YEAR 12, No. 11 MAY 2009 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario

11:00 AM-Sundays 3:00 PM-Thursdays

FOR YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS AND INQUIRIES, CALL 416-285-8583 or E-MAIL manilamediamonitor@rogers.com

Dancing To Be A Star - 33

INSIDEINSIDEOoops & Bloops

Mindanao Mindanao peace ends peace ends

as fast as as fast as Pacman’s Pacman’s

win win - 7- 7

(To page 6)

MOSQUERA TO FIL-CAN COMMUNITY IN TORONTO

UNLEASHUNLEASHPOTENTIALSPOTENTIALS

RP CONSUL GENERAL IN TORONTO ALEJANDRO MOSQUERA

By ACE ALVAREZ and BUTCH DG. GALICIA

RON JOSOL

RHIAN RAMOS RICHARD GUTIERREZ

No less than Philippine TV’s hottest love duo - the Richard Gutierrez and Rhian Ramos tandem - topbills this year’s Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) Mabuhay! Philippines Festival at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on July 18.

The chemistry between two of Philippine entertainment’s most popular celebrities sizzles in Zorro - the newest TV series from GMA-Kapuso (One Heart With) Network.

Gutierrez’s showbiz background is well-known to his legion of fans, given that his parents are 1960s matinee idol Eddie Gutierrez and the Cebuana actress-turned talent manager Annabelle Rama, perhaps better known as the mother of the beauteous Ruffa Gutierrez. His half-brothers, Tonton Gutierrez and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez, are also known movie and TV celebrities. So is Richard’s identical twin brother Raymond, the successful TV host.

Launching his career as a child actor, Gutierrez carved his own niche in the Philippine Entertainment industry in the TV series Mulawin (2004-2005), which was made into a full-length movie. From thereon, it was a string of successes for

Gutierrez-Ramos tandem Gutierrez-Ramos tandem topbills Mabuhay! Fest topbills Mabuhay! Fest

(To page 34)

The Filipino-Canadian community in the Greater Toron-to Area is a strong mix of highly-educated and multi-talented compatriots.

“Individually, the members of the com-munity are potential forces to reckon with. It is but a matter of collectively un-leashing and engaging these potentials so that the power of a cohesive Filipino sector would be seen and felt in Canadian mainstream life,” said Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera.

Flores de Mayo Flores de Mayo - 28- 28

Sari-sari storesas agent banks - 31

1212

EliseEliseEstrada:Estrada:Real dealReal deal- - 3737

2 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

CATCH ALL OF THE ADVANTAGES OF AHEALTHY BRIGHTER SMILE!

DR. EVANGELINE M. BERNABEa n d A s s o c i a t e s

FREE initial consultation.New patients are WELCOME.

Complete family and cosmetic dentistryServing the community since 1995Up-to-date treatment in all aspects of General andCosmetic Dentistry for adults and children (ages 2 & up)Orthodontics, Periodontics, Dentures, Crowns & BridgesTooth whitening system provided by Zoom 2All dental insurance plans are acceptedFlexible payment plan availableEnglish, Tagalog, Ilocano, Ilonggo, Bicolano and Cebuanospoken

Unit 3, 25 Overlea BoulevardToronto, Ontario M4H 1P9

(at Thorncliffe Park Drive across theEast York Town Center)

3newsnewsMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

BrokerTatyana Petrak

Business: 905-764-7111Cell: 416-562-6495www.century21petrak.comE-mail: tpetrak@trebnet.com

• Buy and sell houses and condos• Investment• Commercial properties• Lease• Cottages• Land • Businesses

• Significant bonus programs • Perfect service, including mortgage, home inspection, lawyer and all other matters• Help with all real estate enquiries

SERVICES:

I GUARANTEE:

Many years of excellent experience

Heritage Group Ltd.

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES

Gold & Emerald Awards Winner

Condo Apartment $649,000.00Bright & Spacious 2 storey penthouse with many upgrades, 3 bedrooms, 3 washrooms. New luxury building. Desirable location: subway, schools, all shoppings! Buy now, enjoy whole life!!!

Semi-detached$388,000.003 bedrooms, bungalow. Clean, hardwood floor, renovation. Basement can be rented. Walking distance to TTC & Go Train. Call now!!!

LAWYER IN UKRAINE WITH 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Philippine Senator ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan will address the Filipino-Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area at a Kapihan breakfast forum at the Rizal Hall of the Filipino Centre Toronto on June 6 starting at 8:30 a.m.

Pangilinan is expected to share his thoughts on the current state of the Philippines and the country’s election in 2010.

A press conference and a forum with attendees will follow the senatior’s talk.

The senator has been pushing for judicial reforms, strengthening the justice system and the rule of law, protecting and harnessing the youth, strengthening entrepreneurship and incentives for global Filipinos, and other causes that will drive the Philippines to 21st century progress.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan to talk onRP issues in Canadian Kapihan

Philippine Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan and wife Philippine entertainment Megastar Sharon Cuneta greet a fan. The couple will be in Toronto for Sharon’s Mega-Thirty concert at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on June 7 at 6 p.m.

Elected senator to the 12th, 13th and 14th Philippine Congress, Pangilinan sponsored and authored Republic Act 9225 (Citizenship Retention Act of 2003) and Republic Act 9189 (Filipino Overseas Absentee-Voting Act).

The Kapihan is conducted in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, the Filipino Centre Toronto and the Kaibigan ni Kiko sa GTA.

For tickets, please phone Body Bliss at 416-224-9900. PR

No extra costs for ONLINE ADS?

ADVERTISE with

Call 416-285-8583Visit

manilamediamonitor.com

4 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU: Toronto/Mississauga/Scarborough/Richmond HillWeekend/Late evening appointments also available upon request

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS????????????????IFYou are unable to pay your billsYou are harassed by collection agencies or creditor callsYour salary is being garnishedYou are unable to pay GST or Income Tax to Revenue CanadaYou have lawsuits against youYou have arguments and stress at homeTHEN MAKE ALL BILLS INTO ONE SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENT &Reduce your debts up to 80%Stop InterestKeep your car, house and other assetsStop threatening calls

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FILE BANKRUPTCYWE ALSO HELP RE-BUILD YOUR CREDIT IN MINIMUM TIME

I am young and have a good job. I had a lot of loan/credit card payments that I could not pay regularly. Without having to file for Bankruptcy, Siddique showed a way of mak-ing those payments and reducing my debts by 70%. Now I plan to buy a house in the fu-ture. Thank you, Siddique. G.L.

I had a business and it went well. But the debts were too high for me to afford all the loan and credit card payments by running the business. Siddique at All Debt Solutions

showed me a way of managing all these pay-ments by keeping my business running. Now I am able to save some money to buy a house in the future. S.B.

I owed a lot of Income Taxes and could not sleep at night. All Debt Solutions helped me solve the problem. Now I am able to car-ry on my life without any stress. Thanks a lot, Siddique. V.K.

I and my wife always had fights and ar-guments at home and were blaming each other for our financial situation. We were both working but some how at the end of the month we didn’t have enough money. The calls from the Collection Agencies were driving us mad. It was good fortune that we contacted Siddique at All Debt Solutions. He helped us with our problem and there is peace at home after a long time. We cannot forget his dedication and patience in solving our problem. G.S. & R.S.

HERE ARE SOME TRUE CLIENT TESTIMONIALS:

CALL IMMEDIATELY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER:

ALL DEBT SOLUTIONS & CONSULTING SERVICES416 -671-0577

4 newsnewsMANILA MEDIA MONITOR

MAY 2009

MANILA - An unoffi-cial report from the United Nations Committee Against Torture has noted and appre-ciated many positive aspects in the Philippines’ compli-ance with the April 28 to 29 Convention Against Torture in Geneva, Switzerland.

This is very encourag-ing, said Philippine govern-ment Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

During the convention, the Philippine delegation submitted its report and stressed the country has rati-

fied or approved the: ► Convention on the

Rights of Persons with Dis-abilities in 2008.

► Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elim-ination of All Forms of Dis-crimination against Women in 2003.

► Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict in 2003.

► Optional Protocol to the Convention on sale of children, child prostitution

and child pornography in 2002 and ► Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990.

► Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1989 and Second Option-al Protocol to the Covenant, in 2007.

► International Conven-tion on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Work-ers and Members of their Families in 1995.

► Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Traf-

ficking in Persons, Espe-cially Women and Children, in 2002, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Orga-nized Crime.

The delegation also noted reforms in legisla-tion, including policies and procedures to ensure better protection of human rights, including the right not to be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or de-grading treatment or punish-ment, in particular.

The measures included

the adoption of the:► Juvenile Justice

Welfare Act (RA 9344) for which the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council was formed in 2006.

► Republic Act 9346 abolishing the death pen-alty.

► Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262) that pro-tected victims and punished perpetrators of the violence in 2004.

► Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) in

2003.► Indigenous People’s

Rights Act (RA 8371) in 1997.

► Administrative Order 249 that directed state agen-cies to institute policies, programs and projects en-hancing human rights.

In October 2007, the Su-preme Court promulgated the Recourse to the Rules of the Writ of Amparo and the Writ of Habeas Data.

The High Court also set into motion its Access

Positive aspects of ‘unoffocial’ UN torture report on RP very encouraging

(To page 24)

5MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

6 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

Philippine Consul General in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera (2nd from right) accepts from the Kalloo couple, Mila and Tony, a cheque for $10,000 to put up four homes in the $75,000 30-house GK Village of Unity pushed during the Uniting for A Cause: A Farewell Dinner Dance for the ConGen at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall on May 22. Looking on are ANCOP-Gawad Kalinga president Ricky Cuenca (left) and event program chair Jojo Querubin. PR

www.FinancialProblem.cawith credit cards and bank loans

Too many loans & credit cards?Paying too much interest?

Afraid to pick up your own phone?Looking for consolidation?

Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES416-780-1020; 416-791-9292

“Somewhere along the line, there is a commonality among us. This should be empowered. We must rally on issues of mutual con-cern,” Mosquera said in an interview with the Manila Media Monitor.

Leaders teem The consul general said

the community had never been wanting of good lead-ers and committed follow-ers who “would stand tall at the forefront of influence and decision.”

This was proven a num-ber of times by the commu-nity, “which had occupied a vital role in Toronto’s social, economic and even political growth,” he said.

The community‘s rela-tively imposing presence in the city’s multicultural mo-saic could have contributed much to the community be-ing recognized for its role.

“I see a lot of commu-nity leaders coming out and excelling in carrying out their group’s mission-vi-sions,” Mosquera said.

Community members have taken on essential visibility in the business, health, medical, media, en-tertainment, professional, religious and civic sectors in Toronto. “Soon, the com-munity would ably get into Toronto’s political arena,” he said.

Disunity rebukedThe big number of

groups and associations in the community should not be construed as fragmenta-tion nor disunity, Mosquera stressed.

“Rather, it should be seen as a movement of people with varied interests and persuasions working towards a common goal,” he said.

Like other Filipinos in diaspora, these groups have been one in thought and action in helping their kababayans in need in the homeland.

“I have seen this in how these groups conducted medical missions; donated books and computers and medical supplies and equip-ment; raised funds to build schools, churches and multi-purpose halls,” he said.

“Most importantly, I have seen how they gave quick wholehearted re-sponses when natural and manmade tragedies struck the Philippines, way be-yond parochial and regional parameters,” he added.

Moreover, many mem-bers of the community have adopted the “brain gain” initiative, sharing and trans-ferring knowledge and tech-nology to assure that many Filipinos would improve their quality of life, he said.

“Assisting kababayans back in the Philippines and those living, studying and working in Toronto or the whole of Canada is a com-monality a cohesive Fili-pino community could go on doing and expand from,” Mosquera suggested.

Going globalHe cited how many

ConGen Mosquera: Unleash potentials(From page 1)

community members have taken on dual citizenship.

“In the Philippines, this has prompted a posi-tive psychological boost as those back home believed their compatriots abroad ‘have returned’,” Mosquera noted.

This also validated the notion that the Filipino has become a global denizen.

“This has given rise to our foreign service orien-tation to give appropriate and meaningful services in addressing the interests and welfare of Filipinos abroad,” he added.

End of tourMosquera urged mem-

bers of the community “to maintain the Filipino iden-tity, culture, heritage and traditions while assimilat-

ing with Canadian society.”He saluted the com-

munity for a job well done as he admitted that he was “still enjoying very much my soon to lapse six-year tour of duty in Toronto.”

He ends his Toronto as-signment at June’s end.

“Here, I am like home away from home. I am hon-ored have been with com-patriots who have come to live, study and work in To-ronto,” Mosquera mused.

“But what I enjoy most was the warm welcome we in the consulate are given by the community. We get four to five invitations during weekends. Due to time and distance constraints, Con-sul Imelda Panolong, Vice Consul Edna Mae Lazaro, other consular staff and I

have to divide the work to meet community obliga-tions. I commend my staff for their tireless dedication to duty,” he said.

Parting shotBefore he ended the

interview, Mosquera once more cited community members in the health care sector -- those in the medi-cal, health care and caregiv-ing professions -- who have time and again shown that they excelled in what they do, even in the face of dan-ger, as in the Canadian ex-perience when the dreaded SARS broke out in 2003.

Recalling, he said: “SARS greeted me when I came to Toronto for my as-signment. I hope the Swine Flu threat is gone when I leave.”

ACE ALVAREZ

Pacquiao’s win ends peacequickly in Mindanao

7VIEWSVIEWSMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

(To page 25)

Before he fl ew to the Philippines on April 25, Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPC-O) president Tenny Soriano e-mailed members as follows:

“TO ALL PPCO MEMBERS:“WILL BE AWAY FROM

APRIL 25 TO MAY 17, 2009 for a much-needed vacation.

“In this regard, your vice president, Mr. Ace Alvarez, will assume the duties of the President in my absence.”

The following day, PPC-O Secretary and Manila Media Monitor editor Butch Galicia asked me if the PPC-O will be having its monthly breakfast forum for May, 2009.

My reply was: “Why work? The cat is away, so let us all play!”

***The last paragraph of

president Tenny’s message to PPC-O members was, “Please provide your support to Ace as you would your president.”

Nadisgrasya na! That was precisely the reason

why I didn’t want to have a

breakfast forum for May 2009,” bearing in mind my president’s directive. To repeat the quotes: “Please provide your support to Ace as you would your president.” Hhhmmm ….

***An e-mail we were copied

recently sent by a friend to another person informing the latter of a death in her husband’s family requested the primary recipient to inform her group of such event.

The sender’s complimentary close was “Cheers!”

I thought, “Cheers to what? “The death of her husband’s

family member?” Probably, slip of her fi nger.

***Two weeks before the

submission of ad copies to Manila Media Monitor’s April 2009 issue, my good friend Danny “The Great” Samson phoned me asking to reserve a full page black and white page for his advertising.

On deadline day, I phoned him, but he said he was in Montreal, and that he would

attend to and send us the ad copy that evening upon his return to Toronto.

To this writing, I never received such e-mail, nor a telephone call from the great Danny S.

Probably still in Montreal, eh!

***The following are excerpts

from a story, entitled “Quick win leaves fans wanting more”, in the internet edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer of May 4 (the story referred to Manny Pacquiao’s boxing match vs. Hatton):

-- “In parts of Bicol, residents failed to see the fi ght because a storm had toppled power lines and plunged their communities into darkness.” (Iyan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Filipino legislators should have listened in the past to that solon who fi led a bill in Philippine Congress to outlaw typhoons? Incidentally, the legislator who fi led this before the Philippine Congress was from Bicol )

-- “As in previous Pacquiao

fi ghts, soldiers and Moro guerrillas briefl y stopped fi ghting in some areas of Mindanao so they could follow the fi ght on radio and television.” (Kita mo nga naman ang buhay, since time immemorial, no person who served as president in the Philippines could fi nd a solution in stopping war in Mindanao.” E, si Pacquiao la’ng pala ang kailangan. Madam President Gloria, I think you should order Pacquiao to fi ght everyday in the international boxing arena.), or VOTE FOR PACQUIAO AS RP PRESIDENT!

-- “But there was no respite for some units pursuing the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Jolo. Saying duty came fi rst, they captured one of the bandits’ camps in the village of Bunot in Indanan town yesterday morning, police said.” (Probably, police knew that Pacquiao is the weakness point of the bandits)

-- Remonde said the dele-gation could not believe that the fi ght was over in less than six minutes.” (That ends the moment of peace in the Philippine island of Mindanao, too)

-- “Deposed President Joseph Estrada said Pacquiao ‘is truly an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere’.” (Now, forget sending all Filipinos as overseas contract workers. With more reason, all Filipinos should be boxers, too!)

