Sept 2007 - for web.qxp

Transcription

www.filipinostar.org
September 2007, Vol. XXV, No.
By elections set for September 17
The three principal candidates for Outremont riding: Thomas Mulcair, for the NDP, Gilles Duguay for the Progressie Conservative Party, and
Jocelyn Coulon of the Liberal Party. All three candidates attended some Filipino community fevents in the course of their campaigns
PAGE 10
Contents
Community News . . . . . . . p. 6
Cooperative Movement. . . . p. 7
Classified Ads . . . . . . . . p. 9
Philippine Cuisine . . . . . . p. 9
. . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Filstar Photo Gallery . . . p. 12
Showbiz Gossip . . . . . . . p. 14
Health & Science
. . . . . p. 16
Real Estate Tips . . . . . . p. 19
Global Perspectives . . . . p. 20
See Page 4
BY ELECTION
Estrada receives a life sentence
South Cotabato
To u r i s m
OTTAWA -- Voters in the
Quebec riding of Roberval-Lac-SaintJean will go to the polls in a federal by
election on Monday, Sept. 17, Elections
Canada announced Saturday. The vote
is to fill a vacancy created by the
health-related resignation of former
Bloc Quebecois House leader Michel
Gauthier.who announced in March he
would be steping down as MP for the
riding at the end of the current
parliamentary session. Two other
federal by elections will talso ake place
in the Quebec ridings of Outremont
and Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot.
The
Montreal
riding
of
Outremont had been held by former
Liberal transport minister Jean
Lapierre, who left politics for a media
career. He was a former Liberal who
quit the party to help found the Bloc
and later rejoined the Liberals, resigned
six months ago to accept a new job as
a TV political analyst.
Former president Joseph Estrada and his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, photographed
before he was sentenced to life in prison for plunder. Ironically, he is the first
president convicted of a crime at the courthouse that was inaugurated during his term
on June 1, 1999.
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Manila, September 12, 2007
Deposed President Joseph Estrada was
sentenced to life in prison today after being
found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for
the crime of plunder.
The 70-year-old Estrada was
cleared of the other two charges of
maintaining a bank account in a false
name and of diverting tobacco taxes to his
own use. He was not jailed immediately but
ordered to continue living under house
arrest in his own villa. He is expected to
appeal the conviction. Two co-defendants Estrada’s son Senator Jinggoy Estrada
and the lawyer Eduardo Serapio were
acquitted of all charges during the 10minute court hearing.
Facing a life prison term,
deposed President Joseph Estrada
decried his graft conviction calling it a
politically motivated sham by "a kangaroo
court."
The verdict to end the six-year
trial was televised live but was nearly an
anticlimax. Government fears that a
conviction would spark Estrada's poor
supporters to protest violently failed to
materialize.
It was the latest step in the plunge
from the pinnacle of power for Estrada, a
popular action film star who scored the
See Page 4
Estrada
2
The North American Filipino Star
September 2007
EDITORIAL
How civic-minded are we?
At a recent meeting with the
Secretary of State for Multiculturalism,
Hon. Jason Kenney, it was mentioned
that Filipinos do not seem to be too
involved in policy-making decisions.
When compared with other ethnic
groups, it would appear that we do not
have much interest in civicmindedness. Mr. Kenney seems to
imply that civic-mindedness means
being involved in supporting political
candidates who represent our
interests. He believes that it is a good
idea to be interested in the policy
making process because policies have
an impact on our daily life. He says he
always wants to encourage people to
be involved in the policy-making
process, particularly those who are our
so-called community leaders
Mr. Kenney seems to remind us
that it is about time to be more proactive and show more interest in civic
duties. We think he is right in pointing
out that in spite of our increasing
numbers, we have not yet succeeded
in supporting more people from our
community to run even in the
municipal elections. In Montreal, we
have had a candidate, Mr. Alex Robles,
who lost his bid for a council seat
against Mr. Saulie Zajdel who won in
the Darlington district where many
Filipinos live. What could have made
the difference in the results? Perhaps,
it was due to lack of party machinery as
Mr. Robles ran as an independent, and
not enough community support.
In spite of having lived in Canada
for many years, many of us appear to
be unfamiliar with government services
and usually rely on others to give us
important information that we could
possibly get ourselves if we only know
how. For instance, do we know enough
about the nature and structure of
governments? At what level do people
get interested in political matters? Do
many people know that each province
even have different names for its
lawmakers? It is probably not of
common knowledge that in Canada,
members of legislative assemblies are
called MLAs in all provinces and
territories except: Ontario, where they
have been called Members of
Provincial Parliament since 1938
(MPPs) Quebec, where they are called
Members of the National Assembly
(MNAs), and Newfoundland and
Labrador, where they are called
Members of the House of Assembly
(MHAs). Members of the Legislative
Assembly in British Columbia, Alberta,
Saskatchewan,
Manitoba,
New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia (despite being
a House of Assembly), Prince Edward
Island and in the three territories
(Yukon, NWT and Nunavut) are known
as MLAs.
Canada has a parliamentary
system
of
government.
A
parliamentary system, also known as
parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished
by the executive branch of government
being dependent on the direct or
indirect support of the parliament,
often expressed through a vote of
confidence. Hence, there is no clearcut separation of powers between the
executive and legislative branches,
leading to a differing set of checks and
balances compared to those found in a
presidential republic. Parliamentary
systems usually have a clear
differentiation between the head of
government and the head of state, with
the head of government being the
prime minister or premier, and the
head of state often being an elected
(either
popularly
or
through
parliament) president or hereditary
monarch Canada’s head of state is
Queen Elizabeth II who is represented
by the governor general, currently in
the person of Michaelle Jean.
Indeed, there are certain facts that
may not be familiar to us unless we go
out of our way to learn about them.
Many of us take things for granted as
we are just too busy with our daily life.
But if we think of our increasing
population and not even being
represented in government, we may
eventually realize that the only way we
can become more progressive and
better served is to be more civic
minded and be interested in
participating in the federal, provincial
or municipal level of government.
Elections give us the opportunity to
learn about the issues and express our
opinions. We are in a good position to
ask our representatives to do
something for us. But as everyone
knows, we as a community have not
really done a good job in claiming our
rights. When are we going to have the
ambition to use our political clout?
Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi
SUBSCRIPTION
Name:___________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________
Telephone: Residence:____________ Office: ________________
1 year or 12 issues $28
2 years or 24 issues $45
Enclose a cheque or money order for:
On September 6, 2007, the Hononorable Jason Kenney, Secretary of State
Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity, accompanied by the Conservative Party
Candidate for Outremont, Mr. Gilles Duguay, met with the new members of the
Executive Board of Famas. Mr. Kenney and Mr. Duguay had the occasion to exchange
views on a variety subjects which may serve as a good start in getting the community
involved in the policy-making process of the government.
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Contributors
Tel.: 514-485-7861
E-Mail: [email protected]
Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi
Chief Editor & Publisher
Hilda T. Veloso
Community News
Sam Ferry
Assistant Editor
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Bert Abiera
Nida Verginom Butaran
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Sales Representativess
Founder
Opinions, comments of writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect that of
the management of Filcan Publications, Inc.
September 2007
Filipinos glued to TV sets for 20 minutes
September 14, 2007
People across the country, be they
at home or places of work, were glued
Wednesday to television sets,
watching the Sandiganbayan hand
down its verdict on the plunder,
corruption and perjury charges against
deposed President Joseph Estrada.
When it was all over, the country
was as divided as before.
Estrada’s
supporters
and
sympathizers assailed the verdict on
the plunder case as a political move.
Others hailed the decision as the
triumph of justice, which should serve
as a warning to people holding public
office.
But to a number of Filipinos, the
anti-graft court’s decision didn’t matter
to them at all because they said they
would remain poor and would struggle
every day to make ends meet.
Reactions around the country:
Marlon
Garcia,
construction
worker, Baguio City - I agree with the
court’s decision that Erap (Estrada) is
guilty. However, I believe that politics
played a part in influencing the
decision of Sandiganbayan and the
sad thing is politics in our country is
dirty.
Rodel Fontanilla, security guard,
Tarlac City - The verdict on plunder is
unjust. Estrada did not steal money
from government. He received money
from jueteng. Rallies will surely follow.
Boyet Anunciacion, jeepney driver,
Mabalacat, Pampanga - I don’t really
care about that Erap case. I would
rather work to feed my family. What I
know is we will remain poor and
continue to struggle hard every day
just to make ends meet whether Erap
is found guilty or not.
Erlinda Mesina, university librarian,
Tarlac City - It’s a fair and good
decision. The evidence of Estrada’s
guilt was visible. Where did he get his
wealth when he was a mayor and an
actor except from the public coffers?
Our leaders will behave because of the
verdict.
Marissa
Garcia,
housewife,
Daraga, Albay. I expected Erap to be
handed the guilty verdict. GMA
(President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) is
powerful and smart and she can fix
that. Erap is bopol (dumb) that’s why
he is punished for what he did.
Pedrito Salazar, editor-publisher of
Nueva Ecija weekly Ang Dahong Palay.
The Sandiganbayan erred in finding
Estrada guilty of plunder. In the first
place, the big amounts of money
involved in his four plunder cases were
not taken from government coffers but
mostly from alleged protection money
3
from illegal gambling (jueteng). He
could have been guilty only of a lesser
offense. Politics could have played a
bigger weight in the decision.
Anthony
Dee,
businessman,
Pampanga. Why should it be E-rap?
What happened to [the alleged
irregularities
involving]
Joc-joc
Bolante, Hello Garci, ZTE, NorthRail,
Nani Perez, Expo, Megadike, SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway and other
government officials [accused of
corruption]?
Oscar
Evangelista,
retired
University of the Philippines professor,
Puerto Princesa City. The rule of law
prevails. Past hearings showed
evidence of guilt. Popular sympathy in
his favor notwithstanding, he has to be
punished. But I also think he should be
pardoned later.
Erlinda Ramiro, Ilocos Norte
population officer. He should have
been acquitted because he has been
detained for a long time. The
humiliation that came with his
detention is more than enough to pay
for his crime. Now that he is convicted,
Filipinos will again suffer because
protest rallies will be staged while the
curse of this administration persists.
Rey Muñoz, tricycle driver, City of
San Fernando, Pampanga. The verdict
was not just because there were not
enough evidence and the money
involved came from jueteng, not public
funds. We’re in for worse times
because the Arroyo administration has
many corrupt officials.
Francisco Manlangit, Barangay
chair,
Hawan
Ilaya,
Virac,
Catanduanes. I’m not satisfied with the
decision. He helped so many people.
June Joson, history professor,
Guiguinto, Bulacan. It was expected
that Erap would be found guilty. It
would be difficult to reverse the
Supreme Court decision that upheld
the legitimacy of GMA (Ms Arroyo). If
the verdict was not guilty, we would
have a constitutional crisis.
Jovie Punzalan, Catholic nun,
Malolos City. It’s a good and just
decision. Just one good example to
prove to the nation that justice is
impartial.
Ruben Perez, construction worker,
Baguio City: I just hope that this will not
lead to any uprising again. We have to
move on because we are still poor
even if Erap was convicted. I still hope
that he will tell the truth.
Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, Ms
Arroyo’s half-sister. I was so saddened
by the guilty verdict on Estrada’s
plunder case because I believed he
was innocent. I’ve been praying hard
for President Erap’s acquittal but I have
complete trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.
I was moved to tears like the rest.
Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, a
Catholic priest. This is a test case of
Philippine justice. All of us Filipinos
must go by the law. Nobody is above
the law. Let us draw lessons, if not
inspiration, from the cases of former
president Estrada. It’s a lesson for all
government leaders, myself included,
that we should not abuse the power
granted by our positions. a
Leaders in the Filipino Community
say Thomas Mulcair is the best
choice for Outremont.
TA press conference with the ethnique media was held at Mr. Mulcair’s office in CDN area on
Thursdya, Augsut 9, 2007. From left: Mr. jack Layton, Mr. Thomas Mulcair and Olivia Chow.
Leaders in the Filipino
Community pledged their support for
Thomas Mulcair, NDP candidate in the
Federal Riding of Outremont, following
a meeting on August 29th at Mr.
Mulcair’s Cote des Neiges campaign
office. At the meeting Mr. Mulcair
reiterated his commitment to improve
the quality of life of live–in caregivers
and Filipino families in Montreal.
“It is time for speedy and
effective family reunification, it’s time to
reduce wait times for sponsoring
spouses, children, or parents coming
to Canada. Obtaining visitor visas for
loved ones to come on special
occasions, such as a wedding or the
birth of a grandchild should not be a
problem as it is currently. It is time for
fair and effective recognition of foreign
credentials so that new immigrants can
use their skills. For far too long,
immigration issues have been
neglected by Liberal and Conservative
governments. It is time for a change”
pledged Thomas Mulcair.
The first Filipina elected to a
Canadian legislature, Manitoba NDP
MLA Flor Marcelino phoned into the
meeting to assist Mr. Mulcair and urged
the community in Montreal to support
him.
Filipino community members
were equally enthusiastic when
greeted by Thomas Mulcair as they
were enjoying the massive Sunday
picnic on August 26. “This is the first
time we received any campaign
literature in our own language,
Tagalog. It shows real respect and
understanding for our community.”
Said one of the community members
who were at the picnic celebrating the
election of the board of FAMAS. Mr.
Mulcair was joined by Member of
Parliament and the wife of Jack Layton,
Olivia Chow.
Many attendees at the picnic
greatly appreciated Mr. Mulcair’s
commitment
to
changing
the
immigration policies that exploit live-in
caregivers in Canada.
In fact many residents
recognized Mulcair from having
worked with him during his fourteen
years as MNA in the Quebec
government, during which time he
served as Minister of Environment and
Sustainable
Development,
or
previously in his work as a lawyer and
community volunteer at the English
Speaking Catholic Council.
“I am proud of the record of
Jack Layton’s NDP in speaking
forcefully in defense of human rights. I
wish to join Jack Layton in the House
of Commons to seek fairness for
today’s families, on issues like better
access to health care and decent
education for all.” Said Mulcair.
“With
Tom
Mulcair
in
Parliament, the Filipino community will
have
an
experienced,
strong,
principled and passionate voice to
speak on its behalf.” MLA Flor
Marcelino added.
4
fROM PAGE 1
BY ELECTION
Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot, a mostly
rural riding southeast of Montreal,
opened up earlier this year when Bloc
Québécois MP Yvan Loubier resigned
to run unsuccessfully for the Parti
Québécois in the March provincial
election.
The votes will be seen as a test
of
the
minority
Conservative
government's popularity in Quebec.
The party broke through with 10
Quebec seats in the 2006 general
election.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
who has the authority to select the by
election dates within deadlines
specified by Canada's electoral law, is
eager to demonstrate that his
Conservative party is gaining support
in Quebec, which will be pivotal to a
majority in the next general election.
