February 2007 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best

Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario

INSIDE
Ooops & Bloops
Santiago et al sweep FCT polls (See page 7)

Lucky
ground
hog -- 6 ACCOUNTING A YEAR AFTER THE LEYTE DISASTER FUNDRAISING RUSH
‘Persistently poor’
newcomers -- 13

WHERE HAVE THE

Recalling EDSA- 26

DONATIONS GONE?
Where have all the dona-
BY ACE ALVAREZ and BUTCH GALICIA

tions gone?
Lea Dumb question! Of course,
Salonga everyone surmises that money
back to raised in the wake of natural
Broad- calamities in the Philippines in
way 2006 were supposed to go to
- 36 thirsty throats and empty stom-
achs, half clad and ill bodies,
unroofed heads, dispossessed
hands, mud-packed wandering
feet and confused minds.
But did the benevolence and
kindness of many - who were
made to believe that they were
giving to a good cause, and did
so - really go to people and
places the donations were in-
tended to be? Who knows?
On Feb. 17, a year would
have passed since the fundrais-
ing rush for victims of a dev-
astating mudslide that rumbled
from the slopes of Mt. Kan-
abag and buried the village of
Guinsaugon, St. Bernard town,
Southern Leyte.
With the disaster came the
death and displacement of thou-
sands of people.
With it also came the flurry
of enthusiasm of immediately
helping compatriots in distress.
But after the cameras ceased
to click and ‘mainstream’ and
(Continued on page 4)

LOVE IS . . . Cousins Kristo- Migration a resource,

fer and Melina
in silence keep
each other com-
not a problem - Pope
pany as they VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI urged
await the fleet- immigrants on Jan. 14 to respect the social values
ing passage of of their new countries and said laws are needed to
time and space, protect their dignity.
oblivious to the The Pope, addressing pilgrims and tourists in
frenzied move- St. Peter’s Square, said migration should be seen
ments around as a resource, not a problem.
them. Photo Without naming any country or nationality, he
taken during the lamented the “painful” conditions refugees, exiles,
Jan. 27 Tanza, the homeless and the persecuted often endure.
Cavite Associa- “I hope that soon there will be a balanced man-
tion (St. Augus- agement of migratory flows and of human mobility
tine) officers’ in general, so benefits can reach the entire human
induction. (Val- family, beginning with concrete measures which
entine feature on favor legal emigration and the reuniting of fami-
page 12) MMM lies,” the pontiff added.
“Only respect for human dignity for all mi-

being with each other. grants, on one hand, and the recognition by the
(Continued on page 17)
FEBRUARY 2007 Manila Media Monitor 2
FEBRUARY 2007 Manila Media Monitor 3 CALENDAR
FEB. 17: The Pillars’ Valentine’s Day Dinner-
Dance and Awards Rites, Canadian Martyrs’
Church, East York, 6:30 p.m.

FEB. 24: Isabela Cultural Organization of On-

tario 16th Anniversary and Induction Ball, Q-
SSIS Place, Scarborough, 6 p.m.

FEB. 24: Filipino Centre Toronto Singing Idol

Contest (Round 2), Rizal Hall, 7 p.m.

MARCH 2: Peel Multicultural Council An-

nual Dinner, Bombay Palace Banquet Hall,
Brampton, 6:30 p.m.

MARCH 10: Jennifer Camacho in Special

Show for Special Kids, Rendezvous Cuisine,
Mississauga, 7 p.m.

MARCH 10: Association of Filipino-Canadian

Accountants free tax preparation clinic, Ch-
inguacousy Library, Bramalea Centre, 1 p.m.

MARCH 24: Club Filipino of Brampton, Capi-

tol Banquet Hall, Mississauga.

APRIL 14: The APO Experience (Apo Hiking

Society), Living Arts Centre Hammerson Hall,
Mississauga.

APRIL 28: Philippine Independence Day

Council Little Miss Philippines Pageant.

MAY 6: Philippine Independence Day Council

Mr. & Ms. Philippines Pageant.

MAY 24-27: De La Salle Alumni Association

6th World Congress hosted by the Toronto
Chapter, Holiday Inn Select Airport.

CALENDAR is a public service

feature of Manila Media Monitor
and the Philippine Consulate
Toronto through Carol Martin.

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4 NewsNEWS
WHERE HAVE THE DONATIONS GONE?
(From page 1)
MOSQUERA CUENCA
community newspapers
used its space for more time-
ly, relevant and proximate
news came the deafening si-
lence of public feedback on
what had transpired.
Thus, the Manila Media
Monitor sought answers to
lay to rest doubts that might
have been raised in corner
stores, karaoke bars, living
rooms and basements, gro-
cery stores, mall foodcourts,
dancing floors and anywhere
compatriots see each other.
The question might not
be stupid after all. Where
have all the donations
gone?
Federal assistance
The Canadian Embassy
in Manila said the federal
government’s $300,000
(P13 million) Philippine ca-
tastrophe aid went to long-
term programs.
On August 2006, Cana-
dian Ambassador to Manila
Peter Sutherland reported
that the assistance was dis-
bursed through the Embas-
sy’s Canada Fund for Local
Initiatives, which had a long
history of ensuring effective
and timely fund releases to
peoples’ and non-govern-
ment organizations.
Sutherland said the aid
went to six multi-faceted
disaster relief and mitiga-
tion programs, two of them
worth an aggregate P5 mil-
lion for Leyte mudslide vic-
tims, as follows:
► Child protection and
emergency education sup-
port for families suffering
from post-disaster trauma
implemented by Save the
Children Federation, in the
amount of P2.35 million;
► Agricultural help and
skills upgrade of local of-
ficials and residents to help
them better prepare for natu-
ral disasters and better cope
with them once they occur,
by the Citizens’ Disaster
Response Center in St. Ber-
nard, P2.5 million;
► Disaster mitigation
through community-based
reforestation, by the Min-
danao Farmers Resource
Center, Inc. in Misamis Ori-
ental, P2 million;
► Promotion of sus-
tainable agriculture to en-
able upland farmers and
residents achieve economic
and physical security, by the
GARCIA
Mindanao Interfaith Peo-
ples’ Conference in Davao
City and North Cotabato,
P2.2 million;
► Formulation of di-
saster management plans
and formation of four multi-
sectoral disaster response
groups, by the People Col-
laborating for Environmen-
tal and Economic Manage-
ment Davao Foundation
Inc., P2.1 million; and
► Community-based di-
saster response in high-risk
areas e.g. Nueva Ecija and
Aurora, by Alay Bayan Inc.,
P2 million.
“Canada’s relief and re-
habilitation projects were
designed not only to offer
immediate assistance and
aid to those affected by the
landslides, but also to pro-
vide training and long-term
help,” Sutherland said.
“By making civilians
better prepared, government
officials better equipped
and the natural environment
more resilient, Canada’s
emergency assistance will
help ensure that the next
time disaster strikes, there
will be fewer communities
affected and fewer lives
lost,” Sutherland added.
Increase RP aid
Meanwhile, in Ottawa,
Scarborough-Agincourt
Member of Parliament Jim
Karygiannis recently urged
the Harper government to
increase Canadian aid to
the Philippines in the wake
of natural calamities that hit
the country in 2006.
Canada has given $1.55
million in aid to the Philip-
pines, Karygiannis said.
The United Nations Of-
fice for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs
reported that as of Jan. 19,
2007, only seven percent
of the needed international
humanitarian assistance had
been committed.
20 new GK homes
A GK Leyte website re-
port showed the construc-
tion of 20 Canada-aided
homes in Anilao, Liloan as
early as May.
This must be where the
$200,000 from the Ontario
provincial government was
used. Immigration and Citi-
zenship Minister Mike Colle
turned over the funds to Ga-
wad Kalinga (GK)-Ancop
SAAVEDRA
Canada Inc. President Ricky
Cuenca.
Philippine Consul Gen-
eral in Toronto Alejandro
Mosquera told the Manila
Media Monitor that Cuenca
had lately informed him of
project completion.
Mosquera said Cuenca
had gone to the Philippines
to join other GK officials in
awarding the homes.
Cuenca, expected back
on Feb. 12, even solicited
Mosquera’s help to invite
Colle to grace the event.
“I’m sure Cuenca, upon
his return, would be very
glad to tell and show the
community what the Ontar-
io government and GK had
done for disaster-stricken
Leyteños,” Mosquera said.
A seven-hectare GK vil-
lage had also taken shape in
Magbagacay, St. Bernard.
The GK village was
named New Guinsaugon.
Immediate relief
Consul General Mos-
quera also cited the $120,000
donation of the Markham
Federation of Filipino Cana-
dians (MFFC), Federation
of Chinese Canadians and
York Regional Police for
mudslide survivors.
REBUILDING LIVES. The concert put up by the
Community Alliance for Social Justice and its
friends helped buy seeds, farm tools, goats and
others to get Guinsaugon mudslide victims get
back to their feet. Photo courtesy of CDRC
SUTHERLAND
Mosquera said the dona-
tion had gone a long way to
satisfy the immediate basic
needs of the victims.
The ShareLife web-
site had a file photo of
the $120,000 check being
turned over by MFFC mem-
bers to ShareLife executive
director Arthur Peters, with
Keith Gauntlett of Develop-
ment and Peace witnessing.
ShareLife channeled the
money, through the Canadi-
an Catholic Organization for
Development and Peace, to
NASSA Caritas Philippines.
The Caritas website said
that with a $400,000 initial
donation it got worldwide
immediately after the Leyte
mudslide, it worked with
other agencies to give out
food, water, blankets, medi-
cines and supplies to vic-
tims in evacuation centers,
churches and schools.
Caritas also sought to
put up 150 duplex homes
for 300 families, in a site of-
ficials should open for use.
Manila Media Monitor
efforts to get progress re-
ports from Caritas Interna-
tionalis in its base in Vatican
City and NASSA-Caritas in
the Philippines were futile.
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
MFFC director Alicia stallation of artesian wells
Chiu, in a phone call to Ma- and the erection of a school
nila Media Monitor, said she building.
had asked ShareLife to fur- CDRC livelihood
nish MFFC a detailed report While everyone was
on where the funds went, so busy trying to find land
MFFC could report back to to bury the posts for new
its members and donors. roofs, the Citizen’s Disaster
The report, however, was Response Center (CDRC)
unable to meet this paper’s focused on reclaiming the
deadline. utility of the victims’ bodies
LAO village by providing them with live-
lihood alternatives.
Money donated to the
Leyteño Association of Thus said a progress
Ontario (LAO) has begun report CDRC submitted to
seeing concrete fruition, the Community Alliance
association president Jose for Social Justice (CASJ)
Saavedra Jr. told the Manila that organized a ‘Rebuild-
Media Monitor in a phone ing Lives’ concert featur-
interview. ing community talents and
As of December 2006, raised some $10,000.
LAO has turned over to GK- CASJ president Hermie
Ancop president Cuenca Garcia agreed with the Ma-
funds totalling $53,000 to nila Media Monitor the do-
build GK housing units in nation was not in vain and
St. Bernard. it went to “really rebuild-
While Cuenca’s formal ing lives, not just building
report on the status of the houses.”
LAO-GK village is being Garcia, citing the re-
awaited, Saavedra’s con- port, said CDRC, cooperat-
tacts on the ground said ing with the Leyte Center
construction of the pre-fab- for Development, began its
ricated houses started last program in May and gained
month, after a suitable piece impetus in August, 2006.
of land for the project was The CDRC report said
pinpointed. 156 sacks of palay seeds,
He added that GK and basic farm tools (plows, bo-
other shelter proponents los and shovels), 660 ducks,
were having a hard time 88 goats and vegetable seeds
finding viable places near were distributed to over 300
Guinsaugon as land was ei- mudslide-ravaged families
ther geologically unstable who found safer haven in
or land prices had risen to nearby Ayahag. Sugangon
Makati real estate highs. and Nueva Esperanza.
During its fundraisers, The report noted that a
LAO targeted an Ontario good harvest is forthcom-
Village of at least 30 hous- ing, thus further inspiring
es, tentatively estimated family-beneficiaries to go
at $1,500 each, and in the into piggery and meat pro-
event of a surplus, the in- (Continued on page 5)
GOOD JOB. Team DPWH volunteers gleam after
completing Gawad Kalinga housing units in Mag-
bagacay, St. Bernard. GK Website Photo
STRONG, STANDING. No deaths nor injuries were
heard from 48 Gawad Kalinga villages put up in
Bicol, even in the wake of killer typhoons Milenyo
and Reming in late 2006. GK Website Photo

Where have the donations gone?
(From page 4)
duction, a feasibility study
of which the CDRC is pre-
paring.
Bicol front
More funds from donors
in North America, Europe
and other parts of the world
are coming in to help the
Benedictine Sisters of St.
Mary’s Academy (SAA) in
their relief work for victims
of the Bicol mudslides.
Toronto-based coordina-
tor Mila Alvarez-Magno said
more recent donations - as
of Feb. 4 - totaled US$3,784
and remitted to Fund Admin-
istrator Mary Anne Reynoso
in the Philippines.
Magno said recent relief
efforts included the:
► Distribution of 200
sleeping mats to victims in
Tagaytay, Camalig, Albay.
► Release of P41,897.98
to Fr. Henry Delcasio (San
Miguel), Fr. Henry Romero
munity kibitzer.
Consul General Mos-
quera believed the money
went to good causes; but
stressed that accountability
and feedback were vital to
the whole process.
He agreed, in an animat-
ed discussion with members
of the community media, to
the idea of entering into an
understanding -- with those
seeking the Consul Gen-
eral’s endorsement on any
Philippine-related fundrais-
er -- that regular progress re-
ports on how the funds were
given and disbursed should
be provided the consulate.
He also keenly noted the
idea of tearing down social,
academic, geographical, po-
litical and other walls that
could deter giving the most
to and doing the best for the
distressed kababayan in ca-
lamity-prone Philippines.
“The community had
responded well to calls for
help from the Philippines.
Let us keep this fervor burn-
ing as we share not only
what we have but who we
are,” he said.
Meanwhile, those who
disregarded accountability
and shrugged off reporting
back could perhaps get the
professional help of infa-
mous con artist Janice del
Rosario to craft a really
convincing explanation on
where their Leyte mudslide
collections went, the com-
munity kibitzer proposed.
To which Philippine
Press Club Ontario president
Tenny Soriano warned: The
media do not keep its eyes
closed and pens idle.
Neither does a kind and
benevolent community.
News
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Manila Media Monitor
5 FEBRUARY 2007
ship and Immigration, 285 Victoria St., 7th
Floor, Victoria Building, Toronto, ON M7A
2H6. It is open Monday, Wednesday and
Friday from: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and
Thursday from: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Online, the
center answers questions through Ontari-
oImmigration.ca’s ‘Ask an Expert.’
Meanwhile, post-secondary students
seeking to access increased financial aid
and scholarships may access the new On-
tario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
Access Window website ontario.ca/osap.
Chris Bentley, Minister of Training,
Colleges and Universities, unveiled on Feb.
5 the new website that would help students
estimate how much of OSAP’s increased
financial aid they could qualify for when
making decisions on college or university.
Bentley said the website has informa-
tion on costs of a college or university pro-

GET YOUR AD ACROSS TO

(Rapu-Rapu), Fr. L. Bejo cian, massage therapist, medical laboratory gram, tuition, books, other mandatory fees
(Cagraray), and Fr. Rey technologist, medical radiation technolo- and living expenses for one year; amount of

INTELLIGENT CONSUMERS
Daed (Villa Hermosa, Batan gist, doctor, midwife, nurse, occupational loans and grants available to help pay for
Island) for relief efforts in therapist, optician, optometrist, pharmacist, OSAP studies; amount students and their
their respective parishes. physiotherapist, psychologist, respiratory family are expected to contribute; and es-
► Release of P25,000 to
five SAA laborers who lost
CALL 416-285-8583 therapist.
The center is at the Ministry of Citizen-
timates of monthly OSAP loan repayments
after graduation. CNW
their homes, as re-
quested by SAA’s
Sister Superior.
► Allocation
of P18,000 to Fr.
Efren Borromeo
for coastal par-
ishes of Maangas,
Camarines Sur
(Parish priest: Fr.
Willy Villanueva)
and Badian, Oas,
Albay (parish
priest: Fr. Randy
Calleja), plus
P42,000 to sup-
port livelihood
training and en-
terprise develop-
ment programs
for typhoon vic-
tims.
The Manila
Media Monitor
would appreciate
concrete feedback
from individuals
and groups who
have gone out of
their way to help
victims of natural
calamities in the
Philippines.
This paper
could only stay
silent in the ab-
sence of any me-
dia disclosure of
what other groups
have done for the
Bicol tragedy vic-
tims.
Accountability
“What about
the funds raised
in smaller parties,
casino trips, etc.
by regional or sec-
toral groups, all
in the name of the
Leyte mudslide
victims? Where
did the funds go?
Top secret and
confidential, is
it?,” mumbled a
concerned com-
6 Views Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007

events, taking away slices of I thought of my good friend

tourism revenue from them.
(Afterthought Notes: If the
Ground Hog Day officials ever
teach Filipinos on the matter,
tiba-tiba ang Metro Toronto
Ace Alvarez Convention Centre, Cusina
Restaurant, Filipino Centre-To-
Suwerteng ground hog! ronto for its Rizal Hall; Golden
Valley’s Banquet Hall, Sts. Peter
and PPC-O member Jess Carlos
to be the beneficiary of my left-
over PCCT cards in case he is in-
terested in my vacated position
at the PCCT. My only concern
is that only one line (reserved
for the name) could be changed.
But title for Jess Carlos reads:
JESS M. CARLOS, BBA

Alaga na, may badyet pa! and Paul Banquet Hall.)

HERE ARE TWO SUGGES-
TIONS for advertising for con-
sideration by the Board of Direc-
tors of the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce-Toronto (PCCT):
Version 1 (Adapted from Mas-
tercard’s TV commercial):
Cost of PCCT Officers’ and
Board Members’ Induction Din-
ner, March 3, 2007 at Delta Hotel
on Kennedy Road in Scarborough,
Ontario - $65 per person.
Cost of writing PCCT press
releases and have them published
- NONE.
Cost of newspaper space to
have the press releases published
- NONE.
Cost of DJ, Printing of Tick-
ets/Invitations - Varies.
Image and reputation of the
PCCT, as the premier Filipino
business organization in Toronto
- PRICELESS.
For everything there is an ap-
propriated budget.
For media … Bahala na ang
PCCT Vice President for Media
Relations*.
(*The Vice Presidency for
Media Relations - at the time
of this writing - is vacant. This
writer resigned from the position,
including his board membership,
January 6, 2007.)
***
Second Version of suggested
PCCT Advertising (Adapted
from a quote from U.S. Presi-
dent John F. Kennedy). Suggest-
ed talent is one of the Officers of
the PCCT.
Talent: “And so our friends
in the Filipino media. Ask not
what the PCCT can do for you;
ask what you can do for the
PCCT.”
***
My arts-sports-community ac-
tive friend, Geopo Dacanay, sent
me an e-mail, February 7, 2007,
saying, “I enjoy reading your
‘Ooops and Bloops’; I always
look forward to it.”
Unto Geopo, I say, “Maraming
salamat, kaibigan. I hope when my
computer’s cursor aims and ready
to punch your name in an item, or
two, hindi ka sana magbago.”
***
Among the items touched
during a conversation among
Consul General Alejandro Mos-
quera; Tenny Soriano, Presi-
dent of the Philippine Press
Club-Ontario; Butch Galicia,
Editor of this publication; Paul
de la Cruz, Editor of Philippine
Times, and myself, at the Cusina
Restaurant and Karaoke Bar on
Wilson Ave., North York, On-
tario, the evening of “Ground
Hog Day”, Friday Feb. 2, 2007:
Ace: “… and Butch, the
Ground Hog Day in Punxsutaw-
ny, Pennsylvania, and the one in
Wiarton, Ontario, are tourist at-
tractions. Some people converge
there as early as four o’clock in
the morning.”
Butch (addressing every-
body): “But how do they make
the ground hog come out from
the hole?”
Ace: “Butch, as Filipinos,
they won’t teach us how to do
it. Otherwise, if they do - and
with all the 300 associations
that we have, we might end up
with some 300 ground hog day
***
Read somewhere in the classi-
fied ads:
Slightly used Barong Tagalog
for Sale with PCCT crest. Worn
only once during the 2005 PCCT
Officers’ and Board members’ In-
duction Ball.
Also for sale at really, really
Bargain Price: One-and-a-half
boxes of PCCT business cards of
500 per box.
Please call Ace Alvarez at tel.
no. 416-...
My wife asked: “Sino ang
bibili ng business card mo, e may
pangalan mo iyon?
My reply: “Well, the position
is there, the office, phone number,
PCCT logo and everything. All
those cards need is a correction
fluid to erase my name and write
in my successor’s name. Bakit,
$1.29 la’ng naman sa Staples
Business Depot ang correction
fluid, a.”
My wife: “Ikaw naman, aal-
isan mo pa ng kaunting negosyo
ang Albee Enterprises.”
Ace: “Sige, ibibigay ko na
la’ng sa interasado.”
***
President & CEO - JC Link
Financial Group
President - Maharajah Heri-
tage of Canada
PRO - Association of Filipino
Canadian Accountants
PRO - Kalayaan
Director - Asian Canadian
Entrepreneur Professional
Life Member- Million Dollar
Round Table
Member- Philippine Press
Club of Ontario
Member - Free and Accepted
Mason
Unfranchise Owner and Dis-
tributor of Market America
- a multibillion dollar bro-
kerage industry
Tel: 416.804-3611
Tel: 905-882-8848
jessmcarlos@rogers.com
www.jessmcarlos.unfranchise.
com
***
Incidentally, Jess Carlos said
to me, “Ace, thank you for the
plugging” when I saw him at the
networking dinner of the Asian
Canadian Entrepreneurs & Pro-
fessionals (ACEP) at a Chinese
restaurant in Scarborough on Feb-
(Continued on page 20)
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
7 News
Santiago tops FCT polls
Despite the deep freeze, 760 of the
998 qualified voting members of the
Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) kept the
center’s Rizal Hall warm and lit up, cast
their ballots and gave a more pro-active
group the reins of leadership.
Despite a few isolated sparks that
lent some diversion in the long-awaited, BANACK
controversy-filled and costly electoral exercise, the FCT
membership -- during the Jan. 31 advance voting and Feb.
3 regular polls -- had collectively spoken.
Court-appointed FCT election committee chair Larry
Banack, a noted barrister-mediator with the respectable
law firm Koskie Minsky, declared the 19 duly-elected FCT
Board of Directors and their number of votes as follows:
Victoria Santiago, 436;
Mario Andres, 428; Maria
Antonina De Villa, 426; Ro-
salinda Javier, 419; Rey To-
lentino, 416; Efren De Villa,
413; Wendelina Arena, 411;
Lapulapu Caña, 406; Julita And the FCT poll winners are ...
Corpuz, 406; Mercelita Maliglig, 401; Edmundo Birondo, 311; Alma Benemerito, 308; Araceli Rose Cruz, 307; Jaime
399; Mary Ann San Juan, 398; Irene Turner, 397; Maselle Arciaga, 306; Arlene Martirez, 306; Aurora Medrano, 306;
Virey, 395; Aida D’Orazio, 394; Maria Luisa Sivilia, 393; Virgilio Bugtong, 305; Camilla Jones, 305; Maria Teresa
Suzette Cresencia, 390; Bernie Carreon, Jr., 387; and Juan- Torralba, 303; Jorge Jose, 302; Noel Tumblod, 301; Nor-
ita Abalos-Rejdik, 363. berto Daan, 300; Helen Medina, 297; and Ores Ting, 294.
Unable to get the count were Francisco Aquino with Banack reported the advance ballots cast totaled 105.
327 votes; Rey Julius Sunga, 324; Edgardo Adan, 319; Ro- Votes in the regular polls reached 655. He said two ballots
dolfo Gallardo, 316; Nobella Tumbokon, 315; Gene Lara, were destroyed and two others were not counted.

Prov’l elections set Oct. 10

Ontario’s first regularly
set election would be on
Oct. 10, Minister Responsi-
ble for Democratic Renew-
al, Marie Bountrogianni an-
nounced on Feb. 7.
“We have received the
advice of John Hollins, On-
tario’s Chief Election Offi-
cer,” Bountrogianni said.
The Election Act has set
the first Thursday in Octo-
ber every four years as the
Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera (left) installs the first set of officers of the Tanza, Cavite election date.
Association of Canada (St. Augustine) in simple ceremonies at the St. Boniface Church social hall on But any of the subse-
Jan. 27. Taking their oaths are Edgardo Torres as president; Armando Blancaflor, vice president; Ellen quent seven days could be
Figueroa Cruz, secretary; Shirley Reyes, treasurer; Myrna Soriano, auditor; Board of Advisers Mr. and set as alternative polling
Mrs. Sam Fojas, Mr. and Mrs. Lope Perea, Mr. and Mrs. Tenny Soriano, Mr. and Mrs. Dolly Sosa, Danilo day if the Chief Election
Ching, Mimi Colmenar, Domingo Abug, Letty Liao and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Clavero. Induction night pro- Officer deemed it unsuit-
ceeds will go to one of the association’s projects, which is sending clothes, shoes and school supplies able for voting because it is
for schoolchildren in an elementary school in Tanza the association identified last year. PR a day of religious or cultural
significance.
After consultations with
Ontario’s diverse commu-
nities, Hollins proposed
that the date be moved from
Oct. 4 to Oct. 10.
The Jewish holiday of
Shemini Atzeret would fall
on Oct. 4, and members of
the Orthodox Jewish com-
munity would not be able
to vote.
“It is important that our
Election Act respond to the
needs of Ontarians,” said
Bountrogianni. “Our fixed
election date framework
was designed with the flex-
ibility to accommodate our
cultural and religious diver-
sity.” CNW
8 Views
from the monitor’s desk
A jeepney may take
us somewhere
Reading through the statement
of Tenny Soriano, President of
the Philippine Press Club-Ontario
(PPC-O), within the lead story
of this publication looks like the
honeymoon is over.
Relative to the story referred
to above and every endeavor of
organizations, Tenny warns, “The
media do not keep its eyes closed
and pens idle. Neither does a kind
and benevolent society.”
As a member of the PPC-O
myself, I openly declare support
to Mr. Soriano’s pronouncement.
The Manila Media Monitor
front page story reminded me of
what Mississauga-based commu-
nity leader Carlos Padilla aired
three years ago over TV program
Front Page Philippines. Mr. Pa-
dilla called on various community
organizations to have their finan-
cial statements published in vari-
ous publications for the update of
the general public.
Mr. Padilla’s call makes sense
considering that most organiza-
tions solicit money, too, from
among those outside the member-
ship of their organizations, and
do the solicitation under cloak of
their legal framework, their bond
with the community, and the very
Gradeschoolers in the Phil-
ippines, when asked what their
favorite or dream countries are,
invariably cite their father’s coun-
try of work or the land where their
most recent movie or TV series
was filmed.
If it is not some state in the
Middle East, the UK or the US,
it would probably be Japan and
Korea.
Outside of these standard
choices, there is always Switzer-
land.
It must be the Filipino class-
room instructor who, by the way
her lashes flutter and by the pro-
foundness of her sigh at the utter
mention of Switzerland, uncon-
sciously influences her pupils.
Most certainly, teacher would
have pictures and postcards of the
Swiss Alps and the two famous
peaks, Jungfrau and Matterhorn,
all laden with snow, evoking
dreamy landscapes of the Sound
of Music (incidentally filmed in
Austria) and of brown bears pro-
moting powdered milk and cavort-
ing in verdant hills or of spring
Ace Alvarez
sense of community involvement
within the society they operate.
While most organizations
present their financial statements
to its members during the an-
nual general meeting, or AGMs
(if ever their respective Board of
Directors follow their constitution
and by-laws), such financial state-
ments presented are not audited by
independents who are outsiders to
the organization. Thus, you could
just imagine the numbers present-
ed during these AGMs - which in
most cases are not even under-
stood by most of the members,
judging from questions - most of
which are only clarificatory in na-
ture and no real depth and answers
by officers are taken as they are by
members.
The Philippine Consulate
General’s office is likely to ask
organizations seeking its help
and/or endorsement from hereon
that they would have to deliver a
progress report to the Philippine
Consulate General’s office, and
the community-at-large where the
money actually was spent on.
This developed after my col-
leagues in the media - namely
Tenny Soriano, Butch Galicia,
Paul dela Cruz - and I appraised
roundabout
Pinoys find Swiss
roads paved with
chocolates
meadows carpeted in flowers that
succeed in selling new housing
projects in Antipolo.
Or the way Baguio is touted
as the Switzerland of the Philip-
pines, without regard to the fact
that its air now reeks more of die-
sel fumes than of pine.
Or by the fact that the United
Nations has its major offices in
Geneva outside of the Big Apple,
a tidbit often stressed during UN
Day parades at school.
The other side of Switzerland
in the minds of Pinoys is one of
a modern nation that rabidly pro-
tects its neutrality as though its
existence depended on it, a coun-
try that has adamantly avoided
membership in the European com-
munity, still using its own cur-
rency, run by a perfectly working
version of federalism through its
cantons, a country of four official
languages and hundreds of cheese
varieties.
In the early 80s, the late Boy
Noriega Jr. immortalized the ex-
pat Pinoy in Europe by situating
his landmark play Bayan-Bayanan
Consul General Alejandro Mos-
quera during a conversation re-
cently that organizations are able
to do this because his office al-
most always stamps its seal of
credence to the fundraising efforts
by allowing use of its name, and/
or by presence of representatives
from his office.
***
After a year of battle in the
judicial court grounds, enormous
money spent on legal fees, dam-
aged reputation and broken rela-
tionships, both personal and pro-
fessional, members of the Filipino
Centre-Toronto (FCT) have finally
spoken and voted the officers and
board members who they want to
administer the services offered
by their community center, in an
election likewise supervised by
the court. As the Filipino saying
goes, “Kay haba-haba man daw
ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang
tuloy.”
To the winners composed of a
straight ticket from the FCT Loyal-
ists, congratulations to all of you.
For the losers, no more sulk-
ing, please. After all, the reason
why you all ran in the recently-
concluded election is for the in-
terest of the community that the
Mag Cruz Hatol
in Switzerland.
His full-length play captured
the loneliness and carelessness of
the first groups of OFWs (over-
seas Filipino workers), when they
were still referred to as OCWs
(overseas contract workers).
The change in acronym signi-
fies nothing except to call atten-
tion to the sad fact of our blistered
economy that tragically looks at
the migrant worker as a major
source of foreign currency.
Alas, that is exactly what ev-
ery Pinoy in this fabled land must
think of, from German Zurich to
Italian Lugano: that well paying
jobs are practically non-existent
in the homeland pillaged by one
elected leader after another.
So why bother with Singapore
and Brunei when it is just a shuttle
away.
There is more romance and
sophistication in licking a Swiss
stamp to affix on a postcard fea-
turing dainty cows grazing in a
hillside ablaze with color, with the
de rigeur snowcapped mountain
in the background to complete the
FCT serves. Since your members
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
chose the leaders they want dur-
ing a very clean election, let the
elected lead.
Let us all go on with our ob-
jectives for the good of the com-
munity.
***
Just a recollection from what
I remember having read in an ar-
ticle back in the mid 80s. …
The writer of the story I read
then was so amazed with Filipino
jeepney drivers and their jeepneys
while plying their daily route. The
American journalist wrote his ex-
perience riding on this product of
the Filipino’s ability to improvise
on and reproduce the first-world’s
technology of army jeeps left
behind in the Philippines by the
United States after the 2nd World
War into forms more attainable
given limited financial resources
- the jeepney!
The author wrote, every Fili-
pino jeepney driver seemed to
him as an acrobat - he minds ev-
erything on the road while driv-
ing with vision through the wind-
shield just to catch what’s in front
of him, the rest of the windshield
blocked by various stickers and
piles of cassette tapes. At the same
time, the driver adjusts the mix of
bass, treble, and equalizer on the
blaring sound of his stereo system.
He also stretches his arm to get a
fare from a passenger seated at the
farthest end of the vehicle, hands
over the passenger’s change,
stretches anew his arm for fare
from another passenger. While
all of these are performed, he cuts
across another jeepney at the stop
(Continued on page 11)
golpe de gulat when the viewcard
reaches his forlorn barangay, a
good 16 hours by jet.
It was a mild but an otherwise
chilly winter when we visited
again recently, the ski resorts com-
plaining that there was not enough
white stuff to lure the high-spend-
ers.
It was dreamy nevertheless
and dreamier still for the nearly
8,000 Pinoys in Zurich, most of
whom are nurses.
Their wages are handsome,
their homes plucked right out of
Architectural Digest.
The unmistakable scent of
adobo and patis is the quick give-
away upon entry to the Pinoy
abode because the raclette and
fondues are still alien to his home-
spun culinary culture.
It is in Switzerland where the
hardy Filipino engages his Euro-
pean peer with pride and industri-
ousness.
He excels whether at waiting
tables, cleaning homes, attending
the elderly patient or sprucing up
hotel beds.
The Pinoy is at home here, al-
beit occasionally lonely and chill-
ing to the bone, paving the roads
with chocolate so that the Swiss
coffers could be more robust and
his family at the other end of the
world could be more prosperous
and comfortable.
And true to tradition, he helps
propagate the childhood myth
about Switzerland being that en-
chanted place and a dreamland.
FEBRUARY 2007
9 Views Commentary
Ben Viccari

Letters & Voices
Enough! Shut up! Work!
February 6, 2007
To the FCT Winners and
Losers:
As the headline says, this
is the feeling that probably all
Filipino Canadians in the GTA
would like to say about the
whole-year long brouhaha about
the FCT. That’s my personal
feeling anyways.
Now that the dust has settled
down, it’s time to end the nasty,
destructive, divisive and person-
al “war” between the two camps.
Too much hurt, too much mud
had been thrown at each other.
This is the time for healing.
This will be the new begin-
ning that the two camps, winners
or losers, must take advantage of
and show that they care for what
they are fighting for - the FCT.
For the winners, get mov-
ing, show your resolve to make
the center the pride of Filipinos.
Credibility of the center was at
stake, so much so that so much
money had been spent and com-
munity focus had been diverted.
and moral responsibility; if not,
you’ll fail us again and we do
not need another wound.
For those “reformist”, you
have all the best intentions for
FCT and you lost in a democrat-
ic manner. You were given the
chance to prove yourselves, that
you can offer an alternative in
FCT governance, but you were
voted down. Take that as a signal
to offer yourselves to cooperate
for all you can for a better FCT.
I hope that you will take your
defeat in a constructive manner
and work together in any capac-
ity. I hope that you will take this
route, and not just drop your
good intentions. Show what you
can do to FCT and next time,
you will have the chance to be
elected and become part of the
governing body!
Offer your expertise, give
your constructive concerns, be a
part of the solution but, I will ask
you, do not be a part of a prob-
lem!! Wasn’t that your reason
why you all ran to become a part
Just over a year ago, I attend-
ed a press conference in Toronto
which, to say the least, was poorly
attended.
There, for the first time, I met
a softly but firmly spoken gentle-
man planning boldly to host the
December environmental summit
in Montreal.
Even though he knew his po-
litical party would probably lose
the next federal election, he spoke
with sincere conviction about the
need for decisive action on the en-
vironment.
Until that time, I had thought
of him as a man of sincerity who
seemed above the rough and tum-
ble of rancorous debate that in
recent years has characterized the
House of Commons.
But at that press conference, I
saw him as a man of great deter-
mination based not on emotional-
ism but on scientific evidence.
In December, that man, Ste-
phane Dion became the leader of a
party that aims to take on Stephen
Harper and his fuzzy environmen-
tal philosophy.
Even if he loses, he won’t give
up the fight because like a growing
number of Canadians, he knows
Perhaps they’ll
listen now
where we’ll all be in the lifetimes
of our grandchildren - maybe even
Nations; Jeb Bush, Governor of
Florida and brother of the man
of our children. who was to become president. All
A shadowy group die-hard Republicans of the ex-
Project for the New American treme right.
Century is a so called neo con Libby was the first casualty,
think tank in the United States. indicted for perjury in 2005
I and millions of internet users Then, since the Democrats
know it’s more than that, but con- won power in congress and the
ventional news media both sides senate last November, Rumsfeld
of the border have failed to engage and Bolton resigned.
in any serious investigation One wonders who’ll be next
It was founded in the United to go? Or should I say one hopes
States in 1997 by the likes of Dick there’ll be more in months to
Cheney who became vice president come.
when the Republicans won the 2000 To find out more about this
election and Lewis Libby who was group which some claim to be the
appointed his chief of staff. real government of the U.S go to
Among the founders were Google and search the hundreds of
Donald Rumsfeld, who became references to Project for the New
defence secretary; John Bolton, American Century.
named ambassador to the United (Continued on page 20)
THEY WROTE 30
Dr. George Korey and Ken Mori
Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) longtime
member Dr. Korey wrote 30 on Jan. 30. He was 86. Dr. Korey
founded the Canadian School of Management. He was also a
writer and poet.
Mr. Mori founded and was editor of The New Canadian, a
pioneer post-war newspaper in Japanese. A longtime member
of CEMA, Ken retired with the sale of the paper in the 1980s.

Enough of this! Get yourselves
in order! This is now your chance
to show that you are running it
in a fiscally responsible manner
as well as transparent in your
governance and administration
to prevent another fiasco.
Our journey
of the FCT governance? Bring
on what you have collectively
to FCT. If it’s good, I have faith
that they will take your good By Eva Agpaoa
ideas. Show the community, that
you are not poor and bitter losers
but rather better and good los-

A story to tell
As for the elected Directors, ers too.
you have the obligation to the And all your good intentions
community to see to it that the are for FCT. Or, are they? Oth-
FCT will be for all. Be open to erwise, winners and losers will
the other “camp”, they can offer show their true colors at the end.
you expertise that you might not The community is watching you. First let me say thank you to my family.” maybe then she could ease off a
have. Be receptive and open to For the two camps and principal all of you who have contacted me M had decided that she would bit.
other ideas for the general inter- proponents for each camp, this since my first column last month. come to Canada and work towards She was wrong. As the years
est of FCT. Govern it for the in- is what I would say: ENOUGH! Wow. It’s been overwhelming and bringing her children and husband went by, it was clear that she could
terest of the whole community. Just Shut Up and Get Work- I am grateful and touched. Your here over time. She had nothing only count on herself. M made a
If there are valid and con- ing. Work together! Magkaisa stories are so incredible. Now, let but she worked every day and decision.
structive concerns, accept and para sa FCT! And if you are on me tell you one of those stories saved what little she could as well “I couldn’t believe what was
answer it to your best abil- the way, get out! Let the people about an incredible woman I met as send money back home (like we happening. For the first couple of
ity, but bear in mind also to be with good intentions do their recently at Aristokrat. all do) so that her children would years I kept telling myself, that he
ready and stop the unnecessary job. There must be no winners I’d been having a difficult day be better off. just needed time to find his way.
and destructive issues that will or losers, show that the Filipino and decided to relax a bit in the We talked about how hard it But every day I’d come home and
be facing you. There will be lot community is the winner. Geopo evening. I was sitting and enjoy- was to get up every morning and he had done nothing.”
to come. This is your official Dacanay, geopo@hotmail.com ing the music and the food when go to take care of someone else’s M made the decision to leave
this small woman about my age sat children while your own are with- her husband. “It was hard for me.
Thanks for the support next to me. She smiled, I smiled out their mother. I’d always been taught that we
Last week I dropped in to a store to get my glasses repaired and back and one thing led to another. “Miss, it was hard and some should not abandon our mate. But
Soon we were talking up a storm. days it felt like I couldn’t get my I had to choose between him and
your January paper was there. Thanks for the nice article and picture
M, as I am going to call her, has feet to take me to the subway. Six the welfare of my children. So one
which you published regarding retirement and that Phil Mendoza is
an engaging smile that invites you days a week, I wake up at 5:30 day, I packed my things and took
taking over. He is at work now and getting into things.
to talk and she turned out every bit just to get to my employer by 8. the children with me. I had found
We leave for the Philippines on Feb. 4 via Hong Kong and will an apartment downtown.” There
as engaging as her smile. And then I’m home by 8:30. I am
be attending the Knights of Rizal Assembly in Manila. Looking they lived until M could save up
The story she told me was so tired, some days I fall asleep on
forward to returning to the Phil. and showing Maureen things over humbling and inspiring. M is not the subway.” Over the years, M enough to put a down payment
there. a famous person, she doesn’t have managed to do what she set out to on a house and move. M had no
Thanks again for all of your help over the years. Wishing you a an executive position in a large do. Her children and her husband one to turn to. But she did not give
good year ahead. Doug Ord, Police Constable, Community Mobili- company. She is a simple straight- joined her here. up.
zation Unit, Toronto Police Service forward woman who has worked But for a while, things were This is a true story and it in-
hard and achieved so much. bad for M. Her husband was a spires me because here is M, with-
Inspiring hockey story “Miss, I came to Canada 12 cause for grief and trouble. He re- out support throughout her life,
years ago leaving my children and fused to work, he spent M’s pay- but so determined to achieve her
The Manila Media Monitor article on the Canadian Multicul- goals, that nothing could stop her.
husband back home,” she told me. check and he played around.
tural Hockey League (CMHL) not only prodded the formation of So many people I meet give up
She came here with little else than She had dreams that they to-
a Filipino competitive team but had also generated a lot of interest her suitcase and a job as a nanny gether would build on what little as soon as they hit a problem. M
that more people have signed up to start an entire league. (Proof waiting for her. “I was so scared, she had achieved. In her dreams, could have given up but through
that advertising in community newspapers works!) - Stan Paulkas, you know my legs were trembling her partner would find a good job sheer determination and will pow-
CMHL Founder, Toronto but I wanted to help myself and and contribute to their family and er, she achieved her dreams.
 Views
10
Omerta
I know .... nothing!
My lips are SOLD!
I remember this line the hand-
some hero told an ugly bald villain
he just gunned down in a cowboy
flick I saw when I was a lad: “Fast
to the draw, slow to pulling the
trigger. You’re now another dead
useless stinking piece of trash not
even the flies would dare taste.”
God help! I would never want
this happening to sweet-talk-
ing swindlers scheming at every
chance to pluck precious cash out
of pocket unawares to satiate their
bilking instincts.
What’s this I heard that a
newly-formed group never let go
a single cent amassed from a pass-
the-hat instant collection in the
name of Leyte mudslide victims?
What’s this I heard from an
Asian friend that the unscrupulous
have used the Leyte, Bicol and
other such Philippine tragedies as
income-generating enterprises, as
they coax Filipino-looking per-
sons in public sites for a dollar
or two for the calamity victims’
sakes? When asked for documen-
tation, they’d retort with “If you
don’t want to give, then just say
so!”
There was also this story of
By Butch DG. Galicia
persons doing the same conning
house-to-house. Uh, oh! Anent to
the May polls in the Philippines,
this old hat reminded me of poli-
ticians going house-to-house to
seek votes with the premeditated
intent of running away with the
people’s taxes when elected.
Then there were events that
bannered aid to disaster victims
and raised a windfall; but whose
organizers forgot, or plainly never
bothered, to report back where the
money went, prompting donors
to meditate on the absurd idea
that they had become victims of a
‘disaster’ and that their donations
had gone with the wind.
While I despise such acts, I’d
never believe these and other tall
tales. I’d rather check on the facts
first - as colleague Ricky Caluen
has advised community media
practitioners - before avowing any
one or any group as ‘dead.’
*****
And erst I fall into that nasty
habit of blaming and branding any
one or any group, here’s a joke e-
mailed to me by friend Chuchi:
Taste Test Teacher was doing
a study on the senses of first grad-
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
ers, using a bowl of Lifesavers.
The children began to say: “Red
... cherry,” “Yellow ... lemon,”
“Green ... lime,” “Orange ... or-
ange,” Finally the teacher gave
them honey Lifesavers, but none
of the children could identify the
taste. “Well,” the teracher said,
“I’ll give you all a clue. It’s what
your mother may sometimes call
your father.” One of the children
looked up in horror, spit her Life-
saver out and yelled: “Oh My
God! They’re assholes!”
*****
Manila Media Monitor pub-
lisher Ace Alvarez refutes my be-
lief that there exists only manlolo-
kos and nagpapalokos in this time
and age when money seems to be
the sole engine stimulating human
movement. Ace identifies the third
specie as the luko-lokos.
I kind of prefer to be of the
third kind - the stupid moronic
lunatic who recites a fairy tale to
ask money for an invented cause,
shoves the cash into his pants’
pockets, walks away, and gives
his only pair of pants to the first
person he meets and thinks is
so poor and distressed. With an
apologetic smile, he’ll tell the re-
ceiver: Sorry, I’ve got no cash on
hand. By the way, can you fetch
me something to cover my freez-
ing buttocks?
*****
Perhaps a piece of paper
called a fundraising progress re-
port would amply cover anyone’s
butts (also referred to as a face by
a mob ready for the lynching).
Feedback, so the books say,
completes the communication
cycle.
For all intents and purposes,
the mass media would still be the
best way to feedforward feedbacks
(also at times called progress re-
ports, audits and other documents
proving that some action was
truthfully anf factually taken and
done in fair exchange for the trust
and benevolence people place on
a person or group).
Persons and groups who place
on mass media the responsibil-
ity of getting the public to know
and understand their noble causes
ought to know that they also place
on media the responsibility of
getting the public to know and
understand what had been done;
just as they place on themselves
-- when they start any activity --
the responsibility of getting their
people and donors well informed
of what they aim to do, is doing
and had done.
Without feedback, doubts are
raised, mistrust seeps in and the
donors’ enthusiasm to part with
extra hard-earned cash wavers.
When these happen, the hopes
of many desperate people to rise
above tragedy will stay buried in
mudslides and crashed by other
tragedies.
Ah! What a loss. I do not mean
those earthly possessions; I mean
that great virtue called love for
humanity. “Whatsoever you do to
the least of My brothers, that you
do unto Me.” Remember?
Moreover, there really is no
reason to be over-defensive when
asked how well any donor’s dough
had been mashed, baked, eaten
and excreted. Yucks!
*****
Here’s a quick quip submitted
by Chito: When all is said and
done - more is said than done.
*****
Why do I have this funny feel-
ing that a mass of ‘geniuses’ sur-
round me every time I talk and
listen to people? It appears that
every sentence I hear starts with
the words “I know.”
Once, I had this so-called two-
way communication dilemma:
ME: Know what, ....
HIM: I know.
ME: Know what?
HIM: What what?
ME: Nothing.
HIM: I know.
When the “I know” boils down
to nil in a talk, then my guess is as
good as yours on what is between
those ears. Know what? Nothing!
*****
Guess what I have between
my ears for the giving this Val-
entine’s Day to my one and only
wife (Said to be an Erap original
line, but with the quick addition:
All the others are called mat-
tresses.)
You know? Then, keep it a big
secret, so she’d rightly expect it.
Like you, my lips are SO ...
SO ... OLD. Dry and chapped,
maybe; but always available for
the kissing. Ang kapal!!! HAPPY
VD! butchgalicia@yahoo.com
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
Keeping seniors at ease
Guaranteed Income Supplement
Receive GIS outside Canada
The Government of Canada
designed the Guaranteed Income
Supplement (GIS) to assist low-in-
come pensioners living in Canada.
For this reason, if you leave
Canada we will only pay you for
the month you leave, and for six
months after that. Then your pay-
ments will stop.
You have an obligation to tell
us when you plan to be outside the
country for more than six months.
If you do stay outside Canada
for longer than six months, you
can always re-apply when you re-
turn to live in Canada.
Most recipients will receive
their cheque in the local currency
of their country of residence.
Cost-of-living increases
We will increase your pension
payments to reflect any increases
in the cost of living as measured
by the consumer price index.
We apply any increases every
three months-in January, April,
July and October.
Your monthly payments will
not go down if the cost of living
falls. Consult the Old Age Secu-
rity payment rates for current sup-
plement rate information.
Stopped benefits
We stop paying your GIS if
one of the following happens.
► You do not re-apply by fil-
ing a tax return by April 30 of each
From the Monitor’s Desk
(From page 8)
to pick up some more passengers.
The American journalist con-
tinued, fellow jeepney drivers who
would see another driver having
trouble with his rig would yell in
the vernacular, “Eto ang posporo,
sunugin mo na ‘yan.” The jour-
nalist continued, “but insult one
jeepney driver and the whole bat-
talion of his fellow drivers come
running after you.”
Friends, such is the nature of
Filipinos. Insult one of his, or her
kind, and the whole gang comes
after you.
***
My recollection on the story
above brings my thoughts to the
jeepney as the FCT. You, as reader,
please hop on and have a similar
experience like the journalist who
wrote the story and you could pin-
point your own identification with
the characters in the story narrated
above.
The jeepney could also be any
organization fund raising for a
ADVERTISE
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News
PART 5 (CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Manila MEDIA MONITOR has compiled a
number of programs the federal government of Canada has been im-
plementing to benefit the province’s seniors. Manila MEDIA MONI-
TOR, in this series, will provide insights to these programs for seniors
on this space, hoping it would keep the paper’s valued senior readers
informed.)
year or you do not submit an appli-
cation form when asked to do so.
► Your income, or the total
income for you and your spouse or
common-law partner, is more than
the maximum amount allowed.
► You leave Canada for more
than six months in a row.
► You die. If your spouse or
common-law partner is receiving
the GIS or Allowance, payments
may continue, based on his or her
income.
Filing income tax return
GIS benefit is not considered
taxable income.
But you must still report it on
your tax return.
Appealing a decision
If you disagree with a decision
that affects your GIS benefit, you
have the right to request an expla-
nation.
Contact us first, and we can
explain the reason for our decision
and usually settle the matter.
If you are still not satisfied
with our response, you may re-
quest a “reconsideration.”
To do this, you must send a
good cause. You may hop on, as
a community member and experi-
ence to pinpoint your identification
with the characters in the story.
Further, the jeepney could also
be the Filipino-Canadian media.
You as reader may hop on, too, and
pinpoint your own identification
with the characters in the story.
But regardless of whether you
are on the “jeepney” (that is FCT),
or the “jeepney” (that is any or-
ganization), or “jeepney”(that is
the media) never, never insult the
jeepney driver, or “… the whole
battalion of his fellow drivers
come running after you.”
Again, as PPC-O president
Tenny Soriano warns, “The media
do not keep its eyes closed and
pens idle. Neither does a kind and
benevolent society.”
As a member of the PPC-O
myself, and as head of this pub-
lication, Manila Media Monitor
declares support to Mr. Soriano’s
pronouncement.
letter to the Regional Director of
Income Security Programs within
90 days of receiving notice of our
decision.
The mailing address for your
region is available on the website
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/asp/gate-
way.asp?hr=en/isp/pub/oas/gis-
main.shtml&hs=ozs.
In your letter, please include
your name; address; Social Insur-
ance Number; and reason for ap-
pealing the decision.
If you are not satisfied with the
Regional Director’s response, you
can appeal the decision to the Of-
fice of the Commissioner of Re-
view Tribunals.
Protecting information
Your privacy is protected by
two acts.
The Old Age Security Act and
Regulations ensure that only spe-
cific agencies authorized by the
Minister of Human Resources
Development Canada are entitled
to review relevant parts of your
records. Personal information in
your file cannot be given to other
agencies or individuals without
Ilocandia in
Ontario sets
oathtaking
Three-time president Rosalino
Paat will lead officers and new
members of the Ilocandia of On-
tario when they take their oaths of
office on June 23.
Others to be inducted are Purie
Mamaril and Ruben Rey Peralta,
vice president; Florie Salvatierra,
Evangeline Garcia and Maria Jo-
sephine Laki, secretaries; Reggie
Saliganan and Jean Escobar, trea-
surers; Pacita Mariano and Josean
Pagatpat, auditors; Raul Padilla,
Violeta Vilan and Glodane Day-
anghirang, PROs; Ana Maria Fab-
ros and Charmine Pascua, busi-
ness managers; Tony Arconado
and Elbert Palos, peace officers.
To be inducted as directors are
Jon Escobar (co-chair), Joe Dam-
asco (co-chair), Christie Areola,
Leo Mariano, Joe Mamaril, Char-
ing Arconado, Antonia Anieoche,
Josephine Andres and Emy Alcan-
tara.
The association has grown
from a group enjoying weekend
get-togethers to a social force
sponsoring scholarships in the
Ilocos Region, the Philippines and
providing assistance to new immi-
grants in Toronto. JD
11
your consent.
The Access to Information Act
also prevents the release of infor-
mation about you without your
consent.
However, there are two excep-
tions: information can be released
if it has already been made public
or if the release is allowed under
the Privacy Act.
The government can only use
information for the purpose for
which it was collected, except to
comply with a warrant or subpoe-
na, or to enforce a law.
You have the right to see infor-
mation about you that is kept on
file by the Government of Canada.
To help citizens get access to in-
formation about themselves, the
government has published Info
Source: Sources of federal govern-
ment information. You must com-
plete an information request form.
These forms, and Info Source,
are available in government of-
fices open to the public, such as
a Human Resources Develop-
ment Canada office. They are also
available at public libraries, most
rural post offices and in Canadian
missions abroad.
Other retirement benefits
If you made at least one valid
contribution to either the Canada
Pension Plan or the Québec Pen-
sion Plan, you will be eligible for
a retirement pension at age 65.
Calendar for GTA seniors
The sixth annual calen-
dar is available for over
100,000 seniors across
the GTA and features a
different safety message
each month, including
medication tips, pedestri-
an and driver safety, fraud
prevention and potential
health and safety issues.
Gift of tounges
good for memory
Speaking one or more languag-
es can stall the onset of dementia,
a new Canadian study said.
“Our study found that speak-
ing two languages throughout
one’s life appears to be associated
with a delay in the onset of symp-
toms of dementia by four years
compared to those who speak only
one language,” said Ellen Bialys-
tok, lead researcher and professor
at York University in Toronto.
Her research team examined
the medical records of 184 pa-
tients with cognitive complaints.
Ninety-one spoke one lan-
guage and 93 were bilingual,
speaking a combination of 25 dif-
ferent languages including Polish,
Yiddish, German, Romanian and
Harper names
State Sec for
senior citizens
OTTAWA – Prime Minister
Stephen Harper has appointed
Senator Marjory LeBreton as
Secretary of State (Seniors).
She assumed the new role
in addition to being Leader of
the Government in the Senate.
“In recognition of the grow-
ing importance of senior citi-
zens in our country, I believe
it is important to have an advo-
cate, like Marjory LeBreton, to
ensure that we are doing what
we need to for those who have
contributed to making Canada
such a vital and strong coun-
try,” said Prime Minister Harp-
er. PR
If you have retired or substan-
tially reduced your hours of work,
you could qualify for a reduced re-
tirement pension as early as age 60.
Disability benefits and survi-
vor benefits are also available un-
der the Canada Pension Plan and
the Québec Pension Plan if you or
your common-law partner made
enough contributions. You must
apply to receive any benefit.
For information on the Québec
Pension Plan, visit the Web site of
the Régie des rentes du Québec.
You may be entitled to benefits
under the Employment Insurance
Program or from other federal
programs such as War Veterans
Allowances from Veterans Affairs
Canada.
Your provincial or territorial,
and municipal governments may
offer income assistance and ser-
vices to seniors such as housing or
health coverage. Contact these gov-
ernments directly for information.
Hungarian.
They found that monolingual
patients showed evidence of Al-
zheimer’s or other forms of demen-
tia at 71.4 years of age on average,
while the bilingual group mani-
fested symptoms at 75.5 years.
This difference remained even
after considering the possible ef-
fects of cultural differences, im-
migration, formal education,
employment and gender on the
results.
“There are no pharmacologi-
cal interventions that are this dra-
matic,” said Morris Freedman,
study co-author and an expert on
the mechanisms underlying cog-
nitive impairment due to diseases
such as Alzheimer’s.
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
12 Feature The Look of ‘Pinoy’ Love

