Filipino Star - March 2016 Edition · Australian magazine. Experts say Santiago, who is running for the third time, is a legitimate candidate running on her reputation as a brilliant

Volume XXXIV No. 3 March 2016 Montreal, QC Canada www.filipinostar.org

Comelec appeals SC ruling on Grace Poe

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – TheCommission on Elections (Comelec)on Tuesday, March 22, appealed theSupreme Court (SC) ruling that allowedSenator Grace Poe to run for president.

Comelec Commissioner Arthur Limsaid the poll body was filing its motionfor reconsideration Tuesday afternoon.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Limstressed that the SC remains dividedon Poe. He cited SC rules stating “thatif the Supreme Court en banc is equallydivided in opinion, or the necessarymajority vote cannot be had, the Courtshall deliberate on it anew.”

He added, “If, after such deliberation,still no decision is reached, the Courtshall, in an original action filed with it,dismiss the case.”

Lim explained that 7 SC justices votedthat Poe is presumptively natural born.He said this is not a majority vote.

He said this is because 5 SC justicesvoted that Poe is not a natural-born

See Page 4 Comelec appeals

Belgium names Brussels bomberbrothers, says key suspect on run

By Jan Strupczewski, JuliaFioretti and Alastair Macdonald March23, 2016 BRUSSELS (Reuters) -

Belgium's chief prosecutornamed two brothers on Wednesday asIslamic State suicide bombers whokilled at least 31 people in the mostdeadly attacks in Brussels' history butsaid another key suspect was on therun.

Tuesday's attacks on a city thatis home to the European Union andNATO sent shockwaves across Europeand around the world, with authorities

racing to review security at airports andon public transport. It also rekindleddebate about lagging Europeansecurity cooperation and flaws inpolice surveillance.

The attacks came four monthsafter militants, also from IS, carried outbombings and shootings in Paris thatkilled 129 people. Some Belgian mediareports said a forensic link had beenestablished between one of theBrussels bombers, who may have

See Page 4 -- Brussels attacks

Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim stresses that the Supreme Court remains divided onpresidential bet Senator Grace Poe's citizenship

Three men who are suspected of taking part in the attacks at Belgium's ZaventemAirport on Tuesday. The man at center has been identified as Ibrahim El Bakraoui.

Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero announce their complete senatorial lineup on Thursday, October 29, 2015, at ClubFilipino in San Juan City.

March 20162 The North American Filipino Star

7159 ch. de la Cote des NeigesMontreal, Quebec H3R 2M2

Tel.: 514-485-7861E-Mail: [email protected] by: Filcan Publications, Inc.

Zenaida Ferry KharroubiChief Editor & Publisher

Sam KevinNews & Layout Editor W.G. Quiambao

Community News

Al AbdonFely Rosales CarinoMichael Davantes

Columnists Bert AbieraFounder

The opinions expressed by the writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect thatof the management of the North American Filipino Star nor its editors.

EEDDIITTOORRIIAALLWho will be the ideal president?

SUBSCRIPTIONName____________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________E-mail:____________________________________________________Tel.: Residence __________________ Business ________________

1 year $25 2 years $45

Please mail your subscription form to:The North American Filipino Star7159 chemin de la Cote des NeigesMontreal, QC H3R 2M2

Dear Editor,

Permit me to follow up on my letter of lastmonth where I indicated there soon wouldbe an important public meeting on theissue of the under representation of visibleminorities in municipal elected office.

Thus, allow me to use the pages of theFilipino Star to urge your readers to attendthis public meeting which will be held April5 at 7:00 PM at 6767 Cote des Neiges.

Your readers will recall that on January 18six Montreal City Councillors and variousorganizations representing visible minoritycommunities convened an importantpress conference to discuss the absenceof visible minorities in municipal office inMontreal.

Specifically, the press conference wascalled to support my motion at theJanuary 25 City Council meeting whichpointed out that only 6 of 208 electedmunicipal officials in the agglomeration ofMontreal (the City and on-island suburbs)are from visible minority communitieswhile one person in three on the island ofMontreal hails from these communities.

As the research released at the pressconference showed, this unfortunatesituation is not a Montreal problem alone.Visible minorities are more or less invisiblein municipal Councils right acrossCanada. This a national disgrace,particularly in a country that prides itself asmultiracial and multicultural and anexample of what a tolerant and acceptingsociety can accomplish.

Toronto, a city where visible minoritiesaccount for 49% of the population has fivepersons of visible minority origin on itsCouncil of 45. That is one of the betterrecords in Canada. NeighbouringMississauga which has a visible minoritymajority has no visible minorities on itsCouncil.

My power of action is necessarilyconstrained to Montreal where I can speakand raise motions. Indeed my motion ofJanuary was adopted and now representsa challenge for the municipal politicalparties for the 2017 civic elections. Therehas been overwhelmingly positive reactionto the press conference and the motion. Inresponse to many requests, theCouncillors and the organizations thathave launched this campaign feel it isimportant to continue the work and keepthis issue squarely in the public eye.

Clearly there is much to discuss.Accordingly, a first public meeting hasbeen convened for Tuesday, April 5 at 7PM at 6767 Cote des Neiges. This meetingwill discuss Montreal's governance model,explain the electoral process and considersetting up a permanent working group thatwill interface with civil society.

