Pangyao Magazine Edition #5: Jun/Jul 2022

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(1) Depending on ad size, terms & conditions apply • (2) As of 27th May 2022 • (3) Figures from 28th March - 27th May 2022

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CONTENTS

Issue 5

Hong Kong’s Migra Features in English,

Issue 5

an

Jun / July 22

FREE

Jun / Jul ‘22 Front Cover: Designed by Steve Ellul, based on original image provided by Vehnee Saturno

nt Community

Filipino & Indonesi

NGO spotlight: EmpowerU Guhit Kulay and Sinag Space: Exploring migrant art

DWC blog competition winners Nifraz meets artist Lie Fhung

Vehnee Saturno: A handful of dreams

Chungking Mansi ons: A world on your doorstep

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27/5/2022 7:16 PM

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Poetry corner Poems from across the migrant community

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“Inspiration” blog competition winners In collaboration with Domestic Workers Corner

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Guhit Kulay and Sinag Space Exploring migrant art in Hong Kong

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Vehnee Saturno: A handful of dreams Aileen meets the iconic Filipino songwriter

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Pangyao pics “Where is everybody?” competition winners

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Conversation with Ron A personal account on the importance of family

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A taste of home: Lanka cooks bibikkan Traditional Sri Lankan sweet coconut cake

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The Hong Kong Profile: Lie Fhung Nifraz meets HK-based Indonesian artist Fhung

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PCG’s Philippine Independence Day message Con Gen Raly Tejada’s message of support

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Ang katotohanan sa likod ng litrato (Filipino) Story in collaboration with Migrant Writers of HK

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Golden Nyonya (Indonesian) Story in collaboration with TCK Learning Centre

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NGO spotlight: EmpowerU Empowering migrants through education

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Useful contacts Consulates, NGOs and other useful contacts

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A word from the founders Hi PANGYAOS! After the success of our digital community showcase edition in April, we’re very excited to be back here for issue 5 – and officially back in print again! Our decision to go digital-only for issue 4 was a sign of the times, with many of our usual distribution points resorting to operating online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

But as we move into the hot summer months, there’s a cautious sense of hope in the air (alongside the humidity!) as Hong Kong moves closer to something approaching normality.

And what better way to embrace this optimism than with our iconic and inspirational cover star, the legendary Vehnee Saturno. From humble beginnings, Vehnee went on to become one of the Philippines’ most prolific songwriters, with a career spanning more than four decades and showing little signs of slowing down.

Also in this edition: exploring migrant art with Guhit Kulay and Sinag Space; Nifraz talks to eclectic mixed media artist Lie Fhung; the NGO spotlight turns to EmpowerU; Lanka shares her recipe for Sri Lankan specialty bibikkan; we announce the winners of both our Pangyao pics photo competition and our “Inspiration” blogging competition (in collaboration with Domestic Workers Corner)… and much more!

We hope you enjoy our latest issue! Cheers!

Aileen & Martin

Poetry corner

Kau sanggup memberi Kau sanggup menyayangi Kau sanggup memeluk Tanpa siapapun tau apa yang berkecamuk dalam pikiranmu

Wanita Hebat

By Yunia Prastiwi

Senyummu adalah cahaya Kata-katamu adalah motivasi Dekapanmu adalah kehangatan Meski hatimu sendiri sedang berperang agar sinarmu tak padam Hidup tak selalu berjalan indah Hari ini tertawa esok menangis Sedih dan duka silih berganti Tapi kau tak pernah menyerah dan menyalahkan keadaan Wanita hebat adalah wanita yang bisa mengontrol emosinya Wanita hebat adalah wanita yang tetap berdiri kokoh meski ombak besar datang Wanita hebat adalah wanita yang lebih memilih bersyukur dari pada mengeluh Wanita hebat adalah wanita yang tetap memberi arti bagi kehidupan orang lain meski dia sedang berjuang untuk hidupnya sendiri

Sana By Ron R. Lacson Natatandaan mo pa ba ang isa at lahat Nang tayo’y masaya sa pagpitas ng gumamela Natatandaan mo pa ba ang punong duhat Ang mga sinegwelas na may langgam na pula Sana ay maalala mo pa Sana’y nakaraan ay bumalik pa Hawak kamay tayong tumatawid sa ilog Pagdating sa pampang ay uupo sa bato Habang binubuksan ang baon nating itlog Sabay kwentuhan ng tungkol sa multo Sana ay nasa isip mo pa Sana’y damdamin ay bumalik pa

Sa larong syato, tayo lagi ang magkakampi Maging sa patintero, tayo’y magkasangga Minsan sa iyong pisngi, labi ko’y dumampi Dala ko sa panaginip at sa lahat ng paghiga Sana ay napapangarap mo pa Sana’y saya ay bumalik pa Inukit ko ang puso natin sa punong bayabas Nagdulot ng ngiti sa iyong mapupulang labi Namasdan pakpak ng ibon na pumapagaspas Saksi ang mga ulap sa musmos na pagtangi Sana ay natatanaw mo pa Sana’y yakap ay bumalik pa Sana ay may pag-ibig pa Sana’y ikaw ay bumalik pa Sana Sana

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BLOGS

“Inspiration” Blog Writing Competition In collaboration with Domestic Workers Corner

Inspirasyon

By Edina Bueza a.k.a. Faith Love (Horizons Advance Poet) ITO ANG KWENTO ng aking buhay, sana kapulutan ng aral at inspirasyon nang ilan sa katulad kong nakaranas ng iba’t-ibang pagsubok at hamon sa buhay.

Apat na buwang gulang nang maulila sa ama. Nag-asawa ulit ang nanay sa murang edad iniatang sa akin ang responsibilidad.

Edad na anim na taong gulang natuto kami kumilos na magkakapatid, sa kusina at mag alaga ng batang kapatid lalo sa magdamag habang wala ang aming ina. Kami ang nagaasikaso at dahil ako ang bunso, ako ang inatasan magbantay ng mga bata sa magdamag: timpla ng gatas, palit ng lampin.

Magigising ka na lang may bumatok sayo dahil nakatulog ka sa upuan habang karga ang bata. Magigising na puno ng dumi buong katawan dahil nagkalat ang pupu niya habang tulog ka.

Mahirap dahil sa bawat pagkakamali may hagupit, bugbog o palo araw-araw. Iyan ang nararanasan namin sa kamay ng aming amaamahan. Hanggang nagkamuwang ganun

Compe titi Winne on r!

Language: Filipino

ang senaryo palagi. Naging rebelde ako.

Natutong uminom at magbisyo ng patago.

Walang araw na hindi ako lumuluhod sa altar para humingi ng gabay at ipakiusap na sana maramdaman kong mahal ako at mahalaga ako sa pamilya.

Dumating ang punto na muntik na akong maabuso ng aking ama-amahan. Takot ang naghari sa puso, ngunit ang masaklap dito, hindi ako pinaniwalaan ng aking mahal na ina. Mas gugustuhin pa raw niya na hindi ako makita kesa mawala minamahal niyang kinakasama.

Paano kung palagi ka na lang ipagtabuyan para matapos na daw responsibilidad sa’yo.

Sobrang sakit, at sa altar ko nalang iniluluha ang lahat. Ipinakikiusap na pagmamahal ni ina ay madama. Ginawa ko naman lahat ng gusto niya ngunit bakit kay ilap niya.

Kasalanan ng aking tunay na ama dapat ko nga bang pagbayaran? Luha at pasakit na kanyang naranasan , dapat ko rin bang maramdaman?

Paano nga kung palagi ka na lang ipagtabuyan para matapos na daw responsibilidad sa’yo. Sakit sobra sa altar dun ko iniluluha lahat 6

Hindi ba ako’y bunga ng kanilang pagmamahalan? Bakit tila ako’y hindi niya kayang hagkan? Nagpakalayo akong puso’y durog, isip ay tuliro. Lahat ng hirap dinanas halos hindi makatayo sa sariling mga paa at maging ang aking kamay walang lakas.

