YEAR 12, No. 2 AUGUST 2008 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario Studies show Studies show 12 12 INSIDE Ooops & Bloops Are you Are you kidding? kidding? - 7 - 7 Mikey Bustos shares 5 tips to success in gig - 36 Population, Population, children, children, food - 11 & food - 11 & 12 12 Gapan slippers, Gapan slippers, anyone? - anyone? - 26 26 CIC uses IRPA to expedite Tejada PR application (STORY ON PAGE 5) (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 A Statistics Canada study said that even university- educated immigrants aged 25 to 54 who arrived in Can- ada within the last five years found it hard to get jobs in 2007 than their Canadian-born counterparts. Degrees don’t count much in job search Statistics Canada on new immigrants But while employment rates for these immigrants varied ac- cording to where they received their university degree, those edu- cated in Western countries gener- ally had higher rates than those educated elsewhere. The gap in employment rates between degree-holding immi- grants and the Canadian-born, however, narrowed the longer an immigrant had been in Canada. University-educated immi- grants who landed in Canada more than ten years earlier had an employment rate in 2007 comparable to that of the Cana- dian-born. Schooled newcomers In 2007, about 37 percent or 1.2 million immigrants of core working age, those aged 25 to 54, had a university degree, com- (To page 4) Remittances to RP among highest Four in 10 immigrants who came to Canada in 2000 and 2001 sent money to family or friends abroad at least once during their first four years in the country. Within six to 24 months of landing, 23 percent of im- migrants had sent remittances to their home country; within two to four years after landing, about 29 percent had done so, a Statistics Canada survey said. Among those who sent mon- ey home, the average amount was $2,500 in the first period, and $2,900 in the second period. The incidence of sending money varied considerably from country to country. The proportion was highest among immigrants from the Phil- ippines and Haiti. It was lowest among those from France, the United Kingdom and South Korea. The likelihood of immigrants remitting depended on three ad- (To page 4) ‘Frank’ relief goods, donations reach Pototan
Transcript
YEAR 12, No. 2 AUGUST 2008 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario
CIC uses IRPA to expedite Tejada PR application(STORY ON PAGE 5)
(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
A Statistics Canada study said that even university-educated immigrants aged 25 to 54 who arrived in Can-ada within the last five years found it hard to get jobs in 2007 than their Canadian-born counterparts.
Degrees don’t count much in job search
Statistics Canada on new immigrants
But while employment rates for these immigrants varied ac-cording to where they received their university degree, those edu-cated in Western countries gener-ally had higher rates than those educated elsewhere.
The gap in employment rates between degree-holding immi-grants and the Canadian-born, however, narrowed the longer an immigrant had been in Canada.
University-educated immi-grants who landed in Canada more than ten years earlier had an employment rate in 2007 comparable to that of the Cana-dian-born.
Schooled newcomersIn 2007, about 37 percent or
1.2 million immigrants of core working age, those aged 25 to 54, had a university degree, com-
(To page 4)
Remittances to RPamong highest
Four in 10 immigrants who came to Canada in 2000 and 2001 sent money to family or friends abroad at least once during their first four years in the country.
Within six to 24 months of landing, 23 percent of im-migrants had sent remittances to their home country; within two to four years after landing, about 29 percent had done so, a Statistics Canada survey said.
Among those who sent mon-ey home, the average amount was $2,500 in the first period, and $2,900 in the second period.
The incidence of sending money varied considerably from country to country.
The proportion was highest
among immigrants from the Phil-ippines and Haiti.
It was lowest among those from France, the United Kingdom and South Korea.
The likelihood of immigrants remitting depended on three ad-
(To page 4)
‘Frank’ relief goods, donations reach Pototan
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 20082
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor CALENDAR
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Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 20084 NEWSNEWS
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 getIn 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 reasonsThere 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 factorIn 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 attendanceIn 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 factorImmigrant 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 dataThe 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
Degrees don’t count much ...(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 birthThe 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 sentAverage 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 birthThe 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
Remittances to RP ...(From page 1)
5NEWSNEWS
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-
Canada gives CRBN equipment
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
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
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-migration and Refugee Pro-tection Act has given CIC the authority to grant an ex-emption for permanent resi-dent status to individuals and families who would not otherwise qualify, “in cases where there are sufficient humanitarian, compassion-ate or public policy reasons to do so.”
Finley said the discre-tionary provision intended to provide the flexibility to approve deserving cases.
Tejada’s application was one that qualified within the exemption, given the hu-manitarian and compassion-ate considerations related to Tejada’s unforeseen illness, she said.
“(The) hardships she
CIC uses IRPA provisionson Juana Tejada PR case
TEJADA FINLEY
faced were excessive” and “were the result of circum-stances beyond her con-trol,” Finley added, as she vowed CIC’s commitment to expedite the processing of Tejada’s application.
She reiterated that pub-lic health coverage was extended for Tejada retro-active to August 2007, and husband Noli Azada, who flew in from the Philippines after learning his wife was cancer-ill.
“I am truly glad that Mrs. Tejada is now in a better position to move forward. I wish her and her loved ones all the best,” Finley said.
Eligible to applyA week earlier, on July
17, CIC Etobicoke Centre immigration counsellor An-nie Flamand wrote Tejada acknowledging the “receipt of your application for per-manent status in Canada.”
Minister Finley said the complete application was received on July 4, as con-firmed by Tejada’s counsel Rafael Fabregas of Mamann & Associates.
Fabregas, in a press conference at Mamann’s offices on July 18, released to media Flamand’s letter to Tejada that also said:
“It has been determined that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent resident status
(To page 6)
NEWSNEWS Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 20086
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 illnessIn 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.”
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 supportThrough Oswald and
Mila Magno, Tejada like-wise expressed her grati-tude to everyone who sup-ported her during her time of need.
The Magnos were re-sponsible for pushing an online petition asking Cana-dian officials to lift Tejada’s Aug. 8 deportation order and grant her “dying wish” of permanent residency for her and her family.
“The threat of deporta-tion that has been hang-ing over Juana’s head, and weighing down her spirits, has been lifted. As Juana herself stated during the press conference, she can now focus on fighting her deadly medical condition,” the Magnos said in a blog.
“On Juana’s behalf, we thank you for signing the
CIC uses IRPA provisions ...(From page 5)
online petition. Without a doubt, your strong show of support for Juana helped persuade the authorities to reverse the deportation or-der,” they said.
“We also thank Prime Minister Harper and Min-ister of Citizenship and Im-migration, Diane Finley, for listening to Juana’s appeal for humanitarian consider-ation and acting according-ly. They have restored our faith in the innate goodness of Canadians,” they added.
Precedent-settingThe Magnos also
thanked Tejada for remain-
PPCO forum with Aprodicio Laquian
ing steadfast in her fight ... not just for her rights but also for those of other care-givers like her.
“Her resolute determi-nation to pursue her case until the end has in our view paved the way for the establishment of a prec-edent-setting decision that will likely benefit many of the thousands of caregivers in Canada who may find themselves in a similar situ-ation,” they said.
“The CIC decision in Juana’s case may lead to the removal of the requirement for a second medical exami-
Dr. Aprodicio Laquian and his wife (seated, 4th and 5th from left respectively) pose with members and guests of the Philippine Press Club-Ontario following the launching of Laquian’s book on Filipino-Ca-nadians at Casa Manila on July 10. Photo: MOGI MOGADO
nation as a condition for ob-taining permanent residen-cy status for caregivers, an onerous and unfair require-ment that applies only to the caregiver class of temporary workers,” they added.
