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YEAR 12, No. 3 SEPTEMBER 2008 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario

INSIDE Filipino-Canadian community gets media

DOUBLE TREAT
Ooops & Bloops

Classic
PR
stupidity
-7

Less able to send


money home - 11 = Ace Alvarez is new CEMA president
= Front Page Philippines TV debuts in Alberta
The community and
its media sector got a big Outgoing Canadian Ethnic Medeia Association president Ben Viccari (right) to incom-
boost with the acclamation ing president Ace Alvarez (left): “Ace, we don’t have a gavel to hand over as a symbol
but here from the heart is a sincere handshake.” MANILA MEDIA MONITOR Photo
of Manila Media Monitor
managing editor Ace Alva-
Sarakiki-Hadang rez as new president of the
Festival - 26 Canadian Ethnic Media
Association. Alvarez took
over from noted multicul-
turalism proponent Ben
Dancing To Be A Star
Viccari. (Story on page 5)
- 33
Relatedly, long-running
Charlyn community television show
gets into Front Page Philippines has
the groove premiered in Alberta. (Sto-
- 36
ry on page 4)

Kenney: RP economy on solid footing EDITORIAL


MANILA - The fate
of gigantic New York-
ruptcy mid-September,
and the U.S. govern- VOTE WISELY!
based Lehman Broth- ment moved quickly to On October 14, over 50 percent of Canada’s some 33 mil-
ers would have minor rescue AIG. lion people are expected to trek to polling booths nation-
effects on the Philip- Kenney said this wide to exercise their right to elect members to the Cana-
pines, whose “economy move helped stabilize dian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament.
is on solid footing.” the situation for AIG Of these likely voters, over 250,000 are of Philippine heri-
This was the com- and, by extension, the tage, members of a vibrant hardworking community that has
ment of U.S. Ambas- Philippine market. grown across Canada to some 430,000.
sador to Manila Kristie KENNEY Philippine giants Notwithstanding their status in Canadian life, their Philip-
Kenney, who added that Banco de Oro and Me- pine regions of origin, their religion, their sex, their voting
the Philippine government should trobank are among those that de- ages, bad weather, multiple working schedules, anything
use this footing to its advantage by clared having “exposure” to Lehm- and everything that may come their way, they will responsi-
maintaining an investor-friendly en- an. bly go to their precincts and cheerfully cast their ballots as
vironment. Due to the ripple effect U.S. one caring community eager to have their voices matter in
Lehman Brothers is a global lend- firms have on US-dependent econo- molding a greater, stronger Canadian nation.
ing company, with the AIG among mies such as the Philippines, U.S. When they march to the polls, they are inspired by a re-
its associates. AIG has a major op- Congress has started “looking to sounding cry: VOTE WISELY!
eration in the Philippines. improve regulations on banking” in
(To page 9)
Lehman Brothers declared bank- the U.S., she added. PNA
2 Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor 3 CALENDAR
► SEPT. 20: Philippine Press Club-On-

ARE YOU INJURED?


tario Casino Rama Fundraiser.
► SEPT. 20: Our Lady of Penafrancia
Celebration, Centre Island Park
► SEPT. 20: Ontario Filipino Women’s
Club 27th Anniversary Partry, Royal Ca-

GET SERIOUS HELP nadian Legion Hall, 6 p.m.


► SEPT. 20: Polytechnic University of
the Philippines Alumni Association of

FROM SERIOUS LAWYERS Canada Gala Night, Alex Manoogian


Cultural Centre.
► SEPT. 20: Abranian Club of Ontario
Dinner-Dance, Garnett Community
Car Accidents Slips & Falls Centre.
24 HOUR ► SEPT. 20: Kalayaan Filipino Cultural
Organization Silver Jubilee Gala Night
SERVICE
and Coronation, Capitol Centre, Missis-
sauga.
► SEPT. 21: DEE Entertainment
1000 Finch Av. W. - 4th Floor Group’s Lani Misalucha-Regine Velas-
(corner of Finch & Dufferin) quez Duel of the Divas Concert, Roy
Thompson Hall, 7 p.m.

416-663-9309
► SEPT. 26: Philippine Chamber of
Commerce-Toronto Appreciation Night,
Ellesmere Community Recreation Cen-
tre, 6:30 p.m.
► SEPT. 27: Filipino Parents Associa-
tion 36th Anniversary, Royal Canadian
Legion Hall, 6 p.m.
► SEPT. 27: Januaynos Dinner Dance,
Garnet Williams, Vaughan.
► SEPT. 27: Filipino-Canadian Associ-
ation of Niagara 40th Anniversary, Qual-
ity Hotel Parkway Convention Centre,
St. Catharines.
► SEPT. 27: Camarines Norte Associa-
tion of Canada-Ontario Officers’ Induc-
tion, Our Lady of Assumption Church.
► OCT. 11: Featinian Association of
Toronto Dinner Dance, Rembrandt Ban-
quet Hall, 7 p,m.
(To page 18)
Visit www.pakulo.com to view the
calendar of public events in Ontar-
io and the rest of North America.

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4 NEWS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

Front Page Philippines TV debuts in Alberta


Front Page Philippines
– the weekly TV program
aimed at the Filipino-Cana- Publishers, ConGen, PCCT fete Cag. Valley, Isabela visitors
designers get
dian community in Ontario
debuts in Alberta, Sunday,
September 21.
The first airing of the
program in Calgary and Ed-
monton, Alberta coincides
Slimp tips
with the sixth anniversary Several members of
of the program in continu- the community media, on
ously providing bits and Sept. 6, availed themselves
pieces of news, cultural of helpful and relevant in-
events and entertainment to formation from newspaper
Ontario viewers. GIE ALVAREZ technology expert Kevin
Ace Alvarez, producer Slimp of the Institute of
of the program, recalled on Monday, September 15, Newspaper Technology,
that it was on September to serve and reflect the in- University of Tennessee.
21, 2002 that the Front creasingly diverse popula- Among them are Manila
Page Philippines first aired tion of that province. Media Monitor managing
in Ontario. “We’re clearly happy to editor Ace Alvarez, Philip-
In Alberta, the program be a pioneering language pine Courier’s Mon Datol The Philippine Consulate General’s Office in Toronto and the Philippine
will be aired through the television in two previously and Mike Caducio, Taliba’s Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT) jointly hosted a reception in Toronto
two recently-acquired tele- underserved areas at the Rolly Cabrera, Filipini- recently for the visiting 30-person delegation from Cagayan Valley and Isa-
vision stations of Rogers same time,” Al Thorgeirson, ana’s Paz, and Peryodiko bela, Philippines. From left, Antonio Miro, Jr., municipal mayor of San Pablo,
OMNI Television in that Regional Vice President of Radikal’s Rodel Garcia. Isabela; Rafael Nebres, PCCT president; Hanz Binks, Canadian Executive
province, namely, OMNI Television for Rogers Me- Alvarez, president of Services Organization volunteer and business practices counsellor; Chris-
Calgary (CJCO) which airs dia said.. the Canadian Ethnic Media topher Mamauag, municipal mayor of Cabagan, Isabela and head of delega-
on cable channel 4 and over- “While we are breaking Association and vice presi- tion; ConGen Alejandro Mosquera; Roberto Agcaoili, municipal mayor of San
the-air on channel 38; and, new ground with Rogers dent of the Philippine Press Mateo, Isabela; and, Esperanza Banares, regional director of the Department
OMNI Edmonton (CJEO), OMNI Alberta we are also Club-Ontario (PPC-O), fa- of Trade and Industry, Region II. The mission aims to promote the agri-busi-
airing on cable channel 11 providing a long-overdue (To page 18) ness industry from the Philippines’ Region II. PCCT photo
and over-the-air on channel service by offering commu-
56. nity-focused programming broadcast reflection to the Television. cultural issues and stories ippines could be viewed
Canadian broadcast his- in 20 languages to ethnocul- ethnocultural communities “Each OMNI station throughout our evolving across Canada on OMNI 2
tory unfolds anew when tural audiences we feel will of the province -- this is a will have a strong focus on national television system Television through the sat-
Rogers OMNI Television be highly receptive.” huge victory on both sides local news with a balance of – something we’ve never ellite facilities of Bell Ex-
launched the two landmark “Rogers OMNI Alberta of the camera,” says Mad- local, regional and national been able to offer before,” pressVu on Channel 216 and
ethnic programming tele- is pleased and privileged eline Ziniak, National Vice perspectives as well as the Ziniak said. StarChoice on Channel 395,
vision stations in Alberta to bring much-needed President of Rogers OMNI opportunity to share ethno- While Front Page Phil- (To page 24)
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor NEWS 5
Manila Media Monitor managing editor
acclaimed to CEMA presidency
Manila Media Monitor ties across Canada. She called on past presi-
managing editor and Front Acclaimed with Alvarez dent Viccari to review CE-
Page Philippines TV pro- were officers Dat Nguyen, MA’s activities during the
ducer Ace Alvarez became 1st vice president; Bill Yan- past two years.
president of the 30-year coff, 2nd vice-president; In his speech, Viccari
old Canadian Ethnic Me- Doreen Vanini, secretary; cited his work with Alvarez,
dia Association (CEMA) and Irene Chu, treasurer. saying, “In those two years,
by members’ acclamation Serving with them in the my work with Ace stepped
during the organization’s board are Madeline Ziniak, up to almost daily contacts
General Biennial Meeting executive chair; Ben Vicca- and I can assure you that
and Elections on Septem- ri, Jules Elder, Zuhair Kash- Ace’s are high!”
ber 11, 2008, following an meri, Hyo Kim, Kati Rekai, Viccari recalled that it
announcement by CEMA Kiumars Rezvanifar, Gina was Alvarez - who prior
chair Madeline Ziniak that Valle and Elena Zolotko. to his presidency, served
no slate, nor nominations Arnim Joop, publisher as CEMA corporate secre-
for candidates had been of The Albertaner, a Ger- tary for the last eight years
submitted by deadline date man language monthly and and 1st vice president in a Outgoing president Ben Viccari (right) delivers his biennial report.
of September 1, 2008. an upcoming multicultural concurrent position for the MANILA MEDIA MONITOR Photo
The occcasion was a English-language monthly last two years - who put
poignant one for everybody and a multiple CEMA award together and wrote the con- network RTVI, with studios Alvarez assured mem- ahead.
who saw long-time presi- winner, and Nick Noorani, stitution and by-laws of the in Moscow, New York and bers that he would do his In 2000, Alvarez gave
dent Ben Viccari retired publisher of the English lan- organization. Tel Aviv, noted that it was best for some of the next 30 the Filipino community
from the post. guage Canadian Immigrant Before this, CEMA (then when Alvarez got closely years. honor when he was listed
Members at the same and a 2008 award winner, known as the Canadian Eth- involved with CEMA as He said he was happy to in Canadian Who’s Who for
time applauded their in- became, respectively, spe- nic Journalists’ and Writers’ secretary that processes be- have such a distinguished his contribution to Cana-
coming president as Viccari cial representatives for the Club) had an unwritten con- came faster within the orga- and efficient Board of Di- dian journalism.
handed over the helm of the Provinces of Alberta and stitution, meaning the by- nization. rectors to assist him in man- The publication is the
organization to Alvarez. British Columbia. laws, rules and regulations As secretary, Alvarez aging CEMA’s affairs. only reference book of its
Alvarez’s term of office After thanking members governing the organization gathered, maintained and He thanked all mem- kind, compiled and pub-
took effect immediately. for attending and voting, were not embodied in one constantly updated the elec- bers, his fellow officers and lished annually by the Uni-
CEMA is a national Ziniak congratulated Alva- single document. tronic data system of CEMA board members for their versity of Toronto, contain-
professional association rez and stated her pride in Long-time member Al- for use in the speedy distri- support, at the same time ing names of distinguished
composed of journalists and the organization - founded exander Gerhstein – a news bution of all communication thanking Ziniak and Viccari Canadians where listing is
writers in the print, radio, by her father - that has so correspondent in Toronto and information to members for their kind words and by invitation only and based
television and the new me- successfully reached its for the international Rus- across the country and the good wishes for him, as he on merit. Manila Media
dia from various communi- 30th anniversary. sian-language television organization’s stakeholders. looked forward to the time Monitor
6 NEWS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

GK’s Wilks: Join fight vs poverty


“You are the new heroes of your coun- of its people who have less in life. to pave the way for
try because you sacrifice for the sake of Wilks had sold his BMW to bankroll the positive changes in
providing a better future to your country.” construction of a GK village. his beloved mother-
This, English millionaire Dylan Wilks He called on Filipino-Canadians to join land.
told hundreds of people who joined the the battle to fight poverty in the Philippines He said the suc-
Sept. 6 GK (as in Gawad Kalinga or Giving by actively participating in GK’s rebuilding cess of GK shelter
Care) Walk along major streets of Toronto programs. programs in the Phil-
and who later converged at the Nathan Phil- Heroic sacrifice ippines was in part
ips Square for a short program. Referring to Filipinos as modern day courtesy of generous
Wilks, a prime GK supporter, joined a bayani (hero), Wilks likened the Filipino Filipino-Canadians.
battery of speakers who stressed on mes- expats to Philippine national hero Jose Wilks added that
sages of hope for the Philippines and most Rizal, who made sacrifices while in exile across Canada, peo-
ple had gladly part-
PM Harper and Toronto community leaders ing with cherished
antique collections
and luxury cars to
make substantial
contributions to build DYLAN WILKS
GK homes.
Todate, Filipino-Canadians have helped for a better future had been a “life chang-
build some 80 GK villages in various re- ing process” for many GK beneficiaries and
gions of the Philippines. A village com- volunteers alike.
prised 30 homes. Amid bad weather
Change people? Love them. Bad weather did not dampen the zeal
He narrated the story of three young and spirit of more than 1,000 GK support-
girls who chose to give their money to build ers from all over the GTA and as far as Wa-
houses for the poor instead of having lavish terloo and Kitchener area who completed
debut parties. the five-kilometer walk for a worthy cause.
Wilks emphasized that the success of Among the groups that joined the
GK never depended solely on generous two-hour charity walk were Canada Post,
contributions from donors, but more so on Couples for Christ, Circulo Ilonggo, Bukas
the caring relationship and partnership be- Loob sa Diyos.
tween supporters and beneficiaries. GK walkers wore light blue shirts with
“We change people by loving them,” he the message “Less for self, more for others,
stressed. enough for all” emblazoned on the back.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (center, 2nd row) joins leaders of various He called on GK Walk participants to Jointly sponsored by the Philippine
communities in Toronto after meeting with them on Sept. 16. The leaders come and visit GK communities and im- Independence Day Council, the GK Walk
included Philippine Independence Day Council president and Filipino com- merse themselves in the programs. also promoted Filipino culture, by way of
munity civic leader Jun Enverga (standing, 4th from left). Photo: JASON Wilks said helping the poor reclaim a culminating entertainment fare at Nathan
RANSOM their dignity and providing them with hope (To page 16)
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS 7
… not that guy in photo, but She said, “What were you
his grandfather – Governor of talking about? I was referring to
Cavite at the age of 26, sena- the hurricanes.”
tor at 34 and representative “Oh, I thought you were talk-
of Cavite’s lone district at 39, ing about the Sorianos; PPCO
and whose death thereafter was President Antero ‘Tenny’ Soriano,
ACE ALVAREZ described by Philippine Com- and his brothers, Gustav and Ike.”
monwealth President Manuel L. *****

Classic PR stupidity
Quezon as a loss to the country Myrna Soriano tipped us
of a devoted and loyal public off that GMA7 is giving a free
servant. preview in the GTA of the net-
***** work’s programming through
As I was about to start writing lease! Ontario (PPC-O), for having I was busy on the computer Rogers Cable 646.
this item, I got an e-mail for pub- ***** us over at the celebration of the one evening early this month Exchanging notes later on
lication of a press release from a My wife Gie and I thank the feast of St. Augustine – Tanza, catching up with my work, while GMA7’s newscast and report-
volunteer probably of the Progres- board members, officers and Cavite’s patron saint on Satur- my wife Gie was watching the ing, as well as that of TFC’s
sive Conservatives. members of the Tanza, Cavite day, August 23, at Earl Bales CTV evening newscast, when she before this - and those of Philip-
At the bottom of the e-mail, Association of Canada, includ- Park in North York. commented, ”First it was Gustav; pine news reporting in general,
it states: “Confidentiality Warn- ing our close friends Myrna and One very prominent son of now it’s Ike.” we noticed that everybody was
ing: This message and any attach- Antero Soriano (rightmost, first Tanza, Cavite is Antero Soria- I replied, “Talagang ang mag- yelling their news delivery.
ments are intended only for the row in photo below) – president no. kapatid na ‘yan, oo! What’s next, Many of the news items were
use of the intended recipient(s), of the Philippine Press Club- What? …. No … no … no Antero?” also about alleged anomalies
are confidential, and may be privi- and corruption in the govern-
leged. If you are not the intended ment.
recipient, you are hereby notified Hhhmmm …. I remember
that any review, retransmission, that when I was in high school,
conversion to hard copy, copy- I use to see that school on F.B.
ing, circulation or other use of Harrison in Pasay City – the
this message and any attachments School for the Deaf and the
is strictly prohibited. If you are Blind. I guess, the Philippines
not the intended recipient, please should have more of this kind of
notify the sender immediately by school with newsreaders and re-
return e-mail, and delete this mes- porters yelling, as if their view-
sage and any attachments from ers and listeners would not be
your system. Thank you.” able to hear them if they speak
What was the press release normally, and with Filipinos not
about? I’m sorry readers, but I am seeing what continues gravely in
not at liberty to divulge its con- the government.
tents, neither do I have the liberty *****
to “retransmit” it and its attach- Citing CBC Television’s stats,
ments to Manila Media Monitor Members and officers of the Tanza, Cavite Association of Canada, led by its president, Edgar the daily update of Marketing
editor Butch Galicia, much more, Torres (5th from left with his son), celebrate the feast of their town’s patron, St. Augustine Magazine for August 27 said
to circulate it with this publica- -- whom they fondly call “Tata Uste”, Saturday, August 23, at Earl Bales Park in North York. that more than 24 million view-
tion. Among those hailing from the town is Antero Soriano (rightmost, 1st row), president of the ers tuned in to the coverage of
Stupid request for press re- Philippine Press Club-Ontario. MANILA MEDIA MONITOR Photo (To page 24)
8 VIEWS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

From The
I don’t understand what’s go- unarguably true that those who
ing on with the two camps in- have talents and love for music
volved in the Making Waves Fes- were able to focus and concentrate
tival, staged from August 15 to 17,
2008 at the Ontario Place.
According to Filipino-Cana-
Monitor’s Desk more, and stressed that many of
the students of NCM are now pro-
fessionals, among others, lawyers,
dian talents and workers who per- doctors and accountants.
formed their side of the agreement
ACE ALVAREZ One NCM brochure declares
at the festival, they have not been this, too, stating, “Our students
paid by the corporation which or-
ganized the event, Show Philip- MWF is Making range from ages 3 to 93, and many
of our students between the ages

Waves Festival; not


pines-Festivals of the Arts, which of 60 and 80 are still learning very Managing Editor
ACE ALVAREZ
- judging from the negotiation well.”

Music With Fee?


Editor
with talents - is apparently headed Karl himself is a perfect model BUTCH GALICIA
by Teresa Torralba. of the statement immediately stat-
Associate Editor
The talents and some of those ed above. GIE ALVAREZ
who worked for the festival did Karl plays the accordion very
Contributing Editors
not get their fees because Torralba their ticketed functions - if only ippines, probably – just probably, well, and back in the 70s was a Grace P. Freires
claimed there’s no money. to pay for gas, clothing, and in the payment of your fees were just travelling music lesson salesman Manny Freires
some instances, parking for our delayed. Ben Viccari
Some publications likewise, for one company, later realizing Mag Cruz Hatol
to this writing, have not been paid Filipino-Canadian talents for their If you haven’t been able to col- that he could do it as a business Pete Lacaba
the advertising placed with them. appearances and performances at lect yet, you may probably inquire for himself, and which he did. Mel Tobias

I was wondering what ever those events. with the public relations and pub- Later, he thought of putting up Editorial Assistants
happened to the money given by In the meantime, just shortly licity people of Show Philippines, a school to continue doing what Lennart Leigh Alvarez-Mahoney
Dods Andrada
Remit X in the amount of $50,000 after the staging of the Making when their cameras will be rolling he loves to be engaged in: music!
as major sponsor of the event - Waves Festival, another enter- to photograph you receiving your To make the long story short, Contributors
Edwin Acuna
which Remit X executive Virgil tainer came to me and the PPC-O talent fees (they’re quick at this, Karl still is into music, and built Bien Garcia
Ignacio even confirmed with me president, narrating how he was you know?). NCM into what it is today - one Jeannie Pilapil
Eva Agpaoa
in passing during our telephone asked to perform at a recent con- ***** of the largest contemporary music Mario Dimain
conversation, Tuesday, July 8 - a cert in consideration for a fee. Talking about entertainment, I schools in North America. Noel Perada
Larry Torres
few days before the installation of The entertainer appeared and happen to chance upon Karl Haab Karl said that some of his em- Chito Sarabia
officers and board of directors of performed. of the New Conservatory of Mu- ployees have been with the school
Account Executive
the Philippine Press Club-Ontario The fee, however,.never ap- sic (NCM) at his office recently for 20 years. MYRNA SORIANO
(PPC-O). peared and the verbal contract not when I dropped off something for *****
Graphics
Nonetheless, this situation has performed. his company. As you may have known be- IDTech Solutions
been similarly happening repeat- Our counsel: when concert During my conversation with fore you got to this page - and 416-875-2541
projects@idtechsolutuionsnetwork.com
edly, as experienced by even the producers approach you to per- the NCM president, I asked Karl - this column in particular, I was
most veteran entertainers and per- form, ask for a 50 percent down out of curiosity - how many years recently acclaimed into the presi- Philippine Communication Facility
GRACE MEDIA SERVICES
formers in the Filipino-Canadian upon signing of contract (yes, usually do his students stay at his dency of the Canadian Ethnic Me- 974 Metrica Street
community; and yes, even those contract) and full payment IN music school. dia Association (CEMA) - an all 1008 Manila, Philippines
Tel/Fax: (632) 742-1484
entertainers who are (in PPC-O CASH before you step on the Karl said that his students inclusive national organization of
president Tenny Soriano’s jargon) stage, otherwise, if the latter part stay for as long as they could. He professionals working in print, ra-
Published by
in “recycling mode”. is not handed over to you before said some of his students started dio, television and the new media Manila MEDIA MONITOR, INC.
In July last year, I was invited your performance, you might as when they were three years old (the internet). 98 Comrie Terrace
by Studio Six Productions to speak well tell the producer that you’re and, even when they were in high My predecessor in the post is Scarborough, Ontario M1M 3T2
CANADA
at their event where they unveiled having a migraine attack (which school, continued to advance their my neighbor to my left, Ben Vicc-
their plans for a concert tandem will only diminish after receiving talents in music. ari – who, last July 2nd celebrated Tel. 416.285.8583
of their Class A talents, Josie de the balance to the full payment). The next question from me his 90th birth anniversary.
Leon and Karen Tan. Anyway, going back to the was “why” it was so, if those stu- I anticipate that in succeed- YOUR TOTAL, CONCISE
and COMPREHENSIVE
At this event, I called on com- Making Waves Festival … for dents after all were not pursuing a ing Ben as the president of such Manila MEDIA MONITOR
munity leaders to please pay their those entertainers who said they career in music. prestigious and big organization is published and circulated
have not been paid by Show Phil- Karl’s response was that it was once a month
talents when the latter perform at (To page 30) in Toronto and its suburbs.

Manila MEDIA MONITOR is a


Pity the poor Filpino teacher tutoring, teaches the adult new publication dedicated
or parent unable to cope with things: how to cut and paste, how to the formation of positive

Roundabout
values in the Filipino-Canadian
the changes around them, tim- to send messages to multiple re- social and business community.
idly groping around as their cipients, how to burn their favor-
Manila MEDIA MONITOR
young wards nimbly swing from ite tunes into discs. covers all aspects of interest
branch to branch of the technol- Only then does that same Pi- to the community it serves.
ogy tree. MAG CRUZ-HATOL noy teacher (or parent) understand
Every effort is made
Philippine public school teach- the magic that went into a 60-sec- to verify the information published
ers unanimously decry their gen- ond Coke ad that features 1,600 in Manila MEDIA MONITOR -
your one of only two
eral inability to compete with the cuts or almost one cut per frame
What Pinoy teachers (and
community papers in Toronto
speed with which many Filipino of film. (the other paper being ...
‘the others’). The views and opinions
children are now accustomed. But he still catches his breath

parents) should heed today


expressed, however, by individual
They cannot keep in step with while the child has easily found writers are not necessarily the
the blitzkrieg pace of the way me- nuances in every second of the opinion, nor reflect those, of the
publisher. Thus, the publication
dia transmit messages, with the said ad. accepts no responsibility in
way television encapsulizes the Like their decades-old in- when a program they watch be- The very same teachers (and connection with any liability
which might develop resulting
most sophisticated thought or idea structional materials, these teach- gins to disintegrate or when they parents) should wake up to the from articles published.
in under 30 seconds. ers refuse to face modern reality start yawning. fact that it was the computer that
Manila MEDIA MONITOR
We have met scores of local squarely. They, however, refuse to ac- was named Time’s Machine of the accepts submissions, subject to
teachers ready to throw in the With noses raised, they snob- cept that they are themselves crea- Year in the early 80s. availability of space, but reserves
bishly refer to everything they tures of media. the right to edit for publication.
towel. The same American news-
These are the instructors whose cannot fathom as “works of the It is this same group of teach- weekly did not name any military Contributed articles must be
yellowing notes, frayed charts and devil” and “not worth their time”. ers (and parents) who, after learn- bigshot of the Gulf War as its Man in word document format.
Photo releases must be with
outdated visuals are better thrown They cannot accept the fact ing the most basic maneuvers in of the Year in 1991 but instead captions and in JPEG format.
into the bonfire of oblivion. that technology today has empow- VCR technology, are as aggres- picked the Prince of the Global
Item and photo submissions
The most common plaint one ered children. sive in slowing down or replaying Village, Ted Turner who brought must be sent by e-mail via
hears from them is that mod- It has put kids in the editor’s scenes of choice, fast forwarding the war to our living rooms at the mediamonitor@rogers.com
ern media have made robots and chair, zapping out messages portions that slacken. very precise moment that it was Articles published in
tech wizards out of their pupils deemed boring (TV and DVDs), The very same teachers, who unfolding. Manila MEDIA MONITOR
and bungling ignoramuses out of sometimes fashioning entertain- after having discovered the won- Young kids we deal with at may be reproduced only
with the permission
themselves. ment that suits their tastes (MP3s ders of computers, become the Anak TV have added one more of the publisher.
“We cannot catch up!” and iPods), even creating their most passionate users of YouTube thing to their wish lists: that their
SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADVERTISING,
Many teachers (and parents) own media (digital and video- and the most rabid subscribers to teachers (and parents) realize and CIRCULATION and other inquiries
in the provinces can’t even begin cams, synthesizers). Friendster and Multiply. accept that modern technology is may be addressed at the following:
to fiddle with a mobile phone,
much less boot a computer or un-
It is funny that the very same
teachers who scorn trendy kids
It is as though the world has
flipped over; where the child, of-
not a monster.
And that understanding media
TEL. (416) 285-8583
derstand what an MP3 is. also flick TV channels mercilessly ten by example, sometimes by can be beneficial. FAX (416) 285-6862
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS 9
Chuck Cadman.
The Liberals claim the lawsuit
Commentary is unconstitutiomal.
The first hearing of the case
begins September 22 in Ottawa.
BEN VICCARI ***
EDITORIAL Friend Bill Andersen and his

VOTE WISELY!
wife took in the Canadian Nation-
al Exhibition with visiting brother

(From page 1)
PM’s authoritarian and family.
Bill told me of his amazement

stance challenged
at the splendor of this tribute to
In voting wisely, Filipino-Canadians will place Canadians.
the valid and legal interests and welfare of the The Quilt of Belonging proj-
According to a recent Cana- thoritarian governments.” ect was begun in the fall of 1998
community up front. dian Press dispatch, Peter Rus- The Liberals have filed an af- by artist Esther Bryan.
They will vote only for candidates, regardless sell, political scientist and profes- fidavit of defence against the $3.5 In 1995, she had gone on a
of political affinity, who openly and sincerely sor emeritus of the University of million suite Harper launched last life-changing journey to Slovakia
subscribe to these interests and work on these Toronto, Prime Minister Harper’s year, claiming that the Liberals with her parents to find the family
lawsuit against the Liberal Party had accused Harper of attempted and home her father had left be-
without fear or favor. (To page 24)
of Canada is “characteristic of au- bribery of former Tory MP the late
*****
Most adult members of the Filipino-Canadian
community can only recount the repeated rape
of the electoral processes back in the Philip-
pines. They have learned their lessons well.
In voting wisely, Filipino-Canadians will give
their nods only to politicians who love peace
and dislike violence, in any form.
They will never approve of politicians who
grandstand, blabbermouth and saber-rattle and
those who waste taxpayers’ hard-earned cash
by shrugging off or paying lip service to com-
munity issues and concerns.
They will veer away from candidates who
make promises that are trashed or are gone
with the wind as soon as the polls are over.
*****
Yearly, some 20,000 to 25,000 highly-educat-
ed Filipinos are being admitted into Canada, yet
they end up in sweatshops as minimum-wage Photo of the Quilt of belonging at the inaugural exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civi-
earners despite the wealth of education and ex- lization, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Photo: NICK WOLOCHATIUK
perience they possess.
In voting wisely, Filipino-Canadians will elect When it rains it pours. Or so
only those who are brave enough to dismiss the saying goes. For me, that’s
political peer pressure to fight and push for
laws that will provide fair and better treatment
been the case this past month.
Where to start? My car finally
gave up the ghost (as I knew it
Our Journey
of immigrants -- in terms of getting jobs suited would) and had to be towed. Its
to their academic proficiencies and work expe- been rumbling and grumbling at EVA AGPAOA
riences before they came to Canada. me for weeks now but I chose to
ignore the obvious signs.
***** My trusty green VW, which I
Moreover, thousands of Filipinos, most of love and which I’m loath to part
them females, are yearly lured to Canada, prom-
ised good jobs and the chance to someday be a
with, sits at my mechanic’s garage
awaiting my pronouncement. Drizzles of life
Canadian citizen. I dither. I don’t want to make
this choice. But alas, even I have
In voting wisely, Filipino-Canadians will cast to face the facts. But there’s a point here and it cause at one point, we actually
their ballots only for those unafraid to amend What else? Oh yeah, my com- is this: I have to admit that it rains wonder: Do I have enough food
very old and discriminating laws that sub- puter blew up. I never really liked troubles in my life everyday. to feed them? Enough drinks? I
ject workers to abuse, maltreatment and even it that much. And I have to admit Rainy season, dry season, ev- mean, we have been raised to take
that I’ve wanted its death many ery season. That’s a fundamental proper care of your guests after
death. part of being alive. all.
times (every time it did something
Filipino-Canadian electors will seek only wrong). One can find problems ev- By the end of the day, we
those who will pursue the physical and finan- But, now that it’s gone, I re- erywhere without to much effort. think: What has just happened
cial well-being and security of these workers. ally really miss it. It’s amazing And the problems can seem insur- here? I’ve been so busy entertain-
The days are over for politicians flagrantly how crippled I feel without it. The mountable. ing my problems I’ve done and
doctors are looking at it now and Sometimes they are. But in resolved nothing. Will tomorrow
flaunting and making a mockery of Canadian so I wait their prognosis. most cases the problems are solv- be any different?
benevolence to impress the global wilderness. What else? Oh yeah, my base- able. And often they present op- We don’t spend enough time
***** ment is leaking. I really don’t want portunities that open new doors. rejoicing in the positive. Why is
In voting wisely, Filipino-Canadians will put to relive the details. But it’s easy to be over- that?
My poor house is in so much whelmed and allow each problem Why do we always choose to
into office only those who believe in equality
agony that I want to cry. There has to take over the day. focus on the bad things?
and fraternity, and those who can honestly say been major construction going on Suddenly, all plans are out the Is it because the positive things
that productive communities are not just eth- trying to mend my leaking house. window because a fresh problem are not worthy?
nological props that make up the internation- Every day brings a new drizzle has just arrived like an unplanned It always baffles me. I told
ally-renowned Canadian montage. that just adds to my discomfort. guest from hell. about my car, computer and
This is the rainy season for It sits there demanding atten- house.
me. I’m soaked to the bones with tion, refusing to leave. These are bad things which
ADVERTISE with troubles and it feels like they will And then another arrives. Then happened to me last month.
never be dry again. another and another ….. I’m sure next month I can
Manila Media Monitor I think that if I’m not careful Soon an entire house is packed come up with a list just as bad or
Call 416-285-8583 this downpour can drag me down
and eventually drown me.
with unwanted guests.
Then we go a little crazy be-
even worse.
(To page 35)
10 VIEWS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008
I recently got an e-mail from a da’s largest trading partner, I think sembly and before a global audi-
friend in Manila, asking me if this Canada can stand alone. (I sent ence - the stark reality that more
was an opportune time for her son
and his wife to come to Canada as
immigrants under Manitoba’s pro-
my friend the news item on Fla-
herty and Canada’s economy on
page 32.)
Omerta than 70 percent of the Philippines’
close to 89 million people are
poorly fed, poorly clothed, poorly
vincial nominee program. “Canada has been through a BUTCH GALICIA sheltered and poorly served by her
They were wary of the seem- recession before. But the govern- unpopular government.
ing recession in the US and asked ment says it is more prepared to She will never admit that she
how it has been impacting on deal with one because of its very has waged an all-out war - which

Opportune time?
Canada, and how it might impact high reserves. her master spinners branded as all-
on them as newcomers. “It has a Winter Olympics to out peace - against elements of the
I wrote back: “Is it an oppor- host in Vancouver in 2010 and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,
tune time to come here? Anytime oil sands in Alberta, somewhat (MILF), shortly after negating a
is an opportune time. The earlier close to Manitoba, are starting to it’s a land of milk and honey (not a would want to get out of the Phil- document signed by a peace ne-
they could come here, the earlier operate. few call it a land of snow and tax- ippines and go elsewhere, ideally gotiating panel she so set up, that
they would be citizens. The bridge “Please also do tell the chil- es) are not at all that unfounded. to work and stay for good. could have moved the peace talks
can only be crossed when it is dren to keep on reading news and Modern technology and cy- Nagbabaka-sakali, some between her government and the
reached.” other information about Canada berspace have made people aware 2,000 persons line up the Philip- MILF forward.
“Just tell them not to expect and its socio-economic standing of heaps and piles of tales of pine foreign affairs department’s She will never admit to so
too much out of Canada, but ask through the Internet. woe newcomers to Canada get to passport processing center daily many things her government has
them to expect the most of them- “We have elections here on know in time and have learned to to get passports, even if they have miserably failed to do or has so
selves so they could make the best October 14. Prime Minister Ste- live with, albeit tears they almost no immediate use for it, except as brazenly dismissed as political
out of their life here. phen Harper called for it, as he always keep to themselves. Tiis identification. nuances, even if she had vowed to
“Please do tell them not to be- asked the Crown to dissolve Par- lang, kabayan. Ngiti ka naman ***** do so when she took her oath of
lieve too much on what they see liament. diyan. Philippine President Gloria office.
on various literary propaganda “This may mean a lot when it But the fear of squarely fac- Macapagal-Arroyo, who is on a Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo must
about getting jobs in Canada they comes to handling the economic ing and enduring the Philippine working visit in New York until be keeping many things to herself
used to do in the Philippines. affairs of Canada and prevent the social, economic and political rut near-end September, is expected to and her legions, who must be wait-
“Every immigrant here has country from being heavily affect- seems stronger than the worries of harp again on the economic gains ing for the opportune time too.
been chronically brainwashed to ed by a seeming US recession.” finding good jobs and living in a of the country, whatever figures Why not? The year 2010, the
work himself from bottom to top, ***** strange land. could mean for political edge. year when she is supposed to end
whatever bottom and top means. The fear (some call it excite- Recent Philippine data show It is also expected that Mrs. her term of office, is just around
“Even with a recession in the ment) of many people trying to that more than 75 percent of Fili- Arroyo will never admit - before the corner. butchgalicia@yahoo.
US, which incidentally is Cana- land in North America believing pinos, if they had the resources, the United Nations General As- com

It was love at first sight. I was

The Un-Comfort
a 15-year old working as a park-

The 3rd Eye ing lot cashier, when a brand new


car pulled up to the booth.

MARIO DIMAIN
I’d never seen anything like it;
it was a new model from Toyota
called Celica.
Zone
Approaching the legal driving with ROBERT WILSON
age, I dreamed of owning a car.
Now my dream had a form.
The unwelcomed For the next two years, I saved
all my money and during that time What drives
friend a Celica couldn’t come within my
peripheral vision without my no- your desire?
ticing it.
It was the only car I wanted. Less than a week later, he Family and friends are two of
I went to the showroom doz- phoned me. the most common.
ens of times to sit in it, feel it, He found one I could afford. Winners give their Desire
smell it. It had a small dent in the fender complete attention, focus and en-
I talked with every owner of which I could fix for under $100. ergy.
one who passed through my park- Cha-ching Desire satisfied. Michael Jordan is an excel-
ing lot. When was the last time you lent example; he became one of
I was driven. were obsessed with something? the greatest basketball players by
Unfortunately, a new one was Desire is a powerful motiva- making 2000 practice shots every-
too expensive, so I looked in the tor, but unlike Fear it cannot be day.
newspaper every day for a used easily triggered. Are you that dedicated to your
one, but I was always more than Oh, sure, I can create a tele- dream?
$1,000 short. vision ad depicting a thick juicy On the other hand, perhaps
At 17 and half years old, bor- steak sizzling on a grill and make you gain more satisfaction from
rowing my parents’ car was pain- your mouth water. your hobbies than your work.
ful. Maybe I can even get you off In that case, you probably wish
A Canadian soldier and two curious boys. MARIO DIMAIN
The desire and the peer pres- the couch and into your car to go you could spend more time pursu-
Inside the Light Armoured Ve- Afghanistan next month,” he said sure to own a car – any car – was get one. ing them instead of your job.
hicle (LAV3), a young Canadian without hesitation. nearly overwhelming, and my As a marketer, an employer, or That is because pleasure is the
soldier was catering to the curi- His voice echoed the discipline dream was wavering. even as a parent, I can plant the force that fans the flames of De-
osity of the two boys who were and valour of a trained soldier. My friends began suggesting seeds of desire, but in order for it sire.
bombarding him with rapid-fire His thorough knowledge of cars that I could afford. to blossom, it must develop from Marsha Sinetar in her book
queries. operating the armoured vehicle Then my Dad introduced me within. Do What You Love the Money
His answers were direct and and its firepower was quite re- to a car wholesaler. Once it takes root, Desire has Will Follow writes: “When you
well calculated but never failed markable. When I met with him, I re- the amazing ability to drive itself. study people who are successful...
to amuse the two youngsters who But inside the uniform stood luctantly gave him a list of cars I When it becomes very power- it is abundantly clear that their
probably thought that war is just an inexperienced young man thought I could afford. ful, we call it Ambition. achievements are directly related
as fun as video games. whose military training would As we talked about them, he So few people reach this level to the enjoyment they derive from
The scenario was captured soon be tested for the first time in seemed to sense my lack of enthu- that we use the word Hunger to their work.”
in my camcorder as I videotaped a real volatile battlefield. siasm. describe it because that is a Desire Are you ready to give up ev-
the simulated military base put on He is only twenty three years He pressed me, “Are there that everyone can understand. erything for your Desire?
display by the Canadian Armed old. Young enough to be my son. any others you’re interested in?” When you observe the world’s (Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is a
Forces at the Canadian National His youthful smile assured me “Well... there’s the Toyota Celi- most successful people - - in busi- motivational speaker and humor-
Exhibition. that he is confident and ready for ca,” I replied, “but I know I can’t ness, sports, or politics - - you see ist. He works with companies
The forest-green camouflage combat. afford it.” that Desire takes precedence over that want to be more competi-
made the Canadian flag emblem His family must be hurting to He jotted it down and said, every other aspect of their lives, tive and with people who want to
standout on his uniform. see him go, but I know that they “You let me worry about that.” As Frank Sinatra sings in I’ve think like innovators.
With the matching beret, he are proud of him. My eyes lit up as he asked me Got You Under My Skin: “I’d sacri- For more information on
looked very sharp. With a firm handshake, I about colors and options. fice anything come what might.” Robert’s programs please visit
“I have been in the service looked straight into his eyes and Then he drew a big circle Most us have many things we www.jumpstartyourmeeting.
for two years and I am going to (To page 23) around the word Celica. are unwilling to sacrifice. com.)
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor FEATURE 11
Crisis stretching OFWs’ ability to send money
By JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO
www.ofwjournalism.net
MANILA - A US-generated these Filipinos, Ang warned that months of last year.
financial crisis is testing overseas remittance flows, especially from While remittances from land-
Filipino workers’ (OFW) ability the United States and the King- based Filipino workers in major
to send cash home, an economist dom of Saudi Arabia, were enter- host countries still rose, Ang said
said using government data on re- ing a “plateau.” growth rates year-on-year were
mittances. (Related item on page Using year-on-year total for- “not significant increases.”
12) mally-sent cash remittances on Borderline
“If OFWs persist in sending a six-month period ending May, Even the Philippines’ total
more money, it will not be physi- Ang said if the growth rate of monthly remittances were either
cally sustainable for them,” Al- remittances was below and up to touching plateau levels or were
vin Ang told the experiencing
OFW Journalism negative growth
Consortium before Filipinos in Canada sent US$0.46 bil- rates, according
monetary authori- lion from January to May 2008, for a to Ang.
ties reported on The coun-
Aug. 15 that OFWs year-on-year 70.65% growth rate. try received
sent home a record US$1.396 billion
US$1.5 billion in June. three percent, “that for me is a pla- in December 2007 but the follow-
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi- teau.” ing month’s remittance declined
nas (BSP) linked the 30-percent He cited, as example, cash by 9.52 percent to US$1.264 bil-
year-on-year remittance growth from land-based OFWs in the US lion and to US$1.258 billion in
rate to an increase in the number that grew by less than a percent February this year.
of Filipinos who left for work (0.66) to US$2.462 billion in the Ang said the declining rates
abroad from January to June. first six months ending May as might be due to several factors,
The BSP cited state data that against the same six-month period including US inflation and higher
recorded that more than 600,000 in 2007 of US$2.446 billion. oil and commodities prices.
Filipino workers left the country Likewise, Ang noted money He, however, said the effects
WORKING TO SEND MORE, BUT FOR HOW LONG? Filipina using official channels during the credited as coming from land- on remittances from these eco-
babysitters like this one in France’s bustling capital of Paris first six months of the year. based OFWs in Saudi Arabia in nomic aberrations were not im-
continue to work harder to send more money back home. The figure was just above the the five-month period ending May mediate.
But given a US-generated financial crisis whose economic total number of overseas contract hit US$528.013 million. “Give it one to one-and-a-half
effects are felt both in the Philippines and in the countries workers deployed in 1991, or The amount represented a years before we really feel the full
where Filipinos work, an economist worries that the desire 615,019. 1.12 percent growth rate from effect,” he said.
by OFWs to send more money ‘will not be physically sus- While acknowledging the in- the US$522.156 million sent He noted that cash from OFWs
tainable to them. Photo by JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO creasing rate of remittances from from Saudi Arabia in the first five (To page 14)

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12 FEATURE Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

OTOP brings RP’s best town products to world marts


By AURELIO A. PEÑA
DAVAO CITY - Name its own adaptation called
any Philippine town, chanc- OTOP fitted perfectly into
es are there’s a unique and the ten-point agenda of
exciting product behind it. President Gloria Macapagal
From the bottled spicy Arroyo to create six mil-
sardines of Dipolog, the lion jobs for jobless Pinoys
sparkling lanterns of San before her term ended in
Fernando, Pampanga, to 2010.
the aromatic roasted cof- Only the best
fee of Tabuk, Kalinga to Most Filipinos, howev-
the crunchy banana chips er, are still wondering what
of Davao, OTOP or “One OTOP is all about.
Town, One Product” has “Simply put, townfolk
been putting Philippines try to find out what they
provinces and regions on do best in their town and
the world trading map. then make the best out of
Japanese beginnings it. They identify a product
Japan’s original idea of they’re very good at, devel-
“One Village, One Product” op it, package it very well
or OVOP founded by entre- and market it,” says Trade
preneur Morihiko Hiramat- Undersecretary Merly Cruz
su some 20 years ago, has who has been going around
gone a long way in touching the country’s regions
the lives of small entrepre- spreading and promot-
neurs in the backyards and ing the OTOP concept and
little factories of Thailand, making sure the idea keeps
Vietnam, Cambodia, Paki- catching fire in every town
stan, India, Bangladesh, and city of the Philippines.
China and Indonesia. Business vs poverty
This small business OTOP is one govern-
concept has been so suc- ment program that promotes
cessful in all these countries Filipino entrepreneurship.
that adopted Hiramatsu’s Through OTOP, may- The tuna is the product trademark of General Santos City (formerly known as Dadiangas). From the
OVOP that the Philippines ors and governors of towns bosom of the sea to the canning plants, the tuna has made the city and its people an envy of economic
lost no time in jumping into and regions try to pinpoint prosperity by their neighbors in South Cotabato, the Mindanao islands and the Philippines. Above:
the bandwagon a few years a unique product or services Thanksgiving pomp, color and gaiety mark the opening on Aug. 29 of the Tuna Festival that highlights
ago. specialized by their local the 40th Charter Anniversary of General Santos City. Organizers claim there is only one Tuna Festival
For the Philippines, (To page 13) in the world. Photo: ROMMEL REBOLLIDO

GENERAL DENTISTRY
Dr. Gilbert Chan
Dr. Daphne Chien
Dr. Janet Ho
Dr. Janet Wong
Dr. Michael Chin
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor 13
FinancialProblem
OTOP brings RP’s ...
(From page 12)
folks and help propagate it with funding, pro-
motions and marketing to domestic and foreign

with credit cards & bank loans ? ?


markets.
In one town for instance, a town mayor will
identify, develop and promote just one specific AMIT BHATIA
product that has the best chances of succeeding Credit Counsellor
in the market.
“One can clearly see,” says Cruz, “that
OTOP can help reduce poverty since it helps the
IF
small vendors, small manufacturers, small pro-
ducers in the countryside, capitalizing on their - All your income is going to pay bills.
unique skills and talents in turning out products
that are needed both by local and global mar- - Everyday there is fight & argument at home.
kets.”
- You can not pick your own phone out of fear.
SME role
Falling neatly into place are the small and - Creditors and collection agencies are calling you and they are
medium enterprises (SMEs) which the govern- threatening to take legal action.
ment sees as the backbone of the Philippine
economy. - Your salary is being garnished.
Comprising about 99.6 percent of all the
country’s registered firms, SMEs employ about
70 percent of the labor force and contributes 32 ONE SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR ALL YOUR DEBTS
percent of overall revenues to the economy.
Cruz says there are almost a million SMEs THEN, WE CAN
in the Philippines and two out of every three
- reduce your debts to less than half,
workers in the country are employed by SMEs.
Worth the push - stop the interest right away,
An emerging new product identified and de-
veloped through the OTOP easily finds its place - save you from threatening phone calls,
in the sun.
With the help of the SME Development - bring back your stress free family life,
Group under the Department of Trade and In- - stop the garnishment.
dustry (DTI), a new OTOP entrepreneur can
grow into a successful SME after going thru a - And you will not lose your house and car.
series of training workshops, seminars, confer-
ences and market exposure in trade fairs.
“It’s grinding work for all of us but we’ve HERE IS WHAT SOME SATISFIED CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY ..........
never rested in pushing the OTOP program be- “I had six credit cards and was ing with Mr. Amit Bhatia, I felt very in huge debt. Credit Manage-
cause we believe in it and the results over the paying $550 per month. Bank did relaxed and he reduced my $34,000 ment Services reduced my debts
years show it’s all worth it,” Cruz said. not give me consolidation loan debts to just half. Amazing .......... I which I am paying in interest-free
Growth = jobs, money because I had bad credit. Then can pick up my own phone now.” monthly installments now and I
There are about 2,375 OTOP products in I met Mr. Amit Bhatia and he re- M.M. can keep my car.” E.J.
the country churned out by 22,445 SMEs which duced my loans and made one
payment of just $200. I’ll be debt “After making us debt free, now Amit “My husband was so stressed with
have generated 246,420 jobs with investments free in 36 months. Credit Manage- Bhatia helped us getting the mort- these credit card bills that once
worth P6.8 billion todate, since it started some- ment Services is the best place to gage. We are happy to move to our he forgot to stop at a red traffic
time in 2004. contact when you have a money new house.” S.S. signal. Fortunately no accident
These small entrepreneurs racked up total problem.” J.G. happened but I called Credit
export sales of US$314 million and total do- “I went back home to get married, Management Services right away.
mestic sales of P7.4 billion from 2,513 OTOP “I was afraid to pick my own then I had to go again because my Two weeks later my husband was
phone. I was so confused and mother got sick. Because of that I back to stressfree life.” M.A.
market outlets nationwide and 406 Pasalubong
stressed all the time that I didn’t had to borrow money from my credit
(homecoming gift) Centers in airports, bus ter- know what to do, but after meet- cards and also, I lost my job. I was
minals, seaports, train stations, etc.
From wok to work
One of the best examples of OTOP’s suc-

CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES


cess is Davao entrepreneur Ruben See who
started a small snack food manufacturing way
back in 1996, turning cardaba bananas into ba-
Call for a free and confidential consultation

416-780-1020
nana chips using only a big crude cooking pot
called a kawa (wok).
With OTOP’s help, Ruben got all the help
he needed to produce a world-class snack food
- lots of technical support, sources of funding, Head Office : 970 Lawrence Ave. West # 105 (Lawrence & Dufferin)
branding and package design, business skills Toronto ON M6A3B6 (Located on the main floor in back of the building)
and access to foreign markets.
From a handful of workers when he started, Web : www.cmsgroup.ca
Ruben’s factories in Davao and Manila today
3 convenient locations - Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough
employs around 300 workers, producing 50
to 60 metric tons of Gold Chips brand banana
chips for the world’s markets. ies and linked their products directly to ended up in closing sales deals on the spot. To really succeed, Hiramatsu has called
Backyard no more domestic and foreign buyers. Higher sales on Filipino entrepreneurs “to think global”
Another good example is Bicol entrepre- Most SME entrepreneurs look for- “We expect this island trade fair in Ca- when designing and developing products.
neur Lydia Lomibao who started her Emmanuel ward to the yearly national trade fair gayan de Oro to rake in more sales than in He shared his delight at seeing many Fil-
Pastries as a hobby in 1993, then expanding it called Best of the Islands which show- 2006 and 2007,” said Cruz who is oversee- ipino SMEs that ventured into new OTOP
to a backyard pili nut factory in 1997. cases the best products of SMEs na- ing DTI regional operations. products and turned these into world-class
Lydia and her husband were the only work- tionwide. Total sales racked up by OTOP Mind- products sought by many foreign buyers.
ers when she started with only a small capital of In the OTOP Mindanao Island Fair anao Island Trade Fair in 2006 was P39.6 Gospel for the best
P500 pesos. in Cagayan de Oro City on Aug. 22 to million. Perhaps this was what Hiramatsu had
With OTOP’s help, her business grew brisk- 25, all the best OTOP products from The following year, sales surged to in mind when he started tinkering with
ly over the years, employing around 25 work- this bustling southern island shared the P46.8 million, giving trade officials “a his wild idea of challenging villages in his
ers and total assets topping around P10 million limelight as thousands of buyers, sell- good reason to hope that sales this year will hometown of Oita to focus only in making
pesos. ers, traders, retailers, exporters, etc. be higher.” what they do best and package it very well
Lydia’s popular pili nuts are shipped regu- from all over the country and the world Think global for world markets.
larly to growing markets in Manila, Cebu and converged and jampacked the sprawl- Japanese founder Hiramatsu has been With the world embracing his little gos-
Japan. ing trade fair site. deeply impressed with the way OTOP Phil- pel of one village, one product, little did
Market promo Direct visits by wholesale buy- ippines has succeeded over the years with he realize at that time in 1924 about the
One of the biggest boosts Ruben and Lydia ers who inspected every product from solid results - fast-growing number of new tremendous impact his idea has - for to us
got from OTOP was market promotions thru booth to booth and business matching entrepreneurs generating thousands of jobs today, it has become a powerful weapon to
the OTOP Island Fairs conducted in major cit- sessions for buyers and sellers usually and big domestic and export sales. fight poverty. PNA Features
14 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