What we did for love If I had a rose for every

time I thought of you, I’d
walk through a garden for-
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY - Standing ankle-deep in swamp mud, couples have wed in
an unusual 2007 Valentines Day’ ceremony on this western Philippine island, that marked
ever. ~ Author Unknown
their commitment to the environment.
The 100 barefoot couples, dressed in white, stood in the swamp facing the sea and
exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by the city mayor.
“You will be an example of true love not just to your partner but to the en-
vironment,” Mayor Edward Hagedorn said in a short speech after marry- LOVAPALOOZA. For three years since 2004, thou-
ing the mostly poor couples from Palawan island’s capital of Puerto sands of Filipino couples gather at Baywalk, a
Princesa. stretch of pedestrian park along Roxas Blvd., to
The official ceremony was free of charge for the couples in ex- simulatneously engage in a pre-Valentine’s Day
change for planting mangrove saplings in the swamp and ten-second liplock, in a bid to enter the Guinness
helping further to protect their island.
World Records. Organizers say the 2006 kissfest
This strange combination of environmentalism,
joined in by over 5,300 couples has broken Chile’s Guin-
romance and aid to the poor has become an annual
ness record of 4,445.
event in Puerto Princesa which has been pushing
an image of cleanliness and ecological activism to
attract tourists.
For 72-year-old farmer Protacio de Ocampo, the
free rite was a chance to make official his relationship
with 67-year-old partner Teofela Apolinario.
The pair have been together since 1958 but de Ocampo
has been too embarrassed to approach officials to arrange a MASS WEDDING. Over 1,000 cou-
traditional wedding because he is illiterate and could not sign ples tie the knot in a Feb. 14 mass
the marriage license. wedding in Caloocan City. (Below)
“It would be embarrassing if they passed away without getting Streetside hearts proclaim LOVE.
married. At least now we know that their union would be recognized in heav-
en,” said their daughter Leonora Apolinario, 58, who witnessed the mass wedding along
with her daughter and some 3,000 other guests.
Josephine Rodriguez, 27, wearing a dress she borrowed from her partner’s aunt, said
she was thankful for the ceremony as she and her construction worker husband could not
afford a private one.
“Maybe later when we have money we can have a private wedding,” said the mother-
of-one who spent most of the ceremony trying to keep her dress out of the mud.
She said she understood the importance of the mangrove swamp, which serves as a
nursery and habitat for small fish and anchors the fragile soil on the shore to prevent ero-
sion. “It’s a lot of fun. And this is good because this is where the smaller fish can live,” she
told AFP, as released at Yahoo!.com.
Afterwards the newlyweds celebrated with wedding cake and a shoreline banquet of
omelets and fried noodles, courtesy of the city government. Mynardo Macaraig, AFP
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
StatsCan study notes ‘persistently poor’ new immigrants
Many people who immigrated
to Canada since the turn of the
millenium seemed to find it hard
making ends meet, compared with
those who had been in Canada
before 2000, a Statistics Canada
study released on Jan. 30 said.
This was, despite Citizenship
and Immigration Canada’s (CIC)
system, in recent years, of ap-
proving more applicants with bet-
ter professional qualifications and
skills and higher educational ac-
complishments so that they would
ideally be better prepared for the
Canadian labor environment.
From 2000 to 2004, many
landed and skilled immigrants
earned way below the national
income cut-off (in 2003 constant
dollars) of $13,400, or as adjusted
for a family of four, $26,800.
Nearly a fifth of immigrants
who arrived between 2000 and
2004 (see graph) had been “per-
sistently poor” for five years since
their entry, said the study Chronic
Low-Income and Low Income
Dynamics Among Recent Im-
migrants done by Garnett Picot,
Feng Hou and Simon Coulombe.
The study defined chronic low
income as the newcomer’s defi-
cient earnings at least four of their
first five years in Canada.
It could be argued that having
‘survival income’ could be due to
the fact that inspite of the wealth
of knowledge and experience new
Special Report 13
grants in chronic low income.
By ACE ALVAREZ and BUTCH GALICIA with SADIA QURESHI ► Over 40 percent of the
chronically poor had a university
entrants brought with them, they ern, Eastern and Southern Europe; education, age, occupation, fam- degree.
had difficulty in breaking into the Africa; Southern and Eastern ily type, source region, and de- ► But immigrants with lesser
discerning, sometimes discrimi- Asia; and other countries. clared language ability, the study education remained poorer than
nating, Canadian labor market. Statistics Canada 2001 census observed that: those with better school records.
Referred to in the study were figures noted that the Philippines ► Refugees and single par- ► Older immigrants at land-
immigrants from Statistics Cana- was the third largest source coun- ents were more likely to experi- ing were also likely to be finan-
da’s eight regional groupings - the try of immigrants from 1990. ence lower earnings. cially strapped. The study said the
US; the Caribbean, Central and Taking into account 2000 to ► In contrast, skilled workers low income rate was 14 percent
South America; Northern, West- 2004 data on immigrant class, accounted for 52 percent of immi- (Continued on page 17)
3rd Largest Source
THE PHILIPPINES ranked
third among Canada’s sourc-
es of immigrants, coming
after the People’s Republic
of China and India in 2005,
Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (CIC) figures show.
The rankings place Pakistan,
the United States, Colombia,
the United Kingdom, the Re-
public of Korea, Iran, France,
Romania, Sri Lanka, Russia,
Taiwan and Hong Kong after
the Philippines.
PERMANENT RESIDENTS BY CATEGORY, 1980 TO 2005
There were 13,158 Filipino
Citizenship and Immigration Canada statistics show 143,144 immigrants in 1980; 128,643
immigrants in 1996; 10,872 in
in 1981; 121,177 in 1982; 89,194 in 1983; 88,274 in 1984; 84,335 in 1985; 99,352 in 1986; 1997; 8,185 in 1998; 9,204 in
152,042 in 1987; 161,553 in 1988; 191,538 in 1989; 216,434 in 1990; 232,792 in 1991; 254,820 1999; 10,119 in 2000; 12,928
in 1992; 256,710 in 1993; 224,400 in 1994; 212,868 in 1995; 226,072 in 1996; 216,038 in 1997; in 2001; 11,011 in 2002; 11,989
in 2003; 13,303 in 2004; and
174,198 in 1998; 189, 961 in 1999; 227,463 in 2000; 250,640 in 2001; 229,047 in 2002; 221,352
in 2003; 235,824 in 2004; and 262,236 in 2005. 17,525 in 2005.
Manila Media Monitor
14 FEBRUARY 2007
Mendoza, Rustia, Ladines grace PPCO Almusalan
(Above) New Toron-
to Police commu-
nity liaison officer
Philip Mendoza (in
uniform, seated; re-
lated item on p. 18)
pose with Philippine
Press Club Ontario
(PPCO) members
and guests after a
candid exchange
on community and
police relations dur-
ing the PPCO regu-
lar monthly Almusalan on Feb. 10. Likewise, PPCO members (other photo) join guests Jeffrey Rustia
and Markham Federation of Filipino-Canadians (MFFC) chair Yolanda Ladines (front, 3rd & 4th from
left) in another breakfast forum on Jan. 27. Rustia and MFFC (item on p. 16) were Philippine honorees
for community work abroad. Both fora were conducted at Casa Manila. Photos by ARIEL RAMOS
Mabuhay Radio
workshop, talent
search ongoing
Mabuhay Radio is con-
tinuing its workshops and
talent search as it moves to
become a harbinger of com-
munity news and views.
Mabuhay Radio official
Deo Moreno said work-
shop attendees are being
prepared for the regular 10
p.m. broadcast over CHHA
1610 AM.
Moreno has urged those
interested in broadcast con-
sole operations; in being a
disc jockey, voice talent or
radio personality; in cre-
ative writing, scriptwriting
or copywriting; production
and promotions; and other
radio-related work to join
the radio program. Several
community leaders were
keen on getting into the
program.
Mabuhay Radio oper-
ates six nights weekly. It
is non-profit and is part of
CHHA or Voces Latinas.
Programs may be accessed
at www.mabuhayradio.net.
FAMILY REUNION. (Left
photo) The Flores fam-
ily recently had a re-
union that also gave
honor to family matri-
arch Sena Flores (seat-
ed, 4th from left). JT
PLACING YOUR AD
FOR FAST RESULTS?
CALL 416-285-8583
Who? What? Llameg is community’s
new Ontario barrister
By LUZ SUCILAN
Florendo Llameg hit his
third professional goal after
he passed the bar admis-
sions in Ontario and took
his oath as a lawyer on Jan.
25.
Llameg has become one
of the few people in the com-
munity licensed to exercise
the profession in Ontario, in
New York State, USA, and
in the Philippines. Smith and Frank LLP in
Llameg’s story is inspir- July 2003 as a corporate
law clerk. The firm, known
ing. He adeptly maneuvered
for its commitment to pro-
his way through the cold and
fessionalism, growth and
biting professional environ-
open culture, has been his
ment for new immigrants in
guiding light.
Canada.
This job gave him the
Like many landed pro-
opportunity to grow and
fessionals, he did odd jobs
strengthen his resolve to
and became a mortgage
become an Ontario barrister
administrator. It was not a
and solicitor. Further, the
good fit and he almost went
family has since reunited.
back to the Philippines in
He pursued further law
2003, miserable as was his
studies, took the bar and
family who went home un-
hurdled it.
able to cope with change.
Llameg completed his
Llameg held on but
Bachelor of Arts in Politi-
vowed to follow if he failed
cal Science and Bachelor
to get a job where he would
of Laws at the University of
be happy.
Despite difficulties that
has been besetting thou-
the Philippines.
He has gone a long way
sands of professionals who
got derailed by periods of
as a lawyer - handling di-
versified businesses with
solid experience in corpo-
discouragement and penalty
jobs, he ably sustained his
love for the legal profes-
rate, commercial and bank-
ing/financing laws and other
sion when he joined Devry legal disciplines.
PRICELESS GIFTS. Zachary Gaborno (inset) is showered by Papa Zeus and
Mama Roma with the priceless gift of parental love and care for his first birth
anniversary. Besides the usual big bash, Zachary gets a whiff of winter air
and the wind shield of a snow-covered pine tree Papa planted 12 years ago
in front of their Mississauga nest.
TURNING 50. Nilda hugs
husband Lito Lopez, Sr.
who celebrated his 50th AKLANONS OF ONTARIO (photo above) celebrate
birth year in a Jan. 14 with an Ati-Atihan 2007 on Jan. 27. Highlighting
the event was the crowning of Miss Teen Aklan
party given by children
2007. (Photo below) Philippine Consul General in
Jonjon and Marijon; in-
Toronto Alejandro Mosquera joins (from left) Mary
laws, and friends from
the Knights of Colum- Kay Sharmaine Briones, 1st Princess; Gemerdine
bus-San Lorenzo Ruiz, Jane Maravilla, Miss Teen Aklan 2007; and Mela-
Daughters of Isabella nie Mae Closa, 2nd Princess. PHOTOS by LARRY
Circle 1297 and La Pie- TORRES
ta Prayer Group of To-
ronto. DO
Martin ends
consular stint Who? What? Manila Media Monitor
15 FEBRUARY 2007

Caroline “Carol” Martin will

end her tour as consular assistant
at the Philippine Consulate Gen-
eral in Toronto on Feb. 21.
Carol, however, will be around AFCA ACTIVITIES. Association of Filipino-
until June, when her children will Canadian Accountants (AFCA) President
have completed their studies. Ted Dayno (above, center) and other officers
Carol holds a Foreign Service open the recent tax softwares training semi-
Staff Officer II rank. She has been nar the group conducted. (Below) New AFCA
with the consulate since 2001, as members get a rousing welcome to the 29-
visa processing officer, acting cul- year old association after taking their mem-
tural officer and communications bership oaths on Jan. 27. PR
and information officer.
Prior to her Toronto stint, Mar-
tin has served in different capaci-
ties in the Department of Foreign
Affairs, various UN and Asean
posts, and as political, economic
and cultural attache in embassies
and consulates abroad.
She holds a foreign service
degree from the Lyceum of the
Philippines.
In photo above, Martin (cen-
ter) is joined by (clockwise) hus-
band Florencio Jr., Bryan Jeffrey,
Bryan Jonathan and Issra Marie.
16
Markham community takes
pride in Philippine award
Halfway across the globe, the
work of a Markham-based Filipino
group to promote the interest and
welfare of kababayans has won
approval and admiration.
In rites at Malacañang Palace
on Dec. 7, 2006, Philippine Presi-
dent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
awarded the Markham Federation
of Filipino Canadians (MFFC)
with the prestigious 2006 Presi-
dential Banaag Award.
MFFC, the only Canadian
group awardee, was represented
by chairperson Yoly Ladines and
members who accepted the award.
The Banaag Award is conferred
on individuals and associations for
their “contributions which have
significantly benefited a sector or
community in the Philippines, or
advanced the cause of overseas
Filipino communities.”
In greater Toronto, the Fiesta
Filipina Dance Troupe and the
Philippine Heritage Band were
past recipients of the award.
Since its founding in 1989,
MFFC has worked to unify and
RITES IN QUEBEC.
Philippine Ambas-
sador to Ottawa
Jose Brillantes
(right photo) offers
flowers at the bust
of Dr. Jose Rizal at
the Hall of Nations
of the City Hall of
Gatineau, Quebec.
The envoy is as-
sisted by Consul
General Joseph
Gerard Angeles.
EMBASSY PR
AFTER SASKATCHEWAN LABOR PACT SIGNING. Ambassador to Ottawa Jose Brillantes (3rd
from left) and embassy officers meet with Philippine Labor Secretary Arturo Brion (2nd from
right). With them are Consul Rhenita Rodriguez, Consul General Joseph Gerard Angeles,
Consul Eloy Luis Bello, Art Brion and Antonella Brion. PR
Who? What?
help integrate the community into
the mainstream society.
For its sustained efforts, MFFC
has become a role model of unity
and self-sacrifice - requisites sore-
ly needed for Filipino groups any-
where to succeed.
MFFC was first to acquire and
fully pay for its community center
within five years of its founding.
Unforgetful of its members’
roots, MFFC was also first to name
its facilities as Rizal Hall, in honor
of Filipino national hero Dr. Jose
Rizal. Related to this, MFFC ably
coordinated and facilitated with
local officials -- through Filipino
councilor Alex Chiu -- the naming
a town street as Rizal Avenue.
In March last year, MFFC
partnered with the Federation of
Chinese Canadians in Markham
and the York Region Police Force
to raise over $125,000 for victims
of the Feb. 17, 2006 mudslide in
Guinsaugon, St. Bernard, southern
Leyte. The funds raised were, un-
doubtedly, the biggest raised by a
Filipino group for the disaster.
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
During the Nov. 13 municipal
polls, MFFC’s efforts sent two
compatriots to the political arena:
Councilor Chiu for his 8th term or
25 years in the council, Marlene
Mogado for her first term as Cath-
olic School Trustee.
Behind MFFC’s success is the
strong sense of community ser-
vice, patriotism and volunteerism President Gloria Arroyo (3rd from left) and national officials
of its board of directors and mem- hand over to MFFC Chair Yoly Ladines the prestigious Presi-
bers who come from Markham and dential Banaag Award in Malacanang on Dec. 7.
neighboring areas.
In its community center, pro-
grams for youth, seniors and adults
Kumusta? Mabuti naman.
continue at full capacity, prompt-
ing MFFC officers to look ahead at
(How are you? Just fine.)
further expanding its facilities. If you have picked up these words from conversations
MFFC officers are Ladines; with Filipino-speaking friends and relatives, give yourself an
Ramon Ombao, 1st vice chair- A.
man; Mogi Mogado, 2nd vice You’ve got a great start on the Filipino language. But if
chairman; Ester Toribio, secretary; you like to learn more, the Kapisanan Philippine Centre is
Rusty Muere, treasurer; Sue Bau- offering weekly two-hour Tagalog immersion classes.
tista, PRO. The directors are Allan The class will be facilitated through oral dialogue, story
Bella, Lita Bruneau, Mel Caguiat, telling, and games. There are no prerequisites.
Alicia Chiu, Bina Comendador, The class, started Jan. 17 but will run up to March 14, is
Marian Cusi, Freda de Jesus, Min- conducted at 167 Augusta St., Toronto on Wednesday nights
da Reyes and Tessie Ting. MOGI from 6 to 8 pm.
MOGADO
Rizal’s martyrdom recalled
RIZAL DAY IN OTTAWA. Am- RIZAL’S MARTYRDOM. The Knights of Rizal (above and mid-
bassador Jose Brillantes led dle photos) led in rites commemorating the 110th year of the
simple rites to rename the en- martyrdom of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal at the
voy’s residence as Tahanang hero’s monument at Toronto Earl Bales Park and at the St.
Rizal. (Photo above) Brillan- Aidan’s Church on Dec. 30. (Below) Members of the Kababai-
tes joins officers of the Phil- hang Rizalista, Ladies Auxilliary and guests, on the other
ippine Heritage Foundation hand, joined in the rites at St. Aidan’s Church. MM
of Canada, led by Dr. Ruby
de Guzman-Formoso, and
of other community groups
who joined the commemora-
tion. In a talk, he cited Rizal’s
life abroad in pursuit of noble
aims for the country and ef-
forts of Filipinos abroad to
support Philippine growth.
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007 17
Migration ...
(From page 1)
migrants themselves of the values of the
societies which host them, will make
possible the proper integration of fami-
lies in the social, economic and politi-
cal systems” where they are now living,
Pope Benedict said.
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto,
a top official of the Vatican’s office on
migrants, said the pope was particularly
concerned about families of refugees.
“There is a tendency today to protect
order and well-being from the threat that
many see in the continuous arrival of
foreigners, a mix of migrants and refu-
gees,” Marchetto told Vatican Radio.
The prelate lamented the lack of
adequate funding for humanitarian as-
sistance for refugees, “especially for
women and children” leaving them easy
prey for abuse.

