YEAR 11, No.

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

Temp foreign worker contract pluses send rogue recruiters, cheap labor hunters into

PANIC
MODE
A barrage of recently-issued Canadian and Philip-
pine government regulations on the recruitment and
employment of caregivers and other temporary foreign
workers has been sending rogue recruiters and cheap
labor employers in a state of panic, if not aground.
Besides scorn on the ban on the collection of placement
and recruitment fees that has lately upped to $7,000 per
worker, crankiness has prevailed over contract mandates
such as training, transportation, board and lodging and other
attendant costs an employer would have to shoulder to hire
temporary foreign help. (Related item on page 5)
All these Frank Luna, Philippine Overseas Labor Offi-
INCOMING PPCO OFFICERS (2008-2010)
Consul Imelda Panolong (left) swears in incoming Philippine Press Club-Ontario officers
(from left) Tenny Soriano, president; Ace Alvarez, vice president; Butch Galicia, secre-
tary; Mogi Mogado, treasurer; and board directors Tony Sicat, Hermie Garcia and Mon
Datol. PHOTO: LARRY TORRES (More on page 2)
cer, hinted in an interview with the Manila Media Monitor.
The erstwhile absence of the new contract provisions has
INSIDE
been “one of the major root causes of problems plaguing the Ooops & Bloops
(Canadian temporary foreign workers’ and live-in caregiv-
ers’ programs) in which many agencies, recruiters and even
employers have been lucratively engaged in,” Luna said. Sanity
(To page 12) amended

PHILIPPINE SITUATION: TWO FACES

-7

(STORIES ON PAGE 4)

Income
inequality
- 11
Photos: LARRY TORRES and MON DATOL

Panaad festival - 26

Dancing To Be A Star
- 33

HOPELESS? HOPEFUL! RP owes

LUZ ILAGAN CRISPIN BELTRAN RICKY CUENCA US$54.9B - 33
 3
CALENDAR
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor

APRIL 26: Bohol Association of Canada

25th Anniversary, Le Dome, Oakville.
APRIL 26: Fil-Can Association of Barrie
Induction-Dinner, Allandale Recreation
Center, 6 p.m.
APRIL 26: San Narciso Association of
Ontario Spring Dance.
APRIL 26: Gary V Live, Sony Centre for
the Performing Arts, 7 p.m.
APRIL 26: Philippine Advocacy Through
Arts and Culture Benefit Concert, Ryer-
son Student Centre, 7 p.m.
MAY 4: Miss Philippines Hamilton 2008
Pageant, Carmen Banquet and Con-
vention Centre, 6:30 p.m.
MAY 4: Celebration of Marinduque’s Ina
ng Biglang Awa Feast, St. Christopher’s
Church, Mississauga.
MAY 10: Kalayaan Cultural Foundation
Ms. Kalayaan and Ms. Munting Mutya
2008 Talent Competition, Kalayaan Cul-
tural Community Centre, Mississauga.
MAY 10: Independence Day Flag-Rais-
ing Committee Spring Dance, Royal Ca-
nadian Legion Branch 11, 6 p.m.
MAY 11: UMAC’s A Song For You:
Mother’s Day with Pilita Corrales, Sts.
Peter and Paul Banquet Hall, 6 p.m.
MAY 17-18: Filipino Centre Toronto 2nd
Victoria Invitational Basketball Tourna-
ment.
MAY 17: Philippine Independence Day
Council Little Miss Philippines Pageant,
Korean Cultural Centre.
MAY 24: Search for Miss Manila 2008,
Korean Cultural Centre, 7:30 p.m.
MAY 24: CCSYR Orientation Seminar,
Kababayan Community Center
MAY 24 and 25: Canossian Daughters
and Sons of Charity Reunion, Toronto.

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4 NEWS Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008

PHILIPPINE SITUATION

TWO FACES Crises-battered RP: Faith-driven Gawad Kalinga:

NOWHERE TO GO LONG WAY TO GO

The mysterious extrajudicial count: 991 killed, 188 missing and thousands of sus- The goal: Build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years. Nearly four
pected enemies of the state languishing in jail since 2001. And all fingers pointed to a years after it was launched in Oct. 2004, Gawad Kalinga (GK) has erected nearly
“repressive administration under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.” 30,000 shelters and reached 1,500 communities in poverty-prone Philippine areas.
Other mysteries attendant to crisis after crisis piling up on Philippine soil were “It’s still far from the target. But with God’s help and guidance, dadating din tayo
the burning issues Philippine House of Representatives party list members Crispin duon (we will accomplish our goal),” said a confident and hopeful Ricky Cuenca,
Beltran and Luzviminda Ilagan discussed in a press conference with members and head of Ancop International Canada-GK, during a forum with members and guests
guests of the Philippine Press Club - Ontario at Casa Manila on April 8. of the Philippine Press Club - Ontario at Casa Manila on April 5.
Notwithstanding a fo- since the national legislature lauded the Philippines for Cuenca echoed the same lage sites would have light, East Timor, Indonesia, Pap-
rum participant’s notation “is controlled” by the pow- “having given a compre- GK progress against goals water, roads, and other basic ua, New Guinea and other
of their supposed status as ers-that-are. hensive and candid picture during the GK Gala Of amenities. Third World countries would
state diplomats being hon- The militant lawmakers of the human rights situa- Hope on April 19. “This only proves that like to replicate for their so-
orable members of the Phil- have submitted on the floor tion in the country.” Despite internal squab- not all public officials in the cial development programs.
ippine legislature, Beltran so many bills and resolu- Undersecretary Edwin bling that rocked the GK Philippines are crooks and Cuenca said Ancop-GK
and Ilagan took turns to tions calling for more per- Enrile told Press Secretary leadership, the enthusiasm corrupt,” Cuenca said. is established in some 50
tongue-lash what they said manent jobs, better wages, Ignacio Bunye that Execu- of local and foreign big- More business support nations where the Filipino
was the state’s inability to decent shelter, enough food tive Secretary Eduardo Er- ticket donors to support GK More Filipino business diaspora has brought to the
stop wanton abuse of human on the table, quicker relief mita’s report to the council has not waned. leaders have joined the GK fore the good news on GK.
rights and to minister to the from sickness and other so- “was quite successful.” “More partners have mission as part of their cor- He cited how an execu-
social, economic and politi- cio-economic benefits for The presentation high- signed in with GK to con- porate responsibility to give tive of a big firm wrote a
cal needs of its people. the masses. lighted the administration’s tinue its work of nation back to the poor and needy. check of $20,000 to GK,
Ilagan noted that “life is Ilagan said she had also human rights achievements building,” Cuenca said. Foreign business donors after hearing from his chil-
not so rosy” in the Philip- pushed for bills to protect and “reforms and measures Count mayors in have likewise started to dren’s Filipino nanny about
pines, as she called on com- migrant workers from rogue we continue to pursue, even For one, Cuenca re- open their coffers to support GK’s work to ease poverty
patriots in Canada to seek recruiters. as we also acknowledged ferred to the initiative of at the faith-driven, volunteer- and restore dignity among
immediate but long-term Only one - an act pro- the challenges our country least 300 Philippine mayors based GK. its beneficiaries.
action from dilly-dallying tecting women and children face… and we welcomed who asked GK to get the Cuenca said GK has be- Canadian help
officials to ease, if not re- from abuse, passed Con- the recommendations and program into their areas. come an international phe- Cuenca noted the sup-
solve, the situation. gress, they both lamented. all forms of cooperation Local government of- nomenon, “a noble cause” port of the Canadian immi-
Beltran said they came UN rights report from the international com- ficials were willing to buy everyone should promote gration department and 81
over “para magsumbong sa Meanwhile, most mem- munity,” Enrile said. and give land and develop and participate in. Filipino-Canadian groups to
inyo (to appraise the com- ber-nations of the 192-seat Also touched was the sites where GK could put Global template the GK cause.
munity and the world)” on United Nations Human “whole spectrum of human up livable villages. “The GK model is fast This support is posted in
Philippine realities. Rights Council in Geneva, rights issues -- violence Local government unit becoming a template.” the updated Ancop Canada-
Political prisoners Switzerland on April 10 (To page 6) would see to it that GK vil- Leaders in Camboadia, GK website run by volun-
“Let us put pressure on teer Macky Maca-alay.
government to do something During the April 19 Gala
about extrajudicial killings of Hope, Cuenca led other
and human rights abuses in Ancop-GK officials in pay-
the homeland,” said Ilagan, ing tribute to officers and
head of militant women’s members of the Philippine
group Gabriela. Chamber of Commerce-To-
She said Gabriela had ronto (PCCT) - among them
been campaigning hard for president Rafael Nebres,
the release of women politi- Cora dela Cruz, Evelyn Pag-
cal prisoners from their po- kalinawan and Ace and Gie
lice and military captors. Alvarez - for having donat-
The jailed women in- ed a home each for the com-
cluded community teacher pleted PCCT-GK Village in
and activist Angie Bisuña Parañaque, Metro Manila.
Ipong, 63, who was abduct- Cuenca also lauded the
ed on March 8, 2008. Philippine Independence
Street parliament Day Council (PIDC), Cana-
Rights advocates and da-based Couples for Christ
those who work for peace PPCO fora chapters, and other groups
and human dignity have An active Philippine for donating homes and
been branded with so many Press Club - Ontario helping rebuild lives.
names - leftists, communists, (PPCO) under the helm A big difference
enemies of the state - giving of president TENNY SO- PIDC president Jun En-
the state the simplest reason RIANO conducts two verga told the forum he had
for a crackdown, said Bel- press fora highlighting no regrets partnering with
tran, leader of militant labor issues of import and GK to put up a 30-house
group Kilusang Mayo Uno relevance to a growing village in Jose Ma. E. Pan-
(May First Movement). Filipino community in ganiban town in Bicol.
He narrated how he was Canada. Above, Con- “I saw the magnitude
summarily arrested and gress party list repre- of the GK village project.
jailed; and later freed, hav- sentatives LUZ ILAGAN It was very touching. It is
ing been found by the court and CRISPIN BELTRAN making a big difference in
innocent of the charges (center, seated) on April the lives of the poor,” said
President Arroyo and her 8 pose for posterity af- Enverga in a testimonial.
charges laid against him. ter briefing PPCO members and community leaders on social, economic and political concerns and He bared that 15 homes
Beltran still considered crises obtaining under the administration of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Below, - to be lighted by a wind-
himself and a few other ANCOP-Gawad Kalinga Canada head RICKY CUENCA (center, standing) on April 5 joins a photoshoot powered turbine - have been
members of Congress as after rendering an appraisal on the progress of Gawad Kalinga’s work in Canada, in the Philippines and built, but said that PIDC has
“street parliamentarians,” in some parts of the globe. Photos: LARRY TORRES and ARIEL RAMOS. (To page 20)
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor 5 Canada immigration to add NEWS
POEA, Alberta police charge rogue recruiters officers at Manila embassy
The Philippine Overseas tion and violation of the The case stemmed from sign promissory notes that
OTTAWA - Citizen-
ship and Immigration
Employment Administra- Fair Trading Act against a written complaint of Ty- they would pay an addition- Canada (CIC) will add
tion (POEA) has suspended Canada-based JFG Career son Kefebre, owner of four al US$4,500 each to Sep- three Canada-based Im-
the license of Manila-based Agency, contact agency of branches of A&W restau- tember Star in scheduled migration Officers and
recruitment agency Septem- September Star. rants in Canada. installments. four locally-engaged
ber Star it found to have il- Baldoz said the POEA Kefebre informed the He added that one of his staff to work at the Ca-
legally collected placement initiated the charges against POEA that most, if not all, Filipino workers paid JFG nadian Embassy in Ma-
fees from Filipino appli- JFG for default in its con- the 16 workers from the US$2,000 for the release of nila, the Philippines.
cants for jobs in Canada. tractual obligations to Fili- Philippines hired through her travel documents. Citizenship and Im-
POEA Administrator pino workers, and for gross September Star each paid The Canadian recruiter migration Minister Di-
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Bal- violation of laws, rules and US$1,500 to the agency. also asked the worker to ane Finley said more
doz said police in Alberta regulations on overseas em- Kefebre said the work- sign another job contract CIC staff could be added
also filed cases of extor- ployment. ers were also compelled to (To page 20) in 2009.
Finley said the de-
Mosquera, Luna, Duguid meet on labor issues ployment of more im-
migration staff members
at the embassy would
address the growing
volume of Temporary MINISTER FINLEY
Foreign Worker applica-
tions filed from the Philippines.
She said the move would also ensure that process-
ing time for other lines of service were also improved.
“Our government supports the Filipino community
in Canada,” Finley said.
“There has been a longstanding concern that pro-
cessing times needed to improve. We are taking action
and committing more resources to help applicants from
the Philippines,” she added.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
would be reconfiguring existing offices and adding
new space at the Canadian Embassy to accommodate
the additional CIC staff.
Finley said this would incur construction costs of
some $1.9 million.
The number of temporary workers coming to Can-
Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera (left), and consular officer for labor Frank ada from around the world has soared in recent years,
Luna (right) flank Ontario Labor Minister Brad Duguid, when the Philippine officials called on the latter filling demands in Canada’s labor market.
on March 28. The officials discussed with Duguid possible welfare and protection measures for Fili- In 2006, Canada welcomed 8,529 temporary for-
pino caregivers and temporary workers, among others. Duguid has urged the public to provide inputs eign workers from the Philippines.
to the ministry so it could act on ways to help and protect vulnerable labor groups. PR
6 NEWS
Crises-battered RP ...
(From page 4)
against women and chil-
dren; children in conflict
with the law and in deten-
tion; human rights educa-
tion; poverty; corruption;
unexplained killings; civil
and political rights; eco-
nomic, social and cultural
rights; rights of migrant
workers, disabled persons,
and indigenous peoples;
(and government’s) acces-
sion to human rights treaties
and protocols,” he said.
Militant groups have
been blocking Philippine
participation in the UN
council in the past.
Burning issues
Besides talking about
human rights abuse and ex-
trajudicial deaths, Beltran
and Ilagan also appraised
the PPCO forum on is-
sues threatening Philippine
growth and stability.
The issues included:
► A looming rice short-
age and unending increases
in the prices of food.
They said rice prices
have gone up to almost P40
(C$1) per kilo, or almost
double its normal price.
► Joblessness and an
unjust minimum wage law
keeping the staple unafford-
able to and out of reach of
the ordinary citizens.
► The sad state of Phil-
ippine elections where gold,
guns and goons continue to
catapult the corrupt into
higher public offices.
► An endless flow of
quality Filipino brain and
brawn to other nations in
search of greener pastures,
with their relatives expected
to soon follow.
► Mounting tales of
woe of overseas Filipino
workers, many of them
women, locked up in jails
and/or are in death row.
The lawmakers also
wanted the Philippines to
get out of the World Trade
Organization, which they
said had placed poorer na-
tions at a disadvantage.
Canadian mining
The two said a major
reason for their trip to Can-
ada was to talk to Parlia-
ment about Canadian min-
ing firms in the Philippines.
These firms, mostly sit-
ed in Mindanao, could have
invested huge sums to op-
erate and could have given
temporary jobs to people.
But Ilagan said these
mining operations should
be stopped, as they are de-
stroying the national patri-
mony and the environment,
and are posing a lot of health
risks and agricultural liveli-
hood displacements.
UN Convention
Beltran said he was also
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
Ocampo to Ottawa: Review aid to RP
Philippine Congressman Satur Ocampo, Bayan Muna Ocampo, House Deputy Minority Leader, also asked
Ottawa to base future Canadian aid to the Philippines “on
party-list representative, has urged Canadian parliamen-
the implementation of the Alston report recommendations
tarians in Ottawa to conduct a “review of Canadian aid to
and the overall improvement of the human rights situation”
the Philippine government to determine if funds may have
in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member-nation.
been funneled for the commission of human rights viola-
Ocampo was in Ottawa on April 15 and made a presen-
tions against civilians by state security forces and agents.”
tation entitled Impunity for
the Killings in the Philip-
pines Must End before Par-
liament’s Standing Commit-
tee on Foreign Affairs and
International Development.
Ocampo also called on
Ottawa to urge the Philip-
pine government to:
► “Decisively hold ac-
countable those responsible
for the killings and enforced
disappearances;”
► “Implement the rec-
ommendations of the Alston
report;” and
► “Abandon its coun-
Rep. Satur Ocampo (4th from left), Philippine Congress member and Fili- terinsurgency program that
pino journalist, receives a plaque of recognition from the Philippine Press regards activists as ‘enemies
Club - Ontario during the Pulong Bayan at the Fr. Robert Madden Hall of St. of the state’ and ... subject to
Michael’s College on April 13. Invited to come over to Canada by the United (To page 28)
Church of Christ of the Philippines in Canada,
Ocampo drew his audience’s attention to wors-
ening conditions plaguing the Filipino masses. www. FinancialProblem .ca
Photo: JONATHAN CANCHELA with credit cards and bank loans
Too many loans & credit cards?
looking forward to raise the gress, per se, and his repre- Paying too much interest?
issue of Canada’s imprima- sentation could not do much Afraid to pick up your own phone?
tur to the United Nations to get the Canadian govern- Looking for consolidation?
Convention on the Protec- ment to agree to the UN
tion of Migrant Workers convention., Beltran said. Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
and Their Families before Those pushing for Ca- CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Ottawa’s parliamentarians.
But the Philippine Con-
nadian approval would have
to do the work themselves. 416-780-1020
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor
Actress and “Jenny Craig”
spokesperson Valerie Bertinelli
published a book recently entitled
Losing It.
It is not true that candidates
who will lose in the Philippine
Press Club-Ontario (PPCO) elec-
tions on April 19 would also write
a sequel to the book to be called
Losing It, Too?
(No pun, intended to the can-
didates as this piece is written two
weeks before the PPCO elections,
thus, this writer does not even
know who the candidates would
be. Who knows, he might be one
of them, hence, would write the
book himself.)
***
Still on the PPCO election
period …
On March 25, PPCO sec-
retary Karen Pascual-Binaday
sent a notice to all members,
stating, among others, “Can-
didates do not have to be pres-
ent at the election in order to be
voted into office.”
The following day, PPCO
president Tenny Soriano sent
out a note clarifying to the
Ace Alvarez
Sanity amended
members that candidates must
be “physically present during
election day.”
Later the same day, PPCO
Board member Tony Sicat sent
out the following: “As to wheth-
er a candidate should be person-
ally present or not during the
election, I don’t remember the
members of the PPCO board
present during our March 22
meeting at Casa Manila (hav-
ing) discussed or made a deci-
sion on the matter.”
Board members Ramon Da-
tol and Hermie Garcia sent out
theirs, too, and could not accu-
rately remember the decision
arrived at on the matter.
To our dear PPCO board
members and officers (in case
this Manila Media Monitor issue
comes out ahead of the election
date and time that were set):
Please accept this as a kind re-
minder that the election is April
19 at 12 PM at the venue earlier
arranged at, otherwise, you all
might forget.
On the other hand, in case
this issue comes out after the
VIEWS
date and time the election has
been set for---and some of you,
or all of you did not show up,
we, members, could only assume
that … as usual, you forgot the
details.
***
A Philippine Daily Inquirer
story on April 2, 2008 states,
“Farmers to Get US$120M Sub-
sidy in Hopes of Averting Rice
Crisis.”
Wow! A huge amount for
farmers!
Which “Farmers”? Those who
became tongressmen, or sena-
tongs?
***
On April 3, my good friend
- the “multi-titled” Jess Carlos
sent out the following to … well,
he stated it:
“My Fellow Toastmasters,
Partners and Friends,
“Have you read about the
book of Catherine Ponder
about the Law of Vacuum of
Prosperity?
“She said that when you vac-
uum, you remove the old dirt
but after a while new dirt will
become visible.
“When you do your spring
cleaning, try to take apart old
clothes, utensils, shoes, furni-
ture’s etc, etc. you do not need.
“Give or share it to some-
one in need. When you vacuum
these things you will sure get
new replacements most of the
time unexpectedly.
“Life is how you make it! As
Winston Churchill said; ‘We
make a living by what we get,
but we make a life by what we
give.’
“Please find attached article
about life and share it to some-
one you care.”
Teka … teka … teka muna,
Jess … I noticed that you con-
sistently used the second person
singular in your message.
Does that mean that we,
the recipients of your message,
would “give or share … to some-
one …”.
E, ikaw paano ang “give”, or
“sharing” mo?
***
Under the signature line of the
message above sent by my good
friend, Jess Carlos, among those
which he listed as his title was
“Vice President-Asian Canadian
Entrepreneur Professional”.
Jess, the right name is “Asian
Canadian Entrepreneurs & Pro-
fessionals”, otherwise, if the “En-
trepreneur” and Professional” are
both singular, you might as well
appoint yourself as the president
… sir.
***
Standard Life, one of Can-
7
ada’s largest insurance com-
panies, launched a year-long
ad campaign, which started on
April 7 in key markets.
The ad campaign focuses on
retirement.
It’s not true that the execu-
tives at Standard Life had Tenny
Soriano - president of the PPCO,
and Rafael Nebres - president
of the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce Toronto, as inspira-
tions when they thought of the
major ad campaign, their first
since 2005.
(Note to readers: I had want-
ed to include the name of Linda
Javier - president of the Filipino
Centre Toronto, kaya la’ng baka
magalit sa akin, e, so I did not
include her).
***
Last month, the following item
appeared in this column:
“With partners, Forex Parcel
Services president Ted Dayno
have set up a new remittance
company called ‘Remit X’, offi-
cial launching of which was post-
poned from its original date of
Saturday, March 15, at the Delta
East Hotel on Kennedy Road in
Scarborough.
“The official invitation to the
launching states, ‘Remit X --- Get
Your Money There’.
“But Ted, how would this
work on me when ‘X’ translates to
‘No’, ‘Nil’, ‘Nada’?
“Are you sure my remittance
will get to where it is to be sent?”
After publication, Ted phoned
me saying, “Ace, the ‘X’ there
(To page 22)
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS 9
COMMENTARY
BEN VICCARI

OPINIONS PMO and libel chill

Outrageous interest rates
Spring is almost here but many of us are still feeling the chilling Most Canadians whose po- Now, Tom Zytaruk a Van- gives us a detailed and intimate
financial effects of winter and the holiday season. litical sentiments are somewhat couver journalist is bringing out picture of a great man’s life and
Fond memories of our kids opening gifts have been replaced by left of Attila the Hun have long a book titled Like A Rock: The work.
the dread of opening envelopes from credit card companies. questioned the goings-on in Prime Chuck Cadman Story, in which Charles Darwin, whose theory
While the big banks keep reeling in the profits, ordinary Canadi- Minister Harper’s office, known the “bribe” incident is recorded. of evolution shook the scientific
ans are still working to pay off the interest from holiday spending. as the PMO. The threat to sue the Liberal world, still excites public debate
Most vulnerable are people who are struggling to make ends Since Harper’s reputation as Party is an example of attempted between, on one side, fundamen-
meet, because banks give higher interest rates to people with less a control freak is well-known, it libel chill that went awry. talists and creationists and, on the
secure financial situations. follows that he and his minions Refusal by Stephane Dion to other, those who believe in the
There’s something wrong with this picture. regard the PMO as the seat of all apologize has brought about an ordered evolution of animals and
Hardworking people who just wanted to make sure that their power. actual writ which one presumes man over millions of years rather
loved ones had a good Christmas shouldn’t be taken advantage of by Lately, the leaking of state- will take months, even years to than the mere 6,000 years between
banks and other companies who are making record profits. ments about the sincerity of Hill- filter through the courts to trial the Biblical account of the Garden
That’s why the NDP has launched a campaign to educate con- ary Clinton and Barrack Obama in stage. of Eden and the present; this en-
sumers about how it is possible to reduce credit card interest rates. their claims to re-examine NAF- If Harper and his staff thought lightened group includes the reli-
It’s really quite simple: all you have to do is ask. TA has become attributable to one that libel chill would set in against gious as well as freethinkers.
What the banks aren’t telling their customers is that they can eas- of the top denizens of the PMO, the publication of Like a Rock, Charles Darwin published his
ily lower interest rates and still profit from money lending. Chief-of-staff Ian Brodie and even they were wrong. theory of evolution among ani-
Sometimes, all it takes is one phone call to get the bank to lower Ambassador Michael Wilson. I spoke to a representative of mals and plants in The Origin of
the rate by as much as seven percent. Liberal leader Stephane Harbour Publishers who said the Species in 1859 and followed it up
This begs the question: if the banks don’t need to charge high Dion and other opposition MP’s launch was on course and also to with The Descent of Man in 1871.
rates to remain competitive, then why are they doing it? pounced on the information that Indigo/Chapters bookstores who The first, a runaway best-
Why should they be allowed to gouge regular people who are MPs tried to bribe independent would not be deterred from sell- seller, came 23 years after Darwin
just trying to make ends meet? Chuck Cadman to return to the ing it. returned to England from a five-
We at the NDP don’t think that’s right, and we are pushing for Tory fold for a crucial vote that *** year voyage as resident natural-
new laws to put a cap on outrageous interest rates. could have toppled the Martin The Royal Ontario Museum’s ist aboard HMS Beagle, a British
In the meantime, check out our website at www.ndp.ca to find government. Cadman refused and major spring exhibit, titled Dar- Navy research vessel on a geo-
the script and the numbers to call to make sure that you won’t have voted Liberal. win the Evolution of Revolution (To page 22)
to keep paying interest on last season’s purchases until winter rolls

OUR JOURNEY
around again. PEGGY NASH, NDP MP, Parkdale-High

Buhay America talaga, EVA AGPAOA

at Canada na rin!
Akala ng mga tao na nasa Pilipinas kapag nasa America ka, mad-
ami ka nang pera. Ang totoo, madami kang utang, dahil credit card Why, indeed?
lahat ang gamit mo sa pagbili ng mga gamit mo. Kailangan mong
gumamit ng credit card para magka-credit history ka, kasi pag hindi
ka umutang o wala kang utang, hindi ka pagkakatiwalaan ng mga This month I’m writing from nature framing crushing poverty. lucky. We are lucky because we
Kano. Pag wala kang credit card, ibig sabihin wala kang kapasidad beautiful Philippines. This is my The lush potential of our natu- live in elative luxury compared to
magbayad. country, the place of my birth, ral resources drowning in incom- our families back home.
Akala nila mayaman ka na kasi may kotse ka. Ang totoo, kapag cornerstone of my soul. My fam- petence, mismanagement and I also think we can make a
hindi ka bumili ng kotse sa America, maglalakad ka ng milya-milya ily is here, at my sisters house in corruption. Wealth beyond our meaningful difference in our
sa ilalim ng init ng araw o kaya sa snow. Walang jeepney, tricycle o Ilocos Norte. I grew up here and dreams concentrated in so few country. I don’t just mean in terms
padyak sa America. in Isabella. hands. of sending money back to our
Akala nila masarap ang buhay dito sa America. Ang totoo, puro This trip I’ve brought my And our people. The very soul family or in trying to help them
ka trabaho kasi pag di ka nagtrabaho, wala kang pambayad ng bills daughter with me so she can meet of the Philippines: Kind, generous, come here.
mo sa kotse, credit card, ilaw, tubig, insurance, bahay at iba pa. her family, and understand my warm and caring. Hardworking Of course those are important
Hindi ka na puwedeng tumambay sa kapitbahay kasi busy din sila roots. How I grew up, where I and smart. These people, us, you things. But, I think we can begin
maghanapbuhay pambayad ng bills nila. come from, why I am the way I and I, on whose back this country to look at our country with open
Akala nila masaya ka kasi nagpadala ka ng picture mo sa Dis- am. To her, this is as alien as walk- is built. We are the Philippines. and critical eyes and ask tough
neyland, Seaworld, Six Flags, Universal Studios at iba pang attrac- ing on the moon. But we do not share in the questions as to why things are the
tions. Ang totoo, kailangan mo ngumiti kase nagbayad ka ng $70+ I come from poverty and my fruits. I want to cry as I look out way they are.
para makarating ka duon, kailangan mo na naman ang 10 hours na family is still relatively poor. And over my country. I feel so sad and Why do we still pay for
suweldo mong pinangbayad sa ticket. like so many Filipinos, my life so hopeless. Why are we still so schools so that we are forced to
Akala nila malaki na ang kinikita mo kasi dolyar na ang suweldo and who I am has been shaped by poor after all the hard work. Where choose which of our children get
mo. Ang totoo, malaki pagpinalit mo ng peso, pero dolyar din ang that poverty. has all that work gone. Who has educated and which don’t? Why
gastos mo sa America. Ibig sabihin, ang dolyar mong kinita sa pre- My insatiable drive and am- reaped the rewards? Who indeed? indeed?
syong dolyar mo din gagastusin. bition has been about succeeding I need to understand because Why is there no government
Ang P15 na sardinas sa Pilipinas, $1 sa America, ang isang pa- so that I can have enough to live I’m fed up with just accepting the funded Medicare so that no one
kete ng sigarilyo sa Pilipinas P40, sa America $6.50, ang upa mo sa a comfortable life and, just as im- way things are. need die because they are poor?
bahay na P10,000 sa Pilipinas, sa America $1,000++. portant, help my family and their Why do we have to pay for So we don’t have to choose be-
Akala nila buhay milyonaryo ka na kasi ang ganda ng bahay at children also live a better life. primary and high school, when tween buying medicine and going
kotse mo. Ang totoo milyon ang utang mo. Ang bago mong kotse Slowly I’m getting there. I in almost every other country to school? Why indeed?
5 taon mong huhulugan. Ang bahay 30 taon mong huhulugan. Ibig took my daughter so she could it’s free? Why is it that you have Why, after so much hard work,
sabihin, alipin ka ng bahay at kotse mo. understand why I work so hard. to purchase the gloves and anes- are we a nation defined by pov-
Madaming naghahangad na makarating sa America. Lalo na mga Why, sometimes, it might seem I thesia so the doctor can proceed erty rather than a growing middle
nurses, mahirap maging normal na manggagawa sa Pilipinas. Ma- don’t have enough time for her. with the operation, why isn’t the class?
dalas pagod ka sa trabaho. Pag dating ng sweldo mo, kulang pa sa I took her so she could under- hospital well stocked? Why do we I think we have accepted our
pagkain mo. Pero ganun din sa ibang bansa katulad ng America. stand me. Because I truly believe treat each other, in our own coun- lot for far too long. I think we need
Hindi ibig sabihin dolyar na ang sweldo mo, yayaman ka na, kai- that to understand me, someone try, like dirt? Have we become so to start to ask questions of our pol-
langan mo ding magbanat ng buto para mabuhay ka sa ibang bansa. has to experience my roots and hopeless, so distressed that we iticians and the people who have
Isang malaking sakripisyo ang pag-alis mo sa bansang pinag- see where I come from. Without don’t care? been elected to serve us (remem-
silangan at malungkot iwanan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay. Hindi that all they experience is a well I don’t have any answers yet. ber, they are working for us).
pinupulot o pinipitas ang pera dito. Hindi ako naninira ng pangarap, constructed public façade. I don’t understand it myself. But I Why indeed? That is the ques-
gusto ko lang buksan ang bintana ng katotohanan. The Philippines is a country of intend to learn. tion we need an answer to. info@
stark contrasts. Beautiful sublime I think we, in Canada, are thenannyexpert.com
10
The April 5 Philippine
Press Club-Ontario (PPCO)
forum with Ancop Canada-
Gawad Kalinga (GK) presi-
dent Ricky Cuenca and the
April 19 GK Gala of Hope
surely drew an interesting
insight.
Cuenca talked about the
GK’s slow-but-sure han-
dling of its laudable pro-
gram of building homes for
and rebuilding lives of the
poor in the Philippines.
After all the talk of
GK’s continuing success,
it seemed that GK could be
the loudet and most hurting
slap in the face of Philippine
officials for not living up to
their mandate of tending to
the basest of needs of their
denizens who have the least
in life and, worse, the least
in laws.
*****
Another interesting in-
sight came from gutsy Phil-
ippine Courier publisher
Ramon Datol a.k.a. Mond-
ee, who would not hesitate
to dig into anyone’s entrails
to ferret out viruses likely to
cause community cancer.
In another PPCO forum
on April 8, Mondee frankly
asked Philippine Congress
members Crispin Beltran
and Luz Ilagan, militant
labor leader and women’s
rights advocate respectively,
how they could flagrantly
lambaste a government they
represented.
Knowing Mondee, he
wanted to know if the Con-
gresspersons’ verbal barbs
against government could
be a risky but calculated
“stab in the back.”
Feeling he got a run-
around for a reply, Mondee
wanted to ask another ques-
tion but forum moderator
Ricky Caluen’s only-one-
question-and-no-follow-up
rule prevailed.
Mondee’s other ques-
tion: How much of (the
Congressional honorables’)
pork-barrel funds have
gone to help what they de-
scribed as the sad plight of
the Philippines’ woeful lot
- the depressed, suppressed,
repressed, oppressed and a
press biased to them?
Whoa! That’s a lot of
press work, Mondee.
*****
Journalist Jojo Tadu-
ran could not help but talk
about Filipinos who have
settled in Thompson City,
Manitoba.
Far from the maddening
crowd and the rat race that
stress their counterparts in
bigger Canadian cities, this
VIEWS
OMERTA
Slap in the face,
stab in the back
closely-knit Filipino group
has found all the time to be
together, sharing blessings
every Sunday after attend-
ing church services.
Taduran said the Thomp-
son City Filipino communi-
ty pioneers have metamor-
phosed into a group that has
shed off regional, dialect,
social, economic and politi-
cal distinctions; living life
as a typical Filipino family
replete with all the respect,
hospitality and other posi-
tive Filipino values each
would wholeheartedly ex-
tend to one another and vis-
iting kababayans.
And all they care about
is how to excellently fit
in their wealth of culture,
knowledge, skills and ex-
perience into Thompson
City’s milieu.
*****
I bet my one cent that
this kind of community ex-
ists in Toronto.
Quite unfortunately,
some self-proclaimed orga-
nization first presidents and
their ego-tripping believers
are so insanely obssessed
with raking up undeserved
credits, that they won’t stop
to muckrack those they
think come after them and
surpass targets in attaining
the very mission-vision they
purport to so passionately
endeavor to build a dream
community, which in their
time at the helm remained
an unfulfilled dream.
The community can do
away with these sore losers,
the proverbial rotten eggs in
an Easter basket, who have
the uncontrollable urge to
hold on to posterity, fear-
ing they will be trashed to
historical obscurity by bet-
ter-motivated and better-
equipped ‘newcomers,’ na
walang malay na iwinawa-
gayway sa mata ng lahat
ang kahinaan at pagka-
walang kaalaman ng mga
sinaunang kagalang-galang
na hindi dapat igalang.
The Johnnies-come-
lately are the free spirits
willing to learn the ropes
and jump into the Canadian
ring, but will uncompro-
misingly raise the level of
community involvement
from merely seasonal yet
costly partying and most-
often-than-not-unaccounted
fundraising to one of social
responsibility of benefit to
long-time and newcoming
fellows in Toronto and their
less fortunate compatriots
in the homeland.
Pathetic floundering
founders are so so insecure
and an awful sorry lot, an
embarassment to a commu-
nity that is seeing the emer-
gence of working and com-
mitted leaders who know
and understand the respon-
sibilities of their thankless
volunteer jobs.
*****
I quote the first few lines
of Max Ehrmann’s Desid-
erata, and hope these may
perhaps inspire to get indis-
positions back to health:
Go placidly amid the
THE FEW BUT CLOSELY-KNIT FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THOMPSON CITY
Have you ever imagined
being in complete darkness?
Darkness, meaning losing
your eyesight?
It is indeed a scary
thought. But on the brighter
side, there are people like
us who can read, see our
way around and enjoy the
freedom to see the morning
light everyday.
We are very fortunate.
So fortunate that at times
we all tend to take it for
granted.
Clouds and stars have
always fascinated me. I re-
member as a child, I would
tirelessly gaze at the clouds
against the deep blue sky
and count as many recog-
nizable forms I could see.
And at night when the
clouds were gone, I would
divert my focus to the stars.
Clusters of them across the
universe. They all looked so
far away and yet so pretty
with their glittering lights.
I played with them. The
game that children today
know as Connecting The
Dots. After a few tries and
BUTCH GALICIA
noise and the haste, and
remember what peace
there may be in silence.
As far as possible,
without surrender, be on
good terms with all per-
sons.
Speak your truth qui-
etly and clearly, and listen
to others, even to the dull
and ignorant; they too
have their story.
Avoid loud and ag-
gressive persons; they are
vexatious to the spirit.
THE 3rd EYE
The gift of seeing
to my amusement, some-
how those stars appeared to
reveal an interesting shape.
To those of us who are
able to see, how often do we
use our gift of seeing?
We all have the gift but
we have to be spiritually
connected to the Holy Spirit
to see beyond what is before
us. God is constantly com-
municating to us through
what we see and through
our hearts.
Many years ago while
attending a Mass at St.
Martin de Porres Church,
the parish priest introduced
a group of six adults who
were about to be baptized.
One of them was a
woman with her little boy
who was about four years
old. During the baptism, the
woman handed her lit bap-
tismal candle to the boy.
The little child was in
awe with the flame. With
his eyes watching the candle
light, he missed a step on
the way down from the al-
tar. He lost his balance and
was about to fall but the boy
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
If you compare your-
self with others, you may
become vain or bitter, for
always there will be great-
er and lesser persons than
yourself.
*****
To these obnoxious
founders, I request: Please
stop slapping your face to
wake up to realities.
And I demand: Get your
knife off our backs!
*****
Good friend and city
employee Chuchi Punsa-
lan sent an e-mail about
Toronto City Mayor David
Miller’s request that “all
employees consider add-
ing their names to the city’s
online petition for a Canada
Handgun Ban.”
The petition said To-
ronto continued to face un-
acceptable incidents of gun
violence; and the problem
hung on to the candlestick
and did not let the flame out
of his sight. He was so con-
nected to the light. And be-
fore he could hit the floor,
his Mom scooped him up
to safety. What a beautiful
sight!
That scene is still vivid
in my head today. What I
saw was the love of God to
those who put their unshak-
able faith in Him. Never
second guess God. He is
always there for us. Open
your eyes.
He is everywhere. In
many forms and shapes.
could not be fully addressed
without a total ban on the
private ownership of hand-
guns.
Mayor Miller is on the
right track. I pray that all
will take his initiative seri-
ously and with firmity.
*****
My airwave buddy and
Talakayan radio host-pro-
ducer Jess Cabrias - an ac-
claimed broadcaster who
ranks with Mabuhay Radio
mainstay Deo Moreno and
former Radyo Pinoy an-
nouncer and PPCO found-
ing president Paul dela
Cruz, is a very responsible
gunholder.
Cabrias has two duly-li-
censed handguns and ammo
tucked away under lock and
key in a metal safe in his
locked room.
How do I know? He
showed me and let me feel
the awesome guns, saying
these only saw daylight dur-
ing target range sprees.
Mayor Miller: If ever
you succeed in taking away
guns and bullets from re-
sponsible gunholders like
Jess, I’d like to see tasers
and color-coded munitions
out of the hands of irrespon-
sible lawmen.
*****
MILESTONE: Zoe
Jeanusse Manaois will cel-
ebrate her first birth anni-
versary party, courtesy of
Dad Derick and Mom May,
on May 3. butchgalicia@
yahoo.com
MARIO DIMAIN
I shot the above photo
during a pilgrimage to The
Holy Land. The silhouettes
were of my fellow pilgrims
from St. Thomas More
Church who were gathered
at the outside court of The
Church Of The Holy Sepul-
chre in Jerusalem.
After examining the
shot, I realized that I had
just photographed the Gos-
pel of Matthew 6:16 “Let
your light shine before men
in such a way that they may
see your good works, and
glorify your Father who is
in heaven.”
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor
OFW money fails to bridge income inequality
By JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO
MAKATI CITY - Extreme
reliance on money from Filipinos
overseas has not helped the Phil-
ippines get out of the poverty rut
and might even hobble the poor’s
income capability.
University of the Philippines
economist Ernesto Pernia noted
this, as he stressed that remittanc-
es from overseas Filipino workers
(OFW) might even be contribut-
ing to the persistence of high in-
equality in the country.
Pernia, in a research, said
the 2003 and 2006 datasets of
the government’s triennial Fam-
ily Income and Expenditures Sur-
vey (FIES) showed that the total
Gini coefficient (or the measure
of inequality of wealth) hardly
changed: 0.4605 Gini coefficient
in 2003 to 0.4580 in 2006.
Against the backdrop of per-
sistent overseas employment and
permanent settlement, Pernia said
remittances “could result to a fur-
ther worsening of income inequal-
ity.”
“Such inequality tends to
dampen the poverty reduction ef-
fect of remittances. The FIES re-
vealed that poverty incidence rose
to 32.9 percent in 2006 from 30
percent in 2003,” Pernia’s study
noted.
The 2006 FIES counted 27.6
million poor Filipinos, 3.6 million
more than that registered in 2003.
In a press conference early
March, socio-economic plan-
ning secretary Augusto Santos
declined to link remittances and
income gap between the “haves”
and have-nots”.
He said he wanted to see the
2009 FIES done first before citing
effects of remittances to poverty
and inequality.
But Pernia - using FIES data
covering the years 1994, 1997,
2000, and 2003 - noted that while
remittances expanded household
incomes, the gain was smaller for
the lower quintile groups (21.5
percent) compared to the upper
quintile group (46.3 percent).
“Despite their beneficial ef-
fects, remittances cannot be relied
on as a principal instrument for
reducing poverty or fostering the
country’s long-run development,”
he said in his paper titled “Migra-
tion, Remittances, Poverty, and
Inequality.”
Benefits
Pernia said the benefits of
OFW remittances to purses of Fil-
ipinos could not be discounted.
Remittances had positive and
significant effects on the well-be-
ing of poor households, particu-
larly on the two lowest income
quintiles of the poor, he said.
If the first poorest income
FEATURES
POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES. Some sing about it. Others
think a gun is imperative to end it all. But whatever they de-
cide and do, the future of a generation and its children’s chil-
dren is at stake. Photo @ pedestrianobserver.blogspot.com
quintile group raised remittance
receipts by P1,000 per capita, it
would lead to a P1,789 additional
annual family spending per per-
son, the study surmised.
For the second poorest income
quintile group, the household ex-
penditure per capita would rise to
P2,177 for every P1,000 addition-
al per capita remittance.
Pernia said the positive effect
on remittances on all the house-
holds’ well-being would rise to
the point that remittances would
“become insignificant for the next
higher quintiles” and “probably
matter less to richer families.”
“The positive effect of remit-
tances on household incomes rises
monotonically from one percent
for the lowest quintile, 4.8 percent
for middle quintile, and 16 percent
11
for the top quintile,” Pernia said.
Lower poverty count
But without remittances, the
Philippines would have more than
26.5 million poor people. Thanks
to remittances, the poverty head-
count was lower at 24 million, the
study said.
Having remittances as a share
in a household’s income “raises
the likelihood (that a) household
will get out of poverty,” Pernia
said.
“Poverty incidence for the bot-
tom quintile was slightly reduced
by 0.1 percent, and by 13 percent
for the second quintile, while that
in all three upper quintiles were
completely wiped out,” he added.
Aside from the FIES data,
Pernia also processed information
from the annual Survey on Over-
seas Filipinos, and the quarterly
Labor Force Survey of the Na-
tional Statistics Office.
He also used gross regional
domestic product data from the
national income accounts to see
the regional development impact
of remittances.
Growth gap
Regions that had more over-
seas workers benefited more from
remittances compared to other
regions that had less numbers of
OFWs, Pernia said.
But while remittances might
have, comparatively, saw a 2.6-
(To page 13)
12
PANIC MODE ...
(From page 1)
HRSDC conditions
The website of the Hu-
man Resources and So-
cial Development Canada
(HRSDC) has outlined
stringent rules on how to
apply for Expedited Labor
Market Opinions (LMO)
required to hire temporary
foreign workers for full-
time jobs in Alberta or Brit-
ish Columbia.
The HRSDC conditions
employers should meet to
get the LMO included:
Ź The advertising of
the vacant position on the
Government of Canada’s
National Job Bank Website,
with the advertisement con-
taining the same employ-
ment conditions that would
be offered to a temporary
foreign worker (i.e. wages,
duties, working condi-
tions).
Ź Making a job offer
that adhered to conditions of
employment that should be
provided such as payment
of proper wages for the po-
sition in the geographic area
where the job is located.
Ź Ensuring respect for
appropriate provincial Em-
ployment Standards.
Ź Running business not
involved in a labor dispute.
Scary provisions?
HRDSC added that em-
NEWS
ployers should also meet
the conditions of the Pilot
Project for Occupations
Requiring Lower Levels of
Formal Training provided
for positions such as com-
mercial janitors and care-
takers, construction labor-
ers, delivery drivers, food
and beverage servers, food
counter attendants, hotel
front desk clerks and room
attendants, industrial meat
cutters, manucfacturing and
processing laborers, resi-
dential cleaning and support
workers, retail salespersons
and sales clerks, specialized
cleaners, surveyor helpers,
tour and travel guides.
Under the pilot project,
employers should:
Ź Conduct efforts to
train and recruit Canadians
and permanent residents,
Ź Cover all recruitment
costs related to hiring for-
eign workers,
Ź Cover full transpor-
tation costs to and from the
workers’ country of resi-
dence and worksites,
Ź Make sure the work-
er finds suitable and afford-
able accommodations,
Ź Pay for medical cov-
erage until the worker is eli-
gible for provincial health
insurance coverage,
Ź Register the foreign
worker with the appropri-
ate provincial workers com-
pensation/workplace safety
insurance plan,
Ź Review and adjust
the worker’s wages (if nec-
essary) after 12 months of
employment to make sure
they still correspond to the
prevailing wage rate, and
Ź Prepare and sign an
employment contract that
outlines the wages, job du-
ties, transportation, accom-
modation, health and oc-
cupational safety coverage
that will be provided to the
foreign worker.
Similar initiatives
But while the HRSDC
conditions might be appli-
cable at the moment only in
the two western Canadian
provinces, other provinces
have been adopting initia-
tives to carry out similar reg-
ulations, as provided under
bilateral agreements with
the Philippine Department
of Labor and Employment
in the case of caregiver re-
cruitment and employment,
Luna said.
These agreements in-
cluded those recently signed
with British Columbia, Sas-
katchewan and Manitoba,
he said.
New Philippine regu-
lations likewise imposed
stringent regulations to pro-
tect and best benefit Filipino
caregivers being recruited
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
PIDC on picnic mode
The Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), as part of its celebration of the
110th anniversary of Philippine Independence, is inviting the community to join this
year’s picnic at the Earl Bales Park on June 14.
Billed as the largest community gathering in Canada, the picnic will honor early and
modern-day heroes, with focus on Filipino caregivers in the country.
The fun begins at 10 a.m. and will continue non-stop until sundown. Muti-genre
homegrown artists and talents will go centerstage to provide daylong entertainment to
a kabayan audience expected to reach as many as 2,000.
Also in attendance are the PIDC Ambassadors of Goodwill, the winners of the PIDC
Little Miss Philippines, Miss Philippines and Mrs. Philippines.
A parade of community associations, games and sports will also highlight the pic-
nic, which will be marked by the abundance of food cooked and presented in the style
of the Philippine’s various regions. PR
for vacancies in Canada. Ź In case of work-re- salary of Filipino household
“These conditions lated death, pay for the re- service workers (HSWs)
should, with more reason, patriation of employee’s deployed abroad from
apply to caregivers, because remains. US$200 to US$400.
of the personal nature of the Luna expressed elation Besides the HSW salary
services they render, and the that many Canadian re- raise, the reform package
live-in requirement, which cruitment and employment also removed the payment
makes them especially vul- agencies have subscribed to of placement fees.
nerable to abuses and ex- the measures protecting the Former labor chief Ar-
ploitation,” he added. welfare of workers, special- turo Brion, before turning
Subscribed to ly temporary foreign hands over his office to Marianito
Contracts, or additions and caregivers. Roque and assuming as Su-
to them, required that em- He also took note of preme Court Associate Jus-
ployers would: recruitment agencies that tice on March 17, cited the
Ź Shoulder the care- have moved to explain to Philippine labor office in
giver’s two-way cost of worker-clients the rationale Riyadh for pushing the new
transportation to and from of the measures. HSW policy.
Canada. Saudi action Employers and recruit-
Ź Pay for the employ- As this developed, the ment agencies earlier op-
ee’s health coverage, where powerful Saudi National posed the reforms and raised
applicable, from the time of Recruitment Committee fears that these could push
arrival until the provincial (Sanarcom) in the Kingdom employers overseas to hire
health insurance is applied. of Saudi Arabia has fully HSWs from other countries,
Ź Agree that they would supported the Philippines’ thereby, easing out HSWs
terminate employment only package of reforms, to in- from the Philippines. With
for a just cause. clude raising the monthly POEA PR
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor FEATURES 13
FinancialProblem
Get that condo
Interested in buying and living in a condo-

with credit cards & bank loans ? ?

minium unit?
Not really a quick fix, but the Canada Mort-
gage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers AMIT BHATIA
the following facts and recommends steps to Credit Counsellor
help you make sure your new home will fit your
needs, preferences and price range.
Condo types IF
There are almost as many types of condos
as there are kinds of people who want to live in - All your income is going to pay bills.
them.
Residential condominiums can range from - Everyday there is fight & argument at home.
high- and low-rise apartment buildings to town- - You can not pick your own phone out of fear.
houses, duplexes, triplexes, single detached
homes, freehold plots or mixed-use condomini- - Creditors and collection agencies are calling you and they are
ums that include retail or commercial space. threatening to take legal action.
They can also feature a wide variety of char-
acteristics and amenities designed to suit almost - Your salary is being garnished.
any budget or lifestyle.
Good advice
► When shopping around for a new condo-
ONE SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR ALL YOUR DEBTS
minium, it is important to ensure that you are
aware of what is and what is not included in the THEN, WE CAN
purchase price. - reduce your debts to less than half,
For instance, are there amenities such as
pools and parking? How is access to such ame- - stop the interest right away,
nities paid for? Are finishes within the units
included in the purchase price? Are there other - save you from threatening phone calls,
charges over and above the purchase price you
- bring back your stress free family life,
should be aware of? Are utilities (gas, electric-
ity and water charges) covered in the monthly - stop the garnishment.
condominium fees or not?
All such questions must be considered to - And you will not lose your house and car.
ensure that you can compare the overall costs
associated with different condominiums.
► Every condominium also comes with its HERE IS WHAT SOME SATISFIED CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY ..........
own set of rules, regulations and by-laws. “I had six credit cards and was ing with Mr. Amit Bhatia, I felt very in huge debt. Credit Manage-
These can range from restrictions on the paying $550 per month. Bank did relaxed and he reduced my $34,000 ment Services reduced my debts
number of occupants allowed to live in each unit not give me consolidation loan debts to just half. Amazing .......... I which I am paying in interest-free
to limits on pets, noise, parking and times when because I had bad credit. Then can pick up my own phone now.” monthly installments now and I
certain amenities may be used. I met Mr. Amit Bhatia and he re- M.M. can keep my car.” E.J.
duced my loans and made one
These rules are designed to ensure that the
payment of just $200. I’ll be debt “After making us debt free, now Amit “My husband was so stressed with
condominium is properly operated and main- free in 36 months. Credit Manage- Bhatia helped us getting the mort- these credit card bills that once
tained. They can also help protect the rights of ment Services is the best place to gage. We are happy to move to our he forgot to stop at a red traffic
each owner and ensure that the living environ- contact when you have a money new house.” S.S. signal. Fortunately no accident
ment stays peaceful and harmonious. problem.” J.G. happened but I called Credit
To decide if you can live by these rules, “I went back home to get married, Management Services right away.
make sure to obtain and read a copy of them be- “I was afraid to pick my own then I had to go again because my Two weeks later my husband was
phone. I was so confused and mother got sick. Because of that I back to stressfree life.” M.A.
fore you make any firm decisions. stressed all the time that I didn’t had to borrow money from my credit
This information should be readily available know what to do, but after meet- cards and also, I lost my job. I was
from the seller, property manager, Board of Di-
rectors or the condominium’s governing docu-
ments.