Six federal ridings are currently
vacant, but Harper has not yet called
by-elections to fill them. In Ontario,
unsuccessful
Liberal
leadership
candidates Bob Rae and Martha Hall
Findlay have announced they are
ready to contest seats in Toronto
Centre and Willowdale, but the votes
are being delayed so they don't conflict
with the Oct. 10 provincial election. In
British Columbia, the Vancouver
Quadra riding has been vacant since
the July 27 resignation of Liberal MP
Stephen Owen.
Outremont riding demographics,
according to the Canada 2001 Census,
show the following characteristics:
Ethnic groups: 72.5% White, 5.6%
Black, 5.1% South Asian, 4.3% Arab,
2.7% Filipino, 2.7% Latin American,
2.5% Chinese
Languages: 44.8% French, 14.3%
English, 37.7% Others
Religions: 46.6% Catholic, 10.2%
Jewish, 8.1% Muslim, 7.0% Christian
Orthodox, 4.9% Protestant, 3.0%
Hindu, 1.9% Buddhist, 1.6% Other
Christian, 16.1% No religion
Average income: $31,010
The Outremont riding includes
the Borough of Outremont, the eastern
part of Côte-des-Neiges in the
Borough of Côte-des-Neiges—NotreDame-de-Grâce, and the western part
of the Mile End in Borough of Le
Plateau-Mont-Royal.
In the 18th century, apparently,
the standing instructions of the
Burmese Kings to their provincial
governors were limited to two
points:
- Make big problems small
- Solve small problems
A. B. Macdonald
Quebec by elections a test for both opposition
leaders and the Conservatives
OTTAWA -- The Sept. 17 by
elections in the highly diverse Quebec
ridings of Roberval, St-HyacintheBagot and Outremont share one thing
in common: voters will get a chance to
influence
everything
from
the
Conservative government's policies
and Canada's mission in Afghanistan
to the future of the sovereigntist Bloc
Quebecois and Liberal Leader
Stephane Dion's command of his party.
The votes will be as much a test
for opposition leaders as for Prime
Minister Stephen Harper.
The byelections are the first
Dion has faced since becoming leader
last December, and many - both inside
the Liberal party and outside -- see
them as a test of his ability to bring the
Liberals back to power. Should the
party perform poorly or lose its
stronghold of Outremont, insiders
predict serious questions about Dion's
leadership.
Although the Conservatives
have done much to fulfil the promises
Harper made Quebecers, the recent
deployment of troops from Valcartier to
the front lines has focused more
attention on Canada's mission to
Afghanistan, which is unpopular with
many Quebecers. In the Outremont
race, the New Democrats are trying to
make the Afghan mission and the
environment the key issues.
The three byelections are also
the first votes to be held since last
spring's Quebec election, which saw
the meteoric rise of Mario Dumont's
right-of-centre Action Democratique du
Quebec. Those results prompted some
to suggest that Quebec politics is
moving away from the traditional
federalist-sovereigntist split, possibly
spelling trouble for the Bloc and its
sovereigntist raison d'etre.
Two seats up for grabs Roberval and St-Hyacinthe-Bagot - are
shaping up as a battle between the
royal blue of the Conservatives and the
light bleu of the Bloc. Prompted by the
resignations of two Bloc stalwarts,
Michel Gauthier and Yvan Loubier,
Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe is under
pressure to hold them for the party,
especially after it lost several seats in
the Quebec City region in the last
general election.
Losing one or both of the seats
could resurrect questions about the
Bloc's usefulness in Ottawa and why a
party that asks Quebecers to vote for it
in order to stand up to the federal
government keeps propping up the
governing party.
September 2007
be eligible for parole, or whether he will
spend time in prison, be allowed to
continue living under house arrest in
his own villa or even be granted a
pardon.
Estrada also was ordered to forfeit a
mansion and more than $15.5 million,
plus interest, that were deposited into
two bank accounts.
"This is the last chance for the
state to show that we can do it, that we
can charge, prosecute and convict a
public official regardless of his stature,"
special prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio
said. "It shows that our judicial system
really works."
Riot police and troops kept hundreds of
Estrada backers well away from the
Sandiganbayan. Security also was tight
around the presidential palace as
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
worried about a repeat of violent
protests that followed Estrada's arrest
in April 2001.
Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye
appealed for calm.
Publicly, Conservatives like
campaign chairman John Reynolds
are trying hard to downplay
expectations, pointing out that all three
seats are traditionally held by other
parties and byelections rarely tend to
favor governing parties.
Privately,
however,
the
Conservatives are working hard to
wrest Roberval and St-HyacintheBagot away from the Bloc in the hopes
that the loss of two traditional
strongholds will cool any interest the
Bloc may have in bringing down
Harper's minority government anytime
soon.
Bloc MP Mario Laframboise,
the party's chief organizer, is optimistic
the party has the best-oiled political
machine, but he cautions the results
will depend heavily on voter turnout.
The person who may have the
most to lose on Sept. 17 is Dion.
Although Outremont has only
voted for a party other than the Liberals
once in recent memory, Dion's handpicked candidate, Jocelyn Coulon,
appears to be in a tight race with
former Quebec environment minister
Thomas Mulcair, who is running for the
New Democrats. Coulon, a foreign
affairs expert and former journalist, has
had to repair relations with the local
Jewish community who felt some of his
writings on the Middle East were too
critical of Israel. The New Democrats
"We hope and pray that the rule of
also claim that dozens of Liberals,
law will prevail," Bunye said.
many unhappy with Dion's leadership,
"Meantime, we have a country to run,
have volunteered to help Mulcair.
an economy to grow and a peace to
win. We hope that this sad episode in
From Page 1
Estrada
our history will not permanently distract
Philippines' biggest-ever election us from this goal."
Two co-defendants — Estrada's
victory in 1998 and vowed during his
inaugural address that his loved ones son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and lawyer
wouldn't benefit even one cent from his Eduardo Serapio — were acquitted of
post. He even inaugurated the all charges during the 10-minute court
Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court hearing.
"In his heart of hearts, it was a case of
that convicted him.
"This is the only forum where I guilt not proven," said Rene Saguisag,
could tell the Filipino people my one of Estrada's attorneys. Estrada's
innocence," a disappointed Estrada, friends and family issued a statement
still wearing a wristband with the calling the case a political vendetta by
presidential seal, told reporters. "That's Arroyo.
Estrada's tale is a poignant one of
why I took a gamble. I thought the rule
of law will prevail over here. This is power, friendship, betrayal and
really a kangaroo court. This is a downfall more dramatic than any of his
films. He rose to stardom in his early
political decision."
Estrada, ousted in January 2001 20s, playing tough guys with a soft spot
by the country's second "people power" for the needy and weak, roles that
revolt, was convicted of plunder and endeared him to the Philippines' poor
acquitted of perjury for allegedly falsely masses.
Estrada has often called his
declaring his assets. He is expected to
presidency the "last and best
challenge the verdict.
With credit for time served in performance of my life." He has
detention, it was unclear when he might retained some of his popularity while
trying to fend off accusations that he
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September 2007
illegally amassed about $81 million
through bribes and proceeds from
illegal gambling, and falsely declared
his assets.
The trial ran from October 2001 to
June 15, with prosecutors claiming he
hid assets and bought expensive
mansions and vacation houses for his
mistresses.
Estrada has denied the charges
and accused Arroyo of masterminding
his removal in a conspiracy with
leaders of the Roman Catholic Church
and senior military officers.
"Let the Estrada verdict serve as a
stern warning against the current
occupants of Malacanang who may
end up with the same fate," the leftist
group Bayan said in a statement. "The
president and her close associates
have been accused of systematic
corruption on a far bigger scale than
Estrada."
5
‘Continuing learning story’
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales said he would pray so
that Estrada would have the humility
and patience in facing the court’s
judgment, calling it a “continuing
learning story of his life.”
“The verdict, even if still
appealable, should remind all that the
privileged authority to lead and to serve
is always, and without exception, for
the welfare of the people served. Let
this be a constant reminder to the
people elected or appointed to serve.
The moral in this is “BE MORAL,”
Rosales said in a statement.
He urged the laity that the proper
recourse of Estrada was the higher
court, “instead of settling the score in
the streets or elsewhere.”
Estrada’s allies in the Senate,
including those who took part in his
impeachment and ouster, said the rule
of
law
had
prevailed,
while
administration allies said the nation
should move on with the closure to the
six-year trial.
The Sandiganbayan Building where the sentence to life judgement was rendered to Estrada
Inquirer Last updated 02:55am (Mla time)
Arroyo: Verdict on
Estrada to end
destabilization talk
09/13/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- President
Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo
said
Wednesday night the Sandiganbayan
decision to convict former President
Joseph Estrada should put an end to
destabilization talk, but calls were made
for her to bring to trial cases of plunder
and corruption committed under her
administration.
Speaking during the launch in
Malacañang of a forum for peace
attended by Christian bishops, Muslim
ulamas (preachers) and military
leaders, Ms Arroyo said: “We live by the
rule of law. We abide by what the courts
of the land decide.”
She later told reporters: “We abide
by what the court decides.”
Asked if the court ruling on Estrada
put an end to talk of destabilization, Ms
Arroyo said: “That’s all right to say that.”
“We bow to the decision of the
Sandiganbayan,” Press Secretary
Ignacio Bunye said.
“We hope and pray that the rule of
law will prevail.”
“Meanwhile, we have a country to
run, an economy to grow, and a peace
to win. We hope that this sad episode in
our history will not permanently distract
us from these goals,” he said.
Sergio Apostol, presidential legal
adviser, said Ms Arroyo did not only feel
elated by the guilty verdict handed
down on Estrada, she also felt
vindicated.
“It is difficult for me to say I am
happy,” Apostol quoted Ms Arroyo as
telling him. But he said that because of
the ruling, the President felt that her
administration would become more
stable.
In a statement, the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines
said that the verdict was “a call to
repentance and a call for change or
conversion affecting not only the
person of President Estrada but also m
ny others in our government.”
The CBCP statement issued by its
president, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo
of Jaro, Iloilo, said the country, long
suffering from the effects of graft and
corruption, would ultimately benefit
from the Sandiganbayan decision.
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6
September 2007
COMMUNITY NEWS
MINISTERS’ FRENCH LESSONS ON FRENCH
RIVIERA ELITIST, SAYS NDP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 31, 2007
AUGUST 31, 2007- Godin calls
latest misadventure “an insult to hardworking Canadians”
OTTAWA – NDP Official
Languages critic Yvon Godin (AcadieBathurst) demanded the Harper
Conservatives
tell
hard-working
Canadians just how much the federal
government is paying to send three
Conservative cabinet ministers to the
French Riviera to learn French.
“To ask average Canadians to
foot the bill for three Conservative
cabinet ministers to go to the French
Riviera to learn our official language is
an insult and elitist,” said Godin.
“There are excellent French schools
right across Canada where you can
immerse yourself and gain valuable
language skills, but apparently classes
offered in our country aren’t good
enough for Harper’s Conservatives.”
This summer, Conservative cabinet
ministers Rona Ambrose, Jason
Kenney and Bev Oda attended the
Institut de Français, located between
Nice and Monaco on the French
Riviera, for a month-long language
training session.
“Language training should be
available to Members of Parliament,”
said Godin. “But, while hardworking
families are working harder just to
make ends meet, the Conservatives
feel it’s appropriate to send Ministers
to the Riviera for language training that
is available right here in Canada. This
seems to be another example how the
Harper Conservatives simply cannot
be trusted.”
Last week, NDP Leader Jack Layton
spent a week in an intensive French
immersion program in Montreal, and
various NDP MPs also attended
French language training in Quebec
over the summer.
For more information please
contact: Roxane Guerette, Office of
Yvon Godin, MP: 613-715-3308
PBAM BAGS ONE
IN NY CAGEFEST
Released by: PBAM Promotions in
collaboration with Joy Lizarondo
The Philippine Basketball
Association of Montreal (PBAM), the
association where the finest MontrealFilipino basketball players compete
and congregate, played in Flushing,
Queens, New York City, September 1-2
and came back with the Midget
Championship title of the 31st PIBNA
(Philippine Inter-City Basketball of
Northern America).
The champions were one of
four PBAM teams that made it to the
Finals; the 13-under coached by
Members of the PBAM team pose for
championship title
Juanito Ortaleza lost to a tall Toronto
team, 75-52; the SuperMasters,
coached by Peter Sanchez, were
outmuscled by Morriston in a bruising,
physical game, 61-40 and the Women
were stunned in a hard fought
controversial title game to NewYork,
51-45.
The 11 under coached by
Dennis Ortizo and Celso Atas and
managed by Debbie Alquisada, had a
disappointing baptism of fire in big
league
competition,
losing
2
consecutive games; the decimated
5’10” defending champions could not
get untracked, losing to eventual
champion New York and Chicago, in
the higher bracket; the 5’10” REBS lost
to Chicago B but rebounded to beat
Gainsville in the low bracket. Ed
Cayanong’s 18 under upended
Gilmore International College
and the Academy of Letters
Who should attend:
What they say about writing:
There’s only one way to learn to write - read!
Every person who has the ability to read can learn how to
write.
What do writers do? They write.
What do good writers do? They write and re-write.
What do excellent writers do? They write, re-write, re-write,
re-write until they get it “right.”
Proof of Attendance:
An attractive certificate and tax receipt will be given at the
end of the workshop.
Proceedings will be videotaped. You may purchase a
copy for your future reference.
Why you should attend:
Everyone has to write, whether you
earn your living by writing or
working for yourself or others, your
ability to express yourself in English
is absolutely essential. Since
English has become the language
of business around the world,
mastering the art of writing and
speaking is the key to your success
in your personal and professional
life.
winning the 31st PIENA
defending champion New York, 56-51
to avenge last year’s loss in the finals,
bowed to Central Jersey by 10 in the
second game then kow-towed, despite
Keith Cayanong’s heroics, to the same
Central Jersey team which overhauled
a 17-2 early PBAM lead. The Open
team, spark plugged by Gil Manon-og,
Jon Bustamante, Rowell Solmerano
with a good supporting cast of Chris
Aguba, Jex Mendiola and Dennis
Lacsamana, proved their mastery over
Michigan but lost a cliff hanger, 2
points, to a New York team beefed up
by wizened but dirty PBA Philippine
professionals Villamin and Marata.
The Champion team, 15
under, superbly coached by a
relentless Rene
are pleased to invite you to
the “Writers Helping Writers”
workshop
Your ideas should not remain locked up in your head - find a way to
express them and feel fulfilled by doing so. This workshop will help you
get started easily in the most interesting way. Find out the secret by
attending this unique workshop which will start soon.
People from all walks of life, fields
and occupations - nurses, doctors,
architects, engineers, clerks,
secretaries, teachers, students anyone who wants to live a fuller
life.
souvenir of
inter-active, multi-cultural, motivational
Workshop Leaders
NOTE:
In addition to establishing a writers’ network, a public
speaking course will be a follow-up to this workshop.
