YEAR 10, No.

10 April 2007 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario

FIGHT FOR LIC JUANA TEJADA’S LIFE (See page 4)

DIVERTED
INSIDE
Ooops & Bloops
Always a
pleasure
to talk to a
kababayan - 7

LEYTE MUDSLIDE FUNDS?

Bataan
could
have
been
saved
if ... BY ACE ALVAREZ & BUTCH GALICIA Manila MEDIA MONITOR Photo
- 25
The avalanche of financial aid that cascaded for
Social payback - 31 survivors of the February 2006 mudslides in Guin-
saugon and nearby villages in St. Bernard, South-
ern Leyte was so great it could have buried the
victims under megatons of new houses everyone
wanted to build for them.
Even Southern Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias was
so overwhelmed by the windfall that she exclaimed
on March 24, 2006, or over a month after the disas-
Aubrey ter: “Everybody wants to be part of Guinsaugon,
Miles but we can’t accept for Guinsaugon anymore. We
denies have more houses than survivors.”
live-in During that time, funds -- accounted or not --
rumor were frantically raised for and in the name of the
- 34 St. Bernard tragedy victims in Toronto.
(Continued on page 5)

Villagers of Barangay Salvacion, Buenavista, Guimaras flock to the Salvacion Baptist

Church to avail themselves of free medical and dental services from a team of Fili-
pino, Canadian and American health professionals and volunteers, among them Dr.
Victoria Santiago, Marcela Tutay and Mary Davis. (Story on page 4)

rld
) Wo
nt
in me
t e rta
w (En r T O S
ole Ne fo
E S AN
A W h
D A C
CAN
(See page 35)
 Classifieds
Manila Media Monitor
2 APRIL 2007
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APRIL 2007 Manila Media Monitor 3 CALENDAR
► APRIL 20: Filipino Centre Toronto Filipino
Singing Idol Contest.
► APRIL 21: Camarines Norte Association of
Ontario Organizational Meeting, Filipino Cen-
tre Toronto, 1 p.m.
► APRIL 27: Toronto Filipino Canadian Se-
niors Club, Pillars, Filipino Parents Associa-
tion and Daughters of Isabella TGIF Socials,
Filipino Centre Toronto, 6 p.m.
► APRIL 28: Philippine Independence Day
Council Little Miss Philippines Pageant.
► APRIL 28 & 29: RP Toronto Consular Out-
reach Program in Saskatoon and Regina.
► APRIL 29: Filipino Centre Toronto Seminar
on Cholesterol, 2 to 4 p.m.
►MAY 9-10: Filipino Centre Toronto’s Victo-
ria Day Basketball Tournament.
► MAY 12: Silayan Community Centre 36th
Foundation Anniversary, Saint Luke United
Church Main Hall, 6 to 11:30 p.m.
► MAY 12: Filipino International Language
Assembly of the Toronto Catholic District
School Board, St. Maria Goretti Catholic El-
ementary School, 9:30 to 12 noon.
► MAY 19: Himig Pilipino Choral Ensemble
‘Salamism,’ Mississauga Living Arts Centre
► MAY 19 & 20: Filipino Centre Ontario Vic-
toria Invitational Basketball Tournament.
► MAY 24-27: De La Salle Alumni Associa-
tion 6th World Congress hosted by the To-
ronto Chapter, Holiday Inn Select Airport
► MAY 26: Philippine Courier Spring Dance,
Lions Banquet Hall, Richmond Hill, 7 to 12
midnight.
► JUNE 2: Seniors Mother’s Day Dinner
Dance, FILPAR, PILLARS, Seniors Club, Rizal
Hall, Filipino Centre Toronto.
► JUNE 2: Will Ganzon Show, Our Lady of
the Assumption Parish Dance Hall, 6:30 p.m.

CALENDAR is a public service

feature of Manila Media Monitor
and the Philippine Consulate To-
ronto through Leilani Medina.

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 News Manila Media Monitor

Photos of Dr. Kiko Portugal thru Mon Datol

4 APRIL 2007

FIGHT FOR
JUANA TEJADA

Lung cancer stricken

Filipino live-in caregiver
GENE LARA

Program (OHIP) for Tejada

to go through treatments
Juana Tejada is fighting for
her life.
costing some $40,000.
Reports earlier said im-
This, as people who have migrant advocates and com-
known of Tejada’s plight are munity and church leaders
persistently battling great raised $1,000 for Tejada to
odds to get the Canadian undergo a CT scan and bi-
government’s nod to grant opsy in February.
Tejada’s dream of being a But Lara said Tejada’s
landed immigrant. OHIP, only reaffirmed on
“(Tejada) is undergoing March 8 after being stripped
treatment continuously. She off her for over a year,
is scheduled for her chemo- would end as soon as her
therapy series and I believe open work permit would ex-
she is taking alternative pire on Aug. 28.
herbal medicine. She wants Health officials suspend-
to fight for her life,” com- ed Tejada’s OHIP after im-
munity leader Gene Lara migration authorities put on
told Manila Media Monitor. hold her January 2006 ap-
Lara said all donations plication for permanent resi-
from kind-hearted persons dency, a legal step Tejada
raised and collected for Te- had gained after completing
jada’s treatment were given a prescribed term of service
to the sick caregiver. and residency under the Ca-
Lara did not specify any nadian Live-In Caregiver
amount but hinted the dona- Program (LICP).
tions would complement the However, when she took
benefits Tejada could get her immigration-required
from a recently reinstated medical tests, she was diag-
Ontario Health Insurance nosed to have lung cancer, a
TEJADA’S LIFE
► Battle for JT status ongoing
► LICP changes sought
► Nannies given longer work stay
► Brillantes cites OFW protection
BY BUTCH GALICIA
medical setback that made
her ineligible for status.
In reinstating Tejada’s
OHIP, the health ministry
wrote she had “met the re-
quirements” and was “eli-
gible” for continuous OHIP
coverage “from June 15,
2003 until Aug. 28, 2007.”
The letter added OHIP
would pay back any out-
standing medical claims.
The OHIP reissuance
came after a major Toronto
daily profiled Tejada’s case.
Battle for status
”It remains to be seen
if the government will still
consider (Tejada) as landed
immigrant. Bunuan na na-
man ito,” Lara said.
“If her landed immigrant
status is denied, we will ap-
peal. If the appeal is again
denied, we will apply (for
Tejada) as landed immigrant
based on humanitarian and
compassionate grounds.”
Tejada had worked two
years as a nanny, hoping to
later reunite with her hus-
band, parents and six sib-
lings in Canadian soil.
Meanwhile, she is work-
ing with a Tim Horton’s
outlet, but still has to send
money to the Philippines to
support her family, leaving
herself enough to survive
the daily grind while living
with a kin in North York.
“(Tejada) has given three
years of her life caring for a
couple of Canadian families
and their children,” Sr. Ce-
leste Reinhart of St. James-
town’s Our Lady of Lourdes
Church said. “This is a time
for us to show our gratitude
for her hard work.”
LICP changes
Since 1983, human
rights and foreign workers
advocates have been appeal-
ing to the government to re-
view and introduce changes
to or scrap the LICP.
The government should
start considering nannies
coming in as landed immi-
grants, Lara said.
She lamented the lacka-
daisical view most politi-
cians have on the conditions
of live-in caregivers who
have remained so vulnerable
to all kinds of abuse.
“Because we do not
have any politician to focus
attention to this change, up
to now it is ignored. Many
abuses and sufferings are
encountered by live-in care-
givers,” Lara stressed.
While researches and
documentations have been
done and submitted to every
kind of political and social
fora, nothing has happened.
“Paanong hindi mang-
yayari iyan. Alam ng lahat
ang Pilipino ay hindi nag-
kakaisa. Kanya-kanyang
agenda,” she chided.
“Each one of us has
strengths to offer. If only we
could learn how to respect
and work in unity, life will
be better for all of us.”
Nannies length of stay
Just recently, Immigra-
tion Minister Diane Finley
announced that LICP-cov-
ered foreign nannies could
stay for up to three years
without applying for annual
extensions after their con-
tracts have expired, if em-
ployers have applied for a
Labour Market Opinion for
the same duration.
Under the same circum-
stances, other temporary
(Continued on page 18)

MEDICAL-DENTAL MISSION

WITH A HEART BY REY TOLENTINO

(Former newscaster at DWIM-FM, now DWBR, and FEBC’S DZAS in the Philippines)
It could have been easy before and her experience the patient’s mouth, as ready adrenalin.
for Dr. Vicky Santiago, a helped mission organizers. aides hovered around. Tutay said she, Vicky,
dentist, and nurses Marcela Through arrangements An average of 200 dental Mary and the rest of the
Tutay, Santiago’s sister, and made by Grace International extractions, 80 to 90 clean- team members never felt the
Mary Davis to politely say Ministries coordinator in ings and innumerable cavity stress and exhaustion until
no to a plea to be part of a Toronto Rev. Gerry Falco, treatments were done daily. after the mission.
medical-dental mission to the three Canadians joined But doctors had to exam- But organizers also re-
two remote Central Philip- a volunteer team of doctors ine the people seeking dental alized that there was still
pine villages. and dentists from the United treatment and certify the pa- much to be done to educate
The three have been States and the Philippines, tients as healthy enough to the people on proper nutri-
reaping the benefits of suc- as they set out to provide go through the dental work. tion, health and dental care.
cessful careers in Toronto, physical and moral relief to In the process, many Without government nor
far from the helplessness and poor compatriots. undiagnosed health issues commercial support, they
deprivation that had been the There was no time to were discovered - cases of have accepted the fact that
way of life of the villagers waste. The team hit the mak- hypertension, and danger- they could only call on those
of Salvacion, Buena Vista in shift clinics, after support ously high blood pressures. committed to pursue a noble
Guuimaras and Guihaman, volunteers in each of the two So similar was the team’s vision-mission to help the
Leganes in Iloilo. towns laid the groundwork. two-day experience in Gui- poor in the Philippines.
Further, the challenges The first stop was Sal- haman where the medical- No guarantees, no
of the mission included over vacion. The word went out: dental mission took place at promises. Everyone acted
a week of absence from their Doctors, dentists and nurses the Lifegate Church. on faith, the willingness to
financially gainful practices were coming to give free The procedures and share the gifts they were
in lieu of free services and medical and dental services, number of treatments mir- given, and the knowledge
paying for their own fare first come, first served. rored those in Salvacion. that they were able to help
for a long trip to the mission During the two-day mis- After the near weeklong the less fortunate. TORONTO dental practitioner Dr. Victoria Santiago gets to
sites that had no facilities, sion in the Baptist Church in mission, the mission mem- The returns were in the work on one of hundreds of indigent patients who can only
equipment, medicines and Salvacion, pews were con- bers knew they had given grateful smiles and the sin- smile and say “Thank you very much” for having been given
comfortable amenities. verted to dental chairs on their all to provide relief for cere thanks of those who free medical and dental treatment in the remote Philippine
But Santiago, Tutay and which patients laid, propped the people of Salvacion and were treated. villages of Salvacion in Buena Vista, Guimaras and in Gui-
Davis all said yes. up with pillows. Guihaman. Indeed, the heart had haman, Leganes, Iloilo. Medical volunteers from Canada, the
Tutay had been on a The dentists had to strad- It was tough and tir- confirmed that it was better United States and the Philippines accepted the invitation of
surgical-medical mission dle the pews to better access ing work. The team ran on to give than to receive. Grace International Ministries for the weeklong mission.
 Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007 5 News
DIVERTED
LEYTE MUDSLIDE FUNDS?(From page 1) ready remitted $53,000 to
GK and the number of units
in a mudslide that blanketed
the whole village of Guin-
(Saavedra said he was at the
site in May);
JOSE SAAVEDRA

Like the Manila Media Monitor that pro-

that will be completed will saugon, leaving a hundred ► Funds would be de-
filed Canadian donations specific to the depend on the final amount confirmed dead and a thou- posited in a separate LAO
Guinsaugon cause, Gov. Lerias had in- we can remit.” sand more missing. trust bank account with
cessantly wondered about the windfall. “We are still waiting for During that same time proper accounting and re-
Where did the wind blow the funds to? some pledges and will make last year, Saavedra also in- port that would be published
a final accounting report in formed the media that the in the Filipino newspaper;
Where and for whom did the Leyte mud- June which we will sub- Association has agreed to ► All funds solicited
slide donations fall? RICKY CUENCA
mit to the Canada Revenue controls such as: and turned over by other or-
LAO GK Village LAO president told Ma- Agency.” ► Some of the associ- ganizations would be used ► The remittance of the
Leyteño Association of nila Media Monitor that LAO agreed on the proj- ation’s officers would go solely for the project; funds from Toronto would
Ontario (LAO) president his contacts on the ground ect last year, at the height home to Leyte at their own ► The project contrac- be based on the percentage
Jose “Pempe” Saavedra Jr., had informed him that the of its fundraising drives expense to assess the proj- tor in Leyte whether private of project completion.
in an April 5 e-mail to prov- construction of the pre-fab- shortly after Mt. Kan-abag ects, identify location and or a non-profit organization The LAO added it
incemates a copy of which ricated houses started in unleashed tons and tons of do preliminary scouting would be asked to submit a would “focus its project to-
was furnished the Manila January. rain-softened soil debris before the project is started bid with specification before wards post-disaster rehabil-
Media Monitor, issued an He said “we have al- that rumbled down its side or any remittance is done. the project is approved; (Continued on page 6)
update of LAO’s
30-unit housing
project for mud-
slide victims.
Saavedra said
Dr. Arla Rondilla Dentistry Professional Corporation
Gawad Kalinga
(GK) Canada General Dentistry & Orthodontics
head Ricky Cuen-
ca had informed
him that the LAO
GK Village “will
be located in (the
town of) Mac-
rohon, South-
ern Leyte” that
“has finally been
cleared of trees
and levelled.”
Media Moni-
tor sources from
Southern Leyte
capital Maasin
City said Mac-
rohon is located
some 35 kilo-
meters southeast
of Maasin City,
which in turn is
105 kilometers
northeast of trag-
edy site St. Ber-
nard. (See map
on page 6)
“The actual
construction of
the houses will
be done this April
and about 10 of
the 30 houses
is expected to
be completed
by the end of
the month,” he
quoted Cuenca’s
report, which in
turn was accord-
ing to Southern
Leyte GK official
Dr. Jerome Paler. First Row (left to right) Tracy, Anna, Dr. Arla Rondilla, Dr. Firind Cox, Jing, Tricia
“The expect- Second Row (left to right) Shacel, Janet, Abbey, Glenda, Twinkle, Doris, Leman
ed completion of
village of 30 is in
July,” Saavedra FOR APPOINTMENTS & OTHER INQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL
noted. (416) 283-1512
But in a
phone interview
last February, the
1265 Morningside Ave., Suite 104, Scarborough, Ontario
Manila Media Monitor
6 APRIL 2007
DIVERTED LEYTE MUDSLIDE FUNDS?
(From page 5)
GUINSAUGON MUDSLIDE
ONTARIO GK VILLAGE
LAO GK VILLAGE
News Village in Manlico, Hinunangan,
which is near St. Bernard.
The GK village represented
the donation of Ontario’s Ministry
of Immigration and Citizenship.
GK to the construction of a 350-
unit housing village, water facili-
ties and a new schoolbuilding in
New Guinsaugon in nearby Mag-
Saavedra, quoting Cuenca,
bagakay village.
But the situation for the New
said that as of February 2007, Guinsaugon villagers might not
itation assistance,” to include the about 65 of the over 100 houses be as rosy in reality.
installation of artesian wells the programmed from the donation Only 40 mudslide survivors
construction of a school building. had been completed. lived in the relocation site.
Target fund was at least $50,000. He said “GK was deluged with An article written by Johnna
Pending any avowed report donations ... and has built villages Villaviray-Giolagon published in
in any Filipino community news- all over Southern Leyte for the the Maasin City website said “the
paper, it could not be ascertained mudslide victims.” hilltop settlement doesn’t have
when and how much of the solic- He added the pace of work running water or electricity” and
ited donations the association had was “dictated by the ability to se- most residents have no means to
approved and turned over to GK cure a generous donor for the land earn a living.”
Canada for the LAO GK Village and the clearing/levelling of the Giolagon wrote: But those
being put up in Macrohon -- not area and the cutting of trees which from Guinsaugon were faring bet-
in Guinsaugon, any nearby area requires government support.” ter than over 2,000 people from
or even in St. Bernard -- in accor- Donation diversion six neighboring villages evacuat-
dance with the controls set. As it were, before LAO could ed over fears that their barangays
Ontario GK Village even get its collections to the would have the same fate, due to
But Saavedra, in his most re- hands of any project implemen- the instability of Mt. Kan-abag.
cent e-mail, advised certain com- tor in St. Bernard, the deluge of Residents of barangays Aya-
munity newspapers on the GK global funds beat the LAO and hag, Sug-Angon, Nueva Esper-
anza, Atuyan, Hinablan, Magatas
and Kauswagan continued to be
in evacuation centers, without a
home and without means of earn-
ing a living.
Southern Leyte Gov. Lerias
earlier said only 350 housing units
were needed for the survivors.
But with the donations that
have poured in, “we can build at
least 1,000 units for the evacuees
from other barangays.”
Hinting that the donations
meant for Guinsaugon could be
VILLAGERS from seven mudslide-threatened barangays near Mt. Kan- diverted and spent for related
abag continue to live in cramped spaces in evacuation centers in St. Ber- purposes, she said the donation
nard -- still without new homes and means of income. They could have overflow might even benefit other
been beneficiaries of funds that deluged Southern Leyte after the Guin- landslide-threatened towns like
saugon mudslide. But, alas! The money had to be spent elsewhere, as Liloan, San Francisco, Bontoc,
project implementors thought the people of St. Bernard have had enough Sogod and Macrohon, and even
to recover from their loss. Maasin City.

