2 Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor 3 CALENDAR

(A Manila Media Monitor and Phil-
ippine Consulate General’s Office
public service feature)

DEC. 15: Philippine Chamber of

Commerce Toronto Christmas Par-
ty, Sts. Peter & Paul Banquet Hall.

DEC. 15: Philippine Press Club On-

tario Christmas Party, Casa Manila

DEC. 16: Filipino Centre Toronto

Children’s Christmas Party, 2 p.m.

DEC. 16: Kol Hope Foundation

Christmas Party, Rembrandt Ban-
quet Hall

DEC. 22: Alpha Phi Omega Alumni

Association 82nd Anniversary, 3rd
Induction of Officers and Christmas
Party, Mississauga Grand Banquet

DEC. 25: CHRISTMAS DAY

DEC. 27 to 30: Canadian Multi-

cultural Hockey League Champion-
ships, across Toronto.

DEC. 30: Celebration of the Martyr-

dom of Philippine National Hero Dr.
Jose Rizal, Philippine Consul Gen-
eral in Toronto, 11 p.m.

DEC. 31: Kalayaan Cultural Foun-

dation New Year’s Masquerade Ball,
Kalayaan Cultural Community Cen-
tre, Mississauga.

JAN 1: NEW YEAR’S DAY

JAN. 27: Filipino Centre Toronto

Special Membership Meeting, Rizal
Hall, 4 p.m.
4 NEWS
Reprieve for ethnic press
Worse, the levy was
reckoned retroactive for five
years, a backtax situation
that can send most, if not all
community newspapers to
the gutters.
Expanded definition
Clarence Tong, of the fi-
nance ministry’s Corporate
and Commodity Taxation
Branch, said the agency has
been working with stake-
holders on a proposed ex-
pansion to the definition of a
newspaper to exempt it from
the retail sales tax.
Tong said the revised
definition of a newspaper
was based on a list of physi-
cal characteristics of news-
papers, with points allotted
for each characteristic.
Under the consultation
draft, a newspaper was rede-
fined as “a printed publica-
tion containing news, adver-
tising and literary matter.”
But the publication had
to merit at least five points
from the following charac-
teristics:
► Printed in broadsheet
or tabloid format and larger
than 8.5 inches by 11 inches
(two points),
► Unbound (two
points),
► Published at least
once a week (two points),
► Published at least
once a month (one point),
► Printed on newsprint
of any quality (one point),
► Identified as a news-
paper in the publication (one
point), and
► Front page is divided
into columns or boxes and
may contain narrative text,
photographs and advertise-
ments (one point).
The ‘newspaper’ may in-
clude a magazine distributed
with it.
However, the revised
newspaper definition does
not include an advertising
insert or supplement, or an
envelope wrapper, folder or
other covering for the distri-
bution of promotional mate-
rials.
Tong said comments
would be accepted until Jan.
Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPCO) President Tenny Soriano (2nd from left), Gordon Cameron (right)
of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association and PPCO Director and Kapihan Chair Tony Sicat
(left) listen to Dat Nguyen, publisher of Vietnamese newspaper Thoi Bao, detail the bad experiences
he and a homenews-hungry Vietnamese community in Ontario have to endure after the provincial gov-
ernment slapped the publication with an unfair and seemingly discriminatory eight percent provincial
sales tax retroactive for five years and billed him with some $1 million in back taxes. Photo: MANILA
MEDIA MONITOR
(Top) Charging ethnic
community newspapers
the provincial sales
tax due to a regulatory
loophole is an attack on
their communities, says
Member of Parliament
Michael Prue (cen-
ter), even before the
launching of the Save
our Voice! Coalition, a
grouping of concerned
publishers, editors and
newspaper workers, at
Queen’s Park on Dec.
12. Flanking Prue are
Sima Sahar Zerehi (left),
Shahrvand Publications
editor, and Les Weller,
who runs Weller Pub-
lishing. Both are Save
Our Voice! founders.
(Below) Community
leaders and newspaper
officials share views
and options on how
to work with provin-
cial officials in keeping
‘ethnic’ newspapering
alive to better serve the
information needs of
Toronto’s multicultural
mosaic.
25, 2008.
Views and other consul-
tation draft inputs would as-
sist the ministry in finalizing
a proposal to recommend to
the Lieutenant Governor in
Council, Tong added.
Great first step
The circulation of the
consultation draft came two
days after Ontario Finance
Minister Dwight Duncan an-
nounced before Parliament
on Dec. 12 that the govern-
ment would come up with
a draft retroactive regula-
tion to resolve protestations
against the implementation
of what has been labeled as
ridiculously unfair and dis-
criminatory provincial taxa-
tion that could eventually
make “ethnic journalism”
extinct.
As early as a year ago,
the Ontario finance ministry
had levied an eight percent
provincial sales tax (PST)
on printing and supply costs
of newspapers that did not
publish daily or at least
thrice a week and on those
that were stapled.
The government has
arbitrarily, without the ben-
efit of clarification from
community newspapering
practitioners, classified the
publications as taxable mag-
azines.
Duncan’s announcement
“is a great first step,” said
Jeffrey Graham, consultant
of the Fasken Martineau
DuMoulin LLP.
But Graham had reserva-
tions: “Until we see the draft
regulation, we do not know
whether it solves the prob-
lem for all, most, or even
any of the affected newspa-
pers.”
He called for a consulta-
tion period “during which
we must lobby for changes
to the draft if it is deficient
or defend the draft if it
achieves all our objectives.”
Graham said tax expert
David Robertson would re-
Manila Media Monitor
Photo: MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
Photo: SHAHRVAND PUBLICATIONS
view the draft regulation as
soon as it is released.
Robertson would explain
to all those affected what the
draft regulation meant.
Question of fairness
National Democratic
Party (NDP) Revenue Critic
Michael Michael Prue told
Manila Media Monitor that
amending the policy did not
require debate at the legisla-
ture.
All that was needed was
a ministerial change, Prue
said.
On Dec. 7, he urged the
McGuinty administration to
stop punishing ethnic news-
paper publishers by charg-
ing them the PST, due to a
regulatory loophole.
Prue, a Member of Par-
liament (MP) for Beaches-
East York, said: “This is
simply a question about
fairness.”
Millions of Ontarians
have been made aware of
news from their homelands
DECEMBER 2007
(From page 1)
istry, which classified the
newspaper as a magazine
because it had two staples
and was publishing twice
a week only. Thoi Bao was
then billed for nearly $1 mil-
lion in back taxes.
Other ethnic media out-
lets have repeatedly asked
for fairness, but to no avail.
“Where does this leave
these publications? Numer-
ous ethnic papers across On-
tario play an essential role in
informing their readers. The
NDP believes they deserve
fair treatment,” Prue said.
Save Our Voice!
As this developed, pub-
lishers, newspaper workers,
and support advocates have
come forward at Queen’s
Park on Dec. 12 to formal-
ize a coalition to protect and
save ethnic newspapers.
Organizers have named
the coalition ‘Save Our
Voice!,’ aptly describing the
battle against a seemingly
impending loss of the eth-
nic newspapers’ basic right
to inform and the ethnic
communities right to be in-
formed of things culturally
through ethnic newspapers and traditionally dear, rel-
and “charging them PST evant and beholden to them.
due to a regulatory loophole Save Our Voice! has
is an attack on their commu- called on the government to
nities,” he said. recognize as newspapers all
Thoi Bao, a Vietnam- ethnic, community and cam-
ese publication publishing pus publications, no matter
twice weekly, was recently how often they are printed,
audited by the revenue min- (To page 5)
NDP pushes bill vs religious,
racial profiling by lawmen
OTTAWA - National
Democratic Party (NDP)
Member of Parliament (MP)
Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Doug-
las) has tabled on Dec. 11 a
Private Member’s Bill ban-
ning racial and religious
profiling by federal law en-
forcement agencies and offi-
cials. The bill was originally
put forward by NDP MP SIKSAY
Libby Davies (Vancouver East).
“I was very moved when I heard the experiences of
those profiled due to their race and religion,” said Siksay.
“Its impact is very serious and costly to the victims. It
is not a good public policy, nor is it good law enforcement
practice, plain and simple,” he said.
This bill was put together following meetings and con-
sultations conducted by the NDP with members of the Arab,
Muslim, Black, Aboriginal and South Asian communities
across Canada.
Siksay, Libby Davies, Irene Mathyssen (London Fan-
shawe), Wayne Marston (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek),
Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain), David Christopher-
son (Hamilton Center) and Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre)
participated in the consultation.
NDP Leader Jack Layton welcomed the re-introduction
of the legislation, saying “this new bill reaffirms our com-
mitment to communities on fairness and equality.”
“We must ensure all federal agencies are accountable
and will act responsibly,” Layton said.
The bill explicitly included religious profiling, add-
ing CSIS to the list of federal law enforcement agencies
required to ban racial and religious profiling and report on
their actions.
The bill also required agencies to do an analysis of how
racism works in a law enforcement context. PR
Manila Media Monitor
DECEMBER 2007
Reprieve for ethnic press
and whether or not they are
stapled, a CNW report said.
The coalition stressed
it would work construc-
tively and respectfully with
the provincial government
to find a fair and equitable
solution for all community
and ethnic newspapers.
Ethnic press survival
Graham, a Save Our
Voice! founder, cited the
need for coalition members
to “raise public awareness
(on the PST issue) and to
work with the provincial
government to fix the sales
tax problem as quickly as
possible.”
Graham said the PST
application on many com-
munity and ethnic newspa-
pers in Ontario “is unfair
... threatens the survival of
scores of ethnic and com-
munity newspapers ...
threatens thousands of jobs
and ... threatens vital com-
munications ‘lifelines’ for
diverse communities across
the province.”
A newspaper editor
agreed, commenting that the
MALIGAYANG PASKO at
MANIGONG BAGONG TAON
mula sa MANILA MEDIA MONITOR at
FRONT PAGE PHILIPPINES (TV)
NEWS 5
McGuinty administration’s
insistence to implement the
regulatory loophole in the
Retail Sales Tax Act “is a
mockery of the internation-
ally affirmed freedom of ex-
pression and of the press.”
The CNW report noted
that “the survival of many
ethnic, community and
campus newspapers is in
jeopardy because govern-
ment tax collectors say they
are not real newspapers.”
Shahrvand Publications
editor Sima Sahar Zerehi,
also a Save Our Voice!
founder, said “(the PST ap-
plication) is illogical, unfair
and hurts some of Ontario’s
smallest and most vulner-
able communities.”
“We want the govern-
ment to treat ethnic news-
papers the same as English
newspapers... to treat rural
newspapers the same as big
city papers ... and to treat
campus papers the same
as the mainstream press,”
Zerehi said.
Les Weller, who is
runnng Weller Publishing
(From page 4)
and is another Save Our
Voice! founder, said his firm
has been printing most eth-
nic newspapers, identifying
several that tax collectors
have been running after.
“If the law says newspa-
pers are exempt from sales
tax, then all newspapers
must be treated equally,”
Weller said. “This tax pol-
icy is arbitrary, discrimina-
tory and wrong.”
Coalition officials said:
“(We) will remain active
until the government treats
all newspapers the same.”
Gordon Cameron of the
Ontario Community News-
papers Association, before
leaving his post on Nov. 30,
said the association “will
continue to work at the po-
litical level to ensure that
the regulation is changed,”
complementing the public
awareness program of co-
alition members.
David Brock, also of
Fasken Martineau, said the
coalition was set to launch
its website to be handled by
Shahrvand.
Canada gives info sessions for
prospective Filipino immigrants
SIMCOE, Ontario -
The Philippines is one of
three countries where Cana-
da’s government has started
providing overseas orienta-
tion programs to prospec-
tive immigrants, early in the
immigration process.
Citizenship and Immi-
gration Minister Diane Fin-
ley said the programs pro-
vided would-be immigrants
with detailed and compre-
hensive foreign credential
and labor market data.
The programs formed
part of services offered by
the Foreign Credentials Re-
ferral Office (FCRO) .
Besides the Philippines,
FCRO orientation programs
were also started in China
and India early in the immi-
gration process.
Todate, overseas orien-
tation sessions have served
more than 1,200 prospec-
tive immigrants.
Finley added the minis-
try has also started opening
up 320 Service Canada cen-
ters nationwide to in-person
credentials referral services
for internationally-trained
newcomers. The services
began on Nov. 30.
The services would help
internationally-trained per-
FINLEY
sons who want to work in
Canada find the information
they needed to get creden-
tials assessed and recog-
nized more quickly.
“Newcomers want to
contribute to our country
by working in the fields for
which they’ve been trained,
and we want to help them
do that,” she said.
In addition, FCRO ap-
proaches also included:
► A dedicated Service
Canada toll-free phone ser-
vice in Canada (1-888-854-
1805 or TTY 1-800-926-
9105);
► An interactive web-
site at www.credentials.
gc.ca that would identify
jobs in Canada for which
clients might be qualified,
provide them with detailed
labor market information,
and refer them to a regula-
tory body;
► Increased employer
awareness of the processes
for, and benefits of, hiring
internationally-trained and
educated professionals.
Finley said that since
the FCRO was launched
on May 24, the website had
over 120,000 visits, more
than 65 percent of which
were from outside Canada.
The dedicated phone
line has received over 900
calls, of which half were
for information and half for
referrals to assessment or
regulatory bodies.
FCRO has worked
closely with the Foreign
Credential Recognition
Program of the Human Re-
sources and Social Devel-
opment Canada.
Other partners included
provinces, territories, regu-
latory bodies, post-sec-
ondary institutions, sector
councils and employers to
improve the integration of
internationally-trained indi-
viduals into the work force.
Marketwire
6 NEWS
Season’s Greetings
from the
GAMMA EPSILON FRATERNITY
and the
GAMMA LAMBDA EPSILON SORORITY
of Greater Toronto Area
For more details, email: canada@gammaepsilon.com
Contact persons:
Sonny Montojo – UE Beta Chapter,
Tel. No. 416-727-1659
Amor Tupe – UE Beta Chapter,
Tel. No. 416-628-8234
Cesar Acyatan – UPLB Chapter,
acyatan@yahoo.com
Vic Distrito – UE Beta Chapter,
vicdistrito@yahoo.com
Nap Albarillo – UE Beta Chapter,
nalbarillo@ yahoo.com
Amor Gaborno – UST Alpha Chapter (Founder),
Tel. 416-525-2186
Manila Media Monitor
Ontario lawyers group to give free
counsel for unrepresented litigants
Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO) launched
on Nov. 29 a pro bono legal resource center
for people who could not afford legal rep-
resentation with civil matters at the Toronto
Superior Court of Justice.
The two-year pilot center, called Law
Help Ontario, is the first of its kind in Cana-
da, and will be based at 393 University Ave.
in Toronto, in the same building that houses
the Superior Court of Justice.
“Law Help Ontario provides a one-stop
shop that helps people get their bearings in
the legal system,” PBLO executive director
Lynn Burns said..
“Thanks to our partnership with the le-
gal community in opening this center, we
can help make low-income unrepresented
litigants more capable of representing them-
selves effectively and less overwhelmed by
the court process,” Burns said.
The facility would provide self-help
services and pro-bono legal aid. Walk-in
client services included plain language in-
formation about court rules and procedures,
assistance filling out court forms, free legal
advice and free duty counsel representation
at certain types of appearances.
PBLO hoped to expand the service to
other parts of Ontario after the pilot phase.
Law Help Ontario was designed for liti-
gants who could not qualify for legal aid or
afford to hire a lawyer. It was the object of
a year’s work coordinating the legal profes-
sion’s growing desire to address the crisis
of unrepresented litigants in the courts.
“This new center has fostered unity and
commitment from all segments of the legal
profession, including the courts, the non-
profit sector and the private bar,” Ontario
Attorney General Chris Bentley said.
DECEMBER 2007
“Each of us can help to strengthen ac-
cess to justice in Ontario,” Bently said.
The center’s services directly respond-
ed to a recent Civil Justice Reform Project
report by former Associate Chief Justice of
Ontario Coulter Osborne, on ways to im-
prove public access to civil courts.
He called for bar associations and civil
litigators to expand their pro bono services,
and for more self-help material to be made
available to litigants who decided to launch
a case without a lawyer.
The Law Help Centre started serving the
the public on Dec. 3 and has since opened
from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. The Law Foundation of Ontario bank-
rolled the project.
“Access to justice is seriously compro-
mised by the combination of the complex-
ity of the dispute resolution process and
the high cost of legal services,” said David
Scott, PBLO’s chair and co-chair of nation-
al law firm Borden Ladner Gervais.
“The energy that our partners have in-
vested in this project reflects the fact that
everyone is concerned about the plight of
the ordinary citizen,” Gervais said.
For Mike Eizenga, President of The Ad-
vocates’ Society, the response was fueled
by more than altruism, as “this is a duty of
the legal profession.”
The Advocates’ Society, the Ontario
Ministry of the Attorney General, the Law
Society of Upper Canada, Legal Aid On-
tario, judges and individual court staff have
shared their expertise and resources to get
this project off the ground. Associates from
several Toronto large law firms have com-
mitted their time to give unrepresented liti-
gants get legal help five days a week. PR
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS
General’s office in Toronto invited
some friends over to her place in
Mississauga, Ontario on Novem-
ber 2.
During the exchange in com-
munication, somebody asked if
Ace Alvarez Chito needed to bring a guitar.
7
***
E-mail exchange between my-
self and Manila Media Monitor
editor Butch Galicia.
Butch wrote: ”Is the copy of
… advertiser in?”
I responded, “Not yet. Adver-