It is essential that the public seize theopportunity provided by the adoption ofmy motion. I hope the readers of theFilipino Star will consider accepting thisinvitation and join us at this importantpublic meeting on April 5.

In some respects we have already madehistory in that we are buildingcollaboration between communities whichhave rarely worked together before. It isheartening to see organizations andindividuals from the Filipino, Black,Chinese, Bangladeshi, Indian and Chinesecommunities work on a common cause. Ihope the public will manifest its interestand that we will have a large attendanceon April 5.

Yours truly,

Marvin Rotrand City Councillor

Letters to the Editor

Every time an election comes,we always wonder if the Philippineswould ever elect a president who is avisionary to make things better for thecommon masses. Out of the six whofiled their certificates of candidacy forpresident, five have emerged as themain contenders - Grace Poe, JejomarBinay, Mar Roxas, Rodrigo Duterte andMiriam Defensor Santiago. But doesany one of them qualify to be the kind ofpresident the Philippines needs?

Leading the voter preferencesurveys is Grace Poe, 47. She says shewill put her heart in governance, getcloser to the people and be able to feelwhat they feel. In presenting her visionfor the country, Poe anchored this onthe idea of unity and inclusiveness,which she said was inspired by herfather’s dream for the country.According to Poe, her program iscentered on “a simple principle andbelief:” that no Filipino and no regionshould be left behind. She outlinedthree strategies to achieve her goals.The first is to fight poverty and push forinclusive growth. The second is to havean open government, one that is freefrom corruption and respects humanrights. The third is to push for a culturethat would pave the way for thecountry’s global competitiveness.

Vice President Jejomar Binaywants to continue higher economicgrowth by investing more ininfrastructure and ensuring that action istaking place quicker. He wants first togenerate more resources externally byinviting foreign investors and makingsure that environment is reallyconducive to foreign investments. Histeam would propose amending theeconomic provisions of the Constitutionto allow foreign investors to invest inareas that have been disallowed orlimited — land, public utilities.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte hasthree priorities –first 24/7 fight againstcrime and corruption, second, promotethe development of the economy bytying this up with the advocacy onfederalism, which is regionaldevelopment and the last is equalitybefore the law and give equalopportunities for everyone. He alsoproposes programs for SMEs andagriculture, promises free irrigation forfarmers if elected president.

For administration bet Manuel

"Mar" Roxas II, the priority is to continuethe "Daang Matuwid” which underlieshis entire platform, that has been startedby President Aquino. He declares "threefreedoms" at center of his platform - firstis the freedom of hunger, and that isessentially concerned with jobgeneration particularly in the agriculturesector. He talks about foreigninvestments in manufacturing andbigger government investments ininfrastructure for the agricultural sector.The second is freedom from fear —talking about safety nets on healthissues and peace and order, improvepolicing. Third, the freedom to dreamwhich goes towards improving thecapacity of individual citizens andfamilies to actually aspire for theirdreams, such as expanding the K-12and CCT [conditional cash transfer]programs."

Senator Miriam Santiagoalmost won the presidency in 1992. The70-year old has served in all threebranches of the Philippine government -judicial, executive, and legislative - andwas once named one of the 100 mostpowerful women in the world by TheAustralian magazine. Experts saySantiago, who is running for the thirdtime, is a legitimate candidate runningon her reputation as a brilliant andfearless mind, but is currentlylanguishing in surveys in the singledigits area. She was very ill with cancer;but insists she has fully recovered. Sheplans to “aggressively fight the waragainst illegal drugs”. She haspromised to reform the tax system andincrease government efficiency, with thegoal of keeping the government deficitbelow 3% of the GDP. She also plans toinvest in public infrastructure,agriculture sector, and governmentinstitutions. An advocate of theReproductive Health Law (RHL), shewas not pleased by the 1 billion pesobudget allocation cuts forcontraceptives. She said that, if she willbe elected, she will work for a full andconscientious implementation of theRHL.

All candidates appear to havegood platforms but Grace Poe seems tohave the edge as she appeals to theheart of the masses. Being a newpolitician without any bad record, shemight be what the Philippines need inthe new era of “governance with aheart.”

March 2016 3The North American Filipino Star

www.filipinostar.orgwww.filipinostar.org

Divina / Cynthia Bacalla

Hygienistes dentaires

4919 boul. Sources, Pierrefonds, Roxboro Que. H8Y 3E1

Tel.: 514-900-1888 [email protected]

FAX: 514-542-7788TEL: 514-542-7888

Join me in a working session on the under representation of visible minorities on municipal councils in the agglomeration of Montreal.

APRIL 5th

at the Centre communautaire de la Côte-des-Neiges 6767 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges

7 PM

Marvin ROTRANDCity Councillor – Snowdon5160, boul. Décarie, bureau 710, Montréal (Québec) H3X 2H9 514-872-4863

3-4862714-85eau 710, bur, boul. Décarie1605

ouncillor – Snoy CCitTRMarvin RO

Québec) H3X 2H9 éal (tr, Moneau 710

donwouncillor – SnoANDTR

Québec) H3X 2H9

Buffet

Letter to the Editor (Continued)

Dear Editor;

US Secretary of State John Kerry saida couple years ago that “If I went backto college today, I think I wouldprobably major in comparative religion,because that’s how integrated it is ineverything that we are working on anddeciding and thinking about today.”

With so many conflicts in the worldhaving a religious dimension, it iscritically important that Westerngovernments understand thatdimension and work to promotereligious freedom and communalharmony.

