may 2006 - working copyzbk.qxp - Filipino Star

May 2006, Vol. XXIV, No. 5 www.filipinostar.org 

Community asks for accountability 

West Island Filipino school boy story sparks world wide outrage 

Photo shows some of the community leaders with Luc Cagadoc and his family, during a 

meeting held at St. Kevin’s Church social hall, Sunday, May 7, 2006. Mr. Fo Noemi, of 

CRARR, (6th from left, standing) participated in the group’s deliberations to support the 

family and to ask the school board to be accountable to its citizens. 

First Fil-Can Idol Concert sold out 

Montreal’s local talents performed to a big crowd that flocked to the Rasa Restaurant in St. 

Laurent last April 29. From left: Joy Medina, Ariel Tan, Filcan Idol 2005 1st prize winner, and 

Johnathan Pantaleon, 2nd prize winner, were warmly applauded by the audience. (see p.19) 

What seemed to be just a matter of 

eating with a “fork and spoon” caused 

world-wide stir among Filipinos around 

the world. They are all upset and 

outraged by a story which they first 

read in the West Island Chronicle in 

early April as they consider this 

incident an affront to their culture. 

The story began on April 11 at 

supper time when Luc Cagadoc, a 7year 

old boy who goes to Ecole Lalande 

in the West Island was having supper 

with his mother and told her that he did 

not want to eat lunch anymore. When 

asked why, he said his lunchroom 

teacher told him that his way of eating 

was “yucky and disgusting.” The next 

day, the mother, Mrs. Maria Galliardo, 

went to see the lunchroom teacher, 

Madame Martine Bertrand, to find out 

if what her son said was true. Galliardo 

became upset when she was told that 

Luc was like a clown and misbehaving 

because he was “eating with a fork and 

spoon.” Galliardo explained to her that 

her son is eating appropriately as this is 

the way we eat in our culture. However, 

the lunchroom teacher insisted that it 

is not about culture as she pointed to a 

Filipino girl who eats with only a spoon. 

The next day, Mrs. Galliardo then 

decided to complain to the higher 

authority of the school – the principal. 

She left him a message and when he 

See Page 4 School Boy 

Tony Meloto urges Filipinos to 

have pride in themselves 

By Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi 

Last Saturday, May 7, 2006, the 

second GK concert featuring Joey 

Albert, was held in the Monument 

National theater on Saint Lawrence 

Boulevard. A press conference preceded 

the concert. Tony Meloto, the 

International Executive Director of 

GAWAD KALINGA, and Ricky Cuenca, 

President of ANCOP INTERNATIONAL - 

registered Canadian Partner of Gawad 

Kalinga, met with the Filipino- 

Canadian Press in Montreal represented 

by Zenaida Kharroubi of the North 

American Filipino Star and Heather 

Castro of the Asian Leader. Joey Albert, 

Ambassadress of GK, and Calvin Keene, 

a Georgetown University student 

volunteer, also joined the press 

conference a little later and answered 

some questions about their involvement 

with the work of the organization. From 

the conversations, questions, and their 

answers, one could gather a clear 

impression of the devotion of these 

people to a cause of rebuilding a nation 

by changing the life of the poorest of the 

poor in the Philippines. 

The conference lasted about half an 

hour but it was enough to get the main 

message from Tony Meloto who showed 

a passionate commitment to make a 

difference. In his answer to the 

question: why he founded Gawad 

Tony Melotos, CEO, Gawad Kalinga 

International 

Kalinga, he said that he decided he 

would not leave the country in order to 

do what he can to help it become a great 

nation. 

Meloto presented an overall view 

of GK’s work which has already built 

many homes for the poor in the most 

depressed and disadvantaged areas. In 

fact, he said that GK has become a 

template for nation building in 

developing countries and trusted by 

governments like Canada which just 

donated about $450 000 for the 

See Page 4 GK concert

Page 2 The North American Filipino Star 

EDITORIAL 

Accountability 

and respect for 

other cultures 

We have been outraged by the 

story of the little schoolboy who 

“was punished for eating with a fork 

and spoon.” Just to think that he 

did not want to eat his lunch is 

quite heartbreaking and incredible. 

It sounded so cruel to isolate the 

child for his way of eating.. When 

confronted by the mother, the 

lunchroom monitor was reported to 

have said that he was a clown and 

liked to show off. Even if this were 

true, was it proper to punish him by 

isolation? And to make things 

worst, the mother complained to the 

principal who seemed to have 

agreed with the lunchroom 

monitor's way of disciplining the 

child. Moreover, the principal's use 

of words like "eating like a pig" and 

"you should eat the way Canadians 

eat" really hurt the most. Not only 

was her child punished unjustly but 

she also felt gravely insulted. She 

continued to seek redress for her 

complaint and went to the school 

board, only to be disappointed again 

when she was told that "she needed 

to adjust to Canadian society." 

Having gone through the proper 

channels to air her complaint and 

finding no satisfaction, where else 

could she turn but to the media? 

But if only the people she expected 

to be accountable to her had 

reacted in a proper way, this 

unpleasant incident could have 

been avoided 

From what we have gathered 

from this experience, we realize how 

important it is to have properly 

trained people to deal with young 

children. But perhaps, this is an 

isolated case where the teacher 

concerned is not really familiar with 

early childhood education 

principles? But then the more 

senior officials of the school did not 

appear to know how to handle the 

problem either. We wonder if the 

situation would be different if 

parents from their own cultural 

background had to complain. They 

would probably not have the need to 

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say "you should eat the way 

Canadians eat” nor to hear someone 

remark that she has to adjust to 

Canadian society. It is unfortunate 

to imply that only Canadians know 

how to eat properly and that 

immigrants must completely forget 

their own culture when they arrrive 

here. In a democratic country like 

Canada, no one has the right to 

impose his or her culture upon 

others. 

Besides practicing common 

courtesy, knowledge about cultures 

is obviously critical in the case of 

our public schools which are 

dealing with many immigrants from 

different countries. Although 

Canada has a very liberal 

immigration policy, there is 

evidently a need for cultural 

competency training among its rank 

and file. The story of this little boy 

will probably serve as a reminder to 

our public schools personnel that 

parents have a right to protect their 

children's welfare and they are 

accountable to them. After all, their 

salaries are paid by all taxpayers 

and they must recognize that they 

should show some respect to their 

clientele regardless of their cultural 

backgrounds. 

Besides the home, the school is 

a place where children learn by 

example. If Luc’s mother kept silent 

about the problem, no one will 

probably ever know or care about 

the proper way to treat young 

children. The consequences of an 

uncaring attitude and thoughtless 

remarks are indeed serious, 

particularly when young children 

are involved. For this reason, we 

congratulate Ms. Galliardo for her 

viigilance. 

After all is said and done, it will 

be interesting to see what will be the 

results of the complaint filed with 

the human rights commission and 

what steps are undertaken by 

government leaders concerned in 

order to completely eradicate any 

elements of racism that may still 

exist in our modern society. We as 

private citizens also have a part in 

making this society where we live 

the kind of society we want by being 

involved in the debate. Evidently, 

we seemed to have shown solidarity 

in this instance. Hopefully, it will 

also extend to other issues as well. 

Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi 

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Columnists 


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Contributing Editor 

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Founder 

May 2006 

Clean up begins after passage of tropical storm 

The Philippines began cleaning up 

after tropical storm Chanchu claimed 

32 lives, left large parts of the country 

underwater and forced thousands to 

flee their homes on Friday May 12. 

By midday Sunday May 14, 

Chanchu was 430km out in the South 

China Sea, charting a westsouthwesterly 

course and packing 

winds of up to 140kph, according to the 

weather bureau. 

Rain and strong winds continued to 

lash parts of southern Luzon and the 

central Visayas, which bore the brunt of 

the storm. 

According to the National Disaster 

Coordinating Council 32 people died, 

eight are missing and 13 were injured. 

More than 42,000 people were forced to 

evacuate their homes as the storm 

triggered landslides and widespread 

flooding in the southern Tagalog, Bicol, 

Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas 

regions. Floodwater submerged parts of 

two provinces in the Visayas and several 

villages in Leyte’s Sogod town were cut 

off after landslides and floods damaged 

a bridge and a highway. 

In the worst accident a small ferry 

capsized just off the central city of 

Masbate early Friday and drowned 21 

people. Three people are still missing 

and 18 survived after the vessel was 

swamped by rough seas about a mile 

offshore. 

A second ferry sank while docked at 

a port in Albay province but there were 

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no reports of casualties. 

Coast guard spokesman Lieutenant 

Commander Joseph Coyme said the 

passenger ferry Filipinas Princess, 

which was reported missing Friday 

night with 700 people onboard, had 

been found anchored off a cove near 

Mindoro island. He said tugboats had 

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The passengers are safe and well,” he 

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Power, which had been down in 

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By Sunday afternoon airline 

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After the storm, President Arroyo 

ordered Agriculture Secretary Domingo 

Panganiban to help farmers whose 

farms were damaged by Typhoon Caloy. 

The President issued the instruction 

after receiving reports of the deaths and 

damage to properties, including 

farmlands, caused by Caloy late last 

week. Mrs. Arroyo encouraged the 

people to pull together, aid the victims 

and get their communities back on 

track.

May 2006 The North American Filipino Star 

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A misalignment of the spine could be the cause.

Page 4 The North American Filipino Star May 2006 

From Page 1 School boy 

called back, she asked for an 

appointment to see him in person but 

he told her they should discuss it over 

the telephone. She told him about her 

encounter with the lunchroom teacher 

but Mr. Bergeron told her: “Madame, 

this is Canada, and here in Canada, 

that’s the way we eat, you should learn 

the ways Canadians eat.” She said she 

was so shocked by this statement and 

she told him what she thought of him. 

“I cannot believe you said that. You are 

so racist. Do you know how Chinese 

people eat?” He said yes as he worked 

with Chinese people before. She 

continued to ask him: “Do you know 

how Arabs eat with their hands?” She 

said that Mr. Bergeron proceeded to 

say: “Well, Madame, there’s only one 

teacher against 20 to 30 students so we 

have to make sure they eat and behave 

well. If your son keeps eating like a pig, 

then he has to be moved to another 

table, that’s how we do it here, and 

that’s how we’re going to do it every 

time.” She then became more upset 

and told him: “If I only have all the 

luxury and money in life, I will pull out 

my son from this school and put him to 

a more high quality school with 

qualified educators in daycare who have 

a degree in Early Childhood. But it’s 

unfortunate I live in this area and I have 

to go to your school. I have no other 

choice.” When the West Island 

Chronicle contacted Mr. Bergeron for 

his side of the story, he said that Luc 

was misbehaving which was the reason 

for isolating him repeatedly. But Mrs. 

Galliardo disputed this by saying she 

came to visit the school unannounced 

in the afternoon of the day she 

confronted the lunchroom teacher and 

saw that her son was eating quietly and 

not disturbing anyone but still, she 

said, the lunchroom teacher still 

insisted that Luc was not eating 

properly because he was using a spoon 

and fork. 

Mrs. Galliardo decided to bring the 

problem to a much higher level – the 

school board to which his son’s school 

belongs - the Marguerite Bourgeoy 

sSchool Commission. She was referred 

by the operator to a certain Madame 

Morasse who agreed with her that Luc 

was not treated appropriately and 

recommended that the case be referred 

to her supervisor. This supervisor 

turned out to be the Directrice-générale 

adjointe, Madame France Pilon but who 

happened to be out because of the 

Easter holiday. On Tuesday, April 18, 

she called Madame Pilon and told her 

about the problem. She pointed out the 

proper way children should be treated 

to which Madame Pilon commented that 

she would hire her since she seemed 

very qualified to work with children . 

She replied that she did not need a job 

as she is already self-employed. She 

operates a daycare out of her home. 

Madame Pilon suggested: “Why don’t 

you just bring your son home for 

lunch?” She told her that this would put 

her ratio higher than what is allowed by 

law. 

As she felt that there was no 

solution being offered to her problem by 

the school board, she became more 

upset, particularly when Madame Pilon 

told her that she should adjust to 

Canadian society. She told Madame 

Pilon that she and her family have been 

trying to adjust since they arrived. In 

fact, she agreed to send their son to a 

French school, and they also try to 

learn French. She asked: “How much 

more adjusting do we need to do? If I 

had a lot of money, I would transfer my 

lLuc Cagadoc with his family: sister Hanna, and his father and mother. 

son to another school.” Madame Pilon 

then asked her to what school she 

would like to transfer her son. She told 

her the name of the school. Madame 

Pilon told her to go to the secretary and 

said that she would sign the paper to 

transfer her son. 

Having gone all the way to the top 

and not receiving any satisfactory 

resolution of her complaint, she wrote 

an e-mail message to both the West 

Island Chronicle and the Montreal 

Gazette. These are the newspapers she 

receives daily in her home so it was 

easier for her to contact them. She 

received a call from someone in the 

Gazette who asked if she had any proof 

of Mr. Bergeron’s remarks which she 

considered racist. She could only say 

that she heard him say what he said. 

Then this man from the Gazette 

declined to take on the story. On the 

other hand, the West Island Chronicle 

sent Mr. Andy Blatchford to see her on 

Easter Monday to interview her. Once 

the story appeared on the internet, 

people started calling each other, 

reacting to the story. 

The story of Luc Cagadoc, the little 

7-year old boy from Roxboro, seemed to 

have taken a life of its own and became 

widely known. Excerpts of the story 

were used in e-mails. It was also 

covered by several media including the 

CBC News, CTV News, 940 news, La 

Presse, and even the Montreal Gazette 

which was not interested in the story at 

the beginning, also ran an article about 

it. Philippine Vice-President Noli de 

Castro who hosts a radio show in 

Manila interviewed Grace Yip a week 

ago to ask what is really happening in 

Canada. He was upset in learning 

about the story and he urged the 


Philippine Embassy in Ottawa to make 

sure that the complaint filed by CRARR 

headed by Fo Noemi with the Human 

Rights Commission prospered. 

The complaint is not so much for 

the way the boy was treated, but 

because of repercussions from the way 

the problem was treated by all the 

people that Mrs. Galliardo approached 

in her effort to protect her son’s 

welfare. She did not appear to get an 

acknowledgement of her right as a 

parent to ask for redress of her 

concerns. Instead, she received a 

lawyer’s letter from the school board. 

From Page 1 GK Concert 

mudslide victims. He reported that he 

has been invited to speak at the Six 

Asian Ministers Conference for Asian 

Development on May 9-10, 2006. . 

Gawad Kalinga has gone beyond 

charity and is now a global movement 

which reconnects Filipinos to the 

motherland. GK aims to build 7000 

homes in 7 years in 7777 most needy 

areas in the Philippines. Canada has 

been involved from the beginning as 

early as 1999. There is a Canadian 

village in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City 

which is the biggest slum area. 

Out of the 3 000 000 Filipinos 

abroad, Meloto pointed out that he has 

not seen even one Filipino beggar. He 

believes that the problem in the 

Philippines is a combination of the 

results of the feudal system and natural 

calamities beyond human control. 

Corruption, he said, was the 

consequence of other things such as 

poverty and loss of human dignity and 

hope for better things. However, he 

believes this will change. 

GK has another project - “one 

million bayani” which will create a 

brand that will be known all over the 

world. He said: “We shall restore our 

self-respect, the brand that we will give 

to Gawad Kalinga.” Moreover, he asked 

to stop “bashing” the Philippines. as 

“bashing Filipinos is like bashing 

ourselves.” Instead, we should report 

the good news more than the bad. He 

hopes to see “balik bayan” to be called 

The Filipino Canadian community 

in Montreal is behind the family of Luc 

Cagadoc. Backed by the different 

association presidents and members, 

the Federation of Filipino Canadian 

Associations of Quebec headed by 

Marilyn Birao-Schacter sent a letter to 

the school board, demanding that there 

be an “accountability session to discuss 

solutions and reparations that meet 

with the community’s expectations.” 

More specifically, these are the points 

raised in the letter: 

See Page 6 School Boy 

“balik bayani” He wanted to see GK as 

the Filipinos’ gift to the world. 

In his speech to the concert 

audience, Meloto urged Filipinos to 

take pride in themselves and to see the 

good that is in each and everyone. He 

reiterated the fact that in his travels to 

different parts of the world, he never 

saw any Filipino beggar. He referred to 

the story about Dylan Wilk, his son-inlaw, 

who fell in love with the 

Philippines, and also with his daughter. 

It was because Wilk saw the good in a 

Filipino. He cited the memorable words 

of Ninoy Aquino that the “Philippines is 

worth dying for.” But he said, he 

wanted to share what Dylan Wilk told 

him - “the Philippines is worth living 

Waving the Philippine flag - participants and audience alike - stirred patriotic sentiments. 

for.” 

The concert was not only 

entertaining but it was also inspiring. 

It showed how unity and cooperation 

can make a difference. Many people 

volunteered their time, talents, and 

skills to make the event as successful as 

it was. Joey Albert, the star of the 

concert, was at her usual best. She 

wowed the audience with her dynamic 

personality. People sang along with her.. 

It seemed that time just flew by. 

The concert started at 7 p.m. and 

ended at around 11 p.m. It was quite 

absorbing and inspiring for it made 

people feel the love for one’s native land. 

Tony Meloto, Ricky Cuenca and Joey Albert (2nd, 3rd and 4th from left) pose with guests 

and volunteers after the press conference held before the concert. 

No one seemed to have left until it was 

over. Indeed, Tony Meloto has started a 

movement that will surely be the 

beginning of great things to come for the 

Filipino nation.


Reflections on beauty pageants 

What do most people know about 

beauty pageants? Why do we hold them 

and how do they affect people’s lives? 

Are they helpful in developing careers of 

young women? Do they really help 

build self-esteem and self-confidence? 

We asked the participants of the 

recently concluded FAMAS Bb. Pilipinas 

beauty pageant: What did they learn 

from the experience of competing? 

What are their thoughts about beauty 

pageants? 

Eva Rose Marpuri feels it is an 

honor to be part of the pageant She 

considers it a valuable learning 

experience - to learn about one’s 

limitations and to discover one’s 

capabilities. She extends her warmest 

thanks to the choreographers, 

coordinators, organizers of the pageant, 

the Executive Board of FAMAS, and all 

the people who supported her, 

particularly all her friends and family. 

Charity Justo writes: “For me, it’s a 

learning experience and it boosts my 

self-esteem. Through my experience in 

the pageant, I appreciate the value of 

perseverance and patience. Joining a 

competition entails a lot of hard work 

which is the best ingredient in achieving 

one’s dreams. Besides, I had a great 

time, so much fun with the other 

candidates.” 

Adiah Razon says that “joining the 

The North American Filipino Star 

pageant is one of my greatest 

experience(s) in life. It is where I 

develop more my self-confidence and I 

learn a lot about friendship. ... I met 

many new people, friends. ...We’ve been 

through a lot of things, we’ve been 

sharing and helping each other. They 

taught me to be a responsible young 

lady. “ She also thanks all those 

responsible for the pageant. 

Yashica Ver Anjona Nabor says she 

has mixed emotions - she felt sad after 

it was all over as she misses the 

“laughter and happiness that we shared 

Beauty pageant contestants with their escorts - Shirley Ann Buen, Wila Hinayo, Adiah 

Razon, Charity Justo, Yashica Nabor, and Eva Rose Marpuri, in their evening gowns. 

together during the practices.” 

Nevertheless, she says, she is happy 

that everything already finished 

because her main focus now is her 

studies and her new job. “All in all, for 

me, it’s a success not only by winning as 

first runner up but as a person (as) I ... 

was able to gain a lot of self-confidence 

that I can really do it (join a pageant) 

and that’s the most important thing 

because success is not only measured 

Eva Rose Marpuri showing her talent Adiah Razon with her partner getting ready 

to dance 

by winning but (also) overcoming your 

fear.” 

Wila Hinayo sent a well-written 

essay about her reflections on the 

pageant which is reprinted hereunder 

for it seems to answer most of our 

questions. 

“Pageants such as these are indeed 

relevant to women today. They are the 

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perfect avenue for women to showcase 

their God-given potentials and 

attributes, and prove to the world that 

they are intelligent and highly 

productive, and the best humanity has 

ever produced.” This was the answer 

that caught the attention of the 

audience; put smiles on the faces of the 

proud supporters and left the judges in 

awe! This answer also gave further 

ammunition to those who have been 

reluctant to join in the past and 

presently are feeling very inspired to 

participate in such a pageant. And 

lastly, it made the other candidates felt 

proud and nervous. Proud – that they 

are chosen to be in the pageant; 

Nervous – which they don’t know what 

opportunities upon will be presented to 

them after. 

“What is the relevance do you think 

pageants such as this have for women 

today?” It was a very good question 

indeed and the answer provided was 

truly empowering to young women. 

Candidate No. 5 learned that she can 

boost herself in her own little way – 

being smart and being friendly. These 

qualities will ultimately lead her to 

success in everything she does – now 

and the future, and in any obstacles 

that she will encounter, will simply 

serve as a stepping stone in her life. 

Joining a pageant is not only about 

winning the crown. It is about learning 

and teaching; development and growth. 

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Page 5 

After a night of hardwork, FAMAS volunteers pose for souvenir, special request from Cesar 

Manuel to see his picture in the Star. (Hopefully, he will find time to be a Scout volunteer). 

It is how you hold it in your hands- In 

other words, your personal integrity. It 

is also about the new “Friendships” and 

“Camaraderie”. It is not about how 

many awards you get and be in the 

“Chosen Three”. It is all about honesty, 

purity and goodness which ultimately 

lead to the “Beauty of the Pageant”. 

The pageant, Bb. Pilipinas 

–Montreal 2006 is for all the candidates 

Eva Rose Marpuri pose with her friends, family, and other supporters after the pageant. 

– they are all winners! Whether 

crowned or not, because they are a 

paragon of morality and an epitome of 

chastity… 

A special thanks to everybody who 

supported Ms. Wila Hinayo, especially 

to her family, Ate Shane, Ate Ana, Ely, 

Ate Nora, Tim Hortons Marly’s Pizza, 

Bahay Kubo, Divisoria Cubao and to 

her French Classmates.” 

As an outside observer and as one 

who never participated in beauty 

pageants, this writer wants to add the 

invaluable training a young woman 

receives during the rehearsals and the 

talent competition. It also underscores 

the importance of being prepared to 

perform, so to speak, under any 

circumstances. As an example, a 

person’s potential may lie dormant 

forever if there is nothing to challenge 

that person to rise to the occasion. All 

these young women did exactly that - 

they gave their best and made their 

parents and families proud. 

Zenaida Kharroubi

Page 6 The North American Filipino Star May 2006 

From Page 4 School Boy 

1) A full and public apology to the 

Filipino-Canadian community 

2) Review of the School Board’s Code 

of Conduct and discipline for employees 

3) The adoption of a zero-tolerance 

policy for School Board personnel 

regarding racism in their daily work and 

in all services; and 

4) Other measures and programs to 

increase School Board personnel’s 

cultural competency and relations with 

parents and children of different ethnic 

backgrounds, Board to ensure the full 

respectful and equitable treatment of 

our community members in light of 

Canadian values and standards. 

The letter also demanded that 

“immediately after the meeting, we 

reserve the right to make a statement to 

representatives of the Filipino-Canadian 

media, the Canadian media and the 

media in the Philippines regarding the 

solutions and measures to be taken by 

your School.” 

The Marguerite Bourgeoys School 

Board agreed to have a meeting on 

Monday, May 15 at 7:00 P.M. However, 

they did not want to meet with ten 

members of the Filipino community and 

asked for fewer people to be present. 

The results of this meeting were not 

revealed. Another meeting was 

scheduled on Saturday, May 20, but it 

appeared that the School Board did not 

present a resolution that the Filipino 

Canadian group could accept. 

According to Marilyn Birao-Schachter, 

the Board asked them to prepare their 

own draft which they will discuss at the 

next meeting to be held on June 7, 

Meanwhile, a rally by a Filipino- 

Canadian group was held on Monday, 

May 22 and a press release issued 

which appears on page 9. 

WANTED 

SCOUT VOLUNTEERS 

In order to register 

more Cubs and Scouts, we 

need adult volunteers to lead 

our activities weekly for 2 

hours every Saturday. 

The 100th anniversary 

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2007. Join us in the Scout 

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Please call Laging 

Handa Scout Group 

514-485-7861 

Step up and join the 

professionals - 

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May 2006 The North American Filipino Star Page 7 

Isaac T. Goodine 

Global 

Perspectives 

“For the cause that lacks assistance; ‘Gainst 

the wrongs that need assistance; for the future 

in the distance; And the good that I can do.” 