-- “Agence France-Presse said ‘millions of Filipinos danced in the streets and joined raucous

parties’ after Pacquiao’s victory.” (Had the Philippine Independence Day Council’s [PIDC] fi rst lady, Rosemer Enverga, been in the Philippines, it would have been more fun. Ballroom dancer yata si Rosemer!)

-- “Hatton may be their countryman, but to British citizens like Paul Pryde and Arthur Conn, who have stayed and fallen in love with the Philippines, their hearts belong to Pacquiao.” (Traitors? No, their commission is not covered in the Philippines’ Revised Penal Code)

***Various organizations,

including CTV Network, held open houses on Saturday, May 23, 2009.

On the other hand, several road closures on major streets and highways were in effect.

To this writing, we are contemplating on how to reach the open houses with all the road closures

***On Tuesday, May 12,

Singapore’s The Straits Times reported on the Philippines: “Jobless Rate Rises to Record 34%, Private Figures Show; Gov’t Says Total is 7.7%”

That’s what the Philippine government really needs – creativity!

***On Thursday, May 7, Aida

D’Orazio - Publicity Chair of the Filipino Centre-Toronto (FCT) on Parliament Street - sent out

Managing EditorACE ALVAREZ

EditorBUTCH GALICIA

Associate EditorGIE ALVAREZ

Contributing EditorsBen Viccari

Ricky CaluenMag Cruz HatolGrace P. FreiresManny FreiresPete LacabaMel Tobias

Editorial AssistantsLennart Leigh Alvarez-Mahoney

Dods Andrada

ContributorsEva Agpaoa

Mario DimainNoel PeradaLarry TorresEdwin AcunaBien Garcia

Jeannie Pilapil

Account ExecutiveMYRNA SORIANO

GraphicsIDTech Solutions

416-875-2541

projects@idtechsolutuionsnetwork.com

Philippine Communication FacilityGRACE MEDIA SERVICES

974 Metrica Street1008 Manila, PhilippinesTel/Fax: (632) 742-1484

Published byManila MEDIA MONITOR, INC.

98 Comrie TerraceScarborough, Ontario M1M 3T2

C A N A D A

Tel. 416.285.8583

YOUR TOTAL, CONCISEand COMPREHENSIVE

Manila MEDIA MONITORis published and circulated

once a monthin Toronto and its suburbs.

Manila MEDIA MONITOR is apublication dedicated

to the formation of positivevalues in the Filipino-Canadiansocial and business community.

Manila MEDIA MONITORcovers all aspects of interestto the community it serves.

Every effort is madeto verify the information published

in Manila MEDIA MONITOR -your one of only two

community papers in Toronto(the other paper being ...

‘the others’). The views and opinionsexpressed, however, by individual

writers are not necessarily theopinion, nor reflect those, of thepublisher. Thus, the publication

accepts no responsibility inconnection with any liability

which might develop resultingfrom articles published.

Manila MEDIA MONITORaccepts submissions, subject to

availability of space, but reservesthe right to edit for publication.

Contributed articles must be in word document format.

Photo releases must be withcaptions and in JPEG format.

Item and photo submissionsmust be sent by e-mail via

mediamonitor@rogers.com

Articles published inManila MEDIA MONITORmay be reproduced only

with the permissionof the publisher.

SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADVERTISING,CIRCULATION and other inquiriesmay be addressed at the following:

TEL. (416) 285-8583FAX (416) 285-6862

Training and practice‘separate the men

from the boys’

RoundaboutMAG CRUZ-HATOL

From TheMonitor’s Desk

ACE ALVAREZ

What’s the buzz in Manila?

8 VIEWSVIEWSMANILA MEDIA MONITOR

MAY 2009

12 years of dedicatedcommunity service

(To page 11)

There is so much abuzz in the Metro and at some point, any or all of the following are simmering in people’s minds.

One is the exponentially in-creasing number of motorcycles that whiz thru the metro’s already congested streets.

Think of Beijing and Ho Chi Minh City a decade ago with their multitude of bicycles; replace the two wheelers with motorized bikes, and you have a vague idea of how the metro might look a few years from now , no thanks to high gas prices, choking traffic and in-creasing public transport fares.

Today in fact, daily news fare includes spills, collisions and ac-cidents involving motorcycles.

Not too long ago, there were a lot of ruffled feathers among us caused by a nonchalant remark by some Hong Kong idiot to the effect that we are a nation of ser-vants.

The truth did hurt and it sent everyone into frenzy.

The Chinese writer only under-scored what is the painful truth.

In the globalization scheme of things, Pinoys are pigeonholed in service roles like domestics, nurses, chambermaids, therapists, sailors and similar occupations.

That we perform these jobs outside of our country’s physical boundaries proudly armed with college diplomas only stresses the sad point.

That there will constantly be a repeat of history escapes us: there will always be masters as there will be vassals, colonizers as well as the colonized.

The reality is nowhere more obvious than in how we have di-vided the world between the First and the Third.

Another is what people fear as the unusually early arrival of the monsoons.

Folks are scared about the bul-letin that the Philippines is among the four countries likely to be most adversely affected by global warming.

These days, any weather ab-normality is blamed on the buzz phrase ‘global warming’ even if we have been enduring such freak weather for most of our lives.

And yes, the patent militari-zation only made more manifest during the events surrounding

the suicide of broadcaster Ted Failon’s wife.

To everyone’s horror, live cov-erage of the Philippine National Police’s heavy handed treatment of his family and househelp drove us back to memories of martial law.

We are made to wonder how justice was being served suspi-ciously fast when no crime was even established.

When the bigger fish were taken into custody because they allegedly squandered millions of pesos through scams, the scums were given kiddie glove treatment and an absurd stretch of consider-ation and leeway.

And talking about scums, the real big time criminals who fig-ured prominently in rape and mur-der cases were being ushered out of prison one by one, all recipients of controversial presidential clem-ency.

The Failon headline-hogger in fact eclipsed what partner broad-caster Korina Sanchez would have wanted to land front page: her en-gagement to presidential wannabe Mar Roxas.

Even the big Araneta reunion somewhere in Panay island was washed out by the rains so news about the event and the announce-ment became as flaccid as a whimper.

Ask any man in the street these days and his chief preoccupation, besides landing or keeping a job and a stable future, is how he will fare when he faces the rotten jus-tice system.

The resurrection of the evil de-sire to tinker with the bylaws of the land is also prominent in people’s minds, particularly those whose economic and political lives are intertwined with the elections.

The daily zarzuela at the Con-gress provides ample humor that the need for Dolphy and AiAi in our humdrum existence has be-come moot.

So much is happening in the city of our childhood that days scurry past with a speed that will make octogenarians nauseous and jailbirds happy.

The colorful days of the infa-mous Marcos years are upon us again … the endless speculations, distrust of the establishment, mili-tary reign, and yes, systematic chaos.

Since the onset of this recession when the fate of both print and conventional radio and television media apparently became uncertain and lead to bankruptcy some of even the strongest media with 100 or so years’ history, many things have been written and talked about where this sector of our society is heading to.

This led academicians and media experts from two schools of thought to argue whether our present society continues to need journalism schools.

Relative to this, some media technologists even doubt if our society still needs newspapers with the progress and development of online media.

As advanced by technology consultant, teacher and writer Clay Shirky in his blogsite on the social and economic effects of the internet on traditional media, good journalism is what society needs (and to which this column fully agrees, but cautions readers of this column that I do not fully agree on everything that Shirky wrote in his article Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable).

Meanwhile, while the two trains of thought argue whether our society still needs print media, at our end -- and those serving the multicultural/multilingual communities of Canada, the print media will be here with us for at least sometime while the fi rst generation of immigrants are with us.

Speaking of good journalism, one such example was the front cover and lead story of the April 2009 issue of Manila Media Monitor.

This might sound self-serving,

because I am the publisher of this publication.

Admittingly, however, I never had a hand on the front cover story and picture of that issue which c o m b i n e d great story by editor Butch Galicia that goes with great photography by Larry Torres.

My only participation was seeing the front cover and the rest of the fi les for review an hour to m i d n i g h t before the PDF fi les of the issue were to be sent to the printer’s FTP site for the fi nal stage.

Certainly, you don’t want me to hold credit where credit is due, thus, as publisher of Manila Media

Monitor, I must say, “Excellent job, Butch and Larry!”

The Manila Media Monitor April 2009 issue adds among my favorite covers in this paper’s 12th

year history, so far.

The April 2009 issue of Manila Media M o n i t o r certainly sets one very good model of good journalism.

This view is shared by many readers of this publication, fi nding that the front cover was the result of the work that “separates the men from the

boys,” so to speak; one proof that society continues to have a need for journalism schools versus the declaration of new media enthusiasts that anybody can be a

journalist in this multimedia age. This thinking of media

enthusiasts is wrong as they think of schools of journalism in what Professor Stephen J.A. Ward of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Wisconsin and adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia call the general and “minimalist” sense of what these schools are for.

Professor Ward said the minimalist defi nition “ignores richer notions that defi ne a journalist, according to complex methods and norms of practice.”

Professor Ward pointed out that historically, the fi rst schools of journalism usually had the higher ambition to teach a richer notion of journalism, and cited that Joseph Pulitzer started his school at Columbia University to create professionals with special skills and an “anti-commercial” attitude – an allegiance to the public good.

Reading through the lead story, “Colle’s Law”, in Manila Media Monitor April 2009 issue, I found that the article was written critically, philosophically and broad-mindedly, without regard to personalities (even affecting those, to my mind, are people close to the writer of the story himself, Butch Galicia; people who are connected with non-profi t community organizations, government and business entities around us), but rather only on the issues.

And these qualities, my friends, are what journalists with professional training can do, unlike those in what Professor

The man who droveDiefenbaker wild

CommentaryBEN VICCARI

Our JourneyEVA AGPAOA

Really, who cares?

STATISTICS CANADA SAY

Wives work harder, longer

9VIEWSVIEWSMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

(To page 25)

(To page 11)

Generally, earnings get higher as the level of study moves to a higher rung.

A Statistics Canada study said over 80 percent of college and university students who graduated in 2005 and did not pursue fur-ther studies had found full-time employment by 2007.

But in 2007 or two years after they graduated, a higher number of graduates with a master’s degree worked full time than college graduates or those with a bachelor’s degree or a doctorate.

The pool of graduates with a master’s was higher in 2005 than it was in 2000 for both men and women.

The employment rate among master’s graduates remained sta-ble for men at 94 percent, while it rose for women, from 89 percent in 2002 to 92 percent in 2007.

The median annual earnings among those who were working full time in 2007 was lowest for college graduates at $35,000.

This increased to $45,000 for bachelor’s graduates, $60,000 for master’s graduates and $65,000 for doctorate graduates.

The earning gap between the bachelor’s and master’s levels sug-gested that investing in postgraduate work is financially beneficial.

Full-time employmentIn 2007, two years after graduation, 9 out of 10 college, bach-

elor’s, master’s and doctorate graduates who had not taken further education were working.

A higher proportion of graduates of master’s programs were working full time in 2007, compared with college, bachelor’s or doctorate graduates.

Student loan repaymentsAmong graduates in 2005 who did not pursue further education,

about half financed their postsecondary education without taking on any education-related loans.

In 2007, two years after graduation, loans exceeded $20,000 on average for graduates with student debt (both government and non-government) at the bachelor’s and doctorate levels.

In 2007, graduates with a doctorate still owed the highest amount from all sources, $22,500 on average, while bachelor’s graduates had an average debt owing of $20,400.

Master’s graduates owed an average of $19,500, while college grads had the smallest debt in 2007, an average of $11,800.

Graduates who were still paying off their government debt two years after graduation earned less on average than those who had

While many husbands are reeling from job loss, shorter work hours and other effects of a lingering recession, wife power has slowly seeped into the economic recesses of the home and the workplace.

A Statistics Canada study showed that the relative contributions of wives and husbands to paid work hours and earnings have be-come closer over the past 12 years.

Wives have started to work longer hours at paid jobs; earning more than in the past. some have become primary earners in the household.

Between 1997 and 2008, the number of wives earning at least 45 percent of the family total family income increased from 37 per-cent to 42 percent.

In 2008, 65 percent of wives were considered equal workers in terms of weekly paid hours, up from 60 percent in 1997.

The study also noted that the average weekly hours wives spend rose steadily, while husbands put in fewer hours on the job.

In 1997, husbands worked over nine hours a week more than their wives (43.3 percent against 33.8 percent). By 2008, the differ-ence had narrowed to to just over seven (42 against 34.7).

On earnings, the married women’s average weekly pay in-creased at a faster pace than men’s.

In 1997, $640 of total family earnings came from wives. By 2008, wives were contributing $740, if not more.

The study said that on average, dual-earning couples with full-time jobs earned $1,770 a week before taxes in 2008, up from $1,610 in 1997.

However, dual-earning families continue to make work-life bal-ance an important issue.

Around one in four men in full-time, dual-earner families with young children at home, and more than one in three women, re-ported feeling severely time-stressed, which is associated with significant lower rates of satisfaction with work-life balance. JEY DHARMARAJ

Better education, higher pay

(To page 14)

In 1973, I had agreed to travel to Vancouver to assist in the announcement of the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacifi c. At the Toronto Airport, I ran into a friend, a corporate lawyer who was an ardent supporter of the federal Progressive Conservative Party. When I told him why I was travelling to Vancouver, I thought he was going to have an apoplectic fi t.

This most reserved and genteel of men actually began to shout his invective-laden condemnation of a man who had died the year before and had, in his own quiet way left the Liberal government’s mark on so much that is Canadian.

At one point, I expected him to change into John Diefenbaker, Pearson’s vitriolic adversary. But that is the kind of anger this decent and gentlemanly Pearson evoked. (A sardonic twist: in 1984, the airport was to be re-christened Pearson International.)

Lester Bowles Pearson, Mike to his many friends and admirers, qualifi es as one of Penguin Books extraordinary Canadians on many counts. This book by political biographer Andrew Cohen shows

Pearson as soldier, scholar. sportsman, teacher, diplomat, cabinet minister and eventually Prime Minister.

He did perhaps more than any other Canadian to help us see ourselves as a nation and no longer as a colony. By his birthright and calm nature, he might well have become a minister of the Church like his father and grandfather, but from an early age showed a propensity for moving quietly but fi rmly into wider fi elds. He joined the Canadian Army, was invalided

out and then managed to get accepted by the Air Force.

Just after graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in law, he became a sausage stuffer for Armour and Company, but was at Oxford a few years later, leading to to an eventual job in Canada’s diplomatic corps.

Seldom, if ever, losing his “cool”, a tireless worker into the small hours of the morning, Pearson the diplomat followed a path that led to his election as a Liberal member of Parliament.

He was appointed External Affairs Minister after Louis Saint Laurent had succeeded the indecisive and stupidly vain Mackenzie King.

In 1956, the Suez crisis and Pearson’s participation in its resolution led him to a Nobel Prize and a reputation as peacekeeper.

As leader of the Liberal Party after Louis St. Laurent’s retirement, Pearson suffered a crushing defeat in the 1957 election by Progressive Conservative prairie lawyer John Diefenbaker, but came back with a minority government in 1963, earning the lifelong hatred of Diefenbaker, who though a champion of human rights had a sycophantic attitude toward Queen and country and bitterly opposed the government’s replacement of the Union Jack with Canada’s own Maple Leaf fl ag. One recalls his near-hysterical attacks on Pearson for daring to suggest that Canada has its own fl ag.

Both Pearson’s governments were minority governments, but leading them Pearson got things done.

“Dief the Chief” voices his opinion of Mike Pearson

The ongoing story about Ruby Dhalla underscores the plight of caregivers in Toronto.

Whether Ms. Dhalla is found to be at fault or not, is not all that relevant to the wider issue (unless of course you are Ms. Dhalla or one of the three caregivers involved).

This will be up to the government committee and potentially the courts to decide.

What is relevant is that protection for caregivers in Toronto brought in under the Live-in Caregiver Program is almost non-existent and must be addressed.

Since I wrote about this last month, the government has taken some tentative steps towards a solution.

Let’s hope that this continues in the right direction and that practical solutions are implemented.

Let’s keep our voices heard at every opportunity.

For now, there are enough voices speaking about Dr. Dhalla and her plight that I will turn my attention somewhere else.