Schedule:
Friday - 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday & Saturday - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuition Fee:
4950 Queen Mary Rd. Penthouse
Montreal, QC H3W 1X3
2 1/2 days seminar for the low rate of $495 including
taxes and materials.
www.gilmorecollege.com
Call 514-485-7861 to register
Isaac T. Goodine
BsC., B.Ed. C. Eng.
International Speaker & Author
“Leaders Leding Leaders”
Resource Person, Transparency
International, Fomrer Principal,
Director of Schools & Colleges,
Human Resources Development
Specialist, Consultant, World Bank
Zenaida F. Kharroubi
B.A. English, M.A. Ed. Studies
Diploma in Education, TESL
Founder & Director-General
Gilmore College
Editor & Publisher,
North American Filipino Star
Group Commissioner, Scouts
Canada, Quebec Council
September 2007
COOPERATIVE
MOVEMENT
Bigger than what
you think
By Jerry Estrada
SYMBOLS OF FILIPINO UNITY
Every organization has its own
purpose
of
existence.
Some
association attends to the socioeconomic, while others deal with the
socio-political concerns of the
community.
Participating in a
group effort to create something useful
for the benefit of the public is inspiring.
We have met many people who exert
efforts to help other people. We find it
incredibly encouraging to work with
them. Living and working surrounded
by people who care about others more
than themselves is an inspiring
experience. It also shows there are
good people whose drive is not based
on personal greed or ambition. A
purpose-driven organization that
unites people together for a common
purpose influences others. Being able
to help create that community, having
the ability to influence how it grows
and what it does is a great motivator.
SOCIO-POLITICAL
Needless to say, the success
of a community requires the
assistance of government. However, it
is the people themselves who must
work together to achieve their
objectives. Hence, it is imperative that
We begin to involve ourselves
peacefully through membership in
associations which are willing to deal
with political issues and social
problems. As a community, we should
work to make our voices heard not
only as a matter of right but also as a
matter of obligation.
Until now, it
seems that we have not seen the
urgency and necessity of getting
involved in civic organizations, in
people empowerment and democracy
building. What is basically lacking? We
have not mobilized the power that is in
us to make our community a political
force that can be reckoned with. Some
of us don’t participate and so we have
not been counted as a significant and
credible force. We
should
now
address not only people’s economic
needs but also the political and cultural
problems of our society. Associations
today are solely limited to either
economic or purely charitable goals.
Although we may have already done
something, we can do more. To involve
ourselves in economic matter is not
enough.
There are several associations
in Montreal.
FAMAS (Philippine
Association of Montreal and Suburbs,
Inc.) on Van Horne is one of them. It is
an important Filipino organization in
7
Montreal that can represent the Filipino
community.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
There are things that can be
achieved only with, and in cooperation
with, others. There are different types
of organizations that focus on the
economic
development
of
a
community. A cooperative is one of
them. Co-operatives
or
coops
envisage a socio-economic system in
which property and the distribution of
wealth are subject to control by the
community for the purpose of
increasing social and economic
equality and cooperation. Members
are the reason why a cooperative is
formed in the first place. Being the
legal owners, members carry a lot of
influence in the cooperative.
C o operatives serve both economic and
social purposes. While a co-op exists
to meet the common needs of its
members, it also promotes the
development of those members
through their involvement in the
democratic governance of the
enterprise.
FILIPINO SOLIDARITY
COOPERATIVE (Divisoria-Cubao) on
Van Horne Avenue, the only Filipino
cooperative in Canada, is making an
effort to address economic purposes
of its members. It will only thrive if the
whole community support it by
becoming members. Hopefully, it can
be a rallying force to unite FilipinoCanadians and serve as an example
for other communities, just as much as
the Jewish people have done through
their powerful organization, the
Federation of Combined Jewish
Appeal.
LEARNING FROM THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY (Montreal)
One thing that has amazed me
is the Federation CJA’s (Combined
Jewish Appeal) 2007 “give help, give
hope” message printed clearly on
streamers along the streets and shown
on its 30-second TV ad. This message
inspires me to study deeper the social
organizational structure of the Jewish
Community.
Allied
Jewish
Community Services (AJCS), also
known as Federation CJA had its own
humble beginnings. It was founded in
1917 with the hope of uniting
Montreal’s Jewish community and
support programs that enhance their
quality of life. In 1960s, Jewish
community leaders like Boris Levine,
Maxwell Cummings and Samuel
Bronfman made a lot of sacrifices to
support the Jewish Education Program
as their priority agenda. These brave
men believed that the future of their
community depends on Jewish
education. This laid the foundation for
the construction of Cummings House
and the Jewish Community Campus of
Montreal.
Since the Jewish community
has become far more diverse over the
years, Federation CJA is involved in all
major issues facing the community
together with its constituent agencies
that
offer
programs
meeting
educational, cultural, health, welfare,
spiritual, and social needs.
As a
community organization, it mobilizes
thousands of volunteers who dedicate
their time and energy to raising funds,
and assisting in the delivery of
services. They care about people, not
about their politics or religious
practices. As a community, they
address critical, often life-threatening
issues. The impact of the continuing
success of the annual campaign is
priceless. Millions of lives are saved
and cared for, reaching out to rebuild
centuries-old Jewish traditions and
values
preserved
for
future
generations
Countless individuals
of all ages, including students,
volunteer their time, talent and
experience to help build a caring
environment for seniors. Inherent to
Jewish tradition, volunteerism not only
benefits those who are receiving
assistance, it also enables Jews to play
an active role in enriching their
community.
OUR CHALLENGE - UNITY!
O u r
challenge at present is to strengthen
our organizational ideology so that it
can find expression in members with a
strong desire to help themselves and
others, and the community as a whole.
This blend of the economic and social
objectives should strengthen our
social work and inspire us all. T h e
FAMAS and Filipino Solidarity
Cooperative, as well as other Filipino
organizations are symbols of strength
and unity. They are worth keeping and
should be managed well to be our
legacy to the next generation.
There will always be problems.
As is often said, no organization is ever
in a state of maturity. But one can be
confident that no matter what the
challenges are, the organization stays
and continues to grow if it rests on the
shoulders of members who are
enlightened and share the same
values and principles. The Filipino
Solidarity Cooperative is well located
in the heart of our community. It is our
hope that it will become the instrument
with which we can build a business
that shall benefit us all.
CHINA
BLAMES PRODUCT QUALITY
PROBLEMS
ON
DIFFERING
STANDARDS, FOREIGN DESIGNS
(CANADIAN PRESS)
China strongly defended the
quality of its exports, saying some
problems were a result of varying
global product standards and that a
mass recall of toys was largely a result
of faulty U.S. designs not Chinese
workmanship.
Li Changjiang, the head of one
of China's quality watchdogs, said
``the different standards that China
and the United States apply to different
products'' have been at the root of
some of the recent tensions.
``That would lead to difficulty in
defining whether a product is
problematic,'' Li, director of the General
Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine, said at a
news conference. He did not elaborate.
Li's comments were the latest in
China's attempts to prove it is working
to overcome its safety woes and is a
trustworthy manufacturer for both its
people and the world. But continuing
discoveries of high levels of chemicals
and toxins in Chinese goods - from
toothpaste and clothes to fish and juice
- have made salvaging its reputation an
uphill task.
Earlier this month, Mattel Inc.
recalled almost 19 million Chinesemade dolls, cars and action figures
because they were contaminated with
lead paint or contained small, powerful
magnets that children might swallow
and damage their organs.
“About 85 percent were directly
designed by the American company
and produced according to requireuirements of the American importer,” Li
said.
“I personally have seen some
of the toys. There are serious problems
in their design, so they are highly
dangerous for children. These types of
toys would be recalled in any country,'”
he said.
Li added: “While we recognize
that Chinese producers should be
blamed for those problematic toys,
what kind of responsibility should the
U.S. importers and U.S. designers take
in this respect?''
8
Dear EarthTalk: How do I find a
Styrofoam recycler in my area? My
company receives huge sheets of the
stuff on a regular basis and it just gets
thrown straight into the trash. What can
a business do to get this stuff recycled
economically and efficiently?
-- S.R.M., Mesa, AZ
Known within the packaging
industry as expanded polystyrene
(EPS) and usually bearing the “#6”
recycling symbol, Styrofoam (which is
actually the trademark name for Dow
Chemical’s product) has long been an
environmental bugaboo, as it is
contains chemicals known to cause
central nervous system damage and
other health problems for workers
regularly exposed to it. And since it is
difficult and expensive to recycle, EPS
tends to clog landfills already teeming
with toxic garbage.
But EPS has proven to be one
of the lightest and least costly forms of
packaging material, so the industry has
worked hard to make recycling it more
cost-effective and convenient. More
than 80 packaging manufacturers,
polystyrene suppliers and equipment
makers joined together in 1991 to form
the Alliance of Foam Packaging
Recyclers (AFPR). The Marylandbased industry association works to
facilitate recycling between EPS
manufacturers and the companies that
buy from them. It currently boasts of
overseeing the recycling of 10-12
percent of the post-consumer EPS
packaging produced every year.
Member companies, which
provide drop-off services at their
facilities, reprocess up to 60 percent of
the EPS foam collected and
incorporate it directly into new
packaging. Some of the material is
reformulated and used in a wide variety
of durable plastic products. Currently,
more than 110 plant locations serve as
collection centers which together
receive upwards of 50 million pounds
of post-consumer EPS packaging each
year. AFPR provides a comprehensive
list of EPS drop-off locations from
coast-to-coast on its website. While
companies sending the EPS in for
recycling must bear the shipping or
drop-off costs, they may save money
over paying for disposal fees at the
landfill.
One caveat: AFPR does not
get involved in the recycling of the
foam “peanuts” so often used as
packaging filler. Most “pack-and-ship”
shops (like UPS stores) will accept
used but otherwise clean foam
peanuts to reuse in their own
shipments. Otherwise, the Plastic
Loose Fill Council, another trade
group, runs a free web-based
database where users can find a local
drop-off center by simply punching in
their zip code.
Also, food service managers
should bear in mind that recycling of
soiled food-grade EPS is more difficult
and expensive due to issues of
bacterial contamination. Most EPS
packaging recycling centers will not
accept such tainted foam. Many food
service companies have followed the
lead of McDonald’s and phased-out
their use of EPS containers for
disposable dishware and to-go orders.
Companies that don’t find it
convenient to recycle or otherwise
dispose of large amounts of EPS (foodgrade or otherwise) might want to
consider purchasing one or more
StyroMelt machines from UK-based
Purex. The technology uses a thermal
compaction process to reduce the
volume of EPS by up to 95 percent.
The resulting solid EPS “briquettes”
are dense enough to make for good
recycling fodder, and also take up
much less room than the foam they
Need Money?
Do you have a full time job?
If yes, call (514) 344-1499
CONTACTS: Alliance of Foam
Packaging Recyclers,
www.epspackaging.org; Plastic Loose
Fill Council,
www.loosefillpackaging.com; Purex
Styromelt, www.styromelt.com.
Dear EarthTalk: Aside from the
obvious benefits to mankind of reducing
poverty, how would promoting more
economic equality around the world
benefit the environment?
--Steele Shapiro, Seattle, WA
Research has shown that in countries with
a wide disparity between rich and poor,
environmental protection tends to be a
lower priority. The inverse is also true:
Countries with greater economic equality
assign higher priority to safeguarding their
environment.
The main determining factor
seems to be that lower income people
tend to vote against spending tax dollars
on what are deemed costly or
discretionary environmental projects. In
countries with less disparity between rich
and
poor,
such
as
throughout
Scandinavia, environmental protection is
assigned
a
higher
priority
and
governments have enacted more
stringent regulations and policies
accordingly.
University of Rochester researchers Laura
Marsiliani and Thomas Renstrom
reviewed hundreds of academic studies of
linkages between economic equality and
environmental protection and found
plenty of evidence to suggest that “poorer
individuals tend to prefer less stringent
environmental policy.” Previous research
also supports their hypothesis that greater
income
inequality
causes
lower
environmental taxes, regulation and
spending around the world.
On a related front, a team of McGill
University researchers uncovered a
connection between growing economic
inequality and an increase in the number of
plant and animal species threatened with
extinction. Dr. Greg Mikkelson of McGill’s
School of Environment led the study, which
looked at income inequality and
biodiversity loss on two different scales:
among 45 countries worldwide; and among
45 U.S. states. The researchers found that
the same general trend is evident in both
cases: Societies with more unequal
distribution of income experience greater
losses of biodiversity.
While there is often a trade-off
between
economic
growth
and
environmental quality, says Mikkelson, his
study suggests that there is also synergy
between removing or reducing poverty and
greater conservation of biological diversity.
If the U.S. were to achieve levels of income
parity comparable, say, to Sweden, some
44 percent fewer plant and animal species
in the U.S. would be in danger of extinction.
“Our study,” adds Mikkelson, “suggests
that if we can learn to share economic
resources more fairly with fellow members
of our own species, it may help us to share
ecological resources more fairly with other
species.”
One group working to help the
environment by bridging the economic
equality gap is the Poverty Reduction and
Environmental Management (PREM)
program at the Institute for Environmental
Studies at Holland’s Vrije Universiteit.
Formulated by Dr. Pieter van Beukering and
Kim van der Leeuw, the program has lined
up researchers in 16 developing nations to
develop case studies showing how
sustainability-oriented natural resource
management can lead to economic
development for poorer people. The
researchers hope that their work in the field
will help show policymakers the way
toward enlightened regulatory practices
that encourage both economic equality
and environmental protection.
:
RESTAURANT
LA MAISON NEW KUM MON
6565 Cote desk Neiges,
Montreal, QC (Corner Appleton)
5047 Henri Bourassa Est
Montréal, QC H1G 2S1
Tel.: (514) 322-3133, 322-3130
Bean Curd Seafood Soup
1/2 Crispy Chicken
Salt and Pepper Pork Loin
Stuffed Bean Curd with
Shrimps
Sauted Seasonal Vegetables
Steamed Rice
Fish Maw Seafood Soup
Baked Lobster with Ginger
Seafood with Chinese
Broccoli
Saltand Pepper Cuttle Fish
Fried Sea Bass Fish
Steamed Rice
$37.95
4 Persons
Bean Curd Soup
1/2 Crispy Chicken
Shrimp Cake with Chinese
Broccoli
Sweet and Sour Pork
Seafood with Bean Curd in
Hot Pot
Salt and Pepper Squid
Fried Sea Bass Fish
Steamed Rice
AND GET CASH NOW!
Good & Bad Credit Accepted
September 2007
started out as if they end up in the
landfill.
$58.95
4 Persons
Fish maw seafood soup
2 Baked Lobsters with Ginger
Seafood with Eggplant
in Hot Pot
Stuffed Bean Curd with
Shrimp
Seafood with Chinese broccoli
Fried Sea Bass Fish
House Fried Rice
Special Fried Noodles
$125.95
$63.95
6 Persons
F R E E D E L I V E RY
Minimum order of $10
Delivery hours:
11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
10 Persons
514-733-6029
514-733-1067
For party menu, call Kenny
September 2007
9
Quezon City claims ‘Boracay Mansion’
Philippine Cuisine
Tinolang Manok
inolang Manok (Chicken
done.
