YEAR 11, No.

12 JUNE 2008 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario

Averting Aug. 8 deport order, community asks Harper:

LET
LET TEJADA STAY
TEJADA STAY
The fight of cancer-stricken Filipino caregiver Juana
Tejada to live and fulfill her and her family’s dream to
Miss Philippines PIDC 2008
happily work and stay in Canada is far from over.
But to avert a deportation order due for execution on
Aug. 8, concerned Filipino-Canadian community mem-
bers are not about to let go of Tejada’s case, much less
allow it to be written off as a cold entry in the dark pit
of Canada’s alien removal statistics.
A widely-circulated community petition has sought the
intercession of Prime Minister Stephen Harper “to reverse
the Immigration Department’s deportation decision and al-
low her to remain in Canada for treatment.”
“Further, we appeal to
INSIDE you to grant a ministerial
permit allowing her visit-
Ooops & Bloops ing husband to remain and
obtain gainful employment
Wrong (ABOVE) Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) Miss Philippines 2008 Pauline
in Canada so he can help fi-
spelling, Chan (center) strikes a regal pose with 1st runner-up Angela Fermani (left) and 2nd run-
nancially with her care, and
wrong! ner-up Justine San Jose following the proclamation of winners during the annual pag-
ultimately bring her family
-7 eant night at the Korean Cultural Centre on May 17. The three - together with co-winners
to Canada for a chance at a Dawn-Flora Angue, Neptune Geraneo, Jeena Romero, Jaynee Guya, Lauren del Rio and
better life,” petition spon- Rodea Jane Casem - will grace PIDC’s Mabuhay Festival at the Metro Toronto Convention
Centre on July 19. Photo: LARRY TORRES.
sors Oswald and Mila Mag-
(BELOW) Also to grace the festival are Rachel Romulo-Masonsong-Erasmo (center), first
no asked Prime Minister PIDC Mrs. Philippines winner, and her court: first runner-up Normita Canlas, second
Harper. runner-up Francisca Aquino, Most Photogenic Flor Olit and Miss Congeniality Menchie
Grads eye The Magnos hoped to Manila. They were proclaimed on pageant night at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall on May
jobs generate at least 1,000 pe- 2, when PIDC officers led by president Jun Enverga presented a $7,000 PIDC check to
abroad Temmy Pangilinan of ANCOP GK International. The money would help GK in its mission
tition signatures “soon
- 11 to build houses and rebuild lives in depressed areas in the Philippines. PIDC Website
enough” before sending the
document to the Prime Min-
ister’s Office. Mrs. Philippines PIDC 2008
Death sentence
The petition in full:
GMA on “Dear Prime Minister
US state Harper:
visit - 27 “We, the undersigned,
respectfully file this petition
on behalf of cancer-strick-
Dancing To Be A Star en Juana Tejada, a Filipina
- 33 caregiver, who has been
Ragual tops ordered to leave the coun-
Las Vegas try by August 8 and whose
talentfest application for permanent
- 35 (To page 4)
2 Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor
3 CALENDAR
► JUNE 21: Philippine Independence
Day Council Annual Salo-Salo Sa Earl
Bales Park.
► JUNE 21: Malolos Group of Ontar-
io 2nd Annual Golf Tournament, Deer
Creek Golf and Banquet Facility.
► JUNE 21: FILPAR Induction, Royal
Canadian Legion Hall.
► JUNE 27: Carassauga Annual Rec-
ognition Banquet Night, Le Treport,
1075 Queensway East.
► JUNE 28: United Filipino Canadian
Organization Summer Dance, Cana-
dian Martyrs Church.
► JUNE 29: Batangas Provincial As-
sociation of Canada 3rd Annual Golf
Tournament, Glen Eagle Golf Course,
Caledon.
► JULY 4: Kalayaan Filipino Cultural
Organization Silver Jubilee Gala Night
and Coronation, Capitol Center, Missis-
sauga.
► JULY 5: Santaginians Assn. of On-
tario Gala Night, Toronto Holiday Inn.
► JULY 5: Pillars-Philippine Consulate
Dual Citizenship Seminar, Wellesley
Community Centre, 2 p.m.
► JULY 5: Mentor Productions’ That’s
Entertainment with German Moreno,
York University Campus, 3 p.m.
► JULY 6: Mentor Productions’ That’s
Entertainment with German Moreno,
Hamilton Place, 3 p.m.
► JULY 10: Book Launching of Prof.
Lacquian.
► JULY 12: Philippine Independence
Day Council Mabuhay Cup Basketball
Tournament, Hoopdome.
► JULY 12: Bayanihan Club of Simcoe
County Induction, Allendale Recreation
Centre.
(To page 34)
Visit www.pakulo.com to view the
calendar of public events in Ontar-
io and the rest of North America.
4 NEWS
LET TEJADA STAY
residency has been refused
on the ground that her ill-
ness would pose excessive
burden on the health care
system.
“We regard the deporta-
tion order against Tejada as
no less than a death sentence,
and a cruel and inhumane
decision. It tarnishes Cana-
da’s international image as
a humane and welcoming
nation. Already, worldwide
scorn of Canada’s decision
is starting to build up as this
story unfolds.
“Tejada has been in Can-
ada since 2003, separated
from her six siblings and her
husband. She worked hard
to earn her right to become
a permanent resident after
three years of service.
Ignominy
“According to Canada’s
caregiver program, she
would have been assured of
permanent residency, able
to sponsor her family, af-
ter three years, had she not
been afflicted with a termi-
nal form of cancer, a dis-
ease over which she had no
control. During all the three
years when she was able, Te-
jada, in her small way, had
supported the health care
system that she now desper-
ately needs to care for her.
“Surely, it cannot be said
that in order to save a few
Police chief Blair affirms Asian Pacific Consultative Committee
Toronto Police Service
(TPS) Chief William Blair
has averred the imperative
need to solve a number of
issues affecting the strong
relations built between the
police force and members of
communities from the Asian
Pacific countries of the Phil-
ippines, Vietnam, Korea and
Japan.
This, as Blair and To-
ronto Police Services Board
Chair Alok Mukherjee af-
firmed the creation of the
Asian Pacific Consultative
Committee (APCC) in a
meeting with community
representatives at the police
downtown headquarters on
May 21, part of the police’s
program in marking Asian
Heritage Month in May.
Blair acknowledged that
the TPS needed the help of
community leaders to iden-
tify problems, solutions,
recommendations and pro-
grams that would help the
service effectively maintain
peace and order in the city.
APCC’s role
He noted that the APCC
would serve as advisers to
the TPS and be the liaison
for the TPS to relay timely
and relevant information to
communities.
He said the APCC would
(From page 1)
thousand bucks in health
care costs in this isolated
case, Canada is prepared
to suffer the ignominy of
sending Tejada back to her
homeland, the Philippines,
a country with no socialized
health care system, to die.
Valuable caregivers
“Caregivers like Tejada
provide valuable home care
services to thousands of Ca-
nadian families.
“They enable Canadians
who use their services to
lead productive lives, and
to maximize their contribu-
tions to society.
Dues paid
“Unlike the hundreds of
refugees Canada protects
from harm or death, Tejada
has served this country and
has more reasons to seek
protection and care from
Canada .
“She has paid her dues
and deserve humanitarian
consideration.
“We appeal to you to
reverse the Immigration De-
partment’s deportation deci-
sion and allow her to remain
in Canada for treatment.
“Further, we appeal to
you to grant a ministerial
permit allowing her visit-
ing husband to remain and
obtain gainful employment
in Canada so he can help fi-
nancially with her care, and
Toronto Police Chief William ‘Bill’ Blair (3rd from right, front row) joins members of the newly formed
Asian-Pacific Consultative Committee (first row, from left) Anna Do (Vietnam), Chairman Alok Mukher-
jee (Toronto Police Service Board), Bok Sil Shin (Korea), Ann Cree (Korea), Karen Cao-Le (Vietnam),
(2nd row, from left) Auxiliary Police Constable Jennifer Ying Ting, Sid Ikeda (Japan), Rowena Santos
(Philippines), Rey Tolentino (Philippines), (back row, from left) Jason Ying (Japan), Andre Goh (Unit
Commander), Police Constable Philip Mendoza, S/Sgt Steve Pipe and Inspector Nick Memme. The
community representatives have entered into a partnership with the police for the resolution of com-
munity law and order issues, during a meeting at the police headquarters on May 21.
be an efficient forum to pro-
mote and enhance commu-
nity involvement, while rec-
ommending to the TPS ways
to improve law enforcement
policies, develop pro-active
programs and ensure that
communities could live in
Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
sion, you will not have only ment does not come from
have prompted the need for
granted a dying woman’s an employer but from the
new activism in defending
wish, but will have erased very government that set
home workers,” said United
the ugly impression of Can- up the program which now,
Steelworkers (USW) coor-
ada that has been created in her time of need, rejects
dinator Peter Leibovitch, in
by the Immigration Depart- her. This is bureaucracy at
a news release.
ultimately bring her family ment’s unfortunate and ill- its most cruel,” the news re-
USW and Migrante-On-
to Canada for a chance at a advised decision.” lease quoted Migrante coor-
tario set up the IWA-HWS
better life. Lobby group on June 10. dinator Marco Luciano.
Morally right Over a year after friends Cruel bureaucracyServices
“Canada ‘s greatness as and benefactors chipped The news release said
“It is a horrible example
a country is directly linked, in precious time, hard cash IWA-HWS would offer a
of the mistreatment of for-
not to the stone-cold literal and tireless efforts to help unique form of representa-
eign and temporary workers
application of its laws, but Tejada get over her health tion, based on a union mod-
in our country. If Ms. Tejada
to the humane application and immigration woes, a el, to workers covered by
was entrusted with caring
of such laws, and to the wis- newly-formed Independent Canada’s Live-in Caregiver
for children, then she should
dom of its national leaders inWorkers Association-Home Program (LCP).
be given the respect and dig-
doing what is morally right. Workers Section (IWA- Under Citizenship and
nity to stay in this country
“We urge you, Prime HWS) is suiting up for its Immigration Canada, the
and be treated for a terminal
Minister Harper, to give first act - try to convince LCP was instituted to meet
illness that she developed
your utmost consideration Immigration Minister Diane the big demand for domes-
while working here,” Leibo-
to this petition. Finley to let Tejada “remain vitch said. tic workers and caregivers
“In reversing the Immi- in Canada.” in the homes of well-to-do
“The most offensive
gration Department’s unfor- “It is precisely situations Canadian families.
thing about the Juana Tejada
tunate and ill-advised deci- like that of Juana Tejada that The association would
case is that her mistreat-
organize workers in the pro-
gram and those who have
gained landed-immigrant
status and citizenship but
continued to provide home
care as either a caregiver or
a personal support worker.
The news release said
USW and Migrante would
defend the interests of mar-
ginalized workers who do
not have traditional bargain-
ing relationships with em-
ployers, leaving them vul-
nerable to exploitation and
abuse.
Other IWA-HWS ser-
vices and benefits included
SETTLED. Principals (from left) Migrante-Ontario coordinator Marco Lucia- access to Steelworker dental
no, workers’ rights advocate Connie Sorio and United Steelworkers director offices and education pro-
Wayne Fraser enjoy lighter banter after discussions on forming the Indepen- grams, affordable legal ser-
dent Workers Association-Home Workers Section on June 10. PR vices and health care.
interchangeably noted the
challenges faced by refu-
gees of war who have settled
in Toronto.
Do and Khuu said many
of the refugees came with
families broken by the war,
who were teenage orphans
and youths whose memo-
ries with police and military
encounters were more often
negative and scary.
They told of problems
with gangs and illicit drug
use among the youth, as
they desired to offer hope
and alternatives to victims
through a partnership with
the TPS.
Discrimination
Bok Sil Shin, chair of
the Korean Inter-Agency
Network, and Young Lee
Ha, from the Korean-Cana-
dian Women’s Association,
spoke of problems related
to the seeming discrimina-
tory treatment of new immi-
grants by police officers.
The two said victims of-
ten suffer in silence, because
peace and harmony. tor, Filipino Centre Toronto nadian communities raised of a lack of confidence with
It could also help chil- (FCT) vice president and at the meeting, which Tolen- the police.
dren grow to be honest, APCC member Rey Tolen- tino moderated. More ethnic officers
law abiding citizens, Blair tino related the issues and Refugees, drugs Rosalinda Cerrudo-Javi-
averred. concerns representatives of Vietnamese Association er, FCT president, said that
Community concerns the Vietnamese-Canadian, of Toronto vice president while basic respect for the
In a report submitted to Korean-Canadian, Filipino- Anna Do and youth repre- law among new immigrants
the Manila Media Moni- Canadian and Japanese-Ca- sentative Quoc Tuan Khuu (To page 6)
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor
Laquian to speak on 50 years of
Filipino migration to Canada
University of
British Columbia
(UBC) Professor
Emeritus Aprodi-
cio Laquian is ex-
pected to expound
on the 50 years of
Filipino migration
to Canada, when
he speaks at the
Philippine Press
Club-Ontario fo-
rum at Casa Ma-
nila on July 10. Eleanor and Aprodicio Laquian
The affair is with granddaughter Maya Jam-
hosted by the Phil- er Laquian
Ontario pushes EDL for
safer border crossing
If passed, an Ontario law
proposed on June 3 would
allow Ontarians to use an
enhanced driver’s licence
(EDL) as an alternative to
a passport when crossing
Canada-US borders by land
and sea.
The EDL would include
the same security features
Ontario introduced in De-
cember 2007 to protect
PPCO forum on July 10
against fraud, misuse and
identity theft, while also
giving Ontarians the option
of adding Canadian citizen-
ship information.
The EDL proposal in-
cluded the introduction of
photo comparison technol-
ogy - a fraud-prevention
measure that would help de-
ter the issuance of multiple
(To page 15)
ippine Consulate in Toronto
under Consul General Ale-
jandro Mosquera.
Laquian’s topic is seen
to be based on a book he co-
authored with wife Eleanor.
The Laquians devoted
years of research to com-
plete the history of Filipino
migration to Canada.
Laquian authored and
edited 18 books and pub-
lished over 60 journal ar-
ticles and book chapters.
He holds a BA in pub-
lic administration from the
University of the Philip-
pines (UP) and a Ph.D. in
urban studies from the Mas-
sachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology.
Laquian has a long list
of career successes in lead-
ing centers for development
research in the US, Canada
and the United Nations.
He also served briefly
as chief of staff for former
President Joseph Estrada
of the Philippines who was
once his student.
After retiring from
UBC in 2001, Laquian was
NEWS 5
No foul play in
Filipino nanny’s death
Filipino nanny Rosalie Cruz, who drowned and died in
the swimming pool of her employer’s home in Thornhill on
June 6, will soon be on her way home in Biñan, Laguna.
Officials at the Philippine consulate in Toronto said the
consular documents needed for the repatriation have been
named a visiting scholar processed, as the labor attache is working on the processing
at the department of urban of benefits for Cruz’ bereaved family.
studies and planning at the Earlier media reports said her employers arrived home
Massachusetts Institute of and found Cruz, 39, single, lying face down in the deep end
Techonology. of the back yard pool.
In 2002 to 2003, he The employers told media Cruz had earlier sought per-
was resident scholar at the mission to go for a swim.
WWICS where he wrote a Sgt David Mitchell of the York Regional Police ruled
book on planning and gov- out foul play in the incident. “On the outset, it looks like a
ernance of the largest mega- very unfortunate accident,” he told media.
urban regions in Asia. A report submitted to the consulate showed the coroner
He was director of the confirming the police observatrion.
Centre for Human Settle- Cruz, the family’s sole breadwinner and had been
ments and at UBC’s School supporting her three siblings through school, had been in
Community and Regional Canada for only a year and six months. Her two aunts in
(To page 17) Toronto helped her come to and work in Canada.
RP consulate ready for MRPs
The Philippine Con- member. tures such as watermarked
sulate General in Toronto The new, maroon pass- paper, colored UV fibers,
has begun processing ap- port will replace the green UV reactive inks, ultra thin
plications for machine- passport, which is manually laminates resistant to forg-
readable passports (MRP) scripted. ery and chemical, thermal
this June. The new passport has and mechanical attacks,
Most countries in the a machine-readable zone letter screen containing
world use MRPs, a re- containing the personal data variable information and
quirement of the Inter- of the passport holder that holograms, among others.
national Civil Aviation can be read by a machine or The passport appli-
Organization (ICAO), of a computer. cant’s photograph shall be
which the Philippines is a It also has security fea- (To page 17)
6 VIEWS
Police chief Blair affirms Asian Pacific ...
(From page 4)
from the Philippines exist-
ed, confidence in the police
could be enhanced with the
recruitment of more Fili-
pino-Canadian officers into
the force.
Javier cited the success
of the recent FCT Victo-
ria Invitational Basketball
Tournament, all due to a
partnership with the TPS
through Community Liai-
son Officer Police Consta-
ble Philip Mendoza.
She lauded the creation
of the APCC, an addition to
the police-initiated consulta-
tive committees that existed
for the Chinese, Blacks and
South Asian communities.
Integration
Sid Ikeda from the
Japanese Cultural Centre
of Canada spoke about the
long history of Japanese im-
migrants in Canada.
Ikeda said a majority of
Japanese-Canadians have
integrated successfully into
the Canadian way of life .
They could help new
immigrants from the Asian
Pacific community adjust
and integrate into life in To-
ronto, he added.
Other speakers
Other speakers included
Linda Jeffrey of the Office
of the Premier of Ontario,
Councilor Raymond Cho,
Dr. Mukherjee, Staff Su-
perintendent Mike Federi-
co who read Chief Blair’s
speech and CTV news an-
Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
chor Pauline Chan.
Cultural show
Earlier, Blair, TPS offi-
cers and community leaders
were treated to an Asia-Pa-
cific cultural show.
Among the performanc-
es were the Dragon Dance
from Vietnam, another
dance from the Korean
Miyoung Kim Dance Com-
pany, the heart pounding
Yakudo Drums from Japan
and musical renditions from
Cassandra Malabanan and
Ramon Torralba. (ABOVE) Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair (2nd from right) poses with (from
Dignitaries from differ- right) Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) President Rosalinda Cerrudo-Javier,
ent Asian countries includ- FCT Vice President Rey Tolentino and Police Constable Philip Mendoza after
ing Philippine Consul Gen- the formation of the Asian Pacific Consultative Committee on May 21.
eral in Toronto Alejandro (BELOW) Chinese-Filipino Pauline Chan, CTV news anchor, joins Philippine
Mosquera were in the audi- Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera (both in center), (from left)
ence. Rolly Mangante, Auxiliary Police Constables Chris Mina, Matt Romeral and
Gani Semana and Auxiliary Police Sergeant Willie Isip during the celebration
of Asian Heritage Month by the Toronto Police Service on May 21.
(BELOW, LEFT) Budding artist Cassandra Malabanan (2nd from left) poses
with (from left) Police Community Liaison Officer Philip Mendoza, Teresa
and Mon Torralba, Mosquera and Isip. Photos: JOJO TADURAN, PR)
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS
are among those it will work for;
it could only be bothered by rep-
resentation.
***
PPCO member Rodel Ramos
through Tenny Soriano sent the
Ace Alvarez following e-mail message to fel-
low members:
7
a second confirmation. O ‘di ba,
makes sense?”
***
CNW dispatch of May 26:
“Ontario is investing more than
$2 billion this year to expand,
repair and improve highways,
roads and bridges across the

