The community and its media sector got a big boost with the acclamation of Manila Media Monitor managing editor Ace Alva- rez as new president of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association. Alvarez took over from noted multicul- turalism proponent Ben Viccari. (Story on page 5)

Outgoing Canadian Ethnic Medeia Association president Ben Viccari(right) to incom- ing president Ace Alvarez(left): “Ace, we don’t have a gavel to hand over as a symbol but here from the heart is a sincere handshake.” MANILA MEDIA MONITOR Photo

On October 14, over 50 percent of Canada’s some 33 mil- lion people are expected to trek to polling booths nation- wide to exercise their right to elect members to the Cana- dian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament.

Of these likely voters, over 250,000 are of Philippine heri- tage, members of a vibrant hardworking community that has grown across Canada to some 430,000.

Notwithstanding their status in Canadian life, their Philip- pine regions of origin, their religion, their sex, their voting ages, bad weather, multiple working schedules, anything and everything that may come their way, they will responsi- bly go to their precincts and cheerfully cast their ballots as one caring community eager to have their voices matter in molding a greater, stronger Canadian nation.

of gigantic New York- based Lehman Broth- ers would have minor effects on the Philip- pines, whose “economy is on solid footing.”

This was the com- ment of U.S. Ambas- sador to Manila Kristie Kenney, who added that

the Philippine government should use this footing to its advantage by maintaining an investor-friendly en- vironment.

Lehman Brothers is a global lend- ing company, with the AIG among its associates. AIG has a major op- eration in the Philippines.

ruptcy mid-September, and the U.S. govern- ment moved quickly to rescue AIG.

Kenney said this move helped stabilize the situation for AIG and, by extension, the Philippine market.

trobank are among those that de- clared having “exposure” to Lehm- an.

Due to the ripple effect U.S. firms have on US-dependent econo- mies such as the Philippines, U.S. Congress has started “looking to improve regulations on banking” in the U.S., she added.PNA

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the Philippines Alumni Association of Canada Gala Night, Alex Manoogian Cultural Centre.

Organization Silver Jubilee Gala Night and Coronation, Capitol Centre, Missis- sauga.

Group’s Lani Misalucha-Regine Velas- quez Duel of the Divas Concert, Roy Thompson Hall, 7 p.m.

Commerce-Toronto Appreciation Night, Ellesmere Community Recreation Cen- tre, 6:30 p.m.

ation of Niagara 40th Anniversary, Qual- ity Hotel Parkway Convention Centre, St. Catharines.

Visit www.pakulo.com to view the calendar of public events in Ontar- io and the rest of North America.