Hinamak buong pagkatao ko. Sa karamihan naalipusta ako. Ngunit ang maghiganti kailanman hindi ko gagawin. Dahil sakit na aking naranasan ay ayaw kong kanilang danasin. I have been verbally and mentally abused ng mga taong sobra kong minahal.

Itinakwil ng sariling kong mga anak dahil ang naibibigay ay hindi sapat o ang sinasabi nilang hirap mo’y balewala dahil hindi ikaw ang nag-aruga sa kanila. Taon ang lumipas bago kami ay muling nagusap-usap, ngunit ang hinanakit sa puso ko ay hindi mahagilap, bagkus, sa paghingi nila ng tawad buong puso at dalawang kamay ko silang niyakap.

Wala silang kahit anong sumbat na narinig.

Ina ako at mahal ko sila.

Depresyon aking naranasan. Pagkitil ng sariling buhay minsan pinagplanuhan ngunit sadyang Diyos ay maalam at isinugo niya ang isang angel sa aking harapan. Untiunting ako’y nagising at muling lumuhod at nanalangin. Isunuko ang lahat ng pasanin sa Diyos Amang lumikha sa atin.

Sa muling pagkakamali, natutong bumalanse sa lahat nang nasa paligid.

Natutong kumilatis at kumilala ng tao.

Naging mapag-obserba sa bawat minuto.

Trauma ang inabot sa lahat nang naranasan ngunit kailanman hindi hinayaang na muling bumagsak ng walang laban. Babangon at magsisimulang muli na may ngiti sa labi Tatayo, kahit nahihirapan at ipakitang ako’y magtatagumpay. Darating ang panahon na mamamayagpag. Kilalanin ng lahat kahit sa yaman ay salat.

Sa kagandahang asal at pusong busilak, itataas ng Panginoon pagdating nang panahon upang ipagpatuloy ang gawaing sa utos Niya naaayon.

Patuloy tayong mangarap at sabayan natin ng gawa at siguradong makamit natin ang tagumpay.

Huwag kalimutan kahit anong marating natin sa buhay manatiling nakaapak ang mga paa natin sa lupa Nagsimula akong mag-impok. Taong 2017 nang pinasok ang investment. Sinimulan ko rin ang short term funds. Sunod ang paghulog para sa lupa’t bahay. Taong 2021 nagsimula ng long term funds. Kasabay ng pag-aaral, pati mga online webinar at free workshops ay pinasukan ko para mas magkaroon ng sapat na kaalaman sa negosyo at hindi mauwi sa wala ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko. Sa ngayon nag-aaral ako ng ibat-ibang kurso sa TESDA upang magamit ko sa hinaharap.

Salamat sa pamilyang sa akin ay kumupkop at tumulong para manumbalik ang sigla at tiwala sa sarili at kakayahan. Salamat sa HORIZONS isa kang biyaya mula sa itaas.

Patuloy tayong mangarap at sabayan natin ng gawa at siguradong makakamit natin ang tagumpay. Huwag kalimutan na kahit anong marating natin sa buhay manatiling nakaapak ang mga paa natin sa lupa.

Salamat sa Diyos masasabi kong sa kabila ng lahat, mapalad pa rin ako.

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BLOGS

Payphone

By Racel

High Comm ly ended

Language: English & Filipino

WHILE I WAS waiting for my friend in Causeway Bay, I noticed a row of telephone booths outside. They were already old, rusty and vandalised. Many people were passing by and no one even gave them a single glance.

There I met a kababayan, who sat beside me and greeted me with a smile. She was a petite lady and had a little bit of grey on her curly hair – she looked like she was in her 50s. I called her Nanay as we began to talk.

Nowadays, people already use smart phones, so out of curiosity I asked her, “Nay, do you think those telephones are still working?”

She gently answered me, “‘di ko lang sigurado Ineng, matagal na yan diyan eh.”

Then she started explaining to me how important these payphones used to be to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) back before cellphones were invented. She said, “alam mo ba noon Ineng pinipilahan namin yan. Kasi yan lang ang tanging komunikasyon namin noon para makausap ang mga pamilya namin sa Pinas,” “Dapat madami kang coins na dala kapag pumila ka diyan, para kapag na cut-off na yung call, shoot agad yung coins tapos dial ulit.” At that moment, some words popped into my mind: “I’m at a payphone trying to call home, all of my change I spent on you,” reminded me of some song lyrics with this exact scenario.

Then she continued, “lahat ng mga pumapasok diyan sa telephone booth,

lalabas na umiiyak, yung iba nagpipigil lang ng luha habang kausap ang pamilya nila.” While she was saying those words, “oh my feelings”, I suddenly remembered my mother, ganun din kaya siya noon kapag tumatawag sa amin? Did she also cry inside the telephone booth? She was also an OFW before, back in the 90’s where Alcatel phones were released, at iilan palang ang nakaka-afford bumili noon. So the only way to communicate with her was through telephone calls or letters na aabutin pa ng isang buwan bago makarating sayo.

I asked her again, “ilang taon ka na po dito Nanay?” she said, “ay naku Ineng, 24 years na ako dito. Teacher ako dati sa atin. Four years old yung panganay ko tapos eleven months old lang yung bunso ko nung iniwan ko sila para mag-abroad. Sa awa ng Diyos napatapos ko sila ng pag-aaral, at ngayon may mga sarili na din silang pamilya.” Then I said, “Wow! 24 years po?!” Maybe she saw my puzzled look, as I still wanted to ask her a lot of questions, so she continued talking to me.

(Killing time outside because we are both waiting for someone) She added, “ang swerte niyo nga ngayon kasi may cellphone na. Kahit anong oras pwede niyong ka-video call ang mga pamilya nyo.

Makikita mo sila ng buo. Noong panahon namin, nako pahirapan. Kapag ako na ang nakahawak sa telepono, iniiyak ko nalang yung pagkamiss ko sa pamilya ko.” Dagdag pa niya, “ang mahirap pa, yung mabalitaan mong may sakit ang mga anak mo. Tapos ibubulong nila sayo sa telepono, ‘umuwi ka na Mama’, ay sinasabi ko sayo, ang hirap Ineng. Yung mga halik at yakap ko sa

Alam mo ba noon ineng pinipilahan namin yan. Kasi yan lang ang tanging komunikasyon namin noon para maka usap ang mga pamilya namin sa Pinas 8

kanila hinahawak ko nalang ng mahigpit sa telepono. Tapos sandali lang yung paguusap namin kasi madami pang nakapila sa likod ko. Mga excited din maka-usap ang pamilya nila.” Napahawak sa kamay ko si Nanay habang nagkukwento. “Ngayon tignan mo, halos wala nang gumagamit niyan. Baka nga sira na yung iba diyan dahil sobrang luma at kinakalawang na.”

My conversation with Nanay was suddenly cut-off when my friend arrived, so we said our goodbyes.

Batangueña pala etong si Nanay, we were just strangers a while ago, but after sharing that heartfelt talk, it made me appreciate the importance of these payphones to the OFWs before.

I can’t imagine how they survived the homesickness. No video calls, just the voice of their loved ones. Nakaka-amaze lang. Makes me think how many litres of tears have been shed inside those payphone booths.

Photo provided by Brenda (taken in Causeway Bay)

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BLOGS

Ang bukang-liwayway at takipsilim

By Brenda

High Comm ly ended

Language: Filipino

ANG BUHAY AY parang paglubog at pagsikat ng araw. Sa bawat araw na daraan ay may namumuong palagiang pag-asa sa mga palad ng isang OFW. Ang pag-asang aming pinanghahawakan sa aming mga kamay - pag-asa na siyang balang-araw kami’y makakaahon din sa buhay, pag-asa na ang aming mga pamilyang naiwan sa Pilipinas na sinilangan ay amin ding makakasama, pagasa na siyang pagdating ng panahon lahat ng aming pinaghirapan ay magbubunga.

