13

YEAR 13, No. 4 OCTOBER 2009 Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial Toronto, Ontario

FOR TYPHOON-DEVASTATED PHILIPPINES “Our hearts go out to

the victims of floods, land-
INSIDE

CANADIAN
slides and other disasters
spawned by typhoons On- From The
doy and Pepeng that re- Monitor’s Desk
cently devastated Metro Thank You,
Manila and the whole of SuperMar!
northern Luzon.” -8
“Photos, videos and re-

RELIEF
ports of these victims in
desperate need of food, Ang
medicine and shelter con- upo
tinue to haunt us. Dancing
ni To Be A Star
“And in the true spirit - 33
Pons
of bayanihan (collective
cooperation), Filipinos
- 14
abroad have speedily and
willingly responded in cash Sonsona
FCT TYPHOON RELIEF MO- and kind to ease the situa- defends
BILIZATION. Sorting out the
numerous donations of clothing,
tion and meet the urgent title in
non-perishable goods and medi- needs back home.” Nov. 21
cines brought in at the Filipino This was how Filipino Rumble
Centre Toronto for the Philip- Centre Toronto (FCT)
pine flood victims are Baby de - 17
Villa, Wendy Arena, Dante Yl-
publicist Aida D’ Orazio
agan, Felino Javier and Ed Bi- described the frenzy of re-
rondo. The FCT had special ar- lief mobilization the com- Unity
rangements with FOREX that munity and its multi-di- Concert for
will transport the donated items RP disaster
to two distributing centers in
verse friends went into in
Manila run by the Assumption the wake of twin calamities victims
nuns and the Sandigan Bayan, that hit the Philippines. -33
respectively. Photo: AIDA D’ (To page 4)
ORAZIO
Gawad Kalinga’s Tony Meloto
(center) meets with leaders
of the Archdiocesan Filipino
Catholic Missions (AFCM)
in a visit to Toronto on Oct.
16. They discussed plans
to help rebuild the lives of
people devastated by deep
floodwaters spawned by the
recent spate of typhoons
in the Philippines, particu-
larly the poor in Metro Ma-
nila and neighboring areas
of Rizal province. From left
are Lady of the Assumption
Church priests Fr. Joe Pena,
Fr Ben Ebcas - also AFCM
pastor -- and Fr. Romeo To-
lentino, Rocel Enverga, Jun
Enverga, AFCM Laity Rose-
mer Enverga and Temi Pang-
ilinan of ANCOP-Canada. At
the background are boxes of
relief goods ready for ship-
ment to Manila. PR

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FOR YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS AND INQUIRIES, CALL 416-285-8583 or E-MAIL manilamediamonitor@rogers.com
2 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009

Western Union supports caregivers’ welfare,
sponsors Juana Tejada Room at OLA church
Western Union has a
long history of looking
after the well-being of
Canada’s Filipino caregiver
community.
This year, Western
Union paid tribute to
Filipino caregiver Juana
Tejada, whose life story
and contribution to promote
the welfare of caregivers
continue to inspire people.
While Western Union
provided a beautiful memo-
rial for Tejada, it also
sponsored a room in the Our
Lady of Assumption church
named after her.
The room is equipped
with computers for
news
caregivers to keep in touch
with their families back in
Philippines.
The room is not big;
but it is filled with love and
hope of a brighter tomorrow
for caregivers.
The room’s blessing
on Aug. 29 was officiated
by Father Ben Ebcas and
was attended by Western
Union vice president and
general manager Brian Fox
and country development
manager for the Philippines
Chito Gonzales.
Western Union Canada
understands the caregivers’
situation and is proud to
(To page 34)
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 3
Police Chief Blair set to
meet community leaders
on issues, concerns
Toronto Police Service
(TPS) chief William Blair
is set to discuss issues and
concerns with community
leaders in a Town Hall
meeting at the police
headquarters along 40
College St. on Nov. 3.
In an invitation to the
public, TPS-Asia Pacific
Community Consultative
Committee (APCCC) co-
chair Superintendent Jane
Western Union vice president and general manager Wilcox said the meeting
Brian Fox, Fr. Ben Ebcas and Western Union would start at 6:30 p.m.
country development manager for the Philippines “Chief Blair is looking BLAIR
Chito Gonzales show Western Union’s plaque of forward to meeting everyone
support for caregivers’ welfare. PR and to discuss and listen to community concerns and issues,”
Wilcox said.
“It is also an opportunity to communicate to the Chief
directly,” she said.
The Town Hall meeting is a joint effort of APCCC
members “representing the Japanese, Korean, Filipino
and Vietnamese communities” in Toronto, she added. (See
related photo on page 13.)
The event is being facilitated by TPS Community
Liaison Officer Constable Philip Mendoza.
Attendance may be brought to Mendoza’s attention
through phone by calling 416-808-7071 or by e-mail
through philip.mendoza@torontopolice.on.ca.

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4 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
Canadian relief
(From page 1)
Pepeng
Supertyphoon Pepeng
(IN: Parma) unleashed its
fury in the Philippines on
Oct. 3. Its path blocked
by Typhoon Melor that hit
Japan, Pepeng stayed for
a week, spawning heavy
rainfall that caused mas-
sive floods and landslides
in northern Luzon. It is the
17th tropical cyclone to have
hit the country in 2009.
Philippine disaster of-
ficials said Pepeng left 375
people dead, most of them
victims of landslides; 185
injured; and 52 others still
missing.
At least 675,680 families
or 3.1 million persons were
affected. Some 17,500 fami-
lies or 83,400 persons are
still in evacuation centers.
Ondoy
Ondoy (IN: Ketsana)
dumped 30 days worth of
average rainfall in nine
hours on Sept. 26.
It triggered 20-foot deep
flashfloods in the Philippine
premier city of Metro Ma-
nila (pop.: 17 million) not
seen in 40 years.
It is the 16th tropical cy-
clone to have hit the country
in 2009.
Disaster agency records
showed Ondoy claimed 337
lives. At least 308 were in-
jured and 37 went missing.
news
The tropical storm affected
over four million people in
Metro Manila and neighbor-
ing provinces.
Devastation
Philippine agriculture
officials placed the damage
at P18.4 billion (US$368
million).
Affected were 121,949
hectares of farms, destroy-
ing 925,523 metric tons of
rice, corn, and other crops.
Gone were fishery, livestock
and poultry products and
P2.7 billion worth of irriga-
tion facilities. Food security
is theatened; more rice im-
ports are mulled.
Further, more than
100,000 houses and things
in them were either damaged
or destroyed by flashfloods, Volunteers sort out, pack and stack box after balikbayan box of relief clothing and canned food at the
mudpools and landslides. height of relief mobilization efforts for flashflood victims of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in northern
More storms Philippines. The basement of the Our Lady of Assumption Church turned into a beehive of kind hearts
Luckily, the Philippines who would give and the kind hands who would do almost everything to help devastated fellowmen.
was spared from Typhoon
Ramil (IN: Lupit), which ernment has made available ► The Provincial Gov- nel (TFC) Canada and the for those affected by ty-
veered away from northern up to $5 million (P220 mil- ernment of Manitoba also cast of Star Cinema’s In phoon Ondoy in the Philip-
Luzon. lion) in humanitarian assis- sent $100,000 (P4.4 million) My Life used the last leg of pines specifically those who
But weather officials tance for typhoon victims. to support relief efforts. their movie’s screening in have pending sponsorship
said that by month-end, a The new financial aid “I am pleased to be able Calgary and Toronto to call by citizens and permanent
strong typhoon to be named came after an initial contri- to offer support on behalf of for more help for victims of residents in Canada.
Santi -- the country’s 19th - bution from the Canadian the Province in this time of Ondoy. Kenney said the visa of-
- is expected over areas still Embassy in Manila of P2.2 great need,” said Manitoba Batangueños in Calgary fice in Manila would priori-
reeling from Pepeng and million given to the Philip- Premier Gary Doer. donated a check to Gov. tize those identified as “sig-
Ondoy’s wrath. pine National Red Cross to ► In Calgary, remit- Vilma Santos for victims in nificantly-affected” by the
Canadian response buy basic food and essential tance centers waived fees Batangas. Ondoy flashfloods.
► Minister of Interna- non-food items for 3,500 for those sending donations ► Immigration Minister Applicants should call
tional Cooperation Beverley families in Marikina City to the Philippines. John Kenney announced a citizenship and immigra-
Oda said the Canadian gov- and Rizal. The Filipino Chan- faster immigration process (To page 6)

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OCTOBER 2009 5
6 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
Canadian relief
(From page 4)
tion Canada’s call center
for more information. New
sponsorship applications
meanwhile should put
“Philippines” on their mail-
ing envelope.
Community response
Persons, groups and
agencies set up fund drives
and collection centers for
canned goods, medicines
and clothing for the disaster
victims.
Among the groups
were:
► The Archdiocesan
Filipino Catholic Mission
(AFCM) of the Archdiocese
of Toronto that received
and processed relief goods
at the Our Lady of Assump-
tion (OLA) Church.
Fr. Joe Peña, OLA head
of relief operations, said
some 800 balikbayan boxes
of food, clothing and other
relief goods, shipped out
via Reliable Cargo Express
on Oct. 12 and 18 in two
container vans, are due for
Manila by mid-November.
The relief goods will
be distributed through the
Catholic Bishops Confer-
ence of the Philippines
(CBCP).
OLA pastor and AFCM
director Fr. Ben Ebcas said
over $30,000 in cheques and
cash were raised as of Oct.
12 from donations made
news
severely affected by the one to receive and process ► The Kapisanan ed boxes of relief goods to
typhoons. relief cash and items. FCT Philippine Centre for Arts the Children’s Rehabilita-
► The Filipino Centre president Linda Javier took and Culture shipped out, tion Centre in Quezon City.
through ShareLife, which Toronto, Folkorico Phil- the helm in the effort. through Forex, 20 balik- ► The Toronto Police
allocates donated funds 100 ippines Canada, Quezon Donations in balikbayan bayan boxes of relief goods Service (TPS) - Pilipino
percent to the victims de- Provincial Association, boxes have been shipped. to San Juan, Metro Manila Internal Support Network
void of any administration University of the Philip- FCT director Dr. Nenette de where Carmita Mangosing (P-ISN) has also raised cash
cost. pines Alumni Association Villa left for Manila to hand would distribute the goods donations coursed through
All funds would be and Batangas Provincial over cash donations to the to affected families. (Re- the Red Cross.
chanelled to Caritas Manila Association, which lead- Sandigang Bayan and As- lated story on page 33) TPS Community Liai-
through the CBCP . ers and members worked as sumption Convent nuns. Kapisanan also allocat- (To poge 7)
Ebcas said the AFCM’s
Temporalities Ministry led
by Rosemer Enverga has
also started coordinating
the work on rebuilding ty-
phoon hard-hit communi-
ties, in cooperation with the
Philippine Independence
Day Council.
He said the AFCM has
partnered with Gawad Ka-
linga on the matter.
► The Filipino Ca-
nadian Association of
Vaughan (FCAV) has
shipped some 140 boxes
of used clothes, blankets,
bed sheets, shoes and non-
perishable food received
from donors from all
over Vaughan, the Greater
Toronto Area, Newmarket,
Aurora and Mississauga.
The boxes were shipped
to the Sagip Kapamilya/
ABS-CBN Foundation
in Quezon City, the
Philippines.
FCAV also acknow-
ledged the $10,000 disaster Scenes like this are seen all over the Greater Toronto Area as members of the community mobilize
relief donation of the City -- giving their time, energy and money -- to raise and process contributions in cash and kind for vic-
of Vaughan, sister city tims of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that recently battered the Philippines, spawning flashfloods that
of Baguio, one of those swept away lives, homes and the future of many Filipinos. Photo: AFCM

