Manila Media Monitor -- May 2009

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YEAR 12, No. 11 MAY 2009

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

Toronto, Ontario

MOSQUERA TO FIL-CAN COMMUNITY IN TORONTO

UNLEASH POTENTIALS By ACE ALVAREZ and BUTCH DG. GALICIA

INSIDE Ooops & Bloops Mindanao peace ends as fast as Pacman’s win - 7

Flores de Mayo - 28

Sari-sari stores as agent banks - 31 Dancing To Be A Star - 33 Elise Estrada: Real deal - 37

The Filipino-Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area is a strong mix of highly-educated and multitalented compatriots. “Individually, the members of the community are potential forces to reckon with. It is but a matter of collectively unleashing and engaging these potentials so that the power of a cohesive Filipino sector would be seen and felt in Canadian mainstream life,” said Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera. RP CONSUL GENERAL IN TORONTO ALEJANDRO MOSQUERA (To page 6)

Gutierrez-Ramos tandem topbills Mabuhay! Fest No less than Philippine TV’s hottest love duo - the Richard Gutierrez and Rhian Ramos tandem - topbills this year’s Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) Mabuhay! Philippines Festival at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on July 18. The chemistry between two of Philippine entertainment’s most popular RICHARD GUTIERREZ celebrities sizzles in Zorro - the newest TV series from GMA-Kapuso (One Heart RHIAN RAMOS With) Network. Gutierrez’s showbiz background is well-known to his legion of fans, given that his parents are 1960s matinee idol Eddie Gutierrez and the Cebuana actressturned talent manager Annabelle Rama, perhaps better known as the mother of the beauteous Ruffa Gutierrez. His half-brothers, Tonton Gutierrez and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, are also known movie and TV celebrities. So is Richard’s identical twin brother Raymond, the successful TV host. Launching his career as a child actor, Gutierrez carved his own niche in the Philippine Entertainment industry in the TV series Mulawin (2004-2005), which was made into a full-length movie. From thereon, it was a string of successes for (To page 34) RON JOSOL

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news Sen. Kiko Pangilinan to talk on RP issues in Canadian Kapihan Philippine Senator ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan will address the Filipino-Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area at a Kapihan breakfast forum at the Rizal Hall of the Filipino Centre Toronto on June 6 starting at 8:30 a.m. Pangilinan is expected to share his thoughts on the current state of the Philippines and the country’s election in 2010. A press conference and a forum with attendees will follow the senatior’s talk. The senator has been pushing for judicial reforms, strengthening the justice system and the rule of law, protecting and harnessing the youth, strengthening Philippine Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan and entrepreneurship and wife Philippine entertainment Megastar Sharon incentives for global Filipinos, Cuneta greet a fan. The couple will be in Toronto and other causes that will drive for Sharon’s Mega-Thirty concert at the Metro the Philippines to 21st century Toronto Convention Centre on June 7 at 6 p.m. progress. Elected senator to the 12th, 13th and 14th Philippine Congress, Pangilinan No extra costs for ONLINE ADS? sponsored and authored Republic Act 9225 (Citizenship Retention Act of 2003) and Republic Act 9189 (Filipino Overseas Absentee-Voting Act). The Kapihan is conducted in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, the Filipino Centre Toronto and the Call 416-285-8583 Kaibigan ni Kiko sa GTA. Visit For tickets, please phone Body Bliss at manilamediamonitor.com 416-224-9900. PR

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news

Positive aspects of ‘unoffocial’ UN torture report on RP very encouraging MANILA - An unofficial report from the United Nations Committee Against Torture has noted and appreciated many positive aspects in the Philippines’ compliance with the April 28 to 29 Convention Against Torture in Geneva, Switzerland. This is very encouraging, said Philippine government Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. During the convention, the Philippine delegation submitted its report and stressed the country has rati-

fied or approved the: ► Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. ► Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2003. ► Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict in 2003. ► Optional Protocol to the Convention on sale of children, child prostitution

and child pornography in 2002 and ► Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990. ► Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1989 and Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, in 2007. ► International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families in 1995. ► Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Traf-

ficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, in 2002, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The delegation also noted reforms in legislation, including policies and procedures to ensure better protection of human rights, including the right not to be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in particular. The measures included

the adoption of the: ► Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (RA 9344) for which the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council was formed in 2006. ► Republic Act 9346 abolishing the death penalty. ► Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262) that protected victims and punished perpetrators of the violence in 2004. ► Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) in

2003. ► Indigenous People’s Rights Act (RA 8371) in 1997. ► Administrative Order 249 that directed state agencies to institute policies, programs and projects enhancing human rights. In October 2007, the Supreme Court promulgated the Recourse to the Rules of the Writ of Amparo and the Writ of Habeas Data. The High Court also set into motion its Access (To page 24)

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ConGen Mosquera: Unleash potentials (From page 1) “Somewhere along the line, there is a commonality among us. This should be empowered. We must rally on issues of mutual concern,” Mosquera said in an interview with the Manila Media Monitor. Leaders teem The consul general said the community had never been wanting of good leaders and committed followers who “would stand tall at the forefront of influence and decision.” This was proven a number of times by the community, “which had occupied a vital role in Toronto’s social, economic and even political growth,” he said. The community‘s relatively imposing presence in the city’s multicultural mosaic could have contributed much to the community being recognized for its role.

“I see a lot of community leaders coming out and excelling in carrying out their group’s mission-visions,” Mosquera said. Community members have taken on essential visibility in the business, health, medical, media, entertainment, professional, religious and civic sectors in Toronto. “Soon, the community would ably get into Toronto’s political arena,” he said. Disunity rebuked The big number of groups and associations in the community should not be construed as fragmentation nor disunity, Mosquera stressed. “Rather, it should be seen as a movement of people with varied interests and persuasions working towards a common goal,” he said.

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Like other Filipinos in diaspora, these groups have been one in thought and action in helping their kababayans in need in the homeland. “I have seen this in how these groups conducted medical missions; donated books and computers and medical supplies and equipment; raised funds to build schools, churches and multipurpose halls,” he said. “Most importantly, I have seen how they gave quick wholehearted responses when natural and manmade tragedies struck the Philippines, way beyond parochial and regional parameters,” he added. Moreover, many members of the community have adopted the “brain gain” initiative, sharing and transferring knowledge and technology to assure that many Filipinos would improve their quality of life, he said. “Assisting kababayans back in the Philippines and those living, studying and working in Toronto or the whole of Canada is a commonality a cohesive Filipino community could go on doing and expand from,” Mosquera suggested. Going global He cited how many

Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera (2nd from right) accepts from the Kalloo couple, Mila and Tony, a cheque for $10,000 to put up four homes in the $75,000 30-house GK Village of Unity pushed during the Uniting for A Cause: A Farewell Dinner Dance for the ConGen at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall on May 22. Looking on are ANCOP-Gawad Kalinga president Ricky Cuenca (left) and event program chair Jojo Querubin. PR community members have taken on dual citizenship. “In the Philippines, this has prompted a positive psychological boost as those back home believed their compatriots abroad ‘have returned’,” Mosquera noted. This also validated the notion that the Filipino has become a global denizen. “This has given rise to our foreign service orientation to give appropriate and meaningful services in addressing the interests and welfare of Filipinos abroad,” he added. End of tour Mosquera urged members of the community “to maintain the Filipino identity, culture, heritage and traditions while assimilat-

ing with Canadian society.” He saluted the community for a job well done as he admitted that he was “still enjoying very much my soon to lapse six-year tour of duty in Toronto.” He ends his Toronto assignment at June’s end. “Here, I am like home away from home. I am honored have been with compatriots who have come to live, study and work in Toronto,” Mosquera mused. “But what I enjoy most was the warm welcome we in the consulate are given by the community. We get four to five invitations during weekends. Due to time and distance constraints, Consul Imelda Panolong, Vice Consul Edna Mae Lazaro, other consular staff and I

have to divide the work to meet community obligations. I commend my staff for their tireless dedication to duty,” he said. Parting shot Before he ended the interview, Mosquera once more cited community members in the health care sector -- those in the medical, health care and caregiving professions -- who have time and again shown that they excelled in what they do, even in the face of danger, as in the Canadian experience when the dreaded SARS broke out in 2003. Recalling, he said: “SARS greeted me when I came to Toronto for my assignment. I hope the Swine Flu threat is gone when I leave.”

VIEWS

ACE ALVAREZ

Pacquiao’s win ends peace quickly in Mindanao Before he flew to the Philippines on April 25, Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPC-O) president Tenny Soriano e-mailed members as follows: “TO ALL PPCO MEMBERS: “WILL BE AWAY FROM APRIL 25 TO MAY 17, 2009 for a much-needed vacation. “In this regard, your vice president, Mr. Ace Alvarez, will assume the duties of the President in my absence.” The following day, PPCO Secretary and Manila Media Monitor editor Butch Galicia asked me if the PPC-O will be having its monthly breakfast forum for May, 2009. My reply was: “Why work? The cat is away, so let us all play!” *** The last paragraph of president Tenny’s message to PPC-O members was, “Please provide your support to Ace as you would your president.” Nadisgrasya na! That was precisely the reason why I didn’t want to have a

breakfast forum for May 2009,” bearing in mind my president’s directive. To repeat the quotes: “Please provide your support to Ace as you would your president.” Hhhmmm …. *** An e-mail we were copied recently sent by a friend to another person informing the latter of a death in her husband’s family requested the primary recipient to inform her group of such event. The sender’s complimentary close was “Cheers!” I thought, “Cheers to what? “The death of her husband’s family member?” Probably, slip of her finger. *** Two weeks before the submission of ad copies to Manila Media Monitor’s April 2009 issue, my good friend Danny “The Great” Samson phoned me asking to reserve a full page black and white page for his advertising. On deadline day, I phoned him, but he said he was in Montreal, and that he would

attend to and send us the ad copy that evening upon his return to Toronto. To this writing, I never received such e-mail, nor a telephone call from the great Danny S. Probably still in Montreal, eh! *** The following are excerpts from a story, entitled “Quick win leaves fans wanting more”, in the internet edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer of May 4 (the story referred to Manny Pacquiao’s boxing match vs. Hatton): -- “In parts of Bicol, residents failed to see the fight because a storm had toppled power lines and plunged their communities into darkness.” (Iyan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Filipino legislators should have listened in the past to that solon who filed a bill in Philippine Congress to outlaw typhoons? Incidentally, the legislator who filed this before the Philippine Congress was from Bicol ) -- “As in previous Pacquiao

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009 fights, soldiers and Moro guerrillas briefly stopped fighting in some areas of Mindanao so they could follow the fight on radio and television.” (Kita mo nga naman ang buhay, since time immemorial, no person who served as president in the Philippines could find a solution in stopping war in Mindanao.” E, si Pacquiao la’ng pala ang kailangan. Madam President Gloria, I think you should order Pacquiao to fight everyday in the international boxing arena.), or VOTE FOR PACQUIAO AS RP PRESIDENT! -- “But there was no respite for some units pursuing the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Jolo. Saying duty came first, they captured one of the bandits’ camps in the village of Bunot in Indanan town yesterday morning, police said.” (Probably, police knew that Pacquiao is the weakness point of the bandits) -- Remonde said the delegation could not believe that the fight was over in less than six minutes.” (That ends the moment of peace in the Philippine island of Mindanao, too) -“Deposed President Joseph Estrada said Pacquiao ‘is truly an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere’.” (Now, forget sending all Filipinos as overseas contract workers. With more reason, all Filipinos should be boxers, too!) -- “Agence France-Presse said ‘millions of Filipinos danced in the streets and joined raucous

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parties’ after Pacquiao’s victory.” (Had the Philippine Independence Day Council’s [PIDC] first lady, Rosemer Enverga, been in the Philippines, it would have been more fun. Ballroom dancer yata si Rosemer!) -- “Hatton may be their countryman, but to British citizens like Paul Pryde and Arthur Conn, who have stayed and fallen in love with the Philippines, their hearts belong to Pacquiao.” (Traitors? No, their commission is not covered in the Philippines’ Revised Penal Code) *** Various organizations, including CTV Network, held open houses on Saturday, May 23, 2009. On the other hand, several road closures on major streets and highways were in effect. To this writing, we are contemplating on how to reach the open houses with all the road closures *** On Tuesday, May 12, Singapore’s The Straits Times reported on the Philippines: “Jobless Rate Rises to Record 34%, Private Figures Show; Gov’t Says Total is 7.7%” That’s what the Philippine government really needs – creativity! *** On Thursday, May 7, Aida D’Orazio - Publicity Chair of the Filipino Centre-Toronto (FCT) on Parliament Street - sent out (To page 25)

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Since the onset of this recession when the fate of both print and conventional radio and television media apparently became uncertain and lead to bankruptcy some of even the strongest media with 100 or so years’ history, many things have been written and talked about where this sector of our society is heading to. This led academicians and media experts from two schools of thought to argue whether our present society continues to need journalism schools. Relative to this, some media technologists even doubt if our society still needs newspapers with the progress and development of online media. As advanced by technology consultant, teacher and writer Clay Shirky in his blogsite on the social and economic effects of the internet on traditional media, good journalism is what society needs (and to which this column fully agrees, but cautions readers of this column that I do not fully agree on everything that Shirky wrote in his article Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable). Meanwhile, while the two trains of thought argue whether our society still needs print media, at our end -- and those serving the multicultural/multilingual communities of Canada, the print media will be here with us for at least sometime while the first generation of immigrants are with us. Speaking of good journalism, one such example was the front cover and lead story of the April 2009 issue of Manila Media Monitor. This might sound self-serving, There is so much abuzz in the Metro and at some point, any or all of the following are simmering in people’s minds. One is the exponentially increasing number of motorcycles that whiz thru the metro’s already congested streets. Think of Beijing and Ho Chi Minh City a decade ago with their multitude of bicycles; replace the two wheelers with motorized bikes, and you have a vague idea of how the metro might look a few years from now , no thanks to high gas prices, choking traffic and increasing public transport fares. Today in fact, daily news fare includes spills, collisions and accidents involving motorcycles. Not too long ago, there were a lot of ruffled feathers among us caused by a nonchalant remark by some Hong Kong idiot to the effect that we are a nation of servants. The truth did hurt and it sent everyone into frenzy. The Chinese writer only underscored what is the painful truth. In the globalization scheme of things, Pinoys are pigeonholed in service roles like domestics, nurses, chambermaids, therapists, sailors and similar occupations. That we perform these jobs outside of our country’s physical boundaries proudly armed with college diplomas only stresses the sad point.