Verify before you PPCO president Tenny sent

out a note by hitting the “reply
tiser said if it’s not today, then to-
morrow. Now, since it’s already

After the first week that snow
heavily poured in Toronto recent-
ly, and after consumption of my
leftover salt from last year, I went
out to a supermarket to buy the
stuff and it was out of stock; went
to another supermarket and there
was none, too; neither were they
available at gas stations where I
used to buy a bag, or two.
It’s not true, however, that the
reason why I had difficulty find-
ing salt was that Filipinos who
have just arrived and settled in
T.O. bought most of them for their
sinigang and nilaga.
***
During the strike of the
Writers Guild of America, most
television shows, among others,
Late Show with David Lettermen
- airing on OMNI 1 Television -
aired only reruns.
Viewers of Front Page Phil-
ippines on OMNI 2 are lucky …
yehey!! … that writers for the
program are not affiliated with
the American writers’ guild.
Rather, they are affiliated with
the Philippine Press Club On-
tario and the Canadian Ethnic
Media Association!
***
crucify, huh?
all” button, saying “no need to late at night, by process of deduc-
bring a guitar.” tion, then tomorrow.”
Hhhmmm … probably afraid Butch wrote back, “Para ka
Global TV’s Susan Hay, female item in his regular mail outs of that Chito might finish again what nang si Sherlock Holmes, a. May
anchor for Santa Claus Parade on TGIF (Thank God, It’s Friday) he would start! pa-deda-deduction ka pa, ha. My
November 18, said that the towing states, “There are two kinds of (I guess it’s not advisable for wife, Evelyn, also knows that, ev-
vehicles for the parade were pro- people: those who finish what people belonging to the first group ery time she goes shopping, she
vided by Mercedes Benz. they had started and those who as cited in Chito’s quotation to ap- always deducts something from
This was because organizers started what they had not fin- ply the same during karaoke sing- the budget I gave her.”
of the Santa Claus Parade were ished.” ing at parties). I responded, “On my recent
hesitant to talk to Action Honda I am witness that Chito be- *** birthday, Gie gave me three items
general manager Rafael Nebres. longs to the first group of people According to BBM Nielsen as gifts, and this morning I got
Mr. Nebres says, “Whether described in the quotation, and Media Research, the following my Visa statement and also saw
bibili kayo o hindi, it’s always his friends belong to the second are the top ten shows in Canada the three items charged on it that
nice to talk to a kababayan.”; and group. Let me explain: for November 12 to 18: I have to pay.”
none of the organizers is from Bi- At our friend Amor Gabor- 10) ER (CTV, Thursday) ***
col, Philippines. no’s birthday celebration some- with 1,786,000 viewers; 9) An Inquirer.net news story
*** time ago, Chito held the micro- Amazing Race 12 (CTV, Sun- on November 14 read: “Bomb
S e e phone around 9:30 p.m. during day) with 2,087,000; 8) Dancing rocks Congress; solon among 3
that guy in a karaoke singing and … con- with the Stars (CTV, Monday), killed”.
the photo? tinued to do so and sung to his 2,098,000; 7) Criminal Minds In the body of the story was
T h a t ’s heart’s delight until the end of (CTV, Wednesday), 2,236,000; stated, “ (Press Secretary Igna-
folksinger the party around 12:10 a.m. 6) Survivor: China (Global, cio) Bunye said Razon is under
Chito Sara- Meanwhile, his male singing Thursday), 2,264,000; instructions to determine the
bia, and friends, Philippine Press Club 5) C.S.I. New York (CTV, cause of the explosion and make
one thing, Ontario (PPCO) president Ten- Wednesday), 2,298,000; 4) periodic reports to Arroyo.”
a m o n g ny Soriano and Manila Media C.S.I. Miami (CTV, Monday), Teka … teka. Akala ko ba
others, ad- Monitor editor Butch Galicia 2,403,000; 3) C.S.I. (CTV, sabi bomba. E di bomba. Hindi
mirable in had to proceed to Rolly Man- Thursday), 2,507,000; 2) Grey’s naman puputok iyon kung hindi
him is that gante’s Prestige karaoke bar- Anatomy (CTV, Thursday), sinadya, ‘di ba?
he lives by restaurant on Dufferin Street in 2,600,000; and 1) was … Front ***
the good quotes and sayings in North York after the party. The Page Philippines (OMNI 2 TV). In the same story, House
life that he collects and regularly duo had to start “what they had YEHEY! … Speaker Jose de Venecia was
sends out to selected recipients not finished.” Ooops! I apologize, I com- quoted as saying, “I was lucky. I
every Friday. *** mitted an error in copying and had left a few minutes before the
On November 2, the first Armi Santos of the Philippine pasting the file. (To page 32)
8 VIEWS
No place up for
greed, idiocy, stupidity
As people lined up by heaven’s
gate, the gatekeeper called, “Next,
please.”
A woman came forward.
“Oh, it’s you again?” the gate-
keeper said.
Smiling, the woman said,
“Well, I’ve been sitting on the
curb for the last three days and
thought that I should try and ask
you again.”
“What made you think that in-
deed this is the place you are des-
tined to be, and not down there?”
the gatekeeper asked.
“I’ve always been good during
my time on Earth; went to mass
regularly; I never killed anybody!”
the woman explained meekly.
“Ah … okay … okay. What
did you say your occupation was
on Earth?” the gatekeeper asked
while he surveys the face of the
woman for sincerity.
“I was a publisher of a Filipino
community paper in Toronto,” she
replied.
As the two exchanged lines,
a man interrupted their conversa-
tion.
“Excuse me, sir. Pardon me,
The annual Anak TV Seal
awards were conducted in typical
fashion last week. It was, as tra-
dition dictated, done in the morn-
ing in keeping with children’s TV
hours, at the unofficial home of
the awards, the unassuming Soka
Gakkai Building on Timog Ave-
nue, straddling the giant networks
ABS-CBN and GMA.
There were only two speech-
es, each running under three min-
utes. Stars who went up to claim
their honors were allowed only a
minute on the microphone. Like
clockwork, it was all over in about
two hours.
Unlike the more glitzy show
biz awards, there was no red car-
pet, there were no dolled up stars
and men in tuxedoes. Everyone
was as casual as egg sandwich and
coffee.
The event recognized the true
heroes on the local boobtube,
shows and personalities who, by
shunning sensationalism and gim-
mickry, are able to offer unadul-
terated entertainment. Such sin-
cerity is paid back by audiences
with well-deserved adulation.
A national survey preceded
the awarding. Thousands of ma-
ture audiences from every corner
but I think I may be of help,” the
man authoritatively declared.
“You see, I can’t help it, but be-
cause I’m within hearing distance
from your conversation with this
woman—and noticing that you’re
having a hard time going through
your list to look for her name, I
came forward to help.
“This woman said that she had
always been good during her time
on Earth, went to mass regularly
and …”
“I never killed anybody!” the
woman proudly interrupted.
“Oh yes, thank you,” the man
said, and continued, “You see, Mr.
Gatekeeper, I was also a publisher
of a Filipino community paper in
Toronto, and probably, the reason
why you could not find her name
in your register is that the wom-
an’s 3rd claim is cloudy.
“This woman’s rate card when
she was operating her publication
was just for show.
“You see, sir, the going rate for
a half page, black and white, ad-
vertising during our time on Earth
was $150, plus GST, this woman
only charged $75 for half page,
RP’s most admired
TV personalities
Anak TV Seal awardees (from left, fore) Julius Babao, Tin-
tin Bersola-Babao, Karen Davila, Bernadette Sembrano, Ted
Failon, Korina Sanchez and Edu Manzano, (from left, back)
Anak TV spokesperson Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Gary
Valenciano and Sam Milby proudly show off their citations.
of the land were polled.
They were asked who among
television’s hundreds of denizens
they thought were worth the emu-
lation and respect of their house-
holds, particularly their kids.
The top of mind survey
yielded an enormous number of
names: from preacher Eli Soriano
and award-winning actress Gina
Pareño to long gone child star Ju-
lie Vega to opposition spokesman
Adel Tamano.
The names in the winning
black and white, thus, in effect
killed her fellow publishers.”
“Hhhhmmm,” the gatekeeper
wondered. Addressing the man,
he continued, “What about you,
did you stick to the ongoing rates
charged by your fellow publish-
ers?”
“Well, most of the times, but
I give in to discount for contracts
of six months, or more,” answered
the man.
At this point, a man and a
woman from those in line came
forward and yelled, “Yes, but this
publisher … editor … writer …
reporter … photographer can’t be
here in heaven, sir!”
The gatekeeper asked them to
calm down. “And why is that? By
the way, what were your occupa-
tions on Earth, if I may ask?”
“We were community lead-
ers.”
“And what are your names?”
Having been told the names,
the gatekeeper goes through his
register and looked up in the col-
umn of “Community Leaders”.
“Hhhmmm. Your names aren’t
here.”
circle were practically the same as
last year and the previous one.
Consistent winners are Korina
Sanchez and Julius Babao (who
both topped the polls this year),
Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez,
Gary Valenciano, Sarah Geronimo,
Sharon Cuneta, Bernadette Sem-
brano, TinTin Bersola, who gave
a remarkable showing despite her
being in hiatus since July, Arnold
Clavio, Aga Muhlach, Piolo Pas-
cual, Sam Milby, Karen Davila.
Newcomers to the circle this
Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007
The male publisher under
question suggested to the gate-
keeper to look up the names under
“So-called Community Leaders”.
“Your names are not here ei-
ther,” addressing the couple.
“What exactly were you doing
during your time on Earth?”
“We were raising funds for
those in need of financial assis-
tance,” the couple explained.
The female publisher suggest-
ed to the gatekeeper, “Sir, is there
any heading, or column there
called ‘idiots and nincompoops’?
Down on Earth, my colleague in
the print media, publisher Ramon
Datol, instituted that classification
on some of their kind.
“Oh, okay. Let me check my
list again … ah, there they are.”
Addressing the couple, the
gatekeeper said, “I’m sorry for
that. Weird as the classification
is, it’s good that your names are
here.”
The gatekeeper continues,
“You must have done something
right that your names are in this
register. What prompted you to do
the fundraising for those in need
of financial assistance?”
The couple replied, “You see,
Mr. Gatekeeper, during our time
on Earth, we regularly exchanged
e-mails with writer Ricky Calu-
en, and … in his e-mails are in-
scribed these words always, quot-
ing Thomas Paine: ‘When we
die, things that we have done for
ourselves will be lost in the grave;
but, what we have done for others
will gain immortality’; and this
(To page 12)
Gary Valenciano thanks God,
his family and his fans as he
receives an Anak TV award
as one of the most well-liked
male personalities in the
Philippines.
year were Edu Manzano, Angel
Locsin, John Lloyd Cruz, Ted
Failon and Jessica Soho.
The most touching acknowl-
edgement speeches were again
those given by Gary V and Mike
E. Gary is a frequent topnotcher
in the race who sees his being
singled out as Anak TV winner as
a constant monition to always be
prudent.
Mike E, childless but happily
married, considers the award as
his most significant because it is
the people who gave it to him. His
Anak TV citation adorns his door
at GMA Network to remind him
of his responsibility as broadcast-
er. “This award tells us that we are
indeed being watched, and chil-
dren are among our viewers.”
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor VIEWS 9