Season with patis
Add papaya and continue to simmer
for an additional 5 minutes or until
papaya softens but not overcooked.
Add sili leaves then turn off the
heat.Serve steaming hot with plain
rice.
Estimated cooking time: 45 minutes
Tinola Manok Ingredients:
Tinolang Manok Cooking
Instructions
:
IIn a stock pot, heat oil and sauté
garlic, onion and ginger.
Add water and the chicken. Bring to
a boil and simmer for about 20
minutes or until chicken is almost
Sandiganbayan ordered the house
forfeited along with P545 million that
Estrada is believed holding in a bank
account.
Endriga said Quezon City had
even auctioned off the property to
recover the taxes due on it, but no one
entered a bid. The property had been
delinquent since 2000, he said.
The Sandiganbayan ordered
Estrada jailed for 40 years, and
yesterday the court said the crime of
plunder was not limited to the taking of
public money alone.
“What is important here is the
misuse of public position, and in this
case the accused was then occupying
the highest position in the land,”
Sandiganbayan spokesman Renato
Bocar said. a
More Filipino students read, comprehend better
-- Department of Education
Ginger Stew) Recipe
1 kilo whole chicken, cut into pieces.
1 small young papaya or sayote, cut
into small pieces.
2 tablespoons ginger, crushed and
slliced into strips
1/2 cup dahon ng sili (chili leaves)
1 liter of water
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 red onion, diced
4 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons patis (fish sauce)
September 15, 2007
A prime piece of property owned
by convicted felon former President
Joseph Estrada may not be claimed by
the national government because
Quezon City now owns it, an official
said yesterday.
Quezon City Treasurer Victor
Endriga said the city government
appropriated the so-called “Boracay
Mansion” in New Manila almost a year
ago because its owner or owners had
failed to pay the taxes due on it.
“We have to study this thing first,”
Endriga said, adding Quezon City was
forced to confiscate the 7,400-sq m
property after its owner failed to pay
the P1.7 million he owed on it.
The property is believed owned by
Estrada, who was convicted to life in
prison Wednesday for plunder. The
Bicol Express Ingredients:
1/4 kilo pork, thinly sliced
1 cup Baguio beans
3 cups long chili ojalapeno peppers
1 onion, minced
1 head of garlic, minced
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup coconut cream
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
Salt to taste
Bicol Express Cooking
Instructions:
In a bowl of water with salt,
soak chili peppers for 30 minutes then
September 14, 2007
Grade three students have shown
a significant improvement in reading
and comprehension skills, with an
aggregate percentage of 22.4 in both
English and Filipino.
In a statement, Department of
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said
about 1.8 million pupils took the
Reading Comprehension Test for
English and Filipino in March, which
showed an increase from 49.98 mean
percentage score (MPS) in 2006 to
59.56 MPS in 2007.
Likewise,
Filipino
reading
comprehension test showed that
students achieved an MPS of 60.23
percent in 2007 compared to 49.21
percent in 2006.
The combined 2007 MPS is 60.23
percent against 49.21 percent in 2006.
The March test also showed an
improved performance of pupils from
urban schools over their rural
counterparts.
"This year's results tell us to work
even harder even as we continue with
our initiatives to improve the quality of
education for our children," Lapus said.
rinse and strain.
In a cooking pan, heat cooking oil
and brown sliced pork for a few
minutes.
Then add the coconut milk, bring to a
boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the chili peppers, Baguio beans
and cook until dish gets a little dry.
Add the coconut cream and simmer
until the sauce thickens.
In another pan, sauté minced garlic
and onion.
Add to the sauté the browned pork.
a
Salt to taste.
The North American Filipino Star Classified Ads
ADVERTISING
Cheapest way to advertise!
First 3 lines
$10.00
next additional line @1.99
Classified Ads must be prepaid
Text can be sent by e-mail or in
person by making an
appointment, 514-485-7861
COURSES
Centre 2000 Professional Training
Specials
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dental Assistant
Pharmacy Assistant
Nursing Aide
Daycare Provider
Security Agent
French Course (conversation)
Info: Call 514-342-1000
Dental care provided at competitive
New rates - cleaning $49, etc.
4950 Queen Mary Rd. Suite 351
DRIVING
PERSONAL
Licensed driving instructor with manyyear experience and tips on how
to pass the road test. Good price.
Man, 60 years old seeking good
looking Filipina oriental lady, 40-50
years old with or without Canadian
status for friendship or marriage Call
Alex 450-742-6776
CLEANERS WANTED
Commercial building cleaning
company seeking cleaners, preferably
with experience
Call 514-731-9682 or Fax CV to (514)
731-2059
CDN DUPLEX
Jason 514-691-1816.
*
*
*
*
Car available for EXAM
1 hour practice only $25 (tax incl.)
Many examples of first time success
packages available
MR. KHALIL (514) 965-0903
Renovated 5 1/2 upper duplex
bright rooms, large living room,
Quebec certified driving instructor
newly painted, cleaned carpets, with 11 years experience in giving
driving lessons. Exam car
equipped with new washer/dryer
available
Heated, Tenant with Reference
Toton 514-969-9622
Call 514-485-7861
TUTORIALS
All levels, private or semiprivate, English, French, Math
Experienced Teachers
Reasonable rates
Call 514-485-7861
DAYCARE COURSE
NURSING AIDE
WANTED
Class will start soon. Smal
group set up, budget plan,
Register by appointment
Call 514-485-7861
Flexible schedules, budget plan,
experienced teachers, tuition fees tax
deductible, Register by appointment
Call 514-485-7861
General Employees and
Fork Lift Drivers
Phone: 514-570-8429
10
September 2007
TOURISM
SOUTH
COTABATO
MINDANAO
Helobung Festival, Lake Sebu, held annually on the 2nd week of November
South Cotabato is endowed with
At a 7,600 ft. elevetion, Mount Matutum with its looming height and eye-catching
numerous natural sceneries that have
form dominates the neighboring ranges to the delight of nature lovers.
a great potential as tourist attractions,
and is blessed with creative people
who maintain and develop the beauty
of these places.
This fruitful province is located in
the southern part island of Mindanao.
South Cotabato has many distinct
physiographic features which include a
series of relatively high mountains,
upland lakes and inactive volcanoes
Lake Sebu is home to the T'bolis, a highland tribe that has its roots in
South Cotabato. The local tribesmen consider the lake not only a God-given
food basket but also a miraculous body of water that never dries up.
Pineapple Plantation Worker, Polomolok
T’boli woman participating in the Helobong Festival which showcases the
different arts, culture, sports, and other tribal activities of the T'boli
11
September 2007
that form the Daguma Range.
South Cotabato is Southern
Mindanao's melting pot of religions
and cultures. Panay inhabitants mainly
populate the land. Its native tongue is
composed of both Hiligaynon and
Cebuano.
One of the most colorful people of
Mindanao live in the localization
around Lake Sebu. T'boli natives are
known for their beaded personal
ornaments, embroidered dresses,
bangles, bracelets, chokers and brass
mail belts. The popular T’nalak is a
beautifully woven fabric made by the
T'boli. To weave one T'nalak by hand
takes several months to accomplish.
Geometric patterns are typical of the
T'nalak design. The rich black and red
colors of the fabric are derived from
natural vegetable dyes.
The province is cant as an
agricultural eden. The rich and fertile
lands of Koronadal and Allah contain
fields that produce rice and corn. An
immense plantation of pineapples and
bananas located at the town of
Polomolok, near General Santos City,
are one of their main sources of
income.
South Cotabato is blessed with a
majestic and exotic wilderness which
added to its one of a kind cultural
heritage that boosts the local tourism
industry. Several mountain ranges,
natural caves, mountain lakes, forests
and springs abound the land. The
municipalities of Lake Sebu and T'boli
are well known for their cultural
heritage and crafts of its autochthonal
T'boli and B'laan communities. The
scenic Mt. Matutum, El Gawel Resort
and Wildlife Sanctuary, Lake Sebu,
Lake Maughan and Mt. Parker and the
Seven Falls offers unrivalled vistas for
all tourists and explorers.
The famous and unique T'boli
Tribal Festival held every third week of
September is a thanksgiving festivity
which branched out from the belief of
the T'boli in the golden age which they
call Lem-Lunay. Each festival is an
opportunity to re-energize the people
and renew their vow to work for this
coveted side of life. Other important
not-to-miss festivals include:
- Tinalak Festival (July 16-19)
An annual celebration in South
Cotabato which demonstrates the
importance and significance of the
T'nalak cloth as part of the cultural
image of South Cotabato.
- Helobong Festival (Lake Sebu; 2nd
week of November)
There are two ways for you to arrive on
South Cotabato. One is a direct flight
to Davao City and travel by land to
Lake Sebu for a 6-hour ride. Second,
also a direct flight to Gen. Santos City
and the traveling time to the city is
much shorter, only 2-hour ride. a
Apple picking time is here again!
Let’s go to Mont St. Gregoire.
Freshly picked apples and colorful autumn
leaves are a treat! Come and join us!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Departure time: 9:00 A.M.sharp
Meeting place: Plamondon metro
(Van Horne Exit)
Return to Montreal: 3:00 P.M.
Organized by
Call 514-485-7861
for information and reservation.
Hours:
Mon.-Tues. Wed.
Thursday -Friday
Saturday
8 AM-5 PM
8 AM-9 PM
8 AM-5 PM
Closed on Sundays.
Fill up your freezer for the summer season.
Pork loin
Approximately
15 lbs
Beef
Blade steak
2.19lb
2.99lb
Half or Whole
pork
Cut & Wrapped
Approximately 200 lbs
Home smoked
meat
8
3.79lb
Pork Spare Ribs
1 litre of fresh
blood with purchase
1/2 pork
Regular smoked
bacon
4.79lb
Beef
short ribs
Fresh Belly
with skin
2
Boneless leg
of ham
1.99lb
2.29lb
.29lb
.99
0.99lb
Front quarter of beef
1.35 lb
T'nalak Festival, Koronadal City - An annual celebration in South Cotabato which
demonstrates the importance and significance of the T'nalak cloth as part of the cultural
image of South Cotabato.
Picnic ham
(with bone)
10 lbs & over
2.99lb
lb
4.69lb
St.Chrysostome St. Remi St. Edouard
Napierville
Fresh pork blood
Fresh bacon
Fresh liver
Pork skin
Available
203
Havelock
Sherrington
Barrington
Hemmingford
Jackson Road
202
219
Lacolle
Sortie
Exit No.6
Canada
219
Parc
Safari
Class
Covey Hill Road
Boucherie Viau Inc.
Malone
Moders
U. S. A.
Champlain
83 Covey Hill, Hemmingford QC J0L 1H0
Tel.: (450) 247-2130 or (450) 247-3561
T'bolis in traditional clothing
15
12
September 2007
Star Photo Gallery
Gilmore College students and their friends visited Park Safari, August 26, 2007
Enjoying a day of sunshine and fresh air at Park Safari are Zenaida, Daniel,
Sharlene, Susan, Sonny, Mageline, and Jerio (2 1/2 years old), August 26, 2007
This zebra seems to say:
Will you give me something
to eat here?
Ah, what a yawn.
Lion at Park Safari
getting up from his nap
13
September 2007
Philippine Tourist Sites
Panglao Island, Bohol
Chocolate Hills, Bohol
On the way to climb up and view Chocolate Hills
Valencia, Dumaguete forest camp
Chocolate Hills, Bohol
River Cruise in Bohol
Bougainvillas at the Marine Lab,
Siliman University, Dumaguete
14
6
FILIPINO STAR
SHOWBIZ GOSSIP
Ruffa, Yilmaz kiss and make up
Eddie Gutierrez. "We wanna make one
a wedding. I wanna see again when
she's wearing the gown."
"I'm waiting for the ring and I'm
waiting for him to propose again," said
Ruffa. "But before he does that, since
he wants to get married again, so it
means that he has to propose again to
my Mom and Dad, right? I'm a girl, I
have to like, you know..."
Yilmaz countered this by asking
her, "You want a second bandage?"
Despite the distance and the
amount of time consumed by traveling
back and forth to Manila, Yilmaz will not
think twice of coming back when his
children miss his presence. "If my
children will say ?Bubba, we wanna
see you again' then I will come. If I can't
find a flight then I will swim." a
September 2007
were "jumping up and down the couch
like monkeys."
The amiable balladeer insisted that
everything was taken purely out of
context and that the issue was blown
out of proportion.
"I don't want to talk about it too
much because talking about it means
reviving the entire thing. It is very trivial
and it was so sad that it became an
issue. But I'm really sorry if Pops got
offended by it. I just hope that things
would soon get better between us." a
PARIS makes KC
a proud pinay
Martin Nievera and
Pops
Fernandez
are not yet on
speaking terms
After spending eleven days in the
country, Yilmaz Bektas finally bid
goodbye to his family to return to his
home country in Turkey. He had
postponed his trip twice since he could
not bear to part with his wife, Ruffa
Gutierrez, and their two daughters.
Yilmaz and Ruffa are now on the path
of reconciliation after talking about
their quarrels and differences face to
face.
"I have to go now. Of course, I'm
gonna come back soon," he promised.
"I look right now not I'm sad or upset.
I'm leaving them here but I'm gonna
come back again."
When asked to describe his
relationship now with the TV hostactress, Yilmaz confidently said, "It's
perfect. We will gonna continue again
our marriage after we got the blessing
from her family and from my family and
we're gonna be fine. It's fine now."
"She's keeping her love and I also
have the same feeling," he declared.
A few days before he left Manila,
Yilmaz visited his wife in Quezon City
during one of her tapings for Kokey.
The video footage showed Ruffa with a
bandage in her forehead, as part of the
actress' props in her scene in Kokey.
Yilmaz asked his wife, "Who break your
head? Show me, show me. Last night,
we had a fight."
When asked to explain her injury,
the former beauty queen joked, "Alam
n'yo po, nagselos kasi Yilmaz sa
sobrang ikli ng suot ko sa The Buzz.
Because I'm wearing short skirts kaya
pinukpok niya ako sa ulo."
When her eldest daughter Lorin
pressed Ruffa for an explanation for the
bandage, the TV host-actress joked,
"Kokey hit my head."
It was revealed that Yilmaz is
considering purchasing a house in
Manila for them to call their own. "I
want a condo in Manila. We're looking
[for a] house for us and we're gonna
buy a house," Yilmaz said.
"Wow, it's so touching. I think, you
know, 'yon yung price ko after sinaktan
niya yung ulo ko," she laughed. Ruffa
then turned to Yilmaz and translated, "I
said you're gonna give me a house, it's
my price because you hit my head and
I had to go to the hospital."
The couple also disclosed their
plans to get married again in the future.
According to Ruffa, she is just waiting
for Yilmaz's proposal and the approval
of her parents, Annabelle Rama and
Concert King Martin Nievera
admitted that he hasn't spoken with his
estranged wife Pops Fernandez ever
since their highly-publicized spat last
July.
At the launching of his new 2-disc
record titled Milestones under EMI
Philippines,yesterday, September 12,
at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas,
Martin
told
PEP
(Philippine
Entertainment Portal) that he sent
several text messages to Pops but
never received a reply.
"But I understand. I know Pops,
and I know that she wants it the
traditional way, which is a face-to-face,
personal communication rather than
relay things through text," said Martin
over a cup of tea.
Despite his reputation as a "talker,"
Martin confessed that he's not really
good when it comes to discussing
personal matters, especially when he
knows that the other party is still feeling
upset.
"I have nothing against Pops and I
do understand if she's feeling that way.
Perhaps it is much better to give her
space," added Martin.
The rift between the two happened
July of this year when Pops got upset
by Martin's girlfriend, Katrina Ojeda, for
allegedly calling her sons "monkeys."
Though
the
reported
incident
happened a long time ago, Pops said
she learned about it only recently at the
time from common friends.
Martin previously defended Katrina
about the remark by saying that it was
just a harmless expression or a
metaphor to describe two boys who
KC Concepcion was wearing a
white blouse by Giorgio Armani when
she attended the presscon for her first
TV special, "KC From Paris to Pinas,"
which will be aired on ABS-CBN on
September 23. Her accessory, she
said, was designed and created by a
friend, who will soon venture into the
accessory business.
This TV special, according to KC, is
what has been keeping her busy lately.
She arrived from Paris where she
studied for four years. She finished a
course in International Corporate
Communications.
What everyone will see in the
special are mostly KC’s ideas, said Chit
Guerrero, executive in-charge of
productions.
Chit,
of
course,
contributed to the show so did Chris
Violago, creative director and head
writer, and Sandra Chavez, manager
and production coordinator of KC.
KC related, "This project is close to
my heart as it allows me to share my
four-year experience in Paris. I will be
able to show you around the city I fell in
love with. You’ll get to see the places I
adored and meet the friends who
helped make the city my second
home."
In Paris, KC became friends to two
classmates, one a Hungarian-Filipino
and the other one, a Filipino-Australian.
They became her comfort when she
got homesick. Together, they visited a
number of European cities near Paris.
"Paris is a beautiful city," KC went
on. "It has taught me a lot. It has also
made me love my roots more. Lalo na
ang pagiging Pinay ko." a
September 2007
Christian Bautista
shrugs
off
malicious
talks
about
his
Rustom
Padilla
friendship
with
and Mark Gil tie
Piolo and Sam
for Best Actor at
Urian;
Gina
Pareno wins best
actress
paliwanag ni Christian.
Ayon pa kay Christian, napagusapan na raw nilang "Champions" sa
ASAP '07 na papanoorin nila ang
concert ng bawat isa. a
All set na ang tinaguriang Asia's
Pop Idol na si Christian Bautista for his
first major solo concert this year, ang
Christian
Inspired,
sa
Cuneta
Astrodome on October 6.
Aware si Christian na sa mismong
linggo ng concert niya ay maraming
ibang artists na makakasabay na
magkakaroon din ng kani-kanilang
major concerts. Hindi naman itinanggi
ni Christian na nandoon ang "kaba"
with the competition, pero hangga't
maaari raw ay ayaw niyang i-entertain
ang ganoong pakiramdam.
"Kabado! Kabado siyempre, pero I
don't let it get to me. Kasi kahit na
maraming concerts na kasabay, the
best that I can do from now is to
promote. Like I have posters all over
my car. I'm telling my friends," natatawa
niyang sabi sa PEP (Philippine
Entertainment Portal) sa presscon ng
kanyang concert kahapon, September
14, sa Tempura Japanese Grill, Tomas
Morato.
Ano ang masasabi niyang edge
niya over the other artists na
magkakaroon din ng concert—like Billy
Crawford, Erik Santos, and Mark
Bautista?
"First, mauuna ako, October 6, I'm
gonna be the first with Billy Joe [in
Araneta Coliseum], of course. Second,
they don't have the ‘watch-out' screen
[an
enormous
multi-display
presentation technology with the
dimension of 9x42 feet that will
surround the stage]. I'm gonna be the
first in the Philippines who's gonna use
that. Third, I'm going to sing my
songs—The Way You Look At Me and
some other hits. And fourth, I have
wonderful guests, friends."
Ang mga guests ni Christian sa
kanyang concert ay sina Toni Gonzaga,
Sam Milby, Kuh Ledesma, Joni
Villanueva, Tricia Amper-Jimenez, Sam
Concepcion, at Gary Valenciano.
Kapansin-pansin sa listahan ng
kanyang guests na wala ang pangalan
ng singer-girlfriend niya na si Rachelle
Ann Go.
"'Yon nga, e. Kasi she has a
previous booking sa Pangasinan na
dating-dati pa na-book. So, it's far.
Although hindi siya part ng show, pero
sabi ko sa kanya, humabol siya at sabi
naman niya, hahabol daw siya,"
Rustom Padilla and Mark Gil were
honored by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang
Pilipino as Best Actors of 2006. The
awards show was held, September 13,
at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater in
Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon
City.
Rustom was honored for his work
as Ada in the film ZsaZsa Zaturnnah: Ze
Moveeh. This is the first major award for
him.
Meanwhile, this is the second
Gawad Urian trophy for Mark. His first
Urian came in 1982 for Palipat-lipat,
Papalit-palit. This year, he was honored
for his work as a disillusioned tabloid
reporter in the independent film,
Rotonda.
Mark was also up against his son
Sid Lucero, who was nominated for
Donsol.
"I remember when I last won in
1983. That was the year when my son
Sid was born. And, he was my good
luck charm then. And, after twenty-four
years, here he is also, contending
together for the best award," Mark said
in his acceptance speech.
It was an emotional moment for
Rustom as his brother, Robin Padilla,
was the one who handed him the
trophy. Rustom gave Robin a long
embrace before both winners spoke to
thank the Manunuri. Robin won last
year's Urian for his work in La Visa
Loca.
Rustom recounted that he used to
watch this awards show when he was
young when the likes of Vilma Santos
and Christopher de Leon were winning
these awards.
"Maliit pa lang po ako at
pinangarap ko na po noon na
magkaroon ng ganitong klaseng
awards. Dahil iba po yung kritiko yung
nagbibigay sa iyo ng parangal, dahil
nakikita
nila
yung
puso
ng
pagkakagawa mo at pagkakalahad mo
ng iyong karakter na naayon doon sa
script," Rustom said in his speech. a
Gov. Vilma Santos
and
Korina
Sanchez end their
rift
15
showbiz at pati na rin ng pulitika.
Sinabi pa ng actress-politician na
wala rin siyang dapat ikasama ng loob
kina Mother Lily Monteverde, Richard
Gomez, at ilan pang mga kasamahan
niya sa showbiz na may pahayag noon
laban kay Ralph. Parte lamang daw ito
ng pulitika at ngayong tapos na ang
eleksiyon ay hindi na ito dapat
pagtuunan ng pansin.
"It's time to unite and move
forward," sabi ni Governor Vi. a
Model
Martin
Jickain
denies
Aiko
Melendez
left him because
of
his alleged
womanizing
Pinarangalan ng People Asia magazine
ang ilan sa pinakahinahangaang mga
kababaihan sa kani-kanilang larangan
na tinawag nilang Women of Style and
Substance kahapon, September 6, sa
Legaspi
Room
ng
Hotel
Intercontinental.
Kabilang sa naparangalan this year
ay sina Batangas Governor Vilma
Santos-Recto; Senator Loren Legarda;
beauty expert Vicki Belo; actress-TV
host Toni Gonzaga; race driver Gaby
dela Merced; singer Sitti; lifestyle
columnist
Millet
Mananquil;
restaurateur Gaita Forres; lawyers
Katrina Legarda and Rowena Bengzon;
socialites-philanthropists Lizzie Zobel
and Margarita Delgado; and news
personalities Korina Sanchez, Vicky
Morales, and Tintin Bersola-Babao.
Isa sa inaabangan ng marami sa
naganap na awarding ay ang unang
paghaharap nina Gov. Vi at Korina.
Matatandaang
nagkaroon
ng
tampuhan ang dalawa dahil sa mga
komentaryo ni Korina sa kanyang
programa sa radyo laban kay Vilma at
sa pamilya Recto, partikular na sa
dating Senator Ralph Recto, noong
panahon ng kampanya last May 2007
elections. Halos araw-araw kasi ang
pambabatikos ni Korina kay Ralph
dahil sa isyu ng E-VAT (Expanded
Value Added Tax).
Pero kahapon ay parang walang
anumang nangyari sa pagitan nina
Vilma at Korina. Nagyakapan pa nga
sila.
Mas naunang dumating si Vilma sa
venue at nasa stage na lahat ng
awardees nang dumating naman si
Korina. Isa-isang nilapitan ni Korina sa
entablado ang mga co-awardees niya
upang bumati. Siyempre, hindi na niya
naiwasan si Vilma na nandun din sa
hanay ng mga awardees.
Kinunan ng pahayag ng PEP
(Philippine Entertainment Portal) si
Govenor Vi tungkol sa pagkikita nila ni
Korina pagkatapos ng seremonyas.
Ayon sa premyadong aktres at
politician ay wala raw naman siyang
sama ng loob na naramdaman kay
Korina. Napalaki lang daw ‘yon ng
Kasunod ng pagkumpirma ng
kaibigan at publicist ni Aiko Melendez
na si Ogie Diaz sa radio program nito
na Wow...Ang Showbiz sa dzXL
kaninang umaga, September 14, na
hiwalay na ang actress-politician sa
asawa nitong si Martin Jickain,
tumawag naman si Martin sa radio
program nina Cristy Fermin at Jobert
Sucaldito na Showbiz Mismo sa dzMM
kanina ring umaga upang sabihin na
nasasaktan siya sa nangyayari sa
kanila ni Aiko.
Nilinaw ni Martin na hindi pa nila
pormal na napag-uusapan ni Aiko ang
tungkol sa kanilang paghihiwalay. "Civil
naman kami sa isa't isa. Kung
physically hiwalay? Ata," sagot nito
nang tanungin siya kung totoong
hiwalay na nga sila ni Aiko.
Sinabi pa ng 23-anyos na model na
ang mag-ina niya na sina Aiko at
Marthena ang umalis sa kanilang
bahay sa Tivoli Royale subdivision sa
Batasan Hills, Quezon City, at naroon
pa ang kanilang gamit at damit.
"Two days ago pa lang po ako
nakaalis ng bahay namin," sabi ni
Martin.
Ayon sa naunang ulat ng PEP
(Philippine Entertainment Portal), may
kinalaman diumano sa pagiging
babaero ni Martin ang dahilan kung
bakit siya hiniwalayan ni Aiko. Pero
mariin itong pinabulaanan ni Martin.
"Hindi po totoong may bisyo ako,"
pagtatanggol niya sa sarili. "Hindi ako
nagsusugal, hindi nambababae. Ni
sigarilyo nga po ay hindi ako
marunong. Droga? Hindi rin po dahil
may ini-endorse po ako kaya hindi
pwede."
Ikinasal sina Martin at Aiko noong
February 16, 2006 sa Fernwood
Gardens sa Quezon City. May isa
silang anak, si Marthena, na
nagdiwang ng kanyang unang
kaarawan noong July 28. a
16
September 2007
Communist leader Sison walks free
‘It’s not over ‘til it’s over’- Palace exec on Sison release
September 13, 2007
Communist leader Jose Ma. Sison
has been freed from prison, just hours
after a Dutch court ordered his release
after it failed to find “sufficient
indications” he was involved in the
murders of former political colleagues
in the Philippines.
September 13, 2007
Despite the Dutch Justice
Ministry's decision to release Jose Ma.
Sison, Malacañang is still hoping that
the case against the communist leader
will proceed.
National Security Adviser Norberto
Gonzales said the release did not
mean an acquittal for Sison, who was
arrested for allegedly ordering the
murders of his former comrades in the
Philippines.
"We will see how the prosecutors
will react, it's a continuing process. It's
not over 'til it's over," he said.
At the same time, Gonzales said he
had ordered tighter security for the
widows of slain ex-rebel leaders
Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara
who filed the case against Sison in The
Netherlands, as well as government
officials whom he did not name.
“I have ordered increased
protection for [the] complainants and
other individuals who may be the
Kintanar and Tabara were among
rebel leaders who led a faction that
split from the mainstream communist
movement in the 1990s.
The court also recognized “many
indications in the files which support
the point of view that the accused is
still playing a leading role in the Central
object of NPA [New People’s Army]
vengeance. We have received
information from very reliable source
the NPA will undertake something
major in Metro Manila,” Gonzales
claimed.
Gonzales also said that the
government would continue helping
the Dutch government if its assistance
would be sought.
He said he expected the Dutch
government to file a motion for
reconsideration.
Asked if the President knew about
the development, Gonzales said he
has yet to talk to her.
Gonzales said earlier Thursday
that he was surprised to find about
Sison's release.
When Sison was arrested two
weeks ago, Malacañang hailed it as a
"major breakthrough in the quest for
peace and justice shared by millions of
Filipinos." a
Abalos denies bugging Speaker De Venecia’s son
Jose Ma. Sison upon his release from Scheveningen Prison, The Hague, Sep 13, 2007
But Sison, founder of the
Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP) and its armed wing the New
People’s Army (NPA), is not off the
hook yet as the District Court of The
Hague does not preclude him from
being prosecuted on murder charges.
“The charges are not being
dropped. The investigation will
continue and the national police still
consider him a suspect,” spokesman
Wim de Bruin of the national
prosecutor's office told INQUIRER.net
in a phone interview.
The Dutch court only rules on the
request to keep someone in custody,
while it is the public prosecutor's office
that decides on whether or not to
prosecute.
“Now that he is released, there is
no need for a trial within three months,”
De Bruin said. “It can start longer than
three months.”
Sison, who has been living in the
Dutch town of Utrecht since 1987, was
arrested on August 28 on charges of
having ordered the murder, from the
Netherlands, of former comrades
Arturo Tabara and Romulo Kintanar.
According to Dutch prosecutors,
Sison ordered the assassination of
Kintanar, former NPA chief, on January
23, 2003. The murder was claimed by
the NPA itself in an official publication,
they said
Prosecutors are also investigating
the role of Sison, 68, in the killings of
Tabara and his son-in-law Stephen
Ong on September 26, 2006. Tabara
was a member of the highest
command of the NPA and his
assassination was also claimed by the
rebel group.
The district court has established
that the murders were committed in the
Philippines due to disagreements
within the CPP and that the decision to
commit these crimes was made “within
party structures of the CPP.”
Committee of the CPP as well as in the
military branch of the CPP, the New
People's Army.”
The court ruled however that there
was not enough evidence to prove
Sison committed the crimes in
collusion with others or that he incited
others to kill the victims.
De Bruin said the Dutch national
prosecutor’s office will appeal the
court’s decision to release Sison.
The freed communist leader was
welcomed by wife Juliet de LimaSison, friends and colleagues from the
National Democratic Front, including
Luis Jalandoni, his wife Connie
Ledesma, and Joselito Baleva. He was
accompanied by his lawyer Michiel
Pestman as he walked out of the
penitentiary institution at The Hague.
Sison fled the Philippines and filed
for political asylum in the Netherlands
in the 1980s but his request was
rejected by the Dutch authorities. They
ruled, however, that he could not be
sent back to the Philippines because
his life would be in danger.
Since 2002, Sison and the Maoistinspired CPP have been on the EU list
of people and organizations aiding
terrorism. His assets have been frozen
and the Dutch state also blocked his
pension.
Although Sison won one legal
challenge against the listing, his name
reappeared on a subsequent review of
the list, and he will need to file a
separate legal challenge to get that
mention lifted.
Sison has complained that the
Dutch government's freezing of his
welfare and pension allowances meant
he had to live off gifts from the
Philippine community and his wife's
welfare cheques. a
September 14, 2007
Finding himself in another
wiretapping controversy, Commission
on Elections Chairman Benjamin
Abalos denied Friday he ordered the
bugging of the phone of Joey De
Venecia III in connection with the $329
million national broadband network
deal and branded the latter’s
allegations as "ridiculous."
Abalos called on the public and the
media not to believe the statements of
the son of House Speaker Jose De
Venecia, and said his lawyer was
preparing to file several libel charges
against the younger De Venecia for his
continued attacks on the elections
official.
De Venecia said in an affidavit that
Abalos, in a fit of rage, blurted out that
he wiretapped De Venecia's phone to
monitor his conversations with officials
of China's ZTE Corp., which bagged
the NBN deal. De Venecia’s
Amsterdam Holdings, Inc. submitted
an unsolicited offer to implement the
project but he said it was not even
considered.
De Venecia said he had told ZTE
officials over the phone that Abalos
wanted a $130 million kickback for the
project and thus posed the biggest
obstacle to the deal. AHI attempted to
enter into a comprise with ZTE for the
NBN project.
"I find it ridiculous. Wiretapping?"
Abalos said in a phone interview. "You
know better than that. What are my
qualifications? He makes himself
incredible."
He lamented the series of
allegations against him, saying those
were hard to believe.
"First, my sexual prowess. And
then my influence with Cabinet
officials. And now this," he said.
Representative Carlos Padilla has
accused the Comelec head of
receiving sexual favors in return for
brokering the NBN deal between the
Philippine government and China.
Asked what he thought De
Venecia's motive was in issuing the
sworn statement, Abalos replied, "I
don't want to speculate. I don't like
speculations. I don't know his motives."
According to Abalos, De Venecia's
statements showed people what kind
of a man De Venecia was. He also said
De Venecia's statements should be
scrutinized.
"I am appealing to the public and
the media to be very careful with his
statements," he said.
Abalos also said he remained
unaffected by De Venecia's claims, but
his family, especially his wife, was
taking the attacks hard.
"I can take it in stride. But my wife
could not sleep. She doesn't want to
read the papers anymore. I understand
I'm the headline again of your paper,"
he said.
Abalos denies the wiretapping allegations
The
Comelec
was
earlier
embroiled in a wiretapping controversy
after one of its commissioners, Virgilio
Garcillano, was allegedly recorded
discussing how to rig the 2004
presidential election on the telephone
with President Gloria MacapagalArroyo.
Arroyo has admitted speaking to
an election official whom she did not
identify during the 2004 presidential
election period. While she apologized
for it, she has denied allegations of
cheating in the election.
Neither the Comelec nor the
administration has investigated nor
shown any interest to investigate the
bugging that led to the recording of the
“Hello, Garci” tape. a
September 2007
PWCQ)press statement
on police brutality in
Cote-des-Neiges
September 11, 2007
(Read by Josie Caro, PWCQ board
member, during Kabataang Montreal press
September 11, 2007 press conference)
Welcome everyone. Thank you all for
joining us this morning.
My name is Josie Caro and I am
speaking on behalf of the Philippine
Women Centre of Quebec.
We, the Filipino women of
Quebec, are concerned about the safety
and well-being of our children. I personally
met with "Tina" on August 31, only a few
days after she had been harassed and
brutalised by two Montreal police officers
from Station 25. Listening to her testimony,
I observed that she was not just a child
who was hurt by police officials, she was a
Filipino immigrant child, a daughter of
working class parents, and a brave young
woman of colour who was not afraid to
stand up and demand that her rights be
respected.
In Quebec, 60% of Filipinos are
women. One of the major factors for this
demographic is the large number of
women coming to Canada under the LiveIn Caregiver Program (or LCP) - an
initiative of Citizenship and Immigration
Canada which gives women a temporary
workers visa while they work for 24
months, living in their employer's house,
(it's mandatory), doing domestic work and
caring for young children, the elderly or the
disabled. Due to the live-in nature of the
work, these women are forced to leave
their families behind in the Philippines and
it is only after several years of hard work for
very little pay - several years in which
papers are to be processed and
exhorbitant immigration fees are paid that they may be reunited.
As I mentioned earlier, the Filipino
women of Quebec are concerned about
the welfare of their children. Because of the
conditions in the Philippines, women must
leave their home in order to support their
families. Although they make only
minimum wage (much less if you consider
they are providing 24 hour home support) ,
they send a large portion of that back
home, driving them into deeper and
deeper poverty.
Filipinos make up 17% of the
population of Cote-des-Neiges. In fact,
61% of all Filipinos in Quebec live in the
Cote-des-Neiges area. They are low
income families. While Filipinos are among
some the most highest educated people in
Canada, they receive lower than average
income. Nurses and teachers from the
Philippines are working as nannies and
caregivers for less than minimum wage.
17
Children are separated from their mothers
for years at a time - the average in BC was
five years separation. Imagine your mother
leaving to work when you are 6 years old,
and only being able to reunite with her at
age 11. This is the reality of the Filipino
community in Quebec. This Live-in
Caregiver program, implemented by the
Canadian government is one of the major
factors in the economic marginalization of
Filipino families, in the relationship
difficulties experienced between Filipino
youth and their mothers and ultimately, in
the so-called delinquency of our youth who
spend time on the streets rather than in
their perhaps tension-filled homes.
But Montreal Police, particularly
those in the Cote-des-Neiges area do not
see these youth as victims of a system that
marginalizes a community. Instead, they
see trouble makers, delinquents and kids
who are not deserving of respect.
Tina is not a delinquent. She is a
sweet 17 year old girl who happened to be
sitting in Van Horne park, waiting for her
older sister to come meet her so they could
go home. She is a daughter of a former
live-in Caregiver, the second oldest in a
family of seven, living in a two-bedroom
apartment in Cote-st-Luc. She was a young
woman of colour, a young Filipino woman
who was targeted by Montreal police
because of her colour and who had the gall
to ask, "What did I do wrong?"
And because of this, she was grabbed
forcefully, she was pushed to the ground
with her face in the dirt, and when they put
her in the car, they slammed the door on
her foot? She had been sitting in that park,
feeling safe and secure that police officers
were patrolling the area. How could she
have foreseen that she would be leaving
the park bruises on her arm, and a
humiliated and broken spirit.
PAs Filipino women of Quebec,
we are outraged by the racist, ignorant and
disrespectful behaviour of the two Montreal
police officers from Station 25. This brutal
attack on a 17 year old girl, a Filipino girl,
and a daughter of working class immigrant
parents, is another reflection of how the
Canadian government suppresses the
development of women of colour. We, the
Filipino women of Quebec, alongside other
Filipinos, demand an apology from the
Montreal police force. We will not stop until
Tina gets the respect that she deserves.
-Philippine Women Centre of Quebec-
Interested in import and
export?
Register in Global
Entrepreneurship
To be conducted as a 7-day
weekend workshop
Tuition Fee: $639 (Tax
deuductible)
Textbooks extra
Projected start: October 2007
Please call to make
appointment and register
Tel.: 514-485-7961
Fall Dance 2007
Featuring the "Just Us" band with sit-down dinner.
When: November 10, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.
Where: Shriner's Karnak Temple,
3350 Boul. Des Sources,
Dollard Des Ormeaux
Donation:$35.00
Dinner will be served at
For tickets please call:
Ray Odulio
George Campbell
Romy Hufana
Andy Odulio
Alberto Tan
8:00 P.M. sharp.
(514) 683-0290
(514) 323-6588
(514) 497-3542
(514) 744-0572
(514) 624-3764
Confirmation on attendance must be made on or before October 26, 2007.
Under the supervision of the National
Alliance of Philippine Women in
Canada (NAPWC), we are an institution
of research, education, advocacy, and
capacity building by Filipino women for
the Filipino community.
Tel: (514) 678-3901
18
International privacy
experts meet in Montreal
OTTAWA, Sept. 6 /CNW
Telbec/ - The who's who of the
privacy world will meet in
Montreal this month to explore
ways to better protect privacy
in the face of rapidly changing
technologies and heightened
national security
concerns.
The Office of the Privacy
Commissioner of Canada is hosting the
29th International Conference of Data
Protection and Privacy Commissioners
in Montreal from September 25 to 28th.
Data protection commissioners and
other privacy experts from around the
globe will explore topics such as public
safety, globalization, Radio Frequency
Identification, nanotechnology,
children and privacy, location-based
tracking, data mining and Internet
crime.
Commissioners and other officials
will be available for interviews in a
number of languages. The conference
includes representatives from the
European Union, Estonia, France,
Germany, Greece, Hong Kong,
Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Korea, Spain and other
countries.
Conference speakers include:
Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the US
Department of Homeland Security;
Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy
counsel;
Bruce
Schneier,
an
internationally renowned privacy and
security guru and best-selling author;
Katherine Albrecht, widely recognized as
one of the world's leading experts on
consumer privacy for her work as director
of Consumers Against Supermarket
Privacy Invasion and Numbering; and
Simon Davies, a pioneer of the
international privacy arena and founder of
Privacy International.
The complete program and speakers list
are
available
at:
www.privacyconference2007.gc.ca. Media
are encouraged to complete and submit an
accreditation form, also available online,
before the conference.
Out-of-town journalists are encouraged to
reserve hotel rooms as soon as
possible.
For further information: Colin McKay, Office
of the Privacy Commissioner of
Canada,
(613)
995-0103,
[email protected]
This information is being distributed to you
by CNW Group Ltd.
September 2007
of the government's resolve to combat
corruption.
"The euphoria over the conviction is
just a one-day celebration. It's now
time for some reality check for
investors," said First Grade Holdings
managing director Astro del Castillo.
"They
have
refocused
on
fundamentals rather than the political
event," said del Castillo, citing the
weakening U.S. economy and rising
oil prices as main concerns.
Property developer Ayala Land Inc.
slid 1.8 percent at 13.75 pesos, Manila
Electric Co. slipped 2.6 percent at
76.50 pesos, and Manila Water Co.
plummeted 3.6 percent at 13.50 pesos.
Decliners outnumbered gainers 59 to
38, while 59 stocks were unchanged.
The peso climbed versus the dollar on
general weakness of the U.S. currency
and peaceful public reaction to the
guilty verdict on Estrada. The dollar
closed at 46.47, down from 46.71 on
Wednesday.
Philippine Shares Drop
0.6 Percent
MANILA,
Philippines
—
Philippine shares fell Thursday as
investors cashed in on one-day gains
amid lingering concerns over the U.S.
economy and rising oil prices.
The 30-company Philippine Stock
Exchange Index lost 18.38 points, or
0.6 percent, at 3,289.22, after
rebounding 1.2 percent Wednesday.
Investors cheered a guilty verdict
Wednesday in deposed President
Joseph Estrada's plunder trial as a sign
Baby shower at Pearl of Manila Restaurant recently/
Real Estate
Tips
By Rachel Reyes
Century 21 Services Plus
514-817-5000
WHY MANY PEOPLE BUY DUPLEX
People are becoming more
and more practical when it comes to
investment. Investing in real estate is
the biggest one that they have to take
their time searching and shopping until
they find the ideal one. Duplex is the
simplest type of revenue building, it
normally becomes triplex when the
bachelor or the basement has been
converted to another apartment. It is
the easiest one to manage because of
its least number of tenants. Why a lot of
people tend to buy duplex than a
single dwelling house?
1.
Revenue- Most duplexes has a
revenue which average to eight
hundred ($800.00) per month. It is
ideal to buy and live in a duplex that
has two revenues one from the upper
level rental and the other is in the
basement rental. This revenue is good
to help the owner occupant to pay the
monthly mortgage. It also depends on
the price of the duplex, the more
revenue the better to support the
owner’s mortgage.
2.
Tax deductible- Once you have
rental in the building whether one or
two, you can declare in your income
tax the expenses such as repair,
maintenance, heating etc incurred
from the rental apartments. You can
actually declare as well a percentage
when you repair the roof or building
bricks or even when you convert a gas
heating to electric heating.
3.
Location- Based on my
experience, some of my clients do not
want to go out Montréal especially
Filipinos. They want to find something
in Côte-des-Neiges or La Salle or even
Ville St-Laurent. Which it makes a lot of
sense, the proximity of a property is
very important factor to consider when
buying a building. It has the
transportation service such as bus,
metro or even taxi. Which it makes
people lives much easier to go to their
work, shopping mall, groceries,
schools, hospitals, church, etc.
4.
Easier to rent- Why easier to
rent? Because of the location, it is
understandable when your apartment
is in the middle of everything just by
putting “Á Louer “ in your window or in
the front yard, people will be calling
you. Another reason is the number of
population in the area. You can
imagine how many people reside in
Côte-des-neiges, when its weekend it
is like fiesta in Philippines.
5.
Easier to Manage- One or two
tenants is easy to manage in my
opinion. You don’t have to hire a
concierge or a collector to get your
rents.
6.
Financially Flexible- When
buying a duplex, you do not have to
put 25% down payment, the banks
accept 10% down payment depending
on your credit and condition of the
building. Many people think they
cannot afford to buy a duplex because
it’s expensive but you will be surprised
if an agent calculates your monthly
mortgage considering the revenue.
Banks demand more money for down
payment when buying more than four
apartments.
7.
Higher Re-sell Value- It is
amazing that despite of high asking
price, people still checking around and
negotiating.
Choice of property is also depend on
people life style or future plans. Buyers
are smart, they like to spend few
months to come up with a plan of what
property suits them. They assess
themselves based on size of their
family, financial capability, present life’s
conditions and many more.
This article is basically my opinion as a
real estate agent and no intention to
offend concerned people. For all
questions or inquiries regarding real
estate please contact my number
above and I will be very glad to help
you.