Sa bawat dapit hapon na darating aming kalungkutan ay nagsisimula nanamang bumalot sa aming kaluluwa. Kalungkutan na siyang karamdaman ay pangungulila, na sana kami ay nasa piling ng aming pamilya, akay-akay ang mga anak, kumakain ng sabay-sabay sa hapag at higit sa lahat nagkukwentuhan ng mga pangyayari sa aming buong kahapunan.

Tila nga baga ang buhay ay kay hirap ngunit araw-araw, sa kadahilanang walang karapatang mapagpipilian, kami ay magbabanat buto, magkukuskos ng inidoro, kakain ng tira ng mga amo at higit

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sa lahat iiyak mag-isa sa kwarto dahil sa pangungulila, ngunit ang lahat ng ginagawa naming ito ay para sa pamilyang naiwan namin sa Pilipinas. Para sa akin ang buhay OFW ay tunay ngang naglalarawn ng paglubog at pagsikat ng araw, palagian.

Kung sapat lamang at may ganap na kita sa aming bansang pinanggalingan, may tinapos man o wala, wala sigurong ina, ama, anak, o kung sino man sa kapamilya ang pupunta ng ibang bansa upang ipagsapalaran ang buhay para kumita ng malaking halaga na higit sa kinikita sa bansang pinanggalingan.

Ilang araw, buwan, taon na ba ang lumipas?

Ilang kaarawan, pagtatapos at selebrasyon na ba ng pamilya namin ang aming hindi napuntahan? Magkaroon man ng kadiliman ay magkakaroon din naman ng liwanag. Na parang ipinahayag na ang araw ay sumisikat nang matagumpay, nagpainit sa lupa, na ikinakalat ang kanyang kumikinang na silaw. Tulad ng isang simbolo ng kagalakan ang mga sinag ay tinutugis ang huling mga anino na dating sumasamo sa kalungkutan.

Ang gabi mismo ay ang pinakasikat ng kalungkutan, ang pagiging kamatayan at kadiliman, kung saan ang pagsikat ng araw ay ang tagapagdala ng pagsilang, ang sagisag ng bagong buhay at muling pag-asa.

Napakalungkot ng buhay ng isang OFW tuwing sasapit ang kinahapunan ngunit pagsapit ng umaga panibagong pag-asa nanaman ang dadaan.

Exploring migrant art

By Aileen Alonzo-Hayward

Guhit Kulay shines a light on migrant art and nurtures creativity, while Sinag Art Space provides a place for inspiration and expression to flourish Left: Journey of a migrant worker (by all Guhit Kulay members) Top-right: Sanitize by Jonalyn Molina Bottom-right: Reminders by Dong Eludo

Guhit Kulay GUHIT KULAY’S STORY began back in 2017, when five like-minded friends – Cris Cayat, Cecil Eduarte, Ruby Timtim, Lou Bella Sasutil and Noemi Manguerra – spotted a group of artists spray painting a beautiful mural on a wall in Hong Kong (they later discovered the group were part of HKWALLS – a non-profit organisation for street and graffiti artists).

Inspired by what they saw, the friends vowed to establish their own collective, showcasing the artwork of migrant workers in the city.

A glance at Guhit Kulay’s Facebook page today reveals a treasure trove of amazing artwork; from paintings to upcycling, from weaving to photography, the diversity of talent on display is immediately clear, showing just how far the community group have come in a few short years.

The group’s name derives from two distinct Filipino words, Guhit – which can mean a

line, strokes, or in this context, to draw – and Kulay, meaning colour. Placed together, Guhit Kulay literally means, “to draw in colour”.

Joining our Zoom call, I’m initially greeted with a warm smile by Lyn Lopez, current president of the group. “Through Guhit Kulay, we want to help fellow migrants find inspiration,” she tells me.

“Sometimes we forget to pursue their talents because of the workload most of us have here in Hong Kong, [but] at Guhit Kulay, we encourage creativity and help them get a sense of accomplishment by creating art.”

We are shortly joined on the call by Guhit Kulay artist Maria Christina Anire – known to her friends as Marichris – who introduces herself with a similarly engaging smile.

Behind her is a striking portrait of what looks like a medical worker in a mask. “That painting is my entry for a book anthology series, in collaboration with other community groups and artists,” she explains. “It is a portrait of a front liner praying; the name of this painting is Dalangin, meaning pray.”

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BLOGS During the pandemic, groups like Guhit Kulay have proven to be a refuge for many of their members. According to rtor.org, a non-profit organization that promotes mental wellbeing, “Art therapy improves the mental health of people who are dealing with addictions, anxiety, attention disorders, grief and loss, dementia, depression, eating disorders, physical illness, PTSD, trauma, relationship issues, and much more.”

Since one of the main goals for Guhit Kulay is the process of making art – as opposed to the final piece itself – creating art for the sake of your mental and emotional health is not about becoming a great artist, but about finding your purpose and motivation in life.

All you need is to be open to the experience.

Use the mistakes to improve on your art.” These words of encouragement are a fitting summary of Guhit Kulay’s inclusive and creative roots – roots which continue to spread and draw nourishment from all aspects of life in Hong Kong.

Top-left: Dalangin (Pray) by Marichris Middle-left: Guhit Kulay oil pastel workshop Middle-right: Marichris’ obras: 1. City of Whales 2. Optimism and Growth, 3. You are not powerless Bottom-left: Voices in canvas (art display) Bottom-right: Rainy Night by Lyn Lopez

So what advice do Lyn and Marichris have for budding artists? ”Don’t be afraid to try,” says Lyn. “Just pick up a pen, pencil or paintbrush and start creating. Be inspired by everything around you.” Marichris supplements, “[When making art] don’t compare yourself to others.

Sinag Art Space HAVING SPENT THE majority of her life as a performer, Vianee Fernie has seen her journey as an artist continually grow and evolve. From a young age, her love of music led to a career as a singer and musician, something that became not only a job, but a passion, as she moved progressively towards writing her own material – establishing her own band Dark Himaya alongside Pangyao co-founder Aileen Alonzo-Hayward in 2013 (a band that Vianee continues to front today).

Fast forward to 2021, Vianee found her calling in another artistic pursuit, finishing her Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) degree from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)/Hong Kong Arts School. For her graduation, her seminal work Fragmented Harmony was displayed at the Pao Gallery in the Hong Kong Arts 12

Centre, alongside the work of her graduate peers.

“My concept was based on memories of my childhood back in the Philippines,” Vianee shares.

The work is comprised of two parts: firstly, the sculpture, named Fragmented Hum, takes the form of a shelter, that speaks of home, community, and protection. It takes the Filipino concept of Bayanihan, which refers to the spirit of communal unity. You can hear a low-level hum emanating from the shelter, which incorporates elements of Charlie Smalls’ evocative and nostalgic song Home, from the 1970s musical The Wiz. Second is the performance element, Fragmented Harmony, in which Vianee uses her body to communicate a sense of isolation, introspection and continuous movement, winding her way through, under and around the shelter, forever searching for a sense of belonging.

For migrants, that sense of belonging can sometimes prove elusive. Having spent more than half her life in Hong Kong, Vianee herself is

still actively seeking common ideals within her community. Her mum Tess previously worked as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in HK; during that time, she sent dozens of handwritten letters back to the family.

Having recently rediscovered the letters, Vianee has since incorporated them into her own art: “Mama used to write us letters back when she was an OFW. They really captured the emotions and whatever family struggles we had at that time; I am so glad we kept them,” she says.

Vianee opened Sinag Art Space on Lamma Island in 2019, with the goal of creating a venue for like-minded artists to create and be inspired. The multi-purpose space is used for hosting art exhibits and classes, life drawing sessions, private music events, poetry lessons, and more.