Opinions Christmas: A
Nobody loves a loser Tarnished Holiday
By Jimmy L. Montejo
How well I remember land- Try telling the single mother of Now, two Canadians, Anne
MANILA - I should have done this ages ago, but too many ing in Canada on December 15 to three how long she must wait for Pick and Bill Spahic have made
things got in my way. I couldn’t find the time to sit down and hack see lighted homes in villages and relief to trickle down as her kids a riveting documentary based on
away at the keyboard. towns as the train took me from press their faces enviously against the book, with graphic archival
Anyway, I would like to make up for lost times. Halifax to Toronto. store widows. What if that trickle film and photos and interviews
Let me set off my new era in journalism with the latest military And then, Toronto itself, to me slows to a halt? with the survivors.
(mis)adventurism to jolt our country. after an austere eight years in Eu- *** Please be warned; in places
Unlike the smashingly successful People Power 1 where I was rope and England, like a fairyland On December 13, History this film is gruesome to the ex-
dead right at the center of the flash point (Camps Aguinaldo and with gaily decorated stores and Television Channel carried an treme.
Crame), I watched from the comfort of my home, (the Nov. 29) signs of well-being all around me. alarming and moving Canadian- Western missionaries and oth-
events as they unfolded. But that was Christmas, 1947. made documentary. ers, not being part of the conflict,
I also keenly monitored People Power 2 through a conspicuous Today, what I cherished has It was Iris Chan: The Rape stayed behind to record the hor-
TV set at the editorial offices of the Philippine Star where I was grown into a travesty of those in- of Nanking, a feature-length rors.
working then as senior editor, and I uttered something like this to nocent days. film about a genocide that began The testimony of women sur-
our late news editor Alex Fernando during the early stage of break- Gross commercialism has tak- 70 years ago, on December 13, vivors who were raped and be-
ing drama at the EDSA Shrine; “The only lacking ingredient there en over the land. 1937. came “comfort women” or the
is a representative from the military establishment, and bingo, it’s No sooner was Halloween Iris Chang, a young American Japanese conquerors is harrowing
game over for the (Joseph) Estrada administration! Alex shot back; over than Christmas promotions writer became deeply involved to the extreme.
“It will never happen.” sprang up like dandelions to tempt when she learned of the massa- Iris Chang, played by Cana-
Oh, boy. He could never be more wrong. those with the money to buy these cre of 300,000 Chinese soldiers, dian actress Olivia Cheng, is the
Going back to (the Nov. 29 Penininsula Manila Hotel) events, material pleasures. women and children and male thread that binds the story. Why?
what I saw was merely a pitiful lesson in humility for former Navy With millions of Canadians civilians by Japanese soldiers in You see, the real Iris Chang
lieutenant now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and his gang of 50 led by living below the poverty line, 1937. was so haunted by what she
cashiered Army Scout Rangers commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim food banks and welfare services The Japanese had invaded learned about Nanking that she
and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona. are strained to the limit. China and launched an onslaught was eventually driven to suicide.
Some questions crossed my mind. Yet our federal government against Nanking, then China’s One of the things she learned
To begin with, did they really think they could muster another does little other than tell us tax capital city. was that the terrible brutality of
People Power that could topple an incumbent president? cuts will create economic growth Ten years ago her book, The the Japanese soldiers could be at-
Did they carefully plan it, or they just counted on spontaneous that will trickle down to all levels Rape of Nanking, was published tributed to their military training,
mass support using as basis Trillanes’s 11 million votes during the of society. and became a bestseller. (To page 14)
last elections?
Certain facts indicated that there was some kind of preparations
done.
Exhibit 1 was the walkout from the courtroom in Makati City
where they were being tried on the failed Oakwood mutiny.
Exhibit 2 was the communiqué which Lim read before the media
citing a litany of alleged sins of the Arroyo government.
Exhibit 3 were the red Magdalo armbands and high caliber fire-

Heroes
arms totted by the rebel soldiers who greeted Trillanes and Lim at
the Peninsula Manila Hotel that they vandalized with impunity and
turned into their war room.
Clearly, these things could not have come naturally.
Hence, there was some degree of planning done, albeit pitifully
inadequate.
I can’t believe it’s nearly the tion, just a survival tactic. overhyped and many people have
It was also quite obvious that they intended to replicate the pre-
end of the year. Every day that Can’t survive by beating my lost the true meaning of Christ-
vious bloodless coups that both started with a walkout.
passed had been so hectic, I get head against the wall about things mas. But so what. I haven’t and I
The first was a walkout by the computer operators tallying the
caught up in the moment. And I’m already come and gone. Won’t know you haven’t either.
votes of the snap election at the PICC.
always surprised when the year is change it plus I get a bloody head For me, Christmas is about
The second was a walkout of the prosecutors, lawyers and lead-
done. (and wall). celebrating life and loving the
ers of anti-Estrada groups from the impeachment proceedings at the
Where did it go? What did I Better to think about the bad people around you. It’s about giv-
Senate.
do? I guess it’s natural to think thing once, maybe twice; and if ing thanks for all you have and all
In both occasions, mass support poured in naturally, with the
about these things as we take stock it’s really, really complicated, I you have achieved. It’s about re-
military and police hierarchy sliding in later as the balance of power
of our lives during the Holidays. just have to figure out what went newing your faith in yourself and
tipped heavily in favor of the protesters.
Another year has come and wrong and fix it so it doesn’t hap- the world around you.
Trillanes and Lim must have counted on the former’s 11 million
gone. So many plans and goals, so pen again. And if it can’t be fixed, It’s a chance to mend broken
votes to turn out anew for him and support his uprising.
many distractions. I have to move on. things: Like dreams and love and
Maybe, it is safe to say that Trillanes had this delusion of gran-
Oh, well. We’re here now and So it’s the end of the year. I’ve hearts and friendships. And it’s
deur that made gave him a hero’s complex.
can’t do anything about the time taken stock and I’m glad to report the time to be generous with your
Sadly, his misconceptions made him more of a heel than a hero.
that went by. Spilt milk, as they that it’s been a good year. love and compassion.
He subsequently became the butt of jokes that caught like wild-
say. Clean it up but no sense crying I plan to spend a warm and It’s about all of this and more.
fire through the Internet. That should really be humiliating.
about it. Was it a wasted year? cozy time with my friends and I know, you’re probably shak-
And people who wrote “Trillanes” in their ballots during last
Absolutely not. Did I reach all family. We are going to celebrate ing your head and saying - well,
year’s elections must have now realized their folly, and that their
my goals? Achieve all my dreams? this season with energy and enthu- we should be like this all the time.
decision then wasn’t a wise one.
Ha, you must be kidding. But I’m siasm. Not just at Christmas.
After that disastrous escapade at The Pen, Trillanes should be ok with that. Really ok. From the first of Decem- I agree. But it is hard and
waking up every morning with the painful reckoning that he wasn’t Sure there still is a lot to do, ber until we collapse, exhausted sometimes I need a little push (like
exactly that popular and a folk hero. but I did manage to move things sometime around the middle of Christmas) to remind me about all
If he were, it should have been so easy for him to gather around at a little bit closer to where they January. this stuff.
least about one million supporters, and the soldiers deployed against should be. My street is going to be bounc- So, Merry Christmas. Merry,
him would have had a harder time quashing his mutinous desire. And I met some amazing and ing and rocking up and down, ev- Merry, Merry Christmas.
Well, there’s that time-worn saw; “Nobody loves a loser.” Jim- wonderful people along the way. ery house swaying, like a drunken Thank you for being with me
my Montejo is a journalist, who, for almost four decades, covered You! sailor, to music and laughter. this year. Thank you for all the
several beats starting at the morgue of the Manila Police Depart- Did bad things happen to me That’s the way it should be. support and feedback.
ment, to the so-called premier beats in the legislature. He had been this year? Sure. But good things Because Christmas is the best It’s been a great, fantastic
a deskman, an editor and now, just a friend to all. PNA also. And I’m going to fix the time of all. The spirit grabs me amazing year. And you’ve helped
LETTERS, COMMENTS, REACTIONS may be bad things and dwell on the good and won’t let go until I surrender make it that way for me.
sent to mediamonitor@rogers.com. All communica- things (because they make me to it. It simply won’t take no for an So thank you thank you thank
smile). answer. And I love it. you. And God bless. info@the-
tions will be edited.
This isn’t a new year’s resolu- Sure, it’s commercialized, nannyexpert.com
10
Before I start banging
tin cans and pans, honking
horns, barking at the wrong
barks, and making loud but
senseless noises to ward off
Casper’s bad uncles, let me
greet all and sundry a Mar-
ry Christmas and a Phos-
phorous New Year.
I mean, let us till death
be in a holy union with
Christ, whose birth we cel-
ebrate on Christmas Day,
and let us all have that fiery
spirit to win over our in-
ner struggles that we may
become better and stronger
persons all year through in
2008.
Sabi ni Tata Bosyong:
Palusot lang ‘yan! Iinglis-
Inglis, mali mali naman.
***
I intended not to men-
tion above the age-old tra-
dition of using fireworks to
welcome the New Year.
Sabi ni Tata Bosyong:
Costly na, delikado pa ang
fireworks. Pero makarinig
ka ng comment na mayroon
kang putok, aba, libre ‘yun!
***
Ellesmere-Kennedy Dental Ad
VIEWS
omerta
Kakasa ka ba sa
Grade 5? Ano ang 4x4?
Sometime ago, a com-
munity leader proved him-
self very able and compe-
tent in writing disastrous,
catastrophic and calamitous
columns for a short-lived
self-serving publication
that had the professionally
eerie semblance of a stapled
monthly magazine worthy
to be slapped the Provincial
Sales Tax.
Tanong ni Tata Bosyong:
Teka, ano ba ang ibig mong
sabihin? Ukol ba sa kalami-
dad ang isinulat o talagang
disaster and pagsusulat?
***
I don’t know to you
(Hindi ko alam sa iyo), Tata
Bosyong. You are no longer
there (wala ka na duon) and
you can not please know the
living of the life (at wala ka
nang pakialam sa buhay ng
may buhay).
What I understand is
that this columnist wannabe
disliked media questions on
questionable acts of some
questionable community
dealers ... ehe, leaders pala
... such that he questioned
Butch DG. Galicia & Tata Bosyong
media’s propensity to ask
questions that he believes
may open a can of worms
and expose financial anom-
alies na maaaring makasira
ng bad image.
Sabi ni Tata Bosyong:
To that wannabe, here is
yours (Heto ang sa ‘yo); as
far as your eyes can see (Sa
imong mata)!
***
Haskang laguta, ‘dong!
If that wannabe’s columns
were ever heard and be-
lieved at, the Three Mon-
keys (No See, No Hear,
No Speak) would have had
such a wonderful time.
Sabi ni Tata Bosyong:
You can fool some people
some of the time. You can
fool many people most of
the time. But you cannot
fool all the people all the
time, lalo na mula ala-una
hanggang alas-kuwatro ng
umaga. Tulog ‘yun.
***
In the Philippines for
a month now, my eyes are
particularly glued to the TV
set everytime it’s time for
Manila Media Monitor
Kakasa Ka Ba Sa Grade
5?, the Filipino boobtube
version of Are You Smarter
Than A 5th Grader?
I am awaiting the day
when an episode, like that
below, will make my brains
go muni-muni and isip-isip
and my funny bones go so-
brang galak sa tuwa.
KKBSG5 host Janno
Gibbs: Sa Mathematics,
ano ang 4x4?
Contestant: Ikakasa ko
na! Ang 4x4 ay magandang
sasakyan!
KKBSG5 host Janno
Gibbs: Naku, mali. Pero
kung tama ang answer ng
Grade 5 student buddy mo,
you are off the hook. (To
Grade 5 student) Sa Math-
ematics, ano ang 4x4?
Grade 5 student: Sir,
16 po. Sixteen thousand
po ang ipinang-down sa
magandang sasakyan.
(Applause for Grand
Kalabasa Award!!!!)
Kontra ni Tata Bosyong:
In your dreams.
***
How about New Year
advices for our communi-
ty’s honorables? Some of
the advices, if not none, may
come in handy in 2008.
Advice No. 1: Hog-
ging the limelight can be
distasteful and dangerous
to one’s person and health.
But one may do so with a
nod to all these questions:
Am I a hog? Do I like the
taste of lime? Have I ever
been blinded by power...ful
klieg lights?
Advice No. 2: One must
always be who and what one
is. Pretending to be what
one is not is risky. Kapag
nabisto, kahiya-hiya! Loss
of face and a tarnished im-
age can be devastating.
Pero, kung talagang maka-
pal ang mukha mo ...
Advice No. 3: One must
never even try to understand
the stupid creatures roam-
ing earth. There will always
be a fireman who gets fired,
an accountant who does not
know how to count and what
accounting means, a doctor
who quacks, a general who
DECEMBER 2007
will sound a retreat towards
enemy lines, a real estate
contractor who erects hous-
es on another person’s cem-
etery lot, a lawyer disbarred
for ignorance of the law, or
a drop-dead promising poli-
tician everyone promises to
kick in the ass and kill.
Life is such that every-
one, no exceptions, will
always be caught in the in-
terchangeable web of inge-
nuity and stupidity, and the
thin line called sanity that
wedges both is normally
absent.
Advice No. 4: When
one is wronged, one must
not aspire to get even. Tha
adversary can have all the
odds.
Advice No. 5: One must
make it a rule to always be
kind to animals, and to nev-
er ever give them - not even
the snake, the crocodile or
the vulture -- a bad name.
But one must hope they
won’t ask for a bite back
and won’t backbite. butch-
galicia@yahoo.com
DECEMBER 2007
Canada’s color-coded immigration policy needs challenging
The Canadian passport
looks the same for all - until
you open it.
Once you do, you will
find two kinds of pictures;
those of Canadian citizens
that the Canadian govern-
ment trusts, and those of
Canadian citizens that the
government does not.
The difference is easy
to spot, because it is shame-
fully crude. It’s a difference
in pigmentation.
Given the rhetoric,
you’d have thought that
only the most outward man-
ifestation of a variety and of
a multiculturalism – not to
mention equality – that Ca-
nadian leaders go on telling
us that we celebrate.
But the rhetoric begins
increasingly to sound pho-
ney; not just because there
is a difference between
policy and practice, but be-
cause the policy is itself dis-
criminatory.
Ask a white Canadian
who migrated from a non-
“Asiatic” country the last
time her or his relatives
were denied a visit visa for
a family celebration. Not
one will have a story to tell.
Ask an Indian or other
non-white Canadians, and
everyone does.
Manila Media Monitor
“Asiatics” was a term
used for those from the In-
dian sub-continent, China,
Japan and also “Arabian,
Armenian, Hindu, Syrian,
Turkish…” immigrants.
That a Canadian family
of “Asiatic” origin – just
as Canadian as anyone else
supposedly – stands guar-
antee that a visiting rela-
tive will return is not good
enough any more for grant
of nothing more than a visi-
tors visa.
Never mind for a mo-
ment the visitor who then
cannot visit.
The government is re-
ally telling a section of its
own citizens that it cannot
trust them because they are
a different color.
This is a policy stained
with apartheid-like discrim-
ination that more progres-
sive countries than Canada,
South Africa for instance,
have abandoned.
The Canadian govern-
ment is practicing discrimi-
nation, and the Canadian
government has institution-
alized insult to its own citi-
zens.
A declaration on oath
from some Canadians is
not good enough for the
government; other Canadi-
BY SURESH JAURA, CEMA Member
ans are seen to be so good
that they are never asked to
make such a declaration in
the first place.
The time has come,
surely, to challenge the gov-
ernment politically, and to
challenge its color-divided
policy legally.
Nobody denies that im-
migration policies need to
be in place.
Canadian citizens of In-
dian origin need immigra-
tion controls to be in place
just as much as anyone
else.
The problem is the poli-
cies that are put down in the
name of such a need.
That policy means that
it’s okay for one Canadian’s
sister to attend a family cel-
ebration, not for another.
Not even if that other
Canadian gives a guarantee
on oath and provides all the
financial documentation in-
cluding tax assessment and
bank statements.
Some Canadians, that
is, have a right to realize
and nurture family relation-
ships; others do not.
A few years after the
immigrant has become a
VIEWS
Canadian citizen, is he/she
treated any better?
Not necessarily.
They are always re-
minded of their origin and
roots whether they are trav-
elling to their or their par-
ents’ home country or with-
in the country, or in North
America.
Another decade goes by:
they have established them-
selves, they are in business
or have a job, own a house,
their children have grown
up and now they feel they
can celebrate the happy oc-
casions in their lives – like
a silver wedding anniver-
sary or the wedding of their
offspring.
They have forgotten
their initial bad experience
and decide to invite their
relations and friends from
back home to join them in
the festivities.
To get a Visit Visa, re-
ferred to as Temporary
Resident Visa by Canada
Immigration, there are
documents to be submitted
by the invitee and also the
invitor.
For the invitor, who had
migrated a couple of de-
cades or prior to that from,
say one of the “third world”
countries including South
Asian countries (previously
known as “Asiatic” coun-
tries), there are special re-
quirements.
They have to submit
financial documentation,
including Notice of Tax As-
sessment, proof of employ-
ment and proof of invitor’s
existing funds.
It is interesting to note
that if a relative or friend
being sponsored is living
in non-“Asiatic” country,
the invitor does not have to
submit similar set of docu-
ments.
The saga does not end
here. Now all the documents
are gathered by the invitor
and his family members
including affidavit to bear
all expenses during the in-
vitee’s stay in Canada, even
commitment to repatriate
the invitee if necessary, and
sent to the invitee.
The invitee, who has a
solid job, approved leave
to travel, funds to buy a
ticket, money available for
immediate expenses and the
necessary documentation,
makes the application.
But getting the go-ahead
from a Canadian Visa Offi-
11
cer is like getting a winning
ticket in the lotto or hitting
a jackpot at a casino.
Even if the invitee has
previously travelled to U.K.,
Europe and other countries,
the Canadian Visa Officer
may end up deciding the
person is ineligible to be ad-
mitted to Canada as the offi-
cer may not be satisfied that
there are good reasons for
the person to return home.
The invitee may be trav-
elling alone, or with spouse
or children.
Some of the possible
reasons given: lack of travel
history (sounds like lack of
Canadian experience) even
though the person has trav-
elled to U.K., Europe and
other countries previously;
purpose of visit even though
the anniversary or wedding
invitations are attached
with the documents, and
the affidavits mention the
purpose of travel; personal
assets and financial status
– living in one’s own home
and above average income
and funds available to pur-
chase a ticket and personal
expenses is not considered
enough.
Is it only millionaires
who can visit their relatives
(To page 12)
Canada’s color-divided ...
(From page 11)
and friends in Canada?
Canada declares itself a devel-
oped country with due respect for
law and procedure.
Under any law, one is con-
sidered innocent unless proven
guilty.
But in the eyes of the Visa Of-
ficer, who quotes different acts on
the book, everybody, especially if
they live in one of the “Asiatic”
countries, and wish to visit Can-
ada are considered to be potential
asylum-seeking refugees.
Some Visa Officers, in their
posts abroad, overwhelmed with
shortage of staff and heavy work-
load, it is said, are delegating pro-
cessing of applications to the lo-
cal staff, who feel that since they
are working in a foreign mission,
their status and delegated author-
No place up for greed, idiocy, stupidity
(From page 8)
quote inspired us.”
“Very good! Well, I know
Ricky Caluen. But who is Thomas
Paine? Anyway, kaya pala I see
your names in our register. You
merit this place, eh?
“Did you account for ALL the
amounts of the donation you col-
lected?” the gatekeeper asked the
couple further.
Scratching their heads, the
couple apparently did not know
what to say: “Ah … err …. Ah. Sir,
pasko naman, e. Merry Christmas
na la’ng muna sa amin ang iba?”
“Look guys. Let me give you
more time on earth. What I coun-
sel you to do is go back there and
account for all those donations.”
“E, paano ako?” the female
ity can be exercised to the detri-
ment of others.
How can we have ‘Asiatics’
migrate and become Canadian cit-
izens and let them not have their
relatives or friends to join them
in the celebration of milestones
in their lives just because all ap-
plicants are considered guilty (po-
tential refugees) unless they prove
themselves innocent?
Suresh Jaura is a freelance
writer based in Toronto. He is
President (North America) of
Globalom Media, publisher and
editor of two electronic monthly
productions: South Asian Out-
look and Indo-Canada Outlook;
and producer of South Asian
Web TV programme. He can be
reached at sjaura@globalomme-
dia.com.
publisher asked the gatekeeper.
“Bumalik ka rin sa lupa at itu-
wid mo ang sarili mo. Don’t be so
greedy. Play on the level. I’m not
supposed to tell you this, pero ang
problema sa iyo ay masyado kang
suwapang.
“Remember always your fel-
low Philippine Press Club Ontario
colleague Ricky Caluen’s quote:
‘When we die, things that we have
done for ourselves will be lost in
the grave; but, what we have done
for others will gain immortality’.
“At iyang si Thomas Paine na
iyan, kilala ko na. Iyan si Tomas
na gusto rin mag-publish ng Fili-
pino newspaper, pero nang mala-
man ang ginagawa mo, it “Paine”
him.
12 VIEWS
More ‘seniors’ go on working
Statistics Canada has released
a study on the participation of
older Canadians in the workforce,
which examined labor market
trends among those aged 55 to 64
between 1976 and 2006.
The study used data from a re-
cent labor force survey.
The study said about 2.1 mil-
lion persons from 55 to 64 years
old were either employed or look-
ing for work in 2006, more than
double the total in 1976.
They represented 12 percent
of the total 2006 labor force, com-
pared with 10 percent 30 years
earlier.
Other study findings noted
that:
“Teka, ano nga pala ang laman
ng dala-dala mong bayong? Balak
mo ba i-sabotahe rin ang teritory-
ong ito? Terrorist ka rin ba?”
The female publisher humbly
said, “Hindi po. Collection po ito
sa mga advertising sa diyaryo ko,
at saka listahan noong hindi na-
kakabayad.”
The male publisher inter-
rupted, “Anong listahan ng hin-
di nagbabayad, e, tapos na ang
placement sa iyo ng mga iyon,
inilalabas mo pa, para makatipid
ka sa trabaho.
“E, kapag nabalitaan ni Mon
Datol iyan, maglalagay na naman
ng isang klasipikasyon iyon, at
baka tawaging ‘Istupida’.” ace.
alvarez@rogers.com
► Most persons in their late
50s were still working last year.
Among men aged 55 to 59, some
76 percent either had a job or were
looking for one.
This rate was below the 1976
high of 84 percent, but above the
1998 low of 71 percent.
► A smaller proportion of
people aged 60 to 64 were par-
ticipating in the labour force, but
both men and women have made
recent gains. Last year, 53 percent
of men in the age group were par-
ticipating in the workforce, com-
pared with 43 percent in 1995. A
record 37 percent of women in the
age group were doing so as well.
► The labor force participa-
tion among those in the age group
would continue to rise because of
three factors: a strong attachment
to the labor market among baby
boomers; rising levels of educa-
tion, particularly among women;
and an apparent desire among
people over 55 to continue work-
Manila Media Monitor
DECEMBER 2007
ing, either from interest, financial
concern, or other factors, such as
the virtual elimination of manda-
tory retirement at age 65.
► Workers aged 55 to 64 had
shorter average weekly work hours
than core-age workers (37.7 per-
cent versus 39 percent), although
the gap is narrower for men (40.9
percent versus 42.1 percent) than
for women (33.6 percent versus
35.6 percent).
Older workers, particularly
women, tended to work part time
- 11 percent of men and 28 percent
of women, compared with five
percent of men and 19 percent of
women aged 25 to 54.
► Older employees tended to
be absent from their job because
of illness or disability.
In 2006, 55 to 59 year-olds
working full time just lost over 10
days for this reason while 60 to
64 year-olds lost over 12 days; 25
to 54 year-olds were absent only
seven days.
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor FEATURE 13
Christmas
in Canada
In 1535, French explorer Jacques Cartier
led 109 others keep alive the spirit of Christmas Cell: 416-791-9292
in a tiny palisaded fortress on the banks of the
Ste. Croix River (now the St. Charles), near the
present City of Quebec.
But other than
be a joyous occasion
of celebration and
merriment, this first
Christmas observa-
tion in Canada was
characterized by the
French settlers with
helplessness only
buoyed up by a flick-
er of hope for their
well-being.
CARTIER
According to a
Canadian heritage entry in canadafirst.net and
citing a Montreal Star report, the settlers were
not ready for the brutal winter. “The buildings
could not keep out the penetrating cold. There
were no cellars in which to keep supplies. All
the drinkables were frozen hard, and melted
snow had to be used for water, as rivers and
streams were soon locked fast by the ice. Salt
meat and stale vegetables formed the greater
part of the diet, and by Christmas time health
was beginning to suffer and the first whisper of
the dread disease of scurvy was apparent among
the whites.”
At the same time, the settlers were constant-
ly wary of possible acts of hostility from earlier
befriended Indians who lived in the Iroquois
village nearby Stadacona and hovered around,
always watching.
Everything, however, came to pass.
Variety of traditions
Through the years, the influx of settlers
from all parts of the northern hemisphere gave
rise to Christmas celebrations drawn from a va-
riety of cultural traditions, including those of
the French, English, German, Ukrainian, and
First Nations.
Christmas historian Bill Egan in his article
Christmas in Canada noted the French for the
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, La Messe de
minuit, after which the family would sit down
for the reveillon or awakening, a huge banquet.
French Canadians have also introduced the
creche or Nativity scene displayed beneath an
adorned Christmas tree.