Wrong spelling, wrong!

A Canada News Wire (CNW)
dispatch of Tuesday, June 10,
states, “Beer remains the alcohol-
ic drink of choice for Canadians in
terms of both volume and dollar
value …”.
A case in point is Photo # 1
taken by Philippine Press Club
Ontario (PPCO) Director Mon
Datol of the Philippine Courier
one Friday evening gathering at
Casa Manila on York Mills Road
in Don Mills, Ontario.
***
During the last two weeks
before this writing, much hype
(and with very good reason) in
e-mails sent, forwarded and re-
sent was an attachment featur-
ing the selection and recruit-
ment of Filipino Arnel Pineda as
lead singer of celebrated band
Journey.
In the same photo # 1, seen
at the far end of the picture are
(from left) PPCO President Ten-
ny Soriano belting out a Jour-
ney song, with (their backs to
the camera) writer Ricky Calu-
en on the keyboard and Consul
General Alejandro Mosquera
providing back up for Tenny’s
PHOTO # 1
lead singing. ***
Take a look at PPCO Trea- Manila Media Monitor received
surer Mogi Mogado (seated, far an e-mail with attachment from the
left) who is enjoying so much the United Steelworkers (USW) that
voice of the PPCO “El Presiden- it is providing representation for
te”, to which Mon Datol com- Filipino homeworkers.
mented, “The PPCO president’s The e-mail from USW Com-
voice, and his passion for Jour- munication’s Pat Van Horne came
ney songs almost sounds like Ar- with a note stating, “Please trans-
nel Pineda’s.” mit the attached immediately on
PPCO Secretary and Ma- Toronto Comprehensive Network
nila Media Monitor editor Butch (incl. Filippino if any).”
Galicia retorted, “Kaya la’ng, I believe the USW will be able
while Arnel Pineda is already to perform its functions effective-
with Journey, si Tenny, nag-tri- ly as it could not be bothered by
tripping pa rin!” right spelling for the people who
“My brothers and sisters in
the media,
“We need volunteers to pro-
mote the nation building project
of Gawad Kalinga (GK) to the
Filipino community and the
mainstream. Please help us help
our poor and the country.
“I was asked to get volun-
teers for the GK Walk and fu-
ture projects.”
From me to Rodel: Do you
know if GK is paying for the
volunteer work?
***
In an e-mail on Tuesday, June
3, PPCO Prexy Tenny asks the
organization’s corporate secretary,
Butch Galicia, how many direc-
tors have confirmed to the board
meeting, June 6.
Butch replied, “Lima na ang
confirmed – You, Ace. Mogi,
Mondee and Ace.”
Tenny commented, “Dinalawa
mo ang pangalan ni Ace.”
Butch: “Akala mo nagkamali
ako? No way. Kaya dalawa ang
pangalan ni Ace, kasi dalawang
beses ding nag-confirm sa June 6
meeting.”
Ace interrupted: “Kaya dala-
wang beses ako nag-confirm, para
‘pag hindi ako nakarating doon sa
unang confirmation, puwede pa
rin akong humabol, dahil I have
province.”
Hhhmmm … expect delays
then. WELCOME TO SUM-
MER!
***
CNW dispatch of May 16:
“OPP will be on the air, on the
ground, and on the water this
week-end watching for aggressive
drivers and those who drink and
drive.”
Hhhmmm … I think this kind
of activity for the OPP is accident
prone. To the OPP, please do it one
at a time; just like against drinking
and driving; just drink, if it has to
be, and drive, if it has to be.
***
Aside from the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce-Toron-
to’s Trade Show at the Mabuhay
Philippines Toronto Summer
Festival, July 19, at the Metro
Toronto Convention Centre, one
place for investment companies
to put up a booth is by the entry
doors of all those casinos.
I think many of those in the
Filipino-Canadian community
committed a mistake while read-
ing primers on investments. For
example, on the matter of stocks
(otherwise known as equities),
the explanation was that “stocks
may pay investors dividends.
(To page 15)
8 VIEWS
A letter of a son to
his father
A few days ago, something
landed on my e-mail’s inbox,
declaring that Fathers Day is not
only to celebrate one’s own father,
but all the fathers in the world and
all the father figures to one - un-
cles, brothers, ….
While we fathers and father
figures do not ask anything in re-
payment for the role that we, in
most cases, struggled to deliver
with our best, it is very heart-
warming to hear words of love
from our children and wards.
The item below came out in
this corner last year and we are re-
printing it addressed to children to
let go of those words while their
fathers and father figures are still
around and reckon their perfor-
mance at that role.
***
A son wrote the following to
his dad on “Fathers Day”:
“I remember all your stories.
I recall the stories of you living
with one brother and your sister
in law but was treated worst than
an outsider. You toughed all these
out and you grew. You were the
youngest of seven, for the eighth
never made it past birth.
“You were the youngest and
the first one to get his car in a
country where owning one is a
mark of economic success. You
put yourself through university,
and got married at 24. You raised
a daughter and soon you raised a
Forty youth from economical-
ly challenged islands and provinc-
es recently spent the most memo-
rable and rewarding week of their
lives being feted everywhere they
went in Manila.
They were selected from a
field of 200 aspirants for their
promising skill, exemplary behav-
ior and talent.
It was Plan International-Phil-
ippines’ desire, through its media
training partner, Anak TV, to in-
vest in children who can be tapped
to use media as a tool to inform,
communicate and effect changes
in their communities.
Time was indeed ripe for chil-
dren participating in the intrica-
cies of media, long-regarded as
adult domain.
The training sessions that last-
ed all summer long was the first
step in Plan’s lofty goal.
The five-day sessions were
staged in Camotes Island, Leyte
son.
“I remember waiting for you
every night because we knew you
would bring us Mentos candy. I
remember taking trips to muse-
ums and everywhere downtown
Manila with cousins of ours that
you treated like your own chil-
dren. Heck, most, if not all of
over twenty or thirty nieces and
nephews call you dad. You would
at times work 24-hour days. I re-
member the days you would pull
out wads of cash from five dif-
ferent pockets to get us what we
wanted if we deserved it. I even
remember going to church every
Sunday night in Manila and go-
ing out to eat out at McDonald’s
after.
“And of course how can I
ever forget when my world came
crashing down when I was told we
were to move away from home. I
didn’t know then, but I perfectly
understand now.
“I remember that vacation you
took us to in Hawaii and Los An-
geles when I was seven. I remem-
ber when you forced me to talk
to the people who worked at the
fast food places so I could prac-
tice my English. I remember the
nervousness I felt upon arriving
in this country only to live with
people I never knew. I remember
of how my sister and I shared one
room in the attic and you and ma
had the other one. I remember you
Breeding youth media
correspondents
(for the Samar-Leyte provinces)
Occidental Mindoro and Mas-
bate.
It was already a thrill that
most of the kids were able to get
a peek outside of their blighted
rural communities; rare still that
they were able to visit Manila, a
city that they only hear about from
radio or see on television.
The exhilaration was doubled
when Plan International gave
them their first crack at flying!
Days before their journey to
the city, the children, aged 12 to
17, were in tenterhooks, scram-
bling about for the most durable
bag to use, laundering the best
items in their wardrobes and pre-
paring the pre-arrival assignments
sent to them by Anak TV trainers
headed by this writer.
The six kids from Camotes Is-
land had the least time to prepare
having been given barely three
days to put everything together.
dropping us off at the bus stop
every morning and picking us up
the same place in the afternoon.
I remember you taking all of us
to that little park nearby on the
week-ends.
“As new immigrants to this
country, I remember you would
work day and night so you could
buy new furniture and appliances.
Hah... I even remember eating
frozen Adobo one day, and upon
hearing of it, you felt sorry and
bought a microwave. You gave up
your riches for this! Even at times,
you were most tired you came
home to us with a smile, and you
would still take us out at night. I
remember the day you were ready
to buy a car and we went from lot
to lot looking for a car. You finally
got a red ‘92 Pontiac Sunbird. I re-
member the day you left your job;
you had told us that there were
tough times ahead, that we would
have to bear with it, but it wasn’t
to last long.
“I got into baseball as a kid
so you took me out to the park to
play catch. I loved basketball at
one time, so you signed me up for
a team and went to my practices.
You even took us to New York be-
cause of a break dancing conven-
tion that I so much liked as a teen.
I made a choice to go to a distant
high school so you drove me there
for three and half years until I got
my own car. I remember your face
They were the last to under-
take the basic course; hence the
last set of kids whose parents had
to be personally visited to be ap-
prised of the program that awaited
their excited wards in Manila.
Day one began at crack of
dawn. ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay
Ganda welcomed them with a
briefing which turned out to seem
like part of the kids’ ongoing me-
dia training.
Toting borrowed digital cam-
eras, they took aim at the studio
happenings and its denizens, Edu
Manzano, Bernadette Sembrano,
Kim Atienza, Donita Rose and the
rest.
Rains did not whittle down the
excitement because DZMM Man-
ager Angelo Palmones gave them
a radio studio tour with Anthony
Taberna personally hosting the
kids.
Not to be outdone, GMA Net-
work laid out its red carpet and lit-
Manila Media Monitor
when you saw me purchase that
first car. You knew that I bought
that car with hard work, the ethic I
got from you.
“I remember all the lessons you
have even taught me. I recall each
lecture I have sat through. I re-
member the times you bought me
the things I had wanted, but only
if I had worked for it. I was told by
the family that upon receiving my
most outstanding academic award
in my grade eight graduation, you
were so proud. I remember them
telling me the tears that had start-
ed to build up when you saw me
receive my high school diploma.
I remember all the times you said
no to going out with good reasons,
and all the times you put up with
my temper tantrums. I recall a few
months ago while I was heartbro-
ken and I would turn to a bottle of
scotch day and night, you sat me
down to talk. I have heard from
countless people that you speak
very highly of me; and for making
you proud, I am glad.
“You have been through a
life of constant struggle, but yet
you never once gave up, or even
lost your faith. You have given
up your lavish life to protect the
future of your children. You have
been betrayed by many people of
the past, but yet you do not hate,
but rather thank for the lessons
learned. You have shown me what
a strong faith can do, and that hard
work is the only way to attain any-
thing. You have never once cheat-
ed or took the easy way out; or
never once abandoned your fam-
ily. You have given us more mate-
rial things than we can ever need;
but most of all you have given me
the tools to survive in this life on
my own. You have given me more
memories than I could ever hope
for, and each day you always get
up to try. There is no way I can
(To page 15)
erally opened doors for the kids.
A well-organized, very detailed
tour of its studios was punctuated
here and there by photo sessions
and chats with Mike Enriquez, Ar-
nold Clavio and many more.
At SIS, they saw how a live
entertainment program was broad-
cast, with comedian Diego seated
beside them annotating.
Lack of sleep did not deter the
kids from keeping their eyes wide
open as they toured Manila for the
first time.
Suddenly, the images they
once only saw in books and maga-
zines became real. Every corner
of the city deserved a picture.
It was only when the bus
cruised along the south express-
way that they collectively hushed
for a well-deserved nap.
When they awoke, it was an-
other dream realized: Taal Volca-
no. They were welcomed by Soka
Gakkai, a Buddhist organization
that broke tradition by allowing
the training in their hallowed cul-
ture center.
The place was paradise to the
kids: acres of green, clean envi-
rons, good, healthy food, comfy
rooms with flushing toilets and a
majestic view of the lake and vol-
cano.
They were to spend five days
of intensive training and produc-
(To page 12)
JUNE 2008
Managing Editor
ACE ALVAREZ
Editor
BUTCH GALICIA
Associate Editor
GIE ALVAREZ
Contributing Editors
Grace P. Freires
Manny Freires
Ben Viccari
Mag Cruz Hatol
Pete Lacaba
Mel Tobias
Editorial Assistants
Lennart Leigh Alvarez-Mahoney
Dods Andrada
Contributors
Edwin Acuna
Bien Garcia
Jeannie Pilapil
Eva Agpaoa
Mario Dimain
Noel Perada
Larry Torres
Chito Sarabia
Account Executive
MYRNA SORIANO
GRAPHICS
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JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS
OPINION
English or Pilipino in schools?
Away with the belief that Ca-
nadians are timid and unadventur-
ous, shy of taking risks to support
their beliefs, Here come 20 Ex-
traordinary Canadians in a series
of biographical books, each au-
thored by an acclaimed Canadian
author.
Announced last month was
an ambitious new Canadian pub-
lishing venture that by comple-
tion will have embraced eighteen
books and documentary films,
the latter to be funded and aired
by OMNI Television. Produced
by PMA Productions of Montreal,
the series will be aired in Canton-
ese, Hindi and Italian in addition
to English versions.
What should be the language of instruction in school – English
In addition, Maclean’s will
or Pilipino?
publish excerpts from each book.
Congress, which is mandated by the Constitution to decide the
Author John Ralston Saul, ar-
issue, remains silent about this.
guably Canada’s best-known liv-
The Philippine Constitution provides that, “Subject to provisions
ing intellectual (and certainly the
of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government
most active) has been responsible
shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium
for the selection of 20 Canadians.
of official communication and as language of instruction in the edu-
Each has been allocated a
cational system.”
separate volume written by an
Since 1988, when Congress was restored, no enabling law has
acclaimed Canadian author and
been enacted.Until Congress speaks, one can only guess if it is Eng-
with a cover illustration by a
lish or the national language for schools and official communica-
tion.
Meanwhile, Pilipino became the medium of instruction in
schools in all levels without efforts to truly develop Pilipino as an
efficient medium of instruction.Thus, the off-and-on debate whether
it is English or Pilipino goes on.
In the last three decades or so, English proficiency in the Philip-
pines declined. Inaction in Congress has partly been blamed.
Shortly after her election, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Source of unending joy
declared her new language policy hoping to reverse the decline of
English proficiency among Filipino graduates.
“Until Congress enacts a law mandating Filipino as the language
of instruction, I am directing the Department of Education to return
English as the primary medium of instruction, provided some sub- As I write this month’s col-
jects will still be taught in Filipino,” she had declared during a key- umn, I’m in Calgary and will soon
note address at the Far Eastern University’s anniversary rites. head off to Edmonton.
The President’s initiative was well-received by Filipinos. Eng- What strikes me immediately
lish, which was first taught more than a hundred years ago in the is the buzz of business and oppor-
country, has given Flipinos a decided advantage over other non-Eng- tunities in the air.
lish speaking peoples in commerce, business, overseas job opportu- Everywhere you look, help
nities, and other activities. wanted ads are demanding your
But President Arroyo’s directive to the education department attention.
was only a temporary answer. Debates will continue until Congress Alberta is the place to be right
gives its decision to fashion out a long-term language policy. now if what you are looking for is
Meanwhile, the reasons to put back English in its prominent a higher paying job.
place in the educational system continue to grow. Consider these: I’m here to expand my new
• A Filipino cannot be a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer, an agri- business and look for new oppor-
culturist, diplomat – or even a teacher – without learning English or tunities.
using it in school because English is the main language of textbooks, It seems those opportunities
science and technology used in Philippine schools and universities. are everywhere.
• For the Filipinos, English means money. For example, the But there is a catch (there’s
growing number of call center jobs proves this. always a catch): Everyone else is
• Conversely, Filipinos are losing out in overseas maritime jobs here as well, trying to do the same
because former non-English speaking foreigners (Taiwanese, Kore- thing. (And I thought I’d discov-
ans, etc) have learned English to qualify as seamen. ered a secret Shangri La).
• There are now more than 12,000 South Koreans who come to But that’s ok, because there is
the Philippines to learn English since it’s cheaper here than in, for enough for everyone and the com-
example, the United Kingdom, where around 700,000 people go to petition will keep us honest.
learn English, spending as much as one billion British pound. So wish me luck out here in
• English enjoys official or special status in at least 75 countries the wild west.
with a total population of over two billion. In May, we celebrated Moth-
• About 80 percent of the world’s electronically stored informa- er’s Day and, like most of you, I
tion is in English. ILUMINADO VARELA, JR., Manila celebrated with my family and
friends.
We had a great picnic (though
ADVERTISE with mostly inside because the weather
didn’t want to cooperate), enjoyed
Manila Media Monitor each other’s company and traded
Call 416-285-8583 the usual stories.
In my house live four genera-
The risk-takers
well-known artist. There are only
eighteen books because two deal
with persons whose lives are in-
extricably linked: Robert Baldwin
and Louis-Hyppolite Lafontaine;
Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont.
Although the chosen extraor-
dinary Canadians number only
nineteen to date, the 20th name
will be revealed in due course,
say the project’s principals with
an eye to maintaining publicize-
able value of the series for the
three years it will take to bring the
whole collection into print.
The first three volumes have
now been released and have as
their subjects Lord Beaverbrook,
by Giller prizewinner novelist
David Adams Richards, Emily
Carr by writer and painter Lewis
de Soto and Nellie McClung by
historian Charlotte Gray.
Future subjects include Glenn
Gould, Marshall McLuhan, Les-
ter B. Pearson and Pierre Elliott
Trudeau.
Saul himself will author the
book on Robert Baldwin and Lou-
is-Hippolyte Lafontaine whose
tions of the Agpaoa family.
It’s something I treasure deep-
ly and I feel so lucky that I can
witness this.
I often think about my mother
(who lives with me) and how she
feels about her life ... how she feels
when she looks at her descendants
four generations down ... how she
feels about me and where I am in
my life right now.
Before we came to Canada,
our family, like many of yours,
struggled with the daily chore
of surviving, of making choices,
many of them hard, about how to
use our very limited resources.
Every choice left someone
with a little bit more, and some-
one else with a little bit less.
These were decisions my
mother had to make.
I know, being a mother my-
self, that many times, these deci-
sions broke her heart.
One of her children had to be
denied so another could receive ...
school, food, money, clothes.
So I think of my mother and
the strength she must have had to
raise us and watch us go through
life and all the things she had to
sacrifice.
I wonder, when she sees her
family, all the generations that she
has made, does it please her? Do
we measure up?
9
contribution to the nation he con-
siders one of the most significant
and defining elements of Cana-
dian history.
At the official launch of the
project, Saul sat onstage with the
three authors in a discussion of
how they were able to view their
subjects as “extraordinary.” They
made a difference to their times
and their achievements resonate
to the present, it was agreed, but
above all they were unafraid to
take risks, so different from the
image of ourselves many of us
Canadians still preserve.
I have reviewed two of the first
three books. The third, Lord Bea-
verbrook will follow this month.
After that, I’ll await with ea-
ger anticipation each new issue of
three books.
***
The following is reprinted
from the Gallon Environmental
Newsletter, with permission.
“He taught me far more than
most cabinet members.” Chrétien
“That was one of the many
(To page 18)
I have so many dreams, hopes
and ambitions for my daughter,
for her future and for the person
she will become.
I’m willing to sacrifice every-
thing so that her life will be rich
and rewarding, that she will gain
a measure of herself and become a
person others will gladly welcome
into their lives.
My measure of her is not how
well she does in school, or how
many friends she has, or how rich
and successful she might become.
It is important to be sure be-
cause these are the tools everyone
need to live in our society.
No, my measure of her is the
joy she feels in her life. And I real-
ize that by measuring her, I am re-
ally measuring myself, measuring
my success at helping her reach
her full potential.
That’s when I realize that I can
never be truly disappointed with
my daughter.
There is no preset destination
she must reach; no goal she can
fail to meet.
My love for her is unbounded
and the only thing she must do for
me is find joy in her life.
So I think about my mother
and how she must feel about me,
about her granddaughter and,
through my niece, her great-
(To page 14)
10 VIEWS Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
its shining eight-rayed sun Was the pomp that ac-
and three glittering stars, companied the various cel-
was displayed, as opposed ebrations of Philippine In-
to that freely done in jubila- dependence Day in Toronto
tion in 1898 to proclaim the a façade to cover up the
birth of their nation. political unrest, economic
(Again, just in case, instability and social res-
Filipinos used to mark free- tiveness happening in the

The party’s over. The
feisty brass bands have
ceased marching and color-
ful parade costumes have
gone back to the trunk. The
white tablecloths have been
dumped into a laundry bin
and the chairs have been
folded. The empty dance
floor of a rented banquet
hall had been mopped. Coats
and gowns have either been
returned to the rental shop
or tucked away in a dresser
packed with winter jackets.
Except for still edible
and delectable leftovers that
have habitually found itself
into a dark corner of some-
one else’s fridge, all the fare
and fun that marked Phil-
ippine Independence Day
on June 12 have been con-
signed to the past, perhaps
a memory that might never
even have mattered at all,
except in press releases and
in albums filled with ego-
inflating still images.
Hurrah to them, very
proud of their heritage, who
have spent valuable time,
money and effort to mount
a bevy of spectacles that ev-
Indio-pendence Day?
eryone wished could have
gained better recognition
and more respect for the
Filipino-Canadian commu-
nity in Toronto’s multicul-
tural milieu.
High fives to all those
who took the day off or
night out picnicking or
dancing, respectively, with
their compatriots, who ei-
ther spoke a dialect similar
to their own or who fitted
in the clique a.k.a. organi-
zation, society, fraternity,
federation, club, etc.
(Just in case, there are
some 70 dialects in the
Philippines’ over 7,000 is-
lands with about 89 million
people. This well explains
why there are about 300
Filipino-Canadian groups,
either original, breakaway
or in the making.)
It’s a pity, however, that
a bigger fraction of Filipi-
nos in Toronto had to attend
to more productive things
to do during, but except
on June 12, Philippine In-
dependence Day weekend
celebrations.
For one who has not
traded off good Filipino
traits and values to a few
decadent ways of the west,
Saturdays or Sundays were
always quality time for God
and family, for Church and
home, for the sermon of the
minister or priest and the
wife. The last is non-debat-
able, period! That is, if you
want to keep your spirit and
body together. Never mind
the mind.
The afternoon rain fore-
cast, while raising hopes of
cool relief to an erstwhile
hot day, kept a lot find-
ing comfort in their rented
room, basement or apart-
ment spaces. Besides, the
minimum $5.50 bus to-
and-fro fare could be saved
for Monday’s work sked.
Weather forecast cynics
simply repudiated attempts
to add more tan to their al-
ready well-cooked skin, as
the week’s temps rose to
tolerable levels.
Some had to run to the
workplace, skipping church
tasks and home chores and
braving rains and heat, to
scrape a few more dollars to
send to their waiting brood
back home and to help pay
for the high cost of strug-
gling in Canada.
In the Philippines, this
sturdy lot is drumbeaten
as the unsung heroes that
make up the backbone of
a sagging economy. Here,
the conformists brand them
the anti-socials, the ones
who do not care about the
significance of June 12 to
freedom- and peace-loving
Filipinos.
But are they to blame?
They simply never saw any
semblance of Liberty Day
in any of the events purport-
edly set up to honor Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo’s asser-
tion of Philippine freedom,
from more than 300 years
of Spanish rule, at the bal-
cony of his home in Kawit,
Cavite 110 years ago.
What more? They could
not understand why they
have to fish out as much
as a whole day’s pay from
their worn-out pockets to
sing Lupang Hinirang af-
ter O’ Canada while the
Philippine tricolors, with
dom day on July 4 since
1946, commemorating the
time when The Bald Eagle,
which also observes its In-
dependence Day on July 4,
decided to loosen its claws
on a colony it desperately
wanted to keep as a defense
springboard against democ-
racy’s anathema, then com-
munism; now, terrorism.
Only in 1962 was freedom
day moved to June 12 under
the prodding of then Presi-
dent Diosdado Macapagal,
who saw it politically fit
to correct a historical error
made in the time of Presi-
dent Manuel Roxas.)
Unfortunately, most Fil-
ipinos who did not join any
of the June 12 events saw
these activities as merely
social events, not histori-
cal ones. Even the goals of
these events were unclear.
Unite the Pinoy-Canuck
community or further build
walls between the haves and
have-nots in the commu-
nity? Promote Isang Bansa,
Isang Diwa or further exac-
erbate regional and provin-
cial barriers? Emulate the
dove of freedom and peace
or further give the crab or
the croc a bad name? Was it
flag-raising or hair-raising?
Philippines?
Perhaps, these events
never really did have any-
thing to do with shielding
President Gloria Macapa-
gal-Arroyo, her husband
and family, and her cohorts
in Malacanang from allega-
tions of massive corruption,
rampant human rights re-
pression, police and military
abuses, so on and so forth.
Awww! Forget it. Who
cares, anyway? Do you?
Me? I am not about to
trade off the joy I experience
every time I see the Philip-
pine flag waving proudly
and up high with colors of
other nations on the corner
of Don Mills and Eglinton.
Or when I look through the
windshield of a van that
has a small Philippine flag
hanging on its rearview
mirror. Or when I meet
this pure-bred nationalist
who has a Philippine flag
installed on his automated
wheelchair, a flag that beck-
ons freely while he breezes
through the sidewalk along
Eglinton.
“Bayang magiliw, Per-
las ng Silanganan; Alab ng
puso, sa dibdib mo’y buhay
… Ang mamatay nang dahil
sa iyo.” butchgalicia.com

Over 31 years after

The first day that I set
foot on the streets of Toron-
to was on March 10, 1975.
That day was also the
first time I saw this strange
looking red monster travel-
ling on King Street West.
It was heavy. It shook
up the sidewalk when it
passed by.
There was a pole pro-
jecting from its roof and in
contact with an overhead
electric cable.
They called it TTC
Streetcar and was also af-
fectionately known to To-
ronto passengers as The
Red Rocket. I was amazed.
There was not anything
like it where I came from.
Just like most of the
new immigrants, I rode The
Red Rocket to move around
the city.
And for someone like
myself who came from a
tropical country, I depended
on it during the freezing
months of winter in To-
ronto.
I used the transit system
in hunting for a job.
Little did I know that
one day, I would be work-
ing for the Toronto Transit
Commission.
It was in the late au-
tumn, on October 25, 1976
when it happened.
I was young when I en-
tered the building of Harvey
Shops.
It was called Hillcrest
Shops then.
It was there within the
walls of Harvey where I
spent most of the next 25
years of my life.
It was also there where I
matured and interacted with
some of the very gifted and
talented workers from dif-
ferent corners of the world.
We were all foreign to
the city but we also shared
a common ground.
We all worked for TTC,
which was the main source
of our livelihood.
On May 13, 2002 the
wind direction had shifted
towards east.
I left my union brothers
and sisters in Harvey Shops
and continued my services
to TTC at McCowan Car-
house, where I completed
the remaining years culmi-
nating to my retirement.
Over 31 years had been
a very long and tiring jour-
ney.
Every stop was a pre-
lude to the next.
It seemed to be a never-
ending road.
But on March 8, 2008, a
day of giving thanks to our
Lord, I eventually reached
the final stop - my hard
earned destination.
It is here where I get
off.
To all my friends who
remained, hang on tight for
the ride.
You too will get there.
And when you do, I will be
at the other end to welcome
you.
Looking back, did I
make a difference in TTC?
Probably not.
But no matter how I
look at it, TTC had been a
part of my life.
My three daughters
grew up knowing that their
father worked for TTC.
My first grandchild will
also hear about it.
And someday many
years from now, around
the coffee table, my future
grandchildren would look at
the old photographs of the
three TTC streetcars which
were specially painted to
represent Toronto’s Sesqui-
centennial and Ontario’s
Bicentennial joint celebra-
tion.
In disbelief they would
ask: “Our grandfather paint-
ed these streetcars?”
And yes, even in the
slightest thought of it, no
matter how insignificant it
maybe to others, it brings
me a sense of pride that at
one time my work was at-
tached to the three street-
cars that were seen by the
city of Toronto.
mario@artisticam-pho-
tography.com; www.artis-
ticam-photography.com
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor
RP’s college grads set eyes on jobs abroad
by JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO
MANILA - A recent
report by the Organization
for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD)
showed that while the Phil-
ippines has a low brain drain
rate, Filipinos who reached
college remained attracted
to working or settling over
long periods in OECD’s 29
member-countries.
The report bared that
some 64.7 percent of some
1.819 Filipinos in OECD
member-countries were ter-
tiary educated while 35.7
percent had secondary edu-
cation.
The Philippines’ brain
drain rate (or the emigra-
tion rate of people holding
a tertiary degree) was 3.9
percent, said the report A
Profile of Immigrant Popu-
lations in the 21st Century.
The Philippines joined
a group of origin countries
with large populations such
as Brazil, Indonesia, Ban-
gladesh, India, and China
which had “low” brain
drain figures, meaning less
than five percent.
Countries with smaller
populations had higher
brain drain or emigration
rates, some of which were
more than 40 percent.
The OECD is composed
of Australia, Austria, Bel-
gium, Canada, Czech Re-
public, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Ja-
pan, Luxembourg, Mexico,
Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Slovak Republic, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tur-
key, the United Kingdom,
and the United States.
Staying power
But more Filipinos
stayed in 24 of 29 OECD
countries for over a decade
compared to 19.8 percent
who stayed from five to ten
years.
There were more males
(65.6 percent) who stayed
over ten years than females
(64 percent).
However, the females
outnumbered the males,
1.187 million to 0.745 mil-
lion.
Filipinos were the ninth
largest foreign-born popula-
tion in the OECD area
Educational level
Among those who
stayed in OECD countries,
If and when they complete their grade and secondary school education, will
these children in a village public school go on to college, graduate and leave
the country for ‘greener pastures’?
those with tertiary educa-
tion (66.8 percent) ranked
highest, followed by those
with secondary education
(65.1 percent) and those
with primary education
(58.7 percent).
The females also out-
numbered the males, 48.3
percent to 44.1 percent in
terms of holding tertiary
education.
Of the 173,000 tertiary-
educated Filipinos, 40.1
FEATURE 11
these Filipinos were reg-
istered as technicians and
14.5 percent were profes-
sionals.
Activity sectors
The OECD reported
that on sectors of activity
covering some 1.208 mil-
lion working Filipino im-
migrants in 27 of 29 OECD
countries (minus Germany
and Japan), some 52.5
percent were in personal
and social services; 17.4
percent, agriculture and
industry; 16.8 percent, dis-
tributive services; and 13.3
percent, producer services.
The OECD report pre-
sented profiles of what it
called “immigrant” popu-
lations in their member-
countries, the report being a
result of OECD’s extensive
percent were graduates of some 3.4 percent who were immigration databases.
humanities and social sci- unemployed, 31.3 percent The report also pack-
ences. of Filipinos were inactive. aged information that
Some 30.6 percent had There were more em- lumped together data from
degrees in education and ployed males (69.6 percent) all 29 countries, and in some
health, and 26.1 percent than females (62.5 per- select member-countries.
were science and engineer- cent). OECD even had data on
ing graduates. By occupation, some populations coming from
Employment 58.9 percent of about the top 50 origin countries
Filipinos in the OECD 332,000 Filipinos were op- of immigrants per OECD
member-countries were erators in OECD areas, ex- member-country.
also mostly employed (65.3 cluding Japan, Turkey and Favored
percent). the United States. Most of the OECD mem-
While there were only Nearly 27 percent of (To page 17)
12
Breeding youth ...
(From page 8)
tion work at the site.
The kids wasted no
time after checking in their
rooms. They went about
photographing every possi-
ble nook and vantage point
until their batteries gave
up.
Radyo ng Bayan of the
Philippine Broadcasting
Service treated the kids like
royalty, squeezing them
in groups into their radio
booths and allowing them
to fiddle with the equip-
ment as part of the training
process.
In one booth, the as-
signed kids had a phone-
patched interview with Sec-
retary Cerge Remonde who
was so smitten by them that
he insisted they visit Mala-
canang, a trip that was ar-
ranged without much proto-
col fuss.
It was to be another
memorable event not only
for the forty dreamy eyed
kids but for their adult es-
corts as well.
Busy as he was, Execu-
tive Secretary Eduardo Er-
mita went down to person-
ally meet the delegation.
He amused the kids with
his own brand of grandfather
stories and later brought in
Jolina Magdangal to engage
the kids in conversation.
Secretary Ignacio Bu-
nye regaled the kids with
Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
historical tidbits about the
palace.
The big surprise came
from Secretary Conrado
Limcaoco when he publicly
announced that he would
shortly instruct RPN, IBC,
NBN and the Bureau of
Broadcasts to accommodate
the kids’ works in their sta-
tions, in effect making the
now media-savvy youth
their junior correspondents.
Graduation recital saw
emotions mixing: relief
that they successfully went
through the week-long rigor
without much incident, joy
that they will soon be able
to share their pictures and
stories with loved ones left
in their villages and sadness
that the Cinderella-like fairy
tale was ending.
The showcased products
WITH JOLINA MAGDANGAL IN MALACAÑANG
are worth another story: the
eight video productions
and radio public service
announcements not only
showed promise; they are
worth boasting about in in-
ternational derbies. Anak TV
will make certain of that.
On their final night
at their lay-over hotel in
Makati, not one of the forty
kids slept, to the consterna-
tion of their chaperones.
The kids preferred to YOUTH MEDIA CORRESPONDENTS FROM CAMOTES ISLAND, LEYTE
keep a teary vigil as the
first delegations made way
for the airport to catch their
flights back home.
The magnificent forty
should be back home in
their far-flung communities
by now but their work as
youth media correspondents
has barely begun.
Now we are certain that
there are forty youth who
can be depended on for fu-
(To page 13)
YOUTH MEDIA CORRESPONDENTS FROM EASTERN SAMAR
YOUTH MEDIA CORRESPONDENTS FROM MASBATE