UHSM alumni gather in Niagara Sager visits Toronto


NIAGARA FALLS - For four
days, from Aug. 6 to 9, it was “yes-
terday once more” for close to 100
alumni of Union High School of
Manila (UHSM) from the Philip-
pines, the U.S. and other parts of
the globe, as they gathered for a
Grand Reunion at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel here.
The reunion, organized by
Ontario-based UHSM alumni,
was the first ever in the Philippine
high school’s 61-year history to be
conducted in Canada.
For more than three decades,
UHSM grand reunions were done Romy Sager (right), a newswriter-reporter with the then
in Manila and in U.S. cities. Voice of the Philippines (VOP) under the Philippines’ Na-
Reunion participants, aside tional Media Production Center (NMPC) catches up with
from rekindling relationships with media colleagues in Toronto (from left) Front Page Philip-
former classmates, were treated pines TV host Gie Alvarez (NMPC-VOP), Manila Media Moni-
to various opportunities to expe- tor Account Executive Myrna Soriano (NMPC-Graphics) and
rience, first-hand, the Canadian Philippine Press Club-Ontario president and Balita colum-
way of life through tours around nist Tenny Soriano (NMPC-Public Relations). Not in photo is
Niagara and neighboring commu- veteran print and broadcast journalist Jojo Taduran (NMPC-
nities, barbeque picnics and other VOP). Sager is based in Chicago and writes a column for
outdoor activities. The Philippine Weekly. MANILA MEDIA MONITOR Photo
Nightly programs and activi-
ties allowed reunion participants Featinians Gala Night
to let their hair down and be high
school students again, partying
and dancing the night away like
the memorable prom nights of Olivia Galang-Daantos of Class establish the Philippine Christian
days gone by. ’67, and assisted by Elsa Igna- College (PCC), and integrated
A highlight of the reunion had cio-Gamelo (Class ’71), James Union High School, its high
alumni participants dressed in rep- Chanco (Class ’70) and Joel Caes school department.
licas of their old high school uni- (Class ’67). Today, PCC has become a top
forms or the clothes of their era. The Presbyterian Church in university and is known as the
Reviving experiences of the the Philippines first established Philippine Christian University.
past gave the participants a new Union High School of Manila in It has its main campus in Ma-
sense of belonging and camara- 1919. late, Manila. A second campus is
derie. In 1947, both the Methodist located in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
The affair was coordinated by and Presbyterian churches jointly JAY JAINGA
The Featinean Association of Toronto (FAT) has slated its Gala Night at the
Rembrandt Banquet Hall on Oct. 11. The FAT (members in photo above) was
formed in July 1989 as a non-profit socio-professional organization aimed
at reaching out to individuals who have studied at or worked with Feati
University. FAT, led by president Oliver Rey, has a scholarship program and
an Academic Excellence Award partnership with FUAA. It has sent aid to
worthy initiatives in Toronto and in the Philippines.
Crisis stretching ...
(From page 11)
in countries other than the US$124.105 in May. creased by nearly 50 per-
US and Saudi Arabia have Filipinos in Europe, cent between 2004 and
been contributing more to such as Italy (22.11 per- 2007, “[a] large part of this
the growth rates and help- cent growth rate), Germany increase has been simply
ing arrest the decline in (27.22 percent), and the to preserve the purchasing
cash flow. United Kingdom (19.01), power of recipients since
Land-based OFWs in also saw their year-on-year the Philippine peso appreci-
Singapore, for example, five month remittance vol- ated by 33 percent against
sent home US$0.175 bil- umes grow. the US dollar.”
lion during the first five Returns OFW remittance to the
months, or an 81.98-per- Ang said his prognosis Philippines hit roughly
cent growth year-on-year on the Philippines’ plateau- US$14.5 billion last year.
from US$95.985 million in level remittance growth It was at US$8.5 billion in
the same period last year. rates recalled a basic eco- 2004.
Filipinos in Canada sent nomic concept: the law of After accounting for
US$0.46 billion during the diminishing returns. the peso’s appreciation and
first six months, achieving There would come a domestic inflation, Philip-
a year-on-year 70.65-per- time that remittances from pine remittances increased
cent growth rate. OFWs, whether it’s the by only three percent [in
Per BSP data, Fili- overall total or the per-con- the three years beginning
pinos in Canada sent tinent or per-country totals, 2004],” Ratha and Mohap-
US$62.386 million in 2001, “will go down somewhere,” tra wrote in Remittances
US$52.49 million in 2002, he said. Dispatch.
US$27.072 million in 2003, Given the weakening India’s and Mexico’s
US$67.338 million in 2004, dollar, World Bank econo- remittance growth rates af-
US$117.061 million in mists Dilip Ratha and San- ter accounting for inflation
2005, US$590.627 million ket Mohapatra said rising were 13 and 19 percent, re-
in 2006, and US$595.079 inflation rate and oil and spectively.
million in 2007. commodities prices “fur- While the effects of the
For the first half of 2008, ther (eroded) the purchas- world price adjustments are
Filipinos in Canada sent ing power of remittances” yet to sink in, Ang said he
US$90.875 million in Jan- received by Mexico, India, expected that Filipinos in
uary, US$85.545 million in and the Philippines. many countries would be
February, US$67.523 mil- In particular, Ratha and sending lower amounts of
lion in March, US$100.491 Mohapatra noted that while money home. OFW Jour-
million in April, and Philippine remittances in- nalism Consortium
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 15
FCT a hit in 32nd Cabbagetown Festival
Philippine Canadian Seniors
By REY TOLENTINO Association with president
The Filipino Center of Bernie Carreon, The FCT
Toronto (FCT) led the cel- Koolbhutz with Odie Arena
ebrations of the 32nd Cab- and the Ontario Filipino
bagetown Festival on Sept. Women’s Club with Elsie
6 and 7. Maranan.
People celebrated the The Falun Dafa group,
festival in the neighborhood which has participated in
covering Ontario St. in the FCT’s Pistahan the past two
west, Don Valley in the summers, also joined in.
east, Wellesley in the north, Parliament St. was
and down to Gerrard in the closed off and tents were
south. erected in front of the FCT
Despite the light rains, building where perform-
many watched the parade ers entertained a growing
go by from the sidelines. crowd that moved through
FCT led the parade of 14 the festivities.
Filipino-Canadian groups The fashion show The
and of convertibles that car- Evolution of the Filipino
ried FCT board chair Dr. Dress choreographed by
Victoria Santiago, FCT Wendy Arena and Mercy
president Rosalinda Cer- Maliglig drew applause
rudo-Javier, directors Dr. from the audience.
Mario Andres, Irene Turner, Among the dance groups
Julie Corpuz, Luchi Sivil- that entertained the crowd
lia, Mercy Maliglig and were The Canasian Danc-
Nita Rejdik. ers of Toronto, the Lian
Liberal MP Bob Rae Hua Dance Group, FCT’s
and representatives of MPP Koolbhutz/Kayumanggi
George Smitherman were Dance Group, Folklorico
also in attendance. Filipino, The Cash Town/
Hip Hop group and the Ha- state 5 Band. as soon as Zagala started her
Among the Filipino or-
waiian Dance Group led by The great Filipino tal- first song, the rains stopped
ganizations that participat-
Linda Etzkorn. ent for singing was again and the sun came out.
ed in the parade were The
Musical bands that per- enjoyed through the per- Nine-year old Edessa
Pillars Association with tions of Rizal with president Knight Jun Lopez, Ameri-
formed over the two-day formances of Lolita de la Andrada, the FCT’s 2008
president Frank Maralag, Azun Ramos, Fil-Par Asso- can Legion with president
presentations for FCT in- Rosa, Josie de Leon and Filipino singing idol cham-
Canadian Ladies Auxiliary ciation with president Alex Effied Dorotheo, American
cluded Araconcept, The Nick Alo. pion was also well-applaud-
for Rizal with president Parucha, Canadian/Asian Legion Auxiliaries with
A.R. Band, The Folklorico It started to drizzle when ed. The audience loved her
Baby Pulumbarit, Daugh- Dance Troupe with presi- Anita Dorotheo, Knights of
Rondalla, Explicit Faith, Zeny “Lady Elvis” Zagala performance that money
ters of Isabela with Regent dent Lina Brown, Knights Rizal Toronto Chapter with
Drop Dead, and the Inter- took the mike to sing. But (To page 16)
Rose Letrondo, The Aspira- of Columbus with Grand Commander Doug Ord, The

Canadian education statistics


It’s back to school. Across Nunavut.
Canada, students of all ages will (Data source: Summary of
be marching to various institu- Public School Indicators for
tions of learning to get that much- the Provinces and Territories,
avowed education. 1999/2000 to 2005/2006.)
Statistics Canada has pre- Global learning
pared a package of information Canadian 15-year-old students
that would help this paper’s read- are among the best in the world
ers know and understand the vital when it comes to science, reading
numbers that make up Canadian and mathematics.
education. In science, only students from
Back to the books Hong Kong and Finland outper-
In the last census, some 5.2 formed Canadian 15-year-olds
million students attended public among 57 participating countries.
elementary and secondary schools In both reading and math-
in Canada during the school year ematics, only Korea, Finland and
2005-2006. Hong Kong performed better than
The number was down nearly Canada.
one percent from the previous University of Toronto students help graders with their school work in a novel program, The In mathematics, Chinese Tai-
school year and down three per- Homework Club, initiated by the Filipino Centre Toronto. The program has been regularly pei performed better than Canada.
cent from 1999/2000. going on for years now. FCT File Photo (Data source: The Daily, Dec.
Of the latest enrollment num- 5, 2007.)
ber, 2,118,544 were in public ele- (Data source: CANSIM, table The child’s sex was only one Cost of education University enrolment
mentary and secondary schools in 282-0069, Labour Force Survey.) dimension on which children’s The average cost of educating Enrolment in Canadian univer-
Ontario and 1,216,293 in Quebec. School bus readiness to learn varied. a student during the school year sities hit a record high for the fifth
At least 551,740 were enrolled There were some 35,000 Two other key dimensions 2005-2006 was $9.704. consecutive year during academic
in Alberta, 589,388 in British Co- school buses in Canada in 2006. were the level of income of the This was up nearly 32 percent year 2005-2006, in the wake of
lumbia and 5,459 in Yukon. (Related item on top of page) child’s family and the home envi- from 1999-2000, when the cost on-going growth in the number of
(Data source: The Daily, July These buses were also used to ronment. was $7,357. foreign students and young Cana-
28, 2008.) transport employees. In general, girls were more In comparison, inflation went dian adults.
Teaching profession (Data source: CANSIM, table ready than boys to learn at age up 15.2 percent during the same The total number of students
There are about 692,000 teach- 408-0010, Canadian Passenger five. time frame. enrolled in Canadian universities
ers and professors in Canada as of Bus and Urban Transit Indus- Girls scored higher than boys Among the provinces, the an- in 2005/2006 reached 1.01 mil-
June 2008. tries.) in communication skill, attention nual cost per student in 2005-2006 lion, up three percent from 2004-
Of the number, 33 percent are Early learning and self-control of behavior, and ranged from more than $10,000 in 2005.
men and 67 percent, women. Girls and boys differed in were rated higher in independence Manitoba and Alberta to $7,650 in The gain, however, was the
Some 560,000 or 81 percent ways in their readiness to learn in dressing. Prince Edward Island. second slowest growth rate this
are teaching full-time. as they entered school at the age Boys were rated above girls on In the territories, spending per decade.
These teachers and professors of five, with girls outperforming only one measure: curiosity. student was about $18,500 in the The number of full-time stu-
earn an average hourly salary of their male counterparts in several (Data source: The Daily, Nov. Yukon and more than $13,500 dents enrolled in Canadian uni-
$30.03. areas. 27, 2006.) in the Northwest Territories and (To page 16)
16 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATORS

MIKE CADUCIO JAZMYN CALNIAK MON DATOL GENE LARA


September 1 September 6 September 13

GK’s Wilks: ... FCT a hit in 32nd ...


Shielded by caps and umbrellas (photos above and below), some (From page 6) (From page 15)
1,000 people braved bad weather to join the Sept. 6 PIDC-GK five- Philips Square. was tossed on the stage to comprised “the largest con-
kilometer two-hour walk for a worthy cause. Funds raised in the On a makeshift stage, a fiesta at- show sincere appreciation. tinuous area of preserved
walk is expected to help fund the construction of homes for poor mosphere ensued, as Zena ‘Lady El- Food concessionaire Ilo- Victorian housing in North
Filipinos. Photos: FAYE ARELLANO vis’ Zagala and Darius Ciria, among candia dished out familiar America.”
others, belted out Original Pilipino Filipino fare and delicacies As of 2004, Cabbag-
Music and popular English tunes. that folks enjoyed while etown has become a Heri-
Heavy applause came with the watching the show. tage Conservation District,
powerful choral rendition of the song Efren De Villa, FCT’s protected by municipal by-
Ako Ay Pilipino (I am a Filipino). vice-chairman of the board, law.
Similar GK walks were simultane- led the FCT’s participation Within the district are
ously conducted in eight cities across in the annual Cabbagetown the St. James Cemetery,
Canada and in 30 U.S. locations. Festival for the fifth con- Necropolis Cemetery, the
Sources from Ancop, the GK Walk secutive year. Riverdale Park and Farm,
organizer in Canada, said the number Cabbagetown is one of and Wellesley Park.
of participants in this year’s trek near- the oldest neighborhoods in FCT’s participation in
ly doubled those of last year’s. the city of Toronto. the festival has drawn the
They expected to raise more funds According to the Cab- appreciation and praise of
as a result. Article contributed by bagetown Preservation As- the Cabbagetown organiz-
FAYE ARELLANO sociation, the neighborhood ers and participants.

Canadian education statistics ported expense was $2,500. ► $245.4 million - The male and female adults. About half participated
(From page 15) At least four percent of total value of sales of girls’ But a third sedentary in more than one organized
versities in 2005-2006 was holding only a university Canadian households re- clothing and accessories. activity - reading - was not sport.
781,300, a record. degree. ported having spent an av- ► $227.6 million - The associated with obesity for Active children played
Of the number, 7.7 per- Statistics show that near- erage of $408 on driving total value of sales of boys’ either sex. on average about 2.6 times
cent were foreign students, ly half of residents having lessons in 2006. clothing and accessories. (Data source: The Dai- per week per sport during
nearly double of that a de- a doctorate and 40 percent (Data source: CANSIM, ► $125.7 million - The ly, June 18, 2008.) their sport’s season.
cade earlier. having a master’s degree table 203-0012, Survey of total value of sales of uni- Outside games About 55 percent of
Half were from Asia, were not born in Canada. Household Spending.) sex clothing. The most frequently re- boys were into sports in
and those from China ac- Recent immigrants have School shopping ► $935.1 million - The ported sport for both boys 2005, down from 59 per-
counted for 46 percent of higher levels of attainment For some children, total value of sales of statio- and girls in 2005 was soc- cent in 1998.
the Asian students. than both immigrants who “back to school” may mean nery, office supplies, cards, cer. It replaced swimming, Some 44 percent of girls
Canadian universities arrived prior to 2001 and it is time to get outfitted gift wrap and party sup- which was most frequent in were active in sports in
also continued to register those born in Canada. with an entire new ward- plies. 1992. 2005, the same as in 1998.
significant numbers of stu- (Data source: Educa- robe, or it may mean replac- (Data source: CANSIM, Some 2 million children (Data source: The Daily,
dents from India, South Ko- tional portrait of Canada, ing clothes they have out- table 080-0018, Quarterly from five to 14 years old, or June 3 and Feb. 7, 2008.)
rea, Japan and Hong Kong, Media Room’s) grown or worn out during Retail Commodity Survey.) 51 percent in the age group, Busy bodies
all of which increased in Where to? the summer months. Reading vs obesity regularly took part in orga- Despite the stereotypical
2005-2006. Alberta was the prime Here are the total sales Researchers have found nized sports in 2005. image of nonchalant, loung-
(Data source: The Daily, beneficiary of interprovin- across Canada in the third an association between But this proportion was ing teenagers, a Statistics
Feb. 7, 2008 and CANSIM, cial migration among high- quarter of 2007 for selected watching TV, using a com- down from 57 percent in Canada study shows that
table 477-0013, Postsec- ly educated adults. categories: puter and obesity in both 1992. many teens carry a heavier
ondary Student Information Overall, Alberta had the load than one may think.
System.) biggest net inflow of post- The study notes that,
Undergrad tuition fees secondary graduates while when compared with nine
$4,524 — The average Ontario recorded the big- other OECD countries, Ca-
amount paid in tuition fees gest net outflows. nadian teens ranked first
by Canadian full-time un- (Data source: 2006 in terms of average hours
dergraduate students in the Census: Educational Por- spent on unpaid and paid la-
2006-2007 was $4,524. trait of Canada, 2006.) bor during the school week.
This was up from $4,400 Education spending After school attendance,
the year before. Expenditures on school homework was the most
In 1998-1999, they paid supplies, textbooks, tuition time-consuming unpaid
$3,064 on average; and fees, other courses and les- activity for teens, with 60
in 1988-1989, they paid sons and educational ser- percent doing an average of
$1,185. vices were reported by some two hours and 20 minutes
(Data source: The Dai- 5.5 million households in daily.
ly, Oct. 18, 2007.) Canada in 2006. Teenagers devoted an
Top of the class There were an estimated average of 9.2 hours to
Canada ranks first 12.8 million households in school work, homework,
among the top 10 Organi- Canada at that time. paid work and housework
zation of Economic Co-op- The median expenditure on school days in Canada
eration and Development on education by households in 2005.
(OECD) nations when it reached $800. On weekends, teens
comes to the proportion of Expenses on school sup- gave and average of 3.5
25 to 64 year olds having a plies for kindergarten, nurs- hours of their time to work,
college diploma or univer- ery, elementary, secondary paid or unpaid, in 2005.
sity degree. and post-secondary use av- Another Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) regular program is its conduct of Ta- (Data source: The Daily,
Canada ranks seventh eraged $100. galog classes at its downtown facilities. Tagalog has become a subject in May 23, 2007.) - Through
when it comes to the pro- On postsecondary tu- some Toronto public and Catholic schools. In photo, former teacher and FCT the courtesy of Statis-
portion of 25 to 64 year olds ition fees, the average re- president Lynda Javier manages FCT’s Tagalog lessons. FCT File Photo tics Canada
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 17
Lucena City group marks 10-year community service success Dela Cruz
leads Aklanons
Beato Amiel dela Cruz
was voted president of the
United Aklanon Association
of Toronto (UAAT) during
the group’s elections-an-
nual picnic at the Earl Bales
Park on Aug. 16.
Elected with Dela Cruz
for the 2007 to 2009 term
were Rudy Molina, first
vice president; Betsy Re-
lente-Naipul, second vice
president; Vicky Icatar-Ab-
barin, secretary; Norlyn
Relente, assistant secretary;
Aida Amancio-Magnabijon,
treasurer; Michel Mirto-
Mauleon, assistant treasur-
er; and Julio Buiza, auditor.
Dela Cruz and the new
Some 325 members cena City, Quezon Province shoes. succeed in attaining its Romy Olit and Marita En- set of officers would be in-
and friends of the Lucena and Manila. ► Distribution of over goals and mission-vision. riquez and Abel Paulite and ducted to office at the Ka-
City Association of Ontario ► Medical and dental 30 boxes of relief goods. He also thanked event Sena Flores. layaan Cultural Community
marked the group’s 10th missions that brought in ► Help in funding the chair Manny Abellanosa, Belinda Corpuz com- Centre on Oct. 18.
year of community service doctors and dentists from education of a seminarian. co-chair Rosemer Enverga, pleted the memorable night The association has
here and in the Philippines North America to give free ► Funding for a Gawad and Enrico Palillo, Obet with the heartwarming ren- been known for its annual
at the Sts. Peter and Paul medical and dental treat- Kalinga House for the Ca- and Cris Reyes who made dition of Hero. PR (To page 24)
Banquet Hall on Aug. 23. ment and medicines to over lamity-Stricken in Bicol. the celebration a success.
Always referring to the
association’s slogan “The
1,000 families.
► Donation of grocer-
► Funding for the in-
stallation of artesian wells
During the program,
special presentations were www. FinancialProblem.ca
Mission is the Reason”, ies and vitamins to over in Quezon. made by the friends of Lu- with credit cards and bank loans
president Jun Enverga re- 1,000 families. ► Assistance in funding cena, rigodon dancers cho- Too many loans & credit cards?
called the various projects ► Funding for a live- and building the San Rafael reographed by Aida and Paying too much interest?
the association had com- lihood program for calamity Church in Lucena City. Jun Villaruz. Afraid to pick up your own phone?
pleted, mostly for indigents victims in Infanta, Quezon. ► Aid in the construc- The dancers included Looking for consolidation?
in the Philippines, namely: ► Help to build the Mt. tion of schoolbuildings in Jun and Rosemer Enverga,
► Donation and deliv- Carmel Convents in Lucena Quezon. Joe and Rachel Eramo, Jim- Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
ery of some $500,000 worth City and Infanta, Quezon . Enverga thanked indi- my and Bing Marasigan, CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
of medical equipment and
supplies to hospitals in Lu-
► Donation of over
$3,000 worth of brand new
viduals and other groups
that helped the association
Pors and Mitz Canlas, Tony
Suarez and Gene Elamparo, 416-780-1020
18 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

Mark Zetazate CNHS alumni in Stouffville reunion


Mark Zetazate (baby in photo below) celebrates
his first birthday on Aug. 16 with father Fiel (hold-
ing him), mother Jannete, and brother John Fiel.
They came from Dublin, Ireland to join the 65th
birthday bash of Mark’s grand father Romeo Ay-
son Zetazate, a Philippine Press Club-Ontario
member. Photo: LEIMARIE ZETAZATE

Tyler Binaday
The stork has deliv-
ered a boy to Philippine
Press Club-Ontario
member and Talakayan The Magnificent Eight of Batch 58, Camarines Norte High School reunite in
Radio reporter Karen Stouffville on Aug. 21 to 26. They are (foreground) Dodo Sismundo, (seated,
Pascual-Binaday, and from left) Victor Ricafrente, Eddie Alegre, (standing, from left) Alex Bertillo,
her husband, Manny. Minda Sayoc Mendoza, Augusto Asis, Sonia San Juan de la Cruz and Romy
Tyler (above) was born Octa. The eight, who have not seen each other in 50 years, came with their
on Aug. 8. PR spouses (left photo). Guests were Al and Iday Duckett. PR
Publishers, designers ... an immense benefit and ers, led by Dave Nguyen, Calendar ...
(From page 4) learning experience to those decided to open the seminar (From page 3)
cilitated the participation he said. who attended this one-day to all Filipino newspaper ► OCT. 12: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Cof-
of Filipino publishers and A top newspaper indus- seminar.I thank all of the publishers and their respec- fee Hour, Golden Valley Restaurant.
newspaper designers in the try trainor, Slimp is best PPCO members who took tive graphics/newspaper de- ► OCT. 17: Circulo Ilonggo Hawaian Night, Rem-
seminar. known for developing re- advantage of this rare op- signers to thank the group brandt Banquet Hall.
Alvarez described the mote printing utilizing the portunity . Lets have more for its assistance, through ► OCT. 17 & 18: Pinoy Fiesta ‘08 Pahiyas Festival,
Webnews Printing-spon- PDF file in the early 1990s, of this in the near future the PPC-O, in the Save Our The Gateway Centre for New Canadians.
sored seminar as “so in- which is now the industry for the development of our Voice Coalition. ► OCT. 18: United Aklanon Association of Toronto
structive ... will save mate- standard for file creation. members,” Soriano said. Nguyen is one of the Induction of Officers, Kalayaan Cultural Community
rial time both for newspaper Alvarez thanked Web- The seminar covered leaders of the Save Our Centre, Mississauga.
designers and publishers, news Printing for opening Photoshop Tips and Tricks, Voice campaign late 2007 ► OCT. 18: The Pillars Halloween and Masquerade
and their printers, especial- the seminar to Filipino me- Creating the Perfect PDF against the Ontario govern- Ball, Our Lady of Assumption Church.
ly considering the industry dia professionals. File, Finding and Correct- ment in pursuing its plan to ► OCT. 25: University of the Philippines Alumni Asso-
is deadline-driven.” PPC-O president Tenny ing Problems in PDF Files, slap all community papers ciation Toronto, Centennial Ball, Marriott Hotel Eaton
“(Slimp’s) talk on Me- Soriano thanked Alvarez and Converging Media On- with the Provincial Sales Centre.
dia Convergence also gave for initiating PPC-O mem- line Journalism. Tax retroactive to five years. ► OCT. 25: Canadian Magsingal Association Induc-
new and fresh ideas to par- bership attendance in the While the seminar was The campaign succeeded. tion of Officers, Garnett Community Center, 8:30
ticipants on new develop- seminar. intended for clients of Web- Nguyen guested at a p.m.
ments in print journalism,” “I’m sure there will be news Printing, the organiz- PPC-O 2007 Kapihan.