Canadian relief
(From page 6)
son Officer Philip Mendoza
said uniformed and civilian
members of the force con-
tributed to the relief fund.
► The Pangasinan
Association of Canada
(PACA) launched a relief
drive and first to respond
was Emmanuel Galapate,
a representative of Sison,
Pangasinan, who shipped
seven boxes of relief items
to Pangasinan, said PACA
founder Ernie Quinit.
PACA president Quintin
Palisoc appealed for more
financial and relief help.
Others who sent help
included Palisoc, Quinit,
Cesar Ramirez, Willy
Rafanan, Julio Sison,
Zosie De Vera, Theresita
Burguillo, Leli Victorino,
Felix Tulagan, Noel
Lalicon, Ben Sison, Robert
Cacapit, Tony Ramos,
Vodka Calicdan, Gloria
Medina, Merly Aldana,
Cristy Pe Benito, Conrado
Mayo, Rose Peregrino
and presidents of town
associations of Pangasinan.
Meanwhile, PACA
would have a fundraising
dinner-dance at the St.
Ambrose Catholic Church
hall in Etobicoke on Nov.
7, at 6 p.m. The hall was
offered free by Fr. Edward
Smith to help PACA’s
efforts.
VIEWS
goods.
► The Community Al-
liance for Social Justice,
Cultural fundraisers Kababayan Community
► At the Kalayaan Centre, Kapisanan Phil-
Cultural Community ippine Center, Filipino
Centre in Mississauga, Migrant Workers Move-
a Jamming Session and ment, Philippine Press
Ondoy fundraiser was Club-Ontario, Philip-
conducted. (Related item pine Advocacy Through
on page 18) Arts and Culture, Silayan
Guests danced and sang Community Centre, Phil-
along all night to a live ippine Heritage Band,
band playing 60’s and 70’s Santaginians, Canadian
music led by guitarist Bob Aid Relief Project, Joy of
Lesaca. the Lord, Philippine In-
► In nearby The Gate- dependence Day Council,
way Centre for New Ca- Couples for Christ Foun-
nadians, also in Missis- dation for Family and
sauga, a “no ticket” concert Life, and other regional,
was staged on Oct. 17. religious and alumni asso-
The concert, entitled ciations will stage a Unity
One Voice, One Heart, ac- Concert for Ondoy victims
cepted donations of relief at the University of Toronto
Donors and volunteers never wasted time to ensure that relief goods are
processed and packed for immediate deployment to flashflood-affected ar-
eas in the Philippines. Photos: AFCM
Convocation Hal on Nov.
29, 3 to 6 p.m. (Related
story on page 33)
Official sympathy
Ontario Members of the
Provincial Parliament took
time to sympathize with the
community, through FCT.
They included Mike
Colle, Dr. Eric Hoskins,
Brad Duguid, Peter Fon-
seca, Gerry Phillips, Kath-
leen Wynne, Amrit Mangat,
Khalil Ramal and Dave Le-
vac whose ridings contain a
fairly large concentration of
Filipinos.
Member of Parliament
Jim Karygiannis also made
efforts to discuss immigra-
tion updates in expediting
the family class applica-
tions and visitor visas of
significantly-affected fam-
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
ily members of Canadians
and permanent residents.
Karygiannis and mem-
bers of Global Medic also
updated the community on
what the latter had been do-
ing in the Philippine disas-
ter areas.
Aid from Israel
The United Jewish Ap-
peal (UJA) established a
Philippines Disaster Re-
lief Fund that raised over
$25,000 used to assist six-
man medical teams of the
Israel Forum for Interna-
tional Humanitarian Aid
or IsraAid in the affected
areas.
Medical teams, on 16-
day shifts, provided medical
treatment, including general
first aid.
IsraAid members also
distributed food and cloth-
ing, said relief mission
chief, Elad Seker.
“We opened a medical
station and hundreds stood
in line waiting for assis-
tance. We are treating some
300 people a day; mostly
women and children suffer-
ing from the most serious
conditions,” Seker said.
IsraAid is a coalition of
Israeli and Jewish non-gov-
ernment organizations.
“In working with Is-
raAid, UJA not only is able
to efficiently and effectively
deliver aid rapidly to many
of those in the disaster zone.
We also help reveal the car-
7
ing spirit and generous soul
of the Israeli society to a
troubled part of the world,”
said Ted Sokolsky, presi-
dent and CEO of the UJA
Federation of Greater To-
ronto.
Disaster information
Rogers Digital Cable
Television provided custo-
mers in Ontario free access
to Filipino channels GMA
Pinoy TV (channel 870) and
Filipino TV (channel 869) at
the height of typhoons that
flooded and devastated most
of northern Philippines.
Rogers Wireless and
Fido customers were urged
to help those affected by
donating $5 to the Canadian
Red Cross International
Disaster Relief Fund by
text message. Rogers said it
would match up to $20,000
the donations made.
“Our heartfelt sympa-
thies and concern go
out to everyone affected
by the natural disasters
and devastation in Asia-
Pacific,” said Rob Bruce,
Rogers president of commu-
nications.
Rogers Communications
said the initiatives helped
people stay connected with
friends and family in the
Asia-Pacific region during
tumultuous times and to
help with relief efforts in
the area. Internet sources
and reports sent to
Manila Media Monitor
8 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
With cable television, internet,
phone and fax lines disconnected
on Saturday, September 26 as my
wife Gie and I downsized, I was
completely detached from the
outside world, while unknown
to me in the meantime, typhoon
Ondoy battered metropolitan
Manila.
Sorting out things and
clothing at the same time, Gie and
I donated clothes, appliances and
electronics that we will no longer
be using, or thought, we were no
longer to use.
You see, our policy at home
has always been that for things
that we haven’t used for the last
one year meant that we did not
really need them at all, hence,
donation to Goodwill.
But regardless of such policy,
because of the deadline-driven
environment that Gie and I do
work in, we have not really paid
attention on all those things, hence,
an accumulation of six years of
those possessions that supposedly
have been donated during the past
recent years.
Some of the clothings had
even tags on them, but because I
did not see the need for retaining
them since I have not used them
during the last one year, donated
them anyway.
At our new place, when
Gie was unpacking my clothes,
she asked how come I had only
one bag of clothing, and I said I
donated them to Goodwill.
The battle for credibility and
audience support had entered
another arena: calamity.
Little Yuri and Yuljin were
nonchalant that the rest of Metro
Manila was under siege by
Ondoy.
The siblings, aged 5 and
3, were snugly warm at home
and enjoying the suspension of
classes.
It was a day for cartoons and
anime and Gameboy.
When they clicked to ABS-
CBN, they were confused to see
Kris Aquino unabashedly cajoling
sponsors and fellow stars to make
substantial donations.
It was, to children like Yuri and
Yuljin, an unwelcome interruption
to daytime viewing, their favorite
pastime.
To the adults around them, it
meant a number of other things.
First that ABS-CBN indeed
was living up proudly to its vow
to be of service to the Filipino.
By chucking regular program-
ming in favor of coverage of the
calamity unfolding and promptly
staging a telethon in aid of the
victims, the station was telling the
world that it had a heart and also
rightfully deserved to be called
kapamilya.
By all counts, the Kapamilya
station had a headstart and it
helped that the TFC subscribers
were tuned in to lend succor in
dollars and cents.
On the other hand, people
wondered: Could Kris be
unconsciously brandishing about
her clout which to many seemed
cute at the start but, later, a bit
brash?
Was she forgetting that the
From The
Monitor’s Desk
Thank you for helping me open
and use the gift, SuperMar!
What was funny, however,
was that since at the time of our
move, the weather was changing
to a colder one, I realized that I
donated every sweatshirt meant
for the colder season that I had.
As I borrowed from my son
Christian one of his, he smiled
and said, “Good, it’s time to buy
for new ones, dad, as you make
space from old ones to new. You
taught me that, right?”
***
As our cable, internet and
phone services were connected
back one after the other, Gie and
I got in touch with our siblings
and their families living all over
metropolitan Manila.
Everyone was okay, but we
were saddened that some of our
friends lost their possessions from
lifetime investments: houses,
appliances, cars, etc.
We thank the Lord that no life
was lost from among them.
Roundabout
MAG CRUZ-HATOL
No break in competition
even during calamities
brother was presenting himself as
a likely presidential contender?
Given the sorry history we
have had of wives, kith and kin
unduly influencing the chief
executive, many couldn’t resist
forecasting: minus a wife, a
younger sister might hold sway
in palace influence peddling and
decision making.
Switching to GMA Network
was a smart move for Yuri and
Yuljin.
It was on regular broadcast,
interrupting the programming only
with occasional news flashes.
At the start, the station was
rather tentative about what it
planned to do in the face of the
destruction.
We even think it was
probably caught by surprise at the
competitor’s blitzkrieg action.
By calling it business as usual,
GMA swung in the children as
well as audiences in the provinces
who were oblivious or indifferent
to what was happening in the
metro.
It however repelled a huge
chunk of the Mega Manila
population still with power.
VIEWS
ACE ALVAREZ
Never mind the material
things, they could be replaced, but
lives couldn’t.
We were told that some of them
were rescued from the rooftop
by friends using every available
mode possible to do so.
***
As we discussed the updates
on our siblings and our friends
back home one recent night over
dinner in the presence of our son,
Christian, we recalled the friends
we left behind in the Philippines.
Christian said that he
remembers me telling him 15
years ago when he was 11 years
old, that when my brother Nelson
passed away in 1994 and when
the funeral car at the time of
internment was already entering
Manila Memorial Park in Sucat,
Paranaque, one fourth of those
who were to go with the funeral
procession had not left the chapel
at JPA Subdivision in Muntinlupa
Many thought only ABS-CBN
was responding appropriately to
the episode at hand.
To children who have no
idea what inundation could do,
everything but television was on
normal mode.
Electricity was soon gone.
Yuri and brother promptly
switched to playing with toys that
did not require batteries or power.
Noise was the order of the day
in the household.
Battle for credibility
A day after the tragedy, GMA
7 found its niche.
It must have accepted that it
was no match to the star power
the competitor was employing to
generate the millions.
GMA subdued its fundraising
efforts and focused on helping
reunite separated kin, providing
helpful tips and going more in
depth with its coverage.
In the end, the station became
what it was during the Cory
funeral: more staid but intelligent,
less sensational but more level
headed. (Now if only some of its
reporters can zip down their shrill
voices and temper their annoying
City – a 15 kilometer span.
Christian commented that it
was the same kind of relationship
he wants to have with people he
meets and develops friendship
with, stressing, “after all, in
this world, what matters is not
how one looks, how much one
has accumulated in wealth, but
how one’s relationships with his
Creator and people were; you
taught me that, dad, right?”
***
I have always admired the
work of my neighbor in this
publication – that of Mario
Dimain, in all medium he uses:
print, photography, blogs, video;
indeed, a multi-media person!
I felt honored, likewise, after
getting an e-mail message from
this friend of mine (whom I fondly
address oftentimes as “Super
Mar”) when he informed me that
he has just posted his first piece on
a blogsite he created for his short
story writings.
(Why would I not be honored
when the ordinary mortal in my
person was the very first person
to be informed for such great
piece of writing?)
Immediately after reading
Super Mar’s piece, I wrote him
the following message:
“My very good friend, Mario.
“A very moving story. My
eyes welled as I read through ‘The
Gift of Seeing’.
“Many times in the past, I
(To page 9)
hysteria.)
On the other hand, the
Kapamilyas lorded the airwaves
with their successful fundraising.
The phenomenal amounts
raised were reminiscent of their
Pinatubo drive.
The station made certain
that the goods they received
were distributed by their stars so
television could be used to a hilt.
The message inadver-tently
transmitted was that government
was not as proactive and helpful
as ABS-CBN, the true hero of the
moment.
For every hour of coverage, a
scant few minutes were devoted to
government action.
Woefully, even President
Arroyo did not enjoy ample
coverage.
Gerald Anderson repris-ed his
role in a vitamin ad by swimming
to save neighbors.
Not to be outdone, Richard
Gutierrez used a speed boat to
rescue a fellow star from the roof.
The calamity had morphed
into a circus of stars.
The battle for credibility and
audience support had entered
another arena: calamity.
Suddenly it was not only how
much was raised and how many
victims were aided; it was also a
battle for which stars shone with
their acts of heroism.
But Yuri and Yuljin could not
care less. They just enjoyed the
weeklong furlough by switching to
cable and TV 5.
(If interested in the advocacy
for family-friendly television,
visit anaktvweb.com or email
the foundation at anaktv_seal@
yahoo.com.)
12 years of dedicated
community service
Managing Editor
ACE ALVAREZ
Editor
BUTCH GALICIA
Associate Editor
GIE ALVAREZ
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Ben Viccari
Ricky Caluen
Mag Cruz Hatol
Grace P. Freires
Manny Freires
Pete Lacaba
Mel Tobias
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Dods Andrada
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Mario Dimain
Noel Perada
Larry Torres
Edwin Acuna
Bien Garcia
Jeannie Pilapil
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 VIEWS MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 9
leader of his people, intransigeant,

Commentary refusing to understand or

acknowledge the new colonial
laws and even at times entering
into armed conflict with white
BEN VICCARI soldiers.
Falsely accused of supporting
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT the Riel rebellion, Big Bear is tried
for treason in 1883 and sentenced