StatsCan study ...

(From page 13)
among those aged 20 to 29, and 27 percent
among those over 50.
► Immigrants from Africa and East
Asia had the highest low income rates, at 19
to 24 percent. Asian immigrants accounted
for half of entering immigrants with lower
incomes since 2000.
The study pointed out that the shift in
the characteristics of entering immigrants
towards the more highly educated and
highly skilled did little to improve the low-
income outcomes among newcomers.
In the major immigrant-receiving cities
of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, virtu-
ally all of the increase in low-income rate in
the 1990s was concentrated among the im-
migrant population, the study observed.
In their executive summary, the study
proponents said “Host countries, such as
Canada, look to the skills and initiative of
immigrants to promote economic growth.
Immigrants, in turn, look to the host coun-
try for opportunities to gainfully employ
their skills and abilities.”
“These considerations are particularly
important when immigrants are highly edu-
cated. Host countries are increasingly seek-
ing highly educated immigrants to drive
economic growth in the knowledge-based
economy. Not surprisingly, immigrants
look to use their higher education levels to
achieve high economic standards of living.
“However, if immigrants are unable to
convert their training to productive use, the
expectations of both the host country and
the arriving immigrants remain unmet. Im-
migrant contributions to the host country,
which are central to the economic justifi-
cation of relatively open immigration poli-
cies, may not be fully realized.
“In light of these considerations, there
is considerable concern regarding the de-
teriorating economic outcomes among
immigrants entering during the 1980s and
1990s.”
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007 18
MENDOZA
FUNDRAISING. Members of the Daughters of Isabella Circle
1297 in Toronto, Ontario pose with guest Emmanuel Yanga
(2nd from left) at a recent fundraiser for the Herbie Fund of
the Hospital for Sick Kids. Also in photo are (from left) Ne-
nita George, Eli Catli, Pacencia Tinamisan, Zeny Crescini and
Violy Vilan. JT
Watson to organizations:
Get sports, fitness grants
Ontario Health Promotion Min-
ister Jim Watson has announced
plans to put in $5 million into the
highly successful Communities in
Action Fund (CIAF) program for
2007 and 2008.
With the infusion, Watson
urged community groups to ap-
ply for grants for programs that
provide children and the youth,
low-income families, aboriginal
people, older adults, women and
girls, visible/ethnic minorities and
people with disabilities with easy
access to sports and recreational
activities.
Programs funded by the grants
included dancing, skateboard-
ing, tai chi and a range of popular
sports and after-school sport pro-
grams for children and youth, as
well as mentoring programs.
CIAF is a key initiative of the
government’s ACTIVE2010 Strat-
egy and Ontario’s Action Plan for
Healthy Eating and Active Living.
“Our government is investing
in this important program because
it is working at the community
level,” said Watson.
Over the last three years, more
ADVERTISE
Be widely read; Get fast results
CALL 416-285-8583
Who? What? PTA to form outreach corps
ORD
than $15.8 million in CIAF grants
have been awarded to about 542
organizations at the provincial and
local levels.
“CIAF funding has helped us
to make physical activity an easy
choice for children with develop-
mental and physical disabilities,”
said Henk Engles, Executive Di-
rector of the Ontario Track 3 Ski
Association.
“Sports create an opportunity
for children to develop self-re-
spect, self esteem and indepen-
dence. These are life long skills
which help young people integrate
into school and the community,”
Engles added.
Grant application forms are
available on the Ministry’s web-
site: www.mhp.gov.on.ca. Appli-
cants are urged to contact a minis-
try consultant prior to applying.
Program guidelines have been
expanded to encourage applicants
to demonstrate how their proj-
ects also meet two key additional
ministry priorities: injury preven-
tion and mental health promotion,
while increasing physical activity.
CNW
Mendoza assumes
police liaison post
Toronto Police Constable
Philip Mendoza assumed on Jan.
15 as the new liaison officer for the
Philippine, Korean, Indonesian,
Japanese and Vietnamese
communities in the city, vice Doug
Ord who retired from the service.
Mendoza joined the force
in 1994 and rose from the ranks
with involvements in police-
community work.
Notable among his works
were the 53rd Division’s Filipino
at Pulis-Magkaisa outreach
program in 2004 and 2005 and
the 2006 Filipino youth basketball
program.
He was voted Outstanding
Filipino-Canadian in 2005.
Ontario targets character education in schools
OTTAWA - Ontario Premier
Dalton McGuinty on Feb. 5 invit-
ed students, educators and parents
to join a series of upcoming fora
on character development.
“Character education can’t be
taught in a single lesson or learned
overnight,” said McGuinty, add-
ing “it needs to be lived out, de-
veloped through our daily actions,
observed in other people and
deepened through discussion and
dialogue.”
“The lessons children learn by
doing this will help them succeed
for years to come,” he said.
McGuinty joined Education
Minister Kathleen Wynne, stu-
dents, staff and parents at the
Charles H. Hulse Public School to
open a provincewide discussion
Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa Jose Brillantes (6th from left) and the embassy staff con-
gratulate 2006 Presidential Pamana ng Pilipino awardee Armando Baisas (holding plaque),
an Ottawa-based culinary sculptor who learned his skills in hometown Paete, Laguna. PR
Ottawa community joins Homelands Gathering
Philippine Ambassador to Ot-
tawa Jose Brillantes led the com-
munity at the annual Homelands
Gathering at the Notre Dame
Cathedral on Jan. 15. Homelands
gathered and celebrate the mul-
ticultural Church in Ottawa. His
Grace Marcel Gervais, Archbish-
op of Ottawa made special men-
tion of the community at the start
of the Mass. (see right photo)
Consul General Joseph Gerard
Angeles, Consul Rhenita Rodri-
guez and Sonia Del Rosario rep-
resented the community in the offertory procession. The Gospel was proclaimed in Filipino by Deacon Rudy
De Castro. PR
The Philippine Teachers Association (PTA) is set to form a Profes-
sional Resource Outreach Corps (PROC) that would carry out three
community-focused projects.
In its Jan. 27 monthly meeting at the Mississauga residence of presi-
dent Leonie Manzanares, the PTA executive board approved the orga-
nization of the Filipino heritage language teachers-volunteer group, the
academic courses specialty tutor/teacher-volunteer corps, and the On-
tario teacher certification assistance coach/teacher teams.
The PROC initiatives, part of PTA’s integrated resource program,
would be available to community members and non-profit groups for
free.
In the same meeting, steering committees were created to meet op-
erational policies. Among those appointed as chairs were Tony San Juan
for special projects; Rose Cruz, membership; Rose Apilado, constitu-
tion, and Leonie Manzanares, planning.
The committees are tasked to plan and recommend activities per-
tinent to seasonal/themed socials and in-house functions, fundraisers,
and community cooperation, partnership and representation.
The PTA also announced the donation of a modest amount to Bicol
Canada, Inc. for victims of recent natural disasters in Bicol.
The organization has also taken an active hand in raising funds for
destitute, disabled , and autistic and children in the community by being
a sponsor of the March 4 dinner-concert of songbird Jenifer Camacho
at Rendezvous Cuisine in Mississauga. TSJ
on developing character, set to acter development as integral to
go full swing in spring in schools learning.
across Ontario. Part of a school’s character de-
At the fora, community mem- velopment program could include
bers would have the chance to air promoting more teamwork and
ideas on how to inspire young cooperation among students or
people to become caring and con- encouraging volunteerism in the
community.
tributing citizens, suggestions that
would be part of enhanced char- The programs are expected
acter education programs starting to empower schools to reinforce
next fall. shared community values such as
“Character education is about
treating students as citizens who
respect, fairness, honesty and re-
sponsibility.
can make a difference,” said In the field of education, the
Wynne. Ontario provincial government
“By doing this, we can cre- had earlier funded almost 6,800
ate a school environment where new teaching positions, gave out a
civic responsibility and academic million new textbooks and library
achievement thrive,” she said. resources, and boosted resources
to help kids learn to read, write
Last fall, Ontario announced a
and do math at a high level. PR
$2-million fund to support char-
FEBRUARY 2007 Manila Media Monitor 19

G andang Beauty Queen

TONNIE FURTO
FLORENDO P. LLAMEG
Licensed to Practice Law in Ontario, New York
and the Philippines
Areas of Practice: ► Corporate
► Real Estate
► Immigration
► Personal Injury
Barrister and Solicitor at Devry Smith & Frank LLP
95 Barber Greene Road, Suite 100,
Toronto, Ontario M3C 3E9
Phone: 416-446-5828 / Fax: 416-449-7071
Email – florendo.llameg@devrylaw.ca
General Inquiries at Phone: 416-449-1400
The Firm’s areas of practice also include:
► Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorneys
► Estate Planning and Taxation
► Commercial Lending

Cell No. 647-868-5935 ► Employment Law

LUBUSAN PONG MAGLILINGKOD SA INYO.
SALAMAT PO.

New RP professionals can take Blair cites community’s help to

oath before consulate official keep Toronto safe, peaceful
“Together we are mak- its closed-circuit television
Filipinos who left the Philippines for abroad immedi- ing a difference.” (CCTV) cameras in more
ately after their examinations or before the results of the This, Toronto Police public areas.
examinations were released and have passed could still reg- Chief William Sterling The CCTV cameras
ister with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). “Bill” Blair emphasized as would be effective deter-
In an information released through the Philippine Con- he cited the city’s commu- rents to those considering
sulate General in Toronto, the PRC - as provided in its nities for helping the ser- to commit crime, as these
Resolution No. 2006-313, Series of 2006 - has allowed the vice make the city a “safe could also provide excellent
initial registration of newly-passed professionals through and peaceful place in which evidence in the event peo-
duly authorized representatives. to live, work and play – a ple chose to commit crime,
The registrant should personally fill up the PRC oath thriving city where people Blair said.
form and should personally take the professional oath be- work alongside each other The TPS is committed
fore any officer authorized to administer oaths in the Phil- against those who choose to to work closely with the
ippine Consulate of the country where he/she is situated. endanger public safety. communities to provide the
Further, the registrant should then designate a represen- In a message posted Jan. Police Chief Bill Blair talks to reporters. TPS File most effective anti-crime
tative in the Philippines and execute a Special Power of 25 on the Toronto Police criminals and allows for lence in 2006. technology, he added.
Attorney, preferably before the same consulate official who Service (TPS) website, Blair more peaceful, prosperous The implementation of Domestic abuse
administered the professional oath. said the service “is working communities,” he said. TAVIS had made impres- A focus of Blair’s mes-
In the Special Power of Attorney, the registrant should harder than ever” this year Blair noted “an extraor- sive strides in 2006, result- sage was the disturbing rise
declare that the representative/Attorney-in-Fact has full au- to instill public safety. dinary influx” of new police ing in 5,959 arrests and the in domestic abuse cases in
thority for and in his/her behalf to accomplish, sign and Community help officers in 2006. seizure of 346 firearms. 2006.
execute documents and do and perform all acts and things Blair said the communi- “We hired and trained So far in 2007, TAVIS “We will take additional
necessary, proper or incidental to his/her registration. ty’s help, as before, would nearly 500 new police of- officers made 534 arrests specific steps against do-
Lastly, the professional should see the commission as be vital to the job at hand, ficers and nearly 200 new and the seized 14 guns. mestic violence, through
soon as he/she arrived from abroad to personally sign the and urged for more “sup- civilian members. They “We have proved that a comprehensive and in-
Registry Book of Professionals. port, participation and part- have brought much-needed the combination of strict tegrated response that in-
In another development, the consulate released infor- nerships to be innovative in support to our frontline and enforcement, relentless cludes additional resources,
mation saying the Philippine Commission on Elections solving problems, keeping added new skills, languages pursuit of violent crimi- education and policing
(Comelec) has started accepting applications of foreign the peace, preventing crime and cultural competencies” nals, strategic deployment measures,” he vowed.
media as observers in the May 14 synchronized National and enforcing laws.” to the TPS, he said. of uniform resources and “Violence against wom-
and Local Elections. “The efforts and partner- Anti-violence measure effective community part- en is at the heart of most
Applications could be filed online through www.com- ships of today and tomor- Blair also said the TPS nerships made a significant abuse and the culture that
elec.gov.ph and www.bagongbotante.com. row, and the foundations would “take bold, new steps difference. We will build on condones it. It is a wide-
The documentary requirements included a duly accom- we are building for 2007 to advance our anti-violence this,” Blair said. spread societal problem and
plished information sheet, two 2”x 2” colored photographs and beyond, strengthen our strategy,” with the success CCTV cameras a serious crime,” he said,
and endorsement by the Ambassador or Consul of the home community’s ability to cre- of the Toronto Anti-Vio- To further deter the adding it was crucial for
country of the applicant. ate and nurture a positive lence Intervention Strategy commission of crimes, Blair victims to trust police for
The deadline for filing the application for accreditation environment - one that of- (TAVIS) that greatly helped said the TPS would expand their safety and to get them
would be on April 30. PR fers fewer opportunities for reduce the incidence of vio- this year the deployment of the help they needed.
20
BLOW THE CANDLES. Russell celebrates his 8th birth anniversary at North York’s Chuck
E. Cheese with, among others, (from left) dad Matthew Mahoney, Mom Lennart Leigh, baby
sister Delilah, Ninang Catherine and kinakapatid Ashley.
Suwerteng ground hog! Alaga na, may badyet pa!
(From page 6)
ruary 7.
Jess was referring to the item
using the same platform immedi-
ately above that appeared in this
column in the January 2007 issue.
That’s okay, Jess. For last
month’s and this month’s, they
are free. May bayad na ito sa su-
sunod.
***
Still on Jess Carlos …
For those who were inquir-
ing, there’s no truth to the ru-
mor that Oswald Tugadi’s Albee
Enterprises declined to print
a new set of business cards for
Jess Carlos on a regular busi-
ness card-size paper.
Ano? Why did Oswald de-
cline? Don’t ask me. You ask
Oswald.
***
Talking of Staples, I got a
welcome card from the company,
giving me $20 off from my first
online, or phone order of $200, or
more.
I read the conditions as fol-
lows: Valid on phone, fax and
online orders; not valid in stores;
limit one per customer; non-trans-
ferable; maximum purchase re-
quirement of $200, or more; may
not be combined with any other
coupon; not valid on download-
able software, services, business
service provider, or …
By the time I finished reading
the conditions, I was already at the
store to do my purchases, so … I
tossed the welcome card to the
garbage bin; seems to me Staples
want to give me something that it
doesn’t want to let go, anyway.
***
There’s no truth to the ru-
mor that the reason why the
PCCT has donated a village -
known as the Philippine Cham-
ber of Commerce-Toronto GK
Village - of 20 units of houses in
Paranaque City, through AN-
COP Canada, Inc. is that those
who have donated are looking
forward to their retirement in
the Philippines.
An afterthought: “I resigned
from the PCCT - and having
donated also one unit to the vil-
lage, magiging kapitbahay ko
rin pala doon sa PCCT Village
ang mga dating kasama ko sa
board. ”
***
The Maharlika Awards Night,
staged on November 18, 2006
by Royal Media International at
Rembrant Hall in Scarborough
was billed as a “live to (TV) tap-
ing” of the event. That evening,
my good friend Sonny Paragas
had several “sabit”.
Unto my friend, Producer Ed
de Guzman, I say, “Sir, since it
was ‘live to tape’, I guess you may
want to change the title to ‘Ooops
and Bloops: Sonny Paragas Edi-
tion.”
(Hehehe … I will be honored
with the program title.)
***
I was thinking of a big ticket-
ed event sometime this year, but
those people I talked to wanted
to know how we would sell the
tickets. They wanted us to have
the tickets sold through Ticket
Master.
But I objected, stating, “If
the Philippine Independence
Day Council (PIDC), the PCCT,
the Federation of Chinese Ca-
nadians in Markham (FCCM),
PhilCan Athletic Club could sell
its tickets, so we could to.”
My wife Gie asks: “How?”
Ace: “Well, request Paeng
Nebres to carry our tickets with
him. Luma ang Ticket Master
doon. All pockets of Paeng’s
clothing have tickets in them
from various organizations.
Sabi nga ni Sir Paeng Nebres,
si Marlo Mallari nga raw ng
PIDC and AFCA even carries a
brief case for the tickets. I will
ask Marlo, too. O, di tapos ang
problema”
***
At the Induction ball of the of-
ficers and board members of the
Tanza, Cavite Association of Can-
ada at the St. Boniface Parish Hall
in Scarborough, Ontario, January
29, 2007, guest speaker was Con-
sul General Alejandro Mosquera.
During his talk, the Consul
General recalled the many promi-
nent figures in Philippine history
and politics who hailed from Tan-
za, Cavite, among others, Julian
Felipe who wrote the lyrics to the
Philippine national anthem and
the great legislator from Tanza,
Antero Soriano.
ConGen continued, “Another
Antero Soriano is here. He is the
President of the Philippine Press
Club-Ontario (PPC-O).”
Ace to Butch: “Pare, he’s talk-
ing about the Tanzanian Devil.”
Butch: “Pare, Tazmanian iyon.
May mga apo rin yata ako, kaya
alam ko iyon.”
***
That evening, ConGen
Mosquera arrived almost at 8
o’clock because of the bad road
conditions. Seeing Zena Zaga-
la, the female Elvis Presley, he
asked her: “O, kumanta ka na
ba? Ano’ng kinanta mo?”
Zena: “Tatlong mabibilis.”
Ace to ConGen: “Kaya pala
hindi mo inabot, ConGen, mabi-
bilis, e!”
***
In one gathering, PPC-O Pres-
ident Tenny Soriano said, “Alam
n’yo, ang magaling sa mga spo-
ken dialects ng Pilipinas e si Jojo
Taduran.
“If one says he, or she, is from
Pangasinan, Jojo starts to speak
in Pangasinan; if one says from
Cebu, Jojo speaks Cebuano; one
from Iloilo, Jojo speaks Ilonggo.
Kung taga-saan ang kausap niya,
taga roon din siya.”
Now back at the Tanza, Cavite
Induction Ball … I saw Manila
Media Monitor Editor Butch Gali-
cia (probably inspired by our me-
dia colleague Jojo Taduran, or for
want of affiliation and a sense of
belonging) with a special pin on
his shirt.
He showed his pin to me. I
asked, “What is that?”
Butch replied, beaming, “I’m
a true blooded Tanzanian.”
“Where did you get that?”
“It’s special for me - a true
Tanzanian.”
Manila Media Monitor
Perhaps they’ll listen now
(From page 9)
Living with elephantile uncle
Pierre Elliott Trudeau once
told American journalists: “Living
next to you is in some ways like
sleeping with an elephant.
No matter how friendly and
even-tempered is the beast, if I
can call it that, one is affected by
every twitch and grunt.”
Well, maybe today the ele-
phant seems less of a menace, as
the Bush gang becomes more and
more mired in the consequences
of the big Iraq lie which Jean
Chretien had the good sense not
to support.
This gives us all the opportu-
nity to rethink our across-the-bor-
der relations
Here comes Living with Un-
cle, an anthology of essays by
well known public figures who for
years have pleaded for Canadians
to stand up to Uncle Sam in a dig-
nified, reasonable manner.
Edited by Bruce Campbell and
Ed Finn, the book has seventeen
ANG SABI KO, TANSAN ‘YAN!
I looked closely, and true it
was, it’s a real Tanzan; and if I
may add, tanzan ng “Budweiser”.
***
Incidentally, the cover of the
program for Tanza, Cavite Asso-
ciation of Canada states “Early
Valentine Party and Induction
Ball”.
There’s no truth that the
organization is staging anoth-
er event within the week with
the program stating, this time,
“Tanza, Cavite Association of
Canada Actual Valentine Party
and Induction Ball”.
Unto “another Antero Soria-
no present, the president of the
Philippine Press Club-Ontario”,
I say: Tenny, tiba-tiba tayo rito
kung ganoon ulit ang dami ng
attendance.
***
Still at the Tanza, Cavite In-
duction Ball …
Shortly after Gie and I ar-
rived at the function and probably
having recognized Gie as the TV
program host of Front Page Phil-
ippines (airs on OMNI 2 - CJMT
Toronto, Sundays at 11 a.m. and
Thursdays 12 noon), Julie - sister
of folksinger Chito Sarabia’s part-
ner, Chuchi Punsalan, asked the
latter, who’s the guy with Gie.
Chuchi said, “Oh, Ace - don’t
worry, he’s just her driver and TV
producer.”
Chuchi narrated this later to
Gie, who added, “… and he’s the
one who calls the shots.”
Arriving home that evening,
Gie noticed the garbage and recy-
FEBRUARY 2007
essays by such well-known Ca-
nadian patriots as former foreign
affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy,
former NDP leader Ed Broadbent,
perennial pro-Canadian Maude
Barlow and activist-broadcaster
Avi Lewis.
I was particularly impressed
with the final essay by American
economist Thea Lee, praising us
for our many activists whose suc-
cesses encourage socially con-
scious people south of the border.
(Used with permission. Ben
Viccari is the President of the
Canadian Ethnic Media As-
sociation [CEMA] and makes
frequent appearances on OMNI
TV Commentary. Some of his
commentaries are republished in
this publication and slightly ex-
panded in some cases from their
70-second broadcast originals.
For more of his work, please visit
Ben’s website at: http://canscene.
ripple.ca)
cling bins still outside. She said,
“Please take the bins inside the
garage.”
I said, “I thought you said I’m
the guy who calls the shots.”
Gie: “Sa programa, yes. Sa
bahay, ako. Further, my statement
was only for public consumption,
Okay?”
***
Tawa-tawa kayong mga
kasama ko sa media. Kayo rin,
‘di ba?
Here’s one. At the birthday
celebration of PPC-O President
Tenny Soriano, January 12 …
While Tenny, Butch, Tal-
akayan Radio Program Pro-
ducer and host Jess Cabrias,
Philippine Times’ Paul de la
Cruz, press club members Chi-
to Sarabia, Amor Gaborno and
myself were discussing some
matters, Myrna Soriano, wife of
the PPC-O prexy, called out our
attention.
She said:, “Okay makinig
kayong lahat. We have a plan.
We, the spouses of PPC-O mem-
bers, have already organized
over at the dinner table, while
you are here.”
“Ganito ang balak naming
gawin: ako, si May (Cabrias),
Maribel (Montemayor); Chuchi
(Punzalan) ….”
The PPC-O men froze ...
could not say anything ... vol-
untarily gave up ... and, just lis-
tened ...
(and they are the men of the
PPC-O … under seige by their
spouses, too).
and compete in one of
22 Manila Media Monitor FEBRUARY 2007
Diversified police force gaining in York
York Region police
chief Armand LaBarge has
cited the growing interest of
the area’s diverse commu-
nity to join the police force,
saying that erstwhile bar-
riers in police recuirtment
have slowly broken down.
LaBarge was the first
speaker in the regular Ca-
nadian Ethnic Media Asso-
ciation (CEMA) Speaker’s
Series this year.
In his talk, La Barge fo-
cused on diversity and po-
lice services in the growing
multicultural region of York
(population 900,000).
York, where 70 different
languages are spoken, has
an overall diversity rate of
35 percent, rising to 55 per-
cent in the Markham area.
Police recruitment since
2001 rose to 13 percent of
minorities from six percent.
La Barge said a barrier
to recruiting younger men
Manila Media Monitor
23 FEBRUARY 2007
continued to be
parental, with old-
er generations re-
taining memories
of police brutal-
ity in their home-
lands.
In many coun-
tries, the police as a
profession, ranked
low on the totem York Region Police Chief Armand
pole. But the chief LaBarge (2nd from left) joins
said these barri- CEMA members Kiu Rezvanifar,
ers were gradually Hyo Kim and Kati Rekal at the 1st
breaking down. 2007 CEMA Speaker Series.
La Barge add-
ed that most policing prob- cited the cases of domestic
lems in York were traffic- violence involving firearms
related: speeding, ignoring in which registration was
signals and other violations, often vital in providing evi-
drunk driving and street dence.
racing. La Barge was accom-
A member of the Cana- panied by Staff Sergeant
dian Association of Chiefs Ricky S. Veerappan (born
of Police, he said he strong- in South Africa) and Con-
ly opposed the scraping of stable Paul Chiang (born
the Gun Registry, as flawed in Pakistan). CEMA Web-
as it might have been. He site