Here is what I’ve been thinking about.

I’m thinking about my friend Dora who is going through a really rough time.

She feels like her life has been crumbling about her for the past few months. She‘s in such despair, she can’t see past her problems. And they paralyze her

into inaction.There are times in everyone’s

life when the burden is so heavy it feels impossible to go on.

I know. I’ve felt this many times and so have most of my friends.

It’s during those times when you are most vulnerable.

Your confi dence is low, and you feel close to a complete failure.

Everyone around you is doing things, going places, becoming successful and leaving you far behind.

And you are prepared to accept almost anything that might help. Regardless of the cost.

But the reality is that all things will pass with time.

Things do get better.You only have to be willing

to be patient and willing to work hard for them.

Dora is so scared that people will learn the truth about her and that the truth will shame her and her family.

Our culture is so hung up about failure.

We go out of our way to hide it and if we discover it in someone else, we take pleasure in pointing at it, reveling in it.

Why is that?But there really is no shame in

bad luck and hard times.Failing to achieve or to hold

on to an achievement does not make you a bad person.

Failure is a sign of ambition and courage.

It tells those around us that we had the courage to try something risky.

Sure, we might have failed at it, but so what?

Remember, life is a journey and stumbling along the way is expected.

I don’t know of anyone who has achieved success that did not fail one or more times along the way.

Dora is frantic about her situation.

Wish list

The 3rd EyeMARIO DIMAIN

No room fordouble standards

PerspectiveRICARDO J.S. CALUEN

10 VIEWSVIEWSMANILA MEDIA MONITOR

MAY 2009

‘Bayang magiliw ...’

OmertaBUTCH GALICIA

(To page 11)(To page 23)

While you were having coffee, yet another “Nannygate” hit the dailies and radio talk programs.

The last episode involved no less than a member of the Ontario legislature.

I understand the case is sub judice. Thus, media is barred from discussing the case that could sway opinion - either in the court system or among the general public - one way or other.

But this will not stop the community and pundits from discussing the subject.

I’ve attended several social functions lately, this being the start of the party season, and invariably I am asked by friends and new acquaintances what is going on with Filipino caregivers and the rush of publicity they are getting these days.

I feel like a tape recorder being played and replayed over and over again, giving the inquisitive a rundown of events from the infamous Tejada case to the latest

allegations where MPP Ruby Dhalla has taken the hot seat.

While the majority in my encounters have taken the side of the caregivers, not because they are Filipinos but because they believe in the validity of the issues, there are the few usual skeptics to whom the caregiver cause appears to be a hard sell.

One thinks some caregivers are simply being “ma-arte”, too fussy over small breaches on their employment contracts.

Another (in fact a few) believes caregivers should just grit their teeth and go the extra mile - do unpaid overtime work or accomplish non-caregiver tasks, etc. - since this is a small price to pay for getting one foot inside the permanent residence status system.

(Besides, for all the abuses that some Canadian employers are alleged

to commit, these pale in comparison to the greater crimes believed to abound in other countries where Filipino caregivers work in greater numbers.).

Ano ba naman ang dalawang taong paghihirap at pagtitiis para maging landed at madala ang pamilya sa Canada?

One has to swallow the bitter pill to reap rewards later.

The above observations reinforce two perceptions (in some instances, self-image) of Filipinos: their generally servile mindset and resilience amidst adversities.

If this is true, we might as well throw the Ontario Code of Human Rights, the Employment Standards, and our general sense of ethics and fairness out the window, rather than to have a double standard of things.

To subscribe to these attitudes changes altogether the prism with which we view many issues affecting caregivers - not only Fili-pino caregivers but all others as well.

I work for a division of the City of Toronto where public service is fi at.

Yet, as the clock strikes 4:30 p.m., one could hardly expect anyone staying on for an extra fi ve minutes to fi nish a task.

Nor could you expect a clerk to print a page for

Philippine Consul Gen-eral in Toronto Alejandro Mosquera made me think hard when, in a recent inter-view, he urged members of the community to maintain the Filipino identity, cul-ture, heritage and traditions while assimilating them-selves into the Canadian mosaic.

Come to think of it. ‘The Filipino in me’ could be the only rallying point of members of the community to keep themselves - despite variances in individual in-terests and persuasions - co-hesive in facing and resolv-ing issues that affect them.

To be a Canadian, by way of citizenship pro-cesses or by birth right, is indeed a great honor; and members of the community are duty-bound to render to Canada the same brand of love and loyalty for coun-try imbibed in them by their forefathers.

I believe that love and loyalty for country would work well with ‘The good Filipino in me’ to equal a well-rounded, socially and economically productive Canadian citizen and com-munity member.

*** I am always amazed

by people who could sing

by heart the Philippine National Anthem Lupang Hinirang (Beloved Land) and the Canadian National Anthem O’ Canada.

Having attended a lot of community functions, I have seen how many lipsynch or pretend to sing any of the two anthems whenever played one after the other.

Some even forget the words of any of the two anthems. Worse, many feel that the DJ’s tape is enough to pass away the time allot-ted for the anthems.

Frankly, I feel shame for those who should, but did not, keep close to their hearts these icons of being Filipino and Canadian.

***But I have seen Filipinos

bring out the best of love and loyalty for country.

Here is an experience I

love to tell and retell:June 8, 1986. Aboard a

Lufthansa plane.Weary from a three-

month advanced journalism course at the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin, I longed to be back home -- to my family and my Philippines News Agen-cy bureau desk.

The intercom boomed: “This is the captain speak-ing. In a short while, we will be landing at the Manila In-ternational Airport. Please extinguish your cigarettes and fasten your seat belts.”

The plane’s mid and rear, seating mostly over-seas Filipino workers going home for the first time af-ter long-term job contracts, buzzed to marketlike life.

Home addies and phone numbers were passed around. “Tuloy ang ligaya.

Amid the hustle and bustle of making a living and living a life, there exists moments we all wished would come to a standstill; not because these moments are forever etched in our memories but because these moments tell us that life is worth living.

Mother’s Day is one of them. When I chanced to bring five mothers (above) together, I froze time with a snapshot. From left is my mother Isabel; Teodora David, my balae and mother to my daughter-in-law Mylene David (right), who is mother to my first granddaughter Zoe Karel (the baby in all three pictures); Evelyn (who marked her birth anniversary on May 8), my wife and mother to my three children; Lynette, my daughter and mother to my grand-

Living in the Moment

sons Gabriel and Raphael. Another moment I lived

in was when I first cuddled Zoe Karel. I felt great as she nestled herself comfortably on my arms.

Moments like birthday parties are flickers of time to live in too. Right, balae Teody marks her birth an-niversary on April 27 with family: Evelyn, Lynette, Francis, Mylene, Raphael, Gabriel and Zoe Karel.

Live in the moment. (To page 25)

The month of June never fails to bring one good reason to celebrate. Its third Sunday marks the day of great importance to my three daughters. Together, they observe its yearly signifi cance in the same manner that I remember their grandfather on Father’s Day.

June is also the month that touches a nerve that is deeply rooted in me. It painfully reminds me of the death anniversary of someone very dear to me. He was a soldier who fought and lived the horror of the Korean War in the fi fties. More than four decades later, this one heck of a man fought his fi nal battle, against a much stronger foe. On June 9, 1995, lung cancer defeated him. I lost my father, my great mentor, my hero and my best friend.

During the grieving years that followed, I eased the pain by immersing myself more in photography, the art I learned from him. It

is our common ground and our strongest bond. It is the only dimension where our spirits connect. Holding a camera is like touching his hand. I feel his presence in every photo that I shoot. His passing away also inspired me to write a short fi ctional story about a son’s heart-warming relationship with his father. It is a story that mirrors my grief-stricken self, still longing for him every Father’s Day.

The story begins:John is up in the attic

of his father’s house, cleaning up. The morning sunlight beaming through the window makes the fl oating dust even more visible. Boxes of garbage to be thrown out are fi nally separated from the items that he thinks are worth keeping. The house where John grew up is now listed for sale. His father passed away just a month ago.

An old shoebox with string tied around it catches John’s eyes. He wonders what is so important inside

the box. It seems like a well guarded treasure. He opens it. An old sepia photo greets him. Faded and torn around the edges but otherwise still recognizable. It’s a picture of a smiling little boy, mounted on his father’s shoulder. They both look happy. John remembers the day when the photo was taken. It was on a bright summer day. His father took him out to see the Air Show. He remembers everything about it. The thundering roar of the fi ghter planes fl ying overhead, the ice cream cone melting in his hand and dripping on his Dad’s shoulder are still crystal-clear in his memory. Underneath were more photos of family events and important documents. John wants to see more photos of his father. He continues to dig in. Reaching the bottom, he fi nds a folded lined paper. It looks very familiar. He examines it closely and quickly realizes that it was the Wish List that he wrote when he was in his fourth grade, over thirty years ago. His teacher gave him an “A” for it. With a smile on his face he reads….

1. I wish my father was as brave as Batman so he could stand on guard and scare the ghosts away while I sleep.

2. I wish my father was as strong as Hercules so he could protect me from the

11VIEWSVIEWSMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

Ward calls the “minimalist” journalists.

With over 30 years in journalism, the Manila Media Monitor editor is a graduate of the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin, and has echoed what he has learned by conducting basic communication and journalism laboratories for Filipino students, professionals and aspiring peers.

He also completed a Trainors’ Training Course for ASEAN Journalists sponsored by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Press Foundation of Asia.

Editor Butch’s choice from among the photos shot by Larry Torres for the April 2009 issue was best to go with the excellently written lead story, in lieu of the “fi ring squad type” photo of the speaker with the attendees that the community is accustomed to seeing in the front pages of community papers.

Back in the Philippines in the mid 80s to early 90s, when we would be watching TV entertainment programs, such as those of German Moreno’s That’s Entertainment, viewers

Training and practice ...(From page 8)

would hear from actors line, such as, “Thank you so much, Tito Larry.”

Unknown to many, that Tito Larry was who we know here as Larry Torres.

Larry’s artistry and business engagements back in the Philippines ranged from music, video and entertainment promotion.

Among those in his stable in mostly Southern Luzon roadshow engagements belonged very familiar names to us: Sunshine Cruz, Romnick Sarmenta, Vina Morales, Manilyn Reynes, Ara Mina, Judy Ann Santos and a long roster of big name stars.

Regular practice derived from continuous training results to perfection in the case of Larry – who runs his professional photography business called Innovation Video/Photo Services..

Without proper training and practice, the Manila Media Monitor news organization would not be able to produce such issue – as many issues before it.

Thank you so much, Butch and Larry, that even without my detailed scrutiny, you delivered the goods to our readers’, and

our team’s immeasurable satisfaction.

***Speaking of training

and practice, the Centennial College School of Communication, Media and Design has approached us at the Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) – the premier and all embracing organization of people working in the multicultural/multilingual print, radio and television across the country, and which yours truly preside over, to sit as panelists, together with the Canadian Association of Black Journalists, in a forum that the school is organizing for September this year about concerns on where conventional media is heading.

Meanwhile, on Friday, June 26, at 7 PM, the 31st CEMA Awards Gala will see eight individuals recognized for their work in 2008 on radio, television and the internet categories at the Velma Rogers Theatre on Jarvis Street in downtown, T.O.

Three Filipinos (two from print and one from radio) have submitted their work to the committee and now being reviewed by a group of independent jurors, composed of peers, but are

not CEMA members.This prestigious awards

ceremony will be taped live for later airing on all City-TV and OMNI stations: OMNI 1 and 2 in Ontario, OMNI-British Columbia and OMNI-Alberta.

you if doing so is not in the job description. And this is true wherever you go in Ontario.

I am not a lawyer by training but I seem to recall a principle of law interpretation: that which is not included, is excluded.

We are only at the tip of this Caregiver Issue.

Various community groups sympathetic to the caregiver cause have revved up their efforts in taking up the cudgels for caregivers.

One such group is the

newly-organized Grassroots Hub initiated by Fr. Ben Ebcas, parish priest of Our Lady of the Assumption on Bathurst Street, the new heart of Little Philippines in Toronto.

Even the Philippine Consulate (c/o Consul General Mosquera) and the attached overseas offi ce of the Dept. of Labor (c/o Atty. Luna), favorite whipping boys of critics of the Philippine Government’s policy on overseas Filipino workers, have been getting good marks for raising the banner of the caregiver cause, particularly in their efforts in working closely with provincial legislators on the implementation of labor standards and the passage of new and corrective legislative

measures supportive of caregivers and temporary workers.

There is certainly room for debate on any given public issue.

That’s what democracy and free press are all about. But there is also such a thing as shaping an informed opinion.

St. Augustine, the famous Doctor of the Catholic Church, one of the most famous converts to the Catholic Church, was once asked how he could believe in an unseen God.

His famous reply was: Credo ut intelligam ,intelligo ut credam. I believe that I may believe, I know that I may believe.

Now, if we can only start with the knowing part … of getting ourselves familiar with so-called caregiver issues ... Enlightenment is certainly not too distant.

No room for double ...(From page 10)

To be sure, she is working hard trying to rebuild her life to the level it was at before. And I have every confi dence she will make it.

In the mean time, her mind is consumed with what others might think if

Really. Who cares? ...(From page 9)

they realized she is having problems.

Will they laugh at her? Will she lose status in her community? Could she ever recover from the shame?

The answers to all these questions is this: Who cares? Really, who cares?

In the end, all that matters is what Dora achieves in the long run. Not the small stumbles along the way.

How others think about her, and worse what they may say about her, is largely irrelevant in the grand scheme.

What is important is her focus on the future and getting there.

12 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009 FEATUREFEATURE

GENERAL DENTISTRYDr. Gilbert ChanDr. Daphne ChienDr. Janet HoDr. Janet WongDr. Michael Chin

GENERAL DENTISTRYDr. Gilbert ChanDr. Daphne ChienDr. Janet HoDr. Janet WongDr. Michael Chin

PASIG CITY - Pro-fessors studying Southeast Asian labor migration said countries in the region would scuttle to protect their economies but would avoid edging out foreign workers as the global fi-nancial collapse seeped into real sectors.

In SingaporeDr. Yap Mui Teng, of

the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy under the National University of Singapore, said that while Southeast Asia’s financial hub would experience a “sharp economic downturn that is the most severe in the country’s history,” Sin-gapore would still need for-eign workers.

As countries grappled with the catatonic effects of a global financial crisis, nation-states witnessed the decapitation of their respec-tive labor markets.

Dr. Teng termed as un-avoidable the move of com-panies to cut costs and fire foreign workers first and nationals last.

Singapore companies forecast a minus five per-cent gross domestic product

Asia grappling to balance migration, crisis-hit labor mart

By JEREMAIAH OPINIANO andISAGANI DE LA PAZ

(www.ofwjournalism.net)

(To page 26)

Daily, thousands of Filipinos attend job fairs and mill around public and pri-vate agencies where possible overseas employment opportunities are post-ed. They are all hoping - despite the hard times brought about by a global recession - to clinch whatever spot could change, for the better, their quality of life.

growth rate for 2009.What is happening in

Singapore, said Dr. Teng, was that more foreign workers were complaining of unclaimed salaries, being subjected to “no work, no pay” situations.

He added there were some instances of repatria-tion if manpower agencies could not place foreign workers.

Dr. Teng affirmed the forecasts of analysts that an expected 50,000 foreign workers would lose their jobs this year, especially those in the manufacturing and construction sectors.

Some 143,000 highly-skilled foreign workers in Singapore held job passes.

In addition, about 757,000 semi-skilled for-eign workers held work permits. This category in-cluded domestic workers.

A World Bank report af-firmed Dr. Teng’s views.

“As unemployment in the region and around the

world begins to climb, mi-grant workers, wherever they are, are likely to be among the first to lose their jobs,” the report Battling the Forces of Global Reces-sion said.

Report writer Ivailo Iz-vorski added this “will mean lower remittance flows to the poorest countries in the region and, if the migrants return home, a worsening unemployment in those countries as well as further downward pressure on real wages, especially in the in-formal sector that would di-rectly affect the poor.”

In MalaysiaNear Singapore is Ma-

laysia, which Dr. Vijay-amukari Kanapathy said was also feeling the pinch, adding that migrant work-ers would be among the 400,000 hands Malaysia’s employers federations fore-cast to be laid off this year.

The situation was es-pecially glaring for Malay-sia’s manufacturing sector,

whose biggest market is re-cession-hit United States.

