June 16 - 30, 2017
OPINION
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY
Rey Fortaleza - Publisher
Carlito Pablo - Editorial Consultant
Rosette Correa - Senior Editor
Jun Cordero - Associate Editor
Writers - Crisanta Sampang ; Columnists - Geoff Meggs, Ben Berto, Editha Corrales, Mon
Datol, Fr. Jerry Orbos SVD, DeeDee Sytangco, Alan Samuel, Erie Maestro, Sandee M.
Ed Malay, Jayne Anastacio, JJAtencio and Willie J. Uy (Manila Bureau Chief)
Alvin Barrera / Mon Correa - Graphics and Layout ; Rolly Fortaleza - Graphics Design
JoelCastro - Website; Julian Fortaleza - Sports Editor; Ricardo Fortaleza- Sports
Photography Editor: Dean Guzman; Photograhers- Charles De Jesus/ Christian Cunanan
Reyfort Publishing & Entertainment
Office Add: 9955 -149th Street,
Surrey, B.C. V3R 7N2
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.philippineasiannewstoday.com
http://www.reyfortmediagroup.com
Tel: (604) 588-news (6397)
Fax: (604) 588-6387
Copyright of letters and other materials submitted and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher may freely reproduce them in any other forms.
Opinions and views expressed are of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY. E-mail: [email protected]
Breaking
Point
Canada at 150
country
so
vast,
they
couldn’t agree where to start
governing. The first Prime
Minister, Conservative Party’s
John Macdonald, had to
resign because of the Pacific
Scandal which involved the
accepting of bribes (why is
this not surprising?) and the
Liberals under
Alexander
Mackenzie took over. Through
the years, the Liberals and
Conservatives have been at
each other’s necks trying
to take control, yet on the
bright side, it’s comforting to
know that there are only two
of them who bicker, unlike
the Philippines where a new
party is established every
time there is an election. Let’s
not include the NDP and the
Greens in this discussion.
So, really, 150 years
of Canada is a truly exciting
celebration, that despite what
has gone on for the last one
and a half century, the country
seems to be faring better than
its neighbour to the south.
Celebrating 150 years should
be a grand celebration, and
surely, Ottawa is doing its
best to promote it. Filipino-
Canadians should be extra
proud as Fil-Canadian Ariana
Cuvin, a graphics designer
from Toronto, designed the
logo, with careful thought
to Canada’s history and
By Rosette Correa
Filipinos are familiar
with young countries. The
Republic of the Philippines
is only 119th years old,
and unlike Canada, it went
through a lot of colonizers
and bloodshed before it got its
most coveted independence.
This week marks the last
week of a month-long
independence celebrations,
as it is very Filipino to stretch
a party as far as we can.
Canada is a young
country compared to most
countries in Europe. Under
Britain, who wanted the
prestige of owning a large and
vast piece of land away from
the overpopulated continent
to which it belonged, Canada
was a prized possession. It
was first called The Dominion
of Canada, by the suggestion
of New Brunswick’s Sir
Leonard Tilley because he
was inspired by the passage in
the Bible from Psalm 72:28,
referring to God’s dominion:
“He shall have dominion also
from sea to sea, and from
the river unto the ends of the
earth.” He wanted to make
sure Canada ruled itself.
Like all independent
countries, Canada has had
its share of bloodshed and
embarrassing moments, after
all, politicians took it upon
themselves to take over a
Bulong
Pulungan
By Deedee Siytangco
Angel Thoughts
“If God gives you a
burden, He will give you the
strength.” —St. Josemaria
Scriva
*****************
The Office of the
Ombudsman and Jollibee
Foods Corporation recently
launched its “Corrupt-Free
Philippines” caravan for this
year.
The project is Omb.
Chita Morales’ initiative to
educate Filipino youngsters to
shun and prevent corruption,
and her efforts has taken the
project around the country in
So, shame on you,
dear politicians. For at least
a week, we’d like you to stop
biting each other’s heads off,
and join us in celebrating
Canada’s 150th birthday.