In the last Parliament, our governmentcreated an Office of Religious Freedomwithin Canada's department of ForeignAffairs, now Global Affairs. This officewas and is fairly modest in scope witha budget of $5 million. But this office ispunching above its weight. Most of itsresources go directly to supportingprograms in troubled regions of theworld. And the office also helpsCanadian public servants understandthe important role that religionoccupies in many internationalconflicts. It helps to make up for thatreligious knowledge gap which John

Kerry was referring to.

When it comes to religiouspersecution, the numbers arestaggering. Christians face morepersecution today than they did duringthe period of the early church. Sikhsand Hindus in places like Afghanistanface significant persecution, which hasled to a dramatic decline in theirpopulations. Uyghur Muslims in Chinaand Tatar Muslims in Russia are underincreasing pressure and many humanrights groups have recognized thatwhat is happening to Yazidis,Christians and other minorities in Syriaand Iraq is nothing short of genocide.

Canada needs to be involved inpromoting religious freedom,tolerance, and pluralism around theworld. The mandate of the Office ofReligious Freedom is set to expire onMarch 31st and we have been callingon the government to renew itsmandate and to let it continue to do itsvital work. The work of Canada's Officeof Religious Freedom is needed nowmore than ever.

-Garnett Genuis, MPDeputy Critic for Human Rights andReligious Freedom

Let’s go sugaring off to St. Jerome

Cabane à sucre Bouvrette

on Saturday, April 2, 2016Assembly time: 9:45 a.m. Departure: 10:00 a.m.Meeting place: Plamondon Metro (Van Horne exit)

Donation: $35 covers bus and buffet food$25 (below 12)

Call 514-485-7861 to reserve organized by Gilmore College International

March 20164

www.filipinostar.org

The North American Filipino Star

Filipino, while 3 other justices abstained.

“‘Yung 3 abstentions, boto rin po ‘yun,”Lim said. (The 3 abstentions are alsovotes.)

The SC on March 8 voted to reverse theComelec’s decision to cancel Poe’scertificate of candidacy for president.

The High Court explained that, for one,“there is more than sufficient evidence”that Poe “has Filipino parents and istherefore a natural-born Filipino.” –Rappler.com

PRIVATE respondents who had

lost their bid to disqualify presidential

candidate Grace Poe have asked theSupreme Court to reconsider itslandmark ruling in favor of the senator,calling the decision “a 47-pageperversion of the Constitution.”

In a joint motion forreconsideration, former Sen. Francisco“Kit” Tatad, De La Salle Universityprofessor Antonio Contreras, formerUniversity of the East Law Dean AmadoValdez and former Government ServiceInsurance System chief legal counselEstrella Elamparo on Friday urged thecourt to overturn its March 8 ruling,saying the “ignominy” could erode thepublic’s trust in the country’s institutions.

“By declaring that petitioner Poeis qualified to be a candidate forpresident in the coming elections, thehonorable court committed a seriousmisstep from which the nation mightnever recover,” read the 48-pagereconsideration plea.

The plea asserted that Poe wasboth a noncitizen and is short of the 10-year residency requirement forpresidential candidates, contrary to theSupreme Court’s ruling that affirmed thesenator on both points.

“Private respondents urge thehonorable court to reconsider thispatently discriminatory ruling, that canonly but further degrade the trust that thepublic bestows on a government that itexpects to exercise fairness,” said therespondents, calling Poe a “truenuisance candidate.”

The four, all petitioners in thedisqualification cases against thesenator before the Commission onElections (Comelec), questioned thevoting that won the case for Poe, sayingthere was no clear majority on howmagistrates ruled on the separate issuesof citizenship and residency.

AbandonedPoe, a baby abandoned at a

church in Jaro, Iloilo, in 1968, does notknow her biological parents. Raised byher the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and

actress Susan Roces as their own, Poe

became a US citizen in 2001 afterresiding for more than a decade in theUnited States.

She returned to the Philippinesin May 2005, months after burying herfather, and reacquired her Philippinecitizenship in July 2006. She renouncedher American citizenship in 2010, uponher appointment as chair of the Movieand Television Review and ClassificationBoard.

Fighting to stay in thepresidential race, Poe won the caseagainst her disqualification in a 9-6 vote,with the majority all agreeing that theComelec had committed grave abuse ofdiscretion in canceling Poe’s certificateof candidacy.

The voting varied on the issues.Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Serenodisclosed in her concurring opinion thatout of 12 justices who opted to bring thecitizenship issue to a vote, seven heldthat Poe was natural born, while sevenout of 13 voted that Poe had met the 10-year residency requirement.

For the respondents, thisdefeated the point of the majority rule.“With the ruling of the majority today, apresidential candidate who is deemed anatural-born Filipino citizen by less thanmajority of this Court, deemed not anatural-born Filipino citizen by fivejustices, and with no opinion from threejustices, can now run for President of thePhilippines even after havingunanimously found by the Comelec enbanc to be not a natural-born Filipinocitizen,” read the plea.

“What is clear and undeniableis that there is no majority of this courtthat holds that petitioner Poe is anatural-born Filipino citizen,” it said.TVJ

From Page 1 - Comelec appeals

been killed, and the Nov. 13 attacks inthe French capital.

Washington announced thatSecretary of State John Kerry wouldvisit Belgium on Friday to demonstratesupport.