The policy responses of Malaysia’s government for migrant workers was that they would be terminated first, that there would be a freeze in hiring migrant workers, and that the de-portation of undocumented migrants would be fast-tracked, Kanapathy said.

A bright spot, Kanapa-thy added, was that the cri-sis might possibly see the government regularizing some of the undocumented workers in Malaysia’s in-formal sector.

“But Malaysia is ex-tremely cautious,” she said, in dealing with migrant

workers as it had a “soft policy” to encourage these foreign workers to leave Malaysia.

Since migrant workers held an annual work per-mit, “it is easy for Malay-sian employers to retrench them,” Kanapathy said.

As of September 2008, Kanapathy said Malaysia has retrenched 5,5867 mi-grant workers - most of whom were in the manufac-turing sector.

She said she did not have the data on which country these workers came from.

In ThailandAnother country is po-

litically-rocked Thailand, which had been both a send-

ing and a receiving country of migrants and refugees.

Dr. Supang Chanta-vanich of the Asian Re-search Center on Migration based in Chulalongkorn University said she expect-ed an increased hiring of construction and domestic workers amid the crisis.

These two sectors of migrant workers would be least affected by the crisis “due to increasing needs for them,” she added.

Chantavanich said Thai-land has 76,206 foreign construction workers and 53,933 foreign domestic workers.

It was likely possible,

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

THEN, WE CAN

- reduce your debts to less than half,

- stop the interest right away,

- save you from threatening phone calls,

- bring back your stress free family life,

- stop the garnishment.

- And you will not lose your house and car.

HERE IS WHAT SOME SATISFIED CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY ..........“I had six credit cards and was paying $550 per month. Bank did not give me consolidation loan because I had bad credit. Then I met Mr. Amit Bhatia and he reduced my loans and made one payment of just $200. I’ll be debt free in 36 months. Credit Management Services is the best place to contact when you have a money problem.” J.G.

“I was afraid to pick my own phone. I was so confused and stressed all the time that I didn’t know what to do, but after meet-

ing with Mr. Amit Bhatia, I felt very relaxed and he reduced my $34,000 debts to just half. Amazing .......... I can pick up my own phone now.” M.M.

“After making us debt free, now Amit Bhatia helped us getting the mort-gage. We are happy to move to our new house.” S.S.

“I went back home to get married, then I had to go again because my mother got sick. Because of that I had to borrow money from my credit cards and also, I lost my job. I was

in huge debt. Credit Manage-ment Services reduced my debts which I am paying in interest-free monthly installments now and I can keep my car.” E.J.

“My husband was so stressed with these credit card bills that once he forgot to stop at a red traffic signal. Fortunately no ac-cident happened but I called Credit Management Services right away. Two weeks later my husband was back to stressfree life.” M.A.

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

416-780-1020; 416-791-9292Call for a free and confidential consultation

Head Office : 970 Lawrence Ave. West # 105 (Lawrence & Dufferin)Head Office : 970 Lawrence Ave. West # 105 (Lawrence & Dufferin)Toronto ON M6A3B6 (Located on the main floor in back of the building)Toronto ON M6A3B6 (Located on the main floor in back of the building)

Web : www.cmsgroup.caWeb : www.cmsgroup.ca3 convenient locations - Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough3 convenient locations - Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough

AMIT BHATIACredit Counsellor

13MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

OAK BROOK, Illinois - While many trad-ers and financial managers in the United States are groping in darkness over the gloomy eco-nomic atmosphere wrought by recession, a 41-year-old nurse from Miag-ao, Iloilo in the Phil-ippines has successfully inched her way into home health business in Fairfield Way, Bloom-ingdale.

The success of Lira Faicol Mueda’s four-year-old home health business that serves the entire state of Illinois however didn’t happen overnight.

“We also encountered some problems in the beginning, but me and my husband, Edwin, do the marketing and directly manage the busi-ness,” quipped Mueda, who considers Edwin as the business’ “most effective hands-on admin-istrator.”

Problems such as nurses not following in-structions, marketing and staffing, manpower shortage, employees being pirated by rival home health centers, immediately hounded Mueda’s business, put up in partnership with another Ilonggo nurse and entrepreneur Roland Hedriana, according to Edwin.

“But despite the recession, we haven’t laid off anyone,” Mueda sighed.

“In fact, we keep hiring people.”Filipino staff

Mueda, who worked in home health for 12 years, said 90 percent of their staff are Filipino nurses, physical therapists, nursing aides, occu-pational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers.

Mueda described home health as “like a hos-pital but is done in the home and the nature of this business is professional health care staff.”

She and Edwin valiantly decided to establish their own home health upon the advice of their doctor friends who made firm assurances to use the home health for the doctors’ patients.

“Thus, we became independent and deci-sion-making is the most important,” Mueda ex-plained.

“We figured it is easy to run it (home health) if you have the knowledge, background and ex-perience.”

Mueda graduated at St. Paul College (now university) in Iloilo City in 1989 and credited the Catholic-run institution “for what I am to-day as well as the other nurses who graduated there.”

Chicago home healthIn 1992, Mueda, a board passer and full-

fledged nurse, arrived in the United States and landed right away in home health in Chicago’s central nursing home.

“That’s the only nursing field I know since then,” she humbly stressed in an exclusive in-terview at the Braxton Seafood Grill, here, re-

What recession?

Ilonggo nurseenjoys success inUS home health

By ALEX P. VIDAL

(To page 14)

FEATUREFEATURE

cently.She finds her fellow Fil-

ipino medical professionals to be “flexible and trustwor-thy” and “always willing to go out in the field.”

Competitions among home health centers in Il-linois are tight owing to growing patient population and longer life expectancy among Americans, accord-ing to Mueda; “but our ad-vantage is we operate for 24 hours and we keep that as a standard.”

Mueda said her main satisfaction and something any operator of home health anywhere in the U.S. would

not have the qualms to brag about, is “patient or client satisfaction.”

“We provide their needs on time, we give excellent patient care, and courtesy visits,” she pointed out.

“Our nurses in the field who are mostly Filipinos are really good and well-known (in the U.S.) as excellent caregivers.”

A Filipino male em-ployee described both Lira and Edwin as “one of the most generous couples in business” saying “they al-ways recognized employees by holding annual gathering like Christmas party where

great raffle prizes are given away.”

Recession-proofWhy is nursing consid-

ered a “recession-proof” profession?

Mueda volunteered that in the health care system in the U.S., no one is being turned down and there are more demands for the job.

“Aside from being ac-cessible, health care is basic and a right, not a privilege. Health care in the U.S. is very open and most elderly here live longer,” she en-thused.

“Lay off (among medi-cal professionals) is very

rare and the job is really in demand.”

Mueda disclosed that health care in the U.S. “is not yet and may not be af-fected by recession.”

Home health, according to her, “is the cheapest form of homecare.”

Home health helps pa-tients stay for a shorter pe-riod in the hospital; it helps save Medicare a lot of mon-ey, she admitted.

Other advantages of home health, she added, are the following: It avoids cross infections for patients; patients heal better; and helps patients how to be in-

dependent instead of letting them stay in the hospital.

Health budgetMueda said she was

“less worried” when Presi-dent Barack Obama un-veiled a multi-trillion-dollar budget on Feb. 26, an am-bitious plan to boost clean energy development, access to education and health care coverage.

Some of those costs would be offset in part by allowing tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest house-holds. An overview of the spending plan for health care showed the budget sets aside a reserve fund for

what Obama calls a “down payment on health care re-form”: $633.8 billion over the next 10 years.

About half of the money would come from reduc-tions in payments to health care providers who serve the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The other half would come from limiting the val-ue of itemized deductions for wealthier families, those earning $250,000 a year or more.

The budget also lays out eight principles for Congress to use in fashion-

14 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009 People & EventsPeople & Events

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

Antea Garcia turns 80

Gamma Epsilon

Fundraiser

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

completely paid off their student loans.

Bachelor’s graduates who had paid off their debt earned over $8,000 more than those who still had debt two years after gradua-tion. About 46 percent of all 2005 bachelor’s graduates completed their studies free of debt; as did 56 percent of doctorates, 55 percent of college grads and 54 percent of those with a master’s.

In 2007, just over a quarter of those who owed student debt at the time they graduated in 2005 had paid it off.

Graduates from 2005 with student debt had lower average debt levels than their 2000 counterparts: doctorate graduates owed about $1,300 less on aver-age, while college gradu-ates owed about $700 less. JEY DHARMARAJ

StatsCan ...(From page 9)

The Filipino community in Mississauga joins other communities representing

Carassauga Festival of Cultures40 Countries, 3 Days, 1 Ticket

39 other countries in celebrating their proud heritage through inspiring

performances, vibrant cos-tumes and delicious food, during the Carassauga

Festival of Cultures from May 22 to 24. Various community centers in Mississauga will mark the festival from 7:30 p.m. to midnight on May 22; 3 p.m. to midnight on May 23; and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 24.

A ticket entitles its holder to entry to all pavilions during the three-day festival. Children 12 years old and under gets free admission.

Among the cultures this year’s festival will highlight are those from Africa, Caribbean, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan/Lebanon, Latin America, M a l a y s i a / S i n g a p o r e , Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Turkey and the Ukraine.

Carraussauga is celebra-ting its 24th anniversary this year. The festival boasts of over 250,000 visits.

Carassauga is an incorporated non-profit vo-lunteer community organi-zation. It first operated in 1986 with 10 pavilions.

The festival was deve-loped in response to a challenge put out by Mayor Hazel McCallion to all ethno cultural groups at a meeting in the old City Hall in the fall of 1985.

The festival has evolved into an important annual event for Mississauga and surrounding areas. Its popularity has been steadily increasing in recent years.

The Carassauga Festival ranks as Mississauga’s largest cultural festival, its largest indoor festival, and its second longest running community festival.

It is the largest multi-cultural Festival in Ontario.

It was voted by Festivals & Events Ontario as one of the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario. PR

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

Another principle: “Aim for universality.”

The budget says any health care overhaul “must put the United States on a clear path to covering all Americans.”

When they started the home health, Mueda figured

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

Mueda’s parents are Ra-

fael and Lilia and her elder sister is Cecile Pearce who is also a nurse in California. Youngest among five sib-lings, Mueda’s other broth-ers are Carlo, Dante, and Angelo, all living in Miag-ao town, some 42 kilome-ters away from Iloilo City in southern Philippines.

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

No extra costsfor ONLINE ADS?

ADVERTISE with

Call 416-285-8583Visit

manilamediamonitor.com

TV ADVERTISING?

Call 416-285-8583

15People & EventsPeople & EventsMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

Evening and Weekend Appts. Available

Putting you into a better life!

MENDOZA’S DEBT /FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS?CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBTS

WITHOUT INTEREST INTO ONE LOWMONTHLY PAYMENT(100% GUARANTEED)

NO MATTER IF YOU ARE:UNEMPLOYED

PENSIONERDIVORCEDSTUDENT

DENIED BY THE BANKWORKING VISA

OWN A BUSINESS/BUSINESS FAILUREOR ANY OTHER NUMBER OF REASONS

REBUILD YOUR CREDITFOR FREE CONSULTATION

DON’T HESITATE TO CALL AT:

Tel. (416) 742-8677 (416) 457-4145

INFINITY TRAVEL AND TOURS

CHEAPEST AIRFARE IN: BEST PRICES FOR:

• Asia• Europe• Middle East• South America• Caribbean• And anywhere else

in the world!

• Vacation packages and Cruise

• Last minute deals• Emergencies• Group travel• Honeymoons• And so much more!

LowestManilafares

TV ADVERTISING?

Call 416-285-8583

The Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization (Ka-layaan), has slated a series of events to celebrate the 111th Philippine Independence Day.

Among the events are:► The Philippine

Independence Day Gala, jointly hosted by Kalayaan and the Philippine Independence Day Council, at the Double Tree Hotel on June 6.

► The Summer Festival picnic at the Mississauga Valley Park on June 7.

A Mass and ceremonial parade will precede the picnic, highlighted with entertainment from Filipino talents.

The winning tickets for

the annual lottery to raise funds for the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre will be drawn during the picnic.

► The cultural show Malayang Pilipinas at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga on June 13.

Conceptualized and directed by Eno Mascalado Kalash, the show will feature the journey of the Philippines to freedom, interpreted through songs and dances.

Three major Filipino dance troupes - Culture Philippines, Fiesta Filipina and Folklorico Filipino Canada - will perform together in one show, joined by popular singers.

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

Kalayaan ready for RP Freedom Day events

The Silayan Communi-ty Centre (SCC) has started on May its skills and tech-nology program dubbed AWARE, which stands for Assimilate, Worked, Apti-tude, Reliance, and Educa-tion.

Leonora Taculad, SCC board chair and president, free Internet-accessed com-puter course would be of-fered under the program.

Taculad said this would be complimented with a newsletter and supported by a pilot project “learn and earn.”

She said SCC facilities would be improved to con-form with the needs of com-munity participants.

Funding for the program came from Citizenship and Immigration Ontario for Skills Development Train-ing and a donation from the Florida-based Info Source Learning.

AWARE has been a spe-cial project of SCC since 1989, helping new migrants and Filipino domestic work-ers who came to Canada under the Foreign Domestic Movement Program (now the Live-In Caregiver Pro-gram).

SCC, established in 1969, is the pioneering so-cial service and charity or-ganization for Filipinos.

Through the years, it has evolved into serving the city’s diverse ethno-cultural groups.

Among its significant achievements is its partici-pation in building multi-million dollar housing proj-ects that benefited families living at the Tahanan Non- Profit Homes in Toronto and the Bayanihan Housing Cooperative in Brampton. St. Jamestown News Service

Silayan starts IT learning

program

The family of Pacita Gardiner Mendoza vda. de Leon has announced the peaceful passing of their mom on April 30, a few days shy of her 81st year.

A beloved wife to the late father Col. Sixto O. de Leon, Pacita is survived by children Ramon, Aurora, Rosario, Sixto, Jr., Patricia and Josefi na; grandchildren Anthony, Regina, J.R, Camille, Zachary, Stephen, Therese, Tara, Nicole, Eunice and Jomil; and great grandchild Rafael.

Born in Paco, Manila, Pacita was the eldest among the cousins, and often the favorite companion of her aunts and uncles.

She was always crowned queen of event balls and carnivals in her early social life.

After marriage, she lived most of her life in Project 8, Quezon City where the couple established a home, guiding their children through life, until all became professionals.

Pacita was a very loving, supportive, and often funny mother, always there to give a hand.

When Sixto passed away in 1998, Pacita visited and stayed in Mississauga for a year with her children.

The family thanks the medical staff at the Veterans Memorial Hospital and her

private caregivers, Praisy and Mimi.

Pacita’s remains were cremated on May 6. Her ashes will be taken to the St James the Great Parish Cemetery in Ayala, Alabang on June 9, after 40 days of prayers, to join the remains of her husband.

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

Atenogenes Antonio (Ateno) Tesoro Sicat III passed away peacefully on May 3, at age 42, at St. Mi-chael’s Hospital.

He is survived by his dear parents, Antonio and Nelida; loving daughter Esme Hazel; Suzanne Way-brant, mother of Esme Ha-zel; sisters Adelwisa, Leo-nina, Maria Raidis, Angela and Sandra Lissa; brothers Plutarco, Angelo and Andrew; brothers-in-law Hermie, Nicanor, Geraldo, Arnulfo and Jericho; sisters-in-law Maria Antonieta and Hazel; neph-ews and nieces John Ray, Godfrey, Reinard, Genesis, Jer-emie, Johanna, Esther Mae, Jericho Manuel, Alexandra Claire and Baby Hannah Grace.

The family thanks all those who condoled with them and came to visit Ateno’s remains at the Highland Funeral Home on May 9 and 10.

Gratitude also goes to everyone who attended the fu-neral Mass at the St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church and the interment of Ateno’s remains on May 11.

Family and friends will surely miss Ateno’s uncompli-cated way of life and his gentle manly character, punctu-ated by his monotonous voice and great sense of humor.

He was a 3rd degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 10516.

BullyingCanada.Ca has launched an online youth resources database located at: www.youthda-tabase.org.

The database hosts community resources for youth to keep up-to-date to information on types of services in their area.

Resources include so-cial services, school dis-trict office contact infor-mation, provincial/federal politicians, child protec-tion, suicide prevention, and youth-related groups with many other sections.

Youth, parents and ed-ucators are urged to visit the website and request for information from the database administrators.