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

► The boundaries of each individual unit
can vary considerably from one condo to an-
other.
Call for a free and confidential consultation

416-780-1020
In some condominiums, the boundaries of
your unit could end behind the interior drywall
of the dividing walls. In others, it might only go
as far as the wall’s center line.
This can be an important distinction, so find Head Office : 970 Lawrence Ave. West # 105 (Lawrence & Dufferin)
out where your ownership will end, especially if Toronto ON M6A3B6 (Located on the main floor in back of the building)
you’re planning to carry out any alterations or
renovations. Web : www.cmsgroup.ca
► For a freehold or bare or vacant land 3 convenient locations - Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough
condo, the individual unit encompasses the en-
tire house, including the exterior walls, roof and
even the land surrounding it. OFW money fails ... rates are in Luzon. But economic planning ing since the country post-
Before making a purchase, make sure you (From page 11) FIES data showed that secretary Santos empha- ed consistent higher GDP
understand exactly where your unit’s boundar- percent increase of households lifted poverty rates in the regions sized during the press brief- rates, said to have been fu-
ies will begin and end. out of poverty in regions with more increased, and that provin- ing that at least, the 32.9- eled by consumption that in
► Your condominium may also include some workers deployed abroad, the benefits cial poverty measures also percent poverty incidence turn was powered by remit-
“exclusive use common property elements.” to regional development “do not matter highlighted regional income rate in 2006 was lower than tances.
These are areas that are outside the boundar- to the worst-off as much as the better- disparities. the 33 percent rate in the Santos said the country’s
ies of your unit but reserved for the exclusive off.” Trying a conjecture, year 2000. GDP growth and improved
use of the unit owner. Pernia found out that regional de- Pernia discovered that had The number of individ- fiscal condition “provided
Common examples include balconies, park- velopment did not benefit low-income Filipinos stayed to work ual Filipinos who were poor us enough breathing space
ing spaces, storage lockers, driveways and front households as much as higher income within the country’s bor- might be lower in 2006 to spend more on social ser-
or rear lawns. families. ders, domestic remittances (26.9 million) compared to vices in the years ahead”.
While these spaces are for exclusive use, Six of the country’s ten poorest appeared to be “more wel- year 2000 figures (27.5 mil- Santos said the rise of
there may be restrictions on how and when you provinces are in Mindanao, while prov- fare-enhancing for the poor lion). poverty incidence was “an
can use them. inces with the lowest poverty incidence than are international remit- Still, the number of income distribution issue,”
For example, you may not be able to park tances.” Filipino families who were even while the Philippines
a boat, RV or commercial vehicle in your as- regarding what you want to do with any Remittances could be poor rose: 4.7 million in continued to receive bil-
signed parking spot, or there may be restrictions of your common property elements, try good for the poor, “but even 2006 versus 4.2 million in lion-dollar remittances from
on what you can place on your balcony. to clear it up before you sign on the dot- better for the less poor and 2000, FIES data showed. OFWs. OFW Journalism
If you feel there may be a potential conflict ted line. PR better-off,” Pernia added. The increase was glar- Consortium
14
Welcome aboard, Mario ...
(From page 8)
tra step from the reception,
having had my own experi-
ences in the past from other
organizations.
Because Gie and I were
to be seated at the PCCT
table, we divided our time
between the PPCO and
PCCT tables, where at the
latter table, Nita Abalos-Re-
jdik asked Gie who were we
with at the other table.
Gie explained that they
were our colleagues in the
media whom ANCOP Can-
ada president Ricky Cuenca
provided a courtesy table;
in this case, not only a cour-
tesy table, but a very courte-
ous reception as well.
Nita responded with
a very surprised, but im-
pressed tone: “Really!”
Nita’s tone seemed like
this was the first time she
heard that media members
are supposed to be given
such courtesy; in this case,
“such very cordial cour-
tesy”.
Nita is a member of the
board of directors of the
PCCT and the Filipino Cen-
tre Toronto.
May I reiterate, Ricky,
and to all of you at ANCOP
Canada: This was not only
very heartwarming for us in
the media, but works well
for your organization, too.
PEOPLE & EVENTS
While an agreement has
yet to be arrived at by any,
or all public relations so-
cieties on the valuation of
publicities (as opposed to
press releases), let me give
you my own valuation.
If one of those media
representatives present last
Saturday would give you
one inch in a column in
his or her article pegged at
$15, multiply this with just
5,000 for a conservative es-
timate of the copies read in
circulation, an organization
which has earned a public-
ity has already saved paid
advertisement of $75,000 in
one issue.
Let’s give the 5,000 cop-
ies a pass-on readership of,
conservatively, three, and
the organization has already
saved $225,000.
Thus, consider this
amount to work in favor
of ANCOP Canada in ex-
change for the $180 it spent
for the meals of the six
media representatives who
were present.
My valuation was even
very conservative, putting
only an output from one
media representative; and
there were six of them.
Only six because Gie
and I paid our tickets as del-
egates of the PCCT.
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
A missionary among the Mushau Innu of Labrador
“We had a joyful and blessed celebration of the Holy Week in the forest camp of the Mushau Innu,”
thus says Filipino-Canadian missionary Fr. Nestor Silva, OMI (3rd from left, foreground), who has been
in this mission in Labrador for quite sometime. “The camp was made up of about 40 to 50 canvas tents
with a little cross sewn on top of the entrance of every tent. The biggest tent of about 10’x15’ with two
small wood-fired furnaces served as the makeshift church. On Holy Tuesday, the men went hunting
and brought back some caribou, ptarmegan and porcupine. I had to make some adjustments in the
liturgy to fit the setting and the atmosphere of the place and the people,” Fr. Silva narrates.
Of course, it’s not only
ANCOP doing this.
beauteous Rosemer).
To other organizations
www. FinancialProblem.ca
with credit cards and bank loans
I could openly say that “inviting” media to cover
the Philippine Indepen- their events, and charging Too many loans & credit cards?
dence Day Council (PIDC) them for the dinner tickets, Paying too much interest?
likewise gives this courtesy shame on you! Afraid to pick up your own phone?
to the media (but I have to Looking for consolidation?
stress that this happened Respect Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
only during the term of in-
cumbent Jun Enverga with begets CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
the support from his board,
and of course, wife - the
respect. 416-780-1020
“Let your light shine before men in such a way
that they may see your good works and glorify
your father who is in heaven.”
MATTHEW 6:16
To all gifted photographers out there who have the third eye
in capturing photos that reflect a Christian message, there is a
Christian Fellowship of talented photographers that awaits you.
They are Photographers For Christ who use the art of photography
in spreading the word of God.
Listen to your hearts, the Holy Spirit is calling you.
Pick up your camera and follow us.
PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR CHRIST
www.the-3rd-eye.com
photographersforchrist@gmail.com
APRIL 2008 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR 15
16 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008

Green Team cops CFC cage crown

League raises funds for GK777
The Green Team copped the participation of teams by back-to-back champi-
the recently concluded from Toronto’s east and ons White Team headed by
2007 Couples for Christ west ends. Ed Hilario and Boy David.
(CFC) basketball tourna- CFC league commis- The new champions Green
ment played at the Mother sioner Chito Navarro said Team is headed by Manny
Theresa Catholic School in that besides being a fund- Cruz and Jon Cruz.
Scarborough. raiser, the tournament had The championship tro-
On its third year, the developed closer brotherly phy donated by GBDavid
winter basketball league relationships among players Insurance Aganecy Ltd. is
has raised some $3,000 to and their families. a revolving trophy which
$4,000 yearly to help build The Durham Grey Team stays for one year with the
houses for the poor in the with team leaders Navarro current champion. The team
Philippines for Gawad Ka- and Jon Amante were the who would win the champi-
CFC 2007 CAGE TOURNEY CHAMPS: Green team members (standing, from linga or GK777. first champion in 2004. onship three times would
left) Jun Vega, Wendell Gadon, Russell Montemayor, Paulo Zenarosa, Diony Since its inception in The following years get the permanent trophy.
Masangcay, Lerwin Reyes, (front, from left) Ronnie Dela Gana, John Aster, 2004, the league has seen 2005 and 2006 were won PR
Jon Cruz, and Nelson Gambol flash the No. 1 sign in jubilation. Not in picture
are Manny Cruz and Steven Arboleda. PR Co-workers fete retiree Cora Calixterio

Cora Calixterio (center, front row), until recently with the Legal Services
Branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General, is feted by friends at a gath-
ering at Red Lobster (Atrium on Bay). With her are husband Dom Calixterio,
and co-workers Willi Singson, Josie del Rosario, Cora Tanaka, Elma Sparkes,
Nitz Sarmiento, Cesar Dacanay, Pat Sayo, and Rose Salvani. TONY SICAT

OAC funds multicultural arts programs

The Ontario Arts Coun-
cil (OAC) has opened ap-
plications for over 50 pro-
grams available to support
the arts by people of diverse
cultural backgrounds.
Applications could be
submitted for the Access
and Career Development
program before May 1.
The program has funded
professional development
and skill-building oppor-
tunities advancing artistic
work and careers.
“The program is an
important access point for
artists and arts administra-
tors experimenting with the
many different approaches
to professional develop-
ment and training,” said
Sara Roque, acting Aborigi-
nal Arts Officer and Officer
responsible for Northern
Arts, Access, and Career
Development Programs.
“The program allows
artists to create their own
self determined path to fur-
ther their artistic and ad-
ministrative development
and/or creation at any stage
of their careers – emerging,
mid, or senior level,” Roque
said.

Artists’ group plan for Ayala exhibit

PACKAGES WITH
DJ & CHOREOGRAPHER
AVAILABLE

Philippine Artist Group members (back row, from left) Dunluna, Nellie Bautis-
ta, Nelia Tonido, Frank Tonido, Jun Afable, (front row, from left) Cobie Cruz,
Omel Masalunga, (not in picture) Romi Mananquil, Toots Quiachon and Dong
Magalona recently met to plan their 2nd group show at the Ayala Museum in
Makati, the Philippines from April 29 to May 12 in celebration of the group’s
20th anniversary. PR
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 17
Spring dance to
raise funds for
RP flag raising
The Philippine Independence Day Flag-
Raising Committee is inviting the commu-
nity and friends to its Spring Dance at the
halls of Branch 11, Royal Canadian Legion
ion Toronto on May 10, starting 6 p.m.
A press release from the Philippine
Consulate General’s Office says the dance
is conducted to raise funds for the annual
Philippine flag raising activity at Nathan
Phillips Square on June 12, when the coun-
try celebrates its Independence Day anni-
versary.
The committee consists of Filipino-Ca-
nadian associations and is a major partner
of the Philippine Consulate General in com-
memorating the historical event. PR

KOR promotes 3
to Knight officers
The Knights of Rizal (KOR) Degree
Team has promoted three members to
Knight Officers of Rizal.
GTA KOR area commander and team
leader Joe Damasco said those promoted
were Josef Widjaya, Mario Paler and Rolly
Palma.
Meanwhile, KOR Canada region deputy
commander George Poblete said the Region
Assembly has been set in Toronto from Aug.
29 to Sept. 1. PR

Mama Ching
Quejas heads
KCCC anew
Members of the Kalayaan Cultural Com-
munity Centre in Mississauga have elected
Mama Ching Quejas to a third straight two-
year term as president, during the commu-
nity organization’s March 16 polls.
Besides Mama Ching, members of the
board who were voted as officers were Luis
Carbonell, executive vice president; Edgar
Frondozo, vice president for programs ad-
ministration; Estelita Liwag, secretary; Pete
Carin, treasurer; Nestor Perez, auditor and
Romulo Sinajon, PRO.
Other elected members of the board in-
cluded Ruffy Romano, Delfin Palileo, Char-
ity Lim, Mayette Balbastro, Archie Ayala,
alex Sales and Belle Tumbokon. PR

RemitX opens Philippine service

The First Global Data
Corp. (FGDC), with com-
munity partner Global
Xpress, will start on April
26 its international money
remittance service, RemitX,
to the Philippines.
RemitX is a technology
that took over three years to
develop, says Andre Itwaru,
FGDC CEO.
RemitX is compliant
with new federal laws and
“we are thrilled to be recog-
nized in ethnic communities
as a trusted and reputable
brand in delivering interna-
Miss Kalayaan ‘08 candidates tional money transfer ser-
vices,” Itwaru adds.
Who will be Miss KALAYAAN 2008? Will it be (from left) Natalie Rafael, Jovy The Proceeds of Crime
Ann Canape, Ruth Boston, Shia Romero or Rachel Pantaleon? The five final- (Money Laundering) and
ists will have their Talent Presentation on May 10 at the Kalayaan Cultural Terrorist Financing Act
Community Centre (KCCC) in Mississauga, says Kalayaan 2008 chair Ralf mandates strict guidelines
Logatoc. The coronation night will be on May 24, at the same venue. The in reporting and auditing,
pageant is sponsored by KCCC and the Filipino Seniors of Mississauga. that must be adhered to by
JOE DAMASCO all money remitters effec-
tive end-June.
The RemitX System is
designed to be fully com-
pliant with all regulations
in Canada, the U.S.A. and
other jurisdictions RemitX
is operating.
Through the market-
ing and outreach efforts of
Global Xpress, FGDC has
acquired trusted agents -
the Bank of the Philippine
Islands (BPI) and Banco
de Oro - to provide RemitX
services.
RemitX users can send
money for pick up at any
BPI and partner payout lo-
cations.
They may also have
funds deposited to any bank
in the Philippines.
Home delivery service
is also available.
RemitX services are
available in Guyana and
Jamaica at a low $7.99 per
money transfer.
Sending money can be
done through a RemitX
agent, online through the
RemitX website, or by
phone.
First Global Data Corp.
is a financial services
company that has devel-
oped secure and compliant
world-class technology in
Toronto’s financial services
sector for over 20 years.
Global Xpress was cre-
ated as a communications
vehicle to drive RemitX’s
marketing efforts to the
Filipino community across
Canada, the U.S.A. and the
Philippines.
It is an alliance of Filipi-
no community leaders Ted
Dayno from Forex-Toronto
and Virgil Ignacio from
Global Reach Canada. PR
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor 19
20 Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008

Faith-driven GK: Long way to go

(From page 4)
asked GK to speed up the
completion of the village
“so we could start with a
new one” out of donations
to be asked during the an-
nual PIDC Mabuhay Festi-
val in July.
Overdue projects
But Cuenca admit-
ted that some GK projects
bankrolled by Canada-based
groups had been “overdue.”
A factor slowing down
project completion was lack
of volunteer labor, he said.
While GK stressed on
sweat equity, beneficiaries
have to go to jobs to live.
Some urged that proj-
ects be awarded to contrac-
tors, but “the GK program
is not a dole-out. The sense
of bayanihan (community
cooperation) should keep it
going,” he added.
Higher costs
Cuenca also announced
that effective April 1, the
cost of putting up a GK
house has increased from
C$1,800 to C$2,300.
But Cuenca clarified the
valuation resembled only
the cost of materials, which
prices have gone up too “in
an oil-dependent Philippine
economy.”
Unseen value
The monetary value of a
two-bedroom painted con-
crete edifice with kitchen
and bath and a rustproofed
roof was important, but the
unfactored valuation was
most relevant, he said.
This included donated
land and volunteer labor;
and teeming opportunities
to live a more decent life
for beneficiaries once they
have a home.
Other issues
Cuenca downplayed the
possible involvement of GK
leaders in politics, either in
joining future elections or
influencing leaders.
He also said GK has made
sure that land donated for
its villages were idle and
in accordance with zoning
programs of local govern-
ment units.

POEA, Alberta police charge rogue ...

(From page 5)
with very onerous terms
contrary to the terms in the
contract approved by the
Canadian government.
Baldoz said JFG has
been known to have col-
lected very high placement
fees from Filipino workers
it recruited directly from
United Arab Emirates.
In Canada, collection of
recruitment fees from em-
ployees has been deemed
a criminal offense punish-
able by a minimum fine of
$100,000 or imprisonment
or both.
POEA earlier ordered
licensed recruiters to stop
collecting placement fees
from workers bound for
the Canadian provinces of
Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, and Saskatch-
ewan.
Licensed agencies
The POEA said the list
of licensed recruitment
agencies authorized to re-
cruit and deploy Canada-
bound Filipino workers
included 21st Century Man-
power, APEX- Agency for
Pinoy Excellence, Archan-
gel Global Solutions, Inc.,
Augustin International Cen-
ter, Inc., Best One Interna-
tional Services & Consul-
tancy, Inc.,
Bison Management
Corp., BM Skyway General
Services & Trading, Cata-
ma Placement Agency, Inc.,
Centaur Int’l Manpower,
EDI-Staffbuilders Int’l,
Inc., Excel Green Kard Int’l
Inc., FIL-HR Manpower
Development Services Spe-
cialist Corp. and Finest Asia
Resources, Inc.
These agencies have
POEA-approved job orders
and are permitted to recruit
OFWs for Canada.