Throughout the pandemic, she has managed to keep things running smoothly, though what with managing the studio on her own,

government restrictions limiting capacity, and trying to entice more students, it hasn’t always been easy. However, despite these challenges, her husband Ivan – who has been fully supportive of her enterprise since the beginning – is always there to offer a friendly word of support and encouragement.

“Art is a never-ending learning process.

Walang katapusang pag-aaral,” shares Vianee. “You need to be open to learning and take time to practice your craft.

Criticisms cannot be avoided, but still do your due diligence.”

Very recently, a major family event in Vianee’s life has also caused a fundamental shift in her thinking, causing her to reevaluate her perspective on life. She offers these parting words, “Enjoy life. We don’t know what is behind every second, every hour, every tomorrow. Hindi natin alam anong mangyayari bukas, so we have to learn how to live and love each passing moment.”

Mama used to write us letters back when she was an OFW. They really captured the emotions and whatever family struggles we had at that time - Vianee recently rediscovered the letters her mother Tess sent back home while working in HK Clockwise from top-left: 1. Artist and founder of Sinag Art Space, Vianee Fernie (photo by Talya Neser) 2. Family Trail, 2021, Acrylic on canvas by Vianee Fernie (private collection) 3. Expression after 48, 2021, Mix media on canvas by Vianee Fernie 4. Fragmented Hum, 2020, Mix media, sculpture and sound

by Vianee Fernie 5. Poster for art classes at Sinag Art Space 6. Sinag plays host to a variety of classes and workshops

All photos provided by Vianee Fernie

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FEATURE

Vehnee Saturno: Isang dakot ng mga panaginip (A handful of dreams)

By Aileen Alonzo-Hayward

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Iconic Filipino songwriter and producer Vehnee Saturno shares his fight with COVID, fond memories of Hong Kong, ponders on his 42-year career and his dreams for the future of Original Pinoy Music “I REALLY MISS going to Tsim Sha Tsui, I like the hotels and shopping there,” says Vehnee, recalling the frequent trips he would make to Hong Kong prior to the pandemic, “I especially miss going to Tom Lee [Hong Kong’s biggest music store], where I can just walk down the street from the hotel and look at new gadgets for my recording studio.”

Ekin Cheng, Jackie Cheung, Vivien Chow and Karen Tong – and has won awards for his song writing as far afield as Bali and Finland.

Speaking to Vehnee Saturno feels like catching up with an old friend; one minute he’s talking matter-of-factly about his many international accolades and the numerous famous artists he’s worked with, then moments later he’s reminiscing about how he misses playing basketball back in Laguna.

Given how iconic he is, this down-to-earth style comes as a pleasant surprise.

And while Vehnee’s international work is impressive, his success in the Philippines is nothing short of legendary. His ability to take a few chords, throw in some lyrics, arrange the music, and hand it to an artist to sing is unrivaled; more often than not, he has created a hit song that will soon be all over the radio charts, stuck in everyone’s heads, and eventually, appearing in karaoke lists up and down the country. You know you’ve made it in the music business in the Philippines if your song is in the karaoke lists – in Vehnee’s case, he boasts a karaoke back catalogue of more than 300 tracks.

Vehnee Saturno is one of the most prolific songwriters in the Philippines. He has written and recorded almost 900 songs, with at least 150 chart hits to his credit. His 42-year career has seen him work with performing artists from all over the world; he has composed songs for many of Cantopop’s biggest stars – including

Vehnee’s big break came back in 1982, when his song Isang Dakot – performed by Sonia Singson – won the Metro Manila Pop Music Festival. He followed this up in 1983 with another smash hit, a song called Be My Lady, which he wrote for then up-and-coming performer, Martin Nievera.

Right: The walls of Vehnee’s studio are decorated with countless awards

Images provided by Vehnee Satorno

Left: Vehnee in the studio with Filipino superstar Willie Revillame

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FEATURE

I’d love to see more Filipino artists breakthrough mainstream pop culture, that’s my dream With a rapidly growing reputation, Vehnee soon crossed paths with a young Ariel Rivera, who was just starting out in the music business. Vehnee’s composition Sana Kahit Minsan – now considered an OPM (Original Pilipino Music) classic – helped propel Rivera to superstardom, with the single achieving No. 1 in the charts and his album going 3 times platinum.

These are just a few examples from a long line of recording artists who have enjoyed chart success through working with Vehnee: Ella Mae Saison, April Boy Regino, Jude Michael, Jaya, Sarah Geronimo and Jolina Magdangal are amongst the many others who have benefitted from his exceptional songwriting prowess.

One of the bands Vehnee discovered and signed onto his label (Vehnee Saturno Music Corporation) is Rockstar, known for such hits as Mahal Pa Rin Kita and Parting Time during the 90s. Rockstar’s lead vocalist and guitarist, Paul Sapiera, lived and worked here in Hong Kong for many years before moving to the US. Paul worked the professional musician circuit in the city, regularly performing at 5-star hotels, private events, and Hong Kong’s most iconic music venue, The Wanch. Vehnee recalls with great fondness how he would visit Paul here and just hang out. “Hopefully, when the travel restrictions are eased further, I’d love to visit Hong Kong again,” he says.

He also shares memories of another band he discovered – Rockstar 2 – who 16

performed hits including Bakit and Ika’y Mahal Pa Rin, and whose guitarist and vocalist, Wendell Magtalas, also currently lives in Hong Kong and occasionally plays live music via the streaming platforms.

Vehnee’s affection for Hong Kong runs deep, not only due to his ties with the Cantopop industry, but also because his wife Ladine Roxas, herself a recording artist, used to sing at luxury hotels here. Given the time they’ve both spent over the years going back and forth between Manila and Hong Kong, the city has always remained one of their favourite holiday destinations.

Ladine is currently working as Director & Head Coach at the Vehnee Saturno Music Training Center, also based in Manila.

Vehnee has met a number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) during his time travelling in Hong Kong. He has a lot of admiration for them: “Ang sisipag talaga ng mga kababayan natin. Kahit papano medyo maswerte narin kayo diyan sa Hong Kong kasi stable yung trabaho (Our Filipino compatriots are very hardworking. Despite everything, you are lucky in Hong Kong because the jobs are more stable [than the Philippines]),” he says.

He continues, “I hope our kababayans are keeping safe because getting hit hard by COVID is no joke. I was in the ICU [Intensive Care Unit] for two weeks. I didn’t think I would survive.” For Vehnee, it took two whole months to fully recover from COVID-19. The experience was a real wake-up call for him: “We have to accept and embrace challenges that come our way. If you can’t accept it, that makes it worse – but as long as we’re still alive, we should be thankful.”

Indeed, Vehnee as a lot to be thankful for. Even after 40 years, his music label continues to savour the taste of success through the discovery of new artists like Juana Cosme and Esang De Torres; he is also regularly commissioned to write songs for telenovelas, films, and commercial

Through the decades: Vehnee’s

hits

1980s: The beginning Isang Dakot – Sonia Singson Vehnee’s first song to receive recognition Be My Lady – Martin Nievera First hit song of Vehnee’s career

1990s: The floodgates open Nag-iisang Ikaw – Louie Heredia Most requested OPM song of 1990, platinum award Decade of the rock bands Rockstar, Rockstar 2 and April Boys

2000s: Pop music Forever’s Not Enough – Sarah Geronimo The first single from Sarah Geronimo’s first album

2010 onwards: Digital revolution Explosion of digital media Launch of streaming services such as YouTube and Spotify Next generation of artists Juana Cosme and Esang De Torres (The Voice Kids PH)

jingles, while his IMDB page attributes more than 150 different films where he is either the composer of the theme song, the soundtrack creator, the musical director, or all three.

With such a long list of accomplishments under his belt, you’d think that this 68-year-old would sail off into the sunset and take some well-earned time to relax. But with such a strong work ethic, Vehnee still has big dreams he wants to fulfil: “I’d love to see more Filipino artists break through the international mainstream pop culture scene, that’s my dream,” he shares enthusiastically.