Organizations may

visit the website to sub-mit their information to be added to this free da-tabase.

“This database will be an excellent way to relay current information to youth from across Cana-da” said Katie Neu one of the database administra-tors.

“This will be a very valuable tool in order to use technology in a posi-tive way in ensuring our youth know that they can receive information at anytime” said Rob Fren-ette, a database adminis-trators.

The database was cre-ated and donated by Web Nodes of Toronto, On-tario. PR

Online youth resourcesdatabase launched

Atenogenes Sicat passes at 42

16 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

Experience the opportunity working with the best professionalson communication needs challenging your organizations ...OUR SERVICES: OUR STRENGTHS:

- Community Relations- Corporate Communications- Crisis Communications- Issues Management- Crisis Management- Marketing Communications- Publicity- Language Translations- Audio-Visual Productions and Post Productions

● ● ● ● ● We have a diverse pool of Journalists, Writers, Photographers, TV Camera Professionals and Communicators of various disciplines and specialization through our membership in various media organizations

● ● ● ● ● We combine the strengths of trusted consultants from a variety of back- grounds on each project

W W W W We have the ability to make have the ability to make have the ability to make have the ability to make have the ability to make news for you;e news for you;e news for you;e news for you;e news for you; and good news for that matter and good news for that matter and good news for that matter and good news for that matter and good news for that matter!!!!!

Russell International Established in 2001AN INTEGRATED MEDIA COMPANY

98 Comrie Terrace, Scarborough, ON M1M 3T2 ● Tel. 416.285.8583 ● Fax 416.285.6862 ● russell.international@rogers.com

GENRES OF WORK DONE BY PRINCIPALSAce & Gie Alvarez

● AUDIO-VISUAL (A/V) DOCUMENTARY Int’l. Women’s Month Philippne Army Municipality of San Pedro, Laguna National Housing Authority● A/V TRAINING, PROMO & MARKETING MATERIALS Insurance, Pharmaceutical, Banking, Consumer● RADIO & TV SCRIPTS Historical, various consumer RTV Commercials

● PRINT Pharmaceutical Training Material, Corporate , Non-Profit & Labour Relations Press Releases● NEW MEDIA Text on Health, Elections, Education, Non-Profit Org. sites● RADIO-TV PRODUCTIONS Concept, Script & Full Production & Post Prod● EVENT MARKETING & PROMOTIONS Non-Profit Artistic Organization

17People & EventsPeople & EventsMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

www.FinancialProblem.cawith credit cards and bank loans

Too many loans & credit cards?Paying too much interest?

Afraid to pick up your own phone?Looking for consolidation?

Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES416-780-1020; 416-791-9292

TV ads reach far.ADVERTISE with

Call 416-285-8583

Residents of historic St. Jamestown district are ready to celebrate the an-nual daylong St. Jamestown Festival on June 13.

Community leader Gene Lara said that besides residents, people and busi-nessmen from other parts of the Greater Toronto Area are expected to flock to the district for the festivities.

Lara said the festival is multicultural and activi-ties are focused on varied cultural arts, music, cuisine and others.

Most of the festival events would be conducted at the Wellesley Commu-nity Centre.

St. Jamestown fest set June 13

LARA

A business and product exhibit would also highlight the festival, Lara said.

The festival is a part of the initiatives of the St. Jamestown Safety Commit-tee. PR

Some 60 foreign-trained professionals are expected to benefit from the Filipino Center Toronto (FCT)-spon-sored free 18-hour semi-nar-workshop on Enhanced English Language Training at the center’s Rizal Hall for six Saturdays starting May 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Participants are either newcomer-immigrants , work permit holders, per-manent residents or citizens in Ontario who are unem-ployed, underemployed, and/or those wanting to upgrade language skills to be competitive in the work-place and social landscape.

Among the resource speakers are Butch Gali-cia, editor of Manila Me-dia Monitor and a Europe- trained print journalist; Rey Tolentino, business execu-tive-consultant and former Philippine broadcast media personality; Albert Quiran-te, management trainor and a program manager at Salvation Army; Norma Bernal, counsellor and fa-cilitator at Skills for Change and a columnist of Filipino Bulletin; Elsa Mangune, English specialist-teacher at the Toronto District School Board; and Virginia Tum-baga-Parucha, a Toronto Catholic District School

Board English teacher.They will talk on theme-

based integrated topics: Oral Fluency and Pronunciation, Business and Academic Presentation, Career-related Writing (resume, cover and job search letters), Writing for Specific Purposes (aca-demic and technical) Job Interview Tasks and Strate-gies; Advanced Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions, and Public Speaking.

At the helm of the proj-ect are FCT president Rosa-

linda Javier, board chair Dr. Victoria Santiago and FCT directors.

Course director-facilita-tor is Tony San Juan, with the Ontario College of Teachers and vice president of the Philippine Teachers Association Canada that de-veloped the project.

The project committee is composed of Lapulapu Caña, chair; co-chair Ed Bi-rondo, and members Wendy Arena, Cieleto Drapeza and Joan Ang. JSJMACLEAN

FCT slates language skills sem-workshop Roland Jude Chan (right), Di-rector of RGen Financial (www.rgenfinancial.com), discuss-es the mechan-ics of repatria-tion insurance for Overseas Filipino Work-ers (OFWs) during a press conference at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Toron-to. Repatriation Insurance is the first product offering of RGen Financial -- which insurance undertak-ing will be underwritten by Assumption Life. Also in photo is Bon Ramat, RGen Financial’s Senior Associate. Chan said RGen Financial’s Repatria-tion Insurance is endorsed to OFWs by the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA). Congratulatory messages from the heads of DOLE and OWWA in Manila were read by the representatives of those two offices in Toronto, namely Frank Luna and Eric Parungao, respectively. Photo: MANILA MEDIA MONITOR

RGen Financial offers repatriation insurance for OFWs

MAY 2009 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR18 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009 CALENDAR

► MAY 21: Philippine Chamber of Commerce Toronto Seminar on Busi-ness Planning and Marketing.► MAY 22 to 24: Carrassauga Festival of Cultures, community centers in Mis-sissauga.► JUNE 6 & 7: Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre Independence Gala Night and Summer Festival Picnic, re-spectively.► JUNE 7: Sharon Cuneta & KC Con-cepcion Live in Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 6 p.m.► JUNE 7: The Juan Tomas Show Band in Concert, Scarborough Civic Centre, 2 and 3 p.m.► JUNE 13: Kalayaan Cultural Show Malayang Pilipinas, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga.► JUNE 13: The Pillars Cultural Asso-ciation Mother and Father’s Day.► JUNE 13: St. Jamestown Festival, Wellesley Community Centre.► JUNE 13 & 14: Filipino Centre To-ronto Pistahan sa Toronto, Nathan Phil-ips Square.► JUNE 14: Filipino Centre Toronto 2009 Filipino Singing Idol Competitions, Final Round, Nathan Philips Square.► JUNE 18: Philippine Chamber of Commerce Toronto Seminar on Health and Safety in the Workplace.► JUNE 20: Quezon National High School Alumni Association of Toronto Dance-O-Rama, Malvern Community Centre. ► JUNE 20: The Pillars Cultural Asso-ciation Seniors Picnic.► JUNE 20: Marikina Association of Canada Annual Summer Picnic, Neil-son Park.

A public service feature of the Manila Media Monitor. Also visit pakulo.com.

“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.

www.the-3rd-eye.com

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.

photographersforchrist@gmail.com

People & EventsPeople & Events

Western Union (2)Dr. Evangeline M. Bernabe and Associates (3)Liudmila Tomarovskaya (3)All Debt Solutions, Consul- ting Services (4)Tatyana Petrak (4)RBC (5)Dr. Albine A. Miciano Cosme- tic & General Dentistry (6)Dr. Arla Rondilla Professional Corp. (7)Kaakbay Financial Services (11)Ellesmere-Kennedy Dental Centre (12)Amit Bhatia Credit Manage- ment Services (13)Innovation Video/Photo (14)Infi nity Travel & Tours (15)Mendoza’s Debt/Financial Services (15)Dr. Roslyn Sabilano Dentistry Professional Corp. (16)Russell International (16)Forex (17)Photographers for Christ (18)Henderson Weekes (19)Tropical Deli (19)Clem Cabillan (20)areyouindebt.ca (20)Townshend Colleges (20)Philippine Independence Day Council (21)Car for Sale (22)

ADVERTISERS’ INDEXNew Conservatory of Music (22)UMAC Toronto (23)Gonzales Dentistry Profes- sional Corp. (23)Timeless Images (24)Fay & Eugene Tsatskina (24)Church location for lease (24)LDV Computers (26)Liland Insurance Inc. (27)Lovely Travel and Tours (28)needananny.ca (29)Dr. Miriam Bernacer (30)Superb Travel Services (30)Seoul Driving School (30)Villa Movers (30)Ravi Suri (31)T.H.D. Consultants (32)Front Page Philippines (32)Rhowena Adolfo, Investors Group (33)musicpad.com (33)Roadsport Honda (35)Body Bliss (36)OCDC Parcel Services (37)Dr. Bernarda Rosales Verzonilla Family & Cosmetic Dentistry (37)Perlas ng Silanganan (38)Retail Space for Lease (38)Ultra-Sound Promotions, Inc. (39)Dr. Santiago & Associates (40)Fairview Dental Centre (40)

It was clear from the opening tip-off that Alok Mukherjee has got game, so to speak.

The Toronto Police Services Board chair took his spot in the tip-off circle and tossed the ball, opening the third annual Filipino Centre of Toronto (FCT) Victoria Invitational Basketball Tournament at the HoopDome on May 16.

The yearly tournament was dedicated three years ago to Dr. Victoria Santiago, who has supported activities and programs for Filipino communities over the past 30 years.

This year, 54 teams made up of 648 youngsters, aged eight to 17, were vying for the championships.

“This tournament is an excellent ex-ample of the kind of healthy activities that encourage our youth to acquire key values like cooperation, teamwork and respect,” Mukherjee said.

“As importantly, this event is also about fun and friendship,” he added.

The TPS-CRU Basketball Team, led by Community Mobilization Unit (CMU) Constable Rod Chung, opened the two-day tournament by playing an exhibition game with a community select team.

Toronto Raptors’ mascot, The Raptor, treated participants to acrobatic dunks, as CMU members were introduced by Inspec-tor Frank Bergen, who heralded each one on their commitment and participation at the annual community event.

Community Service Awards were also presented to Police Chief Bill Blair, Chair

Mukherjee and CMU Constable Philip Mendoza.

“The Toronto Police Services Board is committed to forging and sustaining partnership with members of all the com-munities that make Toronto their home,” Mukherjee said.

“We, at the Board, believe that these relationships result in safer, healthier and happier neighbourhoods,” he said.

“For this reason, I am pleased to see the growing partnership between the Service and the Filipino-Canadian community.”

Chief Blair said the Service has a long

history in the area of youth engagement.“We have made it a priority to reach out

to our young people in a constructive and beneficial way,” the Chief said.

Rey Tolentino, co-chair of the TPS Asia Pacific Consultative Committee, echoed Mukherjee’s and the Chief’s comments.

“As we celebrate the third year of hold-ing these games, we are privileged to have the support and partnership of the Toronto Police Services Board, the Toronto Police Service through its Community Mobiliza-tion Unit and the TPS Asia Pacific Consul-tative Committee,” Tolentino said. PR

Strong community,police ties cited asFCT Victoria cagetourney kicks off

MAY 2009 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR 19

MANILA MEDIA MONITORMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009MAY 200920

21MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 200922

2003 nissan 350z. 60,000 miles. 6-speed manual trans-mission. cruise. 287mph 17” rims on low profile tires. Never winter driven. Best offer.

FOR SALE

Contact Christian 416-886-9462

YOUR TRUSTED BUSINESS PARTNERS

ADVERTISECall 416-285-8583

Get ahead with fast results

Forex Parcel Delivery Inc.UMAC CargoHome KaraokeLiland InsuranceLaguna JewellersDr. Arla A. Rondilla, DDSDr. Cheryle DumasalDr. Evangeline M. BernabeDr. Miriam B. BernacerEllesmere Kennedy Dental CentreNew Conservatory of MusicSuperb TravelNew Look Beauty & Hair LoungeTonnie FurtoAngel & Kiss RestaurantGolden Valley’s Food OutletThe Tropical DeliFormula Honda

Action HondaRoadsport HondaDTD Door-to-DoorGemini Exchange Int’l.Barrio FiestaCasa ManilaFiesta FilipinoRico RestaurantEsperanza PancitanRemely’s RestaurantBaker BestFV FoodsKamalig Dine In/Take OutOriental Food MartAsian Market PlaceTindahan PilipinoIncredible DiscountCharry’s Fine FoodAtin Ito Variety StoreKenway Dental Care

Dr. MedinaEnriquez-Lazaro Dental Clinic121 OpticiansPharmacitaMekeni RestaurantMendoza BakeryGotohan-Coffee InnJesse Jr. Take OutSally’s Philippine CuisineVisual ImageJDR-JACE Video StoreBamboo Travel & TourCanadian Pure WaterTownshend CollegeCircuit ComputerManila Cargo ExpressPhilippine Centre OntarioDr. Fel C. NolascoDr. Antonio Bunzon

EAST YORK and SCARBOROUGH

NORTH YORK and DOWNTOWN TORONTOPhilippine ConsulateLDV ComputersFilipino Centre TorontoDelamarc TravelKaakbay Financial ServicesFairview Dental CentreDr. Evangeline BernabeDr. Albine MicianoDr. Roslyn Sim-SabilanoDr. Victoria Santiago & AssociatesDr. Bernarda Rosales- VerzonillaCusina RestaurantAtin Ito VarietyAsean MartH&H GroceryBernard StoreNepa SS MartPamilihang PinoyBulakeña GroceryDGA Filipino Store

Filipino N TorontoPhilippine VarietyManila Bay MartJLB GroceryPinoy MartPNB Remittance Co.iRemitMabini ExpressGemini ExpressMetro RemittanceJolly TopEat BulagaCozy CornerCoco BananaAristokrat RestoAngel Kiss RestaurantSampaguita RestaurantFamily BakeryPampagueñaSalad MasterBest BakeryDaily BreadTuong Phat

Time ZoneYungibDr. Nestor BobilaDr. Jorge M. JoseDr. SalvadorDr. FernandezDr. Francisco PortugalToronto Health SchoolPlatinum CareOsilla InstituteValerio SalonBelle Opticali2i OpticalOrtholine SalonKababayanTrusty TravelReliable CargoWilson TradingManila CinemaCWSS CanadaSunBreeze TravelPhilippine Tropical Express

MISSISSAUGA and BRAMPTONDr. Victoria Santiago & AssociatesAristokrat KaraokeRestaurantEllen’s PlaceAsian FlavoursFeliciniana RestaurantTres Marias RestaurantRendevouz RestoSizzling Plate RestaurantHappy B-Day CakeHalo-Halo StoreSige StoreOmni StoreCinesuerte

Kalayaan Cultural Community CentreYuan MingTuro-TuroSunmartFV SweetsManila BakerySomething SweetOriental (China Town)Hing GroceryHotStyleHot Cutz Hair SalonFantastikGolden Island Freight & Gen. Services

CRD InstituteGateway CentreDr. Christina GamoDr. Solon GuzmanDr. MabutolDr. GorospeDr. Annette SimbulanOrcel StoreTriple AAADr. CoronelNew AsiaDebt ClinicBayanihanJee-Leah StoreCinerama

pick and read stations

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

Your gateway to news and ads that matter12 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY

READ THE PAPER ONLINE ATREAD THE PAPER ONLINE ATmanilamediamonitor.commanilamediamonitor.com

FOR AD INQUIRIES and PLACEMENTS,FOR AD INQUIRIES and PLACEMENTS,CALL 416-285-8583CALL 416-285-8583

23MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

Wish list(From page 10)

A priest once asked a 12-year old boy: How do you make FAMILY meaningful?The boy replied: It’s when I say: Father And Mother, I Love You.

From the Manila Media Monitor editors, writers and staff:HAPPY FATHER’S and BELATED HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

school bully. 3. I wish my father was

a millionaire so he could buy me the most expensive bicycle.

4. I wish my father was a famous musician so that the whole world could hear his music on the radio.

5. I wish my father was as smart as Einstein so he could do my all my homework and I could get the highest mark in school.