416-780-1020

messenger of the Christ Child. bag was hanged for each child. On Christ-
CRECHE (Nativity scene) Their mothers would make stollen mas morn, the children would collect the
and decorate hundreds of Christmas bags expectedly filled with gifts and candy.
In modern Quebec, some French-Canadian cookies. The Tannenbaum is in the Missionaries also brought Christianity
families would wait until New Year’s Day for place of honor in every home. to the Inuit and today, the latter would cele-
gift giving. When French Jesuit mis- brate Christ-
Egan credited the English for the Christmas sionaries established Chris- mas with
feast of roast goose or beef along with plum tianity in native villages in huge feasts
pudding, although the American turkey had the late 1600’s, they also in- that featured
lately made its way into Canadian tables. troduced the Christmas tradi- caribou, seal
The English would still decorate homes with tions of gift giving, feasting, and raw fish,
pine boughs and kissing balls and sang ancient singing, dancing and drum- and turkey.
carols. ming and games of strength Christmas
German settlers who migrated to Canada in which have all become part of activities in- building, along with modern day entertain-
the 1700s brought with them the traditions of the mid-winter celebrations cluded har- ment such as snowmobile racing.
setting up Christmas trees, singing carols, put- for the First Nations. poon throw- In the late 1800s, Ukrainian immigrants
ting up Advent calendars, making gingerbread Egan wrote that children ing, whip brought with them a rich blend of Eastern
houses, baking cookies and much more. of the Cree Nation would cracking, Orthodox and age-old agrarian customs.
Today, children of German origin would visit the homes of relatives wrestling Egan wrote that the religious obser-
anxiously await the arrival of Christkindl, the on Christmas Eve and a cloth CHRISTMAS TREE and igloo (To page 15)
14
Christina’s homecoming awaited
Christmas: A Tarnished Holiday
itself including whippings
and torture of soldiers by
their officers.
One of the greatest hor-
rors of armed conflict is the
danger of turning fighting
men into beasts and histori-
cally, the Japanese army is
far from being the only
guilty party.
To call this film a hor-
ror story is perfectly cor-
rect and the biggest horror
is that soldiers everywhere
continue to be turned into
animals.
Think Auschwitz and
the SS. Think My Lai.
Think Darfur and Somalia.
Think Abu Graib.
And think turning over
Afghan prisoners of war to
police brutality
***
Some say if we are to
be a nation, we cannot all
just drift about in our own
tribes, cliques, niches and
enclaves.
In order to exist success-
fully as a collective group,
we need defining ideals,
national projects, grand
designs. We need things
we can all stand up for and
hang our hats, hijabs and
turbans on.
This might be a good
idea but what would it en-
tail?
Wars are national proj-
ects but they tend not to be
much fun.
We built ourselves a big
railway and that was a na-
tional project, but Chinese
laborers didn’t find it a very
rewarding mechanism of
social inclusion.
We could all sign a doc-
ument that expresses “Ca-
nadian values” but would
that document be written by
General Rick Hillier or co-
median Rick Mercer?
***
The Halton Catholic
School Board has banned
Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007
Bring Christina back home (From page 1)
an e-mail Philippine Cou- 6370645 , a trust fund set up Christina’s cousin Alys- person investigation, add-
rier publisher Ramon Datol so that a family-led search sa, of the For U vocal group, ing there was no evidence
forwarded on Dec. 4 to the could be made in the spring interpreted the song. The to suggest foul play.
Manila Media Monitor. of 2008. CD was launched Dec. 4. On Oct. 5, OPP Com-
She said donations To raise more funds, the Police search stopped misioner Julian Fantino an-
could be deposited at any family has started selling About a month ago, a nounced that the provincial
TD Canada Trust Branch the CD of a song Christina’s CNW report from Schreiber, government of Ontario has
for Trust Account No. 1289- uncle Bayani wrote. Ontario said the OPP has offered a $50,000 reward
cancelled all search plans for information leading to
for Toronto-based Chris- Christina’s whereabouts.
(From page 9) tina. Police investigation
the book Golden Compass with these works, too, and The report cited bad showed Christina was last
from school library shelves let us have a real book burn- weather as hindering a high- seen in the Rainbow Falls
on the basis of a complaint ing! Just like in the days of ly-trained search and rescue park, some seven kilome-
by one single person that the Third Reich. team of the OPP Provincial ters west of Schreiber, on
the author is an atheist. And while we are at and North West Region the coast of Lake Superior.
In an age in which we it, let’s throw in the Bible, emergency response teams Police said Christina
Canadians pride ourselves too. The Good Book sup- from effectively conducting had been camping at the
on freedom of speech and ports human sacrifice, and its mission. park with a cousin and two
with the movie of the book laws that command people The report added there friends on the August Civic
on Canadian screens, does be killed for working on the were no immediate plans to Holiday, having spent a
not this seem like an invita- Sabbath, for being gay, for continue the search during night at the park before go-
tion to ridicule? cursing their parents, or for the fall. ing missing.
How many inquisitive not being a virgin on their The November search She was last seen jog-
kids’ minds will be piqued wedding night. (Used with was to have been made in ging, wearing a blue hoodie
by all this publicity cre- permission. Ben Viccari is areas identified as too dan- sweatshirt, a maroon/purple
ated by the blinkered mem- the President of the Cana- gerous to attempt to search striped shirt, black pants,
bers of the Halton School dian Ethnic Media Associ- during the original 17-day and white running shoes.
Board? ation [CEMA] and makes search in August. Christina is about 5’2”
The immortal works of frequent appearances on Although the August in height, weighs 125 to 130
writers, who were atheists, OMNI TV Commentary. search was extensive, police pounds, and is of Asian de-
agnostics or free thinkers Some of his commentar- were unable to locate her. scent with a dark complex-
include Lincoln’s Gettys- ies are republished in this Police said the incident ion, black shoulder-length
burg Address, the poems of publication and slightly ex- remained an open missing hair and brown eyes.
Robert Frost the humor of panded in some cases from
Mark Twain, the dramas of their 70-second broadcast MAKE YOUR ADS STAND OUT
George Bernard Shaw and originals. For more of his
the philosophy of Bertrand work, please visit Ben’s MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
Russell. website at: http://canscene.
So out on the streets ripple.ca) Call 416-285-8583
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor FEATURE 15
Christmas in Canada have also become a Christmas tradition ed with piped-in Christmas tunes. And so
(From page 13) from Newfoundland. would be homes and buildings. It was said
vance of Christmas for Ukrainians began bells, making noise, seeking candy or other In Toronto, Ontario, people would start that radio stations would only start airing
with the Feast of Saint Philip, when homes, treats. The hosts could try to guess who the feeling the Yuletide atmosphere with the Christmas music with the first snowfall.
yards and barns were cleaned to the hilt. mummers were and if they guessed right, pomp and revelry of the annual Santa Claus Some traditions might have been ex-
Cleansing of the body and soul would also the mummer would remove his or her dis- Parade, which premiered on Dec. 2, 1905. ploited for mercantile benefits; but even so,
be done with fasting and purification. guise and stop making noises. Like in other Canadian cities, shops the spirit of Chrtistmas, like the one first
On Christmas Eve, a day of fasting end- Children would be quizzed by the mum- and malls would be adorned with colorful observed in Canada, would live on. With
ed with Sviata Vechera, or Holy Supper. mers on their behavior. Masked mummers Christmas decors and lights, complement- Internet entries
Combining agrarian symbols and Chris-
tian symbols, 12 dishes were served, to rep-
resent the 12 disciples and the cycles of the
moon. The dishes also symbolized the most
valuable products of the field, garden, and
orchard. Meat or milk would not be served
with the meal as a sign of respect for the
farm animals.
Prior to the meal, a sheaf of wheat
is brought into the house by the father or
household head, who would walk around
the home’s interior three times and then
place the wheat in a corner of the kitchen
or dining room near the family’s holy icon.
The sheaf, to remain throughout the Christ-
mas season, represented the entire family
including departed ancestors and the gen-
erations to come. The souls of the family
are thought to be in the sheaf, representing
the Christian belief in an afterlife and the
bountiful fertility of the land.
Canadawide Yule
Today, in some provinces, a big winter
festival, called Sinck tuck, is celebrated.
In Labrador, turnips are saved from the
summer harvest and are given to children,
with a lighted candle pushed into a hol-
lowed out hole.
In Nova Scotia, Scottish settlers intro-
duced ancient Christmas songs and carols
people sang each Christmas morning. Dur-
ing the 12 days of Christmas, small groups
of belsnicklers, or masked mummers,
would appear in neighborhoods, ringing
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor PEOPLE & EVENTS 17
Western Union’s Araw ng Migrante

