http://www.filipinostar.org Vol. XXXI No 5 May 2013 FNAQ Gala celebration marks 21st anniversary and Nurses Week The Filipino Nurses Association of Quebec (FNAQ) held a gala event on May 4, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Diamond Room. to celebrate its 21st anniversary as well as Nurses Week from May 12-18 in Quebec this year and Mothers’ Day. The guest of honor was Mme Lucie Tremblay, president and chief executive officer of the Order of Nurses (Ordre des Infirmiers et Infirmieres du Quebec), accompanied by her husband, Mr. Gerald Perron. Upon their arrival, they greeted and chatted with all the guests consisting of mostly doctors, nurses, government officials, community leaders, their friends and families. The evening’s program started with the welcome addresses by President Cresconia Fernandez and Vice-President Josefina Toledo. This was the first time that FNAQ had both officers give the welcome address and wish to make it a tradition from now on. The Director of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer of McGill University Health Center (MUHC), Ms. Patricia O’Connor, was the inspirational speaker. She was escorted to the stage by her husband, Dr. Emmett Francoeur. She was introduced by The Executive Board 2012-2014 - L-R: Christian B. Plaza, Eugenia F. Magalit, Myrna Sarmiento, Preciosa G. Emboscado, Cirila D. Carrera, Mila Gobeil, Thelma Untalan, Aderlina R. Gracia, Clarice A. Mackay, Cresconia A. Fernandez, Sophie R. Toledo, Malou P. Dee, Dolly S. Belandres, Corazon D. Abdon, Shirlyne D. Chin, Elvira C. Maximo, and Maggie Calcetas. (Photo: Al Abdon) the FNAQ Founder, Maggie Calcetas. Ms. O'Connor paid tribute to the outstanding leadership of the Filipino Nurses Association of Quebec over the 21 years. She noted the incredibly rich contributions of the Filipino nursing community, both in their roles played as expert clinicians in diverse care settings, and as leaders who have dramatically influenced the quality of care and overall performance of the healthcare system in Montreal and Quebec. Ms. O'Connor then shared stories of how nurses and patient See Page 4 Filipino Nurses Aquino Allies Take Lead in Election in Philippines MANILA — Philippine voters appeared to have strengthened President Benigno S. Aquino III’s hand in advancing his political agenda, according to early unofficial election returns on Tuesday that showed his political allies poised to take control of the Senate. Mr. Aquino was not up for reelection in the vote on Monday. He has three years remaining in his six-year term and is not permitted to run again. But the midterm elections were seen as www.filipinostar.org crucial for consolidating his power over the unwieldy Philippine legislature to advance his anticorruption and economic-growth program and to influence the choice of his successor. The Philippines has one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, and international organizations and ratings agencies have credited Mr. Aquino’s policies for that success. See Page 4 President Aquino May 2013 The North American Filipino Star 2 Harper Government conducting consultations on Canada Job Grant across the country Toronto, Ontario, May 14, 2013— The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced a series of cross-Canada roundtable discussions with stakeholders on the new Canada Job Grant, an Economic Action Plan 2013 initiative that will create jobs by transforming the way Canadians receive skills training. “Through Economic Action Plan 2013, the Harper Government continues to create jobs and pave the way for long-term prosperity by putting skills training front and centre,” said Minister Van Loan. “The Canada Job Grant will take skills-training choices out of the hands of government and put them where they belong: in the hands of employers with unfilled jobs and Canadians who want to work.” This week, Members of Parliament will conduct over 20 consultations across the country for a broad range of input from employers, labour organizations, training institutions, industries and regions across the country. The consultations provide an opportunity for stakeholders to inform the design and implementation of the Canada Job Grant, which will be introduced as part of the renewal of the Labour Market Agreements, negotiated between the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories. The Grant will transform the way Canadians receive training by placing skills training decisions in the hands of employers and Canadian workers. It could provide $15,000 or more per person, including a maximum $5,000 federal contribution and matching contributions from provinces/territories and employers. Once it is fully implemented, nearly 130 000 Canadians each year will have better access to the training they need for a new or better job or to reskill for their current job. Economic Action Plan 2013 Marché Coop The Filipino Solidarity Cooperative, Inc. 5320-A Queen Mary Road (between Decarie & Coolbrook) Tel: 514-485-7861 E-Mail: filipinocoop.com Website: marchecoop.com proposes new measures to connect Canadians with available jobs and equip them with the skills and training they need. These include the Canada Job Grant, creating opportunities for apprentices and providing support to under-represented groups, including persons with disabilities, youth, Aboriginal peoples and newcomers. For more information, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. -30For more information, contact: Jan O’Driscoll Press Secretary Office of Minister Finley 819-994-2482 Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada 819-994-5559 Follow us on Twitter IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL. We sell phone cards & gift certificates. Multiculturalism - I am proud to have piloted through Borough Council several dossiers supporting events in our multiracial , multicultural neighbourhood. The Borough will thus again partner with the Filipino community for Independence Day and Pista sa Nayon. Support will also be given to a Bangladesh communities Bangla Mela and for Jamaica Day. Philippine Independence Day is celebrated on June 16 Monday - 1:00 - 9:00 p.m. Tuesday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wed. to Friday - 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday - 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Delivery service available for Cote des Neiges & NDG areas between 6:00-8:00 p.m. ( $5.00 delivery service fee.) Traffic Calming - The Borough will extend its traffic calming measures this year. The speed limit on all residential streets is 40 kph. Speed bumps will be installed on several streets including McLynn Avenue and Circle Road . Bollards will be placed in dozens of streets across the district to slow traffic. Some will be narrowed. The Triangle - The old industrial area of Namur-Jean Talon is being transformed into housing. Nearly 1000 units already have been built and 350 more will be constructed this year. City Council recently approved $30.9 million for work to transform this area which all benefit Newsletter from City Councillor Marvin Rotrand from aqueduct and sewer work as well as sidewalk and road reconstruction, the redesign of Pare, Buchan, Jean To the Residents of Talon and arts of Mountain Sights as well as the creation of a new park, Snowdon District creation of walkways and planting of trees. Eventually this project will have Permit me to share the following good 400 new housing units. news about coming events and improvements for our district: Business Hours Members can make appointment to shop outside these hours. Phone your orders and you can pick them up by appointment as well. projects for the larger arterial roads in our area. Councilor Marvin Rotrand by W. G. Quiambao Apart from the Pista sa Nayon, one of the most anticipated events in the Filipino community in summer is the Philippine Independence Day celebration . Preparations are underway to celebrate it on June 16, Sunday . Since the tents will be installed the night before, the tentative time for the restaurant owners to set up their equipments at the park is 6:00 a.m. The assembly time for the cars and floats participating in the parade is 10 a.m. at St. Kevin, corner Victoria and Westbury Streets. The route will be from Mackenzie King Park, St. Kevin St., left to Victoria St., right to Van Horne Ave., left to Legare St., and back to MacKenzie King Park., Parks - The City will invest nearly $2 million for park improvements in our neighbourhood. A new synthetic high quality soccer field will replace the current soccer field at Van Horne Park thus substantially improving availability for soccer in the Borough. As well, the chalets of Mandela , Macdonald and Maurice Cullen Parks will be Following the parade is a mass at the completely renovated. Most of this Mackenzie King park officiated by Fr. work will start in September. Frank Alvarez . There will be pot luck lunch . then short speeches by Roadwork - The Borough has from the federal, provincial confirmed $952,000 for residential politicians streets in our district. Streets to be repaved will include Macdonald between Isabella and Queen Mary, Bourret between Lemieux and Victoria, St. Kevin between Lemieux and Victoria, Mountain Sights between Plamondon and Van Horne, Circle Road between Glencairn and Ponsard and Labarre between de la Savane and Sorel. As well, City Council is examining topping up these funds with www.filipinostar.org and municipal governments who have been supporting the Filipino community,. One of the highlights of the program will be a multicultural show that includes Filipinos, Peruvians, Japanese, etc. For more information, call James de la Paz at (514) 577-7787 May 2013 3 The North American Filipino Star Editorial Letter to the Editor Nursing, leadership, and caring A statement from the inspirational speaker of the FNAQ has touched a chord that makes us understand an important idea that is worthy to remember at all times ‘ it is not a title that makes one a leader. Mrs. Patricia O’Connor said “nurses are leaders at every level - it is in all of us.” She recognizes the incredible work being done by nurses in spite of the challenging and stressful work environments in almost all hospitals in Quebec, and in other parts of the country and the world. It is therefore a timely topic to discuss the nursing profession during this time of the year designated as Nurses Week which is also the month of birth of Florence Nightingale, an international icon of nursing, The UK based Royal College of Nursing offers this definition of nursing: “The use of clinical judgement in the provision of care to enable people to improve, maintain, or recover health, to cope with health problems, and to achieve the best possible quality of life, whatever their disease or disability, until death." As one can glean from this definition alone, we see the vital role of nurses in our life and we cannot even begin to say how much we owe them. Most of us, at one time or another, have been sick and cared for by a nurse, beginning from our birth till the end of our life. Moreover, if we look back into the history of nursing, we will see that it is not a job but a profession devoted to caring for the wounded, the sick, and the weak. Florence Nightingale is reputed to be the founder of modern nursing in response to the Crimean War. Upon reading some references, we have learned that “Nursing is the most diverse of all healthcare professions. It is a universal role, appearing in some form in every culture. Nursing in the Philippines is patterned after the United States of America and requires four years of study. Some schools train the students as early as the second year. Unlike some countries, nursing is not considered as a vocational 5320-A Queen Mary Road Montreal, Quebec H3X 1T7 course. It is a profession and has become an identity of Filipinos worldwide.” It is also interesting to discover the practice of nursing “in a wide range of settings, from hospitals to visiting people in their homes and caring for them in schools to research in pharmaceutical companies. Nurses work in occupational health settings (also called industrial health settings), free-standing clinics and physician offices, nurse-run clinics, longterm care facilities, and camps. They also work on cruise ships and in military service. Nurses act as advisors and consultants to the healthcare and insurance industries. Some are attorneys and others work with attorneys as legal nurse consultants, reviewing patient records to assure that adequate care was provided and testifying in court.” The practice of nursing is governed by laws that define a scope of practice, generally mandated by the legislature of the political division within which the nurse practices. Nurses are held legally responsible and accountable for their practice. The standard of care is that of the "prudent nurse." During the observance of Nurses Week in Quebec (May 12-18) we should take special notice of the tremendous work they perform, not only during their active professional life but also during their retirement years. In our personal experience, we have become accustomed to the services the FNAQ renders to the Filipino community. They are always on hand to provide first aid and blood pressure clinics during public events like the town festivals we hold during the summer months. We therefore would like to encourage our young people to enter the nursing profession, Besides the fact that we need more nurses in order to improve the services in all our hospitals and clinics, we will certainly have a better society where there are many more benevolent and caring leaders. Tel.: 514-485-7861 E-Mail: [email protected] Published by: Filcan Publications, Inc. Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Chief Editor & Publisher Al Abdon Alberto Baens Santos Sam Kevin W.G. Quiambao Community News News & Layout Editor Columnists Bert Abiera Founder Bernardo Sarmiento Opinion Editorial The opinions expressed by the writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect that of the management of the North American Filipino Star nor its editors. Jason Kenney continues to keep families apart Dear Editor, For new Canadians, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney just made it a whole lot harder for families to be reunited with loved ones. With new criteria introduced last week, the Conservatives have made it more expensive for families to sponsor their parents and grandparents to join them in Canada. From hiking the income requirements to the changing of qualification criteria, fewer residents of Canada will be eligible to sponsor their parents and grandparents. What is worse, Kenney’s freeze on new sponsorship applications has now been extended until 2014, a program that he froze in 2011. The Minister also announced that he will only be accepting 5000 new applications next year. Conservative mismanagement of citizenship and immigration programs has allowed backlogs to swell and kept families apart. The reality is that today’s families are being punished for seven years of Conservative mismanagement. It is clear that the Conservative government does not care or understand the importance of family reunification to the successful retention and integration of new immigrants to Canada. If they did, they would invest resources into fixing the program, working through the backlog, and lifting the freeze on sponsorships. While the Conservative government views new immigrants as a burden on Canada’s social systems, Jason Kenney and his party have spent over one hundred million of your tax dollars on wasteful advertising. Minister Kenney’s priority is to travel on expensive junkets and photo-ops and monitoring his own image, instead of providing his department with the necessary funding to efficiently process applications and fix backlogs. Liberals believe in reuniting families to build a stronger Canada. That is why in 2005, we invested $72 million to increase the processing of parent and grandparent applications. Jason Kenney’s anti-immigrant and antifamily policies must stop. Yours sincerely, Kevin Lamoureux, M.P. Liberal Party of Canada Citizenship and Immigration Critic Increasing number of families reunited in 2012 Ottawa, May 7, 2013 – In 2012, there was a 15 percent increase in immigration under the family class, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. “The actions taken by the government are helping more families reunite,” said Minister Kenney. “We have created additional avenues and flexibility, so that an increasing number of families can spend more time with each other.” In 2012, Canada admitted 65,000 permanent residents in the family class, an increase of 15 percent since 2011. This includes a 60 percent increase in the number of parents and grandparents admitted to Canada, the highest level in 20 years. These numbers do not include family members that immigrate to Canada under other immigration streams, including the Federal Skilled Worker and Provincial Nominee www.filipinostar.org programs. “The Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification has been a success,” said Minister Kenney. “By reducing the backlog through increased admissions, we have dramatically reduced wait times so that parents and grandparents no longer have to wait close to a decade to be reunited with their loved ones.” By the end of 2013, the parents and grandparents backlog will have been reduced by about 50 percent with wait times cut in half. Without the Action Plan, the backlog was projected to surpass 250,000 with a 15-year wait time by 2015. The very popular Super Visa has provided flexibility for parents and grandparents who do not want to immigrate permanently but want to be reunited with their families quickly and See Page 4 Family Reunification 4 From Page 1 May 2013 The North American Filipino Star Filipino Nurses care attendants, patient representatives and unit clerks at the McGill University Health Centre are transforming care through their partnerships with patients. She described the program Transforming Care at Bedside, launched in 2010, which engages the hearts and minds of frontline Gobeil. Dr. Laurie Gottlieb, Nurse PhD, read the poem written by Ms. Eugenia Magalit entitled “Retired.” Dr. Gottlieb is FNAQ honorary member, Advisor (20192012), lecturer, friend, and