Alberta oilsands emit more Celebrating to three years in Stony Mountain

Prison, where he sickens and
released to die in 1888 on the
greenhouse gas than OctoberREST Poundmaker Reserve.
The heritage of Big Bear lives
other countries History is the study of the
on in Rudy Wiebe’s biography – a
Penguin Extraordinary Canadians
past. Series containing 230 pages and
By MARY JO LAFOREST Many questions of why and costs $26 at most of your better
The Canadian Press how are answered by a person’s bookstores.
interpretations of the evidence ***
Alberta’s oilsands produce more greenhouse gas emissions than collected from a historical event. You’ve heard of OctoberFest
some European countries right now and will produce more than all However, what happens when but perhaps not OctoberRest…
of the world’s volcanoes in just 11 years if the pace of development a person or people are limited in the hiatus that I am taking this
continues, says a new report. telling the story because of the month.
The report -- “Dirty - How the tar sands are fuelling global cli- lack of historical evidence -- either Recently, too many other
mate change” -- was released this month. by accident or design? matters have demanded my
Greenpeace commissioned author Andrew Nikiforuk, a busi- Critic James Knockelby wrote attention and I don’t have my
ness and environmental reporter, to write the report. on the publication of Novelist Rudy usual new postings to offer.
“Nobody in Canada wants to talk about the scale issues,” he said Wiebe’s novel The Temptations Nothing to be alarmed about.
in an interview. of Big Bear, which Wiebe now Until I have time to do new
“The emissions are bigger than Estonia and Lithuania right now reprises in biography form for Canscene material. (Ben Viccari
and in 2020 will be larger than countries like Belgium, Austria, Ire- the Extraordinary Canadians is past president of the Canadian
land and Denmark.” series: “A society disinterested Ethnic Media Association and
The report documents the “real” cost of the oilsands, which Ni- in the plight of the Plains Cree The Plains Cree were hunters frequently appeared on OMNI
kiforuk says is the world’s largest energy project. created an information vacuum pure and simple and conscious TV Commentary, until his
“The major energy projects in the Middle East ... they don’t in which little of their history only of Hudson’s Bay trading retirement last month from the
come anywhere near - none of them approach the scale and capital remained to reference. To tell their posts as friendly symbols of white TV commentary series. Some of
intensity of the oilsands.” story, the historian must recreate presence. his commentaries are republished
The report says almost $200 billion has been or will be invested conversations, lives, even people; Then came the soldiers in this publication and slightly
in the projects in northern Alberta, and that includes not only the the storyteller must flirt with the establishing the sovereignty of the expanded in some cases from their
oilsands, but pipelines, refinery expansions and other associated fine line between fact and fiction White Grandmother, establishing 70-second broadcast originals.
infrastructure. divining it from the past.” reserves and endeavoring to make For more of his work, please visit
It adds that the liabilities are a nearly threefold increase in One senses that much of this Plans Cree farmers – a disaster. Ben’s website at http://canscene.
greenhouse gas emissions, enormous amounts of natural gas used spirit remains in the biography. Slowly, Big Bear emerges as a ripple.ca)
and wasted to produce synthetic oil from bitumen - which consists
of tarry pitch, or asphalt - and the “economic nightmare” of carbon
capture and storage, a technology that has yet to be developed.
The premiers of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
Pangasinan: No Christmas until February?
earlier inked a deal pledging to work together on carbon capture (Editors Note: In many By LEONARDO V. MICUA The flood affected about 80
and storage technology. places in the Philippines, people percent of the farmers in this tra-
In June, the Alberta government announced it was giving $2 bil- devastated by the recent spate of he said with deep regrets that he ditionally farming province, with
lion to seven companies to fund three pilot projects. typhoon disasters have to forego could see the days ahead to be the practically nowhere to go but to
But Nikiforuk points out that there is no commercial carbon with so many things, as they most difficult period in the life of the loan shark to get help.
capture and storage facility operating yet anywhere in the world. struggle to rebuild lives. The fol- the 2.7 million Pangasinenses. But Espino was nevertheless
The technology is being designed mainly for the coal-fired elec- lowing article reflects a bird’s Espino said that consider- upbeat that if farmers would re-
tricity plants operating in Alberta to fuel the energy-hungry oilsands eyeview of rather bleak circum- ing the magnitude of destruction plant their rice fields or restock
and associated projects. stances and situations.) wreaked by floods, probably there their fishponds with fingerlings
This is how it’s envisioned to work: Carbon dioxide is captured might be many Pangasinenses now, they might be able to harvest
from smokestacks and the gas is compressed and transported to be DAGUPAN CITY - It will be who could not afford even to ex- in 120 days.
stored underground. The waste must be monitored for an undeter- Christmas or New Year in Feb- change gifts with each other by Thus, probably they could
mined amount of time, possibly for thousands of years, at an uncal- ruary in Pangasinan due to hard Christmas or New Year. hold Christmas on Feb. 14, which
culated cost to ensure that no leaks occur, says the report. times brought about by the recent “Probably, they may do it just is Valentine’s Day, the exact time
“Most governments are not good at monitoring things for five massive flood that hit 34 towns by sign language to express their they might harvest palay or milk-
years, let alone a thousand years,” Nikiforuk says. and three cities of the province. best wishes to each other this fish.
He also says the money to pay for carbon capture and storage Governor Amado Espino Jr. Christmas as a result of this life’s Espino said the flood, which
will come out of Canadian taxpayers’ wallets. might not be joking at all when difficulty,” he said in jest. (To page 28)
“The estimate from the Carbon Capture Council in Alberta is
that we’re going to need $2 billion to $3 billion a year for the next
Thank you for helping me open and use the gift ...
20 years. That’s extraordinary, that’s taxpayers’ money ... Any fiscal (From page 8)
conservative in the country should look at this and just be abso- got those forwarded audio-visual “Also, I am honored to have we vowed to live life more
lutely alarmed.” presentations attached to my e- the first notice to your first entry simply, allowing ourselves the
Nikiforuk compares it to the fledgling nuclear power industry mail, rightfully glorifying God for at this site. luxury of spending time more on
nearly 50 years ago. His presence in everything we do “I wish you always the best, what matters, rather than, either
“It was going to be too cheap to meter, then it became too ex- and see. my dear friend.” wittingly or unwittingly, spreading
pensive to build and I think carbon capture and storage will prob- “In spite of those repeated Readers, if you want to read ourselves everywhere.
ably leave the same kind of legacy.” reminders, people -- including Mario Dimain’s first short story We started ourselves with
Nikiforuk says Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former U.S. I, oftentimes, do not even notice piece, The Gift of Seeing, you unloading ourselves with
president George Bush are a lot alike. what a beautiful morning it is when may send me an e-mail at ace. unnecessary material things; came
“Both men share a real dissidence and skepticism of climate I wake up, and a ray of sunshine alvarez@rogers.com and I will next, unloaded ourselves with
change, which is a real convenient ideology if you want to acceler- touches my cheek. God’s way of send you the link. the onerous demands for time of
ate hydrocarbon production.” making His presence known to us. *** organizations we were involved in
“The stuff cannot be produced economically and in great quan- “Mar, in many of the photos My dear readers, all the items and, by God’s design, we do not
tities to ease a global oil crunch,” Nikiforuk says. you have shot before, I must admit in this corner have bearing on this know what follows next.
“For most of the world, bitumen will not be an affordable sub- that somehow, you reminded me last item: Probably, with all these, I
stitute for cheap light oil and we’ve already seen the first economic of the beauty of nature; God’s Over the years, my and might have time already to even
correction in 2008 - the whole global economy tanked when oil hit creation! my wife’s lives have become admire the beauty of nature using
$150 a barrel.” “ ... and just like the characters complicated as we pursued our the gift for seeing that I was given
“How many times will we have to go through that to learn that in your story, I have always been media careers together, and as by my Creator.
lesson?” a ‘Ben’ to your Efren’s and his we downsized after our children Thank you for helping me
photography. have become more independent, open and use the gift, SuperMar!
10 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
It must be true. What
they say about tragedy and
death getting people to act
collectively -- instinctively,
subconsciously or with pure
intent -- to pursue one un-
derlying cause.
Human nature may be
such, in the face of bitter
loss and seemingly endless
adversity.
Perhaps, just perhaps,
the Creator, whatever those
who believe call Him, made
man to live in an imperfect
world so that His Likeness
and Goodness would be re-
membered and reflected in
times that retell the Biblical
truth of Noah’s Ark, Sodom
and Gommorha and the
Tower of Babel.
Perhaps, just perhaps,
He meant wars and disas-
ters to happen to show hu-
mans the ill effects of their
follies, whims and caprices
to amass worldly wealth,
gain social recognition, and
grab power and influence.
Perhaps, just perhaps,
He did unleash the devil
and did give it the widest
leeway to bewilder a few
minds and souls so that the
many would know and un-
derstand how evil works
and veer away from it.
Perhaps, just perhaps,
tragedy and death in an im-
perfect world are ways to
make humans keep in mind
The 3rd Eye
Weddings
Of all the festivities
known to man, it is
undisputable that weddings
are the most celebrated
occasions in the universe,
and embraced by people
from all walks of life
regardless of cultures, race,
religions and beliefs.
In a diverse society such
as Toronto, weddings come
in many forms and colours.
To anybody who is
photographically-inclined
and is genuinely interested
in learning about other
cultures, shooting weddings
could prove to be a
rewarding experience.
What I find most
interesting about being a
wedding photographer is
the great opportunity to
witness a variety of ethnic
groups, practice some of
their fascinating traditions
and wedding rituals that are
distinctive from the rest of
the world.
Although most young
“Canadianized” brides and
bridegrooms shy away from
their roots, their parents
Omerta
BUTCH GALICIA
Perhaps, just perhaps
that life is short and does
not offer warranties and
guaranties -- no matter what
one’s wealth, status, influ-
ence or power is.
But just the same, we
who are relatively out of
harm’s way have to faithful-
ly play along with a Divine
Plan -- some term it as fate
and destiny -- so that when
we reach the tailend of exis-
tence, we might -- perhaps,
just perhaps -- hopefully
inherit the perfection of the
Creator.
Wistful thinking? Yes.
Until then, I am reminded
of a line in Alfred Lord
Tennyson’s Ulysses: That
which we are, we are ...
made weak by time and
fate but strong in will to
survive, to seek, to find
and not to yield.
*****
Going through the enor-
mous pile of blogs written
about the recent typhoons
MARIO DIMAIN
often encourage them to be
proud of their heritage and
to keep it alive, at least on
the wedding day.
In Scottish and Irish
weddings, bridegrooms
prove that weddings are not
just about the brides.
The sharp-looking kilts
they wear that depict the
unique pattern of their clans
can also compete with the
princess-like dress of their
new wives.
A Hindu bridegroom,
on the other hand, with his
sultan-like headdress, can
justify the regal greetings
that welcome his arrival at
the temple.
From a non-racial
perspective though, most
men such as firefighters,
police and the military prefer
their modern uniforms over
the black tuxedo or cultural
attire, thereby appearing
like knights in shining
armour in the eyes of their
beautiful brides.
However, there is
also the other side of
(To page 11)
that devastated the Philip-
pines, I came across Un-
sung Heroes by Ganns
Deen, communications
officer of Victory Fort, a
Taguig-based church that is
a member of the Every Na-
tion group of international
churches.
I am sharing (call it
copying or plagiarizing, I
don’t care) Deen’s blog in
full:
In no particular order, I
would like to honor the fol-
lowing for their work since
September 26, 2009, the
day Typhoon Ondoy began
its destructive work in our
nation:
☻ Every person who
laid down his or her life in
the attempt to save lives.
Some may have been for-
tunate to have their stories
told in media; others have
been anonymously washed
away to watery graves, but
God knows who they are.
FILIPINO BRIDE
HINDU BRIDE
HUNGARIAN BRIDE
VIEWS
The world is not exactly an apple or full of apples but here are the apples of
my eyes enjoying an apple-picking stint at the Applewood Farm Winery.
(Greater love has no one
than this, that he lay down
his life for his friends. – Jn
15:13)
☻ Every person who
helped organize relief ef-
forts. Whether a member
of a larger organization, or
one sole person working to
do whatever he/she could
in his/her own village, I
honor you for your selfless
dedication. (We continu-
In the wake of last
month’s terrible typhoon
that swept through the
Philippines, two things
became clear.
First, the countless
families devastated by this
disaster stagger my mind.
Every Filipino in the
GTA (and I would argue all
of Canada), was touched
somehow by this event.
Either directly, because
the raging storms swept
through his, or her village,
or indirectly, because a
relative or friend back home
had their life disrupted.
My heart goes out to
everyone affected by the
typhoon.
I know in my case,
countless friends back home
found themselves stranded.
Even today, as I write this
column, many many people
back home are without
adequate food, shelter and
medical attention.
While the government
is doing its best to meet
these needs with the
help of the international
community, this disaster
laid bare the woefully poor
preparedness and crumbling
infrastructure which, to this
day, exacerbate an already
dire situation (but that is a
topic for another column).
What is important is that
slowly, our villages, towns
and cities are getting back
on their feet.
The overwhelming
international support is the
ally remember before our
God and Father your work
produced by faith, your la-
bor prompted by love, and
your endurance inspired
by hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ. – 1 Thess 1:3)
☻ Every person who
volunteered at these relief
efforts. Whether you helped
pack relief goods, load
them into trucks, drive the
trucks, deliver them to the
Our Journey
Time to heal,
rebuild
second revelation for me.
Driven by the Filipino
communities around the
world, governments and
private organizations,
stepped up to the plate and
undertook to provide aid in
all forms.
Here in Toronto,
countless fundraising events
took place to raise money
and awareness for the plight
of the nearly four million
people affected.
I’m deeply touched that
so many did so much in
such a short time.
And still more events
are being scheduled.
For example, next
month, the “Unity Concert
2009: Rebuilding People’s
Lives” will take place
and help raise funds and
awareness.
With many acts and
organizations committed to
participate this event will
be a powerful voice in our
community.
Other organizations and
evacuees/victims, manned
the phones, directed traffic
… you helped save lives.
(Let your light shine before
men, that they may see your
good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven. – Mat-
thew 5:16)
☻ Every person who
donated to these relief ef-
forts. Whether you gave
out of your own meager
(To page 11)
EVA AGPAOA
individuals are also rising to
the challenge.
The Canadian Aid and
Relief Project (CARP), a
Toronto-based organization
founded and headed by
noted Filipino local family
physician, Dr. Francisco
Portugal; the Isabela
organization, Mountain
province (Benguet); are just
two of the many that have
done their part.
It’s heartening to learn
that the world did not forget
us in our time of need.
When disaster struck,
we reached out and our call
was answered.
But there is still so much
to do.
The lives lost, the
property destroyed, these
will take time to heal and
rebuild.
We, as a community,
cannot rest after the first
wave of sympathy and
help.
You can be sure that
(To page 26)

Perhaps, just perhaps
(From page 10)
savings or spared no ex-
pense in ensuring the needs
of the victims or those help-
ing them would be met, you
were the conduit of blessing
for this immense outpour-
ing of love upon a nation in
desperate need of it. (Share
with God’s people who are
in need. – Romans 12:13)
☻ Every person who
helped spread informa-
tion. There was a different
army working the com-
munication lines overtime.
Bloggers, photographers,
reporters, IT personnel, and
many others came together
to spread information, create
spreadsheets, reunite people
with lost loved ones, and
help make a disaster easy to
cope with and handle. Many
did so for hours with little
sleep in front of laptops
and telephones, persisting
to ensure people would be
saved. (In everything I did,
I showed you that by this
kind of hard work we must
help the weak, remember-
ing the words the Lord
Jesus himself said: ‘It is
more blessed to give than
to receive.’ – Acts 20:35)
☻ Every person who
prayed. I thank the prayer
warriors who spiritually
protected everyone in need
and everyone working to
Views
get to people in need. (The
prayer of a righteous man
is powerful and effective.
– Ja :16)
☻ Every person who
opened his/her home to
those affected. Whether
your houses became a ref-
uge for those caught in the
onslaught of the flood, or
whether you offered a room
– or more – to families still
reeling from the loss of ev-
erything material in their
lives, you reminded them
that home is where the heart
is. (Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for
thereby some have enter-
tained angels unawares.
– Hebrews 13:2)
Countless more may not
be in this list, but do know
that I speak for many when
I say “Thank you.”
I thank you because you
– whether you intended
to or not – became God’s
instruments of love. The
sheer magnitude of this
flood was not enough to
overpower the strength of
your concern and love for
your fellow man. (Many
waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away.
- Song of Solomon 8:7)
You showed many peo-
ple the value of hope and
became beacons of light and
inspiration on people who
may have lost all desire to
carry on in the light of such
catastrophe. You may have
given them more than their
lives back; I believe you’ve
rekindled their faith in hu-
man nature, and hopefully,
in God.
The King will reply: I
tell you the truth, whatever
you did for one of the least
of these brothers of mine,
you did for me. - Matthew
25:40.
*****
Thus said, I wish man-
kind would not have to wait
for tragedy or death to oc-
cur to remind them that life
is worth living.
Perhaps, just perhaps,
the time has come for ev-
eryone to live for the better
but prepare for the worse.
The idea of antonyms
- perhaps, just perhaps -
- should work well with
sound minds and hearts and
fair and just acts.
Good and evil. Charity
and greed. Love and hatred.
Hope and despair. Human-
ity and bestiality.
Choose one. That’s the
essence of free will. But
remember, when a choice
is made, its outcome would
always serve its purpose.
butchgalicia@yahoo.com
Weddings
(From page 10)
masculinity.
In one of the Chinese
weddings that I covered, the
bridegroom was required to
eat two whole hard-boiled
duck eggs that symbolized
his testicles, for fertility and
power.
It is also believed that
this practice is a statement
that marks the man’s ability
to raise a family.
On the other end of
the spectrum, the common
concept that brides are
generally seen in a white
wedding dress is not the
case in other cultures.
In the Hindu religion,
brides are beautifully
dressed in vibrant colours
adorned with glittering
jewels and intricate henna
on both hands.
They look like royalty
and are always a delight to
photograph.
As for the Caribbean
and African brides that I
have shot, they all shared a
common timeless clock.
They took their time
getting ready and often
reached the church in
what’s known to many as
island time.
On their wedding day
they’re given the special
privilege of the day to make
everyone wait.
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
When it comes to
arriving on time, the typical
Filipina bride would most
likely be on the top of the
list, but her overcrowded
Academy Award-style
wedding entourage could
easily be labelled as the
“Longest Wedding Parade”
for its many sponsors
joining the march.
A priest once whispered
to me in a joking way,
“When are we going to see
the end of this?”
His words may sound
funny, but Filipinos
take wedding vows very
seriously as demonstrated
in the spiritual symbolisms
of the candles, the veil, the
cord and the coins.
These four symbols
that have been injected into
the wedding ceremony for
many generations all stand
for lasting commitment
and are probably the best
explanation as to why the
divorce rate in the Filipino
community is extremely
low and almost unheard of.
A Greek bride, who
equally takes marriage
seriously, would mark her
departure from her parents’
nest by breaking a wine
Ad Inquiries? Call 416-285-8583
11
glass with her foot, at the
front door of the house.
The broken glass
represents her freedom
to join the man who won
her heart and the symbolic
gesture is joyfully witnessed
by her parents and siblings.
Near or far, the
merriment of weddings
always pulls families and
friends together. They all
come to the happiest and
the most emotional family
gathering -- the union of
two people in love.
The interaction of
mixed cultures from the
lively guests, certainly adds
international colours to the
joyous celebration of the
newlyweds.
With Canada’s multi-
cultural society that is
perpetually present in all
Toronto weddings that I
have covered, I can imagine
the possibility of lasting
peace among nations if the
people of the world can
only learn to co-exist with
one another, just like the
families and friends coming
together in a wedding
celebration -- in the name of
love, commitment, respect
and peace.

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12
THAT YOU MAY KNOW
Workplace Safety,
Injury Compensation
By EDWIN MERCURIO
Over 300,000 workers
are injured on the job ev-
ery year in Ontario.
When workers sustain
injury, they lose earnings
and require special ser-
vices.
When this happens, it
then becomes the responsi-
bility of the workers’ com-
pensation system.
In Ontario, the law gov-
erning workers compensa-
tion is called the Work-
place Safety and Insurance
Act (WSIA).
The agency tasked to
administer the law is the
Workplace Safety and In-
surance Board (WSIB).
There are two types of
injuries: Sudden and Grad-
ual -arising out of and in
the course of employment.
Section 13 (1) of the
Workplace Safety and In-
surance Act states that ben-
efits are payable for “per-
sonal injury by accident
arising out of and in the
course of employment”.
Workplace accident as
defined in section 2(1) of
GENERAL DENTISTRY
Dr. Gilbert Chan
Dr. Daphne Chien
Dr. Janet Ho
Dr. Janet Wong
Dr. Michael Chin
the Act states that benefits
are payable for any work
related personal injuries.
If the work performed
caused the injury, and is
proven, compensation is
payable.
Sudden onset inju-
ries or chance events are
injuries suffered when a
worker become injured
lifting, pushing, twisting,
or making any other type
of movement arising of
and in the course of em-
ployment.
Gradual onset injuries
include repetitive strain
injuries, injuries caused by
unaccustomed workloads,
injuries and disease that
result from workplace sub-
stance exposures, disabili-
ties caused by heat or cold,
heart attacks and others.
In some cases, gradual
onset of injuries comes
while the worker is still on
the job.
In other cases, there can
be many years of delay or
latency between the work-
place exposure to hazards
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
and the onset of disability.
In this case, it is impor-
tant to determine whether
or not the work was a sig-
nificant contributory factor
of the injury.
Proof of causation may
involve vital medical evi-
dence which workers may
have no control.
Lack of proof that the
work caused the injury is
the major reason for the
denial of some claims.
Workers have better
chances of obtaining fa-
vorable medical evidence
when reports of injuries
contain clear descriptions
of the workplace condi-
tions that led to the dis-
ability.
About 90 percent of the
300,000 WSIB claims filed
each year are allowed.
WSIB pays a large per-
centage of the claims with-
out delay.
However, there are
lengthy investigations
and more frequent denials
when an injury is not re-
ported properly.
 People & Events MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 13

PPC-O forum with TPS APCCC

Members and guests of the Philippine Press Club-Ontario gather for posterity following the Sept. 26 breakfast forum with members of the Toronto Police
Service (TPS) and TPS-initiated Asia Pacific Community Consultative Committee (APCCC) that covers the Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese com-
munities in Toronto. Community concerns were discussed during the forum with APCCC co-chairperson Superintendent Jane Wilcox and other committee
officers. Photo: ARIEL RAMOS

