12

YEAR 12, No. 2 AUGUST 2008 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario

INSIDE
Ooops & Bloops
CIC uses IRPA to expedite Tejada PR application
(STORY ON PAGE 5)

Are you
Statistics Canada on new immigrants

Studies show
kidding?
-7

Population,
children,
food - 11 & 12 Degrees don’t count Remittances to RP
Gapan slippers,
much in job search among highest
anyone? - 26 A Statistics Canada study said that even university- Four in 10 immigrants who came to Canada in 2000
educated immigrants aged 25 to 54 who arrived in Can- and 2001 sent money to family or friends abroad at least
ada within the last five years found it hard to get jobs in once during their first four years in the country.
2007 than their Canadian-born counterparts. Within six to 24 months of landing, 23 percent of im-
But while employment rates University-educated immi- migrants had sent remittances to their home country;
for these immigrants varied ac- grants who landed in Canada within two to four years after landing, about 29 percent
cording to where they received more than ten years earlier had
had done so, a Statistics Canada survey said.
Mikey their university degree, those edu- an employment rate in 2007
Dancing
Bustos
To Be A Star cated in Western countries gener- comparable to that of the Cana- Among those who sent mon- among immigrants from the Phil-
- shares
33 ally had higher rates than those dian-born. ey home, the average amount ippines and Haiti.
educated elsewhere. Schooled newcomers was $2,500 in the first period, It was lowest among those
5 tips to
The gap in employment rates In 2007, about 37 percent or and $2,900 in the second period. from France, the United Kingdom
success The incidence of sending and South Korea.
between degree-holding immi- 1.2 million immigrants of core
in gig money varied considerably from The likelihood of immigrants
grants and the Canadian-born, working age, those aged 25 to
- 36 however, narrowed the longer an 54, had a university degree, com- country to country. remitting depended on three ad-
immigrant had been in Canada. (To page 4) The proportion was highest (To page 4)

‘Frank’ relief goods, donations reach Pototan

(LEFT PHOTO) Pototan, Iloilo Mayor Pablo Perez (left) and Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera led officials, social workers and relief
volunteers in attending to the distribution of relief goods (RIGHT PHOTO) to town residents affected by recent flashfloods caused by Typhoon Frank. The
distribution was done at the town Astrodome on July 26. Mosquera took time out during a meeting of diplomats and visited Pototan, his hometown. Most of
the relief goods were funded by donations from Iloilo and Pototan community groups in North America. Mayor Perez thanked individuals and groups who
sent donations from Canada and other countries. CONSULATE PHOTO/PR
2 Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 3 CALENDAR
► AUG. 23: Tanza, Cavite Association
Annual Picnic, Earl Bales Park Area 2.
► AUG. 23: Lucena City Association
of Canada 10th Anniversary Party, Sts.
Peter and Paul Banquet Hall, 7 p.m.
► AUG. 23: JC Concert Consultant
Group presents Mikey Bustos, McVety
Centre, 7 p.m.
► AUG. 23: Mike Hanopol Concert, Ka-
layaan Cultural Community Center.
► AUG. 23: The Pillars and Service
Canada Fall and Injury Prevention
Seminar, Kew Garden Park.
► AUG. 24: United Architects of the
Philippines-Ontario Bowling Tourna-
ment.
► AUG. 29 to 31: Alpha Phi Omega 9th
Biennial Convention, Sheraton Centre
Toronto.
► AUG. 29 to SEPT. 1: Knights of Rizal
Canada 3rd Regional Assembly and
Commanders’ Ball, Toronto.
► SEPT. 6: Gawad Kalinga Walk, Na-
than Philips Square, 8 a.m.
► SEPT. 6: Kalayaan Cultural Com-
munity Centre Golf Tournament, Royal
Ontario Golf Club, 1:30 p.m.
► SEPT. 12: Filipino-Canadian Real
Estate Association Affair To Remember,
Bluffer’s Restaurant.
► SEPT. 20: Philippine Press Club-On-
tario Casino Rama Fundraiser.
► SEPT. 20: Our Lady of Penafrancia
Celebration, Centre Island Park
► SEPT. 20: Ontario Filipino Women’s
Club 27th Anniversary Partry, Royal Ca-
nadian Legion Hall, 6 p.m.
► SEPT. 21: DEE Entertainment
Group’s Lani Misalucha-Regine Velas-
quez Duel of the Divas Concert, Roy
Thompson Hall, 7 p.m.
Visit www.pakulo.com to view the
calendar of public events in Ontar-
io and the rest of North America.

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4 NEWS
Degrees don’t count much ...
(From page 1)
pared with only 22 percent
of the core working-age Ca-
nadian-born.
The difference was even
more pronounced among
those who came between
2002 and 2007, with over
half of them, or 320,000,
having a university degree.
Within that group of re-
cent newcomers, over half
had received their highest
degree in Asia, followed dis-
tantly by Europe, Canada,
Africa, Latin America and
the United States.
Jobs hard to get
In 2007, out of all core
working-age immigrants
with a degree, one in three,
or more than 420,000, had
obtained their highest de-
gree in Canada.
Most of these Canadian-
educated immigrants had
arrived in Canada before
1997.
About 28,000 core work-
ing-age immigrants who
landed between 2002 and
2007 received their highest
degree in Canada.
Despite their Canadian
education, the employment
rate in 2007 for these new-
comers was 75.3 percent,
much lower than the aver-
age of 90.7 percent for their
Canadian-born, university-
educated counterparts.
Past reasons
There were a number of
reasons why immigrants,
particularly those who had
landed more recently, might
have had difficulty finding
employment.
Past studies have point-
ed to difficulties such as
foreign credential recogni-
tion, language barriers or in-
adequacy to speak Canada’s
official languages English
and French, comparability
of educational attainment,
lack of Canadian work ex-
perience and knowledge of
the Canadian labor market.
Age factor
In 2007, newcomers
who landed between 2002
and 2007 and who had a
Canadian university degree
were, on average, five years
younger than the Canadian-
born with degrees.
Given their age and rela-
tively short time span since
landing, these immigrants
were less likely to have
significant Canadian work
experience, or overall work
experience, than their Cana-
dian-born peers.
School attendance
In 2007, university-edu-
cated Canadian-born, and
immigrants who landed in
the previous five years, dif-
fered in their school atten-
dance.
Almost one in five im-
migrant university gradu-
ates were attending school
in Canada in 2007, even
though they had a university
degree, compared with one
in 15 of their Canadian-born
counterparts.
For immigrants with a
Canadian degree, school at-
tendance was even higher,
with one in three back in
school.
Most university-edu-
cated immigrants attend-
ing school who arrived be-
tween 2002 and 2007 were
not working or looking for
work, while most degree-
holding Canadian-born stu-
dents were either working
or looking for work.
Gender factor
Immigrant women rep-
resented nearly half of uni-
versity-educated immigrants
who arrived between 2002
and 2007.
However, their partici-
pation in the labor force was
significantly lower, particu-
larly for those born or edu-
cated in Asia.
LFS data
The Statistics Canada
study used data on im-
migrants from the Labour
Force Survey and examined
the relationship between the
countries where immigrants
received their highest level
of postsecondary education
and their labor market out-
comes in 2007.
The study is available as
part of The Immigrant La-
bour Force Analysis Series
71-606-XWE2008004. PR
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
Remittances to RP ...
(From page 1)
ditional factors -- their in-
come, family obligations in
Canada and abroad and de-
mographics.
According to World
Bank figures for 2004, re-
mittances represent an im-
portant source of revenue
for people in developing
countries.
These accounted for
about 20 percent to 30 per-
cent of gross domestic prod-
uct (GDP) in countries such
as Haiti, Lesotho and Jor-
dan, and for about 10 per-
cent to 19 percent in several
others, such as Jamaica, the
Philippines and the Domini-
can Republic.
Region of birth
The practice of sending
remittances varied widely
by regions of the globe.
Over half of immigrants
from Southeast Asia and
the Caribbean and Guyana
sent remittances home two
to four years after landing,
compared with about 40
percent of those from sub-
Saharan Africa and Eastern
Europe.
About one-quarter of
the respondents from South
Asia and Central and South
America sent remittances
during this period.
About one-fifth of those
from East Asia or West Asia,
the Middle East and North
Africa did so.
Amount sent
Average amounts sent
also differed.
Two to four years af-
ter landing, immigrants
from East Asia sent $3,900,
whereas immigrants from
the Caribbean and Guyana
sent $1,600.
The incidence of remit-
ting was highest among
those from countries with
lower GDP per capita.
Around 36 percent of
immigrants from countries
with per capita GDP of less
than $4,000 sent money
home, compared with only
11 percent from countries
with per capita GDP of
$15,000 or more.
Country of birth
The variation was par-
ticularly striking by country
of birth.
Some 60 percent of im-
migrants from the Philip-
pines and Haiti sent remit-
tances two to four years
after landing. (Related item
on page 32)
About 40 percent to 50
percent of immigrants from
Jamaica, Nigeria, Romania,
Guyana and Ukraine sent
money.
However, less than 10
percent of immigrants from
France, the United Kingdom
and South Korea, all indus-
trialized nations, did so.
Data for this study came
from the Longitudinal Sur-
vey of Immigrants to Can-
ada.
The study, published
in the Analytical Studies
Branch Research Paper Se-
ries, documented the inci-
dence of remitting, amounts
and the characteristics of
the people who sent money
home.
A shorter version ap-
pears in Perspectives on La-
bour and Income.
The survey was con-
ducted jointly by Statistics
Canada and Citizenship and
Immigration Canada.
It followed one group of
immigrant, those aged 15 or
older who arrived in Canada
between October 1, 2000
and September 30, 2001,
over a four-year period.
The group was inter-
viewed three times: six
months after their arrival,
two years after arrival and
four years after arrival.
About 7,700 of the
original panel of 12,000 re-
sponded to all three ques-
tionnaires.
These respondents were
a representative sample of
157,600 new immigrants:
104,400 in the economic
class, 42,600 in the family
class and 9,700 refugees.
Because the study fo-
cused on immigrants who
arrived in Canada during
2000/2001, its results can-
not be generalized to all im-
migrants. PR
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
Canada gives CRBN equipment
MANILA - Philippine
National Defense Secretary
Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and
Canadian Ambassador to
Manila Robert Desjardins
on July 30 signed in Camp
Aguinaldo a memorandum
of understanding that would
give Philippine disaster re-
sponse teams access to pro-
tective equipment against
hazardous materials.
Teodoro, also chair-
man of the National Disas-
ter Coordinating Council
(NDCC), and Desjardins,
representing Canada’s De-
partment of Foreign Af-
fairs and International
Trade (DFAIT), agreed on
the terms of a donation of
$9,425 worth of Chemical/
Biological/Radiological/
Nuclear (CBRN) equipment
for NDCC member-agency
disaster preparedness and
response team members.
The agreement cov-
ered an initial 300 units of
CBRN protective gear for
training purposes, Teodoro
said.
More would be coming
for actual disaster response
use, he said.
Canadian trainors would
train Filipino soldiers, po-
licemen and firefighters on
the use of the CBRN equip-
ment.
Teodoro said the equip-
ment would go to the Joint
Special Operations Group
of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, Bureau of Fire
and Protection, Department
of Health, Environment
Management Bureau, Phil-
ippine Nuclear Research
Institute, Philippine Coast
Guard, Manila International
Airport Authority, Philip-
pine Ports Authority, Metro
Manila Development Au-
thority, National Bureau of
Investigation, Philippine
National Police’ and Philip-
pine General Hospital.
The NDCC would en-
sure that the equipment
would be properly cared
for, stored and secured.
In a related develop-
ment, Teodoro also signed
agreements with five non-
DESJARDINS (left) and TEODORO exchange di-
saster response and risk management ideas.
government organizations
(NGOs) that renewed part-
nerships to strengthen the
country’s disaster response
capability.
The NGOs included the
Philippine Mine Safety and
Environment Association,
Chamber of Mines of the
Philippines, Philippine In-
stitute of Civil Engineers,
Association of Structural
Engineers of the Philip-
pines and the Philippine K9
Search and Rescue Founda-
tion, Inc.
Teodoro said NDCC
partner agencies “become
an essential cog in the wheel
of disaster risk manage-
ment,” which has become
the focus of NDCC disaster
operations PNA
NEWS 5
CIC uses IRPA provisions
on Juana Tejada PR case
Citizenship and Immi-
gration Canada (CIC) Min-
ister Diane Finley has used
her discretionary authority
-- citing “humanitarian and
compassionate grounds” --
to decide positvely on ailing
caregiver Juana Tejada’s
twice-denied application
for permanent residency in
Canada.
In a July 24 CIC public
relations release reaching
Filipino community news-
papers, Finley said the Im- TEJADA FINLEY
migration and Refugee Pro-
tection Act has given CIC faced were excessive” and 17, CIC Etobicoke Centre
the authority to grant an ex- “were the result of circum- immigration counsellor An-
emption for permanent resi- stances beyond her con- nie Flamand wrote Tejada
dent status to individuals trol,” Finley added, as she acknowledging the “receipt
and families who would not vowed CIC’s commitment of your application for per-
otherwise qualify, “in cases to expedite the processing manent status in Canada.”
where there are sufficient of Tejada’s application. Minister Finley said the
humanitarian, compassion- She reiterated that pub- complete application was
ate or public policy reasons lic health coverage was received on July 4, as con-
to do so.” extended for Tejada retro- firmed by Tejada’s counsel
Finley said the discre- active to August 2007, and Rafael Fabregas of Mamann
tionary provision intended husband Noli Azada, who & Associates.
to provide the flexibility to flew in from the Philippines Fabregas, in a press
approve deserving cases. after learning his wife was conference at Mamann’s
Tejada’s application was cancer-ill. offices on July 18, released
one that qualified within the “I am truly glad that Mrs. to media Flamand’s letter to
exemption, given the hu- Tejada is now in a better Tejada that also said:
manitarian and compassion- position to move forward. I “It has been determined
ate considerations related to wish her and her loved ones that you meet the eligibility
Tejada’s unforeseen illness, all the best,” Finley said. requirements to apply for
she said. Eligible to apply permanent resident status
“(The) hardships she A week earlier, on July (To page 6)
6 NEWS
CIC uses IRPA provisions ...
(From page 5)
as a Member of the Live-In
Caregiver class. A final de-
cision will be made once all
landing requirements have
been met. If applicable, all
of your dependents, both in
Canada and abroad, must
pass medical and back-
ground checks even if they
are not applying to join
you in Canada at this time.
You cannot be granted per-
manent residence until all
of your dependents have
passed their medical and
background checks.
The letter likewise said
that “if preliminary infor-
mation indicates that you
probably meet all statutory
requirements of the Immi-
gration and Refugee Protec-
tion Act, you will receive a
letter asking you to attend
an interview at the Canada
Immigration Centre in your
area. A final determina-
tion on your application for
permanent residence will
be made at this interview.
If you do not attend this
interview, it could be inter-
preted as a lack of interest
in permanent residence and
your application could be
refused.”
Power to fight illness
In a statement after the
letter’s release, Tejada said
she and her husband “are
very grateful to Canada. It
has been our wish to have
an opportunity to start a bet-
ter future here.”
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
PPCO forum with Aprodicio Laquian
The CIC decision af-
firming her eligibility to ap-
ply for permanent resident
status “has a big impact on
my health, in a positive way.
It makes me more power-
ful in fighting the illness I
have,” she said.
Tejada echoed her glad-
ness over developments on
her case in a brief appear-
ance before a big crowd
at the Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Council’s Mabu-
hay Festival at the Metro
Toronto Convention Centre
on July 19.
Gratitude for support
Through Oswald and
Mila Magno, Tejada like-
wise expressed her grati-
tude to everyone who sup- Dr. Aprodicio Laquian and his wife (seated, 4th and 5th from left respectively) pose with members and
ported her during her time guests of the Philippine Press Club-Ontario following the launching of Laquian’s book on Filipino-Ca-
of need. nadians at Casa Manila on July 10. Photo: MOGI MOGADO
The Magnos were re-
sponsible for pushing an online petition. Without a ing steadfast in her fight ... nation as a condition for ob- Class, “many temporary
online petition asking Cana- doubt, your strong show of not just for her rights but taining permanent residen- foreign workers will now
dian officials to lift Tejada’s support for Juana helped also for those of other care- cy status for caregivers, an be allowed the possibility
Aug. 8 deportation order persuade the authorities to givers like her. onerous and unfair require- to apply to stay in Canada
and grant her “dying wish” reverse the deportation or- “Her resolute determi- ment that applies only to the permanently.”
of permanent residency for der,” they said. nation to pursue her case caregiver class of temporary A year ago
her and her family. “We also thank Prime until the end has in our workers,” they added. Tejada’s travails came
“The threat of deporta- Minister Harper and Min- view paved the way for the Recognition to the attention of the com-
tion that has been hang- ister of Citizenship and Im- establishment of a prec- Meanwhile, Minister munity through civic leader
ing over Juana’s head, and migration, Diane Finley, for edent-setting decision that Finley said there was no Gene Lara and a church
weighing down her spirits, listening to Juana’s appeal will likely benefit many of doubt that the contribu- group who initially helped
has been lifted. As Juana for humanitarian consider- the thousands of caregivers tions of foreign caregivers the ailing caregiver with
herself stated during the ation and acting according- in Canada who may find and workers, “including of her health concerns. From
press conference, she can ly. They have restored our themselves in a similar situ- course Mrs. Tejada, is sig- then on, it was an uphill
now focus on fighting her faith in the innate goodness ation,” they said. nificant to the well-being of climb as caregiver advo-
deadly medical condition,” of Canadians,” they added. “The CIC decision in our local communities.” cates stood by Tejada’s side.
the Magnos said in a blog. Precedent-setting Juana’s case may lead to the Finley bared that with With reports from FAYE
“On Juana’s behalf, we The Magnos also removal of the requirement the upcoming launch of ARELLANO and other
thank you for signing the thanked Tejada for remain- for a second medical exami- the Canadian Experience sources
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
On Wednesday, July 30 this
year, Philippine Press Club-On-
tario (PPC-O) Sexitary, or rather,
secretary, Butch Galicia, sent out
a message to PPC-O officers and
board members, saying, “Please
be reminded of our 2nd PPC-O
Board Meeting at Casa Manila on
August 1 (Friday) at 7 p.m.”
Board member Ramon Datol
- publisher of Philippine Courier
responded, “Mr. Secretary, I’m
coming.”
Hmmmm … guys, is there
anything going on that we do not
know about?
***
At the PIDC Mabuhay Phil-
ippines Toronto Sunmmer Fes-
tival (ang haba-haba naman ng
tawag sa festival na ito, magas-
tos sa ispasyo) on July 19, Chito
Sarabia - dubbed by journalist
Jojo Taduran as “the most pop-
ular folksinger in North Ameri-
ca”, ran to the PPC-O booth and
showed me two photos in his cell
phone-camera, said, “Tingnan
mo, Ace, o, I have photos with
these celebrities.”
Ace: “Oo nga, ano? Ang gal-
ing a! E sino ang mga iyan?”
Of course, my response to
Ace Alvarez
Are you kidding?
Chito was just a joke. He was
showing me a photo he took of
himself with, firstly, entertainer
Josie de Leon, and the other, Fil-
ipino rocker Mike Hanopol.
***
Oh, Chito was so happy to
play bass for Mike Hanopol’s re-
cent performance at a local kara-
oke bar-restaurant; so happy that
… as the photo on page 36 of this
issue, Chito’s facial expression
during the stint was far from that
of Mike Hanopol’s internalization
of the lyrics of his song!
***
Noting various Filipino Ca-
nadian publications in British
Columbia as mostly dealing
with entertainment, Vancou-
ver-based journalist Ron Rich-
ardson – who is executive editor
of the various publications of
the Asia Pacific Foundation of
Canada, once asked me if I’m a
serious journalist.
Of course, I am. How does he
expect me to write this column,
if I’m not. ‘di ba, readers?
***
See that girl in photo on this
page. She’s my grandaughter Ab-
bey, who’s going to school for the
first time next month.
Seeing her on Sunday, August
17, Abbey narrated to me: “In
Saptember (spelling intentional,
the way Abbey said it), I’m going
to school. My teacher said I’ll eat
lunch at school.”
… “Yesterday, I went to mama
Rosie’s house. I ate ice cream!”
… “I went to downtown with
my mom. I like it there. We ate at
PRINCESS ABBEY
VIEWS
McDonald’s. I ate chickens (spell-
ing intentional the way Abbey
said it).
To readers: if you haven’t
noticed it, all my granddaughter
talked about was food.
***
Still on children, the follow-
ing are from an e-mail forward-
ed to us by Chuchi Punsalan of
Scarborough, Ontario. Entitled
Why we love children?, the origi-
nal author is unknown to us:
ON NUDITY: I was driving
with my three young children one
warm summer evening when a
woman in the convertible ahead
of us stood up and waved. She
was stark naked! As I was reel-
ing from the shock, I heard my 5-
year-old shout from the back seat,
“Mom, that lady isn’t wearing a
seat belt!”
7
OPINIONS: On the first day
of school, a first-grader handed
his teacher a note from his mother.
The note read, “The opinions ex-
pressed by this child are not nec-
essarily those of his parents.”
KETCHUP: A woman was
trying hard to get the ketchup out
of the jar. During her struggle the
phone rang so she asked her 4-
year-old daughter to answer the
phone. “Mommy can’t come to
the phone to talk to you right now.
She’s hitting the bottle.”
MORE NUDITY: A little boy
got lost at the YMCA and found
himself in the women’s locker
room. When he was spotted, the
room burst into shrieks, with la-
dies grabbing towels and running
for cover. The little boy watched
in amazement and then asked,
“What’s the matter, haven’t you
ever seen a little boy before?”
POLICE # 1: While taking
a routine vandalism report at an
elementary school, I was inter-
rupted by a little girl about 6 years
old. Looking up and down at my
uniform, she asked, “Are you a
cop?”
“Yes,” I answered and contin-
ued writing the report.
“My mother said if I ever
needed help I should ask the po-
lice. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” I told her.
“Well, then,’” she said as she
extended her foot toward me,
“would you please tie my shoe?”
POLICE # 2: It was the end
of the day when I parked my po-
lice van in front of the station. As
I gathered my equipment, my K-9
(To page 24)
8 VIEWS
Speaking recently before
members and guests at the investi-
ture ceremonies of the officers and
board members for 2008-2010 of
the Philippine Press Club-Ontario
(PPC-O) in Scarborough, Ontario,
President Tenny Soriano reiter-
ated what journalists are most like
- a bunch of irreverent people.
But of course, Tenny was talk-
ing about journalists, and not the
churnalists that award-winning
U.K.-based journalist Nick Davies
calls the bunch in his book Flat
Earth News - and where many of
us in the media have turned into,
pouring back into public relations
materials and presenting them as
independent news.
In the Filipino-Canadian com-
munity, this column has nothing
against churnalism for as long as
the subject is a non-profit commu-
nity organization.
However, during these recent
times, profit companies have
likewise started to use and abuse
people like us in the community
media, inviting us at their press
conferences and presenting their
public relations materials as news
and information.
Do you wonder why in spite of
the expenses entailed in covering
an event purporting to be a press
conference organized by compa-
nies for profit, “churnalists” con-
tinue to go and “cover” (please
note the quotation marks) such
events? Reason is that, the chur-
nalists among us work cheap. Oh
yes, what other reasons could you
think of, but this.
Public relations is a huge busi-
ness - and probably after the Unit-
ed States and the United King-
When many Filipino television
viewers were beginning to tire of
the intramurals between giants
ABS-CBN and GMA Network,
they began to take notice of ABC
5 and its particularly refreshing
programming. Many decided that
their TV viewing lives did not
have to be mercilessly squeezed
between two warring networks.
ABC’s signal was not as pow-
erful and far reaching as the big
leaguers but the small station had
a significant and loyal following
even in remote islands which en-
joyed cable access.
In its most recent heyday, in-
telligent viewers religiously tuned
in to Friends and E.R., among
other multi-awarded imported
series and local staples that start-
ed trends (read “copied by the
majors”): Sing-galing, Tropang
Trumpo, Love Notes, Eezy Danc-
ing, Ispup and the landmark Wow
Mali. Its iconic newscast, The Big
News, retained the respect of Gen
Xers.
The station also made certain
it had more than a fair share of
family friendly TV programs.
Among the nearly dozen ter-
restrial channels in operation, it
was ABC 5 that seriously took to
heart the children’s hour and sel-
dom reneged in its goal to provide
appropriate viewing materials for
Filipino children in the mornings.
It even went as far as inking
a deal with Nickelodeon for such
hits as Dora the Explorer and
Blues Clues.
However, the Asian economic
From The
Monitor’s Desk
Filipino media: Be
wary of calls for
‘churnalism’
dom, the Canadian market has one
of the biggest share from among
the other G8 countries.
This stated, even in the Fili-
pino Canadian community, it is
becoming noticeable that only for
profit companies gain from the
situation; and all of us in the me-
dia are suckers.
Why do I say this? Because
we in the media go to press con-
ferences, burning gas, paying
for parking, spending our pre-
cious time to listen to the pitches
of people behind companies for
profit, taking the (public relations)
materials before our editors and
publishers without compensation
(at the the least, reimbursement to
the person who covered the event,
such as a writer and photogra-
pher, and newspaper space for the
purported news), and in the end,
only the companies for profit who
organized the press conference
raked in money.
This observation, incidentally,
is shared by fellow PPCO officers
and board members Tenny Soriano
Roundabout
Sing no sad
songs for ABC5
crisis hatched in Thailand in 1997
set the company back but the sta-
tion held on steadfastly to its vow
to offer a viable alternative to Pi-
noy viewers.
Tropang Trumpo launched the
career of Michael V, Ogie Alcasid
and others. At one time it even
bagged the best comedy program
award in the prestigious Asian
Television Awards in Singapore .
(It was then that the majors could
not resist offering handsomer
purses to the fast-rising comics.)
What set the station apart was
its risk taking moves, riding on the
crest of crazes like ballroom danc-
ing (Eezy Dancing, reformatted
to Shall We Dance) and videoke
singing (Sing-galing, where AiAi
delas Alas and Alan K’s upward
blast was propelled).
It was the hard working sta-
tion that is acknowledged as the
first to dabble in reality TV in the
mid-nineties.
It aired groundbreaking shows
such as The Exchange, Trabaho
ACE ALVAREZ
and Butch Galicia, who - together
with all other board members and
officers of the PPCO want a bet-
ter arrangement for members of
the media (regardless of whether a
PPCO member, or not), especially
for our photographers.
As a journalist, writer, TV pro-
ducer and a public relations man, I
call upon my fellows in the media
to distinguish covering events be-
tween a community organization
and those by profit companies;
the latter must be billed for all our
work.
Fair is fair, as they say in busi-
ness. One exception, of course, on
this is when a profit organization
advertises with the publication.
***
As independent producer of
OMNI Television for Front Page
Philippines, I am sharing the fol-
lowing note to readers sent re-
cently to us by viewer Rommel
Catabijan of Toronto:
“I do always watch your show
and I can say that its format and
contents are well-planned, favor-
MAG CRUZ-HATOL
and On Air, which was the fore-
runner of the Misadventures of
Maverick & Ariel and Totoo TV.
In 2001, the station pioneered
in the franchising of established
foreign formats like the Fam-
ily Feud, The Price is Right and
Wheel of Fortune.
Had its signal been more far
reaching and clearer, these popu-
lar American game shows along
with innovative local shows could
have easily propelled ABC to the
top.
Started but perhaps unsus-
tained because of suspected fi-
nancial drawbacks, ABC boasted
of an unquestionably strong and
prestigious public affairs program
line-up that included INQTV,
(produced in cooperation with the
Philippine Daily Inquirer), Lente
and Probe Team Docus, with
Cheche Lazaro.
These succeeded Randy Da-
vid’s much-awarded Public Fo-
rum.
These programs somehow en-
Manila Media Monitor
ably formulated, informative and
helpful to all Filipinos from all
walks of life. It has the essence of
a true spirit of ‘bayanihan’.”
Speaking of the TV program,
Front Page Philippines will de-
but on September 21 in other Ca-
nadian markets, specifically in
Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta.
While the program could be
viewed across Canada, access
could only be made at the moment
by subscribers of satellitle provid-
ers StarChoice on Channel 395
and ExpressVu on Channel 216.
Starting September 21, OMNI
TV-Alberta will air Front Page
Philippines to be distributed by
Shaw Cable 4 and Telus TV Chan-
nel 5 in Calgary.
In Edmonton, the program will
likewise be carried by Shaw on its
Cable 11, and Telus TV Channel
5.
The launching of Front Page
Philippines for viewers in Alberta
coincides with the 6th anniversary
of the program on air, when, on
September 21, 2002, it aired on
OMNI 2 in Ontario.
I recall that shortly after we
launched in Ontario in 2002, mul-
ticultural television Channel M
in Vancouver (which at that time
had just been given a franchise
by the Canadian Radio-television
Telecommunications Commission
[CRTC] to operate in that market)
contacted us to buy the episodes
from us. However, the program
having just started - thus, finan-
cially unstable, we had to decline
because of the difficulty of incor-
porating local Vancouver content.
In January this year, Channel M
(To page 28)
capsulized the station’s definition
of responsible programming.
ABC’s ownership changed
hands in 2003.
Under businessman Tony Co-
juangco, the station bought the
franchise of and introduced Amer-
ican Idol to the Philippines.
Contrary to other claims, it
was ABC that produced the first
ever local version of that interna-
tional hit, Philippine Idol.
Under Cojuangco, the station
was never wanting in cultural
advocacy programs and took the
risk in pushing for a nationalistic
agenda despite likely losses.
It supported and aired indepen-
dently produced documentaries
(Dokyu) and films (Cinemalaya).
It did so as a matter of cor-
porate responsibility rather than
tokenly because these obviously
non-commercial programs were
assigned premium hour slots rath-
er than time slots when half the
country was fast asleep.
Not only to Cojuangco’s cred-
it but to his predecessors as well
was ABC’s daringness in pushing
for non-commercial projects that
highlighted the country’s rich cul-
tural history.
The ambitious Noli Me Tan-
gere series was a telenovela ahead
of its time, produced in coopera-
tion with the Cultural Center of
the Philippines.
Some time later, unfazed by
the low proceeds realized from
the colossal Noli project, ABC
financed 1896, yet another spar-
(To page 16)
AUGUST 2008
Managing Editor
ACE ALVAREZ
Editor
BUTCH GALICIA
Associate Editor
GIE ALVAREZ
Contributing Editors
Grace P. Freires
Manny Freires
Ben Viccari
Mag Cruz Hatol
Pete Lacaba
Mel Tobias
Editorial Assistants
Lennart Leigh Alvarez-Mahoney
Dods Andrada
Contributors
Edwin Acuna
Bien Garcia
Jeannie Pilapil
Eva Agpaoa
Mario Dimain
Noel Perada
Larry Torres
Chito Sarabia
Account Executive
MYRNA SORIANO
Graphics
IDTech Solutions
416-875-2541
projects@idtechsolutuionsnetwork.com
Philippine Communication Facility
GRACE MEDIA SERVICES
974 Metrica Street
1008 Manila, Philippines
Tel/Fax: (632) 742-1484
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Manila MEDIA MONITOR, INC.
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AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS 9
Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid
statue, meeting teenage Danish
Commentary peers at youth hostels for sing
songs and hiking through a wood-
ed countryside. The outdoor cafe
BEN VICCARI just outside the Tivoli gates where

Open Letter I surreptitiously enjoy my first

glass of beer. The taste of the Dan-
ish porridge and snacks purchased

Peasant groups to NDF: Thoughts at 90 from windowed smorgasbord ma-

chines in train stations and other
public places.
Stop killing farmers “How does it feel to be 90?” -- While enrolled at a Jesuit
everyone asks me. I’ll let you into college, making an agonizing
-- And always, the affection
of parents and maternal grandpar-
Huwag ninyo kaming lagasan. a secret….. no different from be- decision of conscience to skip ents. No less, the thoughts of those
We, the undersigned, condemn in the strongest possible terms ing 89. religious instruction because I in Italy. In my father’s papers I
the recent spate of killings of farmers and farmer-leaders in Mas- But it has become a discover a letter from
bate perpetrated by individuals identified as belonging to the local time of evocation when Nonno Silvestro written
command of the New People’s Army (NPA). often, unbidden, thoughts in an old man’s shaky
On July 20, 2008, around 15 to 20 armed men shot and killed of other times, places and hand and expressing
Alberto Yusi, president of Samahan ng mga Anak ng Magsasaka ng people come to mind. deep concern over the
Famosa, Inc., an organization of landless peasants that petitioned Like: fact I’d been hospital-
for the distribution of the 490-hectare Ticao Agro-Industrial De- -- My first visit to Ita- ized with scarlet fever.
velopment Inc. landholding situated at Barangay Famosa, Monreal, ly at four which, through -- After the Dunkirk
Masbate. change in surroundings, evacuation, on the run in
Only two weeks before his death, Junrie Pagaspas and Rene completely wipes out all France with the hastily
Llabres, ordinary farmers, were slain by armed men known in the earlier infanthood rec- put together E Field Bat-
community as members of the NPA. ollections. The sights, tery. After a few days it
Several months before, or in December, Botsoy Vale, farmer first Paris and the Eiffel becomes obvious we’re
leader and elected barangay captain, was tortured and killed by the Tower then the long over- part of a risky feint — to
NPA. The death was claimed officially by the Jose Rapsing Com- night train ride to Rome convince the enemy the
mand of the NPA. Around the time of Vale’s death, a death list was and its marvels. Then remaining forces are
issued by the revolutionary armed groups, enumerating the names on to Saints Cosma and holding the line until
of individuals they claimed to be counter-revolutionaries. Damiano for my one and Birthday cake for Ben troops refit and return to
It is truly revolting that such acts of violence and killings perpe- only stay with paternal France.
trated against ordinary farmers mired in poverty and fighting injus- grandparents, the formidable Don can’t believe in the infallibility of Lieutenant Lawrie and I, as
tice have been the handiwork of those who purport to fight for the Silvestro and Nonna Concetta. popes. How do I, at thirteen, get driver, are reconnoitering the Nor-
masses and stand beside the oppressed. (Ayon sa kanilang adhi- -- My first exposure to film the courage when on other occa- mandy countryside when coming
kain, ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan ay magtatanggol sa sambay- and the beginning of a lifelong sions, I’ve caved in to pressure? straight toward us is a German ar-
anan laban sa masasamang pwersa ng pang-aapi at pagsasaman- passion. At the annual saints’ day -- Standing my ground leads moured car. Lawrie cocks my rifle
talang imperyalista at pyudal at laging nagsisikap na tulungan in San Cosma watching a film pro- to my parents being asked to with- as we spot to our immediate left
sila sa lahat ng paraan sa pang-araw-araw nilang pamumuhay). jected onto a huge sheet outdoors. draw me and remove me to anoth- a side road and for the first time
It is quite uncanny that the organization that claims to serve On screen, there’s a man in white er private school which one year, I experience cornering on two
the people (Ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan ay maglilingkod sa mga tie and tails wearing a pig’s head organizes a memorable hiking trip wheels. Our light truck lands back
mamamayan sa lahat ng maaaring paraan bukod sa pagtupad mask. Years later, as I watch Cin- to Denmark. on all four and we bump through
nito ng mga tungkulin sa labanan) is responsible for acts, the con- ema Paradiso, my eyes moisten. There, bathing nude close to (To page 30)
sequence of which would benefit the landowner bent on reconsoli-
dating his lands.
So much has happened since
We remind the National Democratic Front that it is a signatory to
my last column. I’ve not had a
the 1998 Comprehensive Agreement for Respect of Human Rights
and International Humanitarian Law that upholds the protection of
non-combatants as prescribed by international conventions. It can
chance to catch up or write for a
while. First, I’ve been traveling
trying to startup my business. Sec-
Our Journey
be said that farmers are not only non-combatants, but belong to the
ondly, my father passed away in
marginalized classes of society whose rights we are all dutybound EVA AGPAOA
June and that was a difficult time
to defend.
for me. To all my friends and fam-
Invoking this, we call on the National Democratic Front and the
ily who have sent their condolenc-
NPA General Command to act swiftly to prevent another peasant
es, I want to say thank you from
killing in Masbate . As we have repeatedly condemned the killings
the bottom of my heart.
The pain of loss
of national democratic activists by the government, so too must we
This column is about loss.
condemn killings and transgressions of human rights violations by
Personal loss. My father’s pass-
the Armed Left. Let not another woman find herself a widow. Let
ing forced me to think about los-
not another child find himself an orphan.
ing the things most important to
Let the death list stop. respected and loved constantly. from the $15,000 she only kept
me, and how that affects me. It
Signed: Kilusan para sa Repormang Pansakahan at Katarungang It’s not enough to tell someone $5,000. That’s a third for taking
also got me thinking about people
Panlipunan Network; Cagayan, Masbate, Negros Oriental and Cen- you love them. It’s as important all the risk. Sandra got caught.
who lose precious things by being
tral Mindanao Centers for Rural Empowerment and Development, that your actions also tell the same She was arrested and charged with
careless. I see this so often. And
Inc.; Timpuyog Dagiti Mannalon Iti Isabela; Samahan ng mga Mag- story. fraud. Tom and Ed were nowhere
I’m guilty myself.
sasaka sa Cagayan; Emancipatory Movement for People Empower- I met Sandra at Aristocrat one to be found.
My father was a great man.
ment, Inc; Malayang Kaisahan ng mga Magbubukid sa Nueva Eci- night. She also has a story about The really sad thing was that
Of course he was my father and
ja; Farmworkers Agrarian Reform Movement of Hacienda Luisita; loss. And one which everyone has Sandra was weeks away from re-
I loved him so much. His pass-
Quezon Association for Rural Development and Democratization to hear. Three months ago, Sandra ceiving her open permit, for her
ing really shook me. Because he
Services, Inc.; Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bondoc Peninsula; Ug- met Tom and Ed at a party. They residency which she worked so
lived in the Philippines, I did not
nayan ng mga Magsasaka sa Gitnang Quezon; Builders for Rural told her that they had discovered a hard for over three years.
get enough time with him over the
Empowerment and Human Rights Advocates Network, Inc.; Bicol way to get her lots of money with- Most likely, Sandra would be
years. There was always some-
Hegemony for Rural Empowerment and Development, Inc.; Aly- out any risk. Like everyone else, convicted, deported and lose all
thing more important to do keep-
ansa at Samahan ng mga Paraoma-Camarines Sur, Albay and Mas- Sandra was skeptical and smelled chances to ever come back to this
ing me from going back. I always
bate; Panay Rural Organizing for Reform and Social Order, Inc.; something wrong. But she was so country. For $5,000, Sandra lost a
believed he would be there when
Pagtingog Sang Maguuma kag Mamumugon sa Kaumban; Mag- desperate for money that in the future. This is a tremendous trag-
I needed him. Of course that’s a
uumang Naga-hiusa Alang sa Kalambuan; North Cotabato Autono- end, she gave in and agreed to edy. The story did not end with
child’s wish.
mous Peasants Organizations; Reform CARP Movement and labor their plan. her. I heard that two other girls
People don’t stay forever. I
groups, youth and student groups, the academe, and individuals Tom would give Sandra a se- were also in legal trouble for do-
now know that I missed so many
and organizations in the Philippines, the US, Canada, Belgium, the ries of cheques and she would ing the same thing with the same
opportunities to know this man
Netherlands and other parts of the world. Taken from talsik@ cash them in her bank account and two guys.
and get closer to him. That’s my
yahoogroups.com/UMC America share the money with Tom and Ed. My last story involves the loss
loss. Basically, I took our relation-
ship for granted and assumed that Sandra found out these were bad of a lover and friend. Every loss
ADVERTISE with when I was ready, he would be cheques. What Sandra was doing is hard to bear. This one, like my
there to welcome me. was illegal and it was fraud. father and Sandra’s story, is es-
Manila Media Monitor I’ve learned the hard way, that Over three months, Sandra pecially difficult because it could
Call 416-285-8583 those relationships I hold dear and
precious have to be nurtured and
cashed a total of $15,000 worth of
bad cheques. The irony was that
have been avoided and came about
(To page 14)
10
July 28, 2008 came and went
as just another run of the mill.
That Monday was as normally
uneventful as any other day in the
lives of Filipinos in Canada.
Many spent the day working
hard for the money.
Some had summer outdoor
fun.
Others whiled away the hours
playing mahjong or tong-its.
A few simply lazed around or
dozed off ... zzz … until another
day was done.
Whatever, such existence is
middling for Pinoys in Maple
Leaf land.
Anyway, who cares?
***
Miles away in the islands of
Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao
in the Philippines, it was the same
daily grind for the typical Juans,
Pedros and Marias.
Although Monday was a state-
declared holiday, the farmers and
many workers went to the fields
and sweatshops to earn their
keep.
Those left behind looked af-
ter the children, simultaneously
attending to household chores
– cleaning, cooking, laundering,
etc.
The 3rd Eye
Grandma Elvis
I am not a great fan
of Elvis Presley but I
can name at least two of
his oldies that I hummed
when my three daugh-
ters were still infants.
Love Me Tender and
Blue Hawaii were lulla-
bies to their ears. They
would fall asleep before
I could even complete
the melody.
The King of Rock
and Roll has been
dead for three decades
but undoubtedly more
alive today. His spirit
lives on. His magical
presence is continually
magnified by imper-
sonators who mimic
his iconic looks, moves ZAGALA
and voice. Some are in-
credibly like his ghost - complete
look-a likes, singing just like him
while others are amusingly ridicu-
lous. They are out there to pay
tribute to the man as they keep us
entertained. They come in many
shapes and forms. Thin, fat, short,
tall, black and white. I have seen
a Child Elvis, an Old Elvis and a
Lady Elvis. But a Grandma Elvis?
Wow! This one really caught my
full attention.
On July 19, at the stage of
Mabuhay Festival, Metro Con-
vention Centre, a young senior
from Scarborough emerged be-
fore a cheering crowd. She was
dwarfed by the gigantic Filipino
flag behind her. Although she
appeared tiny up there, this rock
VIEWS
Omerta
BUTCH GALICIA
Who cares?
Spare time went to light ban-
ter with neighbors about neigh-
bors, a nit-picking relay, a search
for lottery, horserace and jueteng
winning number clues, reading
komiks or playing mahjong, tong-
its and sakla.
Some who longed to enjoy a
restful time listening over the ra-
dio to soothing old-time golden
hits were frustrated.
The exceptional music discs
were unheard of on prime time.
Radio and TV stations echoed
a nothing-out-of-the-ordinary
State of the Nation Address of
President Gloria Arroyo.
Also on-air daylong were
various voices that either glori-
fied Ate Glo or deviously named
her “Gloria Ayoko!” and called
MARIO DIMAIN
and roll grandma electrified the
audience with her own rendition
of Jail House Rock. She was not
anywhere near the original. And
rightfully so. She was not copying
Elvis. She was simply having a
great time sharing the excitement
of being a Forever Elvis Fan. Or
shall I say she was just perform-
ing what Elvis would have done
to impersonate her? Either way,
her grace and style would have
impressed the legendary King of
Rock and Roll, who had sent her
his autographed photo from the
US Army in the fifties. And like
any other teenager in those days,
she nearly passed out receiving it.
Ladies and gentlemen,
(To page 16)
her speech the Same Objectives
Never Achieved.
Mga parang sirang palaka!
As usual, verbal political barbs
had been dished out to people.
Boring indeed! But who
cares?
***
I have talked to a number of
Filipinos who have become Cana-
dian citizens.
They implied having cut the
umbilical cord that once linked
them to their country of birth.
Some shrugged off dual citi-
zenship.
“Those who took the oath
have nothing but ego and personal
intents to boost. But helping the
Philippines and the Filipino peo-
ple? Bah ....,” a cynic mused.
What motivates you? That’s
the question I’d like to ask in this
inaugural column on motivation.
Are you motivated by fame,
fortune or fear? Or is it something
deeper that fans the flames inside
of you?
Perhaps you are like Jeanne
Louise Calment whose burning
desire enabled her to do some-
thing that no other human being
has done before.
A feat so spectacular that it
generated headlines around the
globe, got her a role in a motion
picture, and landed her in the
Guinness Book of World Records.
A record that has yet to be beaten.
Jeanne Louise, however, did
not initially motivate herself. It
was someone else who drew the
line in the sand. But, it became a
line she was determined to cross.
In motivation we talk about
getting outside of one’s comfort
zone. It is only when we are un-
comfortable that we begin to get
motivated.
Usually to get back into our
comfort zone as quickly as pos-
sible.
Born into the family of a mid-
dle-class store owner, Calment
was firmly entrenched in her com-
fort zone. At age 21 she married
a wealthy store owner and lived
a life of leisure. She pursued her
hobbies of tennis, the opera, and
sampling France’s famous wines.
Over the years she met Im-
pressionist painter Van Gogh;
watched the erection of the Eiffel
Tower; and attended the funeral of
Hunchback of Notre Dame author,
Victor Hugo.
Twenty years after her husband
passed away, she had reached a
stage in life where she had pretty
much achieved everything that she
was going to achieve.
Then along came a lawyer.
The lawyer made Jeanne Louise
a proposition. She accepted it. He
thought he was simply making a
smart business deal. Inadvertently
he gave her a goal. It took her 30
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
Others said they felt ashamed
when friends talked about Filipino
leaders who have lied to, cheated
and robbed the people.
A comment: “I have given up
on (the Philippines).”
Stinking high hats and trai-
tors? Who cares?
***
Filipino permanent residents
and overseas Filipino workers
have minds too preoccupied on
how to carve a life and eke out a
living in Canada.
Reacting to what is happening
to Filipinos in the Philippines is
simply not in their short list.
For them, “nakapagpadala na
ako ng balikbayan box at kaunting
pera. Tama na ‘yun.”
“Bakasyon? Gastos lang ‘yun.
Hihingan ka pa kaliwa’t-kanan na
para bang gina-pala, gina-piko
ang kuwarta sa Canada.”
“May hahangarin ka pa ba sa
Pilipinas?”
Oft repeated but boring an-
swers. But who cares?
***
Filipinos in the Philippines, the
majority, are too much engrossed
in making ends meet, even as oth-
ers try to pull those ends farther
apart.
The Un-Comfort
Zone
ROBERT EVANS WILSON JR.
What’s pushing
your buttons?
years to achieve it, but achieve it
she did.
Are you willing to keep your
goals alive for 30 years? At what
point do you give up?
Thomas Edison never gave up,
instead he said, “I have not failed.
I’ve just found 10,000 ways that
won’t work.”
Winston Churchill during the
bleakest hours of World War II
kept an entire country motivated
with this die-hard conviction: “We
shall defend our Island, whatever
the cost may be, we shall fight on
the beaches... in the fields and in
the streets... we shall never sur-
render.”
Many of us give up too soon
because we set limits on our goals
Achieving a goal begins with de-
termination. Then it’s just a matter
of our giving them attention and
energy.
When Jeanne Louise was 92
years old, attorney François Raf-
fray, age 47, offered to pay her
$500 per month (a fortune in
1967) for the rest of her life, if she
would leave her house to him in
her will.
According to the actuarial ta-
bles it was a great deal. Here was
an heir-less woman who had sur-
vived her husband, children, and
grandchildren. A woman who was
just biding her time with nothing
to live for.
That is until Raffray came
along and offered up the “sucker-
bet” that she would soon die. It
For them, heaven and hell do
not differ at all as both are just cre-
ations of the mind, just like abun-
dant food on the table, a sturdy
roof over their heads, books, pa-
per and pencils for their children,
stable jobs, healthy bodies, and as-
surance that they and their money
would be safe from crooks.
Day in and day out, Filipinos
try to honestly live through and
survive trying times and condi-
tions.
To do this, they cease looking
outward, unless it is an opportuni-
ty to go abroad to live and work.
Kapit sa patalim, ‘ika nga.
Their primary concern centers
on themselves.
This leads them to live aver-
age lives caught in the web of bor-
ing routine.
Make do, do without – this has
become their slogan.
“Kung meron, meron; kung
wala, wala” has become a philos-
ophy, if not a way, of life.
When they succeed, it’s des-
tiny; when they fail, it’s fate.
But even with success or fail-
ure, they turn to complacency to
escape the pangs of living, nay ex-
isting, in a ruthless mess.
(To page 25)
was motivation enough for Jeanne,
who was determined to beat the
lawyer. Thirty years later, Raf-
fray became the “sucker” when he
passed away first at age 77.
When asked about this by the
press, Calment simply said, “In
life, one sometimes make bad
deals.”
Having met her goal, Jeanne
passed away five months later.
But on her way to this end, she
achieved something else: at 122
years old, she became the oldest
person to have ever lived.
In future articles we’ll exam-
ine further the ways in which mo-
tivation works. How to motivate
ourselves, our employees, cus-
tomers, volunteers, friends, loved
ones and children.
I would like to get your feed-
back on which of these areas of
motivation are of most interest to
you.
I’d also like to hear your sto-
ries of how you may have over-
come adversity and what pushed
you to go the distance.
Please email me with your
suggestions and stories at robert@
jumpstartyourmeeting.com.
(Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is a
motivational speaker and humor-
ist. He works with companies that
want to be more competitive and
with people who want to think
like innovators. For more infor-
mation on Robert’s programs
please visit www.jumpstartyour-
meeting.com.)
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
GFN cautions RP officials on population policy linked to easing poverty
Global Filipino Nation
(GFN), an international
group of Filipinos advo-
cating good governance,
has cautioned Philippine
officials to refrain from la-
beling divergent views on
population policy and con-
trol as “narrow-minded, pa-
rochial and stupid”.
GFN asserted that
worldwide economic his-
tory and empirical evidence
have never supported the
policy premise that popula-
tion control measures would
effectively bring down birth
rates, thus advancing pov-
erty alleviation goals.
Lame population policy
In a statement focused
on a population policy in
the context of poverty alle-
viation goals of the country,
GFN contended that popu-
lation control measures
were not effective in bring-
ing down birth rates.
The statement abstained
from contentious debates
relating to women’s rights,
health issues, pro-life vs.
pro-choice polemic, the re-
ligious stance, environmen-
tal impact, eugenics and
nativism.
GFN said these impor-
tant debates did not directly
HEY, PAL! LOOK AT US. AREN’T WE HAPPY?
relate to easing poverty.
Economic basis
Evidence showed that
population growth rates
decline, not a result of
deliberate population pol-
icy, but due to economic
growth, education and the
rise of women’s rights,
GFN said.
At the lowest stage of
economic development,
population growth rates
tended to be high.
Children, including sons
and daughters of age and
married, served a social in-
surance function: working
in the fields, contributing
to family income, fulfilling
household tasks, helping fi-
nance the schooling of sib-
lings and providing for the
old age of parents.
As societies grew eco-
nomically, incomes rose
and formal forms of social
insurance developed - re-
FEATURE
sulting in the reduced value
of children as an informal
form of social insurance.
Awareness and expec-
tations of social mobility
spread, inducing the youth
to postpone the age of mar-
riage and couples to reduce
the number of children.
Movements promoting
women’s rights and gender
equality have contributed to
a decrease in the number of
children.
Population growth
Worldwide population
control measures adopted
have not been effective.
These have been intro-
duced generally when pop-
ulation growth rates have
been on the decline in many
countries, including China.
Even the Philippines
had been undergoing a per-
ceptible population growth
decline, with the rate drop-
ping from the 3 percent plus
levels of the 60s to the cur-
rent level of 1.95 percent as
estimated by the Philippine
National Statistical Coordi-
nation Board.
Growth rate data would
be more meaningful if net
migration figures were re-
vealed.
Declining birth rates
Birth rates in highly-de-
veloped countries have de-
creased to bare replacement
levels.
Many Western nations,
such as the U.S. and Cana-
da, grew only due to immi-
gration.
Some European coun-
tries have been facing an
absolute decline in popula-
tion.
Japan would experience
a declining population as
11
the post-World War II gen-
eration died off.
More and more observ-
ers have started becoming
fearful of too many elderly
people rather than too many
babies.
Ironically, the still rela-
tively robust birth rate of
the Philippines has served
as a national social safety
net, given population mi-
gration cum remittances.
Temptations
National policy makers
should exercise caution lest
they succumb to the geopo-
litical goals of developed
countries and the perceived
post-Cold War era concerns
about immigration pres-
sures, national security and
environmental degradation.
Policy makers, espe-
cially politicians, should
also resist the temptation
of formulating judgments
on what would be good for
families and making major
decisions in the lives of the
people.
GFN urged policy mak-
ers to focus on pro-growth
policies, including disman-
tling the special interest
obstacles to growth, rather
than apply resources to mis-
guided population policy.
12 FEATURE Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008

Sterile Pinoys: Final solution to RP’s food crisis?

By AURELIO A. PEÑA find ways to keep the na-
tional fish produce more
DAVAO CITY - To “total failure” because it than the increasing demand
solve the country’s worsen- never stopped the “runaway of Filipino tables.
ing food crisis, all Filipino population growth” of the Food production, Lopez
males should be “sterilized” Philippines. said, has been overtaken by
by law to stop them for pro- Population boom population growth in a span
ducing more babies. The national population of two decades.
This was one of the had been rising steadily at Legal vasectomy?
many suggestions made an average of two to three He saw the “desperate
during the recent Davao re- percent over the last 10 need” to cut down the rate
gional meeting of the Eco- years, according to the Na- of the country’s population
nomic Development Coun- tional Statistics Office. drastically to allow the rate
cil (EDC). “Condoms are abso- of food production to catch
Dr. Rodolfo Lopez, head lutely useless! We’ve been up.
of the regional agricultural using condoms to control Lopez urged Congress
and fisheries council under population for many years to pass a law requiring
the Department of Agricul- -- they never seem to work! “compulsory vasectomy”
ture, told EDC members that Our population is still grow- for all sexually-active Fili-
the Philippine government’s ing,” says Lopez whose job pino males who are being
population program was a is to monitor, record and blamed for “endangering “Itay, mayroon ba tayong kakainin bukas?” this child seems to say. Tradi-
the food security of the tionally the breadwinners, Filipino males are expected not only to propagate
Philippine demographics country.”
In a vasectomy, a man’s
the race but to make sure that the family is well-fed, as “Inay, Kuya, Ate at
iba ko pang kapatid” are as well-roofed, well-dressed and healthy. But with
Population: 92,681,453 (July 2008 est.) ability to produce semen stark poverty enveloping the nation amid political and economic instability,
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34.1% (male, after sexual intercourse is can Itay step up to the plate? Photo of Vanessa Arquillano on Flickr
16,121,508 / female, 15,487,841); 15-64 years: made useless after a minor,
61.7% (male, 28,524,176 / female, 28,652,155); painless operation.
65 years and over: 4.2% (male, 1,690,006 / fe-
male, 2,205,767) (2008 est.)
Median age total: 23 years; male, 22.5 years /
Most Filipino men,
however, have rejected this
birth control method.
How about UN food stockpiles?
female: 23.5 years (2008 est.) “The solution is simple MANILA - Agriculture Secretary Ar- UN agency had the credibility and track re-
Population growth rate: 1.728% (2008 est.) - if there’s less population thur Yap has urged the United Nations (UN) cord to do the job.
Birth rate: 24.07 births/1,000 population (2008 in this country, there will to set up and manage either a regional or a “If there is such a system in place, there
est.) be less demand for food. global food stockpile program to help peo- would be no panic … It would take the
Death rate: 5.32 deaths/1,000 population If there’s less demand for ple in poor nations cope up with the sky- speculative aspect (and expected riots and
(2008 est.) food, then there won’t be rocketing prices of basic goods. violence) out of the situation,” Yap said.
Net migration rate: -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 any food crisis,” Lopez Yap said the UN’s World Food Program Due consideration
population (2008 est.) said. (WFP) should be given a shot at managing WFP country director Stephen Anderson
From The World Factbook Department of Agricul- food stockpiles to stabilize world food sup- said the UN would give due consideration
(To page 13) ply and avert a food crisis, adding that the (To page 13)