supporter. She is a professor at the McGill University School of Nursing. The Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble of Montreal with Mr. Paul Imperial, Music Director and Ms. Editha New nurses welcomed: (L-R) Cristina Paac, Grace Goldenberg, Chairperson Corazon Abdon, Marissa Unabia, Marigold Lingbawan, Emilieth Pascual, FNAQ Prsident Cresconia Fernandez, OIIQ President & CEO Lucie Tremblay, FNAQ Past President Eugenia Magalit, Valia Dumpa, Chelo David, Debbie Piccio, Jacqueline Gobeil and Michael Lontok. practitioners in leading quality improvements by teaching them and patient representatives rapid cycle improvement processes and new leadership skills. Outcomes include more time available for direct care as nurses learned how to eliminate non value-added Fedalizo, Pianist, opened the Gala by singing the National Anthems of the Philippines and Canada. They dedicated a very special song: the Impossible Dream. There were over 160 guests. Among them were, to name a few, Bonnie Woolmer, Zenaida Kharroubi, Aurora From Page 1 President Aquino “This victory in the Senate means he will not be a lame-duck president,” said Ramon C. Casiple, the executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform in Manila. “He can use his popularity and control of the government to pursue his agenda and affect the 2016 presidential election.” At stake in the elections on Monday were 12 of the 24 Senate seats and all 229 seats in the House of Representatives. The elections also covered 18,000 local political posts, including provincial governors. With 69 percent of the vote counted, nine pro-administration Senate candidates were ahead. Their victory would increase the number of Mr. Aquino’s allies in the chamber to 13 from 4 and give them the power to choose the next Senate president. Final Senate results were expected by late Wednesday. Mr. Aquino’s political opponents have noted that although the economy has expanded, job growth has been flat and poverty levels have not improved. His critics also say corruption remains endemic, particularly low-level graft that most directly affects the poor. In campaign rallies for his political allies, Mr. Aquino responded that in his remaining years in office, his government would focus on extending the benefits of economic prosperity to the country’s poor and on continuing to crack down on corruption. The shift in power in the Senate would give Mr. Aquino extraordinary control over the government, Mr. Casiple said. His allies’ gains in the Senate would be complemented by the traditional control that the administration has over the House of Representatives. Though the results of many races were still unclear on Tuesday, party alliances are less significant in the House, Mr. Casiple said. House members rely on national government money to finance projects in their districts, giving the administration considerable leverage over the body. In addition to his expected control of both houses of Congress, Mr. Aquino is seen as having significant influence over the judiciary. Last year, he led a successful effort to remove the chief justice of the Supreme Court for his failure to disclose assets, which allowed the president to appoint the current leader of the court. In the fiercely contested mayor’s race in Manila, former President Joseph Estrada ousted the incumbent, Alfredo S. Lim. Mr. Estrada, a former action movie star who was removed from the presidency after being accused of corruption, remains a popular political figure. Imelda R. Marcos, the former first lady, was re-elected to the House of Representatives by a wide margin. Her daughter Imee Marcos was re-elected governor of Ilocos Norte Province, the birthplace of her father, Ferdinand E. Marcos, the former president who died in exile in 1989. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, despite remaining in detention in a government hospital on corruption charges, won a second term as the Congressional representative in her home district, Pampanga. The elections on Monday involved less violence and fewer delays than in years past. The police reported at least seven election-related deaths, all in the country’s restive south. From Page 3 Retired FNAQ Nurses Honored: (L-R) FNAQ Advisor Dr. Laurie Gottlieb, FNAQ President Cresconia Fernandez, Co-Chair Thelma Untalan, Co-Chair Milagros Gobeil, Evelina Boayes, Estrellita Bote, Aderlina Ramos, Nelson Ortizo, and Nilda Meriales. activities such as hunting and gathering supplies and equipment. The introduction of whiteboards at each bedside has significantly improved patient and family satisfaction with communication. She ended her talk by reminding everyone that leadership is not about a title that someone has. Nurses are leaders at every level. It's in all of us! A part of FNAQ's standing goals is the 'Welcoming of the New Nurses, Our Hope For The Future.” It welcomes new arrivals, new graduates, new members, and student nurses. A committee responsible for this ceremony is chaired by Corazon Abdon and Joel Reyes. Mrs. Lucie Tremblay, OIIQ president, read the poem written by Ms.Eugenia Magalit, FNAQ past president 2009-2012, entitled: “Welcome". Mrs. Tremblay is FNAQ honorary member, friend and advisor. After the welcome ceremony for new nurses, Honoring the Retired Nurses Who Paved The Way followed. The committee in charge of this ceremony is chaired by Thelma Untalan and Milagros Osdon, Linda Richler, Rose and James dela Paz, Jacqui and Marvin Rotrand, Lorine Besel and many community and nursing leaders. Our many thanks and profound gratitude to our community, friends, families, colleagues, for their encouragement and support. The founding FNAQ Executive Board present, were called to the stage and introduced. They left a message to the present and future generations: "always remember your past." The Co-masters of ceremonies Cristina Pa-ac psoes for souvenir with FNAQ Amelia Manon-og, FNAQ Advisor and President Cresconia Fernandez during the Dindo Miras, Director of Continung 21st anniversary gala, May 4, 2013 Education and Program 2009-2012 did a fantastic job! The dance floor was opened Zumba Classes up to 3:00 in the morning. It was a celebration to remember! at Gilmore College Reported by: FNAQ Communications & Newsletter Committee - Chairpersons: Corazon Diaz Abdon & Ma. Eloisa Piccio DeeMembers: Alfonso Abdon, Dolores Belandres, Shirlyne Chin, Joann Consus, Myrna Francisco. www.filipinostar.org Every Sunday at 6 p.m. Call Cristina at 514-865-4836 to reserve. Family Reunification spend an extended amount of time with them. An average of over 1,000 Super Visas have been issued each month and the approval rate is very high at nearly 90 percent. Since 2006, Canada has welcomed the highest sustained levels of immigration in Canadian history. - 30 Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CitImmCanada Photos of Minister Kenney are available. For further information (media only), please contact: Alexis Pavlich Media Relations Minister’s Office Communications Branch Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citizenship and Immigration Canada 613-954-1064 613-952-1650 [email protected] May 2013 Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification on track to cut backlog in half New Parent and Grandparent program re-opens January 2, 2014 Mississauga, May 10, 2013 – Citizenship and Immigration Canada will re-open the Parent and Grandparent (PGP) program for new applications on January 2, 2014, by which time the backlog and wait times in the program are expected to have been cut in half. “The Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification is on track to meet the goals of cutting in half the backlog and wait times in the Parent and Grandparent program,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “It is very important that we continue to make progress and not return to the old broken system with wait times as long as a decade that would be unfair to families.” Phase II of the Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification will provide even faster processing times, reduce the backlog further, prevent future backlogs, ensure that families have the financial means to support those they sponsor, and protect the interests of taxpayers. First – In 2012 and 2013, Canada will admit 50,000 parents and grandparents as permanent residents. This represents the highest level of parents and grandparents admitted in 20 years. In 2014, Canada will maintain high levels of admissions for parents and grandparents. Second – The Super Visa will become permanent and will continue to provide flexibility for families who access the 10-year multiple-entry visa, allowing visa holders to remain in Canada up to two years at a time. Over 15,000 Super Visas have been issued since the program’s launch in December 2011 with approval rates averaging 86 Minister Kenney promotes Canada’s new StarRecruiting the world’s best and brightest entrepreneurs to Canada the first of its kind in the world. Ottawa, May 21, 2013 – Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney concluded a productive visit to Silicon Valley to promote Canada’s new Start-Up Visa, the first of its kind in the world. “The message was delivered loud and clear to the entrepreneur 5 The North American Filipino Star community in Silicon Valley that Canada is open for business,” said Minister Kenney. “The new Start-Up Visa will help Canada attract the world’s best and brightest entrepreneurs to build businesses, create jobs, and fuel economic growth.” During his time in Silicon Valley, percent. Third – New qualifying criteria for permanent residency sponsorship of parents and grandparents will increase the financial responsibility of sponsors to ensure they have the means to support those they sponsor, while limiting the program’s cost to taxpayers and Canada’s strained health and social programs. Fourth – 5,000 new sponsorship applications will be accepted in the program in 2014. By accepting 5,000 applications in 2014 while maintaining high levels, the government will be able to further reduce the remaining backlog so that families can be reunited more quickly. “These new criteria ensure sponsored family members are well supported by their sponsors throughout their time in Canada,” said Minister Kenney. “The redesigned Parent and Grandparent program reunites families faster while respecting Canadian taxpayers and the limited resources for Minister Kenney met with foreign entrepreneurs and influential figures in the start-up and tech communities, including founders of start-ups, accelerators, other business leaders, venture capitalists, angel investors and immigration experts to promote the StartUp Visa and explain why Canada is a great place to start a business and invest. Minister Kenney met Dave McClure, the founder of 500 Start-Ups, one of America’s leading start-up accelerators which provides mentorship and seed fund investments to help entrepreneurs become successful. He also met with members of C100, a Silicon Valley-based organization that supports Canadian technology entrepreneurship health and social programs.” Canada has one of the most generous family reunification programs in the world. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand do not allow grandparents to be sponsored at all or only in very limited circumstances, and they have very restrictive criteria for the sponsorship of parents. The amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations that are being proposed will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette (Part I) and the public will be able to comment for a 30-day period. Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world. through mentorship, partnerships, and investment. Minister Kenney also took time to visit Plug and Play Tech Centre which houses business accelerator programs for entrepreneurs designed to strengthen the growth of their ideas and start-ups. Minister Kenney attended TiEcon 2013, the world’s largest conference for entrepreneurs, where he spoke with many international entrepreneurs, angel investors, and venture capitalists first-hand. During his visit, Minister Kenney was a featured guest speaker at Stanford University where he spoke to scholars, See Page 10 Canada Recruiting 6 The North American Filipino Star May 2013 The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) says that the average EER of room A/C units rose 47 percent from 1972 to 1991. To wit, replacing an older room unit with an EER of five with a new model with an EER of 10) would result in a 50 percent energy cost savings associated with A/C. As to whether room units or central A/C makes more sense, it depends. Room EarthTalk® units, which only cost a few hundred E - The Environmental Magazine dollars each, will suffice for renters or those who only need to keep one or two rooms Dear EarthTalk: Now that hot weather is cool at a time. Meanwhile, central A/C is coming, I want to upgrade my home’s A/C. more efficient overall at keeping a whole Which are the most energy-saving models house cool, and will also do a better job at and should I go central air or window units? reducing household humidity than even -- Jackie Smith, Cary, NC several individual room units—and will save more money faster on electricity bills. But According to the American Council for an with a starting price of around $4,000 for Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), energy the condenser and initial set-up (plus any consumption for home air conditioning duct work needed to distribute cool air Package delivery companies like FedEx and UPS have come a long way in improving the fuel units accounts for more than eight percent around a home), central A/C isn’t for efficiency of their worldwide fleet of delivery vehicles. Pictured: A FedEx hybrid electric of all the electricity produced in the U.S., at everyone. delivery van. Credit: Biofriendly, courtesy Flickr a cost to homeowners of $15 billion short time regarding Meanwhile, FedEx, with one of the largest annually. Besides the cost, all this cooling ACEEE points out that there are ways to relatively leads to annual emissions of about 195 keep indoor space cooler without A/C: sustainability, but they still have hybrid-electric fleets in the industry and million tons of CO2—or two tons per year improving insulation, sealing air gaps, considerable room for improvement. While upwards of 2,000 alternative energy there is only so much these companies vehicles in service worldwide, is no slouch for each American home with A/C. getting rid of old appliances and light bulbs can do to reduce their huge carbon either when it comes to green streamlining. that give off lots of heat, running fans, using Of course, foregoing A/C entirely is the cooler colors on exterior roofing and paint, footprints—given their reliance on Back in 2008 the company worked with the most energy- and cost-efficient way to go, and other strategies. Those in particularly emissions-heavy air transport—they’ve Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in but some of us need a little cooling for arid climates might also consider installing made great strides in greening their setting the ambitious goal of improving the ground fleets, optimizing their choices of fuel efficiency of its worldwide fleet of modes and otherwise streamlining energy Express delivery vans and trucks by 20 use. percent within a dozen years. Then early in 2013 the company announced that it had For its part, UPS was an early adopter of already exceeded its goal seven years cleaner vehicles, and today operates ahead of schedule (with an overall savings upwards of 2,500 low-emission vehicles of 22 percent so far) but was also upping that run on alternative fuels and its goal to a 30 percent fleet-wide efficiency technologies. The company is particularly gain by 2020. jazzed about a new generation of hydraulic hybrid package delivery trucks unveiled in With a strong commitment to swapping out the fall of 2012 in partnership with the U.S. older vehicles with newer more efficient Department of Energy’s Clean Cities ones, the company is well on its way. It program. These new trucks—which now operates 360 hybrid-electric trucks employ a diesel combustion engine along and 200 electric vehicles and is replacing with a hydraulic high-pressure many of its delivery trucks with “rightaccumulator that stores energy captured sized” Sprinter-type vans that are as much during braking—get 35 percent better fuel as 100 percent more fuel efficient than their economy and generate as much as 30 predecessors. FedEx has also been percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions upgrading its fleet of Express diesel trucks as compared to the non-hybrid diesel- to cleaner-burning models, and is making From an energy-efficiency standpoint, room A/C units are best for keeping one or two rooms powered vehicles they are replacing. While similar upgrades in its Freight and Ground cool at a time, while central air is more efficient overall at keeping a whole house cool. these trucks may cost UPS $7,000 apiece divisions as well. Likewise, the company is Credit: Comstock/Hemera Coll more than their traditional counterparts, well on its way toward reducing comfort, especially in warmer climates. If a swamp cooler (which cools outside air by the company estimates the upgrade will greenhouse gas emissions from its A/C is a must, buying the most efficient running it over cold water) as a cheaper save $50,000 or more, while substantially airplanes by 30 percent by 2020. model is the way to save money and alternative to A/C. By following these reducing emissions, over the lifetime of each vehicle. CONTACTS: UPS Corporate pollute less. Fortunately, a new generation suggestions and upgrading R e s p o n s i b i l i t y , of much more efficient room and central conscientiously, we can all stay a little more A/C units means that upgrading will likely comfortable in our warming world without UPS has also been blazing new trails in www.responsibility.ups.com/Sustainability; operational efficiency via intermodal FedEx Environmental Sustainability, pay for itself in energy savings within just a exacerbating the problem too much. shifting, e.g., using the most fuel-efficient about.van.fedex.com/environmentalfew years. transport mode (airplane, train, truck or