The Belgian federal prosecutortold a news conference that Ibrahim ElBakraoui, 29, one of two men who blewthemselves up at Brussels airport onTuesday, had left a will on a computerdumped in a rubbish bin near themilitants' hideout.In it, he described himself as "always onthe run, not knowing what to doanymore, being hunted everywhere,not being safe any longer and that if hehangs around, he risks ending up nextto the person in a cell" - a reference tosuspected Paris bomber SalahAbdeslam, who was arrested last week.

His brother Khalid El Bakraoui,27, detonated a bomb an hour later ona crowded rush-hour metro train nearthe European Commissionheadquarters, prosecutor Frederic VanLeeuw said.

Both men, born in Belgium,had criminal records for armed robberybut investigators had not linked them toIslamist militants until Abdeslam'sarrest, when police began a raceagainst time to track down hissuspected accomplices.

That seems to have promptedthe bombers to rush into an attack inBelgium after months of lying low,according to the testament found on

the laptop.At least 31 people were killed

and 271 wounded in the attacks, theprosecutor said. That toll couldincrease further because some of thebomb victims at Maelbeek metrostation were blown to pieces andvictims are hard to identify. Severalsurvivors were still in critical condition.The Bakraoui brothers were identifiedby their fingerprints and on securitycameras, the prosecutor said. A secondsuicide bomber at the airport had yet tobe identified and a third man, whom hedid not name, had left the biggestbomb and ran out of the terminal beforethe explosions.

Belgian media named that manas Najim Laachraoui, 25, a suspectedIslamic State recruiter and bomb-makerwhose DNA was found on twoexplosives belts used in the Parisattacks and at a Brussels safe houseused by Abdeslam.

De Standaard newspaper,

however, citing an unidentified source,named Laachraoui as the secondsuicide bomber at the airport.

Khalid El Bakraoui rentedunder a false name the apartment in thecity's Forest borough, where policehunting Abdeslam killed a gunman in araid last week. He is also believed tohave rented a safe house in thesouthern Belgian city of Charleroi usedto mount the Paris attacks.

"BLACK DAYS"Turkey said it had detained

Ibrahim El Bakraoui near the Syrianborder last year and deported him tothe Netherlands before he was brieflyheld in Belgium, then released."Belgium ignored our warning that thisperson is a foreign fighter," PresidentTayyip Erdogan said.

The Brussels attacks camedays after a suspected Islamic Statesuicide bomber blew himself up inIstanbul's most popular shoppingdistrict, killing three Israelis and anIranian.The Syrian-based Islamist groupclaimed responsibility for Tuesday'sattacks, warning of "black days" forthose fighting it in Syria and Iraq.Belgian warplanes have joined thecoalition in the Middle East, butBrussels has long been a hub ofIslamist militants who operatedelsewhere.

A minute's silence wasobserved across Belgium at noon.Prime Minister Charles Michelcancelled a trip to China and reviewed

security measures with his innercabinet before attending a memorialevent at European Commissionheadquarters with King Philippe,Commission President Jean-ClaudeJuncker and French Prime MinisterManuel Valls.

"We are determined, admittedlywith a strong feeling of pain in ourstomachs, but determined to act,"Michel told a joint news conference withValls. "France and Belgium are united inpain more than ever."

Valls played down cross-border sniping over security, saying:"We must turn the page on naivete, aform of carefreeness that our societieshave known.

"It is Europe that has beenattacked. The response to terrorismmust be European."

EU justice and interiorministers will hold an emergencymeeting in Brussels on Thursday, theDutch EU presidency said.

From Page 1 - Brussels attacks

Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe. FILE PHOTO/JAY MORALES

Map of the airport showing where the bomings occurred among the crowdsdeparting for their travels

Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim

5The North American Filipino StarFebruary 2016

DR. EMILIA ESPIRITU

CHIRURGIEN DENTISTE / DENTALSURGEON

5790 Cote des Neiges Rd Suite A-024MONTREAL, QUEBECH3S 1Y9

PHONE: 514-340-8222 (4077)

COURTIER IMMOBILIER / REAL ESTATE BROKERANGELITO ILAGANCELL PHONE: (514) [email protected]

Two or more storey320 rue Maurice RichardVaudreuil-Dorion(Monteregie)

Two or more storey172 rue André LacombL’Ile-Perrot(Montérégie)

More than 1,000 peoplegathered around an improvised shrinewith candles and street paintingsoutside the Brussels bourse.

Belgium's crisis coordinationcentre kept the level of security alert atthe maximum as the man huntcontinued. Some buses and trainswere running but the metro and theairport were closed, along with keyroad tunnels in Brussels.

The blasts fuelled politicaldebate across the globe about how tocombat militants.

Donald Trump, the front-runnerfor the Republican nomination tosucceed Obama in November's U.S.election, suggested suspects could betortured to avert such attacks. He alsosaid in a British television interview thatMuslims were not doing enough toprevent that kind of violence.

After a tip-off from a taxi driverwho unwittingly drove the bombers tothe airport, police searched anapartment in the Brussels borough ofSchaerbeek late into the night, findinganother bomb, an Islamic State flag, 15kg of the same kind of explosives usedin the Paris attacks and bomb-makingchemicals.

An unused explosive devicewas also found at the airport.

CLOSING INSecurity experts believed the

blasts were probably in preparationbefore Friday's arrest of locally basedFrench national Abdeslam, 26, whomprosecutors accuse of a key role in theNov. 13 Paris attacks.