‘It’s always a pleasure to
talk to a kababayan.’
By now, everybody knows that
our man-about-town, Rafael Ne-
bres - the President of the Asian
Canadian Entrepreneurs & Pro-
fessionals (ACEP), President of
the Philippine Chamber of Com-
merce-Toronto (PCCT), President
of Phil-Can Athletic Club, Execu-
tive Vice President of the cultural
promotional group, Philippine In-
dependence Day Council (PIDC),
but first and foremost, General
Manager of Action Honda, had
met a car accident.
At the time he was confined at
the hospital, my wife, Gie, and I
visited him.
Inquiring at the lobby of the
hospital where his room was lo-
cated, we were directed to the el-
evator by one hospital personnel.
“It’s the geriatric department,
is it?” the woman inquired.
I responded without saying
yes, or no: “I was there when he
celebrated his last birth anniver-
sary recently, but I forgot how old
he is.”
I overheard the woman mur-
muring: “This guy is more geriat-
ric than the patient he is visiting.”
***
There’s no truth that when
Gie and I got to the Action Hon-
da General Manager’s room,
he was sleeping. There was a
Ace Alvarez
couple there - who we did not
know - and were seated beside
his bed.
Starting a conversation,
I asked, “Kamag-anak po ba
kayo ni Mr. Nebres?”
The couple replied, “A, hin-
di.”
“So, you must be close
friends,” I continued.
“Hindi rin.”
I paused for a moment, but
the man took it upon himself to
explain. “Kasi, pumunta kami
sa trabaho niya at nabalitaan
namin na nandito nga sa ospital
si Mr. Nebres, kaya tumuloy na
kami rito. Bibili sana kami ng
kotse, e, and we wanted to talk
to him personally. Higit kasing
madaling tumawad sa presyo
‘pag General Manager ang kau-
sap, e.”
“Ano? Mawalang galang na
po. Ibig ninyong sabihin, even
if Mr. Nebres is confined at the
hospital and aching all over, you
came all the way here, para tu-
mawad sa presyo ng kotse?”
Sensing I was upset, the
woman took over her husband
and said, “Hindi naman. Kaya
kami tumuloy dito, kasi napa-
panuod namin siya sa program-
ang ‘Front Page Philippines’ at
sabi niya, ‘whether bibili, o hin-
di, it’s always a pleasure to talk
to a kababayan.”
So, I added, “Mabuhay!”
***
When Mr. Nebres opened his
eyes, his room phone rang.
Picking up, he said, “Okay.
Thank you.,” and looked at the
couple and said, “O, ayos na. You
may go back to Action Honda and
sign the papers. I’ve already ar-
ranged the best price for you for
your new Honda Civic.”
The couple looked at me and
grinned.
My reaction? I declared,
“Mabuhay!” - just like Action
Honda’s Rafael Nebres’ signature
line in the Front Page Philippines
TV commercial.
***
Shortly later, some employ-
ees of Action Honda came to
visit their boss, too. It was at
this time that the nurses would
change his intravenous feed.
There’s no truth that some
of the employees objected to
feed the same through Mr. Ne-
bres’ right hand for fear that he
would not be able to sign their
payroll cheques.
***
Doctor to some visitors of Mr.
Nebres: “How come there are al-
ways a lot of people here?”
Views
“Do you know that your pa-
tient is the big boss at Honda deal-
ership ‘Action Honda’?”
Conclusion: one Action Hon-
da brand new car sold during the
dealership’s General Manager’s
confinement at the hospital. And
this one is true, friends.
Morale of the story: “You must
represent best your organization
wherever you are,” declares our
man-about-town in another words-
of-wisdom to younger people.
***
In Scarborough sidestreets
nowadays seem like the Santa
Claus Parade would always be
passing by in an hour or two,
with all the parking tickets that
residents have been getting from
Parking Enforcement Officers.
I think nobody will cart away
the trophy for the best lawn this
summer.
Lawns of Scarborough resi-
dents are all damaged.
***
Manila Media Monitor Edi-
tor Butch Galicia said sometime
ago: “Someone once told me: He
who has the media on his side al-
ways wins the debate. And he who
crosses swords with the media
ends up in deep rut.”
NOT TRUE: That after he said
this, new print publications were
born in the community.
NOW I SAY: “Welcome on
board, guys.! Readers, it’s time
to separate the independents from
the propagandists.
***
Back to basics … a lesson in
Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007
Logic 101:
7
The “Mabuhay Philippines
Toronto Summer Festival” is
scheduled in Toronto on August
17, 18 and 19, 2007.
The “Making Waves Festi-
val” is scheduled in Toronto on
August 17, 18 and 19.
Since the “Mabuhay Phil-
ippines …” and the “Making
Waves …” are both festivals for
the Filipino community, ergo,
the two festivals are direct com-
petitors.
***
The “Mabuhay …” festival’s
PR is Karen Pascual-Binaday, and
“Making Waves …” PR is Jess
Cabrias. Ergo, Jess and Karen are
competitors.
Editor Butch Galicia interrupt-
ed, saying, “Ace, your Logic 101
doesn’t make sense. Karen and
Jess are both on board ‘Talakayan’
radio program on Fairchild Radio,
hence could not be competitors.”
“Okay, okay. How about this?”
I asked: “Talakayan radio could
be a PR platform for ‘Making
Waves …’ and Karen’s soon to be
launched ‘Mabuhay Canada Phil-
ippine News Gazette’ could be an
excellent PR platform for ‘Mabu-
hay …”, ergo, …
Butch interrupted. “Hindi nga
puwede, okay? Karen helps Jess
in his weekly radio program. So,
Jess must be helping Karen with
her publication. After all, sabi ni
Jess nag-resign na siya sa ‘Atin
Ito’. Kaya, tigilan mo na iyang
Logic 101 mo.”
(Continued on page 24)
8 Views
T-I-T:
This Is Toronto
As I tried to read my messages
from my e-mail one recent eve-
ning, between glances on the TV
screen of a DVD movie in prog-
ress, I couldn’t help but be amused
by the messages I was reading and
the movie I was, at the same time,
watching.
I was reading those unsolic-
ited messages forwarded to my
e-mail address by people behind
the organization and staging of the
August 2007 festivals to be held
in Toronto.
Oh yes, it wasn’t a mistake. I
stated festivals, and not festival.
Yes, there’s two of them - the more
established annual fete, dubbed as
the “PIDC (Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Council) Mabuhay To-
ronto Summer Festival” and the
new kid on the block - which con-
tinues to be on the planning stage,
the “Making Waves Festival”.
Both are scheduled on the
Isn’t it funny that when we go
on a vacation and take a trip out
of town or overseas, we return
even more tired than before that
we actually desire to get another
break?
Travel saps energies, not only
because of the physical exertion
involved in packing and lugging
bags, moving from home or hotel
to port, unpacking and doing a lot
of walking.
We all try to squeeze in so
much in so little time because we
are afraid we may never be able
to swing by that place again or
worse, we may not be given an-
other vacation in a long time.
Mentally, the adrenalin rush
from all the excitement and anxi-
ety can send us snoring right after
plunking into our airline seat.
Add to that the anticipation
and exhilaration brought about
by the prospect of surprises and
delights, or if one is pessimistic,
the disappointments and glitches
in travel.
Young mothers complain that
the stress is doubled if one travels
with kids; the younger, the more
hassle-prone.
The holiday also drains the
pocket and becomes another
source of stress.
We fret that so much money
had already seeped out of the
purse even before getting on
same three days of August 17 to
19 this year.
The forwarded messages land-
ed on my e-mail as an attempt to
solicit concrete support from the
two media outlets I operate for the
August 17 to 19 festival.
Oh yes, festival - without the
“s”? The solicitation of concrete
support was being done by peo-
ple, depending on which festival
they are aligned with.
Repeatedly, the festival
(whichever festival, okay?) is
touted to be a showcase of Fili-
pino-Canadian unity in this part
of the world.
That’s right, “unity”, or a sem-
blance thereof; that by the num-
bers, if we gather altogether in one
place, people in the three levels of
Canadian government would no-
tice our community as a political
force, hence, may be able to get
what we seek from our govern-
Are we getting
enough vacation?
board the aircraft.
The return ticket, the sur-
charges, the visa, taxes, the termi-
nal fee, all amount to a hefty sum
and we have not even left town.
Not to mention the documents
demanded of us these days. First
time travelers have to present an
authenticated birth certificate is-
sued by the Census office and
obtaining such can be an ordeal
in itself.
Those cursing the system will
find comfort that even Americans
have to go through the same rig-
marole after 9/11.
Travel gives us a little amne-
sia. We forget what day or week
it is.
We wonder why hunger pangs
suddenly hit at the most unlikely
hours.
Traffic abroad disorients us
and our sleep becomes erratic.
Many of us end with a variety
of embarrassing ailments euphe-
mistically referred to with exotic
names like Montezuma’s revenge
and Bangkok flu.
We blame the late nights ca-
rousing during our holiday and
the change of weather for the
cold or flu we catch.
However, we forget that the
atmosphere inside an aircraft
lends itself better to the spread of
the virus.
That is, according to virolo-
ments.
As I glanced on the TV screen,
Danny Archer - the character that
Leonardo Di Caprio plays in the
movie Blood Diamonds - de-
clared to journalist Maddy Bowen
(played by Jennifer Connely):
People in the outside world think
that we are fighting communism
in this civil war. Unknown to
them, this is a fight of ‘who gets
what?’.
I glanced back at my e-mail,
continued to read, paused for a
moment and thought of the Di
Caprio character’s line, “People
in the outside world …. Unknown
to them, this is a fight of ‘who gets
what?’.”
I went on to the next mes-
sage, likewise about the festival.
I beg your pardon. Whichever of
the two festivals, okay? … then
glanced back on the TV screen.
Di Caprio to Maddy Bowen:
gists, still subject to debate.
The Filipino traveler is seen
in nearly every airport near and
far.
One would think the country
provides a huge number of days
off because of all the jetting to
and fro made by the Pinoy.
In truth, we only enjoy an
average of 16 national holidays,
called elsewhere as scarlet days
but which we refer to as red-num-
bered days here.
We also have about two
week’s worth of vacation leave.
In comparison, China has
three golden weeks, Germany
gives its citizens nearly eight
weeks off a year and Swedes
have 25 days’ vacation.
Americans enjoy two weeks
off, the Japanese have up to three
weeks in total while Australians
enjoy up to six months’ vacation.
Ninety six countries world-
wide have laws regulating, even
requiring vacation time for its
citizens.
There is a constant debate be-
tween government and business
whenever Malacañang declares
a long holiday simply because
a regular working day is sand-
wiched between two holidays.
Or when there is a chance to
provide a long weekend for the
worker.
The worker is given more
Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007
“Maddy, please, the only way for
us to get to the Colonel is with the
press convoy.”
Maddy gave in and allowed Di
Caprio in the convoy as a journal-
ist.
Di Caprio to Djimon Houn-
sou’s Solomon Vandy character:
“If anybody asks you, just say
you’re my cameraman, okay?”
I went back to reading the
rest of the messages and thought:
“These organizers have now
learned that the media must be
tickled first to ensure success of
their festivals.”
I went on to respond on one
message addressed to us at Manila
Media Monitor in particular: “As
professional journalists, we could
only report on your stories, but not
take sides with you ….” thinking
of course, we may, if we want to.
Looking back at the TV screen,
Connely’s journalist’s character,
Maddy Bowen, asks, “T-I-A?
What is T-I-A?”
Di Caprio’s Danny Archer’s
character replied, “T-I-A. This is
Africa.”
I continued reading my festi-
vals’ (Oh yes, with an “s”).
Submitting my column to Ma-
nila Media Monitor editor Butch
Galicia, he asks, “T-I-T? What is
T-I-T?” I responded, “This is To-
ronto,” Sir Butch.
time with family and a chance to
do personal chores.
On the other hand, govern-
ment hopes that the long holiday
translates into a temporary mi-
gration to the countryside where
much needed money is conse-
quently pumped.
The long holiday that just
whiffed by was occasion to fast
and reflect. Instead, the Phil-
ippine holy week has become
synonymous to beach frolic and
strolls down Session Road.
Or a chance to visit kith and
kin in the provinces we forgot last
Christmas.
There is no question that a
break from the salt mines is al-
ways welcome.
It yields fresh outlooks, cre-
ates new opportunities, sparks
glows in wayward relationships,
heals heartaches and recharges
energies.
In fact, doctors invariably ad-
vise a vacation to patients suffer-
ing from stress-related disorders,
regardless of age.
We should petition Congress
for a number of days’ vacation
equal to theirs because next to re-
tirees and mistresses, they are the
most pampered in terms of num-
bers of days’ on holiday.
And they do so in style, obvi-
ously at our expense.
How dare them! No one seems
to be complaining loud enough.
Someone says in jest that
since we are all bound to die, it
is best to expire while on vaca-
tion, sporting a beach tan and a
smile of contentment pasted on
the face.
But it always springs back to
the most fundamental: if only we
can have more holidays and the
money to afford them.
APRIL 2007
9 Views
That’s
multiculturalism
Letters & Voices In a lifetime that’s embraced
sixty years in one form of commu-
communicating than getting hold
of a mailing list and just firing off
can Canadians.
* The use of the term “visible
Invitation, appeal nicating, or another, I spent some
time in public relations when the
press releases.
***
minorities” which can lead to dis-
criminatory implications.
Dear friends, keyword was empathy: under- March 21, the International Let’s let up on this term.
Magandang araw po. Kumusta na po kayong lahat? standing your public, identifying Day for the Elimination of Racial I’ve often railed against the
I’m taking this opportunity to thank you once again for always with it and working to an under- Discrimination has been diligent- indiscriminate use of the term
being supportive of the projects of the Philippine Consulate in To- standing between communicator ly commemorated by Canadians “visible minorities” and now here
ronto, and for your support to myself too when I was still serving as and audience. since its inception. comes the United Nations Com-
your Consul from 1997-2000. Today it seems most of that Today, I’m forced to ask my- mittee on the Elimination of Ra-
Yes, it has been seven long years since I had any formal com- thinking has gone by the board. I self; what total effect has this day cial Discrimination which asks us
munication with the Filipino community in Toronto. During those get a lot of queries as to how PR had on the nation as a whole? The to reflect further on its use.
seven years, many things happened in my life, both personally and people can get their stories accept- United Nations Committee on the To me, the term has always
professionally. The saddest part of it was when I lost my dearly be- ed by ethnocultural media. Elimination of Racial Discrimina- suggested a dividing line - pinkish
loved son, Jan, in May 2002, to pneumonia, while he was in the Recently, Ace Alvarez, a col- tion in a recent report commends white skins on one side and those
midst of a studies-related seminar, in preparation for the doctorate league and I met with the staff of us for some of our efforts but finds of other pigmentation on the other.
degree he wished to pursue at McGill University in Montreal, under a large PR company and in a very us wanting in quite a few others. When we say by 2017, the
scholarship. He was just about to turn 23 at that time. productive discussion one of the Among them are: population of Toronto will be more
However, the greatest consolation I received in return, came from things we learned was our audi- * Concerns that Canada isn’t than fifty percent visible minori-
my family and relatives, and also, from you, my friends in Toronto. ence had never looked at an eth- making sufficient progress in ties, we imply they’ll still be mi-
You joined me and condoled with me when I passed by Toronto to nic newspaper, listened to ethnic tackling discrimination against norities which is untrue. The real
pick up Jan’s personal belongings and close the Canada chapter of radio, nor looked at ethnic TV. aboriginal peoples who continue visible minority will be white!
his life. I felt comforted because you showed me you cared and that They would have discovered most to face discrimination in employ- To me, identification by skin
you would not leave me at the time that I needed your support and of these media are in a language ment and are under-represented in color is just as offensive. Aren’t
sympathy the most. For this alone, I am eternally grateful. other than English or French and government offices and positions. we sufficiently aware by now of
In the thank you cards I sent out afterwards, I mentioned that the maybe--just maybe, would have * A heightened rise of discrim- what might be the physical char-
financial expression of your sympathy was all put to a foundation, appreciated news releases in their ination arising from security mea- acteristics of a person named, say,
which, although it has not yet been formally established, has already language of choice. In any case, sures, although this report was Lin Wong or Ravi Gupta or Mar-
accomplished what I thought could best perpetuate the memory of why not contact editors and pro- made before the recent Supreme cos Alvarez? If not, we should be.
Jan. For a total of P200,000 over four years (equivalent to about Cdn ducers and discuss their needs? Court decision striking down se- The challenge is now
$4,400), the monies collected then, including my own, was able to The basic fact PR people have curity certificates. Immigrants made up the vast
put one needy student through college. I am happy to report that that to learn is in today’s multicultur- * Police using a disproportion- majority of the 1.6 million new
needy student, Ms. Loremie O. Bautista, the daughter of a telephone al society, there’s much more to ate amount of force against Afri- (Continued on page 18)
operator at the DFA (a casual) and a tricycle driver, graduated just
last month, March, with a BS degree in Mass Communications from
the University of Perpetual Help Rizal in Gen. Trias, Cavite.
This is the other reason for this letter, I wish now to invite all of
you to join me and some members of my family, in the commemo-
ration of the 5th year death anniversary of Jan, on 26 May 2007. A
10 a.m. memorial Mass will be held in Mississauga, followed by

How about pulling

a small salo-salo in Cecille Mojica’s residence, and later, a 5 p.m.
Mass will be held in North York, followed by a small merienda in

each other up?