VIEWS From The Monitor’s Desk ACE ALVAREZ

Training and practice ‘separate the men from the boys’ because I am the publisher of this publication. Admittingly, however, I never had a hand on the front cover story and picture of that issue which combined great story by editor Butch Galicia that goes with great photography by Larry Torres. My only participation was seeing the front cover and the rest of the files for review an hour to midnight before the PDF files of the issue were to be sent to the printer’s FTP site for the final stage. Certainly, you don’t want me to hold credit where credit is due, thus, as publisher of Manila Media

Monitor, I must say, “Excellent job, Butch and Larry!” The Manila Media Monitor April 2009 issue adds among my favorite covers in this paper’s 12th year history, so far. The April 2009 issue of Manila Media Monitor certainly sets one very good model of good journalism. This view is shared by many readers of this publication, finding that the front cover was the result of the work that “separates the men from the boys,” so to speak; one proof that society continues to have a need for journalism schools versus the declaration of new media enthusiasts that anybody can be a

Roundabout MAG CRUZ-HATOL

What’s the buzz in Manila? That there will constantly be a repeat of history escapes us: there will always be masters as there will be vassals, colonizers as well as the colonized. The reality is nowhere more obvious than in how we have divided the world between the First and the Third. Another is what people fear as the unusually early arrival of the monsoons. Folks are scared about the bulletin that the Philippines is among the four countries likely to be most adversely affected by global warming. These days, any weather abnormality is blamed on the buzz phrase ‘global warming’ even if we have been enduring such freak weather for most of our lives. And yes, the patent militarization only made more manifest during the events surrounding

the suicide of broadcaster Ted Failon’s wife. To everyone’s horror, live coverage of the Philippine National Police’s heavy handed treatment of his family and househelp drove us back to memories of martial law. We are made to wonder how justice was being served suspiciously fast when no crime was even established. When the bigger fish were taken into custody because they allegedly squandered millions of pesos through scams, the scums were given kiddie glove treatment and an absurd stretch of consideration and leeway. And talking about scums, the real big time criminals who figured prominently in rape and murder cases were being ushered out of prison one by one, all recipients of controversial presidential clemency.

journalist in this multimedia age. This thinking of media enthusiasts is wrong as they think of schools of journalism in what Professor Stephen J.A. Ward of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Wisconsin and adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia call the general and “minimalist” sense of what these schools are for. Professor Ward said the minimalist definition “ignores richer notions that define a journalist, according to complex methods and norms of practice.” Professor Ward pointed out that historically, the first schools of journalism usually had the higher ambition to teach a richer notion of journalism, and cited that Joseph Pulitzer started his school at Columbia University to create professionals with special skills and an “anti-commercial” attitude – an allegiance to the public good. Reading through the lead story, “Colle’s Law”, in Manila Media Monitor April 2009 issue, I found that the article was written critically, philosophically and broad-mindedly, without regard to personalities (even affecting those, to my mind, are people close to the writer of the story himself, Butch Galicia; people who are connected with nonprofit community organizations, government and business entities around us), but rather only on the issues. And these qualities, my friends, are what journalists with professional training can do, unlike those in what Professor (To page 11) The Failon headline-hogger in fact eclipsed what partner broadcaster Korina Sanchez would have wanted to land front page: her engagement to presidential wannabe Mar Roxas. Even the big Araneta reunion somewhere in Panay island was washed out by the rains so news about the event and the announcement became as flaccid as a whimper. Ask any man in the street these days and his chief preoccupation, besides landing or keeping a job and a stable future, is how he will fare when he faces the rotten justice system. The resurrection of the evil desire to tinker with the bylaws of the land is also prominent in people’s minds, particularly those whose economic and political lives are intertwined with the elections. The daily zarzuela at the Congress provides ample humor that the need for Dolphy and AiAi in our humdrum existence has become moot. So much is happening in the city of our childhood that days scurry past with a speed that will make octogenarians nauseous and jailbirds happy. The colorful days of the infamous Marcos years are upon us again … the endless speculations, distrust of the establishment, military reign, and yes, systematic chaos.

12 years of dedicated community service Managing Editor ACE ALVAREZ Editor BUTCH GALICIA Associate Editor GIE ALVAREZ Contributing Editors Ben Viccari Ricky Caluen Mag Cruz Hatol Grace P. Freires Manny Freires Pete Lacaba Mel Tobias Editorial Assistants Lennart Leigh Alvarez-Mahoney Dods Andrada Contributors Eva Agpaoa Mario Dimain Noel Perada Larry Torres Edwin Acuna Bien Garcia Jeannie Pilapil Account Executive MYRNA SORIANO Graphics IDTech Solutions 416-875-2541 [email protected]

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Tel. 416.285.8583 YOUR TOTAL, CONCISE and COMPREHENSIVE Manila MEDIA MONITOR is published and circulated once a month in Toronto and its suburbs. Manila MEDIA MONITOR is a publication dedicated to the formation of positive values in the Filipino-Canadian social and business community. Manila MEDIA MONITOR covers all aspects of interest to the community it serves. Every effort is made to verify the information published in Manila MEDIA MONITOR your one of only two community papers in Toronto (the other paper being ... ‘the others’). The views and opinions expressed, however, by individual writers are not necessarily the opinion, nor reflect those, of the publisher. Thus, the publication accepts no responsibility in connection with any liability which might develop resulting from articles published. Manila MEDIA MONITOR accepts submissions, subject to availability of space, but reserves the right to edit for publication. Contributed articles must be in word document format. Photo releases must be with captions and in JPEG format. Item and photo submissions must be sent by e-mail via [email protected] Articles published in Manila MEDIA MONITOR may be reproduced only with the permission of the publisher. SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADVERTISING, CIRCULATION and other inquiries may be addressed at the following:

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VIEWS

Commentary BEN VICCARI

STATISTICS CANADA SAY

Wives work harder, longer While many husbands are reeling from job loss, shorter work hours and other effects of a lingering recession, wife power has slowly seeped into the economic recesses of the home and the workplace. A Statistics Canada study showed that the relative contributions of wives and husbands to paid work hours and earnings have become closer over the past 12 years. Wives have started to work longer hours at paid jobs; earning more than in the past. some have become primary earners in the household. Between 1997 and 2008, the number of wives earning at least 45 percent of the family total family income increased from 37 percent to 42 percent. In 2008, 65 percent of wives were considered equal workers in terms of weekly paid hours, up from 60 percent in 1997. The study also noted that the average weekly hours wives spend rose steadily, while husbands put in fewer hours on the job. In 1997, husbands worked over nine hours a week more than their wives (43.3 percent against 33.8 percent). By 2008, the difference had narrowed to to just over seven (42 against 34.7). On earnings, the married women’s average weekly pay increased at a faster pace than men’s. In 1997, $640 of total family earnings came from wives. By 2008, wives were contributing $740, if not more. The study said that on average, dual-earning couples with fulltime jobs earned $1,770 a week before taxes in 2008, up from $1,610 in 1997. However, dual-earning families continue to make work-life balance an important issue. Around one in four men in full-time, dual-earner families with young children at home, and more than one in three women, reported feeling severely time-stressed, which is associated with significant lower rates of satisfaction with work-life balance. JEY DHARMARAJ

Better education, higher pay Generally, earnings get higher as the level of study moves to a higher rung. A Statistics Canada study said over 80 percent of college and university students who graduated in 2005 and did not pursue further studies had found full-time employment by 2007. But in 2007 or two years after they graduated, a higher number of graduates with a master’s degree worked full time than college graduates or those with a bachelor’s degree or a doctorate. The pool of graduates with a master’s was higher in 2005 than it was in 2000 for both men and women. The employment rate among master’s graduates remained stable for men at 94 percent, while it rose for women, from 89 percent in 2002 to 92 percent in 2007. The median annual earnings among those who were working full time in 2007 was lowest for college graduates at $35,000. This increased to $45,000 for bachelor’s graduates, $60,000 for master’s graduates and $65,000 for doctorate graduates. The earning gap between the bachelor’s and master’s levels suggested that investing in postgraduate work is financially beneficial. Full-time employment In 2007, two years after graduation, 9 out of 10 college, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate graduates who had not taken further education were working. A higher proportion of graduates of master’s programs were working full time in 2007, compared with college, bachelor’s or doctorate graduates. Student loan repayments Among graduates in 2005 who did not pursue further education, about half financed their postsecondary education without taking on any education-related loans. In 2007, two years after graduation, loans exceeded $20,000 on average for graduates with student debt (both government and nongovernment) at the bachelor’s and doctorate levels. In 2007, graduates with a doctorate still owed the highest amount from all sources, $22,500 on average, while bachelor’s graduates had an average debt owing of $20,400. Master’s graduates owed an average of $19,500, while college grads had the smallest debt in 2007, an average of $11,800. Graduates who were still paying off their government debt two years after graduation earned less on average than those who had (To page 14)

The man who drove Diefenbaker wild In 1973, I had agreed to travel to Vancouver to assist in the announcement of the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific. At the Toronto Airport, I ran into a friend, a corporate lawyer who was an ardent supporter of the federal Progressive Conservative Party. When I told him why I was travelling to Vancouver, I thought he was going to have an apoplectic fit. This most reserved and genteel of men actually began to shout his invective-laden condemnation of a man who had died the year before and had, in his own quiet way left the Liberal government’s mark on so much that is Canadian. At one point, I expected him to change into John Diefenbaker, Pearson’s vitriolic adversary. But that is the kind of anger this decent and gentlemanly Pearson evoked. (A sardonic twist: in 1984, the airport was to be re-christened Pearson International.) Lester Bowles Pearson, Mike to his many friends and admirers, qualifies as one of Penguin Books extraordinary Canadians on many counts. This book by political biographer Andrew Cohen shows The ongoing story about Ruby Dhalla underscores the plight of caregivers in Toronto. Whether Ms. Dhalla is found to be at fault or not, is not all that relevant to the wider issue (unless of course you are Ms. Dhalla or one of the three caregivers involved). This will be up to the government committee and potentially the courts to decide. What is relevant is that protection for caregivers in Toronto brought in under the Live-in Caregiver Program is almost non-existent and must be addressed. Since I wrote about this last month, the government has taken some tentative steps towards a solution. Let’s hope that this continues in the right direction and that practical solutions are implemented. Let’s keep our voices heard at every opportunity. For now, there are enough voices speaking about Dr. Dhalla and her plight that I will turn my attention somewhere else. Here is what I’ve been thinking about. I’m thinking about my friend Dora who is going through a really rough time. She feels like her life has been crumbling about her for the past few months. She‘s in such despair, she can’t see past her problems. And they paralyze her

“Dief the Chief” voices his opinion of Mike Pearson Pearson as soldier, scholar. sportsman, teacher, diplomat, cabinet minister and eventually Prime Minister. He did perhaps more than any other Canadian to help us see ourselves as a nation and no longer as a colony. By his birthright and calm nature, he might well have become a minister of the Church like his father and grandfather, but from an early age showed a propensity for moving quietly but firmly into wider fields. He joined the Canadian Army, was invalided

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out and then managed to get accepted by the Air Force. Just after graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in law, he became a sausage stuffer for Armour and Company, but was at Oxford a few years later, leading to to an eventual job in Canada’s diplomatic corps. Seldom, if ever, losing his “cool”, a tireless worker into the small hours of the morning, Pearson the diplomat followed a path that led to his election as a Liberal member of Parliament. He was appointed External Affairs Minister after Louis Saint Laurent had succeeded the indecisive and stupidly vain Mackenzie King. In 1956, the Suez crisis and Pearson’s participation in its resolution led him to a Nobel Prize and a reputation as peacekeeper. As leader of the Liberal Party after Louis St. Laurent’s retirement, Pearson suffered a crushing defeat in the 1957 election by Progressive Conservative prairie lawyer John Diefenbaker, but came back with a minority government in 1963, earning the lifelong hatred of Diefenbaker, who though a champion of human rights had a sycophantic attitude toward Queen and country and bitterly opposed the government’s replacement of the Union Jack with Canada’s own Maple Leaf flag. One recalls his near-hysterical attacks on Pearson for daring to suggest that Canada has its own flag. Both Pearson’s governments were minority governments, but leading them Pearson got things done. (To page 25)

Our Journey EVA AGPAOA

Really, who cares? into inaction. There are times in everyone’s life when the burden is so heavy it feels impossible to go on. I know. I’ve felt this many times and so have most of my friends. It’s during those times when you are most vulnerable. Your confidence is low, and you feel close to a complete failure. Everyone around you is doing things, going places, becoming successful and leaving you far behind. And you are prepared to accept almost anything that might help. Regardless of the cost. But the reality is that all things will pass with time. Things do get better. You only have to be willing to be patient and willing to work hard for them. Dora is so scared that people will learn the truth about her and that the truth will shame her and her family.