Featinians donation for

OLAC church rehab
True to its spirit of benevolence, the Featinean As-
sociation of Toronto (TFAT) donates $1,000 to the
Our Lady of Assumption Church Parish, through
Fr. Ben Ebcas, to help in the renovation of the
church. The donation was raised in an event initi-
ated by Annie Buiza. It was handed over during
the Bicolanons’ Our Lady of Penafrancia feast cel-
ebration. From left are Oliver Rey, president; Max
Recaido, vice president; Julio Buiza, founder; Nita
Recaido, treasurer; Fr. Ben; Annie Buiza, founder;
Res Paje, secretary; Tirso Balitian, founder; Rudy
Olay, auditor; and Cesar Banda, director. MANUEL
PAPA/SJNS
14 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 People & events
AN INVITATION TO THE
Ang upo ni Pons Road to Asia
Pons Padua Sr., a member of the Filipino Seniors of
Mississauga, has a very “fruitful” pastime – vegetable
gardening.
He is shown in left photo with a six-foot, two-inch
Festival
long upo or white squash from his garden.
He has harvested about 20 of these long upo; some
of which he gave to friends, and some he cooked and
brought to the seniors’ drop-in to share with fellow-
members at lunch on Saturdays.
Some more are to be harvested, and he plans to share
these with his Filipino senior friends.
The upo in the photo below are either hanging from
his balcony or from the roof of his house.
He says these are left-overs from the first batch he
reaped. These are ready for the picking and the table.
The seniors of Mississauga are eagerly awaiting an-
other picnic lunch, “on Pons.”
Pons’s backyard garden is planted with other veg-
etables.
He has tomatoes, zucchini, ampalaya, green beans, Philippine Consul General Alejandro Mosquera
eggplants, peppers and spinach. and other consular staff visit the Philippine booth
He says zucchini and its flowers, together with pepper /exhibit at the ‘06 Road to Asia festival. FILE
are good for tinolang
manok; going well The Philippine Consu- the arts, crafts, music,
too with the Ilocano late General in Toronto is food and martial arts of
dinengdeng with fried inviting members of the the Philippines, China,
fish for flavoring. Filipino-Canadian commu- Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Tibet,
Pons really knows nity to the 2009 Road to Japan, and Laos.
how to spend his se- Asia Festival at the Japanese This is a celebration
nior years. Others his Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 of “friendship through
age should take the Garamond Court, Toronto culture,” said a consular
cue from him. on Nov. 7 and 8. press release.
Instead of just sit- The festival hours are Queries on the festival
ting before the TV set, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. may be directed to Christine
they should engage in This year’s festival will Takasaki, cultural events
some activity that is again celebrate the richness and volunteers coordinator
not only enjoyable and exciting diversity of at 416-441-2345 ext. 221 or
but also fruitfully Asian culture. by e-mail at christine@jccc.
healthful. It will highlight on.ca.

Study on deprofessionalized Filipinos
in Toronto to be launched Oct. 29
The Ontario Metropolis
Centre, or Joint Centre of
Excellence on Immigration
and Settlement (Ontario),
is launching a ground-
breaking research that
looks at why immigrant
Filipino professionals and
skilled workers in Toronto
generally end up in low-
paying jobs below the
merits of their education
and experience.
The newly published
study by CERIS -- titled
Explaining the Depro-
fessionalized Filipino: Why
Filipino Immigrants Get
Low-Paying Jobs in Toronto
authored by Dr. Philip Kelly,
Mila Astorga-Garcia and
Enrico Esguerra, and the
Community Alliance for
Social Justice (CASJ) -- will
be formally presented in a
free public seminar at the
Ontario Institute for Studies
in Education auditorium on
Oct. 29 from 6:30 p.m. up.
The launch-seminar
will present the findings of
the new study, including
the factors responsible for
the deskilling of Filipino
professionals and skilled
workers, including systemic
racism and workplace discri-
People & Events
mination.
The four-year academic-
community study began
with a survey of Philippine
educated immigrants in
Toronto in 2005-06, where
421 completed survey
forms were returned out of
1,100 distributed.
14 pass FCT ’09 OSA screening
Four high school (HS)
graduates and ten elemen-
tary school (ES) graduates
have passed the screening
for the Filipino Centre To-
ronto (FCT) 2009 Outstand-
ing Student Awards (OSA).
The successful candi-
dates are: (HS) Thundil Mi-
chael Champion, Sarah Ob-
tinalla, Mark Joseph Sotto
and Vincent Valdrez;
(ES) Jessica Cariño,
Bryan Oliver Chavez, Char-
maine De Castro, Abigail
Dela Cruz, Alexandra Dela
Cruz, Jeunice Vianca Evan-
gelista, Nicole Nalani Pearl
Gumapac, Eunize Lao, Ann
Claudinne Naidas and Paul
Alfredson Reyes.
The candidates faced
a panel of interviewers on
Oct. 18.
The panel is composed
The survey was
followed by two sets of
focus groups, the first
conducted in 2006-07 with
Filipino professionals,
and the second in 2007-
08 involving individuals
working in occupations for
which professional licensing
of a vice-principal, a news-
paper columnist, a project
director and retired high
school teachers.
The awards ceremony
will be at the FCT Rizal
Hall on Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, FCT re-
leased the schedule of its
activities in November:
► Nov. 2, 3:00 p.m.
- Free Medical Clinic with
Dr. Patricio. Please call for
an appointment. New pa-
tients are requested to come
on the 1st Monday of the
month instead of the 2nd
Saturday of the month.
► Nov. 13, 6:00 p.m.
– TGIF fund-raising dance
sponsored by the seniors at
the FCT.
► Nov. 14, 12 noon to
2:00 p.m. – Free Medical
Clinic with Dr. Mario An-
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 15
Sebastian-Chua Wedding
is not a requirement.
For CASJ, the research
is part of its work towards
access to trades and
professions, which is one of
the three priority issues of
the five-year old alliance of
various organizations and
individuals. PR
dres.
► Nov. 20, 7:00 p.m.
– Filipino Day with the
Raptors at the Air Canada
Centre. This would be an
exciting game between the
Toronto Raptors and the Mi-
ami Heat. (See ad below)
The National Anthems
will be sung by Filipino
Singing Idol winner Ma-
ria Teresa Panaligan. Dis-
counted tickets for sale are
available at the FCT.
► Nov. 29, 2 – 4 p.m.
– Diabetes Seminar (Part 2)
► The Filipino Lan-
guage classes and Home-
work Club are on-going at Newlyweds Mark Oliver Lavina Sebastian and
the FCT every Saturday, Catherine Camenforte Chua stand in front of their
from 10 to 12 noon. wedding cake table during their wedding recep-
► The Line-Dancing tion at The Terrace in Vaughan on Sept. 26. The
class is also open every wedding ceremony took place at the St. Thomas
Tuesday evening at 6:30. Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in Toronto. PR/
PR/AIDA D’ ORAZIO AIDA D’ ORAZIO
16 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
 People & Events MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 17
First defense of WBO Jr. Bantam title

RP’s Sonsona vs Mexico’s

Hernandez in Rama Rumble
On Nov. 21, the eyes of
the boxing world will once
again be on Casino Rama in
Orilla, Ontario, as one of the
sport’s budding superstars,
19-year old dynamo Marvin
“Marvelous” Sonsona (14-
0, 12 KO’s) mounts the
first defense of his newly-
captured World Boxing
Organization (WBO) junior
bantamweight title in the
main event of Rumble @
Rama X.
Brad Duguid, Scar-
borough Centre Member
of Provincial Parliament,
will host a gala reception
in honor of Sonsona and
the community at the Ar-
menian Community Cen-
tre on Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.
In the same occasion,
the Canadian Red Cross
will be on hand to accept
monetary donations for
Philippine flood victims.
In just his 14th pro
fight, the teenage sensation
lived up to his nickname
“Marvelous” when he
dominated reigning champ
Jose Lopez to clinch a
SONSONA
thrilling unanimous decision
at Rumble @ Rama IX.
Sonsona’s opponent is
WBO contender 23-year
old Alejandro “Payasito”
Hernandez (22-7-1, 11
KO’s) of Mexico City.
A veteran of 30 pro
fights, Hernandez has never
been stopped and promises
to give Sonsona all he can
handle.
The “Canadian Kid”,
Steve Molitor (30-1, 12
KO’s) will appear as the co-
main event in a match that
has yet to be finalized as
he bides his time awaiting
another shot at the world
title in early 2010.
Orion Sports Manage-
ment has inked WBO #6
ranked Super Bantamweight
contender, Ciso “Kid
Terrible” Morales (13-0, 8
KO’s) and indicated he will
make his Canadian debut on
the Nov. 21 card.
Morales, from Cagayan
De Oro City in the
Philippines, hopes to follow
in the footsteps of Marvin
Sonsona in establishing CISO MORALES SONSONA raises flag
himself on the Canadian
scene, joining Sonsona’s
consortium of promoters
in his quest for a world
championship.
Also appearing are
fan favorite Greg “The
Steel Pole” Kielsa, (10-
0, 5 KO’s), the reigning
Canadian heavyweight
champion who is making
his debut under new trainer,
Egerton Marcus.
To round up a stacked
undercard, both Justin “The
Matrix” Fountain (6-1-2,
2 KO’s), and hot prospect
Felix “El Destino” Mercedes
(3-0, 2 KO’s) will return in
action-packed fights.
(To page 34) SONSONA, team rejoice after unanimous decision win was announced

Brad Duguid, MPP

invites you to an evening with the Filipino Community
in honour of the newly-crowned
Jr. Bantam World Champion Boxer
“Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona
The Red Cross will accept monetary donations for the Filipino Flood Relief.
(a tax receipt will be issued for eligible donations)
on
Sunday, November 15, 2009, 5:00pm
at
Armenian Community Centre, 45 Hallcrown Place
(Victoria Park Avenue and Hwy. 401)
FREE PARKING • LIGHT MEAL WILL BE SERVED
SPACE IS LIMITED • R.S.V.P. BY NOVEMBER 12, 2009 • RESERVE YOURS SEATS NOW
For more information: 416-615-2183 • Duguid4Philippines@scpla.ca
18 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
Baluca couple’s 40th wedding year, fundraiser for RP disaster relief services at KCCC
Elpidio and Madoline
Baluca celebrated their
40th wedding anniversary
on Sept. 25 at the Kalayaan
Cultural Community Centre
(KCCC) in Mississauga.
Their renewal of vows
was officiated by Fr. Aris
Miranda, MI, (Camillians),
first cousin of Elpidio.
In photo above are
the 40 members of the
entourage, all of them close
friends and relatives of
the bride and groom who
came from Canada and the
U.S.A.
Father Miranda presen-
ted the mission of the
Servants of St. Camillus-
Disaster Relief Services and
the Camillian Task Force,
an international arm of the
Camillians of their disaster
relief ministry during the
affair.
All gifts for the occasion
were donated to the
ministry; but because of the
Ondoy disaster, the amount
donated was channelled
to relief operations in
Marikina and Cainta led by
the Camillians.
In right photo, Mama
Ching Quejas (3rd from
People & Events
left), KCCC president, re-
ceived the $500 cheque
from Fr. Miranda (left).
Witnessing the turnover
were Madge Baluca and
Luis Carbonell, KCCC ex-
ecutive vice president.
Tributes to the celebrants
were given by their children
and grandchildren and
heads of organization to
which the Balucas belonged
– the Bohol Association of
Canada by Arnold Silagan,
the KCCC by Mama Ching
and Kalayaan Cultural
Organization by Vangie
Alcasid.
Luz del Rosario did
the honors of a toast to the
couple on behalf of her
husband, Resty.
Ruffy Romano showed
a video of the fun times of
the bride and groom’s forty
years together.
The couple danced to a
beautiful serenade by Pons
Canonizado.
Chris Valles provided
the affair’s music, Adie de
la Cruz managed the bar and
Jojo Sebastian was nutrition
coordinator. It was all in all
an evening to remember.
PR
ADVERTISERS’
INDEX
Western Union (2)
Dr. Evangeline M. Bernabe
and Associates (3)
All Debt Solutions, Consul-
ting Services (4)
Forex (5)
Dr. Albine A. Miciano
Cosmetic & General
Dentistry (6)
Dr. Arla Rondilla Professio-
nal Corp. (7)
Kaakbay Financial Services
(11)
Ellesmere-Kennedy Dental
Centre (12)
Photographers for Christ
(12)
Action Honda (13)
Russell International (14)
FCT Filipino Day (15)
Rumble at Rama (16)
MPP Brad Duguid (17)
Timeless Images (18)
GMA Pacman (19)
Dr. Roslyn Sabilano
Dentistry Professional
Corp. (20)
Tropical Deli (20)
FV Foods (21)
Enjoy Music (22)
Clem Cabillan (22)
areyouindebt.ca (22)
UMAC Toronto (23)
Gonzales Dentistry Profes-
sional Corp. (23)
Ed Joaquin (25)
Liland Insurance Inc. (27)
musicpad.com (28)
Rhowena Adolfo (29)
Citi College (30)
Lovely Travel and Tours (30)
Superb Travel Services (31)
Front Page Philippines (32)
T.H.D. Consultants (34)
Seoul Driving School (34)
Innovation Video/Photo (34)
Neil Padilla Insurance
Agency (35)
Henderson Weekes (36)
New Conservatory of Music
(36)
Dr. Bernarda Rosales
Verzonilla Family &
Cosmetic Dentistry (37)
OCDC Parcel Services (37)
Perlas ng Silanganan (38)
Moneygram (39)
Dr. Santiago & Associates
(40)
Dr. Romeo Tan (40)
OCTOBER 2009 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR 19
20 OCTOBER 2009 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009, MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
21