Jess and Tess Mallari’s residence.
Any donations to be given at that time, for the scholarship fund,
will be welcome. I shall acknowledge all donations of Cdn $50 or
more, and shall match whatever amount is raised, so that together,
we could help more needy students in their dream for a better life. I received an e-mail from Arlene had no enemies and had thinking about Arlene and her
Needless to say, I shall make a full accounting of all the monies col- Arlene asking for help and ad- always tried to give of herself. friend. Something else was there
lected for the foundation. vice. On the surface, her problem Recently she spoke to Sarah, but for a while it eluded me. The
I hope you could all join me in this fund-raising drive to give seemed simple enough, but the an acquaintance. In passing, she other day, I was having lunch with
you an opportunity to share some of your blessings with our more more I thought about it, the more mentioned her problem. a friend who is in charge of an
needy youth in the Philippines. Thank you for your assistance and as complicated it appeared. Sarah is not a close friend but organization which could use my
I always say, “Mabuhay!” Let me explain. Arlene is a do- she and Arlene know many of the services. I was trying to convince
OLIVIA V. PALALA, Consul General, Manado, 06 April 2007 mestic worker, but is working hard same people. Sarah became un- her to give me a chance. I’ve
For Filipino immigrants to start her own business. She was
trained as a seamstress and wants
comfortable and didn’t want to
discuss the matter. After Arlene
known this lady for some years.
She said to me, “I really trust
I like the stories that Manila Media Monitor carries - the more to open a small home-based busi- pressed her, Sarah finally told you and I know that you will do
recent one being on immigrants (Stop Lying, March 2007 issue), ness; and hopes that this will grow her: A good friend of Arlene’s a good job. But I can’t give you
written by Ace Alvarez and Butch Galicia. I support those kinds of over time. It’s hard work. had been talking a lot about how my business because in my com-
articles aimed at uplifting the Filipino immigrants. When she told her friends stupid Arlene was. How what Ar- munity there’s already a similar
I was born in Nueva Ecija, but lived in Cotabato for many years. about her plan, they were support- lene was trying to do would never supplier and I want to support
While Butch Galicia doesn’t know me, I know him being a well- ive and wished her well. This was work and that she (this supposedly them because that’s the only way
read journalist for many years in that part of the Philippines. six months ago. good friend), could not wait to see our community will stay strong.”
Also, I’m a regular viewer of Front Page Philippines (produced Arlene is now doing well. The Arlene fall flat on her face. How My friend was talking of the Jew-
for OMNI Television by Manila Media Monitor Managing Editor work she brings in is more than she was much better than Arlene ish community.
Ace Alvarez), and I must say that I like the features that the TV enough to allow her a comfortable and if anyone deserved to move Then it hit me. What had elud-
program brings before viewers. life and she has plans to stop being ahead and succeed it was her, and ed me about Arlene and her friend,
I say that if I ever have a windfall on the lottery, I’ll donate funds a domestic and to focus full time not Arlene. and the reason that their situation
to Manila Media Monitor and Front Page Philippines, so they can on her new venture. The problem Arlene was shocked. Arlene hit the nerve is that these two are
expand the paper and also make the (television) program longer for is that, soon after she started, she and this supposedly good friend a microcosm of the Filipino com-
the benefit of all of us viewers. For now, I could only offer moral began to hear rumors about her- grew up together in the same vil- munity. We don’t support one an-
support. self. Stupid stuff like “Arlene said lage. They were practically sis- other.
More power to Manila Media Monitor and Front Page Philip- this about …” or “Arlene was not ters. Let me explain. I know that on
pines. You guys are doing good. very nice about this or the other What advice could I give a daily basis we offer support to
Virgilio Manalo, St. Catherines, Ontario thing…” her? On one leve,l it is clear that our friends and others. If I needed
(Hi, Virgilio. Your letter inspires us to do better, as profes- At first she tried to ignore these this “good” friend is envious of a place to stay for the night, many
sional journalists and as purveyors of news and views that have rumors. Then, some of her friends Arlene’s attempt to succeed. My doors would open for me, willing-
impact on the community. Countless intelligent readers and stopped speaking to her and simple advice to Arlene is to drop ly and with true love. If I needed
viewers like you and discerning advertisers have kept us going stopped asking her to join them this friend. Arlene will be hurt but a meal or borrow some money to
through the years. Thus, our sincerest appreciation for your when they went out. She tried to with time, she will move on. meet this month’s rent, I can count
moral support. Thank you very much. The Editors) understand what was going on. The thing was I couldn’t stop (Continued on page 14)
 Manila Media Monitor
10 APRIL 2007
Omerta
Of slips and
twisted tongues
Food for thought: To err is
human. To err again is stupidity.
These wise words never got
my belly filled. They just fed the
ebbing cells in my 53-year old
skull with that diarrheic idea that
stupidity has a certain snippet of
humanity after all.
But when one pulls off the
same unmistakable mistake time
after time, can it be called ....
Bestiality? Nope! Since ani-
mals act on instinct and are not
gifted to discern between good or
evil, they can never even be ac-
cused of stupidity.
Humanity? Awww! Shut up!
*****
That “canned thought” was
impressed on me by an aging col-
lege professor who never seemed
to get my name right. He had the
pure pleasure of calling me Bitch
or Botch as if I was always to
blame for any disarray in the natu-
ral flow and order of things. But I
liked and loved him and looked up
to him as Stupid Cupid, as he had
a way to get into people’s hearts
-- through their stomachs.
*****
Views
By Butch DG. Galicia
Stupidity, feigned or real, hap-
pens day in and day out.
It has become so chronic and
publicly pronounced that it may
have evolved into an accepted
societal psychiatric norm, rather
than remaining an ignored form
of lunacy.
I am beginning to believe
that the black strands desperately
clinging to my fast receding hair-
line stand for the number of stu-
pidities I am forecast to commit,
just as the fewer gray locks stand
for my unused bright ideas.
These days, when things turn
out to be topsy-turvy and upside-
down, stupidity provides a bit of
comic relief that can bury stress.
A mudslide of guffaw is not at
all disastrous. One can even divert
it to as many wrong persons and
places without being questioned
at the right time.
Really, sometimes it pays to be
stupid ... but not actually lacking
in common sense and uncaring.
It keeps one down to earth and
in the company of the blessed in-
nocents (not to be read as amoy
lupa and isip-bata).
“How stupid of me!” may be
unacceptable in court.
But the statement, factual or
not, can easily get one off the hook
-- under the premise that the other
guy sweeps the dirt (read as fault,
error, boo-boo, slip, mistake, blun-
der) under the rug while thinking
he is pure genius and will not let
himself stoop down to the level of
an apologist sporting a wide grin.
How stupid of him!
*****
Before I go any farther with
my stupid dissertation or my essay
on stupidity or whatever, here is
an exercise in utility for notorious
tongue wags (read as tsismoso,
tsismosa, intrigador, uzis, atbp).
Loosen up that prime bundle
of taste muscles and speech aids.
Repeat this line correctly the fast-
est way you can: Minekaniko ni
Monico ang manyikang makina
ni Monica.
No can do? Then just shout the
one-word version: Manyakis!
Again, here is food for thought
for those who have made it a habit
to deviously invert things and sit-
uations, ‘ika nga, mga 69ers: A
slip of the tongue and you’re in
deep shit!
*****
Speaking of slips, I mean no
disrespect to that useful piece
of woman’s undergarment worn
beneath a skirt to help it hang
smoothly, provide warmth and
prevent chaffing of the skin from
coarse fabrics, and to protect fine
fabrics from perspiration.
By slips, I mean the wonder-
ful blunders of life we learn valu-
able lessons from, the incidental
lapses that temporarily send us to
our knees (to pray for strength?),
spring us back to our feet and
keep us moving forward with the
meager blessings that we possess.
I just had to make this clarifi-
cation for fear of being rebranded
as politically incorrect.
In a teaser for a Philippine
Press Club-Ontario seminar-work-
shop on writing press releases, I
once wrote: News is like a wom-
an’s skirt ... long enough to at-
tract attention and short enough
to cover the essentials.
It invited criticism from some-
one who must have misconstrued
my blurb as a sordid misrepre-
sentation of the fashionable skirt,
compared to stories of wars, mis-
haps, natural disasters, misgover-
nance, misuse of funds and other
wampums daily composing the
menu of print and broadcast news
rammed into people’s minds.
Once more, food for thought:
If you have it, flaunt it. The skirt
is better looking than newspa-
pers.
*****
Going back a bit, contribu-
tors to the Manila Media Monitor
can easily get their press releases
into the pages of this newspaper,
which has gone online via www.
manilamediamonitor.com cour-
tesy of Mila Alvarez-Magno, if
they follow the principle defined
in my stupid interpretation what
news is.
The more mini the news is, the
better.
And, oh! We, the editors of
Manila Media Monitor extend
gratitude to some press release
contributors, who make us take
note of their ignorance of com-
mon rules of courtesy, like drop-
ping a short note requesting their
item to be published and saying
“Thank You” after publication.
I have never seen Media Mon-
itor publisher and editor-writer
Ace Alvarez fuming so mad and
threatening to fill his waste bin
with PR trash.
I can understand if he thinks:
Blast these PRs off to outer space.
They can’t even be converted into
toilet paper, after a sumptuous
meal of stupid food for thought.
*****
How about this tongue twister,
Sir Ace? If a black bug bleeds
black blood, what color blood
does a blue bug bleed?
My non-sequitur: In full color
or in black and white, advertise-
ments for Manila Media Monitor
are always welcome.
*****
Lastly, let me share this last
stanza of Max Ehrman’s Desid-
erata (1952):
With all its sham, drudgery,
and broken dreams, it is still a
beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy. butchgali-
cia@yahoo.com
Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007
Keeping seniors at ease
The Canada Pension Plan
(CPP) is a contributory, earnings-
related social insurance program.
It ensures a measure of protec-
tion to a contributor and his or her
family against the loss of income
due to retirement, disability and
death.
CPP retirement pension
A CPP retirement pension is
a monthly benefit paid to people
who have contributed to the Can-
ada Pension Plan.
The pension is designed to re-
place about 25 percent of the earn-
ings on which a person’s contribu-
tions were based.
A person qualifies for a CPP
retirement pension if he/she has
News 11
and turns 65, at which point the
Canada Pension Plan disability benefit automatically
changes to a retirement pension.
To qualify for a retirement
RETIREMENT BENEFIT pension between the ages of 60
and 64, a person needs to do one
of the following:
PART 7 ► Stop working - This means
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Manila MEDIA MONITOR has compiled a that one is not working by the end
number of programs the federal government of Canada is implement- of the month before the CPP re-
ing to benefit seniors. MANILA MEDIA MONITOR hopes the series tirement pension begins and dur-
will keep the paper’s valued senior readers well-informed.) ing the month in which it begins.
► Earn less than a speci-
fied amount - This means you
made at least one valid contribu- set out in the law. earn less than the current monthly
tion (payment) to the Plan and if: The retirement pension does maximum CPP retirement pension
► He/She is at least 65; or not start automatically. A person payment ($828.75 in 2005) in the
► If between 60 and 64, and must apply for it, unless he/she is month before your pension begins
meets the earning requirements receiving a CPP disability benefit and in the month it begins.
Once a person starts receiv-
HRDC funds
Kalayaan, Silayan
seniors’ programs
Human Resources and De-
velopment Canada (HRDC)
has approved two programs
for seniors the Kalayaan Cul-
tural Community Centre and
the Silayan Community Centre
have initiated for 2006 to run
until this year.
The approvals were part of
the over $5.4 million funding
for 250 seniors projects in On-
tario under the government’s
New Horizons for Seniors
Program.
The HRDC website said
Kalayaan received $25,000
for its Seniors and the Youth-
Learning Together, Sharing
Values being undertaken in its
Mississauga headquarters.

Laugh and live longer

ing CPP pension, one can work Silayan also got $25,000
as much as he/she wants without for its Reaching out, Moving
affecting the pension amount. But Forward Toronto project.
a person cannot contribute to the Kalayaan and Silayan have
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Laugh and the world laughs with you. Even better, you might live longer, a
CPP on any future earnings from been very active in community
Norwegian researcher reports.
employment. programs and have been enjoy-
Adults who have a sense of humor outlive those who don’t find life funny, and the survival edge is
Pension calculation ing public financial support.
particularly large for people with cancer, says Sven Svebak of the medical school at Norwegian Univer-
The CPP retirement pension is For 2004 and 2005, Kalay-
sity of Science and Technology.
based on how much, and for how aan received $24,885 for its
He released his study of about 54,000 Norwegians, tracked for seven years, at the American Psycho-
long, one contributes to the CPP Fitness to Peace Net Program
somatic Society meeting here.
or to the Quebec Pension Plan) while Silayan got $25,000 for
At the start, patients filled out questionnaires on how easily they found humor in real-life situations
The age at which a person its Pilipino Seniors Learn and
and how important a humorous perspective was.
chooses to retire also affects the Share program.
The greater a role humor played in their lives, the greater their chances of surviving the seven years,
amount he/she receives. For 2005 and 2006, HRDC
Svebak says. Adults who scored in the top one-quarter for humor appreciation were 35% more likely to
The CPP protects the pension has also approved funded the
be alive than those in the bottom quarter, he says.
by making certain adjustments be- Markham Federation of Fili-
In a subgroup of 2,015 who had a cancer diagnosis at the start, a great sense of humor cut someone’s
fore calculating 25 percent of the pino Canadians with $25,000
chances of death by about 70% compared with adults with a poor sense of humor, Svebak says. (Continued on page 17)
(Continued on page 16)
 Manila Media Monitor
12 APRIL 2007
When La Salle goes marching in
By RICARDO J.S. CALUEN
I was ten years old when I
faced the first major crossroad in
my life. It was a life-altering deci-
sion I had to make at the end of
Grade Four. I was a student then at
one of the oldest Catholics schools
in Mindanao - St. Michael’s Col-
lege in Iligan City, founded by the
Jesuits and run by the Religious of
the Virgin Mary (RVM). The Good
Pope, now Blessed John XXIII,
had quite recently died that year in
1965 and the modernizing reforms
of Vatican II he convened had
yet to be felt in our corner of the
Feature
Catholic world. Modesty dictated
that boys and girls - at a certain
age - had to be segregated in the
schools. Or so we were told. The
girls would remain at St. Mike’s.
And we, the boys, had to enroll
elsewhere beginning Grade Five.
Many of the boys in my class
cowered at the thought of enroll-
ing in La Salle Academy, then
exclusively for boys. They were
children of the elite of a city that
was starting to become the most
industrialized city outside Ma-
nila. Talk over banana cue and ice
DLSAA in Toronto to
host World Congress
candy, fashionable snacks during
recess in that period, was rife with
horror tales peddled by neighbors
or older brothers who have earlier
gone to the academy. They recount
how the Brothers - that’s what the
handful of Americans and Filipi-
nos in white garb were called - Members of the De La Salle Alumni Association (DLSAA) in
would beat the living daylights out Toronto are set to host about 200 delegates from the Philippines, the
of your posterior for the slightest United States and Canada attending the 6th DLSAA World Congress
slack in discipline. Half-truth. The from May 24 to 27.
Brothers used the “paddle” if one The biennial congress, a grand reunion of De La Salle University
got red marks on his report card. alumni from around the globe, alternates venues between a Philip-
Hmm … not quite the whole sto- pine-based and an overseas-based chapter site.
ry. You could also get the “palm This year’s congress will be conducted at the Sheraton Parkway
treatment” on Toronto North convention center. Registration starts on May 24 at a
your head just hospitality reception.
because the band On May 25, alumni golf enthusiasts will pit skills in a tourna-
was out of tune- ment at the Caledon Woods Golf Club. In the evening, DLSU presi-
-and you hap- dent Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC will address the congress and DLSAA
pened to be the president Juanito Gervasio will render his report. The night’s pro-
band leader—as gram features the DLSAA Toronto band.
I would later ex- On May 26, representatives from individual chapters will elect
perience. the next DLSAA president and vice president for finance. A grand
Yet, there was dinner-dance will cap the night, featuring Ramon Torralba and his
also talk of ex- band.
cellent education A Sunday Mass celebration will start off the last day. After Mass,
that the Brothers the delegates will end the congress with a closing program while
of the Christian onboard a boat cruising around the Toronto harbor.
Schools (Fra- DLSAA Southern California will host the Congress in 2009.
tres Scholarum
Christianarum, way. So off to LSA I went for my former students of the various La
or FSC), were Grade 5, the start of my Lasallian Salle schools in the Philippines -
known to impart training that lasted through my now fraternally referred to as the
upon their stu- university years at De La Salle La Sallian Family - will gather in
dents. My par- in Manila which, until 1973, re- Toronto for the 6th World Con-
ents would not mained exclusive for boys. gress of the De La Salle Alumni
have it any other Come May 24 to 27, some 200 (Continued to page 17)