…Motto of the Barbados Advocate 

Newspaper 

Barbados was my home after I 

left the Philippines and before I 

returned to my original homeland, 

Canada, and a free press has been a 

mainstay of civil society, 

particularly in these three 

countries. Regarding the role of a 

free press, the Motto of the 

Barbados Advocate says it well and 

this could also be applied to the 

North American Filipino Star, as we 

strive for the good that we can do. 

As I have gone through the process 

of reinventing myself many times in 

my own international career I am 

able to share some thoughts on 

immigration, migration, and 

transitions that transcend national 

boundaries. Today, there are more 

than 100 million people on the 

move. The growing numbers include 

immigrants, transnational workers, 

migrant workers, guest workers, 

illegal immigrants, and refugees. 

People on the move, for whatever 

reason, imply profound human 

drama for every individual. 

Once upon a time, a young 

woman immigrated to Canada from 

the Philippines. I know her now as 

Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi and I 

know that she went through some 

of the very same difficulties that 

young immigrants to Canada are 

experiencing today in adapting to a 

new and confusing culture, strange 

surroundings, and a workplace that 

may appear impersonal and 

uncaring to the newcomer. This 

particular immigrant reinvented 

herself and emerged stronger from 

the experience and established 

Gilmore College to help so many 

others to make the transition from 

New Canadian to full participant in 

Canadian society. Furthermore, she 

applies her considerable energy to 

the tasks of Publisher and Chief 

Editor of this newspaper in a never 

ending effort to promote community 

unity and leadership. 

The effort is never ending 

because the people keep coming. As 

people keep coming integration of 

new arrivals into a new culture 

remains a constant challenge 

because the blend of cultures 

creates yet another culture. Canada 

is the only country of high 

attraction that has a policy of 

diversity for immigrants. The policy 

is difficult to implement. Already 

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please call 514-257-0823, 

ask for Tony or Clarisa. 

there is serious dysfunction in the project. 

system whereby the educational The aim of this pilot project is to 

qualifications of new arrivals are expedite filling job vacancies in 

unfairly assessed as inferior and full Canada in designated categories 

integration into the workplace is only and it does not otherwise affect 

impeded. Worse still, the integration the ongoing immigration process. 

of family members into a new Recently, Mr. Sutherland, 

society requires an educational Canada’s Ambassador to the 

process that requires both Philippines, addressed the 

sensitivity and skill. Above all it Canadian Filipino Community 

requires a mindset that is based on during a visit to Ottawa. 

mutual respect and goodwill. For Discussions included immigration 

example, last week we heard a story issues and he reported that 14,600 

about a 7-year old boy from the Filipinos immigrated to Canada last 

Philippines who was disciplined at year, the largest number in any year 

school in Montreal for eating with a to date. There are now over 400,000 

spoon and fork, as all Filipinos Canadians of Filipino origin and 

normally do at home, and sent to they participate actively in every 

eat by himself—an unbelievably walk of life in Canada. However, 

harsh punishment in the oriental that is not to say that all is well or 

culture. 

that we do not need to continue to 

On the positive side, the work together to improve matters. 

Government of Quebec has Currently, the waiting period for 

announced that a bill will be processing of visa applications in 

introduced soon to improve the Manila is 3 to 5 years. Full 

method of evaluating foreign earned integration of new arrivals into the 

credentials of professionals seeking work force and society is as much 

to immigrate to that province and as 7 years; qualifications are often 

the Government of Canada is arbitrarily down-graded; and 

planning to launch a pilot scheme language skills are often under 

aimed specifically at improving the appreciated. 

integration of immigrants into the Based on my personal 

Canadian workforce. In this case experience in the design and 

the pilot project is designed to delivery of cross-cultural 

support the integration process for communications workshops for 

workers and their families once they Canadians and Filipinos working 

have been selected to fill job together in the Philippines, I believe 

vacancies in Canada. Pre-departure that we can greatly improve our 

preparations will be offered in the ability to communicate by 

home country and integration discovering that we use English—so 

services will be provided on arrival called—in slightly different ways, 

in Canada under the project. The and sometimes that makes all the 

Association of Canadian difference. I have even tried eating 

Community Colleges will be the with a fork and spoon and it is not 

executing agency and will establish 

field offices in the Philippines, 

China and India to implement the 

so bad after all. 

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Community News 

PFASQ: A Look at the Last 

Two Years 

By Lira Lou Feliciano 

With the new term of the 

Philippine Folk Art Society of Quebec 

quickly approaching, it is only fitting 

that the undertakings of the Society be 

highlighted. During the last two years, 

the goals of the Society have been kept 

up through its diverse activities, 

promoting our Filipino culture. 

Every year, during the holiday 

season, the Society’s Parol workshop is 

held at the Philippine Center. Children 

adorn parols, our traditional lanterns. 

This is enjoyable for the kids, and at the 

same time, they learn about the 

decorations used back home in the 

Philippines, during the month of 

December. The children take great 

pride in their creations, which they can 

bring home with them at the end of the 

day, to hang in their own homes. The 

Society also sponsors the Parol contest 

at our annual Paskong Pinoy, which 

was held at the Holiday Inn in 2004. In 

2005, the Society’s more traditional 

Paskong Pinoy was held at the Auberge, 

St. Joseph’s Oratory. The program for 

this more intimate affair included a 

modern performance from the 

Kalinangan Dance Troupe; two hip hop 

performances and children singing 

Christmas songs with Santa Clause. 

The PFASQ is always 

successful in its involvement with the 

annual Fête des enfants. Every year, 

children scurry around Parc de 

Maisonneuve for their next leisure 

pursuit where they can learn about 

different customs and traditions 

practiced around the world. It is not 

surprising that the Society never ceases 

to entertain a large crowd of children at 

their booth. The children decorate 

sinamay hats, fans and abaniko made 

from anahaw. Officers and volunteers of 

the PFASQ guide and help the children, 

while teaching them about the names 

and origins of the raw materials being 

used. 

DR. EMILIA ESPIRITU 

CHIRURGIEN DENTISTE / DENTAL SURGEON 

5790 COTE DES NEIGES RD. 

SUITE A-024 

MONTREAL, QUEBEC 

H3S 1Y9 

Keeping up with its mandate of 

promoting and preserving our Filipino 

culture, the Society has introduced a 

new element to its repertoire. Last May’s 

first ever Terno Ball proved to be 

successful as guests arrived looking 

very sharp in their Ternos and Barong 

Tagalogs. One of the performances that 

took place that night was the Rigodon 

de Honor. This graceful ballroom dance 

starred various leaders of the Filipino 

community in Montreal. Also involved 

in the Terno Ball, was the Kaibigan 

Chorale group. The Society was 

thankful to be graced with their 

presence and is very proud to say that it 

was able to donate over $2 000 to this 

non profit organization, in order to help 

the street children of Manila. 

On April 1st, 2005, President 

Annie Miaral, representing the Society, 

attended the official launching of the 

“Quilt of Belonging” at the Museum of 

Civilization in Hull, Gatineau. The block 

representing the Philippines shows a 

couple dancing the tinikling, the 

national dance of the Philippines. This 

textile art project will be displayed in 

the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts this 

coming October. 

In 2005, the Society held their 

annual picnic at Beaver Lake. In 2006, 

the PFASQ joined its very own 

Kalinangan Dance Troupe at Yamaska 

Park. This is the time of year where 

everyone is rewarded for all of their 

hard work. Every summer, the 

members of the board as well as all of 

the volunteers get together at their 

chosen location to relax, have fun and 

of course…eat! 

The Society’s general assembly 

held every two years took place at the 

Appleton Center on April 8, 2006. The 

officers were elected with four new 

directors on the board: Maya Duvage – 

Associate Secretary, Daniel Santander – 

Communications, Christine Periquet – 

Language and Literature and Gemma 

Domacena – Membership. Riza Trillanes 

Esmeralda-Sarto, former Executive 

Vice-President, will be taking on the role 

of Annie 

The Filipino Nurses Association of Quebec inducted its new officers and celebrated its 

14thanniversary last May 12, 2006 at the Living Room restaurant in TMR. 

PHONE: 54-340-8222 (4077) 

E-Mail: dr_e_pin@yahoo.ca 

www.filipinostar.org


May 2006 Page 9 

Young Filipinos march the streets of 

Montreal in support of Cagadoc family 

Over 80 members of the Filipino 

community and their supporters 

demonstrated in Cote-des-Neiges, the 

heart of Montreal's Filipino community, 

to support Luc Cagadoc and his family. 

Seven year old Luc Cagadoc was 

punished unfairly for eating his food 

with a fork and spoon, a customary way 

of eating for Filipinos. 

The Cagadoc family was also 

present during the march. Theresa 

Gallardo, mother of Luc Cagadoc, said, 

"We are so happy to see our Filipino 

community support us, it gives us 

inspiration!" Until now, there has been 

no move on the part of the Marguerite- 

Bourgeoys school board to apologize for 

support for the Cagadoc family. 

the incident. 

"There is a need to demonstrate 

to show that, as Filipinos, we demand 

that our children are respected 

and are accessing quality education," 

says Emmanuel Macarine, member of 

Kabataang Montreal, a local Filipino 

youth organization, "our voices must be 

heard and it has to be known that this 

cannot be tolerated. 

Throughout the march, 

demonstrators chanted, "Immigrants in, 

racists out!" and "C-S-M-B, we demand 

apology!" and collected over 100 

signatures in their petition demanding a 

public apology to the Cagadoc family 

and a racism-free environment for their 

children. 

"In a country that prides itself 

on being multicultural, we should not 

be forced to conform our eating to the 

dominant, colonial, and imperialist 

A peaceful rally led by Kabataang Montreal in Cote des Neiges area, May 22, to show 

culture," states Rodney Patricio, 

member of Kabataang Montreal, a local 

Filipino youth organization. 

Kabataang Montreal has been 

challenging the Marguerite-Bourgeoys 

Gilmore College 

4950 Queen Mary Road Penthouse 

Montreal, QC H3W 1X3 

(opposite Snowdon Metro) 

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Luc Cagadoc (foreground) holds a sign whle others standby in the background. 

school board to hold a open community 

dialogue and has held a community 

forum on the issue of racism in the 

schools. Their organization is calling for 

a racism-free environment in the 

schools, access to quality education, 

and a public apology to the Cagadoc 

family and the Filipino community. 

Kabataang Montreal (Filipino Youth 

Organization in Montreal) 

4180 de Courtrai, Suite 308, Montreal, 

QC H3S 1C3 

E-mail: kabataang_montreal@yahoo.ca 

Tel: (514) 678-3901 

BOWL-A-THON 

Organized by Kalinangan Dance Troupe & 

Philippine Folk Art Society of Quebec, Inc. 

Proceeds are for the costumes of the KDT 

dancers. 

Place: Rose Bowl Lanes 

6510 St. Jacques West 

Montreal, QC 

Date: Saturdy, June 17, 2006 

Time: 1:00-4:00 P.M. (Sharp 

Walk-Ins are welcome for 

$15 donation. 

For info: Hilda Veloso - 514-366-6523 

Nemia Saldua - 514-683-0945 

Albert Gutierrez - 514-639-4739 

Are you on the good way to reach 

your Financial Goal? 

Our goal is to help you 

achieve yours ! 

This is why we invite 

you to come to meet 

Mrs Maria Samonas, our 

Senior Personal Banking 

Officer. Mrs Maria 

Samonas can help you 

to achieve your current 

and future goals 

(investment or credit). 

MC Marque de commerce de La Banque de 

Nouvelle-Écosse. 

Seven Deadly Sins 

1) Politics without principles 

2) Pleasure without conscience 

3) Knowledge without character 

4) Wealth without work 

5) Commerce without morality 

6) Science without humanity 

7) Worship without sacrifice 

(Quoted from the magazine Social 

Welfare for Malayan youth in 

Singapore, 1965.) 

Maria Samonas 

4861 Van Horne 

Montreal, Qc 

514-731-2486



TOURISM 

Aliwan Fiesta 2006 

The national festival 

championship takes flight 

Sparks flying at this year’s Aliwan 

Fiesta as once again some of the 

Philippines. Grandest, loudest, and 

most colorful regional festivals compete 

in a national championship on the 27 up 

to 29 of April 2006. Aliwan Fiesta 2006 

brings together 30 dance contingents 

from around the country in a major 

happening on the Manila bay area. 