RecognitionMeanwhile, Minister
Finley said there was no doubt that the contribu-tions of foreign caregivers and workers, “including of course Mrs. Tejada, is sig-nificant to the well-being of our local communities.”
Finley bared that with the upcoming launch of the Canadian Experience
Class, “many temporary foreign workers will now be allowed the possibility to apply to stay in Canada permanently.”
A year agoTejada’s travails came
to the attention of the com-munity through civic leader Gene Lara and a church group who initially helped the ailing caregiver with her health concerns. From then on, it was an uphill climb as caregiver advo-cates stood by Tejada’s side. With reports from FAYE ARELLANO and other sources
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 7
Are you kidding?
Ace Alvarez
VIEWSVIEWS
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
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
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!”
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
Articles published inManila MEDIA MONITORmay be reproduced only
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(To page 28)
Filipino media: Be wary of calls for
‘churnalism’
RoundaboutMAG CRUZ-HATOL
From TheMonitor’s Desk
ACE ALVAREZ
Sing no sad songs for ABC5
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
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
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-
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-
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-
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
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-
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
Open Letter
Thoughts at 90
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 9VIEWSVIEWS
Peasant groups to NDF:Stop killing farmers
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Huwag ninyo kaming lagasan.We, the undersigned, condemn in the strongest possible terms
the recent spate of killings of farmers and farmer-leaders in Mas-bate perpetrated by individuals identified as belonging to the local command of the New People’s Army (NPA).
On July 20, 2008, around 15 to 20 armed men shot and killed Alberto Yusi, president of Samahan ng mga Anak ng Magsasaka ng Famosa, Inc., an organization of landless peasants that petitioned for the distribution of the 490-hectare Ticao Agro-Industrial De-velopment Inc. landholding situated at Barangay Famosa, Monreal, Masbate.
Only two weeks before his death, Junrie Pagaspas and Rene Llabres, ordinary farmers, were slain by armed men known in the community as members of the NPA.
Several months before, or in December, Botsoy Vale, farmer leader and elected barangay captain, was tortured and killed by the NPA. The death was claimed officially by the Jose Rapsing Com-mand of the NPA. Around the time of Vale’s death, a death list was issued by the revolutionary armed groups, enumerating the names of individuals they claimed to be counter-revolutionaries.
It is truly revolting that such acts of violence and killings perpe-trated against ordinary farmers mired in poverty and fighting injus-tice have been the handiwork of those who purport to fight for the masses and stand beside the oppressed. (Ayon sa kanilang adhi-kain, ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan ay magtatanggol sa sambay-anan laban sa masasamang pwersa ng pang-aapi at pagsasaman-talang imperyalista at pyudal at laging nagsisikap na tulungan sila sa lahat ng paraan sa pang-araw-araw nilang pamumuhay).
It is quite uncanny that the organization that claims to serve the people (Ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan ay maglilingkod sa mga mamamayan sa lahat ng maaaring paraan bukod sa pagtupad nito ng mga tungkulin sa labanan) is responsible for acts, the con-sequence of which would benefit the landowner bent on reconsoli-dating his lands.
We remind the National Democratic Front that it is a signatory to 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 be said that farmers are not only non-combatants, but belong to the marginalized classes of society whose rights we are all dutybound to defend.
Invoking this, we call on the National Democratic Front and the NPA General Command to act swiftly to prevent another peasant killing in Masbate . As we have repeatedly condemned the killings of national democratic activists by the government, so too must we condemn killings and transgressions of human rights violations by the Armed Left. Let not another woman find herself a widow. Let not another child find himself an orphan.
Let the death list stop.Signed: Kilusan para sa Repormang Pansakahan at Katarungang
Panlipunan Network; Cagayan, Masbate, Negros Oriental and Cen-tral Mindanao Centers for Rural Empowerment and Development, Inc.; Timpuyog Dagiti Mannalon Iti Isabela; Samahan ng mga Mag-sasaka sa Cagayan; Emancipatory Movement for People Empower-ment, Inc; Malayang Kaisahan ng mga Magbubukid sa Nueva Eci-ja; Farmworkers Agrarian Reform Movement of Hacienda Luisita; Quezon Association for Rural Development and Democratization Services, Inc.; Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bondoc Peninsula; Ug-nayan ng mga Magsasaka sa Gitnang Quezon; Builders for Rural Empowerment and Human Rights Advocates Network, Inc.; Bicol Hegemony for Rural Empowerment and Development, Inc.; Aly-ansa at Samahan ng mga Paraoma-Camarines Sur, Albay and Mas-bate; Panay Rural Organizing for Reform and Social Order, Inc.; Pagtingog Sang Maguuma kag Mamumugon sa Kaumban; Mag-uumang Naga-hiusa Alang sa Kalambuan; North Cotabato Autono-mous Peasants Organizations; Reform CARP Movement and labor groups, youth and student groups, the academe, and individuals and organizations in the Philippines, the US, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and other parts of the world. Taken from [email protected]/UMC America
So much has happened since my last column. I’ve not had a chance to catch up or write for a while. First, I’ve been traveling trying to startup my business. Sec-ondly, my father passed away in June and that was a difficult time for me. To all my friends and fam-ily who have sent their condolenc-es, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
This column is about loss. Personal loss. My father’s pass-ing forced me to think about los-ing the things most important to me, and how that affects me. It also got me thinking about people who lose precious things by being careless. I see this so often. And I’m guilty myself.
My father was a great man. Of course he was my father and I loved him so much. His pass-ing really shook me. Because he lived in the Philippines, I did not get enough time with him over the years. There was always some-thing more important to do keep-ing me from going back. I always believed he would be there when I needed him. Of course that’s a child’s wish.
People don’t stay forever. I now know that I missed so many opportunities to know this man and get closer to him. That’s my loss. Basically, I took our relation-ship for granted and assumed that when I was ready, he would be there to welcome me.
I’ve learned the hard way, that those relationships I hold dear and precious have to be nurtured and
CommentaryBEN VICCARI
Our JourneyEVA AGPAOA
The pain of lossrespected and loved constantly. It’s not enough to tell someone you love them. It’s as important that your actions also tell the same story.
I met Sandra at Aristocrat one night. She also has a story about loss. And one which everyone has to hear. Three months ago, Sandra met Tom and Ed at a party. They told her that they had discovered a way to get her lots of money with-out any risk. Like everyone else, Sandra was skeptical and smelled something wrong. But she was so desperate for money that in the end, she gave in and agreed to their plan.
Tom would give Sandra a se-ries of cheques and she would cash them in her bank account and share the money with Tom and Ed. Sandra found out these were bad cheques. What Sandra was doing was illegal and it was fraud.
Over three months, Sandra cashed a total of $15,000 worth of bad cheques. The irony was that
from the $15,000 she only kept $5,000. That’s a third for taking all the risk. Sandra got caught. She was arrested and charged with fraud. Tom and Ed were nowhere to be found.
The really sad thing was that Sandra was weeks away from re-ceiving her open permit, for her residency which she worked so hard for over three years.
Most likely, Sandra would be convicted, deported and lose all chances to ever come back to this country. For $5,000, Sandra lost a future. This is a tremendous trag-edy. The story did not end with her. I heard that two other girls were also in legal trouble for do-ing the same thing with the same two guys.
My last story involves the loss of a lover and friend. Every loss is hard to bear. This one, like my father and Sandra’s story, is es-pecially difficult because it could have been avoided and came about
(To page 14)
“How does it feel to be 90?” everyone asks me. I’ll let you into a secret….. no different from be-ing 89.
But it has become a time of evocation when often, unbidden, thoughts of other times, places and people come to mind. Like:
-- My first visit to Ita-ly at four which, through change in surroundings, completely wipes out all earlier infanthood rec-ollections. The sights, first Paris and the Eiffel Tower then the long over-night train ride to Rome and its marvels. Then on to Saints Cosma and Damiano for my one and only stay with paternal grandparents, the formidable Don Silvestro and Nonna Concetta.
-- My first exposure to film and the beginning of a lifelong passion. At the annual saints’ day in San Cosma watching a film pro-jected onto a huge sheet outdoors. On screen, there’s a man in white tie and tails wearing a pig’s head mask. Years later, as I watch Cin-ema Paradiso, my eyes moisten. (To page 30)
Birthday cake for Ben
-- While enrolled at a Jesuit college, making an agonizing decision of conscience to skip religious instruction because I
can’t believe in the infallibility of popes. How do I, at thirteen, get the courage when on other occa-sions, I’ve caved in to pressure?
-- Standing my ground leads to my parents being asked to with-draw me and remove me to anoth-er private school which one year, organizes a memorable hiking trip to Denmark.
There, bathing nude close to
Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid statue, meeting teenage Danish peers at youth hostels for sing songs and hiking through a wood-ed countryside. The outdoor cafe just outside the Tivoli gates where I surreptitiously enjoy my first glass of beer. The taste of the Dan-ish porridge and snacks purchased from windowed smorgasbord ma-chines in train stations and other public places.
-- And always, the affection of parents and maternal grandpar-ents. No less, the thoughts of those in Italy. In my father’s papers I
discover a letter from Nonno Silvestro written in an old man’s shaky hand and expressing deep concern over the fact I’d been hospital-ized with scarlet fever.
-- After the Dunkirk evacuation, on the run in France with the hastily put together E Field Bat-tery. After a few days it becomes obvious we’re part of a risky feint — to convince the enemy the remaining forces are holding the line until troops refit and return to France.
Lieutenant Lawrie and I, as driver, are reconnoitering the Nor-mandy countryside when coming straight toward us is a German ar-moured car. Lawrie cocks my rifle as we spot to our immediate left a side road and for the first time I experience cornering on two wheels. Our light truck lands back on all four and we bump through
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200810 VIEWSVIEWS
Who cares?
OmertaBUTCH GALICIA
Grandma Elvis
The 3rd EyeMARIO DIMAIN
The Un-ComfortZone
ROBERT EVANS WILSON JR.
What’s pushingyour buttons?
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
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
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 [email protected].
(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.)
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 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
ZAGALA
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)
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 11FEATUREFEATURE
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 policyIn 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
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-
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.
GFN cautions RP officials on population policy linked to easing povertyPopulation growthWorldwide 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 ratesBirth 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
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.
TemptationsNational 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.
HEY, PAL! LOOK AT US. AREN’T WE HAPPY?
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008 12
GENERAL DENTISTRYDr. Gilbert ChanDr. Daphne ChienDr. Janet HoDr. Janet WongDr. Michael Chin
FEATUREFEATURE
DAVAO CITY - To solve the country’s worsen-ing food crisis, all Filipino males should be “sterilized” by law to stop them for pro-ducing more babies.
This was one of the many suggestions made during the recent Davao re-gional meeting of the Eco-nomic Development Coun-cil (EDC).
Dr. Rodolfo Lopez, head of the regional agricultural and fisheries council under the Department of Agricul-ture, told EDC members that the Philippine government’s population program was a
“total failure” because it never stopped the “runaway population growth” of the Philippines.
Population boomThe national population
had been rising steadily at an average of two to three percent over the last 10 years, according to the Na-tional Statistics Office.
“Condoms are abso-lutely useless! We’ve been using condoms to control population for many years -- they never seem to work! Our population is still grow-ing,” says Lopez whose job is to monitor, record and
find ways to keep the na-tional fish produce more than the increasing demand of Filipino tables.
Food production, Lopez said, has been overtaken by population growth in a span of two decades.
Legal vasectomy?He saw the “desperate
need” to cut down the rate of the country’s population drastically to allow the rate of food production to catch up.
Lopez urged Congress to pass a law requiring “compulsory vasectomy” for all sexually-active Fili-pino males who are being blamed for “endangering the food security of the country.”
In a vasectomy, a man’s ability to produce semen after sexual intercourse is made useless after a minor, painless operation.
Most Filipino men, however, have rejected this birth control method.
“The solution is simple - if there’s less population in this country, there will be less demand for food. If there’s less demand for food, then there won’t be any food crisis,” Lopez said.
Department of Agricul-
Sterile Pinoys: Final solution to RP’s food crisis?By AURELIO A. PEÑA
“Itay, mayroon ba tayong kakainin bukas?” this child seems to say. Tradi-tionally the breadwinners, Filipino males are expected not only to propagate 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 stark poverty enveloping the nation amid political and economic instability, can Itay step up to the plate? Photo of Vanessa Arquillano on Flickr
Median age total: 23 years; male, 22.5 years / female: 23.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.728% (2008 est.) Birth rate: 24.07 births/1,000 population (2008
est.) Death rate: 5.32 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.) Net migration rate: -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.) From The World Factbook
Philippine demographics
MANILA - Agriculture Secretary Ar-thur Yap has urged the United Nations (UN) to set up and manage either a regional or a global food stockpile program to help peo-ple in poor nations cope up with the sky-rocketing prices of basic goods.
Yap said the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) should be given a shot at managing food stockpiles to stabilize world food sup-ply and avert a food crisis, adding that the
How about UN food stockpiles? UN agency had the credibility and track re-cord to do the job.
“If there is such a system in place, there would be no panic … It would take the speculative aspect (and expected riots and violence) out of the situation,” Yap said.
Due considerationWFP country director Stephen Anderson
said the UN would give due consideration (To page 13) (To page 13)
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 13
FinancialProblemwith credit cards & bank loans ? ?
IF
- All your income is going to pay bills.
- Everyday there is fight & argument at home.
- You can not pick your own phone out of fear.
- Creditors and collection agencies are calling you and they are threatening to take legal action.
- Your salary is being garnished.
ONE SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR ALL YOUR DEBTS
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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 optionsOther 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
to Yap’s idea, contained in a Philippine government proposal.
Anderson said a similar proposal from the powerful G8 countries (US, Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Japan and Russia) and the International Food Policy Institute was raised during the WFP’s recent Hokkaido meeting.
Anderson said the WFP had been “looking at different ways” and had been in constant touch with states and non-government groups to address global food price hikes.
“Prices remain volatile and the proposal merits some consideration because everyone is going after the same food stock pile. It can be useful in
Sterile Pinoys ...(From page 12)
How about UN ...(From page 12)
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
averting a big crisis. Global lessons can be learned,” Anderson said.
UNESCO data showed that food pric-es rose more than 200 percent from 1998, sending some 854 million worldwide reel-ing with undernourishment.
Another 100 million people have been classified as poor and hungry, data added.
In the Philippines, the price of rice, the national staple, has risen by over 40 percent since January.
Rice sufficiency, however, reached only 85 percent of the total requirements.
The country, host to the International Rice Research Institute, is considered the world’s largest rice importer, taking in some 2.4 million metric tons since the start of this year alone.
UNESCO said every 10-percent hike in rice prices meant 660,000 more Filipinos
added to the poverty roll, while a similar hike in fuel prices meant 160,000 poor people.
A recent Social Weather Station poll showed the hunger incidence in the Philip-pines reached 16.3 percent in the second quarter of 2008, up from the 10-year aver-age of 12.1 percent.
Meanwhile, UN resident coordinator Nileema Noble said the world body “stands ready” to help the Philippine government address hunger and high food prices.
Noble said the UN has a Food Security Steering Committee tasked to share infor-mation and coordinate action on necessary support to the government.
The Committee grouped the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Interna-tional Monetary Fund, IRRI and IFRC/Red Crescent Society. PNA
KCCC gets$141K grant
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
PACA donation
Press and captioned photo releases published in the Manila Media Monitor are for PUBLIC SERVICE and FREE OF CHARGE. Press re-leases must be in word document format. Pho-tos, must be in JPEG, TIFF or PDF formats. All contributions are subject to strict editorial ap-preciation. Send them to [email protected] on or before the 8th of each month. SUBMISSIONS IN FLYER, POSTER OR OTHER BOXED FORMATS SHALL BE TREATED AS ADVERTISEMENTS AND SHALL BE BILLED ACCORDINGLY.
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200814 PEOPLE & EVENTSPEOPLE & EVENTS
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has cited at least 31 leaders and members of the community for their volunteer and community work.
Honored for having rendered volunteer services (for 30 years) were Violeta Cande-lario Vilan and Patricia Mar-tin Guthrie, of the Filipino Parents Association; (For 20 years) Exuperio Tiqui, preident of Living Waters Residence Inc. (LWRI), formerly the Sampaguita Filipino Village;
(For 15 years) Dr. Vic-toria Santiago, chair of the Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) board of directors; Marlene Mogado, sepa-rate school board member; Angeles Diaz Bauzon and Lourdes Flores, past presi-dent and vice president, respectively, of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 21;
Fred Flores, vice presi-dent, Filipino Canadian Veterans Legion Post 21; Luz Balbin, LWRI vice president; Luisa Nolido and Marylou Gaerlan.
(For 10 years) Alex Eu-genio Parucha and Corazon Valenzuela Parucha, servers at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine; Ophie Mina, Max
Miemban, Evelyn Aquino and Oscar Maranan of the Ontario Filipino Women’s Club (OFWC); Rowena Ponferrada of the Filipino Parents Association; Willie Arciaga and Connie Matula, both of LWRI; Rey Tolenti-no, Aida D’Orazio, Evelyn Birondo, Suzette Cresencia and Wendy Arena, all of FCT;
(For five years) Rebec-ca Reyes, Samira Flores, Belinda Sison and Wil-berth Serafin Vallon, all of OFWC.
The CIC awarded the Youth Medal for Volunteers to Kirsten Valenzuela Paru-cha, a second year Journal-ism student at the Univer-sity of Toronto.
Last year’s recipient was Nicole Bañez Dumpit of the Philippine Heritage Band.
The CIC gave out the awards, among those be-stowed on more than 3,500 persons throughout Ontar-ians, in February, April, May and June.
The scrolls of honor signed by Ontario Citizen-ship and Immigration Min-ister Michael Chan and Ontario Premier Dalton Mc-Guinty signed the scrolls of honor that came with silver sterling pins.
Last year, the CIC like-wise cited 31 Filipino- Ca-nadians.
Since the awards were instituted, some 1,000 members of the community received the honor in recog-nition of their meritorious volunteer services and ex-emplary contributions to the betterment of the quality of life in the communitys and society.
At the forefront of the awards on behalf of the community is Alex Parucha, Sr., a nominator of the CIC Ontario Honors and Awards Secretariat.
Parucha is also a mem-ber of the Canada Day July 1st Celebration Committee which has been giving out similar awards. PR
CIC awards 31 Fil-Cans forvolunteer, community work
MOGADO SANTIAGO D’ORAZIO
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 annual feast day of the miraculous Virgin Mother.
The image is borrowed from the Annunciation Church parish where it is enshrined.Fluvial event organizers say the ferry leaves at 9 a.m. and devotees will accompany the
Patron Saint and say prayers while on the ferry.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.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 will follow. JESS CABRIAS/PR
Lady of Peñafrancia sails to Centre Island
because of carelessness. My friend Gale is in love with a man who is so special to her. Each of us dreams of the perfect man, and to Gale, this is the one. He and Gale become much more than just lovers, they became the closest of friends. They depended on each other and found security and comfort with each other.
Gale was careless with the relationship. At first, it was stupid things. Small stu-pid things that should never have happened. Her lover was upset and asked her to stop. But Gale could not,
or would not. Instead she continued her destructive behavior and tried to cover it up by lying. Each time the lie was discovered and her relationship disintegrated a little bit more. Eventually, there came a point when enough was enough and her lover left her.
Gale’s loss is so deep, she feels she is mourn-ing the passing of a family member. She was careless about the thing most pre-cious to her, thinking that things could be patched up again. She lost more than her lover: She lost her best
friend.These stories are three
sides of the same coin. If something is precious to you, treat it with care and respect. Understand what and who your priorities are. Nurture and love the people who are important in your life.
Loss of an opportunity to show love and get close, loss of your freedom, loss of your lover or your best friend: These losses are often irretrievable and can haunt you for a long time to come. Especially if the loss is through carelessness.
Our Journey: The pain of loss(From page 9)
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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
Forex promotes door-to-door services
PPC-O Casino Rama fundraiserThe PHILIPPINE PRESS CLUB-ONTARIO will conduct a Casino Rama fundraiser on Sept. 20. Assembly area is at Boni’s Ave. (at the back of Wal-Mart along Sheppard and Kennedy streets in Scarborough). Assem-bly time is 9:15 a.m. Bus leaves for Casino Rama at 9:45 a.m. Bus departs Casino Rama at 4:30 p.m. and expected to be back at Boni’s Ave. before 6 p.m. Fee is $15 per head. Those who wish to join may contact Myrna Soriano at 416-754-9547 and Chuchi Punsalan at 416-779-2567. PR
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 15
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-
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
Magalona takes over as PAG president
MAGALONA
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
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
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
22 for more information.Flip-hop competitionThis 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
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
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.
Discounted ticketsA 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.
CPO introduces Flip-hop tilt in Filipino Day in Wonderland
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
Salamat, ABS-CBN. Kapamilya talaga!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 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 PEOPLE & EVENTSPEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
Cotabateños @ Morningside Park
kababayans or not, allow me to introduce to you the one and only Lola Elvis.
Married twice and out-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 on hold for 47 years.
Back in 1958 at the Stu-dent Canteen, a TV show in the Philippines, she won the first round in the Lady Elvis Singing Contest. She could have moved on to the final round and probably could have won it, but her strict grandfather’s disapproval put a stop to her dream.
Wounded but not dead, this one talented lady was born to perform. It is in her blood. She is the niece of the famous Filipino movie star, Carmen Rosales. The itch to perform has always hounded her.
When her daughter, Pinky Faustino sponsored
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.