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photographersforchrist@gmail.com Music, Ltd. (22)
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor 19
20 Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor 21
22 Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

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SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 23
will be fighting for will not
The unwelcomed friend ... welcome him.
(From page 10) They will despise his
expressed my thanks and Is it even worth it? To presence.
admiration for his valuable the young soldier I have And yet he will still sub-
service to the country. just met, it is worth risking ject himself to extreme dan-
To this day, the number his life. ger and constant fear of the
of fallen Canadian soldiers He does not have to go unknown, whether he could
is still climbing to an alarm- to Afghanistan, but volun- make it back alive to his
ing rate. teered to join his comrades family or not.
It is the hefty price in standing for what they Is it stupidity? Or is it
Canada pays for the sake of believe in. love for humanity?
freedom. He knew the conse- The answer depends on
Whose freedom? Other quences of his decision. whom the question is di-
country’s freedom! Most of the people he rected to.
Mosquera to induct CNAC-O leaders The mothers, fathers,
brothers, sisters, spouses,
Philippine Consul General in To- sons, daughters, friends and
ronto Alejandro Mosquera is set to loved ones of these brave
induct the new set of officers of the men and women would say
Camarines Norte Association Can- a thundering “No to war!”
ada-Ontario (CNAC-O) at the Our And to the Canadian
Lady of Assumption Church social Armed Forces, it would
hall on Sept. 27. mean the medals of hon-
Mosquera, also the guest speaker our; the salute of respect;
during CNAC-O’s first foundation the congratulatory applause
anniversary celebration, will admin- MOSQUERA for their heroism and some-
ister the oath of office to: times Canadian flags hoist-
CNAC-O officers Tony San Juan, president; Willie Na- ed half-mast for those who
bus, first vice president; Larry Bercasio, second vice presi- came home in boxes.
dent; Lida Muguerza, secretary; Kambz Silvio, assistant There was a man who
secretary; Pong Ostonal, Jr., treasurer; Rommel Yanto, au- was also not welcomed by
ditor; and Susan Llanera, PRO; the people he served and
Directors Mariecris Agoston, Salvador Gumabao, Elisa saved.
Maesa and Shey Silvio. They mocked him, be-
Town representatives Carlito Cruz for Basud, Randy trayed him and crucified
Fermo for Capalonga, Eva San Andres for Daet, Milvin him. His name is . . . . . . .
Sirvidad for Labo, Minda Alban for Paracale, Liwanag Na- Jesus. The Son of God.
bus for Mercedes, Shirley Rosales for San Lorenzo Ruiz,
Virgie San Juan for Santa Elena, Salve Aquino for San
Vicente, and Lourdes Balce for Vinzons. Adviser is Jojo ADVERTISE
Taduran. Call
CNAC-O, which membership has grown to over 100,
was founded by 26 charter members at the Filipino Centre 416-285-8583
Toronto on April 21, 2007. PR
24 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

Front Page Philippines ... Dela Cruz ...


(From page 4) (From page 17)
subscribers of cable televi- ers.com. Ati-atihan party celebrated
sion in Edmonton and Cal- Meanwhile, Russell In- yearly in January.
gary will likewise enjoy the ternational - the production The organization is sup-
multilingual/multicultural arm of Front Page Philip- porting a scholarship pro-
programming of OMNI pines, announced that the gram for deserving college
Television . alternative viewing day of students in Aklan.
For local advertisers in the program on Thursdays Recently, it donated
Toronto whose products has been moved from 12 funds to the victims of Ty-
and services are likewise noon to 3 PM, resulting phoon Frank that ravaged
targetting consumers in Al- from the fall re-program- Aklan and most of Western
berta, advertising on Front ming of OMNI 2 TV. Visayas in June.
Page Philippines in Cal- The Sunday original air- The association hoped
gary and Edmonton can be ings continues to be at 11 to sponsor more commu-
Cirila Sanchez Cruz (standing, 5th from left) is flanked by her grandchildren
arranged by calling (416) AM. RUSSELL INTER- nity-based projects in all
during her 80th birthday bash on Aug. 9. ROMY ZETAZATE
285-8583, or by e-mail, NATIONAL with files from of Aklan’s municipalities.
frontpagephilippines@rog- OMNI Television PR PM’s authoritarian stance ...
(From page 9)
Elipse is McDonald’s Employee Scholar hind 43 years earlier. *** Rodrigo is invited to
The dream of making Like “organic” foods, Peru to teach kids photog-
this artwork was born from the alleged omnipresence of raphy at URUKU, a centre
Esther’s experiences as she Angus beef puzzles me. founded by young environ-
recognized that everyone I always understood mental activist Carlos Dan-
has a story to tell and that that Aberdeen Angus meat iel.
the experiences and values was derived from a breed URUKU, close to the
of our past inform who we of black or red cattle with Amazon embracing an ani-
are today. a low set body, producing mal sanctuary and a school
Each culture has a well-marbled meat and bred for youngsters is at the heart
unique beauty that enhances for this purpose rather than of the so-called reforesation
our national identity. as dairy cattle. development which threat-
Each person can experi- Today, one encounters ens the entire ecological
ence a sense of belonging the use of the word “An- system.
and find an equal place in a gus” at meat sections of su- Lalita’s documentary
global family. permarkets, in independent conveys the joys of indig-
The massive quilt is a butchers, in steakhouse enous children discovering
120-foot long by 10.5-foot menus and even in fast food photography as well as the
high (36 metres by 3.5 me- joints. menace to the lives of peo-
McDonald’s Employee Scholar Venez Elipse (3rd from left) receives a $5,000 tres) tapestry. Even in the knowledge ple like Carlos Daniel who
check from McDonald’s Canada Restaurant Manager Rob Rachella and Op- The rich, cultural lega- that Angus cattle have been has received several death
erations Consultant Christine Atkinson (2nd and 4th from left, respectively) cies portrayed in the 263 bred and butchered in Cana- threats.
as Elipse’s family (from left) Teresita Abuyuan, grandmother; Angelito, fa- blocks include all the First da for years, one wonders at The Peruvian sequences
ther; Imleda, mother; and Rodolfo Abuyuan, grandfather look on. Manager Peoples in Canada and ev- the now widespread claims which make up most of he
Rachella says: “(Venez) is a great person to work with.” Venez, the eldest of ery nation of the world. being made. film are shot by Zoe Durse
six children, strives to set an example for her siblings. Her sister also works The CNE (August 15 There’s a Canadian An- with a fine regard for the
at McDonald’s. The family thanks McDonald’s for rewarding Venez for her to September 1) visit was gus Association to whose natural beauty of the Ama-
hard work and for supporting her studies as she enters her second year at the one location planned for public relations officer I zon region, making all the
the University of Toronto. PR Toronto. wrote some weeks ago, ask- more poignant the plight
ing how claims were certi- of the local people and the
Classic PR stupidity ... fied. I received no reply. menacing times in which
(From page 7) In one supermarket they live.
the Beijing Olympic Games terial, however, might not Wife: ‘Nonsense, who monds, jewelry and a chain, self -standing dis- The children learn how
on CBC Television, CBC meet broadcast quality said you were a better cook million US dollars – all in plays claiming the virtues to use cameras to good
Newsworld and the CBC’s standards, but assuring than me?’ appreciation for giving his of Angus beef merely in- effect and their sense of
bold channel between Au- her that I’ll have my vid- Maria: ‘Your husband blood. dicate that it’s top quality stunned delight when Ro-
gust 8 and 24. eo editor see if he may do did.’ Once again, the Arab beef without any mention of drigo tells them they’re
This was true, but what something about it. Wife: ‘Oh.’ had to go through a cor- breeding or provenance. the owners of the cameras
was noticeable was that Leonie returned to me, Maria: ‘My third reason rective surgery. His doctor It would be interesting they’ve been working with
viewership of the games saying, “I thank you in ad- is that I am a better lover phoned the Ilocano who to see an independent report is a joy to behold.
declined on the Sundays vance if you can do some- than you.’ was more than happy to on how widely standards set Lalita Krishna has once
of August 10, 17 and 24 at thing to doctor the sickly Wife (really furious donate his blood again. by associations such as the again captured the essential
11 a.m. when Front Page DSTARS video.” now): ‘Did my husband say After the second sur- CAA are observed. goodness in projects like
Philippines was airing on I responded back, say- that as well?’ gery, the Arab sent the *** Rodrigo’s and the young
OMNI 2. ing, “Why, what happened Maria: ‘No Señora, the Ilocano a “thank you” Some months ago, I people who become in-
Hhhhmmm … Great to all those doctors I saw gardener did.’ card and a jar of almond published a letter from volved in them.
work, Ace! Ooops! I’m sor- in the video? Dr. Tren- SHE GOT THE RAISE. sweets. friend and collegue Lalita I recall her Ryan’s Well,
ry the news update did not holm, Dr. Gamo, and Dr. ***** The Ilocano was Krishna, award winning Jambo Kenya!, Shooting for
mention the last part. Virey -- if I’m right?” From a forwarded shocked that the Arab this documentarian. Change, Chaos, Chords and
***** ***** e-mail by Maribel Mon- time did not reciprocate It was written from Peru Karma and of course, Move
On August 19, Leonie From a forwarded mes- temayor: his gesture as he had an- where she was filming Shift Your World which, shown
Manzanarez, chair of the sage by Myrna Soriano: An Arab Sheikh was ticipated. He phoned the Focus, a documentary which at the 2006 Sprockets Chil-
PIDC 2008 Dancing to be A Mexican maid asked admitted to the Philippine Arab and asked him: “I aired in Spanish on OMNI 1 dren’s film festival, won the
a Star at the Metro Toron- for a pay increase. Heart Center in Manila thought that you would last August 9 and is set for audience choice award over
to Convention submitted The wife was very upset for a heart transplant, but be generous again, that English-language screening two hyped Hollywood pro-
a tape of the the event to about this and asked: ‘Now prior to the surgery, the you would again give me a some time this fall. ductions. (Used with per-
me, requesting if it can be Maria, why do you want a doctors needed to store Toyota Prado, money, dia- Shift Focus is the story mission. Ben Viccari is the
shown on Front Page Phil- pay increase?’ his blood in case the need monds and jewelry ... but of Chilean-born Toronto- President of the Canadian
ippines. Maria: ‘Well Señora, arises. As the gentleman you only gave me a ‘thank nian Rodrigo Moreno who Ethnic Media Associa-
I viewed the material there are three reasons why had a rare type of blood, it you’ card and a jar of al- is first seen making a living tion [CEMA] and makes
and am impressed with I want an increase. couldn’t be found locally, mond sweets!” as a wedding photographer. frequent appearances on
the classy and glamorous The first is that I iron so, the call went out to a To this, the Arab re- Rodrigo answers an in- OMNI TV Commentary.
atmosphere at the venue, better than you.’ number of provinces. plied, “Manong, I now ner call to help city kids at Some of his commentar-
and saw many beautiful Wife: ‘Who said you Finally, an Ilocano was have Ilocano blood in my risk by involving them in ies are republished in this
people present, among iron better than me?’ located who had a similar veins.” a photography project that publication and slightly ex-
others Dr. Trenholm, Dr. Maria: ‘Your husband type of blood. The Iloca- Note: No offense in- leaves them with the urge panded in some cases from
Gamo, and if I’m not mis- said so.’ no willingly donated his tended to our compatriots to face a more creative fu- their 70-second broadcast
taken, Dr. Virey. Wife: ‘Oh.’ blood for the Arab. as the contributing source, ture with their proud new originals. For more of his
After viewing the ma- Maria: ‘The second After the surgery, the Maribel Montemayor, possessions - the cameras work, please visit Ben’s
terial, I e-mailed Leonie, reason is that I am a better Arab sent the Ilocano a comes from the region Rodrigo has given them to website at: http://canscene.
saying that the video ma- cook than you.’ new Toyota Prado, dia- herself. keep. ripple.ca)
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES 25
GMA in Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women The President ranked
MANILA - Philippine continuing efforts for good determination to push for
ninth in 2004, the year she
President Gloria Maca- governance and her resil- economic reforms amid de-
was reelected.
pagal-Arroyo’s relentless iency amid political and stabilization attempts have
She placed fifth in 2005.
efforts to improve gover- economic problems made earned her the distinction of
This was her best ranking
nance has placed her again the international audience being a strong leader.
so far.
in Forbes magazine’s “100 view her as a powerful Late August, Forbes
The magazine’s World’s
Most Powerful Women” for woman. magazine announced that
100 Most Powerful Wom-
2008. Executive Secretary Ed- Mrs. Arroyo was the 41st
en list for this year saw
Press Secretary Jesus uardo Ermita, on the other most powerful woman in
the President jumping 10
Dureza said the President’s hand, said the President’s the world.
notches from last year’s
51st spot.
Topping the list was
German Chancellor Angela
Merkel.
President Arroyo is
joined in the Top 100 by
Hollywood talk show host
and Harpo chairman Oprah
Winfrey, who is at the 36th
spot; United States Senator
Hilary Clinton, 28; United
States Secretary of State
Condoleeza Rice, 7; and
Nobel peace laureate and
former Myanmar prime
minister Aung San Suu Kyi, POWERFUL WOMEN. President Gloria Macapa-
No. 38. gal-Arroyo receives a warm embrace from former
Forbes magazine said First Lady Imelda Marcos upon her arrival at the
its annual listing of the 100 Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel in Barangay Calayab,
most powerful women in the Laoag City on aug. 26. Arroyo presided over a
world is “based on a power National Diasaster Coordinating Council Cabinet
ranking that is the compos- meeting. In Laoag City, Arroyo led in providing re-
ite of visibility (measured lief goods and other services to victims of typhoon
by press citations) and eco- Karen. Photo: MARCELINO PASCUAL/OPS-NIB
nomic impact. PNA

UK issues Mindanao travel advisory


MANILA - The British embassy has warned its citizens against traveling to Mindanao,
due to clashes between government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
rebels.
“We advise against all travel to mainland Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because
of the ongoing terrorist and insurgent activities,” the United Kingdom Foreign Common-
wealth Office said in its website on Sept. 7.
Earlier, the Australian government also issued a warning to its citizens from traveling
to the Southern Philippines due to threats of a terrorist attack. PNA

MILF lauds government negotiating panel


BUTUAN CITY - In a Liberation Front (MILF) said in his press statement.
spirit of goodwill and mu- paid tribute to the integrity, “We will always trea-
tual respect, peace nego- capability, and dedication of sure the fruits of our hard
tiators of the Moro Islamic their counterparts from the work, sleepless nights and
Philippine gov- sometimes our construc-
ernment headed tive disagreements to fi-
by Secretary Ro- nally thread together the
dolfo Garcia. two far ends (very far when
In a statement, we started) into the realiza-
Mohagher Iqbal, tion of the Memorandum of
MILF chief peace Agreement on the Ancestral
negotiator, de- Domain (MOA-AD)…,” he
scribed the gov- continued.
ernment peace President Gloria Maca-
panel as “wor- pagal-Arroyo disbanded the
thy partners in Philippine peace negotiat-
peace.” ing panel on Sept. 3, after
“We will not the Supreme Court blocked
forget you (refer- the signing of the MOA-
ring to Secretary AD, resulting in military of-
Garcia) and your fensives from both the gov-
wonderful team ernment and rebel forces.
and we hope that The resumption of hos-
in some future tilities has resulted in about
time and occa- 70 conflict casulaties and
sion we meet and the displacement of more
cross paths for the than 300.000 people in Co-
sake of peace and tabato and Lanao del Norte.
humanity,” Iqbal PNA

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26 TRAVEL & TOURISM Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

September in Calbayog City

Sarakiki-Hadang
Festival: Crowing
about chicken
joy, pride
They flap their wings, Thus act a legion of
scratch the ground and wig- skilled dancers as they In September of every year since over a decade ago, people of and visitors to Calbayog City flock to
gle their tails as they dance dress and act like roosters the streets and parks to perform, if not witness, the vibrant colorful Sarakiki-Hadang Festival. Sarakiki
and romp through Cal- and hens performing an an- depicts the frenzied movements of a rooster (right photo) trying to court a hen or dare another rooster
bayog City’s main streets cient dance and a pre-colo- to a fight. Sarakiki is meant to allure, to draw with, to attract or exercise attraction, to entice or to win.
in a parade full of colorful nial ritual - the Sarakiki and Its pre-colonial denotation means to praise, extol or eulogize spirits of gods. The word does not only
pageantry on the eve of the Hadang - in a festival that ascribe to the ritual or hadang to gratify the gods (left photo), but likewise to hadang as the offering or
celebration of the city’s fi- shows the Calbayognons’ the sacrifice. Participants perform the rhythmic dance during the festival, which is thought to cure the
esta in honor of Our Lady of rich tradition, history, race, sick and bring a good harvest. Websites on Calbayog/Photos: JOVAS33, Flickr
Nativity. religion, arts and culture.
Vicente Labro, in an the tribal leaders. to represent the fowl’s gaff Religious-cultural This was to ask the ani-