Come and enjoy the stories
and the triumphs of those
who had to fly, swim, jump
over bureaucratic red tape,
survive discrimination, endure
the despair of unrecognized
university education and
professional
credentials,
patiently wait to reunite with
their families after years of
separation, and empathize
with deported and repatriated
OFWs and TFWs, while you
and your first world political
problems take center stage
just because you can control
the situation. Come and join
your constituents who you
really don’t know, who oppose
laws you have written but
quietly keep their opinions to
themselves, and who watch
helplessly on the sides as you
delay the passing of the laws
that really matter. Sit with us
who oppose the legalization
of marijuana, assisted suicide,
abortion, and other laws
because they go against our
beliefs, but you pass them
because of a certain small
group of people who make
the bigger noise and because
they will make you look
better and more “inclusive”.
Come join our simple meals
because we want to celebrate
the better life Canada has
offered us, even without your
help.
You can have cake and
eat it, too. It’s on us.
Jollibee and the integrity caravan
various forms,
essay writing
for
example.
The education and awareness
program is sponsoring a
Corrupt-free Philippines video
contest which is open to all
college students.
The video must be
filmed only by a cell phone and
must be three to five minutes
long, in English, Tagalog, or
in any local dialects.
Omb. Morales hopes
that, thru the videos, the
people can be inspired to
strive for integrity, efficiency,
and high moral standards in
the country. At the Bulong
Pulungan forum, Deputy
Reprinted from Manila Bulletin
diversity.
And how are we
preparing for the celebration
here in BC?
We’re bickering in the
Parliament as to who gets
to sit in the hot seat simply
because Christie Clark has
tied herself to the chair and
doesn’t want to let go. As John
Horgan and Andrew Weaver
try to pry her glued hands
to the chair, the entire mess
overshadows the birthday of
our dear Canada, turning the
luster into a mud wrestling
match. With only a few days
away from July 1, the folks
in the Parliament still have
not reached an agreement,
and Clark does not want to
bow out with dignity, so here
we are, in the middle of their
mess, trying to put together a
celebration worthy of all our
hardships and journeys to
settle in this great nation.
Ombudsman
for
Luzon
Gerard Mosquera and director
Dennis Russel Baldago were
hopeful that students would
take up the anti-corruption
challenge of the contest
and submit films that would
inspire others.
The enthusiasm of
Mosquera in discharging his
duties is edifying. May we
have more dedicated public
servants like him and his
boss Omb. Morales! Paulyn
Lao of Jollibee stressed their
pleasure and honor to be
partners in the project since
its aims are also the popular
food chain’s corporate ideals.
The contest is open to
college students currently
enrolled. The deadline is
Sept. 30 and more details can
be gathered from the website
http;//bit.ly1/1bHy010. Prizes
are P100,000, P50,000,
and P25,000. Let’s have a
‘Corrupt-Free Philippines!’
* * *
Amid beautiful old trees
and lush plants, the 68-year
bungalow on 2650 Zamora
Street in Pasay is an art,
fashion, and food oasis. It is
also the ancestral home of
National Artist for Architecture
Pablo S. Antonio. The children
all grew up there, noted
bridal designer Malu Veloso,
architects Pablo Jr., Antonio
Victor (RIP) Luis or Chito and
Ramon, Pancho, and their
adopted sibling Anette. They
all take pride in the home that
set the style for indoor gardens
and all-around wide windows
to bring the outdoors in. It is
now a center of architecture,
arts, and elegant dining, by
reservations only.
The bungalow and
its
surrounding
garden
was a blueprint for tropical
architecture,
inspiring
Antonio’s Manila Polo Club
and a slew of other houses in
the Philippines. Antonio also
counts Far Eastern University,
the pre-war PNR stations, and
PNB offices, famous theaters
CONT PAGE 9
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM