13
YEAR 13, No. 1 JULY 2009
INSIDE
Ooops & Bloops
Front Page
Philippines:
Top-rated
show?- 7
All out
for sound
mind, body
-3
Underground River
boosts Palawan
tourism - 12
Remittances
Dancing To Be reach
A Star
- 33 US$1.48B
- 32
Queen Elizabeth II to visit Canada
OTTAWA – Queen
Elizabeth II and the Duke of
Edinburgh will visit Canada
in 2010 for their 25th trip
to the country, announced
Canada Governor General
Michaelle Jean.
Jean is the queen’s rep-
resentative in Canada. The
British monarch serves as
head of state in the country,
which is both a parliamen-
tary democracy and a con-
stitutional monarchy.
Details on the dates of
the trip and the royal cou-
ple’s schedule, subject to the
usual diary considerations,
will be released later.
“It is always a high hon-
our to host a royal visit ...
a celebration of our shared
heritage and values,” said
FOR YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS AND INQUIRIES, CALL 416-285-8583 or E-MAIL manilamediamonitor@rogers.com
Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario
For 8 other ‘kababayans’ needing bone marrow transplants, perhaps ...
You’re the
match!
By BUTCH DG. GALICIA
Myelofibrosis-afflicted Carol Basco Datoon has found
her match -- and there are two of them.
Very soon, she may go through that much sought af-
ter bone marrow transplant, courtesy of one or both of
her donor-matches.
But eight other similarly leukemia-stricken Filipino- ‘Fewer than 30 percent of patients will find a com-
Canadians and some 760 more in Canada are not as for- patible donor from a family member; 70 percent
tunate as Carol. rely on the generosity of an unrelated donor for
They all still have to endure the excruciating pain of available sources of stem cells. To survive, Carol
hoping and waiting ... for that medically perfect match, Datoon (photo above) must receive a stem cell
‘who could be YOU.’ transplant as do the over 750 other patients in
(To page 4) Canada.’ - OneMatch.ca
Global issues to top
Obama-Arroyo meet
By GLORIA JANE BAYLON
MANILA - Philippine
President Gloria Macapa-
gal-Arroyo will be received
by U.S. President Barack
Obama at the White House
on July 30, it was announced
by the White House Press
Secretary through the U.S.
Canadian Prime Minister Queen Elizabeth II embassy in Manila.
Stephen Harper. (right) meets with Prime This makes Macapa-
The trip will be the Minister Stephen Harp- gal-Arroyo the first leader
queen’s 25th to Canada er in Buckingham Pal- from Southeast Asia to visit
since she ascended to the ace in London during the United States under the
throne in 1953. Her most the recent G8 summit. Obama administration, a
recent visit was in 2005. Photo: DEB RANSOM (To page 26) OBAMA ARROYO
11:00 AM-Sundays 3:00 PM-Thursdays
2 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009

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 news MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 3

FCT pushes sound mind, body initiatives

The development of a
sound mind and a healthy
body remains to be the
focus of the Filipino Centre
Toronto (FCT) as its officers
and directors embark on
four spearheading programs
for the community.
These novel programs
include psychiatric assess-
ment clinics, a Filipino
Night with the Raptors at
the Air Canada Centre, an
upcoming workshop on
cultural identity for the
youth, and the recently-
concluded Enhanced English
seminar-workshop.
Psychiatric clinics
Top of the list is the
continuing psychiatric
assessment clinics that Dr.
Maselle Virey conducts
every first Saturday of the
month from 1 to 4 p.m.,
alternating between the FCT
and the Kalayaan Centre in
Mississauga.
Dr. Virey is a a practicing
psychiatrist.An FCT director,
he is also the president of the
Filipino Canadian Medical
Association (FCMA).
“Patients I see preferably
should have OHIP coverage.
I donate the full consultation
fee to FCT or Kalayaan,
wherever I hold the event.
VIREY
For FCT, I have requested
that the fee goes to the
salaries of our staff,” Virey
said.
“They also have to be
referred by their family
physician, so that there is
a fallback doctor in case
I cannot readily attend to
urgent issues, as my office
schedule is almost always
fully booked. Follow-up
appointments are booked in
my office,” he said.
In addition to the
traditional psychiatric con-
sultation and assessment,
Dr. Virey has incorporated a
mentoring component to his
clinics.
He explained: “I have
initiated in the FCMA a
mentoring process to help
our newcomer Filipino
By AIDA E. D’ORAZIO
► Continuing psychiatric clinics
► Filipino Night with the Raptors
► Cultural identity workshop for
the youth
► Enhanced English Language
seminar and workshop
immigrant physicians navi-
gate the maze towards
credentialing.”
“They watch me as I do
my assessment. Patients are
warned ahead of time that
they will be observed by
doctors and more often than
not, they consent.,” he said.
“Then we discuss the
case, the diagnosis, work-up/
investigations and treatment.
I encourage them to bring
psychiatry examination
questions, which help them
choose the most appropriate
answer. Most of these
doctors are very grateful for
the experience,” he added.
Dr. Virey further said,
“There is nothing more
gratifying for me than
instilling in them a vision of
hope that they can practice
medicine in this country
someday.”
Raptors Filipino Night
Filipinos in Ontario
should feel proud to know
that sometime in the fall,
when the basketball season
starts, the Air Canada Centre
will dedicate one day of a
Raptors game to Filipino
Night.
Maria Teresa Panaligan,
a Filipino Singing Idol
winner, is expected to sing
the national anthems of
Canada and the Philippines.
The good tidings came
about after Toronto Raptors
marketing director Clayton
Smith was impressed with
what he saw and heard
at the Hoop Dome last
month during the Victoria
Invitational Basketball
Tournament (VIBT).
The Raptors’ mascot
appeared in the opening
ceremonies and thrilled the
audience with his basketball
antics.
Maria Teresa sang
the national anthems and
touched Smith, while the
prowess and enthusiasm of
young Filipino-Canadian
basketball players inspired
Smith to do something to
promote the game among
the community’s youth.
Smith came to the
Filipino Centre and met
with FCT president Lynda
Javier and Philip Beloso,
VIBT organizer, to talk on
plans for a Filipino Night
and prepare a poster for
distribution.
“Hopefully,” said Javier,
“the team that will be
playing against the Raptors
on Filipino Night will be
the Miami Heat because the
coach is a Filipino.”
The Filipino coach is
Eric Spoelstra, a bachelor at
37. His father is of Dutch-
Irish descent while his
mom Elisa Celino is from
San Pablo City. Eric is the
first of Filipino descent to
become a head coach of an
NBA team and the youngest
coach in NBA history.
Cultural identity
The Filipino youth’s
search for cultural identity
has been a noted community
concern, and the FCT has
taken steps to facilitate a
workshop under its Cultural
Heritage Program in
September.
Frank Villanueva and
Mary Ann San Juan have
volunteered to take charge
of the workshops.
Villanueva said that this
fall, FCT would offer eight
Saturday workshops on
various aspects of Filipino
culture to young adults
between 18 to 25 years old.
The target group,
composed of mostly college
and university students, have
earlier strongly indicated the
need for cultural education.
Workshop topics would
include the Filipino in
Canada (Immigration and
Community); Culture, Race
and Ethnicity; Social and
Family Values; Filipino
Music and Visual Arts;
Literature; Film and Theatre;
and Food and Popular
Culture, Villanueva said.
Other related topics
would be part of the program
(To page 17)

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4 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
You’re the match!
(From page 1)
Ethnicity sensitive
In an e-mail interview
with the Manila Media
Monitor, Carol explained
that finding a donor-match
“is not that easy.”
The donor has to be eth-
nically Filipino.
Making things harder for
bone marrow transplant pa-
tients is the slim chance of
relatives being perfect do-
nor-matches.
None of Carol’s three
siblings - Joy, Beth and
Mariglo - was a match.
All that her sisters could
do for Carol and husband
JULY 2009
Joven was to help the couple
and the Canadian OneMatch
Stem Cell and Marrow Net-
work (OneMatch) promote
awareness about stem cell
and bone marrow transplants
and enlist people to sign up
as possible donors.
“Fewer than 30 percent
of patients will find a com-
patible donor from a family
member; 70 percent rely on
the generosity of an unre-
lated donor for available
sources of stem cells,” One-
Match said.
Compounding the dif-
ficulty of finding a match is
news
the very short list of poten-
tial and actual donors.
“I found out that (the
number of) people registered
with OneMatch as donors
was very low,” said Carol.
“We are pleading to Fili-
pinos for bone marrow do-
nations,” she said.
Face of the cause
Mary Lynn Pride, patient
transplant liaison special-
ist of the Canadian Blood
Services, said OneMatch is
working with the Filipino
communities in Toronto, “Working together helps us all,” says Carol Basco Datoon. This is best ex-
Barrie and Ottawa, all in emplified by the way she and her sisters share each other’s pain and help
Ontario, to bring the need one another go through it. From left are Joy Basco Fisher who lives in Michi-
for more donors to the fore, gan, Beth Basco Santulan of Etobicoke, Carol, and Mariglo of Las Vegas.
as eight other Filipinos have Beth also helps Carol and husband Joven Datoon send out and respond to
(To page 6) e-mails and distribute leukemia-related awareness literature.

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MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 5
6 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
You’re the match!
(From page 4)
to have transplants to sur-
vive the affliction.
“Carol is the face of the
cause within the commu-
nity,” Pride told the Manila
Media Monitor.
Like Carol, all the 760
plus Canadian patients
“are looking to their com-
munities to be dedicated to
Helping ease Carol’s pain are husband Joven and
children Jared, 17; Cearden, 15; and Jyles, 12.
JULY 2009
proceed (with the stem cell
or bone marrow donation)
when called,” she added.
Pride said OneMatch,
besides promoting aware-
ness, is “responsible for
searching for matched do-
nors for patients, ensuring
that donors are medically
eligible to donate; and in
news
coordinating the collection
of stem cells in Canada and
around the world.”
“OneMatch also works
with patients and families
in understanding the search
process and community
outreach at the time of their
need,” she said.
‘Waiting is hard.’
Carol told this paper that
she was earlier diagnosed
with myelofibrosis, a disor-
der of the bone marrow.
In Carol’s case, her bone
marrow fails to produce red
cells; thus needing a trans-
plant.
She said the anxiety of
waiting for a donor-match
has added to the physical
pain she has to endure day
in and day out from myelo-
fibrosis.
Medical literature says
myelofibrosis signs and
symptoms include abdomi-
nal fulness related to an
enlarged spleen, bone pain,
bruising and easy bleeding,
fatigue, increased suscep-
tibility to infection, pallor
and shortness of breath.
She said the medication
she has been taking daily
could offer only temporary
relief.
Carol hinted that the
same emotional stress and
physical pain were being
felt by the other eight Filipi-
nos needing stem cell trans-
plants.
She said she had no idea
The management and the administrative,
editorial and research staff of
wish to thank advertisers, readers, contributors,
supporters and friends for making the paper
their OWN and keeping it up for 13 solid years.
who the eight are. “I have ing to happen in terms of ness program during their
never met them.” the transplant, and the treat- Philippine Independence
OneMatch also did not ment I will need, such us Picnic in June. I believe
disclose details of the eight. chemotherapy and radiation they are still spreading
Hoping and praying before the actual transplant awareness on bone marrow
“When we heard (One- happens,” she said. transplants in the Ottawa re-
Match) found two matches “I am scared and happy gion,” she noted.
for me, I was excited,” Car- at the same time.” Filipino organizations
ol said. Help cited in Barrie (where the Datoon
Dr. Lipton from Prin- Carol’s story came to family lives), made people
cess Margaret Hospital de- the attention of this writer aware of her and her fel-
livered the good news on through Teresa Torralba, low patients’ plight during a
July 2; and informed Carol overall director of Focus- gala night.
and Joven that they have to Making Waves Festival. Carol said her husband
meet with the Transplant Torralba said she has of- Joven even talked to Jose
Team on July 21. fered Carol and OneMatch Brillantes, Philippine Am-
Although nothing much a booth - where they could basaddor to Ottawa, and
has changed physically with launch their awareness discussed with him the im-
her, the news boosted Carol campaign and initiate a do- portance of an awareness
emotionally. nor enlistment drive - dur- program on bone marrow
“I was happy, and thank- ing the festival at Yonge- transplant in Filipino com-
ful to the Heavenly Father Dundas Square on Aug. 15 munities in Canada.
for listening and answering and 16. Meanwhile, John Brom-
our prayers,” she said. For her part, Carol cited ley, communications man-
“I knew He had never Torralba’s help, as she noted ager of OneMatch, said
forsaken me. I know that He how others have extended the organization would be
is watching over me. I have their hands and resources to partnering with the Filipino
never lost hope in Him,” make the community know communities across Canada
she added. of the plight of leukemia- when they conduct activi-
In that meeting, the stricken patients. ties for the National Stem
Transplant Team “will be “Tinig Pinoy in Ottawa Cell Awareness Week from
able to tell us what is go- helped us with our aware- November 16 to 21.