GENERAL DENTISTRY
Dr. Gilbert Chan
Dr. Daphne Chien
Dr. Janet Ho
Dr. Janet Wong
Dr. Michael Chin
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 13
PCFSC marks 3rd
year Aspire success FinancialProblem
“We are now .... just three years old. Young,
with credit cards & bank loans ? ?
as it may seem, we consider our growing en- AMIT BHATIA
tity rich and proud of our achievements in just Credit Counsellor
a short time,” declared Tirso Balitian, founder
and chairman of the Pilipino Canadian Friend-
ship Society of Canada (PCFSC). IF
The society marked its foundation anniver-
sary on June 12 with the success of its Annual - All your income is going to pay bills.
Scholastic Performance and Initiative Recogni-
- Everyday there is fight & argument at home.
tion (Aspire) program.
Started in 2005, Aspire has encouraged in- - You can not pick your own phone out of fear.
dividual academic excellence and exemplary
leadership among elementary and high school - Creditors and collection agencies are calling you and they are
students in Canada and in the Philippines. threatening to take legal action.
The society has recognized 17 top honor
- Your salary is being garnished.
graduates of Torres High School (THS) in Ma-
nila, George B. Little Public School in Scarbor-
ough and Buchanan Public School in Toronto. ONE SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR ALL YOUR DEBTS
The yearly awards included cash incentives,
gold medals and certificates of recognition.
THEN, WE CAN
The Manila recipients were (for school
year 2005-2006) Jan Israel Barrios, Michael - reduce your debts to less than half,
Cagaoan, Sharmilla May De La Cruz, John
Michael Padilla and Birthwill Jan Lara, (2006- - stop the interest right away,
2007) Margie Cuadra, Rickee Gerald Brieva,
- save you from threatening phone calls,
Abegail Masangkay, Franz Pomarca and Joy
Carpio, (2007-2008) Rose Anne Marie Adria- - bring back your stress free family life,
no, Rod Xavier Bondoc, Cecille Mae Dy, Nikki
Jane Francisco and Arwin Vista. - stop the garnishment.
In Canada, the two awardees from the To-
- And you will not lose your house and car.
ronto District School Board were Asvine Sun-
tharamoorthy and Marie Tonea.
School officials who helped PCSFC select
the Aspire awardees included THS Manila prin- HERE IS WHAT SOME SATISFIED CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY ..........
cipals Romeo Santos and Rosita Herson, head “I had six credit cards and was ing with Mr. Amit Bhatia, I felt very in huge debt. Credit Manage-
teachers Carmencita Caasi and Rudy Dumdu- paying $550 per month. Bank did relaxed and he reduced my $34,000 ment Services reduced my debts
not give me consolidation loan debts to just half. Amazing .......... I which I am paying in interest-free
maya, class adviser Clarita Sagum and alumni
because I had bad credit. Then can pick up my own phone now.” monthly installments now and I
Romy Capulong and Juanito De La Rosa. I met Mr. Amit Bhatia and he re- M.M. can keep my car.” E.J.
In Toronto, officials involved in Aspire were duced my loans and made one
principal Amanda Sinclair, division chair Greg payment of just $200. I’ll be debt “After making us debt free, now Amit “My husband was so stressed with
Pipher, Allan Balitian and Tony San Juan. free in 36 months. Credit Manage- Bhatia helped us getting the mort- these credit card bills that once
Besides Balitian, PCSFC officers are Rog- ment Services is the best place to gage. We are happy to move to our he forgot to stop at a red traffic
elia Castillo, executive director; San Juan, pro- contact when you have a money new house.” S.S. signal. Fortunately no accident
problem.” J.G. happened but I called Credit
gram director; Allan Balitian, country director-
“I went back home to get married, Management Services right away.
Canada; Lourdes Santiago, country director-the “I was afraid to pick my own then I had to go again because my Two weeks later my husband was
Philippines; Romeo Esquivel, director-at- large; phone. I was so confused and mother got sick. Because of that I back to stressfree life.” M.A.
and Josefina Santos, project coordinator. TSJ stressed all the time that I didn’t had to borrow money from my credit
know what to do, but after meet- cards and also, I lost my job. I was
Breeding youth ...
(From page 12)
ture responsible media work.
We are certain there are at least forty youth
who will not fall prey to the seduction of drugs CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
and alcohol because they will be busy cock-
Call for a free and confidential consultation

416-780-1020
ing their ears on the ground, smelling the air
for news, observing their environs for media-
worthy stories and imagining how issues can
be surfaced and understood by their townsfolk
through the new forms of media that they are Head Office : 970 Lawrence Ave. West # 105 (Lawrence & Dufferin)
now comfortable with. Toronto ON M6A3B6 (Located on the main floor in back of the building)
Most importantly, we are certain that the
Philippines is finally joining the rest of the Web : www.cmsgroup.ca
world in empowering its youth to make its voice 3 convenient locations - Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough
heard through media.

PNBRCC
supports
community
Lyssa Borabon (right)
and Grace Letrondo,
branch ma-nagers of
PNB Remittance Com-
pany Canada Scarbor-
ough and Sherbourne
branches, respectively,
have been busy sup-
porting community
programs and projects
in Toronto, Ontario and
other parts of Canada.
Photo: JOJO TADU-
RAN
YOUTH MEDIA CORRESPONDENTS IN BROADCAST WORKSHOP
14 PEOPLE &
PEOPLE & EVENTS
EVENTS Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

Artist MananQuil stages one-man show in RP

Brillantes meets mayor, Fil-Cans in Windsor

OTTAWA - Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa Jose Brillantes (2nd from right)
and Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis (2nd from left) exchange notes during a
call - with Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard Angeles (left) and Con-
sul Rhenita Rodriguez - on May 5, part of the embassy’s outreach mission in
MANILA - Artist Romi
MananQuil (center) re-
Taglish Radio airs in Hamilton Windsor, Niagara and
Niagara-on-the-Lake. Source of unending joy
ceives raves from (from HAMILTON - Taglish poetry,” Joyne said. Francis cited the skills (From page 9)
left) National Artist Ben Radio is on the air, having “Blending a diversity of and strong work ethic granddaughter. joy continues to rule my
Cabrera, UP Profes- started its maiden broadcast compelling topics surround- of Filipino workers that I’m sure there are times life.
sor Emeritus Virginia on June 8 over 93.3 CFMU ing art, history, politics, and fit the requirements of she shakes her head at some That through me, she is
Flor Agbayani, National FM in the Golden Horse- culture while fully engaging a dynamic urban center of our antics. measuring herself just as I
Artist Napoleon Ag- shoe area. and entertaining listeners such as Windsor. Bril- There are times she is measure myself through my
bayani, and UP Manila Aired every Sunday surely creates an exciting lantes also met with the sad at some of the decisions daughter and that the un-
Chancellor Sergio Cao from 5 to 6 p.m., Taglish opportunity for us to engen- Filipino community in I take. broken chain leading from
during his solo exhibit Radio is hosted by writer- der important discussions Windsor and appraised It’s only natural. her to me to my daughter
Uniquely Pinoy at the artist Roberto Lavidez and that matter most to the Fili- them of positive devel- But I know, that always, is a source of constant and
UP College of Fine Arts journalist Joyne Lavides. pino-Canadian community opments in the Philip- she is looking at me and unending joy for her. info@
in Quezon City. Canadi- The radio program is (in Hamilton). Definitely, pines. PR watching and praying that thenannyexpert.com
an Ambassador to the presented in Pilipino (Taga- Taglish Radio is advocacy
Philippines Robert Des- log) and English languages and empowerment on the Press and captioned photo releases published in the Manila Media
jardins told MananQuil: and “offers an interactive, air,” said Roberto. Monitor are for public service and free of charge. All contributions
“I am glad you have provocative and informative The hosts welcomed shall be subjected to strict editorial appreciation. Send them to me-
maintained your being interplay of local, national Filipino-Canadian groups diamonitor@rogers.com on or before the 8th of each month. SUB-
a Filipino. It’s a tribute and international news, in- and artists to promote com- MISSIONS SENT IN FLYER, POSTER OR OTHER BOXED FORMATS
to Canada’s multicul- terspersed with original Pil- munity events and shows.
SHALL BE BILLED ACCORDINGLY AS AN ADVERTISEMENT.
turalism.” ROSE TIJAM ipino music, interviews and PR
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor
A letter ...
(From page 8)
ever repay you for the love,
the patience and happiness
you have given. I am for-
ever grateful for you as my
guardian. You have not only
been a father, but a loving
Dad.”
***
The writer is my son,
Christian - now 25 years
old.
Ferdinand
Manalo, 47
FERDINAND MANA-
LO,47 Ferdinand
Manalo, “Ferdie “ to
friends, succumbed
to complications from
cancer after surgery at
the Sunnybrook Hospi-
tal, June 14. He was 47
years and is survived by
his wife Tess and chil-
dren Cathy and Mar-
tin, parents Alfredo and
Luisita Manalo, broth-
ers and sisters Willie,
Barb, Batch, Nina and
Raymond. TSORIANO
Hon. Stéphane Dion
Leader of the Official Opposition
613-996-6740
Hon. Bryon Wilfert
Richmond Hill
905-709-5905
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and the GTA Federal Liberal Caucus
would like to extend their best wishes to all Canadians who are
celebrating Philippine Independence Day. MABUHAY ANG PINOY!
PEOPLE & EVENTS
Community seniors’ group THE PILLARS
Toronto lauds its seniors
Toronto Mayor David celebrate the many accom-
Miller cited the wisdom, plishments of seniors and
knowledge and experience the contributions they made
the city’s senior sector has to the community. He said
passed on to younger gen- seniors, the fastest growing
erations, as he proclaimed sector of the city’s popu-
June 1 to 30 as Seniors’ lation, continued to serve
Month. At the Toronto Se- as valuable resources of
niors’ Forum at the city hall leadership, mentorship and
on June 11, Miller urged volunteerism. JOJO TA-
everyone to recognize and DURAN
Ooops & Bloops: Wrong spelling, wrong!
(From page 7)
Furthermore, the price of the stock market).
the stock may rise, or fall, More often than not,
over time.” the investments at the slot
On the stock market, machines are lost. In the
“Market Volatility is de- stock market, this is called
fined as the relative rate a crash.
which the stock market ***
moves up and down in An article for men from
price.” LeaseTrader.Com states,
See, the definitions “Dating Expert Reveals The
have all the characteristics Type of Woman A Vehicle
of slot machines at the casi- Attracts”.
nos. You put in your invest- Well, this may be true,
ment of $100 and “market but a good friend of mine
volatility” which may rise, drives a 1965 Chevrolet
or fall, overtime --- which Corvette, and since I’ve
in the slot machines are known him, the only thing
called “credits” (“units” in I saw he attracted is the car
Michael Ignatieff Alan Tonks
Deputy Leader Chair - GTA Caucus
Etobicoke—Lakeshore York South—Weston
416-251-5510 416-656-2526
Susan Kadis Hon. John McCallum
Thornhill Markham—Unionville
905-886-9911 905-479-8100
Hon. John McKay Hon. Carolyn Bennett Hon. John Godfrey
Scarborough—Guildwood St. Paul’s Don Valley West
416-283-1226 416-952-3990 416-467-7275
AWARDEES
Two civic leaders were
recently recognized for their
outstanding contributions to
the community-at-large.
Rubi Talavera, president
of the Filipino Association
of Richmond Hill, was one
of nine persons Richmond
Hill mayor Dave Barrow
honored at the town’s 46th
Annual Volunteer Achieve-
ment Awards.
Talavera was cited for
helping less fortunate com-
munity members by donat-
ing furniture and appliances
given to her by her clients.
Last year, she got the
Civic Service Award of the
Toronto Real Estate Board.
Meanwhile, Leyteño
Association of Ontario
shop for repairs.
***
My good friend, PPCO
member and Philippine
Courier associate editor
Miguel Caducio sent me a
very informative message.
It states: “Do you want
to know the price of the
gas the next day, check
this site. I’ve been using
this site and save me a few
cents per liter. The prices
of gas is updated based on
the market closed in the
afternoon.”
Wow, am saving mon-
ey in these times of soar-
Bonnie Brown
Oakville Brampton—Springdale
905-827-2077
Hon. Albina Guarnieri
Mississauga East—Cooksville
905-566-0009
Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua
Vaughan
905-303-5000
15
TALAVERA SAAVEDRA
president Jose Saavedra, Jr. Multicultural Council of
was one of nine Outstanding Asians in Ontario.
Asian Canadian Communi- Past community award-
ty awardees in ceremonies ees were Estring Aguinaldo,
at the Verdi Convention president of Fiesta Filipina
Centre on June 1, marking Dance Troupe (2005), Vic-
Asian Heritage Month. toria Santiago, chair of the
Saavedra is past presi- Filipino Centre Toronto
dent of the Ass’n of Filipi- (2006) and Ching Quijas,
no-Canadian Accountants, president of Kalayaan Cul-
Philippine Independence tural Centre (2007). PR/
Day Council and Canadian KAREN BINADAY
ing gas prices! ton. In the meantime, I
So, I checked and … was accessing the infor-
surely, I will save a few mation from my home lo-
cents per liter at a gas sta- cation in Scarborough.
tion at the boundary of Thank you so much,
Mississauga and Bramp- Mike!
FinancialProblem.ca
www.
with credit cards and bank loans
Too many loans & credit cards?
Paying too much interest?
Afraid to pick up your own phone?
Looking for consolidation?
Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
416-780-1020
Ruby Dhalla Mario Silva Yasmin Ratansi
Davenport Don Valley East
905-874-6868 416-654-8048 416-443-0623
Martha Hall Findlay Omar Alghabra Lui Temelkovski
Willowdale Mississauga—Erindale Oak Ridges—Markham
416-223-2858 905-897-1952 905-294-0004
Hon. Bob Rae Derek Lee Hon. Judy Sgro
Toronto Centre Scarborough—Rouge River York West
416-954-2222 416-298-4224 416-744-1882
www.liberal.ca
16 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