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 Appeals for help
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Manila Media Monitor received two letter-e-mails from Bisaya Asso-
ciation of Ontario official Marilyn Apilan through Julito Tigley and from Philippine Supreme
Court public information officer Annie Laborte seeking for help in raising money for the
treatment, respectively, of Nhapsa, who is afflicted with liposarcoma (cancer of the mus-
cles), and of Nichi, who needs a bone marrow transplant. The letters, as edited, follow.
April 3, 2007
My dear friends:
As much as it pains me to
disturb you, it pains me more to
remain idle while the health of
someone close is deteriorating.
Nhapsa, my long-time friend
in Davao and godmother to my
eldest daughter, has been bed-rid-
den and hospitalized for months
now, agonized by liposarcoma - a
cancer of the muscles.
Optimistically, the prognosis
says she has an 80 percent chance
of recovery within five years pro-
vided she undergoes a series of
vigorous tests, x-rays and chemo
until the growth is controlled.
The operation costs about
P400,000 and the doctor’s fee,
P250,000.
It is anticipated that if cancer
spreads, her leg will be amputated
but she remains positive that she
can overcome the ordeal.
As her friend and believer in
the mercy of God, I mirror her
optimism and am doing every-
thing to help.
I’ve stretched out my own
personal resources and am now
reaching out to you for support.
I am trying to raise money for
her cause with a Casino Rama
fundraiser on April 22 - with pick
up sites at Woodbine Center at
9:45 a.m. and at Yorkgate Mall at
10:15 a.m.
I would also like to request
your presence on April 28, from
2 to 5 p.m., at St Andrews Church
Parish Hall for line dancing, salsa
and ballroom lessons, from which
part of the proceeds will go to
Nhapsa’s treatment.
Moreover, donations may be
sent through me. Thank you all
and God bless.
Marilyn Apilan (Marilyn_
Apilan@oslerhc.org)
*****
April 7, 2007
Good day!
My family and I are looking
for foundations, corporations,
government agencies, individu-
als, etc. who can give financial
assistance to children with leu-
kemia.
Nichi’s leukemia relapsed
again.
His case was reviewed by
Dra. Mae Dolendo and some of
her colleagues in a conference in
Singapore.
Their advise is to have Nichi
undergo a bone marrow trans-
plant (BMT).
For his case, chemotherapy is
no longer an option as he had ex-
perienced several relapses.
The cost of BMT in the Na-
tional University Hospital in Sin-
gapore is 100,000SGD (approx.
Php 3.1 million).
However, we have not yet
confirmed the coverage of this
amount.
The bone marrow donor
would be coming from us (Nichi’s
siblings) if a match is found.
Right now, our main goal is
to come up with the amount re-
quired for Nichi’s treatment.
My family lives in a humble
home here in the Philippines. We
do not have any property, business
or even any asset of our own.
But we still feel blessed be-
cause our eldest was able to work
abroad and provide for Nichi’s
treatment and help with the fam-
ily’s needs.
God has always been good to
us. He keeps sending help from
people we know and barely know
whenever we cannot meet the ex-
penses incurred for Nichi’s treat-
ment.
It is again with faith that we
am sending this mail to all of you
... praying and hoping that we can
still save and prolong the life of
our Nichi.
Your referrals will be of great
help.
Thank you very much from
the bottom of our hearts.
Sincerely,
Tyrene Delgado and Family
(tyrene_delgado@yahoo.com)
News Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007
13
PPCO members to
join peers in 4th GIJC
Members of the Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPCO) is set to
exchange views with peers from over 30 countries when journalists
and documentary film makers gather at the Toronto Hilton Hotel
from May 24 to 27 for the fourth Global Investigative Journalism
Conference (GIJC).
PPCO president Tenny Soriano said the community media
group might send at least two representatives to the forum, whill
will discuss the challenges journalists face doing investigative work
and the tools that help them produce their news stories.
The conference is an opportunity to spend four-days digging
deeper on current issues such as terrorism, government corruption
and corporate crime.
To kick off the conference, the GIJC will feature a discussion
with Maher Arar who was falsely detained, imprisoned, tortured
and accused of having links to al-Qaeda.
Held for the first time in North America, the GIJC is an oppor-
tunity for Canadian and international journalists to trade skills and
strategies, expand their networks beyond borders and add a global
connection to their local stories.
The speakers include Lowell Bergman, producer/correspondent
for the PBS documentary series Frontline whose investigation on
the tobacco industry for 60 Minutes was chronicled in the film The
Insider; Michael J. Bryant, Attorney General of Ontario who re-
established Ontario’s Law Reform Commission and reformed the
human rights system for the first time in 40 years.
Among the speakers is the Philippines’ rated investigative jour-
nalist Sheila Coronel, a professor at the Graduate School of Journal-
ism at Columbia University and head of the Toni Stabile Center for
Investigative Journalism in the Philippines.
Coronel used to head the Manila-based Philippine Center for In-
vestigative Journalism (PCIJ)., an independent, nonprofit media or-
ganization that has published over 200 investigative reports and about
two dozen books since its founding in 1989. Coronel had worked for
the Philippine Panorama Magazine and The Manila Chronicle and
also filed reports from Manila for The New York Times.
More information may be obtained from www.globalinvestiga-
tivejournalism.com. ACE ALVAREZ
 PPCO Sosyalan sa Rama
Volunteers of the Philippine Press Club-Ontario
(PPCO) invite you to join them in a Casino Rama
Manila Media Monitor
14 APRIL 2007
fundraiser on May 26. During induction of FCT directors
Smitherman cites community role in
The bus leaves the Agincourt Mall at Wal-Mart
on Kennedy/Sheppard at 1 p.m. and arrives Casino
Rama at about 3 p.m. It will leave Rama at 8 p.m.
for Toronto.
For seat reservations and attendance confir-
mation, get in touch with Myrna Soriano (416-754-
9547), Chuchi Punsalan (416-456-6292), Evelyn
Canadian society; bares $50K grant
Galicia (416-264-7812), or Maribel Montemayor Ontario Health and Long Term
(416-757-0487) on or before April 20. Care Minister George Smither-
Cost per person is $10, to include dinner and man cited the “great contributions
light snack. of Canadians of Filipino heritage
to Canada,” as he announced a
Proceeds will support PPCO projects.
$50,000 grant from the Ontario
provincial government to support
YOUNG LOVE community programs of the Fili-
pino Centre Toronto (FCT).
Smitherman noted the re-
nowned service of Filipino health
care professionals in Canada.
He lauded, in particular, the
doctors, nurses and caregivers
“who have provided invaluable
help to those needing health care
not only with their knowledge and
experience, but also with their nat-
urally positive and caring ways.”
Smitherman, also deputy
to Ontario Premier Dalton Mc-
Guinty, inducted into office the
new FCT Board of Directors at
the FCT Rizal Hall on March 25.
Philippine Consul General in
Toronto Alejandro Mosquera, in
Starting a family at their youthful age is what happiness his talk, egged the group to forge
means to Rjay Estoesta and Leslie Cuevas (center) who ahead in its goals of serving the
tied the knot at the North York Centre on March 17. Rjay is community in Toronto.
the son of Ronnie and Helen Estoesta , of San Mateo, Rizal Mosquera said the timing of
while Leslie is the daughter of Leopoldo and Mercy Cuevas the induction rites coincided with
of Tanza, Cavite. Photo: EUNICE ARBIS the coming of spring, “providing
a positive symbol of new begin-
KAHAPON LAMANG ... nings, new life and a fresh oppor-
tunity to start out right.”
Board Chairperson Dr. Vicky
Santiago earlier welcomed FCT
Our Journey ... (From page 9)
on it. But if I stick my face out to
try and better myself, or attain a
level of success, there are many
who in their hearts will want to
pull me down and see me fail.
I cannot count on my com-
munity supporting and embrac-
ing my initiatives. And that is sad
Notre Dame of Cotabato Girls’ Department Class ‘71 grads because as a community, if we
Nanette Riego de Dios-Pey, Myrla Banlawi-Naranjo and Ev- stand together and encourage one
elyn Dacanay-Galicia (2nd, 5th and 6th from left, respective- another to succeed - as my friend
ly) and former Cotabato-based Oblates of Mary Immaculate does, and support our Filipino en-
seminarians Danny Naranjo and Butch Galicia (center) talk trepreneurs, we all win, regardless
about the good old days with Larry Pey (left) and Bessie Or- of our individual realization of our
touste in a recent get-together. The Naranjos were in Toronto dreams.
for a visit to Myrla’s parents and siblings in Scarborough. My friend is proud of the lo-
cal supplier. She told me his story
WITH THE FORCE of how he struggled to start his
business, how the community em-
braced him and supported him and
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord;
And let perpetual light shine upion them.”
In Memoriam
CONCORDIA SINGSON-SISON
Passed Away: April 13, 2007
The editorial team of daily newspaper Ming Pao flanks To- MARCELINA SUNGA
ronto Police chief Bill Blair (tallest, center) in a recent re-
ception where Blair told ethnic mediapersons how members January 9, 1921 - March 24, 2007
of the city’s diverse communities have landed as police of-
ficers and specialized members of the force. Ming Pao is
represented in the Philippine Press Club Ontario by Wesley LANDINO ESPIRITU CRUZ
Chua, who workerd with the Chinese Commercial News in September 25, 1930 - March 25, 2007
Manila. Photo: CEMA
Who? What?
members and guests, congratulat-
ing all for their commitment and
tenacity in overcoming “distrac-
tions.”
Santiago took pride in the
performance of past officers who
managed and assured the success
of the center’s projects and pro-
grams.
Santiago urged everyone to
“set the past aside and focus on
the tasks at hand and the building
of the FCT.”
Inducted were directors (with
designations) Dr. Santiago, board
chair, and chair of the President’s
Gala and golf tournament;
Efren de Villa, board vice
chair, and chair of the sports pro-
gram and Cabbagetown Festival;
Mary Ann San Juan, board sec-
retary and chair of the Homework
Club, library, and income tax
preparation assistance;
Rosalinda Javier, executive
council president and chair of the
seniors’ program; Rey Tolentino,
vice president and Constitutional
Committee chair;
Ed Birondo, treasurer and
newsletter committee chair; Irene
Turner, internal auditor and chair
of the Christmas for Children and
New Year’s Dance;
Masselle Virey, conflict reso-
lution and walk-in clinic chair;
Maria Luisa Sivilia, chair of the
how today he runs a successful
business; and most importantly,
how he gave back to the commu-
nity when he could.
I witness too often people in
our community put down others
who are trying to move forward.
Starting something new takes
courage. Often, it involves risk;
and always it needs support.
We need to rally behind the
people who have this courage, so
they rise as high as they can. This
makes us all strong. We should be
a strong political and economic
voice in this city. We can be. But
first we must embrace those who
risk and treat them as heroes, rath-
er than fools. We must be proud
of them.
school outreach and youth cul-
tural program; Juanita Rejdik,
chair of the line dancing and TGIF
dance classes;
Mercy Maliglig, chair of the
Pilipino class; Aida D’Orazio,
chair of academic and Young En-
trepreneur awards and publicity;
Maria de Villa, chair of website
development; Suzette Cresencia,
chair for membership;
Julie Corpuz and Bernie
Carreon, both co-chair for the se-
niors program; Lapu-lapu Caña,
chair of Filipino Singing Idol
2007 (Toronto-Montreal); Wendy
Arena, executive coordinator and
chair for Pistahan; and Mario An-
dres, chair of the comprehensive
health and wellness program and
free clinic, seminar-workshops
and advocacy.
Soprano Lilac Caña and Fili-
pino Singing Idol finalist Manny
Abraham rendered entertainment.
In closing the program, re-
elected president Javier cited
FCT’s rapid growth.
Javier also took time to ac-
knowledge donors Daisy and
Bayani Bernabe, PANA through
Lolit Tablang, Lilac Caña,
$18,000 worth of office furniture
from Star Quality Office Furniture
Mfg. through Manny Malinay Jr.
and the Ontario $50,000.00 grant.
PR/RT
FSA alumni
charity jam
spins off June 2
Alumni of various Filipino
Student Associations (FSAs) from
post-secondary schools in south-
ern Ontario are set to gather for
“Back in the Day: The Summer
Gala for Charity” at the Delta To-
ronto East on June 2 at 6 p.m..
FSAs include FCAR, FSAY,
UTPCSA (later PHAT, EFSA and
FACES), WOOF, Q-Phil, Phase,
UW-FCA and HCFA.
Proceeds will benefit Gawad
Kalinga.
“It’s a classy ‘90s jam for a
very worthy cause - a great excuse
to get dressed up to reconnect and
reminisce with old friends,” says
event organizer Roel Sarmago.
In the early 1990s, the post-
secondary Filipino-Canadian stu-
dent community was active in or-
ganizing sports and social events.
By the mid-1990s, the ac-
tivities included Barrio Fiestas
(cultural showcases of Filipino
heritage) and student conferences
addressing issues relevant to the
Filipino-Canadian youth.
Also anticipated each year
was the Christmas Gala, a tradi-
tion that began in the late 1980s
that lasted more than a decade.
The soundtrack for “Back in
the Day” will be provided by ac-
claimed club DJ Cyruss Sanchez
and legendary DJ Bloo.
Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007 Who? What? 15
Twin Birth Anniversary Blast

Front Page Philippines Host Gie Alvarez and Manila Media Monitor Editor Butch Galicia get a joint birth anniversary bash from peers and friends. (Left
above) The number of lighted cake candles Gie and Butch are trying to put off are not lying about their ages -- Gie’s candles are as is, and Butch’s is as
shown plus 50, so agree Gie’s hubby Monitor Publisher and Front Page Producer Ace (3rd from left) and Butch’s wife Evelyn (left). (Right above) ‘Sa iyo
ang inumin, sa iyo ang pulutan. Sana’y mabusog mo kami!’ echoes as writer-editor Ricky Caluen (5th from left) leads the singing of the ever-popular Pinoy
birthday tune. (Below, from left) Philippine Press Club Ontario president and Balita columnist Tenny Soriano, Talakayan radio program host Jess Cabrias,
Amor Gaborno, Maribel Montemayor, Chuchi Punsalan, Chito Sarabia, May Cabrias, and Myrna Soriano enjoy pre-dinner talk over cocktails. MMM Photos

Police, rights agency agree to stop racism, discrimination

The Toronto Police Service (TPS), To-
ronto Police Services Board and the Ontar-
io Human Rights Commission have agreed
to create a Working Group tasked to bring
about institutional changes in battling rac-
ism and discrimination.
In a pact signed on March 21 marking
the International Day for the Elimination of
Racism, Police Chief William Blair, Board
Chair Alok Mukherjee and Human Rights
Commissioner Barbara Hall said the Work-
ing Group would identify human rights is-
sues, design response plans and direct ini-
tiatives and measures to achieve goals.
Initiatives to eliminate racism and other
forms of discrimination were focused on
hiring policies and policing practices.
“The (Service) has been making real
progress over the last year in the areas of
human rights and delivering fair, equitable
and bias-free policing,” Chief Blair said.
The agreement would help the TPS
“learn from our past experiences and get
guidance for the future delivery of policing
in Toronto,” Blair said
The pact was the first of its kind and
“shows that the TPS is serious in address-
ing racism and discrimination,” Hall said.
Mukherjee said “there is no place for
bias or discrimination, such as racial profil-
ing, in the way we serve” but the pact would
strengthen efforts to identify and eliminate
any discriminatory practices and make the
workforce reflective of the city. CNW
16 Who? What? Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007

G
Reunion marks PLM 40th year DFA to conduct
andang All is set for the Pa-
mantasan ng Lungsod ng
Maynila Alumni Asso-
len’s Restaurant, Aug. 14
and a bus tour to Ottawa,
Montreal and Quebec cities,
May 6 FSO test

TONNIE FURTO
ciation (PLMAA) four-day
grand reunion in Ontario
in August to commemorate
PLM’s 40th anniversary.
Toronto-based organizer
Danny Nacua says a num-
Aug. 15.
“We know that there
will be a never-ending
kamustahan and kuwen-
tuhan during the reunion
but to add a little dose of
The Philippine Depart-
ment of Foreign Affairs will
conduct a qualifying foreign
service tests on May 6 at
Philippine posts in Vienna,
Dubai and Washington DC.

Where ber of PLMers in Australia

and the US - San Francisco,
nostalgia, we are holding
an exhibit of old photos,
Qualifying exam appli-
cations are downloadable

did you
Texas, New York - and the
Philippines have signed up
for the gathering.
get your The reunion highlight
is a dinner-dance at the Re-
beautiful naissance Hotel in Niagara
on Aug. 12.
books, uniforms, souve-
nirs and other memorabil-
ia that will surely jog our
memories, sort of touring
the memory lane, thereby
making this affair a truly
memorable one,” Nacua
from www.dfa.gov.ph and
must be received by the
embassy in Washington DC
not later than April 27.
Those who pass the
qualifying test will have to
take the written test in either

hair and Other activities include

a tour at Niagara Falls and
dinner at the Starwalk in
airbrush
Mississauga on Aug. 13;
picnic at Centennial Park,
make-up Toronto and dinner at El-
adds.
PLMAA has a scholar-
ship program going on its
12th year and benefiting
hundreds of poor and tal-
ented students. PR
the cities of Manila, Cebu,
Davao, Iloilo or Zamboanga
on Aug. 22, 23 and 25.
An oral exam will be
administered soon after in
Manila. Consulate PR

done? Catholic Crosscultural Services

Free April Job Search Workshops
TONNIE The Catholic Crosscul-
tural Services (CCS) has
FURTO released its free job search
workshop schedules.
of course!!! The workshops, to be
conducted at Suite 401,
55 Town Centre Court in
Scarborough, are on:
were conducted from April
3 to 5, 10 and 11.
cover letters; labor trends
and job leads; job search
The workshops target
landed immigrants, conven-
strategies like cold calling,
information interview and
tional refugees and live-in
caregivers.
networking; and getting
prepared for an interview.
Participants will learn The CCS offers fol-
techniques to land into jobs low-up support like one-

Cell No. 647-868-5935 ► April 17 and 18, 5

to 9 p.m.; and
► April 25 to 27, 10
the fastest way.
Among other things
participants will learn from
on-one resume counselling
and interview coaching.
Citizenship and Immi-
Beauty Queen a.m. to 5 p.m.
Similar workshops
the workshops are writ-
ing effective resumes and
gration Canada is funding
the workshops. NBernal

whom one is legally mar- Pension-sharing ar-

Canada Pension Plan: Retirement Pension...
(From page 11)
earnings a person has con-
tributed over his/her work-
ing life.
The CPP retirement pen-
sion is indexed to the Con-
sumer Price Index annually.
Age effects
The retirement pension
normally starts the month
after a person’s 65th birth-
day.
The monthly payment is
smaller if received then and
larger if taken after.
This “flexible” pension
can start as early as at the
age of 60 or any time up to
the age of 70.
The CPP adjusts the
amount of the pension by
0.5 percent for each month
before or after one’s 65th
birthday. The adjustment is
permanent, meaning that if
one opts to get it early, the
payment does not increase
when one reaches 65 years
old.
Deciding on when to
take the retirement pension
depends on a person’s cir-
cumstances.
Some considerations
are:
► Whether or not a per-
son still earns an income
and contribute to the Plan;
► How long one has
contributed;
► How much the earn-
ings were (which affects
how much was contrib-
uted);
► Other retirement in-
come;
► Health; and
► Retirement plans.
A person can get an
estimate of the retirement
pension by checking his/her
CPP Statement of Contri-
butions, or by contacting
Service Canada at 1 800
277-9914 (toll-free) or on
the Internet or by email at
www.sdc.gc.ca
Applying
It is best to apply for
retirement pension at least
six months before a person
wants his/her pension to be-
gin.
There are legislative
restrictions on retroactive
payments and a delay in
applying can result in lost
benefits.
An application must be
completed. Application kits
are available online on the
Service Canada website, for
pickup from any Human
Resource Centre of Canada,
or through the mail by call-
ing Service Canada.
Some provisions
If earnings either
stopped or were lower be-
cause a person was raising
children under the age of
seven since 1958, that pe-
riod is excluded from the
calculation of the pension.
This is called the “child
rearing drop-out” provision,
meaning the child-rearing
years are not counted when
calculating the amount of
the benefit to ensure that
one gets the highest pos-
sible payment.
If a CPP contributor dies
without having applied, the
CPP does not pay a retire-
ment pension unless he or
she was over 70 years of
age (in this case, up to 12
months of benefits can be
paid).
However, his or her sur-
viving spouse or common-
law partner (of either sex)
may be eligible for a CPP
survivor’s pension.
Pension begins
The retirement pension
starts at the latest of the fol-
lowing times:
► The month after one’s
60th birthday,
► The month specified
on the application, or
► The month after the
CPP receives the applica-
tion.
If one applies to begin
receiving the pension before
he/she turns 65, the pension
will begin:
► The month after one
stops working, or
► When one earns less
than the allowable maxi-
mum pension payment
($828.75 in 2005) for two
consecutive months.
In some cases, the CPP
can make back payments of
up to 12 months.
A person can cancel his/
her retirement pension up to
six months after it starts, but
must request the cancella-
tion in writing and pay back
all the benefits received,
and pay CPP contributions
on any earnings while re-
ceiving the pension.
Disability benefit
A person can apply to
have the retirement pension
replaced by a CPP disability
benefit if he/she becomes
disabled before turning 65;
and before the retirement
pension begins.
Any retirement pension
payments received may be
deducted from the disability
benefit.
Pension payments
CPP retirement pay-
ments usually arrive during
the last three banking days
of each month.
The last payment is for
the month in which the con-
tributor dies.
Sharing pension
A spouse is a person to
ried.
The CPP defines a com-
mon-law partner as a person
who has lived in a conjugal
relationship with a partner
of either sex for at least one
year.
Spouses or common-
law partners who are to-
gether (not separated or
divorced), who are both at
least 60 years of age, and
who receive CPP retirement
pensions can share their
pension benefits.
This may result in tax
savings. If only one is a
CPP contributor, he/she can
share that one pension.
The overall benefits paid
do not increase or decrease
with pension sharing. To
share pension, one must ap-
ply.
A person or his/her
spouse or common-law
partner can apply to receive
an equal share of the retire-
ment pensions they both
earned during the years they
were together.
The amounts depend on
how long they lived togeth-
er and their contributions to
the Plan during that time.
Pension sharing starts
as soon as the application is
approved.
The sharing arrange-
ments cannot be backdated.
Either of the partners
can apply.
rangement stops:
► When a person and
his/her spouse or common-
law partner ask the CPP to
end the arrangement;
► The 12th month after
the partners separate;
► The month of di-
vorce;
► If one of the partners
has never paid into the CPP
(or QPP) and begins con-
tributing; or
► The month one of the
partners dies.
In this case, the amount
of the CPP pension will be
the same as if there had
been no pension sharing.
Combining benefits
If a person is receiving a
CPP retirement pension, he/
she can also receive a CPP
survivor’s pension if eli-
gible. The two benefits will
be combined into a single
monthly payment.
But the most that can be
paid to a person eligible for
both the CPP retirement pen-
sion and the CPP survivor’s
pension is the maximum
retirement pension (which
is more than the maximum
survivor’s pension).
The total amount of
the combined CPP benefits
paid is adjusted based on
the survivor’s age and other
benefits received.
(Culled from Service
Canada website)
Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007 17
ADVERTISING?
Avail of MORE EXPOSURE
at LESSER COSTS.
Call 416-285-8583.
GRAB THE DEAL!