“There are many international Filipino performers and singers, but I have yet to see an international

Filipino pop STAR. With a lot of really great Pinoy musicians, I don’t see why we can’t make it to mainstream pop internationally. That’s why I still keep my connections with international producers and keep my eyes open for an opportunity.”

Today’s music scene is almost unrecognisable compared with Vehnee’s early days, with the advent of social media and streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify completely changing the landscape, for artists and record labels alike. “It used to be so difficult to break through the [music] industry; you’d need a marketing machine and the money to back you up. Until you became a hit, you had to pay radio stations to play your song if you were an unknown artist,” Vehnee recalls.

“Nowadays, you don’t need to be signed by a label anymore – you can share your music instantly. If you are good enough, or have enough followers, your music can go viral, and that is an ideal position to be in. Offers will start coming in – commercials, TV show appearances, and fame,” he adds. “But be super careful on social media; it only takes one post to destroy your career and reputation,” he warns.

So what is Vehee’s advice for those looking to embark on a career in music? “Don’t be pusong mamon. You need to learn how to be strong and learn from the criticisms,” he advises. Pusong mamon literally translates as, ‘heart as soft as a sponge cake’, meaning being easily hurt by words. “You need to learn how to stay strong in the face of critics. Improve on their comments – make better songs and keep your song writing to a high standard.”

He continues, “Song writing is a competition; mostly it is a competition with yourself. Continue learning new things and push your boundaries.”

When Vehnee quit his job with a photocopying company more than 4 decades ago to focus on song writing, little did he know that he would be pushing the boundaries of his own artistry and talent. His remarkable contribution to pop culture has left an indelible mark on Original Pilipino Music and will no doubt continue to shape the industry for years to come.

17

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19

CONVERSATION WITH RON

Of mothers and fathers Award-winning RTHK Pinoy Life presenter and Pangyao resident wordsmith Ron R. Lacson shares his thoughts

WITH THE CELEBRATION of Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June, I hope you all have a wonderful time honouring your parents, or – if you’re a parent yourself – happily marking the two occasions with your children.

In this conversation, with your indulgence, I will go a bit personal. This is about a chat I had with my own parents a few years ago.

Brace yourselves.

They were old and sensitive; one of them was hard of hearing. As a migrant here in Hong Kong and being 13,200 km away from them, I was making a habit of calling them whenever I had the chance. That morning, I called my father and asked him to send me copies of their passports.

“Bakit kailangan mo ng kopya ng passports namin?” my father asked.

“O di ba pupunta nga kayo ng Hong Kong this September?” I replied.

“Hindi na kailangan, US Passports naman ang hawak namin eh,” he answered.

It’s no secret how proud he is of their US passports. It’s like a ‘kill’ that an alpha male wolf displays when his pack shows up.

“Tsaka bibili na kami ng ticket next week.

Dadalhin namin yung passports. WALA KAMING TIME MAGPA-COPY,” my father stubbornly added.

“Eh ako na nga ang bibili ng ticket nyo via online eh. Ako na ang sasagot, AKO na 20

MAGBABAYAD,” I said.

Silence… more silence… then a voice… my father’s.

“ILANG KOPYA ANG KAILANGAN MO?” I remember my father as a dad who was always proud of his children. “Anak ko yan,” he’d proudly mention to anyone he might bump into. It’s actually from him that I got the pleasantry of saying, “Oo anak ko yan.

Matagal na, MALIIT PA YAN, ANAK KO NA YAN EH,” which never failed to elicit laughter from those who would hear it.

He was fun to be with. Chatting with my parents was something I loved doing. But that day was extraordinary because I got the chance to write about our conversation.

Gusto mo bang makausap si Mama mo?” my father asked. “Sige Pa, pakibigay yung phone,” I said.

My mother was the listening mom. She always made time to listen to her children, like when we didn’t feel well and needed to explain where it hurt, or when we wanted to tell her about our day at school.

When I was a young boy, she had the patience to listen to my questions and understand them – it mattered not how annoying the questions might be.

“Ma, di ba yung Taiwanese sa Taiwan galing, tapos yung Japanese sa Japan, saan galing yung Manganese? Sa Mangga ba? Or “Ma, bakit ang English ng paru-paro ay ‘butterfly’?

Bakit hindi ‘margarine-fly’?”

In her later years, she could no longer use her listening prowess. Her hearing was failing her.

I missed the patience with which she listened, and her knack for picking up whatever I said, even when she was cooking, doing the laundry, or watching American Idol on TV. Like that day when there was a typhoon in Hong Kong; I had to be notably slower and a little louder when conversing with her, particularly over the phone.

“Hello Roni, kumusta ka?”

“Ok naman ako Ma. Kaya lang, dito sa Hong Kong, may konting bagyo,” I said (slowly and loudly).

“Ha?” Anong bag?

“Hindi bag, Ma; bagyo!”

“Ha?” “Bagyo. Meron ditong bagyo.”

Silence. A slightly long silence.

“Ma, sabi ko BAGYO,” I said again.

“Ah, ok,” my mother finally replied. “LAB YU din.”

This coming July will be the 5th anniversary of the death of my mother; she passed away in 2017. Then in October 2019, my father left us too. My siblings and I lost both of our parents within just two years and three months.

We miss our parents. I miss them. I can’t talk to them anymore. I can no longer hear their voices. So all I can do is to write about them. And I would. So I did.

If your parents are still alive, show your care for them while they can still feel it; tell them you love them as often as possible while they can still hear it. Please don’t wait until it’s too late. Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Father’s Day to you all.

More from Ron...

Ron’s book, ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ is available in the Philippines at all mega-branches of National Book Store (NBS), or scan the QR code for the Amazon Kindle version!

@ronrlacsonauthor 21

A TASTE OF HOME

Lanka cooks

Bibikkan (Sri Lankan sweet coconut cake) Introducing Lanka

Ph

o to

by

Vaji ra

Panagoda

Having originally trained as a pastry chef in her native Sri Lanka, Lanka is a passionate cook who loves to explore and try her hand at new dishes from around the world. Currently a stay-at-home mom taking care of her lovely 28-month-old daughter Zara – something she describes as a full-time job! – Lanka likes to spend her limited free time baking, with her butter cakes with butter icing always proving to be a firm favourite amongst friends and family.

Bibikkan is a famous sweet that has gained popularity primarily along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka, where it is commonly found on festive food tables during Sri Lankan New Year, Christmas, or just about any other special occasion.

the sap of the kithul palm tree for many hours, until it becomes a thick, dark syrup.

The dish has a number of regional variations around the country depending on the locality; however, the coconut and treacle base remains the same, with the latter made from boiling

It is believed that bibikkan was introduced to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese, who colonised the coastal regions of the country for much of the 15th and 16th century.

The syrup used to make traditional bibikkan comes from the sap of the kithul palm tree, native to Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and Malaysia

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Lanka’s recipe uses caramelised sugar as a substitute, given kithul palm syrup is a little hard to come by in Hong Kong!

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

400g scraped coconut 300g brown sugar 100g flour 240ml hot water 2 eggs 1 tsp cardamom and cinnamon powder 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 50g dates 30g cashew nuts

Lanka’s top tip While freshly baked bibikkan is delicious, it often tastes even better the following day, once the caramelised sugar has had chance to fully absorb into the cake. Give it a try and see for yourself!

Method 1. When scraping the coconut, make sure it is scraped into fine pieces. This will make it easier to prepare the mixture and ensure a better texture 2. Heat the pan to a medium heat, and add 4 tbsp of sugar; caramelise it, add hot water and stir well 3. Add the rest of the sugar and stir until dissolved; add the scraped coconut, ground cardamom and cinnamon powder and mix well

4. Keep on the stove for another 5 to 10 minutes, then remove from the heat 5. Once the coconut mixture has properly cooled, whisk two eggs in bowl, add the mixture and stir well 6. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, chopped cashew nuts and dates, mixing everything together well 7. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and bake for 45-60 minutes

Photo by Vajira Panagoda

23

THE HONG KONG PROFILE

Nifraz meets

Lie Fhung Nifraz Rifraz meets interesting people who are shaping the world around them in Hong Kong.

Lie Fhung is an award-winning, mixed media artist based in Hong Kong. Born and bred in Indonesia, Fhung studied fine arts at Bandung Institute of Technology, majoring in Ceramics Previously working as a designer in Shanghai, Fhung eventually settled in Hong Kong, focusing on digital media design and her diverse personal art projects

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All images provided by Lie Fhung Background image: Navigating The Landscape of Loss and Grief (detail)

Clockwise from top-left: Life Force - Terrain #08; Synergia (part of a triptych); Life Force (detail); Respirae - Hyphen (part of a triptych); Moments. Arrested. (detail); Rivers (detail)

How would you describe yourself?

Hmmm… I would say that I am an open-minded life-long learner. I discovered that the older I get, the more there is to learn. Perhaps it’s partly because I like to create, to make things. I’m always interested to figure out how things work, to understand – be it objects, people, nature, or life itself. I am a hermit, a homebody, a bit of a nerd who enjoys the occasional gathering, hiking, and travelling with friends. I love music and dancing. I love reading and creating. I love teaching myself things – these days it’s so much easier with the internet too!

How was your childhood?

I was a quiet child who enjoyed spending time on my own reading, drawing or making things. My parents were both artistic and allowed their children a lot of freedom. We were free to pursue our interests.

I took up piano, ballet, Balinese dancing and karate. I was also a Girl Scout. But what I loved the most was reading and drawing. In school during breaks, my friends would often line up to get my drawings; they would tell me what they wanted me to draw for them, and I would draw it. Looking back, it’s wonderful how a simple drawing on a scrap of paper could make my friends happy!

Tell us about your Indonesian roots My Indonesian heritage is actually rather patchy. Growing up, my family didn’t really adhere to a certain tradition – either Chinese or Indonesian. Indonesia has such rich culture across the archipelago.

So we grew up in a melange of cultures – a little bit of many things. In a way, this is perhaps why we are so open and inclusive.

What brought you to Hong Kong?

I came to Hong Kong via Shanghai following a job as a toy designer, despite my training as an artist. I saw it as an exciting and challenging adventure. Which it was. I learned a lot (hopefully contributed a lot too) and I ended up making Hong Kong my home!

What do you do here?

Since late 2019, I have been working for TheBookshop at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, as their Art Director. My responsibilities include handling anything related to the aesthetics and design needs of TheBookshop. From graphic design, web design and online shop building and maintenance, to liaising with makers and art

Artistic exploration: Lie Fhung is a mixed media artist who works with a broad range of mediums, including metals, ceramics, digital video and photography, to name but a few

25

THE HONG KONG PROFILE merchandise selection, to product display, signages and promotional materials, and coordinating events and workshops. At times, conducting storytelling for children too!

What does art mean to you?

Art is a portal, a journey, a state of being that gives us unique access to otherwise inaccessible things within us. It’s a bridge, an invitation for connections. It’s a torch, a mirror.

It’s a refuge, a balm. It challenges and inspires.

I have been showing my works in Hong Kong at Sin Sin Fine Art since 2012, and more recently at Hanart TZ Gallery. In 2015, I was awarded Silver Prize by UOB Art Academy Hong Kong. My solo exhibition was held at Dia.lo.gue art space, Jakarta in 2017.

What is your proudest artistic achievement?

Art making is my way to contemplate and to bear witness to personal stories. To spark connections, to expand, to inspire. What I want to convey varies from one work to another.

Hmmm… I am not sure I have any ‘proudest’ artistic achievement… I would perhaps use the words, ‘pleased with myself’… or ‘happy’ with the work… Each work has its own challenges; I would be pleased with myself when I manage to tackle them.

How do you find your inspiration?

Where can we find your work?

Nature with their macro and micro glory.

Intimate matters of being human: hidden layers within our dreams, memories, bodies, emotions and drives. Their intriguingly complex depth is the source of my awe and inspiration.

To be frank, I haven’t been productive for a while now – especially since I have been working full time at TheBookshop. Simply not enough time and mind space. I brought quite a number of my works to Jakarta for my solo exhibition there in 2017, and most of them are still there – some found their new home there too.

What do you try to convey through art?

What is your preferred art form and why?

I never thought about art form preferences. The form is usually guided by the idea, the concept of the work. Which form works best to realise the idea that I had; which form resonates the most with me and the idea at that moment.

How is the art scene in Hong Kong?

I think the art scene here in Hong Kong has grown so much in the past 15 years. Hong Kong has some really amazing artists.

What are you working on right now?

Background image: Life Force: Terrain: Spark (detail)

26

permanent collection of the World Ceramics Foundation in South Korea.

I have this art project that has been on the back burner for a long time, which I hope to finally be able to dedicate focused time to work on. It might be in the form of a book.

You’re also an award winning artist. Would you like to talk about your awards?

In 2008, I received the Freeman Fellowship Award from Vermont Studio Center, USA. My work flight (2005) was featured in the book, Contemporary Ceramics by Emmanuel Cooper (Thames & Hudson, 2009) and in the

In Hong Kong, I’m represented by Sin Sin Fine Art. My website is where you can see my work easily (scan the QR code below!) – though of course, it’s not the same as seeing and experiencing them directly. But installation works just won’t stay displayed after the exhibitions.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

Be honest with yourself, be authentic to your calling. And persist. Doubts will come again and again. One way to squash them is by persisting; keep on creating in your truest way.

artist.liefhung.com @fhung

Consul General Raly L. Tejada’s message for Hong Kong’s Filipino community

MGA MINAMAHAL NAMING kababayan dito sa Hong Kong, magandang araw po sa inyong lahat.

As we celebrate the 124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, let us pay homage to the sacrifices of our forebears, many of whom fought and paid the ultimate price so that we may live free, as a people and a nation.

For the past two years and up until now, we have been taking on the challenges and trials posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. But, as we have proven in recent years, the Filipino community in Hong Kong did not waiver; instead, we continued to persevere and rise above the challenge. Despite the odds, we triumphed over these difficult trials through the spirit of unity, camaraderie, and compassion for others.

Seventy-five years ago, Philippine consular presence was established here in Hong Kong, having served Filipinos through the decades since with dedicated and faithful service. Today, its commitment to serving the best interests of Filipinos in Hong Kong remains steadfast, and stronger than ever.

PHLinHK hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph

Your consulate applied new and innovative solutions to remain open throughout the past years, through each wave of the pandemic. We seized the opportunity to improve our systems in order to bring non-stop service to the public.

To this day, and for days to come, my colleagues and I pledge to continue to serve the community with the highest level of dedication and commitment.

I invite the Filipino community in Hong Kong to honour the memory of the many brave and selfless heroes who have fallen in the service of others.

I also wish to take this opportunity to encourage our fellow kababayans based in the city to continue supporting the fight against the COVID-19, by following all health protocols set out by the Hong Kong government.

Through our united efforts, we can certainly overcome any challenging circumstance.

Maraming salamat po at maligayang Araw ng Kasarinlan sa inyong lahat!

27

BLOGS

Ang katotohanan sa likod ng litrato ng isang OFW By Realynne V. Samson Language: Filipino

KAMUSTA, KABAYAN? Ilang taon ka na bang nakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa? Nakulayan na ba ang mga iginuhit mong pangarap na dala-dala?

Kumusta ang pamilya mong iniwan, ang mga anak na pinananabikan?

Kumusta ang amo na iyong pinagsisilbihan?

Maaaring sa tingin ng iba, masuwerteng maituturing na nasa ibang bansa ka, dolyares na palitan kumpara sa kinikita sa sariling bayan.