The 3rd Eye: Grandma Elvis(From page 10)
Filipino businessmen Jose Co Policarpio (right) and Rudy Calal-ang (2nd from left) re-cently toured Ontario and have invited Filipi-no-Canadian business-men to invest in the Philippines. With them are Romy Zetazate (left) and Lauro Jose. MAN-NY PAPA
Businessmen visits Ontario
Sir Knight Jojo Taduran (right) and Sir Knight Dom Calixterio (left) pose with Sir Knight George Poblete, faithful navigator of Assembly 2113. Ta-duran and Calixterio are members of Knights of Columbus Council 10516-St. Boniface. ROMY ZETAZATE
K of C Exemplification
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-
Roundabout: Sing no sad songs for ABC 5 (From page 8)
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
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.
PHO
TOS:
BU
TCH
GA
LIC
IA/M
ERLY
N T
Y
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
with a $1,000 donation (see photo above) requested by Annie Buiza for her home-town and typhoon Frank af-fected folks. (OMR)
Featinians re-elect Rey as president
The FEatinians would also conduct their Gala Night at the Rembrandt on Oct. 11. OMR/MANNY PAPA
17AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
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PEOPLE & EVENTSPEOPLE & EVENTS
Newly-weds Dr. Albine Miciano and Elbert Wiersema join guests during their wedding reception. Seated from left are Annie and Max Costiniano, and Ace and Gie Alvarez. Albine and Elbert exchanged vows at the Queenston Cha-pel, Sunday, August 3, 2008, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. PHOTO: MA-NILA MEDIA MONITOR
Wiersema-Miciano nuptials
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 directors include Marie Agoston, Bads Gum-abao, Elisa Maesa and Shey Silvio.
Representing the dif-ferent towns are Minda Al-ban, Salve Aquino, Lourdes Balce, Lito Cruz, Randy Fermo, Liwanag Nabus, Shirley Rosales, Eva San Andres, Virgie San Juan, Milvin Servidad.
Jojo Taduran is CNAC-O’s adviser. JSM
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 Tanza Associa-tion of Canada will have its picnic at the Earl Bales Park, Area 2 on Aug. 23, in honor of Tanza. Cavite’s patron St. Augustine or Tata Usteng.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.”
MATTHEW 6:16
PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR CHRISTPick up your camera and follow us.
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To all gifted photographers out there who have the third eyein capturing photos that reflect a Christian message, there is a Christian Fellowship of talented photographers that awaits you.They are Photographers For Christ who use the art of photographyin spreading the word of God.
Listen to your hearts, the Holy Spirit is calling you.
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18 AUGUST 2008Manila Media Monitor
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
APO 9th Biennial Convention setAustralia.
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, 1985 when a small group of alumni composed of Ely Samaniego, Francis Sa-maniego, Belinda Alcopra, Jeanette Cellona, and Rolex Ocampo got together to cel-ebrate the 60th anniversary of APO. From this initial fellowship and subsequent meetings, APO Toronto was born. PR
ALPHA PHI OMEGA ALUMNI IN TORONTO
Roy LeBlanc, aka Elvis Presley, sings to Davis Figueroa Whiting, 18 months, at the Collingwood annual Elvis Festival. Davis wears a sequined jumpsuit designed and sewn by paternal grandmother Sandy Figueroa Whiting of Mississauga. Davis is the child of Geoffrey and Jacinda Whiting.
Davis: Young Elvis fan
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-rie. PHOTO: JOJO TADURAN
Romy Zetazate birthday party
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 19
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Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200820
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-
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,
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-
andrea Yssabel Panuelos, Curtis Joseph Pascual-Na-hibuan, Christopher Pineda, Jeremy Plaza, Katrina Po, 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.
3rd place trophies:Jacqueline Alfonso, Ai-
belle Babista, Justin Nicho-las Balkissoon, Nikki Baret, Marian Bautista, Nichole Belen, Heather Benasa, Jazmine Benasa, Joshua Philip Benasa, Alysson Ber-nabe, Maria Carolina Borja, Rochelle Catignas, Cas-sandra Celemen, Amanda Chiu, Eliana Cruz, Abigail De Asis, Adrian Doyaoen, Heather Estebes, Moses Falco, Dion Flores, Ro-chelle Foo, Kevin Galleta, Jamie Gomez, Adam Guce,
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.
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.
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.
Filipino Youngsters a hit at NCM FestivalFilipino Youngsters a hit at NCM Festival
LINDSEY WEN and JEFFREY REYES
MISS NCM 2008 winners (from left) Angelina Hardock, Danielle Jean Marg GomisTorh, Ol-ivia Rivera, and Cailean Cruzada
Achig, Gerin Puig, Joshua Pusong, Zak Rahman, De-nise Reyes, Patricia Rica-fort, Kayla Rivera, Cedrik Stephen Ruiz, Nathaniel Samlal, Andreanne Jewell Samson, Miguel Soriano, Monica Soriano, Ruth Susi, Sahar Tabrizi, Louis Francis Talon, Meagan Tanguilig, Adrian Thomas, Elizabeth Jodi Tinamisan, Maria Joyce Verendia, and Ashley Villagracia.
MISS NCM 2008 winners
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media MonitorAUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 21
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200822
Culture Philippines of Ontario
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23AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTSPEOPLE & EVENTS
the exhibit hall when Aga Muhlach, Roderick Pau-late, Bayani Agbayani, Lara Quigaman and Nikki Val-dez went all out in amusing their fans who traveled from even as far as Quebec.
The crowd felt exhila-rated even more when they were given the chance to meet the Philippines’ movie
and television stars face-to-face and have their photos taken with them.
Toronto marked the 3rd successful event of Kapami-lya Fiesta World, which was previously held in Dubai and Barcelona through the ABS-CBN Regional Net-work Group.
They will continue to
bring this free and fes-tive celebration to Filipino Communities around the world to treat them to a day of fun and glee in the warm company of their favorite stars. Kapamilya Fiesta World certainly gives all global pinoys something to look forward to. The next stop --- Rome! PR
Salamat, ABS-CBN. Kapamilya talaga!(From page 15)
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
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200824
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
Ooops and Bloops: Are you kidding?(From page 7)
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
collar wilt.Apparently, his 5-year-
old son and his playmates had found a dead robin.
Feeling that proper buri-al should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.
The minister’s son was chosen to say the appropri-ate prayers and with sono-rous dignity intoned his ver-sion of what he thought his father always said: “Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.”
SCHOOL: A little girl had just finished her first week of school.
“I’m just wasting my time,” she said to her
mother. I can’t read, I can’t write, and they won’t let me talk!”
BIBLE: A little boy opened the big family Bi-ble.
He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages.
Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible.
He picked up the object and looked at it.
What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
“Mama, look what I found,” the boy called out.
“What have you got there, dear?”
With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered, “I think it’s Ad-am’s underwear.”