More tourists Inquirer News Service dis-


patch, says the Sarakiki-Ha-
In dance, song
The dance is known
(tadi in Waray and tari in
Tagalog).
But more than the roost-
er’s intents, Sarakiki’s pre-
tos to protect them.
A manok served as an

visit Ilocos
dang Festival has become since as the Sarakiki, a The body movements, colonial denotation is of a offering. The warriors paint
the joy and pride of locals Waray term that describes uproar and shouting come religious-cultural context, chicken blood on their bod-
who never tire of crowing a rooster’s movement as it with the rhythmic beatings that of praising, extolling or ies to assure invincibility.
SAN FERNANDO about it. courts a hen or provokes of talutangs and the pealing eulogizing spirits of gods. Birth of a festival
CITY, La Union - Tour- Sarakiki legend another rooster to a fight. of church bells. Sarakiki is founded on The idea of putting up a
ist arrivals in the Ilocos The Sarakiki Festival is Sarakiki refers to pre- Sarakiki movements can pre-Magellanic beliefs. festival that instilled pride
Region for the first half of said to be based on the story meditated or frenzied also be seen in the kuratsa, Calbayognons held that and sense of identity among
2008 increased by 56.4 per- of Ilahas and Mahusay (lo- movements meant to allure, a popular Waray courtship spirits occupied a position Calbayognons and to unify
cent, compared to the same cal terms for Wildlife and to draw with, to attract or dance that hogs the limelight of command over the power them as one community was
period last year. Beautiful). exercise attraction, to entice in celebrations, particularly of nature which could inflict hatched in the mid-1990s.
A Philippine Informa- Legend had it that Ilahas or to win. in wedding jovialities. harm or do good in society. The Sarakiki Festival
tion Agency (PIA) report came up with new dance The cock spreads one of Sarakiki also has its Indubitably, Sarakiki has thus came to be.
said 290,787 visitors arrived steps - patterned after those its wings down and moves place in songs local bards manifested itself in Hadang In 2001, the festival was
in Pangasinan, La Union, of a cock - that he and Ma- fast with one leg up, around croon during a sada-sada, (rituals) to please spirits. temporarily cancelled, but
Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte husay performed before the object of his love or en- or the merriment in the eve Ancient rituals was revived the following
from January to June. their tribe in Ibatan (now emy. of a wedding; much like the The Hadang is per- year as the Sarakiki-Hadang
The visitors included Calbayog). Imitating the rooster, pamalaye or pamamanhikan formed during feasts and Festival.
265,186 domestic tour- The dance was widely the dancers clench their (asking for the blessings of other occasions like the Since its first public
ists, 25,327 foreign tourists applauded and accepted by fists with the thumbs out, the bride’s parents). planting and harvest sea- appearance, the city gov-
and 266 Overseas Filipino sons, drought and in times ernment, through the City
Workers.
Last year, there were
165,988 domestic tourists,
19,470 foreign tourists and
RP: A vacation, shopping site - DOT of dreadful epidemics.
The ceremony could last
a couple of days.
It involved all villagers
Arts and Culture Office, has
sponsored the festival.
Living a faith
Modern-day Calbayo-
520 OFWs who visited var- MANILA - Philip- pines was a preferred travel ping, the Department of who offered manok (chick- gnons look at the Sarakiki
ious spots in the region. pine tourism officials have destination for Japanese, Tourism has promoted ideal en) sacrifices to venerate as a dance of a people liv-
The peak time of arriv- drawn up a plan, hoping to with some 422,000 arrivals. shopping and spa sites in the anitos (spirits). ing a faith without shedding
als this year was in April, get back a dwindling num- Officials, however, re- the country. Traditionally, the fore- off their close attachment to
when 68,262 tourists came. ber of Japanese vacation- mained optimistic that more It also launched pro- fathers made use of patani their culture.
Last year, the biggest ers to consider visiting the female Japanese visitors, grams encouraging older ug ugis nga manok (black For them, Sarakiki is a
arrival was in June, when country. about five percent of total Japanese males to visit and feather and white feather contemporary artistic cre-
tourists numbered 37,733. Tourism data noted that Japanese tourists who ar- play at the country’s finest chicken) as the offering. ation to empower the re-
The report quoted offi- fewer Japanese tourists rived in Manila from Janu- golf facilities. The Daragangans (Sa- lation and equanimity of
cials as saying more tourists came to the Philippines, ary to June, would continue Officials said adventure mare warriors) of yore, culture and religion; not by
were expected in the region dipping nine percent to patronizing the country. tourism, to include white headed by Babaylan (high being in processions and
with the completion of the some 28,000 from January Eyeing female Japs water rafting, surfing, wake- priest) used to perform ritu- hearing masses but by in-
upgrading and rehabilitation to June compared to 30,389 With female Japanese boarding, wild bird watch- als involving body move- culturation, through a ritual
of the San Fernando Airport in the same period last year. visitors expected to spend ing, and treetop climbing, ments and gesticulations dance, the Sarakiki. From
before the yearend. Until 2007, the Philip- more for food and shop- (To page 28) before going to war. various websites

Toronto’s Pinoy Fiesta celebrates with Pahiyas Festival, Oct. 17-18


Pinoy Fiesta will cel- for the honor of being rec- hibit to give a historical in- Pahiyas! show starts at 6:30 personality or group. Win- Become a TV Star is a
ebrate the Pahiyas Festi- ognized for their creativity sight of the Pahiyas Festival p.m. and dance rock party at ner gets $300, and runner- contest for 15- to 20-year
val at The Gateway Cen- by decorating houses with and Quezon, with a Pahi- 9 p.m. on Oct. 17; up, $200 plus trophies. olds with a passion for
tre for New Canadians in colorful Kiping and other yas Heritage Plaza where Starting at 12 noon of ► Super Laff-In, a performing.
Mississauga on Oct. 17 agricultural harvest. houses are set up in Pahiyas Oct. 18 are: search for stand-up comedi- Elimination rounds
and 18. Something different tradition with live cultural ► The search for the an. Contestants are 18 years for the various contests
The Pahiyas Festival Pinoy Fiesta, on its sec- presentations. first Dancestruck, Dance old and above. Winner gets have been conducted, in
is one of the many Phil- ond year, is an event or- ► Bazaar booths offer- Crew Competitions joined $300; the runner-up, $200 preparation for the grand
ippine fiestas originating ganized by The Gateway ing a variety of items plus in by dancers 15 to 25 years plus trophies. finals on Oct. 18.
in Lucban, the summer Centre for New Canadians free local cuisines for visi- old and grouped into five or ► Variety and game The Oct. 18 entertain-
capital of Quezon prov- to raise funds for its settle- tors. seven members.The winner show Fiesta Bulaga, where ment fete will be capped
ince and is referred to by ment programs, as well as to ► Game booths fea- takes home $700; the run- local talents will perform by a martial arts demo
many as a fiesta to end all showcase Filipino cultures turing traditional Filipino ner-up, $300. and various games will be and the restaging of the
fiestas. and traditions in Canada. parlor games like palosebo, ► Gaya-gaya Puto played onstage. Gamers concert Sine ... Sine Musi-
During the festival, Promising to be differ- pabitin, and others in which Maya, a sing-and-look will come from the audi- ka, starring local talents
each household tries to ent from similar events, Pi- visitors may participate in. alike contest. Contestants ence. Cash and other prizes performing theme songs
outdo each other in friend- noy Fiesta includes: ► Entertainment: A are 18 years old above who are at stake. from popular Filipino
ly competition as they vie ► A Pahiyas mini-ex- Celebrate Pinoy, Celebrate can impersonate a famous ► Do You Want to movie hits. PR
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES 27
End child labor, bring children back to school House junks DFA bid to raise
PASIG CITY - The
Department of Education
minimum age for DH overseas
(DepEd) has signed on MANILA - The House the court. Neither shall the
Sept. 5 an agreement with committee on foreign af- right to travel be impaired
the World Vision Develop- fairs has branded as “uncon- except in the interest of
ment Foundation (WVDF) stitutional” the proposal of national security, public
to step up efforts in bringing the Department of Foreign safety, or public health, as
more than 800,000 Filipino Affairs (DFA) to increase may be provided by law,”
children toiling as laborers the age limit for overseas he said.
back to the classroom. household workers from 23 Cuenco reacted to Labor
Through the ABK2 Ini- to 30. Undersecretary Rosalinda
tiative, or Pag-aaral ng mga “I do not subscribe to Baldoz who said the DFA
Bata Para sa Kinabukasan, that proposal because it shall had asked the Philippine
DepEd and WVDF would restrict or hinder one’s right Overseas Employment Ad-
jointly raise public aware- to travel which is unconsti- ministration to raise the age
ness and mobilize resources tutional,” said Rep. Antonio limit for domestic helpers
to combat child labor and Cuenco (2nd District, Cebu overseas due to alarming
promote school attendance. City, Lakas), chairman of rates of suicides and run-
“Our children are sup- the House Committee on aways.
posed to be in school and Foreign Affairs. State agencies should
not on the streets or in project in the form of policy responsibility of DepEd. levels are being handled by He said the right to instead expand support sys-
sweatshops working under and technical support pro- “We are accountable to a single teacher. travel was explicitly written tems for overseas Filipino
horrible conditions,” said viding child laborers access them in terms of their edu- “It not only provides ac- in the Bill of Rights of the workers during their stay
Education Secretary Jesli to quality and relevant edu- cation. This is one of our cess to education for chil- 1987 Constitution, under abroad, Cuenco said.
Lapus. cation programs. major concerns,” Lapus dren who are otherwise out Article 3, Section 6. “If our OFWs are as-
ABK2 is a United States A 2007 sub-regional said. of school. It also addresses “The liberty of abode sured of adequate assis-
labor department-funded multiple indicator cluster DepEd has been pur- the quality of education we and of changing the same tance and protection, then
four-year project seeking survey by the National Sta- suing non-traditional pro- provide to this sector,” said within the limits prescribed their minds will always
to help reduce exploitative tistic Office and the United grams to raise the participa- DepEd Assistant Secretary by law shall not be impaired be at ease during and after
child labor in the Philip- Nation Children’s Emer- tion and retention rates of Teresita Inciong. except upon lawful order of work,” he said. PNA
pines. gency Fund showed some school children, especially DepEd has also been
Elnora Avarientos,
WVDF executive direc-
830,000 children in the
Philippines, or 16 percent
those burdened by difficult
circumstances.
implementing the Accredi-
tation and Equivalency www. FinancialProblem.ca
tor, said the six identified of all children, were classi- This included the Child Test and the Philippine with credit cards and bank loans
sectors where child labor fied as child laborers. Find program focused on Education Placement Test Too many loans & credit cards?
was noted as particularly Of the number, about reaching the unreached out- to give learners outside of Paying too much interest?
rampant were in commer- 670,000 children both at- of-school. the classroom a chance to Afraid to pick up your own phone?
cial agriculture (sugarcane tend school and work as DepEd has also been return to the educational Looking for consolidation?
plantation), domestic work, child laborers. conducting multi-grade mainstream.
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pyrotechnics business, min- Lapus said that even if classes, with 24,882 such Lapus said offerings in
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28 Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

NEWS ROUNDUP
Camiguin: Health, daycare centers up
CAMIGUIN ISLAND - Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo opened and turned-over two
newly-built barangay health stations in Barangay Hubangon in Mahinog town and in Ba-
rangay Alanginan in Sagay town. Romualdo did similarly to a day care center in Alangi-
nan. The buildings were erected under the province’s Early Childhood Care and Develop-
ment project. The health stations were built at P200,000 each,. The day care center was
worth P150,000. PIA

Capiz: School to raise vegetables


CAPIZ - The government recently launched its Western Visayas Gulayan sa Paaralan
(vegetable gardens in schools) program at the Angub Elementary School in Cuartero,
Capiz. The school, a consistent awardee for bio-intensive gardening for several years, was
the first program recipient of the project in the region. The Department of Education has
targetted at least 500 grade schools for the program. Recipients included 127 grade schools
in Antique; 37 in Capiz; 423 in Cadiz City, 110 in Iloilo and 26 in Negros Occidental. The
Department of Agriculture would distribute vegetable seeds in 500-square meter plots the
schools would each allot. The seeds included those of ampalaya, eggplant, okra, pole sitao,
squash and kangkong. Organic fertilizer would complement the seeds. The initiative is
expected to help ease malnutrition among grade school pupils. PNA

Abra: Farmers get fertilizer subsidy


BANGUED, Abra - The government’s fertilizer subsidy program is set to benefit farm-
ers tilling some 19,000 hectares of ricelands in Abra. Linda Burton, of the Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist, said P250 coupons would be given to farmers who availed them-
selves of the hybrid and certified seeds public program. In addition, the province would
provide its one fertilizer bag counterpart to every participant-farmer. PIA

Tagum: Excreta as urea substitute


TAGUM CITY - Human excreta could be foul-smelling; but could be soil enriching and
a readily and inexpensive available substitute to costly imported urea fertilizer. Alma Uy,
tourism council officer, said the city council is expected to pass a resolution that would
seek for the processing of feces and urine as orchard and agricultural plantation fertilizers.
Uy said prices of imported fertilizer have soared to over P1,000 per sack, as urea supply
worldwide dwindled.. Plans, which might be started early 2009, included setting up sepa-
rate feces and urine ponds, where excreta is treated to get rid of the foul-smell and bacterial
contamination. Public school and market administrators would be required to put up novel
toilets whereby excreta could be easily retrieved. Uy boasted of a good durian harvest,
thanks to human excreta fertilizer, making her produce “100 percent organic.” PIA
RP: A vacation, shopping site - DOT
(From page 26) Sulu: Military completes 7 pro-poor projects
among others, would be the tourism department ments in local and foreign
SULU - Seven military-initiated projects under the development program of the Joint
promoted. also invited hotels, resorts, publications to promote
Special Operations Task Force-Philippines Task Force-Sulu (JSOTF-P) were inaugurated
This would attract a part tour operators, transport its month-long September
here. The four deep well projects in barangays Timpook, Taung, Tanum, and Liang of
of the 17.2 million Japanese services, and other local ShopFest.
Patikul town were turned over to the residents represented by their public officials. Other
travellers who vacation stakeholders to participate He said the promotions
inaugurated projects included a schoolbuilding for the Bon-bon Elementary School, the
abroad yearly. in the Japan Association for were made in Japan, Korea,
Liang circumferential road, and the Bud Datu road. PR/PIA
“Japan remains one of Travel Agents World Travel Hong Kong and other parts
the most important markets
for the Philippines,” Tour-
Fair at the East Exhibition
Hall of the Tokyo Big Sight
of the Asia-Pacific, includ-
ing India and Spain.
Cavite: SMEs get credit surety help
ism Secretary Joseph Du- from Sept. 19 to 21. He said Filipino clothes Bangko Sentral ng Pili-
rano said. Shopping mecca and clothing accessories pinas Governor Amando
“While arrivals of Japa- Meanwhile, the Tour- would be the festival’s big- Tetangco Jr. and Cavite
nese tourists are slightly de- ism Department has started gest draw, describing them Governor Ayong Maliksi
creasing, the expenditures selling the Philippines as an as value for money because (2nd and 3rd from left,
of these tourists in the coun- international shopping des- of their superior design and respectively) lead the
try are actually growing, tination. high quality. launching of the Credit
providing bigger opportuni- Secretary Durano said “These are locally made Surety Fund Program that
ties for the domestic travel tourists preferred Filipino but world-class products will enable micro, small
industry,” Durano said. brands to foreign ones when that both foreigners and and medium enterprises
To maximize opportu- shopping here. Filipinos buy in popular (MSMEs) in Cavite to ac-
nities in Japan’s growing Durano said the depart- shopping centers,” Durano cess bank loans without
outbound travel market, ment has booked ad place- said. PNA collateral. PNA Photo
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor 29

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30 Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

MWF is Making Waves ...