GENERAL DENTISTRY
Dr. Gilbert Chan
Dr. Daphne Chien
Dr. Janet Ho
Dr. Janet Wong
Dr. Michael Chin
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
KCCC gets
$141K grant
The Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre
(KCCC) would soon have its first paid staff.
This, after the Ontario Trillium Foundation
approved a $141,700 multi-year funding to hire
a coordinator and an assistant who would work
with volunteers in support of various KCCC
programs and activities, in the next four years.
KCCC president Mama Ching Quejas has
appointed a hiring committee to interview ap-
plicants. Job postings have been issued.
Quejas said the hiring of a full-time paid
coordinator was necessary because most of
the board members are young executives with
young families and while they have brilliant
ideas, their jobs and their families are their pri-
orities and there has to be someone to execute/
implement and coordinate the programs and
activities of the centre full-time, especially the
fundraising events.
She said the grant was the third given by the
Ontario Trillium Foundation to the KCCC.
The first was to fund a Board Governance
Seminar; the second, a capital grant for the ren-
ovation of the center’s multi-purpose hall. PR
PACA donation
Willie Rapanan (right), Pangasinan As-
sociation of Canada president, turns
over prescription sunglasses to J. R.
Villanueva (left), Association of Man-
gatarem Overseas Residents president,
as Jesus Calicdan, Jr. and L. Solomon
look on. The shades were donated by
Leli and Ralph Victorino of the Supreme
Optical of Toronto. ROMY ZETAZATE
Sterile Pinoys ...
(From page 12)
ture regional technical director Romulo Falcon
endorsed Lopez’s solution as “one of the major
suggestions that will be considered” in a nation-
al food security conference in Manila.
“This is one of the best solutions. We’ll look
into this and study its possibilities in the overall
food security of the country,” Falcon said.
More options
Other EDC suggestions offered during the
meeting included:
► Urging farmers to grow hybrid rice,
► Continuing government subsidy for
farmer’s fertilizers,
► Urging people to mix camote, cassava,
cardaba banana or corn with rice to reduce de-
mand for rice,
► Cut down post-harvest losses,
► Come up with a rice sufficiency program
for the next five years.
“We’ll listen to all kinds of suggestions and
consider these inputs from the region in our ef-
fort to find ways to solve the food crisis,” Trade
Undersecretary Meldy Cruz said. PNA
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13
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How about UN ... averting a big crisis. Global lessons can be
learned,” Anderson said.
added to the poverty roll, while a similar
hike in fuel prices meant 160,000 poor
(From page 12) UNESCO data showed that food pric- people.
to Yap’s idea, contained in a Philippine es rose more than 200 percent from 1998, A recent Social Weather Station poll
government proposal. sending some 854 million worldwide reel- showed the hunger incidence in the Philip-
Anderson said a similar proposal ing with undernourishment. pines reached 16.3 percent in the second
from the powerful G8 countries (US, Another 100 million people have been quarter of 2008, up from the 10-year aver-
Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Japan classified as poor and hungry, data added. age of 12.1 percent.
and Russia) and the International Food In the Philippines, the price of rice, the Meanwhile, UN resident coordinator
Policy Institute was raised during the national staple, has risen by over 40 percent Nileema Noble said the world body “stands
WFP’s recent Hokkaido meeting. since January. ready” to help the Philippine government
Anderson said the WFP had been Rice sufficiency, however, reached only address hunger and high food prices.
“looking at different ways” and had 85 percent of the total requirements. Noble said the UN has a Food Security
been in constant touch with states and The country, host to the International Steering Committee tasked to share infor-
non-government groups to address Rice Research Institute, is considered the mation and coordinate action on necessary
global food price hikes. world’s largest rice importer, taking in support to the government.
“Prices remain volatile and the some 2.4 million metric tons since the start The Committee grouped the World
proposal merits some consideration of this year alone. Bank, Asian Development Bank, Interna-
because everyone is going after the UNESCO said every 10-percent hike in tional Monetary Fund, IRRI and IFRC/Red
same food stock pile. It can be useful in rice prices meant 660,000 more Filipinos Crescent Society. PNA
14 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
PPC-O Casino Rama fundraiser
Lady of Peñafrancia sails to Centre Island The PHILIPPINE PRESS CLUB-ONTARIO will conduct a Casino Rama
fundraiser on Sept. 20. Assembly area is at Boni’s Ave. (at the back of
This year, on Sept. 20, the image of Bicol’s patroness, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, sails
aboard a ferry crossing Lake Ontario and goes all the way to Centre Island, capping the Wal-Mart along Sheppard and Kennedy streets in Scarborough). Assem-
annual feast day of the miraculous Virgin Mother. bly time is 9:15 a.m. Bus leaves for Casino Rama at 9:45 a.m. Bus departs
The image is borrowed from the Annunciation Church parish where it is enshrined. Casino Rama at 4:30 p.m. and expected to be back at Boni’s Ave. before
Fluvial event organizers say the ferry leaves at 9 a.m. and devotees will accompany the 6 p.m. Fee is $15 per head. Those who wish to join may contact Myrna
Patron Saint and say prayers while on the ferry. Soriano at 416-754-9547 and Chuchi Punsalan at 416-779-2567. PR
The short voyage is coordinated by Hermano Mayor Bobby Achacon with the help of
Noli Aquino, Folks Badong, Toti Gutierez, and Myrna Abraham.
In a procession to Area 31 of Centre Island, the image will be borne on the shoulders of
Leon Aureus, Frances Bael, Jun Dabu, Paeng Nebres, Tony Ragos and Ely Torrenueva.
CIC awards 31 Fil-Cans for
Prayers and singing will be led by lady auxiliaries Lorna Achacon, Adel Aureus, Ditas
Badong, Darling Balmaceda, Juliet Casaya, Elena Dabu, Naty Gutierez, Arlene Martirez,
Mayette Oliveros, Ching Ragos, Lorelie Redoblado, and Leticia Toral.
Mass will start at 10 a.m. with Fr. Jose Pena officiating, after which a potluck picnic
volunteer, community work
will follow. JESS CABRIAS/PR Citizenship
and Immigration
Our Journey: The pain of loss Canada (CIC)
(From page 9) has cited at least
because of carelessness. My or would not. Instead she friend. 31 leaders and
friend Gale is in love with a continued her destructive These stories are three members of the
man who is so special to her. behavior and tried to cover sides of the same coin. If community for
Each of us dreams of the it up by lying. Each time the something is precious to their volunteer
perfect man, and to Gale, lie was discovered and her you, treat it with care and and community
this is the one. He and Gale relationship disintegrated a respect. Understand what work.
become much more than little bit more. Eventually, and who your priorities are. Honored for MOGADO SANTIAGO D’ORAZIO
just lovers, they became there came a point when Nurture and love the people having rendered
the closest of friends. They enough was enough and her who are important in your volunteer services (for 30 Miemban, Evelyn Aquino The scrolls of honor
depended on each other and lover left her. life. years) were Violeta Cande- and Oscar Maranan of the signed by Ontario Citizen-
found security and comfort Gale’s loss is so deep, Loss of an opportunity lario Vilan and Patricia Mar- Ontario Filipino Women’s ship and Immigration Min-
with each other. she feels she is mourn- to show love and get close, tin Guthrie, of the Filipino Club (OFWC); Rowena ister Michael Chan and
Gale was careless with ing the passing of a family loss of your freedom, loss Parents Association; (For Ponferrada of the Filipino Ontario Premier Dalton Mc-
the relationship. At first, it member. She was careless of your lover or your best 20 years) Exuperio Tiqui, Parents Association; Willie Guinty signed the scrolls of
was stupid things. Small stu- about the thing most pre- friend: These losses are preident of Living Waters Arciaga and Connie Matula, honor that came with silver
pid things that should never cious to her, thinking that often irretrievable and can Residence Inc. (LWRI), both of LWRI; Rey Tolenti- sterling pins.
have happened. Her lover things could be patched up haunt you for a long time to formerly the Sampaguita no, Aida D’Orazio, Evelyn Last year, the CIC like-
was upset and asked her to again. She lost more than come. Especially if the loss Filipino Village; Birondo, Suzette Cresencia wise cited 31 Filipino- Ca-
stop. But Gale could not, her lover: She lost her best is through carelessness. (For 15 years) Dr. Vic- and Wendy Arena, all of nadians.
toria Santiago, chair of the FCT; Since the awards were

ADVERTISEMENTS? Filipino Centre Toronto (For five years) Rebec-

(FCT) board of directors; ca Reyes, Samira Flores,
instituted, some 1,000
members of the community

CALL 416-285-8583
Marlene Mogado, sepa- Belinda Sison and Wil- received the honor in recog-
rate school board member; berth Serafin Vallon, all of nition of their meritorious
Angeles Diaz Bauzon and OFWC. volunteer services and ex-
Lourdes Flores, past presi- The CIC awarded the emplary contributions to the
dent and vice president, Youth Medal for Volunteers betterment of the quality of
respectively, of American to Kirsten Valenzuela Paru- life in the communitys and
Legion Auxiliary Unit 21; cha, a second year Journal- society.
Fred Flores, vice presi- ism student at the Univer- At the forefront of the
dent, Filipino Canadian sity of Toronto. awards on behalf of the
Veterans Legion Post 21; Last year’s recipient was community is Alex Parucha,
Luz Balbin, LWRI vice Nicole Bañez Dumpit of the Sr., a nominator of the CIC
president; Luisa Nolido and Philippine Heritage Band. Ontario Honors and Awards
Marylou Gaerlan. The CIC gave out the Secretariat.
(For 10 years) Alex Eu- awards, among those be- Parucha is also a mem-
genio Parucha and Corazon stowed on more than 3,500 ber of the Canada Day July
Valenzuela Parucha, servers persons throughout Ontar- 1st Celebration Committee
at the Our Lady of Fatima ians, in February, April, which has been giving out
Shrine; Ophie Mina, Max May and June. similar awards. PR

Forex promotes door-to-door services

Forex Parcel Service continues to lead the balikbayan box door-to-door ser-
vice needs of the various Filipino communities across Canada. In photo,
Forex staff and their families join the 2008 Philippine Chamber of Commerce-
Toronto Trade Show at the Philippine Independence Day Council Mabuhay
Philippines Toronto Summer Festival at the Metro Toronto Convention Cen-
tre on July 19. PHOTO: MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
CPO introduces Flip-hop tilt in Filipino Day in Wonderland
After winning the People
Choice’s Award at the 2008
Carassauga Festival, Cul-
ture Philippines of Ontario
(CPO - the host of the Phil-
ippine pavilion at Canada’s
Wonderland - is organizing
youth groups and talents
from the Filipino commu-
nity to participate in the an-
nual celebration of Filipino
Magalona takes over as PAG president
The Philippine Artists
Group (PAG) of Canada has
a new president.
Erstwhile vice presi-
dent Justino Magalona took
over when president Anto-
nio Luna aka Dunluna re-
signed.
The resignation came
after the cancellation of
PAG’s July 2009 art show
that could have been PAG’s
second 20th anniversary
exhibition and main art pre-
sentation in Canada.
Magalona called on
members to revitalize the
PAG.
He also laid out plans
that included the revival
of the cancelled art exhibit
before the yearend, and the
continuance of the well-re-
Day at the theme park.
This year’s Filipino Day
at Wonderland is on Aug.
30.
Organizers say the an-
nual Filipino Day, which
was started in 2001, is an
opportunity offered to the
youth to demonstrate and
share their talent during the
event. See poster on page
MAGALONA
ceived PAG calendar for
2009.
In April, PAG launched
its first 20th anniversary art
exhibit in the Philippines
called Kulay Balikbayan
at the Ayala Museum in
Makati City.
Ten PAG members par-
ticipated, namely Dunluna,
Romi MananQuil, Dong
22 for more information.
Flip-hop competition
This year, a revolution-
ary hip-hop dance competi-
tion called Flip Hop is be-
ing introduced.
In this competition,
performers will show their
urban hip hop dance skills
with the challenge of incor-
porating traditional Filipino
Magalona, Frank and Nelia
Tonido, Omel Masalunga,
Calixto Quiachon, Antonio
Afable, Cobie Cruz and
Nellie Bautista, who was
mainly credited for the suc-
cess of the opening.
A big crowd highlighted
the show’s formal inaugural
on April 29 with the pres-
ence of special guests like
Canadian ambassador to
Manila Robert Dejardins,
former First Lady Imelda
Romualdez Marcos and art
patroness Eimee Graigun.
This was the group’s
second show in Manila in
four years. In 2004, the
PAG had its first Philippine
art show called Conver-
gence Internationale at the
Art Space Glorietta. PR
folk dances into the chore-
ography.
Contestants will battle
it out centerstage at the
Kingswood Music Theatre,
not only for bragging rights
but also for a $1,000 cash
prize.
This is organized by
CPO’s youth group under
the guidance of Luz del Ro-
sario.
Filipino Singing Idol
– Battle of Champions
Singing Idol winners are
encouraged to form their
own circle of winners and
to mentor each other while
pulling their weight to best
it out from among the best.
Besides the cash prize,
the names of the winners
Salamat, ABS-CBN. Kapamilya talaga!
Kapamilya Fiesta defi-
nitely brought so much fun
to thousands of Filipinos
who joined the celebration
with the cast of That’s My
Doc Aga Muhlach, Roder-
ick Paulate, Bayani Agbay-
ani and Lara Quigaman at
the Metro Toronto Conven-
tion Centre on July 26.
Some 4,000 fun-loving
Filipino families were very
of this Battle of Champions
in the two age categories
(10-16 and 17-30 years old)
will be inscribed on their
respective trophy that will
be passed down from year
to year.
CPO recognizes the
need to continue cultivat-
ing promising singers by
providing a friendly yet
competitive environment
to hone their skills and help
them get to a higher level.
It urges champion home-
grown talents to be part of
CPO’s circle of winners and
join the battle of the cham-
pions.
The champion will de-
fend the crown in the next
Battle of Champions.
grateful for the free event
presented by the ABS-CBN
Regional Network Group
and organized by AV Com-
munications.
Many of them played
games like Bingo, Pachinko,
Lucky Dice, Spin-a-wheel
and Videoke that were
shipped in from Manila.
Many won prizes given
away as frequent as every
15
Discounted tickets
A special arrangement
is made with Wonderland to
allow members of the com-
munity to enjoy and to have
fun at the premier theme
park – at a discounted
price.
Filipino Day tickets are
selling at $30 each in ad-
vance from CPO members,
at PNB Remittance offices
and designated places.
At the gates of the Can-
ada’s Wonderland, the Fili-
pino Day price is $37 per
ticket, instead of the regular
price of $53.95; and an ad-
ditional $10 to season pass-
holders to enter the King-
swood Music Theatre for
the Filipino Day programs.
15 minutes.
Two lucky winners went
home with a Free plane
ticket to Manila.
There was also a show-
case of local talents who
rendered heart-warming
songs and upbeat produc-
tion numbers.
Excitement gripped
and laughter echoed across
(To page 23)
16
Cotabateños @ Morningside Park
Featinians re-elect Rey as president
Members of the Featin-
ean Association of Toronto
have re-elected Oliver Rey
as president during the
group’s annual picnic and
general election at the Duf-
ferin Clark Community
Centre, Vaughan on Aug. 3.
Elected with Rey as offi-
cers were Florie Silang, 1st
vice president; Max Recai-
do, 2nd vice president; Res
Paje, secretary; Luz Sider,
assistant.secretary; Nenita
Recaido, treasurer; Rolly
Balangue, assistant treasur-
er; Rudy Olay, auditor; Tom
Flores, business manager;
and Tony San Juan, PRO.
Voted as directors were
Cesar Banda, Ben Dioleta,
Fe Quirante-Flora, Moises
Ga, Greg Gravador, Nor-
ma Guanzon, Jorge Isidro,
Arthur Lasam, Domingo
Miranda, Rudy Ortiz, Bert
Pabustan, Eric Serapio and
Violy Vilan.
In the same occasion,
the Featinians celebrated
the birth anniversary of
member Elsa Olay.
Former president Julio
Buiza led a committee that
handled the polls.
The association resolved
to help the people of Aklan
Businessmen visits Ontario
PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
PHOTOS: BUTCH GALICIA/MERLYN TY
Roundabout: Sing no sad songs for ABC 5
(From page 8)
kling series on Philippine
history.
Looking farther back,
there was an occasion in
ABC’s storied past when
it ceased to exist because
Marcos thought it wise to
control the local media that
had by then become a thorn
on his side.
Channel 5, along with
its sister publishing com-
with a $1,000 donation (see The FEatinians would The 3rd Eye: Grandma Elvis
photo above) requested by also conduct their Gala (From page 10)
Annie Buiza for her home- Night at the Rembrandt on kababayans or not, allow
town and typhoon Frank af- Oct. 11. OMR/MANNY me to introduce to you the
fected folks. (OMR) PAPA one and only Lola Elvis.
Married twice and out-
K of C Exemplification lived both husbands; a
grandmother of 30 grand-
children and three great
grandchildren ... Heeeeerre
is Zennnna Zaaaaaagala!!!
The sensational box-
ing ring style introduction
is more than fitting. Zena
Zagala can knock out the
crowd with her well choreo-
graphed moves. The signa-
ture moves that she had put
Sir Knight Jojo Taduran (right) and Sir Knight on hold for 47 years.
Dom Calixterio (left) pose with Sir Knight George Back in 1958 at the Stu-
Poblete, faithful navigator of Assembly 2113. Ta- dent Canteen, a TV show in
duran and Calixterio are members of Knights the Philippines, she won the
of Columbus Council 10516-St. Boniface. ROMY first round in the Lady Elvis
ZETAZATE Singing Contest. She could
have moved on to the final
D round and probably could
have won it, but her strict
Filipino businessmen grandfather’s disapproval
Jose Co Policarpio put a stop to her dream.
(right) and Rudy Calal- Wounded but not dead,
ang (2nd from left) re- this one talented lady was
cently toured Ontario born to perform. It is in her
and have invited Filipi- blood. She is the niece of
no-Canadian business- the famous Filipino movie
men to invest in the star, Carmen Rosales. The
Philippines. With them itch to perform has always
are Romy Zetazate (left) hounded her.
and Lauro Jose. MAN- When her daughter,
NY PAPA Pinky Faustino sponsored
pany, Liwayway, was shut
down and became one of
the most pathetic victims of
martial law.
Some time after his re-
lease from a fairly long arbi-
trary detention, its founder,
the revered late Don Chino
Roces, took to the streets in
defense of freedom and hu-
man rights.
To the Chinese and
her to come to Canada, the
old itch did not stay behind.
And in 2005 after 47 years
of holding back, the Elvis in
her could not be contained
anymore. It broke loose and
put Zena where she belongs
- the centre stage. From then
on, the “katuwaan lang”
performance with family
and friends in Toronto be-
came a full blown fame.
She is now affection-
ately known as The Lola
Elvis in the Filipino Com-
munity and happily living
her dream.
She performed at The
Collingwood Elvis Festival
in front of the big audience
filled with screaming fans
of Elvis. “I am doing this
to keep the spirit of Elvis
alive. And seeing the happy
reaction of the audience to
my performance makes it
all worthwhile,” said Zena.
She will once again dazzle
the audience at the Ontario
Place Filipinos Making
Waves Festival.
To Lola Elvis, I tip my
hat in admiration to you.
You make the Filipino Com-
munity mighty proud. May
you have many more years
of living your dream.
countless people smitten
with numerology, August
8, 2008 was supposed to be
auspicious.
The Beijing Olympics
unfolded in glory while
ABC signed off again in
Manila, sending sentimen-
talists to quiet corners to
shed a tear of sadness. (The
station signed back on the
next day as the Malaysian-
controlled TV5, in what
may yet be the “longest sta-
tion break” ever.)
A network press release
sometime ago quoted Co-
juangco saying that “ABC5
had entered into a major
blocktime agreement with
MPB Primedia, Inc., a local
company backed by Media
Prima Berhad of Malay-
sia.”
Cojuangco added that
the deal was “part of a long
term strategy to make the
network more competitive.”
And that it will “ensure a
steady and sustainable flow
of innovative programming
that will differentiate ABC5
from other networks and
at the same time guarantee
that ABC5 earns a healthy
profit.”
Under the agree-
ment, MPB “produces and
sources most of the enter-
tainment programs while
ABC5 would continue to be
responsible for news pro-
gramming and operation of
the station.”
With an old TV station
with a new ID, the entire
nation is now keeping a
watchful eye on TV 5, won-
dering if it will be anything
like its revered predecessor.
Meanwhile, we sing no
sad songs for ABC5.
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 17
Wiersema-Miciano nuptials

Officers and members of the Camarines Norte Association Canada - Ontario

(CNAC-O) headed by president Tony San Juan march in a community parade
at Earl Bales Park. PHOTO: PONG OSTANAL/JOJO TADURAN

CNAC-O donates books, etc.