HRDC ...
(From page 11)
for its Seniors in Action Program.
The New Horizons for Seniors Program
has provided grants to support a range of
community-based projects across Canada
that encourage seniors to contribute to their
communities through social participation
and active living. Projects support broad
national objectives and regional priorities.

When La Salle ...

(From page 12)
Association. For sure, there will be the usu-
al retelling of campus vignettes: about the
near-eccentric Math professor (who held
court in the Brother Benilde Bldg.), once a
student of the philosopher Bertrand Russell,
who always kept a toothbrush and face tow-
el handy in case Marcos elements picked
him up for questioning at Camp Crame;
of how the Zuluaga brothers sent the Blue
Eagles flying for safety to shouts of “Lim
Eng Beng!!”during a heated NCAA match;
that you once sat right next to Gary V in
LSGH (I sat next to Charlie of “Excuse me,
Charlie Balakubak!” fame in Dr. Quito’s
Oriental Philosophy class and in Mr. Lota’s
Pilipino class noted writer-director Joey
Reyes was my only classmate); that you
once shared the ancient 2-sq.meter eleva-
tor at the old south building with the 300-lb
Br. Gabriel Connon (God rest his soul) and
wondered if you’d make it to your floor; or
how you escaped “The Great Raid” when
one night in 1972 the Basti boys massed in
front of the football field, armed with Molo-
tov cocktails and rumble paraphernalia.
It’s a reunion, all right.
In four years the La Sallian Family in
the Philippines will celebrate the centennial
of the founding of the first La Salle school
in the country on June 16, 1911. From its
humble beginnings in a small school build-
ing in Paco, Manila, the entire system of
La Salle schools, referred to as De La Salle
Philippines, now counts 18 institutions in
its network.
Wikipedia notes the distinction of De
La Salle University-Manila (the “Main”
campus”) thus: ”It is the first of only two
universities in the Philippines to earn a
Level IV accreditation—the highest pos-
sible level—granted by the Philippine Ac-
crediting Association of Schools, Colleges,
and Universities (PAASCU). It is also se-
lected by ASEAN along with the University
of the Philippines to be part of the ASEAN
University Network. The university, to-
gether with the Ateneo de Manila Univer-
sity, established the world renowned Asian
Institute of Management, offering full-time
business graduate education in Asia.”
Much faith had been placed upon the
hands of the Christian Brothers in the mold-
ing of the youth into individuals who are
equipped with the intellectual tools to face
today’s world. More importantly, in the
Philippine setting, students are imbued with
Christian and nationalist values upon which
their character formation would hopefully
be anchored. It was this same faith in La-
sallian education that inspired Archbishop
Jeremiah James Harty (first American arch-
bishop of Manila) to invite the Christian
Brothers to open a school in Manila, him-
self being a former student of the Brothers.
De La Salle will always strive to be a
leader in Philippine education and ride on
the crest of scientific and educational inno-
vation if it is to emulate the charisma of the
founder of the Christian Brothers, St. John
Baptist de la Salle.
18 Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007

UP prexy to grace Kapihan Commentary ...

University of the Philippines President
Dr. Emerlinda Roman is expected to be the
feature speaker during the University of the
Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA)
Toronto Kapihan series on May 12 from
9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
UPAA Toronto publicist Rose Tijam
said Dr. Roman would be visiting Toronto
during that time.
Meanwhile, Tijam said UPAA Toronto
members had a great time socializing dur-
ing their March 24 Kapihan in Mississau-
ga. (Photo above)
More than 80 UPians attended the eat-
all-you-can breakfast buffet of native Fili-
pino dishes such as tuyo, daing, tapa, to-
cino, longganisa, galunggong, sinangag,
ginataan, etc. etc.
(Right photo) Kapihan highlights in-
cluded Eleanor Calbes’ rendition of an Italian aria and a Filipino kundiman. Other equally
talented singers interpreted musical pieces ranging from Ang Bayan Ko to Katakata, more
Italian arias, Abba hits as well as Leron Leron Sinta and Magtanim ay di Biro.
The Kapihan started as a coffee date between two friends accidentally broadcast to
the UPAA group e-mail list. It has evolved into a regular monthly Saturday unstructured
gathering to encourage UPians to meet, network and relax, while supporting Filipino-Ca-
nadian businesses. PR
AFCA conducts
(From page 9)
Canadians between 2001 with terms like “visible mi- military power
and 2006, giving the coun- norities.” The joker is that the sur-
try the highest population *** vey was completed in Janu-
growth rate among G8 It was recently an- ary 2006 and it’s taken this
countries, new census data nounced the British Broad- long to get results. Since
released last month sug- casting Corporation had then, Canada has heard
gests. completed a survey of some good old sabre rat-
Canada’s population nearly 29,000 people in 127 tling from Defence Minis-
stands at 31,612,897, with different countries to deter- ter Gordon O’Connor and
a growth rate of 5.4 percent mine which had the most General Rick Hillier, both
during that five-year period. positive image. of hawkish disposition and
That’s up from the four The survey, made by a both happy to accent the
per cent growth rate in the well known pollster group belligerent side of our mis-
previous census period be- and the University of Mary- sion to Afghanistan. Wanna
tween 1996 and 2001. land, came up with the re- place any bets on Canada’s
Roughly 1.2 million port that Canada offered the still being Number One?
new immigrants made up world the most positive im-
the bulk of the population age followed by Japan and (Used with permis-
growth outlined in the latest France; and, said the survey, sion. Ben Viccari is the
census, while the country’s Israel had the most negative President of the Canadian
native-born population in- image, followed closely by Ethnic Media Associa-
creased by 400,000. Iran and the United States. tion [CEMA] and makes
That’s why we need to In between, Britain, Chi- frequent appearances on
think inclusively: let’s con- na and India were viewed OMNI TV Commentary.
sider also that to some de- more positively than nega- Some of his commentar-
gree, we are all minorities tively with Russia dropping ies are republished in this
and forget all this silliness to the negative side. publication and slightly ex-
about visibility in a country It appears, said the uni- panded in some cases from
as diversified as Canada, versity’s Steven Kull, that their 70-second broadcast
and one which isn’t going people around the world originals. For more of his
to change. Let’s help the re- tend to look negatively at work, please visit Ben’s
luctant accept the inevitable countries whose profile is website at: http://canscene.
and don’t stir up trouble marked by the pursuit of ripple.ca)
Fight for Tejada’s ...
(From page 4)
foreign workers could stay in Canada for He said the law was a tribute to OFWs
up to 24 months without needing to apply who, in 2006, had remitted some US13.2
for work permits, Finley said. billion that had easily equaled the country’s
The changes to the government’s for- 2007 budget (see related item on page 31)
eign worker policy would address expect- of P1.126 trillion.
Seneca, TRIEC offer ed massive labor shortages in Canada and He also cited swift government action

Info Sessions
The Association of Filipino
Canadian Accountants will spon-
sor Information Sessions on Ac-
counting Designations (CGA,
CMA, CA, US CPA, CIA, CISA)
at the Days Hotel and Confer-
ence Centre on May 4 at 6 p.m.
A minimal fee of $10 will be
charged to cover cost of facility
and light refreshments. PR
Group to organize
Camarines N. ass’n
Greater Toronto area residents with
roots in Camarines Norte, Bicol are set to
organize themselves into a formal grouping
at the Filipino Centre Toronto on April 21.
Core group leaders are inviting kabay-
ans to the get-together that starts at 1 p.m.
A resident says “it is about time” to form
a family-centered social entity to help, sup-
port, and give something back to people in
Bicolandia’s only Tagalog-Bikol mix dia-
lect-speaking area.
Camarines Norte is famous for the first
erected Rizal monument in the Philippines,
its Gintong Paracale jewelery, sweet pine-
apple, Bagasbas beaches, iron mines, Mer-
cedes deep-sea fishing bays and others.
The group seeks to promote and build
on the heritage, culture, and interests of the
people of the towns of Capalonga, Daet,
Jose Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Para-
cale, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Santa
Elena, Talisay, and Vinzons.
Among the organizers are Larry Berca-
sio, Jojo Taduran, Suzy Llanera and Tony
San Juan. The group is tentatively named
the Camarines Norte Association of On-
tario. JSM
free job search links
Seneca College and the Toronto Region
Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC)
have launched The Mentoring Partnership
at Seneca’s Employment Resource Centre
(ERC) in Scarborough.
The program would link skilled immi-
grants with business community mentors in
the former’s job search.
Seneca’s Dr. Rick Miner said “Seneca is
committed to meeting the needs of skilled
immigrants by providing education, train-
ing and support in order to create job-ready
graduates prepared to make valuable con-
tributions to Canada ’s workforce.”
Seneca’s ERC would offer free career
planning and job search information to the
community. PR
Ont. funds upgrade
studies for scribes
OAKVILLE - The Ontario provincial
government has invested over $348,000 in
a program offering language training, aca-
demic courses and work placements for for-
eign-trained journalists.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Mike Colle said “Ontario attracts tal-
ented writers from around the world and
this innovative program will provide the
training and experience they need to find
work and make their mark on the Canadian
media scene.”
Colle said “Canadian readers and view-
ers will benefit from the unique global per-
spective these newcomers bring to their re-
porting and writing.”
The funding is provided to Sheridan
College that is implementing the 42-week
program.
Program partners included media orga-
nizations CBC, the Toronto Star, the Hamil-
ton Spectator and Canadian Press. CNW
make the recruitment of foreign workers
easier and smoother, the minister said.
“Although welcome, these changes do
not include any new programs or changes
in philosophy. Rather, they are quite ‘con-
servative’ and amount to little more than a
minor tinkering with the process,” wrote
Toronto immigration specialist and colum-
nist Guidy Mamann.
Lisa Guino, an academician in the
Philippines turned caregiver in Canada,
observed: “The new immigration rule par-
ticular to nannies is absurd; at the most,
political cosmetics. Any nanny who has
completed the LCIP would likely seek per-
manent residency.”
RP workers’ welfare
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to
Ottawa Jose Brillantes brushed aside im-
pressions that the government under Presi-
dent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had been
reneging on its responsibilities to Filipino
citizens abroad, in dealing with the plight of
overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
During the monthly Almusalan of the
Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPCO) on
April 7, Brillantes said the problems and
concerns of OFWs have even become a fo-
cal point of Philippine foreign policy.
Brillantes said that besides enriching the
country’s political and economic ties with
other nations, the Philippines has sought to
protect and promote the welfare of about
eight million OFWs deployed globally.
He said at least 44,000 OFW distress
calls yearly have been referred to various
diplomatic posts worldwide.
“The accommodation of OFWs as a for-
eign policy is enshrined in the Philippine
Constitution as it is provided by Republic
Act 8042 or the Philippine Migrant Work-
ers Act,” he said.
“Under Philippine law, the government
is responsible for OFWs - documented or
undocumented, legal or not, with or without
status,” Brillantes stressed.
on distressed individual OFWs or OFW
groups. But the ambassador downplayed
and even feigned ignorance of inaction on
specific cases of OFW abuse in Canada
raised by Balita managing editor Tess Cusi-
pag during the PPCO forum.
A workers’ welfare advocate comment-
ed to the Manila Media Monitor that the
much-touted government action on certain
OFW situations was made only because the
instances would earn brownie points for the
Macapagal-Arroyo administration and that
these did not jeopardize political and eco-
nomic gains the Philippines could get from
OFW host countries.
The advocate added: “The policy on
OFWs is like a balloon - beautiful and col-
orful outside; all air and empty inside.”
Brillantes also lamented the reluctance
of a number of powerful nations, that in-
cluded Canada, in signing the United Na-
tions Resolution on the Protection of For-
eign Workers and their Families.
“We are still working on it,” the envoy
said when asked what the Philippine gov-
ernment, through diplomatic posts, had
been doing to urge these countries to ac-
cede to the UN resolution.
This was the same reply to the same
query Speaker Jose de Venecia told com-
munity media several months ago, during a
short stop in Toronto from Cuba.
Brillantes noted the difficulty of con-
vincing many “receiving countries” from
signing the over three-year-old UN reso-
lution, saying he had sat on the committee
drafting the resolution and had spent long
debates with peers on the issue.
Groups seeking the abolition of the
LCIP have cited Canada’s refusal to sign
the UN resolution as a way to get away with
the unfair and discriminatory provisions of
the antiquated LCIP law.
As such, abuse and rights violations
would continue on vulnerable foreign la-
borers like caregivers, they said.
APRIL 2007 Manila Media Monitor 19

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APRIL 2007 Manila Media Monitor 21

D ancing
SEARCH is on
to be a
S tar
for Latin and Standard ballroom dancers
to compete for the
Ballroom Goldstar Award
Schedule of Events
May 19th Orientation & Presentation of Participants
at The Gateway Centre, Mississauga
June 23rd First Elimination Round - venue will be announced at the presentation
July 28th Semi-Finals at the Legend, Toronto
August 25th Grand Finale - venue will be announced at the presentation

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T: 905.897.8406 E: pmauricio@sympatico.ca

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T: 416.802.1899 E: valentine_el@yahoo.ca

This first of its kind competition is brought to you by the

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in cooperation with event sponsors.

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22 Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007

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Canadian equipment donation boosts
RP fight vs chemical terror threats
MANILA - The Phil-
ippine government’s fight
against terrorism got a
boost from the Canadian
government, which recently
donated a number of equip-
ment needed in responding
to chemical attacks.
Defense Secretary and
National Disaster Coordi-
nating Council (NDCC)
chairman Hermogenes Eb-
dane Jr. received the dona-
tion after he signed a mem-
orandum of understanding
with Canadian Ambassador
to the Philippines Peter
Sutherland.
The agreement called for
the transfer to the Philippine
government of US$247,638
worth of Chemical/Biologi-
cal/ Radiological/Nuclear
Response Equipment, which
would later be distributed to
NDCC-attached agencies.
The agencies that would
be receiving the equipment
included the Armed Forces
of the Philippines, Philip-
pine National Police, De-
partment of Health, Phil-
ippine Coast Guard and
Bureau of Fire Protection.
Ambassador Sutherland
expressed optimism that the
Philippines’ fight against
threat groups would be im-
proved with the equipment.
Sutherland said the Phil-
ippine government agencies
BOOST FOR ILL-EQUIPPED MILITARY
would be “able to function
more effectively” in ad-
dressing the threat posed by
terrorism and transnational
crimes with the equipment.
Ebdane said Canadian
experts would also train
Philippine authorities on
how to use the equipment,
which included 300 units of
CBRN suits.
“This is the first time that
equipment are being made
available while the train-
ing is conducted,” he said.
In the past, some countries
have offered similar train-
ings without the equipment.
He said “it’s better to
have (the equipment) and
don’t need it, rather than to
need it and don’t have it.”
“What we are doing
actually is a must for the
government agencies so
that they will be prepared to
react to such situations. We
Manila Media Monitor
23 APRIL 2007
need these so that personnel
of the first responders will
be protected, so that they
wouldn’t die when they re-
spond,” he added.
But Ebdane clarified
there were no indicators that
chemical attacks would be
carried out by threat groups
in the country.
“There is none, there
are no indicators (of CBRN
attacks) but because of the
world situation (we need
these equipment),” he said,
noting such CBRN attacks
have already occurred in Ja-
pan, Pakistan, London and
in the United States.
“It’s a wake up call to all
other countries to prepare
for such eventuality so if
something happens similar
to that, there will be specific
personnel from specific
agencies that can react,” he
said. PNA
24 The Philippines in History Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007

Recalling the infamous World War II Bataan Death March, April 1942
When road sides littered with dead bodies
O n April 9, 1942,
about 75,000 Filipino and
american soldiers under
Maj. Gen. Edward P. King
were formally surrendered
to a Japanese army of
50,000 men under Lt. Gen.
Masaharu Homma.
Japan thus had to accept
emaciated captives who
greatly outnumbered them.
The Japanese, having
expected the war to go on
longer, had expected only
25,000 prisoners of war
(POWs) and did not have
the facilities to properly
care for them.
Logistics planning to
move the POWs from Mari-
veles to Camp O’Donnell,
a prison camp in the prov-
ince of Tarlac, was handed
down to transportation of-
ficer Maj. Gen. Yoshitake
Kawane.
The first phase of the
operation to bring all of the
prisoners to Balanga con-
sisted of a 19-mile march
expected to take one day.
Upon reaching Balanga,
Kawane was then to take
personal command of ex-
ecuting the second phase,
which consisted of trans-
porting the men to the pris-
on camp.
About 200 trucks were
to take the prisoners 33
miles north to the rail cen-
ter at San Fernando, where
freight trains, which would
move them another 30
miles to the village of Ca-
pas, awaited them.
Field hospitals were to
be put up at Balanga and
San Fernando while vari-
Upon reaching Capas, ous aid stations and resting
the prisoners were then to places were to be set up ev-
march another eight miles on ery few miles.
foot to Camp O’Donnell. The Death March
Generals Homma and
Kawane expected only
25,000 POWs but were
greeted by more than
75,000 (11,796 Americans
and 66,000 Filipinos) starv-
ing and malaria-stricken
captives at Bataan.
Earlier, only 27,000 of
the POWs were listed as
combat effective.
Even then, three-fourths
of the number were still af-
fected by malaria.
As a result, the Japanese
army had a hard time trans-
(Photos: US 4th Marines Band) porting the prisoners from
the beginning.
Equally, distributing
food was almost impossible
so many were fed nothing.
At least 4,000 sick or
wounded captives had to
stay behind to be treated by
the Japanese at Bataan.
Shortages in manpower
and supplies on the part of
the Japanese, then laying
siege to Corregidor, raised
(Continued on page 27)

Ooops & Bloops ... many DD, sir.”