PEOPLE & EVENTSPEOPLE & EVENTS
(Above) Philippine Independence Day Coun-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 the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on July 19. With him (from left) are writer Jojo Taduran, Front Page Philippines’ host Gie Alvarez, who served as an opening ceremony emcee at the festivities with Rogers TV host Brian Mangubat, and Evelyn Galicia. (Below) Also on hand at the PPC-O booth are (from left) Courier publisher Mon Datol, Balita publishers Ruben and Tess Cusipag, ABS-CBN’s Marlou Tiro and writer Anagaile Soriano. Photos: Manila Media Monitor/Anagaile Soriano
PPC-O @ Mabuhay festivalAlumni of the Union High 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 Caes (Class ’67). PR
Union HS of Manila grand reunion
25AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTSPEOPLE & EVENTS
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
Omerta: Who cares?(From page 10)
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
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? [email protected]
26 TRAVEL & TOURISMTRAVEL & TOURISM Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008
This August, Ga-pan City officials and employees will once more slip through the doors of city hall in slippers, as they celebrate Tsinelas (sandals/slippers) Month that peaks on Aug. 25 when Gapan marks its seventh year as a component city of Nueva Ecija province.
But more than this show of convic-
In 2005, a 30-foot sandal highlighted the usual festive dis-play of giant pairs of slippers atop floats during the Tsinelas Festival’s grand parade in Gapan City. Eight artisans from Barangay Mangino worked for three weeks to produce the gigantic sandal, using tons of rubber and plastic sheets and 46 gallons of rubber cement and varnish. It took 50 men to position the giant slipper atop a flatbed truck for the parade. Officials hoped the sandal would be recorded in the Guin-ness Book of World Records as the world’s biggest. Since then, the slipper has become a fixture at the Gapan City Hall, like the ones in photo below. Gapan City Culture, Tourism
the country’s biggest producer of slippers using synthetic materi-als; the industry thriving in baran-gays Pambuan, Mangino and San Lorenzo and generating an annual gross sales of P500 million.
Competition Mayor Ernesto Natividad, a
slipper producer before he joined politics, said imported slippers from Vietnam, China, Malaysia and Taiwan has been lately threat-ening the industry.
Natividad said the Tsinelas Festival was a splendid idea to promote the industry and the city as a tourist destination.
The city has been subsidizing the participation of slipper pro-ducers in Department of Trade and Industry national trade fairs.
In 2006, Gapan City topped the government’s One Town, One Product awards for its footwear making industry.
CityhoodOld records said Gapan City
(pop. 90,000 in 23 villages) was used to be called Ibon.
Legends said the town came to be known as Gapan when Span-ish soldier-explorers, in the late 1500’s when the area was still wilderness, chanced upon natives crawling through thick bushes.
A soldier stopped the natives and in a tongue foreign to the latter, asked for the name of the place. Similarly not understand-ing what the soldier said, a native thought he was asked what he
was doing and replied in Tagalog “Gumagapang gapang kami.”
The soldier took it as the place’s name and called it Pueblo Gapang. In time, the last “g” was dropped and the name Gapan stuck to this day.
Another legend said the name came from climbing and crawling plants teeming in the area.
History placed Gapan as one of the first towns of Pampanga.
Records of the first Catholic mission to the Far East said that in 1595, Spanish priests Contres, Tendilla, Caballo and Salazar cleared the forest for a pueblo where a church, presedencia and homes made of bricks and lime were built, now the age-old land-marks of the town.
Its foundation in 1595 made Gapan the oldest town in Nueva Ecija and one of the oldest in the Philippines.
It was likewise a big pueblo embracing an area as far as Caba-natuan City in the north, until the latter was separated in 1977.
But as Spanish power waned and economic progress caught up in the area, the big pueblo disinte-grated into many other pueblos.
By virtue of Republic Act No. 9022 and its ratification in a plebiscite subsequently consucted on Aug. 25, 2001, the municipal-ity of Gapan was converted into a component city of Nueva Ecija. Sourced from various web sites and Wikipedia
Gapan City’s TSINELAS FESTIVAL in August
All about an industry inspired by people’s big hearts, trendy soles
tion on an industry that has made Gapan slippers a household inevi-tability, the city’s spirited people take to the streets in festive danc-ing, native and Olympic-style sports competitions, entertain-ment programs, and a parade of floats bearing Mutya ng Gapan winner-beauties and locally-made beautiful tropic footwear in tourist come-on fashion.
Highlighting Gapan’s Tsine-las Festival, which in past years went three weeks long, is the vigorous trading of Gapan’s fine, sturdy and inexpensive product displayed in over 50 tsinelas stalls lining up Maharlika Highway in Bucana village.
History Gapan’s slippers industry
dates back to the 1930s, when the footwear found its way to as far as the markets of Ilocos and Bicol regions and the big Manila malls.
Slippers then were made of ca-rabao leather from Meycauayan, Bulacan.
The state, however, banned carabao slaughter, as the carabao was considered vital to farmwork in Gapan and other northern Lu-zon areas then dubbed as the rice granary of the Philippines.
The decline in leather supply forced Gapan’s slippermakers to tap other raw materials such as plastic and rubber.
Later, a shift to synthetic ma-terials was made.
Today, Gapan is known as
GAPAN’S FINE, STURDY, INEXPENSIVE SLIPPERS
Tsinelasin kaya kita?
MANILA - The Bureau of Im-migration (BI) has activated mo-bile counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to provide the hassle-free process-ing of immigration documents of seniors, persons with disabilities and those who carry infants.
BI commissioner Marcelino Libanan said the mobile counters are equipped with WiFi-linked laptops.
Libanan said that since the counters were set up on July 23,
MANILA - The Department of Tourism (DoT) is looking forward to drumming up Philippine tourism and attract more tour-ists from Vietnam, when officials attend the Vietnam International Travel Expo at the Phu Tho Exhibition Center in Ho Chi Minh City from Sept. 12 to 14
Tourism Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr said the Philippines hoped to bring in as much as 7,000 Vietnamese tourists for the rest of the year.
From January to May 2008, the tourism
RP eyeing Vietnamese tourists
DURANO
department registered about 6,000 tourists from Vietnam.This was 59 percent higher than the number of Vietnamese tourists
“we have received positive feed-backs from the elderly and the disabled.”
“Progressive countries like Ja-pan and the US have this system and this definitely makes our im-migration processing at par with them,” he added.
Public assistanceThe BI also put up a BI-NAIA
Public Assistance Center to make the clearing process easier for ar-riving travelers.
BI opens mobile counters for elderly, disabled (To page 28)
(To page 28)
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 27The PHILIPPINESThe PHILIPPINESwww.FinancialProblem.ca
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NEWS ROUNDUPNAGA 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
Naga City: Recycling cash
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
Benguet: Noodles plant on
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
ComVal: Correction, please
DUMAGUETE CITY - The city council has approved a resolution requesting the Air Transportation Office (ATO) safety division in Manila to declare Dumaguete air space a “No Fly Zone” area and prohibit student pilots from fly-ing over city skies to prevent future accidents especially in thickly populated and residential areas. A pilot training school in Sibulan, where the Dumaguete airport is located, has a number of foreign nationals enrolled for a 10-month course. PNA
Dumaguete: No fly zone
TACLOBAN CITY - Leyte province is host to the Palar-ong Pambansa (National Games) in 2009, outbidding Capiz 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 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
Leyte: Nat’l Games ‘09 host
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 changes during puberty, sexual identity and curiosity, some of which may lead to risky behavior. The province had been a beneficiary of UNFPA programs since 2005. PIA
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Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200828
MANILA - Justice Un-dersecretary and Special Committee for the Protec-tion of Children (SCPC) chair Linda Hornilla has re-minded media practitioners to respect children’s right to privacy, as she presented revised guidelines on the reporting and coverage of cases involving children.
Hornilla said “children need special safeguards and care due to their size, vul-nerability and young age.”
