with 40-50 hungry participants Bottom: Enjoying the fruits of my labour at my birthday boodle fight on our rooftop on Lamma Island
ANTI-SCAM CARNIVAL
14th-15th December 2024 • 11am to 6pm • West Kowloon Cultural District
Kulay Pinoy: A movement of colour
By Aileen Alonzo-Hayward
THIS YEAR’S Philippine Independence Day celebrations in June, hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), featured a wealth of entertainment, including a Battle of the Bands competition, OFWs Got Talent contest, alongside special performances from visiting Filipino celebrities.
Undoubtedly one of the highlights, however, was Kulay Pinoy (or Filipino colours in English) – a 500-strong dance group that took over Chater Road.
On a busy Sunday back in 2012, a conversation between the late Engr. Nazzer
Ampang, a former Chairman of Philippine Alliance, and Leo Selomenio, Chairman of Global Alliance, discussed a very ambitious undertaking – putting together a neverbefore-seen dance group made up of 500 dancers. All dancing together, as one cohesive ensemble.
The logistics of this is staggering. “Kasama sa mga challenges namin sa Kulay Pinoy ay ang pag-recruit ng dancers, paghanap ng lugar na mapagpraktisan, paggawa ng costumes, at pagtipon tipon naming lahat na 500 dancers sa araw ng performance,” [Our challenges with Kulay Pinoy include recruiting dancers, looking for rehearsal space, sourcing the costumes, and organising all 500 performers
All photos provided by Kulay Pinoy
Kasama sa mga challenges namin sa Kulay Pinoy ay ang pag-recruit ng dancers, paghanap ng lugar na mapagpraktisan, paggawa ng costumes, at pagtipon tipon naming lahat na 500 dancers sa araw ng performance [Our challenges with Kulay Pinoy include recruiting dancers, looking for rehearsal space, sourcing the costumes, and organising all 500 performers on the performance day] - Nympha Paras, Head Choreographer of Kulay Pinoy
on the performance day] shares Nympha Paras, Head Choreographer of Kulay Pinoy and Vice President of Cultural for Global Alliance, who has been working as a migrant worker in Hong Kong for more than 10 years.
It was six years on from that initial conversation between Leo and the late Nazzer that their vision for Kulay Pinoy finally came to fruition, with their very first performance taking place during the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebrations in 2018. “We named it Kulay Pinoy to represent the expression of colours from the Filipino culture. We have 50 different colours, each colour worn by 10 dancers, totalling 500. All the music we play is strictly Original Pilipino Music or OPM,” says Leo.
“Kahit mainit na mainit o umuulan, tuloy pa din ang pagpraktis. Minsan nahihirapan kaming maghanap ng lugar kapag umuulan, pero sinisikap pa din namin na makapagpraktis. Ang mga dancers at mga officers ay talagang may dedikasyon sa pagsayaw at pagperform para maipamahagi sa mga manunuod ang ating kultura,” [Even when it is very hot or raining, the practice continues. Sometimes, we have a hard time looking for a rehearsal space, especially when it is raining, but we still try to make it work. The dancers and officers have a lot of dedication for the dance performance, it is a way for them to share our culture to others] shares Marites Nuval, President of Global Alliance and Head of Kulay Pinoy coordinating team.
Nympha Paras, Head Choreographer of Kulay Pinoy and Vice President of Cultural for Global Alliance
Marites Nuval, President of Global Alliance and Head of Kulay Pinoy coordinating team
Every performance is around 20 minutes long, and the choreography must be structured in a way that ensures the dancers at the back also have a chance to be up front, showcasing everyone who takes part. “Laging bukas ang aking isip at tenga para sa inspirasyon. Kapag may naririnig ako na magandang tutugin na bagay sa sayaw o kapag may naiisip ako na dance steps sinusulat ko kaagad na para hindi ko makalimutan,” [My mind and ears are always open for inspiration. Whenever I hear a tune that goes well with movement or if I have an idea about a dance step, I try to write it down as soon as I can, so I won’t forget] Nympha says with a smile.
It takes four months of weekly rehearsals to organise the participants, map out the choreography, sort out the costumes, and edit the music before the performance is ready. Everyone involved with Kulay Pinoy undertake all this hard work voluntarily. “Minsan may mga community groups, mababait na tao, o madalas kami kami na din nina Chairman Leo ang nag-aambag ambag para sa patubig o kahit konting biskwit man lang sa mga dancers,” [Alongside ourselves and Chairman Leo, sometimes there are community groups and other kind-hearted people, who chip in to buy the dancers some water and biscuits] confesses Marites.
So, what do the Kulay Pinoy team get in return for their hard work? “They do it to share their joy of dancing with the audience,” Nympha shares. “We even have a few older dancers, who might not be able to do some of the movements that the other dancers do, but they still join every year. It is definitely worth it seeing all the beaming smiles from everyone.”