Sa pangangamuhan sa ibang bansa, may mga pinapalad at ang ilan ay kabaligtaran naman at minamalas. Mabait na amo, kung pamilya ang turing sa’yo at sila lang ang paglilingkuran mo. Ibinibigay ang tamang benepisyo at pahingang nararapat at nakasaad sa kontratang pinagkasunduan ninyo. Ang tanong, paano kung kabaligtaran ng mga ito? Sahod na wala sa oras, pahingang hindi sapat, sikmura na halos bihirang malamnan, at ituturing kang makina na walang kapaguran.

28

hindi ko na mabilang ang mga importanteng okasyon na wala ako sa kanilang tabi? Sa tuwing meron silang dinaramdam ay wala ang kanilang inang dapat sana’y kakalinga.

Ngunit ano ang aking magagawa? Tiisin ang animo’y saksak sa dibdib na isiping anak ng iba ang aking kinakalinga.

Ilang kontrata pa kaya ang dapat kong bunuin?

Ilang panahon pang mawawalay ako sa aking mga supling? Kung pwede lang, kung maari lang, gusto ko nang mayakap at makasama ang pamilya ko sa aking inang bayan, ngunit paano ang kanilang kinabukasan?

Konting tiis na lang mga anak, pasasaan ba’t muli tayong magkakasama at mabubuo ang ating pangarap

Ngingiti sa bawat kuha ng larawan, animo’y lahat sa abroad ay napakagaan.

Sa likod ng mga ngiting iyon at pagak na halakhak ang panalanging sana’y palarin at makaipon ng ganap upang hindi na muling mangibang bayan. Kahit sumusuko na ang pagal na katawan, gustuhin man tumigil at magpahinga, sa tuwing maiisip ang pamilya at mga anak na sa ipapadala ay umaasa, na sa bawat pawis at dugong puhunan ang pangarap na pag-ahon sa kahirapan at sila’y mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan. Ang kaisipang ito ang nagsisilbing lakas at pananggalang sa mga pagsubok pinagdadaanan.

Konting tiis na lang mga anak, pasasaan ba’t muli tayong magkakasama at mabubuo ang ating pangarap. Iyan ang dasal ng bawat magulang na nangungulila, ngunit nagtitiis para sa mga anak na hirang. “Konting tiis na lang, malapit na mga anak,” pangako sa sarili at sa mga anak na nasa kabilang linya habang sila’y kausap, habang ang luha’y bumabalong at impit na paghikbi pilit ikinukubli sa mga anak na nagtatanong, “kelan ka uuwi, Nanay?” tanong na ang tangi kong naisasagot ay ‘malapit na’ kahit ako mismo sa sarili ay hindi sigurado sa malapit ng sagot ko.

Anong sakit sa isang inang katulad ko na ang anak ng iba ay inaalagaan ko, nasubaybayan ang kanilang paglaki, pinaglilingkuran araw at gabi, gayong ang sarili kong dugo’t laman ay

Patawad mga anak kung kinakailangan iwan ko kayo. Kung kayo’y nagsasakripisyo at nagtitiis sa sitwasyong ganito. Ayoko kasi danasin n’yo ang hirap ng buhay

na pinagdaanan ko, kaya kinabukasan nyo’y pinaghahandaan ko. Patawad kung pag-aabroad ang naging solusyon ko.

Pagsisikapan kong hindi magtagal dito upang kayo naman ang alagaan ko.

Hindi lamang ang mga tulad kong inang OFW ang nakakaranas ng ganito. Ako rin naman ay saludo sa mga haligi ng tahanan na piniling mangibang bansa. Mabigat na trabaho ay kanilang tinitiis para sa kinabukasan ng pamilya. Hindi matatawaran kanilang sakripisyo kahit lumalaki ang mga anak ng wala sa tabi nito.

Kaya lagi kong payo sa nagbabalak mangibang bansa, tibay ng loob ang puhunan. Hindi biro ang maging OFW, puno ng luha at pagtitiis.

Mga sigaw ng amo at pangmamaliit ay dadanasin. Sikmura ay kailangang matibay, sa mga tirang pagkain na pagka minsa’y kailangan pagtiisan. “EXPECT THE WORST” ika nga dahil ang pangangamuhan sa ibang lahi ay hindi madali. Hindi pwede umayaw kapag nasigawan. Hindi pwedeng sumuko kapag napagod. Ang pagiging OFW ay hindi pamamasyal na pwede umuwi kapag kinainipan. Dito masusubok ang iyong katatagan. Matuto pahalagahan ang bawat sentimo ng sweldo upang sa pamilya’y makauwi at sila’y lubusang mayakap na.

In collaboration with Migrant Writers of Hong Kong 29

BLOGS

Golden Nyonya

By Suci Resmiyati Language: Indonesian

Pagi itu seperti biasanya nyonya boss bangun tidur sekitar jam 11-an pagi, di hari sebelumnya beliau memang sudah memberitahu saya bahwa hari ini (Jum’at), beliau akan makan siang bersama temannya.

Ketika nyonya boss turun ke bawah dan sedang sarapan, sambil menenteng baju dan rok hasil jahitan saya, saya bertanya pada nyonya boss sebelum beliau keburu pergi.

Sebenarnya sih tidak sopan, tapi nyonya boss selalu meladeni saya seperti ke anak perempuannya sendiri.

Saya: “Nyah, kamu ada pita warna seperti warna rok saya ini tidak? Atau ikat pinggang yang warna seperti ini?”

Sebelumnya saya memang sudah bercerita ke nyonya boss bahwa tanggal 19 December 2021 adalah Hari Perayaan Migrant Workers. Learning Centre kami diundang untuk berpartisipasi merayakannya, dan kami pun mempersiapkan berbagai macam pertunjukan seperti fashion show, baca puisi, menyanyi dan menari. Kami hanya ada waktu dua minggu untuk mempersiapkannya. Seperti biasa, bila ada acara di luar, informasinya sangat mendadak.

Berhubung saya yang mengurusi bagian kegiatan, sayapun harus mengatur semuanya: latihan fashion show, baca puisi, menyanyi dan menari. Saya juga salah satu murid menjahit, dan fashion show akan dilakukan oleh murid-murid kelas menjahit dari hasil ujiannya masing-masing. Karena hasil ujian saya kurang bagus dan kurang memuaskan saya, saya mau pakai hasil

jahitan orang lain yang ada di Centre kami dan saya pun bawa pulang gaun tersebut untuk dicuci. Satu minggu telah lewat, gaun yang telah saya cuci dan setrika saya bawa ke Centre supaya tinggal siap dipakai. Saya sudah tenang bin relax. Namun satu minggu terakhir tepatnya pada hari Kamis malam tiba-tiba otakku berputar. Saya tidak bisa memakai hasil karya orang lain, ini akan jadi momen yang sangat penting dalam sejarah hidup saya; masa’ saya akan lewatkan begitu saja, pikirku. Akhirnya saya memutuskan tidak jadi pakai gaun yang dari Centre, saya mau perbaiki hasil karya saya sendiri.

Nyonya boss: “Coba saya cek dulu”. (beliau meninggalkan sarapannya untuk mengurusi permintaan saya, boss naik ke kamarnya di lantai atas). Saya mengikuti di belakang beliau. Tiba di kamarnya, beliau membuka lemari dan laci mengecek semua ikat pinggang dan asesoris yang beliau memiliki, tetapi tidak ada yang cocok.

Saya ingat beliau punya satu box besar yang berisi pita untuk pengikat bunga dan beliau memang sudah memberitahu saya bahwa kalau butuh, silahkan menggunakannya.

Saya pun bertanya, “Boleh saya lihat di box pita, nyonya boss?”

Nyonya Boss: “Kamu harus bawa ke sini itu baju kamu supaya mudah untuk mencocokkan warnanya!”. Saya pun turun ke lantai bawah mengambil baju saya. Kami melanjutkan mencari-cari dan mencocokkan, tetapi bingung karena banyak tetapi sepertinya tidak ada yang cocok.