The Camarines Norte
Association Canada-Ontar-
io (CNAC-O) has donated
new and used textbooks,
educational materials and
others for distribution to
schools in the province of
Camarines Norte, Bicol re-
gion, the Philippines.
Recently, CNAC-O do-
nations reached the parishes
of St. Vincent Ferrer Catho-
lic Church and St. Lucy,
Virgin Catholic Church, in
the towns of Capalonga and
San Vicente.
Parish priests Reverend
Fathers Venancio Rosales
and Ronaldo Rodelas re-
ceived the donation.
In 2007, CNAC-O sent
similar donations to four
parishes and schools in
three towns in the province.
Also a recent book do-
nation recipient was the
Camarines Norte State Col-
lege’s Teacher Education
Center - the Abano Elemen-
tary School in Daet town.
The donation was sent
on July 19.
The donated books in-
cluded selections of age-
appropriate titles for el-
ementary, secondary, and
college-level programs in
the arts, business, comput-
ers, education, engineering
, English, marketing, math-
ematics, science, social
studies and technology.
General references like
dictionaries and thesauruses
were part of the donation.
CNAC-O is a year-old
community-based associa-
tion of natives and former
residents of Camarines
Norte living and working in
the Greater Toronto Area.
Its officers are Tony
San Juan, president; Wllie
Nabus, 1st vice president;
Larry Bercasio, 2nd vice
president; Lida Muguerza,
secretary; Kambz Silvio,
assistant secretary; Pong Newly-weds Dr. Albine Miciano and Elbert Wiersema join guests during their
Ostonal, Jr., treasurer; Rom- wedding reception. Seated from left are Annie and Max Costiniano, and Ace
mel Yanto, auditor; and Su- and Gie Alvarez. Albine and Elbert exchanged vows at the Queenston Cha-
san Llanera, PRO. pel, Sunday, August 3, 2008, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. PHOTO: MA-
The directors include NILA MEDIA MONITOR
Marie Agoston, Bads Gum-
abao, Elisa Maesa and Shey
Silvio.
The Tanza Associa-
tion of Canada will
www. FinancialProblem.ca
Representing the dif- with credit cards and bank loans
ferent towns are Minda Al- have its picnic at Too many loans & credit cards?
ban, Salve Aquino, Lourdes the Earl Bales Park, Paying too much interest?
Balce, Lito Cruz, Randy
Fermo, Liwanag Nabus,
Area 2 on Aug. 23, Afraid to pick up your own phone?
Looking for consolidation?
Shirley Rosales, Eva San in honor of Tanza.
Andres, Virgie San Juan, Cavite’s patron St. Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
Milvin Servidad. Augustine or Tata CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
416-780-1020
Jojo Taduran is CNAC-
O’s adviser. JSM Usteng.
18 AUGUST 2008
Manila Media Monitor
Davis: Young Elvis fan

APO 9th Biennial Convention set

Toronto-based alumni
of Alpha Phi Omega (APO)
are rolling out the red carpet
to delegates of the fraterni-
ty’s 9th Biennial Conven-
tion at the Sheraton Centre
Toronto on Aug. 29 to 31.
APO-Toronto president
Rod Panizares is calling
on some 120 members, as
hosts, to make the alumni
gathering memorable.
Ed Santos is convention
director and is supported by
20 convention committees.
Besides the business
aspects of the convention,
the hosts have lined up fun
activities like a golf tour-
nament, a tour of Ontario
spots like Niagara Falls and
the CN Tower, singing idol
contest, and the Texas Hold
‘em Poker Tour.
From the more formal
Gala Night to the let-your-
hair-down chapter fellow-
ship, Torontonians promise
to show visiting brothers
and sisters the meaning of
hospitality and entertain-
ment.
Prominent men in busi-
ness and government in the
Philippines come from the
roster of APO membership.
One of them, Makati City
Mayor Jejomar Binay, has
signified his intention to
grace the convention.
Founded in 1925, Al-
pha Phi Omega (commonly
known as APO) is the larg-
est collegiate fraternity in
the United States, boasting
350 chapters with an active
membership of some 17,000
students and over 350,000
alumni members.
APO has 250 chapters
in the Philippines, making it
the second largest concen-
tration of members outside
the US. There is a chapter in
Australia.
APO is a co-ed service
fraternity organized to pro-
vide community service,
leadership development,
and social opportunities for
college students.
The fraternity finds in-
spiration in the principles
derived from the Scout
Oath and Scout Law of the
Boy Scouts of America.
APO-Toronto was
formed to continue the tra-
dition after university life.
It was on December 25, Roy LeBlanc, aka Elvis Presley, sings to Davis Figueroa Whiting, 18 months,
1985 when a small group of at the Collingwood annual Elvis Festival. Davis wears a sequined jumpsuit
alumni composed of Ely designed and sewn by paternal grandmother Sandy Figueroa Whiting of
Samaniego, Francis Sa- Mississauga. Davis is the child of Geoffrey and Jacinda Whiting.
maniego, Belinda Alcopra,
Jeanette Cellona, and Rolex Romy Zetazate birthday party
Ocampo got together to cel-
ebrate the 60th anniversary
of APO. From this initial
fellowship and subsequent
meetings, APO Toronto was
born. PR

St. Jamestown News Service writer Romeo Ayson Zetazate shares a roman-
tic dance with his wife, Tess Arroyo, during a surprise 65th birthday party
family and friends tendered for him at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall on Aug.
16. Main hosts of the party were Zetazate’s children led by daughter Leima-
ALPHA PHI OMEGA ALUMNI IN TORONTO
rie. PHOTO: JOJO TADURAN

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
PNB Cargo Services (2)
Dr. Evangeline M. Bernabe &
Associates (3)
Goldentuller (3)
Rolly’s Garage (3)
Russell International (4)
Dr. Arla Rondilla Dentistry
“Let your light shine before men in such a way Professional Corp. (5)
that they may see your good works and glorify Dr. Albine A. Miciano
your father who is in heaven.”
Cosmetic & General
MATTHEW 6:16
Dentistry (6)
Action Honda (7)
Kaakbay Financial Services
(11)
Ellesmere-Kennedy Dental
To all gifted photographers out there who have the third eye
Centre (12)
in capturing photos that reflect a Christian message, there is a Amit Bhatia Credit
Christian Fellowship of talented photographers that awaits you. Management Services (13)
They are Photographers For Christ who use the art of photography Timeless Images (14)
in spreading the word of God. Dr. Roslyn Sim-Sabilano
Dentistry Professional
Listen to your hearts, the Holy Spirit is calling you. Corp. (15)
Forex (17)
Photographers for Christ (18)
Henderson Weekes (19)
The Tropical Deli (19)
Classified Ads (19)
Pick up your camera and follow us. New Conservatory of Music
(20)
PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR CHRIST RemitX (21)
Culture Philippines of
www.the-3rd-eye.com Ontario (22)
photographersforchrist@gmail.com UMAC Toronto (23)
Gonzales Dentistry
Professional Corp. (23)
Lydia Madrona-Yanto (24)
Deuel Conte (24)
Dr. Bernarda Rosales
Verzonilla Family &
Cosmetic Dentistry (25)
Roadsport Honda (25)
Lovely Travel & Tours
International (26)
OCDC Parcel Services (27)
Villa Movers (27)
Innovation Video/Photo
Services (28)
Clem Cabillan (28)
Liland Insurance Inc. (29)
Front Page Philippines (31)
T.H.D. Consultants (33)
musicpad.com (33)
LDV Computers (34)
CHIN Radio (34)
Seoul Driving School (34)
Ma. Louisa Diaz (35)
JC Concert Consultant Group
Mikey Bustos Concert (36)
Tonnie Furto (37)
House of Shoes (37)
Superb Travel (38)
Forbes Dental Hygiene
Services (38)
Celebrate With Music (39)
Dr. Santiago & Associates (40)
Fairview Dental Centre (40)
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 19

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20
Filipino Youngsters a hit at NCM Festival
WORLD CLASS ENSEMBLE: (Rear, from left) Azin Nasiri, Karen Hung, Jen-
nifer Singh, Michele Pickles, Helen Saygan, Stephanie Javelosa, Michelle
Shams, (Front, from left) Geraldine Policarpio, Fahmida Hossain, Jillian Ex-
conde, Shalise Zaman, Jonalyn Aquilar, Aaron Gabriel Hernandez, Ashley
Villagracia and Ranielle Macapagal.
Three hundred and fifty
seven (357) Filipino young-
sters participated in this
year’s New Conservatory
of Music Festival in Scar-
borough.
About half of them end-
ed up winning trophies or
scholarships.
Seven of them won $500
scholarships: Olivia Rivera
only four years old; Martin
Tahamid, 8; Karen Asun-
cion, 9; Nicole Samantha
Huff, 10; Lia Luz, 12; Adri-
enne Hudencial, 13; and
King Tabrizi, 14.
The $200 scholarships
were awarded to Cailean
Cruzada, 4; Austin Barto-
lome, 5; Abigail Cinco, 6;
Marriane Garcia, 6; Rhe-
nee Garcia, 7; Sheena Ma-
rie Yadao, 7; Jessie Mon-
talbo, 7; Andrea Mendioro,
8; Selena Norva-Quilaga,
8; Micah Erin De Lara, 8;
Aaron Gabriel Hernandez,
8; Jacob Viray, 8; Charlene
Dorland, Freddielyn Estan-
islao, Rosephine Del Fer-
nandes, Justin Albert Gui-
yab, Aron John Isip, Hans
Lidon, Joshua Pusong, Ni-
cole Ramos, and Maritha
(Mauie) Sia.
Adrienne Hudencial
won the Jazz, Blues, Broad-
way and the Latin Music
completion.
Martin Tahamid won the
Jazz completion for 8 year-
olds and Hans Lidon won
the Rock’n Roll completion
for 9 year-olds.
Austin Bartolome won
the Age Achievement con-
test for 5 year-olds and Kar-
en Asuncion for age nine.
The following won 1st
place trophies:
Melissa Jane Alconcel,
Jessica Asuncion, Karen
Asuncion, John Carlo Balt-
azar, Austin Bartolome, Al-
bert Brion, Cynthia Vanessa
Bulaong, Katrina Cacanin-
din, Tanya Chua, Abigail
Cinco, Christine Crisolo,
THE AMIGOS under Vesna Cikovic (from left, back row) Azin Nasiri, Mari-
lyn Jeyananthan, Maria Jeyananthan, Katherine Catignas, Andrea Heynes,
Christian James Estrada, Christopher Pineda, Leslie Jonel, and Joshua
Stanberry.
Frederick Crisolo, Cailean
Cruzada, Cerniel Cruzada,
Micah Erin De Lara, Lau-
ren Del Rio, Elaine Dignos,
Charlene Dorland, Ely-
ssa Encinares, David Falco,
Rosephine Del Fernandes,
Jennica de los Santos, Mar-
riane Garcia, Mark Gaton-
gay, Jasmine Gooljar, Justin
Albert Guiyab, Adrienne
Hudencial, Nicole Saman-
tha Huff, Aron John Isip,
Luis Kabigting, Hans Lidon,
Conrad Lim, Lia Luz, Eli-
jah Daniel Manalo, Naomi
Mangunay, Macmar David
Marcelino, Andrea Mendio-
ro, Jessie Montalbo, Selena
Norva-Quilaga, Alexis Os-
trowski, Jason Pagaduan,
Justin Penaranda, Sean Po,
Sofia Quinonez, Nicole Ra-
mos, Leonard Razon, Tash
Repolleza, Jessica Rivera,
Olivia Rivera, Alyssa Sa-
gum, Arlene Joy Salazar,
Ashley Salvador, Maritha
(Mauie) Sia, King Tabrizi,
Martin Tahamid, Joseph
Emmanuel Tapar, Shawn
Tupig, Camille Ubay, Vin-
cent Sean Villanueva, and
Sheena Marie Yadao.
2nd place trophies:
Erin Danielle Abila,
Jonalyn Aguilar, Melissa
Ayisi, Dominique Berna-
les, Harriette Leigh Berona,
Vincent Bonus, Mariafe
Calica, MacKenzie Cam-
eron, April-Gayle De Guz-
man, Eric Kyle De Guz-
man, Micah Erin De Lara,
Michelle De Lara, Iana De
Ocampo, Kyla Dela Cruz,
Melissa Dizon, Anthony
Doyaoen, Rachelle Escaba,
Freddielyn Estanislao, Jo-
ellyne Evaristo, Rouelle
Felaire, Danise Fernandez,
Sharmina Habib, Aaron
Gabriel Hernandez, Nicole
Samantha Huff, Katrina
Ashley Jose, Joey Kabig-
ting, Jeny Labao, Jonathan
Labao, Monica Labuguen,
Stephanie Lacsamana, Di-
anne Lorenzo, Samantha
Lozada, Hadassah Joyce
Manalese, Sophia Lauren
Mateo, Marianne Mendio-
ro, Philip Milanes, Melani
Palma, Jeremy Pan, Alex-
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
The $500.00 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: (Back row, from left) Brianna Green,
Lia Luz, Joe Wu, Henry Gu, King Tabrizi, Shara Nauth, Arranka Kumarachan-
dran, Adrienne Hudencial, Kelly Vuong, (front row) Nicole Samantha Huff,
Jessica Asuncion, Lilac Toh, Martin Tahamid, Hope Anantharajan and Olivia
Rivera.
andrea Yssabel Panuelos, LINDSEY WEN and JEFFREY REYES
Curtis Joseph Pascual-Na-
hibuan, Christopher Pineda,
Jeremy Plaza, Katrina Po, MISS NCM 2008 winners
Sean Po, Julian Quan Fun,
Zayeem Rahman, Dennis
Ramirez, Ralph Ranez, Alex
Reyes, Jeffrey Reyes, Vic-
toria Reyes, Zachary Ruiz,
Kevin Christian Saludares,
Rouel Sia, Richard-David
Sison, Juness Talon, Sean
Tamargo, Girlie Valino,
Gregory Valino, and Marijo
Victorino. MISS NCM 2008 winners (from left) Angelina
3rd place trophies: Hardock, Danielle Jean Marg GomisTorh, Ol-
Jacqueline Alfonso, Ai- ivia Rivera, and Cailean Cruzada
belle Babista, Justin Nicho-
las Balkissoon, Nikki Baret, Nicole Samantha Huff, Achig, Gerin Puig, Joshua
Marian Bautista, Nichole Michelle Joseph, Lachelle Pusong, Zak Rahman, De-
Belen, Heather Benasa, Junatas, Jesse Llana, Char- nise Reyes, Patricia Rica-
Jazmine Benasa, Joshua lize Low, Lia Luz, Den- fort, Kayla Rivera, Cedrik
Philip Benasa, Alysson Ber- nis Ed Maglalang, Elijah Stephen Ruiz, Nathaniel
nabe, Maria Carolina Borja, Daniel Manalo, Stephanie Samlal, Andreanne Jewell
Rochelle Catignas, Cas- Manogar, Chrystien Jayden Samson, Miguel Soriano,
sandra Celemen, Amanda Manriza, Haylee Marco- Monica Soriano, Ruth Susi,
Chiu, Eliana Cruz, Abigail leta, Sabrina Mariano, Ma- Sahar Tabrizi, Louis Francis
De Asis, Adrian Doyaoen, ria Angelica Masangkay, Talon, Meagan Tanguilig,
Heather Estebes, Moses Joanne Masanque, Vanessa Adrian Thomas, Elizabeth
Falco, Dion Flores, Ro- Miraples, Aloha Narajos, Jodi Tinamisan, Maria
chelle Foo, Kevin Galleta, Ainley Pena, Janelle Pena, Joyce Verendia, and Ashley
Jamie Gomez, Adam Guce, Yasmine-Faith Perez- Villagracia.
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 21
22 Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008

Culture Philippines of Ontario

ORDER YOUR TICKETS TODAY!!!

AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 23
Salamat, ABS-CBN. Kapamilya talaga!
(From page 15)
the exhibit hall when Aga and television stars face-to- bring this free and fes-
Muhlach, Roderick Pau- face and have their photos tive celebration to Filipino
late, Bayani Agbayani, Lara taken with them. Communities around the
Quigaman and Nikki Val- Toronto marked the 3rd world to treat them to a day
dez went all out in amusing successful event of Kapami- of fun and glee in the warm
their fans who traveled from lya Fiesta World, which was company of their favorite
even as far as Quebec. previously held in Dubai stars. Kapamilya Fiesta
The crowd felt exhila- and Barcelona through the World certainly gives all
rated even more when they ABS-CBN Regional Net- global pinoys something to
were given the chance to work Group. look forward to. The next
meet the Philippines’ movie They will continue to stop --- Rome! PR

ABS-CBN teleseries That’s My Doc mainstays (from right) Roderick Paulate,

Bayani Agbayani, Aga Muhlach, Nikki Valdez and Lara Quigaman share fun
and laughter with some 4,000 community members in the 3rd leg of the pre-
mier network’s Kapamilya Fiesta World tour at the Metro Toronto Conven-
tion Centre on July 26. The show, earlier done in Dubai and Barcelona, was
presented by the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group and organized by AV
Communications. PR
24
Union HS of Manila grand reunion
Ooops and Bloops: Are you kidding?
(From page 7)
partner, Jake, was barking,
and I saw a little boy staring
in at me.
“Is that a dog you got
back there?” he asked.
“It sure is,” I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked
at me and then towards the
back of the van.
Finally he said, “What’d
he do?”
ELDERLY: While
working for an organization
that delivers lunches to el-
derly shut-ins, I used to take
my 4-year-old daughter on
my afternoon rounds.
She was unfailingly in-
trigued by the various ap-
pliances of old age, particu-
larly the canes, walkers and
wheelchairs.
One day I found her
staring at a pair of false
PEOPLE & EVENTS
teeth soaking in a glass.
As I braced myself
for the inevitable barrage
of questions, she merely
turned and whispered, “The
tooth fairy will never be-
lieve this!”
DRESS-UP: A little girl
was watching her parents
dress for a party.
When she saw her
dad donning his tuxedo,
she warned, “Daddy, you
shouldn’t wear that suit.”
“And why not, dar-
ling?”
“You know that it al-
ways gives you a headache
the next morning.”
DEATH: While walk-
ing along the sidewalk in
front of his church, our min-
ister heard the intoning of a
prayer that nearly made his
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
Alumni of the Union High PPC-O @ Mabuhay festival
School of Manila (UHSM)
from North America and other
parts of the globe gather for
a Grand Reunion in Niagara
Falls, Ontario from aug. 6 to
9. The event was organized
by the Ontario-based UHSM
alumni. The reunion was the
first ever in the Philippine
high school’s 61-year history
to be sited in Canada. The af-
fair was coordinated by Olivia
Galang-Daantos of Class ’67,
and assisted by Elsa Ignacio-
Gamelo (Class ’71), James
Chanco (Class ’70) and Joel (Above) Philippine Independence Day Coun-
Caes (Class ’67). PR cil (PIDC) president Jun Enverga (2nd from left)
join friends in the media at the Philippine Press
Club-Ontario (PPC-O) booth at the PIDC Mabuhay
Philippines Toronto Summer Festival at Hall D of
collar wilt. mother. I can’t read, I can’t the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on July 19.
Apparently, his 5-year- write, and they won’t let me With him (from left) are writer Jojo Taduran, Front
old son and his playmates talk!” Page Philippines’ host Gie Alvarez, who served
had found a dead robin. BIBLE: A little boy as an opening ceremony emcee at the festivities
Feeling that proper buri- opened the big family Bi- with Rogers TV host Brian Mangubat, and Evelyn
al should be performed, they ble. Galicia. (Below) Also on hand at the PPC-O booth
had secured a small box and He was fascinated as are (from left) Courier publisher Mon Datol, Balita
cotton batting, then dug a he fingered through the old publishers Ruben and Tess Cusipag, ABS-CBN’s
hole and made ready for the pages. Marlou Tiro and writer Anagaile Soriano. Photos:
disposal of the deceased. Suddenly, something Manila Media Monitor/Anagaile Soriano
The minister’s son was fell out of the Bible.
chosen to say the appropri- He picked up the object
ate prayers and with sono- and looked at it.
rous dignity intoned his ver- What he saw was an old
sion of what he thought his leaf that had been pressed in
father always said: “Glory between the pages.
be unto the Faaather, and “Mama, look what I
unto the Sonnn, and into the found,” the boy called out.
hole he goooes.” “What have you got
SCHOOL: A little girl there, dear?”
had just finished her first With astonishment in
week of school. the young boy’s voice, he
“I’m just wasting my answered, “I think it’s Ad-
time,” she said to her am’s underwear.”
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
Omerta: Who cares?
(From page 10)
And then, they care less.
Who cares, anyway?
***
Expectations were high
that after July 28, Filipinos
would start caring about
their homeland.
However, no one seemed
to have been inspired by the
diminutive president Arroyo
who called for toughness, as
a way out of national want.
It looked as though the
nation wanted toughness
out and more compassion
for the welfare of Filipinos,
most of whom are edging on
or down the poverty line.
It is August 20 and it
seems that the status quo
has prevailed once more.
No one had honestly,
truthfully and without taint-
ed aims made any initiative
to make it known he or she
cares about the Philippines
and kabayans.
By kabayans, I mean the
nameless faceless Filipinos
who desperately need help
to get out, even temporarily,
of the rut they have sunk
into by no willful wish.
Wanna help a gasping
Philippines and get involved
in the affairs of gasping un-
knowns? Who cares?
***
These past few days, I
have been hearing and read-
ing a lot about restlessness,
if not warlike violence, in
the island of Mindanao in
the Philippines.
As I lay me down to
sleep last night, I hardly can
close my eyes without see-
ing ghosts of the past.
I am talking about the
ugly imagery of death, de-
struction and displacement
wrought by a seemingly
unatenable, call it elusive,
peace in Mindanao, where I
lived for at least 30 years.
Quite a number of times,
I - a community journalist
in Cotabato since the early
‘70s - have stared at death
in the eye.
I have seen the bloody
and mangled bodies of once
healthy humans chanced
upon by bullets, grenade
shrapnels, homemade
bombs and explosives that
never respected life.
The corpses belonged
to combatants who obeyed
orders from commanders
who took orders from peo-
ple powerplaying political
chess games.
The corpses belonged to
the elderly, women and chil-
dren caught in the middle of
a conflict they never wanted
and liked.
The corpses belonged to
hundreds, if not thousands,
of others who simply took a
last heave, and bade good-
bye to the hardship of con-
stantly running away from
PEOPLE & EVENTS 25
any bit of danger that armed
men in full metal jackets
might cause.
Oh, yes. I’ve seen a lot
of casualties, even the so-
called collateral damage -
of the Mindanao war.
Pathetic and insensitive
me. It came to a point that I
believed that the bigger the
number of corpses in body
bags or lying on roads,
fields and funeral parlors,
the better the news cover-
age. It looked as easy as
counting posts.
When asked why, I
would be quick to reply:
Will the world stop turning
if I were senselessly lying
there?
Who cares?
***
Casualties of the three-
decade old Mindanao war?
They are a lucky bunch
who have left the living to
deal with the physical, so-
cial and economic decima-
tion of a protracted struggle
for power by those who
think they have Bathala’s
grace to play with human
lives, notwithstanding Min-
danao’s natural resources.
Who cares?
***
Peace talks? What for?
The rhetorics prove empty.
Peace is absent. Back to
guns? Who cares? butch-
galicia@yahoo.com
26 TRAVEL & TOURISM Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008