6. I wish my father was the president of our country so he could be the most powerful man across the land.

7. I wish my father was the best in all sports so that all the boys in school would envy me.

8. I wish my father was a handsome movie actor and admired by many people.

Just below the last wish is a hand written note. He can almost hear the usual soft-spoken words of his

father as he reads, “Son, I am sorry to disappoint you. I could never be what you wished for.”

After all those years, John did not know that his father replied to his selfi sh wishes.

He looks at the picture of his father and with his voice almost like a whisper, he says: “Dad, you were not as brave as Batman, but you showed me the courage to keep going in the most diffi cult times; you were not as strong as Hercules, but you gave me the strength to grow and face the harsh reality of the world; you were not a millionaire, but you provided for me with the best you could possibly afford; you were not a musician, but the stories you told me were like music to my ears; you were not as smart as Einstein, but you sent me to school so I could obtain the education

you never had; you were not the president of our country, but you held our family together with your values and principles; you were never an athlete, but you always played with me when no one would; you were not a movie star, but you were always real. You never pretended to be what you were not.”

With his teary eyes, he continues, “Dad, if you only knew….you are far above my wishes. You surpassed what I expected of you. And on that list, I would like to add one more, my last and fi nal wish. On the day that I face my own death, may your spirit be there by my side, to comfort the scared little boy in me ... thank you for making me what I am today.”

And that ends the story. To all fathers out there, I

extend my warmest greeting, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

24 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

GET DOUBLE SERVICE WITH ONE TEAM

BrokerDirect line:(416) 889-9955

Sales RepresentativeDirect line:

(416) 738-2356

DUFFERIN & CLARKLarge and bright 4+3-bdrm,

4-wshr, 2-car garage. About 2500Sq.Ft. Parquet flrs. Huge fam. room with fireplace.

New windows, new kitchen, freshly painted.Prof. finished

bsmnt with 3 bedrooms, kitchen and separ. entrance. Separate

laundry room. Great opportunity for addit. income. Excellent area!

Close to everything! Asking $477,000

F R E E H O M E I N S U R A N C E AVA I L A B L E

10720 Yonge St, #226, Richmond Hill, ON L4C3C9; Tel. 905-737-0033; Fax: 905-737-3132

Fay Tsatskina Eugene Tsatskin

BATHURST & STEELESPrimerose Luxury!

About 1500 SqFt, 2+1-bdr, 2 full wshrms. Large corner unit

with panoramic view. Very bright. Excellent floor plan.

Eat-in kitchen with window. Sunroom can be used as 3rd

bdrm. Large bdrms. Parquet floors everywhere. Most convinient

location in North York. Close to shops, schools, TTC, York Uni-

versity. Parking for 2 cars, locker. Asking $279,900

BATHURST & STEELESExcellent condition, perfect layout! About 1200 SqFt,

2-bdr, 2-wshr.Open concept, high ceilings, Brazilian hardwood floors,

large balcony, large windows, crown moldings, fireplace, upgraded kitchen w/granite

countertop and S/S appliances, potlihgts. Master with 6pc

ensuite,W/I closet, frameless shower door & much more...

BATHURST & FINCHLive and have an additional

income! Super specious home in demand area. 3+2-bdrm,

4-wshr. Over 2500 SqFt.Hardwood on main floor.

Family room with fireplace. Large bdrms. Self-contained 2-bdrm basement apartment

with separate entrance. Separate laundry room.Closeto TTC, schools, shops, etc.

Asking $389,900

X

Weddings • Birthdays • Graduations& other special events

TimelessImages

VIDEO andPHOTOGRAPHY

Contact us at T: 647.343.9359/416.266.5705 E: info@mytimages.com

or visit us at mytimages.com

to Justice for the Poor and mobile court or Justice on Wheels programs.

The National Police Commission also ordered the activation of human rights desks in all police stations nationwide; and set detention safeguards to de-ter torture and ill-treatment of prisoners while imposing penalties and sanctions on erring police personnel.

The state also put up co-ordination and investigation task forces and an indepen-dent commission to address media and activist killings and reported extrajudicial deaths.

The country’s Revised Penal Code classified all acts of torture as criminal offences.

Other steps were:► Continued pursuit of

the peace process despite the presence of a protracted internal armed conflict in the Philippines.

► Improvement of con-ditions of detention, includ-

ing the release of 3,677 in-mates in 2008, done by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

► Enactment of laws to prevent sexual violence in detention, and the establish-ment of 31 female dormito-ries to date.

► Reduction in the number of children in de-tention, including the enact-ment of the 2006 Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (RA 9344), a variety of social welfare services provided for children in conflict with the law, and the release of 565 minors in 2008.

► Inclusion of human rights components in train-ing programs for military and law enforcement units, in close cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights.

► Strengthening the Witness Protection Pro-gram.

► Creation of a Board of Claims under the Depart-ment of Justice for victims

of unjust detention and for victims of violent crimes .

► Prohibition as to the admissibility of evidence obtained through torture or duress as contained in Republic Act 7438 and the 2007 Human Security Act.

“We view the report as a review-in-progress as State-members’ compliance to international human rights treaty is hinged upon pro-gressive implementation,” Ermita said.

The Philippine govern-ment has assured the UN Committee Against Torture that all its pertinent and rel-evant concerns and recom-mendations would be acted upon, he added.

“We call on all non-gov-ernment and civil society groups to formally pres-ent their cases of alleged torture before the govern-ment, specifically though the Presidential Human Rights Committee, so that these can be properly acted upon,” Ermita said. PNA

Positive aspects of ‘unofficial’ UN ...(From page 3)

28th Infantry Battallion Army troopers offer free haircut (above) while the Municipal Health Office of Lupon, Davao Oriental offers free cir-cumcision for children in a civic action program. Photo: PNA

Warden and Eglinton Area

Apply (416) 399-1030 or(416) 751-0644

CHURCH LOCATIONFOR LEASE

Ask for Harry or John

25MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

Pearson, who died in 1972, was a man who gave us our own fl ag, the C a n a d a P e n s i o n P l a n , Expo 67 and above all sense of pride in being Canadians that led to the pa t r i a t i on of our own Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights under his successor Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Summing up Pearson’s life, Cohen writes: “Peter C. Newman once told Diefenbaker, ‘You are a great man, sir’. More likely, Diefenbaker was a great story. Pearson was a great man.”

***The admirable

Extraordinary Canadians series of books published by Penguin Canada under the overall editorship of John Ralston Saul includes former prime ministers Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Lester Bowles Pearson.

On the surface, neither of the two could be farther apart in personality and style. Yet, each in his own way did more to persuade us to be proud of our Canadian nationality rather than of our colonial heritage.

Lester B. Pearson is written by political author and columnist Andrew Cohen while novelist Nino Ricci was chosen to pen the story of Trudeau. Each volume sells for $26.

***Nino Ricci’s take on

Pierre Elliott Trudeau must have been a diffi cult task.

To cast new light on the person who is arguably the most written-about Canadian of all time is a tall

order.Wisely, Ricci eschews

h i s novelist’s fl air for the d r a m a t i c and gives us a concise r e c o r d of the man who b e c a m e C a n a d a ’s a l l - t i m e b e s t -k n o w n personality both at home and

internationally.Ricci chronicles

Trudeau’s early years as student at the Jesuit Jean Brebeuf College where he developed a rebellious, contrarian nature. After graduation, he fl irted with Communism and Fascism. Then he matured into a champion of French Canada, not as a separatist, but seeing it as part of a harmonious nation. His entry into politics led to his nomination and inevitable Trudeau-mania.

For me, Nino Ricci’s most absorbing chapter deals with the October Crisis of 1971 and the kidnapping of British diplomat James Cross and Pierre Laporte, the latter an old Jean Brebeuf school chum.

The sound byte that gave us “just watch me!” was part of a much longer interview and its isolation served to paint Trudeau as an arrogant dictator-in-the-making.

Much maligned for invoking the War Measures Act that led to the murder of Laporte, Trudeau has been blamed for the vacillation of Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa and the excesses of the RCMP and local police in enforcing the act.

Ricci presents the evidence of many Canadians to justify the measure in the light of existing knowledge

of the FLQ at the time, and vindicates Trudeau for acting within his own conscience and concern for other innocent lives. To a novelist, peaks like this and the failed marriage to a woman 29 years his junior are of interest but Ricci never sensationalizes.

His conclusion is a precise summation of a character that has dominated its times and beyond. One cannot refrain from comparisons with prime ministers like the blowhard Mulroney and the colorless Harper.

“Trudeau died on September 28, 2000, a month short of his eighty-fi rst birthday. Arrangements had been made for him to lie in state in Ottawa then to be taken by train to Montreal for a funeral.

“Organizers were unsure what the public’s response would be to the death of someone who had left public life more than 16 years earlier. They had their answer.

“From the long lines on Parliament Hill, to the school children lining the tracks … to the crowds who met his casket when it arrived in Montreal … to the millions of Canadians who followed the events across the country on television, the response was dignifi ed, emotional and massive.

“He had been hated and loved, but mostly respected….”.

(Used with permission. Ben Viccari is past president of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association and frequently appears on OMNI TV Commentary. Some of his commentaries are republished in this publication and slightly expanded in some cases from their 70-second broadcast originals. For more of his work, please visit Ben’s website at: http://canscene.ripple.ca)

The man who drove Diefenbaker ...(From page 9)

an e-mail as follows:“Hi to all! You

are invited to attend an impromptu meeting re MP Ruby Dhalla at the FCT tomorrow, May 8, at 7:00 p.m. It is organized by Julius Tiangson who is calling all Filipinos

Pacquiao’s win ...(From page 8)

TV ads reach far.ADVERTISE with

416-285-8583

www.FinancialProblem.cawith credit cards and bank loans

Too many loans & credit cards?Paying too much interest?

Afraid to pick up your own phone?Looking for consolidation?

Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES416-780-1020; 416-791-9292

ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE AND WELL-BEING!Be inspired by your personal trainor on

your health and fitness goals!

CALL CHRISTIAN (416) 886-9462Can-Fit-Pro Certified Personal TrainerSpecialist (PTS), Can-Fit-Pro CertifiedNutrition & Wellness Specialist (NWS)

to unite as one Filipino community and stand up in solidarity.”

I now ask, Aida: Do you ever practice for all the meetings at the FCT? What happens if attendees deviate from the practiced script?

***On April 26, PR woman

Kathleen Pascual Binaday sent us something, stating, “For Immediate Release”.

We could only stare on her message and could not act on the same; ours is a monthly publication.

PIDC Mrs. Philippines Winners

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

Tawagan, ha!”Bags were inspected to

make sure the pasalubong was there. “Matutuwa ang mga bata.”

Then, amid the noise and haste echoed a distinct voice with a familiar tune ... Bayang magiliw, Perlas ng Silanganan ... the noise ebbed and movements stilled as everyone ... Alab ng puso ... turned to look for the voice.

Sa dibdib mo’y buhay ... then there were two ... Lupang hinirang ... three and more singing in unison ... Duyan ka ng magiting.

People began to stand ... Sa manlulupig ... as the blonde stewardess and other cabin crew ... ‘Di ka pasisiil ... cajoled them to sit and put on seat belts.

Sa dagat at bundok ... the chorus was infectious ... Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw ... that soon, every-one, except non-Filipinos, were singing the Philippine

‘Bayang magiliw ...(From page 10)

national anthem.May dilag ang tula at

awit ... Some had the right palm on the left breast ... Sa paglayang minamahal ... a few saluted, others doffed baseball caps

Ang kislap ng wa-tawat mo’y ... A lady I later learned lost her husband sol-dier in the Mindanao war ... Tagumpay na nagniningn-ing ... pulled from her bag a Philippine tricolor, her only memoir of a dear life lost in a senseless conflict ... Ang bituin at araw niya ... and unfolded it for all to see ... Kailan pa ma’y ‘di magdi-dilim ... and honor.

The singing grew louder, the fervor stronger ... Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati’t pagsinta ... Tears welled in many eyes ... Buhay ay langit sa piling mo ... voices quiverred but never wavered.

Aming ligaya, na ‘pag may mang-aapi ... The plane’s wheels gave out a

soft screech as it touched Philippine soil.

Ang mamatay nang da-hil sa ‘yo ... Then, silence ... as if in a brief prayer of thanks for having been de-livered safely and soundly ... broken only when a Cau-casian tourist started clap-ping and everyone joining in pure jubilation.

Sure, I shed tears during the few emotional minutes when we fervently sang Lu-pang Hinirang.

“I am a proud Filipino,” I told a guy seated next to me.

“Pare, ako rin!” he re-plied, as he offered his right hand and we shook.

***On June 12, the global

Filipino community will once more celebrate Philip-pine Independence Day.

What better way to mark the event by reaffirming our roots, culture and heritage, language, customs and tra-ditions. Happy Indepen-dence Day. butchgalicia@yahoo.com

26 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

Asia grappling to balance migration ...(From page 12)however, that the Thai gov-ernment would not extend the work permits of some 200,000 documented mi-grant workers in 2010, and that Thai nationals would be hired first.

If foreign workers wished to extend their work permits, “they have to apply through Thai line govern-ment agencies,” she added.

In KoreaThe global economic

crisis, for economist Park

Young Bum of Hansung University, has further “polarized” the Korean la-bor market as some 6,707 foreign workers have been retrenched as of December 2008.

These retrenchments were due to the bankruptcy and shutting down of small- and medium-sized enter-prises in Korea, Park said.

The Korean government has suspended the issuance of work visas (called the E-

9 visa) to foreign workers until the year 2010.

The Korean govern-ment has an annual quota of 72,000 work visa issuances until last February.

“But don’t expect an in-crease of the E-9 visa quota for the country soon,” said Park. The move considered the “shrinking labor mar-ket”.

Korea’s government would also try to subsidize small and medium enter-

prises that would replace foreign workers with Ko-rean workers, to the tune of 1.2 million won per newly-hired local worker.

Since November 2008, Korea sent back home some 8,000 undocumented mi-grant workers. Again, no breakdowns by nationality were given.

As of October last year, the estimated undocument-ed migrant workers in Ko-rea numbered to 219,596, down from 224,965 in Jan-uary 2008.

Yet Park thought that the country would likely depend on unskilled foreign labor as a massive repatria-tion of foreign workers “is not possible.”

FamiliarThese situations affecting

foreign workers in East and Southeast Asia are familiar territory for these countries, especially so that the region had experienced the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Thus, Scalabrini Mi-gration Center director Dr. Maruja Asis said that repatriation, more border controls, punitive penalties for undocumented migrant workers, and no new or

higher levels of employment in host countries would be the same scenes this year as in 1997.

For countries like the Philippines that send out labor to overseas markets, one should expect increas-ing documented and un-documented overseas mi-gration, rising numbers of returning migrant workers, and an increasing role of remittances this year as in 1997, Asis said.

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Koreahave been among the target desti-nation countries for Filipino migrant workers.

Few displacementsFigures of deployed mi-

grant workers in 2007 from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administra-tion (POEA) showed that the four countries received 76,565 new-hired and re-hired Filipino workers.

As of January, 74 OFWs who worked in Korea’s electronics sector have been retrenched.

There were no reported displaced OFWs from Sin-gapore, Thailand, and Ma-laysia thus far.

In her paper The Impact

of the Global Financial Cri-sis on Employment, Labor Undersecretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz said a total of 6,406 workers were dis-placed as of March 12.

Some 4,197 came from Taiwan, and 1,357 from the United Arab Emirates.

The 74 Korea-based OFWs were part of the 5,036 displaced OFWs reported by the POEA, said POEA director Liberty Casco dur-ing a multi-sector workshop on the global financial crisis that the Department of La-bor and Employment con-vened on January 30.

De La Salle Univer-sity professor and migra-tion expert Stella Go told participants to a workshop organized by the Scalabrini Migration Center and the International Labor Orga-nization that despite the crisis,, international labor migration “hasn’t adversely affected” the Philippines, owing to increasing deploy-ment to old and new labor markets, and because of ris-ing remittances.

What worried Go, how-ever, was that the crisis might increase the risks facing OFWs who work in “vulnerable occupations” such as domestic help and construction. “They might be exposed to wage cuts and less-ideal work condi-tions,” she added.

SURFmanilamediamonitor.com

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

PBComers Reunion

27MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

“Our guarantees are written in your policy”

759 Warden Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1L 4B5

FREE training for

(Ask for Roland Chan) orFor details, call: 416-759-5453 x-222“Life License Qualifi cation Program”

email LLQP@lilandinsurance.com

Sponsored by LILAND INSURANCE INC.1996-2008 TOP MGA IN CANADA AWARDEE

Registration is on going for the next batchc a l l: 4 1 6 - 7 5 9 - 5 4 5 3 x - 2 2 2

Thank you once again for making it happen!