Our culture is so hung up about failure. We go out of our way to hide it and if we discover it in someone else, we take pleasure in pointing at it, reveling in it. Why is that? But there really is no shame in bad luck and hard times. Failing to achieve or to hold on to an achievement does not make you a bad person. Failure is a sign of ambition and courage. It tells those around us that we had the courage to try something risky. Sure, we might have failed at it, but so what? Remember, life is a journey and stumbling along the way is expected. I don’t know of anyone who has achieved success that did not fail one or more times along the way. Dora is frantic about her situation. (To page 11)

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera made me think hard when, in a recent interview, he urged members of the community to maintain the Filipino identity, culture, heritage and traditions while assimilating themselves into the Canadian mosaic. Come to think of it. ‘The Filipino in me’ could be the only rallying point of members of the community to keep themselves - despite variances in individual interests and persuasions - cohesive in facing and resolving issues that affect them. To be a Canadian, by way of citizenship processes or by birth right, is indeed a great honor; and members of the community are duty-bound to render to Canada the same brand of love and loyalty for country imbibed in them by their forefathers. I believe that love and loyalty for country would work well with ‘The good Filipino in me’ to equal a well-rounded, socially and economically productive Canadian citizen and community member. *** I am always amazed by people who could sing

Omerta BUTCH GALICIA

‘Bayang magiliw ...’ Living in the Moment by heart the Philippine National Anthem Lupang Hinirang (Beloved Land) and the Canadian National Anthem O’ Canada. Having attended a lot of community functions, I have seen how many lipsynch or pretend to sing any of the two anthems whenever played one after the other. Some even forget the words of any of the two anthems. Worse, many feel that the DJ’s tape is enough to pass away the time allotted for the anthems. Frankly, I feel shame for those who should, but did not, keep close to their hearts these icons of being Filipino and Canadian. *** But I have seen Filipinos bring out the best of love and loyalty for country. Here is an experience I

The 3rd Eye MARIO DIMAIN

Wish list The month of June never fails to bring one good reason to celebrate. Its third Sunday marks the day of great importance to my three daughters. Together, they observe its yearly significance in the same manner that I remember their grandfather on Father’s Day. June is also the month that touches a nerve that is deeply rooted in me. It painfully reminds me of the death anniversary of someone very dear to me. He was a soldier who fought and lived the horror of the Korean War in the fifties. More than four decades later, this one heck of a man fought his final battle, against a much stronger foe. On June 9, 1995, lung cancer defeated him. I lost my father, my great mentor, my hero and my best friend. During the grieving years that followed, I eased the pain by immersing myself more in photography, the art I learned from him. It

VIEWS

is our common ground and our strongest bond. It is the only dimension where our spirits connect. Holding a camera is like touching his hand. I feel his presence in every photo that I shoot. His passing away also inspired me to write a short fictional story about a son’s heartwarming relationship with his father. It is a story that mirrors my grief-stricken self, still longing for him every Father’s Day. The story begins: John is up in the attic of his father’s house, cleaning up. The morning sunlight beaming through the window makes the floating dust even more visible. Boxes of garbage to be thrown out are finally separated from the items that he thinks are worth keeping. The house where John grew up is now listed for sale. His father passed away just a month ago. An old shoebox with string tied around it catches John’s eyes. He wonders what is so important inside

love to tell and retell: June 8, 1986. Aboard a Lufthansa plane. Weary from a threemonth advanced journalism course at the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin, I longed to be back home -- to my family and my Philippines News Agency bureau desk. The intercom boomed: “This is the captain speaking. In a short while, we will be landing at the Manila International Airport. Please extinguish your cigarettes and fasten your seat belts.” The plane’s mid and rear, seating mostly overseas Filipino workers going home for the first time after long-term job contracts, buzzed to marketlike life. Home addies and phone numbers were passed around. “Tuloy ang ligaya. (To page 25)

Amid the hustle and bustle of making a living and living a life, there exists moments we all wished would come to a standstill; not because these moments are forever etched in our memories but because these moments tell us that life is worth living. Mother’s Day is one of them. When I chanced to bring five mothers (above) together, I froze time with a snapshot. From left is my mother Isabel; Teodora David, my balae and mother to my daughter-in-law Mylene David (right), who is mother to my first granddaughter Zoe Karel (the baby in all three pictures); Evelyn (who marked her birth anniversary on May 8), my wife and mother to my three children; Lynette, my daughter and mother to my grandsons Gabriel and Raphael. Another moment I lived in was when I first cuddled Zoe Karel. I felt great as she nestled herself comfortably on my arms. Moments like birthday parties are flickers of time to live in too. Right, balae Teody marks her birth anniversary on April 27 with family: Evelyn, Lynette, Francis, Mylene, Raphael, Gabriel and Zoe Karel. Live in the moment.

the box. It seems like a well guarded treasure. He opens it. An old sepia photo greets him. Faded and torn around the edges but otherwise still recognizable. It’s a picture of a smiling little boy, mounted on his father’s shoulder. They both look happy. John remembers the day when the photo was taken. It was on a bright summer day. His father took him out to see the Air Show. He remembers everything about it. The thundering roar of the fighter planes flying overhead, the ice cream cone melting in his hand and dripping on his Dad’s shoulder are still crystal-clear in his memory. Underneath were more photos of family events and important documents. John wants to see more photos of his father. He continues to dig in. Reaching the bottom, he finds a folded lined paper. It looks very familiar. He examines it closely and quickly realizes that it was the Wish List that he wrote when he was in his fourth grade, over thirty years ago. His teacher gave him an “A” for it. With a smile on his face he reads…. 1. I wish my father was as brave as Batman so he could stand on guard and scare the ghosts away while I sleep. 2. I wish my father was as strong as Hercules so he could protect me from the (To page 23)

to commit, these pale in comparison to the greater crimes believed to abound in other countries where Filipino caregivers work in greater numbers.). Ano ba naman ang dalawang taong paghihirap at pagtitiis para maging landed at madala ang pamilya sa Canada? One has to swallow the bitter pill to reap rewards later. The above observations reinforce two perceptions (in some instances, selfimage) of Filipinos: their generally servile mindset and resilience amidst adversities. If this is true, we might as well throw the Ontario Code of Human Rights, the Employment Standards, and our general sense of ethics and fairness out the window, rather than to have a double standard of things. To subscribe to these attitudes changes altogether the prism with which we view many issues affecting caregivers - not only Filipino caregivers but all others as well. I work for a division of the City of Toronto where public service is fiat. Yet, as the clock strikes 4:30 p.m., one could hardly expect anyone staying on for an extra five minutes to finish a task. Nor could you expect a clerk to print a page for (To page 11)

Perspective RICARDO J.S. CALUEN

No room for double standards While you were having coffee, yet another “Nannygate” hit the dailies and radio talk programs. The last episode involved no less than a member of the Ontario legislature. I understand the case is sub judice. Thus, media is barred from discussing the case that could sway opinion - either in the court system or among the general public - one way or other. But this will not stop the community and pundits from discussing the subject. I’ve attended several social functions lately, this being the start of the party season, and invariably I am asked by friends and new acquaintances what is going on with Filipino caregivers and the rush of publicity they are getting these days. I feel like a tape recorder being played and replayed over and over again, giving the inquisitive a rundown of events from the infamous Tejada case to the latest

allegations where MPP Ruby Dhalla has taken the hot seat. While the majority in my encounters have taken the side of the caregivers, not because they are Filipinos but because they believe in the validity of the issues, there are the few usual skeptics to whom the caregiver cause appears to be a hard sell. One thinks some caregivers are simply being “ma-arte”, too fussy over small breaches on their employment contracts. Another (in fact a few) believes caregivers should just grit their teeth and go the extra mile - do unpaid overtime work or accomplish non-caregiver tasks, etc. - since this is a small price to pay for getting one foot inside the permanent residence status system. (Besides, for all the abuses that some Canadian employers are alleged

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

VIEWS Training and practice ... (From page 8) Ward calls the “minimalist” journalists. With over 30 years in journalism, the Manila Media Monitor editor is a graduate of the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin, and has echoed what he has learned by conducting basic communication and journalism laboratories for Filipino students, professionals and aspiring peers. He also completed a Trainors’ Training Course for ASEAN Journalists sponsored by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Press Foundation of Asia. Editor Butch’s choice from among the photos shot by Larry Torres for the April 2009 issue was best to go with the excellently written lead story, in lieu of the “firing squad type” photo of the speaker with the attendees that the community is accustomed to seeing in the front pages of community papers. Back in the Philippines in the mid 80s to early 90s, when we would be watching TV entertainment programs, such as those of German Moreno’s That’s Entertainment, viewers

would hear from actors line, such as, “Thank you so much, Tito Larry.” Unknown to many, that Tito Larry was who we know here as Larry Torres. Larry’s artistry and business engagements back in the Philippines ranged from music, video and entertainment promotion. Among those in his stable in mostly Southern Luzon roadshow engagements belonged very familiar names to us: Sunshine Cruz, Romnick Sarmenta, Vina Morales, Manilyn Reynes, Ara Mina, Judy Ann Santos and a long roster of big name stars. Regular practice derived from continuous training results to perfection in the case of Larry – who runs his professional photography business called Innovation Video/Photo Services.. Without proper training and practice, the Manila Media Monitor news organization would not be able to produce such issue – as many issues before it. Thank you so much, Butch and Larry, that even without my detailed scrutiny, you delivered the goods to our readers’, and

our team’s immeasurable satisfaction. *** Speaking of training and practice, the Centennial College School of Communication, Media and Design has approached us at the Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) – the premier and all embracing organization of people working in the multicultural/ multilingual print, radio and television across the country, and which yours truly preside over, to sit as panelists, together with the Canadian Association of Black Journalists, in a forum that the school is organizing for September this year about concerns on where conventional media is heading. Meanwhile, on Friday, June 26, at 7 PM, the 31st CEMA Awards Gala will see eight individuals recognized for their work in 2008 on radio, television and the internet categories at the Velma Rogers Theatre on Jarvis Street in downtown, T.O. Three Filipinos (two from print and one from radio) have submitted their work to the committee and now being reviewed by a group of independent jurors, composed of peers, but are

Really. Who cares? ... (From page 9) To be sure, she is working hard trying to rebuild her life to the level it was at before. And I have every confidence she will make it. In the mean time, her mind is consumed with what others might think if

they realized she is having problems. Will they laugh at her? Will she lose status in her community? Could she ever recover from the shame? The answers to all these questions is this: Who cares? Really, who cares?

No room for double ... (From page 10) you if doing so is not in the job description. And this is true wherever you go in Ontario. I am not a lawyer by training but I seem to recall a principle of law interpretation: that which is not included, is excluded. We are only at the tip of this Caregiver Issue. Various community groups sympathetic to the caregiver cause have revved up their efforts in taking up the cudgels for caregivers. One such group is the not CEMA members. This prestigious awards ceremony will be taped live for later airing on all CityTV and OMNI stations: OMNI 1 and 2 in Ontario, OMNI-British Columbia and OMNI-Alberta.

newly-organized Grassroots Hub initiated by Fr. Ben Ebcas, parish priest of Our Lady of the Assumption on Bathurst Street, the new heart of Little Philippines in Toronto. Even the Philippine Consulate (c/o Consul General Mosquera) and the attached overseas office of the Dept. of Labor (c/o Atty. Luna), favorite whipping boys of critics of the Philippine Government’s policy on overseas Filipino workers, have been getting good marks for raising the banner of the caregiver cause, particularly in their efforts in working closely with provincial legislators on the implementation of labor standards and the passage of new and corrective legislative

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In the end, all that matters is what Dora achieves in the long run. Not the small stumbles along the way. How others think about her, and worse what they may say about her, is largely irrelevant in the grand scheme. What is important is her focus on the future and getting there. measures supportive of caregivers and temporary workers. There is certainly room for debate on any given public issue. That’s what democracy and free press are all about. But there is also such a thing as shaping an informed opinion. St. Augustine, the famous Doctor of the Catholic Church, one of the most famous converts to the Catholic Church, was once asked how he could believe in an unseen God. His famous reply was: Credo ut intelligam ,intelligo ut credam. I believe that I may believe, I know that I may believe. Now, if we can only start with the knowing part … of getting ourselves familiar with so-called caregiver issues ... Enlightenment is certainly not too distant.