The main features are costumed 

street dancing native to the participating 

regions, a street parade with a float 

competition, a bazaar with stalls selling 

handicrafts and food from around the 

country, and the Reyna ng Aliwan 

beauty pageant. The event also includes 

a fireworks display, three nights of 

entertainment with concerts by bands 

and popular entertainers, and on April 

29 grand street parade along Roxas 

Boulevard from Quirino Grandstand to 

Aliwan / Star City in the Cultural Center 

of the Philippines Complex. 

Aliwan Fiesta 2006, dubbed by 

organizers as a "cultural extravaganza," 

brings to one venue the festivals of the 

regions of the country, making it 

possible for local and foreign tourists to 

watch and appreciate ethnic and 

cultural presentations without having to 

leave Manila. 

The grand fiesta, which reels off 

April 27 to 29’ 2006, gathers more than 

4,500 of the country’s most talented 

artists, artisans, street dancers and 

muses to compete in various contests 

pitting cultures, traditions and beauties. 

ALIWAN Fiesta 2006, which brings 

together all the country’s grandest 

festivals, from Baguio in the north to 

down south in Maguindanao, will 

feature street dancers, craftsmen and 

musicians?all decked out in colorful 

costumes’ vying for the Php 1 million 

grand prize in the street dance and Php 

.5 million on float competitions. 

It will feature the most popular 

fiestas from all over the country such as 

he Marikina Festival (Marakina City), 

Panagbenga Festival (Baguio City); 

Pamulinawen Festival (Laoag City); 

Sabutan Festival; Kasilonawan Obando 

Fertility Ritual (Bulacan); Region IV’s 

Sumakah Festival (Antipolo); Himag- 

Ulaw Festival (Masbate); Dinagyang 

Festival (Iloilo City); Sinulog Festival 

(Cebu City); Padul-Ong Festival 

(Borongan, Eastern Samar); Pasalamat 

Festival (Pagadian City); and Padang- 

Padang Festival (Parang, Maguindanao). 

Over 4,500 participants will join the 

grand parade, on April 29. 

Organized by the Manila 

Broadcasting Co. (MBC), in partnership 

with the cities of Manila and Pasay and 

the Cultural Center of the Philippines, 

Aliwan Fiesta gathers the brightest, 

biggest and most colorful festivities in 

the unprecedented grandest fiesta in 

Philippine history. 

By Joey de Leon 

Photojournalist 

Manila, Philippines 



Flores De Mayo (Flowers of May) 

Filipinos love fiestas. They are 

celebrated all-year round all over the 

country. The colorful celebration 

commemorates a piece of history in the 

place. One fiesta that is celebrated 

nationwide in the summer is Flores de 

Mayo or Santacruzan. 

Santacruzan is held annually in the 

warm month of May and is considered to 

be the "Queen of Filipino Festivals". 

Beautiful town belles are selected to 

participate in this colorful pageant 

parade. The stars are selected not for 

their looks alone, but for their 

embodiment of traditional feminine 

qualities. It is a week-long street 

pageant in almost every town, from the 

dirt road barrio to the metropolis 

honoring beautiful Philippine maidens 

and their handsome escorts under the 

hand-carried bamboo archs adorned by 

fragrant native flowers. 

May is also the month dedicated to 

the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of 

Christ. Filipinos turn each of the 31 

days in May into a charming tribute to 

the virginal virtues in Flores de Mayo. 

Spiritual virtue seeks to reach even 

the young. Every day in May, children, 

with cutflowers and baskets of petals in 

hand, march down the church center 

aisle. As the children march down the 

aisle they sprinkle the fragrant petals for 

Mama Mary. This custom is called alay 

sa Birhen . Because it is an offering ( 

alay ) to the virgin ( birhen ), at the main 

altar, the youngsters sing hymns to 

Lady Immaculate, and leave their 

bouquet of flowers loose and bethroned. 

In many towns the community will 

congregate in the afternoons to pray 

the rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin 

Mary, and share homemade delicacies 

and snacks. Children and adults 

wearing their Sunday best, sing and 

dance to welcome the rains that will 

water the new crops. 

In many parishes, these afternoon 

festivities culminate in an elaborate 

procession to the Church where an 

evening mass is celebrated. 

The procession is called 

"Santacruzan" (Festival of the Holy 

Cross), a commemoration of the finding 

of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Saint 

Helena, mother of Constantine the 

Great. 

The townfolk choose pretty young 

ladies to represent the various 

characters of the commemoration: the 

"Accolades of Our Lady". Each one is 

dressed in an exquisite, colorful gown, 

looking as regal as the Reina (Queen) 

she portrays. Reina Fe (Faith), Reina 

Esperanza (Hope), Reina Caridad 

(Charity), Reina Mora (Muslim), Reina 

Banderada (Flag), and Reina Justicia 

(Justice) walk with their consorts under 

hand-carried bamboo arches decked 

with color-themed native flowers. 

The highlight of the procession is 

the magestic Reina Elena (Queen 

Helena) who walks with her consort, 

Prinsipe Constantino, under a huge 

canopy of May flowers. Immediately 

behind her is a float carrying the image 

of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a 

brass band that lends the festive sounds 

to the procession. 

One of many beautiful Reinas parading during Flores de Mayo Santacruzan 

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A new look for Metro Manila’s 

jeepneys 

The so-called “King of the Road” will 

soon be getting a makeover, courtesy of 

the government. 

Tourism and transportation officials 

yesterday launched in Malacañang the 

“Makisaya, Biyahe Na,” Jeepney Wrap 

Stickers project, which aims to draw 

more tourists to the country, while at 

the same time getting rid of “colorum” or 

illegal public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in 

Metro Manila. 

The launching was attended by 

President Macapagal-Arroyo. Under the 

project, over 1,000 “Kings of the Road” 

will get a fresh coat of paint, as well as 

stickers that promote top tourist 

destinations in the country. 

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace 

Durano said that in line with Land 

Transportation Franchising and 

Regulatory Board project, public 

jeepneys will be “color coded.” 

For example, jeepneys plying routes 

in Makati will be painted blue while 

those in Manila will be yellow. Quezon 

City, on the other hand, will have red 

jeepneys. So far, Durano said the 

Department of Tourism had made over 

180 jeepneys plying the Makati-Taguig 

route. Next on the list are Manila-bound 

jeepneys. 

Page 11 

There was also a plan to include 

other public utility jeepneys in “major 

tourist destinations” outside of Metro 

Manila, he added. “We’re just making 

sure our jeepneys are good to look at 

because in our source markets in Korea 

and Europe, the jeepneys are regarded 

as tourism icons,” Durano said. 

“When you say Philippines, they 

think about the Philippine jeepney. It 

will be an incentive for jeepney drivers if 

you want us to put stickers and make 

over your jeepney,” he told reporters. 

But before they can take part in the 

program, the jeepneys would have to be 

accredited by the LTFRB so that those 

operating illegally could be weeded out 

of the ranks of registered public utility 

jeepneys Drivers will also get a vest that 

matches the color of their jeepney. “We 

will also give them uniforms so they’ll 

look nice,” Durano said. 

Join us in a sightseeing 

tour of Quebec City 

Organized by 

Laging Handa Scouts Group 0592 

on the occasion of the “Great Urban Race” 

When: Saturday, May 27, 2006 

Assembly time: 7:45 am 

Place: Plamondon Metro 

(Van Horne Exit) 

Return to Montreal: 10:00 pm 

Donation: $45 

Bring your picnic basket 

Pilgrimage to the St. Anne de Beaupré shrine 

Picnic on the Plains of Abraham, visit 

museums, park, lake, etc. as time permits. 

Contact: any Scout Volunteer Leader or 

Tel.514-485-7861, Mary Joy - 514-501-7275 

Nida - 962-2688, Claro - 576-0906, Richard - 

341-8246, Romeo - 733-2897

Page 12 




The Filipino Star Photo Gallery 

The rain did not dampen the spirits of 

tulip admirers - Rona, Julie, Patricia, 

Ms. Hermosa, Zenaida, Yani, 

One of the colorful floats in the Aliwan Festival in Manila, Philippines, Marilou and Eva Marie, in Dows 

April 27-29, 2006. (See p. 10-11) Courtesy photo by Joey de Leon Lake Park, May 14, 2006. 

Bb. Pilipinas Montreal 2006, Eva Rose Marpuri, flanked by 1st 

runner up Yashica Nabor, and 2nd runner up Adiah Razon. 

Gilmore College sudents and their friends went to Mont St. 

Gregoire, April 30, 2006 for a sugaring off party. 

Bb. Pilipinas Montreal 2006, Eva Rose 

Marpuri with her teacher, Z. Kharroubi 

Ambassador Jose Brillantes poses for a souvenir photo with guests 

at the FAMAS beauty pageant held on Saturday, April 22, at the 

President Restaurant on Laurentien Boulevard, Montreal.


Mercan 

Mercan Capital Ltd. 

founded in 1989, 

one of the most 

important organizations 

of immigration 

professionals 

whose expertise and 

high success rates are 

well-known. 

. 

Mercan Capital Ltd helps 

you obtain your visa, and 

if unsuccessful, your 

money will be refunded. 

Mercan Capital Ltd. keeps 

itself informed about 

immigration rules which 

are constantly changing. 

The information you 

receive is relevant and upto-date. 

We accept credit cards 

Mr. Jerry Morgan, President and Member of the 

Canadian Association of Professional Immigration 

Consultants 

A mosaic sculpture which can be 

seen at the public square of the 

Old Port of Montreal symbolizing 

religious freedoms recognized by 

the Canadian Constitution. 

The Parliament building where 

the Quebec Government holds its 

meeting of the National 

Assembly composed of 123 

MNAs who are elected every 5 

years. 


Ms. V. Marcas, lawyer, Member of the 

Quebec and Canadian Bar, assists our 

clients with the legal technicalities of 

their applications. 

514-282-9214 

We offer our 

Your application for a visa is successful 

when you deal with Mercan Capital 

May pag-asa kayong ma-aprobahan ang inyong 

aplikasyon kung kayo ay magkukonsulta muna sa isa sa aming 

mahusay at eksperiensadong tagapayo. 

www.mercan.com 

E-mail: 

info@mercan,com 

M E R C A N C A P I T A L L T D . 

Jerry Morgan - CSIC No. 041555 

Canadian laws are complex. 

Call us to make an appointment for a FREE CONSULTATION. 

We offer our expertise in 

the following areas: 

• Skilled Workers 

• Business Immigrant 

• Family Reunification 

• Work Permit 

• Student’s Visas 

• Live-in Caregiver 

Mercan Capital 

Ltd. offers you all 

services and 

informs you of the 

programs that will 

facilitate your 

immigration to 

Quebec and 

Canada 

New rule change 

opens the door to 

Filipinos with 

relatives in Canada 

under the Skilled 

Workers Program 

Part time sales 

agents welcome 

Mag-ahente 

para sa 

dagdag na 

kita. 

Fax: 514-282-1084 

MERCAN CAPITAL LTD., Founded in 1989 

Mercan Capital Ltd.., 390 Notre Dame West, Suite 410, Montreal (Quebec) H2W 1T9 

Page 13

Page 14 

Our Children, Our Lives, A Landscape Ever-changing 

COURSES 

Centre 2000 

Professional Training Institute 

• Dental Assistant 

• Nursing Aide 

• Pharmacy Assistant 

• Security Officer 

• Daycare Provider 

• Accounting Technician 

• French Course 

Saturdays available 

Info: Call 514-342-1000 

4950 Queen Mary Rd. Suite 351 

(Front of Snowdon Metro) 



The North American Filipino Star Classified Ads 

ADVERTISING 

Specials for May 

Courses offered: 

Some years are seared in our memory 

Others are just a-fleeting 

The joyful laughter of our children at play 

Their raucous howls of gloom and glee. 

Years pass and we see ourselves 

Reflected in our children’s passing years 

The cries of pain when they are hurt 

Their beaming eyes when all is well. 

Like a butterly’s wings when a soft wind blows 

They flit, they flutter, and then they fly 

Away to a verdant meadow where fragrant flowers bloom 

Or to a dark, dense forest where sunlight seldom shone. 

But all these are just stages 

In our daily lives and theirs 

As transient as the seasons 

As changing as sunshine and rain. 

Then one day they will begin 

Another adventure so exciting 

Another journey filled with dread and doubts 

A journey where their future beckons 

Though with peril fraught. 

But this is what life is all about 

A constant dance with uncertainty 

Equipped with Experience, Knoowledge, Hope 

We smile bemused at is unpredictability. 

So onward to new terrain we go 

To landscapes, horizons ever-changing 

Seeking further life’s potential and promise 

Still searching for life’s higher dimension 

And once there, allow ourselves to soar 

To an unfathomed journey of the heart and soul. 