Recycling spirit containers can be rewarding

‘Bag it back,’ a novel program for re-
cycling wine, beer and spirit containers,
started Feb. 5.
And both consumers and officials have
found it a very rewarding exercise, not just
for the refund of 10- to 20-cents deposit per
bottle but for its deeper impact in preserv-
ing the environment.
By bagging empties back, consumers
would help recycle some 80 million con-
tainers per year.
The LCBO, TBS, Vincor Canada (op-
erator of The Wine Rack), Andrew Peller
Ltd. (Vineyards Estate Wines), and other
beverage alcohol retailers in Ontario have
joined the ‘Bag it back’ program.
‘Bag it back’ bags were made available
for consumer convenience.
“We are really excited about the De-
posit Return Program,” said Environment
Minister Laurel Broten. “This is a win for
the environment, a win for municipalities
and a win for Ontarians.”
“This campaign will help encourage
Ontario to recycle better,” said Minister of
Public Infrastructure Renewal David Ca-
plan. “We know that through the deposit re-
turn program, we will have more containers
recycled into high-end uses, including new
glass bottles, fibreglass and polar fleece.”
24 News Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007

Canada launches P400-M RP e-governance project

More transparent public trans-
actions and faster delivery of gov-
ernment services.
These are expected to happen
when the five-year P400-million
Canada-Philippines bilateral Elec-
tronic Governance for Efficiency
and Effectiveness (E3) project
goes full blast, after its recent
launching.
Leading the launch of the E3 project are (from left) Tom Car- Canadian Ambassador to Ma-
roll, Head of the Canadian International Development Agency nila Peter Sutherland said the Ca-
in the Philippines, Canadian Ambassador Peter Sutherland, nadian International Development
Secretary Ramon Sales of the Commission on Information Agency (CIDA) provided $9.92
and Communications Technology, Education Secretary Jesli million (P420 million) for the E3
Lapus, and Stewart Hall, E3 project director. PR project completion until 2012.
The project would help target-
ed Philippine social service agen-
cies with their implementation
plans for e-governance projects.
Under the project, e-gover-
nance pilot projects would be car-
ried out in selected rural areas of
the country, to hasten the delivery
of social services.
Among these are credit assis-
tance, welfare, health, employ-
ment, education, microfinance,
disaster relief, and agriculture.
The project is aimed to devel-
op efficient, responsive, transpar-
ent and accountable governance
at all levels, especially on social
services.
It also aims to contribute to
government efforts to provide
equitable access among indigent
women and men to social ser-
vices.
“Canada’s key principles of
effective development include
the promotion of local owner-
ship, building capacity within the
public sector, and promoting good
governance through the use of
information and communication
technology,” Sutherland said. Ca-
nadian Embassy PR

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Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
PIDC sets ‘07 events
The Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Council (PIDC)
announced its 2007 calen-
dar of events during its Jan.
27 annual general meeting
at the Golden Valley Ban-
quet Hall.
PIDC President Jun En-
verga and the organization’s
Board of Directors said this
year’s line-up of activities
included:
► Search for Little
Miss Philippines at the Ko-
rean Cultural Centre, North
York on Arpil 28. Applica-
tions are being accepted
in the search for little Am-
bassadresses of Goodwill.
Event chair is Rosemer
Enverga (416-284-2810 or
raenverga@hotmail.com).
► Search for Mr. and
Ms. Philippines PIDC at
the Metropol Banquet Hall
and Theatre on May 6. Cat-
egories included Mister,
Tel: (416) 745-7060
Fax:(416) 745-1360
Miss, Teen, Junior and Star
Babies. Event chair is Al-
bert Alonzo (905-294-4663
or missphilippinespidc@
rogers.com).
► Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Gala, in coop-
eration with Kalayaan, at
the Toronto Congress Cen-
tre on June 9. The theme is
inspired by the Gran Cordil-
lera Central. Premier Dal-
ton McGuinty is the Guest
of Honor. Event chair is Ra-
fael Nebres (416-281-1234
or rafael168@yahoo.com).
► Salo-salo sa Earl
Bales, dubbed the biggest
community picnic, at Earl
Bales Park on June 16.
Highlighting the activities
are a parade of associations
and a talent competition for
all ages. Event chair is Pete
Mauricio (647-282-5111 or
caressacare@aol.com).
► Mabuhay Cup Bas-
370 Rexdale Boulevard, Rexdale On. M9W 1R6
News
ketball Tournament at
Ryerson University gymna-
sium on July 7 and 8. Event
chair is Ramon Fermin
(905-731-1296 or ferminra-
mon@hotmail.com).
► Mabuhay Philip-
pines Toronto Summer
Festival at the Metro To-
ronto Convention Centre,
Hall A on Aug. 18. Part of
the festival’s proceeds will
go to Gawad Kalinga-AN-
COP to build a village in
disaster-stricken Bicol.
Songstress Joey Albert
topbills the list of festi-
val performers. Philippine
Chamber of Commerce
Toronto trade exhibits con-
tinue. Event chair is Minda
Neri (416-621-4985 or
aquarius07@sympatico.ca).
Enverga also said PIDC
is in the process of publish-
ing the Mabuhay Festival
Digest and Business Direc-
CALL ME AND SAVE YOUR MONEY
tory.
The publication would
contain a comprehensive
directory of associations,
businesses and individuals
who joined in and support-
ed PIDC-organized events
and the continued growth
and preservation of Philip-
pine heritage and culture in
Canada.
Publication chair Karen
Pascual-Binaday (416- 897-
6697 or kathreen@rogers.
com) said the digest would
be distributed to festival go-
ers and to event supporters
for free.
Binaday said the pub-
lication could be used as a
permanent guide and source
of information for the com-
munity.
She urged those who
wish to be included in the
Digest to get in touch with
her. PR
ANTONIO TECSON
Sales Consultant
Ontario runs after deadbeats
QUEEN’S PARK, ON
- The provincial govern-
ment is giving the Fam-
ily Responsibility Office
(FRO) new tools, includ-
ing a new website, to track
down deadbeat parents who
do not pay court-ordered
support payments, Minister
of Community and Social
Services Madeleine Meil-
leur announced on Jan. 26.
The new powers would
allow the FRO to post pic-
tures and information about
defaulting support payors
on the website to help lo-
cate parents not living up
to court-ordered family re-
sponsibilities.
The FRO would also
report defaulting support
payors to professional and
occupational groups start-
25
ing with the Law Society of
Upper Canada and the On-
tario Motor Vehicle Indus-
try Council.
Ontario would launch
the webpage late February.
“It’s clear to us that this
government is committed
to tracking down deadbeat
parents and making sure
they live up to their legal
and moral family obliga-
tions,” said Renate Diorio,
founder of Families Against
Deadbeats.
“We firmly believe that
children shouldn’t do with-
out because a parent doesn’t
live up to their responsibili-
ties. These new develop-
ments at the FRO will help
make a positive difference
in the lives of many Ontario
families,” Diorio said. PR
 Manila Media Monitor
The Philippines: Recalling EDSA 26
FEBRUARY 2007

For four days in 1986, from Feb. 22 to 25, the Filipino nation locked
FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
arms in prayerful assembly at EDSA to topple a 20-year tyrannical
rule, and installed a revoluitionary government. These four days
were to be known worldwide as the first peaceful people-powered
revolution. The guns were silent. Jubilation prevailed. Then ........

Cory Aquino takes oath Ousted President Ferdinand

as President of the revolu- Marcos and First Lady Imelda
tionary government. Marcos take last stand.

HUMAN BARRICADE

FRIENDLY
FORCES

FREEDOM HAS NO DIVIDING LINE

HAROLD GUARIN
FEBRUARY 2007 Manila Media Monitor 27

1996-2006
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
28 The Philippines Provincial Roundup
Cordillera butterflies flying out
Panagbenga in Baguio City BAGUIO CITY - Mount Santo Tomas, a
part of the Cordillera mountain range, has
the most unique butterflies which became
famous in the early 1970s when Japanese
and other foreign butterfly collectors pat-
terned textile colors on the unique hue of
the wings of these butterflies. But defor-
estation and other forms of environmental
degradation are winging them out, so says
a study by Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Admin-
istrative Region researchers Imelda Ngaloy and George Tomin. The
two say the presence and abundance of the beautiful winged insects
are indicators of a good and well-preserved environment. Some
species of butterflies indigenous to the Cordillera have dwindled,
their numbers no longer as profuse as before, and the species may
become extinct. PNA

Ifugao fights banana virus

LAGAWE, Ifugao - Banana farmers in the towns of Asipulo,
Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Hingyon, Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut and
Mayoyao, all in Ifugao, stand to benefit from a P472,000 livelihood
project the provincial government is set to implement. Provincial
agricultural officer Catherine Buenaventura said the project was
F ebruary is flower season at the City of Pines -- perfect timing for a monthlong all-out fiesta in the
expected to eliminate the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) that
infected major plantations in Northern Luzon in the late 90s and
streets. Baguio folks take a break to revel in the cool climate and the unique culture of their city. Multi-hued
destroyed the banana industry. PIA
costumes are worn, mimicking the various blooms of the highland region (or any of its 11 ethnic tribes).
There’s also the half-dozen or so flower beds-- disguised, of course, as the Panagbenga parade floats. Panag-
benga began in 1995 when lawyer Damaso Bangaoet, Jr. proposed the festiva concept. Thus began work to
815,000 jobs abroad seen
create a festival identity - one that would reflect the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordille- BACOLOD CITY
ras. Its logo centered on a theme that revolved around preserving the environment with a special emphasis on - The next three years
the flowers of the Cordilleras. To a festival hymn composed by Prof. Macario Fronda was added the rhythm would be brighter for
and movements of the Bendian dance, an Ibaloi dance of celebration which circular movements speak of Filipinos seeking jobs
unity and harmony among members of the tribe. Main activities this year include the market encounter up abroad. Philippine
to March 4 with landscaping exhibits, carpet of flowers, floral and related products, food outlets, cultural Labor Secretary Ar-
programs, fashion shows, musical presentations, flower related demonstrations, and lectures; launching of turo Brion said some
the Panagbenga Park on Feb. 23; the grand festival parade and street dancing on Feb. 24; float and marching 815,000 “high-end” jobs
band competitions on Feb. 25; and the traditional “Session Road in Bloom” from Feb. 26 to March 4, when were available over-
the festival is capped with a fireworks display. seas, to include those
on telecommunications,