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

FEATURE

Asia grappling to balance migration, crisis-hit labor mart PASIG CITY - Professors studying Southeast Asian labor migration said countries in the region would scuttle to protect their economies but would avoid edging out foreign workers as the global financial collapse seeped into real sectors. In Singapore Dr. Yap Mui Teng, of the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy under the National University of Singapore, said that while Southeast Asia’s financial hub would experience a “sharp economic downturn that is the most severe in the country’s history,” Singapore would still need foreign workers. As countries grappled with the catatonic effects of a global financial crisis, nation-states witnessed the decapitation of their respective labor markets. Dr. Teng termed as unavoidable the move of companies to cut costs and fire foreign workers first and nationals last. Singapore companies forecast a minus five percent gross domestic product

By JEREMAIAH OPINIANO and ISAGANI DE LA PAZ (www.ofwjournalism.net) growth rate for 2009. What is happening in Singapore, said Dr. Teng, was that more foreign workers were complaining of unclaimed salaries, being subjected to “no work, no pay” situations. He added there were some instances of repatriation if manpower agencies could not place foreign workers. Dr. Teng affirmed the forecasts of analysts that an expected 50,000 foreign workers would lose their jobs this year, especially those in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Some 143,000 highlyskilled foreign workers in Singapore held job passes. In addition, about 757,000 semi-skilled foreign workers held work permits. This category included domestic workers. A World Bank report affirmed Dr. Teng’s views. “As unemployment in the region and around the

world begins to climb, migrant workers, wherever they are, are likely to be among the first to lose their jobs,” the report Battling the Forces of Global Recession said. Report writer Ivailo Izvorski added this “will mean lower remittance flows to the poorest countries in the region and, if the migrants return home, a worsening unemployment in those countries as well as further downward pressure on real wages, especially in the informal sector that would directly affect the poor.” In Malaysia Near Singapore is Malaysia, which Dr. Vijayamukari Kanapathy said was also feeling the pinch, adding that migrant workers would be among the 400,000 hands Malaysia’s employers federations forecast to be laid off this year. The situation was especially glaring for Malaysia’s manufacturing sector,

GENERAL DENTISTRY Dr. Gilbert Chan Dr. Daphne Chien Dr. Janet Ho Dr. Janet Wong Dr. Michael Chin

Daily, thousands of Filipinos attend job fairs and mill around public and private agencies where possible overseas employment opportunities are posted. They are all hoping - despite the hard times brought about by a global recession - to clinch whatever spot could change, for the better, their quality of life. whose biggest market is recession-hit United States. The policy responses of Malaysia’s government for migrant workers was that they would be terminated first, that there would be a freeze in hiring migrant workers, and that the deportation of undocumented migrants would be fasttracked, Kanapathy said. A bright spot, Kanapathy added, was that the crisis might possibly see the government regularizing some of the undocumented workers in Malaysia’s informal sector. “But Malaysia is extremely cautious,” she said, in dealing with migrant

workers as it had a “soft policy” to encourage these foreign workers to leave Malaysia. Since migrant workers held an annual work permit, “it is easy for Malaysian employers to retrench them,” Kanapathy said. As of September 2008, Kanapathy said Malaysia has retrenched 5,5867 migrant workers - most of whom were in the manufacturing sector. She said she did not have the data on which country these workers came from. In Thailand Another country is politically-rocked Thailand, which had been both a send-

ing and a receiving country of migrants and refugees. Dr. Supang Chantavanich of the Asian Research Center on Migration based in Chulalongkorn University said she expected an increased hiring of construction and domestic workers amid the crisis. These two sectors of migrant workers would be least affected by the crisis “due to increasing needs for them,” she added. Chantavanich said Thailand has 76,206 foreign construction workers and 53,933 foreign domestic workers. It was likely possible, (To page 26)

FEATURE

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

13

What recession?

Ilonggo nurse enjoys success in US home health

AMIT BHATIA Credit Counsellor

By ALEX P. VIDAL

OAK BROOK, Illinois - While many tradIF ers and financial managers in the United States All your income is going to pay bills. are groping in darkness over the gloomy economic atmosphere wrought by recession, a 41Everyday there is fight & argument at home. year-old nurse from Miag-ao, Iloilo in the Philippines has successfully inched her way into You can not pick your own phone out of fear. home health business in Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale. Creditors and collection agencies are calling you and they are The success of Lira Faicol Mueda’s fourthreatening to take legal action. year-old home health business that serves the Your salary is being garnished. entire state of Illinois however didn’t happen overnight. “We also encountered some problems in the ONE SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR ALL YOUR DEBTS beginning, but me and my husband, Edwin, do the marketing and directly manage the busiTHEN, WE CAN ness,” quipped Mueda, who considers Edwin as the business’ “most effective hands-on adminreduce your debts to less than half, istrator.” Problems such as nurses not following instop the interest right away, structions, marketing and staffing, manpower save you from threatening phone calls, shortage, employees being pirated by rival home health centers, immediately hounded bring back your stress free family life, Mueda’s business, put up in partnership with another Ilonggo nurse and entrepreneur Roland stop the garnishment. Hedriana, according to Edwin. And you will not lose your house and car. “But despite the recession, we haven’t laid off anyone,” Mueda sighed. “In fact, we keep hiring people.” Filipino staff HERE IS WHAT SOME SATISFIED CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY .......... Mueda, who worked in home health for 12 in huge debt. Credit Manageing with Mr. Amit Bhatia, I felt very “I had six credit cards and was years, said 90 percent of their staff are Filipino ment Services reduced my debts relaxed and he reduced my $34,000 paying $550 per month. Bank which I am paying in interest-free debts to just half. Amazing .......... did not give me consolidation nurses, physical therapists, nursing aides, occumonthly installments now and I I can pick up my own phone now.” loan because I had bad credit. pational therapists, speech therapists, and social can keep my car.” E.J. M.M. Then I met Mr. Amit Bhatia and workers. he reduced my loans and made Mueda described home health as “like a hos“My husband was so stressed “After making us debt free, now Amit one payment of just $200. I’ll be pital but is done in the home and the nature of with these credit card bills that Bhatia helped us getting the mortdebt free in 36 months. Credit this business is professional health care staff.” once he forgot to stop at a red gage. We are happy to move to our Management Services is the best traffic signal. Fortunately no acnew house.” S.S. place to contact when you have a She and Edwin valiantly decided to establish cident happened but I called money problem.” J.G. their own home health upon the advice of their Credit Management Services “I went back home to get married, doctor friends who made firm assurances to use right away. Two weeks later my then I had to go again because my “I was afraid to pick my own the home health for the doctors’ patients. husband was back to stressfree mother got sick. Because of that I phone. I was so confused and “Thus, we became independent and decilife.” M.A. had to borrow money from my credit stressed all the time that I didn’t sion-making is the most important,” Mueda excards and also, I lost my job. I was know what to do, but after meetplained. “We figured it is easy to run it (home health) if you have the knowledge, background and experience.” Mueda graduated at St. Paul College (now university) in Iloilo City in 1989 and credited Call for a free and confidential consultation the Catholic-run institution “for what I am today as well as the other nurses who graduated there.” Chicago home health Head Office : 970 Lawrence Ave. West # 105 (Lawrence & Dufferin) In 1992, Mueda, a board passer and fullfledged nurse, arrived in the United States and Toronto ON M6A3B6 (Located on the main floor in back of the building) landed right away in home health in Chicago’s Web : www.cmsgroup.ca central nursing home. “That’s the only nursing field I know since 3 convenient locations - Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough then,” she humbly stressed in an exclusive interview at the Braxton Seafood Grill, here, recently. not have the qualms to brag great raffle prizes are given rare and the job is really in dependent instead of letting what Obama calls a “down payment on health care reShe finds her fellow Fil- about, is “patient or client away.” demand.” them stay in the hospital. form”: $633.8 billion over ipino medical professionals satisfaction.” Recession-proof Mueda disclosed that Health budget Mueda said she was the next 10 years. to be “flexible and trustwor“We provide their needs Why is nursing consid- health care in the U.S. “is About half of the money thy” and “always willing to on time, we give excellent ered a “recession-proof” not yet and may not be af- “less worried” when Presigo out in the field.” patient care, and courtesy profession? fected by recession.” dent Barack Obama un- would come from reducCompetitions among visits,” she pointed out. Mueda volunteered that Home health, according veiled a multi-trillion-dollar tions in payments to health home health centers in Il“Our nurses in the field in the health care system to her, “is the cheapest form budget on Feb. 26, an am- care providers who serve linois are tight owing to who are mostly Filipinos are in the U.S., no one is being of homecare.” bitious plan to boost clean the Medicare and Medicaid growing patient population really good and well-known turned down and there are Home health helps pa- energy development, access programs. The other half would tients stay for a shorter pe- to education and health care and longer life expectancy (in the U.S.) as excellent more demands for the job. come from limiting the val“Aside from being ac- riod in the hospital; it helps coverage. among Americans, accord- caregivers.” Some of those costs ue of itemized deductions ing to Mueda; “but our adA Filipino male em- cessible, health care is basic save Medicare a lot of monwould be offset in part by for wealthier families, those vantage is we operate for 24 ployee described both Lira and a right, not a privilege. ey, she admitted. Other advantages of allowing tax cuts to expire earning $250,000 a year or hours and we keep that as a and Edwin as “one of the Health care in the U.S. is standard.” most generous couples in very open and most elderly home health, she added, for the wealthiest house- more. The budget also lays Mueda said her main business” saying “they al- here live longer,” she en- are the following: It avoids holds. An overview of the cross infections for patients; spending plan for health out eight principles for satisfaction and something ways recognized employees thused. “Lay off (among medi- patients heal better; and care showed the budget Congress to use in fashionany operator of home health by holding annual gathering (To page 14) anywhere in the U.S. would like Christmas party where cal professionals) is very helps patients how to be in- sets aside a reserve fund for

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

416-780-1020; 416-791-9292

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

People & Events

Gamma Epsilon Fundraiser Members of the Gamma Epsilon Fraternity and Gamma Lambda Epsilon Sorority Toronto chapters take a breather with friends and guests who went with them on a fundraising trip to Casino Rama on April 26. The funds raised from the trip, said frat coordinator Sonny Montojo, would go to the chapter’s internal and external programs. He added that proceeds of previous fundraising activities of the fraternity/sorority went to programs and projects initiated by the groups’ chapters in the Philippines. Besides Sonny, other frat members who came were Nap Abarillo, Vic Distrito, Ruel Cadavos, Calvin Familial and founder Amor Gaborno. Sorority members included Malou Distrito, Bella Buesa, Angie Diose and Maricel Fajardo. PR

StatsCan ...

(From page 9) completely paid off their student loans. Bachelor’s graduates who had paid off their debt earned over $8,000 more than those who still had debt two years after graduation. About 46 percent of all 2005 bachelor’s graduates completed their studies free of debt; as did 56 percent of doctorates, 55 percent of college grads and 54 percent of those with a master’s. In 2007, just over a quarter of those who owed student debt at the time they graduated in 2005 had paid it off. Graduates from 2005 with student debt had lower average debt levels than their 2000 counterparts: doctorate graduates owed about $1,300 less on average, while college graduates owed about $700 less. JEY DHARMARAJ

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Carassauga Festival of Cultures 40 Countries, 3 Days, 1 Ticket The Filipino community in Mississauga joins other communities representing

performances, vibrant costumes and delicious food, during the Carassauga

Antea Garcia turns 80

Antea Garcia (center), widow of Filipino comedian Doro delos Ojos (inset), celebrates her 80th birthday with her children, grandchildren and relatives in Scarborough. Her late husband’s real name was Victor Garcia. PR

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Festival of Cultures from May 22 to 24. Various community centers in Mississauga will mark the festival from 7:30 p.m. to midnight on May 22; 3 p.m. to midnight on May 23; and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 24. A ticket entitles its holder to entry to all pavilions during the threeday festival. Children 12 years old and under gets free admission. Among the cultures this year’s festival will highlight are those from Africa, Caribbean, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan/ Lebanon, Latin America, Malaysia/Singapore, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Turkey and the Ukraine. Carraussauga is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year. The festival boasts of over 250,000 visits.

Carassauga is an incorporated non-profit volunteer community organization. It first operated in 1986 with 10 pavilions. The festival was developed in response to a challenge put out by Mayor Hazel McCallion to all ethno cultural groups at a meeting in the old City Hall in the fall of 1985. The festival has evolved into an important annual event for Mississauga and surrounding areas. Its popularity has been steadily increasing in recent years. The Carassauga Festival ranks as Mississauga’s largest cultural festival, its largest indoor festival, and its second longest running community festival. It is the largest multicultural Festival in Ontario. It was voted by Festivals & Events Ontario as one of the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario. PR

it will be good if it stays for five years. “But it’s now (in full operation for) eight years and it will be there for a long time, for the future of our children,” said Mueda, referring to Joshua, 13; Mahalia, 2; and one-month old Ethen. Mueda’s parents are Ra-

fael and Lilia and her elder sister is Cecile Pearce who is also a nurse in California. Youngest among five siblings, Mueda’s other brothers are Carlo, Dante, and Angelo, all living in Miagao town, some 42 kilometers away from Iloilo City in southern Philippines.

Ilonggo nurse enjoys ... (From page 13) ing a health overhaul plan, including making health coverage affordable; guaranteeing people a choice of plans (including keeping the coverage they have through their employers); and investing in prevention and wellness.