Those great men and
women who manned the
reception desk at the 2009
Philippine Independence
Day Council (PIDC)
Mabuhay Festival on July
18 did their jobs … oh, well
… “very well” … this year.
They really secured the
place to allow only tickets
marked in their master files
as “Paid” gain entry to the
premises.
I heard of stories that
even tickets which were
paid from sources – but
not communicated and
marked in their master
files as “Unpaid” were not
honored (and, of course
with reason).
Even Paulina Chan – the
“2008 Miss Philippines
PIDC”, though a participant
in several activities indicated
in the program, encountered
delay getting in.
In my case, I did not
encounter any delay getting
in at Hall D of the Metro
Toronto Convention Centre
VIEWS MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 7
completing the course in bahay ….
third and fourth year high Meanwhile, last
school, plus 12 credit units month’s issue of Manila
in college), my reply to the Media Monitor carried all
guy was, “sssshhhh”; the the big money remittance
ACE ALVAREZ poor guy turned away his companies serving the
head from me, and never Filipino market, name-
looked back again through ly Western Union,
Front Page Philippines: the entirety of the Mass.
***
Royal Bank of Canada,
Moneygram, etc.
Top-rated show? A story appearing on
July 15 in the electronic
There’s no truth that
the reason why PNB
version of Manila daily, Remittance missed that
Unable to The Manila Times read, issue was that Ben woke
catch any of “Recession will spare RP”. up late and missed sending
the 1 p.m. Mass Ano ba ‘yan, parang Manila Media Monitor the
on Sunday, press release. Kailan ba ad placement.
July 12, my tayo magsasabi ng totoo? ***
wife Gie and *** An NDP press release
I heard the 2 The image in Photo on June 4: “New Democrats
p.m. one at St. 2 is a still from the new seek to ban racial and
Thomas More 30-sec. Mabilis PNB TV religious profiling”.
on Ellesmere Commercial airing on … and I thought all the
and Markham Front Page Philippines while that such was the law,
PAULINA CHAN Road in in Ontario and Alberta since I came here in the
Scarborough. through OMNI Television, 90s!
– the venue of the festival. We didn’t and across Canada via ***
By agreement between know that satellite through the only On June 6, my
the Philippine Press Club- it was in three satellite providers good friend Mon Datol
Ontario (PPC-O) and the Spanish. allowed by the CRTC – publisher and editor of
PIDC, all we “invited While the to operate across the (To page 29)
media people” do is show priest was country.
our PPC-O ID card. saying his The com-
Having forgotten my homily, the mercial goes
PPC-O ID card, I thought I person seated something
would not be allowed entry. in the pew in like: “Si
But the creativeness in me PHOTO 1 front of me Ben, mabilis
worked. turned his gumising;
Asked by the security time, “Any problem with back and seemed to be mabilis
people at the gate where my it?” asking me something; of maligo,
media ID card is, I showed Reply was, “Oh no! course, in Spanish. mabilis
them a card – an image of None at all, sir.” (may “sir” Unable to speak and kumain,
which is replicated in Photo pa!) understand the Spanish mabilis
1, asking them at the same *** language (regardless of umalis ng PHOTO 2
8 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009
Asked by Philippine Press
Club-Ontario (PPC-O) member
Imelda Suzara at the press
conference, Thursday, July 18,
of artists planed in by GMA for
the PIDC Mabuhay Festival, if
she has tried to get into the North
American movie industry, Filipino
actor Iza Calzado said that in 2007,
she was cast in Echo – a film by an
independent American filmmaker
shot in Toronto.
Iza said it is her dream, too,
to be part of the Hollywood film
industry, but looking for avenues
to pursue such a dream, one
Hollywood film insider asked her
if she has work in the Philippines,
to which Iza responded affir-
matively. She was told that she
must be happy, considering that
a lot of actors do not have work,
and that in the meantime to hang
on where she is.
Iza responded to Imelda’s
question very beautifully. Her
reply was likewise very rational
and realistic.
Iza’s statement reminded me
that after coming to this country
in the 90s, I tried to apply with
the so-called mainstream media
at that time, but letter after letter
came rejection after rejection.
Finally, tired of it all, I decided
to establish my own publication
(and which I take this opportunity
to thank Manila Media Monitor
readers and advertisers that the
paper survived stiff competition
in the Toronto Filipino Canadian
community in the last 13 years).
My two colleagues in the
Filipino Canadian media in
Toronto -- namely, Manila Media
Monitor editor Butch Galicia and
When an international study
listed Manila as occupying almost
bottom rung among the most liv-
able cities in the world, the usual
whiners among the Pinoys could
not contain their disgust.
They were soon training their
sights and dreams on the top win-
ners, Vancouver and Toronto be-
ing two of them.
Part of the whining includes
enumerating in their minds what
is wrong. It is part of the national
pastime to find blame elsewhere
for one’s misfortunes.
We do not have to look too
far to understand why it will take
generations before this former il-
lustrious Spanish outpost in the
East can lay claim to being as liv-
able as Singapore or Auckland .
For starters, we drop our jaws
at the myriad contradictions that
characterize this once serene city
of the Orient.
The Church commands us to
honor our fathers and mothers.
Among the funniest, some-
times merciless jokes in circula-
tion are those that poke fun at the
modern day icon’s Nanay Diony-
sia Pacquiao.
Not only does the buffoonery
milk laughter at the expense of her
dress, countenance, speech and
demeanor; what fuels the flame of
ridicule is the seeming tolerance
of her golden son, Manny, who
can only utter his worn out signa-
ture line “Salamat sa suporta” each
time a mic is thrust to his mouth.
The Pacman parlays his power
From The
Monitor’s Desk
Whatever we do, let’s do it
well and everything follows
PPC-O president Tenny Soriano,
have similar experiences, too,
as they narrated a couple of
years ago during an interview
with host, Gie Alvarez, on TV
program Front Page Philippines,
airing on OMNI 2 Television in
Ontario (during those times and
now also being aired on cable in
Alberta and via satellite across
the country being carried by the
three satellite providers allowed
by the Canadian Radio-television
Telecommunications Commission
to operate in Canada).
Tenny stressed during the
interview, “Pareho rin naman,
media rin naman ang mga sinusu-
latan natin, e”. His statement
has reference to the two kinds of
media in this country, the so-called
“mainstream”, and the ethnic
media – to which the Filipino
media belongs.
Many of us are somewhat
indifferent with the classification
“ethnic” media, but that is how
we are classified under the legal
promulgations affecting us by the
Canadian federal government;
so, until the term is changed, we
Roundabout
MAG CRUZ-HATOL
In this city of affections
and contradictions
by dispensing cold cash to indigent
kababayans in General Santos and
throwing scandalously expensive
parties where even scoundrels,
corrupt politicians and wives of
former dictators are invited.
But no whimper has been
heard from him begging media
and the pandering public to stop
caricaturing his poor mother alto-
gether.
If he does not have it in his
conscience, at least his scores
of well paid hacks and advisers
should have thought of whisper-
ing the idea to him.
“Use your clout Manny, tell
them to spare your mother before
your own children make fun of
Jinky when she gets old.” (An-
other vicious joke running around
is her purported sex video with
Haydn Kho which the cruel joke
says she admitted to having.)
In school, we were instructed
to be honest, reprimanded when
we cheated and asked to line up
VIEWS
ACE ALVAREZ
will continue to be classified as
“ethnic” media.
“For want of a better phrase’
as my fellow blogger – former
Toronto ad agency art director and
promotions man Bill Andersen
puts it, the so-called ethnic media
is now considered by media
observers as the new mainstream
with major and national advertisers
putting in their print and broadcast
media advertising and promotional
efforts on these grouping.
I recall that before 2000,
government information offices
and agencies only dispatched
their news releases to mainstream
media; invitations to press
conferences were likewise sent
only to them.
My predecessor to the
presidency of the Canadian Ethnic
Media Association (CEMA), Ben
Viccari, channelled his efforts
promoting the ethnic media as a
vehicle likewise for these news
and information.
Soon, the Art Gallery of Ontario
and various federal and provincial
government information offices,
begun to include the ethnic media
orderly at the canteen, at the cha-
pel, at the gym.
In today’s political firmament,
the biggest cheaters get praised
and applauded, evade prison, en-
joy life in the limelight, even get
elected for what seems like eter-
nity. Bureaucrats don’t have to
queue up at airports nor in concert
lines.
Returning tourists are forced
to go through thermal examina-
tion at air terminals; but not politi-
cians whose salaries people pay.
A thief gets mugged and jailed
for stealing money to feed his
hungry family; congressmen and
other officials who pocket mil-
lions of pesos are not even slapped
on the wrist.
Their faces are plastered on
streamers and bills that taxpayers
ignorantly paid for and which de-
face the already over-embellished
streets.
As children, we were con-
stantly reminded by our parents
in their distribution list.
Today, advertising and PR
agencies are as busy as ever
dealing with the ethnic media on
behalf of their clients.
I remember one executive
of a television station as saying
that years back, media industry
circles would refer to the station
at the foot of Bathurst Street and
Lakeshore Boulevard West as “the
little TV station on Lakeshore”.
Today, the station is one of the
biggest with operations in Toronto,
Vancouver, Calgary and Alberta.
The work in the propagation of
a multilingual television station
is attributed mostly to Madeline
Ziniak – national vice president
today of Rogers OMNI Television,
that even the federal government
recognizes its value to Canada,
hence, named Madeline recently
to the Order of Canada.
Madeline was cited for “her
contributions as the major driving
force behind the development
and growth of multilingual
and multicultural television in
Canada.”
The citation is recognition in
itself of the value of ethnic media
to Canada.
I take this opportunity in
congratulating Madeline – our
board chair at CEMA, anew for
this feat, for her citation includes
our objectives at CEMA. My
heartfelt congratulations on my
behalf, your officers and board
members at CEMA, and from my
wife, Gie, too.
Lesson on these is that, on
whatever we do, let us do it well
and, by God’s grace, everything
follows.
and doctors to eat healthy, to shun
sweets and favor fruits and veg-
gies.
Those little reminders soon
get dwarfed by the barrage of
messages in media beguiling us to
sink our teeth into fried items like
chicken, potatoes and pancakes;
to enjoy the sinful pleasures of
candy, cake and ice cream and to
develop a liking for instant noo-
dles, burgers and hotdogs.
But where are the ads cajoling
us to eat vegetables and fruit?
An ordinance bans men from
roaming the streets with no shirts.
How can that law find efficacy
when strewn all over the city are
billboards celebrating the sexy,
unshirted man promoting under-
wear, jeans, and colognes, as if
saying to all that it is fashionable
to show off, unconscionable to be
prudely dressed.
We are told tall tales about
local economic growth in one
breath, and in another, govern-
ment bandies its victory in secur-
ing more menial jobs overseas for
the countless jobless.
The statistics of underemploy-
ment have improved, insists the
Palace, but only after we discover
that even the part time jobs and
brief contract hires were added to
the count, passed of as gainfully
employed.
Indeed, in this city of our af-
fections and affectations, the most
bizarre contradictions rule.
And we can only gnash our
teeth and clench our fists.
12 years of dedicated
community service
Managing Editor
ACE ALVAREZ
Editor
BUTCH GALICIA
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 VIEWS MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 9
degrees.

Commentary Franz escorted and guided the

stricken plane to, and slightly over,
the North Sea towards England.
He then saluted Charlie Brown
BEN VICCARI and turned away, back to Europe.
BLOG REVIEW When Franz landed, he told
the CO that the plane had been
shot down over the sea.
Has Rizal gone green? The last word He never told the truth to
anybody.
Charlie Brown and the remains
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following blog article comes from the Thunder on the left, secrecy having been hit by flak and of his crew told all at their briefing,
blogsite: wawam! after hours. It dwells on the act of Philippine and subterfuge on the right lead fighters. but were ordered never to talk
officials who saw it fit to repaint in green the home of national one to hope that contrary to Yeats’ The compass was damaged about it.
hero Dr. Jose Rizal in Calamba, Laguna.) dire, predictive poem The Second and they were flying deeper over More than 40 years later,
Coming, the centre will hold. enemy territory instead of heading Charlie Brown wanted to find the
Ambeth Ocampo, chair of the NHI (Philippine National Histori- For democracy’s sake - home to Kimbolton. Luftwaffe pilot who saved the
cal Institute) is “the idiot who painted Rizal’s house green” and that because that’s what’s at stake right After flying the B-17 over an crew.
is a quote from the column he wrote on the PDI (Philippine Daily now. enemy airfield, a German pilot After years of research, Franz
Inquirer) on the topic on June 3. Generally, Labour’s demands named Franz Steigler was ordered was found.
In his reply, aside from acknowledging he is the idiot who did selfishly deny that the crisis in to take off H e
it, he also (acknowledges that) Rizal’s house was painted with the which we find ourselves requires and shoot had never
“green color everyone hates” . sacrifices on the part of everyone down the talked
While in his reply to wawam.wordpress he says they scraped off in society. B-17. about the
the paint and found out the “original” color of the house was green, Similarly old-style capitalists When incident,
this trivia was not mentioned in his June 3 column. still cling to the trickle down he got near not even at
We wonder why this was mentioned only now. mirage of laissez faire. the B-17, post-war
But let’s say they did find green after they scraped it – the June In spite of assurances that he could reunions.
3 column did say the “Rizal Shrine is not the original home of the Canada is weathering the recession not believe T h e
National Hero. It is not covered by the same rigid conservation that, according to Stephen Harper his eyes. two met in
principles applied to a 19th century house. The present Rizal Shrine a few months ago, “never was” but In his the USA
is but half a century old, having been reconstructed by Juan Nakpil has proven all too real, Democracy words, he at a 379th
in the 1950s and funded by donations from schoolchildren.” is at stake in Canada. ‘had never STEIGLER and BROWN Bomber
That begs the question, when they scraped it, they were not re- The tabling of Bill 47: technical seen a G r o u p
ally scraping the real house of Rizal. assistance to law enforcement plane in such a bad state’. reunion, together with 25 people
They scraped the house that someone else imagined to be Rizal’s officers is a genuine threat to the The tail and rear section was who were still alive – all because
house. civil rights of any Canadian who severely damaged, and the tail Franz never fired his guns that
So using this argument as reason for painting it green may not operates a web site. gunner wounded. day.
hold water, or paint. While the internet is being The top gunner was all over When asked why he didn’t
Based on what he knows and those written in his June 3 column, used to some extent for undeniably the top of the fuselage. shoot them down, Stigler later
the best conclusion is that we do not know what was the color of subversive purposes, this new act The nose was smashed and said, “I didn’t have the heart to
Rizal’s house. opens the door to a widespread there were holes everywhere. finish those brave men. I flew
And yet he knows the green color that is there right is one that closing down of sites disapproved Despite having ammunition, beside them for a long time. They
everyone hates. by the PMO. Franz flew to the side of the B-17 were trying desperately to get
He writes in his column historical sites like those of Rizal should Wake up, Canada! and looked at Charlie Brown, the home and I was going to let them
“inform, educate and inspire”. *** pilot. do that. I could not have shot at
This green color certainly does not “inspire” at all. What it does Charlie Brown was a B-17 Brown was scared and them. It would have been the
is it makes us want to puke. Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th struggling to control his damaged same as shooting at a man in a
The education part is also questionable since this part seems Bomber Group at Kimbolton , and bloodstained plane. parachute.”
to be just on the trivial pursuit of Rizal’s surname to mean a green England. Aware that they had no idea Brown and Steigler died in
field. His B-17 was called ‘Ye Old where they were going, Franz 2008.
(To page 15) Pub’ and was in a terrible state, waved at Charlie to turn 180 (To page 15)