Asean upholds rights of migrant workers
MANILA - President Glo-
ria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed the
signing of the Asean Declaration
on the Protection and Promotion
of the Rights of Migrant Workers
as a big step that would greatly
benefit overseas Filipino workers
(OFW).
The declaration was signed
during the 12th Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
and East Asia summits in Cebu
City from Jan. 10 to 15.
Declaration signatories includ-
ed Brunei Darussalam, the King-
dom of Cambodia, the Republic
of Indonesia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, Malaysia,
the Union of Myanmar, the Re-
public of the Philippines, the Re-
public of Singapore, the Kingdom
of Thailand, the Socialist Repub-
lic of Viet Nam.
Macapagal-Arroyo said the
declaration bound the signatory
countries to protect the fundamen-
tal human rights, promote the wel-
fare and uphold the dignity of mi-
grant workers, including nurses.
She said the declaration “is a
commitment to promote decent,
humane, productive, dignified and
remunerative employment for mi-
grant workers.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Al-
berto Romulo said the declaration
provided migrant workers with
access to health, education, social
services and judicial system of
each of the ten member states.
Labor Secretary Arturo Brion
noted this was the first time a mul-
tilateral agreement on migrant
workers had been signed.
Included in the declaration was
the Asean Mutual Recognition Ar-
rangement on Nursing Services
that recognized the certificates of
Asean nurses.
Brion hoped the declaration
would keep Filipino nurses within
the Asean community where they
are better needed, rather than
across the continent. PNA
medical and construction industries. Labor attache to Saudi Arabia
Rustico dela Fuente reported the king had ordered the building of
four economic cities, each as large as that in Dubai. In Japan, the
anticipated retirement of “baby-boomers” wiould create the need
for computer-aided designers, car designers and telecommunication
engineers, aside from some 10,000 seafarers, Reydeluz Conferido,
labor attache to Japan, reported. PIA
Road links Cordilleras, Cag. V.
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - Work on the 108.8 kilometer-
road that would link the provinces of Cagayan, Kalinga and Moun-
tain Province is underway. Highways official Eugenio Pipo said the
construction of the P1.370-million Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road
started in December last year. Once completed, the project would
reduce travel time from Bontoc to Tuguegarao from five to three
hours. The opening of the road would also induce faster social, eco-
nomic and political growth in the area. PIA
Halal certifying body created
GENERAL SAN-
TOS CITY - The
Muslim Business

PNP identifies May poll hotspots Forum, Inc. has

launched the Mind-
anao Halal Authority
MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) as the halal certify-
has identified at least 613 cities and municipalities as ing body in the South
potential sources of violence in the senatorial and lo- Cotabato-Cotabato-
cal elections in May. Sultan Kudarat-Sa-
PNP data showed 49 of the hotspots were classi-
rangani- General Santos City region, opening opportunities for local
fied as security priorities.
companies to access the 1.9 billion potential global halal market
Five of these areas are in the Ilocos Region; three
estimated to rake in $150 billion in world trade annually. PIA
in Cagayan Valley; three in the Cordillera Adminis-
trative Region; two in Central Luzon; four in Cala-
barzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon);
Cebu hosts first eye bank in SE
CEBU CITY - Cebu is host to the first non-profit, non-stock Lions
four in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon,
Club Eye Bank in Southeast Asia. The $120,000 facility was built
Palawan); eight in the Bicol Region; one in Western
by the Norfolk, Virginia-based Lions Club International in the prem-
Visayas; two in Central Visayas; four in Eastern Vi- HOPE: Honest Orderly Peaceful Elections
ises of Cebu Doctors University Hospital. Part of the funds went to
sayas; four in the Zamboanga Region; one in North-
the training of opthalmologists and surgeons manning the eye bank.
ern Mindanao; two in the Davao Region; one in SocSKSarGen (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani,
Facility co-medical director Potenciano Larrazabal III said the eye
General Santos); two in Caraga; and three in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
bank “is the first to cater to indigent patients who can hardly afford
The PNP said the classification was based on parameters, top of which was the high presence of commu-
the cost of corneal tissues from the commercial eye bank in Manila.”
nist rebels and partisan armed groups in an area. Other parameters included the occurrence of election-related
There are about 200 thousand patients per year with severe and less
violence, existence of intense partisan political rivalry and occurrence of incidents that could disrupt the
severe eye defects who await for transplants. PIA
process or create political tension that could upset the process. PNA
 29
Mining H20 for Bicol storm survivors
Manila Media Monitor FEBRUARY 2007

The Philippines By Kevin Masterman

Digging continues in hopes of recovering precious possessions
Toronto Police Service
A Toronto police officer was among a
Canadian contingent providing clean wa-
ter to typhoon survivors a world away and
leaving a legacy of help behind them.
Over one million people were left home-
less as Typhoon Durian sent high winds and
sheets of rain across the Philippines at the
beginning of December 2006, killing hun-
dreds and leaving countless others missing.
A Global medic team, made up of Emer-
gency Medical Services paramedics Rahul
Singh, Carl Rotmann, Michael Larsen,
Canadian Forces infantry soldier Brienna
Ross Hood and TPS Sgt. Don Ryan, spent
ten days in the storm-swept region where
they worked 15-hour days providing clean
water.
“Most people die after an event like this
because of disease,” said Sgt. Don Ryan,
adding that cholera and other water-borne
diseases had begun to spread as they ar-
rived on scene Dec. 11.
“Providing clean water is the best help
we can give,” Ryan said.
The Global team is under the David
Antony Gibson Foundation dedicated to
delivering emergency aid to disaster zones.
The group helped recycle 150,000 li-
ters of water delivered to a makeshift water
purification center and morgue in Daraga,
Albay.
Surrounding villages or barangays were
buried in volcanic ash swept down the
slopes of Mayon volcano.
Another typhoon that struck off the
coast the second day the team arrived led
to heavy winds and rain that ripped sheets
of aluminum from the marketplace roof and
renewed mudslide warnings as team mem-
bers slept or at least tried to.
Sgt. Ryan (center) gets the water
flowing.
“I did not sleep that night and working
during the typhoon kept me looking up at
the roof of the market area as the sheet met-
al was being torn off,” said Ryan.
Paramedics tended to injuries and also
distributed water purification tablets and
medical supplies.
“You see people at their worst,” said
Ryan, who saw men digging out their bare-
ly visible homes in search of loved ones.
Ryan said they also saw people at their
best. A local mine rescue team was also
taught how to use a 99-liter-per-minute wa-
ter purifier the team left behind.
They also left behind five more portable
trekkers that produce five liters per minute.
“The people were great and appreciative
and I feel like we helped a lot,” Ryan said.
“They learned how to use the equipment so
they could respond to the next disaster.”
Besides the hundreds who lined up dai-
ly with a variety of empty containers, over
1,000-liter bladder of drinking water was
delivered to villages daily by truck.
30 The Philippines Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007

National recognition sought for

Jupiter’s Red Spot Jr. discoverer
MANILA - Dr. Ber-
nardo Soriano, a Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical
and Astronomical Services
Administration official, has
called on Philippine of-
ficials to confer the Order
of Lakadula to Christopher
Go, who discovered Red
Spot Jr. on Jupiter.
“We hope Go will be
conferred soon, in time for
the first anniversary of his
discovery of the Red Spot
Jr. on Feb. 24 last year,”
Soriano said.
“We hope to spark in-
spiration to other Filipino
astronomers,” he said.
Go found the Red Spot
Jr., which powered renewed
interest in the international
science community.
Until the discovery,
most observers had GRS
(Great Red Spot) as the
most interesting object to
observe on Jupiter.
Go’s discovery is be-
ing used in major global
astronomy sites, getting ci-
tations from international
astronomers, including the
US National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
Go, member of the As-
tronomical League of the
Philippines, saw that the
brown spot on Jupiter, pre-
viously white, had turned
brick red.
“Go’s contribution is
incomparable. The world
did not know about it, and
an amateur astronomer
in the Philippines using a
small telescope with limited
knowledge and resources
(was able to make this dis-
covery),” he said.
The country would ob-
serve National Astronomy
Week from Feb. 18 to 24.
The Order of Lakandula
had been bestowed on box-
ing champ Manny Pacquiao,
team Everest leader Leo
Oracion, and international
rap artist Alan Pineda of the
Black Eyed Peas. PNA
FEBRUARY 2007 Manila Media Monitor 31

Memories of Love
32 Money Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007

Cebu VoIP facility Japan techno-science model

Microsoft opens

urged on Canadian business

LAHUG, Cebu - Microsoft Philippines has intro-
duced its Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technol-
ogy, as the world’s biggest Information Technology
(IT) firm opened its new facilities in the Asia Town IT
Park here . The ability to compete changes in its university
The VoIP would enable overseas Filipino workers internationally in science- research system, strong en-
(OFWs) to communicate with their loved ones for free
and remit money to their families in the Philippines at
based and technology-based
commerce is the new key to
couragement for corporate
engagement and active sup-
PCCT skeds
a more affordable cost.
Microsoft has chosen Cebu City as the headquarters
of its expansion thrust in the Visayas and Mindanao
economic success, says a
new report released by the
Asia Pacific Foundation of
port for commercialization
of discoveries.
Businessmen, public
RP trade trip
because of the area’s vibrant and competitive business Canada. researchers and academics
climate. Cebu is seen as the country’s next IT hub. The latest issue of the are being drawn together to The Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT)
In the Philippines, Microsoft has committed P300 Commentary says Canada improve scientific and tech- will conduct a trade mission to the Philippines from March
million so far as contribution to the country’s develop- has accepted the 21st cen- nological innovation. 11 to 17 to further boost business, investments and tourism
ment through programs being implemented in partner- tury challenge, investing “Canadians need to ties between Canada and the Philippines.
ship with various government and civil organizations. heavily in university and understand the nature and PCCT Trade and Industries Initiatives chair Cora dela
One of its most-established initiatives, in partner- college education, advanced extent of scientific and Cruz hoped this year’s mission would be as successful as
ship with the Department of Education, is Partners in research and the commer- technological innovation in last year’s February visit, joined in by 25 firms, that closed
Learning, which empowers teachers and students by cialization of science. other countries in order to some $50 million in signed agreements and contracts.
providing them with greater access to the latest com- It notes that Canada has recognize the competitive Dela Cruz said representatives of Canadian companies
puter technologies. judged development lo- challenge this poses and to involved in tourism and hospitality, food processing and
Microsoft has also provided comprehensive ICT cally, against the country’s gain insights into structural, packaging; mining and agriculture, recycling and recycled
skills development programs and locally-tailored train- earlier performance, rather cultural and political initia- products; education and training, crafts, giftware and jew-
ing for teachers on ICT integration into curriculum and than against fast-changing tives that underlie success- ellery, information technology and communications, busi-
learning. international standards. ful innovation,” says the ness outsourcing, call centers, and import and export sectors
Microsoft’s other flagship program is Unlimited Japan is a guide to the report’s author, Foundation have expressed keenness to join the 2007 trade mission.
Potential, a global community-based citizenship ini- evolving nature of the inno- Senior Research Analyst PCCT has coordinated the mission with the Philippine
tiative aimed to improve lifelong learning for under- vation-based economy and, Dr. Carin Holroyd. Consulate General in Toronto; the Philippine Embassy
served communities by providing cash and software like Finland, Singapore The report’s full text is in Ottawa; the Department of Tourism in New York, the
grants that would facilitate technology skills training and Taiwan, a benchmark posted at: http://www.asia- Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Chicago, the
through community technology and learning centers . against which Canada‘s per- pacific.ca/analysis/pubs/ Canadian Embassy in Manila, Department of Trade and
Unlimited Potential programs in the Philippines formance can be assessed. pdfs/commentary/cac42. Industry, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
included Pag-Asa: An Unlimited Potential Program Japan has embraced pdf. PR Industry. PR
for Amerasians, Kapit-Bisig Para sa Kabuhayan: An research and development
Unlimited Potential Program for NGOs, and Tulay: aggressively, with major WHY ADVERTISE ELSEWHERE?
An Unlimited Potential Program for Overseas Filipino investments in scientific
Workers. OPS infrastructure, significant CALL 416-285-8583
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007 33 Money GOT A SWEET FOREX DEAL?
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is set to

CVMR keen on RP mining

present to the Monetary Board its proposal to fully
liberalize the Philippines’ foreign exchange policies
by end-February. BSP Governor Amando Tetangco
Jr. said a review of overbought and oversold limits
Toronto-based Chemical Vapour Metal Re- and a re-evaluation of rules on forex companies
fining Inc. (CVMR) has joined four other global and operations were part of the reform package.
mining firms in the rush to dig up the Philip- But the market has read the BSP’s moves as at-
pines’ unexplored mineral wealth. tempts to curb the appreciation of the peso rather
Philippine Environment Secretary Ange- than mere adjustments to market conditions. The
lo Reyes said CVMR -- together with Anglo BSP ruled this out and said the exchange rate was
American Plc., BHP Billiton Ltd./Plc., Xstrata best left to market forces.
Plc., and Phelps Dodge Corp. -- have sought for
mining exploration permits. Would all these mean better deals for overseas Fili-
An earlier press release said CVMR had pinos who send money back home?
shown keen interests in putting up integrated
operations in the Philippines that would produce CHECK IT OUT!
not only nickel but also a product involving val- Meanwhile, check out if you got your peso’s worth
ue-adding nickel brickets. for the dollars you have had exchanged since Jan.
The investment would involve $3 billion 11, courtesy of Manila Media (Money) Monitor.
for an estimated output of 60,000 metric tons of
US$ Cdn$
nickel brickets yearly.
Feb. 09 48.31115 41.15165
CVMR has a plant in China. It had been in
Feb. 08 48.44126 40.86580
the Philippines for over a year, seeking agree- MINING MEET. CVMR President and CEO Kamran Khozan
Feb. 07 48.39847 40.83360
ments with claim owners in Palawan. (3rd from left) meets with Environment Secretary Angelo
Feb. 06 48.60423 41.11859
CVMR could turn out to be one of the first to Reyes (4th from left) in Manila to discuss mining poten-
Feb. 05 48.69536 41.20182
build an integrated mineral plant in the country tials in the Philippines. With them are (from left) Horacio
Feb. 02 48.69845 41.13549
even as government aimed to encourage value- Ramos, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) director;
Feb. 01 48.79916 41.51092
adding in minerals to maximize revenue and Marylin Vitorio-Acquino, CVMR Corporate Secretary; Gar-
Jan. 31 48.89125 41.45919
employment potentials. zon Duenas, CVMR Managing Director; Ramon Paje, MGB
Jan. 30 49.06387 41.52750
CVMR is a privately held corporation, en- Undersecretary; and Allan Verman Ong, CVMR Corporate
Jan. 29 49.15436 41.59804
gaged in mining, metal refining and vapour met- Assistant Secretary.
Jan. 26 49.07957 41.59797
allurgy process development.
Philippine minerals are generally exported
in the form of copper, gold, or nickel ore rather
Manulife, CBC ink Jan. 25
Jan. 24
48.87406
48.86189
41.47648
41.32182
than in more value-added, higher priced form.
The Philippine government has said the
bancassurance pact Jan. 23
Jan. 22
49.07284
48.95836
41.52817
41.63200
Toronto-based Manulife Financial has formed a bancassurance Jan. 19 48.81586 41.64980
country has $1 trillion worth of unexplored
joint venture with China Banking Corporation in the Philippines. Jan. 18 48.86778 41.58072
gold, copper, nickel and zinc.
Manulife holds a 95-percent stake in the venture, while China Bank- Jan. 17 48.76484 41.54612
It launched a campaign in 2005 to lure for-
ing will hold the other five percent. Initially, bancassurance services Jan. 16 48.80219 41.54598
eign investors by identifying 24 priority projects
will be offerred in China Banking’s Manila branches and in other Jan. 15 48.87763 41.84166
that needed total investments of at least $6.5 bil-
Jan. 12 49.00553 41.87537
lion to re-open old mines and bring into produc- selected areas. Manulife has some 50 bancassurance arrangements in
Jan. 11 48.97051 41.63185
tion new ones. Wires Asia. Dow Jones International News

‘Rolling wonders’ in
Hey, guys! Where’s Toronto auto show
the car charger?
“Don’t forget to recharge
the car!”
That’s something David
W. Paterson, vice president
of Corporate and Environ-
mental Affairs of General
Motors of Canada Limited,
may well be saying to his
daughter about her “Chevy
Volt” in the next few years.
The concept debuted at
the January Detroit Interna-
tional Auto Show is surpris-
ingly simple - a plug-in, elec-
trically-driven car designed
for day-to-day city use.
The car is part of GM’s
focus on the electrification of
and reducing reliance on car-
bon-based fuels for vehicles.
For Canadians who typi-
cally drive 65 kilometres
a day or less, the plug-in
Chevy Volt can cut trips to
the gas station.
When a range of 65 kms
is not enough, a small engine
(which can be powered by
gasoline, ethanol, diesel or
other fuels) will kick in “on
the go” to recharge the lithi-
um ion battery.
CHEVY VOLT
The engine is an onboard
backup to recharge the bat-
tery - it doesn’t drive the car,
but if required can provide
an impressive driving range
of more than 1,000 kilome-
ters. Even with the backup
engine, fuel economy is re-
markable.
The real focus of the
Chevy Volt and GM’s E-
Flex system is to offer city
drivers a great looking, fully
functional car with minimal
greenhouse gas emissions.
Drivers will simply un-
plug and go each morning -
much as people do with cell
phones today.
This new product pro-
gram is moving ahead rap-
idly. GM is counting on a
number of challenging, but
not insurmountable, break-
throughs required in lithium
ion battery development to
make it happen.
But the expectation is
that “plugging in the car”
will become as common as
recharging cell phones at the
end of the day.
Wheels
Rogers Centre and Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Feb. 16 to 25
CHECK IT OUT AT THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
Arroyo signs RP Biofuels Act
President Gloria Ma-
capagal-Arroyo on Jan. 12
signed into law Republic Act
No. 9367 or the Biofuels Act
of 2006, which sought to re-
duce the Philippines’ depen-
dence on imported fuels.
Implementation of the
act would help promote the
use of alternative transport
fuels, but with due regard
to the protection of public
health, the environment and
natural ecosystem.
The act has mandated
the use of biofuels as a mea-
sure to develop and utilize
indigenous renewable and
sustainably-sourced clean
energy sources, intended to
mitigate toxic and green-
house gas emissions and
increase rural employment
and income.
It has further provided
that within two years from
its effectivity, all liquid fuels
for motors and engines sold
in the Philippines should
contain locally-sourced bio-
Manila Media Monitor
34 FEBRUARY 2007
fuel components of at least
five percent bioethanol in
the annual total volume of
gasoline fuel sold and dis-
tributed by each and every
oil firm in the country.
Biofuel refers to bio-
ethanol and biodiesel and
other fuels made from bio-
mass and primarily used for
motive, thermal and power
generation with quality
specifications in accordance
with the Philippine National
Standards. OPS
Over 300,000 people are
expected to swoon over and
compare the looks and util-
ity of more than 1,000 new
cars and trucks when the
Canadian International Auto
Show (CIAS) revs up at the
850,000 square-foot North
and South Metro Toronto
Convention Centre and Rog-
ers Centre, Feb. 16 to 25.
Up and about since
1974, the CIAS wheels in
a spectacular stage for the
auto industry to showcase
its finest.
The auto show is also an
exhilirating chance for dis-
criminating car buyers to see
and get the hang of a stun-
ning mix of what’s new and
what’s next, vehicle-wise.
A highlight of the show
is the Feb. 14 announcement
of the Canadian Car of the
Year and Canadian Utility
Vehicle of the Year for 2007,
chosen from among 13 cat-
egory winners cited on Nov.
21, 2006 by the Automobile
Journalists Association of
Canada (AJAC).
(Continued on page 35)
 Wheels 35 Manila Media Monitor FEBRUARY 2007

Toyota, Honda report 2006 record-high output

TOKYO - Toyota Mo-
tors Corp. and Honda Mo-
tors have credited robust
sales in North America for
record-high global produc-
tions in 2006.
Toyota announced a 9.5
percent increase in global
production to 9.018 million
vehicles, the 15th straight
annual increase, although it
fell below December fore-
casts of 9.05 million.
Toyota raised production
in Japan for a fifth consecu-
tive year at 10.3 percent.
Overseas production went
up 8.6 percent.
It forecast production of
9.42 million autos in 2007
amid strong US demand.
Honda Motors also re-
ported 2.728 million ve-
hicles produced in 2006, up
7.5 percent for a 10th con-
secutive annual rise.
Honda increased produc-
tion by 30 percent in China
and 9.8 percent in Japan.
Production growth in the
US was milder at 1.6 percent
while in Europe, production
dropped 3.9 percent.
Meanwhile, Nissan Mo-
tors said its global produc-
tion dropped 7.7 percent to
3.238 million units in 2006
as its market share eroded
at home as it launched few
new models overseas.
Nissan, owned 44 per-
cent by France’s Renault,
saw domestic production
tumble 14.9 percent. It re-
ported a drop of 2.6 percent
overseas.
Mitsubishi Motors also
reported a decline in 2006
production of 3.6 percent to
1.313 million vehicles.
Smaller-scale Mazda
Motors announced a 12.1
percent increase to 1.285
million units, with overseas
production reaching a record
high and domestic output at
its highest since 1994.