So far, all their dances have been performed only for the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Chater Road, Central, given that 500 dancers need a lot of space. However, they are always open to invitations. “Pangarap ko ang makasayaw kami sa International Chinese New Year Night Parade sa Tsim Sha Tsui na ginaganap tuwing Chinese Lunar New Year dito sa Hong Kong. Kung matupad iyon, sobrang saya naming lahat na maibahagi ang kulturang Pilipino sa lahat,” [My dream is for us to perform at the International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui, which is held every Chinese Lunar New Year here in Hong Kong. If that does happen one day, we will all be very happy to be able to share our Filipino culture with everyone] Leo concludes.
Kulay Pinoy’s 500-strong dance group performs at Philippine Independence Day events in Chater Road
Consul General Yul Edison’s message for Hong Kong’s Indonesian community
AYO PAHAMI HAK
KESEHATAN
PMI SEKTOR DOMESTIK DI PERANTAUAN
Di tengah kesibukan bekerja di perantauan, sering kali kita melupakan pentingnya menjaga kesehatan. Alhasil, tidak sedikit Pekerja Migran Indonesia (PMI) yang jatuh sakit ketika sedang bekerja di Hong Kong. Untungnya hak-hak PMI terkait kesehatan dilindungi secara hukum oleh pemerintah Hong Kong, lho! Yuk ketahui hak-hakmu lebih lanjut!
1. BIAYA PERAWATAN
Biaya perawatan PMI yang jatuh sakit ketika bekerja menjadi kewajiban serta tanggungan majikan berdasarkan peraturan ketenagakerjaan (Employment Ordinance) Hong Kong. Biaya perawatan mencakup konsultasi, perawatan di rumah sakit, dan perawatan gigi darurat. Hal ini juga wajib tercantum dalam kontrak kerja.
Pengecualian berlaku bagi PMI yang jatuh sakit ketika berada di luar Hong Kong untuk keperluan pribadi.
2. CUTI SAKIT
PMI memiliki hak untuk jatah hari cuti sakit sebanyak 2 (dua) hari per-bulan selama 12 (dua belas) bulan pertama
@kjrihk
@indonesiainhongkong
Hotline KJRI Hong Kong: 5242 2240
Hotline anti-penipuan kepolisian Hong Kong: 18222
dan 4 (empat) hari per-bulan di bulan ke-13 dan seterusnya. Hari cuti sakit dapat dikumpulkan hingga sebanyakbanyaknya 120 (seratus dua puluh) hari.
PMI dapat mengambil cuti sakit jika memiliki surat keterangan dari tenaga kesehatan Hong Kong yang memberikan rekomendasi untuk mengambil setidaknya 4 (empat) hari cuti sakit.
3. GAJI SELAMA CUTI SAKIT
PMI memiliki hak menerima sekurangkurangnya 80% dari gaji per-hari jika mengambil cuti sakit.
4. CIDERA/SAKIT AKIBAT KECELAKAAN KERJA
Jika PMI mengalami cidera ataupun sakit akibat kecelakaan kerja, maka pemberi kerja wajib membayar kompensasi sebagaimana tertulis dalam peraturan kompensasi pekerja (Employees’ Compensation Ordinance) Bab 282.
5. PEMBERHENTIAN KONTRAK (”TERMINATION”)
Jika PMI tidak lagi dapat melanjutkan pekerjaannya karena kondisi kesehatan yang dibuktikan dengan pernyataan dari tenaga medis, maka pemberi kerja dapat melakukan pemberhentian kontrak sesuai dengan peraturan yang berlaku, termasuk memulangkan PMI tersebut ke negara asalnya.
AKU KELIRU
@TckLearningCentre
“Kita tidak bisa memilih terlahir dari siapa dan keluarga yang seperti apa, tapi kita bisa memilih masa depan kita.” Ya, kata-kata ini sesuai dengan sepenggal cerita hidupku yang akan kubagikan kepada kalian. Dari dulu aku merasa tidak terima dengan keadaan di keluargaku yang serba kekurangan, terlilit hutang dan jadi cemoohan orang-orang. Hatiku hancur seakan kena mental sejak dini, tapi aku selalu mengalihkan lara itu dengan berbagai kegiatan seperti membantu orang tua mencari kayu bakar, mengambil air untuk kebutuhan sehari-hari hingga tanpa terasa aku tidak merasakan ketidakterimaan terhadap fakta kehidupanku yang berada di garis kemiskinan.
Sejak kecil pikiranku selalu dipenuhi dengan hayalan kapan bisa makan enak, bisa beli apa yang aku mau meskipun aku tau itu tidak mungkin terjadi mengingat keadaan yang serba kekurangan. Ditambah melihat temen-teman sebayaku yang selalu bisa terpenuhi apa yang mereka inginkan cukup dengan ngomong doang. Beda halnya dengan aku yang apabila menginginkan hal kecil atau sesuatu harus bekerja keras. Itu pun terkadang belum tentu bisa aku dapatkan. Itu
By Yeti Kristiana
semua semakin menambah aku memberontak merasa iri dengan hidup orang lain. Semakin tidak terkontrol lagi emosiku dengan Sang Pencipta dan selalu mempertanyakan “Mengapa Tuhan, mengapa hidupku begini, untuk apa aku terlahir di dunia ini jika harus hidup susah.” Dengan tangis yang tanpa air mata karena kecewa berbalut emosi semakin membuatku tidak menerima kenyataan yang ada.