The guidelines, as re-vised:
► It is prohibited to interview a child victim of abuse, child witness, child in armed conflict or child in conflict with the law except when he or she is with a psy-chologist or social worker known to him or her.
► Journalistic activ-
ity touching the lives and welfare of children must be carried out with sensitiv-ity and appreciation of the vulnerable situation of the children, so that children are not re-victimized or re-traumatized.
► The identity of a child victim of abuse, child witness, children in armed conflict, children in conflict with the law, shall not be disclosed. No information that would lead to the iden-tification of the child or any member of his family shall be published or broadcast.
► Photographs, images or video coverage of the face or any distinguishing feature of a child victim of abuse, child witness, chil-dren in armed conflict or a child in conflict with the law including his or her family
members shall not be taken, published or shown in pub-lic in any manner.
► The use of sexual-ized images of children in any form violates the child’s rights.
► The present and long-term implication for the child’s recovery, rehabilita-tion and reintegration shall be considered by those in-volved in media coverage.
► The disclosure of any private or graphic detail of the case, including medico-legal findings, in public is strictly prohibited.
► Also prohibited for media is the access to, use, or dissemination of a child’s case files or records.
► Crimes of violence by or against children must be reported factually without passing judgment, stereo-typing or sensationalism.
► The release of the child’s identity to elicit fi-nancial support or aid for the child’s medical care is strongly discouraged.
► No organization shall speak or represent the inter-est of the child unless duly accredited, registered or li-censed by the Department of Social Welfare and De-velopment or by any appro-priate government agency.
Hornilla said it is the responsibility of media to verify the status of the or-ganization before airing, broadcasting or publication of the same. PNA
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
RP eyeing Vietnamese tourists(From page 26)
The center is tasked to help those with immedi-ate domestic connections, VIPs, and dignitaries.
International flightsMeanwhile, the NAIA
Terminal-3 has accomodat-ed at least 28 international flights daily since Aug. 8.
NAIA-3 official Michael Defensor said that since its soft opening on July 23, the terminal has been hosting domestic flights of Philip-pine Airlines (PAL), Air Philippines and Cebu Pa-cific.
Cebu Pacific began op-erating at T3 on July 22, with 16 domestic flights daily to Caticlan, San Jose in Mindoro, Tuguegarao, Naga, and Laoag.
PAL Express opened 75 flights per week, bound for Caticlan, Busuanga, Cal-bayog, San Jose, Surigao, and Virac.
Air Philippines operated 56 flights per week, servic-ing Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Naga, Puerto Princ-esa, Ozamis and Tugueg-arao. PNA
BI opens mobile counters ...(From page 26)
DOJ to media: Respect children’s privacy
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-
From the Monitor’s Desk: Filipino media ...(From page 8)
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
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.
ALBINE MICIANO and ELBERT WIERSEMA
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
36 reacquire RP citizenship
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor
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Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 2008Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200830
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 recipientsIn 1945, there were
some 3.5 million Canadian children under 16, living in 1.5 million families.
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 CCTBThe 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
Parliament passes Baby Bonus law, Aug. 1, 1944
CANADIAN HISTORYCANADIAN HISTORY
SYMBOLIC UNVEILING of Canada’s baby bonus legislation. Photo: National Archives of Canada
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-
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)
Commentary: Thoughts at 90(From page 9)
Ben Viccari and Bill McVean
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 31
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 battleEarlier, 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, dieThe 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
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 warBy 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.)
Blanco did not want the revolt to spread to other provinces, as he sought to punish the rebels and all who helped them.
Sparking revolutionAccording to Visions of
the Possible by Felice Pru-dente-Santa Maria, the Kati-puneros might have failed to capture the San Juan del Monte powder house and cripple Intramuros.
Their defeat in Pina-glabanan could have dis-couraged Filipino forces from rising in arms against a superior enemy; likewise
sending a strong message that the revolution was fu-tile and useless.
But on the contrary, Pinaglabanan ignited a full-blown revolution, the begin-ning of the Filipinos’ battle against Spanish domina-tion. The fight for freedom started at Pinaglabanan.
Almost simultaneously, the people of Santa Mesa, Pandacan, Pateros, Taguig, San Pedo, Makati, Caloo-can, Balik-balik, and San Juan del Monte in Manila, and San Francisco de Mala-bon, Kawit and Noveleta in
Cavite rose up in arms. The next day - on Aug.
31, 1896 - the Kawit Revolt began.
In Cavite, the uprisings were more successful, be-cause they had able military commanders like Emilio Aguinaldo and Mariano Al-varez who liberated Novel-eta on the same day.
Other military leaders rose to prominence, nota-bly Artemio Ricarte, Tomas Mascardo, Juan Cailles, Vito Belarmino, Mariano Trias and Marcelino Aure. From various web sources
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
Katipuneros’ baptism of fireAugust 30, 1896 at Pinaglabanan, San Juan
PHILIPPINE HISTORYPHILIPPINE HISTORY
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200832 MONEYMONEY
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
June in 2007. In the first six months of
2008, domestic borrowings amounted to P198.17 bil-lion, higher by 29.4 percent than the P153 billion in the first half of 2007.
The increase could be attributed to government initiatives to tap domestic sources over external credi-
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 timesTetangco 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
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-flation, he said.
Double-digit inflationLast June, inflation hit
double digit at 11.4 percent from year-ago’s 2.3 percent bringing the year-to-date average at 7.6 percent.
Inflation in July reached 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
Economy resilient but ratehike made to tame inflation
RP ’08 loans down 4% year-on-year
(ABOVE) Staff of PNB Remittance Company (Canada) Inc. show the perfect smile that goes with their service for remitters. (BELOW) Virgil Ignacio and staff of Remit X take a breather. Remit X is a new company organized re-cently to serve the remittance needs of the Filipino community in Toronto and working on expanding their services across Canada. Both PNB Remit and Remit X were among companies that joined the 2008 Philippine Cham-ber of Commerce-Toronto Trade Show at the Philippine Independence Day Council Mabuhay Philippines Toronto Summer Festival at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on July 19. PHOTOS: MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
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
Monthly remittance data show downward spikesby JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO
www.ofwjournalism.netremittance 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
tors. Foreign borrowings,
on the other hand, totaled P44.59 billion, far lower than the P99.85 billion in the same period last year.
Among the govern-ment’s external fund sourc-es this year was the $500 million it got when it issued global bonds in January.
PNB Remit, RemitX at PCCT trade show
Finance officials earlier said they were considering borrowing more from offi-cial development assistance (ODA) programs than com-mercial borrowings.
ODA programs have longer-term payments and lower interest.
The government has intended to seek more rev-enues this year.
This was due to in-creased spending for pro-poor programs made neces-
sary by surging prices of oil and food.
Sources included taxes and privatization proceeds.
At the end of the first half this year, revenues amounted to P570 billion while expenditures stood at P588 billion.
Improved tax collection enabled government to lim-it its deficit to P18 billion, lower than the programmed P41 billion. PNA, other web sources
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MANILA - Filipinos living and working over-seas and retirees remained the most active buyers of residential property in the Philippines.
Mike Mabutol, direc-tor for investment proper-ties and capital markets at CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) Philippines, said these buy-ers have considered invest-ments in mid-end residen-tial development projects.
Mabutol said overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have long been a lucra-tive market, because of the OFWs’ desire to provide a better life for their families, investing their hard-earned income in residential prop-erties.