Another principle: “Aim for universality.” The budget says any health care overhaul “must put the United States on a clear path to covering all Americans.” When they started the home health, Mueda figured

MEETING. Troy Parungao (3rd from right) and Dottie Pira (2nd from left) of the Century Properties in Metro Manila, the Philippines, met with friends in Toronto, at the Richtree Restaurant. Others in photo are (from left) Mon Torralba, Irene Villa Juan, Teresa Torralba, and Jojo Taduran. Photo: CARLOS DE LEON

15 People & Events Silayan starts Online youth resources IT learning Kalayaan ready for RP Freedom Day events MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

database launched

BullyingCanada.Ca has launched an online youth resources database located at: www.youthdatabase.org. The database hosts community resources for youth to keep up-to-date to information on types of services in their area. Resources include social services, school district office contact information, provincial/federal politicians, child protection, suicide prevention, and youth-related groups with many other sections. Youth, parents and educators are urged to visit the website and request for information from the database administrators. Organizations may

visit the website to submit their information to be added to this free database. “This database will be an excellent way to relay current information to youth from across Canada” said Katie Neu one of the database administrators. “This will be a very valuable tool in order to use technology in a positive way in ensuring our youth know that they can receive information at anytime” said Rob Frenette, a database administrators. The database was created and donated by Web Nodes of Toronto, Ontario. PR

Atenogenes Sicat passes at 42 Atenogenes Antonio (Ateno) Tesoro Sicat III passed away peacefully on May 3, at age 42, at St. Michael’s Hospital. He is survived by his dear parents, Antonio and Nelida; loving daughter Esme Hazel; Suzanne Waybrant, mother of Esme Hazel; sisters Adelwisa, Leonina, Maria Raidis, Angela and Sandra Lissa; brothers Plutarco, Angelo and Andrew; brothers-in-law Hermie, Nicanor, Geraldo, Arnulfo and Jericho; sisters-in-law Maria Antonieta and Hazel; nephews and nieces John Ray, Godfrey, Reinard, Genesis, Jeremie, Johanna, Esther Mae, Jericho Manuel, Alexandra Claire and Baby Hannah Grace. The family thanks all those who condoled with them and came to visit Ateno’s remains at the Highland Funeral Home on May 9 and 10. Gratitude also goes to everyone who attended the funeral Mass at the St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church and the interment of Ateno’s remains on May 11. Family and friends will surely miss Ateno’s uncomplicated way of life and his gentle manly character, punctuated by his monotonous voice and great sense of humor. He was a 3rd degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 10516.

program

The Silayan Community Centre (SCC) has started on May its skills and technology program dubbed AWARE, which stands for Assimilate, Worked, Aptitude, Reliance, and Education. Leonora Taculad, SCC board chair and president, free Internet-accessed computer course would be offered under the program. Taculad said this would be complimented with a newsletter and supported by a pilot project “learn and earn.” She said SCC facilities would be improved to conform with the needs of community participants. Funding for the program came from Citizenship and Immigration Ontario for Skills Development Training and a donation from the Florida-based Info Source Learning. AWARE has been a special project of SCC since 1989, helping new migrants and Filipino domestic workers who came to Canada under the Foreign Domestic Movement Program (now the Live-In Caregiver Program). SCC, established in 1969, is the pioneering social service and charity organization for Filipinos. Through the years, it has evolved into serving the city’s diverse ethno-cultural groups. Among its significant achievements is its participation in building multimillion dollar housing projects that benefited families living at the Tahanan NonProfit Homes in Toronto and the Bayanihan Housing Cooperative in Brampton. St. Jamestown News Service

Pacita Gardiner Mendoza vda. De Leon May 9, 1928 – April 30, 2009

The family of Pacita Gardiner Mendoza vda. de Leon has announced the peaceful passing of their mom on April 30, a few days shy of her 81st year. A beloved wife to the late father Col. Sixto O. de Leon, Pacita is survived by children Ramon, Aurora, Rosario, Sixto, Jr., Patricia and Josefina; grandchildren Anthony, Regina, J.R, Camille, Zachary, Stephen, Therese, Tara, Nicole, Eunice and Jomil; and great grandchild Rafael. Born in Paco, Manila, Pacita was the eldest among the cousins, and often the favorite companion of her aunts and uncles.

She was always crowned queen of event balls and carnivals in her early social life. After marriage, she lived most of her life in Project 8, Quezon City where the couple established a home, guiding their children through life, until all became professionals. Pacita was a very loving, supportive, and often funny mother, always there to give a hand. When Sixto passed away in 1998, Pacita visited and stayed in Mississauga for a year with her children. The family thanks the medical staff at the Veterans Memorial Hospital and her

The Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization (Kalayaan), has slated a series of events to celebrate the 111th Philippine Independence Day. Among the events are: ► The Philippine Independence Day Gala, jointly hosted by Kalayaan and the Philippine Independence Day Council, at the Double Tree Hotel on June 6. ► The Summer Festival picnic at the Mississauga Valley Park on June 7. A Mass and ceremonial parade will precede the picnic, highlighted with entertainment from Filipino talents. The winning tickets for

the annual lottery to raise funds for the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre will be drawn during the picnic. ► The cultural show Malayang Pilipinas at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga on June 13. Conceptualized and directed by Eno Mascalado Kalash, the show will feature the journey of the Philippines to freedom, interpreted through songs and dances. Three major Filipino dance troupes - Culture Philippines, Fiesta Filipina and Folklorico Filipino Canada - will perform together in one show, joined by popular singers.

Kalayaan thanks its sponsors Office of the Arts and Culture, City of Mississauga; Dr. William Rodriguez and Associates; Dr. Annette Simbulan and Associates; Pizza Pizza; Provident Financial Concepts Inc.; Clem Cabillan; and Neil Padilla. PR

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17 People & Events FCT slates language skills sem-workshop RGen Financial offers repatriation insurance for OFWs MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Some 60 foreign-trained professionals are expected to benefit from the Filipino Center Toronto (FCT)-sponsored free 18-hour seminar-workshop on Enhanced English Language Training at the center’s Rizal Hall for six Saturdays starting May 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Participants are either newcomer-immigrants, work permit holders, permanent residents or citizens in Ontario who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or those wanting to upgrade language skills to be competitive in the workplace and social landscape. Among the resource speakers are Butch Galicia, editor of Manila Media Monitor and a Europetrained print journalist; Rey Tolentino, business executive-consultant and former Philippine broadcast media personality; Albert Quirante, management trainor and a program manager at Salvation Army; Norma Bernal, counsellor and facilitator at Skills for Change and a columnist of Filipino Bulletin; Elsa Mangune, English specialist-teacher at the Toronto District School Board; and Virginia Tumbaga-Parucha, a Toronto Catholic District School

Board English teacher. They will talk on themebased integrated topics: Oral Fluency and Pronunciation, Business and Academic Presentation, Career-related Writing (resume, cover and job search letters), Writing for Specific Purposes (academic and technical) Job Interview Tasks and Strategies; Advanced Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions, and Public Speaking. At the helm of the project are FCT president Rosa-

linda Javier, board chair Dr. Victoria Santiago and FCT directors. Course director-facilitator is Tony San Juan, with the Ontario College of Teachers and vice president of the Philippine Teachers Association Canada that developed the project. The project committee is composed of Lapulapu Caña, chair; co-chair Ed Birondo, and members Wendy Arena, Cieleto Drapeza and Joan Ang. JSJMACLEAN

St. Jamestown fest set June 13 Residents of historic St. Jamestown district are ready to celebrate the annual daylong St. Jamestown Festival on June 13. Community leader Gene Lara said that besides residents, people and businessmen from other parts of the Greater Toronto Area are expected to flock to the district for the festivities. Lara said the festival is multicultural and activities are focused on varied cultural arts, music, cuisine and others. Most of the festival events would be conducted at the Wellesley Community Centre.

Roland Jude Chan (right), Director of RGen Financial (www. rgenfinancial. com), discusses the mechanics of repatriation insurance for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) during a press conference at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Toronto. Repatriation Insurance is the first product offering of RGen Financial -- which insurance undertaking will be underwritten by Assumption Life. Also in photo is Bon Ramat, RGen Financial’s Senior Associate. Chan said RGen Financial’s Repatriation Insurance is endorsed to OFWs by the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA). Congratulatory messages from the heads of DOLE and OWWA in Manila were read by the representatives of those two offices in Toronto, namely Frank Luna and Eric Parungao, respectively. Photo: MANILA MEDIA MONITOR

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A business and product exhibit would also highlight the festival, Lara said. The festival is a part of the initiatives of the St. Jamestown Safety Committee. PR

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People & Events

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Strong community, police ties cited as FCT Victoria cage tourney kicks off It was clear from the opening tip-off that Alok Mukherjee has got game, so to speak. The Toronto Police Services Board chair took his spot in the tip-off circle and tossed the ball, opening the third annual Filipino Centre of Toronto (FCT) Victoria Invitational Basketball Tournament at the HoopDome on May 16. The yearly tournament was dedicated three years ago to Dr. Victoria Santiago, who has supported activities and programs for Filipino communities over the past 30 years. This year, 54 teams made up of 648 youngsters, aged eight to 17, were vying for the championships. “This tournament is an excellent example of the kind of healthy activities that encourage our youth to acquire key values like cooperation, teamwork and respect,” Mukherjee said. “As importantly, this event is also about fun and friendship,” he added. The TPS-CRU Basketball Team, led by Community Mobilization Unit (CMU) Constable Rod Chung, opened the two-day tournament by playing an exhibition game with a community select team. Toronto Raptors’ mascot, The Raptor, treated participants to acrobatic dunks, as CMU members were introduced by Inspector Frank Bergen, who heralded each one on their commitment and participation at the annual community event. Community Service Awards were also presented to Police Chief Bill Blair, Chair

Mukherjee and CMU Constable Philip Mendoza. “The Toronto Police Services Board is committed to forging and sustaining partnership with members of all the communities that make Toronto their home,” Mukherjee said. “We, at the Board, believe that these relationships result in safer, healthier and happier neighbourhoods,” he said. “For this reason, I am pleased to see the growing partnership between the Service and the Filipino-Canadian community.” Chief Blair said the Service has a long

history in the area of youth engagement. “We have made it a priority to reach out to our young people in a constructive and beneficial way,” the Chief said. Rey Tolentino, co-chair of the TPS Asia Pacific Consultative Committee, echoed Mukherjee’s and the Chief’s comments. “As we celebrate the third year of holding these games, we are privileged to have the support and partnership of the Toronto Police Services Board, the Toronto Police Service through its Community Mobilization Unit and the TPS Asia Pacific Consultative Committee,” Tolentino said. PR

CALENDAR ► MAY 21: Philippine Chamber of Commerce Toronto Seminar on Business Planning and Marketing. ► MAY 22 to 24: Carrassauga Festival of Cultures, community centers in Mississauga. ► JUNE 6 & 7: Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre Independence Gala Night and Summer Festival Picnic, respectively. ► JUNE 7: Sharon Cuneta & KC Concepcion Live in Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 6 p.m. ► JUNE 7: The Juan Tomas Show Band in Concert, Scarborough Civic Centre, 2 and 3 p.m. ► JUNE 13: Kalayaan Cultural Show Malayang Pilipinas, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga. ► JUNE 13: The Pillars Cultural Association Mother and Father’s Day. ► JUNE 13: St. Jamestown Festival, Wellesley Community Centre. ► JUNE 13 & 14: Filipino Centre Toronto Pistahan sa Toronto, Nathan Philips Square. ► JUNE 14: Filipino Centre Toronto 2009 Filipino Singing Idol Competitions, Final Round, Nathan Philips Square. ► JUNE 18: Philippine Chamber of Commerce Toronto Seminar on Health and Safety in the Workplace. ► JUNE 20: Quezon National High School Alumni Association of Toronto Dance-O-Rama, Malvern Community Centre. ► JUNE 20: The Pillars Cultural Association Seniors Picnic. ► JUNE 20: Marikina Association of Canada Annual Summer Picnic, Neilson Park. A public service feature of the Manila Media Monitor. Also visit pakulo.com.