(From page 7)
“E, ganoon naman pala, e,
bakit hindi na la’ng magtulungan
at pag-isahin ang dalawang festi-
vals,” I yelled back.
“Dapat talaga gano’n. Isa
la’ng. Hindi ‘yong sasabayan pa.”
The argument became heated
between Butch and myself that at
the time of this writing, I got in-
formation that Butch is forming
his own newspaper group.
***
“Memories of Elvis” - sched-
uled to be staged later this
month at the Metropol Banquet
Hall in North York, Ontario -
was called off.
The event’s producer, Edgar
de Guzman, in a phone call, in-
formed me of this.
Unto Edgar I say, “Now,
hindi la’ng si Elvis ang memory,
kung hindi pati ang event in his
memory.”
***
TRUE: Photo # 1 (right top) is
the lead story of the February 2007
issue of Manila Media Monitor.
NOT TRUE: That this publi-
cation is producing a concert with
the same title for show on Aug.
17, 18 and 19.
TRUE: That the lyrics below
were written by this writer as in-
spired by the story, melody of
which is borrowed from Peter,
Paul and Mary’s “Where Have All
The Flowers Gone?”
NOT TRUE: That those in
photo # 2 (right bottom) have
been engaged to sing the theme of
the concert as follows:
Where Have All The Donations Gone?
Where have all the donations gone? Long time passing,
Where have all the donations gone? A year ago.
Where have all the donations gone? Gone to coffers some of them,
Oh, when will they ever share? Oh, when will they ever share?
Where have all the accounting gone? Long time passing,
Where have all the accounting gone? A year ago.
Where have all the accounting gone? No accounting, most of them.
When will they ever do? When will they ever do?
Where have some fundraisers gone? Long time passing.
Where have some fundraisers gone? A year ago.
Where have some fundraisers gone? …
Note to readers …
or singers. The third
stanza lacks three
more lines and two
more stanzas to finish
the lyrics of the entire
song. Sorry friends,
but I guess, you will
have to wait sometime
when the continuing
story ends. Part II of
the story is the lead
story in this issue.
Thanks for your indul-
gence. If some of you
are “in the know”, you
may supply the rest of
the lyrics.
***
Philippine Press Club-On- no?” Tenny: “Yes?”
tario President Tenny Soriano Storekeeper: “Want to buy
at one of the local malls in Scar- Filipino DVDDDDD?”
borough selling (pirated?) Fili- Tenny: “You mean DVD?”
pino DVDs. Storekeeper: “No,
Storekeeper: “You, Filipi- DVDDDDD, because there’s so
***
Ramona Noor, Media Rela-
tions of Harbourfront, sent an ad-
vanced calendar to Manila Media
Monitor (as she usually does) for
the months of June to September.
The announcement included
the “Making Waves …”.
Forwarding the calendar via
e-mail to MMM editor Butch G.,
I wrote, “So, where’s the advertis-
ing for the ‘Making Waves Festi-
val’?”
He replied, “Be patient, Ace.
The organizers of ‘Making Waves
…’ might still be making waves
for seed money to the event.”
He continued, “… failing this,
at least, they made a ripple.”
***
From my good friend (since
1990), Malcolm Wason:
A lonely widow, aged 70, de-
cided that it was time to get mar-
ried again.
So she put an ad in the local
newspaper that read:
“HUSBAND WANTED:
► MUST BE IN MY AGE
GROUP (70’s)
► MUST NOT BEAT ME
► MUST NOT RUN
AROUND ON ME, AND
► MUST STILL BE GOOD
IN BED!
ALL APPLICANTS,
PLEASE APPLY IN PER-
SON.”
On the second day, she
heard the doorbell. Much to her
dismay, she opened the door to
see a grey-haired gentleman sit-
ting in a wheel chair. He had no
arms or legs.
“You’re not really asking me
to consider you, are you?” the
widow said.
“Just look at you - you have
no legs!”
The old gentleman smiled,
“Therefore, I cannot run around
on you!”
“You don’t have any arms
either!” she snorted.
Again, the old man smiled,
“Therefore, I can never beat
you!”
She raised an eyebrow and
asked intently, “Are you still
good in bed?”
The old man leaned back,
beamed a big smile and said,”I
rang the doorbell, didn’t I?”
The wedding is scheduled
for Saturday!
***
On, or about March 21, I sent
Butch via e-mail a number of pho-
tos from a private function that we
had.
He wrote back, “Grabe, ang
daming photos, pero isa la’ng yata
ang nakita ko na naroon ka.”
Unto Butch, I say, “How
would I be there when I was the
one taking the photos. It will stay
that way, until I figure out how my
good friend, Ricky Castellvi, did
it.”
In late 1990s, there was a
photo published in Balita. Ricky
was in that photo together with a
group of important people in the
Philippines.
The photo was credited like-
wise to Ricky Castellvi.
Unto Ricky, I say: “P’re, kita
mo hindi naman kita nakakalimu-
tan, e.”
Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007 25
Bataan could have been saved if ...
BY TENNY F. SORIANO
(A special reprint from a Philippines News Agency article pub-
lished in the Philippines Daily Express, April 9, 1977)
B ataan, the crucial
point of World War II in
the Philippines, could have
stood or its fall delayed by
some months allowing rein-
forcements to arrive.
This sentiment, although
voiced some 35 years after
the historic last stand, was
nonetheless worth for all its
lessons.
Col. Manuel Acosta,
head of the military war
memorials division and
himself a Bataan war vet-
eran, said that if only the
USAFFE (United States
Armed Forces in the Far
East) forces placed empha-
sis on the defense of the
mountains and other natural
barriers, the Japanese could
not have won this all-im-
portant battle.
In the course of a final
ocular inspection at the
Dambana ng Kagitingan
(Shrine of Gallantry) in Mt.
Samat for this year’s com-
memoration (of the Fall of
Bataan), Acosta pointed out
to a nearby mountain.
“That was where the
The Philippines in History
Japanese penetrated,” pin-
pointing Mt. Silanganan
where the invaders, after
months of careful planning,
cut through dense forests,
perpendicular cliffs and ra-
vines.
The rest was history as
the massive transport of
heavy artillery paved the
way for the eventual sur-
render of the defenders,
though valiant in their stand
but subjected to incessant
heavy bombardment, day
and night.
Mt. Samat, the vital link
to the chain of mountain
defenses, left alone and ex-
posed to enemy fire, finally
fell. And so did Bataan.
The post mortem for this
defeat was offered in terms
of military theory.
At that time, Col. Acos-
ta explained, “the prevail-
ing thinking of American
defense experts was that
natural barriers like forests,
mountains, cliffs were built-
in and insurmountable and
therefore should be disre-
garded in defense strategy.”
This was the theory they
relied on.
True, Bataan’s terrain
consisted of densely forest-
ed and wooded areas with
numerous and treacherous JUST A MEMORY. A tank smashes into a Japanese
cliffs and embankments, artillery roadblock as Allied forces defend Bataan
very ideal for a last-ditch from the Japanese in Dec. 1941. At background
stand. But at that time too, is part of what Bataan’s defenders thought was
jungle warfare had already impenetrable terrain.
been mastered by the Japa-
nese soldiers.
What Gen. Masahuru
Homma’s 14th Imperial
Army did was to debunk
this theory and by doing
the unexpected, which was
going right smack through
these obstacles with heavy
artillery to boot.
History’s account of this
is contained in Col. Uldarico
Baclagon’s book titled Phil-
ippine Campaigns which
said: From Mt. Natib to Mt.
Silanganan, a huge wide
gap existed, on the assump-
tion by USAFFE that the
enemy would be deterred
from pushing through the
high perpendicular cliffs
and ridges in the area.” By
the night of April 6 to 7,
penetrations were made
(Continued on page 27)
26 Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007
When road sides littered with dead ...
(From page 24)
confusion and irritation
among the guards as many
prisoners escaped.
At most, only four Japa-
nese soldiers could accom-
pany each group of 300
prisoners.
The march to Balanga,
which was to take only one
day, lasted as long as three
days for some soldiers.
After reaching Balanga,
it became obvious to Gen-
eral Kawane that his trucks
could not carry more than
half of the prisoners to the
rail center at San Fernando.
Since most of the other
vehicles the Japanese had
brought to the Philippines
were either in repair or be-
ing used for the Battle of
Corregidor, those who could
not get a ride were forced to
continue marching for more
than 30 miles on completely
unshaded roads that were
sometimes made of asphalt.
The thick dust swirling
in the air would make it dif-
ficult for the prisoners to
see and breathe while those
who were walking barefoot
had their feet burned on the
molten asphalt.
Men who refused to
abandon their belongings
were the first to fall.
The last nine miles of
the march from the town
of Lubao to San Fernando
were among the hardest the
men would ever walk.
Those who were able
to reach San Fernando
alive were then locked into
makeshift prisons where
they were finally able to re-
ceive some level of proper
and adequate medical care,
food, and rest.
Soon after this, however,
the prisoners were jammed
into freight trains that took
them to Capas.
Vomiting was frequent
during the ride as some
were even crammed or suf-
focated to death.
After the three-hour
trip, which included very
few stops, the prisoners
then marched the eight-mile
road to Camp O’Donnell.
Through all of nine
days, most of the disease
and grief stricken American
and Filipino prisoners were
forced to march as much as
two-thirds of the 90 miles
that separated Bataan from
Camp O’Donnell.
The few lucky enough
to travel to San Fernando
on trucks still had to en-
dure more than 25 miles of
marching.
Prisoners were beaten
APRIL 2007 Manila Media Monitor 27
randomly and were often
denied food and water they
were promised.
Those who fell behind
were usually executed or
left to die; the sides of the
roads became littered with
dead bodies and those beg-
ging for help. More prison-
ers were further diminished
by malaria, heat, dehydra-
tion, and dysentery.
After the Bataan Death
March, about 54,000 of the
72,000 prisoners reached
their destination.
The death toll of the
march is hard to assess as
thousands of captives were
able to escape from their
guards.
In some instances, pris-
oners were even released by
the Japanese.
Out of fear that the pris-
oners would be mistreated,
Colonel Takeo Imai made
the humanitarian decision
of releasing more than
1,000 of his prisoners into
the jungle. These acts of
kindness, however, were
especially rare.
All told, about 600 to
650 American and 5,000 to
10,000 Filipino POWs died
before they could reach
Camp O’Donnell. Wikipe-
dia.com

Bataan could have been saved if ...

(From page 25)
near Mt. Samat.
There were other plus factors that con-
tribnuted to this brilliant victory of the Jap-
anese.
One was experience. They were tough-
ened and sharpened in jungle warfare dur-
ing the Manchuria war.
Secondly, they were equipped with the
most modern weapons, while the defenders
were exhausted, ill-equipped and manned
by young boys fresh from basic ROTC (Re-
served Officers Training Course) and were
not capable of fighting even a skirmish.
Added to this was the ability of the Im-
perial Army to draw quick reinforcements
from nearby Japan.
It would be recalled that the Japanese
launched two attacks on the peninsula, the
first in the lowlands and later to be known as
the Battle of the Points and Pockets where
the invaders were trounced and repulsed.
The attack was, however, proved to be
diversionary as it would give way to an at-
tack from the rear.
A lull in fighting in the months of Feb-
ruary and March enabled the Japanese to
recoup and get additional reinforcements
with air support. The USAFFE forces, on
the other hand, did not get any.
When the second and final massive on-
slaught came through the mountains, the
defenders were surprised and subjected to
heavy fire, constant and hellish that no al-
ternative short of surrender was possible.
But what happened 35 years ago could
no longer be denied.
Bataan did fall. But not so easily.
Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Wake,
Guamand the cities of Rabaul and Balikpa-
pan had long fallen, but the peninsula stood
its ground, humiliating Gen. Homma to
the point of being made a laughing stock
among Japanese officers (his first request
for reinforcements was flatly denied).
Bataan was the sore spot in the Japanese
war timetable.

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28 The Philippines Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007

Ignorance of the law excuses

no one ... not even a judge
MANILA - The Supreme
Court (SC) dismissed from the
service a magistrate of the Court
of Appeals (CA) for “gross igno-
rance of the law.”
In a 24-page per curiam deci-
sion, the SC en banc sacked CA
Associate Justice Elvi John Asun-
cion, acting chair of the appellate
court’s 17th division.
The SC decision was final,
immediately executory and unap-
pealable.
Asuncion’s dismissal came in
the wake of successive complaints
reaching the SC regarding his ig-
norance of the law and litigants
appearing in his chamber.
Among the complaints, Asun-
cion was the subject of an admin-
istrative case filed by lawyer Ro-
berto Padilla.
Padilla claimed Justice Asun-
cion issued a temporary restrain-
ing order (TRO) in connection
April in Mactan
with a case involving the Philip-
pine National Bank (PNB) against
the National Labor Relations
Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival
Commission (NLRC) and one Er-
linda Archinas.
Case records showed the
NLRC ordered the PNB to pay
Archinas more than P1 million in
back wages.
But because of Asuncion’s
TRO which ran for over five years,
the labor case slumbered.
Archinas filed her appeal with
the CA justice, but instead of act-
ing on her motion for reconsid-
eration, Asuncion issued a “status
quo” order that even made the
case drag longer.
Besides the administrative
case, several complaints were also
filed at the SC about the non-action
of Asuncion on pending motions
for reconsideration in his cham-
ber, many of which lapsed due to
reglementary periods. PNA

Pacquiao KOs Solis in 8th for Kadaugan sa Mactan celebrates the historic victory (Above) Sugbu sa Karaang Panahon, a

WBC superfeatherweight title of natives under Mactan chieftain Lapu-Lapu against ma-
rauding Spanish troops under conquistador Ferdinand
Magellan in the famous battle of Mactan Island on April
painting by Manuel Pañares, graphically
depicts Lapu-lapu and his men defend-
ing Mactan and slaying Magellan in the
Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. (Be-
27, 1521.
Lapu-Lapu and his brave men repulsed the Spanish low) President Gloria Arroyo leads the
in the bloody battle, the first recorded open resistance by Kadaugan sa Mactan festival in 2006.
Filipinos against foreigners. Magellan fell in that battle.
Kadaugan (victory in Cebuano) is a tribute to the cour-
age and unity of Mactan’s people who fought and quashed
Spanish attempts to colonize the island.
The annual celebration started in 1979. Ranking of-
ficial David Odilao initiated the first live reenactment of
Lapu-Lapu’s victory at the Battle of Mactan at the Mactan
Shrine, the venue of succeeding Kadaugan festivities.
The celebration was known then as Bahug-Bahug sa
Mactan, a one-day event.
Since the 1980s, it was called Kadaugan sa Mactan,
and ran for a week.
Like a mad hurt bull The celebration features a daily food festival, drum and
after suffering a cut from bugle corps competitions, street dancing parade, nightly
a head butt midway into live band shows, wood carving contest, cross channel
the fight, bleeding Fili- swimming competitions and baroto (banca) race, painting
pino boxing icon Manny exhibits, oratorical contests, beauty pageants, fireworks
Pacquiao charged at chal- display, mini agri-fair, jobs fair and mobile pass-porting.
lenger Jorge Solis with
a flurry of solid punches
and connected a powerful ‘Mercenaries’ in Iraq include Filipinos
right-left combination, Filipino ex-cops and soldiers ducted missions to the latter two lot more have been injured.”
sending Solis flatly to the were among the growing number countries. The workgroup is set to deliv-
canvas - 1:16 into the 8th of ‘mercenaries’ recruited to pro- “They are trained quickly but er a report to the UN Commission
- and ending the latter’s vide security in Iraq, the Philip- not prepared for armed conflict sit- for Human Rights this April, em-
35-0 record. pines News Agency quoted a Unit- uations,” said Gomez del Prado. phasizing concerns over merce-
With his victory in the ed Nations report. “They are sent there, they re- nary recruitment methods used by
12-round Blaze of Glory The UN report warned that ceive M16 [assault rifles] and are US companies like Triple Canopy
at the Alamodome in San methods used by private western placed in very dangerous areas like and Blackwater.
Antonio, Texas on April security companies do not prepare the Green Zone (in Baghdad), con- Americans and Europeans
14, Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 recruits for the conflict voys and embassies,” he added. working in war zones for private
KOs) retained his World The report said the strain can While the recruits sometimes security companies often made
Boxing Council interna- place recruits “in a situation where carried out important and honor- as much as $10,000 (7,600 eu-
tional super featherweight they can violate human rights be- able tasks like protecting humani- ros) a month. Peruvians doing the
title. cause they are armed.” tarian organization convoys, they same job seldom made more than
Pacquiao was clearly Private security guards em- were also “in a situation where $1,000, and their working rights
raging after the head butt, ployed by western companies they can violate human rights be- were often violated.
a condition that sent him back into the ring as a more dangerous and made up the second highest num- cause they are armed,” he said. “The contracts they sign often
determined fighter after a rather sluggish but dominating start in the ber of armed forces in Iraq, after “At least 160 companies are hide things that aren’t clear. The
first five rounds of the match against Solis. the US military but ahead of the operating in Iraq. They probably original is in English, which most
Pacquiao floored Solis twice in the deciding round, the first dur- British troops, said Jose Luis Go- employ 35,000 to 40,000 people,” of them do not speak,” he said.
ing the first minute when he landed a right uppercut, then a solid left mez del Prado, head of a UN work- Gomez del Prado said. The recruits should be entitled
that made referee Vic Drakulich finally count out Solis. group on the use of mercenaries. More than 400 of these private to the labor rights applied in the
“Magaling din si Solis, pero mas malakas ang mga tama ko sa Many of the recruits stemmed employees have died in Iraq since country where the company hiring
kanya (Solis is good, but my punches against him were stronger),” from former police and military 2003, putting their casualties be- them is headquartered, but the UN
the three-division world boxing champion later told dzBB radio. forces in the Philippines, Peru and low the number suffered by US expert pointed out that it was hard
This was Pacquiao’s first fight in Texas since knocking out Marco Ecuador. armed forces but ahead of British to imagine “a poor Peruvian filing
Antonio Barrera at The Alamodome in 2003. The workgroup recently con- military deaths, he said. “And a suit in an American court.”
APRIL 2007 Manila Media Monitor 29