9. 

Classified Advertising 

is the cheapest way to 

advertise! 

Call 514-485-7861 

Ads must be prepaid. 

Send text via E-Mail to: 

filipinostar2@yahoo.com 

or Fax: 514-485-3076 

99 

First 3 lines 

$1.50 per extra line 

(maximum 4 words a line) 

ARTICLES FOR SALE 

Miscellaneous household furniture 

office desk/computer tables, 

books, kitchen table, chairs, etc. 

514-485-7861 

CATERING COURSE 

Learn a better way of serving 

your clients and make a name in 

the industry. Attend a seminar 

on the art and science of 

catering. Call 514-485-7861 

DATING AGENCY 

DON’T STAY ALONE 

Many Canadian gentlemen (25 to 65 

years old) looking for Asian women for 

friendship or long term relationship 

A2 Dating (514) 962-6004 

DRIVING 

Quebec certified driving instructor 

with 11 years experience in giving 

driving lessons. Exam car available 

Toton 514-969-9622 

DRIVING LESSONS 

Car available for EXAM 

1 hour practice only $20 

KHALIL 514-965-0903 

DUPLEX FOR RENT 

Lachine, 5 1/2 upper floor duplex, with 

fridge and stove, bright, clean, unheated, 

close to all amenities $650, non-smoker, 

no pets, Buses 190, 195, 90, 110, 355 

Call 514-639-9814, 514-585-7315 

Sauteed Mung Beans 

Serves 2 to 4 

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup dried monggo (mung beans) (250 

mL) 

2 tablespoons cooking oil (36 mL) 

2 cloves garlic, crushed 

1 small chopped onion 

1/4 lbpork, cut into small cubs (113 g) 

1/2 lb small shelled shrimps (227 g) 

2 cups broth of water or shrimp juice 

(500 mL) 

Salt and pepper to taste 

1 tablespoon of soy sauce (15 mL) 

12 oz. fresh spinach (350 g) or fresh 

bitter melon leaves (available fresh 

frozen at Philippine or Chinese stores. 

PREPARATION 

Wash mung beans 

Add 3-4 cups 750-1000) of water 

LECHON 

BigD's Lechon, telephone 

number (514) 426-9088 or 

www.bigd-lechon.com. 

ROOM TO RENT 

Filipino lady tenant to occupy the 

biggest room in an upper duplex with 3 

other ladies, quiet, bright, clean, 

equipped with washer/dryer, fridge, 

stove, heated, $300/month 

Call 514-485-7861 for appointment 

SEMINARS 

How to start and manage 

your own business 

Basic Video Production 

Writing Workshop 

Leadership Training 

Professional Catering 

Call 514-485-7861 

Philippine Cuisine 

Bring to a boil. Lower heat and 

continue cooking until soft. Set aside. 

Sautee garlic, onion, tomatoes and 

pork in hot oil. Add cooked mung 

beans and 2 cups of broth or water. 

Cover and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat and add shrimps. 

Continue cooking until shrimp is done. 

Add fresh spinach leaves or young 

leaves of bitter melon. Cook for 

another 3-5 minutes. 

Serve hot. 

Banana or Sweet Yam Chips 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 cup sugar (250 mL) 

1 teaspoon salt (5 mL) 

1-2 plantain or sweet yam (sliced into 

pieces 1/2” thick 

oil for deep frying 

PREPARATION 

Combine sugar and salt. Mix well. 

Evely coat sliced plantain or sweet 

yam with sugar and salt mixture. 

Fry a ew chips at a time to prevent 

them fromsticking together. 

Remove when goldenbrown. 

Separate sticking pieces and cool. 

TAX SERVICE 

GAAVI TAX SERVICE 

• Experience • Lowest price 

• Excellence • More Refund 

Starts from $10 

Call: Gaavi (514) 344-1128 

6430 Victoria Ave., Suite 10, Montreal, QC H3W 2S7 

TUTORIAL 

COURSES 

ENGLISH, FRENCH 

MATHEMATICS, 

SCIENCE 

All levels & other 

subjects on request 

514-485-7861



Page 15 

Green Tea Anyone? 

It must have been during my 

first flight onboard Japan Air Lines on 

the way to the Philippines years ago 

when I began to like green tea. The 

flight attendants would offer either 

“English tea” or “green tea” to the 

passengers, an amusing distinction I 

thought at the time. I would choose 

green tea on the principle that “when in 

Rome, do as the Romans do” even 

though I was only riding an airplane 

run by a Japanese company, not in 

Japan itself. Since then, we would 

prepare ourselves some green tea at odd 

moments of the day, and enjoy it as 

much as we would enjoy black tea. 

Recently, we welcomed a Japanese 

student in our home. To our delight, we 

have been learning so much about 

Japanese culture from Yukiko, her 

name. One of the things we are 

discovering is that there is much more 

to green tea than we ever thought. It 

turns out that Yukiko comes from a 

region of Japan, the Shizuoka 

prefecture, which produces the best 

green tea of the country. It is a 

mountainous region with just the right 

combination of rainfall and temperature 

that results in good quality leaves from 

the evergreen Camellia sinensis, the 

source of all tea. Only the new leaves 

that shoot out in spring are suitable for 

tea production, and these are harvested 

in May. 

Our curiosity in tea varieties having 

been stimulated, we ventured into a 

specialty tea shop in the NDG area in 

Monkland. There we learned of 

“gyokuro” tea which at $50 per 20 

grams is supposed to be the highest 

quality Japanese green tea there is. The 

storekeeper, perhaps noticing my very 

Advertise your new 

business in the 

Filipino Star 

Call 514-485-7861 

surprised look, tried to lessen the price 

shock by pointing out that it comes to 

about a dollar a cup, certainly not so 

bad considering the price we pay for a 

good cup of coffee. Nevertheless, we 

didn’t have the heart to part with so 

much money for so little tea. Yukiko, 

however, had asked her parents to send 

some fine green tea from their region. I 

heard the “whoosh” when she opened 

that can – the tea was vacuum-packed! 

We passed it around and noticed right 

away that the tea leaves were a dark 

green, certainly different from the 

brownish-pale green of the locally 

available version. The reason for this, 

Yukiko explained, is that the cheaper 

tea has stems mixed in with the leaves. 

In addition, green tea must be prepared 

not in any haphazard way but 

according to precise conditions: The 

water must be ideally at 75°C and 

steeping must be from 2 to 4 min only. 

The result was an extremely smooth 

tea, definitely superior in aroma and 

flavour to that which I have become 

accustomed to. 

Some might be wondering how 

different green tea is from the more 

common black tea (or “English tea” 

according to the flight attendants of 

JAL). First the similarity: Both black 

and green tea, called “true” tea come 

from the Camellia sinensis plant. The 

difference: Black tea is produced by 

allowing the tea leaves to oxidize, a 

process similar to the natural browning 

of cut apples. Thus, black tea has a 

different chemical profile than green 

tea. For example, black tea, because of 

this oxidation step, contains more 

caffeine than green tea. Black tea has a 

longer shelf life, staying flavorful for 

years. On the other hand, green tea will 

not last for more than a year, in some 

cases for only a few months. And of 

course, green tea tastes totally different 

from black tea. 

It is generally said that green tea 

has beneficial health effects. This belief 

originated from putting two and two 

together, that is, that tea is a major 

beverage in the orient, perhaps even on 

par with water, and that the incidence 

of chronic disease in the orient is 

relatively low compared to that in 

western countries. Ergo, tea drinking 

might be responsible, at least in part, in 

protecting Asian people against heart 

disease, cancer and diabetes, the major 

chronic diseases. As with any sort of 

association, the supposed link is not 

necessarily true, hence the need to 

systematically test the claimed 

beneficial effects of tea, whether green 

or black. In this regard, many people 

believe that green tea is more potent 

than black tea, perhaps because the 

green variety is less modified with 

respect to the fresh leaves. 

Many have sought to prove and 

measure the claimed beneficial effects. 

A computerized survey of the scientific 

literature yielded about 600 articles 

published between 2004 and May 2006 

on green tea alone. The main idea has 

been and still is that tea contains an 

abundance of antioxidants that protect 

against the destructive effects of 

oxygen. (I wrote an article on 

antioxidants for this paper in June 

1999.) Thus, a number of articles 

report that green tea appear to be 

associated with a lower risk of breast 

cancer, lung cancer and prostrate 

cancer. Some even report that green tea 

results in a favourable blood lipid 

profile, and may even be useful in the 

fight against obesity. Some of the more 

clear-cut studies were done on 

experimental animals. The results of 

trials done on human beings are more 

controversial and difficult to interpret. 

This is mainly because the human diet 

is extremely variable and cannot be 

easily defined and controlled like one 

could do with laboratory diets given to 

experimental animals. I must therefore 

mention that the National Cancer 

Institute is very cautious when it comes 

to the effects of green tea on cancer in 

humans. It has not closed the door on 

the possibility that green tea might have 

beneficial effects, but it does not 

endorse green tea as useful in the fight 

against cancer. In fact, the National 

Cancer Institute is sponsoring scientific 

studies to evaluate the potential 

usefulness of green tea to fight skin 

cancer. We are still waiting for the 

official word. 

My recommendation? If you enjoy 

green or black tea, by all means 

continue to do so. Who knows, on top 

of its desirable aroma and taste, science 

might yet still prove the health benefits 

of this ancient beverage.

Page 16 

Community News 

Reyna de las flores de Mayo 

The Filipino Catholic Mission of 

Montreal (FCMM) launched the search 

for the Mayflower Queen to be crowned 

the "Reyna delas Flores on May 28, 

2006, (Sunday) at St. Denis Church, 

454 Laurier Avenue East (Metro 

Laurier, exit Laurier). 

Organizations have been invited to 

send their muses to the Mayflower 

Queen Celebration, in honor of the 

Blessed Virgin. The details of the search 

contest and fundraising activity were 

discussed on May 14, 2006, 10:00 AM, 

at St. Denis Church where the 

president or officer of the participating 

organizations were invited. 

Confirmed candidates from the 

following organizations have been 

received: 

Pangasinan Association 

Kapampangan Association of Montreal 

Tagalog Association of Quebec 

Knights of Columbus St. Kevin Council 

13881 

Bicol Association 

FAMAS 

Philbecan is not sending their 

muse but will donate in honor of the 

Blessed Virgin Mary. 

This event is still open to all 

organizations who wish to put a muse 

in this festival. If you have not received 

the letter, you can still send your 

candidates. All muses or candidates 

will have to be in their "sagala" attire on 

May 28, 2006 for the crowning, and 

honoring of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

The Reyna de las Flores and her court 

will be the main flower offerers on May 

28th Mayflower Festival and possibly 

during the Philippine Independence Day 

Mass on June 11, 2006. 

Every organization who wishes to 

honor the Blessed Virgin Mary thru 

offering of flowers by their Reynas on 

May 28th will still be encouraged to join 

in this event. Please bring your banners 

during the celebration, too. Call us for 

further information. 

The FCMM Administrators 

841-2634 (St. Denis Church) 

Mandy Tolentino, 342-1210, Peping 

Tolentino 450-689-1028, Cynthia 582- 

5892, Ray Foz 636-1245, and Jun Diaz 

421-6257 

Health Seminar at FAMAS 

Everyone is invited to attend a 

seminar about the “four fundamental 

laws of health” to be held on Sunday, 

May 28, 2006 at the Philippine 

Community Center, 4708 Van Horne 

Avenue, Montreal. For details, please 

call Nancy Sarto at 514-260-2000. 

Golden Valley celebrates customer 

appreciation day and their new Western 

Union Service 

It was a double celebration for 

Golden Valley last April 22. Henry and 

Alice Sia invited their hundreds of 

customers to their appreciation day and 

launching of their Western Union 

service. The Golden Valley customers 

gladly obliged! The large function hall 

of Golden Valley saw a constant stream 

of customers and friends from noon to 

dinner. The whole day affair was funfilled 

with great food, door prizes and 

entertainment numbers from 

singer/host Jennifer Camacho and 

Canadian Idol finalist, Mikey Bustos. 

Four lucky customers sent over 2,000 

Pesos to their loved ones in the 

Philippines for free in the On-the-Spot 

Western Union Money Transfer 

courtesy of Western Union and Golden 

Valley. They all agree that the process 

of sending money was really easy and 

most of all they were happy to hear that 

their relatives received the money in 

minutes after sending. 