I left a press conference
on July 17 shocked to
learn that at least 400 Fil-
Canadians in Ontario are
living on borrowed time,
having been diagnosed to
be in the end-stage of renal
failure.
Every year, a similar
figure is added to the gro-
wing list of those suffering
from renal failure, managing
their condition via dialysis.
It is bad enough to note
that it is extremely difficult
for kidney patients to find
organ donors who are their
match.
What complicates mat-
ters is the passage of The
Declaration of Istanbul
on Organ Trafficking and
Transplant Tourism (the
latest metamorphosis being
in May 2008) of which
Canada and the Philippines
are signatories.
The declaration calls
upon member states of
the United Nations to ban
human traffic for the purpose
of organ transplantation.
The press-con, organized
by Dr. Francisco Portugal
and CARP at the Aristokrat
Restaurant, painted an even
grimmer picture of the state
of renal failure victims.
Of the 400 new end-
stage cases reported each
year, 300 are expected to
have their names listed on
the obituary roll shortly.
The statistics are truly
scary. (For more information
about kidney transplantats
and related issues, visit
http://www.kidney.on.ca/
html-detail-283.)
However, all is not lost,
thanks to CARP.
Through its relentless
professional and advocacy
work on behalf of Danilo
Barrido, the Iloilo native
and long-time resident of
(From left) CARP president Dr. Francisco Portugal poses with Nick Paman,
Danilo Barrido, and Rey Sunga. Photo: ARIEL RAMOS
Perspective
RICARDO J.S. CALUEN
A ray of hope for
renal failure sufferers
Hamilton, Ontario, would
soon be flying to Manila to
undergo kidney transplant
at the famed St. Luke’s
Hospital.
Barrido, a 56-year old
businessman, had been
waiting for five years for a
kidney transplant in Canada,
to no avail.
He had found a match (a
relative) in the Philippines
but concerns raised by the
Ministry of Health and
Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (CIC) prevented the
donor from getting approval
to come to Canada.
Initially, the health
ministry had reservations
about the capability of
Philippine hospitals to
meet Ontario’s medical
standards.
Another major concern
is the suspicion that there
could be a hidden recipient-
donor arrangement that
could violate the principles
of the Istanbul Declaration.
Many countries in the
world, particularly those
belonging to the so-called
Third World, are known to
engage in the sale of live
organs for the benefit of
wealthy foreign recipients.
The preamble of the
declaration states that while
“organ transplantation
is one of the medical
miracles of the twentieth
century ... the many great
scientific and clinical
advances of dedicated
health professionals, as
well as countless acts of
generosity by organ donors
and their families, have
made transplantation not
only a life-saving therapy
but a shining symbol of
human solidarity … Yet
these accomplishments have
been tarnished by numerous
reports of trafficking in
human beings who are
used as sources of organs
and of patient-tourists from
rich countries who travel
abroad to purchase organs
from poor people.”
In 2004, the World
Health Organization, called
on member states “to take
measures to protect the
poorest and vulnerable
groups from transplant
tourism and the sale of
tissues and organs, including
attention to the wider
problem of international
trafficking in human tissues
and organs.”
The Philippines has not
lagged behind the global
movement banning the
traffic of live organs.
It passed Republic Act
9208 (the amended Anti-
Trafficking in Persons Act
(To page 28)
10 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
I envy to the max all
those who trooped to wa-
tering holes cum videoke
bars on the night of July
18. Amid toasts and swigs,
more daring but unable
ones got to ribbit or hear
other frogs croak out their
fave tunes.
In fairness, many vid-
eoke habitues really sing
pretty well; although I doubt
if Simon, Paula and Randy,
unanimously or anony-
mously, would hand them a
ticket to Hollywood.
*****
A lucky bunch those Sat-
urday night revelers really
were, having been spared
15 bucks (equivalent to
three bottles of beer or two
dishes of pulutan) while en-
joying the night away.
$15 was the moolah paid
by each of the curious who
eagerly and excitedly came
to see what three artists
(plus one) from Philippine-
based television network
GMA 7 looked like in the
flesh and how they would
fare on stage.
Philippine telenovela
idols Richard Gutierrez
and Rhian Ramos of Zorro,
shining silver screen star Iza
Calzado of the much-raved
Batanes, and Richard’s
twin brod and teevee host
Raymond were flown in as
the cast in the final act of
the day-long Philippine In-
dependence Day Council’s
(PIDC) Mabuhay Festival
JULY 2009
at the Metro Toronto Con-
vention Centre.
By my reckoning, the
four delivered a solo song
each, two duets and a lot of
intelligible talk during the
30-minute (plus or minus
10) appearance they made
individually or as a group.
(I think they spent more
time posing for the lenses
and signing autographs.)
OMG! I was then ready
to call 9-1-1, fearing that
someone in the audience
might think of forming a
mob to lynch and hang one
or two of the artists for very
lousy poetry reading.
(Is it true that in the Phil-
ippines, the police have re-
ported summary executions
of karaoke singers who bas-
tardize Frank Sinatra’s My
Way?)
In fairness, the Gutier-
rezes, Ramos (not my peers
Rodel and Ariel or former
Philippine prexy Fidel) and
Calzado are drama artists,
unlike comedianne Ai-Ai
delas Alas who brought the
house down with her antics
in an over-an-hour show in
last year’s festival.
*****
‘Harang!’ said one.
‘Pa-kyut lang!’ said anoth-
er. ‘Disappointing!’ some
intoned. Thumbs down,
signalled a few. Foreheads
wrinkled in disgust.
The artists attracted a
few shrieks, far from the
boisterous howls and laugh-
VIEWS
Omerta
BUTCH GALICIA
In fairness
ter that followed Ai-Ai’s ev-
ery comic act.
Halfway through the 2
R’s and Iza plus One appear-
ance, people started mov-
ing towards the doors; and
it was still too early (about
9:30 p.m.). Last year, the
festival crowd stayed until
nearly midnight.
In fairness, I did not hear
anyone say ‘soli bayad.’
*****
I could empathize with
the audience’s general sense
of dissatisfaction.
People had been around
for quite a time. Besides col-
lecting bags, pens and other
festival booth giveaways
and indulging in food booth
taste tests, they sat to see
and appreciate Filipino cul-
ture shown onstage through
songs, music and dances.
They have had their fill
of the best Filipino-Canadi-
an talents ever amassed on
stage, and many of the latter
could pass as international
performers.
I could live with the
technical malfunction dur-
ing a musical production
of Minerva and Studio, as a
female singer vocalized the
notes at the top of her voice
when her mike went mute.
The audience’s expec-
tations had built up; only
to be floored when some
of the Kapuso talents per-
formed below par.
Like Pacquiao’s knock-
out punch on Hatton, the
hard reality sank in.
One commented: The RICHARD & RHIAN. Photo: ANAGAILE SORIANO
sponsors should have sent
in festival-quality entertain- shows, even if they were their minds and hearts into
ers, not drama princes and delayed and oft-repeated the festival.
princesses who would only telecasts, when these aired This year’s Mabuhay
make us shed tears. for free over Rogers Chan- festival once more proved
In fairness, PIDC and nel 646 from June 11 to 25. to be the proper and endur-
its sponsors spent a lot of ***** ing way to cap the series of
time, effort and money to In fairness, let it be said PIDC activities, to include
get Philippine artists into that the whole Mabuhay the search and crowning
the festival. festival was a big success, of Miss Philippines, Little
***** another shining cultural Miss Philippines and Mrs.
If this was a PR stunt of legacy left by the men and Philippines; the Salo-Salo
GMA to promote Zorro and women -- particularly PIDC sa Earl Bales Park; the
its shows in Canadian cable president Jun Enverga and Mabuhay Cup basketball
TV, it miserably failed. his ever-supportive wife tournament; the Gala Night
In fairness, my wife Rosemer and festival direc- and Dancing To Be A Star.
enjoyed GMA Pinoy TV tor Minda Neri -- who put butchgalicia@yahoo.com

community; educational

The 3rd Eye Our Journey

support.
The key is that a unified
community looks for ways
to offer support in the belief
MARIO DIMAIN EVA AGPAOA that strong members mean a
strong community.
► A unified community
speaks with a unified voice.
Another core value is
Angels within ST. MICHAEL What does it mean the strength to speak with
one voice to all the other

In the imposed on me by my
tell it over and over again.
I will never forget his
to be unified? communities around us as
well as the government.
s l e e p y parents. opening line that could A single voice has a
barrio of I loved her for hook any little boy of my It’s been a hectic couple fun. much better chance of
San Miguel, that, giving me the time, “There was a good of months for me. I was having a conver- getting things done for the
nothing chance to release all and brave angel who was As some of you know, sation with a friend recently community than a babble of
r e a l l y the contained energies sent by God to fight the I have launched a new and the topic of Filipino incoherent rants.
spectacular of a restless boy. Devil.” business and am working unity came up. Of course, there are so
e v e r She was the best. Then he would continue round the clock to get it When I look around the many different needs within
happened My grandfather, as he pointed to the easterly going. different communities here a community and a single
that is on the other hand, direction, “At sunrise, this A close friend and I in Toronto, it’s clear some voice can never hope to
capable of was a man of few brave angel, named Michael have started a production are unified and some are address all of them.
putting it on words but his words drew his mighty sword and company and our first show not. But, an organized
the world GRANDFATHER commanded respect challenged the Devil who is this August. What does it mean to be community has a sound
map. when he spoke. was hurting the children The basketball troupe unified? process for hearing its
If not for my grand- He was barely educated and turning good little boys will be touring Winnipeg, Many things of course constituents and reaching a
parents who lived in the but he was brilliant. into demons.” Montreal, Hamilton and but a few stand out as being consensus on priorities.
barrio, and the chapel where He had an interesting “They fought from early Toronto. important: Don’t misunderstand
I found my superhero, explanation for everything I morning to late afternoon. It’s a big risk and frankly ► A unified community me here.
the place wouldn’t have asked about. “And at sunset, the devil we are learning as we go. supports its members. A single voice doesn’t
anything to entice me. My inquisitiveness fell to the ground and valiant Those of you who have A core value within a literally mean a single vocal
When I was about six, amused him. Michael won the battle.” followed my column know community is its ability chord bleating in the wind
my father took me to San His grandfatherly smile My grandfather would by now that I admire anyone and desire to support its like a distressed lamb in the
Miguel to stay a week with was the signal that his then finish the story with who has the courage to take members. wilderness.
my grandparents. answer would expand to a whisper to my ears, “He a risk. This can happen in a A single, unified
They were thrilled to another anecdote. protects good little boys Any risk always has the number of ways. voice means a coherent
have me. I loved listening to his like you.” potential to fail. Support of local well thought out series of
My grandmother was stories, most particularly the It was his discreet way But failure is also a great business; support through messages that are important
tender and tolerant. one about an angel-warrior. of telling me to stay out of learning experience. social organizations which to the community.
She was the one who I enjoyed the story so trouble. So wish us luck and cater to the less well off A unified community
would lift the restrictions much that I made him re- (To page 14) come join the basketball and the needy within the (To page 14)
 VIEWS MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 11
PPC-O honors ConGen Mosquera, Consul Panolong

The Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPC-O), industry

peers and friends feted outgoing Philippine Consul
General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera and Consul
Imelda Panolong with a ‘Final Press Con’ at the resi-
dence of Ruben and Tess Cusipag on June 26. Dur-
ing the occasion, PPC-O president Tenny Soriano and
Awards Committee chair Jojo Taduran presented Mos-
quera and Panolong with plaques of recognition; So-
riano and Membership Committee chair Butch Galicia
handed out the honorary membership to the club of
the two Philippine officials; and Ricky Caluen presented
to Mosquera a scrap book recollecting the ConGen’s
six-year tour in Toronto through published articles and
images. Photos: ARIEL RAMOS and LARRY TORRES
12 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
Tourism boom spells better life for Puerto Princesans
PUERTO PRINCESA
CITY - “I can’t imagine
how my family survived
during those times when I
earned only P300 a week.
Everything has changed
now. I can earn the same
amount in just one day,”
Jeezreel Luzares, 31, a boat
helper who ferries tourists
from Sabang port to the Un-
derground River here said.
The city is experiencing
an unprecedented influx of
tourists who liked to visit
the Puerto Princesa Subter-
ranean River National Park
or Underground River.
“We have no more lean
season. Everyday is peak
day for the local tourism
industry after this natural
attraction topped the first
round of the global search
for new wonders of the
world,” Felisa Torres, presi-
dent of the City Tourism
Council, said.
After the Abu Sayyaf
kidnapping incident in Dos
Palmas Resort in 2001, visi-
tors were scarce.
“They were scared. But
today our tourism industry
is on the road to full recov-
ery,” Torres said.
The boatmen
Luzares was a former
fisherman. He left fishing
GENERAL DENTISTRY
Dr. Gilbert Chan
Dr. Daphne Chien
Dr. Janet Ho
Dr. Janet Wong
Dr. Michael Chin
JULY 2009
after establishing a good in-
come from his new job as a
boat helper.
His daughter Liean Mae,
6, will be in grade one this
school year.
Part of his income is
used for the medication of
his daughter Geraldine, 5,
who is suffering from men-
ingitis for three years now.
Ferdinand Valiente, 39,
also a Sabang boatman,
said, “I have a new motor-
cycle, television and a gen-
erator set now.”
Boat owners earn P700
per trip. Normally, they can
charter up to three trips a
day. For every trip, P100
goes to the boat helpers.
There are hundreds of
boat helpers at Sabang port
where some 50 pump boats
service local and foreign
tourists who wish to see
the sights inside the under-
ground river.
Top tourist site
The Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River Na-
tional Park is the top tour-
ism attraction of Palawan’s
capital city.
It is in the Saint Paul
Mountain Range on the
northern coast of Puerto
Princesa.
It became the official en-
Tourists are ferried to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
try of the Philippines to the
global search for the New
Seven Wonders of Nature
under Category E Nature
Reserve and Nature Park.
Gift from Almighty
“The Underground Riv-
er is a masterpiece and a
gift from the Almighty. This
is a true Philippine pride.
Visitors from all around the
world rush to see for them-
selves the marvel of nature.
They all suggest that we
should conserve this natural
park,” Edward Hagedorn,
FEATURE
By LYLE B. CORUÑA
the city mayor, said.
Besides funding from
the national government to
make the area more acces-
sible, Hagedorn allocated
P120 million for the con-
creting of the road leading
to Sitio Sabang in Barangay
Cabayugan where the fa-
mous 8.2-kilometer under-
ground river is located.
“This project benefits
my constituents so much.
With improved facilities,
travel became fast and safe.
We feel a fiesta frenzy ev-
eryday because of the in-
creasing number of tourist
arrivals. These tourists bring
in money for our people.
They seize every possible
livelihood opportunity they
could discover,” Punong
Barangay Noel Venturillo of
barangay Cabayugan said.
More visitors coming
Rebecca Nuevo, owner
of Tarao Beach Inn in Sa-
bang, had to build more
cottages to accommodate
the growing number of visi-
tors in the area.
“We are also obliged to
hire extra staff and helpers,
mostly residents in the area.
We are happy to be a bless-
ing to others,” Nuevo said.
Nuevo is just one of
many accommodation pro-
viders in Sabang beach.
Mayor Hagedorn was
surprised with the huge in-
crease in tourist arrival.
“We usually experience
this number when there are
national conventions, semi-
nars, beauty pageant, Lak-
bay-Aral or international
sports events in the city. But
today, the quantity becomes
the normal daily figure. We
did not expect 1,000 per-
sons entering Underground
River everyday,” he said.
“In April 2008 for ex-
ample, 31,569 visitors were
recorded by the city govern-
ment. For the same month
this year, 23,071 visitors
arrived. There is an increase
considering that from the
total number of visitors last
year, 15,000 of them were
participants and guests of
the Palarong Pambansa
held in the city,” Ma. Cora-
zon Timones, city tourism
officer, explained.
Travelers who wish to
settle overnight after ex-
(To page 13)

Tourism boom spells better life for ...
(From page 12)
ploring the underground
river slumber on those lodg-
ing inns.
Restaurants that offer
fresh and delicious delica-
cies also abound.
Hagedorn said his of-
fice is processing some 200
permits for construction of
restaurants and hotels.
Tour guides
The need of travel and
tours agencies for tourist
guides has compelled the
City Tourism Office to train
these specialized workers.
“We raised the standard
of tour guiding in Puerto
Princesa. One should be
a graduate of a four-year
course before he could get
a license. They should also
pass the psychological test,”
Timones said.
There are 79 city-li-
FEATURE
censed tour guides.
One of them is Alex
Tribiana, a former overseas
Filipino worker.
He decided not to re-
new his contract after his
contacts from various travel
agencies flooded his sched-
ule with loads of clients.
“Tourist guides usually
earn P700 as guide fee for
the Underground River tour.
After lunch time, another
P600 will be charged for the
city tour which may include
a visit to the Palawan Mu-
seum, Mitra Ranch, Baker’s
Hill, Iwahig Penal Colony,
Crocodile Farm, Butterfly
Garden, Vietnamese Vil-
lage, Capitol Park Square
and Bay Walk. Separate
fees will be charged for a
Honda Bay island hopping
or a Dos Palmas trip,” Tribi-
ana enumerated.
“Many of my friends
became rich. Some of them
have purchased shuttle vans,
beaches and houses. Some
lucky female guides have
married wealthy foreigners.
On my part, I have sent my
children to school. They are
now professionals,” Tribi-
ana proudly said.
Booming industry
The city government
has successfully regulated
the local tourism industry
through Ordinance 171 or
the City Tourism Code.
“Our tourism players
are united and strong. They
are among the thousands of
Puerto Princesans who ben-
efit from the tourism boom.
The tour operators are un-
der the Association of Tour-
ist and Travel Operators,
the accommodation provid-
ers belong to the Associa-
tion of Tourist Accommo-
dation of Puerto Princesa,
the boatmen in Honda Bay
are members of the Honda
Bay Boatmen Association,
van operators belong to the
Association of Transport
Services, the tricycle driv-
ers at the airport are under
the Tricycle Frontliners, the
restaurant owners belong to
the Association of Restau-
rant Owners and Managers
and the souvenir shop own-
ers and the pearl vendors
have their own organiza-
tions too,” council president
Torres explained.
“We focus on giving
livelihood through tourism
and agriculture,” he said.
Cashew galore
A company has even
linked its products to the
Underground River,” Hage-
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009
dorn revealed.
Isla Casoy de Palawan
has launched its cashew
products at the Sabang pier
near the underground river.
Erwin Saw, general
manager, said they would
export cashew products such
as polvoron, tarts, roasted,
spicy, garlic spicy, honey
glazed nuts and chocolate
cookies; all on display at
SM and Robinson’s malls.
Daisy Tañafrancia of the
Department of Science and
Technology, said the agen-
cy, with the JICA, assisted
the company’s packaging
technology to prolong the
products’ shelf-life.
Tañafrancia urged Saw
to provide measures to as-
sure local farmers will grow
with the company.
“Our department will
supply our farmers with
high quality cashew seeds
13
for planting. Farmers from
barangay Simpocan and
planters from the towns of
Roxas, El Nido, Taytay and
Cuyo and those in Mindoro
and Batangas provinces
may benefit from this en-
deavor,” agriculture region-
al director Antonio Geron-
dio assured.
Of pearls and jewelry
Immigrant Danny Ap-
sari, 33, who came from
Zamboanga, never included
farming in his plans.
“Magtitinda na lang
ako dito ng mga perlas (I
will settle for selling pearl-
based jewelry),” he said.
Apsari sells a variety of
jewelry made from cultured
pearls, a tourist best-buy.
Unlike peers who sell
pearl jewelry at the airport,
he stays at a friend’s house
in Barangay Cabayugan and
(To page 30)
14 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
Angels within
(From page 10)
Whenever my grand-
father was not around to
repeat the story, I would
go to the chapel across the
road.
There I would see my
superhero, Michael, the
barrio’s patron saint.
I remember the mound
of candle offerings.
The light emitting
from the flickering flames
dramatically accentuated the
valiant figure of the angel-
warrior who fascinated me.
His powerful wings
were fully spread out.
The mighty sword,
tightly gripped by his right
What does it mean to be unified?
(From page 10)
takes pride in and celebrates
its achievements.
► A strong community
celebrates its achievements
and invites all around them
to celebrate with them.
This is a healthy pride
that announces to the world,
we are worthy of your
respect.
► A community
becomes unified when it
chooses to organize itself.
First and foremost,
organizing around a the many different values
strong leadership is key
to becoming a strong
community.
Many fear that
choosing leadership means
JULY 2009
GREAT BATTLE
relinquishing personal
power and worse, that they
risk corruption and personal
gain among their leaders.
But real leadership is
not about power or personal
gain.
It is about a public trust
bestowed on one or more
individuals.
A strong leader knows
this and treats that trust with
care and respect.
These are just four of
that make a strong unified
community.
I’m certain you can
think of many more values
and in fact I invite you to
hand that was raised up in
the air, further intensified
his fighting form.
He looked victorious
as he stood over the fallen
Devil.
His left foot resting
on the defeated horned
foe was a silent statement
that loudly declared: God
triumphs over evil.
It was a dramatic
sculpture depicting the great
battle that was well described
in my grandfather’s story.
He was a good angel
and a brave warrior.
I wanted to be like him.
And during my short
visit to San Miguel, I
managed to persuade a
do so.
The benefits of a strong
community are many.
Political relevance is a
key benefit.
It means we have a seat
at the table when decisions
about our city are being
made.
It means we have the
necessary influence to help
our members in meaningful
ways.
Another benefit is
increasing our overall
financial strength.
Clearly not every
individual within the
community will be rich.
And some will be poor
Views
younger cousin to play the
Devil.
With bamboo sticks we
would simulate the duel
between the good and the
bad, right to the end where
I would raise my make-
believe sword to proclaim
victory.
Today, the role-playing
still continues.
We all have angels
within us. When we protect
others, help others, feel the
pain in others, we become
Michaels.
I see Michael in every
soldier fighting for justice
and freedom. I see Michael
in every fireman, carrying a
child away from a burning
to the point of poverty.
But a strong community
seeks to minimize the
disenfranchisement of its
individuals through the
values mentioned above.
We must never be afraid
to help someone else better
their life.
Individual financial
strength means a financially
stable community overall.
And let’s face it, more
money usually means more
clout.
A rich, coherent
community can be an
awesome thing.
Think about our
community and think about
CITY ANGEL
house.
I see angels everywhere,
in everyone doing the good
deeds as taught in the
Christian faith.
whether or not we meet
these simple criteria.
Are we, the Filipino
community in Toronto,
unified and strong?
I’m not sure.
I really believe most of
us want this.
I know we need this.
We need the strength of
unity and organization.
We need it because our
numbers are growing and
our needs are many.
We need it because we
risk being marginalized as
a people.
Let’s think about this
together and reach for
strength and unity.
When was the
last time that you
were at the lowest
point of your life?
Do you
remember the person
who showed up
when least expected,
just to make things
right for you?
Did it ever
occur to you that
maybe, just maybe,
that person was an
angel disguised as a
stranger, a friend, or
a relative?
What about the time
when you came upon a
desperate person in need of
help?
And for some odd
reason you had all that
was required to solve the
problem and you were so
drawn to the situation.
Would believe that you
were chosen by God to be
one of his angels that day?
Did you ever have the
slightest idea that you are
capable of an angelic task?
Believe it or not, we all
unknowingly rendered and
received a heavenly service,
for others and from others
at one time or another.
We all have our own
unique qualities that can be
instrumental in carrying out
God’s plans.
Let us all be Michaels,
without the wings and the
sword.

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Has Rizal gone green?
(From page 9)
This is trivia and of no
real consequence in our
appreciation of Rizal, his
works and deeds.
Reducing education to a
trivial pursuit is an insult to
the genius and writings of
Rizal and something I am
sure educators really frown
upon.
Is painting Rizal’s house
into green, something ev-
eryone hates and something
we are really not sure about
the only way to communi-
cate the meaning of Rizal’s
surname?
The last word
(From page 9)
Thanks to John
Oostrom for sending
me this story.
***
Four of Canada’s
leading Northern
specialists have won
this year’s Donner Prize
of $50,000 for 2008’s
best book on public
policy with a work
addressing a matter
of high importance
to all Canadians; our
presence in our much
neglected Far North.
The authors’ well-
integrated presentation
speaks well for their
common resolve and
also perhaps, for their
editor’s ability to
recognize the importance of
their book.
Global warming, these
Canadian scientists say,
has hastened the melting
of the polar ice cap and in
the foreseeable future the
Northwest Passage will be
open to shipping most of
the year.
This, apart from
environmental issues, could
present threats to Canadian
sovereignty. The authors
advise immediate action.
The increasing presence
of U.S. oil tankers, cruise
ships and the recent planting
of the Russian flag at the
North Pole are all signs that
Canadians must speak up
for Canada.
The authors see the urgent
need for some tangible form
of government action but
apart from commissioning
studies governments have
lacked the will to speak
out.
For instance, too few
People & Events
We agree with Ocampo
that it is a cute trivia but
it does not deserve such a
huge place, screaming to
the point of inspiring vomit
from onlookers.
In the scheme of what
Rizal has done for our coun-
try, it is less than a tenth of
oen dot in the ellipsis of
Rizal’s life and his achieve-
ments.
We also do not buy what
the Rizalistas said that they
accept the green color to
mean Rizal was an environ-
mentalist.
northerners are currently
engaged in decision making
yet they are Canadians and
know the territory as their
home.
The authors have no
need to rant and rave.
The clarity of their
arguments is enough to
wake us from a state of
apathy and get off our butts
and tell our leaders we want
action.
In the last paragraph
of the book they state:
“Canada has long ignored
the North … While the
weight of history makes
it difficult to imagine real
change, the opportunity for
a dramatically new approach
stands before us.”
“Canada needs to
rediscover its North with
the territories and aboriginal
peoples as full partners.
“It must defend its
northern flank from
challenges even more
significant and real than
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 15
RP envoys to Canada with GMA
The color green taking
the meaning of the environ-
ment is one that evolved
during the modern times,
not during the Spanish pe-
riod.
(The Philippines was
a Spanish colony for over
three centuries.)
The color green then
most probably did not have
any meaning yet.
And did Rizal’s fam-
ily really think about it that
way?
Did they paint their
original house green to pay
tribute to the trivial pursuit
of the meaning of their sur- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomes Philippine Ambassador to
name? Ottawa Jose Brillantes, Consul General to New York Cecilia Rebong and
We do not think so. Consul General to Vancouver Ruth Prado during the courtesy call of del-
Except that this idiot egates to the 5th Ambassadors/Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour
who painted Rizal’s house at Malacanang on July 11. Photo: NIB/MARCELINO PASCUA
green thought so.
That is all that there is
to it.
Enough of hiding below INFINITY TRAVEL AND TOURS
the skirt of historical facts
and detective work.
It does not hold water, -*/&0-2&1011 -*/&0-2&1+))
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“With the right
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and apathy Canada
can re-define the
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Confederation and in
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS?
the process vault this
country into a position
of leadership in a
circumpolar world.”
*The authors: Ken
S. Coates is Professor
CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBTS
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University; P. Whitney MONTHLY PAYMENT
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(Ben Viccari is past
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16 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009
FCT pushes sound mind, body initiatives
(From page 3)
GRADUATES OF FCT-HOSTED ENHANCED ENGLISH LANGUAGE SEMINAR-WORKSHOP
based on participant interest,
he said.
“A major aim of the
program is to engage and
to assist the youth in their
search for their Filipino
identity. The workshops
will also serve as launch
points in the exploration of
identity within the Canadian
society and environment,”
Villanueva added.
The deadline for
registration is on Sept. 1.
Enhanced English
Retired teacher and
active FCT volunteer Tony
San Juan will not be ready
to rest on his laurels yet.
San Juan’s brainchild,
the Enhanced English
Language seminar and
workshop for internationally
educated professionals has
received a thumbs-up from
participants who also asked
for more workshops of this
kind in the near future.
The FCT-sponsored
free seminar was conducted
for three June Saturday
mornings at the Rizal Hall.
By the end of the
workshop, the mostly
female attendees (there
were only two males) had
increased to more than 70.
Topics were related to
preparing the participants
as they face the prospect of
searching for a new job.
The lecturers included
FCT executive vice-
president Rey Tolentino,
a business consultant of
Marketamerica, who talked
on Business and Academic
Presentations; Butch Gali-
cia, Manila Media Monitor
editor, Writing for Specific
Purposes; Norma Bernal,
facilitator and counselor
of Skills for Change,
Successful Job Search:
Tasks and Strategies; Paul
de la Cruz, Philippine
Press Club- Ontario past
president, Understanding
Idiomatic Expressions;
Elsa Mangune, teacher at
17 At the Consulate
(ABOVE) Philippine Vice Consul in Toronto Edna
Mae Grecia Lazar adminsters the oath of office
of Geejit Rodelas, of Lipa City, Batangas, for the
reaquisition of her Filipino citizenship. (BOTTOM)
Consulate Cultural Officer Evangeline Cayongcat
registers Rodelas under the Overseas Absentee
Voter program to vote in the May 2010 national
and local elections. Photos: JOJO TADURAN
the Toronto District School
Board, Career Related
Writing; Alfredo Garcia,
teacher at Diversity at
Work in London, Inc., Oral
Fluency and Pronunciation.
At the closing
ceremonies, Renee Manli-
pon, on behalf of the
participants, expressed
appreciation and thanks to
the project director, the FCT
and the lecturers. – some brought food while Birondo and Wendy Arena,
Certificates of comple- others even contributed co-chairs; and members,
tion were awarded to the money for it,” said Ed Cielito Drapeza, Joan Ang,
participants. Birondo, who helped San Rusela Lising; San Juan,
“They are a group of Juan with the project. project director, Rosalinda
friendly, enthusiastic and The seminar project Javier, FCT president and
organized people. They committee is composed of CEO, and Dr. Victoria
prepared the refreshments Lapulapu Caña, chair; Ed Santiago, FCT board chair.
18 People & Events
Stallions YBA
conducts cage camp
The Stallions Youth Basketball Asso-
ciation (SYBA) started on July 13 the 2009
edition of its annual Summer Basketball
Camp.
The camp, to end on Aug. 28, is con-
ducted at the Willow Wood School gymna-
sium in North York.
According to SYBA coordinator Anna
Lissa Labayen, the camp focuses on the
fundamentals of basketball as it likewise
promotes discipline and listening skills.
Among the things participants will learn
in the camp are:
► Comprehensive skills in basketball
dribbling, passing, shooting, pivoting, foot-
work, rebounding, fast break, and other as-
pects of ball handling,
► Offensive and defensive basketball
techniques,
► The values of hard work, dedication,
discipline and team play, and
► Understanding personal achieve-
ments and team atmosphere.
Participants are the youth born from
1993 to 2000. PR
Volleyball cup, games
highlight Bicol picnic
Bicolanos in Ontario are invited to a pot
luck picnic at the Earl Bales Park on Aug.
16, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Organizers said the picnic will start
with a Mass dedicated to the Virgin of Pe-
ñafrancia, patron saint of the Bicol region
in the Philippines.
Among the activities set during the day-
long event are a cooking contest, the Kara-
kanan, games and contests for children and
adults, and others.
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009
KCCC golf tourney
Swing on over to
the Kalayaan Cultural
to tee off on Aug. 29 Community Centre’s
(KCCC) 2009 Classic
Golf Tournament this
summer!
This charitable
tournament will be
conducted at the Royal
Ontario Golf Club
(Milton, Ontario) on
Aug. 29. Shot gun
starts at 1:30 p.m. It
is a great way to spend
time with friends and
meet new people from
the community! The
green fee, golf cart,
plus awards dinner is
$135 (if paid after Aug.
1), and $125.00 (if paid
Mama Ching, Alex Sales, Mayette Balbastro, and before Aug.1). Join us
Charity Roda-Lim at the 2008 KCCC Golf Classic for a day of fun and
Tournament. PR prizes! PR
Philtor bowling
tilt champions
Team Loco Loco, composed of (from
left) Mark Cuello, Babes Pamulaya,
Joe Caparas and (not in photo) Deo
Manarang smile for the camera after
topping the recently-concluded Phil-
tor Bowling Tournament for 2008 and
2009. Photo: MAR CONCEPCION
A highlight of the picnic is the 2nd Vol-
leyball Cup tournament for men and wom-
en. The crown will be defended by defend-
ing champion Iriga.
The event is themed Karawatan, Kara-
kanan, Baraylihan; Tanganing Kita Gabos
Magkasararo. PR
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
Western Union (2)
Dr. Evangeline M. Bernabe
and Associates (3)
All Debt Solutions, Consul-
ting Services (4)
Liudmila Tomarovskaya (4)
Culture Philippines Ontario
(5)
Dr. Albine A. Miciano Cosme-
tic & General Dentistry (6)
Dr. Arla Rondilla Professional
Corp. (7)
Kaakbay Financial Services
(11)
Ellesmere-Kennedy Dental
Centre (12)
Action Honda (13)
Timeless Images (14)
Photographers for Christ (14)
Infinity Travel & Tours (15)
Mendoza’s Debt/Financial
Services (15)
Townshend College (16)
Clem Cabillan (16)
areyouindebt.ca (16)
Forex (17)
Car for Sale (18)
Henderson Weekes (19)
Tropical Deli (19)
RP-Russian Independence
Day (20)
Laguna Jewellers (20)
GMA Hip-Hop (21)
Dr. Roslyn Sabilano Dentistry
Professional Corp. (22)
CALENDAR
► JULY 25: Kapisanan Philippine Cen-
tre for Arts and Culture 4th Kultura Fes-
tival, 12 noon.
► JULY 25: University of the Philippines
Alumni Association Forum on Live-In
Caregivers, Casa Manila, 10 a.m.
► JULY 25: Camarines Norte Asso-
ciation Canada Potluck Picnic, Seton
Park, 11 a.m.
► AUG. 7: Natives of Catbalogan City
Gala and St. Bartholomew Feast Day,
Grand Banquet and Convention Cen-
tre, Mississauga, 6 p.m.
► AUG. 8: Ultra-Sound Promotions,
Inc. Men of the 80’s, John Bassett The-
atre, Metro Convention Centre, 7 p.m.
► AUG. 8: Skilled Contractors Associa-
tion of Filipino-Canadians in Ontario,
Dinner Meeting, Manila Bistro, 4 p.m.
► AUG. 15 & 16: Filipinos Mak-
ing Waves Festival, Yonge-Dundas
Square.
► AUG. 15: Kalayaan Cultural Commu-
nity Centre 4th Annual 5K Walkathon,
Mississauga.
► AUG. 15: Philippine Chamber of
Commerce Toronto Members’ Appre-
ciation and Networking Dinner-Dance.
► AUG. 15: The Pillars Cultural Asso-
ciation Dual Citizenship Oathtaking.
► AUG. 16: Kalayaan Cultural Com-
munity Centre Annual General Meeting
and Election.
► AUG. 16: Gamma Epsilon Casino
Rama Fundraising Trip, Kennedy Com-
mons, 9 a.m.
► AUG. 16: Bicol Kaogmahan Pot Luck
Picnic, Earl Bales Park, 7 a.m.
► AUG. 22: Gamma Epsilon 46th An-
niversary Party.
► AUG. 23: Malolos Group of Ontario
3rd Annual Golf Tournament, Maples of
Ballantrae Golf Club, Stoufville.
New Conservatory of Music
(22)
UMAC Toronto (23)
Gonzales Dentistry Profes-
sional Corp. (23)
Lovely Travel and Tours (24)
Body Bliss (25)
EAU Solutions, Inc. (26)
Liland Insurance Inc. (27)
LDV Computers (28)
Fay Tsatskina (29)
Ravi Suri (29)
Dr. Miriam Bernacer (30)
Superb Travel Services (30)
Action Honda Wanted Ad (30)
Fiesta Filipino Levis Catering
& Take-Out (31)
Russell International (31)
musicpad.com (32)
Dr. Bernarda Rosales
Verzonilla Family &
Cosmetic Dentistry (33)
T.H.D. Consultants (33)
Innovation Video/Photo (33)
Front Page Philippines (34)
Roadsport Honda (35)
Men of the 80s (36)
OCDC Parcel Services (37)
Seoul Driving School (37)
Perlas ng Silanganan (38)
philcanservice.ca (38)
Moneygram (39)
Dr. Santiago & Associates
(40)
Fairview Dental Centre (40)
JULY 2009 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR 19
20 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 People & Events
THE RUSSIAN CORNER Russia’s Independence Day falls on