(From page 8)
as CEMA will pose big Rogers Community Chan-
challenges ahead for me, nel 10, whose program
especially taking into con- made a mark in the Toronto
sideration the record and community - the very core
experience of Ben - who, of diversity in Canada.
for the last nine years was The formula for the pro-
uncontested in the post. gram did not go unnoticed
Ben is everything that by the executives of Rogers
CEMA stands for: an immi- Television, with top man
grant to this country, a print, Ted Rogers himself awake,
broadcast and new media hence - together with Rog-
journalist, a staunch propo- ers’ Executive Vice Presi-
nent of diversity (leading dent for Television now,
people to dub him as Mr. Leslie Sole, summoned
Multiculturalism himself). Madeline to bring the con-
His work and achievements cept into the provincial
will be a very tough act to level for CFMT Television
follow. (now OMNI 1 TV).
But how can the humble
me decline the CEMA presi-
The rest is history, where
lately, Ontario’s OMNI 1 & PPC-O Casino Rama fundraising trip
dency when it was Ben him- 2 Television have expand-
self - my “father” in the aim ed in the west to include Officers, members and guests of the Philippine Press Club-Ontario strike a pose after the successful
of propagating the objec- OMNI TV British Columbia Sept. 20 Casino Rama fundraising trip coordinated by Myrna Soriano and Chuchi Punsalan. Photo:
tives of ethnic media, and (launched last September 1) MIKE CADUCIO & MOGI MOGADO
who coached me leading and OMNI TV Alberta (Cal-
to the helm of CEMA, who
molded me into this role
gary & Edmonton (launched
last September 15).
to the presidency of the
multicultural media group
the CEMA Biennial General
Meeting and Elections, and
Sorio at PPC-O forum
during the last two years. Why propagate ethnic that CEMA is; and, second- just before the submission Connie Sorio, interim spokesperson for the Inde-
Of course, all these media (diversity, or multi- ly, with your long-running of the requirements from us pendent Workers Association-Home Workers Sec-
were with the concurrence cultural media, if you will)? humble Filipino-Canadian by the Archdiocese of To- tion (IWA-HWS), will lead a battery of speakers to
of Madeline Ziniak, CE- I reserve the answer in my television program, Front ronto, I found myself sign- discuss caregiver and home care provider issues and
MA’S Executive Chair and next column. Page Philippines, opted by ing all the documents as the concerns during the Philippine Press Club-Ontario
daughter of Sierhey Khma- ***** OMNI Television to air in its vice-chair of the committee (PPC-O) Breakfast Forum at Casa Manila on Sept.
ra Ziniak , who founded the In the meantime, this two newly-acquired stations (loud laughter). 27 at 10:30 a.m. PPC-O forum chair Tony Sicat says
organization then known as month of September, as de- in Edmonton and in Calgary In the meantime, in be- IWA-HWS is a collaboration between the Steelwork-
the Canadian Ethnic Jour- scribed in the front page by in Alberta. tween the performance of ers trade union and Migrante-Ontario, which are or-
nalists’ and Writers’ Club, Manila Media Monitor edi- Ever grateful for all all things expected of me ganizing caregivers and home care providers into a
in 1978. tor Butch Galicia, has been these blessings, there’s a from these roles, I have to self-help, self sustaining group, primarily to protect
At the launching of a double treat in media for third treat in that I was just do what I do for a living so and promote caregivers’ rights, particularly those
OMNI 2 TV in September the Filipino-Canadian com- sitting and participating at a I can sustain my, and my still on temporary foreign worker visa. They will
2002, Ted Rogers described munity; first, with a Fili- finance committee meeting family’s, needs (loud laugh- also also share information on the proposed Juana
a young producer over at pino-Canadian acclaimed in my parish two days before ter again!). Tejada Law, launched on Aug. 24.
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor CANADIAN HISTORY 31
First Monday of September

Labour Day
has origins
from Canadian
labour movement
In Canada, Labour Day the release of 24 leaders of
is celebrated on the first the Toronto Typographical
Monday in September. Union imprisoned for going
This year, the national on a strike, since March 25,
holiday falls on Sept. 1. in a campaign for a nine-
(See related item below) hour working day. LABOUR DAY PARADE, Toronto, early 1900s. Photo: Toronto City Archives, Fonds 1568, Item 314
The Canadian labour At that time, trade
movement can justly claim unions were still illegal and torches. into the early 1880’s. suggestion to the New York working conditions or pay.
the title of originator of La- striking was considered as a The Ottawa parade In 1882, the Toronto labour body. They later marked their
bour Day. criminal conspiracy to dis- wound its way to the home Trades and Labour Council, Soon pressure for legis- achievements on this day.
Peter J. McGuire, one of rupt trade. of Prime Minister Sir John succesor to the TTA, de- lation to declare a national Today, many Canadians
the founders of the Ameri- The law, however, was A. MacDonald where the cided to organize the annual holiday for Labour Day was see the first Monday in Sep-
can Federation of Labour, earlier seen as outdated and marchers hoisted him into a demonstration and picnic exerted in both Canada and tember as an chance to take
has traditionally been abolished in Great Britain. carriage nd drew him to city for July 22. the United States. a late summer trip, perhaps
known as the Father of La- The TTA, a significant hall by torchlight. The council invited Pe- On July 23, 1894, Ca- to their country cottage, or
bour Day. group to contend with, en- MacDonald, dubbed The ter J. McGuire of New York, nadian Prime Minister John enjoy the company of fam-
But historical evidence couraged workers to form Old Chieftan, was aware of requesting his services as a Thompson and his govern- ily or friends at picnics,
indicates that McGuire ob- trade unions, mediated in the discontent of workers speaker for the occasion. ment made Labour Day, to fairs, festivals and fireworks
tained his idea for the es- disputes between employers with the laws which made McGuire was the found- be held in September, an of- displays.
tablishment of an annual and employees and signaled unions illegal. er and general secretary of ficial holiday. For teenagers and stu-
demonstration and public the end of the mistreatment In a ringing declaration the United Brotherhood of Thompson piloted the dents, the Labour Day
holiday from the Canadian of workers. from the steps of city hall, Carpenters which organized bill through Parliament weekend is the last chance
trade unionist. About 10,000 Toron- he promised the march- the previous year. against the opposition of to ‘be free’ before school re-
9-hour working day tonians came to see the ers that his party would It was in the same year, some of his Conservative opens for a new academic
The origins of Labour parade and listen to the “sweep away all such bar- that McGuire proposed at followers. year.
Day can be traced back to speeches advocating for the barous laws from the statute a meeting of the New York Canadian trade unnion- On the first Monday in
April 15, 1872, when the repeal of laws against trade books.” Central Labour Union that a ists have celebrated this September, post offices and
Toronto Trades Assembly unionism. Parliament passed the festive day be set aside for a day ‘set aside to honour most other businesses and
(TTA) organized Canada’s Workers upheld Trade Union Act on June 14 demonstration and picnic. those who labour’ from the organizations are closed.
first significant demonstra- On Sept. 3, 1872, mem- the following year, and soon National holiday 1870’s on. Most public transport
tion for worker’s rights. bers of seven unions in Ot- all unions were demanding Labour Day was first The first Labour Day pa- services run to a reduced or
The beribboned parade, tawa organized a similar a 54-hour work-week. celebrated in New York on rade in Winnipeg, in 1894, “Sunday” service, although
made on what was then parade. Ten years later September 5,1882. was two miles long. others may not run at all.
Thanksgiving Day, marched More than a mile long, The tradition established It was apparent that the Celebration Most other countries
smartly in martial tread ac- it was led by the Garrison by the Toronto Trades As- custom developed in Can- Labour Day is original- have a holiday to celebrate
companied by four bands. Artillery band and flanked sembly was continued ada and the invitation sent ly an opportunity for work- workers’ rights on or around
The marchers called for by city firemen carrying through the seventies and to McGuire prompted his ers to campaign for better May 1. Internet sources

National Public Holidays Provincial Holidays


2008 2009 2010 2011 ONTARIO: Family Day (third Monday of February) and Civic Holiday (first
New Year’s Day Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Monday of August).
Good Friday April 10 April 2 April 22 QUEBEC: National Day (June 24).
Easter Monday April 13 April 5 April 25 NOVA SCOTIA: Natal Day (first Monday of August, except in Halifax where it
Victoria Day (Monday preceding May 25) May 18 May 24 May 23 varies from year to year, usually August or July).
Canada Day* July 1 July 1 July 1
NEW BRUNSWICK: New Brunswick Day (first Monday of August).
Labour Day (first Monday of September) Sept. 7 Sept. 6 Sept. 5
Thanksgiving Day (second Monday of October) MANITOBA: Civic Holiday (first Monday of August) and Louis Riel Day (third
Oct. 13 Oct. 12 Oct. 11 Oct. 10 Monday of February).
Remembrance Day Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 BRITISH COLUMBIA: British Columbia Day (first Monday of August).
Christmas Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Natal Day (by proclamation, usually on first Mon-
Boxing Day Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 day of August).
SASKATCHEWAN: Family Day (third Monday of February) and Civic Holiday
* The Holidays Act provides that July 2 is Canada Day when July 1 is a Sunday. (first Monday of August).
ALBERTA: Alberta Family Day (third Monday of February) and Heritage Day
Although not public holidays, Commonwealth Day and the Anniversary of the (first Monday of August).
Statute of Westminster are marked in Canada by flying, where physical arrangements NEWFOUNDLAND and LABRADOR: Celebrated on nearest Monday - St. Pat-
allow (i.e. two flagpoles), the Royal Union Flag, also know as the “Union Jack” along
rick’s Day (March 17), St. George’s Day (April 23), Discovery Day (June 24), Me-
with the National Flag at federal buildings, airports, military bases and other federal
morial Day (July 1), Orangemen’s Day (July 12), and Regatta Day/Civic Holiday
buildings and establishments, from sunrise until sunset.
(fixed by municipal council orders).
Physical arrangements means the existence of at least two flag poles; the Canadian NORTHWWEST TERRITORIES: National Aboriginal Day (June 21) and Civic
flag always takes precedence and is never replaced by the Union Jack. Where only one Holiday (first Monday of August).
pole exists, no special steps should be taken to erect an additional pole to fly the Union YUKON: Discovery Day (third Monday of August).
Jack for this special day. NUNAVUT: Nunavut Day (July 9).
32 MONEY Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

Flaherty expects Canadian economy to


weather global economic uncertainty
OTTAWA - Finance G7 Finance Ministers, and and stable.” the impact of global eco-
Minister Jim Flaherty said with the Superintendent of Economic stimulus nomic factors, including a
he expected the real Gross Financial Institutions and Flaherty said the gov- struggling economy of the
Domestic Product of Can- the Governor of the Bank of ernment has provided “sig- U.S., which has been Cana-
ada (GDP) “to increase by Canada, and I will continue nificant economic stimulus da’s largest trading partner.
one percent” this year. to monitor the situation in Canada.” These factors included:
Flaherty made the fore- closely,” he said. Since 2006, economic ► The U.S. housing cri-
cast following a Statistics Flaherty assured that the measures included the pro- sis and its far-reaching eco-
Canada report that real GDP Bank of Canada has taken vision of $21 billion in in- nomic implications;
was up slightly in the sec- action to ensure the liquid- cremental tax relief - equiv- ► Record increases in
ond quarter. ity of the banking system, alent to 1.4 percent of GDP the price of oil; and
But he admitted that and indicated that it stood - to Canadians and Canadian ► The ongoing volatil-
“the pace of economic ac- ready to provide further li- businesses this year alone, ity in global financial mar-
tivity remains weak as a quidity to Canadian markets when it was needed most. kets.
result of the U.S. slowdown as required. This was a permanent struc- Canadian response
and its impact on our export “Canada continues to tural tax change, unlike the Among the responses
sector.” weather the global financial temporary measures in the the government has taken
Flaherty said solid market turbulence better United States, he noted. were:
growth in income and em- than many other countries,” “In fact, federal person- ► The introduction of
ployment in the second he said. al income tax refunds this permanent broad-based tax
quarter should help support “Canada’s banking and FLAHERTY year were almost $200 or reductions;
economic activity to move insurance industries are well 14 percent higher than last ► The prioritization of
forward. capitalized and our financial economic fundamentals re- than four per cent at an an- year, thanks to our tax relief programs involving post-
Resilient, stable system is sound. The Inter- mained solid, as: nual rate over the first half measures,” Flaherty said. secondary education, in-
On Sept. 17, Flaherty national Monetary Fund has ► “Our unemployment of this year. This is income In addition, business frastructure and worker re-
said Canada, as an open determined that Canada’s rate remained near a 33- available to Canadians for tax reductions through 2012 training; and
trading economy, was not financial system is resilient year low; consumption or investment; are expected, he added. ► The creation of cen-
immune to the “consider- and that the stability of our ► “Our budget is bal- ► “Canada’s house- “Canada is the only ters of excellence in science
able stress” financial mar- system is well supported by anced and in fact there hold, business and financial member of the G7 with con- and technology.
kets worldwide have been sound macroeconomic poli- was a budgetary surplus of sectors are strong; tinued surpluses and a fall- “We believe in long-
going through. cies and strong prudential $1.7 billion in the month of ► “Canada’s housing ing debt burden,” he said. term initiatives that will
“I am in close contact regulation and supervision,” June; market is sound and interest Global phenomenon improve Canada’s competi-
with US Treasury Secre- he stressed. ► “In addition, real in- rates are low; and But he admitted that Ca- tiveness and productivity,”
tary Henry Paulson, other Flaherty said Canada’s come has increased by more ► “Core inflation is low nadians have been feeling Flaherty said. PR

Alberta cited as best performing


labor market in North America
VANCOUVER - Can-
provinces, ranked 25th and gle with an average unem-
ada’s western province of
50th respectively. ployment rate of 15.2 per
Alberta has maintained its
Newfoundland was the cent, more than three times
distinction as the best per-
lowest-rated at 51st with the the unemployment rate
forming labor market in
other Atlantic provinces, all found in Alberta,” he said.
North America, for the past
ranked in the bottom half on Public sector jobs
five years.
labor market performance. The study examined
“For the past five years
Low job growth four aspects of labor mar-
Alberta has enjoyed strong
“The research highlights kets directly affecting labor
employment growth, high
the diverging labour mar- market performance: public
levels of worker produc-
kets within Canada. West- sector employment, union-
tivity, and low durations of
ern provinces are enjoying ization, minimum wages,
unemployment, making it
strong labor markets while and labor relations laws.
the best performing labor
the rest of Canada lags be- The study showed a gap
market overall,” said Niels
hind,” said Keith Godin, emerged between Canadian Jobs in the tar sands, like the Mildred Lake mine site and plant at the Atha-
Veldhuis, Director of Fis-
study co-author and Fraser provinces and U.S. states basca Oil Sands, have been luring both domestic and foreign workers to fill
cal Studies at The Fraser
senior policy analyst. when public sector employ- a labor shortage. Canada’s development of its huge oil reserves has also
Institute, an independent
Ontario and Quebec ment was considered. opened employment windows in manufacturing and services. Photo: TASTY
research group.
have relatively low rates of Canadian provinces CAKES in Public Domain
Veldhuis is co-author of
private sector job growth. consistently maintained
the Fraser study Measuring
The two provinces were higher levels of public-sec- ployment is an important where Canadian provinces of another, or which were
Labour Markets in Canada
noted to be suffering from tor employment. aspect of labor market per- and U.S. states diverged. overly prescriptive, reduced
and the United States: 2008
high average unemploy- Seven of the bottom 10 formance since the incen- From 2003 to 2007, labor market performance.
Report released on Aug. 28.
ment rates. jurisdictions were Canadian tives, productivity, and per- Canada’s average unioniza- High wages
Besides Alberta, the rest
Both regressed in the provinces: Quebec, New formance of labor activity tion rate was 31.8 percent, All provinces, except
of the top 10 rated jurisdic-
2008 report, compared Brunswick, Prince Edward in the private sector is dif- compared with 13.6 percent Alberta, also maintained
tions are U.S. states, led by
to 2007 when they were Island, Nova Scotia, Mani- ferent from that in the pub- for the U.S. relatively high minimum
Nevada, Utah, and Alaska.
ranked 21st and 41st. toba, Newfoundland and lic sector,” Veldhuis said. Quebec has the highest wages that have been prov-
Canadian ranking
The Atlantic provinces Labrador, and Saskatch- “Lower labor produc- rate of unionization in North en to reduce employment
British Columbia was
also suffered from high av- ewan. tivity in the public sector America with 40.2 percent and on-the-job training.
rated second-best labor mar-
erage unemployment rates Saskatchewan had the is particularly problematic of its workers unionized, “Canadian provinces
ket in Canada, but ranked
and low labor productivity. highest rate of public-sec- given that workers in the ranking it 60 out of 60. should reduce public sector
11th in North America.
“The highest unemploy- tor employment in North public sector tend to receive A reason for the diver- employment, pursue more
Saskatchewan was third
ment rates in North Ameri- America at 27.4 percent of a wage premium compared gence in unionization rates balanced and less prescrip-
in Canada and 14th among
ca are found in the Atlantic total employment; almost to their private sector coun- was Canada’s relatively pro- tive labor laws, and avoid
all ten Canadian provinces
provinces,” Godin said. double that of neighboring terparts,” he added. union labor relation laws. increasing minimum wages
and 50 U.S. states.
“Despite Newfound- Alberta (15.5 percent). Pro-labor Evidence showed that to improve the function-
Ontario and Quebec,
land’s burgeoning resource “The split between pri- Unionization is another labor relations laws biasing ing of their labor markets,”
Canada’s most populous
sector, it continues to strug- vate and public sector em- aspect of the labor market one group at the expense Veldhuis said. PR
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor MONEY 33
Gov’t on track in creating more competitive RP GOT A FOREX DEAL?
MANILA - President Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dollars you have had exchanged since August
on Sept. 15 sounded an ur- 18, courtesy of Manila Media (Money) Monitor.
gent call for every Filipino US$ Cdn$
to make a commitment to Sept. 15 46.99219 44.03865
continue working together Sept. 12 46.65582 44.01235
in creating a stronger and
Sept. 11 47.18728 43.72970
more competitive Philip-
Sept. 10 46.97204 43.77445
pines amid external threats
Sept. 9 46.83998 43.89597
to the local economy.
Addressing the National Sept. 8 46.58271 43.57328
Competitiveness Council Sept. 5 46.83813 44.18383
(NCC), Arroyo said she Sept. 4 46.61681 43.81007
convened the NCC “to make Sept. 3 46.29295 43.67053
sure we remain on track to Sept. 2 46.30632 43.27418
improve our business and August 29 46.02098 43.33156
investment climate and to August 28 45.58823 43.33214
continue to improve our FURNITURE MAKING FACTORY IN THE PHILIPPINES August 27 45.73208 43.63477
global competitiveness.” August 26 46.04127 43.93058
“I called this meeting tricity to make factories re- The President said the These challenges in- August 25 45.57291 43.56679
also to reassure the invest- gionally competitive; Philippines’ five-notch im- cluded high food and fuel August 22 45.56302 43.59889
ment community, domestic ► Modernized infra- provement in its ranking prices and the slowdown of August 21 45.66187 43.90345
and foreign, that the gov- structure to efficiently trans- in the Institute for Inter- the US economy. August 20 45.71306 43.04152
ernment is acting responsi- port goods and people; national Management and She said these seeming August 19 45.40299 42.83030
bly, will stay the course and ► Upgraded knowledge Development survey and growth barriers were cush- August 18 45.32298 42.75466
has plan for the future,” she and technology disseminat- the four-rank improvement ioned by increased revenue

FinancialProblem.ca
said. ed for productivity; and, for competitiveness in the collections to fund govern-
In her 2006 State-of- ► Reduced red tape to World Economic Forum ment programs and proj- www.
the-Nation Address, Arroyo cut business cost. could be attributed partly to ects. with credit cards and bank loans
outlined five comprehen- She commended the the efforts of the council. “While the economic
Too many loans & credit cards?
sive strategies for global NCC, which would be two But Arroyo stressed the picture has been challeng-
competitiveness, namely: Paying too much interest?
years in October, for its ini- need to reassess the Philip- ing, thankfully we had the
► Plentiful and afford- tiatives on competitiveness pines’ strategies for global foresight to plan for this day Afraid to pick up your own phone?
able food to keep labor cost that have influenced indus- competitiveness, as there through our tough choices Looking for consolidation?
globally competitive; trial and government deci- have been challenges in the to reform our tax system,” Please see page 13 for our detailed advertisement
► Reduced cost of elec- sions. global economic front. (To page 34)
CREDIT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
PCCT networking, acquaintance night on Sept. 26 416-780-1020
Members of the Nebres and Tug-
Philippine Chamber adi add that the din-
of Commerce-To- ner is aimed at rec-
ronto (PCCT) will ognizing those who
have another oppor- made the trade show
tunity to network and another huge success
get acquainted with in introducing Fili-
their fellow mem- pino products and/or
bers when the orga- their services before
nization hosts an Ap- mainstream consum-
preciation Night and ers in the GTA.
Dinner at the Elles- The trade show,
mere Community NEBRES and TUGADI conducted at the
Recreation Centre on same time and venue
Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. of the Mabuhay Philippines Toronto Sum-
Rafael Nebres and Oswald Tugadi, mer Festival on July 19 drew an estimated
president and 2008 Trade Show Chair, re- 15,000 visitors.
spectively, of the PCCT, say the gathering The Appreciation Night will likewise
is likewise an appreciation event for all serve as a networking and an acquaintance
sponsors and vendors who participated in evening among the new and old members of
the recent PCCT Trade Show at the Metro the PCCT. PR, PCCT Corporate Com-
Toronto Convention Center. munications

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34 The PHILIPPINES Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008

Judiciary’s MREP covenant

Chief Justice Reynato Puno (left) shakes hands with Court of Appeals Pre-
siding Justice Conrado Vasquez, Jr. following the ceremonial signing of a
covenant by CA Justices, as part of the judiciary’s Moral Recovery Enhance-
ment Program launched on Sept. 15. Part of the covenant reads: “We, with
one heart and one mind, solemnly make a covenant to dispense justice with
SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOL honor, independence, impartiality, and integrity; to be subservient only to
the truth; to give our utmost in everything that we do; to continue doing
YELLOWBIRD good; and to hold oursevles accountable to the Supreme Judge so that our
Court may be a haven of fairness and righteousness.”