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009 A priest once asked a 12-year old boy: How do you make FAMILY meaningful? The boy replied: It’s when I say: Father And Mother, I Love You. From the Manila Media Monitor editors, writers and staff: HAPPY FATHER’S and BELATED HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Wish list

(From page 10) school bully. 3. I wish my father was a millionaire so he could buy me the most expensive bicycle. 4. I wish my father was a famous musician so that the whole world could hear his music on the radio. 5. I wish my father was as smart as Einstein so he could do my all my homework and I could get the highest mark in school. 6. I wish my father was the president of our country so he could be the most powerful man across the land. 7. I wish my father was the best in all sports so that all the boys in school would envy me. 8. I wish my father was a handsome movie actor and admired by many people. Just below the last wish is a hand written note. He can almost hear the usual soft-spoken words of his

father as he reads, “Son, I am sorry to disappoint you. I could never be what you wished for.” After all those years, John did not know that his father replied to his selfish wishes. He looks at the picture of his father and with his voice almost like a whisper, he says: “Dad, you were not as brave as Batman, but you showed me the courage to keep going in the most difficult times; you were not as strong as Hercules, but you gave me the strength to grow and face the harsh reality of the world; you were not a millionaire, but you provided for me with the best you could possibly afford; you were not a musician, but the stories you told me were like music to my ears; you were not as smart as Einstein, but you sent me to school so I could obtain the education

you never had; you were not the president of our country, but you held our family together with your values and principles; you were never an athlete, but you always played with me when no one would; you were not a movie star, but you were always real. You never pretended to be what you were not.” With his teary eyes, he continues, “Dad, if you only knew….you are far above my wishes. You surpassed what I expected of you. And on that list, I would like to add one more, my last and final wish. On the day that I face my own death, may your spirit be there by my side, to comfort the scared little boy in me ... thank you for making me what I am today.” And that ends the story. To all fathers out there, I extend my warmest greeting, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

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(From page 3) to Justice for the Poor and mobile court or Justice on Wheels programs. The National Police Commission also ordered the activation of human rights desks in all police stations nationwide; and set detention safeguards to deter torture and ill-treatment of prisoners while imposing penalties and sanctions on erring police personnel. The state also put up coordination and investigation task forces and an independent commission to address media and activist killings and reported extrajudicial deaths. The country’s Revised Penal Code classified all acts of torture as criminal offences. Other steps were: ► Continued pursuit of the peace process despite the presence of a protracted internal armed conflict in the Philippines. ► Improvement of conditions of detention, includ-

of unjust detention and for victims of violent crimes . ► Prohibition as to the admissibility of evidence obtained through torture or duress as contained in Republic Act 7438 and the 2007 Human Security Act. “We view the report as a review-in-progress as Statemembers’ compliance to international human rights treaty is hinged upon progressive implementation,” Ermita said. The Philippine government has assured the UN Committee Against Torture that all its pertinent and relevant concerns and recommendations would be acted upon, he added. “We call on all non-government and civil society groups to formally present their cases of alleged torture before the government, specifically though the Presidential Human Rights Committee, so that these can be properly acted upon,” Ermita said. PNA

ing the release of 3,677 inmates in 2008, done by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. ► Enactment of laws to prevent sexual violence in detention, and the establishment of 31 female dormitories to date. ► Reduction in the number of children in detention, including the enactment of the 2006 Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (RA 9344), a variety of social welfare services provided for children in conflict with the law, and the release of 565 minors in 2008. ► Inclusion of human rights components in training programs for military and law enforcement units, in close cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights. ► Strengthening the Witness Protection Program. ► Creation of a Board of Claims under the Department of Justice for victims

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BATHURST & STEELES Excellent condition, perfect layout! About 1200 SqFt, 2-bdr, 2-wshr. Open concept, high ceilings, Brazilian hardwood floors, large balcony, large windows, crown moldings, fireplace, upgraded kitchen w/granite countertop and S/S appliances, potlihgts. Master with 6pc ensuite,W/I closet, frameless shower door & much more...

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Live and have an additional income! Super specious home in demand area. 3+2-bdrm, 4-wshr. Over 2500 SqFt. Hardwood on main floor. Family room with fireplace. Large bdrms. Self-contained 2-bdrm basement apartment with separate entrance. Separate laundry room.Close to TTC, schools, shops, etc. Asking $389,900

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Large and bright 4+3-bdrm, 4-wshr, 2-car garage. About 2500Sq.Ft. Parquet flrs. Huge fam. room with fireplace. New windows, new kitchen, freshly painted.Prof. finished bsmnt with 3 bedrooms, kitchen and separ. entrance. Separate laundry room. Great opportunity for addit. income. Excellent area! Close to everything! Asking $477,000

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25

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

PIDC Mrs. Philippines Winners RIGHT, TOP: Rose Bongolan (3rd from left), 2009 Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) Mrs. Philippines, joins her court (from left) 3rd runner-up Appoline Aldea, 1st runner-up Marilou Tamboong and 2nd runner-up Magdalena Moreno following their coronation on April 24. RIGHT, BELOW: Pageant chair Rosemer Enverga (2nd from left) presents to Bongolan her trophy as co-chairs Ethel Stewart (left) and Sena Flores look on. PIDC Mrs. Philippines, Little Miss Philippines (see page 21) are highlights of the annual PIDC Mabuhay! Philippines Festival. This year, the festival reaches its peak at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on July 18. Photos courtesy of PIDC

Pacquiao’s win ... (From page 8) an e-mail as follows: “Hi to all! You are invited to attend an impromptu meeting re MP Ruby Dhalla at the FCT tomorrow, May 8, at 7:00 p.m. It is organized by Julius Tiangson who is calling all Filipinos

to unite as one Filipino community and stand up in solidarity.” I now ask, Aida: Do you ever practice for all the meetings at the FCT? What happens if attendees deviate from the practiced script?

*** On April 26, PR woman Kathleen Pascual Binaday sent us something, stating, “For Immediate Release”. We could only stare on her message and could not act on the same; ours is a monthly publication.

The man who drove Diefenbaker ...

(From page 9) Pearson, who died in 1972, was a man who gave us our own flag, the Canada Pension P l a n , Expo 67 and above all sense of pride in being Canadians that led to the patriation of our own Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights under his successor Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Summing up Pearson’s life, Cohen writes: “Peter C. Newman once told Diefenbaker, ‘You are a great man, sir’. More likely, Diefenbaker was a great story. Pearson was a great man.” *** The admirable Extraordinary Canadians series of books published by Penguin Canada under the overall editorship of John Ralston Saul includes former prime ministers Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Lester Bowles Pearson. On the surface, neither of the two could be farther apart in personality and style. Yet, each in his own way did more to persuade us to be proud of our Canadian nationality rather than of our colonial heritage. Lester B. Pearson is written by political author and columnist Andrew Cohen while novelist Nino Ricci was chosen to pen the story of Trudeau. Each volume sells for $26. *** Nino Ricci’s take on Pierre Elliott Trudeau must have been a difficult task. To cast new light on the person who is arguably the most written-about Canadian of all time is a tall

order. Wisely, Ricci eschews h i s novelist’s flair for the dramatic and gives us a concise r e c o r d of the man who became C a n a d a ’s all-time b e s t k n o w n personality both at home and internationally. Ricci chronicles Trudeau’s early years as student at the Jesuit Jean Brebeuf College where he developed a rebellious, contrarian nature. After graduation, he flirted with Communism and Fascism. Then he matured into a champion of French Canada, not as a separatist, but seeing it as part of a harmonious nation. His entry into politics led to his nomination and inevitable Trudeau-mania. For me, Nino Ricci’s most absorbing chapter deals with the October Crisis of 1971 and the kidnapping of British diplomat James Cross and Pierre Laporte, the latter an old Jean Brebeuf school chum. The sound byte that gave us “just watch me!” was part of a much longer interview and its isolation served to paint Trudeau as an arrogant dictator-in-themaking. Much maligned for invoking the War Measures Act that led to the murder of Laporte, Trudeau has been blamed for the vacillation of Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa and the excesses of the RCMP and local police in enforcing the act. Ricci presents the evidence of many Canadians to justify the measure in the light of existing knowledge

of the FLQ at the time, and vindicates Trudeau for acting within his own conscience and concern for other innocent lives. To a novelist, peaks like this and the failed marriage to a woman 29 years his junior are of interest but Ricci never sensationalizes. His conclusion is a precise summation of a character that has dominated its times and beyond. One cannot refrain from comparisons with prime ministers like the blowhard Mulroney and the colorless Harper. “Trudeau died on September 28, 2000, a month short of his eightyfirst birthday. Arrangements had been made for him to lie in state in Ottawa then to be taken by train to Montreal for a funeral. “Organizers were unsure what the public’s response would be to the death of someone who had left public life more than 16 years earlier. They had their answer. “From the long lines on Parliament Hill, to the school children lining the tracks … to the crowds who met his casket when it arrived in Montreal … to the millions of Canadians who followed the events across the country on television, the response was dignified, emotional and massive. “He had been hated and loved, but mostly respected….”. (Used with permission. Ben Viccari is past president of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association and frequently appears on OMNI TV Commentary. Some of his commentaries are republished in this publication and slightly expanded in some cases from their 70-second broadcast originals. For more of his work, please visit Ben’s website at: http://canscene.ripple.ca)

‘Bayang magiliw ... (From page 10) Tawagan, ha!” Bags were inspected to make sure the pasalubong was there. “Matutuwa ang mga bata.” Then, amid the noise and haste echoed a distinct voice with a familiar tune ... Bayang magiliw, Perlas ng Silanganan ... the noise ebbed and movements stilled as everyone ... Alab ng puso ... turned to look for the voice. Sa dibdib mo’y buhay ... then there were two ... Lupang hinirang ... three and more singing in unison ... Duyan ka ng magiting. People began to stand ... Sa manlulupig ... as the blonde stewardess and other cabin crew ... ‘Di ka pasisiil ... cajoled them to sit and put on seat belts. Sa dagat at bundok ... the chorus was infectious ... Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw ... that soon, everyone, except non-Filipinos, were singing the Philippine

national anthem. May dilag ang tula at awit ... Some had the right palm on the left breast ... Sa paglayang minamahal ... a few saluted, others doffed baseball caps Ang kislap ng watawat mo’y ... A lady I later learned lost her husband soldier in the Mindanao war ... Tagumpay na nagniningning ... pulled from her bag a Philippine tricolor, her only memoir of a dear life lost in a senseless conflict ... Ang bituin at araw niya ... and unfolded it for all to see ... Kailan pa ma’y ‘di magdidilim ... and honor. The singing grew louder, the fervor stronger ... Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati’t pagsinta ... Tears welled in many eyes ... Buhay ay langit sa piling mo ... voices quiverred but never wavered. Aming ligaya, na ‘pag may mang-aapi ... The plane’s wheels gave out a

soft screech as it touched Philippine soil. Ang mamatay nang dahil sa ‘yo ... Then, silence ... as if in a brief prayer of thanks for having been delivered safely and soundly ... broken only when a Caucasian tourist started clapping and everyone joining in pure jubilation. Sure, I shed tears during the few emotional minutes when we fervently sang Lupang Hinirang. “I am a proud Filipino,” I told a guy seated next to me. “Pare, ako rin!” he replied, as he offered his right hand and we shook. *** On June 12, the global Filipino community will once more celebrate Philippine Independence Day. What better way to mark the event by reaffirming our roots, culture and heritage, language, customs and traditions. Happy Independence Day. butchgalicia@ yahoo.com

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Asia grappling to balance migration ... (From page 12) however, that the Thai government would not extend the work permits of some 200,000 documented migrant workers in 2010, and that Thai nationals would be hired first. If foreign workers wished to extend their work permits, “they have to apply through Thai line government agencies,” she added. In Korea The global economic crisis, for economist Park

Young Bum of Hansung University, has further “polarized” the Korean labor market as some 6,707 foreign workers have been retrenched as of December 2008. These retrenchments were due to the bankruptcy and shutting down of smalland medium-sized enterprises in Korea, Park said. The Korean government has suspended the issuance of work visas (called the E-

9 visa) to foreign workers until the year 2010. The Korean government has an annual quota of 72,000 work visa issuances until last February. “But don’t expect an increase of the E-9 visa quota for the country soon,” said Park. The move considered the “shrinking labor market”. Korea’s government would also try to subsidize small and medium enter-

PBComers Reunion

A group of former employees of Philippine Bank of Communications (midsized bank based in Binondo) welcome the arrival of Willie and Rose Astrologo and family in Canada . They were met by ex-banker friends and their spouses in a gathering in Scarborough. Those who graced the occasion include Jun and Kim Miranda, Tito and Bernice Adona, Roy and Rose Casido, Erol and Adi de Luna and Marissa Angeles. The group of ex-PBComer is active in assisting in the settlement of newly-arrived friends.

prises that would replace foreign workers with Korean workers, to the tune of 1.2 million won per newlyhired local worker. Since November 2008, Korea sent back home some 8,000 undocumented migrant workers. Again, no breakdowns by nationality were given. As of October last year, the estimated undocumented migrant workers in Korea numbered to 219,596, down from 224,965 in January 2008. Yet Park thought that the country would likely depend on unskilled foreign labor as a massive repatriation of foreign workers “is not possible.” Familiar These situations affecting foreign workers in East and Southeast Asia are familiar territory for these countries, especially so that the region had experienced the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Thus, Scalabrini Migration Center director Dr. Maruja Asis said that repatriation, more border controls, punitive penalties for undocumented migrant workers, and no new or

higher levels of employment in host countries would be the same scenes this year as in 1997. For countries like the Philippines that send out labor to overseas markets, one should expect increasing documented and undocumented overseas migration, rising numbers of returning migrant workers, and an increasing role of remittances this year as in 1997, Asis said. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Koreahave been among the target destination countries for Filipino migrant workers. Few displacements Figures of deployed migrant workers in 2007 from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) showed that the four countries received 76,565 new-hired and rehired Filipino workers. As of January, 74 OFWs who worked in Korea’s electronics sector have been retrenched. There were no reported displaced OFWs from Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia thus far. In her paper The Impact

SURF manilamediamonitor.com

of the Global Financial Crisis on Employment, Labor Undersecretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz said a total of 6,406 workers were displaced as of March 12. Some 4,197 came from Taiwan, and 1,357 from the United Arab Emirates. The 74 Korea-based OFWs were part of the 5,036 displaced OFWs reported by the POEA, said POEA director Liberty Casco during a multi-sector workshop on the global financial crisis that the Department of Labor and Employment convened on January 30. De La Salle University professor and migration expert Stella Go told participants to a workshop organized by the Scalabrini Migration Center and the International Labor Organization that despite the crisis,, international labor migration “hasn’t adversely affected” the Philippines, owing to increasing deployment to old and new labor markets, and because of rising remittances. What worried Go, however, was that the crisis might increase the risks facing OFWs who work in “vulnerable occupations” such as domestic help and construction. “They might be exposed to wage cuts and less-ideal work conditions,” she added.