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22 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR, OCTOBER 2009
 People & Events MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 23
Joaquin bares bid in Nov. 23
Markham Council bi-election
Noted community Association, and Markham added.
leader and volunteer Ed Arts Council, to name a Joaquin’s campaign will
Joaquin has announced his few. focus on issues near and
bid to be Ward 3 councillor “In my 20 years dear to him as follows:
in the Markham Council of community ► The environment and
bi-election on Nov. 23. involvement environmental initiatives at
He filed his and volun- the Town of Markham.
candidacy before the teerism I ► Volunteerism and
deadline on Oct. 9. have built youth engagement, encoura-
“I am eagerly networks ging participation in all
anticipating a spirited a c r o s s aspects of society.
and competitive cam- various ► Diversity, ensuring
paign and look forward continued support and
to the opportunity to representation that reflect
discuss issues the diversity of the Town
with residents and the Region.
of Ward 3” said “I will be
Joaquin. announcing a series of
A commu- policy issues which
nity activist, I hope to focus on
Joaquin has during this campaign
worked with in the coming days
many charities and I look forward
and organizations to hearing the ideas
in Markham, the of the residents of
region and the Ward 3 and the other
Greater Toronto candidates,” he said.
Area for the last “In my expe-
decade. rience, the best
He brings a wealth of groups to successfully policies and initiatives
experience and enthusiasm deliver events, programs come about through open
for the Ward 3 council, and achieve fundraising and honest dialogue across
having worked with goals” Joaquin said. a wide array of individuals
organizations such as “I want to bring those and groups and that will be
the Centre for Dreams, skills and more importantly my approach in the council
Markham Board of Trade, the enthusiasm and drive, to as it has been in my years of
Markham District Veterans the Markham Council” he community involvement.”
24 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
13 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY
Your gateway to news and ads that matter
Home Paper of the 1999 Canadian Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club Winner for Best Editorial
pick and read stations
EAST YORK and SCARBOROUGH
Forex Parcel Delivery Inc.
UMAC Cargo
Home Karaoke
Liland Insurance
Laguna Jewellers
Dr. Arla A. Rondilla, DDS
Dr. Cheryle Dumasal
Dr. Evangeline M. Bernabe
Dr. Miriam B. Bernacer
Ellesmere Kennedy Dental
Centre
New Conservatory of Music
Superb Travel
New Look Beauty & Hair
Lounge
Tonnie Furto
Angel & Kiss Restaurant
Golden Valley’s Food Outlet
The Tropical Deli
Formula Honda
NORTH YORK and DOWNTOWN TORONTO
Philippine Consulate
LDV Computers
Filipino Centre Toronto
Delamarc Travel
Kaakbay Financial Services
Fairview Dental Centre
Dr. Evangeline Bernabe
Dr. Albine Miciano
Dr. Roslyn Sim-Sabilano
Dr. Victoria Santiago &
Associates
Dr. Bernarda Rosales-
Verzonilla
Cusina Restaurant
Atin Ito Variety
Asean Mart
H&H Grocery
Bernard Store
Nepa SS Mart
Pamilihang Pinoy
Bulakeña Grocery
DGA Filipino Store
People & Events
ED JOAQUIN:
PROFILE OF AN ACHIEVER
ED JOAQUIN he first organized hockey Canada to pursue his
organizes Canada’s and sports collectible passion for community
Largest Asian festival, card shows as a hobby. advocacy and political
the Taste of Asia in The hobby grew to outreach and continues
Markham, Ontario. be one of the largest to organize and serve
The festival was networks of memorabilia as a board member
founded in the summer touring shows in southern and fundraising advi-
of 2003 as a band-aid Ontario by the time he sor to over a dozen
solution to the SARS
crisis in Canada, which
graduated.
Opportunities
community groups,
including the Markham
helped revive the continued during the Arts Council, North
Action Honda Dr. Medina downturn in the local charity casino industry American Associa-
Roadsport Honda Enriquez-Lazaro Dental economies in Markham expansion in Ontario tion of Asian Profes-
DTD Door-to-Door Clinic and York Region. when Joaquin began sionals, Federation of
Gemini Exchange Int’l. 121 Opticians In June 2010, the helping charities organize Chinese Canadians
Barrio Fiesta Pharmacita Taste of Asia festival fundraising drives and in York Region,
Casa Manila Mekeni Restaurant
Fiesta Filipino Mendoza Bakery
will be celebrating its raise millions of dollars Philippine Chamber of
Rico Restaurant Gotohan-Coffee Inn 8th annual event in for the charities. Commerce-Toronto,
Esperanza Pancitan Jesse Jr. Take Out partnership with the In the mid-1990’s, Canada-Philippines
Remely’s Restaurant Sally’s Philippine Cuisine City of Richmond, he was attracted to the Association, Centre for
Baker Best Visual Image British Columbia. tiger economies of Asia, Dreams, Fiesta Cana-
FV Foods JDR-JACE Video Store This is expected to apprenticing with the da’s Multicultural Day’s
Kamalig Dine In/Take Out Bamboo Travel & Tour
expand the popularity largest special events World Potluck Fiesta,
Oriental Food Mart Canadian Pure Water
Asian Market Place Townshend College of the event across companies, entertainment Helping Homeless Pets’
Tindahan Pilipino Circuit Computer Canada, and between venues, touring concert Barkham Dog Show,
Incredible Discount Manila Cargo Express the two most visibly companies, festivals and Markham District
Charry’s Fine Food Philippine Centre Ontario diverse cities in Canada, became a brand advisor Veterans Association,
Atin Ito Variety Store Dr. Fel C. Nolasco attracting over 100,000 of many below-the- line Social Services
Kenway Dental Care Dr. Antonio Bunzon people annually. marketing campaigns for Network’s Health Fair,
Joaquin was inspired advertising agencies in the Liberal Party of
to join the special events Southeast Asia. Canada, chair of the
Filipino N Toronto Time Zone industry as a student After six years of Markham Village Music
Philippine Variety Yungib at St. Elizabeth high hands-on training and Festival, and founder of
Manila Bay Mart Dr. Nestor Bobila
JLB Grocery Dr. Jorge M. Jose
school in Thornhill, mentorship overseas, FCCM Diversity Job
Pinoy Mart Dr. Salvador Ontario in 1991, where Joaquin moved back to Fair.
PNB Remittance Co. Dr. Fernandez
iRemit Dr. Francisco Portugal
Mabini Express
Gemini Express
Toronto Health School
Platinum Care
Aklanon’s Halloween Night in B.C.
Metro Remittance
Jolly Top
Osilla Institute
Valerio Salon to fuel Aklan’s 2010 Ati-atihan fest
Eat Bulaga Belle Optical
Cozy Corner i2i Optical
Coco Banana Ortholine Salon
Aristokrat Resto Kababayan
Angel Kiss Restaurant Trusty Travel
Sampaguita Restaurant Reliable Cargo
Family Bakery Wilson Trading
Pampagueña Manila Cinema
Salad Master CWSS Canada
Best Bakery SunBreeze Travel
Daily Bread Philippine Tropical
Tuong Phat Express

MISSISSAUGA and BRAMPTON

Dr. Victoria Santiago & Kalayaan Cultural CRD Institute
Associates Community Centre Gateway Centre
Aristokrat Karaoke Yuan Ming Dr. Christina Gamo ATI-ATIHAN REVELRY IN TORONTO
Restaurant Turo-Turo Dr. Solon Guzman
Ellen’s Place Sunmart Dr. Mabutol KALIBO, Aklan - The The Thriller Night con- Festival (Ati-atihan Day in
Asian Flavours FV Sweets Dr. Gorospe Aklanon Sto. Niño Asso- test is their own version of Vancouver) on Jan. 9, 2010
Feliciniana Restaurant Manila Bakery Dr. Annette Simbulan ciation in British Colum- the defunct Aswang Festi- at the St. Patrick Gym.
Tres Marias Restaurant Something Sweet Orcel Store bia, Canada will stage its val. “This is a pre-Olympic
Rendevouz Resto Oriental (China Town) Triple AAA Thriller Night Halloween The Halloween costume Filipino Festival. Watch out
Sizzling Plate Restaurant Hing Grocery Dr. Coronel party at the St. Patrick Gym contest has two categories: for that,” he said.
Happy B-Day Cake HotStyle New Asia on Oct. 30 as a fundraising one for children and another The Thriller Night is
Halo-Halo Store Hot Cutz Hair Salon Debt Clinic campaign to fuel its Ati-ati- for adults. one of several major activi-
Sige Store Fantastik Bayanihan han festivity in 2010. Cash prices will be ties of the association.
Omni Store Golden Island Freight Jee-Leah Store Jojo Quimpo, president awarded to the top three The others are the annu-
Cinesuerte & Gen. Services Cinerama of the association, said best Halloween costumes al Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Fes-
Filipinos in B.C. have been for each category. tival and the Grand Picnic, a
doing the rounds for last There will be dinner, a fellowship among Aklanons
READ THE PAPER ONLINE AT minute Halloween costume live band and lots of fun, living in Canada.
manilamediamonitor.com hunting. Quimpo added. This year, the Mayor of
“They are either visiting “This is also our asso- Vancouver has recognized
FOR AD INQUIRIES and PLACEMENTS, the Value Village or Spirit ciation’s fundraising event the Ati-atihan festival as
CALL 416-285-8583 Store at Metro Town,” Qui- in preparation for the major one of the official festivals
mpo said. celebration of Ati-atihan in the city. PNA
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 25
26 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
TCF president to speak
on city, community
issues in CEMA forum
Rahul Bharadwaj, presi-
dent & CEO, Toronto Com-
munity Foundation (TCF),
is set to expound on issues
and concerns affecting To-
ronto’s multi-diverse com-
munities as he speaks be-
fore members of the ethnic
media during the Canadian
Ethnic Media Association
Speaker’s Series at the Ma-
jestic Boardroom of OMNI-
TV on Nov. 5, at 6:45 p.m..
Bharadwaj is also ex-
pected to touch on Vital
Signs.
He was formerly a cor-
porate lawyer with a lead-
ing Canadian law firm, vice
Time to heal, rebuild
(From page 10)
this disaster will fade from
the world stage, maybe
replaced by an equally
terrible event somewhere
else in the world.
But our families will
continue to struggle for
months to come and even
though the spotlight might
have turned towards
something else, our efforts
here and around the world
cannot stop until the effects
of this typhoon are healed.
People & Events
Ruben Empalmado marks 82nd birth year
president of the Toronto
2008 Olympic Bid, and
then chief executive officer
of United Way of York Re-
gion.
In 2007, Bharadwaj was
named by the National Post
as one of the Next Genera-
tion of Toronto Civic Lead-
ers.
In 2008, he was named
as a member of Toronto
Mayor David Miller’s Blue
Ribbon Fiscal Review Pan-
el.
Recently, the Province
of Ontario appointed him
to the Board of Metrolinx.
CEMA PR Ruben Empalmado (standing 2nd from right) and his wife, Maring (seated at left) received close friends
who flocked to their residence recently to greet him on the occasion of his 82nd birthday. Ruben
headed the seniors group of Kababayan Community Centre in Toronto and served as member of the
center’s board of directors for several times. Others shown with him and his wife are (seated, from
While the international left) Ester Batara, Mameng Quidayan, Ludy Prescilla, Perla Andaya, Consolacion Carandang, Nelly
community did not forget Sicat, Lily Sison, and FelyDaligdig and (standing behind) Tony Sicat, Rudy Prescilla, Ruben, and Joe
us in our time of need, Quidayan. PR
there are so many demands,
that its attention is easily
distracted.
We have to keep our
voices strong to help the
international community
stay focused with us until
the devastation wrought
by typhoon Ketsana are
completely healed. info@
thenannyexpert.com

The Pillars CA takes a trip

(See photos right of page)
Members of the Pil-
lars Cultural Association
brought the spirit of show-
manship to life at the Cab-
bagetown Parade on Sept.
12, as they hopped and
quick-stepped to the beat
of Irish polka music and
entertained a large number
of spectators watching from
downtown’s sidewalks.
The Cabbagetown Festi-
val draws Toronto’s diverse
communities together in fun
and cultural exchange.
It remains one of the
few annual city fests where
attendance is a must.
The dance, officials
said, was to showing ap-
preciation and support to
Cabbagetown’s warmth and
hospitality to the Filipino-
Canadian community.
“We’re really delight-
ed to have entertained the
crowd. Our group had so
much fun and it was a great
pleasure to watch the crowd
follow the dance steps and
signal their thumbs up to
us”, said Gerry Elises, Pil-
lars president.
In another development,
the group earlier went on a
recreational tour of St. Ja-
cobs County in Waterloo/
Kitchener.
They had the chance to
explore the Village of St. Ja-
cobs where one would find
traditional crafts, antiques,
and homemade maple syrup THE PILLARS AT A FARM IN ST. JACOB’S COUNTY
sold by Mennonite farm-
ers who travel to market by
horse and buggy.
Also available were lo-
cally-grown produce, oven
-fresh pies, and a massive
acre full of vendors indoors
and out.
Next door to the Farm-
er’s Market is the St. Jacobs
Outlet Mall where a shop-
ping spree is a pleasure.
Before heading back to
Toronto, the group visited
the Mennonite Farm and
enjoyed the scenic agricul-
tural landscape.
Relatedly, the Pillars
had its Halloween Mas-
querade and Costume Din-
ner and Dance Party at the
Our Lady of Assumption
Church hall on Oct. 24. PR

Press and captioned photo releases submitted to

the Manila Media Monitor are for PUBLIC SERVICE
and FREE OF CHARGE; but subject to strict edito-
rial appreciation. Send them to mediamonitor@rog-
ers.com on or before the 15th of each month. For
inquiries and AD PLACEMENTS, call 416-285-8583. THE PILLARS AT CABBAGETOWN PARADE
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 27

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28 MONEY MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009

GOT A FOREX DEAL?

Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the dollars
177 non-performing RP nursing schools warned
you have had exchanged since September 24. This is MANILA - In the nursing schools by Com- Geslani said. to go except to accept jobs
a public service item from Manila Media Monitor’s wake of the overwhelming mission on Higher Educa- The recruitment sector in call centers, sales, hotel
Money and Business section. number of jobless nursing tion (CHED) Emmanuel had been asking for the ra- or the service industry.
graduates produced in the Angeles. tionalization of over 1,000 Angeles earlier warned
US$ Cdn$ Philippines each year, a “This is the right step to- nursing schools which have the 177 schools to produce
October 23 46.89257 44.65700 recruitment consultant has wards the rationalization of contributed over 500,000 a single student who passed
October 22 46.25317 45.08611 lauded warnings to close at the nursing sector,” recruit- jobless nurses, half of them the nurse licensure exams.
October 21 46.60894 44.81426 least 177 non-performing ment consultant Emmanuel boardpassers with nowhere Failure to do so meant
October 20 46.60621 44.38425 the schools have not done
enough to improve teaching
October 19 46.79282 44.42807 standards or put in place fa-
October 16 46.63185 44.92281 cilities for better on-the-job
October 15 46.28616 44.93597 training.
October 14 46.42530 45.11476 He added that schools
October 13 46.43186 45.12051 with passing rates above
October 09 46.51757 44.64005 zero but below the national
October 08 46.51421 44.17098 average would also be eval-
uated.
October 07 46.53535 43.85771
The rise in the number of
October 06 46.67310 44.15352 jobless nurses was expected
October 05 46.67121 43.41209 since the country produces
October 02 47.03215 43.38551 more than 60,000 board-
October 01 47.27700 43.89433 passers yearly, but the lo-
Sept. 30 47.61389 44.41317 cal labor market could only
Sept. 29 47.53661 43.72932 hire 5,000 new nurses and
Sept. 28 47.57532 43.80575 another 15,000 for place-
ment abroad especially in
Sept. 25 47.21301 43.27296
the Middle East and the
Sept. 24 47.25893 43.51439 U.S. where there is acute
NEW NURSES TAKING THEIR OATH shortage of nurses. PNA

Rogers Wireless/Mabuhay Changes to TFSA rules sought

text contest winners bared Finance Minister Jim
Flaherty on Oct. 16 pro-
schemes.
The proposed amend-
between TFSAs and other
accounts.
Two Filipinos in Toronto posed amendments to the ments would: “These proposals will
were the lucky winners of Income Tax Act (ITA) to ► Make any income ensure that the TFSA re-
this year’s Rogers Wireless strengthen the rules appli- attributable to deliberate mains viable and strong for
Mabuhay Text Trivia cable to Tax-Free Savings overcontributions and pro- Canadians and the use of in-
Contest. Accounts (TFSAs). hibited investments subject appropriate transactions to
Lucky winner were Rico Since Jan. 1, Canadian to existing anti-avoidance draw excessive benefits are
Nepomuceno and Allan residents 18 years old or rules in the ITA. avoided,” Flaherty said.
Diccion. older are eligible to contrib- ► Make any income at- The Minister of National
They each received a ute up to $5,000 annually to tributable to non-qualified Revenue (MNR) will main-
Samsung Gravity. a TFSA. investments taxable at regu- tain the discretion to waive
The contest showed The TFSA is a flexible, lar income tax rates. or cancel all or part of any
how Filipinos love sending registered, general purpose ► Ensure that with- tax that would otherwise be
text messages which Rogers account that allows Canadi- drawals of deliberate over- payable because of the ap-
recognized. ans to maximize savings. contributions, prohibited plication of the proposals.
The contest started at Contributions to a TFSA investments, non-qualified Flaherty asked the MNR
12:01 a.mm on July 13 and are not tax-deductible, but investments or amounts at- Jean-Pierre Blackburn to
ended at 11:59 p.m. on July investment income earned tributable to swap transac- ensure that the Canada Rev-
18. in a TFSA, as well as TFSA tions, or of related invest- enue Agency closely ex-
The contest was open withdrawals, are tax-free. ment income, from a TFSA amines any unusual TFSA
only to residents over 16 Susan Gordon (right), Rogers Wireless vice The proposed changes do not create additional transactions that have oc-
years old who are residents president for national/regional marketing, with respond to concerns that TFSA contribution room. curred to date, and to apply
of the Greater Toronto Area winners of the Rogers Wireless/Mabuhay texting have arisen on the use of ► Effectively prohibit TFSA rules to challenge ag-
(To page 34) contest. PR TFSAs in tax-planning asset transfer transactions gressive tax planning. PR