Marco Amoranto, the Marketing Director for 

the Philippine Market - The Americas, 

thanks Golden Valley's customers for their 

support. 

4 lucky winners got to send money to their relatives in the Philippines, on the spot courtesy 

of Western Union and Golden Valley (Photoby ARIEL RAMOS OF PHILIPPINE TIMES) 



Filipino Private Home Daycare 

Accepts 1 year old to 5 years old 

Full services provided 

Open: Monday to Friday 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. 

Call Pinky - 514-568-6520 

Cell: 998-9604 

5777 Victoria Avenue 

Montreal, QC H3X 1G2 


The Golden Valley Celebration was well attended not only by hundreds of their customers 

but by top Western Union executives as well. (from left) Chito Gonzalez - Country 

Development Manager, Henry Sia – owner of Golden Valley, Sabine Some - Market 

Development Manager, Indhira Banares - Vice-Consul for Trade, Derek McMillan - 

Compliance Director, Jennifer Camacho – Host/Singer, Marco Amoranto - Marketing 

Director for the Philippine Market, Ceasar Leounio - Business Development Manager 

Mikey Bustos, Canadian Idol finalist, along 

with Jennifer Camacho (right) provided 

entertainment to the guests. 

Jennifer Camacho, Concert Queen dishes 

out popular hits to the delight of the guests 

Cubs and Scouts display proudly their campiing badges earned during their recent winter 

camping trip to Camp Tamaracouta.


Page 17 

Since 1989 

Regular Buffet (8 choices) 

Starts Friday - 5:00 - 9:00 PM 

Sat. & Sun. - 11 AM - 9:00 PM 

Crispy pata available 

starting Friday and the 

weekend 

Special Rate for 

Private Parties 

(max. 60 persons) 

Business Hours: 

Mon. & Tues. - 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

Wed. to Fri. - 12 - 9 p.m 

Sat. & Sun. - 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. 

Gilmore College, in collaboration with the 

World Academy of Letters, presents a 

workshop based on an innovative 

method of developing better writers: 

“Writers helping Writers” 

Every person who has the ability to read has the ability to write. 

Being able to write and express your own ideas help you achieve your goals 

in all types of situations - professional and personal. 

The word is mightier 

than the sword. 

Dr. Jose P. Rizal 

Special Buffet 

Sunday, July 9 

“Summer Fest” 

15 choices + Lechon 

Pearl of Manila was featured in the Montreal Gazette by Sarah Musgrave’in 

her column “Casual Restos” and in a restaurant guide “Cheap Thrills” sold at 

bookstores. 

5839 Decarie Boulevard 

(near Bourret) 

Montreal, Quebec 

Tel.: 344-3670 

This hands-on workshop is designed to be: 

• Interactive 

• multi-cultural 

• process-oriented 

• practical 

• Inspirational 

• an eye-opener 

• creative 

• productive 

Fill your freezer for the Spring. 

Pork loin 

Approximately 15 lbs 

1 .99 lb 

Half or Whole pork 

Cut & Wrapped 

Special 

99¢ lb 

Home smoked 

meat 

7 .99 lb 

2 .99 lb 

� Fresh pork blood 

� Fresh bacon 

� Fresh liver 

� Pork skin 

Available 


A follow-up to this workshop 

will be a public speaking 

course and the organization 

of the first “Writers Circle” in 

Montreal. 


B.A., Eng. Lit., M.A. in Ed. Studies, 

Dip.Ed., TESL Cert. 

Call 514-485-7861 for the Summer 

and Fall schedules. This workshop is 

Founder & Director=General 

Gilmore College 

Publisher & Editor, The North 

American Filipino Star, Group 

held over a weekend starting on Friday evening at 6 to 10 

p.m., then on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Lunch break is at 12 to 1 p.m. RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW! 

Commissioner, Scouts Canada, 

Quebec Council 

Tuition fee: $495 (tax deductible) including taxes & materials 

An attractive certificate and tax receipt shall be given to each participant. 

Fresh Belly 

with skin 

Hours: Mon.-Wed. 8 AM-5 PM 

Thurs.-Fri. 8 AM-9 PM 

Saturday 8 AM-5 PM 

Beef 

Blade steak 

2 .99 lb 

Front quarter of beef 

Approximately 200 lbs 

1 .89 lb 

Pork Spare Ribs 

2 .29 lb 

Beef 

short ribs 

2 .79 lb 

St.Chrysostome St. Remi St. Edouard 

203 

Sherrington 

Barrington 

219 

Havelock 

Hemmingford 

Jackson Road 

Canada 

Malone 

219 

Covey Hill Road 

Boucherie Viau Inc. 

Isaac T. Goodine 

BsC., B. Ed., C.Eng. 

International Speaker, Author of 

“Leaders Leading Leaders” 

Resource person, Transparency 

International, Human Resource 

Development Consultant, 

Former School Principal and 

Director of Colleges, Member of 

International Associations 

Closed on Sundays 

Moders 

U. S. A. 

Picnic ham 

(with bone) 

1 .39 lb 

Boneless leg 

of ham 

3 .79 lb 

1 litre of fresh 

blood with purchase 

1/2 pork 

4 .79 Regular smoked 

bacon 

lb 

10 lbs & over 

Parc 

Safari 

4 .69 lb 

202 Lacolle 

Class 

Champlain 

83 Covey Hill, Hemmingford QC J0L 1H0 

Tel.: (450) 247-2130 or (450) 247-3561 

Mtl. (514) 990-5162 

Napierville 

Sortie 

Exit No.6 

15

Page 18 

Don't Worry, Beauty Titilist Assures Bong's Wife 

Another action star-turned senator, 

Bong Revilla, is likewise in the news but 

for a different reason. His latest screen 

partner, reigning Miss International 

Precious Lara Quigaman, has assured 

Senator Bong’s wife, Lani Mercado, not 

to worry. She was alluding to the actor’s 

reputation as a playboy. “I would ask 

Lani to come to the set so she would see 

that there is nothing to fear,” says 

Precious. “From what I know about 

showbiz, the leading man is always 

linked to his love interest while the 

movie is being shot. 

Actress Chat Silayan, 46, passed 

away last April 23 at the St. Luke’s 

Medical Center in Quezon City. The 

1980 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe title holder 

succumbed to colon cancer. She is 

survived by her husband, Mike Bailon, 

and three children – Victor, 17; 

Timothy, 12; and Michaela, 11. Chat’s 

battle with cancer began two years ago 

when she underwent surgery on her 

colon. A year later she was operated on 

again but the cancer had moved to her 

Chat Silayan Is Gone 

This is nothing new.” The beauty 

queen takes the place of Gretchen 

Barretto in the comedy film Kapag 

Tumibok ang Puso, Not Once But Twice. 

Gretchen, who was once romantically 

linked to the actor-senator, turned 

down the role after receiving reports 

that Bong’s wife allegedly got jealous of 

their team-up. 

Precious is besieged with offers for 

commercial endorsements. She has set 

one condition so far – no to liquor and 

cigarettes. 

ovary, and then to her liver and other 

organs. 

The North American Filipino Star May 2006 

wwww.filipinostar.org 

It's Pinas Forever for 

Regine 

Asia Songbird Regine Velasquez, 

who is facing tax evasion charges, 

admits that migrating to foreign 

shores where life is presumably 

better has crossed her mind. "Inisip 

ko na din yan although it’s 

something I will never do,” says 

Regine. 

“Even when I’m in my favorite 

places like Paris and Venice, four 

days pa lang ako duon ay nahohomesick 

na ako. How could I even 

imagine living there when their food 

is no match to ours? At saka dito, 

may patis!." She adds: "Besides, ang 

Pilipino, marunong i-enjoy ang 

buhay kasi we’ve learned how to 

become resilient. Basta’t andyan 

yung network of family and friends 

niya to support him, any Filipino will 

get by.” 

Regine says life abroad is not 

necessarily better. “Why do you 

think six out of ten Americans go to 

psychiatrists?,” she asks. “O bakit 

ang taas ng suicidal rate duon? 

Things are not always what they 

seem." 

No way to go but up for La 

Aunor 

Erstwhile Superstar Nora Aunor 

says she has no way to go but up after 

reaching her lowest point when she 

was arrested at Los Angeles 

International Airport last year for 

methamphetamine possession. She 

said that life’s like that, it’s like the 

teleserye’s “Gulong ng Palad - minsan 

nasa ilalim ka, minsan nasa ibabaw 

ka. However, she attested that this is 

the lowest peak of her life’s 

experiences that she has no way to go 

but up. In a plea bargain arrangement 

to get her case dismissed, Nora had 

agreed to enter a court-supervised 

drug treatment program. She learned 

so many things during her 

counselling. She made many friends, 

too. 

She said that she can share what 

she learned to others who may need 

her help. Aunor expressed gratitude to 

her lawyers, family, manager, fans and 

friend John Rendez for their support. 

She denied rumors that she and John 

were living together. She says the 

rapper has been her friend for nearly 

20 years, having managed his singing 

career in the Philippines. She 

confirmed once that John is not her 

boyfriend, that he has a family and a 

child back in the Manila. She also 

advises others to remove the old way of 

thinking that it doesn’t necessarily 

mean there is something going on 

between a man and woman if they are 

always seen together. 

Zsa Zsa is 42 and Proud 

of It! 

Hip and Sexy at 42. That’s how 

Zsa Zsa Padilla is advertised on giant 

billboards of the Belo Medical Group 

on Manila’s main highways. She said 

that she’s not shy about her age. She’s 

turning 42 on May 28 and she’s proud 

of it. She doesn’t look 42 anyways. As 

endorser and image model of BMG, the 

Divine Diva says she goes to Dr. Vicki 

Belo’s clinic two or three times a week 

for Thermage for the body. She admits 

“a little part” of her body is not original 

anymore but she won’t say what parts 

have been altered. Currently Dr. Belo is 

working on some of Zsa Zsa’s body 

parts that need improvement and the 

doctor promises the results will be 

amazing. Asked about her sex life with 

77-year-old partner, Dolphy, Zsa Zsa 

says, “All right. Okay na okay.” 

Assunta and Hubby 

Make Up for Lost Time 

Barely four years into their 

marriage, sexy star Assunta de Rossi 

and her haciendero husband, former 

Negros Occidental Congressman Jules 

Ledesma, had been the subject of 

rumors about the alleged shaky state of 

their union. The fire was stoked by 

dusky 5’10” Fil-Italian beauty’s plaint 

about her husband being too 

preoccupied sorting out the inheritance 

papers of their landowning clan, 

leaving him no time for themselves. 

She griped that their much-delayed 

honeymoon had been shelved many


times due to pressing family matters 

that Jules had to attend to. The gossip 

was finally put to rest after the couple 

came out recently to declare that their 

marriage remains solid, no thanks to the 

nosey media. The widower ex-solon even 

made a surprise announcement. “Sam 

(Assunta’s nickname) and I are having a 

baby before the end of this year. And 

we’re finally going on a trip abroad, 

which has long been delayed, and it will 

be our real honeymoon.” He added: “In 

fact, as early as June or July, we’ll start 

working on our first baby.” During their 

trip, the Ledesmas plan to drop by Italy 

where Assunta’s parents are based (her 

mother is a Filipina and her father is 

Italian). 

Erap's Surprise Well- 

Wishers 

Ousted President Joseph Estrada 

marked his 69th birthday last April 19 

with a Mass and breakfast buffet in a 

church near the Sandiganbayan 

building where hours later he resumed 

his testimony on his plunder trial. 

Several thousand supporters packed the 

church, among them former Vice 

President Teofisto Guingona and 

Philippine Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 

half-sister, Cielo Macapagal-Salgado. In 

2000 Guingona, then a senator, 

delivered his "I Accuse" speech against 

Estrada. 

When reporters reminded him of his 

speech, Guingona said, it "was based on 

the circumstances and the evidence 

against him at the time.” He added: "The 

strongest of steel comes from the fiercest 

of fires. Erap went through the fiercest 

of fires and today we have a new view of 

Erap and he has a new view of the world. 

He has new values, a new faith in God, 

and so we continue to be friends as we 

were in yesteryears." Asked by reporters 

why she was in the affair, Salgado (she 

is the late President Diosdado 

Macapagal’s daughter by his first wife) 

said, "It just happens that I love my 

country more than my sister." The 

former Pampanga vice governor has a 

feud with the President, her husband 

Mike Arroyo and their daughter Luli. In 

his homily, Bishop Antonio Tobias 

stunned the audience when he told 

Estrada, "I hope you can forgive the 

Catholic Church for what happened to 

you," in reference to the major role of the 

late Cardinal Jaime L. Sin in the EDSA 

2 People Power revolt in January 2001 

that toppled Estrada. 