Singkat cerita waktu pun telah berlalu dan usiaku pun makin bertambah.
Semakin banyak yang kudapat dari di setiap perjalanan hidup. Dan titik itu yang membuat aku tersadar bahwa yang terjadi dalam hidupku walau sepahit apa pun itu adalah bagian dari skenario Tuhan. Dari semua kejadian di masa lalu dengan segala kesusahan yang aku alami, itulah yang menjadikan aku jadi saat ini yang mampu berdiri di atas kaki sendiri. Dapat kusimpulkan bahwasanya masalalu yang tidak kusukai mendidikku untuk kuat, sabar, dan tau artinya hidup. 30 tahun lebih aku hidup dengan perjalanan yang sudah kujalani, suka dan duka pun telah dilalui. Membuatku cukup memahami arti hidup dengan rasa bersyukur dan bagiku hidup adalah sebuah perjuangan dan pilihan.
Artinya perjuangan bisa dikatakan dari awal terjadinya manusia pun diawali dengan sebuh perjuanga;, dari di kandungan selama 9 bulan, dilahirkan dengan dipertaruhkan nyawa dan dibesarkan dengan diberikan segala kebutuhan seperti sandang pangan bahkan pendidikan. Begitu juga dengan arti hidup sebuah pilihan bahwa kita berhak atas pilihan dari hidup. Jika kamu berani memilih hidup dan berani atas resikonya yang entah itu harus susah payah dan berdarah-darah, karena memang pada dasarnya “hidup tidak semudah membalikkan telapak tangan” seperti halnya pilihan terkait masa depan. Sekali pun kita berasal dari keluarga yang tidak ada power untuk menjamin masa depan yang lebih cerah akan tetapi teruslah berjuang, karena pepatah mengatakan “di mana ada kemauan di situ ada jalan.” Selama kita optimis dengan beriringnya waktu, tanpa disadari pasti bertemu dengan
jalan menuju apa yang kita inginkan, sekalipun harus butuh waktu cukup lama. Sejak diri ini paham akan skenario Tuhan, hal kecewa akan selalu kusambut dengan rasa syukur tanpa menggerutu kepadaNya. Ucapan terima kasih selalu kusematkan di setiap doa, berharap semoga tetap bisa optimis karena pasti akan ada kebaikan dibaliknya, sekalipun harus menangis dulu menerimanya. Layaknya setelah hujan badai petir, maka akan terbitlah pelangi yang indah.
Dear pembaca, sepenggal ceritaku, tetap semangat dan bersyukur dalam menjalani hidup di dunia yang fana ini. Jika lelah dengan apa yang dikejar maka berhentilah sejenak. Namun jangan berhenti berjuang, karena pada dasarnya masa depan yang sesungguhnya ada di tangan kalian - bukan di tangan orang lain. Abaikan apa kata mereka yang menyinyir apa yang kalian lakukan, karena ada pepatah mengatakan “anjing menggonggong, kafilah berlalu.”
Crime & emergency services
Emergency Hotline (Police, Fire, Ambulance) 999
Police Hotline 2527 7177
Anti-Deception Coordination Centre 18222
HK Government departments & agencies
Hong Kong Immigration Department 2824 6111
Hong Kong Labour Department 2157 9537
Consumer Council 2929 2222
Consular services
Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong 2823 8500
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 6345 9324
Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) 2866 0640
Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong 5242 2240
Royal Thai Consulate General in Hong Kong 2521 6481
Consulate General of India, Hong Kong 3970 9900
Consulate General of Pakistan, Hong Kong 2827 0681
Consulate General of Nepal, Hong Kong 2369 7813
Non-Governmental Organisations
International Social Service Hong Kong (ISS)
2834 6863
HELP for Domestic Workers 2523 4020
Pathfinders (Hotline for Migrant Workers) 5190 4886
Christian Action Centre for Migrant Domestic Workers 2382 3339
Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women (RainLily) 2375 5322
Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge 9338 0035
Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong (ATKI-HK) 9587 8317
Mission for Migrant Workers 2522 8264
Refugee Union 9828 7176
The Samaritans Hong Kong 2896 0000
Enrich HK 2386 5811
Uplifters 9731 9713
TCK Learning Centre for Migrant Workers 9344 4459
The Zubin Foundation 2540 9588
Equal Opportunities Commission (General Enquiry Hotline) 2511 8211
Equal Opportunities Commission (Anti-Sexual Harassment Hotline) 2106 2222
Mind HK 3643 0869
ImpactHK 2448 0011
Mesh (Mission for Ethnic Minorities’ Sexual Health) 5226 8547
Branches of Hope 3527 6048
Helpology 5699 6164
Other useful contacts
Hong Kong International Airport 2181 8888