SAGOT(MULA
SASABATID
PAHINA 38)
WIKA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
L A T A T I K H U N A
12 13 14
A P I K I S A A N I S
15 16 17
P A N G A N A Y N G I T
18 19
D A L A U G A G A
20 21 22 23
A G A N A T A B A
24 25 26 27 28
S A H A S E N A D O R A
29 30 31
A B A B U K A S R A W
32 33 34
R E N D A H A N L I H A
35 36
E K I S D A H A S
37 38 39 40
A G U H A M A N I
41 42 43 44 45
K A M A A L I M A N G O
46 47 48
A L I D R A S O A L A
49 50 51
K A S O A B A T L O S

Canadian exporters urged to sell to bigger RP companies
VANCOUVER, B.C.
- Bill Hogg, President of
the Philippine Canadian
Trade Council (PCTC)
in Vancouver, and Forte
Gerardo, President of the
national Canada Philippines
Business Council (CPBC)
based in Toronto, had
a common message to
exporters in Canada,
notably entrepreneurs of
Filipino origin: Step up to
learn how to deal with larger
companies in the Philippines
and join big and medium
sized Canadian businesses
in the rally to export more
goods and services to
Philippine industrial and
commercial firms especially
in the private sector.
They issued this call
at the conclusion of their
co-hosted Dinner and Net-
working Event on “Export
Development Canada
– Strengthening Canadian
Trade and Investment in the
Philippines” conducted here
on Sept. 9.
Canadian companies
have incurred a deficit
of at least half a billion
dollars in the balance of
trade and payments with
the Philippines annually
on average in the past five
Financial plan? How do I get one?
By INVESTORS GROUP FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Financial Planning is a
general term used by most
professional advisors – but
not all financial plans are
created equal … and they
shouldn’t be.
Your financial plan
should be a perfect fit for
your life as it is today, easily
and quickly adaptable to the
constant changes life throws
at you, and always focused
on achieving your longer
term life goals.
That’s a big – and
important – deal.
So, the first question you
must ask yourself is, Do I
need a financial plan?
The simple answer
is yes – if you have an
income, a family (or the
hopes of one), dreams of a
comfortable retirement, and
any of the dozens of other
financially-rooted reasons
that are unique to you.
The next question is,
What are the elements of a
sound financial plan?
There are two answers
to that question: the general
and the specific.
In general, every finan-
cial plan should include:
investment planning, cash
flow planning, education
planning, estate planning,
insurance planning, retire-
ment planning, and income
MONEY
years.
“We need to specially
train and help, say, a
thousand Canadian exporters
– and/or Filipino importers
-- each shipping about a
half a million dollars a year
to manage an equitable
balance in our trading with
the Philippines,” CPBC
head Gerardo suggested
in an update slide show
presentation on the bilateral
trade.
“This could be done,
and we are recruiting more
individual and corporate
members and organizing a
strong selling mission to the
Philippines in March 2010
to impel this movement
ahead,” PCTC president
Hogg added.
Export Development
Canada (EDC) Chief Repre-
sentative in Southeast
Asia, Rob Simmons, in his
keynote address to a focused
gathering of business leaders
including bankers, traders,
Canadian entrepreneurs of
Filipino origin; engineering,
environmental and educa-
tional management consul-
tants, and civic leaders from
Vancouver and Toronto,
said: “I am certainly very
interested to work with
tax planning.
The key to a successful
financial plan is making sure
that each of those elements
is made specific to you and
your needs.
To do that, a competent
professional advisor will
take you through this six
step planning process:
1. Goal setting – to
determine and prioritize
your goals and concerns.
2. Data gathering
– assembling the relevant
financial information to
understand your current
financial situation.
3. Financial analysis
– using your current and
projected financial situation
to identify and answer
questions like: “How much
tax must I pay?” How can
my taxes be reduced?” Will
I have enough income to
cover my expenses during
retirement?” “How can
I better meet my income
needs?” “How can I protect
my family and income if I
should become disabled or
die unexpectedly?”
4. Plan formulation
and recommendations
– discussing, reviewing
and deciding on various
alternatives and solutions
for achieving your financial
goals and improving your
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 29
EDC keen on giving strategic support
small size companies to you can make your pitch to the international consortium May 2010.
introduce them to medium the right person…” that is bidding to supply Simmons reminded
size and larger buyers in the Citing a recent “success the Philippines with an that “the reason that EDC
Philippines.” story,” Simmons remarked automated voting system has people like me around
Simmons said that that it was in such as way worth about US$300 million (in Asia) is not so much to
“one of the things we try that a Canadian high-tech for possible use in the help Canadian companies
to do is open the door for company got involved in presidential election set for (To page 31)
small and medium sized
Canadian companies” by
leveraging EDC’s strategic
relationships with large
companies developed over
many years.
“If you’re a small
technology provider with
a real good technology
that might be of interest
to a large company like
PLDT (Philippine Long
Distance Company ) … if
you go knock on their door
it might get you a while to
get to their top technical
officer or decision makers,”
he said.
“So what we try to do in
that case is try to start with
the top and work down,
starting with the CFO and say
‘CFO, we’d like to have an Officers of the Canada Philippines Trade Council (CPBC, Toronto) and
agreement for our Canadian Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC, Vancouver) pose for posterity
client to meet with you.’ So following the 1st Joint Trade Councils Networking Update on EDC’s Works
you can, see we can be a in the Philippines. From left are former Ambassador and advisor to both
sort of rubber stamp to say councils John Treleaven, PCTC secretary Manny Ilao, keynote speaker Rob
that the Canadian supplier Simmons, EDC chief representative in South East Asia; Sal Laganse, CPBC;
we introduce will do exactly PCTC president Bill Hogg, CPBC president Forte Gerardo, PCTC director
what they said they can and Felipe Calderon, PCTC vice president Mike Calingo, PCTC directors Ryan
so open the doors so that Ferrer and Liza Muyco and treasurer Melecia Azares. PR
overall financial life.
5. Plan implementation
– providing you with a
written report summarizing
the steps you need to take to
make your plan work.
6. Monitoring and plan
review – financial planning
is not a one-time event. You
should review your plan
at least annually or when
major life events occur.
Comprehensive finan-
cial planning is complex
and necessary.
To be sure you get
exactly the right one for
your situation, it’s a good
idea to put a professional
advisor on your financial
team – an advisor with the
qualifications, tools and
track record you can count
on to develop a personalized
financial plan that will the
job for you – today and
tomorrow.
(This column, written
and published by Investors
Group Financial Services
Inc., presents general
information only and is not
a solicitation to buy or sell
any investments. Contact
a financial advisor for
specific advice about your
circumstances. For more
information on this topic
please contact your Investors
Group Consultant.)
30 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 MONEY
Cebu, Panay big-ticket projects get nod BSP sees 0.8 - 1.7% inflation rate in October
MANILA - The Cabinet 2015, with actual operations
Committe of the National seen to start in early 2016.
Economic and Develop- The committee also ap-
ment Authority (NEDA) proved the proposed 75-
has approved multibillion- percent increase in the cost
peso flood control and air- of the revised Panglao Is-
port development projects land Airport Development
in the Visayas. Project, from P4.27 billion
NEDA said the inter- to P7.54 billion.
agency body approved the “The project cost rose
P5-billion Panay River due to the increase of item
Flood Control Project, prices and quantity because
which is expected to ad- of design modification and
dress flooding problems additional acquisition of
along the sub-basins of 14.5 hectares of land, among
Panay River. others,” NEDA said.
The project would be The project aims to de-
bankrolled with a P4.2-bil- velop a new airport facility
lion loan from the Japan in Panglao Island, Bohol
International Cooperation that complies with domestic
Agency and local counter- and international standards
part fund of P741 million. for operational safety and
NEDA said the project efficiency.
would be implemented in It envisions to open up
five years, from 2011 to the entire region to more
economic activities and to
enhance the tourism poten-
tial of Bohol Province.
The project is seen to
be implemented in the first
semester of 2010 and com-
pleted in 2012.
The Cabinet committee
also approved the Philip-
pines’ Response to Indig-
enous People and Muslim
Education (PRIME) Fa-
cility, that would improve
access to quality basic
education particularly by
indigenous peoples and stu-
dents in Muslim communi-
ties.
The Australian Agency
for International Develop-
ment (AusAID) will grant
P700 million to finance the
project while the govern-
ment shares P140 million.
PNA
MANILA - The impact
of recent calamities to the
economy of the Philippines
and the rise in domestic oil
prices have prompted the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) to project the Octo-
ber 2009 inflation between
a range of 0.8 and 1.7 per-
cent.
BSP Governor Amando
Tetangco Jr. said the dam-
age from the typhoons
Ondoy and Pepeng that re-
cently hit the country has
reached about P30 billion.
Damage and destruc-
tion figures are expected
to increase further as as-
sessments on affected areas
continued.
In October last year, the
inflation rate stood at 11.2
percent.
The Central Bank’s in-
flation rate projection was
higher than the 0.7 percent
rate from last September.
The continued rise in oil
prices in the international
market has been cited ear-
lier by monetary officials as
the upside risk to inflation
along with the expected re-
covery of the global econo-
my.
Tetangco earlier said the
upside risks have increased,
thus, their average inflation
projection for this year and
the next were raised to 3.03
percent from three percent
and to 3.4 percent from 3.3
percent, respectively.
He said that amid the
slight increase in the fore-
cast, “both would still be
within their respective tar-
get ranges.”
The government’s in-
flation target for 2009 is a
range between 2.5 and 4.5
percent while it is between
3.5 and 5.5 percent for
2010.
“We will consider these
developments” during the
upcoming rate setting meet-
ing of the central bank’s
policy-making Monetary
Board (MB), Tetangco said.
The MB decided to
maintain for the second
consecutive time this year
the central bank’s policy
rate last Oct. 1, after cutting
a total of 200 basis points
off the rate since December
2008 on account of the con-
tinued drop in inflation.
To date, BSP’s overnight
borrowing rate is at its re-
cord lowest of four percent
while the overnight lending
rate is at six percent.
MB’s next policy meet-
ing is scheduled on Nov.
5 and the market expects
monetary officials to main-
tain its present stance until
next year. PNA

Pangasinan: No ...
(From page 9)
he blamed on the abrupt release of a huge volume
of water from the San Roque Dam at the height of
Typhoon Pepeng, Pangasinenses are facing a very
bleak future.
Pangasinan disaster council records showed
losses of some P10 billion in public and private
infrastructure and agriculture from the flood.
The figure did not include houses partially and
totally destroyed, damaged merchandise of traders
and others.
Espino said that rehabilitation would be long
and hard.
“Replacing lost crops won’t be easy,” he said.
Farmers might not have money to rent tractors
that would cultivate their rice fields or cash to buy
seeds and fertilizers, he lamented.
Another factor that might delay replanting is
the availability of irrigation water.
As in the past, the possibility of a drought set-
tling in after the rainy season could not be dis-
counted, he added.
Displaced fishpond owners said they were still
in the dark on where they could source out finger-
lings to replenish lost stocks.
Dalisay Moya, provincial agriculturist, said
households are being urged to engage in backyard
gardening.
Moya said the agriculture department would
distribute vegetable seeds to households.
She added the agency is ready to provide fin-
gerlings and look for sources from which local fish
farmers could buy fry at lower prices to replenish
their lost stocks. PNA

2565 Steeles Avenue East, Unit 14

Brampton, Ontario L6T 4L6
(Torbram & Steeles)
Tel 905.458.5300
Tel 416.921.3000
Fax 905.458.5310
Cell 416.278.8719
24 hours - 7 days a week
Ont. Reg. Ret. # 04374450
Ont. Reg. Wholesale # 4445433

Flaherty pushes federal
pension reform plan
Finance Minister Jim
Flaherty released on Oct. 27
a reform plan for the federal
private pension legislative
and regulatory framework.
Flaherty said the plan
proposes a balanced pack-
age of measures to benefit
pension plan sponsors, plan
members and retirees.
The package includes
measures to:
► Enhance protections
for plan members.
► Reduce funding vol-
atility for defined benefit
plans.
► Make it easier for
participants to negotiate
changes to their pension ar-
rangements.
► Improve the frame-
work for defined contribu-
tion plans and for negoti-
ated contribution plans.
► Modernize the rules
for investments made by
pension funds.
“These reforms will pro-
vide enhanced benefit secu-
rity for workers and retirees
while allowing pension plan
sponsors to better manage
their funding obligations as
part of their overall business
operations,” Flaherty said.
The government plans
to restrict an employer’s
Canadian exporters urged to sell ...
(From page 31)
do business with developed
economies like Singapore,
but to help more companies
do business with emerging
markets like the Philippines,
Vietnam, Thailand, Ma-
laysia and Indonesia
where business is not that
straightforward and there
is need for some support.
We know that Canadian
exporters have to look
beyond the U.S. border for
other opportunities.”
He advised micro
exporters to involve their
banks with Letters of Credit
and insurance coverage for
their export transactions at
the start, and access EDC’s
services for these needs
online, and not to shy from
trying to do business with
larger companies.
“We are certainly very
interested in supporting
smaller exporters,” he
reiterated.
Simmons said that of the
8,500 or so companies that
EDC supports with financing
and insurance coverage of
Canadian exports and loans,
most, following the 80-20
norm, are small and medium
sized companies.
During the past three
ADVERTISE: CALL 416-285-8583
MONEY
ability to take a contribu-
tion holiday unless a five-
percent funding cushion re-
mains, change the solvency
funding methodology to
make it less volatile and
less pro-cyclical by basing
the funding requirements
on a three-year average,
and require employers to
fully fund pension benefits
on plan termination.
The government also
intends to increase the pen-
sion surplus threshold under
the Income Tax Act, which
applies to both federally
and provincially regulated
defined benefit plans, to 25
percent from 10 percent.
The proposals are aimed
at federally regulated pri-
vate pension plans, which
represent about seven per-
cent of pension plans in
Canada.
While some of the pro-
posed changes can be in-
troduced by changes to
regulation, others will be
implemented by legislation.
The reform plan was a
product of extensive con-
sultations with Canadians.
In a related develop-
ment, the Finance ministry
said that protecting seniors
is a priority.
Guests at the First Joint CPBC-PCTC networking
event in Vancouver included Derral Moriyama,
senior vice president commercial of BMO Greater
Vancouver District; Scott Shepherd, president
of Northstar Trade Finance, Vancouver; and
Jamie Bateman, president, Bateman Technology,
Toronto. PR
years, EDC has supported
over $350 million worth
of Canadian exports to the
Philippines.
This included financing
to leading corporate groups
such as BDO, Metro, First
Pacific, PLDT, Globe Tele-
In addition to pension
framework reforms, the
hovernment has introduced
laws to implement results
of the Canada Pension Plan
(CPP) Triennial Review,
made at the May 2009 fed-
eral/provincial/territorial
Finance Ministers’ meeting.
The review includes a
measures to improve the
effectiveness and resilience
of the CPP while ensuring it
remains affordable and fair.
“This builds govern-
ment’s record on seniors’
issues, which provides $1.9
billion annually in tax relief
to seniors and pensioners,”
the ministry said.
Other actions include:
► An increase in the
Age Credit amount by
$1,000 as of 2009, on top of
the $1,000 increase intro-
duced as of 2006.
► A raise in the age
limit for maturing pensions
and Registered Retirement
Savings Plans to 71 from 69
as of 2007.
► Pension income split-
ting as of 2007.
► Doubling the amount
of income eligible for the
Pension Income Credit (to
$2,000 from $1,000) as of
2006. PR
com and Medical City.
Simmons, based in
Singapore since January
2004, has over 20 years
of experience in assisting
Canadian business in Asia.
He is on the advisory
Board of CPBC. PR
NAPBTTC skeds 2010
trade mission to RP
The National Alliance
of Philippine Business
Trade and Tourism-Canada
(NAPBTTC) is urging
owners and senior executives
of Canadian companies,
including small and medium
sized enterprises in a
broad range of sectors, to
participate in a trade mission
to the Philippines from Feb.
14 to 19, 2010.
The NAPBTTC said
the mission is expected to
bring together businesses
and governments in both
countries to explore ways
to further expand business,
trade, investment and
tourism.
The mission is conduc-
ted in coordination with the
Philippine Consulate General
in Toronto, the Philippine
Embassy in Ottawa and
trade and business councils
in Canada.
“Presently, we have
interested participants in-
volved in Education, Infor-
mation and Communications
Technology, Business Pro-
cess Outsourcing, Human
Resources and Manpower
Sourcing, Hospitality and
Tourism, Mining, Alterna-
tive Energy, Agriculture,
Recycling and Recycled
Reg. # 4533253
919 Ellesmere Road
Suite 107, Scarborough
Ontario M1P 2W7
MANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE
OR ANYWHERE
“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan”
Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
Products, Retirement and
Leisure, and Real Estate,”
officials said.
“We are not limiting the
mission to these specific
industries, and we expect
more sectors to join,” they
said.
Mission participants
could be:
► Canadian companies
already doing business
in the Philippines. Make
new contacts and reinforce
existing relationship to
increase your profile, as well
as raise important issues that
could advance your business
activities.
► Canadian companies
not yet familiar with
the Philippines. Meet
with senior business and
government leaders to
increase your understanding
of the Philippine business
and regulatory environment.
Learn about opportunities
in the country and leverage
the experience of other
companies present there.
► Canadian companies
already established in the
Philippines. Learn about the
benefits of manufacturing in
the Philippines and discover
its role as a manufacturing
base for goods destined for
IN THE
“Super baba
and halaga ...
Super below
fare talaga.”
31
the North American market.
The mission’s partner
organizations include the
Philippine Chamber of
Commerce-Toronto, the
Federation of Philippines
Canada Trade and
Commerce of Quebec, the
Southeast Asia Canada
Business Council of British
Columbia,
Trade and Investment
Services Alliance Network,
Canadian Embassy in the
Philippines, the Philippine
Department of Trade &
Industry, the Philippine
Department of Tourism,
the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
and the Canadian Chamber
of Commerce in the
Philippines.
“We hope that this
trade mission will serve
as an avenue to Canadian
and Philippine businesses
to explore more trade
opportunities.
Further details could be
obtained at www.napbtt.
com or contact Cora dela
Cruz at (416) 925-0013 or
Evelyn Pagkalinawan at
(416) 369-1318.
The NAPBTTC’s e-mail
address is info@napbtt.
com. PR
WORLD
32 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 Entertainment

Joining Lilac Caña (3rd from left) on stage to sing

Amigos Para Siempre are the equally brilliant art-
ists (from left) Andrea Garofalo, Eleanor Calbes,
Lilac Caña sings Sa Kabukiran, with the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe in a dance back-up, during the Anthony Macri, Heidi Cylko and Leander Mendoza.
Blossom Concert at the Jane Mallett Theatre on Sept. 19. Caña also launched her latest CDs Blossom PR/AIDA D’ ORAZIO
and Believe during the concert. PR/AIDA D’ ORAZIO

Folklorico Philippines Canada marks 35th year

Lilac captivates audience
Filipino Centre Toronto
(FCT) Director Popoy Caña
and his wife Ligaya were
both radiant with happiness
over the success of their
daughter Lilac’s Blossom
Concert at the St. Lawrence
Centre for the Arts Jane Mal-
let Theatre on Sept. 19.
The exceptionally tal-
ented Lilac enraptured the
audience with her repertoire
of songs that ran the gamut
from operatic to jazz.
With equally brilliant
performers joining her on
stage, such as Eleanor Cal-
bes, Andrea Garofalo, An-
thony Macri, Heidi Cyfko
and Leander Mendoza, as
The Folklorico Philippines Canada troupe performs an indigenous Muslim Mindanao dance number, in well as performances from
a show celebrating Folklorico’s 35th year. PR/AIDA D’ ORAZIO the Fiesta Filipina Dance
Troupe and the Ote’ A Tane
group, the audience was
wonderfully entertained.
There was a father and
daughter rendition of The
Impossible Dream, which
brought about a few remarks
– ah, that’s where Lilac’s
singing talent comes from.
The Blossom Concert
served as a kick-off for a pet
project, the Caña Caridad
Foundation; launching of
the CDs Blossom and Be-
lieve; and in celebration of
Lilac’s 40th birthday.
Part of the proceeds will
benefit the Free the Children
Foundation and the Immacu-
late Mary Queen of Heaven
Missionaries in Cebu City.
AIDA D’ ORAZIO

3 P.M.
 aRTS/eNTERTAINMENT
Unity concert set for Ondoy, Pepeng victims
Various community or-
ganizations and concerned
Filipino-Canadians have
joined hands in hosting the
Unity Concert 2009: Re-
building People’s Lives next
month in Toronto.
The project aims to gath-
er groups willing to work
together in a collaborative
project that would directly
benefit typhoon victims in
the Philippines.
Typhoon Ketsana (On-
doy) hit the Philippines at
the end of last month, caus-
ing widespread damage un-
seen in the country’s recent
history.
Agricultural systems and
infrastructure in Metro Ma-
nila and surrounding areas
suffered extensive damage.
Many lives were lost,
homes destroyed, electric-
ity and clean water are still
unavailable in many regions
of the country.
The lives of four million
people had been affected by
Typhoon Ketsana alone.
Flood water levels
‘The Champions’ gets
raves at RCOY fete
Four young and talented
Filipino-Canadians called
The Champions is a fast,
up and coming musical
group in the mainstream
community.
Recently, they were the
special guest performers
of the Rotary Club of York
during the club’s Dinner/
Gala where they left the
audience very impressed.
Michelle Chan, club
sergeant-at-arms, opined:
“These kids are truly
amazing, with wonderful
voices and they truly gave
me chills.”
Wendy Mong, club VP,
said: “Individually, they are
undoubtedly great singers
but they blend very well
when singing as a group.”
A week prior, they also
guested at the Association
of Taiwanese of Toronto’s
Typhoon Disaster Charity.
The Champions --
composed of Candace
Santos, Roy Christian
Tugbang, Jasmine Elaine
Ragual and Glenn Montera -
- has truly emerged as one of
the most sought performers
in the Greater Toronto area
and south of the border.
They have the passion,
dedication and endless
energy to hone their God-
given talents, share these
with the community, and
inspire the young and old,
truly make them loved and
respected by all.
Each has achieved
accolades on their own
rights, emerging as
By EDWIN MERCURIO
reached a record 20 feet
high in worst affected areas
at the peak of typhoon Ket-
sana’s fury.
Typhoon Parma (Pe-
peng), another tropical
storm also hit the Northern
part of the Philippines af-
ter Ketsana causing rising
flood waters, landslides and
further damage.
Filipinos need help des-
perately and the large Fili-
pino community and vari-
ous organizations in Ontario
have responded to their cry
for help.
The unity concert aims
to harness the great com-
passion, desire to help and
community building capac-
ity of various organizations
in the urgent task of helping
rebuild the lives of those
hard hit by Typhoons Ket-
sana and Pepeng in the Phil-
ippines.
The ticketed concert is
being planned for Nov. 29
from 3 to 6 pm at the Uni-
“Champions” in prestigious
competitions in Canada and
the US.
Candace Santos was the
2008 Champion of the First
Young Asian-Canadian
Singing Competition.
She also reaped golds
in the World Championship
of Performing Arts in
Hollywood, California.
She was 2006 Junior
Grand Champion of the
CNE Rising Star Search;
2005 Junior Champion of
the Culture Philippines of
Ontario’s Singing Idol; and
2004 Junior Champion of
the FCT Singing Idol.
She is a Grade 11 student
of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
in Mississauga .
Roy Tugbang, whose
powerful baritone voice
earned him the title Young
Pavarotti, has guested in
TV and radio shows and in
concerts.
Last August, he was
awarded the highest Bursary
Scholarship by the York Arts
Council.
He sang O’ Canada for
the home opening game of
the Blue Jays at the Rogers
Centre in Sept. 2008.
He was 2007 1st runner-
up and Best in Vocals at the
CNE (Junior) Rising Star
Search and 2006 Junior
Champion of the FCT
Filipino Singing Idol.
In July 2007, he launched
his singing career in a solo
concert at the Playhouse
Theatre in Vaughn.
He is a Grade 9 student
versity of Toronto Convoca-
tion Hall.
This three-hour musi-
cal extravaganza will be
showcasing diverse Filipino
talents from classical, jazz,
pop, rock, and progressive
songs plus folk and hip-hop
dances.
Musical artists who
have signified participation
are Ma-Anne Dionisio, Li-
lac Cana, Karen Tan, Josie
de Leon, Emilio Zarris,
Vonnie Beltran and Chyrell
Samson.
Youth bands and mu-
sic groups like Melodious
Vibes, Panyolito, Couples
for Christ Foundation for
Family Life, Rhythms of
Faith and Joy of the Lord
are slated to perform.
Participating organiza-
tions include the Commu-
nity Alliance for Social Jus-
tice, Kababayan Community
Centre, Kapisanan Philip-
pine Center, Filipino Mi-
grant Workers Movement,
The Champions -- Glenn Montera, 14; Candace Santos, 16; Jasmine Elaine Ragual,13; and Roy Christian
Tugbang, 14 (2nd to 5th from left) -- impressed members of the Rotary Club of York with their vocals
and singing prowess. The four young Filipino-Canadian talents were recent guests during the annual
dinner-gala of the club. With them in photo are (from left) past president Michael Wong, Mandy Cheng-
Hui, director Janet Fung, vice president Wendy Mong, and sergeant-at-arms Michelle Chan. PR
of the Cardinal Carter
Academy for the Arts.
Glenn Montera was the
grand champion of the 2008
GMA Talent Search, 2003
Junior Champion of FCT
Singing Idol.
At 6, he won the King of
Karaoke contest at Center
Point Mall and at age 7,
was 1st place of the Model
and Talent Search Canada in
Montreal.
He has appeared in TV
commercials, has done
recordings and a finalist of
the Kidz For It TV Reality
Philippine Press Club-On-
tario, Philippine Advocacy
Through Arts and Culture,
Silayan Community Centre,
Philippine Heritage Band,
Santaginians, Canadian Aid
Relief Project, Joy of the
Lord, Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Council, Cou-
ples for Christ Foundation
for Family and Life, and
Poetry para sa Pilipinas
By: MARTINNE IGNACIO-PALANCA
Toronto’s annual Nuit
Blanche is an event many
people enjoy from sunset to
sunrise.
The free all-night con-
temporary art thing, quot-
ing the website for Nuit
Blanche, is for any artist to
showcase his or her art.
This year, Nuit Blanche
took place on Oct. 3, closing
off most of Toronto’s down-
town streets for everyone to
enjoy the free art.
From Nathan Phillip
Square, Harbourfront to the
Show.
He is a Grade 9 student
of the Cardinal Carter
Academy for the Arts.
Jasmine Elaine Ragual
is a Brampton City 2008
Arts Acclaim awardee
and has performed with
the Brampton Symphony
Orchesta in its US tour.
On Jan. 3, 2009, she was
awarded the Most Potential
Child Female Performer at
the USA World Showcase
Talent Competition in Las
Vegas, Nevada.
On Nov. 28, 2008, she
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
other regional, religious and
alumni associations.
Concert organizers have
identified the Citizens Di-
saster Response Center
(CDRC) as main adminis-
trator for funds in the Phil-
ippines.
CDRC is a 25-year old
organization respected na-
tionally and internationally
University of Toronto, free
art was being experienced,
and if you were closer to
Kensington Market; you
would have found an art
and culture centre familiar
to those in the Filipino com-
munity holding an event,
not just for Filipinos but for
all cultures, to enjoy.
Kapisanan Philippine
Centre for Arts and Culture
Centre is a youth-led Filipi-
no community-based, multi-
disciplinary and cultural
centre that fosters artistic
played a major role in the
Christmas musical Amahl
and the Night Visitors
presented by the City Centre
Musical Productions of
Mississauga.
Her other awards and
accolades included being
the 2008 Junior Champion
of the CNE Rising Star
Search, 2008 Best Female
Solo Performance at the
USA Worldshowcase Talent
Competition, 2007 Junior
Champion of the Culture
Philippines of Ontario’s 1st
Battle of the Champions,
33
for its integrity and account-
ability in terms of ensuring
that relief goods and donat-
ed funds go directly to the
most vulnerable among the
disaster victims.
It is recognized by the
United Nations and vari-
ous disaster relief and re-
habilitation organizations
throughout the world. PR
expression, professionalism
and positive cultural identi-
fication as a foundation for
youth empowerment.
One of their programs,
Poetry as our Second Lan-
guage, commonly known
as PSL, was a four-week
program held by Kapisanan
for poets to get together and
share their craft.
The intent was, at the
end of the four weeks, PSL
poets would put on a show
during Nuit Blanche, al-
(To page 37)
2007 Champion of the
St. Anne’s Brampton 1st
Singing Idol Search.
She received the 2007
scholarship award by
the City Centre Musical
Production of Mississauga.
A member of the Fiesta
Filipina Dance Troupe of
Canada, she also joined the
Brampton Music Theatre
and the (Junior) Himig
Pilipino Chorale Ensemble.
She is a Grade 8 and
an Arts@Newman student
of the Cardinal Newman
Catholic School. PR
34 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 Arts/Entertainment
KCCC prepares for Mississauga zarzuela presentation on Nov. 14

In photo above, Imelda Espiritu Papa (foreground, with keyboards) re-

hearses the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre (KCCC) Senior Choir for
T.H.D. CONSULTANTS the KCCC’s two one-act zarzuela performances at the Meadowvale Theatre
in Mississauga on Nov. 14.
4800 Sheppard Ave., East Unit 123, Scarborough, Ont., M1S 4N5 The first play, Valentina, tells a tragic tale of the triumph of Valentina’s love
Tel. Nos. (416) 335-8555; (416) 609-8912 for Celso over her secret life as a vampire and is performed in Tagalog.
Chiqui Pineda, well-known musical performer with the hit song How Did
ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING SERVICES You Know and star of the musical play Rama’t Sita, plays the lead role in
Computerized Accounting Valentina.
Financial Statement Kelly Topacio, Vangie Alcasid, Joy Almojuela, Edwin Dumlao, Elly Rosa-
lin, Del Palileo, Marilyn Palileo, Randy Fabico and Jack Azimi, with the spe-
INCOME TAX SERVICES
cial participation of the KCCC Senior Choir, round up the cast of the second
Individual & Corporate Tax Returns
play, New Yorker in Tondo.
Small to Medium Size Companies
The play will be performed in English and is a hilarious play about Kikay,
COMPUTER SYSTEMS a Tondo girl who goes to New York and comes back changed with her New
Installing, Training & Support of York ways, which are not necessarily to the liking of her Tondo friends.
ACCPAC Simply Accounting Package New Yorker ... casts talented actors Audrey Fabico, Bernice Fabico, Ja-
son Nepomuceno, Francis Pendon, and Alma Torreno.
For free consultations please call ................... Ted H. Dayno, BBA Also in Valentina and New Yorker ... are community youth and senior tal-
Registered Professional Accountant ents.
To book your appointment please call ........... Anna Eusebio @ (416) 609-8912 The KCCC zarzuela performances were made possible by a grant from
Service Canada thru the New Horizons for Seniors Program. PR

Western ... RP’s Sonsona vs Mexico’s ...