He was caught and has beenspeaking to investigators after ashootout at an apartment in the southof the city, after which another IslamicState flag and explosives were found.About 300 Belgians are estimated tohave fought with Islamists in Syria,

making the country of 11 million theleading European exporter of foreignfighters and a focus of concern inFrance and other neighbours over itssecurity capabilities.

Reviving arguments overBelgian security policies following theParis attacks, in which 130 people diedin an operation apparently organisedfrom Brussels, French Finance MinisterMichel Sapin spoke of "naiveté" on thepart of "certain leaders" in holding backfrom security crackdowns on Muslimcommunities.Belgian Foreign Minister DidierReynders retorted that each countryshould look to its own social problems,saying France too had rough high-risesuburbs in which militants had becomeradicalised. Valls said France had noplace teaching Belgium lessons andhad problems with its owncommunities.

Brussels airport seemed likelyto remain shut for several days over thebusy Easter holiday weekend, sincethe departure hall was still beingcombed as a crime scene onWednesday and repairs can only beginonce investigators are finished."Belgium ignored our warning that thisperson is a foreign fighter," PresidentTayyip Erdogan said.

The Brussels attacks camedays after a suspected Islamic Statesuicide bomber blew himself up inIstanbul's most popular shoppingdistrict, killing three Israelis and anIranian.

The Syrian-based Islamistgroup claimed responsibility forTuesday's attacks, warning of "blackdays" for those fighting it in Syria andIraq. Belgian warplanes have joined thecoalition in the Middle East, butBrussels has long been a hub ofIslamist militants who operatedelsewhere.

An American injured in theBrussels terror attacks has already beenimpacted previous terror attacks inBoston and Paris, his family said.

Mason Wells, 19, was injured in thebombing at the Brussels airport alongwith two other American Mormonmissionaries who had gone to helpcheck in other missionaries who weretraveling to the U.S.

Wells suffered a ruptured Achillestendon, shrapnel injures, as well assecond- and third-degree burns on his

face and hands after the bombing, hisfather Chad Wells told ABC News.

The teen missionary had previouslybeen impacted by other terror attacks inParis and Boston.

“This is his third terrorist attack," ChadWells said, noting he was with his sonjust a block from the Boston Marathonbombing.

"This is the third time that sadly in oursociety that we have a connection to abomb blast," Wells told ABC News. "We

live in a dangerous world and noteveryone is kind and loving."

Dramatic Video Goes Inside BrusselsAirport After Deadly AttacksExplosions Tear Through BrusselsAirport And SubwayNew York, DC Ramp Up Security inWake of Deadly Brussels Attacks

Wells said that during the BostonMarathon bombing, he was with his sona block away from the finish line, wherethe bombing took place, waiting forMason Wells' mother, who ran themarathon.

"It had shaken their bodies and he hadtaken Mason to our hotel and said tostay there," Kymberly Wells told ABCNews of her son and husband beingnear the Boston bombing. "Mason wasvery calm and composed."

The family said Wells was in Franceduring the Paris attacks last year thatlead to a wide mobilization to find theterrorists and disrupt future attacks.

"Mason has always assured us that he issafe and careful," Kymberly Wells said. "Itold him first and foremost always beaware of your surroundings, please bevery careful when you’re traveling bevery observant to people around you."

ABC News' Sally Hawkins and ClaytonSandell contributed to this report.

Mason Wells

Advertise your businesson MMTV Global andthe North American

Filipino Star -Call 514-485-7861

Apartment3153 Boul. de la Gare 103Vaudreuil-Dorion(Montérégie)

March 2016


The North American Filipino Star6

The illustrious Jeff Rustia

Toronto Men’s Fashion Week (TOM*) MensFashion4Hope featuring 20 of Canada’s top male models.

Philippine PresidentialPamana awardee Jeff Rustia isa Canadian broadcaster, creativedirector, TV host, and executiveproducer of Filipino descentfrom Toronto. He is recognized in theTV Industry as a leading creativeexecutive of FRONT TV, aninternational broadcast design andbranding agency. Under hisleadership, Front TV createdmulticultural global design fornetworks like Nickelodeon (India, Asia,Europe, Africa), Discovery Channel,CPAC, APTN, HBO, CBC, and CurrentTV. FRONT TV is recognized as one ofthe first agencies in Canada tospecialize in diversity. As a TV host andVJ, Rustia is known for hosting ClubFashion, a weekly national show on

fashion, style icons, nightlife, and clubculture on BPM:TV, Canada’s 24-hour

Dance Music Video Channel. Rustiahas interviewed many prominentfigures in fashion, entertainment, andmusic, and has travelled over 38countries for his style program. Rustiahas hosted several BPM:TV Specialsas well including 50 Most FashionableMusic Videos, a 5-part TV series on theworld's stylish music stars and theirvideos.

As executive producer, Rustiahas developed and produced severalCanadian programs, such as PetFashion TV, on the latest pet stylesand trends, and Kol’s World, a first ofits kind, children’s animated TV seriesabout a boy in a wheelchair named Kolwhose zest for life enables him toovercome any obstacle. He is also theexecutive producer and founder of

Canada Philippines Fashion Week(CPFW), which is dedicated to thepromotion and development of Filipinotalents in the Philippines and Canada.Furthermore, he is the man behindToronto Men’s Fashion week (TOM*) –the eighth men’s fashion week in theworld. With cutting-edge runwayshows and presentations, TorontoMen’s Fashion Week (TOM*) hasbecome the most influential platform inCanada for menswear designers andbrands.