Gapan City’s TSINELAS FESTIVAL in August

All about an industry inspired by

people’s big hearts, trendy soles
This August, Ga-
pan City officials and
employees will once
more slip through
the doors of city hall
in slippers, as they
celebrate Tsinelas
Tsinelasin kaya kita? (sandals/slippers)
Month that peaks on
In 2005, a 30-foot sandal highlighted the usual festive dis- Aug. 25 when Gapan
play of giant pairs of slippers atop floats during the Tsinelas marks its seventh
Festival’s grand parade in Gapan City. Eight artisans from year as a component
Barangay Mangino worked for three weeks to produce the city of Nueva Ecija
gigantic sandal, using tons of rubber and plastic sheets and province.
46 gallons of rubber cement and varnish. It took 50 men to But more than GAPAN’S FINE, STURDY, INEXPENSIVE SLIPPERS
position the giant slipper atop a flatbed truck for the parade. this show of convic-
Officials hoped the sandal would be recorded in the Guin- tion on an industry that has made the country’s biggest producer of was doing and replied in Tagalog
ness Book of World Records as the world’s biggest. Since Gapan slippers a household inevi- slippers using synthetic materi- “Gumagapang gapang kami.”
then, the slipper has become a fixture at the Gapan City Hall, tability, the city’s spirited people als; the industry thriving in baran- The soldier took it as the
like the ones in photo below. Gapan City Culture, Tourism take to the streets in festive danc- gays Pambuan, Mangino and San place’s name and called it Pueblo
ing, native and Olympic-style Lorenzo and generating an annual Gapang. In time, the last “g” was
sports competitions, entertain- gross sales of P500 million. dropped and the name Gapan

RP eyeing Vietnamese tourists ment programs, and a parade of

floats bearing Mutya ng Gapan
Competition
Mayor Ernesto Natividad, a
stuck to this day.
Another legend said the name
winner-beauties and locally-made slipper producer before he joined came from climbing and crawling
MANILA - The Department of Tourism beautiful tropic footwear in tourist politics, said imported slippers plants teeming in the area.
(DoT) is looking forward to drumming up come-on fashion. from Vietnam, China, Malaysia History placed Gapan as one
Philippine tourism and attract more tour- Highlighting Gapan’s Tsine- and Taiwan has been lately threat- of the first towns of Pampanga.
ists from Vietnam, when officials attend the las Festival, which in past years ening the industry. Records of the first Catholic
Vietnam International Travel Expo at the went three weeks long, is the Natividad said the Tsinelas mission to the Far East said that
Phu Tho Exhibition Center in Ho Chi Minh vigorous trading of Gapan’s fine, Festival was a splendid idea to in 1595, Spanish priests Contres,
City from Sept. 12 to 14 sturdy and inexpensive product promote the industry and the city Tendilla, Caballo and Salazar
Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque displayed in over 50 tsinelas stalls as a tourist destination. cleared the forest for a pueblo
Jr said the Philippines hoped to bring in as lining up Maharlika Highway in The city has been subsidizing where a church, presedencia and
much as 7,000 Vietnamese tourists for the Bucana village. the participation of slipper pro- homes made of bricks and lime
rest of the year. DURANO History ducers in Department of Trade were built, now the age-old land-
From January to May 2008, the tourism Gapan’s slippers industry and Industry national trade fairs. marks of the town.
department registered about 6,000 tourists from Vietnam. dates back to the 1930s, when the In 2006, Gapan City topped Its foundation in 1595 made
This was 59 percent higher than the number of Vietnamese tourists footwear found its way to as far the government’s One Town, One Gapan the oldest town in Nueva
(To page 28) as the markets of Ilocos and Bicol Product awards for its footwear Ecija and one of the oldest in the
regions and the big Manila malls. making industry. Philippines.
BI opens mobile counters for elderly, disabled Slippers then were made of ca-
rabao leather from Meycauayan,
Cityhood It was likewise a big pueblo
Old records said Gapan City embracing an area as far as Caba-
MANILA - The Bureau of Im- “we have received positive feed- Bulacan. (pop. 90,000 in 23 villages) was natuan City in the north, until the
migration (BI) has activated mo- backs from the elderly and the The state, however, banned used to be called Ibon. latter was separated in 1977.
bile counters at the Ninoy Aquino disabled.” carabao slaughter, as the carabao Legends said the town came to But as Spanish power waned
International Airport (NAIA) to “Progressive countries like Ja- was considered vital to farmwork be known as Gapan when Span- and economic progress caught up
provide the hassle-free process- pan and the US have this system in Gapan and other northern Lu- ish soldier-explorers, in the late in the area, the big pueblo disinte-
ing of immigration documents of and this definitely makes our im- zon areas then dubbed as the rice 1500’s when the area was still grated into many other pueblos.
seniors, persons with disabilities migration processing at par with granary of the Philippines. wilderness, chanced upon natives By virtue of Republic Act
and those who carry infants. them,” he added. The decline in leather supply crawling through thick bushes. No. 9022 and its ratification in a
BI commissioner Marcelino Public assistance forced Gapan’s slippermakers to A soldier stopped the natives plebiscite subsequently consucted
Libanan said the mobile counters The BI also put up a BI-NAIA tap other raw materials such as and in a tongue foreign to the on Aug. 25, 2001, the municipal-
are equipped with WiFi-linked Public Assistance Center to make plastic and rubber. latter, asked for the name of the ity of Gapan was converted into a
laptops. the clearing process easier for ar- Later, a shift to synthetic ma- place. Similarly not understand- component city of Nueva Ecija.
Libanan said that since the riving travelers. terials was made. ing what the soldier said, a native Sourced from various web
counters were set up on July 23, (To page 28) Today, Gapan is known as thought he was asked what he sites and Wikipedia
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
NEWS ROUNDUP
Naga City: Recycling cash
NAGA CITY - City Mayor Jesse Robredo has cut a deal
with Arenas Junkshop and Camarines Sur’s Team Plastics
Milaor for the latter to buy waste plastics dumped at the
Balatas Materials Recovery Facility at P2 per kilo. Joel
Martin of the city’s Solid Waste and Pollution Management
estimated that at least 10 to 12 percent of total mix wastes
collected daily in the city were plastic wastes. This would
translate to about four tons and would mean at least P8,000
for the city coffers daily. PNA
Benguet: Noodles plant on
BAGUIO CITY - The Benguet State University (BSU)
vegetable noodles factory has started inaugural production
on July 30. Trade and Industry director Carmelita Usman
said the plant initially produced the noodles from fresh
squash but would soon be capable of using other vegetables
like carrots and potatoes grown in the Cordilleras. Usman
said a private firm would serve as the facility’s marketing
arm and the noodles would be under the brand name Proud
Cantoon Noodles. The initial produce would be sold at pro-
poor Tindahan Natin outlets set up nationwide. PNA
ComVal: Correction, please
NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley - Councilor Raul
Caballero has filed a resolution rectifying the date of the
creation of Nabunturan as a municipality from July 23,
1957 to June 23, 1957 and called for the celebration of
Araw ng Nabunturan every June 23 and not July 23 ev-
ery year as had been done in the past. Caballero presented
before his colleagues in session House Bill 4770, or the
act creating Nabunturan, which became a law on June 23,
1957, without the signature of President Carlos P. Garcia by
virtue of the provisions of Article VI, Section 29 (1) of the
1935 Constitution. Caballero said prior to June 23, 1957,
Bill 4770 was passed by the House of Representatives on
May 14, 1956, enacted as Republic Act 2038 by the Senate
and House of Representatives in Congress assembled on
the fourth session on January 28, 1957, and finally passed
by the Senate on April 25, 1957. PNA
The PHILIPPINES 27
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Dumaguete: No fly zone Paying too much interest?
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Leyte: Nat’l Games ‘09 host
VILLA MOVERS
TACLOBAN CITY - Leyte province is host to the Palar- Professional Movers
ong Pambansa (National Games) in 2009, outbidding Capiz Reliable & Experienced
and Dumaguete. Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla said the
province has alloted P50 million to make ready facilities
at the Leyte Sports Complex for the annual national sports
spectacle. Money was also bankrolled for various sports
We do small or big moving and delivery
and school areas where athletes would be billeted. Petilla
said this would be a rare opportunity to promote the prov-
ince of Leyte, in particular, and Eastern Visayas region, as
a whole. PIA
Ifugao: ARH in schools
LAGAWE, Ifugao - As a way of minimizing teenage
pregnancies, studies on Adolescence Reproductive Health
(ARH) would be integrated into basic elementary and sec-
ondary curriculum in a number of pilot schools in Ifugao.
This was provided in a memorandum of agreement the pro-
vincial government, the Department of Education and the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) signed recently.
UNFPA provincial coordinator Rowena Cumilang said the
project aimed to include ARH in classroom discussions
for the students to understand physical and psychological
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28
From the Monitor’s Desk: Filipino media ...
(From page 8)
was purchased by Rog-
ers TV and now known as
OMNI TV-British Colum-
bia.
It is likely that Front
Page Philippines will be
available, too, through ca-
ble in that province.
On behalf of everybody
in the production of Front
Page Philippines, I thank
all of those, who, one way,
or the other, made this en-
deavor a viable one - and
contrary to past experiences
of several people before us
who produced a TV program
proved that keeping afloat is
a very difficult task.
***
In this corner, I reiterate
my, and my wife Gie’s best
wishes and congratulations
to Dr. Albine Miciano and
Elbert Wiersema who tied
the knot in Holy Matrimony
on Sunday, August 3 at the
Queenston Chapel on Ni-
agara Parkway, Niagara-on-
the-Lake, witnessed by fam-
ily and few close friends.
***
Incidentally, during the
reception at the Navy Hall
Garden on Ricardo Street
which followed the afore-
mentioned church wed-
ding ceremonies, Gie and I
had a good chat with Max
Costiniano of Scarborough,
Ontario.
Mr. Costiniano is a reg-
ular viewer of Front Page
Philippines and was inquir-
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
ing why do we not include
big name singers in the pro-
gram.
I had to explain the le-
galities affecting intellec-
tual property issues, among
others, copyright laws,
stressing that purchasing
such materials from sources
in the Philippines would be
beyond the financial capa-
bility of community pro-
grams, such as Front Page
Philippines. Mr. Costiniano
was so appreciative of the
information, saying that, he
learned a lot about TV pro-
duction from such a simple
question.
Gie added, “Mayroon
naman TFC para sa mga
bagay na ‘yon, e, Mr. Cos-
tiniano” which led the latter
ALBINE MICIANO and ELBERT WIERSEMA
to ask, “How come in those
programs at TFC, among
others, directed by veteran
director Johnny Manahan,
the cameras continue to roll
on a scene that the light-
ing director has shut out
the lights? Why does John-
ny Manahan allow those
things?”
Well, I can’t answer the
question - but probably,
Johnny Manahan could
answer the question later
when he chances upon this
column in its internet edi-
tion; or probably, Raffy Lo-
pez, Senior Vice President
and Chief Operating Of-
ficer of ABS-CBN Global,
Ltd. may relay the query to
Johnny when he visits To-
ronto soon.
36 reacquire RP citizenship
Philippine Consul Imelda Panolong administers the oath to 36 Canadians
who seek to reacquire their Philippine citizenship under the Dual Citizenship
Act. The oathtaking, at the Wellesley Community Centre on Aug. 2, is part of
The Pillars regular programs in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate
in Toronto. Earlier, Vice Consul Edna May Lazaro facilitated a forum on dual
citizenship. RHEZA EVANGELISTA
DOJ to media: Respect children’s privacy
MANILA - Justice Un- ity touching the lives and members shall not be taken,
dersecretary and Special welfare of children must be published or shown in pub-
Committee for the Protec- carried out with sensitiv- lic in any manner.
tion of Children (SCPC) ity and appreciation of the ► The use of sexual-
chair Linda Hornilla has re- vulnerable situation of the ized images of children in
minded media practitioners children, so that children any form violates the child’s
to respect children’s right are not re-victimized or re- rights.
to privacy, as she presented traumatized. ► The present and long-
revised guidelines on the ► The identity of a term implication for the
reporting and coverage of child victim of abuse, child child’s recovery, rehabilita-
cases involving children. witness, children in armed tion and reintegration shall
Hornilla said “children conflict, children in conflict be considered by those in-
need special safeguards and with the law, shall not be volved in media coverage.
care due to their size, vul- disclosed. No information ► The disclosure of any
nerability and young age.” that would lead to the iden- private or graphic detail of
The guidelines, as re- tification of the child or any the case, including medico-
vised: member of his family shall legal findings, in public is
► It is prohibited to be published or broadcast. strictly prohibited.
interview a child victim of ► Photographs, images ► Also prohibited for
abuse, child witness, child or video coverage of the media is the access to, use,
in armed conflict or child in face or any distinguishing or dissemination of a child’s
conflict with the law except feature of a child victim of case files or records.
when he or she is with a psy- abuse, child witness, chil- ► Crimes of violence by
chologist or social worker dren in armed conflict or a or against children must be
known to him or her. child in conflict with the law reported factually without
► Journalistic activ- including his or her family passing judgment, stereo-
typing or sensationalism.
BI opens mobile counters ... ► The release of the
(From page 26) child’s identity to elicit fi-
The center is tasked to Cebu Pacific began op- nancial support or aid for
help those with immedi- erating at T3 on July 22, the child’s medical care is
ate domestic connections, with 16 domestic flights strongly discouraged.
VIPs, and dignitaries. daily to Caticlan, San Jose ► No organization shall
International flights in Mindoro, Tuguegarao, speak or represent the inter-
Meanwhile, the NAIA Naga, and Laoag. est of the child unless duly
Terminal-3 has accomodat- PAL Express opened 75 accredited, registered or li-
ed at least 28 international flights per week, bound for censed by the Department
flights daily since Aug. 8. Caticlan, Busuanga, Cal- of Social Welfare and De-
NAIA-3 official Michael bayog, San Jose, Surigao, velopment or by any appro-
Defensor said that since its and Virac. priate government agency.
soft opening on July 23, the Air Philippines operated Hornilla said it is the
terminal has been hosting 56 flights per week, servic- responsibility of media to
domestic flights of Philip- ing Bacolod, Dumaguete, verify the status of the or-
pine Airlines (PAL), Air Iloilo, Naga, Puerto Princ- ganization before airing,
Philippines and Cebu Pa- esa, Ozamis and Tugueg- broadcasting or publication
cific. arao. PNA of the same. PNA

RP eyeing Vietnamese tourists

(From page 26)
in the same period last year.
“Surveys show that we
have what they are look-
ing for. They do not want
beaches or rural areas. They
like our cities. We have the
sophistication of the city
life. They want to go shop-
ping in Manila and Cebu,”
Jarque said.
Vietnam is considered
as one of the world’s top ten
tourist destinations.
However, more Vietnam
nationals have had increas-
ing purchasing power and
were eager to experience
something new through
travel, Tourism Secretary
Joseph Durano said.
“The market comprises
mostly of those preferring
a cosmopolitan, urban set-
ting and we are confident
that the Philippines can give
them that,” Durano added.
Vietnam’s outbound
market should be tapped, he
said.
The officials said the
Philippine delegation
would also arrange a travel
exchange program with its
Vietnamese counterparts to
provide a meeting and net-
working venue for hotels,
travel agents, airlines and
other tourism-related busi-
nesses. PR
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 29

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30 CANADIAN HISTORY Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008

Parliament passes Baby Bonus law, Aug. 1, 1944

In the wake of Canada’s
six-year involvement in the
Second World War, families
feared economic depres-
sion and wondered how
they would provide for their
children.
To address these fears,
Parliament - on Aug. 1, 1944
- unanimously passed Can-
ada’s first universal welfare
program: the Family Allow-
ance Act, also known as the
“baby bonus.”
The act provided regular
monthly payments of $5 to
$8 to all parents of children
under 16.
For children under age
six, parents or guardians
received $5 per month. For
ages six to nine they re-
ceived $6 per month; ages
10 to 12 got $7 per month
and 13 to 15 got $8 per
month.
Families with five or
more children received less
for the fifth and additional
children.
The baby bonus was
intended to help families
recover from the cost of
war and the wartime wage
freeze.
Target recipients
In 1945, there were
some 3.5 million Canadian
children under 16, living in
1.5 million families.
SYMBOLIC UNVEILING of Canada’s baby bonus legislation. Photo: National Archives of Canada
To find out who they
were and how much they
would get, registration was
tested in Prince Edward Is-
land in February, and rolled
out nationally on May 22.
The form had seven
questions, and was to be
signed by two parents if
possible, although many
fathers were still overseas
serving in the military.
Regional family allow-
ance registration offices
were put up across Canada,
run by 500 staff and volun-
teers.
In July 1945, $20 mil-
lion in family allowance
payments was mailed out.
Earlier, then National
Health and Welfare minister
Brooke Claxton - on March
22, 1945 - went on air at
the Canadian Broadcasting
Corp. (CBC) Ottawa stu-
dios to explain the family
allowance process.
This came amid pub-
lic criticism that the baby
bonus was given to all
families, not just the most
needy.
Evolution to CCTB
The allowance was not
taxable, but did reduce in-
come tax deductions for
families that paid income
tax.
In 1964, the family al-
lowance was extended to
16- and 17-year-olds who
were students or disabled;
18-year-olds were included
in 1973, when the baby bo-
nus became taxable.
The amount was re-
duced in 1978 when a re-
fundable child tax credit
was introduced for lower-
income families.
This was part of the
government’s merging of
social security programs
and income tax provisions.
This eventually elimi-
nated the family allowance
and, many argued, ended
universality as a principle
of Canadian social security.
In 1993, the Child Tax
Benefit was introduced,
based on family income and
number of children.
It was replaced by the
Canada Child Tax Benefit
(CCTB) in 1998, which in-
cluded a National Child
Benefit supplement for low-
income families.
Child tax benefit
The CCTB is a non-tax-
able amount paid monthly
to help eligible families
with the cost of raising chil-
dren under 18 years of age.
The CCTB may include
the Child Disability Benefit,
a monthly benefit providing
financial aid for qualified
families caring for children
with severe and prolonged
mental or physical impair-
ments.
Also included with the
CCTB is the National Child
Benefit Supplement, a
monthly benefit for low-in-
come families with children.
This is the government’s
contribution to the National
Child Benefit, a joint initia-
tive of federal, provincial,
and territorial governments,
and First Nations.
For more detailed infor-
mation, log in to www.cra.
gc.ca. Edited from the
CBC, CRA, Wikipedia
and other websites

Commentary: Thoughts at 90
(From page 9)
what is no more than an unmapped
cart track for miles. The armoured
car can’t follow us through such a
narrow passage.
We find suitable sites, dig gun
pits and retreat, often by night.
And dig and retreat. Mercifully,
food is plentiful from abandoned
village stores and those humans
we do encounter treat us well.
One terrible day we are dug in by
a main highway when we watch
the hours long retreat of French
forces; that same evening we learn
that Paris has fallen.
Eventually, we have fallen
back to the sea and are awaiting
evacuation at Cherbourg. I am
one of ten drivers ordered back
north to Caen to pick up some
stranded Cameron Highlanders.
We’re under command of second
Lieutenant Oakes, a seedy recent
arrival who, short of our rendez-
vous, takes fright and commands
his reluctant driver to return to
Cherbourg. The kilted ones are no
longer at the rendezvous having
obviously seized other opportuni-
ties of transportation. We pick up
other uniformed stragglers and
head back to Cherbourg. Machine-
gunned from the air twice on our
return trip, but make it safely to
learn that the entire Battery is em-
barking without a single loss. In
Southampton, we’re treated like
royalty, but saddened to learn that
the Battery is to be disbanded.
Today, nearly seventy years later
I can find no mention of it in Brit-
ish Army records. In retrospect
one understands why we were
expendable, but we gave no cause
for shame to the Allies and won-
der why there’s no trace of E Field
Battery in military records.
-- In Italy, as war ends, I’m
eventually posted to something
mysterious called MMIA where
deeper lifelong ties to Italy are
to begin. After three weeks of
hitchhiking from Cattolica up to
the Yugoslavian border then back
to Naples I find the MMIA is in
Rome and I’m now a staff ser-
geant and interpreter translator.
We call it the “Mamma Mia” but
it’s the Military Mission to the
Italian Army a branch of the Al-
lied Commission. Here I pass the
last year of my six and a half in
uniform — very often in civilian
dress enjoying the company of
Roman friends.
-- I’m free again and employed
by the Rank Organization as a
story analyst and an earmarked
trainee for better things, but fate
intervenes in a government-initi-
ated slump in the British Film in-
dustry. Canada calls.
-- Two weeks after arrival
in Toronto, a young RCAF vet
(friend of friends in England but
whom I’ve never met) invites
me by telegram to his home in
Woodstock for a New Year’s Eve
party, even finding me a tux. Bill
McVean then takes me with him
to the radio station in Wingham
through roads flanked by piles
of snow higher than our car. He’s
DJ, newscaster and host of an in-
Ben Viccari and Bill McVean
terview show there and puts me
on the air a few times. Bill is still
broadcasting today on Oakville’s
CHWO.
-- At the groundbreaking for
The Toronto International Film
Festival’s new headquarters, I’m
handed a glass jar of rich black
earth from the excavation site. It
stays with me today as a reminder
of my first job, on Toronto’s John
Street at whose corner (with King)
the building is rising.
At 126 John, literally my first
try at a job from a long list Bill
McVean has helped me get, I’ve
just been hired by W. Gordon
Turnbull, president of the now de-
funct and all-Canadian Turnbull
Elevator Company. Knowing al-
ready that there’s prejudice in the
land, I volunteer heritage infor-
mation. “W.G.” tells me Canada
is in for big changes and diversity
will be a good thing for the nation.
Surprise! I’m hired to start a com-
pany magazine at $35.00 a week.
This, after only three weeks in the
country!
Long gone, the Turnbull com-
pany has been replaced by an
Indigo/Chapters store, but the
original facade at and above the
entrance has been preserved and
each time I pass, I look up to the
second floor at a window behind
which my office was located.
-- Above all, I remember wit-
nessing the first chuckles of my
infant children and grandchildren.
***
It was in 2004 that I last
googled for information on a hero
and found him alive and well, just
having passed his 100th birthday.
On reaching my own 90th last
month, I gave a long neglected
thought to Dr Ancel Keys who as
a food scientist had a profound ef-
fect on society’s attitudes towards
eating and exercise. He had died
in that same 101st year unnoticed
by me and as far as I know, by
much of a world that should have
sung his praises.
I had discovered his work
in the 1980s when I purchased a
remaindered copy of the book he
co-wrote with his wife Margaret:
How to Eat Well and Stay Well the
Mediterranean Way.
As heir to Mediterranean food
and ways, for me the book was an
eye-opener; not only was this the
tastiest food in the world, but low
in cholesterol - inducing fats and
containing hundreds of recipes as
well as a substantial text.
Keys’ work, beginning in the
1930s, pointed to high cholesterol
and fatty diets as chief culprits in
heart disease. Some of his other
work included the invention of
military K-rations (the K stands
for Keys) for combat forces in
World War II and the Minnesota
Starvation Experiment, which had
implications for rebuilding post-
war Europe.
His work spanning from the
1930’s through the 1970’s, intro-
duced many of the assumptions
which we now take for granted
about the relationship between
diet, energy expenditure, meta-
bolic rates and health.
Margaret Keys, co-author of
three books with her husband,
including the bestseller Eat Well
and Stay Well, was 97 when she
died two years ago.
Margaret Keys met her hus-
band when he hired her to work
as a research chemist at the Mayo
Clinic during the late 1930s. They
married in 1939.
She was especially active as
his research partner during most
of the 1950s, when they studied
the health and diets of people
around the world.
(Used with permission. Ben
Viccari is the President of the
Canadian Ethnic Media As-
sociation [CEMA] and makes
frequent appearances on OMNI
TV Commentary. Some of his
commentaries are republished in
this publication and slightly ex-
panded in some cases from their
70-second broadcast originals.
For more of his work, please visit
Ben’s website at: http://canscene.
ripple.ca)
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
August 30, 1896 at Pinaglabanan, San Juan
Katipuneros’ baptism of fire
A hilly part of Spanish-
era San Juan del Monte town
(San Juan in today’s Metro
Manila) might as well be
the symbol of the Katipune-
ros’ baptism of fire.
The hill has been sub-
sequently named Pinagla-
banan (battlefield).
It was in the area - on
Aug. 30, 1896 - where Kati-
punan leader Andres Boni-
facio and his best friend,
Emilio Jacinto, led an army
of 800 in what historians
described as the first battle
of the Philippine Revolu-
tion.
Prelude to the battle
Earlier, on Aug. 23,
1896, Bonifacio and mem-
bers of the Katipunan tore
their cedula (residence
certificate) in what is now
known as the Cry of Pugad-
lawin, shouting the start of
the revolution.
Katipunero Simplicio
Acabe became the first ca-
sualty of the revolution.
On Aug. 29, 1896, Bon-
ifacio and his men planned
to attack Intramuros, the
seat of the Spanish colonial
government, midnight of
that day.
The signal for the at-
tack would have been the
extinguishing of the lights
in Bagumbayan Field (now
Luneta Park).
The night passed but the
lights of Bagumbayan re-
mained lit.
The attack was aborted
and Bonifacio and his men
retreated to Balara (in to-
day’s Quezon City).
Scheduled nonetheless
was the next day attack on
San Juan del Monte’s pol-
vorin or powder magazine.
The polvorin protected
Manila’s potable water sup-
ply and the strategy was to
consequently capture the
reservoir in San Juan and
dry up water supply going
to Intramuros.
Prepared to fight, die
The Katipuneros at-
tacked the Spanish gun-
powder depot.
They outnumbered the
depot defenders but the
Mauser rifles of 100 well-
trained Spanish artiller-
ists and infantrymen were
far superior to the bolos,
few Remington rifles, and
equally meager shot guns of
the Katipuneros.
Bonifacio’s men were,
however, prepared to fight
hand-to-hand, man-to-man.
The Spaniards retreated
to El Deposito, the place
where the Spaniards stored
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
the water supply for the city
of Intramuros.
Emboldened by the re-
treat, Bonifacio and his men
advanced towards Manila.
Strong Spanish rein-
forcements sent by Spanish
governor-general Ramon
Blanco arrived at San Juan
del Monte and deterred the
advance.
Katipuneros fought val-
iantly in the ensuing battle
that was their baptism of
fire. Historian Gregorio
Zaide described Pinagla-
banan as “more of a massa-
cre than of a battle.”
Bonifacio and his men
were driven back to Manda-
luyong.
During the attack and
battles at San Juan del Mon-
te, more than 150 Katipune-
ros were killed; 200 were
captured, some of them shot
at Bagumbayan Field.
State of war
By 3 p.m. of Aug. 30,
1896, Gov. Gen. Blanco
declared a state of war in
eight provinces: Manila,
Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite,
Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pam-
panga, and Tarlac. (These
provinces would later be
honored as the eight rays of
the sun emblazoned on the
Philippine flag.)
31
Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio, in his essay What the Filipinos
Should Know, wrote in Tagalog about how his countrymen were tortured
by the Spaniards. They were bound, kicked, and hit with gun butts. They
were electrocuted and hung upside down like cattle. He said Filipino pris-
oners were thrown into the sea, shot, poisoned. For Bonifacio, it was time
to take action. Photo from www.filippijnse-revolutie.be
Blanco did not want the sending a strong message Cavite rose up in arms.
revolt to spread to other that the revolution was fu- The next day - on Aug.
provinces, as he sought to tile and useless. 31, 1896 - the Kawit Revolt
punish the rebels and all But on the contrary, began.
who helped them. Pinaglabanan ignited a full- In Cavite, the uprisings
Sparking revolution blown revolution, the begin- were more successful, be-
According to Visions of ning of the Filipinos’ battle cause they had able military
the Possible by Felice Pru- against Spanish domina- commanders like Emilio
dente-Santa Maria, the Kati- tion. The fight for freedom Aguinaldo and Mariano Al-
puneros might have failed started at Pinaglabanan. varez who liberated Novel-
to capture the San Juan del Almost simultaneously, eta on the same day.
Monte powder house and the people of Santa Mesa, Other military leaders
cripple Intramuros. Pandacan, Pateros, Taguig, rose to prominence, nota-
Their defeat in Pina- San Pedo, Makati, Caloo- bly Artemio Ricarte, Tomas
glabanan could have dis- can, Balik-balik, and San Mascardo, Juan Cailles, Vito
couraged Filipino forces Juan del Monte in Manila, Belarmino, Mariano Trias
from rising in arms against and San Francisco de Mala- and Marcelino Aure. From
a superior enemy; likewise bon, Kawit and Noveleta in various web sources
32 MONEY Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008

Monthly remittance data show downward spikes

by JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO
www.ofwjournalism.net
MANILA – Month-on-
month remittance data re-
flecting downward spikes
could reveal the impact of
world oil and commodities
prices adjustment to econo-
mies like the Philippines
dependent on cash flow
from abroad, economist Al-
vin Ang said.
“While it is too early to
see the effect, we should
be on guard of the monthly
growth rates of remittance
inflows and understand the
‘Philippine cycle’ of these
flows,” the University of
Santo Tomas economics
professor said.
The OFW Journalism
Consortium spoke to Ang
before the Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas (BSP) revealed
on August 15 a record high
remittance in June of $1.5
billion.
Ang admitted that total
cash remittance volumes in-
creased, both on a year-on-
year level and on a cumula-
tive cash remittance growth
rate. (Related item, page 1)
However, Ang said,
these growth rates should
take into account the start
of the US credit crunch, the
surge in world oil and food
prices, and domestic infla-
tion.
Monitoring cash remit-
tance growth rates in this
context is important in de-
termining the level of mi-
grant workers’ propensity to
remit back home, Ang said.
He explained month-on-
month cumulative remit-
tance data could also help
identify the intensity of
the impact of world price
changes on overseas Filipi-
no workers’ (OFW) money
flow.
For example, the BSP
cash remittance data be-
tween January 2004 to May
2008 showed that January,
February, April, July, Sep-
tember, and November were
low-growth months for cash
remittance inflows.
Cash remittances’
growth rates usually re-
bounded during March (for
graduation), May, August,
October (due to tuition and
fees payments by students
of OFWs), and December
(for Christmas).
But when the food cri-
sis peaked in March, re-
mittances growth rate was
pegged at 13.44 percent, the
lowest March figure over a
five-year period.
And when Philippine
inflation reached 9.5 per-
cent last May, that month’s
remittance growth rate was
1.39 percent.
Ang added Philippine
monetary officials should
worry if there would be
more negative month-on-
month cash remittances
growth rates this year de-
spite continued increases of
total remittance volumes.
The Philippines had
seven months of nega-
tive month-on-month cash
remittance growth rates
for both 2006 and 2007,
compared to six months of
negative growth rates in the
years 2005 and 2004.
Three of the first five
months of the year saw
negative month-on-month
growth rates for remittanc-
es.
Last year, groups of
OFWs circulated electronic
mails citing that a strong
peso has prompted many of
their colleagues to send ad-
ditional money to maintain
the purchasing power of
their families in the Philip-
pines.
Money from an esti-
mated 8.7 million Filipinos
working or living temporar-
ily or permanently in 193
countries have been cred-
ited as keeping consumer
spending high or, at best,
constant.
However, Ang said that
a high-inflation environ-
ment and weak dollar cast
doubts on the “physical
sustainability” of OFWs to
send money to the Philip-
pines. OFW Journalism
Consortium

Economy resilient but rate PNB Remit, RemitX at PCCT trade show

hike made to tame inflation

MANILA - Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
Governor Amando Tet-
angco said the Philippine
economy continued to be
resilient, posting a 5.2 per-
cent growth in the first half
of 2008.
But Tetangco hinted
that the Monetary Board
might soon raise central
bank interest rates by 25 ba-
sis points to arrest a seem-
ingly runaway inflation that
zoomed to unexpected dou-
ble digits in recent months.
Growth respectable
He attributed the 5.2-
percent growth from Janu-
ary to June 2008 to the
strong performance of ser-
vices on the production side,
and consumption spending,
on the expenditure side,
while strong net factor in-
come from abroad enabled
the gross national product
to grow by 7.3 percent.
Tetangco cited the bank-
ing sector for the economy’s
resilience, saying “our ma-
jor financial intermediar-
ies have remained strong
enough to continue channel-
ing savings into investment,
and therefore supporting
production and more sus-
tainable employment.”
The BSP chief, howev-
er, said banking and mon-
etary officials remained on
the look-out for possible
spillovers from the US and
global economic slowdown
and risk aversion on big-
ticket investments.
Tetangco also took note
of the big contribution of
overseas to the domestic
economy, helping the coun-
try register a US$1.9-billion
balance of payment surplus
in the first half of the year.
This, in turn, brought
the country’s dollar reserves
to US$36.7 billion by end-
June.
At end-May, remittanc-
es from overseas Filipinos
grew by 14.7 percent year-
on-year, reaching US$6.8
billion.
Tetangco also forecast
the country’s trade deficit
to grow due to higher oil
prices “but remittances and
income receipts from ser-
vices coming from a vibrant
business process outsourc-
ing industry should provide
the needed support.”
Uncertain times
Tetangco said the in-
crease in rates is expected
to tame the continued fast
rise of inflation.
He admitted that “sus-
tained high inflation can
unseat inflation expecta-
tions and potentially create
a repeating cycle of linger-
ing inflation and wage pres-
sures that could prove costly
to the economy.”
“Price stability is criti-
cal to sustained, durable
economic growth,” he said.
Tetangco explained that
the Philippine economic
situation has become more
challenging as a result of
weak US economy primar-
ily due to the credit crunch
and the high and unstable
oil and food prices resulting
in a more difficult operating
environment.
“The main problem is
uncertainty,” he said, not-
ing the seemingly non-stop-
pable reports of large losses
in the US’ financial system
and the lack of information
RP ’08 loans down 4% year-on-year
MANILA - The Philip-
pine government’s borrow-
ings in the first half of 2008
dropped by four percent
to P242.76 billion on im-
proved revenue collection.
Finance department data
showed that the government
borrowed P252.94 billion
from domestic and foreign
creditors from January to
that “breeds fear of ratings
downgrades, of steep sell-
offs, and of other unknown
consequences.”
The BSP chief said the
greatest challenge so far
was the surge in oil prices,
although this had gone
down to above US$120 per
barrel from a record high
level of above US$140 in
the past weeks.
Prices of food also re-
mained high, adding to the
acceleration of domestic in- (ABOVE) Staff of PNB Remittance Company (Canada) Inc. show the perfect
flation, he said. smile that goes with their service for remitters. (BELOW) Virgil Ignacio and
Double-digit inflation staff of Remit X take a breather. Remit X is a new company organized re-
Last June, inflation hit cently to serve the remittance needs of the Filipino community in Toronto
double digit at 11.4 percent and working on expanding their services across Canada. Both PNB Remit
from year-ago’s 2.3 percent and Remit X were among companies that joined the 2008 Philippine Cham-
bringing the year-to-date ber of Commerce-Toronto Trade Show at the Philippine Independence Day
average at 7.6 percent. Council Mabuhay Philippines Toronto Summer Festival at the Metro Toronto
Inflation in July reached Convention Centre on July 19. PHOTOS: MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
12.2 percent.
The BSP has forecast
inflation to peak at the end
of the third quarter while
full-year average would be
about nine to 11 percent
from 2.8 percent in 2007.
Officials forecast infla-
tion to remain at double
digits until the first quarter
of 2009 before it would
start normalizing.
Tetangco said the Mon-
etary Board (MB) noted
the near- and long-term
impact of second-round ef-
fects since June, thus, the
25 basis points raise in cen-
tral bank rates. In July, MB
made a 50 basis points hike.
PNA, web sources
Finance officials earlier sary by surging prices of oil
said they were considering
borrowing more from offi-
and food.
Sources included taxes
cial development assistance and privatization proceeds.
June in 2007. tors. (ODA) programs than com- At the end of the first
In the first six months of Foreign borrowings, mercial borrowings. half this year, revenues
2008, domestic borrowings on the other hand, totaled ODA programs have amounted to P570 billion
amounted to P198.17 bil- P44.59 billion, far lower longer-term payments and while expenditures stood at
lion, higher by 29.4 percent than the P99.85 billion in lower interest. P588 billion.
than the P153 billion in the the same period last year. The government has Improved tax collection
first half of 2007. Among the govern- intended to seek more rev- enabled government to lim-
The increase could be ment’s external fund sourc- enues this year. it its deficit to P18 billion,
attributed to government es this year was the $500 This was due to in- lower than the programmed
initiatives to tap domestic million it got when it issued creased spending for pro- P41 billion. PNA, other
sources over external credi- global bonds in January. poor programs made neces- web sources
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor MONEY 33 GOT A FOREX DEAL?
Ottawa sets steps to firm up
Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the
dollars you have had exchanged since July 16,
courtesy of Manila Media (Money) Monitor.

Canadian housing market August 15

August 14
US$
45.26267
44.90672
Cdn$
42.69822
42.36215
OTTAWA - The govern- Canadian banks and other proposed changes to clarify quired to itemize the cost of August 13 44.77255 42.03995
ment is set to increase the mortgage lenders. the tax treatment of innova- mortgage insurance as part August 12 44.65179 41.64956
amount of money available The Canada Mortgage tive capital structures used of their disclosure to bor- August 11 44.44860 41.65571
to Canadians for govern- and Housing Corpora- by Canadian financial insti- rowers, the new measure August 8 44.36493 41.85090
ment-guaranteed mortgage, tion (CMHC) recently an- tutions to raise funds. would set out additional August 7 43.85276 41.76266
while taking steps to make nounced the expansion of The changes would mandated disclosures to August 6 43.84299 42.15388
mortgage insurance more the Canada Mortgage Bond make Canadian regulations help consumers better un- August 5 43.97607 42.20065
transparent, understandable (CMB), to include a CMB more consistent with rules derstand the mortgage in-
August 4 44.31211 42.60567
and affordable. with a 10-year maturity to in other jurisdictions that surance transaction.
August 1 44.31031 43.22658
These measures and its interest new investors seek- operate under the guidance The second measure
July 31 44.15212 43.07247
limits, announced by the ing assets beyond the cur- of the Basel Committee on would ensure that Canadian
Ministry of Finance here on rent five-year term. Banking Supervision. consumers are charged no July 30 44.11087 43.07420
Aug. 1, would protect the The planned CMB pro- Two new pro-consum- more for an insured mort- July 29 44.19218 43.32278
Canadian housing market gram expansion was in ad- er measures on mortgage gage than the true cost of July 28 44.04385 43.17758
from a US-style housing dition to the $12.5-billion insurance were also pro- obtaining the mortgage. July 25 43.98252 43.28724
bubble and encourage indi- CMB issue in June, which posed. This would guard July 23 43.90117 43.54990
viduals and families to save funded some 64,000 mort- The first measure would against practices alleged to July 22 44.46802 44.11300
through home ownership. gages and brought the total enhance the disclosure to occur in other jurisdictions July 21 44.51888 44.42816
The finance ministry outstanding amount for the consumers about the char- whereby insurance premi- July 18 44.24909 44.02689
said the government would CMB program to roughly acteristics of mortgage in- ums charged to borrowers July 17 44.51776 44.47067
raise the volume of funding $136 billion. surance. could be artificially inflat- July 16 45.30789 45.25987
for mortgages available to The government also While lenders are re- ed. PR

OF, retirees eye real property investments

MANILA - Filipinos said, adding this was despite flexible financing terms foreign investors to support
www. FinancialProblem.ca
with credit cards and bank loans
Too many loans & credit cards?
living and working over- global property woes. have helped boost the resi- retirement community proj- Paying too much interest?
seas and retirees remained A CBRE report said dential property sector. ects. Road shows in Ko- Afraid to pick up your own phone?
the most active buyers of Philippine real estate de- Trent Frankum, CBRE rea, Japan, and the United Looking for consolidation?
residential property in the velopers, to address rising Philippines general manag- States, have promoted Phil-
Philippines. demand, have initiated af- er, said mortgage rates hov- ippine retirement villages, Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
Mike Mabutol, direc- fordable housing and con- ered between 8.5 percent offering tax incentives for CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
tor for investment proper-
ties and capital markets at
dominium projects, with in-
vestments ranging from P1
and 12 percent.
The development and
pioneering projects in the
Philippines. PNA 416-780-1020
CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) million to P2.5 million. market positioning of retire-
Philippines, said these buy- CBRE forecast that ment villages for expatriate
ers have considered invest- from 2008 to 2013, at least “empty nesters” have also
ments in mid-end residen- 28 residential condomini- boosted real estate sales.
tial development projects. ums are expected to rise Studies showed that re-
Mabutol said overseas in Makati City, providing tirees from the US, Europe
Filipino workers (OFW) more than 18,000 units. and Asian countries such as
have long been a lucra- In Fort Bonifacio, 33 China, South Korea and Ja-
tive market, because of the residential condominiums pan have eyed tropical coun-
OFWs’ desire to provide a with 11,500 units are ex- tries like the Philippines for
better life for their families, pected to be completed. eventual residence.
investing their hard-earned Increased demand for “The retirement mar-
income in residential prop- high-end residential con- ket is a potential multi-bil-
erties. dominiums has, however, lion-dollar industry, and the
“Retirees have also raised high-end residen- Philippines has stepped up
ramped up property spend- tial condominium prices in efforts to entice foreign and
ing, mostly from life sav- Makati City from P90,000 local investments in such
ings and retirement ben- per square meter in 2006 to projects,” Mabutol said.
efits,” he said. P100,000 to P130,000 per The Philippine Retire-
“The trend started four square meter this year. ment Authority and Philip-
to five years ago,” Mabutol Low interest rates and pine Retirement Institute
have encouraged local and
Make good business.
ADVERTISE!
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
On its 12th year of service
Call 416-285-8583
S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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34 ENTERTAINMENT Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008

Parokya ni Edgar fans

Parokya ni Edgar band members
(from left, seated) Gabrielle Ignatius
Chee-Kee, Darius Gerard Semaña,
Buhawi Meneses, Francis Vincent
Montaner, Ferdinand Moreno and
Alfonso Miranda, Jr. (2nd from right,
standing) join fans Mylene, Francis
and Tracy during a respite in their
Aug. 2 concert at Ryerson Theatre.
Parokya is a Filipino band formed
in 1993 by a group of Ateneo de Ma-
nila High School studes. The band is
popular for its original rock novelty
songs and often satirical covers of
famous songs. The band has since
transcended musical genres, varying
styles from alternative rock to pop
rock, funk to rapcore, etal. while pro-
viding comic relief to their listeners.

SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOL

YELLOWBIRD
4862 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 35
36 ENTERTAINMENT Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
A look into Filipino-Canadian folksingers,
The GIG bands, musicians and other performers in
Canada by CHITO SARABIA

Mike Hanopol rocks in Toronto

It’s in the offing -- a
glimpse of the ‘70s, when
original Filipino folk-rock
music lorded the airwaves
and made every man, wom-
an and child do the maskip-
aps in street lots or in more
plushy dance halls.
Legendary Filipino
folk-rock icon Mike Ha-
nopol -- dubbed the Philip-
Filipino folk-rock icon Mike Hanopol (left) gives a preview of his concert at pines’ rock revolutionary
the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre in Mississauga on Aug. 23, as he and fierce ex-bassist of the
jams with folksinger Chito Sarabia, on base, and other Toronto-based band ironic Juan dela Cruz Band
players. Photo: CHUCHI PUNSALAN -- is in Toronto, ready to
rock once more.
In a recent bar gig in
Mississauga, Hanopol --
wearing his trademark beret
-- gave fans and the curious
a preview of the brand of
music he sang during days
galore and the tunes and
lyrics of his more contem-
porary compositions.
Hanopol has a live con-
cert at the Kalayaan Com-
munity Cultural Centre on
Aug. 23, and may be booked
for a sequel on Sept. 6, the
venue still pending.
He will perform with
seasoned Toronto-based
musicians Chito Sarabia
on base, Chad Basong on
drums, Emere on keyboard,
Cesar Pareja on percussion,
with back-up vocals.
Prepared to swing the
audience with his trusty
Steinberger guitar, Hanopol
is expected to render re-
engineered versions of his
classic slacky anthem Laki
(To page 37)

Mikey concert
to inspire youth
Fresh from a smash-
ing global tour and his
Inspiration concert with
AI finalist Jasmine Trias,
Canadian Idol (CI) header
Mikey Bustos is set for a
supergig in Toronto.
Mikey expects his fans
to have a blast with his 5
Steps to Achieving Your
Dreams concert at the
McVety Centre, Aug. 23. BUSTOS
“I can’t wait to perform
for hometown Toronto
again!” says Mikey.
His guests include
Quebec’s Audrey de Mon-
tigny, CI Season 1 Top 4
finalist. Close friends dur-
ing the CI season, Mikey
and Audrey are thrilled to
reunite after five years.
5 Steps to Achieving
Your Dreams is a benefit DE MONTIGNY
concert for the Princess
Margaret Hospital Breast Cancer Research Fund.
Mikey’s mother, Cristina, was diagnosed with
breast cancer in 2006 and is a survivor, having been
treated at the Toronto Princess Margaret Hospital.
Also included in the event is a silent auction, the
proceeds to be donated to charity.
But over and above these, Mikey wants to share
with and inspire the youth with his five rules to suc-
cess.
Mikey has been in the Canada’s music circuit since
his CI appearance, his voice and performances receiv-
ing exceptional reviews from music critics and memo-
rable experiences from fans.
His first album Love Me Again sustains his love
and passion for music and life.
Considered an international recording artist, he has
performed in Canada, the United States and Asia.
In the Philippines, he had stellar performances on
hit TV shows MTV Philippines Gimme 10; Eat Bu-
laga; SOP with Regine Velasquez, Janno Gibbs, and
Ogie Alcasid; and with Champions on ASAP.
He also performed with the Pussycats Dolls in
2006 at the Araneta Coliseum and with pop star Chris-
tina Aguilera in 2007 at Fort Bonifacio.
In 2004, he honed his craft in New York City, re-
cording with producer Glenn Swan of Chung King
studios.
Mikey has been featured in print and broadcast
media in North America and Asia.
He recorded with BMG Canada for the CI Com-
pilation album, which hit gold on the Soundscan Bill-
board charts on the second day of release, and ranked
in the Top 5 best selling Canadian albums in its debut
week, selling over 60,000 units nationwide.
He is working on a book and on his next album,
both focused on his passion for music and love of life,
to come out by Fall. JA/PR
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor ENTERTAINMENT 37
Celebrate
Music!
Because without it, life is
meaningless. So say these multi-
talented Toronto-based Fili-
pino-Canadian musicians and
performers.
It is not easy to bring to-
gether musicians and per-
formers as celebrated and
as accomplished as these
seven musicians. While
each one of them tread
their individual musical
paths and continue to build
a name for themselves in-
dividually, they all wel-
comed the idea of perform-
ing together in one show
- Celebrate Music with
Josie.
“Life without music is
like having your lover but
without love in the relation- Hair and Make-up
ship,” Karen Tan, one of Josie’s Artist Tonnie Furto
co-celebrators, speaks from a
woman’s soul. “Music soothes the
applies finishing
life inside each of us and express- touches on Lani
es our feelings everyday. My life is Misalucha before
a continuous melody of love songs that I and I just can’t imagine life without it.” her recent perfor-
share with all of God’s creatures. “I would celebrate music because it’s
mance in Toronto
Jules Tinsay maintains that “life with- really a large part of being human, of hu-
out music is simply living without any manity. We people celebrate occasions like with the Society of
story to tell. With the busy life that he has, birth, marriage, national days of indepen- Seven.
Jules says “music is soul food to go! Music dence, holy days and even sexual orienta-
brings solace to one’s soul.” tion. I celebrate music everyday in my pro-
Giving credit to his Dad for his musical fession,” adds Mikey Bustos.
gift, Marvin de Guzman says, “I grew up Leander Mendoza on the other hand,
with music around me. My dad was a musi- confesses “My life without music would
cian and I suppose I inherited his musical be meaningless. Music is what defines me
genes. Music has always been my passion (To page 38)

Andaluz to star in Mike ...

(From page 36)

CBC TV mini-series
Philippine-born and
Vancouver-raised actor
Miguelito Macario Andaluz
is set to hit small screens
across Canada this fall.
Andaluz (Less Than
Kind, Robson Arms, The
Collector) stars as Sung-
dare in the Canadian release
of the four-hour mini-series
Everest, which premieres
on the CBC National Net-
work on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m.,
and concludes on Sept. 1 at
8 p.m.
Andaluz is a 20-year
veteran of film, television
and stage, who has worked
with artists such as Johnny
Depp and Robin Williams.
On top of the world
Everest relives a time
when there was a code of
mountaineering, and when
only a few specially skilled
climbers were able to reach
the top of the world.
Even though the expe-
dition succeeded in placing
Canadians at the top of the
world for the first time, it
was not without tragedy and
death.
Everest is a bittersweet
story of courage and deter-
mination, of ambition and
camaraderie, of hope and
perseverance, and of the
tragedy and triumph of the
ANDALUZ
first Canadians to conquer
Mount Everest in 1982.
A cast of some of the
best actors in Canada por-
tray the climbers of the ex-
pedition.
Among them are Jason
Priestley (Don’t Cry Now,
90210), Leslie Hope (Never
Back Down, 24), William
Shatner (Boston Legal, Star
Trek), Eric Johnson (Small-
ville, Flash Gordon), Gord
Rand (Mayerthorpe, Sue
Thomas: F.B.Eye), John
Pyper-Ferguson (Broth-
ers & Sisters, Highlander),
and Zachary Bennett (The
Border, Shattered City: The
Halifax Explosion).
The cast received basic
training from experienced
mountaineers, from how to
climb to knot-tying tech-
niques and subtle tricks that
outdoorsmen use. PR
Sa Layaw, Jeproks, the
swinging No Touch and
Ang Bayan ni Juan and oth-
er originals that catapulted
his records to the top of the
charts in the mid-’70s and
thereafter.
He is also expected to
perform some, if not most,
of his contemporary compo-
sitions found in Lagablab,
a ten-track guitar album of
inspiring songs brimming
with pop, rock, and jazz,
and must-hear collabora-
tions with some of the Phil-
ippines’ hottest band lead-
ers. The album was released
about a year ago.
Says Hanopol in an in-
terview with Filipino daily
Manila Standard: “Positibo
lahat ang mensahe ng mga
kanta ko sa (Lagablab).”
“I believe nanduon na sa
higher level of art ang pag-
sulat ko ng melody. More
universal na ang approach
ko while my lyrics, spiri-
tual and inspirational na,”
he adds.
Hanopol is a member of
the defunct ‘70s Juan dela
Cruz Band, playing with
equally Filipino rock music
big names Pepe Smith and
Wally Gonzales.
Hanopol is set to define
the moment, as he had done
with the generation that
grew up with and enjoyed
his songs.
38 ENTERTAINMENT Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

BATID
10 11 12

13 14 15 16

WIKA
17 18 19 20

21 22 23

24 25 26
PAHALANG
27 28
1. Pinakalat
10. Pulo, daglat 29 30 31 32
11. Mintis
12. Mina, artista 33 34 35 36 37
13. Pabuya
38 39 40 41
15. Namayapang Kardinal
16. Uri ng alak 42
17. Kayamanan ng
magulang 42. Damdamin sa unang 18. Gusi
19. Sebo pagkikita 20. Matigas na metal
21. Baryo sa Cavite 22. Hulihan ng tanong
23. Anunsiyo PABABA 23. Lugar sa Muntinlupa
24. Imumungkahi 1. Hiling 24. Ipatse
27. Nota ng musika 2. Ginawang miyembro 25. Tawag sa Amerika
28. Simbolo ng pulis 3. Simbolo ng arsenic 26. Puting an-an
29. Isang pandamdam 4. ___ Piñas 29. Kalapit nayon
31. Paglilinis ng damit 5. Batas 30. Korporal
33. Panglakad 6. Suweldo 32. Amoy ng kambing
35. Pananong 7. Siyudad sa Bikol 34. ___ Sayyaf
37. Tinapay 8. Biyenes 36. Apelyidong Intsik
38. Palayaw ng babe 9. Tinapay na may 40. Pagkakakilanlan
39. Hinhin palaman
41. Ika-12 titik 14. Busog at palaso (Sagot sa PAHINA 33)

PIDC’S Dancing to be a Star a success

Reg. # 4533253

919 Ellesmere Road Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) Dancing to be a Star chair Leo-
Suite 107, Scarborough nie Manzanares (center, standing) says the contestants (with her in photo)
Ontario M1P 2W7 “definitely mastered their various ballroom techniques,” as she terms the
dance tilt a smashing hit PIDC president Jun Enverga, directors Pete Mau-
ricio and Imie Belanger and the rest of the PIDC board will be proud of.
This year’s PIDC Dancing to be a Star winners are (Silver Category) Berna-
dette Capellan and Eric Fernando, first; Linda Yugo and Jaycee Quiambao,
second; and Elaine and Ron Amyotte, third; (Gold Category) Christina and
Carlos Ortiz, first; Minda Javier and Paul Morgan, second; and Julia Lee and
Eric Fernando, third. The judges are Richard Thibeault, Giorgio Argentini
and Cristina Muzynski who are assisted by tabulators Al Tupe, Yuli Peng and
Connie Celino. Kathryn Bayang, Miss PIDC Philippines 2004, is emcee of the
event during the Mabuhay Philippines Summer Festival at the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre on July 19. PHOTO: NOLI GUMAPAC

Celebrate Music!
(From page 37)
MANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE as a person because I re-
OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD late to people and life ex-
periences through music. I
communicate through mu-
sic-- sometimes better than
I do through speech. My
life with no music means
not living at all. My spirit
thrives in music therefore I
cannot live without it. Mu-
sic is a gift from God. It
“Super baba is my great desire to bring
and halaga ... back the glory to Him as I
sing and make music be-
Super below cause He is the Artist of my
fare talaga.” soul.
Musical director for
Celebrate Music with
“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan” Josie Mon Torralba, amidst
Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133 his various engagements,
is anticipating working on
Josie’s music line up which
Torralba is expected to in-
geniously elevate to a level
that the musicians them-
selves will perform from
their heart and soul and that
the crowd will enjoy and re-
member.
Josie de Leon enthuses
“I am thrilled, anxious,
privileged, humbled to be
working with greats like
Karen, Jules, Mikey, Lean-
der, Marvin and of course,
to have Mon Torralba for
my musical director. I have
done shows separately with
these guys but this is the
first time they are collabo-
rating with me in my own
show. And I can only prom-
ise, that with talents as im-
mense and as celebrated as
them, autumn will be a most
welcome season when we
Celebrate Music together.”
Celebrate Music with
Josie takes overall direction
from Jing de Leon. “This
show,” de Leon says, “is
to celebrate the gift of mu-
sic. We are not celebrating
WITH music but we are ac-
tually celebrating music for
what it is.”
Celebrate Music with
Josie is produced by Studio
Six Productions and will be
seen on stage October 10
at the PC Ho Theatre at the
Chinese Cultural Centre in
Scarborough.
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 39
40 AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor

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