sustainability; EDF, www.edf.org. CONTACTS: ACEEE, www.aceee.org; The main factors to consider in choosing a ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov; ship) or combination of modes to meet new model are cooling capacity (measured AHAM, www.aham.org; Database of State customer needs. A concerted effort by the EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy in British Thermal Units, or BTUs) and Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, company to streamline its operations in Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered 2011 led to savings of two million metric trademark of E - The Environmental Energy-Efficiency Ratio, or EER. To www.dsireusa.org. tons of greenhouse gas emissions by Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send determine the correct BTU rating for a to: given space, multiply the square footage by EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy moving delivery volume from air (the most questions 10 and then add 4,000. Meanwhile, a given Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered emissions-intensive mode by far) to [email protected]. Subscribe: unit’s EER is the ratio of cooling output trademark of E - The Environmental ground, and another 800,000 metric tons www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial. divided by power consumption—the higher Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send by shifting volume from ground to rail. the EER, the more efficient the air questions to: [email protected]. conditioner. S u b s c r i b e : www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial According to the U.S. Department of Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial. Energy, national appliance standards EarthTalk® DR. EMILIA ESPIRITU require room air conditioners to have an E - The Environmental Magazine EER of 8.0 to 9.8 or more, depending on CHIRURGIEN DENTISTE / DENTAL type and capacity. Units with an EER rating Dear EarthTalk: What are the big delivery of 10 or above typically qualify for the companies like FedEx and UPS doing to SURGEON federal government’s ENERGY STAR label, green their truck fleets and operations in which appears on especially energy- general? -- Mitchell Glaser, 5790 Cote des Neiges Rd Suite A-024 efficient appliances. Check out the Overland Park, KS PHONE: 514-340-8222 (4077) MONTREAL, QUEBEC ENERGY STAR website for lists of E-Mail: [email protected] qualifying A/C models. H3S 1Y9 Package delivery companies like FedEx and UPS have come a long way in a www.filipinostar.org May 2013 7 The North American Filipino Star ANG MALAS KO AY MAAARING partido. Napakaraming tao roon, ‘No thank you’ dahil alam niya na wala s’yang nagawang mabuti Mukhang sobrang asim ng ubas para sa publisher ng isang malabasurang local newspaper kaya hindi pa man s’ya nakakarating sa grapevine ay nag-sour grape na kaagad. Sabi n’ya kasi ay hindi s’ya magpapa-nominate sa FAMAS Awards dahil walang kuwenta raw ang nasabing parangal. Meron pa s’yang binanggit na Dr. Aranda na diumano’y gustung-gustong mag-nominate sa kanya sa isang mas kinikilalang parangal pero tinanggihan n’ya dahil hindi raw s’ya mahilig sa mga award. Kung tinanggihan daw n’ya ang nasabing parangal, iyun pa kayang FAMAS Awards ang di n’ya tanggihan. Phooey! Nakakadiri. Nakakapangilabot. Nakakatawa. Lumunok ako ng ilang aspirin dahil sumakit nang husto ang aking ulo sa kaiisip kung anu-ano ang mga magagandang bagay ang nagawa ng publisher ng there’s-nothing-like-it at numero unong pahayagang Filipino sa Canada (kuno) para mag-abala si Dr. Aranda na isumite ang kanyang pangalan sa nasabing award. Pero kilala na naman ng buong komunidad ang taong ito sa kasinungalingan at kahambugan kaya wala na namang naniniwala sa kanya. Naaawa o natatawa na lamang sila sa pobre na tanging ang kolumnistang ito lang ang nagtitiyagang pumansin. Maraming beses nang narinig ng mga Pinoy sa Montreal ang tungkol sa kanyang pagiging gobernador ng kanyang lalawigan, ang kanyang pagiging matalik na kaibigan ng yumaong Tony Sidayao (ang sikat at nirerespetong sports writer sa Pilipinas), ang tungkol sa pagpili sa kanya ni dating First Lady Imelda R. Marcos para sumulat ng biography ng asawa ng yumaong diktador, ang kanyang pagiging kaklase ni Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago sa UP College of Law, ang kanyang pagiging alumnus ng University of the Philippines at ang pagiging writer/columnist sa Calgary Sun. Marami pa s’yang mga delusions of grandeur na puwede kong ilathala pero kukulangin ang isang pahina ng Filipino Star para sa lahat ng kanyang mga kathang-isip at hinabing salaysay. Ganoon na lang ang aking pagtatawa nang mabasa ko sa kanyang diaryo (Yes, binabasa ko rin iyon) na hindi s’ya papayag na ma-nominate sa FAMAS Awards. Matay kong isipin, wala naman s’yang nagawang mabuti, lalong higit ay katangi-tangi, sa komunidad ng mga Filipino sa Montreal para s’ya ipagbunyi at parangalan. Walang makapagsabi na s’ya ay nag-volunteer man lamang sa FAMAS, na s’ya ay miembro o opisyal ng anumang samahang lokal, at ni hindi rin s’ya nagkaroon ng anumang matatag na trabaho kaya dalawang beses s’yang napalayas sa tirahan na kanyang inuupahan dahil hindi makabayad ng renta. Panay at walangpatid na paninira lamang sa FAMAS at mga lider nito ang kanyang inaatupag sa loob ng mahigit na 40 taon. Sa halip na tumulong sa pananatili ng pagkakaisa, bagkus n’yang winawasak ang komunidad. Kung s’ya’y isang insekto, s’ya ay anay. Wala akong alam na may nagbigay ng parangal sa anay. Kaya tama na, Mr. Publisher, ang iyong palusot dahil wala naman talagang magno-nominate sa ‘yo sa FAMAS Awards kahit magbayad ka pa, at kung meron man, tuloy sa basurahan ang iyong nomination form dahil tiyak na puro kasinungalingan lang naman ang nakasulat doon. At saka sa core values pa lang, hindi ka na lulusot sa screening committee ng FAMAS Awards. To be fair to you, Mr. Publisher, may impact naman ang iyong “achievement,” kaya lang negatibo at nakakasira ang impact na iyon. Ang hinahanap ng FAMAS Awards ay positive impact, ‘yung kapakipakinabang at magandang halimbawa sa mga kabataan. ******* • 24 hrs in class & 15 hours actual driving (New Program) • Refresher course & Accompanied Driver Recognized by SAAQ & AQTR 4649 Ave Van Horne, Suite 23, Montreal, Quebec Metro: Plamondon 514-402-9594 / 514-883-3526 • Car rental for road test SUWERTE NG ISANG DATING KANDIDATO – Bunga ng mga sunud-sunod na di-inaasahang pangyayari sa buhay ko nitong huling apat na buwan (unang-una na ang biglang pagkamatay ng aking ina noong May 6 sa edad na 86), natuluyan akong magbitiw bilang chairperson ng Committee on Elections (COMELEC) ng Filipino Association of Montreal and Suburbs (FAMAS). Sa aking palagay ang malas ko ay maaaring suwerte naman ng isang dating presidential candidate dahil kung ako pa ang chairperson ng nasabing komite at ako ang masusunod, hindi ko papayagang makatakbong muli ang nasabing kandidato sa rami ng kanyang mga violation ng FAMAS election rules and regulations. Naroroon ang kanyang illegal na panunumpa, ang illegal na pagrerehistro ng FAMAS sa ilalim ng kanyang illegal na pangangasiwa at ang di n’ya paggamit ng tama at nararapat na paraan ng paglaban sa resulta ng nakaraang eleksyon. Sa aking pananaw, hindi ganoong klase ng lider ang kailangan ng FAMAS, lalung-lalo na ngayon na mayroon nang malaking ari-arian ang nasabing asosasyon at magandang pangalan sa siyudad ng Montreal at mga karatig nito. Ngayon na wala na akong kinalaman sa COMELEC at may iba nang chairperson at mga miembro, nasa kanila na ang pagpapasya tungkol sa nasabing former presidential candidate at iba pang mga sumuway sa alituntunin ng FAMAS at COMELEC noong nakaraang eleksyon. ******* ELEKSYONG LOKAL SA PINAS — Dahil sa aking biglaang pag-uwi sa bansang sinilangan, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na masaksihan ang di ko nasaksihan sa loob ng huling 35 taon. Ang tinutukoy ko ay ang nakaraang lokal na halalan. Kabaligtaran ng eleksyon sa Canada, parang piyesta ang eleksyon sa Pilipinas. May nagsisigawan at nagsasaya habang nanonood ng bilangan ng mga boto, may nagpapaputok ng mga kuwitis at may pakain pa ang dalawang grupo ng mga kandidato sa kani-kanilang himpilan. Noong gabi ng halalan, May 13, pumunta ako sa headquarter ng aming partido na kung tawagin ay “Pula” dahil pula ang official color ng partido. Dilaw naman ang sa kalabang kabilang na ang kandidato sa pagkamayor na malapit kong kamag-anak. Nakatagpo ko roon ang aking iba pang mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan. Siyempre pa, bitbit ko ang aking kamera. Kuha rine, kuha roon ng mga litrato na ilalagay ko sa aking Facebook page. Nanalo sa pagka-mayor ang aking pinsan na si Atty. Eric Aure Vida na isang Ateneo Law School graduate at former vice-mayor ng Mendez. Ang nanalo sa pagka-vice-mayor ay si Cocoy Mendoza na isa ring dating vice-mayor at kalaban nina Eric. Si Cocoy ay pinsan naman ng aking kasalukuyang maybahay kaya virtually, but not actually, magkalaban kaming mag-asawa sa pulitika. Sila ang magiging mayor at vice-mayor sa susunod na tatlong taon. Tulad ng mga nanalong senador, representante, gobernador, bisi-gobernador, alkalde, bisi-alkalde at konsehal, magsisimula ang termino nina Eric at Cocoy sa darating na July 1. Ngayon pa lang ay pinaguusapan na ng mga taga-Mendez na sina Eric at Cocoy ang maglalaban sa pagka-mayor sa 2016. Si Cocoy ay anak ng isang dating mayor. Hindi ko alam ang aking gagawin kung magkatotoo nga ang kanilang hakahaka. Samantala, si Erap ang bagong mayor ng Maynila (tinalo n’ya si Alfredo Lim, ang kasalukuyang alkalde), si Jonvic Remulla pa rin ang gobernador ng Cavite (kontra Ayong Maliksi na isang dating gobernador), si Jolo Revilla sa bisi-gobernador at ang asawa naman ni Bambol Tolentino (ang dating mayor at kapatid ni Francis na chairman ng MMDA) ang nanalong mayor sa Tagaytay City (inilampaso n’ya si Jesus Crispin Remulla na kapatid ni Jonvic). Kung sa Tagaytay rin lang ang eleksyon, ipapanganak pa ang makakabuwag o makakapagpabagsak sa mga Tolentino. Ganoong katindi ang kanilang kapangyarihan sa Tagaytay City, ang tinuguriang alternate summer capital of the Philippines gawa ng kanyang malamig na klema at banayad na simoy ng hangin. The biggest surprise of the past Philippine election is the unexpected and sudden surge of Grace Poe, anak ng yumaong Fernando Poe, Jr., from virtual loser to See Page 11 Beyond the Pale NOTARY Mtre. Peter Dimacopoulos Real Estate Contracts, Mortgages, Wills, Power of Attorney •Preparation for knowledge test • Payment plan available www.filipinostar.org Tel.:514-824-9336 May 2013 The North American Filipino Star 8 Parangal sa mga yumaong Ina Sa tuwing sasapit ang ikalawang Linggo ng Mayo ay ipinagdiriwang natin ang Araw ng mga Ina. Parangal ito sa dalawa kong yumaong ina. Masinop na nalikom ng aking nanay ang mga liham niya, kung paano siya niligawan ng aming tatay na inabot nang mahigit na anim na taon. Bagama't pansarili ang loobin ng pitak na ito ay kapupulatan ng mambabasa ng mga aral tungkol sa pananagalog at matutuklasan ang paggamit ng Taglish (sinasamahan ng mga salitang Ingles) ay pangkaraniwan lang noon pa. Dito na nagsimula ang panunuyo. katutubo o kababayan. Ang mgagandang record ng inyong family sa pakikipamayan at sa pagaaral, ay hindi kaila sa akin. Dahil dito'y nangingimi pa ako nang pagsulat sa iyo. Kahit naman marahil ikaw ay sadyang bright maging sa pagtuturo ay inaasahan kong considerate ka rin. Mapagpapaumanhinan mo naman seguro ang nakabababa sa iyo, na gaya ko na nga. Wawakasan ko na rito at nang huwag ka namang mapagod sa pagbasa. Magsilbi nawang tagapagpaalala itong aking liham. Best regards for you and other sisters, brother, and parents. Morgan Virginia Santos (Peras), hawak ni Aaron Santos, tatay, Alma Mendoza, nanay. Peras: Ano! Kuya, Ate, nabusog ba kayo sa handa ng binyag ko? Pichu: O paano, sa Sabado ay agahan ninyo ang punta sa Lolo at Lola ko sa Hampton, ha? Doon daw gagawin ang birthday ko. Umaga pa lang ikakabit na ang inflated toy house at ang tanghalian ay puro kids' meal. Sa gabi pa ang dating ng mga killjoys. Pichu: Eto na naman kami. Laro.. . , Peras, laro ang samantalahin natin! Pechay: Kawawa naman ang Lolo Jerry napabayaan na ang pag-aaral ng tumakbo sa likod-bahay tungo sa pinto sa harap at tumimbre) Ano ba? Kuya Pichu kanina pa ako naghihintay dito, ah! your friend, College of Agriculture Amado Santos Los Banos, Laguna June 17, 1927 Josefa, Natatandaan mo pa kaya ang isang nagkapalad na naging kakilala mo doon sa Bagyo? Marahil ay maghahalungkat kang muli sa isip bago mo matawag sa iyong alaala ang aking pangalan at pagmumukha, sapagka't pagkaraan ng ilang araw na tayo'y magkakilala ay nagkalayo na tayo nang marami nang araw. Dahil dito ay nangyari nga akong sumulat sa iyo sa pagbabakasakaling mapalawig natin ang ating pagkikilala. Si David ay aking nakausap kanginang umaga. Pagdaka'y itinanong ko sa kanya kung kayo'y kanyang nakita. Ang sabi'y, oo - at kayo'y nagbalitaan pa raw tungkol sa buhay buhay sa Bagyo. Ayon sa kanya ay natatandaan mo ako nguni't nakalimutan mo na ang aking pangalan. Kung gayo'y isusulat ko ng full ang aking name sa ending. Kumusta ba kayo ngayon? Ipinalalagay kong kayong magkakapatid ay maluag ninyong naidadaos ang pagtuturo samantalang kami dito nila David ay kasalukuyang naghihirap sa pagaaral. Noong manggaling ako sa Bagyo pauwi ng Malabon ay naitanong kayo sa akin ni Chayong na kapatid ko. Sinabi ko nga sa kanyang kayo'y may kahulihan ang pagbaba sa Balanga. Marahil ay maitatanong mo sa iyong sarili kung bakit nais kong maging matalik na kakilala kayo. Hindi kaila sa iyo ang aking hinahanap na occupation at ang malalapad na pataniman ng tubo diyan sa inyo sa Balanga. Baka sakaling kung ako'y makatapos ay magubra akong isang maliit na kasama ng isang assenderong pangkaraniwan diyan, ay kung manggagaling sa bukid ay nang mayoong madalawdalaw kung sakali at kung papanhikin. Bukod sa rito'y ang mga ninuno ninyo ang mga tubong Malabon ay magaang ang dugo sa mga P.S. Ikaw na nga nag bahalang magpaumanhin sa aking Tagalog. Marahil ay balibalikuko. Same Ang kasabihang "Walang matimtimang birhen sa matiyagang manalangin" ay nagkaroon ng katuparan. Ang pangana'y na supling ay ipinanganak noong Agosto 18, 1934 at ang bunso ay noong Mayo 21, 1936. Yumao ang aking ina apat na araw makalipas ang pagsilang sa akin-noong Mayo 25, 1936. Hindi lumipas ang maraming taon at noong Enero 23, 1939 ay nanalanging muli si Ama na ang nasa isip ay bigyan ng ina ang dalawang naiwan ni Nanay Epang (Josefa). Ang pangalawang ina ay hindi gaanong matagal na nag-isip dahil ang kaniyang aalagaan sa sumunod na matrimonya ay kaniyang mga pamangkin. Ang Nanay Meliang (Emilia) ay kapatid ng Nanay Epang. Anim kaming magkakapatid na habambuhay na magdiriwang tuwing ikalawang Linggo ng Mayo kahit ang aming mga ina ay kapuwa yumao na. Iniwan kaming lahat ni Nanay Meliang noong Disyembre 16, 1983 na may kani-kaniyang adhikain sa buhay. ***** B B B: Binyag, Birthday at Bulakbol Pechay: Tayo na! Ano pa ang hinihintay ninyo. Kanya-kanyang hila ng Lolo o Lelong. Nandiyan lang sa tapat ang Kent Park. Birthday - Peras: Anong kawawa? Binigyan siya ng spring break ni Kuya Pichu. ***** Lubos na sumasaiyo, Aiden Zachary Alfaro (Pichu) tatlong taon na! Need Money? Do you have a full time job? If yes, call (514) 344-1499 Pichu: Pechay! Pechay! Dalian mo namang magbihis. Mahuhuli na tayo! Pechay: Nandiyan na, Kuya. Alas onse pa naman ang binyag ni Peras, di ba? Pichu: Oo nga. Pero madalang ang dating ng bus dahil Sabado ngayon. Tagalog. AND GET CASH NOW! Good & Bad Credit Accepted Pechay: (Pagkabihis ay dali-daling www.filipinostar.org May 2013 9 The North American Filipino Star Pamana's dances and music brought me back home to the Philippines by W. G. Quiambao There are times when I miss the Philippines because I`ve not visited it since coming here 44 years ago. But the stage production of Pamana ng LuzViMinda Philippine Folkloric Dance Company of Montreal on April 27 at the Salle Brebeuf cured my homesickness. The dances and music on the show brought back happy memories to me. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the production staff, especially Veraida-Lyn Bermejo, president and director/writer and Sherling de la Paz, artistic director. They're so talented and creative. Everything in the show was impressive - from the colourful and authentic costumes (some were purchased in the Philippines and Thailand) to the props (bamboo poles, benches) and video. The rural and tribal music was provided by musicians who used traditional musical instruments like the gansa (an instrument with metal bars), dabaksan (single headed Philippine drum), agung (two sets of two-widerimmed vertically-suspended gongs) and gandigan (Philippine xylophone). The stage seemed spacious enough for the 23 male and female dancers to freely move and execute their dances that required agility and flexibility. The dance performances were divided into 5 parts, each part representing the dance from the different regions in the Philippines. The enthusiastic audience applauded the dancers after each performance. Some of the dances are: Muslim dance Burong Talo - A martial arts dance originating from the Tausug people of the Sulu archipelago in the Southwestern part of the Philippines. In this dance, the male dancers depict a fight between a hawk and a cat. They simulate martial arts movements while manipulating daggers and fans. The male performers were so convincing in playing their parts. Fierce looking, they seemed ready to kill each other. Kini-kini - This dance represents the sophisticated woman of the Royal Maranao. Movements and shapes of their walk are very articulate and their scarves represent their fluidity and grace. Their grace is a characteristic of their education. The female performers were so exquisite and elegant. Pangalay sa Pattong - This dance is popular among the Badjao, Samal and Tausog groups. Although the movements of the dancer were flawless, I couldn't take my eyes off watching this dance. I was glued to my seat. What if she falls? The dance is performed on top of two bamboo poles on the shoulders of two men. Singkil - Traditionally a depiction of the Maguindanao and Maranao interpretation of a legend centered around Princess Gandingan and the brave Prince Bantugan. While walking through the forest with her loyal umbrella-bearing lady-inwaiting, the Princess Gandingan is suddenly caught in the middle of an earthquake unleashed by the forest diwata, or forest spirits. The Princess must gracefully and skilfully manoeuvre through the closing bamboo poles which represent the falling trees. Fans, or apit, are waved by dancers to represent auspicious winds. valiant Prince Bantugan enters the scene and rescues the Princess. Rural dance Karatong - This dance is named after the bamboo instrument worn by the dancers around the waist. The karatong is struck to a fast rhythm, in the hopes of attracting good luck and driving away evil spirits. The female dancers dance with sticks that are representatives of bunga mangga or mango trees. Sayaw sa Bangko - This is another stunning dance that captivated and mesmerized me. From the province of Pangasinan, the original form of the dance consisted of only one narrow bench. As it evolved, however, more and more benches were added, until the stack of benches resembled a tower. No flash photography was requested as the dance is dangerous. It was breathtaking to watch the male dancers lifting the female dancers on the other edge of the bench. Tinikling Originally from the Province of Leyte, this dance is considered by many to be the most recognizable folk dance of the Philippines. Based on the movements of the long-legged tikling avoiding bamboo traps in the fields, dancers dance through bamboo poles that open and close to an accelerating rhythm. It was a pure joy watching the exuberant and energetic dancers having fun. Added attraction to the stage production of Pamana ng LuzVi Minda Folkloric Dance Company of Montreal are the video clips shown after each performance. The clips show what it meant to be a member of the organization - focusing not only on the hard work and commitment to their craft but also the love, togetherness and especially the family spirit that infuses everything they do. The 2-hour show is worth watching. I left the theatre feeling good, smiling and telling myself that I'm lucky to be a Filipino with a rich and unique culture. The next time Pamana performs here, make sure you catch it. You will not regret it. ADVERTISE IN THE NORTH AMERICAN FILIPINO STAR CALL 514-485-7861 Kalman Samuels, Q.C. & Associates, s.e.n.c. Attorneys • Family Law • Litigation • Immigration www.kalmansamuels.com www.filipinostar.org Tel. : 514-939-1200 10 May 2013 The North American Filipino Star Ask the Video Guy triggered interest. They sell evaluated media or buy it back then totally degauss it, run it through evaluators to verify no defects, then resell. This resupplied tape is good for non-critical users, schools, give aways. Media Distributors also does certified destruction that doesn't hurt the environment, as part of their ‘Green Partners Program’. When Recycling e-waste Doesn't Work Not all recycling is good for the environment. According to a report from Electronics Take Back Coalition, caustic gas sits inside old cathode ray tube [CRT] TVs and older computer Selling it: Depending on the age of your monitors, and that approximately 860 device you can sell it outright to sites million pounds of CRT glass has been ebay, craiglist Kijiji Of course, you might stockpiled by recyclers. get more the old fashioned way - on eBay - but like putting a sign on your car Did you get (or give) any new in a parking lot hoping for a nibble electronics this past holiday season? I'll versus selling it to a used-car broker, bet nearly anyone who was in the giftthese sites pay for your device then giving mode got or gave at least one resell it, so they need a profit margin, electronic gadget as a gift, but what too. A quick search on eBay found 50 happens to the gadget you're used Sony miniDV selling for $40.00 and replacing? Getting rid of the old to a Sony VX2100 going for $300. bring in the new is becoming a big Recycle it: Not all electronic waste is issue; hopefully a few of these sites recyclable, but most areas in the posted today will help you think how Quebec, the municipals usually have you can participate in e-waste program where you can drop in these recycling. electronic stuff. When in doubt, the first Al Abdon place to look can be as easy as your old Hollywood Junkies Video fashioned Yellow Pages. Most local (514) 264-8706 government listings will have some sort of service for electronic waste recycling, Canada Star Recruiting they can point you in the right direction. From Page 5 Al Abdon Recycling Electronic Stuffs What do you do when your camcorder, computer, tablet or other device is no longer useful to you, but still has use in its electronics? Do you sell it? Donate it? Save it for historical laughs or throw it in a landfill? April 22 marks the 43rd annual Earth Day observance - and as people become aware of recycling ordinary garbage, there's still a long ways to go with disposing of electronic waste. In April 2011 an e-cycling initiative was launched by leaders in the consumer electronics industry to deal with the millions of pounds of electronic waste rendered annually. The hopes are to Have one billion pounds of electronic waste recycled annually by 2016. How you Can Help and Benefit, Too If your electronic gadget still has life in it; consider other places you might help someone else in need who hasn't the means or abilities to purchase a new device. Computers: Donate your old computer to community organization to help seniors or non-electronic individuals who don't have access to computers in your area. Mobile Phones: Old cell phones could be given to old folks who cannot afford the luxury of Samsung or iphones. Televisions: A local school, retirement home or community center might gladly like to upgrade their older set for a notas-old set. Camcorders: If you have a camcorder that runs but has out-lived your needs gathering dust in a closet, there are a number of places you donate it to that would benefit greatly from your generosity. That old camcorder you no longer use can find a new life in the hands of your local charity, theater group or school. How many people claim to have been "bitten by the movie creating bug" using their dad's old Super 8 camera? A not-too-old camcorder can trigger a child's interest in video producing. Recycling Responsibly From CDs to PCs, printers to monitors and more you have the responsibly disposes of what can't be recycled. Giving it Away for Cash or Credit: There are several companies what will buy your older gadget, some for cash-out, others for rebate on a new product from their company. In the U.S. kodak has a mail-in program for old digital cameras and printers, Best Buy has a trade-in program. HP has a few choices from cash for you to a charity donation or an HP gift card for a new purchase. Helping People in Developing Countries: The federal government have programs that takes used/refurbished computers to people in emerging nations struggling to get caught up in the modern world. What can you do with Videotape? Recycling video gear isn't just about the electronics. You can recycle video tape, too. One-sixth of a gallon of petroleum goes into the production of one videocassette, and as of 2008, video duplication companies processed 20 million of them per month. Although videotape production has gone down, there's a lot of tape still in use, or going to waste sites. Thrift stores: Yep - people still use videotape, but be forewarned, blacking your old footage is a good idea, before you donate tape. Make Scarecrows: Many farmers in Manitoba know this trick - Snip the tape and unravel it then hang bits and pieces around the garden. The fluttering, shiny tape will scare birds away. Make art: Yes. Check out this a tutorial on crocheting a sling bag using a videotape. Jim Gibilterra, of Media Distributors says the 2011 tsunami in Japan put their business in crisis mode when a good portion of the world's supply of professional video-tape was no longer available. Since then, they've looked into how they can help lessen the impact recording media on our environment. They mostly deal with high-end tape for broadcast and that the product is now back in production with everything back to normal, but it researchers, and students who have a high potential for becoming candidates for the Start-Up Visa. While at Stanford, he also met with Dan Siciliano, a legal scholar and entrepreneur with expertise in corporate governance, corporate finance, and immigration law, and Vivek Wadhwa, Director of Research at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization and author of The Immigrant Exodus, one of The Economist’s Books of the Year for 2012. He was also the featured guest speaker at an event hosted by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, attended by many prominent entrepreneurs and investors. Minister Kenney also officially unveiled the new Start-Up Visa billboard. “There is huge interest in Canada’s new Start-Up Visa and in Canada’s expanding tech sector,” said Minister Kenney. “Canada’s strong economic growth, low taxes and business costs, excellence in research and innovation, and top quality of life all make Canada a top country for innovative entrepreneurs looking to build their businesses. If you are a start-up entrepreneur and want to build a dynamic company that can compete on a global scale, then Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program is for you.” The Start-Up Visa, which opened for applications on April 1, is an important part of the Government of Canada’s plan to build a fast and flexible economic immigration system. The StartUp Visa Program is the first of its kind in the world and provides Canadian private sector organizations with access to a broad range of entrepreneurs – including the world’s best and brightest – in whose ideas they can invest. At the same time, the program provides immigrant entrepreneurs with valuable assistance in navigating the Canadian business environment, which can be a challenge for newcomers, and enables them to build innovative companies that can create Canadian jobs and compete on a global scale. Visit cic.gc.ca/startup for more information on the Start-Up Visa program. RESTAURANT LA MAISON NEW KUM MON 6565 Côte-des-Neiges Road (near Corner Appleton) Montreal, QC 5047 Henri Bourassa Est Montréal, QC H1G 2S1 Tel.: (514) 322-3133, 322-3130 Bean Curd Seafood Soup 1/2 Crispy Chicken Salt and Pepper Pork Loin Stuffed Bean Curd with Shrimps Sauted Seasonal Vegetables Steamed Rice $45.95 4 persons Fish Maw Seafood Soup Baked Lobster with Ginger Seafood with Chinese Broccoli Salt and Pepper Cuttle Fish Fried Sea Bass Fish Steamed Rice $68.95 4 persons Bean Curd Soup 1/2 Crispy Chicken Shrimp Cake with Chinese Broccoli Sweet and Sour Pork Seafood with Bean Curd in Hot Pot Salt and Pepper Squid Fried Sea Bass Fish $75.95 Steamed Rice 6 persons Fish maw seafood soup 2 Baked Lobsters with Ginger Seafood with Eggplant in Hot Pot Stuffed Bean Curd with Shrimp Seafood with Chinese broccoli Fried Sea Bass Fish House Fried Rice $145.95 Special Fried Noodles F R E E D E L I V E RY Minimum order of $10 Delivery hours: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. www.filipinostar.org 10 persons 514-733-6029 514-733-1067 For party menu, call Kenny May 2013 From Page 7 11 The North American Filipino Star Beyond the Pale number one in the senatorial race. Nilagpasan n’ya si Sen. Loren Legarda na consistent number one sa lahat ng polls bago mag-eleksyon. Sabi ng mga local political pundit ay sympathy votes daw iyon sa pagkatalo ni, o sa pagkadaya kay, FPJ noong halalan ng 2004. ******* I SPURNED HER FACEBOOK FRIEND REQUEST – Alam n’yo ba na tumanggap ako ng Facebook “friend request” mula sa isang tao na itinuturing ko na “The Most Hypocritical and Most Treacherous” member of our community? Well, I did. Naalaala ko ang kanyang dalawang beses na panloloko sa akin noong nakaraang halalan ng FAMAS. Ang kanyang unang panloloko ay nang paniwalain n’ya ako na tunay ang kanyang pakikipagkaibigan sa akin. Naroon ang beneso-beso n’ya ako at nakipag-usap sa akin nang matino. Napadala naman ako sa kanyang “kabaitan.” Nalaman ko ang kanyang pagka-traidor nang sabihin n’ya sa akin na hindi naman talaga si Cesar Manuel ang kanyang iboboto, at sa halip ay pangalan ni Au Osdon ang isusulat n’ya sa kanyang balota. Suot lang daw n’ya ang yellow t-shirt ng Samahang Makabayan (SM) dahil kung hindi baka raw makahalata ang kanyang presidential candidate at masirang lahat ang kanyang mga plano. Iyon naman pala ay gusto lang n’yang malaman sa akin kung itutuloy ng COMELEC ang desisyon na pagbawas sa mga boto ng mga kandidato ng SM. At nang hindi ako sumang-ayon sa gusto n’yang mangyari, biglang naglaho ang kanyang “kabaitan” at muli n’ya akong siniraan sa pamamagitan ng kanyang column sa Forum. Ang ikalawa n’yang panloloko ay noon mismong election day. Nasa loob kami ng St. Kevin’s Church Social Hall nang tawagin n’ya ang aking anak at humingi s’ya ng paumanhin sa bata na noo’y dose anyos pa lamang. Ang sabi nya, “Hija, I apologize to you for all the nasty things that I said about your dad. I promise you that I won’t do that to him again.” Dahil sa bata na ang kanyang kinausap, binigyan ko s’ya ng benefit of the doubt na talagang totoo na ang kanyang pangako. Maling-mali ako dahil ang kanyang next column ay punungpuno ng mga vituperative remarks na laban sa akin. Nang ipabasa ko iyon sa aking anak, hindi n’ya napigilan na magsabi, “I will never, never believe her again. I hate her. She’s a liar.” Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit tinanggihan ko ang kanyang “Friend request” sa Facebook. Ayaw kong mabitag ng kanyang patibong. Ayaw kong maging Trojan ng kanyang Trojan horse. Hindi ko lang s’ya tinanggihan, I also blocked her para hindi na s’ya makapunta sa aking FB page. Ayaw ko sa hipokrito. OBITUARY Benturada Sarmiento Ortiz 1926-2013 BENTURADA SARMIENTO ORTIZ, born on July 14, 1926, died on May 6, 2013 at Mendez, Cavite, Philippines. She is survived by her only child Bernardo Sarmiento, daughter-in-law Maritess Almanzor, grandchildren Bernardo II, Genevieve, Meredith and Alexandra, and stepdaughter Auring Ortiz-Villanueva and her family. PUBLIC NOTICE Advisory Warning concerning misrepresentation and fraud 8 May 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa has received reports concerning documents recently notarized by a person who is representing himself as Honorary Consul of the Republic of the Philippines in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Donald B The Berman erman M Maimonides aimonides P ACC Learning Learning IInstitute nstittute off ffe ers PACC offers a unique tr aining oppor o tunity training opportunity ffor o or a career career as a nursing nursing g aide/ or derly (PAB) (P PAB) A state -oforderly in a state-ofthe -ar t environment environment at at the first the-art health car e facilit uebec care facilityy in Q Quebec with its own o wn learning lear ni ng center. c en t er. TThe he LLearning ear ning Institute I nstit ut e offers off ers on-sit tr aining and a student studen t on-sitee training in ternship aatt D onald B erman internship Donald Berman M aimonides G eriatric Centre Centre – an Maimonides Geriatric aaward ward winning, winning, innovative innovative centre centre ccommitted ommitted to to excellence. excellencce. TTake aake k advantage adv d antage t off th the e best b t-kept k t best-kept secr et, FREE TUITION, and a rregister egister secret, to be par xcitting pr oject to partt of this e exciting project The Embassy wishes to inform the public that there is no existing Honorary Consul of the Republic of the Philippines in Montreal. The Embassy warns the public about such acts of misrepresentation and fraud. with a ger iatrric focus. focus o . If If you you have have a geriatric car egiving sp irit and a ccommitment ommitment caregiving spirit tto o geriatrics, geriatrics, enroll enroll no w and be now rready eady ffor o or the e summer 2014 hir ing hiring season in the healthcar e net work! healthcare network! IInquiries nquiries and d applications applications should b e directed directed to to W A AA AVE V ((Welcoming We elcoming be WAAVE Ag gency ffor or o A Ad dult and V ocational Agency Adult Vocational E ducation) 514-732-7766, 5 Education) email: w aave@lbpsb b.qc.ca [email protected] ELIGIBILITY ELIGIBILIT Y REQ REQUIREMENTS: QUIREMENTS: ro om A August ugust 2013 – May May 2014. · Runs frfrom registration ffee, ee, ma aterials and materials · $50 registration Legal resident residen nt of Q Quebec. uebec. · Legal ·M ust have have completed complet o ed Secondary Secondary III Must unif for o m extra. extra. uniform ffor o or Health SServices ervices in Q uebec, Quebec, administ ered b Lest e er B. B. administered byy the Lester P earson SSchool chool B oard. Pearson Board. M ath, English h and French. French. Math, REGISTER REG REGIST RE EGI E GIST IIST TER TER TE ER NO NOW! W W! DONALD BERMAN BERMAN NM MAIMONIDES AIMONIDES S GERIATRIC CENTRE G GERIA AT A T TRIC CENTR RE Classes Cla asse es start stta s star ar rt August 2013 2 5795 Caldwell 5 Caldwell Avenue, Avenu ue, Montreal Montreaaal ((Qc) Qc) H4W 1W3 ECHO Driving School 5871 Victoria, #219 Montreal H3W 2R7 514-731-8757 /514-961-0591 [email protected] $599+tax Summer Promotion •New Program (RSEP) 24 hrs theory & 15 hrs practical driving •Payment plan for new program DONALD BERMAN BERMAN M MAIMONIDES AIMONID DES GERIATRIC GERIA ATRIC T CENTRE 5795 Caldwell Caldwell Avenue Avenue Montreal M ontreal ((Qc) Qc) H4W 1W3 www.donaldbermanmaimonides.net w ww.donaldbermanmaaimonides.net Ecole de Conduite Certified by THE PROGRAM: PROGRAM: Supported b uébec. byy Emploi Q Québec. · Supported · PPACC ACC is the Centre Centre of EExpertise xpertise The Philippine Government concluded on 3 May 2007 the appointment of its last Honorary Consul in Montreal and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada has been duly informed. •Pratical Driving Package [email protected] w aave@lbpsb p .qc q .ca •Free & Fast Road Test booking appointment •Have Filipino instructor •Instructors w/more than 10 yrs experience certified by AQTr We emphaszie quality of service and students’ satisfaction. www.filipinostar.org 12 The North American Filipino Star May 2013 North American FILIPINO STAR PHOTO GALLERY The Filipino Youth Center held its monthly Consultative Meeting on the last Saturday of April with Tessie Nepomuceno as speaker, shown here delivering her message to the youth with their parents and other volunteers led by Pastor Orlan Racacho together with Amy Manon-og, Sophie Toledo, Joe Calugay and Zeny Kharroubi. From left: Dindo Miras, Continuing Education Coordinator of the FNAQ, poses with the inspirational speaker Mrs. Patricia O’Connor, FNAQ Founder Maggie Calcetas, and Mr. Gerald Perron. The Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble led by Paul Imperial and Edith Fedalizo pose for The anniversary cake with the officers, members and guests of the FNAQ, one of the souvenir of the 21st anniversary of FNAQ on May 4, 2013 at the Holiday Inn on Cote highlights of the evening celebration. de Liesse Road. The FNAQ founding Executive Board 1992-1995 presented: (L-R) Nilda Meriales, Maria Quimpo, Eugenia Magalit, Mierfe Morales, Linda Espallardo, Magdalena Calcetas, Anita Lo, and Elsie Reyes. Ten were absent. Mothers Day flowers given to Zenaida Kharroubi by her students, Mayette Danao, Arlene Manalo, and Edna Lorenzo, on May 12, 2013. Pamana ni LuzViMinda Concert, April 27, 2013 held at the College Brebeuf Auditorium www.filipinostar.org MARCH 2013 13 The North American Filipino Star If you can read, you can also learn how to write. Join us in a multi-cultural, interactive workshop, the first time to be held in Montreal. 