New Schedules 

PSW (P.A.B.) Course 

Monday to Friday 

8:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. 

Saturday Schedule 

8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. 

Starting soon 

Call to register 

514-485-7861 

Philip Salvador 

Convicted of Estafa 

Hell hath no fury like a woman 

scorned, and swindled. Tell that to actor 

Philip Salvador who had been convicted 

of estafa arising from a case filed by his 

former girlfriend. Philip was sentenced 

to four years to 20 years imprisonment 

by Judge Elizabeth Guray of the Las 

Piñas Regional Trial Court last April 21. 

His brother Ramon was acquitted due to 

insufficiency of evidence. Clutching a 

Bible and holding the hand of his 

current girlfriend, Philip received the 

verdict calmly and continued to profess 

innocence. He will remain on temporary 

liberty until after the case is resolved 

with finality. The case stemmed from a 

complaint filed by Philip’s former 

girlfriend, businesswoman Cristina 

Decena, who accused him and his 

brother Ramon of diverting 

US$100,000 for a remittance company 

that they would supposedly set up in 

Hong Kong. Decena has filed three 

estafa cases against Philip; one was 

dismissed and one is still pending in the 

court. 

Lito Lapid Comes to 

GMA's Rescue 

Leon Guerrero, the swashbuckling 

defender of the oppressed that Lito 

Lapid popularized on the big screen, is 

coming to life. The action star-turned 

politician (former Pampanga governor 

and now senator) is coming to the 

rescue of a lady in distress – no less 

than his cabalen and patron, President 

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Senator Lito 

has revealed plans to challenge Makati 

Mayor Jojo Binay for the mayoralty post 

of the country’s premier city in 2007. 

Upon the prodding of President 

Arroyo, the former Pampanga governor 

says he is willing to sacrifice his Senate 

post in order to help his benefactor in 

her political problem. He said he has 

bought a house in posh Magallanes 

Village to meet the residency 

requirement for a candidate for a local 

post. 

A leading opposition figure and 



campaign manager of the late Fernando 

Poe Jr. in his failed presidential bid in 

2004, Binay is on the forefront of the 

movement to unseat Mrs. Arroyo and 

has allowed anti-Arroyo rallies in the 

heart of the country’s financial district 

on Ayala Avenue. He and his wife have 

controlled Makati city hall for the past 

20 years. 

There is no question about Senator 

Lito’s masa appeal but it remains to be 

seen whether that would be enough to 

topple the well-entrenched Binay, who 

has built a strong political network in 

the city anchored on well-funded social 

services for the lower-income bracket 

which make up the bulk of the city’s 

voting population. 

Observers also note that the actor’s 

image as an outsider and a close ally of 

Mrs. Arroyo could prove his undoing in 

the opposition bailiwick. 

First Filipino-Canadian 

Idol Concert sold out 

Considering that this is the first 

concert, it was a pleasant surprise that 

it sold out early. Many people wanted 

to come into the Rasa Restaurant on 

855 Decarie Boulevard in Montreal, on 

Saturday, April 29, only to be 

disappointed that there were no more 

seats available for the dinner and were 

only told to come back at 10 p.m. to see 

the show. 

Joy Medina started the show and 

she made her entrance from the central 

part of the restaurant. Jonathan 

Pantaleon, the second prize winner of 

the 2005 Fil-Can Idol, made his 

entrance from another side and Ariel 

Tan, the first prize winner, came from 

the opposite side. At one point, they 

were all together on stage, and they 

interacted with the enthusiastic 

audience. Christine Toca who won the 

first prize in the Youth category sang 

Page 19 

Christine Toca singing a duet with Ariel Tan 

with the other two Idol winners. 

Another local talent, Michelle, also 

sang. The people seemed to have 

enjoyed all of their songs, especially 

when they were danceable and 

everyone went to the dance floor. 

Grace Yip, president of the 

Federation of Phil-Can Trade & 

Commerce, headed the group that 

organized the concert. 

The second Filipino-Canadian Idol 

competition will be held on August 5, 

2006. For more details, call Grace Yip 

at 514-683-3111, or Ariel Tan at 514- 

341-5227 

Panday Tinig 

presents 

“Alab ng Puso” 

Saturday, June 3, 2006 

Pollack Concert Hall 

McGill University 

550 Sherbrooke West 

Montreal, Quebec 

Ticket: $25 Gen. Admission 

(includes raffle ticket) 

$30 Patron (includes 1 raffle ticket/seating in 

reserved section/name printed in program) 

Info: Tel. (514) 485-7281 

E-Mail: panday@pandaytinig.ca 

“Alab ng Puso” is part concert, part musical play .... Come - hear - 

relive - how life used to be in the countryside - in the city The 

story of a young woman’s search for happiness - From the 

Philippines to Montreal and back... It could be your story. 

Prizes: 

1st - Return trip to the Phil. for one person 

(Value: $2000) 

2nd - 1 TV set (Value: $1000) 

3rd - Digital Camera (Value: $500)



Manila deputies march out 

of Congress after 71 days 

Five lawmakers accused of plotting 

against Philippine President Gloria 

Macapagal Arroyo marched from 

Congress with raised fists on Monday 

May 8, ending a 71-day confinement 

that has seen them become antigovernment 

heroes. 

About 1,000 supporters mobbed the 

politicians as they stepped out of 

congress's lower house, where they had 

been sheltering from arrest since Arroyo 

accused them of trying to oust her in an 

alleged coup plot in February. 

"We will not stop fighting for our 

freedom," Teodoro Casino told Reuters, 

vowing to work for the release of a sixth 

lawmaker Crispin Beltran, under police 

custody at a government hospital. 

Separately armed men lobbed a 

grenade at an office of a left-wing labor 

union on the southern island of 

Mindanao, wounding two people. No 

more details were available. 

Arroyo had accused 49 people, 

including renegade soldiers, communist 

rebels and the politicians, of plotting to 

oust her, triggering a week long state of 

emergency. 

But in a technical ruling a Manila 

court rejected rebellion charges against 

all but two of the accused, leaving the 

politicians, dubbed "the housemates" 

after reality TV show Big Brother, free to 

go. 

During their first week at Congress, 

the five slept on the carpeted floor of a 

meeting room before bringing foldable 

cots in to their offices. 

Their families brought in fresh 

clothes and cooked food for them every 

day but it was a tough slog despite 

celebrating the 67th birthday of Satur 

Ocampo, the oldest of the five, with a 

feast of roast pork and noodles. 

Philippine congressmen Rafael Mariano (from L-R), Liza Masa, Satur Ocampo, Joel Birador and 

Teodoro Casino march out from the main gate of the Congress in Quezon city, May 8, 2006 

"It's really difficult to sleep outside 

your own home. Our three children 

missed their father a lot." Lita Mariano, 

wife of Congressman Rafael Mariano, 

told Reuters. 

She said she was hoping her 

husband's freedom would be 

permanent, a gift for their 25th wedding 

anniversary next week. 

Arroyo's government had initially 

insisted that the five could still be 

arrested even after the court's decision 

but backed down amid fears of violence 

if police tried to act against them. 

$40M for Marcos victims 

A US appeals court has affirmed a 

lower court’s ruling to compensate 

nearly 10,000 victims of human-rights 

violations during the 20-year regime of 

strongman Ferdinand Marcos. 

In a decision issued Thursday May 

4 2006, the Ninth US Circuit Court of 

Appeals in San Francisco ruled that the 

9,539 victims be given approximately 

$40 million from New York brokerage 

house, Merrill Lynch. 

The court said that for 28 years 

Merrill Lynch invested money for an 

unknown Panamanian corporation 

allegedly owned by Marcos. 

The court denounced the “rough 

and rapacious rule” of Marcos “who 

often exercised arbitrary power” against 

the victims of torture, summary 

execution and disappearance. 

The appeals court found that 

previous claims to the money did not 

prosper because of the statute of 

limitations. The statute refers to the 

number of years that certain debts can 

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becollected The original $35 million 

deposited with the US court in 2000 is 

believed to have grown to at least P40 

million. This means each claimant will 

get from $3,000 to $3,500. 

A statement from the lawyers of the 

victims said the chief obstacle in 

recovering the Merrill Lynch money was 

the Philippine government’s 

intervention. 

The statement noted the “symbolic 

significance of some tangible recovery of 

money to the victims of abuse.” 

“This is a sweet victory for Filipino 

victims of human-rights abuses,” 

Robert Swift, US lead counsel for the 

victims, said. 

“We struggled with the scant 

resources for years to overcome many 

legal obstacles. We look forward to 

distributing the money to Filipinos as 

soon as the court will allow,” he added. 

Rod Domingo Jr., the Filipino counsel 

for the victims, also lauded the decision. 


Ex-president Estrada 

denies US spy charges 

Philippines’ ousted President 

Joseph Estrada on May 6 denied any 

role in a US espionage case dealing with 

alleged theft of classified documents, 

but the Department of Justice said only 

events would tell if his hands were 

clean. 

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez 

said the government would file rebellion 

charges against Estrada, Senator Panfilo 

Lacson and others if there was evidence 

that the espionage case involving a 

Filipino-American in the United States 

was linked to plots to unseat President 

Glorio Arroyo Macapagal. 

“Any case filed here will strengthen 

the case there,” Gonzalez said, 

commenting on the plea bargaining deal 

struck between US authorities and 

former Federal Bureau of Investigation 

intelligence analyst Leandro Aragoncillo. 

The Filipino-born former FBI officer has 

pleaded guilty to passing secrets to 

alleged plotters in the Philippines whom 

Federal prosecutors identified as 

Estrada, Lacson and former House 

Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella. 

The information he got from 

Aragoncillo was not classified and dealt 

with matters of public knowledge. 

Lacson did not answer calls or reply 

to text messages. He has also 

maintained that the information passed 

on to him by Michael Ray Aquino, his 

former police aide and a coaccused of 

Aragoncillo, was not classified. 

“We will file rebellion charges 

against them if we can make a linkage 

between the admission of Aragoncillo 

and the plot to oust the President from 

office,” Gonzalez said. 

Gonzalez disagreed with a statement 

by Presidential Chief of Staff Michael 

Defensor that politicians linked to the 

Aragoncillo case could be charged with 

treason, pointing out that treason “is a 

war crime.” 

He said that Estrada, Lacson and 

the others were “in trouble” if 

Aragoncillo indeed implicated them in 

the espionage operation. He said that if 

those named by Aragoncillo were 

eventually indicted in the United States, 

it would be logical for the US authorities 

to seek their extradition. 

Deposed Philippine president Joseph Estrada 

arrives at his residence in Manila's central San 

Juan district May 3, 2006 

“We will not object to their 

extradition. We have to honour the 

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty,” he 

said. “But these people can certainly 

resist by resorting to legal process by 

asking for evidence.” 

It was important for the government 

to obtain documents and other evidence 

used in the Aragoncillo case in the 

United States that would show 

conspiracy with politicians in the 

Philippines. 

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Page 21 

Banco Filipino gets P190M bailout loan 

THE Bangko Sentral on May 18 

approved a P190 million emergency loan 

to Banco Filipino Savings Bank to cover 

its liquidity problems. 

Sources at the BSP said the Aguirreowned 

thrift bank sought BSP’s 

assistance after experiencing "heavy 

withdrawals" in some of its branches. 

This is the second time that the bank is 

being bailed out by the central bank 

which in 1985 ordered its closure for 

being insolvent. 

The Supreme Court, however, 

overruled the central bank decision and 

ordered the re-opening of the bank in 

1994. 

The bank’s owners also sued BSP 

officials led by the late Gov. Jose B. 

Fernandez. 

BSP sources said the P190 million is 

just the first tranche in the bailout. They 

declined to name the amount in 

emergency loans Banco Filipino is 

seeking. 

The BSP extends emergency loans to 

banks encountering liquidity of up to 50 

percent of the borrowing bank’s total 

deposits and deposit substitutes as of 

the last banking day of the month 

preceding the date of emergency loan 

application. 

Sources said discussion at the 

seven-member Monetary Board, the 

BSP’s policy-making body, on the 

emergency loan was heated. 

For a loan to be approved, five votes 

are needed. Sources said one MB 

member was adamant in not lending to 

Banco Filipino, making the initial vote 

short by one vote. 