Ballesteros bikes for cancer cure

Singer-composer Marc
Ballesteros is set to “ride for
people’s lives,” as he joins
hundreds of cancer cure ad-
vocates in a 200-kilometer
bike ride from Toronto to
Niagara Falls on June 21
and 22.
“I am riding for my
wife, Elsa, who is a four-
time breast cancer survi-
vor,” Ballesteros says.
“Through her many
surgeries and therapies,
my wife remained to be a
real fighter and I’m so very
proud of her,” he adds, hop-
ing “to see the end of this
life -altering disease in our
lifetime.”
Ballesteros says funds
raised from the bike ride
will benefit the Princess
Margaret Hospital, Can-
He says the bike ride
will help fund ongoing
research to find a cancer
cure and also “my way of
thanking the surgeons and
support staff of Princess
Margaret and Mount Sinai
hospitals who cared for my
wife and still continuing to
care for her.”
The hospitals have done
tremendous work with can-
cer research and treatment.
Ballesteros calls atten-
tion to his Riding My Bike
CD, released mid-June.
It is a celebration of life
through songs and music,
directly inspired by the bike
BALLESTEROS ride. It has 15 tracks, with
genres that are upbeat, bal-
ada’s leading institution lad, piano and guitar instru-
devoted to cancer research mentals, pop, gospel, and
and care. folk. PR

16 sign up for PCUAA Summerfest

GAMES, FOOD, FUN AND CAMARADERIE (see file photos of Summerfest

2007 courtesy of Mila Magno above) await hundreds of members of at least
16 alumni groups of Philippine colleges and universities when they meet
in the 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Philippine Colleges and Universities Alumni Asso-
ciation (PCUAA) Summerfest 2008 at the Mississauga Valley Community
Centre Park on July 19. Rose Tijam of the PCUAA coordinating committee,
in a report submitted to the Manila Media Monitor, said this year’s Sum-
merfest participants included graduates of Adamson, Ateneo, Central Phil-
ippine, Centro Escolar, Far Eastern, De La Salle, Mapua, San Beda and St.
Scholastica universities; Polytechnic University of the Philippines; universi-
ties of the East, the Philippines, Sto. Tomas and San Carlos; Asian Institute
of Management and College of the Holy Spirit. Tijam said alumni of other
schools were welcome to participate. “Many participants wear their school
t-shirts and colors to emphasize their alma maters. Spirited cheering songs
are sung on top of raucous voices, and the daylong socials feature talents
in singing, dancing and a friendly but frenetic sports competition where the
champion alumni proudly claim the roving Championship Trophy for the
year. Summerfest 2007 champions are the Ateneo Alumni Association, who
face stiff competition from other groups who aim to wrestle the trophy from
them this year,” Tijam wrote. The PCUAA Summerfest, on its seventh year,
could be the only event in Canada or North America where more than a
dozen alumni associations of the Filipino community, or of the mainstream
community, congregate on one occasion. PR
 Mabuhay ang Pilipino!
RP college grads ...
(From page 11)
ber-countries were favored
destinations of Filipinos,
who Philippine government
officials called permanent
settlers or immigrants, per-
taining to those who would
live overseas for good.
Some OECD countries
were destinations for tem-
porary contract workers,
such as Japan (overseas
performing artists), Italy
(domestic workers), Unit-
ed Kingdom (nurses), and
Canada (caregivers).
Bangko Sentral ng Pili-
pinas data from 2000 to
2007 showed that remit-
tances coming from OECD
members United States, Ja-
pan, Canada, Australia, Ita-
ly, Germany, and the United
Kingdom totaled some
US$48.542 billion.
This was 66.5 percent
of the worldwide seven-
year remittance total of
US$72.996 billion, with
some US$14.449 billion
coming in last year.
The OECD report also
said Filipino nurses and
doctors in OECD-member
countries were among the
highest in number.
But the Philippines’
health emigration rate to
OECD member-countries
was lower than African and
Carribean countries.
These countries stood
out “as being dispropor-
tionately affected by the
emigration of health profes-
sionals,” the OECD wrote.
The share of people
with tertiary education was
higher for the foreign-born
(23.6 percent) than the na-
tive-born population (19.1
percent).
The emigration rate of
tertiary immigrant women
to these OECD-member
countries was also higher
than that of men with a
similar level of education.
www.ofwjournalism.net
Manila Media Monitor
JUNE 2008
Birth anniversary celebrant Ed Santos (in black at center) joins wife Norjan, members of his family and
in-laws and close friends, among them Chuchi Punsalan, in a bash on May 17. PR
Laquian ...
(From page 5)
Planning from 1991-2000.
Before joining UBC, he
worked with the United Na-
tions Population Fund, with
postings in the South Pacif-
ic, China and New York.
From 1971 to 1979, he
headed the urban develop-
ment program of the In-
ternational Development
Research Centre with post-
ings in Ottawa and Nairobi.
TONY SICAT
PEOPLE & EVENTS 17
Ed Santos’s birthday bash
RP ... MABUHAY ANG PILIPINO!
(From page 5)
taken against royal blue, no
longer white, background.
With the MRP, the pro- www.FinancialProblem.ca
cessing of travelers at ports with credit cards and bank loans
of entry and exit is faster as Too many loans & credit cards?
passport data are read and Paying too much interest?
stored automatically in im- Afraid to pick up your own phone?
migration databases. Looking for consolidation?
Hard to fake or tamper
Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
with, the MRP is expected
to likewise reduce the pro- CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
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and border officials. PR
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18 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

Jayson Riley Estoesta’s first 6M Dept. retirement party

A clown and lots of exciting kiddie games mark Jayson Riley C. Estoesta’s
first birthday party At the Ellesmere Community Centre in Scarborough on
June 7. Jayson Riley rests in the arms of Grandad Leopoldo Cuevas, as he
takes time out for a pose with (from left) Ronnie, Helen, Dad Rjay and Mom
Leslie, all surnamed Estoesta; and Mercy Cuevas. TENNY SORIANO, with
photo by DIANE APOLINAR
Fellow staff nurses at the 6M Department, St. Joseph Health Center give
retirees Cora Saavedra and Noreen James (standing, 2nd and 5th from left,
respectively) a retirement party at the Strate’s Banquet Hall. Joining the hon-
orees were Katie Jedlinski, Rebecca Felizarte, Maria Zebreszuki, Rose Cruz,
Lynn Leuschen, Gilda Aruiza, and Mae Refillo. ROMY ZETAZATE

B’day folk
www. FinancialProblem.ca
with credit cards and bank loans
The Pillars’ under pres- Too many loans & credit cards?
ident Frank Maralag Paying too much interest?
honored (from left) Let- Afraid to pick up your own phone?
tie Guiyab, Romeo So- Looking for consolidation?
lis, Luisa Sansait, Fr-
esca Hebron and Nena Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
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The risk-takers
(From page 9)
compliments extended by his
former colleagues at last week’s
celebration of the life of Charles
Caccia, a forestry economist who
became MP for the Toronto riding
of Davenport, and who died on
May 4th last.
“Charles Caccia was one of
Canada’s most stalwart propo-
nents of Sustainable Development.
Though environment minister for
only a year and a month at the end
of the Trudeau government and
through the John Turner govern-
ment in 1983 and 1984, Charles
used his 36 years of service as an
MP to hammer away at everyone
who would listen, and at many of
those who wouldn’t, on the need
for a more environmentally and
socially responsible society. He
was for more than 10 years (1994
- 2004) the Chair of the House of
Commons Standing Committee
on Environment and Sustainable
Development and he set up and
ran from his office the Parliamen-
tary Centre for Environmentally
Sustainable Development.
“The celebration of his life
attracted former Prime Minister
Chrétien, Leader of the Liberal
Party Stephane Dion and more
past and present Liberal MPs
and Senators that have gathered
together at anything other than a
Liberal caucus meeting in a long
time. Reflecting his outreach
and effective consensus-building
style, the event was attended by
representatives of many of Cana-
da’s environmental NGOs, as well
as by his friends and colleagues
United Architects of the Philippines sets events
from the Institute of the Environ-
ment at the University of Ottawa
which had become his home fol-
lowing his somewhat forced re-
tirement by Prime Minister Paul
Martin, from the House of Com-
mons in 2004.
“Elizabeth May, leader of the
Green Party of Canada., deliv-
ered one of the many tributes to
this outstanding man. Among the
approximately 300 people who
crammed into the small chapel
of an Ottawa funeral home for
the entirely secular celebration
the only apparent absence was
from the government side of the
House of Commons, but then per-
haps Charles, a dedicated Liberal,
would not have wanted participa-
tion from a government for which
he had little time.” (Reprinted,
with thanks, from the Gallon
Newsletter)
***
The following is excerpted
from Barack Obama’s speech to
supporters after his victory in the
Oregon primary.
“Change is a tax code
that rewards work instead of
wealth……..
“Change is a health-care plan
that guarantees insurance to every
American who wants it.
“Change is an energy policy
that doesn’t rely on buddying-up
to the Saudi royal family and then
begging for it …;
“Change is giving every child
a world-class education by recruit-
ing an army of new teachers with
better pay and more support …;
“Change is ending a war that
we should never have started.
Change is finishing a war against
El Qaeda in Afghanistan that we
never should have ignored;
The choice in this election is
more of the same versus change.
It’s the past versus the fututre. It
has been asked and answered by
Ontario pushes EDL ...
(From page 5)
cards to single individuals.
Starting June 1, 2009, the
U.S. government would require
all visitors to prove citizenship at
the border.
At least 92,000 cars and 22,300
trucks carrying some $650 million
generations before us. And now it
is our turn to choose.”
(Used with permission. Ben
Viccari is the President of the
Canadian Ethnic Media As-
sociation [CEMA] and makes
frequent appearances on OMNI
TV Commentary. Some of his
commentaries are republished in
this publication and slightly ex-
panded in some cases from their
70-second broadcast originals.
For more of his work, please visit
Ben’s website at http://canscene.
ripple.ca)
The United Architects of the
Philippines – Ontario Chap-
ter executive officers and
members of the board of di-
rectors met at the UAP office
on May 20 to plan out the or-
ganization’s summer and fall
activities. In the meeting are
(standing, from left) Jun Mi-
randa, Elmer Canlas, Bia and
Noel Tumamao, Ganie and
Carol Baltazar, (sitting, from
left) Carlos Lacuna, Rommel
Tumamao, Ana Marie Aclo,
Remus Ancheta, Severino
Perez, Flordeliza Laperal and
Ritchie Basco. PR
in goods were noted crossing the
Ontario-US borders daily.
Photo card
Also proposed was the issu-
ance of a photo card for people
who do not drive.
The proposal came amid calls
from the youth, disabled and se-
nior sectors. Canadian citizens
having the card could also opt to
enhance the card for use as a pass-
port alternative.
Nearly four million people in
Ontario did not have a driver’s li-
cence and did not have access to a
basic identification document.
“Our government is making it
easier for people to travel to and
from the US by giving drivers the
option of using an EDL as a pass-
port alternative at land and sea
border crossings” said Transporta-
tion Minister Jim Bradley. CNW
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor 19
20 Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor 21
22 Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

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JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor
New home parish for Fil Catholics to open
Rev. Ben Prieto Ebcas,
Jr. is inviting Filipino Cath-
olics to support and help
the Our Lady of Assump-
tion parish, recently named
the new home parish for the
Filipino Catholic Mission in
the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Appointed by Arch-
bishop Thomas Christopher
Collins, Ebcas would serve
as Mission Director/Chap-
lain for the Filipino Catho-
lic Mission and parish pas-
tor beginning Aug. 20.
On Aug. 31 and every
Sunday thereafter, Mass in
Filipino (Tagalog) would be
celebrated at the Assump-
EBCAS
tion Church at 5:00 p.m.
In the past, the Filipino
Mission or Chaplaincy was
based at the Blessed John
XXIII Church.
Home parishes
Ebcas said several
parishes have been home
PEOPLE & EVENTS 23
,
churches for ethnic groups.
These are tasked to open
venues for uniquely ethnic
but edifying liturgical cele-
brations. Family ministries,
youth activities and renewal
programs have enriched ec-
clesial gatherings multicul-
tural groups bring to parish
life, Ebcas said.
He thanked Rev. Mark
Villanueva for the latter’s
untiring support for the Fili-
pino Mission.
Villanueva was appoint-
ed founding pastor for the
newly-established parish
of St. Josephine Bakhita in
Mississauga. PR

SD Adventist Church marks Linggo ng Wika

The Filipino-Cana-
dian Seventh Day Adven-
tist (SDA) Church marked
Linggo ng Wika (Filipino
Language Week) from June
8 to 14 with activities of
praise and joy, enriched
with the use of the Philip-
pines’ major tongues.
Sherwin Dumaguin,
Filipino Ministry Head,
said “this year, as we cele-
brate the 110th anniversary
of Philippine Independence
Day, we came up with the
initiative to use (some of)
our very own dialects to
reach out to the Filipino
communities in the Greater
Toronto Area.”
Dumaguin said the
Filipino Week celebra-
tion is dubbed Linggo ng
Wika: Papuri sa Panginoon
(Praise to the Lord).
Activities included daily
church services - from June
8 to 12 at 7 p.m. - in the Ta-
galog, Ilocano, Pangasinan,
Cebuano and Ilonggo dia-
lects, he said.
On June 13, the church
staged Mga Awit ng Papuri
(Songs of Praise), a full
concert featuring Seventh
Day Adventist community
talents.
Highlighting the week-
long celebration was the
full day of worship on June
14, capped by an evening of
fun, a feast, games, sharing
and entertainment. NOEL
PERADA

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24 Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 25

Gamma Epsilon fundraiser

(ABOVE) Members of the Canada chapter of Gamma Epsilon Fraternity and
Gamma Lambda Epsilon Sorority - (from left) Ruel Cadavos (MSU), Calvin
Faminial (Feati U), Cesar Acyatan (UPLB), Vic Distrito (UE), Malou Distrito
(UE), Nap Albarillo (UE), Amor Gaborno (founder-UST) and Sonny Montojo
(UE) - join hands to raise funds for fraternity/sorority sponsored dental-med-
ical missions in depressed areas in the Philippines. Members Amor Tupe
(UE), Alma Faller (XU), Vince Angco (UE), Vanessa Adona, Carrie Ambida
and Fr. Raul Escarpe sent in their support to the Casino Rama fundraising
trip on June 14. (BELOW) The group with their families, friends and support-
ers pose before embarking on the fundraising trip. PR
26 TRAVEL & TOURISM Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

JUNE IN SORSOGON Chocolate Banana Loaf with Pili Crumble

Going nuts over pili The pili nut is native to the provinces of Albay, Sor-
sogon and Camarines Sur. Both foreign and local tour-
ists are captivated by the flavorful pili tarts and candied
pili nuts. In baking, pili is commonly used as a great
alternative to almonds.

Ingredients: Procedure:
Cake Base
A street dance presentation, which highlights Sorosogon City’s Pili Festival, 240g All-Purpose Flour Cake
shows the three growth stages of the pili nut - from green (young fruit) to 4g Baking Soda 1. In a mixing bowl, combine All-Purpose Flour,
violet (half-mature) to black (mature). Photo: Biyahilo.com 1g Salt baking soda and salt.
115g Butter 2. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar.
Sorsogon City’s premier its roots, trunk, branches, in quality than almonds or 120g Brown Sugar 3. Stir in eggs, bananas and chocolate chips just
annual tourism come-on, leaves, sap and fruit. macadamia nuts. 120g Eggs, beaten till blended.
the Pili Festival, coincides The city’s costumed The pulp coating the 560g Bananas, mashed 4. Divide batter amongst 2 greased and lined 8”
with the city’s traditional youth perform street dances hard shell that, in turn, en- 100g Chocolate Chips x 4” loaf pans.
patronal fiesta in honor of in the festival, demonstrat- cases the Pili nut, can also Pili Crumble and Assembly
its patron Saints Peter and ing in rhythmic and grace- be eaten, as is, by either dip- Pili Crumble 1. In a mixing bowl, combine cornflakes, brown
Paul on the last weekend of ful steps the many uses of ping it in patis, the native 100g Cornflakes, coarsely crushed sugar, candied pili, butter, salt, All-Purpose
June. the pili tree. fish sauce, or in sugar, after 40g Brown Sugar Flour and cinnamon till crumbly.
The festival highlights The pili tree is par- softening it in warm water. 120g Candied Pili, chopped 2. Finish top by sprinkling crumble among the
Sorsogon’s indigenous pili ticularly well-known for It is also served as dips 115g Butter prepared pans.
tree, known as “The Majes- its nuts, which are much for meat or fish, or even as Pinch Salt 3. Bake at 350°F till toothpick inserted in center
tic Tree” because of its many sought after by confection- dressing or icing for pas- 100g All-Purpose Flour comes out clean, for 40 minutes to an hour.
industrial, commercial, eries in different parts of the tries or fruit preparations 2g Cinnamon (Posted by Jan Manglo at universalrobina.com)
and nutritional uses – from world. It is reputedly better and other desserts.

Island hopping, a popular treat in Puerto Princesa

PUERTO PRINCESA
CITY - Honda Bay, which
is littered with islands, is-
lets, atolls and corral reefs
can very well be one of
this locality’s prime leisure
destinations, due to a wide
variety of attractions that it
offers.
For domestic and for-
eign tourists, the shallow
reefs that adorn the beaches
of its several islets have
become popular as swim-
ming, snorkeling and div-
ing spots.
Honda Bay provides
beach lovers with unspoiled
and uncrowded havens so
rarely found anywhere else
in the country.
Sited in what appears to
be a highway or, close to the
path of migratory birds who
move as a flock between
between the Asian mainland
and the Philippines each
time the season changes,
the bay presents an amaz-
ing sight of hundreds of
birds flying in formation, a
real added treat because this
does not come so often.
Very recently, a group of
Filipino news managers sa-
vored and recorded on video
the very rare opportunity of
witnessing first hand, snipes
(some kind of a white, long-
legged migratory bird),
By ALEX VILLANUEVA, JR.
numbering to a thousand or
so, flying across the bow of
their rented boat and head-
ing towards the west.
There are dozens of
white sand natural and man-
made resorts beckoning
from the clear blue waters.
Travelers may as well
go diving, snorkeling, or
swimming in the beautiful
still waters of the bay, or
just sit on the sand and get
a sun tan.
Recognized as the best
tourist islands of Honda
Bay are Cowrie and Bat, the
latter named because of the
large fruit bats coming out
of their caves at sundown
for their evening feed.
Another is the curved
Snake island, which white
sand beach boasts of large
and lovely shells.
Other interesting sites
and sights are the islands
of Canon, Pandan, Star-
fish, Lu-Ii (derived from
the word lulubog-lilitaw,
meaning floating and sink-
ing island, visible only dur-
ing low tide), Señorita (the
breeding site of lapu-lapu
fish) and Meara Marina.
Starfish Island is noted
for its crystal clear waters
and coral reefs that teem
with starfish.
The 20-hectare Arreceffi
Island has the ideal setting
in which to celebrate a great
island experience.
Each island offers dif-
ferent attractions, and there
are plenty to choose from.
Dive sites abound in
Honda Bay, as the entire
area is studded with patches
of coral and sand.
Submerged reefs may be
found close to the surface
down to 24 meters. Small
reef and aquarium fish can
also be found here.
Among the more popu-
lar dive sites are Pandan Is-
land, which has good reefs
near small drop-offs; Ar-
receffi Island and Panglima
Reef, where coral boulders
and gray reef sharks are
found.
But to keep the Bay’s
naturally pristine ambi-
ance, all visitors are tasked
to bring back and dispose of
the garbage that they may-
generate during their trip.
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JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor
GMA on state visit to
Washington DC, NYC
MANILA - President
Gloria Arroyo will be in
Washington DC and New
York City on June 23 to 29
to meet with US officials
and members of Congress,
Filipino World War II vet-
erans, leaders and members
of the Filipino-American
community, businessmen
and environmental groups.
In Washington, Presi-
dent George Bush will meet
Arroyo at the White House
to discuss ways to further
strengthen American-Phil-
ippine long standing and
historic bilateral relations.
Arroyo hopes to talk
with Bush on issues, includ-
ing food security, protec-
tion of the environment, the
Philippine Defense Reform
program, counter-terror-
ism, ASEAN’s community
building, human rights and
global trade.
Arroyo will also thank
Bush for support given to
Filipino World War II vet-
erans through the US Veter-
ans Office in Manila and the
Veterans Memorial Medical
Center in Quezon City.
She will also seek for a
On July 1, let us join the whole nation in celebrating Canada Day.
meaningful resolution to re-
maining issues on veterans.
She wants to person-
ally thank the US Senate for
voting 96-1 in favor of the
Veterans Benefits Bill.
In Washington, Arroyo
will also meet with the
Philippines-US Friendship
Caucus, a group composed
of Members of the House of
Representatives particularly
interested in strengthening
relations between the Phil-
ippines and the US.
The President will also
meet with other US Cabinet
officials and conduct con-
sultations with the Millen-
nium Challenge Corpora-
tion (MCC).
Last March, the MCC
granted the Philippines
Compact-Eligible status,
opening doors to large grants
for sustainable growth.
The Philippines was se-
lected after passing objec-
tive indicators in the areas
of governing justly, invest-
ing in citizens, and encour-
aging economic freedom.
Arroyo will also ad-
vance her environmental
agenda in Washington, in-
The PHILIPPINES 27
cluding a special meeting
of stakeholders in the Coral
Triangle Initiative (CTI).
The meeting will bring
private and business sec-
tors into the initiative that
focuses on protecting coral
reefs from man-made and
natural disturbances; devel-
oping sustainable fisheries;
and ensuring food security
for the region’s inhabitants. US President George W. Bush (right) hosts a State Arrival Ceremony for
The ASEAN-US Busi- President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines on the South Lawn on May 19,
ness Council and the United 2003. White House file photo: LYNDEN STEELE
States Chamber of Com-
merce will jointly host a
dinner for Arroyo.
RP, Vatican ratify church preservation pact
In New York, the Presi- MANILA - The Philip- and preserve the “value of “What constitutes the
dent will meet with a num- pines and the Vatican rati- symbols of spirituality.” cultural patrimony of this
ber of business and invest- fied on May 29 an agree- He said heritage church- nation takes its origin from
ment groups. ment that would preserve es, its properties and arti- the Church and was contrib-
Arroyo will host a re- old Catholic churches in the facts, were more than just uted by her agents.”
ception for the Permanent country. worldly possessions. “They The treaty would also
Representatives of the Unit- Pope Benedict XVI and are concrete expressions regulate Church properties
ed Nations, to push the can- President Gloria Macapa- and enduring representa- through inventory, restora-
didacy of Senator Miriam gal-Arroyo signed the pact. tions of profound faith.” tion, anti-trafficking, cus-
Defensor Santiago to the In a simple ceremony, There are over 30 colo- tody and security, archiving
International Court of Jus- Foreign Affairs Secretary nial churches in the country, and promotion of tourism in
tice. OPS Alberto Romulo and Papal 32 of which were declared the heritage sites.
Nuncio Edward Joseph Ad- as national treasure. The Catholic Bishops
ams exchanged instruments Adams assured Vatican Conference of the Phil-
of ratification. commitment for the proper ippines and the National
Romulo said the Philip- care of old churches the Commission on Culture and
pines was one with Vatican generated in the Philippines the Arts would implement
HAPPY CANADA DAY
,
goals to maintain, protect for the past 400 years. the pact. PNA
28 The PHILIPPINES Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

NEWS ROUNDUP
UEP’s VetMed college in world-class list
NORTHERN SAMAR - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has
listed the University of Eastern Philippines-College of Veterinary Medicine (UEP-CVM)
as one of the top-caliber veterinary schools in the world. UEP official Dadang Colinares-
Amit said the college has also been profiled by the World Health Organization in its world
veterinary directory and in the Pan-American Health Organization publication Diagnosis
of Animal Health in the Americas. The listing has qualified UEP graduates for entrance in
the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates certification program and
can take the board examination in a listed country abroad. PNA

Bangus cleaned in MisOr fisheries fest

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY
- The bangus (milkfish)
cleaning contest drew
a big crowd during the
recent Fisheries Day
competitions at the Sa-
loTabo 2008 conducted
at the Misamis Oriental
Provincial Capitol in
this city. The cleaned
bangus were adjudged
according to the num-
ber of scales left, firm-
ness and general ap-
pearance of the fish.
The winner went home
richer by P300. PNA

Cebu cops take English proficiency course

CEBU CITY - Investigators from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) special units and
11 stations will undergo a 16-week course on writing effective English sentences at the
Cebu Normal University from June 17 to Oct. 7. CCPO director Senior Superintendent
Patrocinio Comendador says the city-funded initiative includes translating Cebuano-Vi-
sayan narratives to English, writing reports, studying technical and legal vocabulary, mock
interviews with client-victims with investigative reports preparation and group oral pre-
sentations. PNA

Ate, Kuya tutors help Sarangani graders

SARANGANI - Young volunteers in Sarangani Province ended on May 30 the 2008 sum-
mer Reading is Fun program that helped incoming Grade Three pupils enhance their read-
ing skills. Some 600 high schoolers, amiably called Ate and Kuya, volunteered for the pro-
gram and spent three hours daily for 20 days reading with children. Some 2,750 children
benefited from the program. PNA

Guinness rower drifts, visits GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY - American Erden Eruc, 46, a Guinness record holder in
ocean rowing, arrived here on June 2, but not part of another attempt to circumnavigate
the globe by means of human power. Eruc asked to be brought to this city, after fishermen
found him drifting in the high seas. He started his journey on July 10, 2007 from Bodega
Bay in California, USA, by rowing through the Pacific. But after 312 days, the strong
ocean current forced him to stop rowing and he let his boat to just drift. PNA

Zambo youth to get Malaysian scholarships

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Sabah-based Carlton International Academy (CIA) has of-
fered Zamboanga students at least 100 scholarships leading to executive diploma courses
in hotel management, hotel administration, and restaurant management. Dr. Sri Kumar
A/L Sivakurmaran, CIA academic director, and Dr. Roselina Saufi of the University of
Malaysia, to process applications for the scholarship grants. PNA
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor 29

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CANADIAN HISTORY
HISTORY Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

Laura Secord, heroine of the War of 1812 Laura Ingersoll, hero-

LAURA SECORD statue at the Valiants Memorial
in Ottawa. Photo: digging.holes, Wikipedia
ine of the War of 1812, was
born in Great Barrington,
Massachusetts on Sept. 13,
1775.
The Ingersoll fam-
ily moved to Upper Canada
(now Ontario) from Massa-
chusetts in 1795.
Laura’s father, Thomas,
who sided with the Patriots
during the American revolu-
tion, came to Canada hoping
to regain his lost family for-
tune. The Ingersolls settled
in the Niagara Peninsula
and opened a tavern.
It was in Niagara that
Laura met James Secord,
a United Empire Loyal-
ist; and in 1797, Laura and
James were married. In the PAINTING depicts how LAURA SECORD warns British Lieutenant James
early 1800’s, the Secords Fitzgibbon of an impending American attack at Beaver Dams. Public Domain
moved to Queenston from Photo: Wikipedia
nearby St. David’s.
Heroic journey cans could control the entire through St. David’s, Homer, A woman walking alone
It was from their Queen- Niagara Peninsula. and St. Catharines to Short toward enemy lines risked
ston homestead that Laura Upon hearing the plan, Hills at the Niagara Escarp- being arrested or even shot.
Secord began the journey the Secords knew that ment, took her more than 18 Overcoming exceed-
that has earned her a place Fitzgibbon must be warned. hours to complete. ingly hot temperatures and
in Canadian history. Injured at the Battle of Fearing discovery by wild unsettled land, Lau-
The Secords had been Queenston Heights on Oct. American patrols, Laura ra trekked through thick
ordered to billet American 13, 1812, James could not daringly made her way to woods and across unbridged
soldiers in their home. attempt the journey. DeCew house on the out- streams tattering her slip-
On the evening of June Despite the danger and skirts of Thorold. pers and leaving her feet
21, 1813, Laura and James harsh unsettled country, The risks were many. blistered and bleeding.
overheard an American plan Laura decided she would go Wolves, wildcats and rat- Legendary
to attack British forces un- to warn Fitzgibbon. tlesnakes were common in The story of Laura Se-
der Lt. James Fitzgibbon at Her journey, a 32-kilo- the peninsula at that time, cord’s journey has become
Beaverdams. With that po- meter (20-mile) treacher- as were unfriendly Native something of a legend in
sition captured, the Ameri- ous route from Queenston forces. (To page 34)
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor PHILIPPINE HISTORY 31
June 19, 1861: Birth of nat’l hero Jose Rizal He finished the latter but had to stop in his studies the degree of Licentiate
(Excerpt from Rizal’s By TEOFILO H. MONTEMAYOR
(From his Jose Rizal: A Biographical Sketch) course on March 21, 1877 when he felt that the Fili- in Medicine and on June
poem Los Viajes, pub- and passed the Surveyor’s pino students were being 19,1885, at the age of 24, he
lished in the Barcelona- JOSE RIZAL, the na- which revolves on the love examination on May 21, discriminated upon by their finished his course in Phi-
based Spanish newspa- tional hero of the Philip- of one’s language. 1878; but because of his age, Dominican tutors. losophy and Letters with a
per La Solidaridad, c. pines and pride of the Ma- In 1877, at the age of 16, 17, he was On May grade of “excellent.”
1888) layan race, was born on he obtained his Bachelor of not granted 3, 1882, he Learned in languages
“He who knows June 19, 1861, in the town Arts degree with an aver- license to sailed for Having traveled exten-
the surface of the earth of Calamba, Laguna. age of “excellent” from the practice the Spain where sively in Europe, America
and the topography of a He was the seventh child Ateneo Municipal de Ma- profession he continued and Asia, he mastered 22
country only through the in a family of 11 children (2 nila. until De- his studies at languages.
examination of maps .. is boys and 9 girls). In the same year, he cember 30, the Universi- These included Arabic,
like a man who learns the Both his parents were enrolled in Philosophy and 1881. dad Central Catalan, Chinese, English,
opera of Meyerbeer or educated and belonged to Letters at the University In 1878, de Madrid. French, German, Greek,
Rossini by reading only distinguished families. of Santo Tomas, while at he enrolled On June Hebrew, Italian, Japanese,
reviews in the newspa- His father, Francisco the same time took courses in medicine 21, 1884, at Latin, Malayan, Portuguese,
pers. The brush of land- Mercado Rizal, an indus- leading to the degree of sur- at the Uni- the age of Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish,
scape artists Lorrain, trious farmer whom Rizal veyor and expert assessor at versity of 23, he was Tagalog, and other native
Ruysdael, or Calame can called “a model of fathers,” the Ateneo. Santo Tomas JOSE RIZAL conferred (To page 34)
reproduce on canvas the came from Biñan, Laguna;
sun’s ray, the coolness of while his mother, Teodora
the heavens, the green of Alonzo y Quintos, a highly
the fields, the majesty cultured and accomplished
of the mountains ... but woman whom Rizal called
what can never be stolen “loving and prudent moth-
from Nature is that vivid er,” was born in Meisic, Sta.
impression that she alone Cruz, Manila.
can and knows how to Academic excellence
impart - the music of the At the age of 3, he
birds, the movement of learned the alphabet from
the trees, the aroma pe- his mother; at 5, while
culiar to the place - the learning to read and write,
inexplicable something he already showed inclina-
the traveller feels that tions to be an artist.
cannot be defined and He astounded his family
which seems to awaken and relatives by his pencil
in him distant memories drawings and sketches and
of happy days, sorrows by his moldings of clay.
and joys gone by, never At the age 8, he wrote JOSE RIZAL (lone man in black at far left) was executed in Bagumbayan (now Luneta) on Dec. 30, 1896.
to return.” a Tagalog poem, Sa Aking Rizal scholars attributed his martyred death as the catalyst that precipitated the Philippine Revolution
Mga Kabata, the theme of against 333 years of Spanish rule. Philippine Public Domain Photo
32 The PHILIPPINES
POEA bares 3 job scam websites
DAVAO CITY - Two of
three employment websites
the Philippine Overseas and
Employment Administra-
tion (POEA) here has listed
as engaged in scams are re-
cruiting for spurious jobs in
Canada.
The POEA, a Philip-
pines News Agency report
said, named the online job
Palawan folk
gird for longest
grid record
PUERTO PRINC-
ESA CITY - The people
of Palawan are ready to
get their Longert Seafood
Grill, slated on June 23,
into the Guinness Book
of World Records.
A tourism come-on,
the grill would span 2.5
kilometers along Rizal
Ave. to the airport in
Bancao-Bancao.
To be grilled are a
variety of reef and deep-
sea fish such as the blue
marlin, grouper, eel, sea
bass, snapper, surgeon
fish, pomfret, mackerel,
yellow fin and big-eyed
tuna, swordfish, squid,
cuttlefish and octopus.
A Guinness-commis-
sioned agency would
validate the measure-
ment. PNA
dupers as Western Nurs-
ing and Day Care Services
Ltd. (wns.ltd.tripod.com/in-
dex.html), and First Global
Manpower (firstglobal.
manpowerrecruitment@ya-
hoo.fr).
POEA said Western
Nursing offered care giv-
ing jobs in Canada, asked
applicants to pay a visa fee
and medical insurance and
used free e-mail and web-
site hosting services.
On the other hand, First
Global Manpower offered
jobs as fish packers, garden
workers and office cleaners
in Ecuador, USA, Canada
and Turkey, with office ad-
dress in the Ivory Coast and
used e-mail in recruiting.
It also charged service
fees for visa processing.
A third online job scam-
mer the POEA identified
was Reserve Petroleum
Nederland BV (www.re-
servepetroleu-ol.com).
POEA said Reserve Pe-
Make good business.
ADVERTISE!
Call 416-285-8583
Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
troleum copied the website
of a legitimate maritime
contracting company, and
posted fake offers for jobs
in dredging and marine
projects in Europe
It also asked applicants
to pay fees for visa or work/
residence permit, and fees
to cover documentation,
targetting Filipino workers
in the Middle East.
POEA said the warning
against website job scam-
mers came in the heels of
numerous complaints from
duped Filipino workers.
The POEA also warned
Filipino workers against ac-
cepting offers from a certain
Garcia Jose who had been
illegally recruiting Filipino
workers for Spain through
e-mail.
Garcia has been prom-
ising jobs upon arrival in
Spain, but job orders were
found to be non-existent
and workers are given tour-
ist visas.
Tony Furto, official hairdresser and make-up artist for Las Vegas’ new-
est diva, Lani Misalucha, applies the final touches before the “Lani Mis-
alucha with the Society of Seven” concert at the Sony Centre, May 24,
2008.
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor
RP to press Canada for more
Manila-Vancouver flights
12% EVAT on
oil products
stays, says
Palace
MANILA - Lifting
the expanded value added
tax (EVAT) on petroleum
products would reverse fis-
cal and economic gains the
Philippines has achieved.
Press Secretary Igna-
cio Bunye said the EVAT
“helped increase the confi-
dence of the international
financial community” in the
Philippines.
Bunye cited the coun-
try’s improved credit rat-
ings, strong peso and the
debt service that was signif-
icantly reduced as a result
of the implementation of
the 12-percent EVAT.
Groups sought the
scrapping of EVAT on oil
products to cushion the im-
pact of spiraling oil prices
in the world market. OPS
Filipinos seek jobs after
retirement, says study
By LESLIE D. VENZON
MANILA - Filipinos
are least prepared for re-
tirement and have to go on
working even during retire-
ment years to meet their liv-
ing needs, said a study of
independent global market
research group AXA Retire-
ment Scope.
The study, conducted
in Philippine key cities last
year ; was launched in 2004
and has since been conduct-
ed in 26 countries with more
than 15,000 respondents.
Most of the Filipino
respondents said the gov-
ernment or their employer
should be the primary
source of their income dur-
ing retirement.
Only 41 percent of those
still working have planned
for retirement, one of the
lowest in the world.
This, despite notions
that an average Filipino has
planned for retirement as
early as 28 years old, which
was relatively young com-
pared to age 33 elsewhere
Make good business.
ADVERTISE!
Call 416-285-8583
MANILA - The Philip-
pines is poised to seek more
Manila to Vancouver flights
when Philippine and Cana-
dian panels resume air ser-
vice agreement (ASA) talks
before the year ends.
The stance came after
Canada allowed the Philip-
pines only two more fre-
quencies for commercial
passenger flights to the
North American country, in
ASA talks in Vancouver in
mid-May.
Philippine Foreign Af-
fairs official Franklin Ebda-
lin said what the Canadian
government gave fell “short
of what the Philippines was
asking for” - up to 14 air
passenger flights or more
per week to Canada.
Ebdalin cited the grow-
ing demand for more seats
due to the rise in the number
of Filipinos going to Cana-
da for immigration, jobs
and visits.
Clark International Air-
port Corp. President Victor
Jose Luciano said the result
of May’s air talks was the
in the world.
Andrew Alcid, presi-
dent and chief executive
officer of AXA Philippines,
said Filipinos “think about
retirement early in life but
do not necessarily have the
drive or the means to pre-
pare for it.”
“Hence, Filipinos end
up working late in life as
a means to fend for them-
selves,” Alcid said.
Singapore model
Edna Franco, psychol-
ogy professor of Ateneo de
Manila University, shared
alcid’s views, saying that
Filipinos “are short-term
oriented” even with their
desire of good retirement.
Franco said Filipinos
believed retirement years
could be the opportunity for
them to do something pro-
ductive, and not necessarily
become inactive.
Franco suggested the
need to set up the Singa-
porean model of a Central
Provident Fund (CPF) in
MONEY 33 GOT A FOREX DEAL?
Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the
dollars you have had exchanged since April 16,
courtesy of Manila Media (Money) Monitor.
US$ Cdn$
June 13 44.47270 43.25865
June 12 44.31222 43.31295
June 11 44.41063 43.66612
first phase of agreements ment of Transportation and June 10 44.38209 43.32720
between the two countries
and their panels would meet
Communications believed
that this was disadvanta-
June 9 44.09460 43.14363
June 6 44.48260 43.66352
again within six months to geous to local carriers.
June 5 43.97720 43.15510
address pending issues. A disappointed Jaime
June 4 43.97670 43.36747
Luciano said the air Bautista, Philippine Air-
June 3 43.75910 43.53927
talks also yielded seven lines (PAL) president, said
more cargo flights for the “the Canadian government June 2
May 30
43.57459
43.64527
43.52915
43.89768
Philippines. is selective. They give more
He said the Philippines seat entitlements to coun- May 29 43.95553 44.52284
wanted more flights between tries where their flag carrier May 28 43.66197 44.05556
Manila and Vancouver with is flying and little or no en- May 27 43.54490 43.84078
fifth freedom rights, or the titlements at all if their flag May 23 43.34853 43.87317
right to go to other points of carrier is not going there.” May 22 43.52015 44.13141
North America after land- Bautista said it was May 21 43.19662 43.87920
ing in Canada. ironic that “we can not fly May 20 43.11978 43.42160
The ASA the Philippines to the United States from May 19 42.69263 43.05676
and Canada signed in Janu- Canada. What they gave us May 16 42.69088 42.82522
ary 1997 allowed only five is Manila to Canada only.”
flights a week, from Manila But he said PAL would
to Vancouver. Only Philip- “do whatever we can” and
pine Airlines has been using
the frequencies.
wait for future air talks.
PAL wanted to add di- www. FinancialProblem.ca
Canada also wanted a rect flights to Canada and to with credit cards and bank loans
third-country code shar- US destinations with a stop- Too many loans & credit cards?
ing deal which would let over in Vancouver, Bautista Paying too much interest?
it tie up with carriers from said. Afraid to pick up your own phone?
other countries to bring pas- PAL had been flying to Looking for consolidation?
sengers from Vancouver to Las Vegas via Vancouver.
Manila. It planned to fly to San Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
The Civil Aeronautics Diego, Chicago, New York, CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Board’s policy disallowed a
third party; and the Depart-
Seattle and Saipan. With
PNA and wire reports 416-780-1020
the Philippines.
Under the CPF, Singa-
pore has required its people
to save for their retirement
with the government match-
es the savings.
The system has contrib-
uted largely to Singapore’s
savings rate, the highest in
the world.
“That (fund) might help
a lot (encourage Filipinos to
save for their retirement),”
she said. PNA
June 19, 1861: Birth of ...
(From page 31)
dialects.
A versatile genius, he
was an architect, artists,
businessman, cartoonist,
educator, economist, ethnol-
ogist, scientific farmer, his-
torian, inventor, journalist,
linguist, musician, mytholo-
gist, nationalist, naturalist,
novelist, opthalmic surgeon,
poet, propagandist, psychol-
ogist, scientist, sculptor, so-
ciologist, and theologian.
He was an expert swords-
man and a good shot.
Noli and Fili
In the hope of securing
political and social reforms
for his country and at the
same time educate his coun-
Laura Secord, heroine ...
(From page 30)
Canada.
An older version said that
Laura brought a cow with
her as an excuse to leave her
home in case of questioning
by American patrols.
Another version said she
left under the guise of visit-
ing a sick relative in neigh-
boring St. David’s.
It was also said that she
walked barefoot at least
part of the way and took six
hours to climb the Niagara
Escarpment.
Delivering the news
At Beaverdams, Laura
met Native forces who were
allies of the British.
Upon hearing her news,
they accompanied her to
DeCew house where she
trymen, Rizal, the greatest
apostle of Filipino nation-
alism, published, while in
Europe, several works with
highly nationalistic and rev-
olutionary tendencies.
In March 1887, his dar-
ing book, Noli Me Tangere,
a satirical novel exposing
the arrogance and despotism
of the Spanish clergy, was
published in Berlin.
In 1890, he reprinted in
Paris Morga’s Successos de
las Islas Filipinas with his
annotations to prove that the
Filipinos had a civilization
worthy to be proud of even
long before the Spaniards
set foot on Philippine soil.
ably delivered her vital mes-
sage to Fitzgibbon.
As a result, the Native
forces, commanded by John
Norton and Dominique
Ducharme, ambushed the
invading Americans and
defeated them at the Battle
of Beaverdams on June 24,
1813.
Recognition
But it was not until al-
most 50 years later that Lau-
ra was recognized for her
heroic deed.
During a visit to Canada
in 1860, Albert Edward,
Prince of Wales. heard of
Laura’s story. While stopped
in Chippawa near Niagara
Falls, Albert Edward was
made aware of Laura’s he-
On September 18, 1891,
El Filibusterismo, his sec-
ond novel and a sequel to
the Noli and more revolu-
tionary and tragic than the
latter, was printed in Ghent.
Because of his fearless
exposures of the injustices
committed by the civil and
clerical officials, Rizal pro-
voked the animosity of those
in power.
This led himself, his rel-
atives and countrymen into
trouble with the Spanish of-
ficials of the country.
As a consequence, he
and those who had contacts
with him, were shadowed.
The authorities were not
roics and her plight as an ag-
ing widow and later sent an
award of £100.
It was the only recogni-
tion that she received in her
lifetime.
Laura died on Oct. 15,
1868 at the age of 93 and
was buried in Drummond
Hill Cemetery at the Village
of Chippawa (today part of
Niagara Falls, Ontario).
In 2003, Laura Secord
was designated a Person of
National Historic Signifi-
cance by the Minister of Ca-
nadian Heritage, for her he-
roic actions during the War
of 1812. From a Niagara
Heritage Trail item posted
at niagaraparks.com and
Wikipedia
34
only finding faults but even
fabricating charges to pin
him down.
Martyrdom
Thus, he was imprisoned
in Fort Santiago from July 6
to 15, 1892 on a charge that
anti-friar pamphlets were
found in the luggage of his
sister Lucia who arrived
with him from Hong Kong.
While a political exile in
Dapitan (where Rizal was
later transferred), he en-
gaged in agriculture, fishing
and business.
He maintained and oper-
ated a hospital and conduct-
ed classes - teaching pupils
the English and Spanish
languages, the arts, the sci-
ences, vocational courses
including agriculture, sur-
veying, sculpturing and
painting, and self defense.
He did some researches
and collected specimens;
entered into correspondence
with renowned men of let-
ters and sciences abroad; and
with the help of his pupils, he
constructed a water dam and
a relief map of Mindanao -
both considered remarkable
engineering feats.
His sincerity and friend-
liness won for him the trust
and confidence of even
those assigned to guard him;
his good manners and warm
personality were found ir-
resistible by women of all
races with whom he had
personal contacts; his intel-
ligence and humility gained
Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
for him the respect and ad-
miration of prominent men
of other nations; while his
undaunted courage and de-
termination to uplift the
welfare of his people were
feared by his enemies.
When the Philippine
Revolution started on Au-
gust 26, 1896, his enemies
lost no time in pressing him
down.
They were able to enlist
witnesses that linked him
with the revolt and these
were never allowed to be
confronted by him.
Thus, from November 3,
1986, to the date of his ex-
ecution, he was again com-
mitted to Fort Santiago.
In his prison cell, he
wrote an untitled poem, now
known as Mi Ultimo Adios,
which is considered a mas-
terpiece and a living docu-
ment expressing not only the
hero’s great love of country
but also that of all Filipinos.
After a mock trial, he
was convicted of rebellion,
sedition and of forming il-
legal association.
In the cold morning of
December 30, 1896, Rizal, a
man whose 35 years of life
had been packed with var-
ied activities which proved
that the Filipino has the ca-
pacity to equal if not excel
even those who treat him
as a slave, was shot at Ba-
gumbayan Field. Reprinted
from Jose Rizal University
website
CALENDAR
(From page 3)
► JULY 13: Filipino Cen-
tre Toronto Annual Dr.
Guillermo de Villa Memo-
rial Cup Golf Tournament,
Granite Ridge Golf Club.
► JULY 11 to 13: Fiesta
Filipina Dance Troupe
Kasalan at Carabram,
Greenbriar Recreation
Centre, Brampton.
► JULY 19: Philippine In-
dependence Day Council
Mabuhay Festival, with
Dancing To Be A Star Fi-
nals, Metro Toronto Con-
vention Centre (MTCC).
► JULY 19: Philippine
Chamber of Commerce
Toronto Trade Show
at Mabuhay Festival,
MTCC.
► JULY 20: Royal Mark
Canada’s Zsa Zsa Padil-
la-Basil Valdez Concert,
Mississauga Performing
Centre for the Arts.
► AUG. 9: Jenifer Forev-
er Concert 2, Meadowvale
Theatre, Mississauga.
► AUG. 10: United Archi-
tects of the Philippines-
Ontario (UAPO) General
Membership Meeting and
Officers’ Induction.
► AUG. 17: UAPO 6th
Golf Tournament, Rem-
ington Parkview Golf and
Country Club.
► AUG. 24: United Archi-
tects of the Philippines-
Ontario Bowling Tourna-
ment.
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor ENTERTAINMENT 35
Ragual tops Las Vegas talentfest
LAS VEGAS - Bramp- fest with her one-minute her a strong spot in the in- nied here by parents Joe and
ton talent Jasmine Elaine rendition of On My Own ternet voting eliminations in Arlene Ragual, and members
Ragual clinched the first from the Broadway musical July, as she sought for on- of the Federation of Filipino
place trophy in the Female Les Miserables. line support during the five- Canadians of Brampton.
Solo category of the USA She bested contestants phase voting process. Dubbed as Brampton’s
World Showcase Talent from all over the world, in- The competition was Little Princess, Ragual, 11,
Competition at the Las Ve- cluding the USA, Canada, judged by record producers, performed with the Bramp-
gas Hilton Convention Cen- Europe, Asia and the Baha- actors, songwriters, compos- ton Symphony Orchestra to
tre on May 24. mas. ers and talent agents. honor the Princess of Viet-
Ragual topped the song- Ragual’s victory assured Jasmine was accompa- nam in November 2007, and
during the orchestra’s Mi-
Santos wins YAC singing tilt ami Beach, Florida tour in
February 2008.
She would be perform-
ing with the BSO during its
2008-2009 concert series at
the Rose Theatre and in Mi-
ami Beach in March 2009.
Ragual is a student at the
Cardinal Newman Catholic
School.
She began her singing
career at the age of five,
and started performing pub-
licly at seven, including be-
ing cast in Brampton Music
Theatre’s Babes in Toyland
and Oklahoma.
She is a member of
award-winning Fiesta Filipi-
na Dance Troupe of Canada JASMINE RAGUAL
and a youth member of the
CANDACE SANTOS (center) has been adjudged winner of the first Young
Asian Canadian Singing Competition 2008, besting eight other Asian final-
Federation of Filipino Cana-
dians of Brampton.
Make good business.
ists - two of them compatriots Vincent Villanueva and Stephanie Cansino She is a feature perform- ADVERTISE!
- during the contest finals at the Chinese Cultural Centre on May 17. Vil- er at the Philippine Indepen-
lanueva came in as first runner-up. Santos also won the Young Pinoy Can- dence Day Council’s Mabu-
ada Singing Competition, the popular online vote for the event. The singing hay Festival at the Metro
competition was part of Asian Heritage Month celebrations, said coordinator Toronto Convention Centre
Jose Saavedra, Jr. (right). The contest was put up by the Canadian Multicul- in July.
tural Council of Asians in Ontario and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ragual has two brothers,
Jase and Jaster. PR
Call 416-285-8583
Ontario. KAREN BINADAY