5320-A Queen Mary Road Montreal, QC H3X 1T7 (bet. Coolbrook & Decarie) Telephone: 514-485-7861 www.gilmorecollege.com Group Discounts are available Prepayment of fees two weeks before the scheduled workshop Tax deductible receipts and certificate to be given Seminar Fees are non-refundable but transferable. Snowdon Who is the workshop for? • open to all who write • anyone who needs to develop and use writing skills • professional writers, managers, novelists, business leaders, poets, lawyers, editors, professors, journalists, public speakers and anyone who needs to broaden their communication skills. This is a breakthrough idea. The writing workshop experience plants a seed that grows each time you write, long after the weekend workshop has concluded. You will gain special insights that open your creative self as you continue to write. You will be able to set and achieve personal goals to: •learn new and useful methods of solving problems in writing • increase your power to know what you want to say • increase your ability to put across persuasively what you have to say • enable you to see the actual relationship you have with your readers Professor Isaac Goodine International Educator, Author of the book “Leaders Leading SEMINAR FEES: $495 (including taxes and materials) Leaders”, has delivered many DURATION: 2 1/2 days - Friday evening, Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Schedule: To be announced to registered participants workshops around the world. Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi, Editor & Publisher, The North American Filipino Star Director-General, Gilmore College International Workshop Coordinator CONCORD TOURS & TRAVEL Tours in Canada Tours to U.S.A Ottawa & Gatineau 1 Day Tour $33 + Quebec City one day $28 La Mauricie National Park 1 Day $38 Algonquin Park, 30 Thousand Islands, Toronto 3 Days $138 Toronto Niagara Falls 2 Days Tour $68+ Toronto Niagara Falls 3 Days Tour $88+ Charleviox 2 Days Tour $68+ Gaspese 3 Days Tour $108+ Maritime provinces 5 Days Tour $188+ Maritime provinces 6 Days Tour $238+ Across Canada 10 Days Tour Washington, DC – New York 4-Day Tour 148+ New York City 3 Days Tour $88+ I Love NY - Free Bird 3 Days Tours $118+ New York City - 4 Days Tour $128+ I Love NY - Free Bird 4 Days Tours $148+ Washington DC,NY,Atlantic,Philadelphia 4Days Tour 128+ Little Europe – Chicago 4 Days Tour $208+ Ivy Lea 4 Days Tour $228+ Virginia Beach Deluxe 5 Days Tour $298+ Florida Disney World 8 Days $428+ Across USA 10 Days Tour $799+ For information or reservations Call 514-485-7861 www.filipinostar.org 14 FAMAS in a capsule by W. G. Quiambao Due to the limitation of time and space, this article should not be considered complete. Thanks to the contributions of Pastor Orlan Racacho, Bert Abiera, Lina Fernandez, Jake Maguigad. and Zenaida Kharroubi for this brief history of FAMAS. Likewise, I believe that I should also thank all FAMAS presidents and their directors for their volunteerism and personal sacrifices. The Filipino Association of Montreal and Suburbs (FAMAS) the oldest and biggest association in Quebec that is celebrating its fifty years has come a long way since its founding in 1963. The Filipinos who were with us since its infancy and still with us have witnessed its evolution into a progressive and recognized organization it is today by the federal, provincial and especially, by the municipal governments. The primary goal of FAMAS when it was founded was for Filipinos in Montreal and suburbs to get to know each other and to make sure their separation away from the families they left behind in the Philippines would be much less unbearable. In the early days, the number of Filipinos was comparatively small, about 330. Many of them were professionals, namely, doctors, nurses, architects and engineers. "The Philippine Association of Montreal and suburbs, now known as FAMAS, had limited activities which were mainly social events due to lack of creativeness, incentives and civic consciousness to project a realistic community involvement," said Orlan Racacho, former FAMAS president and now a pastor. "Leadership skills and passion for cultural programs were basically lacking in its platform." FAMAS then was not as community oriented as it is today. In fact, the money left by each president after his or her tenure was spent more for socializing than anything else. Even the FAMAS election was so simple that it was done by mere raising of hands by the voters. Sometimes, the election was held at Angrignon Park in La Salle. It was also in any of those places that a small group of Filipinos usually had their occasional picnics for camaraderie and only a handful was keen on running for office, more particularly the presidency. In the early 70s, the community saw the changing times in terms of the the economy and in the ever-growing number of Filipinos in Montreal and suburbs. The FAMAS officers decided to aim higher, but were confronted with much bigger challenges. It dawned on them that FAMAS should be community oriented if it was to be relevant. To accomplish this goal, essential services to the community had to be provided. FAMAS officers, consisted of volunteers who had to work hard not only to recruit members and raise funds but also to develop projects. The biggest source for FAMAS then and now has been the Miss Philippines and Munting Bb. Pilipinas conceptualized by Norma Flores-Vohra during the terms of Alvin Veloso, Angie Ogerio and Bert Abiera respectively. In 1978, Norma Villarose started the building fund in the amount of $500, unlike the previous FAMAS presidents who usually spent leftover funds after their term on picnics or any other social activities because at that time, FAMAS had no specific project. Therefore, it was during this time when massive fund raising was dedicated to the community center building fund. Every FAMAS president began to work harder in order to turn over an amount to the building fund. In 1986-1987, during the The North American Filipino Star term of Bert Abiera, a committee, led by Ogerio, was formed to adopt a `copy cat` fund raising idea used in the Philippines, the Munting Bb,. Pilipinas which was a huge success. It raised more than $20,000. "I made a handsome turn over which rapidly grew,” said Abiera. “When Marlene Birao-Schacter took over, FAMAS had the sufficient amount to make a down payment for a duplex on Van Horne Ave. with the approval of the officers and the Board of Trustees. They utilized the services of Nemia Saldua, a realtor who was a member of the Board of Trustees. The mortgage was signed by BiraoSchacter and Bartolome Javier who represented the Board of Trustees. Years later, it was decided to convert the duplex into a community center where the services that the association wanted to provide to the community could be served but it was difficult since zoning bylaws got in the way. When James de la Paz became the FAMAS president, he assiduously lobbied the City Hall of Montreal to grant FAMAS a rezoning permit. The neighbours, however, were opposed to the idea of converting the duplex into a community center because of the noise and disturbance it might bring to the quiet neighbourhood. Despite the rezoning snag, de la Paz`s request was granted within a year. With the help of volunteers, the duplex was renovated in the late 90s and worthy activities like Heritage classes were introduced thereafter. In addition to the successful conversion of the duplex to become a center, de la Paz made a bold and controversial decision. He called an assembly to present his proposal to pay the mortgage of FAMAS in full since it had enough money for that purpose. He believed that payment of the mortgage balance would save money by avoiding the exorbitant and growing mortgage interest rates. “Some members of the executive board tried to sue me but they couldn’t do anything,” recalled de la Paz. “My lawyer said that I didn`t pocket the money. A few years later, those who were against my idea appreciated what I did. If I did not pay the mortgage, FAMAS would still be in debt.” In spite of the criticism hurled against de la Paz by those who have personal issues with him, FAMAS had substantially benefitted from his political connections that he shrewdly cultivated when he was the FAMAS president. Arguably, he paved the way for the Filipino community to be more visible in the mainstream politics when he was FAMAS president. He said, “Politicians used to say The Jews, Italians, Chinese, etc. It was frustrating for Filipinos because they were systematically relegated to ‘others.’ They didn't have any identity until de la Pa came into the local political scene. Now, politicians from municipal, provincial and federal levels recognize the existence not only of FAMAS but also the entire burgeoning Filipino community. FAMAS made more changes in the 90s. For example, it amended the Constitution and Bylaws to allow the president to serve for two years rather than just one year. The Executive Board at the time was convinced that one year was too short for any president, particularly a good one, to accomplish the goals of the association. For reasons of their own, many community members came out of the woodwork and became more and more interested in becoming president or at least to be an officer. FAMAS elections have become one of the most talked about and anticipated events in the community, particularly in the summertime. Like the Independence Day and the Pista sa Nayon, the election day has always been an event for many Filipinos to meet friends they have not seen for a while. In 2009, the leadership of Au Osdon, who has a background in management, was put to the test after winning the presidency of FAMAS. Despite her detractors`criticism,’ or perhaps because of it, she managed to keep the affairs of FAMAS in order. When she took over in 2009, a Special Audit Committee was established in order to review the incomplete financial records submitted by the previous administration. The committee composed of Hal Sotero, Roger Sandoval, Cely Dagsaan and Peter Fernandez found out that it would be impossible because most transactions were made in cash and not properly recorded. FAMAS received a bill in 2007-2008 which was paid. She also brought back the trust and respect of the community for FAMAS which for a while were lost because of the smoking, drinking and even installation of a camera in the toilet. The regular activities like the Bb. Pilipinas, Bb. Munting Pilipinas, Heritage and French classes still continue. Miss Teen FAMAS and the fledgling Project Pagsibol are doing well. Some renovations in the building were also made with the help of Alex Sy, FAMAS vice president and an engineer by profession which included the new main entrance door with electronic push button opener located in the office, a new entrance French door in the main lobby near the stairs going up the office, installation of a window near the entrance door, removal of the old closet to make the office bigger; removal of the partition of the conference room and living room to make the space bigger, and putting new floor tiles in the conference room Giving due recognition to de la Paz and Osdon is not meant to diminish the other presidents before or after them who made valuable contributions to the status of FAMAS as a community organization. All past presidents of FAMAS, without exception, had given up their time and made personal sacrifices in order to do their job. It can be stated without any doubt that no one has a monopoly of accomplishments for there have been other past presidents who tried to do what they thought was good for the community. Some of the past presidents' contributions are: Lee Sanga (deceased) introduced Heritage classes; Jose Bustamante converted the duplex garage into a classroom; Carlos P. Reyes (deceased) started the installation of a flagpole; Alberto Floresca (deceased) brought the idea of constructing the balcony; Claro Bermudez celebrated the Independence Day jointly with FCAWI; Flor Rillo constructed the patio, Carmelita Sideco (deceased) must be mentioned for being the first female FAMAS president whose contributions are not visible but her influence over those who worked with her are still felt Norma Casaclang-Villarosa (deceased) was known to be the first one to put aside some funds for the purpose of acquiring a community center; Dr. Bart Javier, together with Marlene BiraoSchacter were the signatories to the deed of sale of the FAMAS building. There may have been accomplishments of some presidents but have not been included above but it is hoped that their place in FAMAS history is an acknowledgement of their volunteerism to the community. But the saying that “You can`t please everybody” still holds true. After the election in 2011, Osdon and COMELEC chairman Budz Sarmiento were accused of conniving with each other to beat Cesar Manuel, presidential candidate for www.filipinostar.org May 2013 Samahang Makabayan. “The accusation is untrue," said Sarmiento. "The candidates of the SM were given the Rules and Regulations to read. If they have any objection then, they should have discussed it with the COMELEC. Instead, they signed the Certificatres of Candidacy. After the election, they were also given a chance to appeal. But they ignored it. What I find inappropriate are the things they did: protesting in front of the center for a few days, freezing FAMAS accouint, illegally inducting their officers, etc. " FAMAS had and still has its ups and down. As noted below, even during the beginning, there had been a short-lived feud between the east side and the west side, resulting in two associations, one called Philippine Association of Montreal (PAM), and the other, the Filipino Aociation of the Province of Quebec (FAPQ). It cannot be denied that bickering and differences among differeent factions have been a constant threat to the solidarity among Filipinos. Nevertheless, they are always there fior each other in time of need.. It is like a big family. After all, other cultural associations have had their own problems, too. List of FAMAS presidents: 1963-1964 - Vicente Sison; 1964-1965 - Dr. B. Oteysa finished the term of Emil Assistores; 1965-1966 - Dr. Ben de Guzman; 1966-1967 - R. Mendoza finished the term started by Carlos Borromeo; 1967-1968; Dr. Diego Rosales gave up in favor of John Alvarado. In 1967, a crisis occured that led to the formation of two asociations. John Alvarado continued his job as president of Philippine Association of Montreal (PAM) while Orlan Racacho became president of a new association called Filipino Association of the Provnce of Quebec. In 1968-1969; George Poblete became president of PAM and Dr. Deo Esguerra was at the helm of FAPQ. In 1969, according to Jake Maguigad's article, FAMAS made the maiden appearance with Dr. Nap Magadia and later, T. Patrio as president while the name of Andy Palomar was recorded by Bert Abiera as the president during the period of 1969-1970. Abiera also provided the names of other past presidents, namely: 1970-1971 Simeon Orejudos; 1971-1972 Alvin Veloso; 1972-1973 Roberto Bernas ; 1973-1974 Carmelita Sideco; 1974-1975 Orlan Racacho; 1975-1976 Dominador Rosales; 1976-1977 Dr. Bartolome Javier; 1977-1978 Henry Casuga; 1978-1979 Norma Villarosa; 1979-1980 Dr. Edilberto Pelausa; 1980-1981 Liwanag Sanga; 19811982 - Angelita Ogerio; 1982-1983 Salvador Cagugao; 1983-1984 Nemia Saldua; 1984-1985 Dr. Genoveva Santander; 1985-1986 Julita Parado; 19861987 Alberto Abiera; 1987-1988 Aurora Osdon; 1988-1989 Marlene BiraoSchacter; 1989-1990 Mario Umali; 19901991 Erlinda Baltazar; 1991-1992 Limeo Collao; 1992-1993 Dick Dahiroc; 19931994 Malrlene Birao-Schacter; 1994-1995 Emma Resurreccion; 1995-1997 James de la Paz (two consecutive terms) ; 1997-1998 Ricardo Cosico; 1998-1999 Jose Bustamante. The change in the terms of presidents began in 1999-2001 with Carlos P. Reyes 2001-2003 Venancio Parial 20032005; Santiago Tino; 2005-2007 Alberto Floresca; 2007-2008; 2008 - Claro Bermjudez who had to leave for a job opporuntiy in South Africa and appointed Flor Rillo to replace him for the remainder of his term until August 2009; Aurora Osdon 2009-2013 (two consecutive terms) Learn French the fast and easy way. Enroll at Gilmore College International. Call 514-485-7861 May 2013 15 The North American Filipino Star Philippine Cuisine and Favorite Food 1/2 kilo pork belly garlic powder salt and pepper For the filling 1 small bundle large spring onions, chopped 1 stalk lemon grass, chopped 1 small bundle chives, chopped 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped black pepper powder chili flakes salt Compiled by Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Pork Belly Roast Balamban liempo style For the baste ngredients 1/4 kilo pork with fat (cut into very small pieces) 3 tablespoons oil 1 1/2 cup water I 2 medium size Ampalaya (cut into 8 pieces each) 2 medium size eggplants (cut into 8 pieces each) 1 small size kalabasa about6-10 pieces okra (halved) 6 pieces tomatoes (quartered) 1 small garlic head (minced) 2 small onions (diced) 1 small ginger (sliced) 4 tablespoons bagoong isda Pinch of pepper Procedure 3 tablespoon oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Balamban Liempo as the name originated in Balamban one of the towns located along the western coast of Cebu. Several entrepreneurs have brought the Balamban Liempo outside of Balamban and has become one of the must eat food when you are in Cebu City. Balamban Liempo - Chopped roasting the pork belly is roasted while it is in the roasting pan I used glass. This will allow the juices together with the aromatics cook the meat, remember you have to use top and bottom grill of the oven. Halfway the pork belly is removed from the pan and let grill on the middle of the oven. You can also use you’re turbo broiler if you have one, again just be mindful of your temperatures and timings. If you have an oven with rotisserie then we would not have to do the above complicated roasting method. The pork belly has to be roasted in 2 procedures. During the first half of Balamban Liempo - Ingrdients .89lb Half or Whole pork Cut & Wrapped 89 Picnic Ham w/bone 1.79lb .99lb 3 2 1. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed Beef Blade steak Pork loin Approximately 15 lbs Boneless Pork shoulder - $2.89 lb lb Fresh Pork Leg Bone-in shoulder chops 2.19 lb 1.99lb Home smoked meat 7.99lb Beef short ribs 3.99lb Fresh Pork Belly with skin 4.99lb 4.49lb Over 20 lbs 4.09 lb Frozen pork blood Fresh liver Pork skin Goat Available on order Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven and roast for 1 to 1 1/2hours. Occasionally brush the skin with the oil and soy sauce baste mixture. Adjust, lower the temperature if the skin is drying or cooking too fast. Now remove the pork belly from the baking pan and place in the middle of the oven in a rack, continue to roast for another 20 to 30 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400°F to 450°F during the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking or until reddish in color and the skin should be crisp at this stage. Remove from oven and cover the roasting pan with aluminium foil and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Cut into serving pieces and serve with your choice pinakurat vinegar dipping sauce. Regular smoked bacon Ground Beef 3.79lb pork belly to form a pocket for the fillings. Rub the pork belly with garlic powder, salt and pepper, let stand in the refrigerator and marinate for a least 1 hour or more. Mix and blend all the filling ingredients, and put it inside the belly pocket, keep aside. Preheat oven to 300°F to 350°F using the top and bottom heating element. In a roasting pan with the same size with the pork belly place the pork belly with the skin on top. Drizzle the pork belly skin with soy sauce and rub to evenly coat. Pinakbet (Vegetable Stew) Ground Pork Special 2.29/lb St.Chrysostome St. Remi St. Edouard Napierville Sherrington Barrington Havelock 202 219 203 Hemmingford Jackso n Road Canada 219 Lacolle Sortie Exit No.6 Parc Safari 15 Class Covey Hill Road Boucherie Viau Inc. Malone Moders U. S. A. Champlain 83 Covey Hill, Hemmingford QC J0L 1H0 Tel.: (450) 247- 2130 or (450) 247- 3561 Tilapia with black bean sauce Balamban Liempo - Grill BUSINESS HOURS Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Saturday Sunday In a pan, fry pork until lightly crispy, set aside. Saute garlic, onion, tomatoes, and ginger in the pork fat and mix in pork. Balamban Liempo In a pot, boil water with bagoong. Cooking procedure: Add in the pork and spices. Add all the vegetables and cook. Make an incision in the middle of the Serve hot. Pinakbet is a very typical and popular dish among Filipinos in the Ilocos provinces but also adopted by other groups in Luzon, except that there is a slight difference in the ingredients. www.filipinostar.org Tilapia with Salted Black Beans Ingredients 1 large tilapia, sliced crosswise (steak cut) 1/4 cup canned tausi (salted black beans) – discard the water 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley 1 medium yellow onion, diced 2 teaspoon minced garlic 1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon cornstarch diluted in 1/2 cup water cooking oil Salt and pepper to taste Cooking Procedure Rub salt and pepper all over the sliced tilapia. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Heat 1 cup of cooking oil in a frying pan. Pan-fry the sliced tilapia in medium heat for about 5 minutes per side or until the color turns medium brown. Remove the fried tilapia and place in a plate lined with paper towel. In a clean cooking pan, heat about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Saute the garlic and onion. When the onion softens,add the parsley and salted black beans. Put the fried tilapia in the pan. Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch diluted in water. Stir gently and let boil. Cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add pepper to taste. Note: you can add more water to make it taste less salty. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve. share and enjoy! Reminder FAMAS 50th Anniversary Gala Saturday, June 15, 2013 Call 514-341-7477 The North American Filipino Star 16 FILIPINO STAR SHOWBIZ GOSSIP ‘Annaliza’ someday wants to Daniel Padilla Releases Sophomore Album 'DJP' direct After his sold-out birthday concert at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, Kapamilya teen Rising teleserye princess Andrea Brillantes suddenly burst into tears while walking sensation Daniel Padilla continues on center stage when her first teleserye starrer Annaliza was introduced to advertisers at the recently held ABS-CBN trade event at the NBC Tent in Taguig. The to sweep off the feet of his fans with his sophomore album under Star ten-year old young actress wasn’t able to contain her emotions any longer when she realized that she is actually living her long-time dream of playing lead in a TV Records titled “DJP.” series. Daniel Padilla Releases She may be just 10 years old, and self-assured when asked if she Sophomore Album 'DJP' her show-biz career just starting to take off, but child star Andrea Brillantes can already see herself working behind the camera, when being in front of it has lost its appeal. “I enjoy taking photos and my mom tells me they look nice!” she said. “I want to become a director, a writer or a photographer when I grow older. I want to be behind the scenes,” Brillantes told a small group of reporters at a recent media gathering for ABS-CBN’s remake of the popular 1980s television drama “Annaliza,” where she plays the title role. The late Julie Vega was the original Annaliza. For her dream first photo shoot, Brillantes said she wanted her subject to be her idol Kim Chiu. Her directorial debut, on the other hand, will most likely have “Annaliza” costar Zanjoe Marudo (who plays her father, Guido) as lead actor, she added. Prior to this big break, Brillantes often played the role of a teleserye’s star as a child. She was the young Andi Eigenmann in “Kahit Puso’y Masugatan,” Jessy Mendiola in “Precious Heart Romances: Paraiso” and Kim Chiu in “Ina, Kapatid, Anak.” “I’m very thankful and happy that I was chosen to play Annaliza because it’s my dream to star in my own show,” she said. Brillantes said she googled Vega on the Internet to know more about her, learning about her birthday and death. Looking sweet and adorable in a pink dress, Brillantes was refreshingly May 2013 believed she could carry a television show on her own. But the precocious youngster clammed up when the subject of competition with other ABS-CBN child stars, such as Xyriel Manabat, was brought up. “I don’t know,” she murmured. “Mas matanda po ako?” she offered, drawing laughter from the crowd. Currently a Grade 4 student in Ambassador School for Children, Brillantes said she might resort to home-schooling next academic year because of her increasingly heavy schedule. Do her schoolmates and friends know that she’s an actor? “Yes, they’re happy and proud of me. Sometimes they approach me for photo ops,” she said. Brillantes, who joined the kiddie gag show “Goin’ Bulilits” in 2010, proudly announced she was able to buy herself a cell phone and an iPad from her earnings. “Someday I want to have a nice bedroom!” she said. Business unit head Ruel Bayani said their version of “Annaliza” would be generally faithful to the original series. “But, to make it relevant today, we incorporated different social issues we encounter now,” Bayani said. Directed by Theodore Boborol and Cathy Camarillo, “Annaliza” starts airing Monday before “TV Patrol.” a Daniel Padilla had his fans shrieking on "ASAP" Sunday as he channeled his inner "Mr. Suave" while performing the Parokya ni Edgar hit, along with three other Padillas, RJ, Matthew and JC. www.filipinostar.org Following the success of his double platinum self-titled album, “DJP” features 10 tracks including Daniel’s carrier single “Kamusta Ka,” “Kung San Ka Masaya,” “Sabay Natin,” “Panalangin,” “Binibini,” “Naaalala,” “Kisapmata,” “Ipagpatawad Mo,” “Sisikat Din Ako,” and the acoustic version of Himig Handog P-Pop Love Song finalist “Nasa Iyo Na Ang Lahat.” The album also carries the bonus track “Diskarte.” Daniel’s “DJP” album is already available on all record bars nationwide for only P250. The digital tracks of the album can also be downloaded via www.mymusicstore.com.ph and iTunes. For more information visit Star Records’ Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/starrecordsphil or follow @starrecordsph on Twitter. a May 2013 17 The North American Filipino Star Court says Willie Revillame 'insensitive,' upholds show suspension Julian and Julia: From reel to real? TV5 statement on Mr. Willie Revillame’s resignation So it has finally been confirmed, the rumor that Willie Revillame is resigning from TV5, and that his show “Wowowillie” will end when his contract with the network expires on Oct. 15. The persistent hearsay was that Willie Revillame Willie is resigning because he was The Court of Appeals (CA) ruled asking for a P90 million talent fee per in favor of the Movie and Television month, which the Kapatid network Review and Classification Board rejected, according to a source. (MTRCB) that suspended TV5's noontime game show Willing Willie in 2011 over an "obscene" segment. Associated Justice Manuel Barrios of the appellate court's 2nd Division said in an 11-page decision issued late Thursday that the contested episode that showed a young boy dancing in a raunchy manner while crying was enough material for MTRCB to suspend the popular show for one month. "A review of the recording of that segment shows a 6-year old boy gyrating like a macho dancer while being cajoled and goaded by the show's host and the audience ... is commonly perceived as transpiring only in night clubs and other shadowy establishments," the decision stated. The court also called the show host Willie Revillame "insensitive" in encouraging the boy to continue with the performance in exchange for a monetary reward. "While money has great utility and is beneficial in these times of want, it must never be used as justification to sacrifice good morals, decency, self respect and the psychological well-being of its citizens especially the young," it added. MTRCB Chairman Eugenio Villareal welcomed the court's decision on Thursday night, saying he hopes the ruling "be instructive" to the television industry. Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 "May this ... allow the television industry, especially those more directly concerned, to move on and help build an entertainment culture that is truly audience-sensitive and particularly looking out for the welfare of our young," Villareal said in a statement. MTRCB earlier said in the original suspension ruling that the show "violated a law against immoral and indecent broadcasts that run counter to Filipino values."invoking her brother's being in power when she made a veiled threat. "Wala na siyang ibang masabi. Sabi niya, 'Baka nakalimutan mo may three years pa ang brother ko,'" Yap said. a Julian Estrada and Julia Barretto Willie’s camp denied the rumor, saying at first that while it’s true his contract with TV5 is expiring in October, there was no negotiation going on yet about the possible renewal of such contract, much less about any amount for the host’s monthly talent fee. Willie has his options on whether to continue with the show or take his much-needed vacation. He has favored the latter. To this, TV5 has issued this short statement: “We respect the decision of Mr. Willie Revillame to retire upon the expiry of his contract with TV5. We wish him well in his new pursuits.” a Julia Barretto, the winsome 16year old daughter of Marjorie Barretto who is fast making a name for herself in the show business industry as “The Most Beautiful Barretto,” continues to capture hearts, including that of teen star Julian Estrada - her co-star in a recent special episode of ABS-CBN’s award-winning fantasy-drama anthology “Wansapanataym.” Estrada, who, like Barretto, is a scion of an established showbiz family that includes actor turned president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, has now admitted to wooing his fellow Star Magic 2013 member in a recent interview on “Kris TV” – a far cry from an earlier statement. “Hindi naman po ligaw. (But) things are doing pretty well (between the two of us), ” he was quoted as saying prior. Ironically, the 15-year-old spilled the truth about courting the young actress when he was being grilled by his own father, actor turned senator Jinggoy Estrada, during their guest appearance on “Kris TV,” Monday. “Nililigawan mo ba?” The senator asked his son, who went on to blurt a curt, “Yeah.” When asked if he thinks he is on his way to winning Julia over, the young Estrada meekly retorted, “Sana.” The older Estrada went on to dispense seeming sage advice, telling his son to give the star of the upcoming series “Cofradia” gifts like flowers, fruits and chocolates. He went on to praise Julia as with the rest of the Barrettos for their beauty. “Maganda talaga ’yung mga Barretto sisters,” said he, referring to the controversial siblings Gretchen, Claudine and Marjorie, Julia’s mother. We process meat using Halal method Our slaughterhouse is very clean and our prices are reasonable Reserve your mutton from Aid Al Adha www.filipinostar.org • Sariwa, malinis The North American Filipino Star 18 Showbiz Gossip Continued from p.17 Maja Salvador reacts to Gerald Anderson’s confession abused by Salang, which led to her decision to leave him last May 2. She also tearfully said she believes Salang never loved her. Delas Alas and Salang were married in Las Vegas last April 3. It takes two to do the show biz breakup cha-cha Did Jed Salang really do all those awful, awful things and… isn’t he going to defend himself? Just you wait. In the aftermath of Ai-Ai de las Alas’ spectacular meltdown on “The Buzz” last Sunday over a turbulent separation from her husband of less than a month, movie reporters have been hunting down Salang, a businessman. Did he really beat up the 48-yearold actress routinely? Is he a gambling addict, as they say? Is it May 2013 true that he received a monthly allowance of P40,000 from De las Alas? Did he use her money to buy expensive gifts for another person? Awful, awful talk! (Meanwhile, has he returned the “dream car” that she gave him for their first “monthsary”?) Several show biz scribes have gone to Salang’s workplace in Alabang, others to his reported current address. A few claim to have talked to Salang, but say he declined to comment on the whole sordid affair. When De las Alas claimed on nationwide TV that she had broken up with Salang on May 2 after repeated incidents of physical abuse, her fans went up in arms, as if on cue. They wasted no time in flooding Salang’s Instagram account with vitriol, prompting him to close it on Monday—his only link to social networking. a Ai Ai Delas Alas is much better now Gerald Anderson and Maja Salvador Maja Salvador said she is at a loss for words when met with greetings on her relationship with Gerald Anderson, which the actor recently confirmed. At the sidelines of the filming of her upcoming big-screen project with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday, the 24-year-old actress was asked for her reaction to her boyfriend going public with their relationship. "Marami ang nagsasabi na ang ganda ko raw, ang suwerte ko raw. 'Di ko alam paano sasagutin 'yun, e," Salvador was quoted as saying by entertainment news site Philippine Entertainment Portal. "Siguro sobrang blessed ko lang na ganun ako ka-importante sa buhay niya talaga," she said, referring to Anderson. The 24-year-old actor admitted the real score between him and Salvador in the June 2013 issue of entertainment magazine StarStudio. Last Sunday, Anderson said the decision to admit his romantic ties with Salvador was "for everybody's peace of mind," citing the endless speculations about their relationship. Anderson and Salvador's relationship, however, came at the cost of the actress' friendship with her "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" co-star and erstwhile best friend Kim Chiu. Chiu is the former girlfriend of Anderson. The two broke up in 2010. In an earlier interview, an emotional Chiu said she has already forgiven Anderson and Salvador, but added "it is difficult to forget what they did to you." a Ai Ai files raps vs husband Jed Salang Ai Ai delas Alas with her husband Jed Salang (file photo) Comedienne Ai Ai delas Alas has filed a formal complaint against her husband of 29 days, businessman Jed Salang. According to a report of entertainment website Pep.ph published on Wednesday, delas Alas charged Salang of violating the Republic Act 9262 or the act defining violence against women and children before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Friday. This is in addition to the protection order she sought against her husband so he could no longer come near her by 100 to 500 meters. Citing a source allegedly close to the comedienne, Pep.ph said delas Alas detailed in her petition how Salang physically abused her last May 2. The source added delas Alas also consulted with a psychologist, who told her that she is in a “state of depression” and is suffering from an “acute post-traumatic-stress disorder.” Two weeks ago, delas Alas broke down on "The Buzz" as she confirmed her breakup from Salang. In an interview with "The Buzz" host Boy Abunda, delas Alas admitted that she was physically The lady of laughs, Ai Ai delas Alas, feels so much better now, days after her personal conflict with shortlived husband Jed Salang came to a head. Ai Ai said she never realized how much love she enjoys from everyone – her family, her friends in and out of the business, her fans and even those who are just looking – until this thing happened to her. “I’m overwhelmed by the love and support of everybody. I am very thankful. Sobrang pasasalamat ko talaga sa Diyos at sa lahat-lahat ng mga mababait na mga anak ko, mga kaibigan ko at mga taong nagmamahal sa akin kahit hindi naman nila ako masyadong nakakasama o nakikita. Wala na akong mahihiling pa. Napakasuwerte ko pa rin,” she said. Ai Ai told us everything is clear with her now. “Hindi ko akalain na mangyayari sa buhay ko ang gano’n na napapanood ko lang sa TV. Pero at least okay na ako. Nakalaya na rin ako bago pa mangyari sa akin ang mga bagay na ikakahiya ko pa balang araw,” she said. Ai Ai likened her life to a plot of an ABS-CBN soap opera. She said, “’yung tipong isang medyo nakakabatang lalaki na pumatol sa isang medyo may edad na babae na may pera. Pero meron talaga siyang pamilya, at sinabihan niya na sandali lang ito at kailangan lang niya gawin para na din sa kanyang mag-ina. Ganun ang eksaktong nangyari sa akin.” And what didn’t kill her made her stronger. Ai Ai said, “Now I really thank God for waking me up just in time. Masakit pero ganun talaga. Naghangad kasi ako na mahalin ng isang lalaki, mapakasalan. Siguro hindi talaga ’yun ang buhay na para sa akin. Marami namang masyadong blessing na ibinibigay si God. Ang mga anak ko, sobrang mahal ako. Nahihiya nga ako sa kanila, at nagpapasalamat na naiintindihan nila ang Mommy nila. Sila ang tunay kong kayamanan.” a May 2013 19 The North American Filipino Star Lovi, proud sister to Sen. Grace Poe Words cannot express how delighted Lovi Poe is about her sister Grace Poe-Llamanzares ranking No. 1 in the May 13 senatorial race. She finds it hard to believe that she now has a big sister who is a senator and is just a phone call away. Lovi, during her contract signing with GMA-7 last May 17, shared that she has gotten to know her elder sister well during the campaign season. “I’m so proud of her. When we had lunch, I met her son, daughter and her husband. They are all wonderful people talaga. Lahat sila mababait. Si Ate Grace, she’s very humble, she’s very smart. Talagang I look up to her. Kung baga, isa siyang magandang halimbawa,” she shared. She added that if she is proud, she could just imagine how prouder their father, the late Fernando Poe, Jr., King of Philippine Cinema, would have been. “I’m sure si Papa, kung anong nararamdaman ko kay Ate Grace, mas grabe pa siya and I’m sure ipagpapatuloy niya ang gusto ni Papa… I just really feel so proud especially with what happened na nag-number one siya. Siya na mismo nagsabi that she didn’t expect that.” Lovi expressed that she will be a supportive sister and intimated that Sen. Grace would be having lunch with her to discuss her plans in politics. She said that she would help in her own capacity as an actress but won’t be “visible politically.” “I don’t want to venture into Lovi Poe (Left) and Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares politics kasi it’s not my turf talaga. Let’s leave it to the experts, sabi nga nila,” quipped Lovi. These days, Lovi is more focused on giving her all in the projects that the Kapuso network entrusts her. She believes she has the talent and wants to prove that she is worthy of her three-year contract. Her love life, too, could take a backseat to her new state of mind, which is work. “I’m not dating now. I just want to focus talaga on work. Ito ’yung promise ko sa sarili ko na mas focused ako now. I’m already 24 years old at ibang Lovi na ito. Mas mature na kasi medyo before I want to enjoy while working of course, but now mas focused na.” It’s been almost two months since Lovi took a break from the Kapuso network. Now she is excited to go back to work and see her colleagues, whom she misses a lot. She also looks forward to the teleseryes she would get and the leading men she’d be working with. As an actress, she is raring to do more challenging roles in the near future! By the way, Lovi is in the upcoming movie of Joel Lamangan entitled “Lihis,” with Jake Cuenca and Joem Bascon, among others. a Why Heart and Jericho really broke up / Jericho has found ‘The One’ For the first time, Heart Evangelista revealed the real reason why she and Jericho Rosales, whom she considers her “greatest love,” broke up in 2008. In an sit-down interview with Yes magazine for its May 2013 issue, Evangelista said her parents made her believe that Rosales cheated on her with Malaysian actress Carmen Soo. At that time, Evangelista just reconciled with her parents after not talking to them for three years because she fought for her relationship with Rosales. Evangelista said her parents did not approve of the Kapamilya actor because he already had a child from a previous relationship. “I didn’t see them for three years at that time and I missed them so much. And I was also going though a lot, I was struggling with life. I was confused. Although I was happy, it was hard to be happy in one area and everything else seems like it’s falling apart. But the moment I got back with them, naging okay kami,” she said. Rosales was then in Malaysia with Soo for the ABS-CBN series “Kahit Isang Saglit,” while Evangelista was in Dubai for her own show in GMA-7. was really trying her best to not get herself involved with my past relationships. It was always like that. She would try. But in the end, everything that she kept inside would just blow up, and it would just affect me so much and also the relationship that I was in,” she said. Early photo of Heart & Jericho “When they said that he was cheating on me with Carmen Soo, I really did think that he was. I really thought that he cheated on me. I really did. And that was because they told me that he was and I was convinced,” she said. Evangelista shared there was even a time when Rosales went to see her in her condominium unit so he could explain himself but they never saw each other. “My mom didn’t tell me that he was waiting for me downstairs in my condo for five hours. She didn’t say anything so I didn’t hear from him,” she said. The 27-year-old actress said she just learned in due course that Rosales did not really cheat on her. “Of course they are your parents—when they tell you something over and over, you start to have fears. You start to doubt certain situations. And that’s what happened to me before,” she said. Through time, Evangelista understood that her mom was just scared to lose her. “She was trying to let me go. She www.filipinostar.org Not meant to be. Former lovers Heart and Jericho Rosales.. Evangelista recently made headlines anew after she found herself in another collision course with her parents who lambasted her current boyfriend, Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero. Both Evangelista and Escudero, however, have stood firm that they are not breaking up amid all the issues surrounding their relationship. May 2013 The North American Filipino Star 20 David vs. Two Goliaths It’s tough fighting the world’s second biggest economic power and most populous country. But when another economic heavyweight joins the fight against you, they could trounce you very badly. And to make the situation worse, the two adversaries are the giant People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Lilliputian but economically rich Republic of China (ROC), which is more commonly known as Taiwan. With the Philippines up against the two Chinas, her options are boats were sighted in the Balintang channel just north of Luzon, which is Philippine territory and not claimed by Taiwan or any other country. In what appeared to be illegal fishing, the PCG vessel approached the fishing boats but one of them tried to ram the PCG vessel. The PCG fired at the charging fishing boat to disable it. The fishing boat was disabled; however, unbeknown to the PCG crew, a 65-year old Taiwanese fisherman was hit. Then, a “big white ship” came to view and the Relatives of killed Taiwanese fisherman Anti-Filipino rally in Taiwan limited. Over the past several years, China increased her defense budget to double-digit increments. In the case of Taiwan, the United States provided her with firepower to defend herself from China whose ultimate goal is to take over Taiwan and complete the unification of the two Chinas under one government. But the U.S. has nothing to do with that. Although the U.S. recognizes the PRC under a “One China Policy,” she made it known that Taiwan would be defended should China decide to invade Taiwan. PCG vessel took off. (Source: The Daily Tribune) The incident created a crescendo of events leading to violence against Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan. MECO Chairman Amadeo Perez reported that an OFW was attacked with a baseball bat by an angry mob in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Other attacks on OFWs were reported. “The situation in Taiwan now is very tense,” said Perez. In an attempt to placate Taiwan, President Benigno Aquino III apologized for the death of the condemn the barbaric shooting and killing of the Taiwanese fisherman, demanding that the Philippines should investigate the case and furnish the details as soon as possible. We are deeply grieved about the death of the Taiwanese compatriot and have sent condolences to his family.” With China openly siding with Taiwan, it makes one wonder if China was taking advantage of the incident to drive a wedge between the two allies of the United States. Indeed, China has been trying very hard to neutralize the United States’ military presence in the Western Pacific, particularly in the South and East China Seas. In August 2012, China tricked the Philippines into ending the standoff at the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) by agreeing to a withdrawal of the two countries’ naval vessels from the area. As soon as the Philippines withdrew her Coast Guard vessels, China cordoned off the only opening to the shoal while several Chinese ships stayed. Since then, China has de facto possession of the shoal, which is about 124 miles from Luzon and within the Philippines’ 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). China also opened another potential area of dispute – right inside Philippine territory. A few days ago, several Chinese ships were sighted near the Ayungin Shoal in the Kalayaan town in the province of Palawan. Last May 10, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson said that Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines’ EEZ. He said that the entry of foreign fishing vessels in an EEZ is a violation of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China and the Philippines are signatories to UNCLOS. DFA filed a protest letter with the Chinese Embassy in Manila on the provocative presence of two Chinese maritime surveillance shipsand one warship around Ayungin Shoal. (Source: The Philippine Star) Taiping Island Ryukyu archipelago Ryukyu Islands The Philippines followed suit and adopted a “One China Policy” too; thus, severing her diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. However, the influential community of Chinese expatriates and refugees in the Philippines identify themselves with Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang Party who fled to Taiwan in 1949 after they were defeated by Mao Zedong and his Communist Party in a bloody Civil War. Recently, two events happened that put Chinese expansionism into the geopolitical equation. First, it questioned Japan’s ownership of the Ryukyu archipelago, which includes Okinawa where the U.S. maintains 18 army, navy, air force, and marine bases. To continue their “friendship,” the Philippines and Taiwan established two offices to serve as conduit between the two governments. The Philippine government opened the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei; and Taiwan opened the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila. Indeed, the relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan couldn’t have been better… until last May 9 when an incident in disputed waters ended in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman. “Emperor” Xi Jinping (Credit: The Economist) Fishing boat incident Relatives of fisherman killed by the Philippine Coast Guard Enter the bully "Emperor" Xi Jinping (Credit: The Economist) According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) account, two Taiwanese fishing Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said, “We strongly Taiwanese fisherman but the Taiwanese government uncharacteristically rejected it as “insincere.” And to make matters worse, the Taiwanese government banned the entry of OFWs. The Philippine government is preparing evacuation plans should the need to bring the OFWs home arises. The Taiwanese government also issued an advisory to her citizens not to visit the Philippines. China claims that the Ryukyus were once a Chinese vassal state during the Ming and Qing dynasties; therefore, the island chain should be returned to China. With this new “territorial dispute,” Japan’s ongoing dispute with China over ownership of the Senkaku Islands takes different dimension. Some experts are saying that China is using the Ryukyu issue as a bargaining chip to her claim over the Senkakus, a group of five uninhabited islands and islets wedged between Okinawa and Taiwan. When Japan and Taiwan recently signed a joint fishing agreement around the Senkakus, China became furious. And right after that, the ownership of the Ryukyus came into play. Ayungin Shoal Ryukyu Islands Taiwan also has a piece of the action among six nations involved in territorial disputes in the Spratly archipelago. Recently, Taiwan announced plans to expand a pier in Taiping Island, the largest island in the Spratlys. By expanding the pier in the fortified island, it would allow port calls by Taiwan’s 2,000-ton frigates. The island has already a 3,800-foot runway, which Taiwan built in 2006. (Source: New Straits Times) During the 115th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy last May 21, Aquino declared, “Our message to the world is clear: what is ours is ours, and we will repel any and all attempts to claim what is ours, and defend ourselves against any form of aggression, especially within our backyard.”It seems that it’s going to be a battle between David vs. two Goliaths. ([email protected]) May 2013 21 The North American Filipino Star whopping 1,368 different grape varieties. It defies logic to assume that grapes native to central France will thrive in all the world's new vineyards. This topic was explored at this year's Drink Local Wine conference by Joseph Fiola, Ph.D., a University of Maryland professor who has spent over 25 years researching and teaching about experimental viticulture. on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Just as German vintners recognize that Riesling thrives in the country's Mosel region, Spanish vintners recognize that Albarino thrives in Galicia. Wine production in the United States is still in its infancy. But winemakers know that American consumers enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon During his lecture, Fiola spent a great deal Blanc, so that's what most produce. of time praising the Old World for its Only the most courageous vintners commitment to growing varieties that are would eschew these varieties. adapted to local growing conditions. "Local varieties have been growing in those areas for hundreds, maybe thousands of years," he explained. "Year in year out, they get ripe. Year in year out, winemakers can control production. Those areas know how to grow the grapes; they know how to By David White make good wine. And it's the local grapes that are the best. [Winemakers] This past weekend in Sonoma County, aren't going to grow Cabernet California, 17 vintners gathered for a wine Sauvignon all over Italy because tasting they dubbed "The 7 Percent people know the name!" Embracing the Obscure One of these courageous vintners is Matthew Rorick of Forlorn Hope, who poured at this weekend's tasting in Sonoma. Since 2005, he has been producing "rare creatures from appellations unknown and varieties uncommon." His "rare creatures" are truly unusual. He produces delightful reds from Sangiovese and Barbera, two Italian grapes that few California winemakers take seriously. He produces a delicious Verdelho, a white wine that's typically associated with Portugal. He produces the nation's only 100-percent St. Laurent, a thought-provoking, highly aromatic red that's almost impossible to find outside Austria and the Czech Republic. Each year, he crafts more than a dozen different wines -- and virtually all are produced in lots of fewer than 2,500 bottles. The fact that 17 vintners like Rorick were able to fill a room this past weekend is a testament to the fact that an increasing number of winemakers are willing to take risks. And, perhaps more importantly, American consumers are growing more comfortable exploring the unknown. David White, a wine writer, is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com. His columns are housed at Palate Press: The Online Wine Magazine. Solution." As the organizers explained, "roughly 93 percent of Northern California vineyard acreage is planted to eight major grape varietals. The remaining 7 percent is home to numerous lesser-known varietals, [which] are finding anchor with a small but growing number of winemakers." Fiola went on to compare southern Italy's climate to southern Maryland's. Yet he acknowledged the temptation to focus on well-known varieties. "Trying to convince a Maryland winery that has to worry about marketing to people who can barely pronounce Chardonnay to sell Nero d'Avola, Negroamaro, Sagrantino?" he asked, naming three esoteric varieties from Italy. "That presents a challenge," he conceded. The event enabled consumers to explore the wines being produced by California's revolutionary vintners -- those willing to embrace the state's vast and varied climate by avoiding popular grapes and bottling the obscure. Whether they're producing unusual varietals or exploring unheralded regions, these winemakers are worth Europe has an advantage, of course. The continent has been producing celebrating. wine for thousands of years, so vintners That certain regions of California might be there understand which grapes do better suited to, say, Albarino than best. In France, for example, Chardonnay makes sense. Across the winemakers in Burgundy know to focus globe, commercial wine is produced from a The North American Filipino Star Classified Ads ADVRTISING Classified ads - cheapest way to advertise! Send your text to [email protected] First 3 lines = $10 Additional lines - $2 per line Heading counted as 2 lines. APTS FOR RENT CDN Apts Bourret – Victoria Renovated 3½ $595+ Heated, h/w, appliances Elevator, near metro (514) 735-2985, (514) 575-4961 We speak Tagalog ART OF DRIVING Art de Conduire Certified Driving School 514-419-8280 Cell: 514-815-2873 [email protected] 4755 av. Van Horne Suite 106 (Plamondon Metro) Mr. Reza, Certified Instructor CLEANERS FOR RENT LANGUAGES Office cleaners for West Island, car needed, work Mon-Fri after 6 pm Michael call 514-624-3437 Business space in a hotel, can be used for misc. services Call 514-743-4444 Learning a second language is always an asset. English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Filipino Small group set up, Flexible schedules, Experienced teachers Call 514-485-7861 CLEANING POSITIONS Montreal - Côte Saint-Luc: Tâches de Femme-Homme de Ménage/Cleaning Position*** Plein-Temps/ Full-time, Véhicule et expérience requis/Vehicle & experience required, Immédiat. [email protected] pas d'appels SVP/no calls pls DRIVING Licensed driving instructor Complete driving course, 24 hrs theory & 15 hrs road practice, $25/h. Exam car available. Jason 514-691-1816. • Exam Car available • One hour practice, $25 only KHALIL, 514-965-0903 3 1/2 - $ 500.00, 4 1/2 - 600.00 9114 La Jeunesse, Mtl, Qc North of Cremazie Metro Corner Bus Stops: 31 St Denis & 53 St Laurent - Contact: Romy Boco 514.387.6057 (R), 514-655-6057 (C) Marino Boco-514.354.6827 CDN Area, near Metro, Upper duplex, 5 1/2, large living room, new floors, heated, equipped w/washer/dryer, stove & fridge, asking $1200, immediate occupancy, Call 514-485-7861 LAUNDROMAT PALABAHANG PILIPINO LMKD Buanderie et Nettoyeur 5865 Decarie Boulevard (Between Bourret & Van Horne) Open 7 days Drop off laundry service Call Meriam or Lacson Tel. 514-777-9743 www.filipinostar.org LIVE-IN CAREGIVER Wanted full time live-in caregiver for 7 years old twin boys. Must be honest, trustworthy, efficient and hardworking, must work overtime Call my P.A. at 514-464-6323 or Send CV: [email protected] WANTED Cleaners (preferred male) 10 am - 3 p.m. everyday Salary $12/hour call 514-963-8239 Minister Flaherty Highlights Economic Action Plan 2013’s Strong Support for Charitable Organizations The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today urged Canadians to take advantage of the Harper Government’s new First-Time Donor’s Super Credit and donate to a charitable organization. Speaking at Lutherwood, a not-forprofit health and social service organization serving the Waterloo Region and Wellington County, Minister Flaherty said, “Throughout our nation’s history, Canadians have worked together to serve others, and have made Canada a better place in the process. Our Government wants to see that noble tradition continue, which is why Economic Action Plan 2013 builds on previous actions by our Government to support families and communities, and the quality of life for hard-working Canadians.” These initiatives include the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Family Caregiver Tax Credit and the Enabling Accessibility Fund, which supports the capital costs of construction and renovations to improve physical accessibility for persons with disabilities. Minister Flaherty stated, “The new First-Time Donor’s Super Credit will significantly enhance the attractiveness of donating to a charity for young and new Canadians who are in a position to make donations for the first time. By helping to rejuvenate and expand the charitable sector’s donor base, this important initiative will have an immediate impact in supporting the charitable sector.” The credit will apply on cash donations of up to $1,000, claimed in any one taxation year from 2013 to 2017. It will increase the value of the existing Charitable Donations Tax Credit by 25 percentage points, if neither the taxpayer nor their spouse has claimed the credit since 2007. Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid, a champion for such worthy causes, added, “Canadians are some of the most generous people in the world when it comes to giving time and money to charity, and our Government is committed to supporting that spirit.” “The Super Credit is a very positive step for charities wanting to engage new donors. We are excited by the possibilities and eager to continue working with the federal government to explore innovative ways to expand charitable giving by all Canadians,” said Marcel Lauzière, President and CEO of Imagine Canada. __________________________________ _ For further information, media may APRIL 2013 The North American Filipino Star 22 demotion or termination. Processes will ensure that employees are treated fairly. contact: Kathleen Perchaluk Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Finance 613-996-7861 “Doing things the way they have always been done is no longer good enough if we want to build a 21st century public service,” said Minister Clement. “We owe it to Canadians and we owe it to the vast majority of committed, hard-working public servants to make sure everyone is pulling their weight.” Jack Aubry Media Relations Department of Finance 613-996-8080 To receive e-mail notification of all news releases, please register at www.fin.gc.ca/scripts/register-eng.asp For more information, please consult the Directive on Performance Management and visit the Performance Management website. Treasury Board President Announces Major — 30 — Initiative toward a HighPerforming Public Service For more information, see the Directive on Performance Management backgrounder or contact: For immediate release May 28, 2013 Ottawa – The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board, today announced a new mandatory system for tracking employee performance aimed at boosting productivity and ensuring Canadians receive modern, effective and efficient public service. “Hard-working Canadians look to us to provide high quality, affordable service. The Government’s new performance management regime will ensure that we are employing the public service to its fullest potential,” said Minister Clement. “Complacency and the status quo are not an option. Excellence must be the benchmark. Canadians deserve no less.” The new Directive on Performance Management introduces, for the first time, a government-wide system for tracking employee performance. The goal is three-fold: To recognize and reward excellent performance; Work with all employees to maximize performance; and To deal decisively with unsatisfactory performance. “Performance management is about ensuring good workers have an opportunity to become great workers and dealing effectively with poor performers,” said Minister Clement. “Either poor performers improve and become productive employees or we will let them go.” The Directive, which comes into effect in April 2014, includes a number of standardized measures for tracking performance. These measures include: establishing annual performance objectives for all employees, mid-year evaluations, annual written performance assessments and an action plan for improving performance with clear established time-lines, as well as steps to be taken if performance does not improve. These steps could include Matthew Conway Press Secretary Office of the President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for FedNor 613-957-2666 Media Relations Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat 613-957-2640 If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail. TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) – 613-957-9090 Follow us on Twitter: @TBS_Canada Backgrounder Directive Performance Management on The Government of Canada is implementing a new employee performance management program to foster excellence in service delivery to Canadians and improve productivity. This Directive will introduce for the first time a systemic, mandatory performance assessment for all core public sector employees. Rigorous performance management is a best practice and an essential element of a modern public service. The new Directive on Performance Management applies to federal employees in the core public administration See footnote 1, and will come into effect on April 1, 2014. The approach to implementing Performance Management is systemwide and will support deputy heads, managers and employees in achieving and sustaining a culture of high performance in the public sector. Highlights The Directive calls for consistency in how employee performance is managed and how employees’ skills are developed across the federal www.filipinostar.org public service. Each federal organization will establish an employee performance management program that includes requirements such as: Mandatory annual performance management objectives for all employees, including commitments, performance objectives and expected behaviours, and learning or development plans; Mid-year evaluations employee; of each Annual written employee performance assessments at the end of each fiscal year; An action plan to support and guide employees to improve performance within clear timelines; and Mandatory attestation by deputy heads that an employee has successfully completed the probation period. Requirements for performance agreements are already in place for public service executives and nonunionized employees. With the new Directive, performance agreements will be mandatory for all. To support managers and supervisors in adopting the new Directive, mandatory training will be provided. Each department will have a committee made up of senior officials to coach managers through the process. Managers will also be supported with additional labour relations advice, and a Labour and Employment Law Centre of Expertise is also being created by the Treasury Board Secretariat to deal specifically with employment law and litigation. The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector that came into force in April 2012 underpins the objectives of the new Directive. The Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer is responsible for monitoring departments’ compliance with the directive and conducting reviews to evaluate its impact. Know Thyself He who knows much about others may be learned, but he who understands himself is more intelligent. He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still. A journey of a thousand miles, must begin with a single step. Lao Tzu By viewing the old we learn the new. Chinese Proverb May 2013 Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Cultural Centre launched Montréal, May 28, 2013 – At a special meeting held last Thursday, the Côte-desNeiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN— NDG) Borough Council awarded a contract to build the new Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Cultural Centre. The $15,400,107.10 contract was won by the Geyser Group inc. The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Cultural Centre will house a new Benny Library, and also a multi-purpose hall to accommodate cultural exhibitions and a wide variety of performances. The ecologically-friendly building meeting LEED certification standards will be prominently located at the intersection of avenue de Monkland and avenue Benny across from the NDG Sports Centre. Construction will begin in the next few weeks and be completed at the end of 2014. Originally planned for 2012, the project had to be modified in order to meet the Borough’s self-imposed budget constraints. Construction of the NotreDame-de-Grâce Cultural Centre represents a $23.6 million investment for which the Borough is depending in particular on the joint financial support of the ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec and the Ville de Montréal. ICAO headquarters remain in Montreal 23 The North American Filipino Star to MONTREAL, May 27, 2013 - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable John Baird, the Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and External Trade and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Mr Jean Francois Lisée, and the Mayor of Montréal, Mr Michael Applebaum, would like to invite members of the media to a press conference for the signing of the renewal agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montréal. Date : Monday May 27th 2013 Heure : 5 p.m. Lieu : Terrace of City Hall, 275, Notre-Dame Est Metro : Champ-de-Mars Come join celebrate the Philippine Independence Day Celebration on June 12 10:00AM at the FAMAS Centre. The Philippine Declaration of Independence simultaneously marked the end of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine Islands’ assertion to sovereignty and independence from Spanish colonial rule. However, neither Spain nor America recognized such a stake to independent nationhood, and on December 10, 1898, the Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United States in the Treaty of Paris for the price of US $2 million, marking the end of the Spanish-American War.1 A short two months later on February 4, 1899, armed conflict erupted between Philippine revolutionary forces and U.S. military occupants in Manila. By June 2, 1899, the First Philippine Republic officially declared war against the U.S. that lasted until July 4, 1902. Approximately 20,000 soldiers were killed in action while the civilian death toll reached an estimated halfmillion persons. Though the war officially ended in the summer of 1899, guerilla freedom fighters continued to challenge U.S. occupation for several more years. It was not until July 4, 1946, nearly fifty years later, that the United States formally recognized full Philippine independent nationhood with the enactment of the Treaty of Manila. On a rainy day in Manila’s Luneta Park, 400,000 onlookers cheered as the American flag was lowered and the Philippine flag was raised in its place. Senator Millard Tydings of Maryland reported that the day was “one of the most unprecedented, most idealistic, and most far-reaching events in all recorded history.”3 July 4 was officially recognized as the National Day until August 4, 1964 when President Diosdado Macapagal signed the Malacanang Republic Act No. 4166 that effectively made June 12—the day that General Emilio Aguinaldo and his revolutionary peers had originally claimed as the Nation’s Day—the country’s official Independence Day. Today, Filipinos around the world from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles, California continue to celebrate Philippine Independence Day on June 12. In America, Filipino Americans, otherwise known as FilAms, use this day to commemorate the Philippines’ independence from colonial rule, celebrate Filipino heritage-pride, Max Candy $1.29 each The largest Philippine Independence Day celebration takes place annually in New York City on Madison Avenue between 23rd and 38th street on the first Sunday of June. An estimated 100,000 people turn out to take part in various events and to march in a parade that represents FilAms and the 7,000 plus island clusters that constitute the Philippine archipelago. FilAms proudly donned outfits representative of their regional origins, academic affiliations, professions, favored sports team, and more.5 In Washington, D.C., the Philippine Embassy and Filipino American Organization host an Independence Day Gala, commemorative festivals, and other cultural activities. In Montreal, we commemorate the Philippine Independence by a Flag Raising Ceremony at the FAMAS Centre every June 12 every year. Come and celebrate with us and meet and greet our kababayans and public officials. Light refreshments are served, Cheers! From the FAMAS Executive Board Al "Boy" Abdon Public Relations Officer - FAMAS [email protected] Sale prices valid from 6430 Victoria Avenue, Montreal, QC Telephone: 514-733-7816 Coffeemate, 1.4 kg $5.99 each preserve cultural roots, promote cultural awareness, and bring FilAm communities together.4 May 29 to June 5, 2013 Excellent Rice Stick - $1.29 each Oishi Sunday - 89¢ each Frozen Anchovy - $2.49 each Sesame Oil - $1.19/ 162 mL, $3.49 / 327 mL Lychee in cane - $1.49 each Ligo sardines - 3 / $2.00 Selecta Ice Cream - $8.99 each Diwa Canton noodles, 225 g - $1.00 ea. Shanghai bok choy 79¢ Ox tail - $4.50 lb Silver Swan soy sauce - $1.59 bottle Lingayen sauteed shrimp paste $4.99 jar Eggplant - $1.29 lb Chicken Wings $2.73 lb www.filipinostar.org 24 May 2013 The North American Filipino Star Gilmore College International Accounting Technician 5320-A Queen Mary (between Coolbrook and Decarie) Montreal, QC H3X 1T7 514-485-7861 Daycare Worker www.gilmorecollege.com Gilmore College bldg. SNOWDON PAB/PSW GRADUATION, October 7, 2012. L-R, seated: Annabelle Alloso, Ethel Tugna, PSW instructors Terry White, Amy Manon-og, Director General Zenaida Kharroubi, PSW instructors Edith Fedalizo, Sophie Toledo, and Lourdes Lubang. Starnding: Grace Calvo, Vilma Lagonilla, Mildlred Mendoza, Giselle Arellano, Marilou Hechanova, Edison Taguba, Annie Signey and Joesie Bingayen. Not in photo: PSW instructor Clarice Mackay. CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS e Early Childhood Education Assistant e Personal Support Worker (PAB/PSW Nursing Aide) e Office Systems Technology -Secretarial -Accounting Medical Secretary COURSES & SEMINARS e Second Languages English French Spanish Mandarin Filipino (Tagalog) e Writing Workshop e Practical Writing Strategies e Cooperatives All tuition fees are tax deductible. www.filipinostar.org PAB/PSW Nursing Aide Education raises the bar but lowers the barriers to a rewarding career.
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