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APRIL 2007

Palawan hosts large oil, gas deposit

PUERTO PRINCESA
CITY - A huge oil and gas
deposit five times larger
than the Malampaya gas
project is beneath the wa-
ters of Palawan.
Geologist cum ortho-
pedic surgeon Dr. Antonio
Socrates said the Marantao
Petroleum Fields had a po-
tential oil reserve of about
one billion barrels.
The Marantao prospect,
under Service Contract
55, is within the municipal
waters of the Kalayaan Is-
land Group, also known as
Spratlys, particularly in the
South Palawan Shelf-Reed
Sedimentary Basin (SPS-
RSB).
Socrates said the pres-
ence of trapped oil and gas
volumes in the SPS-RSB,
with the potential to form
a new “petroleum prov-
ince” of the Philippines,
was announced in a paper
titled “Deepwater Offshore
Southwest Palawan - A
Petroleum Province Beck-
oning” during the recent
annual conference of the
Geological Society of the
Philippines.
The prospect included
an undrilled potential hy-
drocarbon trap, and seismic
surveys would be done by
the end of 2008 or early
2009.
”If Malampaya is a
mountain, Marantao is a
mountain range 10 kilome-
ters wide and 30 kilometers
long. Incredible but true,”
Socrates, also an orthopedic
surgeon, said.
The $4.5 billion Malam-
paya project has an estimat-
ed natural gas reserve of 2.5
trillion cubic feet and 85
million barrels of conden-
sate which could provide
2,700 megawatts of power
for 20 years.
Socrates said that be-
sides Marantao, the Sprat-
lys could be hosting other
prospects like Sirinao, Ba-
jallanura and a string of
other structures collectively
known as the Rizal Leads.
The structures are found
on trend with the line of
giant petroleum fields off-
shore from Borneo up to
Mindoro on the continental
shelf of the east-
ern coast of the
South China Sea.
The Spratlys
is believed to be
sitting on top of
what could be
the largest oil and
natural gas depos-
its in the world.
Sovereignty of
the Spratlys is be- MALAMPAYA PROJECT
ing claimed by five Asian Spratlys into Palawan as a
countries, including the municipality.
Philippines. Besides gas and oil de-
Presidential Decree posits, the Spratlys is a rich
1596 incorporated the fishing ground. PNA
Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007
P1.126-T budget: Social payback
MANILA - President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
signed on March 22 Re-
public Act No. 9401, or the
2007 national budget that
allocated P1.126 trillion “as
social payback to the people
for the fiscal turnaround of
their government.”
Budget Secretary Ro-
lando Andaya Jr. said the
President eschewed the
traditional signing rites in
Malacanang usually graced
by members of Congress
and instead signed the
1,162-page law in her Study
Room sans fanfare.
“The budget will cure
underspending, spur growth,
fund infrastructure and fi-
nance human development
in a manner that will be
transparent,” Andaya said.
To reflect the increase in
revenues on expenditures,
all departments got a raise
on allocations this year.
The Department of Edu-
cation got a major part of the
budgetary pie with P128.6
billion, P15.4 billion higher
than its 2006 budget.
Included in the DepEd’s
budget were P2.05 billion
to hire 16,390 teachers and
P5.37 billion to build 7,326
classrooms.
Next was the Depart-
ment of Public Works with
P71.2 billion (P28.7 billion
more a year ago) to enable
it to build or upgrade 3,251
kilometers of roads and
1,312 flood control systems,
among others.
By sectoral allocation,
economic services includ-
ing agriculture, trade and
natural resource got 21.8
percent of the budget while
social services - health and
education spending, cor-
nered 28.1 percent.
“Tax dividends going
to the nation’s schools, day
care centers, and hospitals,”
Andaya said.
General public services,
accounted for 16.2 percent;
defense, 4.8 percent; and
debt service, 28.3 percent
for this year’s spending.
Interest payments
dipped to P303 billion this
year from P309 billion in
2006, “a trend that will be
sustained in the years to
come,” Andaya said, adding
that it could further drop
if the peso continued to
strengthen or stabilize be-
low the P50 to a US dollar
exchange rate, freeing more
cash for social spending.
By object of expendi-
ture, MOOE or maintenance
and other operating expens-
Money 31
provide medical insurance
to 4.4 million poor persons,
among others,” he said.
“We are also setting
aside P10 billion to repair
storm-damaged areas,” he
said, referring to the Calam-
ity Assistance and Relief
Efforts funds.
Andaya said the pur-
chase of goods and services
would be compliant with the
Procurement Reform Act,
which installed safeguards
and civil society moni-
tors in government bidding
communities.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shares fun with some of the 26 pupils “In the budget execu-
of Musmos Day Care Center in Parola, Tondo, Manila, who called on her tion phase, we will see to it
in Malacañang on March 29, a day after the children were held hostage in that government will only
a bus near the Manila City Hall but released unharmed after 10 hours. The spend for the right things, at
hostage-takers demanded from the government a better lot for the country’s the right price, for the right
poor. Photo: OPS/NIB purpose, and by the right
agency,” he added.
es received P659.2 billion, ate up 29.78 percent of the our pledge to issue tax re- This year’s P1.126 tril-
or 58.5 percent of total pro- budget or P335.3 billion. bates in kind.” lion budget was premised
grammed expenses. Capital outlay spending “The new initiatives on total revenues of P1.118
The amount included the was pegged at P131.4 bil- are diverse as they will be trillion, resulting in a deficit
debt service fund. The other lion, or 11.68 percent. felt on the ground. This of P63 billion, the last one
big-ticket item in the cluster In addition to roads and budget will enable us to to be incurred before gov-
was the Internal Revenue flood control, P8.3 billion provide free meals to 1.5 ernment could achieve a
Allotment, or local govern- went to improve airports, million youngsters as in- balanced budget in 2008.
ment share from national and P193 million for new centive for attending class, Other macroeconomic
taxes of P183.9 billion. lighthouses and ports. recruit 3,000 policemen, assumptions of the budget
Personal services, or the Andaya described the send about 7,000 scholars included the real Gross Do-
money for payroll and pen- 2007 national budget “as to schools and colleges, mestic Product growth rate
sion contributions of active a catalogue of reimburse- immunize two million chil- of 6.1 to 6.7 percent and
public employees and pen- ments for the taxes paid by dren, establish 2,400 outlets foreign exchange rate of
sion of veterans and retirees the people, a redemption of of Botika ng Barangay, and P48-P50 to US$1. PNA
Manila Media Monitor
32 APRIL 2007 Money PAL increases flights to
Vancouver, within Asia
Manila-based Philippine Airlines announced that it will increase its

The Philippines ranks

flights to Vancouver from four a week to five, after it borrowed a right
from Air Canada.
The airline will also be increasing its flights within Asia – with an
additional flight to Xiamen and Beijing China, and Nagoya, Japan.

in global tuna output

Philippine Airlines offers flights to 32 international and 20 domestic
points. (Information summarized from The Vancouver Sun)

MANILA - The Philippines’ gross international foreign ex-

DAVAO CITY - The Philip- change reserves hit a record high $24.7 billion at the end of March
pines ranked second to Taiwan from $24.5 billion a month earlier.
among Asian countries, and fourth The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the reserves were equiva-
in the world in terms of tuna pro- lent to about 4.6 months worth of imports of goods and payments
duction. of services.

GOT A SWEET FOREX DEAL?

And in terms of value adding
to tuna production, Mindanao has
been named the country’s tuna- Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the dollars you have
sardines industry capital. had exchanged since March 12, courtesy of Manila Media
Of the eight fish canneries in (Money) Monitor.
the Philippines, six are in Mind-
anao with four in General Santos US$ Cdn$
City and two in Zamboanga, TSP April 13 47.91787 42.10446
Marine Industries president Do- April 12 48.00835 42.24763
mingo Teng, told attendees to the April 11 47.95012 41.87546
recent Talk Mindanao at the Min- April 10 47.99630 41.80669
danao Economic Development April 09 48.15089 41.78843
Council here. April 05 48.13738 41.82339
Teng said Philippine tuna out- April 03 48.36498 41.78855
put in 2006 reached 500,000 tons, March 30 48.200.48 41.80531
over 10 percent of the world’s total March 29 48.32516 41.73694
production of four million tons. March 28 48.21227 41.63193
He said half of tuna produced March 26 48. 20789 41.46006
in General Santos City went to the March 23 48.17588 41.17588
European Union (EU) market. March 22 48.27663 41.27663
Gen. Santos City tuna produc- March 21 48.44604 41.44604
ers were given EU accreditation in March 20 48.59946 41.59946
November 2006 after passing tests March 19 48.84688 41.84688
for Hazard Analysis and Critical March 16 48.81733 41.57947
Control Points, an assessment of histamine in tuna, of which EU could cause allergy manifested by March 15 48.62930 41.35588
fish quality and facilities used. has set an allowable limit of 100 itching, Teng explained. March 14 48.73356 41.45854
Domestically, the government ppm (parts per million). The US The test is administered to pro- March 13 48.37565 41.39075
fish quality laboratory would standard has been set at 50 ppm. cessed products such as canned March 12 48.43698 41.42575
check, among others, the level of Excessive histamine in fish and vacuum packed fish. PNA
Mahusay umarte Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007 33
Pinoy
pero ...... baduy?
Heartthrob John Lloyd Cruz’s wardrobe dilemma is be- SHOW
BIZ
coming more obvious, and he should get out of this dress
mess if he wants his fans to go on drooling at his sight.
So believes a disappointed believer who wrote Abante
entertainment columnist Jun Nardo.
In a letter, the believer says that for an actor at such
young age, John Lloyd “exudes maturity and sensitivity in
the roles and characters he plays,” adding that John Lloyd
Daboy battles the Big C
‘I ain’t gonna die yet!’
has the potentials to “stay long in showbiz.”
But the mailer has “noticed how John Lloyd’s fashion JOHN LLOYD CRUZ
style has changed over the past months and that “it is time for him to review his fashion
style. Some people, if not many, find his outfits (in boob tube shows) ridiculous or atten-
tion-grabbing because it is clearly not his style and the style doesn’t compliment him. Filipino action flick star Rudy Fer-
“This young man really needs intervention. His career is doing well right now and now nandez has prepared himself for a long
is not the time to make blunders or bloopers,” so it ends. battle with the Big C, and he intends to
win, “with the help of God and my mul-

Deny to death si Aubrey sa titude of friends.”

And during a surprise birthday bash
for Rudy a.k.a. Daboy, the action hero
live-in tsismis with Troy M. lifted the spirits of well-wishers with a
resounding proclamation: “I ain’t gonna
Young, sexy actress and FHM die yet!”
Philippines model Aubrey Miles Wife-actress Lorna To-
flatly denied talks that she and boy- lentino has told TV program
friend Troy Montero are sharing Startalk that she and Rudy
quarters in her house. had lately been frequenting
“Pamilya ko ang kasama ko the hospital for tests.
sa bahay, ano. Nakakahiya na- “Kung ano man yung
man kung sa amin pa titira si pinagdadaanan namin, naka-
Troy,” Aubrey told reporters in a kayanan niya at nalalabanan
recent presscon. But Aubrey said niya,” Lorna said.
Troy would visit her frequently, and She said they have to sur-
she would visit Troy in his pad often. pass the situation and she and
“Naku, ha. Kung magli-live-in kami Rudy’s friends needed to be
ni Troy, ‘di sa sarili na naming ba- strong for him.
hay,” Aubrey mused. Rudy and Lorna flew to
She also shrugged off ru- Hong Kong on April 8 for RUDY FERNANDEZ
mors about a love child she Rudy’s medical check-up. ma-diagnose na meron siyang periampullary
was alleged to be hiding The couple is also due cancer. Patuloy pa rin ang pag-e-excercise niya
from the public spotlight. to go to Japan and the US to at ang kanyang pagtatrabaho. In fact, may offer
The rumors spread after seek for a second opinion on kay Rudy na mag-guest sa isang weekly drama
someone saw Aubrey Rudy’s health condition. show at magkaroon ng special participation sa
with a child during But despite the situation, isang top-rating TV series,” said one of his co-
her last Christmas Rudy appeared as healthy as workers in Philippine cinema.
US trip. before the discovery of his Rudy told scribes that the only time he felt
“Anak siya ni illness. weak was after he underwent chemotheraphy.
Geneva Cruz kay “Walang nabago sa ac- He said he had learned to drink cranberry juice
Paco Arespaco- tivities ni Rudy mula nang and fresh lemon grass tea.
chaga - si Heaven.
Madalas
siyang
namin
kasama
ni Troy,” Aubrey
Doc warns vs
said.
Aubrey
cently signed up
re- colorectal cancer
with ABS-CBN’s MANILA - Fast-paced living in urban centers in the Philippines has
Rounin and co- become one of the top reasons for the riaing number of Filipinos afflicted
stars with Angel- with colorectal cancer.
ica Panganiban, Dr. Enrico Ragaza, chair of the department of surgery at the National
Shaina Magdayao, Kidney and Transplant Institute, said “xolon cancer has something to do
Diether Ocampo, with lifestyle. In our fast-paced society, people now resort to fastfood diet,
Luis Manzano and low-fiber diet and frequent eating of meat.”
Rayver Cruz. Colorectal cancer, or more commonly known as colon cancer, has be-
come the third main cause of death among Filipinos.

Vic, Pia nixes secret marriage yarn

No, no, no! TV host-comedian Vic Sotto and Eat Bulaga co-host girlfriend Pia Guanio have not
tied the knot, at least not yet.
With a grin, Vic nixed rumors that he and Pia were secretaly married during their trip to the US
PIA GUANIO
Ragaza said at least 46,000 Filipinos yearly are diagnosed with colon
cancer. “This number can go down if the people are more aware of the
causes of this disease,” he said.
Ragaza noted that colorectal cancer could take years to develop and
early detection would improve chances of a cure.
Dr. Martin Bautista, a gastroenterologist, said those who had a family
history of colorectal cancer were faced with at higher risk of having the
last February.
disease and should undergo screening procedure known as colonoscopy to
“Totoong nagtungo kami ni
prevent the disease from developing.
Pia sa Amerika, pero nag-bond-
Bautista said the safe procedure would last from ten to 15 minutes with
ing lang kami at walang naga-
minimal to the adsence of discomfort.
nap na kasalan,” Vic mused.
“Don’t wait for symptoms to occur. It’s better to prevent the disease
“Ang ganyang bagay ay hin-
because it’s really expensive to undergo surgery,” he said.
di ikinakahiya kaya hindi dapat
As a prevention, Ragaza advised a high-fiber diet, less junk food, time
itago. Kung sakali, ia-announce
for exercise and to kick the habit of smoking.
namin ‘yon,” Vic said/
Colonoscopy in the Philippines would cost P8,000 in private hospitals
But he admitted he and Pia
and P2,000 or lesser in public hospitals.
talked about wedding plans.
Ragaza said colorectal cancer “is not easy to detect at its early stage
“I am not getting any young-
since it is asymptomatic but on its latter stage, symptoms can be noticed
er and Pia seems to me a very
such as change in bowel habits, change in the quality and consistency of
good wife material, pero sa
stools and rectal bleeding.”
ngayon hindi pa namin napag-
Actresses Rio Diaz and Chat Silayan have died of colorectal cancer.
uusapan ang mga detalye tung-
PNAFeatures
VIC SOTTO kol doon,” aniya pa.
 TCDSB, Pro-action Kids in
Filipino language skills tilt
The Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture Inc. (CFACI) has set a number of activities for Skills and competence in the Filipino language comes
the month-long celebration of Asian Heritage month in Toronto in May. To access the sched- to the fore when young Filipinos engage in academic
ule, visit www.asianheritagemonth.org. The Senate of Canada, on Dec. 6, 2001, adopted competitions in the 2nd Annual Filipino International
Language Assembly at the St. Maria Goretti Catholic
May as Asian Heritage Month to recognize the important contributions of Asian Canadians School on May 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
to the settlement, growth and development of Canada, the diversity of the Asian community, Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB)
and its significance to the country. The motion was introduced to the Senate by Senator community relations officer Jody Huang says the assem-
Vivienne Poy. bly features the Makabayan Singing Contest and Inter-
pretation.
Last year’s poetry competition gathered close to 300
Arts & Entertainment Filipino parents and students.
The Makabayan contest highlights the young Filipino
students’ adeptness in the Filipino language and encour-
34 Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007 ages support from parents to send their children to at-
tend TCDSB-sponsored Filipino classes every Saturday,

Conservative budget lacks vision for Canadian culture

Huang adds.
The gathering is a unique celebration of the Filipino
culture as it centers on young people, from JK-Grade 8
students proud and enthusiastic to learn their own Fili-
OTTAWA - The Conservative budget has not provided any clear vision for culture and arts and lacked the support pino heritage.
Canada’s artistic and cultural communities desperately needed, Liberal Heritage Critic Tina Keeper said. Filipino International Language classes are offered
“For the second consecutive year, the Conservatives refused to demonstrate meaningful leadership and vision regard- for free every Saturday in six of TCDSB’s elementary
ing arts and culture in Canada,” Keeper said. schools: St. Barnabas, St. Brendan, St. Barbara, St. Ma-
“I was shocked to learn the government chose not to use this opportunity to enhance Canada’s cultural industries. ria Goretti, Canadian Martyrs, and Holy Family.
Many of our museums continue to struggle with finances and our artistic sectors have once again been completely ig- Co-hosting the event with the TCDSB is Pro-action
nored,” she added, noting that the budget gave only crumbs to Canada’s many cultural sectors and alloted nothing for Kids of the Toronto Police Service with the support of
Canadian television or the growing film industry, nothing to cultural organizations, and nothing to reinstate support for various Filipino community agencies. PR
Canadian art and culture at the international level.
Stakeholders were quick to announce their dissatisfaction with the Conservative budget. The Alliance of Canadian
Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Canadian Museum Association, The Canadian Conference of the MORE EXPOSURE,
Arts, the Canadian Arts Coalition and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) have all denounced the
government’s lack of a long-term vision and failure to increase support. In particular, association representatives con- LESSER COSTS.
demned the Conservatives’ refusal to make permanent the $30-million contribution to the Canada Council.
Keeper also chided the budget attempts to cover up last fall’s Conservative cuts to a series of programs put in place
THAT’S THE DEAL!
by the Liberals by re-announcing them under a new name. The new Museum Summer Internship Program was a clear
example of this Conservative hypocrisy. Last year, the Harper government announced a cut to the Museum Assistance
Program that would have benefited many initiatives across museums in Canada.
“During the last election, the Conservatives promised the Canadian Museum Association that they would ensure sus-
tainable funding and put in place a new museum policy. But so far nothing has been done,” Keeper said.