NCM

(Above) A lucky migrant worker (4th from left) receives a P3,000 Mon-
ey Transfer gift certificate from Western Union representatives (left to
right) Moises Calo, director for retail marketing; Patricia Riingen, vice
president for the Philippines; Brian Fox, regional vice president and
general manager; and Daniel Fihn, market development manager for
Eastern Canada. The winner, one of two given gift certificates, is part
of over 200 caregivers and migrant workers from Ottawa, Kingston
and Montreal who Western Union and Philippine Embassy officials
in Ottawa welcomed to Tahanang Rizal, as part of ‘Araw ng Migran-
te’. Organizers described the event as a gathering marked with fun,
games, laughter, dancing and delicious Filipino food. Entertainment
numbers came from the Pastoral Care for Migrants, Mutyang Ina ng
Migrante 2007 candidates and Noypi band. Gracing the event were
embassy officials, Labor Representative Frank Luna, Settlement
Manager Nasir Tarafder and Western Union representatives Fox; Bill
Van Koot, director of operations; and Riingen. PR
Pillars’ Christmas in November

A lively dance number accentuates the Original Pillars celebration of Christ-

mas in November on Nov. 24. During the event, president Gerry Elises noted
the litany of activities and events the community group carried out to attain
its goals. Elises also thanked Pillars’ officers Tony Neil, vice president; Rhe-
za Evangelista, secretary and PRO; Zeny Lopez, treasurer; Ben Ferrer, audi-
tor; Mody Puno and Ed Umali, sgts.-at-arms; Fely Alfaro, folk dance director;
boardmembers Leah Garcia, also assistant treasurer; Rosa Siochi; Epifanio
Pulian; Irene Reyes; and Fred Cruz; and advisors Tim and Purita Barrientos,
Tito Primicias, and Ben Arcalas and the group’s supporters for making 2007
a productive year for the Pillars. PR

Tarlac Society of Ontario Gala Night

Tarlac Society of Ontario (TSO) Rigodon Royale dancers (from left, fore-
ground) Jess Meneses, Aris Elefano, Jess Carlos, Frank Maralag, Conrad
Agustin, Michael Rustia, Bert Chichioco, Art Sanchez, (from left, standing)
William Mendoza, Rory Elefano, Tess Mendoza, Alma Benemerito, Tess Men-
eses, Ores Ting, Adela Agustin, Melinda Rustia, Cely Chichioco and Anita
Sanchez take a breather during the TSO’s recent Gala Night.
18 PEOPLE & EVENTS Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

CEMA Season’s Dinner Christmas Appreciation at Holy Cross Parish

(From left) Front
Page Philippines
TV host Gie Al-
varez, Philippine
Press Club Ontar-
io president Tenny
Soriano and Latin
Life News publish-
er Roberto Haus-
man share indus-
try insights during
the Canadian Eth-
nic Media Associa-
tion (CEMA) 2007
Season’s Dinner
at the Gallery, Co-
lumbus Centre on
Nov. 30. (Below) Members of the Holy Cross Parish 12:00 Noon Choir render a musical num-
Soriano and Alva- ber during the Christmas Appreciation Evening at the parish on Dec. 1 host-
rez flank Member of Parliament Michael Prue (NDP, Beaches-East York) as ed by Fr. William Swift. Photo: MANILA MEDIA MONITOR
Evelyn Galicia and Myrna Soriano join in. Photos by Manila Media Monitor
CEMA Planning Session

Some members of the board of directors of the Canadian Ethnic Media As-
sociation share a light moment during a planning session for its Season’s
Dinner. From left are Kiu Rezvanifar of the KVC Communications Group,
Inc.; Ace Alvarez, Manila Media Monitor and Front Page Philippines TV; Bill
Yancoff, Macedonian Hour; and Madeline Ziniak, National Vice President for
Television, Rogers Television. Photo: DAVE NGUYEN, Thoi Bao
20 Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007 DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor 21
22 Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

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DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES 23
Kuwaiti Emir won’t sign Gonzales dentistry
Ranario execution decree
MANILA - The Emir of ent during the meeting,
Professional Corporation
Kuwait His Highness Sheik quoted the Emir as telling
824 Sheppard Ave. W #3, Downsview, ON.
Sabah Al-ahmad Al-Jaber Arroyo: “Normally, I don’t
Al-Sabah has commuted to interfere in the judicial pro-
life imprisonment the death cess,” noting that his coun-
penalty on overseas Filipi- try had a “separate judicial
no worker (OFW) Marilou system.”
Ranario. “But since you (Arroyo)

Dr. Heidi
The Emir also promised are here to personally appeal
to further reduce Ranario’s for her, I will not sign the
penalty if the relatives of decree of execution. That is
her Kuwaiti employer, Najat within my power,” the Emir
Mahmoud Faraj Mobarak, was quoted as saying.

40, would forgive her.
Kuwait’s Supreme
Court affirmed on Nov. 27
the death sentence a Ku-
RANARIO
the personal appeal Philip-
pine President Gloria Ma-
capagal Arroyo made to the
Gonzales
Bunye said the Emir
also promised: “I will fur-
ther reduce the penalty,”
when the other parties sign Office Hours

waiti criminal court passed
as judgment on Ranario in
September 2005, or nine
months after she was arrest-
ed for stabbing Mobarak to
death.
Press Secretary and
Presidential Spokesman Ig-
nacio Bunye on Dec. 9 said
Ranarios visit, thank President Arroyo
Emir on behalf of Ranario
helped convince the Emir to
commute the death sentence
to life imprisonment.
Bunye said the President
had a 25-minute noontime
meeting with the Emir at the
Bayan Palace in Kuwait.
Bunye, who was pres-
(new ad copy)
documents indicating that
they have forgiven Ranario Monday- Wednesday: 10am-
for the death of Mobarak. 7pm
Bunye said Arroyo Thursday: Closed
thanked the Emir for his Friday- Saturday: 10am-7pm
Sunday: Closed
“compassion.”
The President arrived in
Kuwait from a two-nation
visit of Europe. PNA call to book an appointment
(416) 633-9855

“Let’s Brighten the World with Your Smile”

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
The family of Marilou Ranario pays a courtesy call on President Gloria Ma- PNB Remittance (2)
capagal-Arroyo (right) in Malacañang on Dec. 11 to thank her for saving Mar- Front Page Philippines (3)
ilou from hanging in Kuwait for the killing of her female employer in 2005. Goldentuller & Associates (3)
Kuwait’s Emir commuted Ranario’s death penalty to life imprisonment upon
the intercession of the President. With the President are Marilou’s father Ro-
Rolly’s Garage (3)
sario (center), mother Encarnacion, sister Wilfreda, and children Raffy John Dr. Arla Rondilla Dentistry
and Roselle. Alfredo Francisco, OPS/NIB Photo Professional Corp. (5)
Dr. Albine A. Miciano
Military cries foul over Cosmetic & General
Dentistry (6)
Moneygram (21)
Therese Guidolin (22)
The Tropical Deli (22)
Dr. Heidi Amado-Gonzales
Family Dentistry (23)
Sue Paguibitan (24)
Conrad Fajardo (24)
UMAC Toronto (25)
Mary’s Esthetics (25)

Unicef report on RP Gamma Epsilon Fraternity/

MANILA - Philippine Army spokes-
man Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres branded as
unfair and biased a United Nations Fund
(Unicef), saying the international agency
based its findings on data provided solely
by a communist group.
The Unicef report said military opera-
tions in the countryside had adversely af-
fected some 200,000 children and women.
Torres said “Unicef should have been
more discerning in its report,” which he
said was commissioned by the Ibon Foun-
dation.
“(The Unicef) report was based on the
information provided by Ibon, an organiza-
tion widely believed to be allied to the Com-
munist Party of the Philippines (CPP),” he
said.
Unicef ignored data from the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Phil-
ippine National Police (PNP) and from
the Department of the Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), the state agency
tasked to take care of displaced people, he
said.
“Records from the AFP, PNP, and
DSWD were not given due consideration.
Gamma Lambda Epsilon
Sorority (6)
Lani Misalucha
Trimedia (26) / LDV (26)
Dr. Bernarda Rosales
Verzonilla Family &
We have documents and living witnesses Action Honda (7) Cosmetic Dentistry (27)
to prove the CPP (and its military arm, the
New People’s Army) exploitation of wom- Ellesmere-Kennedy Dental Innovation (27)
en and children,” Torres said. Centre (10) Lovely Travel & Tours
He claimed the military always took Forex (11) Int’l, Inc. (28)
necessary steps to ensure the safety of civil- Russell International (12) Liland Insurance Inc. (29)
ians, particularly children and the women Amit Bhatia Credit Roadsport Honda (30)
during operations against communist reb-
els.
Management Services (13) OCDC Parcel Services (31)
He pointed to communist rebels as the Aqua Crystal Clear (14) Arme Ortega-Braiden (33)
ones causing the displacement of and hard- Golden Mile Motors Ltd. (15) Condo Unit for Sale (34)
ships to peace-loving people due to the for- Kaakbay Financial Services Saratoga Electronic
mer’s persistence to pursue their armed and (15) Solutions (35)
political goals.
“The faster we can get our acts together
New Conservatory of Music Yellow Bird Driver’s Training
as responsible members of the Filipino so- (17) Centre (35)
ciety in defeating the insurgents, the sooner Home Karaoke (17) T.H.D. Consultants (35)
we can put a stop on this unwarranted dis- Timeless Images (17) The Edge Group (36)
placement of people,” said Torres. Tony Furto (18) musicpad.com (37)
On the other hand, AFP public informa-
tion office chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro
Dr. Roslyn Sim-Sabilano Superb Travel (38)
said “it is not our intent to cause difficulties Dentistry Prof. Corp. (18) Clem Cabillan (38)
to the people, it is not our intent to cause TFC (19) CHIN Radio (38)
their displacement. Operating units base Dr. Evangeline M. Bernabe & Ma. Louisa Diaz (39)
their actions on existing rules of engage- Associates (20 & 21) Dr. Santiago & Associates (40)
ment, as much as possible, to avoid engag-
ing the enemy in populated areas.” PNA
FV Foods (20) Fairview Dental Centre (40)
24 Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES
CGA mining official hails RP
professionalism, transparency
MANILA - Michael
Joseph Carrick, president
and CEO of Toronto-based
CGA Mining Ltd., praised
the speedy, transparent and
hassle-free processing of
his company’s application
for a permit to acquire Atlas
Mining Development Corp.
“I am impressed. The
permitting process here is
extremely professional and
transparent,” Carrick said.
The CGA official said
the mining firm “operates
six mines in different parts
Resized U-MAC B/W Ad
(Changed Toll #: 1-866-237-9154)
of the world: one each in
China, Nigeria and Zambia,
and three in Australia.”
Atlas has become CGA’s
seventh mining operation.
CGA has sunk $200
million in acquiring the
property and infrastructure
of Atlas Mining, which is
set to resume operations in
December 2008.
Carrick said rich miner-
al resources “are significant
to foreign investors because
mining investments are long
term in nature.”
25
CGA has hired 1,000
workers for its Masbate
gold project. Another 600
would be employed when
actual Atlas mining opera-
tions resume by December
2008.
The government has
revitalized the mining sec-
tor to cash in on high metal
prices in the world market.
It has projected some
$348 million in fresh capi-
tal inflows in the sector this
year and $6.5 billion more
in the next five years. PNA
26 Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

The first Asian entertainers inducted

in Las Vegas Walk of Stars will be
LIVE in Toronto

SONY CENTRE
For The Performing Arts
ONE FRONT STREET EAST, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5E 1B2
formerly The Hummingbird Centre
For Information, please call:

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MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor The PHILIPPINES 27
News Roundup
108th year of Battle of Tirad Pass recalled
GREGORIO DEL PILAR, Ilocos Sur - Officials, locals
and tourists commemorated on Dec. 2 the Battle of Tirad
Pass, on the very site where General Gregorio del Pilar and
his men gallantly fought superior American troops during
the Filipino-American War. Del Pilar, then 24 years old, val-
iantly died on Dec. 2, 1899, focused on his mission to give
revolutionary president Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo ample time to
escape farther north. Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Savel-
lano said the commemoration trek was part of a program to
promote eco–cultural and historical tourism in the province.
On July 20, 1938, President Manuel Quezon declared Tirad
Pass a national park. On July 23, 1968, then President Ferdi-
nand Marcos issued Presidential Proclamation No. 433 and
declared Tirad Pass a national shrine. PNA

Enrolment rate in Cagayan Valley drops

TUGUEGARAO CITY - The enrollment rate among schoolchildren in public elementary
schools in the Cagayan Valley region has been declining during the past five years, despite
efforts to improve the region’s participation rate. Education official Marites Llanes said
the participation rate in the region’s elementary schools in 1990 reached as high as 95.05.
But the figure dipped to 79.62 in 2005 with Nueva Vizcaya province registering the lowest
participation rate at 75.19, and the island province of Batanes registering the highest at
88.63. The dropout rate, on the other hand, has decreased, Llanes said. In 1990, an aver-
age minimal drop out rate of 1.12 was recorded; but this dropped to .66 in 2005. Cagayan
and Isabela provinces recorded the lowest dropout rate of .53, while Quirino recorded the
highest at 1.23. PNA