While Rustia’s passion forfashion is evident, his heart is on KolHope Foundation for Children, whichhe co-founded. It is the first charitableorganization in North America thathelps and supports children born withTrisomy-related disabilities. TheFoundation which was formed in 2002,is named after Jeff Rustia's son, Kol,who was born with a Trisomy 13genetic syndrome. Kol, who died onOctober 9, 2011, is the inspiration andstory behind the foundation. OnNovember 11, 2011, Kol HopeFoundation for Children held its annualfundraising event at the Four SeasonsHotel in Toronto entitled, "The MostGlamorous Filipino Ball on Earth".Canada Philippine Fashion Week andToronto Men’s Fashion Week are alsodedicated to Kol Hope, which has fourbeneficiaries, namely, EasterSeals Canada, Sick Kids Hospital inToronto and 2 special children homes,Bacolod Boys Home and Holy InfantNursery in Bacolod Philippines. �

Quezon’s Top Model Quest awarding of the Darling of the Press withthe President/Ceo of JOP Jaylo Pizarra, designer Julius Ornum, andstylist Domz Ramos. photo by Lito Caleon



RAQUEL BEAUY SALONBeauté et Santé - Coiffure et Esthétique5950 chemin de la Côte des Neiges #325

Montréal, QC H3S 1Z6514-340-1618 www.raquelbeautysalon.com

We offer allkinds of beauty services.

Tagalog Seksyon

Opinyon/Komentaryo ni Willie Quiambao

ANG KARAPATAN NG PASYENTEPAGDATING SA EMERGENCYROOM NG OSPITAL

Patuloy ang imbestigasyon sapagkamatay ni Mark Blandford, isangkilalang filmmaker/producer. NoongNov. 2, dinala siya sa emergency roomng St. Mary`s Hospital dahil sanararamdamang sakit sa tiyan.Matapos ang pagsusuri, napagalamanna may ruptured aortic aneurysm siyaat kailangan siyang maoperahankaagad. Hindi alam ng staff na noonpang July 1, pinagbawalan nanggumawa ng operasyon si Dr CarlEmond na siya lamang makatutulongkay Blandford. Dahil dito, isinugod siBlandford sa McGill University HealthCentre pero namatay na siya bagooperahan. Subalit ayon kay BenoitMorin, direktor ng West IslandIntegrated Centre, may privilege pa siDr. Emond na gumawa ng operasyon.

Sabi naman ni Health MinisterGaetan Barrette, “There is a differencebetween an elective surgery andurgent surgery.” Sa kalagayan niBlandford na nag-aagaw buhay, dapatbinigyan ng priority ang urgentsurgery. Nandoon si Dr. Emond at kahitwala na siyang privilege gumawa ngoperasyon, dapat ay inoperahan niyasi Blandford. Sinabi naman ni Jean-Mierre Menard, abogadongkumakatawan sa mga karapatan ngpasyente, “In defiance of hospitalorders, the welfare of patientsoutweighs all considerations in a life-and-death situation.”

Nararamdaman ko ang sakitna pinagdadaanan ng pamilya niBlandford – ang hindi kaagadmabigyan ng kinakailangang lunasang mahal sa buhay na naghihingalo.

Nasa first year ako college akonang mabangga ang sinasakyan ngaking ama sa Pilipinas. Dinala siya saSan Juan de Dios, isang pribadongospital na pinakamalapit sapinangyarihan ng aksidente.Natatandaan ko ang unang nangtanong ng doktor na sumalubong saamin sa ospital, “May pera ho bakayo?” “Bakit ganoon?” tanong ko saaking sarili. Buhay ng tatay ko angnakataya pero pera ang itinatanong.Akala ko ay ang kaligtasan ngpasyente ang unang tungkulin ng mgadoktor.

Sa pagkamatay ni Blandford,sino ang dapat sisihin - ang gobyerno,ang ospital o doktor? Magsisihan mansila ay hindi na maibabalik ang buhayni Blandford.

ANG KAHALAGAHAN NGKASAYSAYAN NG EDSAREVOLUTION

Noong nakaraang buwan,ginunita ang EDSA Revulution, isangpayapang demonstrasyon ng mgaPilipino sa Epifanio de los Santosbilang pagprotesta sa diktadura ngdating pangulong Ferdinand Marcos.Nagsimula ang demonstrasyon noong1983 at humantong mula Feb. 22hanggang 25 1986 . Kabilang sa mganag-protesta ay halos 2 milyongPilipino na kinabibilangan ng mgasibilyan, militar at alagad ng simbahansa pamumuno ni Cardinal Jaime Sin.

Unang naging pangulo ngPilipinas si Ferdinand Marcos noon1965 at nahalal siyang muli noong1969. Dito nagsimula ang mgakatiwalian, pagkawala ng kalayaan ngmga mamamayan at pang-aabuso nggobyerno.