“Retirees have also ramped up property spend-ing, mostly from life sav-ings and retirement ben-efits,” he said.
“The trend started four to five years ago,” Mabutol
said, adding this was despite global property woes.
A CBRE report said Philippine real estate de-velopers, to address rising demand, have initiated af-fordable housing and con-dominium projects, with in-vestments ranging from P1 million to P2.5 million.
CBRE forecast that from 2008 to 2013, at least 28 residential condomini-ums are expected to rise in Makati City, providing more than 18,000 units.
In Fort Bonifacio, 33 residential condominiums with 11,500 units are ex-pected to be completed.
Increased demand for high-end residential con-dominiums has, however, raised high-end residen-tial condominium prices in Makati City from P90,000 per square meter in 2006 to P100,000 to P130,000 per square meter this year.
Low interest rates and
flexible financing terms have helped boost the resi-dential property sector.
Trent Frankum, CBRE Philippines general manag-er, said mortgage rates hov-ered between 8.5 percent and 12 percent.
The development and market positioning of retire-ment villages for expatriate “empty nesters” have also boosted real estate sales.
Studies showed that re-tirees from the US, Europe and Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Ja-pan have eyed tropical coun-tries like the Philippines for eventual residence.
“The retirement mar-ket is a potential multi-bil-lion-dollar industry, and the Philippines has stepped up efforts to entice foreign and local investments in such projects,” Mabutol said.
The Philippine Retire-ment Authority and Philip-pine Retirement Institute have encouraged local and
foreign investors to support retirement community proj-ects. Road shows in Ko-rea, Japan, and the United States, have promoted Phil-ippine retirement villages, offering tax incentives for pioneering projects in the Philippines. PNA
OF, retirees eye real property investments
OTTAWA - The govern-ment is set to increase the amount of money available to Canadians for govern-ment-guaranteed mortgage, while taking steps to make mortgage insurance more transparent, understandable and affordable.
These measures and its limits, announced by the Ministry of Finance here on Aug. 1, would protect the Canadian housing market from a US-style housing bubble and encourage indi-viduals and families to save through home ownership.
The finance ministry said the government would raise the volume of funding for mortgages available to
Canadian banks and other mortgage lenders.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corpora-tion (CMHC) recently an-nounced the expansion of the Canada Mortgage Bond (CMB), to include a CMB with a 10-year maturity to interest new investors seek-ing assets beyond the cur-rent five-year term.
The planned CMB pro-gram expansion was in ad-dition to the $12.5-billion CMB issue in June, which funded some 64,000 mort-gages and brought the total outstanding amount for the CMB program to roughly $136 billion.
The government also
proposed changes to clarify the tax treatment of innova-tive capital structures used by Canadian financial insti-tutions to raise funds.
The changes would make Canadian regulations more consistent with rules in other jurisdictions that operate under the guidance of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Two new pro-consum-er measures on mortgage insurance were also pro-posed.
The first measure would enhance the disclosure to consumers about the char-acteristics of mortgage in-surance.
While lenders are re-
Ottawa sets steps to firm upCanadian housing market
quired to itemize the cost of mortgage insurance as part of their disclosure to bor-rowers, the new measure would set out additional mandated disclosures to help consumers better un-derstand the mortgage in-surance transaction.
The second measure would ensure that Canadian consumers are charged no more for an insured mort-gage than the true cost of obtaining the mortgage.
This would guard against practices alleged to occur in other jurisdictions whereby insurance premi-ums charged to borrowers could be artificially inflat-ed. PR
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MANILA MEDIA MONITOROn its 12th year of service
Call 416-285-8583
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200834
SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOLYELLOWBIRD
4862 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENTParokya 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.
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 35
Manila Media Monitor AUGUST 200836
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.
“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 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
Mikey concertto inspire youth
BUSTOS
DE MONTIGNY
ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENTA look into Filipino-Canadian folksingers, bands, musicians and other performers in Canada by CHITO SARABIAThe GIG
Filipino folk-rock icon Mike Hanopol (left) gives a preview of his concert at the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre in Mississauga on Aug. 23, as he jams with folksinger Chito Sarabia, on base, and other Toronto-based band players. Photo: CHUCHI PUNSALAN
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-pines’ rock revolutionary and fierce ex-bassist of the ironic Juan dela Cruz Band -- is in Toronto, ready to
Mike Hanopol rocks in Toronto
(To page 37)
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
AUGUST 2008 Manila Media Monitor 37ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT
Mike ...(From page 36)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.
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 worldEverest 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
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
Andaluz to star inCBC TV mini-series
ANDALUZ
Hair and Make-up Artist Tonnie Furto applies finishing touches on Lani Misalucha before her recent perfor-mance in Toronto with the Society of Seven.
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-ship,” Karen Tan, one of Josie’s co-celebrators, speaks from a woman’s soul. “Music soothes the life inside each of us and express-es our feelings everyday. My life is a continuous melody of love songs that I share with all of God’s creatures.
Jules Tinsay maintains that “life with-out music is simply living without any story to tell. With the busy life that he has, Jules says “music is soul food to go! Music brings solace to one’s soul.”
Giving credit to his Dad for his musical gift, Marvin de Guzman says, “I grew up with music around me. My dad was a musi-cian and I suppose I inherited his musical genes. Music has always been my passion
and I just can’t imagine life without it.”“I would celebrate music because it’s
really a large part of being human, of hu-manity. We people celebrate occasions like birth, marriage, national days of indepen-dence, holy days and even sexual orienta-tion. I celebrate music everyday in my pro-fession,” adds Mikey Bustos.
Leander Mendoza on the other hand, confesses “My life without music would be meaningless. Music is what defines me
O R A N Y W H E R E I N T H E W O R L DMANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE
BATID WIKA
PAHALANG 1. Pinakalat10. Pulo, daglat11. Mintis12. Mina, artista13. Pabuya15. Namayapang Kardinal16. Uri ng alak17. Kayamanan ng magulang19. Sebo21. Baryo sa Cavite23. Anunsiyo24. Imumungkahi27. Nota ng musika28. Simbolo ng pulis29. Isang pandamdam31. Paglilinis ng damit33. Panglakad35. Pananong37. Tinapay38. Palayaw ng babe39. Hinhin41. Ika-12 titik
42. Damdamin sa unang pagkikita
PABABA 1. Hiling 2. Ginawang miyembro 3. Simbolo ng arsenic 4. ___ Piñas 5. Batas 6. Suweldo 7. Siyudad sa Bikol 8. Biyenes 9. Tinapay na may palaman14. Busog at palaso
18. Gusi20. Matigas na metal22. Hulihan ng tanong23. Lugar sa Muntinlupa24. Ipatse25. Tawag sa Amerika26. Puting an-an29. Kalapit nayon 30. Korporal32. Amoy ng kambing34. ___ Sayyaf36. Apelyidong Intsik40. Pagkakakilanlan
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as a person because I re-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 is my great desire to bring back the glory to Him as I sing and make music be-cause He is the Artist of my soul.
Musical director for Celebrate Music with Josie Mon Torralba, amidst his various engagements, is anticipating working on
Celebrate Music!(From page 37)
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.
ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT
PIDC’S Dancing to be a Star a success
Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) Dancing to be a Star chair Leo-nie Manzanares (center, standing) says the contestants (with her in photo) “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