Celebrate Music with Josie de Leon on Oct. 10

Studio Six presents Cel-
ebrate Music with Josie at
the P.C. Ho Theatre, Chinese
Cultural Community Centre
on Oct. 10.
Featuring versatile diva
Josie de Leon, this major
concert is proof that De Le-
on’s passion and dedication
to her craft is non-stop.
De Leon is Toronto’s
most sought-after singer, a
testamen of the support the
Filipino-Canadian commu-
nity has been giving local
talents.
In Celebrate Music, De
Leon will give tribute to the
richness of Filipino musical-
ity, as she jointly celebrates
with other local artists their
gift of song and music.
“Thanks to your efforts,
local talents are a thriving
breed on the road to being
world-class,” says a Studio
Six officer.
“As music-loving peo-
ple, we share the belief that
music brings cultures to-
gether, that music promotes
greater bonds among coun-
trymen who choose to live
away from their mother-
land,” the officer adds.
Celebrate Music is vo-
cal and instrumental artistry
woven into a music-story
worth retelling and reliving.
MAVIC PALANCA JOSIE DE LEON

Folksinger CHITO SARABIA enter-

tains birthday celebrant ED SAN-
TOS and his guests in a bash on
May 17. PR
36 Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor ENTERTAINMENT 37
2nd Filipinos Making Waves Festival at Ontario Place, Aug. 15 - 17

Freddie Aguilar, entertainment icons invited

Filipino folk music icon tival sponsoring organiza- Vegas entertainers Society Festival features Mobistar grand finals of munity members, not only
Freddie Aguilar might yet tion Show Philippines Festi- of Seven and several others, With RemitX as the Filipino Eh!, the fluvial in Toronto, but throughout
visit Toronto and perform val of the Arts have initiated including Toronto-based principal sponsor, this Regatta, and the Boardwalk North America.”
at the 2nd Filipinos Making the First FMWF Awards artists, have been named for year’s festival offers a wide Parade that may feature an She said negotiations
Waves Festival (FMWF) at that would pay tribute to the award. array of cultural and enter- authentic Ati-Atihan. with Ontario Place are on-
Ontario Place from Aug. 15 Filipinos who have made a Nominations are being tainment fare reflective of Other programs and ac- going for discounted rates
to 17. name in music, arts and en- accepted by Show Philip- Philippine culture and the tivities are being lined-up - $20 as against the regular
Festival director Te- tertainment and whose con- pines’ Awards Committee. Filipinos’ way of life. and prepared to give fes- $33 day pass - for visitors
resa Torralba said she had tributions had made waves Among those compos- Among these are the Pa- tival visitors a maximum during the festival.
spoken to Aguilar and had on the lives of Filipinos and ing the committee are Phil- milihan ng Bayan (People’s glimpse of Filipino tradi- The ticket would allow
invited him to make a stop- people worldwide. ippine Press Club-Ontario Market), Palabas (Outdoor tions, culture and heritage. the bearer entrance to both
over in Toronto on his way The search, evalua- members Tony Sicat, Her- Showcase), Likas na Ka- Torralba said RemitX Canada National Exhibition
to New York City the week- tion and confirmation of mie Garcia and Ramon Da- gandahan (Truly Beautiful) has recognized the festival and Ontario Place, plus full
end following the festival, awardees are ongoing; and tol, who is also the festival’s fashion show, Alon ng Ka- “as a vehicle to reach out access to the water park,
to receive an award as a so far, Katindig, Vital, Las media director. bataan (Youthful Waves), to the mainstream and com- Torralba said. PR
Filipino who made inter-
national waves with his fa-
mous Anak.
Anak (Filipino word for
child) became a worldwide
hit and was released in 56
countries and in more than
26 foreign languages. It sold
over 30 million copies.
Torralba said that be-
sides Aguilar, entertainment
icons Melissa Reyes of the
Pussy Cat Dolls, balladeer
Marco Sison, jazz artist Boy
Katindig, Angelo Pizarro,
kundiman (a genre of tradi-
tional Filipino love songs)
singer Lirio Vital, Rey Val-
era, Hajji Alejandro, Rico
Puno and several more have
been invited to the festival, JUAN TOMAS SHOW BAND
most of them having con-
firmed their participation. The all-Filipina singers of the Juan Tomas Show Band - (from left) Sally Dupe, Arabel Castillo, Aubrey
Awards Mula, Janette Ricasio, Edessa Andrada and Kim Mula - render their finale in a free concert at the Scar-
Torralba added that fes- borough Civic Centre on June 8. PR

Bueno wins Austrian fest Coming soon: Sharon’s Caregiver

Filipino singer Vincent Bueno triumphed in his bid Less than a month af- sa mga kababayan sa To- John Estrada, while Maki-
to be the grand winner of the Musical! Die Show on June ter opening in Philippine ronto ang mega hit movie sig Morales plays her son
13, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau. Born in theaters, Sharon Cuneta’s ng megastar, Sharon Cu- in the movie. The film also
Vienna to Filipino parents, Bueno shouted “Philippines! blockbuster movie of 2008 neta. Siguradong marami sa stars Rica Peralejo, Boots
Philippines!” after he was declared the winner of Musi- - Caregiver - will soon hit ating mga Pinoy ang may Anson-Roa, John Manalo,
cal! Die Show (Musical! The Show), an Austrian sing- the big screens in Toronto parehong karanasan. Kaya and Arron Villaflor.
ing competition with all the pizazz and campy glamor and Mississauga. naman nagsumikap kaming Caregiver is a produc-
of American Idol, but much tougher: instead of simply Caregiver will be shown mapakita ito sa Canada less tion of Star Cinema filmed
singing pop tunes, contestants are required to choose at the Coliseum Scarbor- than a month after the initial in London. PR SHARON CUNETA
from Broadway musical theater repertoire, and give a ough in Scarborough Town showing in the Philippines,”
performance that involves singing, dancing, acting and Centre from June 20 to 26. adds Amoranto.
theatrical effects. In Mississauga, the film The screening is spon-
will be shown at the Empire sored by Western Union.

Pulang Maleta Collective Studio 10 at Square One

from July 4 to 10.
Caregiver will also pre-
miere in Los Angeles, Ho-

presents Baggage
“Apat na taon ding nag- nolulu, London and Rome.
pahinga si Sharon Cuneta In Caregiver, Sharon
from the movie scene and plays a school teacher wait-
The Pulang Maleta Col- breath. this comeback movie is ing for the petition of her
lective will present Bag- Baggage is written and certainly worth the wait,” husband who is working as
gage, a series of plays about performed by Reese Bagu- says Marco Amoranto, TFC a nurse in London.
what people carry and how io, Aura Carcueva, Vincent ULC Canada country man- Playing Sharon’s lead-
they carry it, at the Toronto Galvez, Darrel Gamotin and ager. “Handog ng TFCko ing man for the first time is
Fringe Festival at Kensing- Christine Mangosing.
ton Market from July 2 to It also stars Leon Au- S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A M G A I N A P U L A
13. Performances are week- reus, Rose Cortez, Alex 9 10 11
G R A M I A G A P
nights at 8 p.m. and week- Felipe, Elizabeth Lofranco,
O 12 13 14 15 16
ends at 2:30 p.m. Jessica Leibgott, Caroline T A L I T S A P A
Baggage is a cultural Mangosing, Andea Mapili, 17 18 19 20 21
essay of how or what is Regina Simon and Michelle sa P A A L S A S U N
carried has affected a duti- Turingan. 22 23 24
A L I L A I P A N O
ful daughter’s struggle for The play is directed by B 25 26
independence, influences a Karen Ancheta and Marie A H I R I N G G I L Y A
young girl’s choices in love, Beath Badian. T 27 28
I T I M B U L A A N
changes pillow talk be- Baggage began as a se- I
29 30 31
tween a man and a woman ries of workshop plays ham- D N A N P O L O L O
more clothed than they real- mered out in the basement 32 33 34 35
ize, makes it impossible to of the Kapisanan Philippine W A N G G I O T O
just wipe the slate clean and Centre for Arts and Culture I 36 37 38 39 40
A L I S O R A S
threatens to leave a newly for the second annual Flip- K 41 42
realized lesbian gasping for side Festival. PR A P A N I T I K O P O
38 LAUGHS & LEISURE Manila Media Monitor JUNE 2008

BATID
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOL 9 10 11

WIKA
12 13 14 15 16
YELLOWBIRD 17 18 19 20 21

4862 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario 22 23 24

PAHALANG 25 26
1. Pantukoy
4. Siniwata 27 28
9. Amiray 29 30 31
11. Pag-una
12. Isang Mall 32 33 34 35
14. Sagisag ng pulis
36 37 38 39 40
17. Tawag sa ama
19. Angat 41 42
21. Araw, Ingles
22. _____n, atsayin PABABA 20. Pagbuhos ng tubig
24. _____t, kalbo 1. Ginoo sa apoy
25. Panturok 2. Ika-anim na titik 23. Samaan ng loob
27. Luksang kulay 3. Tatay 24. Drayber ng eroplano
28. Sinungaling 5. Pang-ugnay 26. Ligalig
29. Panlapi 6. Baluga 30. Kulong
30. Damit ng lalaki 7. Bilis, pag dinoble 33. Modelo ng kotse
31. Ama ng ama 8. Alimura 35. Ginto, Kastila
32. Ampiyas 10. Ibaba 37. Tika, pag dinoble
34. Kotse 13. Tanong ng dami 39. Ahensiya ng
36. Yao 15. Sundang pagbabalita
38. Panahon 16. Isang pananong 40. Nota ng musika
41. Panulat 17. Dahon ng aklat
42. Magalang na sagot 18. Awayan (Sagot sa PAHINA 36)

NAGBIBIRO LANG PO!

Hello! Baker ba ‘ko?
Employer: Bakit mo iniwan ang dati
mong trabaho?
Applicant: Lumipat po ang kumpanya.
Hindi sinabi sa akin kung saan.
*****
Abogado: Bakit mo naman idedemanda
ang boss mo ng sexual harrassment,
sinabihan ka lang naman niya na
mabango ang buhok mo? Masama ba
‘yun?
Reg. # 4533253
Noon, tuwing may ikinakasal, lagi akong
tinutukso ng lolo’ t lola ko na “Uy, ikaw
na ang susunod.” Tumigil lang sila ng may
inilibing at tinukso ko sila ng: “Uy, sila na
ang susunod.”
*****
Juan: Pare, kalian mo balak bayaran yung
utang mong P64?
Pablo: O, eto may P100 ako, may P36 ka?
Juan: Wala eh. Pero may P50 ako, may

Kikay: Hindi naman. Pero ang boss ko, P14 ka?

unano. Pablo: Wala rin, eh. May P20 ako dito,
***** may P6 ka?
919 Ellesmere Road Tikyo: Ang gulo-gulo ng buhok mo. Juan: May P10 ako, may P4 ka?
Magsuklay ka nga. Pablo: May P5 ako, may piso ka?
Suite 107, Scarborough Ambo: Wala akong suklay. Juan: Oo, eto, meron.
Ontario M1P 2W7 Tikyo: Hiramin mo ‘yung sa tatay mo. Pablo: (Ibinigay ang P5, Juan ibinigay ang
Ambo: Wala siyang buhok. piso!) ‘Yan ha, wala na akong utang.
***** Juan: Sige, pare, salamat ha.
Maria: Mahal mo ba ako? *****
Pedro: Oo naman. Umuulan at pauwi na si Monching. May
Maria: Handa ka bang mamatay para sa nagdaang taxi sa harap niya, walang pasa-
akin? hero at mabagal ang takbo. Sumakay si
Pedro: Hah? For clarification, ang Monching, sabay sabi sa driver na sa Makati
pag-ibig ko ay walang kamatayan. siya dalhin. Noon naaninag ni Monching na
***** walang driver. Sa takot, tumalon palabas,
Juan: Pare, ang dami kong nakain. Paano nagsisisigaw at tumakbong palayo.
ko ba maisusuka ‘yun? Pedro (kasama si Juan): Pare, ‘di ba ‘yun
Pedro: Tsiken! Sundutin mo tonsil mo. yung gagong sumakay sa taxi mo habang
Juan: (Sinundot ang tonsil) Wa epek, eh. nagtutulak tayo?
MANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE Pedro: Try mo. Sundutin mo puwit mo.
Juan: (Sinundot ang puwet) Ayaw pa din. Pakibasa ngang muli.
*****
OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD Pedro: Ngayon, sundutin mo ulit ang ► Gynecologist’s clinic: Doctor at your
tonsil mo. cervix.
***** ► Septic tank truck: Yesterday’s meals
Wife: Hon, paki-fix mo naman ang ilaw sa on wheels.
labas. ► Plumber’s office: We repair what your
Husband: Hello! Electrician ba ‘ko? husband fixed.
Wife: Eh, di pakigawa mo na lang yung ► Tire shop: Invite us to your next
hagdanan natin. blowout.
Husband: Hello! Karpintero ba ’ko? ► Electrical shop: Let us remove your
Umalis si Husband. Pagbalik niya, shorts.
“Super baba gawa na lahat ng sira sa bahay. ► Maternity room door: Push, push,
and halaga ... Tinanong niya si Misis kung sinong
gumawa.
push!
► Optometrist’s clinic: If you don’t see
Super below Wife: Kanina, a man saw me crying. Sabi what you’re looking for, you’ve come
fare talaga.” ko, ang daming sira dito sa bahay natin to the right place.
kaya he offered to help. Ang bayad, ► Janitorial services: Talk dirty to us.
either sex or mag-bake ako ng cake. ► Food truck: If you don’t eat, we’ll both
“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan” Husband: Aha! Meron pa bang cake? go hungry.
Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133 Wife: Hello! Baker ba ‘ko?
*****
► Tea ad at cemetery entrance: Take the
plunge.
JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor 39
40 JUNE 2008 Manila Media Monitor

.
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tle
N

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Mt. Pleasant
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to C

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Dr. Victoria Santiago Dr. Joy Y. Ho
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Dr. Randolph J. Krumme Rosedale Medical Clinic
Mississauga Corporate Centre
3660 Hurontario St., 2nd Floor 600 Sherbourne St., Suite 307
SPECIALTY DENTISTRY Toronto, Ontario M4X 1W4
Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C4
(Behind Novotel Hotel) Dr. Ali Adibfar & Dr. Robert Eng - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Across Sherbourne Subway)
Dr. Mark Mojgani - Periodontist dr.vsliu@bellnet.ca
Nickee Dela Cruz & Catherine Ibeas - Registered Dental Hygienists
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The team of professionals who make up the Fairview Dental Centre
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Dr. Victoria R. Santiago