Regular advertising
really works!
Call 514-485-7861
to advertise in the Star.
Home Maintenance Tips for Fall Protect your home - and your
investment!
OTTAWA, Sept. 11 /CNW Telbec/ Your house is more than the place
where you live. It's your home, and
your most important investment.
Carrying out a regular program of
maintenance and repairs can help you
protect that investment for as long as
you live in your home, and help keep
your family safe and sound in every
season.
This fall, for example, Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation
has a variety of simple tasks you can
perform to avoid the most common and costly
- problems before they occur, in just a
few minutes a week. For example:
- Check and clean or replace your
furnace filters on a monthly
basisduring the heating season.
- Have your furnace or heating
system serviced by a qualified service
company (every two years for a gas
furnace and every year for an oil
furnace).
- Bleed air from the hot water
radiators, and turn the gas furnace pilot
light on.
- Vacuum electric baseboard
heaters to remove dust, removing the
grilles on forced air systems and
vacuum inside the ducts.
- If the heat recovery ventilator has
been shut off for the summer, clean
filters and the core, and pour water
down the condensate drain to test it.
- Have well water tested for quality.
- Check the sump pump and line to
ensure proper operation, and that
there are no line obstructions or visible
leaks.
- If you have a septic tank, measure
the sludge and scum to determine if it
needs to be emptied before spring.
Tanks should be pumped out at least
once every three years.
- Replace window screens with
storm windows, and ensure all
windows, doors and skylights shut
tightly, including the door between
your house and garage.
- Ensure that the ground around
your home slopes away from the
foundation wall to prevent water from
draining into the basement.
- Clean leaves from eaves troughs
and downspouts to ensure proper
drainage from the roof, and check
chimneys for nests or other
obstructions.
- Cover the outside of air
DR. EMILIA ESPIRITU
CHIRURGIEN DENTISTE / DENTAL
SURGEON
5790 COTE desk NEIGES RD.
SUITE A-024
MONTREAL, QUEBEC
H3S 1Y9
19
September 2007
PHONE: 514-340-8222 (4077)
E-Mail: [email protected]
conditioners, and drain and store
outdoor hoses. Close the valve to
outdoor hose connection, and drain
the faucet(unless it is frost proof).
- Winterize landscaping by storing
outdoor furniture, preparing gardens
and, if necessary, protecting young
trees or bushes for winter.
For more information or a free copy
of the Ask CMHC About Your Home's
Possibilities catalogue, "About Your
House" Home Maintenance Schedule
or any of the other "About Your House"
series of fast-and-factual guides
covering virtually every facet of
owning, maintaining or renovating your
home, call CMHC at 1 800 668-2642 or
visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca.
Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation (CMHC) is Canada's
national housing agency and a source
of objective, reliable housing expertise.
lClear the Air - Find,
Clean Up and Prevent
Mold in Your Home
By Dr. Virginia Salares, Senior
Researcher, CMHC (long)
OTTAWA, Sept. 11 /CNW Telbec/ Mold of any kind growing inside your
home can pose a serious health risk,
especially if anyone in your family
suffers from asthma or allergies. But as
long as you know where to look, what
to look for - and how to prevent or
clean up mold in your home - you
should be able to keep any potential
mold problems under control, and
keep your family happy and
healthy.
What causes mold to grow?
Molds are microscopic fungi that are
able to grow and reproduce rapidly.
Molds are a necessary part of our
environment - they break down waste
and some even produce antibiotics
A problem occurs when mold grows
where we don't want it to, such as
inside your home. Once inside, mold
can cause problems ranging from
damage to materials, to allergic
reactions and respiratory diseases.
However, molds cannot be blamed for
structural damage and wood rot,
See Page 21
Molds
20
Global
Perspectives
Isaac T. Goodine
New immigrants get ahead
So to my foreign-born wife, who in the Philippines at the same time as
landed in Canada 10 years ago when I similar offices in China and India. It is
brought her with me on my return after intended to help immigrants to
“Within 10 years of their arrival, immigrants have the same job prospects
as native-born Canadians. As they gain experience and their skills
improve, their prospects improve significantly”.
… National Post, editorial comment, September 13, 2007
27 years living and working abroad, I
can finally say: “Yes, Gloria, you are
Canadian, and no longer a newCanadian”. And it only took 10 years!
The only thing I am not quite sure
about is whether or not it is still
necessary to pass the test that
Canadian Historian, Pierre Burton,
reportedly, stated as essential to be
regarded as a true-Canadian. I was
told that, according Burton, the criteria
for being recognized as a trueCanadian includes the ability to have
sex in a canoe.
OK forget the canoe. So what’s 10
years between friends? Canada is a
friendly country isn’t it? The problem is
that new immigrants to Canada have
an unemployment rate as much as
three times higher than that of
Canadian-born workers with the same
education. There are three main
reasons for this disparity: lack of
Canadian work experience, lack of
recognition of foreign credentials, and
language barriers. The National Post
editorial of September 13, 2007 makes
a good case by showing that
immigrants’ economic prospects
improve the longer they are in Canada,
and therefore suggests that there is no
need for government intervention
because there is no “problem” and the
editorial concludes…”there is no
integration crisis for foreign-born
workers, so no drastic intervention is
warranted”.
However that is about the only
good news on the subject. As one
example, the regular immigration route
for immigrants from the Philippines,
where the education system is Englishlanguage based, requires between
three to five years processing time for
fully qualified persons before they
leave home to become Landed
Immigrants in Canada; and then it
takes another ten years to gain
Canadian experience to catch-up to
the Canadian-born counterpart with
equivalent “qualifications”. It is with the
expectation that the integration
process can be speeded up that the
Canadian Immigration Integration
Project office was recently established
integrate more quickly into the
workforce and in society. Still, there is a
wide spread attitude in Canada that it is
not necessary and this attitude is
clearly reflected by the National Post
comment on the subject; as the article
points out that since the jobless rate for
new Canadians matches the national
average, once they have been here for
a decade, it shows that: “…our society
and economy can be said to be doing
exactly what they should---welcoming
newcomers and permitting them to
move up the ladder reasonably quickly.
Who can argue with that? Of
course we are a civilized society if we
indeed welcome newcomers and
permit them to move up the ladder
reasonably quickly? Well, from my
global perspective things look
different. While we permit them to
move up the ladder why can’t we also
empower them to move up the ladder
even more quickly for the good of our
economy and society at the same
time? Over the last few decades there
were three explosions that shook the
outside world but seemingly they were
not felt much in Canada. They were:
the explosion of population, explosion
of knowledge, and the explosion of
expectations. There are many more
people in the world and many of them
have gained much knowledge
because of the internationalization of
education that some Canadians
helped to spread abroad; and once
these people gained access to
knowledge and skills, they naturally
raised their expectations. Now, there
are over 80 million transnational
workers in the world—and many more
just waiting for a chance to go abroad.
At a very critical time in the
internationalization
process,
Canadians became both occupied and
pre-occupied with politics at home and
withdrew from the very institutions that
Canadians helped to establish,
particularly those institutions geared to
internationalization of education. This
period has been referred to by Andrew
Cohen in his book: While Canada Slept
as a period during which Canada
became relatively inactive in the
diplomatic arena after “punching
above our weight” for some time. While
Canada remained somewhat isolated
and relatively unscathed by the
explosions in population, knowledge
and
expectations
experienced
elsewhere during the last couple of
decades the global perspective has
changed dramatically.
While Canada slept China awoke;
India reshaped and revitalized its
economy; and the Philippines
refocused its education and training
system on meeting the requirements
for overseas employment in a World
Wide labor market. China has created
a workforce of 100,000,000 people
who are using skills that were unknown
in that Nation prior to 1995; India is
providing high-tech workers and
professionals working at home and
abroad in the global marketplace; and
the Philippines has strengthened the
Philippine Overseas Employment
Authority (POEA), the first such agency
in the world, to oversee the largest
workforce ever deployed abroad by
any country. It is no accident that the
Canadian Immigration Integration
Project was set up in China, India, and
Philippines. That is where the skilled
workers are and they are willing to
come to Canada, if we make the
conditions attractive. Apart from the big
three, several other countries emerged
while Canada’s productivity went
south, along with many retirees, and 17
countries
overtook
Canada
in
economic advancement in recent
years.
So now, here is the question; What
if we were to continue to welcome
newcomers and permit them to move
up the ladder as we do now but
provide them with the knowledge they
need to move up the ladder even more
quickly than at the present pace that
takes between 13 and 15 years to full
integration?
Knowledge
creates
empowerment and is all that most
would need to move up the ladder
more quickly. Such empowerment
would be through knowledge gained
through education designed to
overcome existing impediments. The
three main ones in Canada have been
mentioned already: lack of Canadian
work experience, lack of recognition of
foreign credentials, and language
barriers.
From the Canadian side it would
be necessary to recognize that there is
a “problem”. Only then can we solve
the problem. Among my collection of
stars to steer by, is this contribution
from Mr. A. B. Mac Donald.
“In the 18th Century, apparently,
the standing instructions of the
Burmese Kings to their p r o v i n c i a l
governors were limited to two points:
Make big problems small. Solve
small problems.”
So, what’s the problem? Last
month I used the heading: “It’s about
productivity; stupid!” For some time
now, in this column, we have been
highlighting the problems created by
Canada’s
relentless
slide
in
productivity in comparison to other
industrialized countries. Productivity is
measured as a country’s economic
output per hour worked and is
immediately reflected in that country’s
September 2007
standard of living. It matters because,
as Ronald Reagan once said: “there is
no free lunch.” Of course there is no
quick fix. This is a compound problem
and would require a policy on human
capital that would coordinate the
production and utilization of human
resources so that the key issues
causing the steady decline in
productivity could be addressed. For
some time now we have known that
Canada has two serious economic
issues: a chronic lack of productivity
growth and an ageing and shrinking
work force. Also, as we have noted
before, the situation regarding human
capital in Canada is bleak. There is no
comprehensive or integrated system
for policy development, strategic
planning, or for management of a
coherent labour market. Declining
productivity is exacerbated by a
moribund system of education and
training that is either unable or
unwilling
to
respond
to
the
requirements of a flexible modern labor
market. That is why Canada must now
rely on a combination of immigration
and on contract-workers with fixedterm work permits. This is necessary to
sustain an economy faced with
pressures from globalization and
introduction of new technologies by
other countries that are overtaking us
in productivity.
Experienced workers are needed
to boost productivity and Canadian
authorities recently revealed that work
permits will be issued when justified.
So what is the problem? There are a
host of hurdles to overcome including:
1) Lack of Canadian experience: the
truth is that experience in other
countries
can
be
substituted,
particularly when it is more modern,
technologically advanced, and has
contributed to higher levels of
productivity than counterparts in
Canada—Canadian experience is on
longer what it used to be; that it is not
necessarily the best in the world
because Canadian firms have not
invested in technology or training to
keep
pace
with
world
class
performance witnessed elsewhere.
Third country (not third world)
experience can supplement Canadian
experience.
2) Lack of recognition of foreign
credentials: the truth is that because of
globalization of the workforce there
have been significant advancements
made in evaluation and accreditation
of credentials, particularly in the AsiaPacific region under the auspices of
the Colombo Plan Staff College and in
China with World Bank assistance for
labor market development at an
international standard. There is a
strong case to be made that some of
the regulating bodies in Canada are
constraining
recognition
of
qualifications for their own ends that
include keeping their services in high
demand and correspondingly highly
paid.
3) Language barriers: the truth is that
modern methods of education and
training can and are being used to
effectively overcome this constraint in
the global workforce. This is
associated with the fact that Canadians
have surprising low literacy skills
From Page 19
21
September 2007
compared
to
other
modern
countries—that’s because no one is
really taking charge, according to
Frank Mckenna, former premier of New
Brunswick, former Ambassador to the
United States and now deputy
chairman of TD Bank Financial Group.
Mckenna’s has addressed this
issue in an article published in the
Ottawa Citizen, on September 13,
2007. His article is revealing as he
points out that an alarming number of
citizens are unable to comprehend,
compute and communicate at a level
deemed
necessary
for
a
knowledgeable worker. He cites recent
studies that show disturbing facts.
Almost four in 10 youths at age 15,
have insufficient reading skills; while
more than two in 10 university
graduates, almost five in 10 Canadian
adults and six in 10 immigrants have
inadequate levels of proficiency in
English or French. He states that
“these outcomes pose a serious threat
to our competitive standing in the
global marketplace” and points out
that “poor literacy rates have
contributed to our anemic productivity
levels.” Craig Alexander, TD Bank’s
deputy chief economist raised some
similar concerns when he addressed a
meeting of literacy experts in Toronto
where he pointed out that: “ An
increase in literacy of one percent
would mean a $32 billion increase in
national income---three times the
returns on investment in machinery”.
And most significantly, he also stated:
“If you improve literacy, you also are
improving civic engagement; people
are more likely to vote if they can read
the ballot.”
Of course it is about productivity
but it is more than that. Contract
workers and immigrants are people
too. They must be welcomed and
integrated as quickly as possible into
society.
They
must
also
be
encouraged and empowered to fully
participate, not only in voting, but in
running for office in a fully democratic
society.
I propose that we adhere to the
principle stated as the motto of the
Colombo Plan Staff College, which is
PLANNING PROSPERITY TOGETHER.
Molds
washing clothes, cooking, too many
plants and pets, etc. are sources of
moisture. Also, during colder weather,
moisture can form on cold surfaces,
such as window panes or walls that are
lacking insulation.
Visible signs of mold are
discoloration or spotting. If you
suspect a stain to be mold, try dabbing
it with a drop of household bleach. It
may be mold if it loses its colour. Also,
a lingering musty smell tells you there
is mold.
Even if you don't see mold or notice
a smell, wet spots, dampness or
Mold must be cleaned
evidence of a leak should tell you that
mold either already exists or is on its
way. Most people's gut reaction when
they suspect they may have a mold
problem is that they want the house
tested for mold. Test results will not
help you so save your money, and use
it to either clean up the problem or
have a professional do it for you.
There are special challenges in
northern or coastal areas. Dealing with
mold requires a combination of
strategies - ventilation, keeping
surfaces warm and reducing moisture.
It's also important to remember that
mold is just one possible irritant that
can lead to allergies or respiratory
difficulties. Many other activities,such
as smoking, storing toxic chemicals or
harsh cleaners indoors, using an
unvented heater or fireplace, burning
candles/incense or using plug-in air
fresheners can be an irritant for some
people.
If someone in your family is having
trouble breathing, make sure to look at
other potential causes as well.
Step Two: Clean up the problem
If your house has a small patch of
because technically, these are caused
mold (no larger than about a square
by other kinds of fungi.
metre), you can clean it yourself using
So what can you do to keep mold a simple solution of water and
unscented detergent, household
out of your home?
rubber gloves and a disposable
Step One: Find out if you have a respirator (mask) for protection.