416-759-5453Fax: 416-759-6220

28 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

In May all over the Phil-ippines, processions liter-ally fill streets to honor the Virgin Mary. This is the Santa Cruz de Mayo.

Also known as the Santacruzan, the novena procession commemorates the mythical finding of the Holy Cross by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great.

Legends say that 300 years after the death of Christ, then 75-year old St. Helena went to Mt. Cal-vary.

After diggings, three crosses were unearthed at the site of the Crucifixion.

She tested each one by making a sick servant lie on all three.

The cross where the ser-vant recovered was identi-fied as Christ’s.

St. Helena’s feast day falls on Aug. 8 but the anni-versary of the finding of the Cross is on May 3.

In the Philippines, the celebration took the form of the Mexican Santa Cruz de Mayo.

Another legend puts it that Constantine the Great, facing a battle against Ro-man Emperor Maxentius in 312 A.D. turned despairing-ly to the new Christian God for help.

Constantine cast his

eyes heavenwards and saw in the night sky a glowing sign of the cross with the words ‘In hoc signia vincit’ meaning ‘By this sign thou shalt conquer.’

He adopted the Cross as his battle insignia with the words and went to van-quish the Roman army and entered Rome a victor. He pledged his faith in Chris-tianity.

The Santacruzan differs from most other religious processions in that it does not parade images of patron saints.

Instead, biblical and his-torical characters are repre-sented by people dressed in appropriate costumes.

A nine-day prayer no-vena in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Santa-cruzan. On the ninth night, the procession is long and colorful.

Bamboo clappers herald the procession led by the bearded Methuselah, bent with age, riding a cart where he toasts grains of sand in a pan over a fire, to remind everyone that all that glit-ters will end up as dust.

Behind him walks the Banderada, a lady in red carrying a miniature Philip-pine flag, symbolizing the Christian army.

Next follow halfclad

boys, bodies blackened with soot, representing the Negritos or the Filipino pagans and fi-nally, Reina Mora in a Muslim costume representing Muslim Philippines.

Today, the Santacruzan cross-es between a beauty pageant and a religious procession, with the village’s most beautiful woman being chosen as Reina Elena.

Gone are the days when peo-ple, candle in hand, crowded the streets to pay homage to a Catho-lic myth and throw sampaguitas at the passing beauties.

Gone are the days when one can enjoy the dazzling splendor of the flowers of May and the smell of burning native candles.

But the Santacruzan contin-ues to play an important role in the spiritual and religious life of Filipinos.

And this May, for whatever reason, people line up the streets in procession, invoking that which is holy and searching for the true Christian spirit.

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

THIS MAY ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES AND ABROAD

Santacruzan, Flores de Mayo takes center stage

29MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

30 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOLYELLOWBIRD

6013 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario

V. M. MoversSmall or Big Moving

We can handle any move withprofessional services.

Free estimate only in GTA.From this ad, 25% only this month.

Call us today 416 - 277 - 4245 7 days a week on time services

Re

g.

# 4

53

32

53

919 Ellesmere RoadSuite 107, ScarboroughOntario M1P 2W7

“Super babaand halaga ...Super belowfare talaga.”

“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan”

Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133

O R A N Y W H E R E I N T H E W O R L DMANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE

OTTAWA - Member of Parliament (MP) Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP, Win-nipeg North) announced the formation of the Canada-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group in a meet-ing on May 12.

In the meeting, the group named Wasylycia-Leis and MP Rod Bruinooge (Winni-

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

CanPhil friendshipgroup organized

peg South) as co-chairs. “It is significant that the

co-chairs of this new asso-ciation are both from Mani-toba, which is home to one of the largest Filipino com-munities in Canada,” said Wasylycia-Leis.

She said the group would provide a forum for the ex-change of ideas and promote

the expansion of relations between the Canada and the Philippines.

“There are many ties that bind our two nations making the establishment of the group both important

and timely,” she said. “Filipino Canadians have

made an outstanding contri-bution to Canada’s social, economic, and political life. Given the large and vibrant presence of Filipinos in the

Canadian mosaic, it is long overdue that such a friend-

ship group be established,” she added. PR

FOR AD INQUIRIES and PLACEMENTS,CALL 416-285-8583

31MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009MONEYMONEY

US$ Cdn$

May 18 47.45216 40.79888May 15 47.59784 40.50646May 14 47.67312 40.67402May 13 47.30272 40.49675May 12 47.08345 40.34395May 11 47.11979 40.65380May 08 47.11754 40.68693May 07 47.27408 40.36897May 06 47.67046 40.63725May 05 47.84658 40.68403May 04 47.97038 40.72009May 01 47.97037 40.41080April 30 48.07053 40.25772April 29 48.53988 40.44734April 28 48.39357 39.56778April 27 48.56600 40.13477April 24 48.49162 40.10674April 23 48.56085 39.51005April 22 48.54592 39.27726April 21 48.35191 39.14884April 20 48.03031 38.91981

GOT A FOREX DEAL?Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the dollars you have had exchanged since April 20. This is a public service item from Manila Media Monitor’s Money and Busi-ness section.

MANILA - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is seeking a legal opinion on whether or not they have basis for allowing third-par-ty entities such as sari-sari (convenience) stores to act as agent banks.

The plan, which in-cludes such other agents as retail chain stores and gov-ernment-owned post offic-es, forms part of the BSP’s larger program of financial inclusion.

Financial inclusion, as the term suggests, ideally includes every Filipino to have access to financial ser-vices that often leaves out rural-based entities as farm-

ers and fisherfolk. Deputy BSP Governor

Nestor Espenilla Jr. said it took the central bank one year to convince authorities, to included the policy-mak-ing Monetary Board, to sell the idea of e-money, or elec-tronic money popularized by Globe Telecommunica-tion’s G-Cash product and by Smart Communication’s Smart Money.

The hardest thing about this product, according to Espenilla, was convincing everyone they were not de-posits, which then compli-cates regulation.

“It took us a year to put it together, including the ap-

propriate circular,” he said. The same thing is hap-

pening about the plan, al-lowing sari-sari stores, re-tail chains as 7-Eleven and Mercury Drug Stores and the various post offices to act as agent banks.

Under the plan, the neighborhood sari-sari store in empowered to help the fi-nancial inclusion program become reality by allow-ing it to act as cash centers where one can buy or encash so-called e-money.

Globe’s G-Cash centers and its equivalent Smart Money services are mostly urban-based products.

Sari-sari stores as agent banks? ‘Why not?’, says BSPBy JUN VALLECERA

(To page 32) TYPICAL FILIPINO SARI-SARI STORE TRANSACTION

MANILA - Nokia, the world’s leading manufac-turer of mobile devices, sees the Philippines to be the next mobile e-mail capi-tal of the world over the next three years.

Nokia Philippines on May 19 introduced new phones, which are Internet-ready and work with Ovi Mail.

This would give first-time e-mail users the op-portunity to set up and start using an e-mail account directly on their mobile phone.

Paula Laine, Nokia’s vice president for entry cat-egory marketing, said the mobile phone was a perfect platform to connect in the Internet.

“Half of the people in emerging markets prefer to use a phone instead of a personal computer (PC) for Internet,” she said.

Laine, however, said that 45 percent to 60 per-

cent of Filipinos did not have a digital identity that enabled them to participate in the digital world.

William Hamilton-Whyte, Nokia Philippines general manager, said “the power of Internet is undeni-able.”

Whyte said Ovi Mail had the potential to be the first digital identity for many people in emerging markets like the Philippines.

Unlike most other e-mail services, Whyte said an Ovi Mail account ccould be created and used directly on a Nokia device without ever having to use a PC.

“The mass market can’t access Internet, that’s why we are launching our new products that are Internet ready,” Whyte said.

He added that many people were still primar-ily using voice and text, as the Internet did not offer a whole new range of oppor-tunities.

The phone maker will offer Nokia 2330 classic, Nokia 2323, Nokia 2700 classic and Nokia 2730 cost ranging between P3,000 and P6,000.

“We’ve seen mobile technologies catalyze the growth of the informal sector across the world, empowering local entre-preneurs and having an im-mediate and lasting impact on people’s lives. Services like Ovi Mail, combined with the mobile phones we are showcasing, bring pow-erful solutions that can be the gateway to knowledge, entertainment and people without the need for a PC,” Whyte said.

With the affordability of mobile Internet cost and high penetration rate of mo-bile phones in the country, Whyte expects the Philip-pines to be the world’s capi-tal for mobile e-mail.

“The Philippines will be the next capital mobile

e-mail of the world. This change can happen in the next three years,” he said.

He also projected that Internet mobile penetration would hit 30.8 million users in the Philippines by 2013.

Whyte also said that Nokia would partner with local telecom operators like Smart Communica-tions Inc., Globe Telecom and Sun Celluar to have a “consumer friendly” mobile Internet services.

In another development, Smart Communications Philippines said it has re-duced surfing costs with its new mobile Internet pack-ages.

The bucket-priced pack-ages enable Smart Buddy subscribers to use their cell-phones to go and stay on-line to post photos and vid-eos, update their blogs, chat or send e-mails, and browse through their favorite social networking sites at a fixed and low cost. PNA

Nokia sees RP as world’s mobile e-mail hub in 3 years

32 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009 MoneyMoney

T.H.D. CONSULTANTS4800 Sheppard Ave., East Unit 123, Scarborough, Ont., M1S 4N5

Tel. Nos. (416) 335-8555; (416) 609-8912

ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING SERVICES Computerized Accounting Financial StatementINCOME TAX SERVICES Individual & Corporate Tax Returns Small to Medium Size Companies

COMPUTER SYSTEMS Installing, Training & Support of ACCPAC Simply Accounting Package

For free consultations please call ................... Ted H. Dayno, BBA Registered Professional Accountant To book your appointment please call ........... Anna Eusebio @ (416) 609-8912

Espenilla said the Phil-ippines continued to be one of the leading proponents of e-money, along with Kenya and other Latin American countries like Brazil.

But the Philippines has a potential to become a pio-neering entity in e-money transactions because most Filipinos own a cellular phone.

In Brazil, for instance, e-money usage was via points-of-sale, which was limited in nature, Espenilla said.

When approved, Fili-pinos may convert hard

cash into e-money in any sari-sari store and send it via cellphones to pay for utilities charges, settle a personal debt or even make a deposit, he said.

“The question now is whether we can use third-parties like sari-sari stores to act as agent banks”, Es-penilla said.

But he ruled out autho-rizing sari-sari stores as de-posit-taking entities.

“I have problems enough monitoring activi-ties of regular banks. I don’t want added pressures at this point,” Espenilla said. PNA

Sari-sari stores as agent ...(From page 31)

Businesswoman Cora dela Cruz has been named a finalist in the business/public service category of the 2009 Asian of the Year Awards.

Dela Cruz - president of Delamarc Corp., principal of CDC Consulting and for-mer president of the Philip-pine Chamber of Commerce Toronto, was cited with co-category finalists Dr. David Fung, chairman and CEO of ACDEG Group, and Dr. Dipak Roy, founder and chairman of DTA Systems Inc., during the National Presentation and Awards

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

CPBC Officers inducted

DELA CRUZ

Dela Cruz is finalist in ‘09 Asian of the Year Awards

Gala in Ottawa on May 6. The awards is Canada’s

only such national program for Asian Canadians.

On its third year, the

awards are run and funded by the AsiaNetwork Maga-zine and the Asian of the Year Awards Society

The award selection committee, chaired by Shei-la Copps, said that among the 15 finalists in five cat-egories is a Hollywood star, an Olympic gold medalist, a newspaper editor, a former governor general, and a for-mer prime minister.

The categories included arts and sports, business and public service, outstanding volunteer, lifetime achieve-ment, and outstanding Can-ada-Asia relations. PR

3 P.M.

33MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009MoneyMoney

Planning for a longer lifeby Investors Group Financial Services Inc.

SAGOT SA BATID WIKA(MULA SA PAHINA 43)

T

A

N

A

AL

A

L

A A

LA

L

A I

A

A

N

G

A

L

A

I

P

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

S

G

I

A

A

N

A

N

U

OA

IP

N

W

A

S

A

Y

L

W

L

S

H

U

B

N

T

A

KT

R

T

U

A

A

A

A

H

L

U O

U

T

N

I

M

M

I

G

I

H

I

I

I I

A

W

N

S

S

I

I

I

P

S

L

I

A

T

N

A

A

A

AN

R

N

A

A

A

A

A

T

K

N

K K

N

O

L

A

N

D

G

N

O

B

D A

1 2 3 4 5

13

10

14

15

9876

16

18 19 20

21 22

23 24 26

30 31 32

33 34

3736

35

25

39 4240 41

11

12

17

27 28 29

38 43 44

474645

5251

504948

G

GGG

GG

P

P

P

U

RBC has announced a new remittance service that will give thousands of Canadians - including new immigrants - an economical and secure solution for sending money back home to family and friends.

RBC International Remittance enables individuals to send the equivalent of up to $1,000 CAD each day for only $13.50 per transaction.

“The new immigrant market is a priority for RBC and being able to send money home to family

and friends is an important service for people coming to Canada, whether they’ve just arrived or have already established themselves here,” said Andrea Metrick, head, Client Strategy and Multicultural Markets.

“With RBC International Remittance, people can send funds 24/7, when it’s convenient for them, wherever they have internet access and for a fraction of the cost they might pay for sending money through wires or through other remittance providers,”

Metrick said. Like any other money

transfer or bill payment, clients can access this new service through RBC Online Banking from their Account Balances, Account Details or Pay Bill and Transfer Funds pages.

Remittances can be sent from the client’s personal banking account in various currencies directly to the recipient’s bank account or picked up at a specifi ed foreign bank.

RBC has correspondent banking relationships with

over 1,400 banks in over 120 countries worldwide.

“We are pleased to add RBC International Remittance to our suite of electronic payment services,“ said Tracy Scott, senior manager, Payment Services.

“It’s convenient for individuals who send money overseas for weddings, birthdays and special

holidays, and to offer fi nancial support to love ones back home. It’s also ideal for one-time needs such as emergencies and vacation plans,” Scott said.

In addition to RBC International Remittance which enables individuals to send funds overseas, RBC Online Banking personal banking clients can also transfer funds electronically

Send $1,000 for only $13.50 per transaction

RBC opens new easy, safe remittance serviceto other RBC clients, to clients of other fi nancial institutions, and between RBC accounts in Canada and the U.S.

“We are seeing consistent growth in the use of all our electronic payment services, which shows that clients are taking advantage of the ease and convenience of sending funds and making payments online,” added Scott. PR

Congratulations! If you are a senior or close to it, you’re part of a terrifi c good news story: You are likely to enjoy a longer and healthier life than any generation before you.

According to Statistics Canada, life expectancy at the age of 65 continues to improve.

Canadian men aged 65 are expected to live an average of 17+ years and women aged 65 are expected to live an additional 20+ years on average.

That is great news - but there is another side to longer life: the need to extend your income over those years to ensure you continue to have a comfortable lifestyle.

That could also include signifi cant additional expen-ses for health care.

You hope to remain healthy, but statistics say:

► 43 percent of those over 65 will require an average of three to four years of long-term care in a nursing home or long-term

care facility.► 66 percent of married

couples will have at least one spouse enter long-term care, personal care or health care facility at some point.

► 28 percent of Canadians aged 65 and over who do not live in a health care facility are likely to receive care due to a long- term health problem.

► One in 13 Canadians over age 65 is affected by Alzheimer Disease or related dementia.

You don’t want to out-live your retirement savings or see them eroded by unexpected health care and medical costs.

More than ever, an effective retirement fi nancial plan is an absolute necessity.

Here are some planning tips to set you on the right path to a long and fi nancially comfortable retirement:

► Add to your retirement income from your Registered Retirement Savings Plan with a well-

chosen portfolio of non-registered investments. Look at investments that benefi t from preferential tax treatment such as tax-advantaged investment structures.

► Consider Universal Life insurance as a means of sheltering excess capital while maximizing the value of your estate and/or a life annuity that will provide you with guaranteed regular income for the rest of your life.

► Protect your income (or your spouse's) with carefully selected insurance coverage that could include life insurance, supplemental health insurance, disability insurance, critical illness insurance, and long-term care insurance.

Planning for retirement has never been more important.