Ngayon lamang tumatak saisip ko ang mga pagdurusa atpaghihirap na dinanas ng mga Pilipinonoong panahon ng diktadurya niMarcos nang ipakita ito sa televisionnoon lamang nakaraang buwan.Pagkatapos ko ng college sa Lyceumof the Philippines noong 1969,nagpunta na ako sa Canada(hanggang ngayon on ay hindi pa akonakababalik sa Pilipinas). Wala pangsocial media o TFC noon kung saannakakukuha ng mga balita mulaPilipinas. Minsan ay ang mga kaibiganko sa Pilipinas ang nagbibigay sa akinng kaunting balita. Alam kongnagkaroon ng curfew, mga rally ngaktibista sa Plaza Miranda at ibat’ibang lugar, mga pagkawala atpagpatay sa mga tumutuligsa atlumalaban sa gobyerno. Ang hindi koalam ay pati ang mga walangkwentang bagay na pagbabawal tuladng paglalagay ng mga tattoo sakatawan at pagpapatubo nangmahabang buhok. Ang hindi komapaniwalaan ay ang tunay na bilangng mga nawala at napatay. Akala ko aymga 200 o 500 lamang. Ang talagangbilang pala ay halos 9,075. Maramingpamilya ang nasira, maraming buhayang nawala.

Kapag naririnig ko noon angEDSA REVOLUTION, sinasabi ko saaking sarili na masuwerte ako dahilkung nasa Pilipinas ako nang panahonng diktadura, bilang membro ngmidya, hindi ko maiiwasang sumamasa mga nagproprotesta. Mahirapmabuhay na walang kalayaangtinatamasa. Ngayon, higit akongnagpapasalamat na hindi ko naabutanat naranasan ang diktadurang

pamumuno ng dating PangulongMarcos.

Huwag na nga sanang maulitang nangyaring diktadurya noon saPilipinas. At dapat ay magpasalamatdin ang mga kabataan dahil hindi nilaito naranasan.

KAUNTING KAALAMAN SAENGLISHANG PAGGAMIT NG PRESENTTENSE

Minsan, parang madali angEnglish pero complikado rin ito. Kahitang mga bihasa sa English ay maykaniya-kaniyang opinyon din angbawat isa sa kanila sa tamangpaggamit nito. Walang perpecto.Katunayan, sa Harper ofContemporary Usage (William andMary Morris), halos 150 manunulatang nagbibigay ng opinyon sapalagay nilang tama o malingpaggamit ng English at Grammar.Nagtatalu-talo rin sila. Ang mahalaga,alam nila ang dahilan kung bakit tamao mali ang kanilang ginagamit .Halimbawa, ang salitang alibi naganito ang kahulugan, “Alibi in lawmeans legal defense. Many writersand speakers use it in a broader sensemeaning any kind of excuse”. Ganitoang opinyon ng manunulat na siWilliam Douglas, “Yes, in the exendedsense , both in speech and writing.” SiGerold Frank naman na manunulat dinay ganito ang opinyon, “The word hasa strong legal flavor that to use itbroadly is grotesque”.

Minsan, may ilang nagtanongdin sa akin kung bakit ginagamit angpresent tense sa headline ng diaryokahit tapos na ang balita. Halimbawa,pagkatapos ng Miss Universe, angheadline sa diaryo ay “MissPhilippines wins Miss Universe title.”May pagkakataon din na mapapansinnatin sa mga interview ng mgacelebrity sa television, kahit matagalnang tapos ang pangyayari, PresentTense pa rin ang ginagamit nila sapagsasalita. Ang halimbawa ay, “I eatmy lunch”, “She wakes up early.” Angdahilan ay upang palabasin nanangyayari pa rin sa kasalukuyan angsinasabi ng mga nagsasalita. Siguro,para ring maging “fresh” ang kanilangsinasabi.

May nabasa ako sa isangdiaryo. Nagkukuwento ang manunulattungkol sa isa niyang kaibigan na

namatay na. Halimbawa, “John is agood friend. He is a good provider tohis family.” Ang dahilan kung bakitginagamit niya pa rin ang presenttense ay upang mapanatili sakaniyang alaala na buhay pa angkaniyang kaibigan.

Isang kaibigan din angnagtanong sa akin kung ano angtamang verb sa dalawangpangungusap – Yesterday, my friendtold me that Cora (halimbawangpangalan lamang) WAS the presidentof FAMAS o Yesterday, my friend toldme that Cora IS the president ofFAMAS. Ang gagamitin ng kaibigan koay ang una dahil sa ``yesterday” nanakalipas na. Ang gagamitin konaman ay IS dahil si Cora pa rin angpresidente. Hindi nagbabago. Ang isapang magandang halimbawa ay angpangungusap na , “Yesterday, he toldme that the capital of Canada wasOttawa”. Ako, gagamitin ko naman ayang “Yesterday, he told me that thecapital of Canada is Ottawa” dahilhindi nagbabago ang capital ngCanada. Sa English, may tinatawag napermanent truth or fact.

Para malaman ko kung sinoang tama, nag-email ako kay JoshFreed, Sunday Gazette columnist. Itoang sagot niya:

1,“The Present Tense isusually used to connote immediacy –most film scripts, documentaries, etc.are written in present tense to makeyou feel you are there. Columns aresometimes done that way too for thesame reason.2. I am a professional writer and Iwould say, “He told me that Ottawa isthe capital of Canada” and the Gazetteeditors wouldn’t change it.”