‘Rolling wonders’ in Toronto auto show ...

(From page 34)
The Best New categories and cars:
Small Car under $18,000, Honda FIT LX;
Small Car over $18,000, Volkswagen Rab-
bit 2.5; Family Car $22,000 - $30,000, Toy-
ota Camry LE; Family Car over $30,000,
Toyota Camry Hybrid;
Luxury Car under $50,000, Lexus ES
350; Prestige Car, Audi S8; Sports/Perfor-
mance Car, under $50,000: Mazdaspeed3;
Sports/Performance Car over $50,000,
BMW 3-Series Coupé;
Convertible, Volkswagen EOS 2.0T;
Pickup Truck, Chevrolet Avalanche; SUV/
CUV under $35,000, Toyota RAV4 - V6
Sport; SUV/CUV $35,000 - $60,000, Acu-
ra RDX Technology Package; SUV/CUV
over $60,000, Mercedes-Benz GL Class.
Also on Feb. 14, the winners of the
World Automotive Design Competitions
will be announced.
Competition entries of students from 19
design schools - including Toronto’s Hum-
ber College - are on exhibit.
Canada’s “home-grown” automotive de-
signers graduate in May. Some of them will
do automotive demonstrations, clay models,
and others during the CIAS.
The Sports Compact Revolution is a spe-
cial feature area at the Rogers Centre, over
70,000-square feet decked out with the cool-
est customs and hottest rides in Canada.
The focal point will be CentreStage, fea-
turing high energy live entertainment, elec-
trifying presentations, product demos and
much more.
A popular and enduring CIAS exhibit,
the world famous Classics Concours will
once more bring to the fore some of the most
significant cars ever displayed in Canada.
This year, the legend continues with
three distinct components: Cruise Nation-
als, Pony Fever Performance cars for the
young at heart , and Different by Design, a
history of the Studebaker Corp.
A CIAS favorite, the Toyota Truck Test
Track, returns anew to give enthusiasts an
opportunity for a full-on, off-road test drive
of a Toyota truck.
And of course, hogging the limelight
are the new cars and trucks, beaming all
throughout the auto show’s vastness for
everyone’s eyes to feast on.
Rolling wonders, indeed, at the 2007
Canadian International Auto show. BG
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 Sports Manila Media Monitor
36
FEBRUARY 2007
Embassy woodpusher cops grand prize
Salonga in Broadway’s Les Miserables
Lea Salonga, Tony
Award-winning star of
Miss Saigon, has returned
to Broadway as Fantine
in Cameron Mackintosh´s
new production of Les Mis-
erables beginning March 6
at The Broadhurst Theatre.
Salonga is no stranger
to the show. She played Ep-
onine in 1993 in the original
Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa Jose Brillantes (right) cites Finance Attache Alvar Broadway run.
Rosales (center) for taking home the grand prize in the advanced category of the recent She takes over for the
chess tournament jointly organized by the Ottawa Diplomatic Association and the Ottawa
role created by Daphne
Chess Club on Jan. 13. Consul Eloy Luis Bello won 3rd place in the beginners’ group. Rubin-Vega, who departs
Rosales bested 15 other participants from Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Es- Les Miz Feb. 18 to star in
tonia, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Libya, Pakistan and Russia. Najm us Saqib from the Jack Goes Boating with
High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Felipe Izquierdo from the Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador finished second and third in the advanced category, Ensemble member Nikki
respectively. In the beginners’ group, Consul Bello placed third to Rasmus Lumi, charge Renee Daniels will perform
d’ affaires for the Embassy of Estonia and Loukas Tsokos of the Embassy of Greece, first the role of Fantine Feb. 20-
and second placers respectively. PR March 4.
SHOW
BIZ
SALONGA
and Salonga will stay with
the production through the
entire period.
Salonga catapulted to
international stage stardom
when she was chosen to star
as Kim in the 1989 London
world premiere of Boublil
claim and went on to win
the Olivier Award as Best
Actress in a Musical.
In 1991, she reprised
her performance on Broad-
way, again earning rave re-
views and winning the Tony
Award as Best Actress in a
Musical, along with Best
Actress honors from the
Drama Desk and the Outer
Critics´ Circle.
Salonga returned to
Broadway in 2002, starring
in the revival of Rodgers
& Hammerstein´s Flower
Drum Song.
Salonga, a first time
mother, admitted it was dif-
ficult to leave her family in
the Philippines.
Before flying to New

Payla, Tipon eye

Due to strong box-office and Schonberg´s Miss Sai- York, Salonga launched her
and enthusiastic audiences, gon, produced by Cameron latest album Inspired, fea-
Les Miz recently announced Mackintosh. turing original songs and
an extension through at Only 17 at the time, Sa- revivals including her fa-

‘08 Games gold

least the summer of 2007, longa received critical ac- vorite “Promise Me.”

Anak TV Seal fave show, awardees

MANILA - Doha Asiad
gold medalists boxers Vio-
lito Payla and Joan Tipon
are keen and determined to
clinch the elusive Olympic
gold medal in the Games in
Beijing, China on Aug. 8 to
24, 2008.
“We are preparing for a
greater battle - the Olym-
pics - and we hope to finally
bring home the first ever
gold medal,” Payla said.
“Our next goal is to win
in the world championships,
which is the qualifying
event for the Olympics,”
Tipon said.
Manny Lopez, Amateur
Boxing Association of the
Philippines president, said
the world championships
will be in Moscow in No-
vember; the Philippines,
February 2008; and Bang-
kok, Thailand, April 2008.
“Our focus is to pre-
pare for the three world
championships, which are
crucial in our quest to win
the Olympic gold medal,”
Lopez said.
The Philippines has yet
to win a gold medal in the
Olympics since it began
participation in 1924.
So far, nine Olympic
medals have been brought
home by Filipino athletes.
Teofilo Yldefonso, a
200-breaststroke swim-
mer, won the country’s first
bronze medal in the 1928
Amsterdam Olympics and
its second bronze in the
1932 Los Angeles Games.
The Philippines had two
other medals in 1932 when
Simeon Torribio, a high
Above, the Philippines’ Violito Payla (left) cops the
Doha Asiad gold medal after beating Thailand’s
Somjit Jongjohor in the flyweight 51-kg boxing
finals. Below, Joan Tipon waves the Philippine
tricolors after his Asiad golden win in the bantam- GMA Network’s nightly news program, 24 Oras, came out as the big winner
weight 54-kg finals. in the recent Anak TV Seal awards night. Other Philippine television shows
that got the nod of and placed among the top ten most liked by boob tube
jumper, added a bronze and viewers polled around the Philippines were Mulawin, Rated K, Captain Bar-
bantamweight boxer Jose bell, Game Ka Na Ba?, Gulong ng Palad, Majika, Bituing Walang Ningning,
“Cely” Villanueva clinched TV Patrol and Sa Piling Mo. Acclaimed as the ten favorite male and ten fa-
another bronze. vorite female TV personalities (those holding framed certificates in photos
Miguel White won a above and below) were Bea Alonzo, Julius Babao, Christine Bersola, Arnold
bronze in the 400-meter Clavio, Sharon Cuneta, Mike Enriquez, Sarah Gernonimo, Richard Gutierrez,
hurdles event in the 1936 Kristine Hermosa, Angel Locsin, Sam Milby, Aga Muhlach, Piolo Pascual,
Berlin Games. Jericho Rosales, Korina Sanchez, Judy Ann Santos, Bernadette Sembrano,
Featherweight boxer Mel Tiangco, Dennis Trillo, and Gary Valenciano, the top vote getter three
Anthony Villanueva, a son years in a row. MAG CRUZ HATOL
of Jose, won the country’s
first silver medal in the
1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Ten-pin player Arianne Olympics.
Cerdena won a gold in In taekwondo, bantam-
bowling in the 1988 Seoul weight Stephen Fernan-
Olympics, but Cerdena’s dez and featherweight Bea
gold was not included in the Lucero brought home two
medal tally since bowling bronze medals from Bar-
was considered only as a celona, but they were not
demonstration sport. included in the medal tally,
Light flyweight boxer since taekwondo was just
Leopoldo Serantes, howev- counted as a demonstration
er, brought home a bronze sport then.
from Seoul. Roel’s younger brother
Light flyweight boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco
Roel Velasco won a bronze won a silver in the 1996 At-
in the 1992 Barcelona lanta Olympics. PNA
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007
37 Showbiz
Society of Seven inducted to Vegas Walk of Stars
The Society of Seven (shown in right photo with Lani Misalucha) has be-
come the first group of performers of Asian descent to have been inducted
-- on Nov. 28, 2006 -- to the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, a perpetual tribute to
the Hawaii-based legendary group that has placed them at par with the best
and greatest in the entertainment world. The group had joined Wayne New-
ton, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion and many others in the
Walk, according to Mendrei Leelin, president of Rosy Cheeks Entertainment
Group, Inc. The society of Seven recently staged a performance with Misalu-
cha in Toronto. Rumors are afloat they would be back for an encore soon.

EB Babes: Noontime TV Delight

Gone are the days na
Sex Bomb Dancers (photo
below) ang makakatapat ng
any girl group, ngayon pa-
rang the Sex Bomb Dancers
are higher in stature kahit
wala sa Eat Bulaga, maybe
because they have their own
show/soap, Daisy Siete, a
consistent toprater.
Presenting the EB Babes
(right photo) of Eat Bu-
laga!: Angel Coronel, Ann
Boleche, Kim Guevarra,
Belle Rivera, Joyce Burgos,
Lian Paz, Madel Palma,
Mae Dela Cerna, Saida Di-
ola and Mergene Maranan.
When the SexBomb Girls left Eat Bulaga!, a new dancing and singing segment was
started. The search and founding of the EB Babes was not limited to pretty faces and sexy
bodies as the finalists had to undergo five weeks of grueling personality development,
stunt, acting and dance classes which included jazz, belly and breakdancing before the
Final Ten were chosen.
The EB Babes serve as back-up dancers in the opening and closing credits and the
game show portions of Eat Bulaga!. BL/YP

Luna, Wilson try beauty, brains in Bb. Pilipinas

Sa screening ng Bb.
Pilipinas 2007 candidates
nung Saturday, January 6,
dalawang talents ng GMA-
7 Artist Center ang nag-
bakasakali: si Ailyn Luna
na produkto ng StarStruck
2, at si Margaret Wilson na
gumaganap na Via sa Asian
Treasures.
As a StarStruck Aveng-
er, sinabi noon pa ni Ailyn
na childhood dream niya
ang maging beauty queen.
At di naman kataka-taka da-
hil at 17, nang sumali siya
sa StarStruck ay 5’7” na
siya at tindig-modelo pa.
Ngayong 18 and stand-
ing at 5’8”, isasakatuparan
na ni Ailyn ang kanyang
pangarap. At tulad ng pag-
sali niya sa StarStruck, ba-
WILSON LUNA
gay talagang panuntunan sa
pag-reach sa goal ng mga
kabataan ang “Dream! Be-
lieve! Survive!”
Edad kinse at 5’7” na-
man si Maggie nang ma-
discover sa mall ng writer
na si Neil de Guia.
Sa age niyang yun ay
naka-focus na rin si Mag-
gie sa dream niyang maging
beauty queen.
Mga October last year,
medyo malusog si Maggie.
Pero sa recent press con ng
Asian Treasures, in pageant
fighting form na siya.
“I used to weigh 140
pounds, now I’m 114. I have
to lose mga four pounds
pa,” sabi ng determinadong
si Maggie, na 5”9” na.
The 2007 Binibining
Pilipinas Pageant finals is
scheduled on March 3 at the
Araneta Coliseum.
Three titles ang paglala-
banan: Bb. Pilipinas-Uni-
verse, Bb. Pilipinas-World,
and Bb. Pilipinas-Interna-
tional.
Balitang darating ang
Miss World 2005 na si Un-
nur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir
para putungan ng korona
ang mananalong Bb. Pilipi-
nas-World 2007. BL/YP
Manila Media Monitor
FEBRUARY 2007 38
PBA Poster Beauty
Asia Agcaoili
Asia Agcaoíli is a Filipino ac-
tor, model, and TV and radio host.
Agcaoíli was born on September
20, 1983 in Isabela, Philippines. A
graduate of the University of the
Philippines, she is seen to epito-
mize the strong-minded, confi-
dent, liberated, modern Filipino
woman. She is a disk jockey on a
radio station, Magic 89.9, and an
advice columnist for FHM Philip-
pines Sex Confidential. She is part
of the second wave of the group
Viva Hotbabes.
Mathieu dela Costa Challenge on
OTTAWA - Minister of Canadian Heri-
tage and Status of Women Beverly Oda in-
vites young Canadians to join the Mathieu
Da Costa Challenge.
The competition encourages young
people to discover, through visual arts and
creative writing, how diversity has shaped
Canada’s history and the important role that
multiculturalism plays in Canadian society.
“Every year, more students are taking the
Challenge to learn about people who have
contributed to building Canada,” said Oda.
“As we discover the stories and characters of
our rich history, we develop greater respect
for one another and increase our knowledge
and understanding of Canadian society.”
Canadians aged 9 to 18 have until Feb.
23 to submit their artwork or original piece
Korean-Canadian Literary Forum-21
Press launches Variety Crossing
The Korean-Canadian Literary Forum-
21 Press launched the 8th volume of Variety
Crossing - a multicultural collection of orig-
inal poetry, essays and invited writings.
Contributors to Variety Crossing includ-
ed well-known and award-winning writers
and emerging talents.
The Korean, Chinese, Serbian, Eng-
lish, French, Russian, Romanian, Italian,
and East Indian writers shared a journey
through the power of their words.
They are Huh, Dalton McQuinty,
George Elliott Clarke, Bruce Meyer, Yevg-
eny Yevtushenko, Hyo Chee Moon, Richard
Telesky, Priscila Uppal, Kyung Hwan You,
WHY ADVERTISE ELSEWHERE?
CALL 416-285-8583
Arts Members of
Phil. Artists Group gathering
the Philippine
Artists Group
in Toronto en-
joy each oth-
er’s company
in a gather-
ing. Sitting,
from left are
Nelia Tonido,
coordinating
secretary;
Dong Mag-
alona, vice
president;
Dunluna, president; Ma. Nellie Bautista, recording secretary; standing, from
left, Rolly Abarilla, archivist; Cobie Cruz, PRO; Jun Afable, treasurer; Omel
Masalunga, promotions/marketing; Toots Quiachon, past president; Frank
Tonido, Jhun Diamante, webmaster; and Romi MananQuil, president emeri-
tus. Also with PAG are Fred Alinas, auditor; Ed Araquel, Frank Cruzet, Ike Di-
zon, Tony Doctor, Art Ibarra, Manny de Jesus, Rocille Lampitoc, Rol Lampitoc,
Sr., Tony Leyco, Koni Marcoux and Joey Rollo. PR
of writing to the contest.
Three winners accompanied by a parent
or guardian will receive a three-day trip to
Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they will take
part in an awards ceremony. Halifax was
chosen in honor of the 400th anniversary of
Mathieu Da Costa’s arrival in Canada.
As a navigator and interpreter of Afri-
can descent, Da Costa is believed to have
traveled extensively throughout the Atlantic
in the late 1500s and early 1600s. He was
sought by French and Dutch traders to help
in their interactions with aboriginal people.
Among other languages, Da Costa likely
spoke French, Dutch, and Portuguese.
The Mathieu Da Costa Challenge is
one of the main activities of Black History
Month celebrated in February. PR
Kijo Song, Hurry Huang, Flavia Cosma
and many others who have donated original
work to the collection.
“As Canadians, we can all say that we’re
from somewhere else ... we strive to keep
our cultural history alive while contributing
to our society. We are united in our effort to
become a Multicultural Bridge,” Huh said.
The launch was sponsored by The Ko-
rean Consulate of The Republic of Korea,
Hart House of U of T, the Toronto Arts
Council and others; with support from The
Writers’ Union of Canada, The Canadian
Ethnic Media Association, and PEN Can-
ada. PR
FEBRUARY 2007 Manila Media Monitor 39