A professional advisor can help you develop a retirement plan that will work for you through all the years of your retirement.

34 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

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

Juan dela Cruz Band rocks Toronto

Arts & EntertainmentArts & Entertainment

the tall and very handsome Richard, who was born on January 21, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Richard chalked up so many awards (FAMAS and Metro Manila Film Festival, among others) that critics have heaped upon him the titles of Prince of Philippine Movies & TV and Telefantasya King.

Yet, for all his success as actor and model, the 25-year old Gutierrez manages to be educated at the De la Salle University in Manila and contributes to his favorite cause - preserving the environment. Richard has been an active supporter of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, advocating for energy effi ciency. He was the narrator for a global warming documentary Signos and he starred in the show Full Force Of Nature explaining global warming.

Rhian Ramos is a mestiza beauty born to a Welsh father and Filipino mother from Bicol (full name is Rhian Denise Ramos Howell).

Joining a school play while in Grade Five at De La Salle-Zobel (Cavite) gave Rhian her fi rst acting experience. There were offers for her to enter show business even at a very tender age but she was

determined to fi nish high school and, thus, declined initial offers.

But by age 15, Rhian began modeling. Soon enough, her appearance in a major commercial for MacDonalds caught the eye of movie producer Annette Gozon. And the rest, they say, is movie history.

Rhian’s initial success came by way of playing the role of Leah, Captain Barbell’s leading lady and love interest in the Captain Barbell TV series. This was the fi rst time Richard Gutierrez and Rhian Ramos were paired. This led to other TV projects such as the Lupin TV series where Rhian was reunited with Richard as leading man.

Also coming from the Philippines to rock the house is the Juan de la Cruz Band. A trailblazer of sorts, it was one of the fi rst rock and roll bands in the Philippines.

The JDLC Band participated in the fi rst open fi eld rock festival in the Philippines in December 1970 - the Antipolo Rock Festival, the country’s answer to Woodstock.

The group gained more fame in September 1971 when it backed up the production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Cultural

Center of the Philippines (CPP). It scored another fi rst when again, for the fi rst time in the Philippines, a rock group on its own, backed by the National Philharmonic, was presented in concert at the CCP.

Front-acting on the Mabuhay! Philippines Festival stage is funnyman Ron Josol. Known in the industry for his modish comedy style and commanding stage presence, this Torontonian is arguably the most recognizable Asian comedian in Canada.

Profi led on the Comedy Network, CBC, Showtime Dubai, Discovery Channel, Echo, Omni 1 & 2, MTV Canada, and recently the Biography Channel Canada, Ron will show what it takes to win in Craven A’s Funniest in the Home-grown Competition at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in 2000.

Ron performs regularly in Canada, U.S., the Pacifi c Islands, Persian Gulf, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. He has also taped numerous stand-up comedy specials in his career. He fi rst achieved his own comedy special in 2000, Comedy Now, on CTV/Comedy network. In January 2009,

Hollywood producers have taken notice and gave him the opportunity to fi lm his 1st US national spot in the LOL Comedy Festival on Showtime USA.

Gutierrez-Ramos tandem topbills ...(From page 1)

Mabuhay! Philippines Festival chair Minda Neri (6th from left, standing) presents her 2009 Outstanding Asian Canadian Community award for volunteerism given by the the Canadian Multicultural Council - Asians in Ontario on May 3, highlighting the celebration of Asian Heritage Month. In photo, she is joined by proud fellow Kagay-anons and offi cers of the Philippine Independence Day Council led by Jun Enverga (left, standing).

Neri holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of the Philippines.After passing the Nursing Board Exam, she worked briefl y at the Philippine General

Hospital before she left for the USA to work as a graduate nurse in the surgical and orthopaedic disciplines.

Like many fellow nurses of her generation, Neri immigrated to Canada after the expiration of her US visa and worked for a time in her profession.

Shortly thereafter, she made the unusual career change of training in Information Systems (IS).

Mabuhay! Fest chair Minda Neriis Outstanding Asian Canadian

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

tradition juxtaposed with the contemporary. It’s a celebration of the Filipino in Canada.

Come! Halina sa Mabuhay! Festival.

(To page 38)

35MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009Arts & EntertainmentArts & Entertainment

ADVERTISE with theMANILA MEDIA MONITOR

Call 416-285-8593ONLINE AT manilamediamonitor.com

It’s ‘80s night and the time is right – right for a trip down memory lane with the decade’s top male singers Gino Padilla, Louie Heredia, Raymond Lauchengco and Randy Santiago.

Ultra-sound Promotions Inc. proudly presents the quartet who will croon 80s top hits and favorites individually and collectively when they go live onstage at the John Bassett Theatre of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Aug. 8. (See ad on page 39)

Randy SantiagoRandy Santiago shot to fame

in 1987 via the release of his very fi rst single ‘Di Magbabago.

The song became so big that it topped the charts all over the Philippines and stayed on radio stations’ playlists for a solid year,

consequentially earning Song of the Year status.

‘Di Magbabago and the equally successful follow-up single, Babaero, made Randy a multimedia star who had television shows and stints at the movies.

Randy is a singer, TV host and concert performer in the Philippines. His trademark is his dark sunglasses.

Raymond LauchengcoRaymond Lauchengco was

already a veteran of several stage productions like The Sound of Music when he was discovered for fi lms and recordings in 1982.

It was Megastar Sharon Cuneta who heard him sing and recommended him to Viva.

It proved to be very easy for Raymond to make the transition to

motion pictures and recordings. In the ‘80s, he broke into

showbiz as one of the Bagets. Home studio Viva backed him up in his singing and fi lm career.

Raymond did two albums (his self-titled album in 1983 and Dream Boy in 1984) and produced a string of hits that included I Need You Back, So It’s You, Farewell, Saan Darating ang Umaga and Shadow of Time.

A versatile singer who can go from pop to classical, Raymond is hopeful that his interesting take on the hits of the 80s will earn him another set of hits.

Gino PadillaGino Padilla was fi rst noticed by

Filipino music lovers on the Pepsi commercial shot in Hollywood

Live at the John Bassett Theatre on Aug. 8

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

GINO PADILLA, LOUIE HEREDIA, RAYMOND LAUCHENGCO, RANDY SANTIAGO

(To page 38)

Celebrity Fast Break is bringing to Canada the excitement of a novel entertainment fare that has made raves in the Philippines and the United States.

On Aug. 14 and 15, Philip-pine television and movie art-ists will shoot hoops against a team of Philippine community basketball greats at the Ryer-

CELEBRITY FAST BREAK: Basketbol Na, May Concert Pa!

RICKETTS MARIZ

son University gumnasium.But more than the exhibition

game, the artists, led by action star Ronnie Ricketts and wife singer, actress and TV host Mariz, will give the fans a concert of sorts.

This is part of the former’s Ca-nadian Celebrity Fast Break tour that takes them to Hill Park Sec-ondary on Aug. 16 in Hamilton, and to Montreal and Winnipeg.

With Ronnie and Mariz are matinee idol Joross Gamboa, comedians Bayani Agbayani and Gene Padilla (son of Dencio Padilla), Mano-Mano boxing champion hunk Jordan Herrera, fl ick villain (like his dad Paquito Diaz) Joko Diaz, and award

winning actor Jay Manalo.After the fi nal buzzer, Mariz

Ricketts - together with local artists Jenifer Camacho, Zach Bandolin, Inah Canlapan and more - will perform for the audience.

The artists will also be on hand for autograph signing and picture taking.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Isabella Organization to help out with some of the group’s projects, such as the construction of a new orphanage.

Gracing the event are Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Congressman Edwin Uy and Mayor Ando Cumigad. EVA AGPAOA/PR

36 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

37MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009Arts & EntertainmentArts & Entertainment

Filipino-Canadian Elise Estrada is the Wild Card nominee in the Favorite New Artist and Favorite Canadian Video categories of the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards to air live at Much Music, the Canadian music video channel in downtown Toronto, on June 21.

Elise Estrada: The Real Deal

Since the age of four, this former Miss Vancouver Princess has worked diligently to reach her dream of making a mark in the music industry. Born on July 30, 1987 in Marikina, the Philippines, Elise has gone on defying odds in climbing the charts of success.

After a series of accolades, including winning an international American Idol-like TV singing contest in Canada and being in the rated Pinoy Pop Superstar TV series in Asia, Elise moved to Los Angeles for a starring role in a Disney TV pilot loosely based on her life as a singer.

In March 2007, Elise won The Beat 94.5 Music Awards competition in hometown Vancouver and earned a recording and management deal with RockSTAR Music Corp. where she worked with pop super-producers that included Adam H, Sean Hosein and Dane DeViller of BananaToons, and Steve Smith and Anthony Anderson of SA Trackworks and with which she launched a self-titled CD.

On her 6th MediaBase Canadian Top 10 song in a row, Elise has reached an audience of over 415 million to date. She topped the Canadian charts with two singles. At the 2009 JUNO Awards (Canada’s equivalent to The Grammy’s), Elise was nominated for the Best R&B/Soul Album Of The Year. She won The Canadian Radio Music Award for Best New Artist or Group (Rhythmic/R&B/Urban/Dance) and other awards including the CHUM Emerging Artist Award, a FACTOR Emerging Artist Award, and a BDS 20,000 Spins Award for her mega-hit UnLove You.

She toured with superstars including The Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, Nelly, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga. In the summer, she will be with L.L. Cool J. Elise will also return to the small screen, starring in the MuchMusic television pilot, Much Love.

“Being a Filipino singer in North America hasn’t always been easy. There is nothing more rewarding than being a role model for my culture and showing aspiring artists that if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it, regardless of the odds stacked against you”, says Elise. With an unprecedented work ethic, an great amount of talent, and an unstoppable determination, Elise Estrada is the real deal. PR

38 Arts & EntertainmentArts & EntertainmentMANILA MEDIA MONITOR

MAY 2009MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009

PAHALANG 1. Din 4. Nakontento12. Bagwis13. Away14. Luto sa mantika15. Tunog ng sampal16. Tiklop17. Tanong sa mamimili 18. Pansin20. Bayarin21. Salitang Hapon23. Ibong panlupa26. Balag30. Paniwala31. Antigo32. Mina, artista33. Dalaginding35. Tugis36. Tagupak38. Palsipikado41. Plasa45. Yao46. Papel na pampakinis47. Anak ng anak48. Punglo49. Sakit sa balat50. Pamalo ng bola51. Inusisa52. Saksak

PABABA 1. Gamit ng manlalakbay 2. Pinong kikil 3. Bulalas ng damdamin 4. Madre perla 5. Eko

6. Katangian ng mayaman 7. Disinteriya 8. Sikat na abogado 9. Batak10. Panimpla11. Pang-abay19. ___ Tse Tung20. Isip22. Pinagsasaman- talahan23. Sulatan24. Mailap na hayop25. Yunit ng likido27. Panggatong28. Biyenes

29. Unlaping pang- aksiyon31. Ora mismo34. Kulay ng kabayo35. Maliit na hukay37. Puwang38. Lala39. Balita40. Pagkahilig sa ginagawa42. Wika43. ‘Di makapagsalita44. Maikling liham46. Termino sa computer

(Sagot sa PAHINA 33)

BATID WIKA1 2 3 4 5

13

10

14

15

9876

16

18 19 20

21 22

23 24 26

30 31 32

33 34

3736

35

25

39 4240 41

11

12

17

27 28 29

38 43 44

474645

5251

504948

Joel ReclaProducer/Host

TV ads reach far.ADVERTISE with

Call 416-285-8583

www.FinancialProblem.cawith credit cards and bank loans

Too many loans & credit cards?Paying too much interest?

Afraid to pick up your own phone?Looking for consolidation?

Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES416-780-1020; 416-791-9292

where he performed with Tina Turner.

His fi rst professional stint was in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Flamingo Hotel as the opening act of the Reycards.

Gino became one of the most in-demand concert artists after that debut.

He had been featured

in his own solo concerts all over the Philippines and has wowed audiences abroad.

His fi rst album is Shifting Gears, a certifi ed platinum. Closer You & I, a single from the album won the Awit Award as Record of the Year and Song of The Year. Gino also starred in TV and movie shows.

Men of the 80s ...(From page 35)

She enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the IS fi eld, working for some of Canada’s major companies like Mutual of Omaha and RBC Financial Group.

Neri’s last position in the corporate world was as department manager, Group Health Insurance Systems.

The late 1990’s was Neri’s time to give back to the community.

This was when she started to get involved in community development, helping organize medi-cal missions to the Phi-lippines.

Later, she joined and became vice president of People Helping People

Foundation - Ontario which mission went beyond medical assistance and instead looked into providing holistic opportunities for livelihood skills training, education, and other developmental programs.

Neri grew in stature as a volunteer when she joined the Philippine Independence Day Council in 2002.

She has been a co-chair and fi nally chair of the Mabuhay! Philippines Festival which has been successful in the past four years.

Her extensive experience in project management has contributed to the success

of the festival. This also resulted in

PIDC’s ability to keep its commitment to make a signifi cant contribution to a massive housing project for the poor in the Philippines.

Appointed as festival chair again this year, PIDC is assured of yet another banner year for the organization.

“Although success is satisfying, the deeper gratifi cation is in being able to provide houses and livelihood training to the poorest of the poor in the Philippines,” says Neri, who is known within the PIDC as the quiet go-getter. PR

Mabuhay! Fest chair ...(From page 34)

Louie HerediaRemembering the ‘80s

is never complete without Louie Heredia.

The mestizo singer is responsible for hits like Nag-iisang Ikaw, Iisang Damdamin and Una’t Huling Mamahalin.

Louie’s career as an entertainer and recording artist began in 1985 with his fi rst hit single Can Find

RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASEVery affordable, High traffic area,

Perfect, Exposure,St. Clair West Ave. West,

Also good for live/work situationLet’s make deal!

Call Marion (416) 735-7702

No Reason which turned platinum.

With numerous c h a r t - h i t t i n g albums under his belt, Louie is a recipient of Gold and Platinum Re-cord awards.

He also hosted television shows such as Penthouse Live and Lunch Date. PR

Philippine movie and television artists Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz per-form before fans in Toronto in the recent 2009 Extreme Heartthrobs Concert produced by Ystillo, Inc. Alonzo and Cruz came with fellow artists Piolo Pas-cual, Sam Milby and Pokwang. Photo courtesy of FRANCIS REMENTILLA

39MANILA MEDIA MONITORMANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009MAY 2009

5 Fairview Mall Drive, Suite 390 Willowdale, Ontario M2J 2Z1 Phone: (416) 496-0900 Fax: (416) 496-0928 fairviewdental@dentalworld.net

PICTURE PERFECT SMILESPICTURE PERFECT SMILES

Dr.

Ben

ilda

Sun

ga-C

astil

lo

Dr.

Vict

oria

R. S

antia

go

Dr.

Ant

hony

Joh

n En

g

Dr.

Joy

Y. H

o

The team of professionals who make up the Fairview Dental Centreare completely dedicated to the needs of their patients.

Fairview Dental Centre"Patient Care & Treatment Through Teamwork"

TORONTO OFFICERosedale Medical Clinic

600 Sherbourne St., Suite 307Toronto, Ontario M4X 1W4(Across Sherbourne Subway)

dr.vsliu@bellnet.ca

416-967-9272

MISSISSAUGA OFFICEMississauga Corporate Centre3660 Hurontario St., 2nd FloorMississauga, Ontario L5B 3C4

(Behind Novotel Hotel)

905-272-3455

MississaugaCorporate CentreBurnhamthorpe Rd E.

Square OneShopping Centre

Hurontario St.

Eglinton Ave. W.

Hwy. 403

N Mt. P

leasantJarvis S

t.

Bloor St. East Bloor Danforth Ave.St. East

DonV

alleyP

arkway

Exit

toCas

tleFrank

Sherbourne S

t.

SherbourneTTC Station

Castle FrankTTC Station

N

RosedaleMedicalClinic

COMPLETE DENTAL CAREGENERAL DENTISTRY

Dr. Victoria SantiagoDr. Amy FanDr. Anthony John EngDr. Randolph J. Krumme

Dr. Joy Y. HoDr. Belinda Sunga-CastilloDr. Dat Phung

SPECIALTY DENTISTRYDr. Ali Adibfar & Dr. Robert EngDr. Mark MojganiNickee Dela Cruz & Catherine Ibeas

- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons- Periodontist- Registered Dental Hygienists

40 MANILA MEDIA MONITORMAY 2009