The country’s multilateral lenders 

led by the Asian Development Bank and 

credit ratings agencies have been calling 

on the central bank to stop rescuing 

banks and instead allow them to close 

shop if they do not pose a risk to the 

whole banking system. 

Banco Filipino had total assets as of 

March 2004 of P11 billion while total 

liabilities stood at P9 billion. Its 

capitalization stood at P1.6 billion. 

The bank’s major stockholders are 

Metropolis Development Corp., 19.5 

percent; Apex Mortgage and Loans, 18.7 

percent; LBH Inc., 7 percent; Juan Tiu, 

4 percent; C. Anthony Tiu, 3.3 percent; 

and Anthony Aguirre, 2.5 percent. 

Trading on the bank’s shares 

was suspended in 2002 with the shares 

closing price at P90 per on the last 

trading on Oct. 9, 2002. 

Stocks near 7-yr high on foreign buying 

Share prices on Monday May 8 

surged to a nearly seven-year high as 

foreign investors stepped up buying, 

with sentiments buoyed by the country's 

bright economic prospects, improving 

government finances, solid corporate 

earnings, low interest rates and relative 

political calm, analysts said. 

The 30-company Philippine Stock 

Exchange Index jumped 118.93 points, 

4.8 percent, to 2,589.17 after touching 

2,602.46. It was the index's best finish 

since July 13, 1999, when it hit 

2,604.49. 

The index has risen a hefty 14 

percent over the past five trading 

sessions. Even so, investor interest 

remains unabated, with P5.3 billion 

worth of shares traded on Monday 

compared with Friday's value turnover 

of P4.9 billion. 

"This is just the beginning," said 

Paul Joseph Garcia, chief investment 

officer at ING, adding that the mediumto 

long-term trend was up. 

"This is an indication that, one, 

finally investors are recognizing that the 

Philippines is back on the radar screen 

and, two, that the Philippines is an 

improving story on the macroeconomic 

front," Garcia said. 

JP Morgan heralded the current 

period as the "start of a new era" for the 

Philippines and said it had upgraded the 

country to an "overweight" in the Asia- 

Pacific stock markets. 

The bulk of Monday's trade was 

driven by foreign investors who bought 

P3.77 billion and sold P2.15 billion 

worth of shares traded on Monday 

compared with Friday's value turnover 

of P4.9 billion. 

This is just the beginning," said Paul 

Joseph Garcia, chief investment officer 

at ING, adding that the medium- to longterm 

trend was up. "This is an indication 

that, one, finally investors are 

recognizing that the Philippines is back 

on the radar screen and, two, that the 

Philippines is an improving story on the 

macroeconomic front," Garcia said. 

JP Morgan heralded the current 

period as the "start of a new era" for the 

Philippines and said it had upgraded the 

country to an "overweight" in the Asia- 

Pacific stock markets. 

The bulk of Monday's trade was 

driven by foreign investors who bought 

P3.77 billion and sold P2.15 billion 

worth of shares. Net foreign inflow 

reached P1.6 billion, with only the 

mining sector in the red, down 2.6 

percent after hitting a record high in 

mid-April. Since January, net foreign 

inflows to the Philippines of $163 million 

have caught up with the total inflow in 

2005, according to Nomura data, and 

were higher than both Indonesia and 

Malaysia. 

"What is surprising is the speed by 

which the market has gone up," said 

Edgar Bancod, head of research at ATR 

Kim Eng Securities. "It happened so fast 

that investors are buying like there is no 

tomorrow." 

"Foreign interest has returned. They 

view the Philippines as a laggard play," 

said Mark Tan, Singapore-based 

director of Asian equities at UOB Asset 

Management, which has Philippine 

investments. The Philippine market has 

"not performed as well as the rest of the 

Asian markets since the recovery in 

2002," Tan said. "So there's probably a 

lot of catch-up going on right now." 

MORTGAGE LOAN 


Call 514-244-8717 


Soon to open, the 

Mall of Asia 

The Mall of Asia, the biggest and 

most ambitious undertaking so far of 

the retail giant SM Mall, is set to open its 

doors Sunday May 21 to the public with 

almost all of its units for lease already 

sold out. 

At a press conference, Hans Sy, 

president of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., 

said 72 percent of stores, stalls and 

restaurants would also be starting their 

operations on Sunday. Sy added that 92 

percent of “leasable” spaces were 

already sold out. He said the company is 

“choosy” leaseholders because its goal 

for the MOA is to achieve an ideal mix of 

stores and merchandise. 

Built at a cost of P6.5 billion, MOA is 

SM’s 25th mall and measures 400,000 

square meters with provisions for 

expansion. 

The project took two-and-a-half 

years to build and was designed by the 

United States-based designing 

company, Arquitectonica. The design 

company was the planner of the Festival 

Walk in Hong Kong, American Airlines 

Arena in Miami foe the Miami Heat, 

Westin Hotel in Times Square in New 

York and Disney All-Star Resort in 

Florida. 

Sy expressed confidence that with 

the remittances from overseas Filipino 

workers and the growth of the 

Oil-tariff reduction set 

as govt issues rules 

Duties on imported crude and 

refined petroleum products can now be 

reduced as the Department of Energy on 

Wednesday May 17 assigned price levels 

that will trigger the automatic reduction 

in tariffs. The department’s move 

comes days after Malacañang signed 

Executive Order 527, ordering an 

automatic reduction in oil tariffs 

depending on certain triggers dictated 

by international oil prices. 

The department said tariffs on both 

imported crude and refined products 

will be reduced to 2 percent from the 

existing 3 percent should prices of 

Dubai crude, the benchmark for 

Philippine crude, reach $66 a barrel, 

and the Mean of Platts Singapore 

(MOPS), the benchmark for nonrefiners 

4715 Van Horne 

(near Plamondon Metro) 

Tel.: 514-344-9999 

call-center industry in the country, 

consumer spending would remain 

strong despite political uncertainty, oil 

price increases and even the 12-percent 

value-added tax. 

The Mall of Asia is also expected 

create a total of 10,000 employment 

jobs. Located on a 60-hectare property 

overlooking Manila Bay, the complex 

consists of four buildings linked by 

elevated walkways—Main Mall, the 

North Parking Building, the South 

Parking Building, and the 

Entertainment Center Building. 

MOA also boasts of the country’s 

first IMAX theater, which has a 600seating 

capacity, a special Director’s 

club screening room for exclusive film 

showings and seven more state-of-theart 

cinemas and fine dining restaurants 

and bars. The IMAX screens will be 

22x30 meters, approximately the height 

of an eight-story building and will seat 

600 people. 

MOA, which adds the Manila Bay 

sunset view among its attractions, has 

5,000 parking spaces with a provision 

for expansion of up to 7,000 parking 

slots. It will also have a 2,500 squaremeter 

transport depot on each side of 

the North and South Parking Buildings, 

which can accommodate all kinds of 

public transportation. There will be an 

open parking space available at the side 

of the Entertainment Building, which 

can accommodate up to 100 tourists or 

chartered buses. 

operating in the Philippines, hit $88 a 

barrel in the last two weeks. 

Crude and petroleum products 

would enjoy zero duty should the 

average price for both Dubai crude and 

the MOPS diesel in the last two weeks 

reached $85 and $88, respectively. 

The energy department said the 

tariff cut will take effect only after it 

certifies to the Department of Finance 

and the Bureau of Customs that the 

trigger prices for both crude and diesel 

have been met. 

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla 

directed oil companies to reflect the 

reduction in diesel tariffs by means of 

lower prices to the public transport 

sector, which still forms part of the 

guidelines for the EO. The reduction will 

be on top of the P1-a-liter diesel 

discount the companies already grant 

jeepney drivers. 

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Page 22 

Manila bans showing of 

"The Da Vinci Code" 

Authorities in the Philippine capital 

Manila have banned all cinemas in the 

city from screening the controversial 

film "The Da Vinci Code." 

A resolution was signed by a 

majority of the city councillors just 

hours after it premiered in Asia's bastion 

of Catholicism. 

The resolution said the movie, which 

was based on US author Dan Brown's 

explosive novel, is "offensive to the 

established beliefs of the Roman 

Catholic Church." It stressed that the 

country's Revised Penal Code states that 

"it is a crime to exhibit films which 

offend a religion." 

A jeepney drives past a billboard promoting the 

film 'The Da Vinci Code' in Manila May 15 

before the movie got pulled from theatres there. 

6430 Victoria Avenue, Montreal 

Telephone: 514-733-7816 

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City councillor Benjamin Asilo, who 

authored the resolution, said malls and 

cinema owners who defy the ban risked 

Pacquiao, Larios to meet in 

Los Angeles 

Philippines contra Mexico Showdown,” 

scheduled on July 2 at the Araneta 

Coliseum. 

being fined, or their owners imprisoned. Two-time world champion Manny Boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya 

Those caught selling pirated DVDs Pacquiao came face to face with Mexican warned Pacquiao not to take Larios 

or VCDs of the movie could also be jailed Oscar Larios of Mexico for the second lightly, saying: “At 130 lb, Larios should 

for up to six months, Asilo warned. time in a news conference as they met be stronger. It’s a weight division where 

The movie takes a leaf from Brown's with the international press on May 19 he fits well with his height and heft.” 

book which put forward the theory that for their 12-round mano-a-mano super American trainer Freddie Roach 

Jesus Christ was married to the biblical featherweight championship in Manila. said Pacquiao is unfazed, describing 

prostitute Mary Magdalene, had The meeting between the Pacman Pacquiao’s current training in LA as 

children and that the sacred blood line and Chololo was held at the Avalon “going on schedule, one that will make 

still exists today in secret. 

Room of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. sure Manny will be ready for Larios.” 

The government's censor bureau Larios flew in from Mexico City while The Pacman’s coming showdown 

earlier this week allowed the film to be Pacquiao drove from the Wild Card Gym, with Larios is now being compared to 

shown but gave it an R-18 rating, only about 20 minutes away. Interest is the Ali-Frazier III “Thrilla in Manila,” 

meaning it is restricted to adults. very high on the coming Pacquiao fight, which was also held at the Big Dome 31 

Members of the politically influential 

Catholic Bishops Conference of the 

Philippines have also branded the movie 

as blasphemous. 

Meanwhile, movie critics of the 

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the 

Philippines (CBCP) expressed confidence 

yesterday that "The Da Vinci Code" 

headlining the “Mano-a-Mano, 

years ago. 

would ultimately strengthen the 

Christian faith of Filipinos. 

Watching the movie or reading the 

best-selling novel by American author 

Dan Brown would invite questions on 

the divinity of Christ, and in the end 

provide a deeper understanding of 

Christianity, said the Catholic Initiative 

for Enlightened Movie Appreciation 

(Cinema) after giving the movie an R-18 

rating. 

The Roman Catholic Church in the 

Philippines has decided not to push for 

a ban against the movie, while the 

national film classification board 

decided to allow its showing for adult 

audiences only. 

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Oscar Larios, of Mexico, left, poses with Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, at a news 

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Long string beans “sitaw” 

$1.99 lb



Page 23 

BIG SALE! BIG SALE! BIG SALE! 

Outside Metro Manila $80.00, Luzon $85.00, Visayas $100.00, Mindanao $105.00 

KAIBIGAN... 

MAGPADALA 

NA KAYO 

NG KAHON ! 

Naghihintay sila 

sa inyong padala.... 

Ang dulot ay 

ligaya!!! 

MONTREAL 

SM SERVICES 

CANADA 

FREE 

FREE 

LUZON 

MMANILA 

$65.00 

MANILAA 

$65.000 

MANILAA 

$65.00 

SM SERVICES CANADA 

VISAYAS 

MINDANAO 


I 

LOVE 

PHILIPPINES 

ROUND TRIP TICKETTO THE PHILIPPINES 

Raffle Draw: December 21, 2006 

SHIPMENT SCHEDULE: LEAVE MONTREAL - MAY 24, 2006 

ARRIVAL MANILA - JUNE 24, 2006 

Head Office: 3150 De Miniac, Ville St- Laurent, QC, H4S 1N5 Tel: 514.331.9997 Fax: 514.331.0477 

Free Call: 1.888.928.4318 Email: smsercan@yahoo.com 

S 

HINDI BINUBUKSAN 

HINDI BINABAWASAN 

HATID SA INYONG 

TAHANAN !!! 

514. 928.4318 

Special Deliveries: Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, 

Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon and Boracay.

Page 24

may 2006 - working copyzbk.qxp - Filipino Star

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