27

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

THIS MAY ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES AND ABROAD

Santacruzan, Flores de Mayo takes center stage

In May all over the Philippines, processions literally fill streets to honor the Virgin Mary. This is the Santa Cruz de Mayo. Also known as the Santacruzan, the novena procession commemorates the mythical finding of the Holy Cross by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Legends say that 300 years after the death of Christ, then 75-year old St. Helena went to Mt. Calvary. After diggings, three crosses were unearthed at the site of the Crucifixion. She tested each one by making a sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant recovered was identified as Christ’s. St. Helena’s feast day falls on Aug. 8 but the anniversary of the finding of the Cross is on May 3. In the Philippines, the celebration took the form of the Mexican Santa Cruz de Mayo. Another legend puts it that Constantine the Great, facing a battle against Roman Emperor Maxentius in 312 A.D. turned despairingly to the new Christian God for help. Constantine cast his

eyes heavenwards and saw in the night sky a glowing sign of the cross with the words ‘In hoc signia vincit’ meaning ‘By this sign thou shalt conquer.’ He adopted the Cross as his battle insignia with the words and went to vanquish the Roman army and entered Rome a victor. He pledged his faith in Christianity. The Santacruzan differs from most other religious processions in that it does not parade images of patron saints. Instead, biblical and historical characters are represented by people dressed in appropriate costumes. A nine-day prayer novena in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Santacruzan. On the ninth night, the procession is long and colorful. Bamboo clappers herald the procession led by the bearded Methuselah, bent with age, riding a cart where he toasts grains of sand in a pan over a fire, to remind everyone that all that glitters will end up as dust. Behind him walks the Banderada, a lady in red carrying a miniature Philippine flag, symbolizing the Christian army. Next follow halfclad

The Philippine Independence Day Council will once more bring to life the spirit of the Santacruzan during the Mabuhay! Philippines Festival at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on July 18. (All photos courtesy of PIDC president Jun Enverga)

boys, bodies blackened with soot, representing the Negritos or the Filipino pagans and finally, Reina Mora in a Muslim costume representing Muslim Philippines. Today, the Santacruzan crosses between a beauty pageant and a religious procession, with the village’s most beautiful woman being chosen as Reina Elena. Gone are the days when people, candle in hand, crowded the streets to pay homage to a Catholic myth and throw sampaguitas at the passing beauties. Gone are the days when one can enjoy the dazzling splendor of the flowers of May and the smell of burning native candles. But the Santacruzan continues to play an important role in the spiritual and religious life of Filipinos. And this May, for whatever reason, people line up the streets in procession, invoking that which is holy and searching for the true Christian spirit.

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Members of the Canada-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group takes a pose with Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa Jose Brillantes (right, seated) and visiting Members of the Philippine Congress during the group’s meeting on May 12.

CanPhil friendship group organized

Reg. # 4533253

OTTAWA - Member of Parliament (MP) Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP, Winnipeg North) announced the formation of the CanadaPhilippines Parliamentary Friendship Group in a meeting on May 12. In the meeting, the group named Wasylycia-Leis and MP Rod Bruinooge (Winni-

peg South) as co-chairs. “It is significant that the co-chairs of this new association are both from Manitoba, which is home to one of the largest Filipino communities in Canada,” said Wasylycia-Leis. She said the group would provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and promote

the expansion of relations between the Canada and the Philippines. “There are many ties that bind our two nations making the establishment of the group both important

and timely,” she said. Canadian mosaic, it is long ship group be established,” “Filipino Canadians have overdue that such a friend- she added. PR made an outstanding contribution to Canada’s social, economic, and political life. Given the large and vibrant presence of Filipinos in the

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

MONEY GOT A FOREX DEAL? Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the dollars you have had exchanged since April 20. This is a public service item from Manila Media Monitor’s Money and Business section. US$ May 18 May 15 May 14 May 13 May 12 May 11 May 08 May 07 May 06 May 05 May 04 May 01 April 30 April 29 April 28 April 27 April 24 April 23 April 22 April 21 April 20

47.45216 47.59784 47.67312 47.30272 47.08345 47.11979 47.11754 47.27408 47.67046 47.84658 47.97038 47.97037 48.07053 48.53988 48.39357 48.56600 48.49162 48.56085 48.54592 48.35191 48.03031

Cdn$ 40.79888 40.50646 40.67402 40.49675 40.34395 40.65380 40.68693 40.36897 40.63725 40.68403 40.72009 40.41080 40.25772 40.44734 39.56778 40.13477 40.10674 39.51005 39.27726 39.14884 38.91981

31

Nokia sees RP as world’s mobile e-mail hub in 3 years MANILA - Nokia, the world’s leading manufacturer of mobile devices, sees the Philippines to be the next mobile e-mail capital of the world over the next three years. Nokia Philippines on May 19 introduced new phones, which are Internetready and work with Ovi Mail. This would give firsttime e-mail users the opportunity to set up and start using an e-mail account directly on their mobile phone. Paula Laine, Nokia’s vice president for entry category marketing, said the mobile phone was a perfect platform to connect in the Internet. “Half of the people in emerging markets prefer to use a phone instead of a personal computer (PC) for Internet,” she said. Laine, however, said that 45 percent to 60 per-

cent of Filipinos did not have a digital identity that enabled them to participate in the digital world. William HamiltonWhyte, Nokia Philippines general manager, said “the power of Internet is undeniable.” Whyte said Ovi Mail had the potential to be the first digital identity for many people in emerging markets like the Philippines. Unlike most other email services, Whyte said an Ovi Mail account ccould be created and used directly on a Nokia device without ever having to use a PC. “The mass market can’t access Internet, that’s why we are launching our new products that are Internet ready,” Whyte said. He added that many people were still primarily using voice and text, as the Internet did not offer a whole new range of opportunities.

The phone maker will offer Nokia 2330 classic, Nokia 2323, Nokia 2700 classic and Nokia 2730 cost ranging between P3,000 and P6,000. “We’ve seen mobile technologies catalyze the growth of the informal sector across the world, empowering local entrepreneurs and having an immediate and lasting impact on people’s lives. Services like Ovi Mail, combined with the mobile phones we are showcasing, bring powerful solutions that can be the gateway to knowledge, entertainment and people without the need for a PC,” Whyte said. With the affordability of mobile Internet cost and high penetration rate of mobile phones in the country, Whyte expects the Philippines to be the world’s capital for mobile e-mail. “The Philippines will be the next capital mobile

e-mail of the world. This change can happen in the next three years,” he said. He also projected that Internet mobile penetration would hit 30.8 million users in the Philippines by 2013. Whyte also said that Nokia would partner with local telecom operators like Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom and Sun Celluar to have a “consumer friendly” mobile Internet services. In another development, Smart Communications Philippines said it has reduced surfing costs with its new mobile Internet packages. The bucket-priced packages enable Smart Buddy subscribers to use their cellphones to go and stay online to post photos and videos, update their blogs, chat or send e-mails, and browse through their favorite social networking sites at a fixed and low cost. PNA

Sari-sari stores as agent banks? ‘Why not?’, says BSP By JUN VALLECERA MANILA - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is seeking a legal opinion on whether or not they have basis for allowing third-party entities such as sari-sari (convenience) stores to act as agent banks. The plan, which includes such other agents as retail chain stores and government-owned post offices, forms part of the BSP’s larger program of financial inclusion. Financial inclusion, as the term suggests, ideally includes every Filipino to have access to financial services that often leaves out rural-based entities as farm-

ers and fisherfolk. Deputy BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said it took the central bank one year to convince authorities, to included the policy-making Monetary Board, to sell the idea of e-money, or electronic money popularized by Globe Telecommunication’s G-Cash product and by Smart Communication’s Smart Money. The hardest thing about this product, according to Espenilla, was convincing everyone they were not deposits, which then complicates regulation. “It took us a year to put it together, including the ap-

propriate circular,” he said. The same thing is happening about the plan, allowing sari-sari stores, retail chains as 7-Eleven and Mercury Drug Stores and the various post offices to act as agent banks. Under the plan, the neighborhood sari-sari store in empowered to help the financial inclusion program become reality by allowing it to act as cash centers where one can buy or encash so-called e-money. Globe’s G-Cash centers and its equivalent Smart Money services are mostly urban-based products. (To page 32) TYPICAL FILIPINO SARI-SARI STORE TRANSACTION

32

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Money

Sari-sari stores as agent ... (From page 31) Espenilla said the Philippines continued to be one of the leading proponents of e-money, along with Kenya and other Latin American countries like Brazil. But the Philippines has a potential to become a pioneering entity in e-money transactions because most Filipinos own a cellular phone. In Brazil, for instance, e-money usage was via points-of-sale, which was limited in nature, Espenilla said. When approved, Filipinos may convert hard

cash into e-money in any sari-sari store and send it via cellphones to pay for utilities charges, settle a personal debt or even make a deposit, he said. “The question now is whether we can use thirdparties like sari-sari stores to act as agent banks”, Espenilla said. But he ruled out authorizing sari-sari stores as deposit-taking entities. “I have problems enough monitoring activities of regular banks. I don’t want added pressures at this point,” Espenilla said. PNA

CPBC Officers inducted

Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa Jose Brillantes (right) inducts into office Canada Philippines Business Council (CPBC) officers and directors (from right) Forte Gerardo, president; Alicia Natividad, past president and ex-officio director; Bill Pomfret, vice president; Otch von Finckenstein, directorat-large; Camilo Tabalba, treasurer; Yuri Cañete, secretary. Inducted in absentia are Rey Pagtakhan, director-at-large; and Elliott Tepper, special adviser. CPBC’s thrust is to assist Canadian firms export suitable technologies, services and products to the Philippines. PR

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Dela Cruz is finalist in ‘09 Asian of the Year Awards Businesswoman Cora dela Cruz has been named a finalist in the business/ public service category of the 2009 Asian of the Year Awards. Dela Cruz - president of Delamarc Corp., principal of CDC Consulting and former president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Toronto, was cited with cocategory finalists Dr. David Fung, chairman and CEO of ACDEG Group, and Dr. Dipak Roy, founder and chairman of DTA Systems Inc., during the National Presentation and Awards

DELA CRUZ Gala in Ottawa on May 6. The awards is Canada’s only such national program for Asian Canadians. On its third year, the

awards are run and funded by the AsiaNetwork Magazine and the Asian of the Year Awards Society The award selection committee, chaired by Sheila Copps, said that among the 15 finalists in five categories is a Hollywood star, an Olympic gold medalist, a newspaper editor, a former governor general, and a former prime minister. The categories included arts and sports, business and public service, outstanding volunteer, lifetime achievement, and outstanding Canada-Asia relations. PR

3 P.M.

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Money

33

Send $1,000 for only $13.50 per transaction

RBC opens new easy, safe remittance service RBC has announced a new remittance service that will give thousands of Canadians - including new immigrants - an economical and secure solution for sending money back home to family and friends. RBC International Remittance enables individuals to send the equivalent of up to $1,000 CAD each day for only $13.50 per transaction. “The new immigrant market is a priority for RBC and being able to send money home to family

and friends is an important service for people coming to Canada, whether they’ve just arrived or have already established themselves here,” said Andrea Metrick, head, Client Strategy and Multicultural Markets. “With RBC International Remittance, people can send funds 24/7, when it’s convenient for them, wherever they have internet access and for a fraction of the cost they might pay for sending money through wires or through other remittance providers,”

Metrick said. Like any other money transfer or bill payment, clients can access this new service through RBC Online Banking from their Account Balances, Account Details or Pay Bill and Transfer Funds pages. Remittances can be sent from the client’s personal banking account in various currencies directly to the recipient’s bank account or picked up at a specified foreign bank. RBC has correspondent banking relationships with

Planning for a longer life by Investors Group Financial Services Inc. care facility. ► 66 percent of married couples will have at least one spouse enter long-term care, personal care or health care facility at some point. ► 28 percent of Canadians aged 65 and over who do not live in a health care facility are likely to receive care due to a longterm health problem. ► One in 13 Canadians over age 65 is affected by Alzheimer Disease or related dementia. You don’t want to outlive your retirement savings or see them eroded by unexpected health care and medical costs. More than ever, an effective retirement financial plan is an absolute necessity. Here are some planning tips to set you on the right path to a long and financially comfortable retirement: ► Add to your retirement income from your Registered Retirement Savings Plan with a well-

Congratulations! If you are a senior or close to it, you’re part of a terrific good news story: You are likely to enjoy a longer and healthier life than any generation before you. According to Statistics Canada, life expectancy at the age of 65 continues to improve. Canadian men aged 65 are expected to live an average of 17+ years and women aged 65 are expected to live an additional 20+ years on average. That is great news - but there is another side to longer life: the need to extend your income over those years to ensure you continue to have a comfortable lifestyle. That could also include significant additional expenses for health care. You hope to remain healthy, but statistics say: ► 43 percent of those over 65 will require an average of three to four years of long-term care in a nursing home or long-term

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chosen portfolio of nonregistered investments. Look at investments that benefit from preferential tax treatment such as taxadvantaged investment structures. ► Consider Universal Life insurance as a means of sheltering excess capital while maximizing the value of your estate and/or a life annuity that will provide you with guaranteed regular income for the rest of your life. ► Protect your income (or your spouse's) with carefully selected insurance coverage that could include life insurance, supplemental health insurance, disability insurance, critical illness insurance, and long-term care insurance. Planning for retirement has never been more important. A professional advisor can help you develop a retirement plan that will work for you through all the years of your retirement.