Russian, Philippine communities share Independence Day

the same day as the Independence
Day of the Philippines - June 12! To
celebrate this glorious day, Russian
television broadcasting channel
RTVI (Rogers’s channel 636) had
joined the Philippine community in
Toronto at a special dedicated BBQ
event. Our journalist was there to see
and take “photo” notice of the newly-
established cooperation of Russian
and Philippine commu- nities.

(TOP, from left) Photo 1: Group

members of the Russian TV (from
left) Max Kroukov (TV journalist),
Ludmila Tomarovskay (Real Estate),
Olga Ryjkova (Insurance) and
Vladimir Bronnikov (host of TV
show Ethnic People’s TV); Photo 2:
Russians had much to learn at the
festival; Photo 3: Friendly teams of
all ages presented the community
very well.

(MIDDLE, from left) Photo 1: One of

the contestants of “Russian street”
was a well-known company - Kantor;
Photo 2: Business is business, and
business correspondence still took
place during the celebrations; Photo
3: “Russian agents” got mixed with
the crowd.

(BOTTOM, from left) Photo 1: In

the meantime, our male members
decided to get to know our girls;
Photo 2: And Russian girls became
closer to us; Photo 3: Here they
are. Our Russian girls proudly
represent the Russian community
on Independence Day. We celebrate
this day together!!!
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 21
22 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 People & Events
CEMA Awards Gala

ABOVE, from left, Front Page Philippines TV host Gie Alvarez; Manila Media
Monitor managing editor and Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA)
president Ace Alvarez; TV commentator and Manila Media Monitor colum-
nist Ben Viicari and his wife, Anne; and, Doreen Vanini, CEMA corporate

YOUR TRUSTED BUSINESS PARTNERS

secretary, take a breather at the reception following the 2009 CEMA Awards
Gala at Velma Rogers Theatre in downtown Toronto. BELOW, from left, fund-
raising professional Ed Joaquin, Gie Alvarez, music video producer-writer
Jackie Bagadiong-Larin, Ace Alvarez, news cameraman Anthony Larin and
CEMA guest Raffy Stepanian during the same CEMA Awards Gala.

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 People & Events MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 23
Debutante Nikki Dy

Debutante Nikki Dy blows her 18 candles, as parents Jimmy and Mina proud-
ly look on. PR

Bryce Xavier Mendoza graduates

Bryce Xavier Mendoza
graduates from the St.
Julia Catholic Elemen-
tary School on June
24. He excelled in all
academic subjects and
played a key role in the
school’s basketball,
volleyball and softball
teams. With an avid ear
for music, Bryce plays
the drums and piano.
Bryce represented his
peers when he deliv-
ered the Valedictory Ad-
dress. Bryce is flanked
by proud parents Philip
and Maritonne Men-
doza. ROMY ZETAZATE
24 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 People & Events

2565 Steeles Avenue East, Unit 14

Brampton, Ontario L6T 4L6
(Torbram & Steeles)
Tel 905.458.5300
Tel 416.921.3000
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Ont. Reg. Ret. # 04374450
Ont. Reg. Wholesale # 4445433

Alia Brenna’s christening

Alia Brenna Lopez So-
liba (inset) is chris-
PIDC-Kalayaan Freedom Day
Ball pays tribute to heroes
tened at the St. Pascal
Church. Her parents,
siblings and and rela-
tives from Toronto and
from Texas, USA pose The annual PIDC-Kalayaan Indepen-
for posterity after the dence Day Ball, once gain brought together
christening. Below, the Toronto Filipino community’s movers
another photo for the and shaker under an atmosphere of glitter
album at the family’s and pageantry.
home backyard. PR The hottest ticket of the year, the dress-
up affair was held at the Double Tree by
Hilton – Toronto Airport (formerly Interna-
tional Plaza Hotel) last June 6.
The ball is traditionally conducted dur-
ing the early part of June to coincide with
the celebration of Philippine Independence
Day.
In the past few years, the event had
been jointly organized by the Philippine
Independence Day Council (PIDC) and the
Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization,
the community’s largest umbrella organiza-
tions.
The evening festivities started with a
welcome address from Kalayaan chair Ju-
liet Perez, who reminded the audience that
“our heroes fought for freedom so we can
freely do what we want, including the de-
velopment and appreciation of our rich and
This year’s winners of the various PIDC
pageants and last year’s Kalayaan pageant
winners were also presented.
PIDC vice president Bernie Sychangco
and Kalayaan vice chair Linda Carin, this
year’s gala chairs, together with the PIDC
and Kalayaan officers, presented a plaque of
appreciation to outgoing Philippine Consul
General to Toronto Alejandro Mosquera.
Known for giving very brief remarks,
Mosquera this time delivered a more em-
phatic and forceful speech calling to mind
the struggles and heroism of the participants
of the Philippine Revolution that led to the
proclamation of Philippine Independence
Day 111 years ago in Kawit, Cavite.
More importantly, the convivial dip-
lomat, who everybody fondly calls “Con-
Gen”, juxtaposed yesterday’s heroism with
today’s struggles of overseas Filipino work-
ers, the new heroes who are major contribu-
tors to the Philippines’ overall welfare.
PIDC president Jun Enverga comple-
mented Mosquera’s speech by echoing the
latter’s call for unity in the community as

El Nido, Cebu mango candies colorful culture, exemplified by the Pahi-

yas.” This was followed by an invocation
“we work towards contributing to global
efforts to build homes and lives in the Phil-

get raves in Vancouver expo

Philippine destinations, by the country’s enchanting
notably El Nido in Palawan, and exotic 7,107 islands.
and food products attracted The Philippine booth
attention at the EAT! Van- was among the favorite
couver World Culinary and spots as many guests opted
Travel Expo at the BC Place to do photo shoots at the
Stadium in Vancouver, Brit- eye-catching large photo
ish Columbia late May. display of the big lagoon at
A report from the Philip- El Nido Resort in Palawan.
pine Department of Foreign Visitors eagerly gath-
Affairs said many event- ered tourism brochures
goers from Vancouver and and expressed keenness to
other cities and towns in travel to and see Philippine
British Columbia became tourism sites.
interested to visit the Philip- Those who visited Trav-
pines as they were amazed el Cafe Philippines were
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delighted with the specialty
dishes and premium coffee
offered at the restaurant, the
report said.
Mango-rind (mango-
tamarind) candies from
Cebu City were popular
as give-away items among
young and adult Canadians.
The Vancouver culinary
and travel expo is an annual
festival showcasing world
tourism through regional
food, cuisine, cooking,
chefs, hospitality and bev-
erages.
from Fr. Joe Peña. ippines through the programs of Gawad
The gala night is a cultural event where Kalinga.”
members get to wear the most elegant tradi- Enverga also urged everyone to “take
tional Philippine dresses and where the en- care of our own”, a direct allusion to (Fili-
tertainment by Culture Philippines Ontario, pino) caregivers and contract workers who
Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe and the Ka- have fallen victims to abuses by employers
layaan Inter-Generational Rondalla is high- and placement agencies.
lighted by traditional artistic performances. As the evening wore on, the some 500
Song numbers from Chiqui Pineda-Az- guests took to the dance floor, went table
imi, one of the emcees, complemented the hopping to exchange pleasantries or had
group performances. their picture taken in their eye-catching ter-
Pineda-Azimi, together with co-em- nos and barongs.
cee Rey Tolentino, masterfully guided the So went another successful PIDC-Ka-
smooth program flow. layaan gala. PR
Retirement reception, tea
Romeo Ayson
Zetazate (left)
receives words
of praises from
Carolyn Baker,
president and
CEO of the St.
Joseph’s Health
Centre during
the center’s re-
tirement recep-
tion and tea on
June 5. Photo:
DINDO ORBE-
SO
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 25
26 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 People & Events
Contractor’s group sounds call to peers AFCA delegates
The newly-formed which includes skilled members starts at 3 p.m.
Skilled Contractors Associa- workers and handymen.” Besides Chuson, the
tion of Filipino-Canadians Chuson urged them to association officers include
in Ontario is inviting their join the association, which executive vice president
industry peers for a dinner has a primary objective Winston Cadhit, vice
meeting at the Manila Bistro of encouraging a spirit of president (West) Wilberth
along Brimley and Sheppard cooperation and brotherhood Serafin Vallon, vice
on Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. among members. president (East) Ramon
Association president During the meeting, San Juan, secretary Larry
Willie Chuson, Jr. said the the group’s objectives and Manaois, treasurer Exzar
dinner-meeting “is part proposed activities will be Haduca, auditor Joey Guyo,
of the group’s expansion presented and discussed. PRO Charlie Guyo and sgt.-
program for membership, Registration for new at-arms Hoover Osea. PR
Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants (AFCA) members celebrate
Global issues to top Obama-Arroyo meet the election of peers Buddy Ibe as National Council of Philippine American
(From page 1) Canadian Accountants (NCPACA) president for 2010-2011; Minerva Garcia,
press release said. tor partners and business “As a strategic ally and NCPACA secretary; Marlo Mallari, NCPACA governor general, Board of
Embassy spokesperson groups. friend of the Philippines, Councillors; and Ted Dayno, NCPACA councillor, during the 23rd Annual
Rebecca Thompson said No other details were the U.S. has extended as- Professional Development Convention in Illinois, Chicago, July 2 to 5. Above
Obama and Macapagal- given. sistance in support of both are members of the AFCA delegation to the convention. JESS CARLOS
Arroyo “will have an op- The Department of For- countries’ shared goals of
portunity to discuss ways
to enhance US and Philip-
eign Affairs (DFA) said the
visit “is an affirmation of
peace, progress and pros-
perity,” according to DFA.
USTAA wins PCUAA Summerfest crown
pine cooperation on criti- the strong partnership be- The trip to Washington The University of ciation was first runner- raucous rooting, clapping,
cal global issues including tween the two countries that was preceded by lightning Santo Tomas Alumni up; Ateneo Alumni Asso- whistling and socializing
counter-terrorism and cli- share historical and cultural visits to Manila of U.S. De- Association (USTAA) ciation, second runner-up; throughout, which energized
mate change.” ties and common democrat- fense Secretary Gates and won the championship and Central Philippine Uni- protagonists in the contests.
The meeting will “fur- ic values.” CIA director Leon Panetta trophy in this year’s versity Alumni Associa- The different groups
ther the traditionally strong The DFA said both lead- the past days. edition of the Philippine tion, third runner-up. wore their respective school
alliance and bond between ers are “expected to discuss The U.S. embassy said Colleges and Universities Like typical energetic colors and insignias in t-
our nations,” Thompson the Philippines’ poverty the visits were in “keeping Alumni Associations co-eds of their time, alumni shirts, hats, caps and other
said. alleviation and economic with on-going high-level (PCUAA) Summerfest at from different schools paraphernalia.
While in Washington, resiliency programs, good engagement between the the Mississauga Valley cheered, hooted, and yelled They sang their campus
President Arroyo will also governance, counter-terror- United States and the Phil- Community Centre Park on to their hearts delight as they hymns and visited and ate at
meet with key U.S. govern- ism efforts and its contribu- ippines on issues of impor- July 12. rooted for their respected each other’s picnic tables.
ment officials and members tions to peace and security tance to both countries.” This is the third time teams who hopped like PCUAA has over
of Congress, private sec- in the region.” PNA the Thomasians in Greater rabbits in the sack race, or 15 groups representing
Press and captioned photo releases submitted to the Manila Media Monitor are for PUB- Toronto copped the much- tumbled and scrambled in universities and colleges in
LIC SERVICE and FREE OF CHARGE; but subject to strict editorial appreciation. Send coveted trophy. the tug-of-war and plank the Philippines, and aims
them to butchgalicia@yahoo.com or mediamonitor@rogers.com on or before the 8th of Last year’s champion, race. Regardless of age to foster camaraderie and
each month. the University of the and year they graduated close ties among members.
Philippines Alumni Asso- from school, they went on ROSE TIJAM

Gamma Epsilon Fundraiser

Gamma Epsilon and Gamma Lambda Epsilon members in Canada Sonny

and Gina Montojo, Ruel and Mary Grace Cadavos, Amor Gaborno Maribel
Montemayor, Evelyn Darcera-Cantago, Nap Albarillo, Vic and Malou Distrito,
Calvin Faminial, Alma Faller and Sam Asuncion led another successful fra-
ternity/sorority Casino Rama fundraiser trip. The next Casino Rama trip is
scheduled on Aug. 16, with aassembly at Kennedy Commons at 9 a.m. The
fraternity/sorority will also celebrate its 46th anniversary on Aug. 22. The
group likewise went on camping at Sibbald Point on July 17 to 19. PR

Parucha turns 92
Flanked by family
members, Filipino war
veteran and Fil-Can
community leader
Alex Parucha slices
his birthday cake dur-
ing the celebration of
his 92nd natal year on
June 19 in East York,
Ontario. The event was
also attended by hun-
dreds of friends, Phil-
ippine government of-
ficials, and community
leaders. Photo: OSCAR
MARANAN
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 27

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A ray of hope for renal failure sufferers
(From page 9)
of 2003) not long after the
Istanbul Declaration was
drafted in May 2008.
The Human Trafficking
Project, a site dedicated to
raising awareness of human
trafficking and exploring
innovative solutions to
combat modern day slavery,
reports that “Filipinos are
the cheapest source of
kidneys in the global black
market for human organs,
selling them for a measly
$1,500.”
The same report cites
many Filipinos in dire
need of cash to be the
usual victims of an illegal
kidney-harvesting network
operating in various parts of
the country.
Most of the time,
these poor Filipinos are
being duped into selling
their kidneys for a meager
amount.
In the case of Barrido,
Nick Paman of the Canadian
Aid and Relief Project
(or CARP), acting on the
medical documentation that
CARP founding president
Dr. Portugal tirelessly
issued, pleaded the case of
Barrido before the Ministry
of Health.
Their efforts paid off.
They have proven that
the facilities of St. Luke’s
Hospital are in fact world-
class; many of the medical
staff are Europe- and US-
certified specialists.
Having hurdled the
major obstacle, CARP won
OHIP approval to have the
procedure and necessary
medical-related expenses
involved in the kidney
28 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009
At the Carabram Festival
Miss Manila ‘09 Celine
Zoleta, 1st runner-up
Ylynne Enriquez and
Miss Manila People’s
Choice Hazel Nanes
(left photo) grace the
Carabram Festival in
Brampton, July 10 to 12.
During the festival, the
Fiesta Filipina Dance
Troupe (photos at right)
showcased Philippine
dances. Photos: NOLI
GUMAPAC
transplant covered.
While a few other
Canadians have enjoyed a
similar privilege, Barrido’s
is the first case involving
the Philippines.
It is therefore precedent-
setting.
Two major organizations
have actually been involved
in the process.
On the Canadian end,
CARP contributed in the
movement of Barrido’s
name on the Canadian Organ
Replacement Register and
in obtaining OHIP’s nod for
coverage of the Philippine
procedure.
On the Philippine side,
MedTour facilitated the
registration and certification
of the donor (adhering
to Istanbul Declaration
guidelines), as well as
People/Events
the verification of St.
Luke’s Hospital’s medical
capabilities.
MedTour is a Canadian-
owned marketing agency
specializing in Medical
Tourism.
The company provides
free service to Canadian
patients since it is the
hospitals in the Philippines
that pay their services.
For its part, CARP
will assist the Barrido
family with other attendant
expenses like the plane fare,
local daily expenses (other
than those incurred in the
hospital like medicine,
professional fees, etc.,
which will be covered by
OHIP), and possibly other
follow-up medical expense
not ordinarily covered by
OHIP.
CARP already received
$500 from the Canadian
Medical Association for the
purpose.
Founded only less than
a year ago, CARP recently-
opened a nine-bed charity
clinic in Purok Maligaya, a
depressed area in Antipolo,
Rizal.
The clinic is heaven-
sent to the community’s
population of 20,000 who,
for the most part, could not
access affordable medical
services.
Soon, as more and more
Ontario hospitals donate
dialysis machines to CARP,
the clinic will be converted
into a dialysis unit for the
poor.
We wish Danilo Barrido a
successful kidney transplant
in the Philippines.
Teachers’ group
donate books
The Philippine Teach-
ers Association of Canada
(PTAC) has donated boxes
of used and new books and
reference materials to the
Philippine Normal Univer-
sity, Technological Univer-
sity of the Philippines and
the Marikina Institute of
Science and Technology.
PTAC vice president and
book donation chair Tony
San Juan said the donation
was part of the group’s on-
going Outreach Initiatives
Program.
The shipments consist-
ed of program-based and
profession-focused titles in
education, business, engi-
neering, management, sci-
ence, social sciences and
technology and other library
resource materials.
Besides the book dona-
tion, PTAC is involved in
programs like the Teachers
Ultimate Registration in
Ontario, Tutorial Academic
Support Knowledge, Lan-
guage Instruction in Filipi-
no Enrichment, and Teach-
ers Education Assistance
for Career Hatchway. JEN-
NIFER SJ MACLEAN
READ, LEARN,
KNOW.
 People & Events
Front Page Philippines: Top-rated show?
(From page 7)
Philippine Courier sent
out an invitation to us (his
media colleagues) to the
Sharon Cuneta Concert
slated the following day at
the Roy Thomson Hall in
downtown T.O.
At the end of the
invitation, Mon stated,
“See you all at the Sharon
Cuneta LIVE on Sunday!
... maraming salamat po.
Pakiusap lang po sa akin
ito ng ating mabait na
producer/kaibigang Ruth
at Lito Ronquillo.”
Unto Ruth and
Lito Ronquillo, I say:
“O ayan ha! Alagaan
ninyong mabuti si Mon,
para hindi magkaroon
ng komplikasyon; and
please … please … do not
make waves sa inyong
mga festivals… or I mean
concerts, para hindi
magalit si Sir Mondee.”
Ayos na ‘yan, Mon! All
the best, my friend!
***
As I took a walk
one Thursday afternoon
at Eglinton Square in
Scarborough, Ontario,
I happened to pass by
electronics store, The
Source, and saw TV program
Front Page Philippines on.
FRONT PAGE PHILIPPINES at THE SOURCE
Immediately, I took my
mobile phone/camera and
took a still of what was in
progress (thus, pardon us
at Manila Media Monitor
for the poor quality of the
picture) – an interview by
program host, Gie Alvarez,
with the officers of the
Philippine Independence
day Council (PIDC),
who were, at that time,
promoting the July 18
Mabuhay Festival.
It’s not true, however,
that a week later, I phoned
BBM Nielsen Media
Research after it released
the list of the top TV
programs for the past
week. Neither was it true
that the conversation went
something like this:
“Hello, my name is
Ace Alvarez, and am the
producer of Front Page
Philippines, airing on
OMNI 2 Television in
Ontario and in Alberta.
“I’m calling to complain
why Front Page Philippines
is not in your list of the top
TV shows during the past
week.”
“Mr. Alvarez … let me
ask you a few things ...”.
“No, listen to me first,
my friend.”
So, I explained to the
guy on the other line that
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 29
Remember MJ in Manila, 1976?
The late King of Pop Michael Jackson was guest at the Philippine noontime
television show Student Canteen in 1976. The show was hosted by former
Senator Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma, and Connie Reyes. Photo: Courtesy
of LIZA ILARDE, sent in by JOJO TADURAN
Thursday last, I was at the Ontario and Alberta, then “Mr. Alvarez, ….”
Eglinton Square and saw ADD the viewership via “No, you listen to me.”
that Front Page Philippines the three satellite providers ‘NO, YOU LISTEN
was on. in Canada that the CRTC TO ME, MR. ALVAREZ.
While you, readers, allows to operate, PLUS, Our ratings do not include
see that there are only five the viewers at home – community shows.”
television sets in the photo, INCLUDING the mother of “Oh … well in this case
there were a lot more and lawyer Maria Louisa Diaz, – what’s your name, sir? …
only one of those television who loves the program I’ll just ask Jun, or Rosemer
sets was showing another so much, PLUS Surjit of Enverga and Minda Neri of
program other than Front Lovely Travel and Tours, the PIDC if we can have an
Page Philippines. PLUS, Bert de la Cruz increase in rate for tapings
I explained to BBM – husband of Delamarc of PIDC segments in the
Nielsen that if there are 11 Travel’s Cora de la Cruz. show, since television sets
televisions sets on display, ALSO, Darius Ciria – that on display at The Source
they should multiply that guy who sings with gusto tune in on Front Page
by the number of branches “Totoy Bibo”. ADD to that Philippines. Thank you,
that The Source has across …” sir.”

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30 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 The Philippines

Tourist boom spells better life for Puerto ...
(From page 13)
targets travelers visiting the
Underground River.
His earning supports his
family. “‘Di kasi ako na-
katuntong ng high school.
Magaan na trabaho ito, ku-
mikita at marangal naman
kaya kinarir ko na (I have
not reached high school.
This job is easy, I am earn-
ing and proud of it that’s
why I decided to make it my
career),” the vendor said.
Life after retirement
Roquito “Rocky” Lam-
pa, a retired military officer,
bought a shuttle van.
“There is life after re-
tirement. There is a regu-
lar schedule of passengers
daily. A one way trip to the
Underground River costs
P3,500. With my earning, I
have been able to purchase
another brand new van,”
narrated Lampa.
Source of income
Remedios Patricio, 49,
lives in Barangay Tagabi-
net, near Sabang beach.
Daily, she goes to the
restaurant of her friend.
“Nangunguha ako ng
kaning-baboy para pagkain
ng mga alaga ko (I col-
lect left-over foods for my
pigs),” Manang Remedios
said.
She plans to widen her
pigpen that has two barakos
(boars) and 11 piglets.
She sells the pigs and
buys medicine and school
supplies for her children.
“Dahil sa dami ng tao
dito, kahit anong pwedeng
pagkakitaan ginagawa ko.
Minsan naglilinis ako ng
kuko o kaya nagtitinda ng
gulay sa mga restaurant.
Malaki ang kinikita namin
ngayon (Due to the influx
of tourists, I venture on any-
thing to earn. I sometimes
do manicure or sell vegeta-
ble for the restaurants. We
earn well now),” Manang
Remedios narrated.
Her earnings financed
her children’s education.
She has two elementary
pupils, one high school stu-
dent and one college under-
graduate.
“Maganda pag ganito.
May pagkain sa mesa, may
pampaaral sa mga bata,
may pampagawa ng ba-
hay (This is good. There is
food on our table, money
for education and house im-
provement),” an excited and
teary-eyed Remedios said
while feeding her piglets.
Earning spree
“Everybody is earning.
Operators of Internet café,
ukay-ukay, souvenir shops,
fish and vegetable deal-
ers, tricycle drivers, tourist
guides – they are earning,”
city “first lady” Ma. Elena
Hagedorn, head of the Spe-
cial Events Division, said.
The DOT reported that
tourist arrivals in Puerto
Princesa and Coron town
in northern Palawan grew
by 392 percent with visitors
coming from Manila, Cebu,
and Caticlan as well as Kota
Kinabalu in Malaysia.
“This year, the Phil-
ippines has been topping
travel ticket sales and wide-
spread publicity in Conti-
nental Europe’s most in-
fluential and leading travel
magazines and trade publi-
cations,” Tourism Secretary
Joseph Ace Durano said.
International gateway
The national govern-
ment, through the Depart-
ment of Transportation and
Communications, is under-
taking the rehabilitation and
expansion of Puerto Prince-
sa’s airport terminal to meet
international standards and
increasing demand.
“Puerto Princesa City is
being developed as an inter-
national gateway due to de-
mand for direct internation-
al flights to China, Korea,
Japan, Asian and European
countries and vice versa,”
Durano explained.
Hagedorn said: “By
2011, there will be no stop-
ping for tourist advent. We
can beat the figure posted
by Boracay. It will mean
more money for our peo-
ple.” PNA

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 The Philippines MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 31
Street food fare

Home-prepared and cleanly-packaged kakanin (native delicacies) fill food

stalls set up along sidewalks of busy streets in town centers and cities by
enterprising Filipinos. Pedestrians are offered a variety of tasty treats that
make for dessert on the home’s table. Photo: PNA/NIB

Mining threatens Rasa isle bird sanctuary

PUERTO PRINCESA
CITY - Environmentalist
Dr. Jose Antonio Socrates
urged officials to stop the
possible destruction of Rasa
Island, one of the country’s
13 bird watching sites, in
Narra, southern Palawan
because of the operations of
three mining firms.
Socrates, board chair of
non-state group Bahatala
Inc., said he is alarmed over
the effect of the operation
of Narra Nickel Mining and
Development Corp., the
Palawan Alpha South Re-
sources Development Corp.
and Patricia Louise Mining
and Development Corp. on
the ecosystem of the Rasa
Island Wildlife Sanctuary.
The island has probably
the densest population of
the critically endangered
Philippine cockatoo (Caca-
tua haematuropygia) in the
wild, he said.
Socrates cited the dis-
persal by sea currents of
sediments, including silt,
out to sea, by mining opera-
tions.
“Instead, the sediments
are funneled towards and
accumulate where the Cusps
converge, in this case at Ca-
suarina Point, where there
is a long sand bar jutting
out to Rasa Island’s fring-
ing coral reef and mangrove
swamps,” he said. PNA
32 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 Money
GOT A FOREX DEAL? May remittances post record
Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the dollars
you have had exchanged since June 17. This is a pub-
lic service item from Manila Media Monitor’s Money
and Business section.
US$ Cdn$
3.7% growth at US$1.48B
July 17 47.86975 42.91782 MANILA - Remittances By JOANN S. VILLANUEVA overseas Filipino workers
July 16 48.07118 43.03308 sent by overseas Filipinos (OFWs).
July 15 47.94312 42.84182 (OFs) registered another re- He also cited the in-
July 14 48.15190 42.38548 cord high in May 2009 after creased access of OFWs and
July 13 48.28207 41.87277 it increased by 3.7 percent their beneficiaries to more
year-on-year to US$1.48 financial products and ser-
July 10 48.20318 41.37410
billion from year-ago’s vices offered by banks and
July 09 48.22605 41.50091 US$1.43 billion. other counterparts abroad.
July 08 48.22299 41.49121 Bangko Sentral ng Tetangco said requests
July 07 48.18334 41.42836 Pilipinas (BSP) Governor for more OFWs continued
July 06 48.20574 41.51816 Amando Tetangco Jr. said to come due to more hir-
July 03 48.02304 41.32600 the latest figure beat the ing agreements between the
July 02 48.09194 41.45582 US$1.47 billion inflow last government and host coun-
July 01 48.15313 41.89517 March, bringing the year- tries like Qatar, Saudi Ara-
to-date amount to US$6.98 bia, Canada, Australia and
June 30 48.15898 41.44305
billion or a 2.8-percent in- Japan.
June 29 48.20549 41.62546 crease from US$6.79 billion He cited a recent report
June 26 48.00823 41.63514 a year ago. of the Department of Labor
June 25 48.27233 41.68415 The inflows came mostly grew by 4.6 percent while providing some basis for and Employment (DOLE)
June 24 48.05758 41.93301 from the United States, Can- those from land-based work- cautious optimism regard- regarding the government’s
June 23 48.34913 41.82266 ada, Saudi Arabia, the Unit- ers jumped by 2.4 percent. ing steady remittance levels bilateral agreement with
June 22 48.21565 41.77962 ed Kingdom, Japan, Singa- “The stream of remit- for 2009,” he said. South Korea on the employ-
June 19 48.25789 42.75343 pore, United Arab Emirates, tances from overseas Filipi- Tetangco traced the ro- ment of OFWs.
Italy and Germany. nos continued to show signs bust remittance growth to He said officials of
June 18 48.38401 42.92891 Tetangco said inflows of strength despite lingering the continued demand for DOLE and their South Ko-
June 17 48.24565 42.43047 from sea-based workers global economic fragilities, professional and skilled (To page 33)

WB ok’s US$200M in loans to fund RP dev’t projects Abaca, cotton better than
MANILA - The World By LESLIE D. VENZON tional Finance Corporation, polymer for peso bills
Bank (WB) has approved the private sector financ-
$200 million in loans to sup- Hofman said. ernance in the irrigation ing arm of the WB Group,
port the Philippine govern- With its new Country sector and enhance food se- ranges from $250 million to MANILA - The Bangko sumers unhappy.
ment’s programs aimed to Assistance Strategy (CAS) curity. $300 million a year. Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) “Polymer technology is
address high food prices and covering fiscal years 2010- The RPP is aimed at IFC’s investments in fis- would much prefer to print also more expensive. Be-
strengthen social protection 2012, “the Bank is in bet- reducing poverty and im- cal year 2009 focused on money on cotton material sides, we made a commit-
and safety nets for the poor ter position to help address proving the quality of life of supporting privatization of fortified with abaca strands ment to help support the
in the midst of the global fi- the country’s development 10,000 households in hard- the power sector, commit- than invest in more expen- local abaca industry,” Tet-
nancial crisis. needs as it battles the impact to-reach and poorest areas ting a total of $183.5 million sive technology based on angco said.
The fund, called the of the evolving global reces- of the country, particularly for two projects, the Am- polymer. Twenty percent of all
Global Food Crisis Response sion,” Hofman said. Mindanao. buklao-Binga hydroelectric BSP governor Amando peso bills in circulation
Program Development Poli- He said the remaining The ARCDP2 is geared dam and the Energy Devel- Tetangco Jr. said that while contain abaca fibers as for-
cy Operation (DPO), is part $120 million would finance for the completion of criti- opment Corporation. the choice has yet to be tifying material while cot-
of over $320 million in total the $70-million Participa- cal infrastructure covering The WB’s total net com- made, the experience re- ton accounts for 80 percent,
loans the WB provided to tory Irrigation Development 4,153 hectares in several mitments (approved and ported by Thailand on poly- Deputy BSP governor Ar-
help the Philippines weather Project (PIDP); the $40-mil- provinces. ongoing projects) as of May mer-based baht bills has mando Suratos, who heads
the economic slowdown. lion Rural Power Project The WB, under the CAS 2009 was $1.39 billion, mellowed the plan to dump the BSP’s Security Printing
“Fiscal year 2009 was (RPP); and the $10-million for fiscal years 2010 to 2012, covering 24 active projects traditional materials for new Plant in Quezon City, said.
particularly challenging Second Agrarian Reform has committed $700 million spread into various sectors, technology. Tetangco said the multi-
as the Philippines and the Communities Development to $1 billion per year to the including infrastructure (37 Tetangco said the central sector Numismatic Com-
rest of the world were hit Project (ARCDP2). Philippines, on top of grants percent), human develop- bank of Thailand has night- mittee should soon come up
by shocks coming from the The PIDP is designed to and a large program of ana- ment (28 percent), rural mares on polymer-based with new designs to replace
global food crisis and the improve irrigation service lytical advisory activities. development and the envi- baht bills as they wrinkle existing peso bills that have
global financial meltdown,” delivery, boost agricultural In addition, the invest- ronment (23 percent), social and wither in the tropical served the purpose well the
WB Country Director Bert productivity, improve gov- ment program of the Interna- (To page 33) sun and making Thai con- past 30 years. PNA

SAGOT(MULA
SASABATID
PAHINA 38)
WIKA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
A L I D K A L A N S A Y
12 13
T A G U L A M I N A P A
14 15 16
I T I K P A H A R I P
17 18 19 20
S A K I M A S M A
21 22 23 24 25 26
T I K I M A G A D
27 28 29 30 31
K A S T I S A N A K I
32 33 34 35
A L E H A L A L T I K
36 37 38 39
H I N G I A L A E T O
40 41 42
A S A L A M I G A
43 44 45 46 47 48
K O E D A N G A T
49 50 51 52 53 54
E D U K O P A G A G O
55 56
P A L I B A L A G B A G
57 58
A M O R S E K O I I S A

Team Manila to debut in Toronto
Trend-setting, Philip-
pine-based clothing and ap-
parel company, Team Ma-
nila will make its debut in
Canada during the Kultura
Arts Festival in Toronto on
July 25.
Festival host Kapi-sanan
Philippine Centre for Arts
and Culture is Team Ma-
nila’s authorized reseller in
Canada. (Related item on
page 35)
“Bringing Team Manila
products to Canada is really
exciting for us. Not only are
we making high quality Phil-
ippine-made products avail-
Mortgage penalty box
by Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
Are low mortgage rates
capturing your attention
these days?
If you already have
a mortgage at a higher
rate than those currently
available, you may be
considering refinancing to
take advantage of a lower
rate.
But is that always a good
idea?
It’s almost guaranteed
that you’ll run into penalties
and pre-payment charges
– they are nearly universal
in the Canadian mortgage
market – that could offset
any gains you might expect.
Here are some things
you should know so you
won’t find yourself in the
mortgage penalty box.
Why do I have to pay
a pre-payment or penalty
charge for refinancing my
mortgage?
When your mortgage
lender provided your
fixed-rate loan to you, they
matched your loan against
a funding source that was
available to them.
For example, if your
mortgage term is for five
years, the funds may have
been sourced from the five-
year term deposit of another
client.
Your lender has the
obligation to pay the term
deposit holder the agreed
May remittances post ...
(From page 32)
rean counterparts signed a
memorandum of agreement
last May 2009 for the hiring
of up to 5,000 OFWs to be
deployed in South Korea’s
manufacturing industry and
other sectors within the next
ten months.
The DOLE said the
Philippine Overseas Labor
Office in Tripoli has also
started talks with the Health
SURF THE NET
manilamediamonitor.com
Money
able to the Canadian market,
we are also breaking ground
in creating a social enter-
prise model to contribute
to the overall sustainability
of the organization,” said
Kapisanan executive direc-
tor Caroline Mangosing.
Kapisanan will carry
Team Manila products in-
cluding men’s, women’s,
and children’s graphic t-
shirts, tote bags, and others.
“We couldn’t have found a
better organization to part-
ner with because Kapisanan
also promotes Filipino cul-
ture in a youthful, modern,
rate of interest for the entire
five years.
If interest rates have
declined during that period
and you seek to refinance
your mortgage loan, your
lender will not be able
to replace your paid-out
mortgage at the same rate,
but will still have to pay
the ‘funding source’ – the
term deposit holder – at the
agreed interest rate.
The pre-payment charge,
or penalty, is meant to
compensate the lender for
income they have lost and
other costs associated with
the early payout of your
mortgage.
What kind of penalties
can I expect to pay?
All major banks and
mortgage lenders typically
levy pre-payment charges of
either the greater of 90 days
interest or the Interest Rate
Differential (IRD).
The IRD is based on the
amount you prepay and an
interest rate that equals the
difference between your
original mortgage interest
rate and the interest rate
your lender can charge today
when re-lending the money.
In a declining interest
rate environment, the IRD
can add up to thousands of
dollars.
When can it pay to
refinance my mortgage?
Ministry for the recruitment
of about 4,000 Filipino med-
ical workers in Libya.
Tetangco said govern-
ment efforts to help re-
trenched OFWs get another
job either in the same coun-
try or region also lessened
the number of displaced
OFWs, ensuring continued
healthy flow of remittances.
PNA
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 33
and stylish way. This is very
much in line with Team Ma-
nila’s approach,” said Nico
Bacani, general manager of
Team Manila.
Established in 2001 and
born out of a garage studio
in Makati, Team Manila
Graphic Design has become
one of the Philippines’ most
influential design studios.
This partnership between
Kapisanan and Team Manila
allows Filipino-Canadians
hungry for a relatable con-
nection to the homeland to
access modern Filipino aes-
thetic in fashion. PR
If you are within the
first three years of a five-
year term, the impact of
‘blending’ your existing
mortgage interest rate into
a new rate and extending
the term portion of your
new loan may prove to be a
‘wash’ – no win, no loss.
However, it is possible
to take advantage of a
lower rate if you are
planning to refinance and
add significantly to your
mortgage amount.
In this situation, the new,
lower rate would apply to all
of the ‘new money’ portion
and the extended term
portion of your new loan.
The effect is that your
blended rate becomes T.H.D. CONSULTANTS
significantly lower.
Some lenders will 4800 Sheppard Ave., East Unit 123, Scarborough, Ont., M1S 4N5
reduce the penalty amount Tel. Nos. (416) 335-8555; (416) 609-8912
for clients that refinance
with them. ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING SERVICES
Additionally, some Computerized Accounting
lending institutions offer Financial Statement
occasional promotions that INCOME TAX SERVICES
assist with the payment of Individual & Corporate Tax Returns
penalties when the mortgage Small to Medium Size Companies
is being transferred to them
from another lender. COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Refinancing your Installing, Training & Support of
ACCPAC Simply Accounting Package
mortgage might be the right
cost-saving move for you.
For free consultations please call ................... Ted H. Dayno, BBA
To be sure, talk to a
Registered Professional Accountant
professional advisor who
may help you find a lending To book your appointment please call ........... Anna Eusebio @ (416) 609-8912
source that won’t put you in
the mortgage penalty box.
WB ok’s ...
(From page 32)
development (10 percent)
and governance (two per-
cent).
It also has 81 active trust
funds with a total net grant
amounting to $137 million
for development initiatives
in several key result areas,
including productivity and
employment and social ser-
vice delivery in poor areas.
PNA
34 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
Signs, confidence pointing to recession’s end
Poor countries need to rethink
development model - UN report
UNITED NATIONS
- With the world’s poorest
countries bearing the brunt
of the global economic cri-
sis, a United Nations (UN)
report has asked their gov-
ernments to review the
development model they
have followed for the past
three decades if they are to
substantially reduce pov-
erty and achieve long-term
growth.
The report from the
UN Conference on Trade
and Development (UNC-
TAD), released on July 17,
says the crisis should be
grasped as a turning point
for the so-called Least De-
veloped Countries (LDCs),
a classification grouping the
world’s 49 poorest states.
“The magnitude of the
crisis offers both the neces-
sity and an opportunity for
change,” according to the
report, which says LDCs
are particularly vulnerable
to the current crisis because
they have small economies
and are so dependent on
JULY 2009
international trade, capital
flows and finance.
The report notes that, in
recent decades, many LDCs
have severely reduced the
role of government in pro-
moting development.
Yet the current crisis
has exposed the myth of
self-regulating markets and
neo-liberal economic poli-
cies have also failed in tack-
ling other problems such as
bottlenecks in production,
chronic deficits and short-
ages of skills and knowl-
edge among the labor force.
The roles of the state
and the market must be re-
balanced, UNCTAD argues,
and many affluent countries
have already started shifting
to include a much bigger
role for the state in econom-
ic management, especially
through fiscal stimulus
packages.
Yet this tendency has
been more evident in the
advanced countries than in
the developing world most
LDCs simply cannot afford
to deploy similar packages.
Most LDCs are also
behind schedule in their ef-
forts to achieve the Millen-
nium Development Goals
(MDGs), the globally agreed
set of social and economic
targets that are supposed to
be realized by 2015.
The report recommends
that poor countries therefore
build a new developmen-
tal state that ensures much
greater collaboration be-
tween the state and the pri-
vate sector, and boosts in-
vestment and technological
capabilities so that a more
diverse range of products
can be made.
Wealthy countries must
boost their support for
struggling nations as well,
the report emphasizes. This
is not simply a question of
more and better aid, but also
the design of rules that gov-
ern international economic
relationships with regard
to trade, finance, invest-
ment and technology flows.
PNA/APP
MONEY
By JULIAN BELTRAME, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Is the re-
cession nearing its end? It’s
an intriguing question - and
impossible to answer defin-
itively since economic data
is never so current or pre-
cise - but there is a growing
perception backed by some
statistics that a bottom to the
long and painful downturn
has been reached sometime
in July.
That third-quarter opti-
mism may stem from one of
the biggest culprits of what
will likely turn out to have
been a weak second quarter
- automobile production
The U.S. forecasting
firm Macroeconomic Ad-
visers is bullish about third-
quarter growth - the July to
September period - because
of the restart of Chrysler
production and ramping
up at General Motors this
month, anticipating the auto
boost alone could add two
percent to output growth in
the US during the period.
Even New York Uni-
versity economics profes-
sor Nouriel Roubini, often
called Dr. Doom, told a con-
ference that “the free fall of
the economy has stopped,”
although he believes it is
still suffering a slow con-
traction.
Canadian output will
also get a jump with the re-
start of Chrysler plants and
spill-over effects on the auto
parts sector from the U.S.
activity, say economists.
“To the extent that pat-
tern is true, it would likely
get reflected here in Canada
as well,” said Paul Ferley,
assistant chief economist
with the Royal Bank.
The auto spring stall and
summer restart will result
in a bigger bounce to gross
domestic product during the
third quarter than the real
numbers justify, as Scotia-
bank economist Derek Holt
has pointed out. That’s be-
cause any growth from zero
appears strong.
Most economists in
Canada are still looking
for a flat or small decline
in GDP during the summer
months, which would mean
that technically the reces-
sion has not ended.
But some, including
Ferley, believe the economy
will grow modestly.
The Royal Bank is offi-
cially calling for a 0.8 per-
cent increase, which would
mean Canada’s slump lasted
three quarters - the 3.7 per-
cent contraction in the fourth
quarter of 2008, the 5.4 per-
cent drop in this year’s first
quarter and the projected
second-quarter decline of
about two percent.
TD Bank chief econo-
mist Don Drummond,
among the country’s lead-
ing and most pessimistic
forecasters, is calling for a
slight contraction during the
summer months, but adds:
“Let’s face it, as we roll into
mid-July, we are getting
very close to the bottom of
this thing. Everything seems
to be lining up to point to
that (growth), both in Cana-
da and the United States.”
The sentiment has been
reflected in stock markets,
which after early July’s ugly
retreat, recouped most the
losses in the past week.
Stock markets are said to
predict economic conditions
six months down the road,
but there has been some
positive real data to support
the optimism, including the
recent employment report in
Canada that found job losses
slowing sharply.
(To page 35)
3 P.M.
 Arts & Culture MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 35
Philippine Artists Group livens up Art09 international fair

Philippine Artists Group in Canada members (right photo, from left, standing)
Celia Correa, Toots Quiachon, Jun Afable, Omel Masalunga, Nellie Bautista,
Teody Asuncion, Frank Tonido, Nelia Tonido, (from left, sitting) Jhun
Diamante, Romi MananQuil, (not in photo) Rolly Abarilla, Cobie Cruz, Rol
Lampitoc and Koni Marcoux have mounted an awesome display of Philippine
art (photo above) during the Art09 International Art Fair at the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre from June 12 to 14. The Philippine artist joined some 200
artists from Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada
China, Cuba, Czechoslavakia, Egypt, Finland, France, Hungary, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Poland, Turkey and the
USA in the fair. PR

Signs, confidence pointing to ...

(From page 34)
In the past three months,
a total of 13,000 jobs have
been lost in Canada, accord-
ing to Statistics Canada, as
opposed to 273,000 in the
first three months of 2009.
As well, house sales
have recovered - although
mostly driven by low prices
and low mortgage rates -
and the Bank of Canada’s
latest business survey found
executives decidedly bull-
ish about prospects over the
next 12 months.
The start of all the trouble
- U.S. housing - showed un-
expected strength with stats
rising 3.6 percent in June to
582,000. That’s still 46 per
ent below last year’s level,
but well above November’s
floor of 479,000 units.
“For the first time since
late 2005, (U.S.) residential
construction stands a rea-
sonable chance of contribut-
ing to economic growth in
the second half of the year,”
said Sal Guatieri of BMO
Capital Markets, welcome
news to Canada’s on-the-
floor forestry sector.
July also saw two sur-
prisingly strong earnings
reports from U.S. financial
giants JPMorgan Chase and
Goldman Sachs.
Most economic data has
been negative, in line with
the latest leading indicators
report from Statistics Cana-
da, which came in at minus
0.1 percent for June.
Drummond cautions that
growth, when it returns, will
be extremely modest. The
CANADIAN PRESS
Kapisanan stages Kultura festival
The Kapisanan Philip-
pine Centre for Arts and
Culture is set to conduct its
4th annual Kultura Filipino
Arts Festival at the Bellevue
Square Park and at the cen-
ter on July 25, at noon.
A Kapisanan press re-
lease said the festival would
feature - in partnership with
the Carlos Bulosan Theatre
- live music, spoken word
poetry, children face paint-
ing, theater readings, a short
film show, and an arts and
crafts market selling goods
made by Filipino-Canadian
artists, all in the park.
At the Kapisanan cen-
ter, a visual arts exhibition
themed Balikbayan Renais-
sance would be mounted,
expressing the artistic
movement inspired by this
generation’s collective re-
discovery of their Philip-
pine homeland.
Music performers are
Maylee Todd, Robin Lacam-
bra, Tonkapuma, Santa
Guerrilla, Lianne Aliermo
and Alexander The.
Visual arts exhibitors are
Hari Alluri, Jo Simalaya,
Krystel Pasignasigna, Juan
Carlos Solon, Eric Garin-
galao, Halo Halo Collective
(Jeff Garcia, Jan Avedano).
Play readings are Baby
Yellow by Renna Red-
die, Brown Balls by Byron
Abalos, Happiness 101 by
Andrea Mapili, and Eating
with Lola, a one-woman
puppet show by Catherine
Hernandez. The short-film
screening will follow the
play readings. PR
36 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009

US-based artists in free 3rd FMWF at Yonge-Dundas Square
At least two Filipinos
and a group of compatriots
who have made waves in the
international music scene
will lend their talents in the
3rd Filipinos Making Waves
Festival (FMWF) at a first-
ever Filipino community
outing at Toronto’s popular
outdoor entertainment hub
- the Yonge-Dundas Square
- from Aug. 15 to 16.
Backed up by equally-
talented Filipino-Canadian
performers are jazz pianist
and inter-national recording
artist Boy Katindig, guitar
virtuoso Angelo Pizarro,
and youtube sensations
GLP, composed of Gabe
Bondoc, LeeJay Abucayan,
and Passion.
FMWF overall director
Teresa Torralba says Katin-
dig, Pizarro and GLP will fly
in from Las Vegas, Seattle
and California, respectively,
and will be featured one
after the other on Aug. 15.
Pizarro will perform in
the segment Seattle’s Guitar
Waves from 6 to 7 p.m..
Katindig is set to show
off his jazz beats in a
segment called Las Vegas
Jazz Waves from 7 to 8 p.m.
Katindig will also perform
on Aug. 16 from 5:45 to
6:45 p.m.
GLP will go onstage
in the segment California
Arts & Culture
Youth Waves from 9:30 to
10:30 p.m.
GLP will be preceded
by Toronto Youth Waves
artists CrewZing, Bella
Divas, Cast of Angels, DJ
Jooce and Santa Guerilla
from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Torralba says the festival
will start on Aug. 15 with
an entertainment fete of
singing, dances and bamboo
and live band music.
The production schedule
includes:
► Kumaway, Sumayaw!
(Philippine Dance Waves)
with the Culture Philippines
of Ontario (CPO), from 12
noon to 12:30 p.m.
► Sing Galing! (Filipi-
no Singers Making Waves)
with Maloy Lozanes from
Germany and Jeanette Rica-
sio from Toronto, backed up
by a live band, 2 to 3 p.m.
► Kumaway, Sumayaw!
with the Kayumanggi Dan-
cers, 3 to 3:30 p.m.
► Talakantahan co-
produced with Talakayan
Radyo with Ivy Joy, Jessica
Joy and Ian Nillas.
► Kumaway, Sumayaw!
once more with the CPO,
4:30 to 5 p.m.
► Idol Waves, co-pro-
duced with the Bustos
Entertainment Group, with
Canadian Idol finalist Mikey
Bustos, 5 to 6 p.m.
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 37
► Seattle’s Guitar
Waves with Angelo Pizarro, Filipinos Making Waves Fest preps
6 to 7 p.m. Teresa Mendoza Tor-
► Las Vegas Jazz ralba (right), co-founder
Waves with Boy Katindig, 7 and overall director of
to 8 p.m. Filipinos Making Waves
► Toronto Youth Waves, Festival, discusses
8 to 9:30 p.m. with Sani Baluyot, an
► California Youth international Filipino
Waves with GLP, 9:30 to entertainment director,
10:30 p.m. the organization and
On Aug. 16, the festival smooth flow of a grand
will open with Sing Galing cultural parade of Filipi-
Kids! (Filipino Youth nos and other commu-
Talents Making Waves) nities along Yonge St.,
featuring Teresa Panaligan, to highlight the Aug. 15
Edessa Andrada, Hip Sync and 16 festival at the
Hula, April Joyce Bulancao, Yonge-Dundas Square.
Rascals Dance Team, and Photo: JOJO TADURAN
Jheo Navarro, from 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This will be followed
by Sing Galing Toronto!
SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOL
(Filipino Artists Making
Waves) with Zena Zagala,
YELLOWBIRD
Kristine Subido, Genevieve
Alejandro, Snow Cactus, 6013 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
R.J. Lingao-Lingao, Bella
Divas, Charlene Marundan,
Rommel Billanes, and Nino
Sazon, from 12:30 to 1:30
p.m.
Torralba says the noon
performances will continue
at the main stage while
festival director, Sani
Baluyot, gets busy prepping
the parade participants at
Yonge and Gerrard Sts.
where FMWF will start its
(To page 38)
38 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 Arts & Culture
Joel Recla Cortez mounts photo exhibit
Producer/Host

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CARGO VAN/TRUCK AVAILABLE FOR ANY PURPOSE!!!
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BOXES AND OTHER PACKING SUPPLIES AVAILABLE Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament Mike Colle (center) presents a
plaque of appreciation to Filipino photojournalist Revoli Cortez (right) dur-
* Parcel delivery, including big or small items, to and from the airport
ing the opening of a photo exhibit titled Pilipinas - Images of a Country and
* Accommodates last minute furniture/appliance delivery
Its People at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in conjunction with the
*One or two men also available for small to medium moves (Call for Free Estimates)
Philippine Independence Day Council’s Mabuhay Festival on July 18. The
*We charge hourly, or flat rate (Your Choice) exhibit showed the works - some of them national awardees - of Cortez and
10% Off Mid-Month fellow photojournalist Edwin Bacasmas. The same photos were exhibited at
For free estimates, call RICO (416) 605-9743 the DGA Filipino Store and Bar owned by Polly Bautista (left).
e-mail: philcanservice@yahoo.ca
Parial at
TAGALOG MOVIES Pagsibol
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E-Mail Me at: philcanservice@yahoo.ca Visiting artist Mario
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Tel. (647) 885-6683 his artwork during the
Pagsibol art show on
FREE DELIVERY WHEN YOU BUY 10 OR MORE June 30 at MTM Staff-
also available, English ing Solutions in To-
xxx ronto. The show was
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BATID WIKA nized by Jack Teotico,

managing director of
Galerie Joaquin in Met-
PAHALANG 4 8 ro Manila. Other works
1 2 3 5 6 7 9 10 11
1. Payat na payat in the show were those
5. Kalabera 12 13 of Lydia Velasco, Domi-
12. Kulapo nic Rubio, Chie Cruz,
13. Barkilyos 14 15 16
Chigoe Cruz and Owen
14. Pato 17 18 19 20 Juanico. PR
15. Bigkis ng sanggol
16. Letra sa lapida
17. Ganid
21 22 23 24 25 26
US-based artists in free 3rd FMWF in ...
19. Hika 27 28 29 30 31 (From page 37)
21. Lasa 32 33 34 35 first-ever Filipino festival featured performers, as guitar; Carlos De Souza,
24. Dagil parade along Yonge St., follows: keyboards, and Jun Vidal
27. Pera sa bulsa 36 37 38 39 the world’s longest tho- ► Kumaway! Sumayaw! drums.
30. Ayos ng buhok roughfare. with Ote Atani (all-male Backup vocalists are
40 41 42
31. Animo She thanks the 51st Polynesian Dancers) and Tristan Torralba, Genevieve
32. Tawag sa madrasta 43 44 45 46 47 48 and 52nd Divisions of the Kayumanggi Dancers, 2:30 Alejandro, Gena Baldivia
33. Boto Toronto Police Service to 4 p.m. and Chyrelle Samson.
35. Tunog ng orasan 49 50 51 52 53 54
for providing security and ► New Waves Jiva in The festival’s
36. Petisyon traffic control for the parade. Concert!, co-produced with entertainment director
55 56
38. Kawangki She is also grateful to Staff Mentor Productions, with is Mon Torralba and the
39. Heto 58
57 Supt. Ken Cenzura of the Jiva Andola in her debut stage director is Rodney
40. Ugali
Community Mobilization solo concert, 4 to 5 p.m. Ronquillo.
41. Kaibigang babae
43. Kolehiyala 5. Puno ng barangay 29. Palabas sa Mahal na
Unit for the assistance. ► Kumaway, Sumayaw! Other weekend festival
45. Alsa 6. Haligi ng tahanan Araw Among the parade with the Kayumanggi Dan- highlights include the Kids
49. Manzano, artista 7. Sulat 31. Aruga participants are BIBAK, cers, 5 to 5:30 p.m. Zone, co-produced with
51. Kalis 8. Bulong 34. Isang Mall Kayumanggi Dancers, KofC ► Las Vegas Jazz Waves GTA Today; a photo exhibit;
54. Ungas 9. Simaron 37. Palayaw ni PGMA Maharlika Dancers, Asian with Boy Katindig, 5:45 to a Market Place - managed
55. Kaibigan 10. Agrabyado 41. Silyar Canadian Dancers, Clariz, 6:45 p.m. by Ruby Amog - with food
56. Ibalandra 11. Apelyidong Intsik 42. Ampiyas and Panay Island Dancers. ► Banda Rito, Banda stalls from Jessie Jr., Pinoy’s
57. Damong kumakapit 18. Ambisyon 44. Marka ng mali The Kababayan Community Roon (Band Fest) co- Best, and Rex Saigon; and
58. Nagsosolo 20. Rin 46. Buong magdamag Centre is the presenting produced with MStudio, booths for crafts and trades
22. Tatak ng kotse 47. Aborsiyon agency of the Panay Island with all-Filipino bands Cast from the Philippines, the
PABABA 23. Relihiyon ng Muslim 48. Kasuotan ng nagtapos Dancers in cooperation with of Angels, Out of Luck and US and Vancouver.
1. Prutas 25. Bigahni 49. Tawag sa ama the Ontario Arts Council. Cosmic Rayons, 7 to 8 p.m. Torralba adds that the
2. Panghihina 26. Tawag sa kapatid 50. Imbakan ng tubig After the parade Live band backup is traditional festival kick-off
3. Gukgok ng baboy 27. Lalagyan ng pera 52. Tunog ng sampal and back at the Square, provided by festival music will be the MWF Gala at the
4. Paglilok 28.. Lisan 53. Libang entertainment will begin director Mon Torralba, lead Hyatt Regency on King St.
(Sagot sa PAHINA 32) anew with renditions from guitar; Nato Buzon bass on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. PR
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009 39
40 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
JULY 2009

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