Young sea turtles let loose in Morong

BALANGA CITY, Bataan - The two-day
pawikan (turtle) festival in Bataan ended
on Nov. 30 with hatchlings released to the
South China Sea in Morong, after a walk-
for-a-cause to get more support to save the
endangered sea turtle species. The young
turtles were born on the night of Nov. 29.
Officials of Bantay Pawikan, Inc. said sea
turtle hatchlings had to be immediately re-
leased to the sea “to be able to absorb the
magnetic field from the beach sands that will guide the sea creatures in their return to the
same place after 25 or more years.” There are eight species of sea turtles in the world; three
of which are found in the sandy beaches of Morong. These are Hawksbill, Green Turtle
and Olive Ridley. November is the month believed to be the peak hatching season. Bantay
Pawikan has set loose at least 40,000 young turtles to the South China Sea. PNA
INNOVATION
VIDEO - PHOTO - DJ SERVICES
Iloilo city mayor acts vs copper wire theft “The images we capture are the memories you will treasure.”
ILOILO CITY - Mayor Jerry Treñas has offered a cash reward of P20,000 to anyone who
could give information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those engaged in electri- Specialized for:
cal wire pilferage in this city. Last month, suspects had stolen more than 1,000 meters of
electrical wires from electric posts at Brgy. Dungon B in Mandurriao district. Earlier, wire * Weddings * Concerts
pilferages also happened in a Lapaz village. Treñas also warned junkshop owners against * Birthdays * Editing
buying pilfered copper wires, which commanded high prices. PNA
* Baptismals * Glamour Shots
GMO banned in Negros Oriental’s cornfields * Video Presentations
DUMAGUETE CITY - The planting of genetically modified organisms (GMO) such as
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn has been banned in Negros Oriental’s over 50,000 hectares Call: LARRY TORRES
of corn areas, in line with the province’s agreement with the Negros Island Sustainable Tel. (416) 256-3931
and Rural Agricultural Development in promoting organic farming technology. Provincial
Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca said using GMOs for corn and palay seeds would affect the Cell. (416) 858-5806
native variety. his would also contradict the campaign for organic farming, under which Visit www3.sympatico.ca/ltorres/
farmers have received organic fertilizer from vermiculture using African night crawler

MALIGAYANG PASKO
earthworms and trained on the use of liquid organic pesticide technology. PNA

Mini-concerts to help disadvantaged kids

UNICEF National Ambassador Gary Va-
lenciano and wife Angeli with orphaned
children at an evacuation center in St.
Bernard, Southern Leyte. “Love never
fails. Love is present here. We are all
practicing it at this time. I see children
here supporting other children.”
TUGUEGARAO CITY - Social Wel-
fare and Development director Leonar-
do Reynoso has announced the staging
of mini-concerts regionwide to raise
funds for projects that would benefit
disadvantaged children. The mini-con-
certs would feature local artists. Lo-
cal officials have signified support by
providing the concert venue and iden-
tifying sponsors. Most of the proceeds
from the mini-concerts, dubbed “Sing
for Me: A Call for Peace and Unity,”
would go to the construction of Bahay
Pag-asa (Home of Hope), a communi-
ty-type facility to serve as a transition
home for children in conflict with the
law and out-of-school youth and for
programs for the abandoned, abused
and orphaned children. PNA
New road to skirt Dagupan set to open
DAGUPAN CITY - A new 4.1-kilometer four-lane highway with a steel bridge is set to
open here in March 2008, six months ahead of schedule. Worth some P286.7 million, the
new road is built atop fishponds, swamps and rivers and will be an alternate road from San
Fabian town to the Lingayen capital, without motorists passing downtown Dagupan. The
road extends from sitio Dawel in barangay Pantal to Pantal proper and then to barangay
Lucao, across the Pantal river. The project aims to unclog heavy traffic in the city, espe-
cially during rush hours. PNA
No scalpel vasectomy mission in Cebu
CEBU CITY - The Pennsylvania-based No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) International Inc.
and the Minnesota Doctors are scheduled to conduct a free medical/surgical mission at the
Southwestern University Sacred Heart Hospital here from Jan. 14 to 18. Leading the mis-
sion is NSV expert Dr. Ramon Suarez, who is a Diplomate American Board of Urology.
Organizers said NSV is a modern technique of vasectomy that no longer entails incision,
no suture but band-aid only. It is a safe, simple and quick procedure that lasts about 15
minutes. It is a good option for men who do not want to have more children, particularly
the low income workers. NSV has no effect on sexual functions. PNA
28 TRAVEL & TOURISM
December in Pampanga: Giant parol galore
Tracing its roots from
the traditional religious Ad-
vent activity called lubenas,
the yearly giant parol (lan-
tern) competitions and fes-
tival in San Fernando City,
Pampanga - dubbed as the
Christmas Capital of the
Philippines - never fails to
attract and dazzle locals and
visitors from all over the
Philippines and the world,
on the Saturday before
Christmas Eve.
Curious spectators from
one to 92 swarm every
square inch of space avail-
able in the town square, on
streets and alleys and even
on trees and rooftops to
get a vantage sight of the
huge and colorful works of
lantern art, creativity, in-
genuity and aesthetic engi-
neering being paraded and
displayed before them.
The book Pasko (Christ-
mas) describes the giant pa-
rols as “a sight to behold.”
“The geometric shapes
and myriad colors of the
DFA issues machine-ready passports
CEBU CITY - The
Department of Foreign
Affairs Regional Con-
sular Office in Cebu
has begun issuing on
Dec. 2 machine-read-
able passports (MRPs)
with a new security
protected format.
Under the new
system, passport ap-
plicants would appear,
sign and affix their
thumb prints on their
application forms be-
fore a consular officer.
Director Angel Es-
piritu said the passport fee
remained P500 for regular
processing of 25 days and
P750 for expedited process-
ing of 15 days.
The new system ensures
the authenticity of Philip-
pine passports, Espiritu
said.
”The new passport has
Traditional PAROL PARADE
magnificent lanterns flash,
pulsate, and whirl into psy-
chedelic wonders against
the inky blue evening sky.
Intricate patterns mesmer-
ize for a couple of seconds
then change again, and
again and again. Their ka-
leidescopic radiance is cast
by hundreds of thousands of
blinking lights.
Each parol has a safety
security and safety mea-
sures, which the naked eye
cannot see. There’s a chip
inside so once tampered, it
will be easily detected. It’s
recognized when you travel
to any part of the world,” he
added.
Espiritu said the MRP
processing was part of
Manila Media Monitor
box and a 75 KVA generator, around, but are downplayed
powerful enough to light an in the maze of brilliant col-
entire village. Many entries ors and complex configu-
in the giant parol parade rations of other parols that
and festival are also high- rhythmically move to the
tech and computerized. dance beat of brass bands.
The popular shapes of Some gigantic parols
decades ago - the rose, the span a breadth of 40 feet,
bromeliad, the snowflakes fashioned from crepe paper,
and the sea urchin - which Japanese paper, softdrink
evolved from the simple straws, wood, plastic, glass,
five-pointed star - are still metal. capiz shell and other
environment-friendly native
materials.
A lantern may weigh
as much as 1,000 kg, and
requires at least 50 people,
the government’s bid to working almost an entire
make the Philippines at year, to assemble (January
par with international to May for electrical frame-
civil aviation standards. work; June to July for the
This would comply electrical wiring; August to
with principles and tech- December for papering).
niques set by the Inter- Records show that most
national Civil Aviation giant parols are illuminated
Organization, an agency by about 3,500 to 5,000
of the United Nations. light bulbs.
”By 2010, all coun- The giant parol may be
tries must have machine costly - as prices may go as
readable passports. We high as P50,000 to P100,000
are starting early so we - but the tag is overridden
can improve delivery of by Pampanga folk art.
passport services,” he A parol maker during
said. the December 1994 festival
Among member coun- spent P100,000 to build his
tries of the Association of entry. Sponsors subsidized
Southeast Asian Nations, the cost. The prize for the
only Singapore and Malay- giant parol contest winner
sia have adopted the new then was P5,000 in cash;
system. but it was the coveted tro-
The Philippines would phy and national prestige
be the third country to im- that mattered most.
plement the new passport Tradition
system. PNA The tradition of the
PAROL: The sum total of Filipino art, creativity
parol folk art dates back to
1928 when artisan Fran-
cisco Estanislao crafted the
first simple five-point star
lantern, lighted by either
a candle or a kalburo (car-
bide) lamp, as a symbol of
the Star of Bethlehem.
A Wikipedia website en-
try notes that the December
festivalfinds its roots in Ba-
color. Following the transfer
of the Pampanga provincial
capital from Bacolor to San
Fernando in August 1904,
the parol parade followed
as well. Ligligan Parul was
said to have started in San
Fernando in 1908.
The predecessor of the
modern-day Giant Lantern
Festival was actually a re-
ligious activity known as
lubenas.
Lanterns then measured
just two feet in diameter,
created in each barrio (vil-
lage) from bamboo and
other local materials.
During the nine-day
novena before Christmas,
which coincided with the
Simbang Gabi (dawn Mass-
es) from Dec. 16 to 24,
DECEMBER 2007
the lanterns were brought
around each barrio in pro-
cession to the visita (cha-
pel). Before the midnight
Mass on Christmas Eve, the
lanterns were brought to the
town church.
Later, the lanterns be-
came bigger and the designs
more intricate. A big lantern
was made for each barrio,
created through a coopera-
tive effort.
Each resident contribut-
ed to its construction, from
the concept and design, to
the materials and labor. The
lantern then became a sym-
bol of unity for the barrio.
Electricity reached San
Fernando in 1931, sparking
the birth of the first Giant
Lantern Festival.
The added illusion of
dancing lights buoyed up the
bright colors and intricate
designs of giant lanterns.
Lights were controlled by
individual switches turned
on and off to the beat of
the music. The barangays
of Del Pilar, Sta. Lucia and
San Jose were among the
first to join the festival.
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor 29

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30 CANADIAN HISTORY Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

December 6 is National Day of Remembrance and December 2, 1989

On Dec. 2, 1989,
Action Against Violence On Women Audrey
McLaughlin
Marlene
(née
On Dec. 6, 1989, in a tragedy now known as The Montreal Massacre, an irate young men screaming “I hate femi- Brown) became the first
nists!” gunned down female engineering students at the École Polytechnique. The madman shot 27 women, and 14 woman in Canada to
died. The Canadian federal government later set up the Panel on Violence Against Women, and declared Dec. 6 as The lead a major federal po-
National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Violence On Women.

December
litical party, when she was
elected leader of the New
December 23, 1983 Democratic Party (NDP),
On Dec. 23, 1983, Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé (nee replacing the retiring Ed
Benoit) was appointed as Governor General of Canada, Broadbent.
McLaughlin also holds

Women
marking the first time that a
the distinction of being the first federal political party
woman had been named to
leader to represent an electoral district in a Canadian
the position. She was sworn
territory.
in on May 14, 1984.
Born in Dutton, Ontario, she worked as a social
Sauve (April 26, 1922
worker in Toronto, Ontario and in Ghana. In 1979,
– Jan. 26, 1993) was a Ca-

Power
McLaughlin moved to the Yukon and set up a consul-
nadian journalist, politician,
tancy business.
and stateswoman.
In 1987, she ran in a by-election and won, the first
She was a staunch advo-
federal NDP candidate to win in Yukon. In 1988, she
cate of youth issues, world
was appointed caucus chair, and in 1989, she won the
peace and national unity.
NDP leadership convention.

December 6, 1921 December 13, 1871

On Dec. 6, 1921, parties and promoted her On Dec. 13, 1871, a child was born in Victoria, British Columbia. The child, Emily
Agnes Campbell ideas through column- Carr, was to become one of the most accomplished painters in Canada, besides being
Macphail was elected writing, activist organiz- an award-winning writer. Carr’s art was most heavily influenced by the landscape and
as a federal Member of ing, and legislation. First Nations cultures of British Columbia, and Alaska. (Artwork below)
Parliament, becoming the A former teacher, she Influenced by styles such as
first woman in Canadian became a strong political post-impressionism and Fauvism,
history to sit as a mem- voice for rural issues, pe- her work remained unknown to
ber in the House of Com- nal reform, women’s con- and unrecognized by the greater
mons, as a member of the cerns, seniors’ pension, art world for many years. For
Progressive Party of Can- and workers’ rights. over a decade she worked as a
ada for the Grey Southeast also had the honor of being Macphail was also potter, dog breeder and boarding
electoral riding. one of the first two women the first Canadian woman house landlady, having given up
She was re-elected in elected to the Legislative delegate to the League of on her artistic career. But in the
the 1925, 1926, and 1930 Assembly of Ontario. Nations in Geneva, Swit- 1920s, her works took its place in
federal elections. Active in progres- zerland, where she worked the National Gallery of Canada.
Macphail (March 24, sive Canadian politics, she with the World Disarma- The Group of Seven later named
1890 - February 12, 1954) worked for two separate ment Committee. her The Mother of Modern Arts.
DECEMBER 2007
Dec. 31, 1844: Lost in time
The Philippines may
just be a dot in the map, and
a developing country.
But Filipinos are very
proud of the fact that their
country is far too advanced
than the United States and
Canada - at least, in time.
Manila time is at the
most 12 hours ahead of
American or Canadian
time, making Filipinos in
the US and Canada, on a
given hour, read and know
tomorrow’s news from the
Lupang Sinilangan (Land
of Birth).
However, a piece of
historical information may
change this wee bit of na-
tional pride.
In 1844, then Philippine
governor general Narciso
Claveria issued a proclama-
tion announcing that Mon-
day, Dec. 30, 1844 was to
be immediately followed by
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1845.
In that year (and only
then), Dec. 31 was official-
ly stricken off the calendar,
an act that also officially
obliterated a Tuesday and
further, reduced the year by
a day.
Why? An Internet entry
on the History of the Interna-
tional Date Line explained:
Manila Media Monitor
What a difference a day makes?
British ex-buccaneer, sea-
captain and explorer Wil-
liam Dampier (1651-1715),
during his travels across the
globe from 1679 to 1691,
weighed anchor after his
stop-over on the island of
Mindanao in the Philippines
in January 1687, noted in
his journal:
“It was during our stay
at Mindanao, that we were
first made sensible of the
change of time, in the course
of our Voyage.”
“For having travell’d so
far Westward, keeping the
same Course with the Sun,
we must consequently have
gain’d something insensibly
in the length of the particu-
lar Days, but have lost in
the tale, the bulk, or number
of the Days or Hours.
“According to the differ-
ent Longitudes of England
and Mindanao, this Isle be-
ing West from the Lizzard,
by common Computation,
about 210 Degrees, the dif-
ference of time at our Ar-
rival at Mindanao ought
to be about 14 Hours: And
so much we should have
anticipated our reckoning,
having gained it by bearing
the Sun company.
“Now the natural Day in
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
each particular place must
be consonant to itself: But
this going about with, or
against the Sun’s course,
will of necessity make a dif-
ference in the Calculation
of the civil Day between
any two places.
“Accordingly, at Min-
danao, and all other places
in the East-Indies, we found
them reckoning a Day be-
fore us, both Natives and
Europeans; for the Europe-
ans coming eastward by the
Cape of Good Hope, in a
Course contrary to the Sun
and us, where-ever we met
they were a full Day before
us in their Accounts.
“So among the Indian
Mahometans here, their Fri-
day, the Day of their Sultan’s
going to their Mosques, was
Thursday with us; though it
were Friday also with those
who came eastward from
Europe.
“Yet at the Ladrone Is-
lands, we found the Span-
iards of Guam keeping the
same Computation with our
selves; the reason of which
I take to be, that they settled
that Colony by a Course
westward from Spain: the
Spaniards going first to
America, and thence to the
31
Ladrones and Philippines.” This was also adopted Most of the shipping
European explorers by the colonists who settled from the Philippines to
who approached the Pacific along the Asian perimeter Spain went over the Pa-
Ocean by sailing to the east of the Pacific Ocean. cific Ocean to the Mexican
such as the Portuguese, and However, the coloniza- port of Acapulco, and was
in their wake the Dutch, tion of the Pacific Ocean transported over land to the
the English and the French, by the Spanish occurred port of Veracruz, and then
naturally kept their ship’s from the opposite direction shipped to Spain.
journals and diaries accord- and more specifically from In order that the Spanish
ing to the day count of their the Spanish possessions in ships crossing the Pacific
homeland. America. (Turn to page 35)
The Timely Proclamation
(in Spanish)
Superior Gobierno de Filipinas.
Exmo. é Ilmo. Sor.
Con esta fecha he decretado lo que sigue.
Considerando conveniente el que sea uniforme el modo de contar
los dias en estas Islas á Europa, China, y demas paises situados al Este
del Cabo de Buena Esperanza, que cuentan un dia mas por razones
que à todos son bien conocidas, vengo en disponer con acuerdo del
Exmo. é Ilmo. Sor. Arzobispo, que por este año, solamente, se suprima
el Martes 31 de Diciembre, como sí realmente hubiese pasado, y que el
siguiente dia al Lunes 30 del mismo, se cuente Miercoles 1º de Enero
de 1845, que és con el que empezará el Calendario de dicho año, en el
cual ninguna alteracion se necesita hacer.
Y lo comunico a V. E. J. para su conocimiento y efectos consiguien-
tes. Dios gue. à V. E. J. m. a.
Manila, 16 de Agosto de 1844.
Narciso Claveria
32 MONEY Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