CALL 416-285-8583
“Even worse, the Conservatives promised the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg the $100 million that the previous
Liberal government committed during the last campaign, but none of that money was part of the budget.”
It remained obvious that the Conservatives have left Canada’s cultural community to fend for itself, she said. CNW
 Arts & Entertainment All photos in this page courtesy of MON
DATOL, publisher, Philippine Courier
Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007 35
Candace Santos in Concert
CANDACE SANTOS
just can’t stop giving
justice to the songs her
idol Lea Salonga made
popular in Broadway hits
Miss Saigon and the films
Alladin and Mulan. Thir-
teen-year old Candace
has proven that her star
would go on shining and
her vocal talent assured
a prime spot in Toronto’s
entertainment stage.
Her first major solo
concert at the Metropol
Banquet Hall and Res-
taurant on March 31 was
pure SUCCESS. Can-
dace and her equally-tal-
ented friends Jing Carlos,
Yvette Castañeda, Mi-
chelle Bataclan, Jasmine
Ragual, Roy Tugbang and
Jun Soliven gave their all
in a show that received
only applause after ap-
plause. Beyond the amaz-
ing performance were the
great stage set, the cos-
tumes, the lights and the
sounds that blended well
with the repertoire.
I Still Believe -- no, we
still believe -- that for Can-
dace, it is the beginning of
CANDACE belts out Miss Saigon’s I Still Believe A Whole New World. BG
Reg. # 4533253

919 Ellesmere Road

Suite 107, Scarborough
Ontario M1P 2W7

MICHELLE BATACLAN JING CARLOS JASMINE RAGUAL

MANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE

OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

“Super baba
and halaga ...
Super below
fare talaga.”
“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan”
Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133
ROY TUGBANG and CANDACE SANTOS JUN SOLIVEN
 Arts & Entertainment
Pauleen Luna 36 Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007

Pauleen Luna (born November 10, 1988

in Manila, Philippines) is another young
uprising Filipino actress who has shown
silver screen glow and celebrity grit over
recent years. A regular host in long-run-
ning and well-watched Philippine boob
tube noontimer Eat Bulaga!, Pauleen
has had several big-ticket television ap-
pearances to her credit, notable of which
are Now and Forever: Agos,
Pinakamamahal, Love to
Love, Encantadia: Pag-ibig
Hanggang Wakas, Hong-
kong Flight 143, Etheria,
Qpids, Bora: Sons of the
Beach, and Marina. This
5’6” lass started acting
at age 13, a member of
Star Circle Batch 11.
Pauleen is ranked #9
in FHM-Philippines
list of the sexiest
women of 2006.
Choreo great Alvin Tolentino’s Field in
Spring tour at Canadian dance theaters
Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg dance lovers
can’t simply miss the Spring tour of Field - Inspired
by the triumph, loss and the re-birth of harvest life
- by world-renowned Canadian dancer-choreogra-
pher Alvin Tolentino.
Field will be staged in Toronto at the Betty
Oliphant Theatre on on May 2; in Montreal at the
Montreal Arts Interculturel (MAI) on May 8; and
in Winnipeg at the Winnipeg Contemporary Dance
Theatre on May 24.
The tour is in partnership with Canada Council
of the Arts, Winnipeg Contemporary Dance Studio
Theatre, and the MAI.
Main partner National Alliance of Philippine
Women in Canada (NAPWC) says all proceeds
of Field will benefit the Purple Rose Campaign
(PRC), an international campaign to end the sex
trafficking of Filipino women and children.
Toronto and Montreal audiences will have the
chance to meet with PRC spokesperson Ninotchka
Rosca, a New York-based, award-winning author
and leading feminist, at a post-performance panel
presentation and reception.
The PRC seeks to educate the public about the
realities of sex trafficking of Filipino women and children. It has been launched respec-
tively in major cities across Canada, the United States, Australia and in various countries
in Europe and Asia, including Hong Kong and the Philippines.
A silent art auction will also be showcased during the reception in Toronto and Mon-
treal. PR

MORE EXPOSURE, LESSER COSTS

for your advertising?
GRAB THIS DEAL, CALL 416-285-8583
Simply Manila Media Monitor: Where your AD stands out!

Halakhak ng albularyo, pighati ng doktor

Actual sentences found ► She stated that she saan po ba ang Cobal” Yes, anak niyo? Nagsiscissors ang anak ko!
in patients’ medical charts had been constipated for laging walang T. Mrs: Doc, phenobarbie- Doc: Nurse, diazepam

D in I-do-not-want-to-know-
what-hospital:
► Patient has chest pain
most of her life, until she
got a divorce.
► The lab test indicated
Marami ang gumagamit
sa term na Cobal. Saan na-
punta ang “T”?
doll po.
Doktor: Ah baka po
phenobarbital. (Gamot sa
please, nag-seizure ang
pasyente.
*****

Y if she lies on her left side for

over a year.
abnormal lover function.
► The patient was to
Marami din kasing nag-
tatanong: “Doc, saan po ba
convulsion ang phenobar-
bital)
Doc: Mrs. ano daw po
ba ang sakit ng anak ninyo?

O
► On the second day have a bowel resection. ang papuntang X-Tray?” Heto pa ang isa: Mrs: May ketong daw
the knee was better, and on However, he took a job as a Conclusion: Ang “T” Doc: Mrs. ano po ba po.
the third day it disappeared. stockbroker instead. ng Cobalt, ay napunta sa X- ang antibiotic na iniinom ng In-examine ng doktor

K
► She has no rigors or
shaking chills, but her hus-
band states she was very hot
in bed last night.
► The patient is tear-
ful and crying constantly.
► Skin: somewhat pale
but present.
► Patient has two teen-
age children, but no other
abnormalities.
*****
Tray.
*****
7:00 am. Nagbigay ang
kasamahan kong doktor ng
Instruction sa bantay ng
pasyente, “Mister, punta po
anak ninyo?
Mrs: Doc metroma-
nilazole po.
Doktor: Ah baka po
metronidazole. (Gamot sa
amoeba ang metronidazole)
ang balat ng pasyente. Wala
siyang makitang senyales
ng ketong. Tumawag pa
siya ng isang dermatologist
para mag-examine nang
husto. Wala talaga.

D
She also appears to be de- Dumako naman tayo sa kayo sa Central Block at ***** Doc: Mrs., sigurado po
pressed. Philippine General Hospital magpa-schedule kayo ng X- Ang tawag sa recovery ba kayong ketong ang sakit
► The patient has been o PGH. ray ng pasyente ninyo.” room ng PGH ay PACU ng bata?

Y
depressed since she began Sa PGH, may tinatawag 3:00 pm. Kadarating (Post-Anesthesia Care Mrs: Eh, iyon po ang
seeing me in 1993. na Central Block. Nandoon lang ng bantay. Nagalit na Unit). sabi ng doktor niya dati.
► Discharge status: ang Radiology Department ang Doktor, “Mister, bakit Doc: Mrs., tapos na po Mataas daw po ang ketong

O
Alive but without permis- kung saan ginagawa ang naman napakatagal ninyong ang operasyong ng anak sa ihi dahil may diabetes.
sion. mga X-rays, Ultrasound, bumalik? Pina-schedule ko ninyo, punta na po kayo sa Doc: Ah! Ketone po
► The patient refused CT Scan at Radiotherapy. lang naman ang X-ray ah.“ PACU. yon! (Ang positive ke-

K
autopsy. Dito nag-evolve ang Sumagot ang bantay, Mrs 3: “Eh Doc, saan po tone sa ihi ay senyales ng
► The patient has no maraming Pinoy medical “Eh kasi po Doc, ang tagal sa Paco? Sa may simbahan kumplikasyon ng diabetes.)
previous history of sui- terms ng mga pasyente o kong naghintay sa gate, po ba o sa may palengke? *****
cides. bantay na nagtatanong ng hanggang sabihin ng gu- ***** Doc: (Sa buntis na Mrs.
► She is numb from her direksyon. wardiya na sarado daw Doktor: Mrs. ano po ba na nagle-labor): Mrs.pumu-
toes down. CT scan versions po ang Central Bank kasi ang sinabi ng dating doktor tok na po ba ang panubigan

D
► While in ER, she was ► Dok saan po ba ang Sabado ngayon.” kung ano daw ang sakit ng mo?rs: Eh, Doc, wala na-
examined, X-rated and sent Siete Scan? ***** inyong anak? man po akong narinig na
home. ► Doc saan po ba mag- Nang mag-rotate ako as Mrs: Eh Doc sabi po pagsabog.” (Hanep!)

Y
► The skin was moist papa-CT Skull? intern sa Pediatrics ng PGH, niya Tragedy of Fallot. *****
and dry. ► Doc, saan po ba CT mahal na mahal talaga ng Doc: Ah baka po Tetral- Ngayon, Mang Kep-
► Occasional, constant, Scalp? mga nanay ang kanilang ogy of Fallot (Isang Con- weng, nahihiwagaan ka pa

O
infrequent headaches. ► Doc, saan po ang CT mga anak na may sakit. Pilit genital Heart Disease ang ba kung bakit ako at marami
► Patient was alert and Scam? nilang tinatandaan ang mga Tetralogy of Fallot) pang doktor ang nagaaral
unresponsive. ***** gamot at tawag sa sakit ng ***** maging nurse o therapist at

K
► Rectal examination Madalas akong mapag- kanilang anak. Biglang nagtatarang ang umaasa ng mas magandang
revealed a normal size thy- tanungan ng direction pap- Doc: Mrs. ano po ang isang nanay at sumigaw. kayod sa ibang bansa? Mag-
roid. unta sa Cobalt Room. “Doc mga gamot na iniinom ng Mrs: Scissors! Scissors! artista na lang kaya?
 Arts & Entertainment Manila Media Monitor APRIL 2007 37

Joey Albert, Jeanne Young et al to grace

PIDC Mabuhay Philippines summerfest
Internationally-ac-
claimed Filipino jazz queen
Louie Reyes, female ballad-
eer Joey Albert and silver
screen and boob tube icon
Jeanne Young would top-
bill a long list of performers
expected to showcase sheer
Filipino artistic talent dur-
ing the Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Council (PIDC)
7th Mabuhay Philippines
Toronto Summer Festival at
the Metro Toronto Conven-
tion Centre on Aug. 18. JOEY ALBERT LOUIE REYES
Toronto-based Filipino artists Josie de Leon, Emil Zarris and Lilac Caña, among oth-
ers, would also share their voices and repertoire in the entertainment-filled festival, said
chairman Minda Neri. Mabuhay Radio’s Deo Moreno would direct the show.
Last year’s main guest was Ca-
nadian Idol finalist Elena Juatco.
Neri said PIDC has partnered
with Gawad Kalinga-Ancop Canada,
setting aside $5 of every $15 festival
ticket sold to the latter’s project of
building houses for displaced victims
of strong typhoons that devastated
Bicol, the Philippines last year.
She added that PIDC has also
partnered with the Philippine Cham-
ber of Commerce-Toronto for a fes-
JOSIE DE LEON LILAC CAÑA tival business and trade show.

PIDC Mabuhay Cup at HoopDome

The Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Council (PIDC)
has set its two-day 2007
Mabuhay Cup basketball
tournament at the 42,000-
square foot state-of-the-art
HoopDome, July 7 and 8.
PIDC media relations
director Karen Pascual-Bi-
naday said 22 teams that
vied for the 2006 Mabuhay
Cup at the Sports Gym of
University of Toronto were
expected to reregister for
this year’s cage loop.
Other community bas-
ketball teams in and near
the GTA would also be in-
vited to the tournament.
“We are very excited
to bring the games at the
HoopDome and, hopefully,
we can hold this annual
event in this world class fa-
cility,” PIDC Mabuhay Cup
chair Ramon Fermin said.
Fermin added that two
new divisions -- the Mos-
quito and Tyke categories
-- were added to the 2007
Mabuhay Cup edition.
Last year’s champions
PHYBA (Ladies Division
Champion), Angiels (Open
Division Champion), TO
Falcons (Peewee & Midget
Division Champions), and
the Warriors (Bantam Divi-
sion Champion) would be
putting up a fight to defend
their crowns.
At least 40 extries are
expected in the seven age
group divisions: Mosquito
(9 years old and under),
Tykes (10 and under), Pee-
wee (12 and under), Ban-
tam (14 and under), Midget
(16 and under), Ladies (19
and under) and Open (no
age limit).
PIDC president Jun En-
verga said the basketball
tournament formed part
of PIDC’s array of annual
events culminating with
the community’s biggest
and most well-attended
Mabuhay Philippines To-
ronto summer festival at the
Metro Toronto Convention
Centre on Aug. 18.
Enverga said the other
PIDC events included the
Little Miss Philippines Pag-
eant on April 28; Mr. and
Ms. Philippines Pageant,
May 6; Gala Night (with
Kalayaan), Toronto Con-
gress Centre, June 9; and
Salo-Salo sa Earl Bales
Park, June 16. PR

Dunluna stages Manila art exhibits

Philippine Artists Group
of Canada (PAG) president
Antonio Luna a.k.a. Dun-
luna recently put up his first
one-man exhibit “DUN-
LUNA Two Worlds” at the
Asia Art Gallery, Shangri-
La Plaza Shopping Mall in
Mandaluyong City.
Dunluna’s special guests
(in photo) included Virginia
Barbers, ABS-CBN vice
president Luchi Cruz Val-
dez, Dr. Isabel Lopez Na-
sal, Beth Sison Tagle, and
Steve Rheault-Kihara who
represented Canadian Am- OPENING THE SHANGRI-LA ART SHOW
bassador to Manila Peter The second art exhibit 19th century Filipino mas-
Sutherland. raised funds for civic proj- ter Juan Luna.
Tagle later invited Dun- ects of the Inner Wheel He joined PAG in 1999
luna for a move-over art Club of Manila. and has since developed his
show at the Galleries of Dunluna has claimed to own unique style of objec-
Fine Arts at White Plains. be a descendant of foremost tive abstraction. PR
Battle of Champions debuts in
CPO ‘07 Singing Idol Search
Culture Philippines of of these winners must not 10 to 16-year olds; the sec-
Ontario (CPO) has launched end. CPO recognizes the ond, for 17 to 30-years old.
the Battle of Champions in need to cultivating prom- Cash prizes are awarded
its 2007 edition of Singing ising singers by providing to the top three winners of
Idol Search. them a friendly yet compet- each category.
This year’s third search itive environment to hone The search is part of
category will pit against their skills and help them CPO’s youth development
each other 17- to 30- year get to the higher level. and outreach program un-
olds who have won first CPO adds the Battle of der the sponsorship of
place in a singing contest the Champions will be con- PNB Remittance, Dr. Solon
sponsored by recognized ducted annually. Guzman & Associates, Dr.
community groups within CPO’s search for Fili- Victoria R. Santiago & As-
the Greater Totonrto Area. pino Singing Idol has two sociates and Dr. Loida M.
CPO says the successes other categories: the first for Coronel & Associates.
FOR U @ TPS. Toronto Police Chief William Blair (left) shares a moment
MORE EXPOSURE, LESSER COSTS with FOR U, an uprising singing group composed of Aileen Muan, Alyssa
for your advertising? Salamat, Emilio Vieira, and Andres Sierra, with Inah Canlapan under the tu-
GRAB THIS DEAL, CALL 416-285-8583. telage of with musical director Ramon Torralba. The group performed during
the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. CFV/MD
Simply Manila Media Monitor: Where your AD stands out!

Arts & Entertainment

Manila Media Monitor
APRIL 2007 38

Nativity Story DVD released

New Line Cinema has
released the DVD version
of the film The Nativity Sto-
ry March 20.
Sister Mary Peter, FSP
told the Manila Media Mon-
itor the film should prove to
be a “classic that you will
want to share with your
loved ones every year.”
Sr. Mary Peter said The
Nativity Story “is the first
Bible-based movie since the A SCENE FROM THE NATIVITY STORY
1950’s produced by a major dashloo. The cast includes Annunciation in Nazareth
Hollywood company. Hiam Abbass, Ciarán Hinds, to the birth of Jesus in Beth-
She urged the Christian/ Oscar Isaac, Alexander Sid- lehem.
Catholic community in To- dig and Shaun Toub. It shows, among others,
ronto to support the film’s It is written by Mike the Visitation (Mary’s visit
DVD version. Rich and directed by Cath- to Elizabeth, who at an ad-
Copies are available at erine Hardwicke. vanced age is pregnant with
the FSP center at 3022 Duf- The film made history John the Baptist), and the
ferin St. To order, call 416- as being the first film ever journey of Mary and Joseph
781-9131. to stage its world premiere from Nazareth to Bethle-
The Nativity Story is a in the Vatican City. hem, the journey of the
2006 film starring Oscar The film follows the life Magi, the Star of Bethle-
nominees Keisha Castle- of the Virgin Mary and Jo- hem, and the vengeful rage
Hughes and Shohreh Agh- seph from the time of the of King Herod.

MWF premiers at Harbourfront

The community’s 14-
year old Pistahan Parade
and Festival from Aug. 11
to 12 at the Yerba Buena
Gardens in San Francisco
swings, for the first time,
to the 10-acre Harbourfront
Centre in Toronto from
Aug. 17 to 19 for the Mak-
ing Waves Festival (MWF).
Al Perez, Frisco-based
Filipino American Arts
Exposition president, and
Teresa Torralba, Toronto-
based Philippine Arts and
Cultural Experience (PACE)
president, have partnered to
pay tribute to Filipinos in
Jeff Miranda (left) and Sheila Nikolopolous, di-
Canada who have “made
rector and co-director respectively of the Special
waves” in the arts, sports
Events Group of the Philippine Arts and Cultural
and other cultural fields in a
Experience (PACE) expound on the Making Waves
fiesta atmosphere weekend
Festival 2007. MD
showcase.
Perez said the community should to take note of and take pride in the achievements of
Filipino artists and cultural groups and regard them as models of excellence shared with
all peoples and cultures ... in an era of diversity.
PACE media relations officer Jess Cabrias said MWF would feature Philippine celeb-
rity performance, visual exhibits, culinary tasting, trade and information sharing.
Cabrias said MWF is free to the public, but for a few ticketed performances. PR
APRIL 2007 Manila Media Monitor 39