SEOUL DRIVING SCHOOL (From page 3)
support them.
YELLOWBIRD Western Union Canada
makes it a point to celebrate
6013 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario important moments such as
this with them.
Educational thrust
In a related development,
a Western Union press
release noted the company’s
commitment to support
education programs crucial
to easing poverty in the
Philippines.
As the top money
senders in the world,
Filipinos strive for a better
future for their family by
working in another country
with better pay and sending
money home to support the
education of their children
and relatives.
Inspired by this spirit, the
Western Union Foundation
in the Philippines and its
agent PetNet have offered
a scholarship program for
migrant families’ children.
This year, it supported
12 children from the Mano
Amiga Academy to complete
elementary school.
In the Mano Amiga
Academy, a broadband
connection facility was also
handed over to the school to
make it possible for families
of Overseas
Workers to communicate
Filipino
with their kin abroad.
(From page 17)
Allan Tremblay, presi-
dent of Orion Sports
Management said “this
array of talent will provide
our fans with one of the best
nights of boxing they have
ever witnessed. Get your
tickets early.”
Jeff Craik, vice president
of marketing for Casino
Rama, added Rumble @
Rama IX would feature
“one of the best all-around
fight cards we’ve seen in
the Rumble series. We’re
looking forward to Rumble
X capturing the same
excitement; it should be a
sensational fight night!”’
Staged in Casino Rama’s
state-of-the-art 5,200 seat
Entertainment Centre, the
Rogers Wireless/Mabuhay ...
(From page 28)
and surrounding region
(Oshawa through Burlington
and north to Orillia within
the telephone area codes
416, 647, 289 and 905.
Contestants were asked
to send a text message
containing the word
‘mabuhay’ using Rogers
Wireless device to short-
code 111, marking the
Monitor news on the Web!
www.manilamediamonitor.com
Rumble at Rama series
has firmly established the
Casino as the premier venue
in which to see the big time
excitement of a world-class
fight in Ontario.
Rumble at Rama X starts
at 8 p.m. with the undercard
bouts.
The co-main event takes
place at about 9:45 p.m.,
and the main event set to
begin at 10:30 p.m.
While television
arrangements are still being
negotiated, Orion Sports
Management has confirmed
that both Mexico and the
Philippines will carry the
show live. (See ad on page
16) With PR and Internet
reports
celebration of the 111st year
of Philippine independence.
They were also asked
to send a 50-word essay
on “How do you celebrate
Philippine heritage?”
The contest was
coordinated with the
Philippine Independence
Day Council, coinciding
with the Mabuhay fest. PR
 Arts/Entertainment
Yeats pair quicksteps to
PIDC’s Dancing ... crown
Gertrude and Robert
Yeats were in their elements
as they impressed the judges
to eventually win the gold in
the 3rd Philippine Indepen-
dence Day Council (PIDC)
Dancing To Be A Star at the
Sts. Peter and Paul Banquet
Hall on Oct. 3.
Dancing ... chairperson
Leonie Manzanares like-
wise described as equally
talented silver winners
Helen and Don Truong and
third placer Christine and
Carlos Ortiz.
“Talented competitors
set the ice on fire. They were
spellbinding, with each hav-
ing awesome performances
that wowed professional
ballroom instructors and
judges Christine Muszynski,
Giorgio Argentini, Richard
Thibeault and Abby Mina,”
Manzanares said.
The contest highlights
included exhibitions of
Samba, Rumba and Paso
Doble, with in-between
competition performances
by Alan Gilin and Anasta-
cia Trutneva of Elite Dance
Studio.
ADVERTISING THAT MATTERS?
Call 416-285-8583
Like a good neighbour,
Adding spice to an al-
ready spectacular evening
of music and dance were
performers Roy “Young
Pavaroti” Tugbang, New-
foundland star Carmen
Hauyon, Little Miss PIDC
Philippines Kim Da Silva,
Miss PIDC Philippines Nat-
alie Rafael, and You Know
You Can Dance champion
Jesse Catibog.
Gie Alvarez, Front Page
Philippines host, and Joel
Recla, radio producer and
director of Perlas ng Silan-
gan, emceed the program.
Dancing ... was co-
chaired by Rory Elefano
and Rosemer Enverga.
REMMVI Studio pro-
vided the music.
Manzanares said Danc-
ing ... capped this year’s se-
ries of programs carried out
by PIDC under president
Jun Enverga.
She credited the PIDC
Board for the event’s suc-
cess, with mention of the
special moral support from
PIDC executive vice presi-
dent Minda Neri and Evelyn
Lao of Ezee Dancing. PR
DANCING TO BE A STAR winners and competitors with PIDC officials
Artist Endaya opens art exhibit, launches book
Renowned artist Imelda
Cajipe Endaya opened a
one-woman art exhibit
at the Kalayaan Cultural
Community Centre (KCCC)
on Oct. 9.
In the same occasion,
Endaya also launched a
book titled Stitching Paint
into Collage.
The art exhibit, which
ran from Oct. 10 to 16, was
sponsored by the Philippine
Consulate General in
Toronto, KCCC, University
of the Philippines Alumni
Association (UPAA) Toron-
to, College of the Holy Spirit
North America Foundation
(CHSNAF) Canada, and
the Philippine Artists Group
(PAG) of Canada.
Philippine Consul Gene-
ral Alejandro Mosquera
led the ceremonial ribbon
cutting, assisted by
Consolacion Quejas, KCCC
president; Bob Delaney, MPP
Mississauga-Streetsville;
Joe Zagala, UPAA president;
Beng Lorayes, CHSNAF
president; and Omel Masa-
lunga, PAG president.
Endaya’s contemporary
Philippine artwork embodies
the themes of cultural
identity, gender, race, nation,
migration, displacement,
and globalization from
the distinct point of an
enlightened Filipina visual
artist.
STATE FARM INSURANCE
NEIL PADILLA
INSURANCE AGENCY
(CONVENIENTLY LOCATED
ACROSS SQUARE ONE MALL)
350 BURNHAMTHORPE RD WEST,
SUITE 217
MISSISSAUGA, ON L5B 3J1
PHONE 905-279-2220
FAX 905-279-2223
TOLL FREE 1-866-985-NEIL (6345)
E-mail Address: neil@neilpadilla.ca
State Farm is there.
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009
The exhibit showed how
Endaya has developed a rich
and expressive discourse
from various sources and
cultural elements in the use
of mixed media, printmaking
collage, and painting.
In addition to her artwork,
she also launched her book
that brought together six
essays on Endaya’s work
and the culture that nurtured
her art.
Book co-authors
are Patrick Flores, May
Datuin, Scott Koterbay,
Ruben Defeo and Elizabeth
Lolarga.
Over thirty images
of Endaya’s later, more
celebratory mixed media
35
works were featured in the
80-page book.
Endaya has won the Ir-
win and Florence Zlowe
Memorial Art Award from
the American Society of
Contemporary Artists.
In 2009, the National
Commission for Culture and
the Arts honored her with
the Ani ng Dangal trophy as
a Filipino artist reaping in-
ternational recognition.
Her works are in the
permanent collections of
the Fukuoka Art Museum,
Okinawa Art Museum, The
Singapore Art Museum,
Metropolitan Museum of
Manila, and Philippine Na-
tional Museum. PR
36 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009

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 Arts/Entertainment
Poetry para sa Pilipinas
(From page 33)
lowing others to experience
their work and talent.
However, recent events
in the Philippines caused
many Filipinos to pause and
take a few seconds to catch
their breath.
Typhoon Ondoy or ty-
phoon Ketsana, caused the
world to keep their focus on
the Philippines.
The aftermath left hun-
dreds dead, many other
missing and the victims and
survivors of the typhoon
homeless, powerless, and
hopeless.
The typhoon affected
both the rich and poor, leav-
ing the whole nation help-
less.
There was not much that
the Philippines could do for
itself without the help of
other countries.
With the world watch-
ing and responding too, in
different positive degrees;
one of those, Global Medic,
sending water purification
systems to the Philippines,
to help purify water and
provide fresh, clean water
in the affected areas.
As a Filipino based-com-
munity, Kapisanan, took the
lead and began their own
fundraiser for the victims of
typhoon Ondoy.
Incorporating PSL and
the fundraiser, Kapisanan
had their own Poetry Night
Fundraiser.
The overwhelming do-
nations that both Filipinos
and non-Filipinos had giv-
en, ranging from clothes to
shoes and canned goods to
medicine, left Kapisanan
with more than 20 boxes full
to send and a truck bursting
with more donations that
needed to be packed.
Kapisanan Philippine
Centre was jampacked with
supporters and wanderers
during the PSL fundraiser.
Kapisanan could not fully
express their gratitude to
donors and supporters.
I was given the oppor-
tunity to do my cooperative
education at Kapisanan,
through my high school.
where I spend my afternoons
at the centre, participating
in event organization, plan-
ning, outreach, and creating
art with one of the many
professional artists in the
Kapisanan community.
The start of my co-op
placement, had me pro-
moting Kapisanan’s PSL
fundraiser and getting com-
panies to donate whatever
they could.
It wasn’t my expectation
to see that many donations
from people around the city
and even the country.
From personal experi-
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 37
ence, I have seen the sup-
port that the centre has re-
ceived, but the new and old
faces that I saw at the cen-
tre, was exciting.
People who didn’t even
know there had been a ty-
phoon in the Philippines
and only found out about it
during their visit were kind
enough to return a few min-
utes later with donations of
whatever they could find or
afford.
It wasn’t just the kind-
ness of people or the baya-
nihan that got me excited, it
was also the show itself.
To see the young Fili-
pino poets and musicians
involved in PSL, only reas-
sured me that real talent is
no stranger to our people.
The energy of both the
young performers and the
very culturally diverse au-
dience made the show even
more exciting.
To say that Kapisanan’s
PSL was a successful fund-
raiser, would be an under-
statement.
“Not only were we able
to reach our goal, but we
surpassed it, thanks to the
generosity of Filipinos and
their non-Filipino friends,”
says Caroline Mangos-
ing Executive Director of
Kapisanan Philippine Cen-
tre for Arts and Culture.
38 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 Culture/Entertainment
Ati-atihan celebration slated on Jan. 9, 2010 GMA reaps major
The United Aklanon Association of Toronto
(UAAT) has announced that the much-acclaimed
Ati-atihan Party will be conducted on Jan. 9, 2010,
awards in 2009 CMMA
at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto GMA Network won
in Scarborough, Ontario. several major awards at
The annual celebration is a very well attended the recently concluded
event. “Last year, we had about 500 guests, and 31st Catholic Mass Media
this coming year, we are expecting more,” accord- Awards (CMMA).
ing to UAAT president Bobby dela Cruz. “We had Topping GMA Net-
a great costume competition among the different work’s list of honors is the
groups. We are inviting other groups to join us in public affairs program Wish
this joyful celebration.” Ko Lang, which was el-
The Ati-atihan is a world-renown celebration evated to CMMA’s Hall of
in Aklan, similar to the Mardi Gras in Rio and Fame after winning in the
New Orleans. same category four times.
Every third weekend of January, over a million Hosted by award-win-
people flock to the town of Kalibo and the sur- ning broadcast journalist
rounding towns in Aklan for merry making. Vicky Morales, Wish Ko
In North America, Ati-atihan is seen and en- Lang bagged the Best Pub-
joyed in most major cities, such as New York/New lic Service Program for the
Jersey, Los Angeles and Vancouver. PR years 2003, 2005, 2007 and
2008. BUBOY FAVOR, GELLI DE BELEN, CARMINA VIL-

Joel Recla
The award-winning I- LAROEL of SIS
Witness: GMA Documen-
taries was chosen as this
Producer/Host year’s Best Adult Educa-
tion/cultural program for
its episode Batang Langoy
hosted by Jay Taruc.
The documentary tack-
led the unforgettable strug-
gle of the Magalumbi island
children in Iloilo who have
to swim home from school
every day.
The longest running
morning talk show, SIS,
hosted by the unbeatable
trio of Janice de Belen, VICKY MORALES JESSICA SOJO
Gelli de Belen and Carmina
Villaroel, has proven that Soho-hosted public affairs
quantity works alongside program Reunions.
quality by winning the Best GMA Network’s ra-
Talk Show award. dio program Nagmamahal
The Best Entertainment Manay, Gina of DZBB won
Program (Special Citation), best Drama Program.

BATID WIKA meanwhile, was bagged by

the award-winning Sunday
concert TV, SOP.
Radio show Talk to Papa
of Barangay LS received
a special citation for Best
PAHALANG 2 3 4 6 8 9 Q Channel 11, GMA Counseling Program.
1 5 7 10 11
1. Lumang wika, daglat Network’s sister station, The CMMA was orga-
4. Tawag sa pera 12 13 14 also received glorious rec- nized in 1978 by the Arch-
8. Buay ognition as it won Best Chil- diocese of Manila to recog-
12. Duhagi 15 16 17
dren’s Program for Kids on nize values-filled products JAY TARUC
13. Sahog sa bigas Q (hosted by Tonipet Gaba
18 19 in radio, press, advertising,
14. Mabangong butil
with Ella Guevara, Renford television and film. noy TV.
15. Unang anak 20 21 22 23
Alano, Aria Cariño, among The abovementioned Q Channel 11 shows are
17. Matinding galit,
pag dinoble 24 25 26 27 28 others) and Best Public Ser- GMA shows are shown in- available thru GMA Life
18. Baktot vice Program for the Jessica ternationally on GMA Pi- TV. PR
29 30 31
19. Di-makaya ang
trabaho
20. Kabisera ng Guam
32 33 34 Other CMMA 2009 winners
35 36 Here are the other winners of the 31st CMMA 2009 conducted at the San Carlos
22. Sebo
24. Talupak ng saging Seminary Auditorium in Makati City:
37 38 39 40
25. Mambabatas Sports Unlimited (ABS-CBN) – CMMA Hall of Fame
29. Hamak 41 42 43 44 45 Jess Abrera – Hall of Fame Awardee
30. Walang takip “Bakit Siya Meron, Bakit Ako Wala?” (Christine Bersola-Babao) – Best Short
46 47 48 Story
31. Diumano
32. Sakyan ang kabayo 49 50 51
dzMM – Best Radio Ad for public service
34. Pampakinis Sikap Pinoy (dzMM) – Best Business News or Feature
35. Marka ng mall Maalala Mo Kaya (dzMM) – Best Drama Program
36. Sapilitan 5. Pangkulay 27. Pinuno ng mga datu Radio Patrol Balita Alas-Siete (dzMM) – Best News Program
37. Malaking karayom 6. Unang bilang 28. Apaw Pasada Sais Trenta (dzMM) – Best News Commentary
40. Kutkutin 7. Pang-ukol 30. Hayop sa bukid Sidewalk (ABS-CBN Cebu) – Best Educational Program for radio
41. Higaan 8. Pita 33. Daig sa pusta “The Greatest Love” album (Kris Aquino) – Best Album (Secular)
42. Kanggreho 9. Iyak ng baka 34. Tela ng hayop Start Up (ANC) – Best Business News or Feature program
46. Payat na payat 10. Panayam 36. Kakuriputan “Kwento ng mga Peligrino” (ABS-CBN) – Best TV Special
47. Sedang laso 11. Pustura 37. Bitak “Kidnap” (ABS-CBN) – Best Special Event Coverage
48. Kahawig 16. Suweldo 38. Libot Wonder Mom (ABS-CBN) – Best News Magazine
49. Usapin sa korte 19. Prutas 39. Mahinhing tawa TV Patrol Northern Luzon (ABS-CBN Baguio) – Best News Program
50. Abang 20. Yamot 40. Seremonyas sa “May Bukas Pa” and “Tayong Dalawa” (ABS-CBN) – Best Drama Series
51. Pantukoy, Kastila 21. Lamang-lupa simbahan
Niño Jesus Orbeta – Best News Photograph
PABABA 22. Nangungulimbat 42. Artistang Mina
Emmie Velarde – Best Special Feature
1. Yugto ng karera 23. Sakit sa balat 43. Silid-agham
2. Barkilyos 25. Una ang paa nang 44. Palayaw ni PGMA
Nestor U. Torre – Best Entertainment Column
3. Basar ipinanganak 45. Bayan sa Albay Michael L. Tan – Best Opinion Column
4. Hinuha 26. Manuskrito (Sagot sa PAHINA 28) Former president Corazon Aquino – posthumous Serviam Award.
MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009 39
40 MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
OCTOBER 2009

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