4862 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario BUSINESS Gov’t on track in creating ...
(From page 33)
MEETING she said. domestic consumption and
Filipino businessmen “It is important to remind investment and relying less
in Bathurst and Wilson ourselves of the ... successes on external markets is exact-
areas will meet at the of the revenue collection ly what our reform agenda is
Our Lady of Assump- which is allowing for great- about,” she said.
tion Church parish hall er investment in the people “We are doing every-
on Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. during this tough time,” the thing in our power to focus
to discuss better coordi- President said. on the fundamentals, keep
nation and mutual help She stressed that the best the economy steady, and to
beneficial to them. The buffer to external vulner- provide relief for those most
meeting may take up the ability would be domestic in need,” she said.
formation of the Toronto and internal strength. NCC working groups
Filipino Businessmen “Building a stronger, presented their concerns and
Improvement Area. JT healthier economy driven by recommendations. OPS
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES 35
Glenda Gloria wins McLuhan Prize
Veteran Filipino journalist Glenda Glo- current governance issues with Canadian
ria was recently named the Marshall McLu- government officials and members of civil
han Fellow for 2008 during the awards cer- society.
emonies of the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for The winner will also have the chance to
Excellence in Journalism organized by the sit as a fellow at the McLuhan Institute in
Center for Media Freedom and Responsi- Toronto. Embassy PR
bility.
Gloria won the Plaque of Distinction,
the top prize in this year’s competition, for
her article Trapped in a Web of Lives pub-
lished in Newsbreak in December, 2007.
The Marshall McLuhan Prize, named
after the world-renowned Canadian com-
munication scholar, is the Embassy of Can-
ada’s flagship public diplomacy initiative.
Launched in 1997 to encourage inves-
tigative journalism in the Philippines, the
Prize underlines Canada’s belief that a
strong media is essential to a free demo-
cratic society.
The program, with financial support Filipino journalist Glenda Gloria (left)
from Sun Life of Canada, provides the win- receives the Marshall McLuhan Prize
ner with a study tour to Canada. from Canadian Ambassador to Ma-
This will be an opportunity to interact nila Robert Desjardins.
with media counterparts and to discuss

Drizzles of ... TV ads


(From page 9)
What I didn’t tell is that the more important events reach far.
I really enjoyed my summer in my life. It’s a bad habit. I
with my daughter. let them overwhelm me. ADVERTISE with
I didn’t tell that I was It’s a habit I have to work
elected as the media spokes- hard to overcome.
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about joining). many good things that can
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36 ENTERTAINMENT Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008
A look into Filipino-Canadian folksingers,
The GIG bands, musicians and other performers in
Canada by CHITO SARABIA

Vultocazhe: Alternative band


What’s in a name? Everything that is tunes, soul searching lyrics and deep drum
Vultocazhe, the brand that makes a unique- grooves have all been part of the band’s
ly good band out of five talented Filipino musical tradition.
youngsters who have begun to make it big Having the most experience among
in Toronto’s entertainment circuit. the roster of artist under Minerva Records,
Vultocazhe is composed of vocalist Vultocazhe boasts of a legion of loyal sup-
Vlad Manalastas, guitarist and vocalist Eu- porters who follow all their shows and ap-
mir Cabatino and Adrian Perlas, bassist and pearances.
vocalist Edwin Rama, and drummer Don Their own rendition of the Hit song The
Lunaria. Promise by When in Rome, has been a pop-
According to the band’s website, Vulto- ular request in most of their performances.
cazhe emerged in 2004 through the vision Their first album entitled VULTO has
of bassist, Edwin Rama. been released under Minerva Records, fea-
Hard and heavy power riffs, melodic (To page 37) VULTOCAZHE BAND MEMBERS

Jason Nuñez tops IN PURSUIT OF A PASSION FOR SINGING

Charlyn gets into the groove


Pasko ng
Pilipino to
City Singers ‘08 “I was only seven
years old when my parents
others and was adjudged the
champion.
She was also chosen to
perform for a Filipino fes- hit Toronto
Jason Nunez, City of brought me to an amateur In Canada? “I never tival.
Toronto Social Services em- singing contest for children thought that I’d still pur- “My love for music and The Magnificat Char-
ployee, has been adjudged at DXMS, a local radio sta- sue my singing in this huge my passion to sing led me ismatic Prayer community
this year’s winner of City tion in Cotabato City. I did country, a place that doesn’t to pursue my dreams. These is set to present a gala con-
Singers 2008 conducted at not win, but I brought home sleep and people are always dreams are not only for me cert The Gift of Christmas:
the Nthan Philips Square, the consolation price of one busy,” she confided. but for others as well - that Pasko ng Pilipino at the Im-
during the launch of United pack of biscuits. It was the It took two years of in my own simple way, I perial Oil Auditorium of the
Way Toronto’s 2008 cam- sweetest I ever tasted, be- keeping her talent to herself can make people smile each Ontario Science Centre on
paign on Sept. 9. cause it sparked my pas- before she she joined and time I sing for people,” Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Jason effortlessly sang, sion for singing,” enthused won the 2007 Filipino sing- Charlys mused. Performers Lilac Caña,
with his own style and ren- Charlyn Marundan, whose ing Idol contest, belting out Charlyn has lately been Marc Ballesteros and Emilio
dition, Lionel Richie’s bal- star in Toronto’s entertain- New York, New York to an practicing with a band nee Zarris will sing tunes rang-
lad Hello. ment arena is fast rising. audience at Nathan Philips Banda Ni Kuya, and would ing from Broadway to jazz,
Celebrity guest judges “My parents motivated Sqaure. soon be onstage. traditional to modern in-
were Jennifer Valentyne of me to believe in myself. terwoven into a Christmas
Breakfast Television, Cana- NUÑEZS Hence, I chanced upon ev- story. Also in the repertoire
dian Idol judge Farley Flez, ery amateur singing contest are popular folk songs and
Canadian jazz and pop diva Cooper of CHFI 98.1 hosted in school, in our village and the singers’ original compo-
Molly Johnson, and Nation- the contest and the United at CTV-12, the local TV sta- sitions.
al Hockey League retired Way campaign launch. tion. I won some; lost a lot, Caña, a recording artist,
pro Peter Zezel. United Way drive but losing became a chal- is known for her exception-
Jacqueline John of Parks Also at the United Way lenge to hone my talent,” al operatic soprano voice.
and Recreation placed sec- city campaign were Mayor Charlyn said. Ballesteros, who comes
ond with her rendition of David Miller, City Manag- In between studies from a musical family, has
Natural Woman, while Ron er Shirley Hoy and United of veterinary medicine at gained a name with his
Morissette of Toronto Water Way’s Frances Lankin. the University of South- charm and heart-warming
sang the Garth Brooks Two At the event, United ern Mindanao in Kabacan, rendition of ballads and pop
of a Kind and bagged third Way officials announced a North Cotabato, Charlyn hits, including his very own
place. 2008 overall goal of $110 nurtured her talent as lead songs.
Twelve talented city em- million. vocalist of the University Zarris, who made his
ployees participated in City The city’s goal for the Music Band, playing on- performing debut as mem-
Singers 2008. United Way drive is $1.1 and off-campus. ber of the cast member of
The crowd was also million. She had her first big win the Canadian production of
treated to performances of Many city staffmembers during an Inter-Organiza- Miss Saigon, has sang on
the TKO urban dancers and have taken part in summer tion singing tilt at Notre boat cruises and social func-
former City Singers winner, events that supported divi- Dame University in Co- tions, concerts and cultural
Jassette Forbes. sional United Way efforts. tabato City, where she later events in North America.
Erin Davis and Mike SUZY LLANERA transferred. She topped 18 CHARLYN MARUNDAN An added show feature
is the internationally-ac-
Filipino film Pag-asa sa Paglaya in Commfest claimed Fiesta Filipina
Dance Troupe, which has
Pagasa sa Paglaya, a Pag-asa sa Paglaya (Hope made liturgical, novelty Film entries group, presents a wide va- made waves worldwide for
71-minute film by Philip- Upon Release), a prisoner and all-occasion scented Basides Pag-asa sa riety of local, national, and their sensational execution
pine director Cornelio Tor- rehabilitation cooperative candles.” Paglaya, Commffest orga- international films in a bid of Philippine folk dances.
rijos, is among 39 commu- the Philippine Jesuit Prison PSP has since grown, nizers say 38 other films to bring communities to- Pasko ng Pilipino will
nity films to be screened Service (PJPS) has been getting a P1-million grant are entered into the event gether, with each film rep- also be a venue to enjoy
during the Community Film running since 1994. from the World Bank in launched at primary spon- resenting a voice to share Chritmas carols and get a
Festival (Commffest) at 110 PJPS is a foundation that 2004, after being chosen as sor Hotel Novotel Terrace experiences, educate others, glimpse of Philippine Yule-
The Esplanade in toronto is part of the social aposto- one of the winners of the on the Patio on Sept. 15. and be a forum to discover tide traditions.
from Sept. 26 to 28. late of the Society of Jesus bank-sponsored competi- Of the 39 films, nine are common ties of solidarity. Joe and Annie Lapid,
Pag-asa ..., according to in the Philippines. tion First Philippine Devel- produced by Canadians. After every screening, presiding elders of the Mag-
a submission from Cielito A report from Sunstar opment Innovation Market The other films come Commffest conducts panel nificat Community, hope
Torrijos, shows the big News Service quotes PSP Place, with the theme Pani- from producers and direc- discussions to engage in- the concert can raise funds
difference between the hu- founder priest Victor La- bagong Paraan: Making tors from the United states, dividuals and communities to upgrade the community’s
mane treatment of jailbirds bao S.J: “PSP started as the Services Work for the Poor. Germany, Israel, United in a dialogue of social and retreat facilities, Regina-
aimed to prepare them for Light a Hope project for Labao brought PSP to Arab Emirates, Greece, Ire- cultural issues. Mundi, in Queensville.
after-prison life as against renewed ex-prisoners and the Cebu penal system that land, China, United King- Commffest provides The center is open year
the threats of punishment their families, and depen- year, and in a matter of days, dom, France, the Philip- film workshops for youth round to individuals and or-
and the death penalty. dents of inmates in the New was working on the opera- pines, Hungary, Rwanda, and adults as a commu- ganizations for workshops,
Jail opportunities Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa, tions of a new 1.6-hectare Spain and Cambodia,. nity outreach program with retreats, prayer services,
The film must have taken Manila. The project in- candle-making facility in Understanding funding from sponsor part- other events and activities.
its inspiration from PSP or volves manufacturing hand- Busay. Commffest, a charitable ners. IMELDA SUZARA PR
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor ENTERTAINMENT 37
Anita Linda at the TIFF

Veteran Filipino actress Anita Linda (center) joins (from left) Alisha, Eugene,
Anagaile and Rico in a photoshoot during a promotional lull of the movie
Adela, one of three Filipino entries in the Toronto International Film Festival
from Sept. 4 to 13. According to Manila Media Monitor contributor Anagaile
Soriano, Adela, although a low-budget film shot in one week, stood out by
sending a strong message about aging and loneliness. The story unfolded in
a typical day in the life of Adela - played by Anita Linda who is in her first in-
ternational film festvial. Adela needed not say much. Her facial expressions
depicted her true feelings. Adela was directed by Adolfo Alix Jr., who wanted
to portray a grandmother living alone, was celebrating her 80th birthday but
was rejected by her children. Adela lived in poverty, among those who tried
making ends meet in the Bernardo dumpsite near the Manila expressway.
Director Alix said the film touched on current Philippine situations. Although Hairdresser & make-up artist Tonnie Furto applies final
the film revolved around the life of Adela in a day, Alix also paralleled the life
of Adela to the Philippines.
touch to dynamic songstress Jennifer Camacho for her re-
cent concert.
‘Tiya Dely’, First Lady of
RP radio, passes away
Fidela ‘Tiya Dely’ Mag-
payo, one of Philippine
broadcasting’s most endur-
ing personalities, passed
away at 6:10 p.m. on Sept. 1
UPAA-PAG in Sketching for Life
after suffering a stroke two
days earlier.
Magpayo was 87 years
old. She would have turned
88 on Oct. 29.
Tiya Dely’s daughter
Delia Reyes said her moth-
er died peacefully with her
family by her side at the
Intensive Care Unit of the
Manila Doctors’ Hospital.
Magpayo was brought
to the hospital on the night
of Aug. 30, after suffering
a cerebral hemorrhage due
to a stroke while anchoring
her long-running program
Serenata Kolektibista over
radio station dzRH in Pasay PAG artists, professional model and UPAA members
City.
Philippine Star’s enter- Fourteen artists, 11 of University of the Philip- PAG’s Rol Lampitoc, Toots
tainment columnist Ricky Sometime in 1957, ‘Tiya Dely’s’ radio program them members of the Phil- pines Alumni Association Quiatchon, Omel Masalun-
Lo wrote: “She died with Mga Liham Kay Tiya Dely, was made into a movie ippine Artists Group (PAG) Toronto (UPAA) Kapihan ga, Frank and Nelia Tonido,
her boots on, so to speak,” by Larry Santiago Productions. The movie (poster in Toronto, recently con- at the home of Oswald and Frank Cruzet, Cobie Cruz,
said her good friend Danny above), a five-episode drama, launched Chiquito ducted a live sketching ses- Mila Magno. Jun Afable, Rolly Abari-
Dolor, philanthropist, bank- and Joseph Estrada’s movie careers. sion, during the monthly The artists included lla, Celia Correa and Romi
er and Star’s Remember MananQuil and guests Ar-
When? columnist. she became a newscaster, others including Komiks Vultocazhe: Alternative band lene Lampitoc, Andrea Fer-
“She had just played a commentator, radio dra- King Carlo J. Caparas. (From page 36) nandez and Mark Sperber.
Bella Filipina, the intro mu- matist, and a singer, but her Her relatives received turing the hit song Ode. Each member of Vul- MananQuil coordinated
sic to the program, when she work as an on-air counselor, the award on her behalf. Vultocazhe has played tocazhe has been creating Sketching for Life for the
began stuttering. And then, coupled with her gentle on- The Gawad Saguisag with various independent passionate, gut wrenching UPAA Kapihan series.
she backed away from the air persona, endeared her to Quezon was given in honor local bands and has shown music all their lives. Part of the proceeds of
microphone which had been generations of listeners. of her more than 60 years in their talents in numerous Everyone is equal, ideas art works done at Sketching
her inseparable companion With her long service in broadcasting and for propa- prestigious events all over shared, and bonds made to for Life would go to an ac-
for many, many years. She the broadcasting industry, gating the Filipino Lan- Toronto. The band opened never break. count for UP scholarships.
slipped into coma.” her voice came to be recog- guage. for Bamboo at the Massey This group’s down to Framed sketches bought
‘Tiya Dely’, who started nized as the “First Lady of She was buried yester- Hall in 2007. earth attitude has easily by UPAA members would
her broadcasting career in Philippine Radio.” day at the Loyola Memorial Vultocazhe continues to placed them on the map as be presented to them at the
the 1940s, was among the ‘Tiya Dely’ was sup- Park in Marikina City, her amaze their audience with inspiration and mentor to next Kapihan fellowship.
first people in radio who posed to receive a Gawad home until she died. With their catchy original materi- newer independent bands Follow-up events on
popularized Filipino music. Saguisag Quezon award on reports from ABS-CBN als and their energetic live trying to make it in the To- arts and culture are being
In her years in radio, Aug. 31 together with a few and Internet sources performances. ronto music scene. planned. ROSE TIJAM
38 ENTERTAINMENT Manila Media Monitor SEPTEMBER 2008
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

BATID
10 11 12 13

14 15 16

WIKA
17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28
PAHALANG
29 30 31
1. Punas
5. Kahilahilakbot 32 33 34 35
10. Tawag kay Abigail
11. Nota ng musika 36 37 38 39
13. Uri ng saging 40 41 42 43
14. Pahkalinga sa mahina
16. Bubble ______ 44 45
17. Bahagyang pilay
18. Dakilang babae 42. Titulo sa dalaga 12. Away
20. Pang-ukol 43. Henetikong sangkap 15. Buti
21. ___sap, kumurap na namamana, daglat 19. Supling
23. Tatak ng inumin 44. Pino 22. Bayan sa Cavite
25. Ianib sa samahan 45. Bayan sa Batangas 24. Bagay na
27. Pangalan ng babae sumasabog
29. Tulugan ng sanggol PABABA 26. Sakit sa balat
31. Termino sa madyong 1. Pakikibaka 28. Ninang
32. Anunsiyo 2. Pangkuwenta ng Intsik 30. Amag
34. Ika-7 araw 3. Inaba 33. Kabuuang bilang
35. _____g, panayam 4. 551 kay Caesar 37. Titulo ng banal
36. Higit 6. Simbolo ng Arsenic 39. Ahensiya ng
38. Nandusta 7. Katatawanan gobyerno
40. Bansa sa Gitnang 8. Uri ng suman 41. Isang kataga
Silangan 9. Gigitna sa nagtatalo (Sagot sa PAHINA 33)

Inspired ka ba?
Lahat ng problema may solusyon. ‘Pag walang solusyon, huwag problemahin.
***
Always remember: Kung kaya ng iba, ipagawa mo sa kanila. Don’t force yourself.
Make life easy.
***
Hindi lahat ng guwapo, may girlfriend. Ang iba sa kanila, may boyfriend.
***
Don’t face your problem if the problem is your face.
***
Practice makes perfect, but nobody is perfect. So, don’t practice.
***
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not
Reg. # 4533253

follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.
***
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt or a leaky tire.
***
919 Ellesmere Road It’s always darkest before dawn, so if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspaper,
Suite 107, Scarborough that’s the time to do it.
Ontario M1P 2W7 ***
Don’t be irreplaceable. If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.
***
Always remember that you’re unique. Just like everyone else.
***
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
***
If you think nobody cares if you ‘re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
***
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when
you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.
***
If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
***
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a
MANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE boat and drink beer all day.
OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ***
If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
***
Some days you’re the bug, some days you’re the windshield.
***
Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
***
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your
pocket.
***
“Super baba A closed mouth gathers no food.
***
and halaga ... Duct tape is like ‘The Force’. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds a nagger’s
Super below lips together.
fare talaga.” ***
There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither works.
***
“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan” Generally speaking, you aren’t learning much when your lips are moving.
Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133 ***
Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor 39
40 SEPTEMBER 2008 Manila Media Monitor

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