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Int’l. Women’s Month Pharmaceutical Training Material, Corporate ,
Philippne Army Non-Profit & Labour Relations Press Releases
Municipality of San Pedro, Laguna ● NEW MEDIA
National Housing Authority Text on Health, Elections, Education, Non-Profit Org. sites
● A/V TRAINING, PROMO & MARKETING MATERIALS ● RADIO-TV PRODUCTIONS
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Historical, various consumer RTV Commercials Non-Profit Artistic Organization
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor 21
22
Ooops & Bloops:
Sanity amended
means ‘Express’.”
Ah! ‘Yon naman pala,
e. Sana sinabi mo agad sa
lahat.
***
Some viewers asked
me once why the band
members, led by guitar-
ist par excellence Mon
Torralba of the “Hotdog”
fame, wear shaded glasses
in their on cam perfor-
mances in TV program
Filipino, Eh! (airing 8-
9 AM, Saturdays on A
Channel, Cable 20.
My reply, “I know the
Roundabout: Ads targetting ...
(From page 8)
thrill in shopping at an early
age, balking at the idea of
wearing fashion from last
season, cajoling parents into
stretching their allowances
because they must have the
niftiest toys and trendiest
gadgets on offer.
Failing that, they feel
miserable and incomplete
as persons.
It is the way ads are
skewed toward kids to make
them blue blooded consum-
ers that we should guard
against.
By their nature, TV ads
are attractive, concise and
arresting. It is as though
advertising was created for
children and not for adults.
Notice how toddlers stop
what they are doing the in-
stant a TV ad comes on.
The purported harm in-
flicted by direct advertising
on children is not so much
from the type of products it
promotes but from the fre-
quency, timing and form of
bedazzlement that the me-
dium employs.
One can peddle gum,
ice cream, novelty items
and toys the way traditional
street barkers do.
However, to compete
for attention among a crowd
that has become increasing-
ly deadened to traditional
ways and indifferent to
lackadaisical communica-
tion techniques, advertisers
now resort to a variety of
tactics to entrap the target
buyer, make him listen to
the sales pitch, convince
him to part with his money
and keep him loyal.
How to effectively do
this in only fifteen or thirty
seconds of expensive air-
time is by far the most chal-
lenging thing these days;
next only perhaps to filling
a chip the size of a mosquito
with gazillions of data ad
information.
The battle of ads on
Philippine television is en-
gaging.
Many of today’s ads are
a joy to watch because they
are able to squeeze in so
much sense and emotion in
a short period.
The battle for recall is
(From page 7)
answer, but I won’t tell
you. It’s up to you to fig-
ure it out.”
***
Marketing Daily recent-
ly carried an item that read,
“La Senza’s new Extreme
Weightless bra collection is
the centerpiece of the lin-
gerie brand’s latest national
advertising campaign.”
Hhhmmm. I had always
thought that the centerpiece
in this thing are Ob-La-Di,
Ob-La-Da.
***
Agence France Press
waged so that the memory
of the product and its sup-
posed attributes should lin-
ger until we hit the shelf.
Nowhere is this war
more true than in products
peddled with children as di-
rect or indirect targets.
Chips, ice cream, milk,
toothpaste, lotions and oth-
er beauty products, toys,
gadgets, even mobile phone
services and coffee are now
aimed at hapless Filipinos
under 18!
When perusing an ad
addressed to kids therefore,
it helps to assess the effort
poured into ensuring that
the message is transmitted
instantly and fruitfully to a
finicky child.
It helps to understand
what sort of visual, sensory
or psychological trickery
was employed to capture
the kid’s imagination, send
him into a fit of desire and
trigger the internal mecha-
nism that makes him switch
on his “pester powers” to
acquire the product.
Meanwhile, many Fili-
pino parents complain that
ads meant for adults find
their way even in what
should ordinarily be sacred
segments such as the chil-
dren’s hour.
Trailers of upcoming
films with adult content and
ads that sell products in-
tended for adult use end up
being screened in animation
and cartoon features, often-
times because these are the
spots that are sold cheapest
to advertisers.
Sometimes, a broadcast
channel has to fulfill an ad-
vertising contract that stipu-
lates a certain number of
exposures for his product.
To fill the quota, the ads
are carelessly placed where
there are lots of open space.
Because children’s pro-
grams do not sell well, it is
wide open for ads that could
not be accommodated in
popular segments.
That explains why par-
ents shriek during what
should be innocuous and in-
nocent viewing hours.
It is therefore a wonder
why the denizens of the ad-
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
news dispatch on April 11:
Thai farmers guard fields
as rice prices soar.
I think, they are on
the right track, otherwise,
their landlords might sell
the lands for conversion
into housing subdivisions,
just like those in the Phil-
ippines.
***
In the 70s, Satur Ocam-
po, now a party list member
of the Philippine legisla-
ture, campaigned against
the U.S.’ involvement in
Philippine affairs.
Now, Ocampo flew to
Canada seeking Canada’s
involvement in Philippine
affairs. Reference is Manila
Media Monitor story this is-
sue on page 6.
***
Corporations operat-
ing for profit, and those
which are non-profit, have
the following as their gov-
erning laws and rules:
First, their own con-
stitution and by laws, for
as long as they do not con-
travene the laws of the
land where they operate;
second, the resolutions
passed by the board and
committee rules (for as
long as they do not con-
travene the provisions of
their own constitution);
third, the Corporations
Act passed by the legisla-
ture of the territory where
these organizations oper-
ate.
Commentary: The PMO and libel chill
(From page 9)
graphic mission.
Darwin left England
with the thought that on re-
turn, he’d enter the clergy
but he came back with a
burning desire to know as
much as he could of the
natural history of the world
around him.
In 1839 he published his
memoirs of this journey in
The Voyage of the Beagle.
The exhibit takes us
through Darwin’s life from
childhood to deathbed.
Scorned by his father but
encouraged by his grand-
parents Josiah Wedgewood
and Erasmus Darwin, he
found the courage to pursue
his interests.
The Beagle had taken
him to the mysterious Gala-
vertising industry, presum-
ably parents too and very
well educated, oftentimes
fail to factor in child-sensi-
tivity and responsibility in
many of their projects.
The clarion call of the
peso and the stress on the
bottom line have sadly
taken over many advertis-
ing consciences and value
systems.
Broadcasters have also
joined the bandwagon.
The biggest casualty,
like in any war, is the in-
nocent. maghatol@yahoo.
com
On April 15, PPCO
Treasurer Mogi Moga-
do wrote to the PPCO
Membership Committee:
“Please resolve by email
the status of Edwin Mer-
curio (previous member
was inactive last 2 years).
He wants to be activated
and has paid his dues.
Will you accept him as a
Regular Member & if so
allow him to vote?”
The Committee Vice
Chair, Philippine Cou-
rier Publisher Mon Da-
tol writes: “To all, what-
ever we approved on the
membership committee
meeting must stand par-
ticularly on the status of
Edwin Mercurio. Please,
refer to the minutes of
the membership meeting
already approved by the
board.”
Mon clearly based his
decision from the commit-
tee meeting’s resolution.
Ex-officio commit-
tee member and PPCO
president Tenny Soriano
commented: “Correction
please: Edwin Mercurio
is not an inactive mem-
ber. He is in fact a regular
member and has been at-
tending PPCO events. He
is with the Philippine Re-
porter. However, Hermie
has been trying to get in
touch with him and I fi-
nally saw him last April
13 and paid his dues. With
his case, I am deferring
pagos Islands where the bi-
zarre agglomeration of flora
and fauna first ignited a
spark in Darwin that would
lead to his theory.
At the ROM, live igua-
nas and giant tortoises are
still startling enough in
their appearance to convey
Darwin’s amazement.
We learn how he shared
a tiny cabin with two ship’s
officers on a vessel only 30
metres in length.
A lifesize replica of the
foredeck, complete with
steering wheel stands in
front of a projected seascape
with rolling waves.
There’s a replica of
Darwin’s study at his home
which includes one of his
personal microscopes. And
to accent the humanity of
the scientist, we learn of his
grief at the death of a son.
The Darwin exhibit is a
must for all who respect the
heights to which the human
mind, unhampered by the
baggage of tradition and su-
perstition, can climb.
All the more reason to
comment on the reluctance
of large corporations to
sponsor this exhibit, chilled
no doubt by the thought of
offending those who still
believe the earth is only
6,000 years old.
The Humanist Associa-
tion of Canada. the United
CEMA Speaker’s Series
Marian Walsh, President and CEO, and
Heather Gilley, Vice President, Medicine,
of Canada’s first healthcare organization
dedicated solely to the prevention and
management of Complex Chronic Disease
will be guest speakers during the Canadian
Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) Speaker
Series meeting at the Majestic Boardroom
at OMNI-TV on May 1.
this to the entire member-
ship committee to decide
and whatever decision is
reached, I will relay it to
Hermie and Edwin.”
Hhhmmm. Very well.
I say, that Tenny submits
the matter to the resolu-
tion of the membership
committee in accord with
the PPCO constitution.
Taliba Publisher Rolly
Cabrera - also a member
of the committee wrote:
“Hello Mogi, Majority
decided ... let him in to
vote.”
Hhhmmm … so far, so
good. Rolly shows respect
on the majority decision,
therefore in accord with
the governing rules of the
PPCO.
Talakayan Radio Host
and Producer Jess Cabrias
- another member of the
committee wrote: “I wel-
come the return of Edwin
Mercurio, his name is on
the crew box and there-
fore a regular member. I
need the help of everyone
to bring back sanity to the
organization.”
Church Observer, Blyth
Academy and ZINC Re-
search have, to their credit,
supported Darwin, the Evo-
lution of Revolution which
runs until August 4.
***
The “Obamagate” state-
ment from Prime Minister
Harper’s chief-of-staff Ian
Brodie and another from
Ambassador Michael Wil-
son are just two more exam-
ples of the tiresome round
of Conservative diplomatic
gaffes we have witnessed
since 2006.
According to the Ca-
nadian Oxford Dictionary,
“diplomacy” means skill
or tact in handling negotia-
tions and it certainly seems
the Harper regime has been
acting in blind ignorance of
these qualities.
A federal court has
permitted Canadian Army
personnel in Afghanistan
to continue to hand over de-
tainees to Afghan police in
spite of their reputation for
torture of prisoners.
Both foreign affairs
minister Maxime Bernier
and the former incumbent,
gaffemeister Peter MacKay
have been unable to change
Maher Arar’s security sta-
tus on the U.S watch list
and have proved miserable
failures in communicating
Canadians’ concern about
To my good friend,
Edwin Mercurio: P’re, I
think you will not be able
to vote in the PPCO elec-
tion for several years for
two reasons.
First, the PPCO has to
amend its constitution to
include that those whose
names appear in the
‘crew’ box are considered
regular members; second,
until sanity is back to the
organization.
The first is easy to do,
but the second is hard be-
cause one cannot bring
sanity to something which
is not possessed of senses.
Only the people com-
posing the PPCO are pos-
sessed of senses (at least
most of them).
But if the latter are
possessed of senses, I’m
sure they would not en-
shrine in the constitution
the first, otherwise, those
reading the PPCO con-
stitution after its amend-
ment would say that san-
ity needs to be brought
back to those people who
amended it.
the handling of the Omar
Khadr case.
At a time when the po-
litical future of the United
States hinges on three
people, Clinton, Obama
and McCain, our diplomats
should be making courtesy
visits to all three, speaking
up for Canada and diplo-
matically letting them know
that with the inauguration of
a new president in 2009, we
hope to see the beginning of
a new era in relationships
between our two nations.
For instance, we should
let them know the frequent
criticisms of both Ambas-
sador Wilkins and his pre-
decessor Celucci have not
been models of tact and
diplomatic skill, but then
neither has the behaviour
of their boss whose per-
formance in these areas in
a “nukelar” age rates a big
zero both for intelligence
and tact.
(Used with permis-
sion. Ben Viccari is the
President of the Canadian
Ethnic Media Associa-
tion [CEMA] and makes
frequent appearances on
OMNI TV Commentary.
Some of his commentar-
ies 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)
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES 23
Jesuit priest bares NBN-ZTE

COLLUSION
ILOILO CITY - Jesuit priest Fr. Ro-
meo Intengan has bared a deep collusion
between Senator Panfilo Lacson, former
House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jose De
Venecia III and whistleblower Rodolfo
Lozada in connection with the NBN-ZTE
scandal that has lately rocked Philippine
politics.
“From the very start in October 2006,
Joey, who wanted to win the broadband
project for his firm, his father and Lozada
were working closely together to bag the
contract,” Intengan told the Rotary Club of
Iloilo at the Hotel del Rio here.
Intengan, head of the Center for Strate-
gic Studies, played a recorded phone talk
between Lozada and the younger de Vene-
cia.
“Lozada deliberately set-up the Ar-
royo administration for condemnation by
the public, by pretending to flee overseas
for fear of appearing before the Senate, but
actually plotting to return and subsequently
behave and speak in such a way as to make
it appear that the administration is forcing
him not to testify at Senate hearings, to the
extent of kidnapping him,” Intengan said.
There were good reasons to believe
that the ongoing attempt to overthrow the
Arroyo administration through a media-
driven “revolution by impression” is being
orchestrated by Lacson with whom the de
Venecias and Lozada have decided to ally
with, he added.
Intengan said he had no political side or
inclination.
But the collusion has spawned severe
political divisions in the country; and the
political crisis had began as a struggle for
commissions in private transactions be-
tween the ZTE, Amsterdam Holdings,
owned by the young de Venecia, and former
Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos.
The crisis has since been expanded and
soon became a struggle for political state
dominance between President Gloria Ma-
capagal-Arroyo and the de Venecia family
with the destabilization and ouster of the
President orchestrated by Lacson, he said.
Writ of habeas data
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued
a writ of habeas data in the petition Jose
De Venecia III filed on March 26 to stop
state officials and agencies from carrying
out wire-tapping and surveillance activities
over his private communications and pub-
licly airing illegally obtained recordings.
Respondents included Armed Forces
Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon,
National Police Director-General Avelino
Razon, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and for-
mer elections chair Benjamin Abalos.
In his petition, De Venecia prayed that
Enrile be deterred from publicly airing sup-
posed wiretapped conversations that would
discredit his testimony relating to the Na-
tional Broadband Network-Zhong Xing
Telecomunications Equipment (NBN-ZTE)
deal that is under investigation by the Sen-
ate.
He likewise asked that respondents
be ordered to desist from committing any
other act that constituted the unjustified and
unwarranted invasion of his constitutional
right to security and privacy. With PNA
and Supreme Court PR

Coming soon: Drug vs dengue,

TB from snails, sea sponges
MANILA - Filipino
scientists have embarked
on a P215.5-million (US$3-
million) program to derive
from sea sponges and snails
a drug that could cure tuber-
culosis, dengue and bacte-
rial infection.
The initiative came after
the discovery by US-based
Filipino scientist Baldome-
ro Olivera of a pain killer
extracted from Philippine
cone snails. The US- and
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hands over to Sumilao farmer Rene Pe- Europe-approved marine
ñas a copy of the memorandum of agreement between San Miguel Corp. drug is Prialt or Ziconotide.
(SMC) and Sumilao farmers on the settlement of the Sumilao land case in “Our chance of finding
Bukidnon, as SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang and legal counsel Wil- a novel anti-pain drug from
fredo Peñaflor look on. ENRICO BORJA-OPS/NIB Photo turrids is very great,” said
Gisela Concepcion, a Uni-
country. It is ranked highest
in the world and is mostly
untapped,” she said.
Pharmaseas, the De-
partment of Science and
Technology (DOST) and
UP have agreed to jointly
develop anti-infective drugs
from marine microorgan-
isms and anti-pain drugs
from turrid snails through
marine biotechnology re-
search and development.
Targeted were antibiot-
ics and other anti-infective
drugs, particularly a cure
for the new TB strain.
“This is something all
Filipinos can greatly benefit
from since in the end, medi-
cines will be cheaper there-
fore more accessible to the
public,” said DOST Secre-
tary Estrella Alabastro.
Concepcion also assured
that the program would not
exploit nor destroy the Phil-
ippines’ marine ecosystem.
“PharmaSeas will not
only explore new drugs
from the sea but will also
contribute to documentation
and conservation of Philip-
pine marine biodiversity,”
she said.
Concepcion added that
sea sponges have high mu-
tation rates while turrids
were highly abundant in the
local seas. PNA

Sumilao farmers get versity of the Philippines

back ancestral land
MANILA - The 12-
year struggle of farmers to
regain what they claimed
as ancestral lands in Baran-
gay San Vicente, Sumilao,
Bukidnon is over.
The farmers got back
their “promised land” on
March 29 after San Miguel
Corp. (SMC) yielded to the
farmers the disputed land.
A memorandum of
agreement (MOA) to this
effect was signed by SMC
officials Ramon Ang and
Fransisco Alejo; Sumilao
farmers’ representatives
Samuel Merida, Larry
Carejo, Mercy Serona,
and Napoleon Merida Jr.;
Secretary Conrado Lim-
caoco, Jr. for the Office of
the President and Secretary
Nasser Pangandaman for
the Department of Agrarian
Reform.
Signing as witnesses
were Manila Archbishop
Gaudencio Cardinal Ro-
sales, Bishop Broderick Pa-
billo, and lawyers Christian
Monsod, Arlene Bag-ao and
Wilfredo Peñaflor.
The MOA said 19 land-
less farmers would benefit
from 50 hectares within the
contested 144-hectare prop-
erty through a SMC deed of
donation.
The other 94 hectares
would be distributed to
farmers through a Voluntary
Offer to Sale under the gov-
ernment’s Comprehensive
(To page 34)
(UP) professor.
“Our marine environ- www. FinancialProblem.ca
ment is home to 32 out of
the 34 phyla of organisms,
and home to over 12,000
with credit cards and bank loans
Too many loans & credit cards?
Paying too much interest?
species of turrids,” said Afraid to pick up your own phone?
Concepcion, also head of Looking for consolidation?
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24 Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor
Mini fire vehicles ok for
quick first alarm response
MANILA - Firetrucks
arriving late at a fire scene
simply because these could
not maneuver well on nar-
row city streets would soon
be a thing of the past.
Filipino inventor Anto-
nio Andes Sr. has designed
a motorcycle-driven mini
fire vehicle to serve as first
response to a fire alarm.
Andes said the mini fire
vehicle is run by a 150cc
motorcycle and is fitted
with a high pressure water
pump, and gadgets such
as the siren, floodlight, ax,
ladder, water hose and two-
way radio, among others.
The Bureau of Fire Pro-
tection reported 9,042 fire
incidents nationwide in
2007, incurring P2.2 billion
worth of properties lost. A
third of the incidents hap-
pened in Metro Manila.
The mini fire vehicle
could hold 100 to 200 gal-
loons of water in its tank.
It was basically de-
signed to replenish its water
supply from the faucet in
the neighborhood or from
available and disposable
water from a river, creeks,
sea, lake, pool, etc.
Andes said the innova-
tion is intended to be sta-
tioned at barangay halls.
PNA
The PHILIPPINES 25
Lobregat
fumes over
US, Aussie
travel ad
ZAMBOANGA CITY
– Mayor Celso Lobregat
expressed dismay over
travel advisories the United
States and Australia issued,
asking its nationals to keep
off this city due to threats
to fopreigners being kid-
napped in the area.
Lobregat said the advi-
sories were very unfair, say-
ing a check with authorities
and the intelligence com-
munity showed there were
no such threats from ex-
tremist elements. PNA