Dell Phil. posts 15% sales growth Medical tourism industry eyes
MANILA - Despite stiff competition, Dell Philippines
has posted a 25-percent growth in unit sales for 2007.
Barry Bunyi, Dell Asia Pacific country manager, said
$2B in revenues in 5 years
sales of desktop computers grew 45 to 50 percent; followed MANILA - Key play- Navarro expressed op-
by notebooks or laptops at 10 to 20 percent. ers in the medical tourism timism they could attract
“Our penetration rate is very strong … we are one of the industry are aggressively more foreign patients to
leaders,” Bunyi said in a recent lunch briefing. marketing the country’s the Philippines, citing the
He said the fresh investments and the increasing number medical services abroad to country’s distinct advantag-
of business process outsourcing and call centers remained generate $2 billion in rev- es such as competitive costs
the main drivers of Dell’s growth. enues in the next five years. of services and high quality
Notebooks became in demand due to “mobility and ac- Rizalino Navarro, chair labor force.
cessibility,” he added. of the Committee on Health Medical services com-
Annually, sales of notebooks or laptops expanded be- and Wellness of the Task monly sought in the Philip-
tween 30 to 35 percent. Force on Globally Com- pines included life-saving
“The reason is that more companies are recognizing the petitive Service Industries, procedures like coronary
power of wireless technology. And connectivity in the Phil- noted they were particularly bypass surgery, kidney
ippines are also getting good,” Bunyi said. targetting 6.44 million over- transplantation, bone mar-
Dell is set to launch in January its newest product, the seas Filipino patients based row transplants, cancer
10G servers [10th Generation]. PNA in the United States and therapy and other special-
Canada, United Kingdom, ized cardiac, lung, kidney
Pawnshops Middle East and Australia/ and liver transplant.
New Zealand and regional Medical tourism is one
melting P10 neighbors Taiwan, South of the components of the
Korea, Japan and China. gional markets and strength- ments with countries with
coins for “We are enhancing in- en our regional referral net- universal coverage and in-
health and wellness sector, a
globally competitive service
ternational marketing, trade work,” Navarro said. ternational accreditation of
jewelry? investment and promotions The committee has been facilities and services.
industry in the country.
The industry has gener-
The Bangko Sentral ng BSP officials said the for the country’s medical ensuring both public and Other strategies in- ated about $200 million in
Pilipinas (BSP) has denied central bank never allowed service. We set up one-stop private insurance portabil- cluded providing access to 2006 as against the $125-
reports the 2001 issue of the such transactions, which information centers in re- ity through bilateral agree- information, markets, fi- million target for the year,
P10-coin had higher gold-
karat content.
were unlawful.
Officials said collecting Paper mill sludge ok for ... nance, technology, training,
education and best operat-
only a year after the full
operations of the Philippine
Admittedly, however, and using the coin for jew- (From page 26) ing service providers; Phil- Medical Tourism Program.
the government had spent elry piece would affect its paper mill sludge dumped technology, and the long- ippine health and wellness The National Competi-
more than the face value of circulation in the country. yearly into landfills. term performance of the website; systems for patient tiveness Council has pro-
every coin. Meanwhile, the BSP Mari said “paper mill product.” information/documentation jected new export services,
Some pawnshops in the has urged the public to have owners may diversify op- The study won Best and transcription; infra- including health and well-
provinces were reportedly their stored coins back in erations by converting the Research Paper in the 20th structure for organizational ness, information commu-
buying the P10-coin issue circulation by surrendering sludge into asphalt fiber ad- Southern Tagalog Agricul- development culture for nications technology and
at P200 each, then purport- them to the bank. ditive. But a pilot study is ture and Resources R&D group practice; safety and logistics to generate reve-
edly melted and processed Banks are mandated to necessary to establish the Consortium Symposium. security; and incentives to nues of $15 billion per year.
the coins into jewelry. accept coin deposits. economic viability of the PIA existing and new facilities. Leslie Venzon, PNA

Verify before you crucify ...

94 million Filipinos by 2010 - NSO
MANILA - There will be
94 million Filipinos by 2010
and counting, according to
the projection of National
Statistics Office (NSO).
This makes the Philip-
pines the second most popu-
lous country in the 10-mem-
ber Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean), next
only to Indonesia.
NSO records show that
the Philippine population is
projected to grow by 1.95
percent during a five-year
period beginning 2005.
From 2005 to 2010,
about 8.7 Filipinos will be
added to the population, or
an average of 1.74 million
new births each year.
At the end of 2005, there
were 85.3 million Filipinos
compared to 76.5 million at
the turn of the millennium.
By 2010, Region 4 -
composed of the provinces
of Cavite, Laguna, Batan-
gas, Rizal and Quezon - is
projected to have a popula-
tion of 11.9 million people,
surpassing the National
Capital Region that is ex-
pected to have 11.6 million
by that time.
The NSO also projects
that Philippine population
will become older, as the
number of women who will
like to have a baby will con-
MORE PEOPLE ... more food, more homes, more jobs?
tinue to decline as a result of
population control through
artificial methods.
Survival rates of all age
groups are also projected
to improve due to modern
health care, it added.
In 2005, the age group
from 0-14 accounted for 35
percent of the nation’s total
population, but the same
age bracket is expected to
constrict by two percent by
2010.
Also in 2010, NSO said
4.3 percent of the Filipino
population will be 65 years
old and over.
End of 2005 figures
showed Filipino males out-
numbered Filipino females
by over 500,000, NSO said.
Among the 10 Asean
member countries, the Phil-
ippines is the second most
populous country. Indone-
sia, which came first, has a
population of 214.47 mil-
lion, a report of the Asean-
Japan Centre said.
In 2003, there were 81.5
million Filipinos. Closely
tailing the Philippines was
Vietnam with 81.31 million
people during the same peri-
od. Thailand was third with
62.01 million followed by
Myanmar with 49.36 mil-
lion, and Malaysia 24.77
million.
Oil-rich Brunei Dar-
rusalam has the lowest pop-
ulation among Asean states
with only 360,000 people at
the end of 2003.
Asean’s second lowest
populated state in 2003 was
Singapore with 4.25 million
followed by Laos with 5.66
million. Cambodia reported
a population of 13.4 million
in 2003.
At the end of 2003 the
population of Asean stood
at 537.11 million, about
4.2 times that of Japan and
1.8 times that of the United
States, making it one of the
most lucrative global mar-
kets. PNA
(From page 7)
explosion.”
Mr. Speaker, I hope
your statement does not
mean, “I was lucky, kaya
… hindi bale na iyong mga
namatay.”
***
In one e-mail exchange
among members of the
Philippine Press Club On-
tario, Filipino Bulletin ed-
itor Ricky Caluen wrote:
“Isn’t it enshrined some-
where in a journalist’s
code of ethics to verify
before we crucify? Just
thinking aloud.”
I say, “Ricky, there
was an asterisk before
the statement and you did
not read the footnote that
states, *Depends what
and who the journalists
are writing about; and de-
pends also on the mood of
the journalists at the time
they are writing about the
item.”
***
In another e-mail re the
Jocelyn Dulnuan press con-
ference, Philippine Report-
er’s Hermie Garcia wrote:
“It’s sad that only a very
few of the PPCO members
and representatives of the
more than a dozen Filipino
community newspapers, ra-
Merry
Christmas
dio and TV programs both-
ered to attend these events
if only to get a glimpse of
what the mainstream media
have been reporting on their
front pages and on the TV
network newscasts.”
In my case, unto Her-
mie, I say: “Sir, napanood
ko sa TV ang sabi nila, and
read in the papers what they
wrote.” Add to this that the
Dulnuan case is so serious a
matter. And I’m an “Ooops
and Bloops” writer.
***
Here’s one e-mail mes-
sage I got recently from
folksinger Chito Sarabia:
“Hi ! Ace ... I appre-
ciate your update! ....
and Congratulations !!
to Butch and Evelyn for
your incoming oath taking
on Dec 21, 2007 as an Ca-
nadian Citizen, Welcome
aboard ! We are fortu-
nate to have you all with
us! Busy holiday season
is quite approaching and
especially our incoming
PPCO - Christmas party
at Casa Manila! ... The
spirit of Christmas will
be upon us! Let’s all relax
and have some fun ...with
our designated “Time Ma-
chine” Caramba!! Thank
you.”!
Friends, I’m sorry. I
have to sign out. I have a
headache.
DECEMBER 2007
Finance
seeks to
reduce
net debt
The Canadian govern-
ment has sought to reduce
the federal debt by $10 bil-
lion, bringing total debt re-
duction since 2005 to over
$37 billion and lowering
the federal debt burden by
about $1,570 per person.
Finance Minister Jim
Flaherty said debt reduc-
tion has been a cornerstone
of the national economic
policy, which forecast the
elimination of the national
net debt by 2021.
In 2006-07, the govern-
ment spent 14.4 cents of ev-
ery revenue dollar on inter-
est on the public debt, down
from the peak of 37.6 cents
in 1990–91.
This has benefited Ca-
nadian individuals, families
and businesses, since lower
debt meant less interest and
lower taxes.
Under the Government’s
Tax Back Guarantee, all
interest savings from the
shrinking federal debt have
been used to further reduce
personal income taxes.
The total value of tax re-
lief provided under the Tax
Back Guarantee is expected
to rise to $2.5 billion by
2012–13. PR
Manila Media Monitor 33
SC voids PCGG sequestration
orders on Tan’s stock shares
The Philippine Supreme
Court (SC) affirmed the de-
cision of the Sandiganbayan
in Civil Case Nos. 0096-009
that declared null and void
and of no legal effect the
writs of sequestration the
Philippine Commission on
Good Government (PCGG)
issued over the shares of
stock of Lucio C. Tan, et
al, in Allied Banking Corp.,
Foremost Farms, Inc., For-
tune Tobacco Corp., and
Shareholdings, Inc.
In a 19-page decision,
Justice Angelina Sando-
val-Gutierrez said the High
Cebu traders urges gov’t intervention on peso appreciation Waltermart to retail Smartcool
CEBU CITY – An in- time for government to in- win-win situation,” she
dustry group from the Con- tervene and allow the ex- said. ”A lot of people will
federation of Philippine Ex-
porters (Philexport)-Cebu
has joined the rest of the
export sector in calling for
the government to peg the
exchange rate at P47 to the
dollar.
”We will support the P47
exchange rate level. This is
a good move of the Presi-
dent (Arroyo) if she will
agree with the proposal,”
said Cebu-Gifts, Toys, and
Houseware (GTH) former
president Jennifer Cruz.
Cruz said it was high
MONEY GOT A FOREX DEAL?
Check out if you got your peso’s worth for the
dollars you have had exchanged since November
19, courtesy of Manila Media (Money) Monitor.
US$ Cdn$
Dec. 14
Dec. 13
40.95180
41.00097
40.42374
40.15573
Court’s First Division found or through abuse of official Dec. 12 41.12042 40.71159
no prima facie evidence position or authority result- Dec. 11 41.39387 40.98151
sufficient to warrant the ing in unjust enrichment of Dec. 10 41.52209 41.10882
sequestration of the shares the owner and damage and Dec. 07 41.59468 41.38572
of stock of Tan, et al. for prejudice to the State. Dec. 06 41.90557 41.40687
allegedly being ill-gotten The SC held that the Dec. 05 41.79249 41.25437
wealth. PCGG lacks evidence to Dec. 04 42.06607 41.63183
It noted that under Sec- show that the shares of Dec. 03 42.35992 42.35806
tion 26, Article XVIII of the stock in question belong to Nov. 30 42.35495 42.35207
Constitution, an order of the government. Nov. 29 42.74457 43.04763
sequestration could only be The Court also found no Nov. 28 42.65349 43.04698
issued when prima facie ev- proof that Tan, et al. took Nov. 27 42.80208 42.97190
idence showed the proper- undue advantage of their Nov. 26 42.64882 43.17792
ties were ill-gotten wealth. relationship or connection Nov. 23 42.84573 43.34572
It defined ill-gotten with former President Fer- Nov. 21 43.17314 43.62849
wealth as that acquired dinand Marcos or his family Nov. 20 43.10955 43.76333
through improper or illegal and associates. Nov. 19 43.29280 44.00851
use of government funds (To page 35)
energy savings technology
change rate to play within benefit - overseas Filipino Vancouver-based Smartcool Systems Inc., through its
P47 to P48 range per dollar. workers, business process distributor in the Philippines, Smartcool S.E. Asia, entered
The government should outsourcing, tourism, and into a sales agreement with Walter Mart in the Philippines,
seriously look into the con- all dollar earners,” she said. to install Smartcool’s Energy Savings Module (ESM) in its
tinued peso appreciation This would also pro- chain of supermarkets and community shopping centers.
against the greenback, amid mote predictability and Walter Mart is part of the Philippines’ Abenson Retail
fresh forecasts that the peso allow businesses to look Group.
would further strengthen ahead and plan better. The ESM will initially be installed in the Walter Mart
next year. Expecting flat revenues chain of malls and a further rollout within the Abenson
She feared that when the at the end of the year, Cruz Group will be evaluated upon completion.
peso would continue appre- said “if the government is Smartcool S.E. Asia was incorporated to sell, market
ciating and reach P38 to a bent on helping the industry, and distribute Smartcool’s technologies in Asia.
dollar, the “export industry it must do something imme- Smartcool Systems Inc. is an advanced energy savings
will die.” diately. Small and medium solutions company specializing in energy and cost reduc-
At P47 against the US enterprises don’t have the tion technologies for commercial and retail businesses.
dollar, “everyone is on a luxury of time.” PNA PR
34
Bill seeks to do away with torture
MANILA - Rep. Sal-
vador H. Escudero III (1st
District, Sorsogon) has filed
House Bill 2363, seeking to
penalize acts of torture and
other cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment or pun-
ishment to free Philippine
society from tyranny, coer-
Paper mill sludge
ok for cheaper,
stronger roads
QUEZON CITY -
Sludge, the fibrous waste
material from the waste-
water treatment facilities of
pulp and paper mills, is a
very promising material for
making cheaper and stron-
ger asphalt roads.
A Forest Products Re-
search and Development In-
stitute (FPRDI) study said
sludge, mixed and heated
with asphalt and aggregates
passed requirements for
medium and heavy traffic
road pavement.
FPRDI researcher Erlin-
da Mari said the road con-
struction material would not
only be cost-efficient but
would also help dispose of
some 84,000 metric tons of
(To page 32)
The PHILIPPINES
cion and oppression from
anyone.
Dubbed as the Anti-Tor-
ture Act of 2007, Escudero’s
bill sought to ensure that the
rights of all persons, includ-
ing suspects, detainees and
prisoners would be respect-
ed at all times.
Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan people
eye Guinness corn bbq record
STO. TOMAS, Panga-
sinan - This south-central
town is agog in its bid to
land a place in the Guinness
Book of World Records by
next year.
Officials hope that their
planned five-kilometer corn
barbecue slated on Feb. 10,
2008 would not only pro-
vide an exciting climax to
the town’s Feb. 1 to 10 Corn
Festival, but will also grace
Guinness’ pages.
Mayor Vivien Villar
said the corn festival would
highlight the 100th anniver-
sary of Sto. Tomas.
This is also the town’s
way to promote its chief
product, corn, to the world.
Villar said the attempt
to put Sto. Tomas in the list
of contemporary world re-
cords has been pushed by
He said the measure
intended to uphold human
rights, as he called on his
colleagues in Congress to
consider it an obligation
and responsibility to stop
any act of torture.
Torture is widely con-
demned as an extreme vio-
Sto. Tomas Mayor Vivi-
en Villar leads town-
mates in picking the
town’s major crop,
corn. Photo by Cesar
Ramirez
Manila Media Monitor
lation against human rights
that has no place in a “civi-
lized world,” he said.
“As societies progress
and people became con-
scious of the sanctity of life
– torture is now considered
a criminal act,” he added.
PNA
the people of agriculture-
based Sto. Tomas.
Todate, the people had
conducted at least two dry
runs in almost a year of
preparation for the longest
corn barbecue feat, said
vice mayor Dick Villar, also
vice chairman of the fiesta
executive committee.
At least 2,028 grills
would be needed for the
five-kilometer corn barbe-
cue stretch, which would
start from the edge of Sto.
Tomas with Rosales in the
east and the town’s bound-
ary with Alcala in the west.
Villar said some 130,000
ears of corn would be grilled
at one time, with another
270,000 ears in reserve.
All corn would come
from the farms of Sto. To-
mas. PNA
Frost to hit Baguio veggie farms
BAGUIO CITY - The
Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronom-
ical Services Administration
(PAGASA) has predicted
more intense frosting with-
in the vegetable farms here
and Benguet province early
next year.
Weather forecaster Sal-
vador Olinares said the
temperature dipped to 10.4
degrees Celsius on Dec. 1.
The coldest it got was
in January this year, at nine
degrees Celsius.
But by January to Feb-
ruary 2008, Baguio and
environs would likely expe-
rience lower than nine de-
grees Celsius temperatures
due to more intense north-
easterly wind flow from the
artic snowing parts like Si-
beria, Olinares said.
“We are heading for
more intense frosting,” he
said.
Department of Agricul-
DECEMBER 2007
ture records showed frost-
ing had caused vegetable
farmers, especially in Bu-
guias and Atok, Benguet,
to lose some P30 million
worth of crops.
Frosting occurs in these
highland areas of northern
Luzon within the Cordillera
mountain ranges with an
average elevation of 2,500
feet above sea level during
the months of January and
February.
Frost is that thin film
of ice which blankets the
leaves of plants during the
night and melts towards
high noon.
Due to the regularity
of frosting, farmers have
resorted to timing harvests
prior to the cold months.
Crops harvestable dur-
ing the cold periods were
grown in greenhouses
where the temperature,
moisture and sunlight could
be controlled. PNA
DECEMBER 2007
Dec. 31 ...
(From page 31)
Ocean between the Philip-
pines and the Spanish Amer-
icas would not have to adjust
the dates in their journals
whenever they sighted land,
the Philippines observed the
same day count as that of the
Spanish Americas.
During the early 1840s
the commercial interests
of the Philippine Islands
turned more and more away
from the Spanish Americas
(which for a large part had
severed their relations with
the motherland Spain) and
trading with the Chinese
mainland (engendered by
the ignominious but lucra-
tive ‘Opium Wars’), the Ma-
lay peninsula, the Dutch East
Indies and Australia became
increasingly important.
To facilitate communi-
cation and trading with its
western and southern neigh-
bours, the secular and reli-
gious authorities of the Phil-
ippines agreed that it would
be advantageous to abolish
the American day reckon-
ing and adopt the Asian day
reckoning.
Thus, on Aug. 16, 1844,
Governor General of the
Philippines Narciso Clave-
ria issued a proclamation
announcing that Monday,
Dec. 30, 1844 was to be
immediately followed by
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1845.
That was a day off.



card
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Manila Media Monitor
SC voids PCGG ...
(From page 33)
The PCGG failed to
show how the questioned
properties were acquired or
whether former President
Marcos intervened in their
acquisition.
The SC, in denying the
PCGG’s petition assailing
the Sandiganbayan’s deci-
sion, noted that no records
existed as to the reason why
the shares of stock were be-
ing sequestered and the re-
cord of the proceedings, on
which the sequestration or-
der was authorized.
From June 1986 to Janu-
ary 1987, or prior to the
ratification of the 1987 Con-
stitution, the PCGG, as part
of its mandate to recover
ill-gotten wealth during the
Marcos administration, is-
sued orders sequestering
shares of stock of Tan, et al.
in the corporations.
Tan, et al. then filed pe-
titions for certiorari, prohi-
2007
35
bition, and injunction in the
SC to nullify the PCGG’s
orders of sequestration,
which the Court referred to
the Sandiganbayan.
In their petitions, Tan, et
al. alleged that the seques-
tration orders were in vio-
lation of their right to “life,
liberty or property without
due process of law.”
Invoking Article XVIII,
Section 26 of the Constitu-
tion in a supplemental peti-
tion, they also argued that “a
sequestration or freeze order
shall be issued only upon
showing of a prima facie
case.”
In its Joint Decision
dated Feb. 14, 2006, the
Sandiganbayan declared
the assailed writs null and
void for lack of the prima
facie factual foundation
that the properties covered
are ill-gotten. Annie Rose
Laborte, SCPR
May the Divine mes-
sage of giving and
loving that heralded
Christ’s birth rule in
every heart this Yule-
tide Season and in
the coming new year.
From the Manila Me-
dia Monitor and Front
Page Philippines
UNIION BANK
of the Philippines
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36 Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

The Edge Group

 Pinoy
SHOW
BUZZ
Josie de Leon
Josie de Leon sings the hit song
I Think I’m in Love, during The
Journey, a concert featuring the
songs of Miss Cecile Azarcon
conducted at the GCNC Theatre
for the Performing Arts in Missis-
sauga. PR
37 Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007
Princess
Alejandria,
Miss Talent
in Miss
Bikini Int’l
Miss Philippines Princess
Alejandria Ryan romps
away with the Miss Talent
plum in the 34th Miss Biki-
ni International conducted
in Shanghai, China on Dec.
8. Before joining the pag-
eant, Princess Alejandria
copped the second run-
ner-up award in the U Can
Dance competition in the
Philippines.
Yeng, Sarah shine in 1st Songhits Awards
Young singer Yeng Constan-
tino added two more boosters to
her skyrocketing career, as she
was named the Best New Artist
and vested with the Top 40 Brand
Award during the 1st OPM Song-
hits Awards at the Robinsons Gal-
leria on Dec. 5.
“... naging fanatic din ako ng
mga songhits especially when I
was just starting as a singer. Na- CONSTANTINO GERONIMO
kakatuwa dahil this time, ako na
ang nabibigyan ng award. Salamat sa lahat Rachelle Ann Go for Pag-ibig Nga Kaya;
ng bumoto sa akin,” Constantino told PEP. Best Female Recording Artist, Sheryn
Sarah Geronimo, another young vocal- Regis; Best Male Recording Artist, Chris-
ist who has serenaded and awed discerning tian Bautista;
Filipino audiences for quite sometime, has Best Male Vocalist - Yael Yuzon of
also proven her mettle as she was credited Sponge Cola; Best Female Vocalist, Juris
for Becoming, which was named Best Al- Fernandez of MYMP; Best Movie/Musi-
bum of The Year. cal Play/TV Soundtrack, Walang Yamang
The rock band Callalily romped off Mas Hihigit Sa’yo” by Cueshe; Best Music
with two awards, having been voted upon Video, Shooting Star by Hale;
as Best Band and having performed Mag- Most Requested Songs Brand Award,
balik, which was named Song of the Year. Nina; Most Wanted Hits Brand Award,
Other 1st OPM Songhits awardees 6Cyclemind; Banda Brand Award, Chi-
were: Best Duet, Christian Bautista and cosci; Classics Brand Award, APO Hik-
ing Society; Pinoy Brand Award, Sponge
Cola and Rivermaya;
Texters’ Choice Awardee, Sheryn Re-
gis; Rock Icon Awardee, Ely Buendia of
Pupil; and Bandang Walang Katulad, Sug-
arfree.
CALLALILY
38 ARTS & LITERATURE Manila Media Monitor DECEMBER 2007

Imagine
I would like to have a world that is fair.

Many people are not aware

that gunshots often echo through the air.
Individuals witness misfortunes
without a care,
nobody to help the poor from their despair,
Simply because everyone wants to be a
millionaire!
I’d like a world where everyone helps
one another
- aiming for PEACE!

A world where there is no danger and

BUDDING POET
Genesis S. Gioca-
da, 14, is a Grade
10 student at Pope
John Paul II School
in Scarborough. He
is a son of Nick and
Leonina Giocada.
living is at ease,
A world where love will never cease,
Where the entire world’s love is released.
It can all be over if we just IMAGINE
PEACE!
Genesis S. Giocada
December 2007

Korean-Canadian Literary Forum-21

launches 9th Variety Crossings edition
The Korean-Canadian Literary Forum-
21 has launched on Nov. 24 the 9th edition
of Variety Crossing, a multicultural collec-
tion of original poetry, essays and writings.
Forum president Dae-Tong Huh said
“Variety Crossing presents 24 artists from
different backgrounds, brought together to
share the common dream of a truly multi-
cultural community through literature and
poetry.”
Huh is also the editor, translator and
publisher of the anthology.
“The book includes work not only
Reg. # 4533253
ies… a true Variety, a true Crossing of cul-
tures,” he said.
The website of the Canadian Ethnic
Media Association, formerly the Canadian
Ethnic Journalists’ and Writers’ Club, quot-
ed Huh as adding: “Our anthology has been
given generous and incredible opportunities
to grow in the last nine years, most notably
with support from the Consulate General of
the Republic of Korea in Toronto, the On-
tario Arts Council as well as with a gener-
ous grant from the Toronto Arts Council.”
“Together we are proving that not only

by such well known Canadian writers as
George Elliott Clarke, Priscila Uppal, Fla-
via Cosma, George Fethering, Sonnet L’
919 Ellesmere Road Abbe, Bianca Lakoseliac, and Ben Viccari,
but also by renowned international poets
Suite 107, Scarborough Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Hyo-Chee Moon,
Ontario M1P 2W7 Suji Kwock Kim, and Kyung Whan Yoo.
Having artists from a number of nation-
alities helps us bridge all cultural boundar-
can poets have a voice in their own commu-
nities, but they can also be welcomed into
other communities to share their heartfelt
words,” he concluded.
The Korean-Canadian Literary Forum-
21 is a non-profit publishing house whose
members represent aspiring and accom-
plished poets, writers and essayists from a
diversity of backgrounds and cultures. PR

Adams’ Unlikely Utopia cites

triumph of Canadian pluralism
As the Bouchard-Taylor
commission tours Quebec
and the debate over “rea-
sonable accommodation”
continues to grow, bestsell-
ing author Michael Adams
MANILA - TORONTO - USA - EUROPE argues in his new book Un-
likely Utopia: The Surpris-
OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
ing Triumph of Canadian
Pluralism that multicultural
Canada is proving to be the
“experiment” that worked.
Featuring data from the
first-ever poll of Muslim
Canadians and a thorough
evaluation of the ethnic
strife playing out in Quebec,
Unlikely Utopia provides
“Super baba timely analysis of migration
and halaga ... and pluralism in Canada
that challenges the rampant
Super below depictions of intolerance
fare talaga.” dominating the media.
Rather than uncover-
“Handang Maglingkod Sa Ating Kababayan” ing fractured remnants of
Canada’s cultural mosaic,
Tel (416) 751-9588 Fax (416) 751-9133 Adams finds through his
research that Canadians
continue to not only cham-
pion multiculturalism but
uphold it as an intrinsically
Canadian value and source
of pride.
Throughout Unlikely
Utopia, he illustrates how
Canadians remain optimis-
tic about the future of their
multicultural society and
how they remain focused on
helping others rather than
alienating them.
In the midst of his posi-
tive report card of pluralism
in Canada, Adams is care-
ful not to lose sight of the
realities and challenges still
faced by immigrants today.
Unlikely Utopia also
includes a careful exami-
nation of what Adams re-
fers to as “the facts on the
ground.”
This entails looking be-
yond attitudes and impres-
sions to gauge information
on issues such as economic
outcomes, living conditions
and accessibility to public
services experienced by
newcomers to Canada.
Michael Adams is presi-
dent of the Environics group
of research and communica-
tions consulting companies,
with offices in the United
States and Canada.
He has written four
bestselling books, including
Canada and the Myth of
Converging Values, which
won the 2004 prestigious
Donner Prize for the best
book on public policy in
Canada.
Adams conducted his
media tour in Toronto on
Nov. 20. He has been going
around major Canadian cit-
ies to promote the book.
Unlikely Utopia went
off the press on Nov. 17.
Published by Viking
Canada, the hardcover costs
$34. PR
DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor 39
40 DECEMBER 2007 Manila Media Monitor

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