may 2006 - working copyzbk.qxp - Filipino Star

May 2006
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
The North American Filipino Star
www.filipinostar.org
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)