Earth Hour saves Luzon 56mwh

MANILA - The Manila Electric
Company in Luzon saved as much as 56
megawatt hours (mwh) of energy during
the observance of Earth Hour on March
29, from 8 to 9 p.m.
The World Wide Fund for Nature
- Philippines, which spearheaded Earth
Hour, said the 56-mwh savings reduced
greenhouse gas emission by 30.7 tons.
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes cred-
ited the success of Earth Hour to the sup-
port of commercial establishments that
turned off their lights, billboards and sig-
nages during the worldwide initiative.
In Metro Manila, lights were switched
off and darkness loomed over the cities of
Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Makati, Man-
daluyong, Quezon, Caloocan and Mariki-
na and the town of San Juan. Earth Hour
was also observed nationwide.
“The Philippines is highly vulnerable
to the deadly effects of climate change,
specifically on settlements, food and wa-
ter supply, health and safety of communi-
ties,” Reyes said.
“The country’s observance of Earth
Hour is just the start of a coherent multi-
sector program of action to address glob-
al warming,” he said.
The Filipino people should go on
working together to save the planet, he
urged. PNA
26 TRAVEL & TOURISM Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008

12 of 32 featured Panaad town, city festivals

Negros Occidental’s April Photos from bacolodcity.gov.ph

Panaad: ‘Festival of Festivals’

Preparations are in high
gear for the 2008 Panaad,
dubbed the Festival of Fes-
tivals, in Negros Occiden-
tal, the Philippines from
April 26 to May 3.
Officials expect all 13
cities and 19 towns of the
province to spruce up theme
booths and send delegations
to showcase their individ-
ual native festivals at the
sprawling Panaad Park and
Stadium in Barangay Mans-
ilingan, Bacolod City.
As in the past, booths
will open with a wide dis-
play of history and culture,
native products including
processed food, personal
accessories and home fur-
nishings.
The stadium will again
spring to life as the Best of
Festival Dances competi-
tion among local govern-
ment units take centerstage.
Other activities include
the Panaad sports competi-
tion; Pop Idol; Banda Diri,
Banda Didto school con-
tests; Latin, pop and Neg-
rense folk dance contests;
Panaad Livelihood Skills
Olympics; songwriting
and on-the-spot painting
contest; Composo; and the
Puerto Princesa aims for RP
Search for Lin-ay sang Ne-
gros 2008 beauty pageant.
Beginnings
The Panaad (Hiligaynon
word for a vow and its ful-
fillment) Festival started in
1993, a thanksgiving cel-
ebration and a fulfillment
of a promise and vow made
to the Divine Providence in
exchange of a good life.
The first Panaad sa Ne-
gros Festival was a three-
day affair that began on
April 30, to recall that mo-
ment in 1901 when Negros
Occidental became a dis-
tinct province from Negros
Oriental. The separation
and incorporation of both
Negros provinces took ef-
fect on May 1, 1901.
The first four annual
Panaad festivals were con-
ducted at the provincial park
and lagoon fronting the pro-
vincial capitol, then moved
in 1997 to a reclaimed area
near where the Bredco Port
is today located.
The construction of the
Panaad stadium and swim-
ming complex in Mans-
ilingan, Bacolod City for
the Palarong Pambansa
(National Games) in 1998
paved the way for the es-
tablishment of the Panaad
Park as the permanent home
of the festival.
Renewing bonds
Negrenses look at the San Enrique’s BULANG-BULANG Cadiz City’s DINAGSA
Panaad Festival as more
than just a colorful and ju-
bilant presentation of their
history, arts and culture,
tourism, commerce, trade
and industry, presented in
capsule form at the 25-hect-
are eucalyptus tree-lined
Panaad Park.
Panaad has evolved
Victorias City’s KADALAG-AN D.S. Benedicto’s KALI-KALIHAN
into a big event that invites
everyone to initiate friend-
ships and renew bonds.
In recent years, the Pa-
naad Festival has attracted
more than 2.6 million Ne-
grenses, their balikbayan
(homecoming) relatives and
friends.
Kalibo airport Ilog’s KISI-KISI Moises Padilla’s MAGAYON
expansion starts
KALIBO, Aklan - Very
soon, upgrading the Kalibo
Airport to international air
service and tourism stan-
dards would be a reality.
Rep. Florencio Mira-
flores said work on the P80-
million airport terminal San Carlos City’s PINTA FLORES La Carlota City’s PASALAMAT
building expansion began
March 31.

Sports Tourism Capital title Miraflores said the

construction was part of a
Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn is look- P130-million grant the gov-
ing forward to transform Palawan’s premier tourist spot a ernment vowed to infuse for
haven for local and foreign outdoor sports enthusiasts. the airport’s upgrading.
Aiming to make Puerto Princesa the Sports Tourism This would be a big
Capital of the Philippines, Hagedorn said that “besides boost to Aklan’s thriving
its exotic islands, waterfalls, hot springs and the longest tourism industry, he said.
navigable underground river system in the world, Puerto Foreign and domestic Sigay City’s SINIGAYAN Bacolod City’s MASSKARA
Princesa also boasts of an international dive site along its tourists have considered
coast and mountain ranges suitable for hiking, biking and Aklan, known for its Bo-
mountain climbing.” racay Island beaches, as a
Hagedorn’s pronouncement came as the city has stepped premier destination.
up preparations in hosting the 2008 Palarong Pambansa Kalibo, capital of Ak-
(National Games) from April 20 to 26. lan, has been hosting inter-
“We hope that Puerto Princesa’s potentials as an inter- national flights from China
national sporting venue would be showcased when the na- and Incheon, South Korea,
tional games start,” Hagedorn said, following a successful and domestic flights ser-
hosting of an international motocross racing championship viced by Philippine Airlines
in February. PNA and Asian Spirit. PNA Manapla’s PINTA PUTO Valladolid’s HUMAY-HUMAY
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES 27
NEWS ROUNDUP
PWDs to man Dagupan hotline 324
DAGUPAN CITY - Seven persons with disability (PWDs) completed a two-month call
center training program, qualifying them to man the city’s hotline 324 at the city hall lob-
by. The call center is attached to the City Emergency Operations Center. The PWDs were
tapped, as the city government recognized their full potentials and believed they would be
big assets to society. PNA

Solon seeks books for remote schools

POLANGUI, Albay - Congressman Reno Lim (3rd district, Albay) has filed House Bill
711 urging the national government, through the Department of Education (DepEd), to
provide all public schools and libraries in remote villages nationwide with books on read-
ing, writing, arithmetic and good values. Lim said the bill has mandated DepEd to solicit
the books from domestic and foreign donors. He said the lack of books and the inacces-
sibility of schools and libraries have contributed largely on the weak educational system
in rural areas. PNA

Zambo airport improves operations

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Improved operations at the Zamboanga International Airport
(ZIA) is in the offing with the installation of a new baggage conveyor and two x-ray in-
spection machines mid-April. Air Transportation Office Manager Celso Bayabos said a
Singaporean firm is set to install the conveyor, bought from funds given by the Department
of Transportation and Communications. Supt. Ibar Padao, chiefof the Philippine Center
for Aviation Security, added that officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) would also come to inspect security facilities at the ZIA. JICA would donate the
x-ray inspection machines. PNA

Silay City honors women

SILAY CITY - The Council for Women and Family gave tribute to the city’s women who
have distinguished themselves in public service, in an event dubbed Padungog Sa Mga
Kababayenhan to culminate National Women’s Month on March 31. Recognized were
female government employees who rose from the ranks and have become division chiefs
or department heads, and those who have served the city for more than 30 years. Earlier,
local councils for women from the city’s 16 barangays had a parade. Later, 101 couples
from Barangay Mambulac exchanged nuptial vows in a mass wedding Silay Mayor Jose
Montelibano officiated. Women also took centerstage in Super Nanay 2008, a pageant on
what women could do for society. PIA

Sipalay City school donates rare birds

SIPALAY CITY - Two rare Rufous male hornbills (buceros hydrocorax) are now under
the care of the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation’s Biodiversity Conservation
Center in Bacolod City. The birds had been in the care of the Gil Montilla National High
School in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, for the past two years. Officials hoped the
male birds would mate with female Rufous hornbills at the center. The Rufous hornbill is
the largest bird of its kind in the country. It is endemic to the Philippines, especially in the
Luzon and Mindanao regions. PIA

Iloilo pursues Bantay Abuso project

ILOILO CITY - The city government has allocated P600,000 from its Gender and De-
velopment Program to put up Bantay Abuso (Guard Against Abuse) projects in 12 pilot
villages to help women and children who have fallen victims to domestic violence. Retired
city population officer Mary Edurese said the project is facilitated with the city council’s
Committee on Women and Family Relations. PNA

Ilocos Sur gives soldiers free health care

VIGAN CITY - Soldiers, and their dependents, assigned in Ilocos Sur may avail them-
selves of free health care services at the Gabriela Silang General Hospital here and in
seven district hospitals in the towns of Sinait, Magsingal, Narvacan, Sta. Lucia, Tagudin,
Salcedo and Cervantes. In an agreement recently entered into by the provincial govern-
ment and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the hospitals would not collect pay-
ment from hospitalized soldiers and their dependents on bills computed in excess of their
reimbursements from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Governor Deogracias Victor
Savellano initiated the pact with the AFP to promote greater collaboration of efforts, ser-
vices and resources in pursuing development programs. “The least the government can
do is to reciprocate by providing soldiers - the great heroes of our time - greater access to
health care, like hospitalization benefits,” he said. PNA

Alaminos ready to feed schoolchildren

ALAMINOS CITY - The city government would give out free lunch to some 12,000
pupils from preparatory grade to Grade VI three times a week starting in June as part of its
programs to raise the nutrition level of public school pupils. Mayor Hernani Braganza said
the program would go on until December, targeting only malnourished and underweight
schoolchildren. The pupils would be fed vegetables produced in the backyard gardens of
the residents. “We have asked every resident here to plant vegetables, raise pigs and poul-
try for their own food and to sell the extra to us so we can give it to the children covered
by the free lunch program,” Braganza said. PNA

TESDA Baguio grads get good jobs

BAGUIO CITY - Since 2006, firms here and abroad have hired 807 graduates of various
vocational courses from the regional training center of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA). The courses included those for industrial electricians;
pipe fitters; steel workers; shielded metal, gas tungsten, flux cord and gas metal arc weld-
ers. There were 36 graduates employed by the Atlantic Gulf and Pacific in Batangas, 45 by
the Subic Shipyard Engineering Inc. in Zambales, 467 by the Engineering Equipment Inc.
in Saudi Arabia and the rest by other local firms. PNA
 A vacationer enjoys nature in Majay-
jay, Laguna as he joins the horses
in a dip in cool flowing water from a
spring, shaded from the sun’s rays
by virgin forests.
Be cool! Hot summer ahead.
MANILA - Health Secretary Francisco
Duque III has cautioned people to be wary
of dehydration, heat strokes and summer
diseases, as high temperatures continued to
warm the entire archipelago.
Duque said people staying outdoors and
doing extraneous physical activities would
be very vulnerable to heat stroke in hot and
humid weather.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysi-
cal and Astronomical Services Administra-
tion (Pagasa) said the country recorded this
summer its hottest temperature yet.
On March 30, Metro Manila warmed up
at 34 degrees Celsius and Cabanatuan City,
36 degrees Celsius.
Heat stroke
When afflicted by a heat stroke, the
body is unable to ward off excessive heat
through sweating because of dehydration
and/or humid environment.
A person has warm and flushed skin,
faintness, dizziness, weakness and head-
ache when he has a heat stroke.
To avoid such, the public is advised to
drink lots of water, wear light and comfort-
able clothes, avoid exposure to too much
sunlight, use an umbrella or sunblock.
Summer illnesses
Duque also warned the public against
summer diseases like typhoid, diarrhea and
skin diseases like rashes and prickly heat.
He said high cases of water-borne dis-
eases could occur in summer due to con-
taminated pipes and low water pressure.
He also advised the public to observe
environmental cleanliness and to maintain
regular physical hygiene. PNA
28
Ocampo to Ottawa: Review aid to RP
(From page 6)
outright attacks and annihi-
lation by government troops
and agents.”
Ocampo also sought
the help of Ottawa to “call
on (Philippine President
Gloria-Macapagal) Arroyo
to immediately certify the
enactment of pending leg-
islations in Congress that
penalize enforced disap-
pearances, torture and de-
fine the command respon-
sibility of military officers
whose troops are involved
in the commission of such
offenses.”
Alston report
Ocampo told Members
of the Canadian Parliament
that the spate of extrajudi-
cial killings in the Philip-
pines occurred at alarming
levels in the past six years.
He said this was in a
report Prof. Philip Alston,
- UN special rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions - sub-
mitted to the world body on
Nov. 28, 2007.
Alston scrutinized two
“policy initiatives” of the
Arroyo government “of
special importance to un-
derstanding why the killings
continue,” Ocampo noted.
First was the military’s
counterinsurgency strat-
egy against the Communist
Party of the Philippines
(CPP), its political arm
National Democratic Front
and its armed arm New
People’s Army, that focused
on dismantling civil society
groups purported to be CPP
front groups, he said.
Second was the failure
of the criminal justice sys-
tem to arrest, convict, and
imprison those responsible
for extrajudicial executions,
partly due to a distortion of
priorities that had law en-
forcement officials focused
on prosecuting civil soci-
ety leaders rather than their
killers, he added.
Recommendations
Ocampo said the Alston
report recommended that:
► The President, as
Manila Media Monitor
commander-in-chief of the
armed forces, take con-
crete steps to stop aspects
of counterinsurgency op-
erations that have led to the
targeting and execution of
many individuals working
with civil society groups.
► Steps are taken to
ensure that the principle of
command responsibility,
as it is understood in inter-
national law, be a basis for
criminal liability within the
domestic legal order.
► Government direct
all military officers to cease
issuing public statements
linking political or civil
society groups to those en-
gaged in armed insurgency.
Ocampo, still citing the
Alston report, said such
characterizations belonged
solely within the power of
civilian authorities, should
be based on transparent cri-
teria, and conformed with
the human rights provisions
of the Constitution and rel-
evant treaties.
► Transparency should
be introduced to “orders of
battle”, “watchlists”, and
similar lists of individuals
and organizations main-
tained by the Philippine
military and police and oth-
er elements of the national
security system.
RP gov’t inaction
The Alston report also
recommended the abolition
of the Inter-Agency Legal
Action Group (ILAG).
The Filipino lawmak-
er said President Arroyo
formed ILAG on Jan. 17,
2006 “mainly to build and
file spurious charges of
rebellion and criminal of-
fenses against leaders and
members of people’s organi-
zations and political parties
critical of the government.
In fact, this representation
is a victim of these politi-
cally motivated trumped-up
charges.”
“None of these rec-
ommendations have been
carried out by the Arroyo
government ... Even the
APRIL 2008
government’s fact-finding
body, the Melo Commis-
sion, has recommended the
investigation of a notorious
military officer implicated
in the killings but no such
action has been taken to
date,” Ocampo said.
The Alston report “is
an argued rebuke on the
Arroyo government’s com-
plicity, through institutional
arrangements that have per-
mitted the killings to con-
tinue, and its failure to stop
them,” he added.
Fewer killings
Ocampo also told Ot-
tawa about the “noticeable
decline in the killings and
abductions, since the begin-
ning of 2008.”
He attributed this to ef-
forts of various groups “to
document cases and bring
these to the attention of the
United Nations, interna-
tional bodies, governments
and parliaments” that all
reponded with “strong in-
ternational criticisms on
and appeals to the Arroyo
government.
Also cited was the ini-
tiative of the Philippine
Supreme Court to institute
mechanisms for the protec-
tion of human rights through
the issuance of the Writ of
Amparo and the Writ of Ha-
beas Data.
But “the repeated an-
nouncements of President
Arroyo and the chief of
the Armed Forces of the
Philippines that they will
unrelentingly pursue the
counterinsurgency program
billed as Oplan Bantay Laya
until 2010 bodes continued,
or intensified, extrajudicial
killings, enforced disap-
pearances and other human
rights violations, Ocampo
said.
“Worse, the climate of
impunity continues to per-
vade in the country as the
perpetrators of the killings
and abductions remain scot
free. The victims and their
families continue to cry out
for justice,” he concluded.
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor 29

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30 CANADIAN HISTORY
Vimy Ridge:
Icon of
unity
The guns went silent. The dust
had cleared. Across seven kilome-
ters of a once peaceful but stra-
tegic ridge, some 200,000 brave
soldiers perished: French, British,
Canadian, and German.
Over 500,000 were wounded
and many more survived un-
scathed, to forever keep in mem-
ory a fierce armed engagement in
world War I called the Battle of
Vimy Ridge.
For veterans of the Canadian
Corps, April 9 to 12 in 1917 were
four days they would not forget.
More than a hard-fought
military victory, Vimy Ridge had
become the icon of unity, when
soldiers from all the then nine
provinces of Canada were repre-
sented in the order of battle of the
Canadian Corps and courageous-
ly fought side by side as a unit
against a common foe.
“In those few minutes, I wit-
nessed the birth of a nation” said
Brigadier General A.E. Ross later.
“Many historians and writers
consider the Canadian victory at
Vimy a defining moment for Can-
ada, when the country emerged
from under the shadow of Britain
and felt capable of greatness,” so
wrote Tim Cook in an article post-
ed at war museum.ca.
“Canadian troops also earned
a reputation as formidable, effec-
tive troops because of the stun-
ning success.”
But the victory was costly:
3,598 Canadians killed, another
7,004 wounded.
The mission
In October 1916, the newly-
formed Canadian Corps relieved
the British IV Corps posted along
Vimy Ridge’s western slopes.
The ridge had been under Ger-
man control since October 1914
and efforts to retake it were re-
pulsed by a strongly entrenched
and fortified German Sixth Army.
On Jan. 5, 1917, the orders
came in outlining Vimy Ridge as
the Canadian Corps objective, in
support of the British-led offen-
sive on the French city of Arras.
When the assault plan was ad-
opted by March 5, 1917, all four
Canadian divisions - for the first
time - were assembled in combat
as a corps.
The British 5th Infantry Divi-
sion joined in, bringing the corps’
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
Canada’s first official war artist Richard Jack vividly captures a scene in the Battle of Vimy
Ridge, a Canadian Corps offensive against the German 6th Army along the western front in
the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France from April 9 to 12, 1917. Canadian War Museum
nominal strength to about 170,000, objectives, including a very costly of attack and proved that the front
of whom 97,184 were Canadians. and harrowing victory on the lines could be moved forward
The attack highest point of the ridge known once more.
Preluded with a weeklong 24/7 as Hill 145. After the Battle of Vimy
artillery barrage that saw over a The success of the attack had Ridge, the Canadian Corps erected
million shells fired on German resulted from detailed planning a wooden cross atop the ridge, to
lines, the assault divisions of the and a variety of innovative tactics, honor the memory of the soldiers
Canadian Corps attacked by dawn to include what appeared to be a killed during the battle.
of April 9, an Easter Monday. dress rehearsal of military posi- The cross, later brought to
The first wave of about 15,000 tioning, coordinating and manage- and installed at the Citadelle of
Canadian troops attacked posi- ment set out in the assault plan. Quebec, had been lately replaced
tions defended by roughly 5,000 Battle after battle, thousands with the Canadian National Vimy
Germans, followed by the second died for gains measured in yards. Memorial, the largest of Canada’s
wave of 12,000 Canadians to meet The breakthrough at Vimy war monuments.
3,000 German reserves. Ridge had tremendous tactical The memorial site is tended
At the end of the day, all four significance: it relieved the city of by Veterans Affairs Canada. With
Canadian divisions had taken their Arras from the immediate threat Wikipedia
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor
The 10 Bornean datus have landed
For centuries, the peo-
ple of Antique province - in
Western Visayas, the Phil-
ippines - have never tired
of relating by mouth or in
written literature a story
that might as well have in-
troduced Malayan civiliza-
tion in the country.
And 35 years ago, the
Antiqueños translated into
flesh - through the Biniray-
an festival - the fullness of
the story of why and how
ten Bornean datus (chief-
tains) landed and settled in
Barangay Malandog, Ham-
tic, Antique in 1240, when
April was about to end.
Behind the festivity and
pageantry of every Binray-
an festival would emerge
the legendary history of An-
tique, which in recent years
had been dubbed the Cradle
of Philippine Civilization.
Here is the Binirayan
(where they sailed to) saga,
as adapted from a narrative
made by Tadz Portal and
Kitz Elizalde.
Fleeing a despot
It was the year 1240,
when a despotic sultan,
Makatunaw, ruled Bornay
(Borneo).
Unhappy with his tyran-
nical rule, the Bornean da-
tus secretly plotted to stage
an uprising led by Datu Pai-
burong, who was concerned
Every April’s end, Antiqueños brace for the commemoration of the landing and settlement of the 10
Bornean datus in Barangay Malandog, Hamtic, Antique in 1240. The Binirayan festival comes to the
fore, the festivities marked with the reenactment of the landing that introduced Malayan civilization into
the archipelago long before the Spaniards came in 1521. Photo: Philippine Department of Tourism
that Makatunaw’s infamous
sexual appetite might bring
harm to his charming wife,
Pabalunan.
Involved in the plot
were Datu Bangkaya, who
was cool-natured and reared
in wisdom but adept in
weaponry, military tactics
and expeditions; and Datu
Sumakwel, an intrepid sea-
man and master of the laws
of the Hindus, the Shri-Vi-
sayans and Egyptians.
But Sumakwel offered
caution to prevent imminent
bloodshed. He brought into
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
the group Datu Puti, the sul- ward expedition one moon-
tanate’s minister, who ably less night on April 15, 1240.
convinced Paiburong it was With the flotilla were Datu
better to seek a land where Sumakwel with wife Kapi-
they could be free rather nangan, Datu Dumangsil
than face the dire conse- with wife Kabiling, Datu
quences of an open revolt Bangkaya with wife Ka-
against a formidable foe. turong, Datu Paiburong
Heeding the counsel of with wife Pabilaan, Datu
Sumakwel and Puti, food Balkasusa, Datu Labay,
and water were prepared for Datu Dumalugdog, Datu
a flotilla called binidays, Balinsusa, Datu Padohinog
outfitted with platforms and with wife Tibongsapay.
outriggers for the journey. With them were their
Expedition children, slaves and coun-
Datu Puti with wife, sellors.
Pinagpangan, led the north- ‘’The fleet moved in
swift tempo on shores of
Borneo resembling a row
of beads as the loneliness
of the itinerants was com-
pressed by their enthusiasm
of finding a land to settle
permanently where peace,
freedom and contentment
would reign supreme,’’ so
went the tale about the flee-
ing datus.
One early afternoon be-
fore sunset, they skirted the
southern peripheries of Bag-
was (Negros) and Aninipay
(now Antique but initially
referred to as Panay Island)
31
and inched toward the delta
of Sinugbuhan (Barangay
Siwaragan with a river in its
name in San Joaquin, Iloilo)
and proceeded to navigate
inward to Andona creek just
within the hamlet of Sinug-
buhan.
Here, they rested and
awaited the coming of Tim-
way Marikudo, an Aeta
chieftain, son of Pulupadan,
Datu of Aninipay.
It was through an Aeta
fishing by the river bank
that the visitors came to
know about Marikudo, his
tribe and kingdom.
Through the fisherman,
the Bornean datus were able
to seek an audience with the
Aeta king.
Handugan (Offering)
It was Datu Puti who de-
clared his intention to make
friends with the natives and
to settle permanently in Ani-
nipay, preferably on the site
of Marikudo’s settlement.
As Marikudo consulted
his wise men on Datu Puti’s
petition, the Borneans re-
turned to their binidays to
wait for the decision.
Marikudo and his coun-
sellors converged for a con-
ference at the Embidayan, a
flat rock sill that is in exis-
tence to this date.
Later, Marikudo offered
(To page 34)
32
Get rice, at any cost, to feed hungry
MANILA - Buy enough
rice abroad, at any cost, and
get them into the country
with haste.
This seems to be the
Philippine government’s
order of the day, as offi-
cials try to avert a looming
national rice shortage amid
the huge and growing de-
mand for the staple, which
world market price has sky-
rocketed to $700 per metric
ton and which buffer stock
has dwindled to an alarming
low level.
Compounding this is
the lukewarm attitude of
neighboring rice exporting
nations to let go of their
staple, amid reported short-
ages of wheat, rice and
other crops in the global
consumer scene.
Food experts earlier
predicted a shortage of rice
worldwide due to increas-
ing population and the ill
effects of climate change on
agriculture.
The man on the street
can just sigh and hope that
the days of the 60s when
corn grits were mixed with
rice became the state’s sole
solution to feed its hungry
millions.
Bring in rice
“Right now, the indica-
tion is, it is more practical
to bring in rice even at the
top 50-percent duty because
the major consideration is to
bring in that rice as quickly
as possible,” Finance Sec-
retary Margarito Teves said
in an April Fool’s Day inter-
view with reporters.
Teves, though, was seri-
ous and was not playing a
mediocre prank on media.
The government, he
said, would have to speed-
ily address the demand of
85 million Filipinos, most
of whom regard rice as an
indispensible food fare.
Teves said the immedi-
ate steps to be taken would
“dampen speculations” of a
QC in top 10 Asian
cities of the future
Quezon City has joined
the ranks of Hong Kong,
Singapore and Taipei, as
one of the top 10 Asian Cit-
ies of the Future.
Mayor Feliciano Bel-
monte said the city ranked
seventh from among 200
Asian cities in a survey the
London Financial Times
commissioned through Sin-
gapore-based investment
and trade promotion con-
sultants AsiaBiz Strategy.
Hong Kong, Singapore
and Taipei were the top
three.
Quezon City was as-
sessed No. 5 in the Best
Economic Potential catego-
MONEY
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (center) cites the need to keep rice within the reach of people in a
huddle with Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group Assistant Secretary
Danny Mangila, National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jesus Navarro and NFA business regula-
tor Khalil Lucman during a recent inspection of a stockpile of Sinandomeng rice in a warehouse of the
Isabela Greenfield Corp. in Paco, Manila. Photo: RODOLFO MANABAT, OPS/NIB
rice shortage, which could
give rise to unscrupulous
people hoarding the remain-
ing supply and selling this
with very high price tags.
Teves said even if the
government implemented
a zero-level tariff, rice im-
porters would still find it
unattractive to do business .
In the end, items would
still be sold at about P34 a
kilo, which was still high
for the common people.
Imports
“In the medium term,
if the price of rice would
normalize, it’s better to al-
low the private sector to im-
port,” he said.
Of the 2.7-metric ton
rice importation program
this year, the private sector
was allowed to import up to
600,000 metric tons.
But due to higher rice
prices, the limit would not
ry, Feliciano said.
It also placed third best
in Asia in terms of Cost Ef-
fectiveness, sixth in terms
of Best Human Resources,
and tenth best in terms of
Quality of Life.
Thinktank Advocacy for
Empowered Local Govern-
ments noted the rapid rise
in investor interest in Que-
zon City, attributing it to the
credibility of the local gov-
ernment, which initiatives
have made it a favorite case
study of the institutions like
the World Bank, the Asian
Development Bank and the
Japan International Coop-
eration Agency. PNA
be met, he said.
On April 8, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
bared that 500,000 metric
tons of rice arrived; 70 per-
cent from Vietnam; and the
rest from Thailand.
Shipments of a com-
bined 700,000 metric tons
are due to arrive by the end
of April, in May, June and
July.
The President also an-
nounced that a public bid-
ding for the supply of rice to
the Philippines was set for
April 17, for the delivery of
another 500,000 metric tons
in the next four months.
A day before, Arroyo
temporarily lifted the quota
on rice and corn imports
but maintained their tariffs,
50 percent and 60 percent,
respectively, to counter ex-
pected shortages.
Businessmen could im-
port as much rice and corn,
but would have to coordi-
nate with the National Food
Authority (NFA) for their
import permit.
Direct hand
Three days earlier, Ar-
royo ordered the NFA to
start distributing rice direct-
ly to its 400 rice outlets in
Metro Manila.
She directed the mili-
tary to provide 200 trucks
to augment NFA’s 1,200
vehicles used in rice distri-
bution.
She cancelled all licens-
es of accredited NFA retail-
ers, saying the government
would take a direct hand in
the distribution of rice.
The President further
ordered the NFA to cancel
the rest of the licenses of the
1,500 accredited NFA rice
retailers across the country.
Lately, Justice Secre-
tary Raul Gonzalez warned
businessmen against hoard-
ing rice, saying he would
not hesitate to file economic
sabotage or plunder charges
against errant traders.
Rice hoarding and plun-
der carried the penalty of
life imprisonment.
Officials also ordered
the nationwide monitoring
of rice and food prices.
Raiding trauma
Malacañang also al-
layed fears of traders that
authorities might arbitrarily
raid warehouses and accuse
them of hoarding, if they
bought and stocked rice.
Lorelie Fajardo, deputy
presidential spokesperson,
said “rice traders have noth-
ing to fear if their business
transactions are above board
and properly documented
and undertaken.”
A newspaper report said
Cebu rice traders were trau-
matized by the recent raid
on a warehouse in Mandaue
City, said to have been car-
ried out under President Ar-
royo’s order to crack down
on hoarders and retailers
mislabeling state-sud-
sidized rice as commercial
varieties.
Church to distribute
As this developed, the
Catholic Church has signi-
fied its cooperation in mak-
ing sure rice is distributed
fairly and equitably nation-
wide.
Father Mar Castillo,
representative of Manila
Auxiliary Bishop Broderick
Pabillo, said the National
Food Authority is allocating
at least 50,000 sacks of rice
a week for a diocese to dis-
tribute in its mission area.
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
Castillo said Church dis-
tribution would initially be
made in the National Capi-
tal Region through dioceses
in Metro Manila, and once
the system is checked, the
plan would go nationwide.
The priest said the cler-
gy was tapped to help in the
distribution so that delivery
would be orderly and that
the recipients would direct-
ly receive their share.
Cooperatives in parishes
would also be tapped.
Grand aggie, food plans
On April 4 in a national
food summit in Pampanga,
President Arroyo laid out a
grand plan to assure food
stability in the Philippines.
She said billions of pe-
sos in state cash would be
alloted to bankroll six as-
sistance packages for agri-
culture.
She labeled the grand
plan as FIELDS - F for fer-
tilizer, I for irrigation and
infrastructure, E for exten-
sion and education, L for
loans and insurance, D for
dryers and other post-har-
vest facilities, S for seeds.
She admitted that half of
the planet relied on rice, but
stocks had been at its lowest
since the mid-1970s.
She added rice produc-
tion would fall this year be-
low the global consumption
level of 430 million tons.
Wheat is suffering greater
pressures, with price up
115 percent in a year. Farm-
ers worldwide are worried
about feed costs.
“We must work harder
to grow and breed what we
need,” Arroyo said.
Population growth
Meanwhile, Albay
Rep. Edcel Lagman said
Deficit
soars to
P32.9B
MANILA - Not
even a much-vaunted
improved tax collection
was enough for the Phil-
ippine government to
raise revenues enough to
cover its operation.
The Department of
Finance said the country
posted a P19-billion def-
icit in February, bring-
ing the deficit to P32.9
billion since January.
The two-month de-
fcit figures was higher
than the year-ago level
of P18.6 billion.
The February deficit
was a reversal from the
P11.1 billion surplus the
state achieved last year.
The growing deficit
was attributed to lesser
collections from state as-
To page 33)
the country could achieve
rice sufficiency if the gov-
ernment instituted a three-
pronged program that
would moderate the popu-
lation growth rate, prevent
the conversion of irrigated
and irrigable farm lands to
non-agricultural uses, and
empower farmers to be-
come rice producers rather
than mere palay growers.
Lagman said National
Statistics Office documents
pegged the Philippine an-
nual population growth rate
at 2.34 percent.
“This inordinately huge
population growth rate far
outpaces the average yearly
rice production growth of
1.9 percent ... No amount of
bountiful harvest can feed
the growing multitude of
Filipinos,” he said.
“A law implementing a
rights-based and compre-
hensive national policy on
the population problem is
long overdue, as it is im-
perative,” he added.
Lagman said another
issue that needed to be
speedily addressed was the
conversion of farm lands to
non-agricultural uses.
“The avalanche of con-
versions of arable lands to
residential, commercial and
industrial uses is threaten-
ing the food security of the
country and it must be total-
ly stopped,” Lagman said.
He said farmers should
be empowered to become
rice producers and not just
mere palay growers.
“As long as farmers are
mere palay growers, they
will remain marginalized
because the money is in
rice, not in palay,” he said.
With PNA, OPS reports
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor MONEY 33 GOT A FOREX DEAL?

RP owes US$54.9B
Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the
dollars you have had exchanged since March 17,
courtesy of Manila Media (Money) Monitor.
US$ Cdn$
BSP Governor Amanto bank said was the “obliga- April 15 42.01266 41.26790
MANILA - How much private sector external debt
does each Philippine citizen was US$17.3 billion. Tetangco Jr. attributed the tions with original maturi- April 14 41.78655 40.96520
owe the world? About 39 percent of better debt ratio to “higher ties of one year or less plus April 11 41.55281 40.67540
In on or about figures, the debts were extended levels of aggregate output, amortization on medium April 10 41.68493 40.98555
it is simply put as the Phil- by multilateral institutions foreign exchange receipts, and long-term accounts April 9 41.71276 40.91685
ippines’ external debt of like the World Bank, Asian and international reserves.” falling due within the next April 8 41.39657 40.78279
US$54.9 billion as of end- Development Bank and bi- “The declining ratio 12 months. April 7 41.40241 40.95016
December 2007 divided by lateral creditors like the Ja- indicates the country’s im- Relatively, the country’s April 4 41.54517 41.17186
the country’s population of pan Bank for International proving capacity to service external debt service ratio April 3 41.61086 41.27877
some 85 million. Cooperation. its maturing foreign obliga- - or the percentage of total April 2 41.48898 40.76535
The Bangko Sentral ng Foreign holders of bonds tions,” Tetangco said. principal and interest pay- April 1 41.56166 40.46663
Pilipinas (BSP) reported on marked a 33.8-percent share Philippine gross inter- ments to total exports of March 31 41.55056 40.45579
March 31 that Philippine in the foreign debt, followed national reserves in 2007 goods and receipts from March 28 41.89907 41.15604
external debt has risen nine by foreign banks and other reached US$33.8 billion or services and income - was March 27 41.79306 41.21408
percent or to US$511 mil- financial institutions, 19.1 4.8 times the level of short- pegged at 9.6 percent in March 26 41.58657 40.84872
lion from US$54.4 billion percent; and foreign suppli- term debt based on original 2007 from 11.8 percent in March 25 41.38851 40.69491
at end-September 2007 and ers, 8.1 percent. maturity and 2.9 times the the previous year and is way March 24 41.49475 40.67913
increased by 2.9 percent or The BSP said that amid level of short-term debt below the 20 to 25 percent March 21 41.62967 40.69173
US$1.6 billion from year- the increase in the country’s based on the remaining international benchmark. March 20 41.62706 40.57021
ago’s US$53.4 billion. foreign debt, the debt ratio maturity, which the central (To page 34)
March 19 41.52501 41.43940

PCCT Trade Show

The BSP said the coun- improved to 34.9 percent at March 18 41.58298 41.84034
try remained to be a net the end of 2007.
March 17 41.69772 41.78723
borrower as it continued to External debt ratio re-
post a deficit, although it
was able to clip it to P12.4
billion last year from a P63-
ferred to the percentage of
outstanding external debt
to gross national product,
brings new business www. FinancialProblem.ca
billion ceiling. a country’s total output in a Described by business of the Metro Toronto Con- with credit cards and bank loans
The government has given year. exhibitors as an annual vention Centre, Canada’s Too many loans & credit cards?
planned to balance its bud- Against the gross do- event working favorably largest convention centre, Paying too much interest?
get in 2008 but this might mestic product or the total for them, in that the venue in downtown Toronto. Afraid to pick up your own phone?
be deterred by the looming market value of all final creates increased traffic to Inquiries may be ad- Looking for consolidation?
global slowdown. goods and services in a booth locations, the PCCT dressed to the PCCT presi-
The BSP said public sec- country in a given year , the Trade Show at the PIDC dent at (416) 618-1362, or Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
tor external debt accounted external debt ratio stood at Mabuhay Philippines To- Trade Show Chair Oswald CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
for US$37.7 billion, while 38.1 percent. ronto Summer Festival on Tugadi at (416) 850-4966.
416-780-1020
‘All-in-pricing’ in airline ads urged
July 19 aims to bring anew PCCT Media Relations
additional business to its
members.
PCCT president Ra-
OTTAWA – New Democratic Party Member of Par- fael Nebres says the event
liament Brian Masse (Windsor West) has dared the ruling serves exhibitors, expand-
Conservatives to use its power to force airlines to advertise ing their companies’ aware-
only the actual price of tickets. ness campaign as it gives
“Ordinary Canadians are getting hosed,” said Masse. them the chance to interact
“It’s not fair and we want real protection for airline travel- with a wider range of pro-
ers in Canada.” spective clients.
Masse said airline advertisements were gouging con- Nebres stresses this
sumers, hiding fees and suckering unsuspecting travelers; based on the experience of
and the solution was made available to government through Action Honda, a proud ex-
legislation passed last year. hibitor in all six annual trade
He said the Transport Minister had yet to use the au- shows the PCCT organized.
thority granted to him to compel airlines to use “all-in-pric- Nebres is general manager
ing” in advertising, which airlines in several other countries of the east-end Toronto-
have been exercising. based Honda dealership.
“Working families are sitting down to budget and plan This year, between
for their summer vacations, and when flipping through the 7,000 to 8,000 people are
newspapers, they are given the impression there is a fire- expected to visit the festival
sale on airline travel in Canada,” said Masse. at the South Wing, Hall D,
“That is, until travelers are confronted with a mountain
of outrageous fees not listed in the enticing ads. Suddenly
the planned vacation isn’t so affordable,” he stressed.
Masse called for the immediate passage and imple-
mentation of the Travel Protection Initiatives, along with
a Canadian Passenger Bill of Rights to provide necessary
transparency and accountability Canadians needed. PR
Deficit ... PAL buys 9
(From page 32)
set privatization proceeds.
During the review peri-
Bombardier
od, the Philippines was able
to earn P25.2 billion only
turboprops
from proceeds following the Philippine Airlines an-
privatization and sale of the nounced that it has pur-
Philippine Telecommunica- chased nine turboprop
tions Investments Corp. aircraft from Bombardier
Income was also gen- Aerospace to expand its do-
erated from The Bureau of mestic route operations.
Customs at P15.7 billion, The order included three
the Bureau of Internal Rev- Q-300 series and six Q-400
enue at P50.9 billion, and turboprops for approxi-
the Bureau of the Treasury mately $150 million.
at P8.5 billion. PAL said it was plan-
Officials said expen- ning to use the new aircraft
ditures in February rose to on flights beginning this
P100 billion. PNA month. Wires
34
RP owes ...
(From page 33)
Tetangco said the coun-
try had enough foreign ex-
change earnings to service
obligations maturing during
the current period.
Sumilao farmers get back ‘ancestral lands’
(From page 23)
Agrarian Reform Program.
The farmers would re-
ceive the land through the
newly-organized coop-
erative Panaghiusa sa mga
Mag-uumang Nakigbisog
alang sa Yuta sa Sumilao,
which merged members of
Mapalad and Salfa.
Sumilao farmer leader
The debt stock in the
fourth quarter last year grew
to US$39 million.
The debt stock also grew
year-on-year by US$1.6 bil-
lion due to foreign exchange
revaluation adjustments of
Peñas said the MOA sign-
ing was a significant break-
through for farmers who
have been victims of injus-
tice for more than 12 years.
Peñas said the farmers,
however, chose non-violent
action to press for their legal
claim and rights.
“Ten years ago, we had
about US$1.1 billion and net
loan availments of US$765
million.
Government preference
for domestic borrowings in
2007 partially tempered the
rise of foreign external debt.
to go on a protracted hun-
ger strike that lasted almost
a month that resulted in the
‘win-win formula’ decided
by then President (Fidel)
Ramos,” he said.
“We thought that was the
end of it, but we lost the land
when the Supreme Court
decided against us due to
Last year, the Philip-
pines prepaid US$1.2 bil-
lion, of which US$1 billion
accounted for prepayments
on obligations maturing this
year and beyond.
Debt in US dollars ac-
a technicality in 1997. We
hope that our 1,700-kilome-
ter walk will not be put to
waste ... that this agreement
will finally give us peacefull
possession and cultivation
of our land,” Peñas said.
SMC president Ramon
Ang said the company never
intended to step on others,
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008
counted for 51.8 percent of
the external debt in 2007, fol-
lowed by those in Japanese
yen, 25.2 percent; multi-cur-
rency loans, 9.4 percent; and
those in 16 other currencies,
13.6 percent. PNA
most especially the under-
privileged.
Ang said SMC has been
consistent in helping poor
families in the country.
“Despite all the misun-
derstanding, SMC will con-
tinue to implement projects
that seek to help the farmers
in Bukidnon,” he said. PNA
The 10 ...
(From page 31)
his guests a banquet - con-
sisting of game fowls, crus-
taceans, edible shells and
crabs. Joviality prevailed
as hosts and guests washed
food with coconut wine.
The aborigines per-
formed their favorite dances,
urokoy and undok-undok.
The Borneans responded
by dancing their sinulog
and dinapay to the tune of
the flute-like instruments
called lantoy and tipano and
the rhythmic background of
their drums called mang-
mang and gurunggurong.
The Borneans also
showed off their wares and
dazzling Moorish costumes
and danced with wild aban-
don as they brandished
sword and kris.
Barter of Anini-pay
As the festivity went on,
the real estate negotiations
proceeded.
Datu Puti asked how
wide the Aetas’ estate was
and Marikudo replied,
‘’Should one plant palay,
then commence to round
the entire island, he would
return to his place of origin
right in time for harvest.’’
Datu Puti’s offer of a
golden basin and golden sa-
dok (wide headgear) proved
irresistible to Marikudo,
who danced with his gift.
It was then that Mari-
kudo’s wife also demanded
a gift - a necklace of gold
reaching the ground, like
that of Datu Puti’s wife,
Pinagpangan.
Pinagpangan conceded
by parting with her gold
necklace, sealing the barter
of Anini-pay.
Consoled by the gifts,
Marikudo and his subjects
voluntarily gave up their
place and relocated them-
selves deeper into the hin-
terlands where wild game
and freshwater fish were in
abundance.
The Borneans then built
their homes in accordance
with Malay architecture.
Northward exploration
Sinugbuhan was too
small for the settlers so Datu
Puti sent Sumakwel north-
ward with Aeta guides.
They entered the rivers
of Bokbok and Malandog
in Hamtic, Antique, and
discovered lush mountains,
productive plains and boun-
tiful shorelines.
Sumakwel reported this
to Datu Puti and they set sail
for a permanent settlement.
Later, it was Sumakwel’s
clan who occupied Hantik
(Hamtic).
Datu Bangkaya settled in
Aklan and Datu Paiburong
found home in Ilong-Ilong
(Iloilo).
Datu Puti went further
north and settled by the fer-
tile river banks in Batangas
and his subsequent genera-
tions was later called Taga-
Ilog (Tagalog).
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor ENTERTAINMENT 35

Darius, guests sing despite snowstorm

“A talent who deserves a bigger place in Toronto’s entertainment arena,”
was just one of the raves Filipino-Canadian singer Darius Ciria got after a
memorable performance at the QSSIS stage at the height of a snowstorm
on March 8. Some 200 people came to watch Darius sing with Canadian Idol
finalist Mikey Bustos (top, left) and diva Josie de Leon (top, right). Fellow
artists (below, from left) female Elvis Zena Zagala, diva Karen Tan, producer
Teresa Torralba; and vocalist Chyrell Samson spice up the Darius Concert
during a pre-show rehearsal. PR
APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor ENTERTAINMENT 37
RP Playboy, anyone? The GIG A look into Filipino-Canadian folksingers, bands, musicians and
other performers in Canada by CHITO SARABIA.

SILHOUTTE BAND

The Silhouette Band from the Klassik Band

is, perhaps, the most ac-
tive live band show in the
community these days.
With a long list of
scheduled gigs extend-
ing until August, Silhou-
ette Band members Rey
Mapeso (lead guitar/
acoustic guitar/synthe-
sizer), Dale Tecson (bass
2004 Miss Earth Brazilian Priscilla Meirelles (left) guitar), Noel Mapeso
and Filipino Playmate Racquel Gibson show a (drums/percussions), and
copy of the Playboy Magazine, Philippine edi- vocalists Anna Castillo
tion that debuted in Manila on April 2. Meirilles and Belle Peralta have
graces the mag’s maiden issue’s cover. Editor their hands full perfecting
Beting Laygo Dolor describes the mag’s contents multi-genre repertoires
as “anything under the sun of interest to men,” for formal functions and
but without the traditional Playboy nudity, reports weekly performances.
AP. Dolor expects mature and successful men to Founded in Decem-
grab the mag and, at the same time, wag the mag ber, 1999 by the Mapeso
proudly before their conservative mamas and brothers and Tecson, the
pals. Silhouette Band evolved
and has since been the
prime source of pop and
standard hits, ballroom
dance music, rock and
’roll classics, etc.
Band rehearsals are
conducted either at Rey’s
Brampton home or over
at Noel’s in Mississauga.
Band members have
had performances as
hired musicians for other
singers and artists and
performers.
Associated with
Sticky Record Label, the
Silhouette Band can also
be seen live at Prestige,
Ella’s and Cusina restos. REY MAPESO

Heart Throbs in Concert

thrills audience - TFCko

ARCI MUÑOZ
Character actress Arci Muñoz, 20,
plans to join the Binibinang Pilipi-
nas pageant in two years, dreaming
of becoming the first Filipina to be
crowned Miss World. But the pag-
eant may just have to wait as this
Rizal lass focuses on her wealth of
talent as a major player in the TV
soap Maging Akin Ka Lamang, after
a great stint with Pati Ba Pintig ng
Puso. Arci admits she likes being a
villain, saying her idols are Cherie
Gil and Celia Rodriguez - “kontra-
bida pero hindi palengkera, disente
Heart Throbs concert artists (seated, from left) Sam Milby, John Lloyd pero mataray.” Besides being an art-
and Pokwang join AV Communications staff (standing, from left) Marvi ist, Arci is lead vocalist of rock band
Yap, Anna Maramba, Tasha dela Fuente and Chris Zoleta during a lull in Fhilia, doing concerts for charity.
activities sponsored by The Filipino Channel (TFCko). LARRY TORRES

Thousands of Filipinos promised Marco Amoranto, their shows in the Philip-

packed The Toronto Cen-
tre for the Arts to watch the
blockbuster Heart Throbs
concert, presented by The
Filipino Channel (TFC) on
March 26.
Fans of Piolo Pascual,
Sam Milby and John Lloyd
had a great time seeing the
Heart Throbs in the flesh,
since they were used to
watching them on TV, in
various programs of TFC.
“This was a real treat
to our TFCko subscribers.
Only TFC gives the best of
Filipino entertainment. This
is just the beginning. Expect
a lot more talents to come,”
TFC country manager.
Heart Throbs kicked off
with a TFC-hosted press
conference at the Novotel,
North York on March 25.
Joining Pascual, Milby,
Cruz and Pokwang were
concert opening acts Ca-
nadian Idol finalist Martha
Joy and Las Vegas perform-
er Ely Torrenueva.
The group thanked TFC
for sponsoring their visit in
Toronto and for bringing
their shows and TV pro-
grams to Canada.
Without TFCko, Filipi-
no-Canadians would be un-
able to hear about and enjoy
pines, the group said.
Lately, TFCko has in-
troduced a practical video
on demand feature that
would allow Filipinos in
Canada view shows when
they wanted to.
Teleseryes could be
watched from the first epi-
sode and subscribers could
rewind, fast forward and
pause the shows at any
time.
A satellite dish would
not be needed. All that
would be required is a high
speed internet connection
and TV for the TFCko set
top box to work. PR
38 LAUGHS & LEISURE Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2008

BATID
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOL 11 12

WIKA
13 14 15
YELLOWBIRD 16 17 18
4862 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario 19 20
PAHALANG 21 22
1. Kukurap-kurap na ilaw
6. Hinuha 23 24 25 26
11. Nabago 27 28 29 30
12. Pango ang ilong
13. Binatid 31 32 33 34
15. Siyudad sa Batangas
35 36 37
16. __ Solidaridad
17. Nobato 38 39
19. Kampi
20. Hiyas PABABA 18. Sumpit
21. Dahilan 1. Pukyutan 21. Hangin-bundok
23. Lupaing taniman 2. Ina 22. Damong pang-
25. Aliwalas 3. Araw, Español hayop
28. Walang asawa 4. Daldal 24. Pagpapalamang
30. __ 47, baril 5. Eskuwelahan 26. Himok
31. Diyos ng Muslim 6. Simbolo ng arsenic 27. Ibis
33. Sinabi 7. Kalipi 29. Bulong
35. Upa 8. Galapong 32. Silid-agham
37. Batak 9. Yugto ng karera 34. Pansin
38. Tabako 10. Laman-loob 36. Nota ng musika
39. Merkuryo 14. Maliwanag (Sagot sa ilalim)

NAGBIBIRO LANG PO!

Church bulletins are
sources of great joy
Baliw (tumawag sa mental hospital):ka ba?
Mister: Ayoko sa ‘yo. Kamukha mo misis
Hello. May tao po ba sa Room 168?
Telephone Operator: Wala po, bakit? ko!
Baliw: Wala lang. Check ko lang kung *****
nakatakas talaga ako! Aanhin ko ang napakalaking bahay, mama-
***** haling sasakyan, milyun-milyong kaya-
Guro: Sino si Jose Rizal? manan at masasarap na pagkain kung ang
Juan: Hindi ko po kilala. kapit-bahay ko ang may-ari ng mga iyun?
Guro: Ikaw, Pepe? *****
Reg. # 4533253

Pepe: Hindi ko rin po kilala.. Nanay: Ano ‘tong malaking zero sa test
Guro: Hindi nyo kilala si Jose Rizal? paper mo?
Anak: Hindi po ‘yan zero, ‘Nay. Naubusan
Pedro: Ma’m, baka po sa kabilang section
siya! lang ng star ang teacher ko kaya
919 Ellesmere Road ***** binigyan niya ako ng Moon!
Suite 107, Scarborough Misis : Darling, ano ang tawag sa isang *****
Ontario M1P 2W7 Love is a hidden fire, a pleasant sore, a
asawa na sexy, maganda, hindi selosa,
soothing pain, an agreeable torment, a
mapagmahal, masipag, mapagkalinga,
masarap magluto? sweet wound, in short - a gentle death! Ang
Mister: Guni-guni! lalim! Shocks! Dati Love is blind lang, eh!
***** *****
Juan: Birthday ng asawa ko They’re back, the good old Church Bulle-
Pedro: Ano ang regalo mo? tins. Thank God for church ladies with type-
writers. These sentences actually appeared
Juan: Tinanong ko kung ano ang gusto
niya. in church bulletins or were announced in
Pedro: Ano naman and sinabi? church services.
Juan: Kahit ano, basta may diamond.► The Fasting & Prayer Conference in-
Pedro: Ano ang ibinigay mo? cludes meals.
Juan: Baraha. ► The sermon this morning: “Jesus
***** Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight:
Misis: Lolokohin ko ang mister ko. “Searching for Jesus.”
MANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE ► Our youth basketball team is back in ac-
Magpapanggap ako na prosti dito sa
OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD kanto. (Timing dumaan si mister)tion Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation
hall. Come, watch us kill Christ the King.
Misis: Pogi! Available ako ngayon, pwede
► Ladies, don’t forget the rum-
S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 mage sale. It’s a chance to get rid
A A N D A P A K A L A of those things not worth keeping
G 11 12
N A I B A S A R A T around the house. Don’t forget
O your husbands.
13 14 15
T I N A L A M L I P A ► The peacemaking meeting
16 17 18
sa L A A R A L A N Y scheduled for today has been
19 20 cancelled.
“Super baba B
A Y O
21
A L A H A S
22
► For those of you who have
and halaga ... A N A L I B I S children and don’t know it, we
23 24 25 26 have a nursery downstairs.
T
Super below I
T U M A N A A Y A ► Next Thursday there will be
fare talaga.” D 27
B
28
B I N A T A
29 30 tryouts for the choir. They need
A K all the help they can get.
31 32 33 34
W A L A H W I N I K A ► The Rector will preach his
“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan” I 35 36 37 farewell message after which the
B A Y A D B A N A T choir will sing “Break Forth into
Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133 K
A 38
A B A N O
39
A S O G E Joy.”
40 APRIL 2008 Manila Media Monitor

.
Av e. W
nton nk
Egli ra

F
tle
N

Do
as
Mt. Pleasant
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to C

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Exit
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ont

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MISSISSAUGA OFFICE Dr. Anthony John Eng Dr. Dat Phung TORONTO OFFICE
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
905-272-3455 416-967-9272

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The team of professionals who make up the Fairview Dental Centre
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