over 1,400 banks in over 120 countries worldwide. “We are pleased to add RBC International Remittance to our suite of electronic payment services,“ said Tracy Scott, senior manager, Payment Services. “It’s convenient for individuals who send money overseas for weddings, birthdays and special

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34

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Arts & Entertainment

Juan dela Cruz Band rocks Toronto

ABOVE LEFT: Legendary Juan dela Cruz Band members (from left) Joey “Pepe” Smith, Wally Gonzales and Mike Hanopol continued to amaze audiences with their rendition of original Filipino rock tunes they pioneered and made popular in the 70s, when they performed before Toronto-based fans at the main auditorium of the Toronto International Celebration Church on May 3. The trio’s song and guitar wizardry were once more seen in the same venue on May 23. ‘Himig Natin’ Juan dela Cruz Band Canadian Reunion Tour was produced and presented by Segga Productions Inc. Part of the proceeds would benefit cancer patients in the Philippines. ABOVE RIGHT: Lolita Carbon of Asin fame lent her melodious folk-rock music as guest performer during the band’s Canadian Reunion Tour that brought them to Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Tour guest performers included the Robert Desmond Band. LEFT: Wally Gonzales (3rd from left) hosts a gettogether with band-member contemporaries, before he enplaned for Canada for the ‘Himig Natin’ Juan dela Cruz Band Canadian Reunion Tour. With him at the Heckle and Jeckle rock pub in Makati are (from left) Agnes Matriano, Tenny Soriano, Danny Calixto, Elmore Ibias and Emy Figueroa. Jun Matriano took the picture. Photos above by LARRY TORRES

Gutierrez-Ramos tandem topbills ... (From page 1) the tall and very handsome Richard, who was born on January 21, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Richard chalked up so many awards (FAMAS and Metro Manila Film Festival, among others) that critics have heaped upon him the titles of Prince of Philippine Movies & TV and Telefantasya King. Yet, for all his success as actor and model, the 25-year old Gutierrez manages to be educated at the De la Salle University in Manila and contributes to his favorite cause preserving the environment. Richard has been an active supporter of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, advocating for energy efficiency. He was the narrator for a global warming documentary Signos and he starred in the show Full Force Of Nature explaining global warming. Rhian Ramos is a mestiza beauty born to a Welsh father and Filipino mother from Bicol (full name is Rhian Denise Ramos Howell). Joining a school play while in Grade Five at De La Salle-Zobel (Cavite) gave Rhian her first acting experience. There were offers for her to enter show business even at a very tender age but she was

determined to finish high school and, thus, declined initial offers. But by age 15, Rhian began modeling. Soon enough, her appearance in a major commercial for MacDonalds caught the eye of movie producer Annette Gozon. And the rest, they say, is movie history. Rhian’s initial success came by way of playing the role of Leah, Captain Barbell’s leading lady and love interest in the Captain Barbell TV series. This was the first time Richard Gutierrez and Rhian Ramos were paired. This led to other TV projects such as the Lupin TV series where Rhian was reunited with Richard as leading man. Also coming from the Philippines to rock the house is the Juan de la Cruz Band. A trailblazer of sorts, it was one of the first rock and roll bands in the Philippines. The JDLC Band participated in the first open field rock festival in the Philippines in December 1970 - the Antipolo Rock Festival, the country’s answer to Woodstock. The group gained more fame in September 1971 when it backed up the production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Cultural

Center of the Philippines (CPP). It scored another first when again, for the first time in the Philippines, a rock group on its own, backed by the National Philharmonic, was presented in concert at the CCP. Front-acting on the Mabuhay! Philippines Festival stage is funnyman Ron Josol. Known in the industry for his modish comedy style and commanding stage presence, this Torontonian is arguably the most recognizable Asian comedian in Canada. Profiled on the Comedy Network, CBC, Showtime Dubai, Discovery Channel, Echo, Omni 1 & 2, MTV Canada, and recently the Biography Channel Canada, Ron will show what it takes to win in Craven A’s Funniest in the Homegrown Competition at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in 2000. Ron performs regularly in Canada, U.S., the Pacific Islands, Persian Gulf, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. He has also taped numerous stand-up comedy specials in his career. He first achieved his own comedy special in 2000, Comedy Now, on CTV/Comedy network. In January 2009,

Mabuhay! Fest chair Minda Neri is Outstanding Asian Canadian

Mabuhay! Philippines Festival chair Minda Neri (6th from left, standing) presents her 2009 Outstanding Asian Canadian Community award for volunteerism given by the the Canadian Multicultural Council - Asians in Ontario on May 3, highlighting the celebration of Asian Heritage Month. In photo, she is joined by proud fellow Kagay-anons and officers of the Philippine Independence Day Council led by Jun Enverga (left, standing). Neri holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of the Philippines. After passing the Nursing Board Exam, she worked briefly at the Philippine General Hospital before she left for the USA to work as a graduate nurse in the surgical and orthopaedic disciplines. Like many fellow nurses of her generation, Neri immigrated to Canada after the expiration of her US visa and worked for a time in her profession. Shortly thereafter, she made the unusual career change of training in Information Systems (IS). (To page 38) Hollywood producers have taken notice and gave him the opportunity to film his 1st US national spot in the LOL Comedy Festival on Showtime USA.

The Mabuhay! Festival is where it all happens in one day under one roof - entertainment galore, food extravaganza, and trade show. Culture and

tradition juxtaposed with the contemporary. It’s a celebration of the Filipino in Canada. Come! Halina sa Mabuhay! Festival.

Arts & Entertainment Live at the John Bassett Theatre on Aug. 8

Men of the 80s Gino, Louie, Raymond, Randy sets roadshow in Toronto

GINO PADILLA, LOUIE HEREDIA, RAYMOND LAUCHENGCO, RANDY SANTIAGO It’s ‘80s night and the time is right – right for a trip down memory lane with the decade’s top male singers Gino Padilla, Louie Heredia, Raymond Lauchengco and Randy Santiago. Ultra-sound Promotions Inc. proudly presents the quartet who will croon 80s top hits and favorites individually and collectively when they go live onstage at the John Bassett Theatre of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Aug. 8. (See ad on page 39) Randy Santiago Randy Santiago shot to fame in 1987 via the release of his very first single ‘Di Magbabago. The song became so big that it topped the charts all over the Philippines and stayed on radio stations’ playlists for a solid year,

consequentially earning Song of the Year status. ‘Di Magbabago and the equally successful follow-up single, Babaero, made Randy a multimedia star who had television shows and stints at the movies. Randy is a singer, TV host and concert performer in the Philippines. His trademark is his dark sunglasses. Raymond Lauchengco Raymond Lauchengco was already a veteran of several stage productions like The Sound of Music when he was discovered for films and recordings in 1982. It was Megastar Sharon Cuneta who heard him sing and recommended him to Viva. It proved to be very easy for Raymond to make the transition to

motion pictures and recordings. In the ‘80s, he broke into showbiz as one of the Bagets. Home studio Viva backed him up in his singing and film career. Raymond did two albums (his self-titled album in 1983 and Dream Boy in 1984) and produced a string of hits that included I Need You Back, So It’s You, Farewell, Saan Darating ang Umaga and Shadow of Time. A versatile singer who can go from pop to classical, Raymond is hopeful that his interesting take on the hits of the 80s will earn him another set of hits. Gino Padilla Gino Padilla was first noticed by Filipino music lovers on the Pepsi commercial shot in Hollywood (To page 38)

35 CELEBRITY FAST BREAK: Basketbol Na, May Concert Pa! MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Celebrity Fast Break is bringing to Canada the excitement of a novel entertainment fare that has made raves in the Philippines and the United States. On Aug. 14 and 15, Philippine television and movie artists will shoot hoops against a team of Philippine community RICKETTS MARIZ basketball greats at the Ryerson University gumnasium. winning actor Jay Manalo. But more than the exhibition After the final buzzer, Mariz game, the artists, led by action star Ricketts - together with local Ronnie Ricketts and wife singer, artists Jenifer Camacho, Zach actress and TV host Mariz, will Bandolin, Inah Canlapan and more give the fans a concert of sorts. - will perform for the audience. This is part of the former’s CaThe artists will also be on hand nadian Celebrity Fast Break tour for autograph signing and picture that takes them to Hill Park Sec- taking. ondary on Aug. 16 in Hamilton, Proceeds from the event and to Montreal and Winnipeg. will be donated to the Isabella With Ronnie and Mariz are Organization to help out with some matinee idol Joross Gamboa, of the group’s projects, such as the comedians Bayani Agbayani construction of a new orphanage. and Gene Padilla (son of Dencio Gracing the event are Padilla), Mano-Mano boxing Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, champion hunk Jordan Herrera, Congressman Edwin Uy and flick villain (like his dad Paquito Mayor Ando Cumigad. EVA Diaz) Joko Diaz, and award AGPAOA/PR

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Arts & Entertainment

Elise Estrada: The Real Deal Filipino-Canadian Elise Estrada is the Wild Card nominee in the Favorite New Artist and Favorite Canadian Video categories of the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards to air live at Much Music, the Canadian music video channel in downtown Toronto, on June 21. Since the age of four, this former Miss Vancouver Princess has worked diligently to reach her dream of making a mark in the music industry. Born on July 30, 1987 in Marikina, the Philippines, Elise has gone on defying odds in climbing the charts of success. After a series of accolades, including winning an international American Idol-like TV singing contest in Canada and being in the rated Pinoy Pop Superstar TV series in Asia, Elise moved to Los Angeles for a starring role in a Disney TV pilot loosely based on her life as a singer. In March 2007, Elise won The Beat 94.5 Music Awards competition in hometown Vancouver and earned a recording and management deal with RockSTAR Music Corp. where she worked with pop super-producers that included Adam H, Sean Hosein and Dane DeViller of BananaToons, and Steve Smith and Anthony Anderson of SA Trackworks and with which she launched a self-titled CD. On her 6th MediaBase Canadian Top 10 song in a row, Elise has reached an audience of over 415 million to date. She topped the Canadian charts with two singles. At the 2009 JUNO Awards (Canada’s equivalent to The Grammy’s), Elise was nominated for the Best R&B/Soul Album Of The Year. She won The Canadian Radio Music Award for Best New Artist or Group (Rhythmic/R&B/Urban/Dance) and other awards including the CHUM Emerging Artist Award, a FACTOR Emerging Artist Award, and a BDS 20,000 Spins Award for her mega-hit UnLove You. She toured with superstars including The Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, Nelly, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga. In the summer, she will be with L.L. Cool J. Elise will also return to the small screen, starring in the MuchMusic television pilot, Much Love. “Being a Filipino singer in North America hasn’t always been easy. There is nothing more rewarding than being a role model for my culture and showing aspiring artists that if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it, regardless of the odds stacked against you”, says Elise. With an unprecedented work ethic, an great amount of talent, and an unstoppable determination, Elise Estrada is the real deal. PR

MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR MAY 2009

Arts & Entertainment Mabuhay! Fest chair ...

(From page 34) She enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the IS field, working for some of Canada’s major companies like Mutual of Omaha and RBC Financial Group. Neri’s last position in the corporate world was as department manager, Group Health Insurance Systems. The late 1990’s was Neri’s time to give back to the community. This was when she started to get involved in community development, helping organize medical missions to the Philippines. Later, she joined and became vice president of People Helping People

Foundation Ontario which mission went beyond medical assistance and instead looked into providing holistic opportunities for livelihood skills training, education, and other developmental programs. Neri grew in stature as a volunteer when she joined the Philippine Independence Day Council in 2002. She has been a cochair and finally chair of the Mabuhay! Philippines Festival which has been successful in the past four years. Her extensive experience in project management has contributed to the success

Men of the 80s ... (From page 35) where he performed with Tina Turner. His first professional stint was in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Flamingo Hotel as the opening act of the Reycards. Gino became one of the most in-demand concert artists after that debut. He had been featured

in his own solo concerts all over the Philippines and has wowed audiences abroad. His first album is Shifting Gears, a certified platinum. Closer You & I, a single from the album won the Awit Award as Record of the Year and Song of The Year. Gino also starred in TV and movie shows.

of the festival. This also resulted in PIDC’s ability to keep its commitment to make a significant contribution to a massive housing project for the poor in the Philippines. Appointed as festival chair again this year, PIDC is assured of yet another banner year for the organization. “Although success is satisfying, the deeper gratification is in being able to provide houses and livelihood training to the poorest of the poor in the Philippines,” says Neri, who is known within the PIDC as the quiet go-getter. PR Louie Heredia Remembering the ‘80s is never complete without Louie Heredia. The mestizo singer is responsible for hits like Nag-iisang Ikaw, Iisang Damdamin and Una’t Huling Mamahalin. Louie’s career as an entertainer and recording artist began in 1985 with his first hit single Can Find No Reason which turned platinum. With numerous chart-hitting albums under his belt, Louie is a recipient of Gold and Platinum Record awards. He also hosted television shows such as Penthouse Live and Lunch Date. PR

RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASE Philippine movie and television artists Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz perform before fans in Toronto in the recent 2009 Extreme Heartthrobs Concert produced by Ystillo, Inc. Alonzo and Cruz came with fellow artists Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby and Pokwang. Photo courtesy of FRANCIS REMENTILLA

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