If the mold patch covers an area
mold problem
between one and three square metres
Mold tends to grow almost anywhere (say, about the size of a four-by-eight
sheet of plywood), you may be able to
there is excess moisture. This
includes kitchens and bathrooms clean it up yourself. But you need
where there are plumbing leaks, wet or heavier duty respiratory protection and
cold basements, wet windowsills or the work area may need special
anywhere water is coming in through preparation. It is helpful to consult with
the floor, walls or roof. Kitchens and a professional first to find out how the
bathrooms will not have mold, unless mold got there. Contact your local
there are unattended leaks or other Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation (CMHC) office for a list of
moisture problems.
For mold to grow, you don't need to qualified Residential Indoor Air Quality
see running water. Dampness can investigators in your area.
Being exposed to any amount of
provide enough moisture for mold to
grow. Daily activities like bathing, mold larger than three square metres
for
recurring mold problem, seek
professional help.
Remember, if you do clean up the
mold yourself, using bleach is NOT
recommended. Bleach will not cure the
mold problem and can be harmful to
those living in your home and to the
environment.
Step Three: Prevent mold from
forming
Of course, the best way to get rid of
a mold problem is to prevent it from
owing inside your home in the first
place.
To start, find and fix any leaks that
could be allowing water to seep into
your home from the outside. Clean and
replace your furnace filters regularly.
Clean and vacuum your home on a
regular basis, preferably with a central
vacuum that vents outdoors or one that
has a High Efficiency
Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.
Get rid of excess clutter, because
mold not only grows on stored
materials that absorb and retain
moisture, but clutter also reduces air
circulation. Also, keep all areas of the
house heated. Think of the ways you
can keep your home dry. Hang wet
laundry outside to dry when the
Window Mold
weather permits, not inside. Use your
bathroom and kitchen fans. From
spring to fall,a dehumidifier in the
basement is a must to control
dampness in most regions of Canada.
In the winter, when you see
condensation on windows, this tells
you that there may be too much
moisture.
For apartments or rented houses
For people living in rented
apartments
or
houses,
the
responsibility for cleaning up mold can
fall with either the tenant, the landlord
or both.
If you find mold, tell your landlord or
superintendent about it, and get their
permission before trying to clean even
a small area. If the mold comes
back after repeated cleaning, work
with your landlord to identif
Manila court grants Marcos
permission to travel
September 13, 2007
Philippine courts granted former
first lady Imelda Marcos permission on
Thursday to leave the country for 15
days to travel to Hong Kong and China
for medical treatment and to attend a
trade show.
A regional trial court and the antigraft court ordered Marcos to post
bonds worth 950,000 peso ($20,400)
before flying to Hong Kong on Friday
and to make an appearance at both
courts within five days of her return
from China.
"I am very happy that the courts
recognize and respect the right of Mrs.
Marcos to travel abroad," her lawyer,
Robert Sison, told Reuters.
"I was really confident the courts
would allow her to go because she
strictly obeyed the court's orders in her
previous trips abroad."
The widow of late dictator
Ferdinand Marcos faces civil and
criminal cases over billions of dollars in
unexplained wealth amassed during
her husband's 20-year rule. She is not
in detention but must get court
permission to leave the country.
The 78-year-old, famous for owning
1,200 pairs of shoes and a vast
collection of jewellery that the cashstrapped government was trying to
auction last year, has long wanted to
see an expert in Chinese traditional
medicine for her ailments.
She has not left the Philippines
since 2003, when she went to Europe
and the United States. a
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Sunday, October 7, 2007
11:30 am - 9 pm
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Monday - Tuesday - 2 pm - 9 pm
Wednesday - Friday - 12 pm - 9 pm
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Montreal, QC
Tel.: 514-344-3670
22
September 2007
GMA hails Sydney Declaration on Arroyo wants computerized village
climate change
polls in October
September 14, 2007
Philippine President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo hailed Sunday the
declaration of the 21 leaders of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) countries reaffirming their
commitment to the United Nations
(UN) framework on climate change.
"That was a very good declaration
for the APEC...I still believe that the
United Nations is where decisions (on
climate change) should be made," she
said.
Heads of state at the APEC summit in Sydney,
Australia, Friday, Sept. 7, 2007. From L to R:
Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz, Brunei
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Singapore Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Bush, Indonesia's
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Philippines
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The Declaration on Climate
Change, Energy Security and Clean
Development, or simply called the
Sydney Declaration, states that the
leaders of APEC's 21 economies
agreed that economic growth, energy
security and climate change are
fundamental
and
inter-linked
challenges for the APEC region.
"We need concerted international
action with all economies contributing
to shared global goals in ways that are
equitable, and environmentally and
economically effective," the Declaration
stated.
It also said that future international
climate change arrangement needs to
reflect differences in economic and
social conditions among economies
and be consistent with our common
but differentiated responsibilities and
respective capabilities.
The Sydney Declaration is
consistent with the President's stand
on climate change and within the
context of the UN framework on the
issue.
"We still believe that there's a lot of
international cooperation that needs to
be done, especially with regards to
financial arrangements, technology
transfer and capacity building
especially for climate adaptation and
energy efficiency and efficient energy
production because 15 countries in the
world are climate makers, the rest of us
are climate takers," the President said.
She added that while the 15
industrialized countries of the APEC
have the primary responsibility of
bringing down emissions, our primary
responsibility to our own economies is
to adapt, and we can have that kind of
cooperation even within the APEC
Framework but at the end of the day,
the final resolution should really be in
the context of the UN.
Climate change was put forward
by Australian Prime Minister John
Howard, host of this year's APEC
conference as the centrepiece of the
2007 APEC Leaders Meeting. a
September 14, 2007
Making a pitch anew for electoral
reforms, President Gloria MacapagalArroyo said she wanted the elections
computerized starting with the
barangay (village) election next month.
Speaking at the diamond jubilee
celebration of the Woman Suffrage
Philippines
at
the
Philippine
International Convention Center in
Pasay City Friday, Arroyo said the
campaign for modernization of
elections should begin with the
automation of the counting and
canvassing of results in the October
polls.
Arroyo made the statement even
as the date for the barangay and
Sangguniang
Kabataan
(Youth
Council) elections has not been set.
The House of Representatives is
holding hearings on proposals to
postpone the elections this October
and hold them instead in 2010, along
with the presidential polls.
Executive Secretary Eduardo
Ermita said that Malacañang wanted
the election to push through as
scheduled, but added that it would vow
to the decision of Congress.
Arroyo said the government has
long provided funds for this and the
process should immediately begin.
"Let us crusade for electoral
reforms. ... We can disagree on
political goals, but not on the conduct
of democratic elections," Arroyo said.
Modernizing the elections will also
allow the women's right of suffrage to
be exercised to its fullest, she said.
Arroyo also reiterated her call to
Congress to pass legislation funding
poll watchdogs and a stronger law
against election-related violence.
This was the first time that Arroyo
held activities outside Malacañang
since the Sandiganbayan anti-graft
court handed down Wednesday a
guilty verdict for plunder on former
president Joseph Estrada.
For security reasons, Arroyo
cancelled all her activities outside the
Palace on that day.
Before Friday’s appearance at the
PICC, Arroyo visited Barangay 76 in
Pasay City for a pulong barangay.
There, she was met by Mayor
Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad, a known
Estrada supporter, and local officials.
Security around the President
remained tight.
At the entrance to the PICC,
presidential guards barred vehicles
from entering after the President's
convoy came in, including that of
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza
Cabral.
It was only on Cabral's insistence
that the PSG finally allowed the
official’s vehicle to enter, her aide said.
a
RP unemployment rate dips
OFW remittances up 4.6% to $1.1B in July
September 14, 2007
The country’s unemployment rate
slightly improved to 7.8 percent in July
from 8.1 percent in the same month
last year, the result of what officials said
was a robustly growing economy.
According to the National Statistics
Office (NSO), the 7.8 percent
unemployment rate was based on the
2.9 million jobless Filipinos who
belonged to the country's labor force of
36.2 million Filipinos.
The latest unemployment figure,
however, was higher than the 7.4
percent recorded in the last Labor
Force Participation Survey in April.
The unemployed, based on official
definition, include all jobless persons
at least 15 years old and are currently
available for work and seeking work.
The unemployed also include jobless
persons who are not seeking work
either due to illness, expectation of
being rehired by past employer, bad
weather, or belief there was no
available job at the time of the survey.
With the unemployment rate at 7.8
percent, employment rate therefore
stood
at
92.2
percent.
The
employment rate translated to 33.3
million Filipinos employed.
In the report on its Labor Force
Participation Survey for July, the NSO
said that almost half of the total
September 15, 2007
Money sent home by overseas
Filipino workers rose by 4.6 percent in
July to $1.1 billion over a year ago as
the banking system intensified efforts
to capture more of these funds.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. on
Friday reported that the July inflows
brought the total remittances in the first
seven months to $8.1 billion, 16
percent higher year-on-year.
“Sustained growth in remittances
was achieved as banks continued to
provide overseas Filipinos and their
beneficiaries greater access to
financial services, including their
savings and investment needs,”
Tetangco said.
“In particular, banks continued to
establish
strategic
marketing
agreements in countries with high
density of Filipino workers. The
increasing number of remittance
centers and tie-ups overseas facilitated
the transfer of remittances resulting, in
turn, to the better capture of these
types of transactions,” he said.
The bulk of remittances during the
period came from the United States,
the United Kingdom, Italy, the United
Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Canada,
Japan and Hong Kong.
employed persons (or 49.9 percent to
be exact) were accounted for by jobs
made available by the services sector,
which includes the business process
outsourcing sub-sector.
Around one-third (or 34.5 percent)
of the employed Filipinos were in the
agriculture sector, while the remaining
15.6 percent were in the industry
sector, which includes mining.
The NSO also said that of the 33.3
million employed Filipinos, more than
half (or 53.1 percent) were wage and
salary workers. The rest were either
self-employed or serving as unpaid
workers for a family business.
In terms of work hours rendered,
the NSO said, 66.1 percent of the
employed Filipinos were working fulltime, while 33.2 percent were working
part-time. Full-time employees are tose
working for at least 40 hours a week,
while part-time workers are those who
put in less hours.
The NSO also reported that the
underemployment rate stood at 22
percent in July, an improvement from
the 23.4 percent recorded in the same
month last year.
According to NSO's definition, the
underemployed are those who desire
additional hours of work. a
The 16 percent growth surpassed
the BSP’s expected 10 percent
increase for 2007 despite fewer
workers getting jobs abroad in recent
months.
Based on data from the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration,
the total number of workers deployed
from January to July fell 3.7 percent to
640,808 from a year ago.
By type of worker, the cumulative
number of land-based and sea-based
workers totaled 492,790 and 148,018,
respectively. These were lower by 2.1
percent and 8.6 percent from their
levels in the same period last year.
But
for
July
alone,
total
deployment rebounded by 4.5 percent
from a year ago, reversing the
contraction seen in June 2007.
Land-based workers increased by
3.9 percent during the month while the
number of sea-based workers also
grew by 6.4 percent during the month.
The Department of Labor and
Employment noted an increase in the
deployment of skilled workers during
the first seven months, notably to
Canada, Italy and New Zealand.
Tetangco said this increase in
deployment was expected to lift the
level of remittances in the near term. a
September 2007
Pacquiao packs more ‘power’ than Estrada
September 14, 2007
More Filipinos watched the
televised fights of people’s champ
Manny Pacquiao than the aired
promulgation of the verdict on the
plunder case of former president
Joseph Estrada, who was voted to
office by 11 million people.
According to data from the
Philippine Electricity Market Corp., the
operator of the wholesale electricity
spot market (WESM), power demand
spiked by 111 megawatts last
Wednesday when the Sandiganbayan
handed down its decision on the
plunder charges against Estrada.
However, the power demand
spikes were more significant on the
days when the Pacquiao fights were
televised, said PEMC executive vice
president Mario Pangilinan.
"During the last Pacquiao match,
we saw a rise of around 400 MW in
power demand. We’re anticipating that
Pacquiao’s match in October will result
in the same demand rise," he said in a
briefing on Friday.
The demand surge, he said, was
very significant, considering that big
boxing matches such as Pacquiao’s
usually took place Sunday mornings.
Sunday is considered an off-peak
period in the power sector, as demand
is usually lower on this day because of
slow activity from industrial power
users.
considering that power consumption
would likely spike again by around 400
MW next month when Pacquiao faces
Power demand spikes take place Marco Antonio Barrera in a much
even on days when there are no anticipated fight.
Pacquiao fights or a promulgation of a
“We have enough (power)
court decision on Estrada.
reserves,” he said. a
Based on historical data, power
demand is traditionally higher during
the summer months -- March to June - when the weather is warmer and
more people turn on air-conditioners.
Demand is lower during weekends
and holidays and times when most September 13, 2007
industries cease operations -- usually
Looking every inch fit and ready to
very early in the morning and late at rumble, superstar Manny Pacquiao
night.
yesterday declared he expects a
Forecasting is important, both on stretched out battle against Mexican
the supply and demand side, as this icon Marco Antonio Barrera, but said
gives PEMC an idea of where prices he will be ready to do battle “even for
will go.
24 rounds.”
In August, for example, prices at
“Handang-handa ako lumaban
the electricity spot market were lower kahit dalawang beses pa. Kasi ngayon
due to reduced consumer demand and 28 rounds yung ginagawa ko palagi sa
lower price offers by the electricity gym,” Pacquiao said after a three-hour
traders.
workout yesterday at the Rex 'Wakee'
The WESM, like the stock market, Salud gym here.
is a venue where electricity is traded as
To prove that stamina won't be a
a
commodity
by
generating problem, Pacquiao sparred another full
companies, distribution utilities and ten rounds yesterday, bringing his total
electric cooperatives.
so far to 68 rounds in his preparation
Unlike in August, electricity spot for Barrera.
prices in July were higher due to an
“We had a three-round bout today,
“extended summer” and coal supply and we went toe-to-toe. When he
constraints, which prompted the use of tagged me, I felt like being hit by a
more expensive oil-based power baseball bat,” said David Rodela, who
plants.
capped the sparring session with his 3Pangilinan said the current supply rounder against Pacquiao.
should be able to meet demand, even
23
Another Mexican, Raymundo
Beltran, also traded leathers with
Pacquiao for three rounds, while
Filipino sparmate Aaron Melgarejo
took on Pacquiao for four hard
rounds.
Ready for 24 Rounds
Pacquiao was cheered on at
yesterday's training by younger
brother Rogel, the president of his
MP Promotions, while another
brother Bobby, was also training
side-by-side with the Pacman.
Meanwhile, celebrated trainer
Freddie Roach informed that
Pacquiao is set to get his final
sparring on September 21, and Team
Pacquiao is slated to fly to Manila in
the evening after the afternoon
training session.
The group will then train at the
Wild Card Gym in Manila in the
afternoon of September 22, and
head out to Los Angeles in the
evening. a
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Sept 2007 - for web.qxp

Transcription

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