Nyonya boss: “Kamu lihat-lihat dan cek lagi, tapi kamu harus coba itu baju kamu supaya kamu tahu mana yang harus kamu botulin”.

Yah sangat menyenangkan punya boss yang friendly dan terbuka dengan kita. Saya sangat bersyukur dan terharu, baru kali mempunyai nyonya boss serasa ibu sendiri 30

Saya: “Terima kasih banyak nyonya boss.

Mending sekarang kamu sarapan dulu keburu dingin itu sarapan kamu! Ini saya mau lihat-lihat pitanya dulu”. Setelah nyonya turun untuk sarapan, saya lihat kumpulan pita di dalam box satu persatu. Saya menemukan pita warna golden emas bagus berkilau yang saya pikir wah ini cantik dan matching untuk mempercantik gaun saya. Saya bawa turun dan lapor ke nyonya boss, dan beliau memaksa saya untuk memakai gaun saya, dan saya pun menurut. Kemudian kami berdua beraksi mencoba menempelkan pita tersebut di posisi mana yang bagus. Nyonya tidak malu ataupun jijik dengan saya, kami seperti anak perempuan dengan ibunya yang lagi sibuk untuk persiapan, bahkan nyonya boss sentuh-sentuh ketiakku (ooppss… aduhlah mungkin ketiakku bau, sebenarnya sungkan tetapi nyonya boss biasa saja).

Setelah menemukan posisi yang pas, nyonya menyeletuk, “Ini masih ada sisa pitanya, bisa untuk membuat hiasan di kepala!”, sambil ditaruhnya di kepala saya. Yaaahhh sontak saya menjawab. “That’s a great idea, nyah!

You are the best!”. Kami pun tertawa bersama.

Saya juga lagi berpikir untuk hiasan kepala pakai apa karena hiasan kepala punya saya

sudah saya paket ke Indonesia. Setelah menemukan ide itu, malamnya saya beraksi mempercantik gaun saya. Saya menemukan ide lain juga untuk memasang pitanya di leher karena bagian lehernya kelihatan jelek banget (oh my god, maklum ini hasil perdana saya). Di pagi harinya, seperti biasa saya laporan ke nyonya boss.

“Nyonya boss, tahu tidak apa yang sudah saya lakukan dengan gaun saya?” Hasil permak gaun saya kasih tunjuk, dan nyonya harus pergi jadi saya sudahi dulu ngobrolnya; kalau tidak kita tidak akan selesai ngobrol seharian. Yah sangat menyenangkan punya boss yang friendly dan terbuka dengan kita.

Saya sangat bersyukur dan terharu, baru kali mempunyai nyonya boss serasa ibu sendiri, saya merasakan kenyamanan bekerja di majikan ini.

In collaboration with TCK Learning Centre for Migrant Workers

31

Photo by Marc Miguel

NGO SPOTLIGHT

32

Investing in knowledge

By Aileen Alonzo-Hayward

This drive to be better – both for personal reasons and to improve the lives and futures of their families back home – is a sentiment shared by many migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in Hong Kong, and EmpowerU has been offering comprehensive educational programs in support of the migrant community since 2018.

The NGO offers a variety of courses, many of which are certificate-granting, including: CPR & AED TRAINING

FIRE SAFETY & PREVENTION

LAW

BUSINESS & FINANCE

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & LEADERSHIP

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

MEDIA STUDIES

PUBLIC SPEAKING

ARTS & LITERATURE

PUBLIC HEALTH & NUTRITION

CHILD & ELDERLY CARE

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

The majority of HK’s thousands of domestic workers have their weekly days off during the weekends. Many of these bright and determined women are deeply committed to education and self-empowerment, but historically lacked access to comprehensive educational programs.

Seeking to change this, EmpowerU was established though a series of fortunate opportunities: by making use of available space in universities and schools – which were otherwise largely empty over the weekend – they were able to connect a robust community of professionals and volunteers with a collective desire to share their knowledge and experience in an impactful way.

Photo credit: EmpowerU

“LEARNING IS ESSENTIAL in order for us to use our education anywhere – including our home country,” says EmpowerU student Lily M. Layug. “Having additional education is the key to the world and unlocks many potential opportunities in the future. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is,” she adds.

With over 1500 students enrolled, 800 hours of teaching and almost 1.2m total hours of learning now under their belts at EmpowerU, the demand for education in the migrant community remains without question.

A big percentage of MDWs are secondary and tertiary educated from their home countries, and given the opportunity, many are often eager to continue their studies in Hong Kong.

“All the courses… were very challenging and new for me,” shares EmpowerU student Tantri Fitri Hidayanti. “I wanted to know more about the Law and Management courses. [They] are very important, interesting, and challenging.”

Despite EmpowerU having to suspend face-toface classes earlier this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the high level of engagement from students during their online classes - with an admirable completion rate of close to 100% for enrolled students - has highlighted the continued need to learn and connect.

But behind all that enthusiasm, there was also a mental health crisis brewing, with many MDWs being asked to stay home on their days off due to COVID-19, despite still being asked to go out and buy groceries and run errands during the week. For such a tightknit community – where challenges are often shared and solved amongst friends – a lot of migrant workers struggled with this isolation.

This is one area where EmpowerU has provided support for many of their students during this 33

NGO SPOTLIGHT Photo by Marc Miguel

I wanted to learn more and motivate myself to be a better person - Tantri Fitri Hidayanti, EmpowerU student challenging period: helping them build resilience and making them feel like they are part of a family. “I guess the most challenging course is myself,” says Cherry Lyn, another student studying with EmpowerU. Lily, who served as a batch leader at EmpowerU, shares, “The most challenging part of the course for me at the beginning was being a leader. The hard task of weighing the pros and cons, before coming up with the final say, was mine. When something turned out to be unsuccessful, it hurt my confidence, and I was the one who undoubtedly shouldered the blame.

“You are the captain of a ship… you need to be the most dependable and trustworthy since you carry the overall responsibility.

You need to command respect and demand unity for the group to function well. You need to be a role model that promotes good ethics, values and determination. You must be capable and strong, but humble. I’m not perfect in these areas, but I do my best.”

These principles that Lily and her fellow EmpowerU students have mastered have proven priceless, helping to guide them through not only the struggles of the 34

pandemic, but also throughout the journey of their lives in Hong Kong and beyond.

Like many of EmpowerU’s early students, both Lily and Tantri were introduced to the program by their employers back in 2018. “I wanted to learn more and motivate myself to be a better person,” says Tantri. “Being an EmpowerU student means a lot to me.

EmpowerU helped me gain knowledge for myself and others; they also helped me to understand my rights.”

Cherry Lyn was invited by a friend back in 2019. “I was in the state of financial struggle,” she shares. “In 2020, I followed [their] Facebook page and I saw the enrollment promotion. I grabbed the opportunity to sign up and enroll in person. Great mentors on my first day – that was the most encouraging part.”

Despite a decrease in students due to the pandemic, Executive Director Bradley Aaron tells us, “[We are] working hard to try to increase our enrollment to get back to pre-COVID numbers.” His team continue to work tirelessly to bring quality education to migrant workers, and with such a thirst for knowledge amongst the population, the opportunities to do so are endless.

empoweru.io @EmpowerUHK

Useful contacts

Crime & emergency services Emergency Hotline (Police, Fire, Ambulance) 999 Police Hotline 2527 7177

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 Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong Royal Thai Consulate General in Hong Kong Consulate General of India, Hong Kong Consulate General of Pakistan, Hong Kong Consulate General of Nepal, Hong Kong

2823 8500 6345 9324 2866 0640 3651 0200 2521 6481 3970 9900 2827 0681 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

Other useful contacts Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Hotline MTR Lost Property Office

2181 8888 2508 1234 2861 0020 35