My wife is a professional writer(Globe and Mail correspondent,Montreal) and she says she wouldwrite “He told me that Ottawa was thecapital of Canada” and the Globeeditors probably wouldn’t change it.Both of us are native-English speakers– are unsure which is exactly correct –so I think it’s one of those manyEnglish language grey zones whereeither/neither is correct. Language technicians mightagree/disagree but I think in day to daylanguage and writing both work justfine. The idea is to communicate and Ithink both versions do – that’s all I (ormy wife) (or our editors) think isrequired.

I WOULDN’T SWEAT IT IF IWERE (WAS) YOU. �

March 20168



Ask theVideo Guy

Technological Tidbitsby

Al Abdon

Your frame is your canvas— fill it with things that are useful toyour story and arrange them in away that is pleasing to the viewer.Composition is the art of arrangingobjects in a frame. There areactually shapes and alignmentsthat people find pleasing, butmovie composition also needs totell a story. The arrangement ofyour objects and actors in a framecan add to your storytelling byemphasizing some and de-emphasizing others. In a big-budget Hollywood film, the directorhas the expert input of a director ofphotography. In smaller budgetmovies the director often doesdouble duty.

“Framing and editingdetermine the eye path of theviewer. It might not be too much tosay that what a film director reallydirects is his audience's attention.”– Alexander Mackendrick “OnFilmmaking”

If you're doing everythingright, every frame of your movieshould be able to be plucked out atrandom, stuck in a frame and hungon a gallery wall. This is a tall orderand few people succeed in itwithout lots of time, big budgets,great editors and patient investors.Your budget and timeline maykeep you from doing this, but thereare things you can do from the verybeginning to make sure that yourmovie looks as good as it can.

VIDEO VS STILL PHOTOS

The rules of compositionare the same for video and photos,but like everything else, it'scomplicated. Put simply, theaspect ratio — vertical vs.horizontal dimensions — of stillcamera images is different from theaspect ratio of motion pictures.The aspect ratio of 35mm film is3:2, which is why you get a 4x6inch print. The aspect ratio of most

video is 16:9, which is much widerand not as tall. Since most small-budget movies are shot on 35mmDSLRs — yes, I know about youriPhone and your GH4 — thisaspect ratio is a bit of an affectationleft over from cinema. In the olddays, you were actually exposingless film, but today you're justcropping the top and the bottomout.

A 16:9 frame means thatlandscapes look fantastic butputting a single person in the frameis more challenging. For the mostpart, people are vertical objectsand most of your frame is going tobe empty. So what do you fill theempty space with? That'scomposition.

FRAMES THAT MOVE

One other obvious thing thataffects the composition of a movieframe is the fact that things are notonly moving in it but sometimesthrough it and often your cameraframe itself is moving. This meanslots of rehearsal. Actors movingthrough a frame have to hit theirmarks at extremely predictabletimes, and your camera operatorneeds to accommodate motionthrough the frame and motion ofthe frame all the while keeping apleasing arrangement that drivesthe story.

THE RULE OF THIRDS

If you leave here with onething, it should be the rule of thirds.It's the fundamental rule ofcomposition. Divide the screen intothirds with four lines — like a tic-tac-toe game — your objects ofinterest should fall at theintersection of two of these lines.Some cinematographers are morerigid about it than others, but it'svery possible to find a moviewhose every shot does not deviatefrom this.

We mentioned before thatpeople are vertical and moviescreens are horizontal — thismeans that to get a person in aframe you need to either makethem very small, or crop them.Both of these are perfectlyacceptable. Let's take a look atRidley Scott's “Blade Runner.” Inthis closeup of Harrison Ford, Scottand Cinematographer JordanCronenweth have chosen to chophim off at the shoulders and the topof the head to put his eyes at theintersection of the top horizontalline and the right vertical line of ourimaginary tic-tac-toe board.

Unlike in the real world, incinematic and photographiccomposition, you can chop the topof someone's head off withimpunity. This is not true ofpeople's chins — chins need tostay in the frame unless you cropan equal portion of the top of thehead.

LOOK AT THE EYES

We look at people's eyes.We instinctively look at what otherpeople are looking at. We have adeep down belief that the personinside a body is accessible throughthe eyes — and this is universal.When your cat or your dog wantsto communicate with you, theylook at your eyes — and theyhaven't read any psychologybooks. When framing a shot, if theeyes are in focus, you can getaway with a lot of other things notbeing in focus.

In this shot from “Raiders ofthe Lost Ark,” Harrison Fordreturns, here seen completely insilhouette with the exception of hisright eye, looking wary, which,along with his distinctive hat bringspersonality to the shot. Also noticethe out of focus white areas on theleft and right, these serve to helpbalance the frame. “Balance theframe?” you ask

In short, photo and videocompliment each other. Whetheryour viewfinder is from a 35mmcamera or monitor from the videocamera, they alhave the basicapproach to make your subjectstand out.

Its Spring…time to cleanyour cameras and get outshooting…….

Al AbdonHollywood Junkies Media �

HOW DO YOU COMPOSE WITH YOURCAMERA. SIMPLE OR COMPLICATED

Filipinos love movies. FromHollywood action-thrillers to local rom-coms, many of us try to watch them allwhenever budget and time permit.

This is simply a reflection of ourculture’s innate romanticism. Movies fuelour imagination. It allows us to dreambig.

Many believe that if properlyharnessed, movies could actually helppropel the nation forward. FormerDepartment Of Energy Secretary CarlosJericho L. Petilla is among those whothink so.

“I was among those whowatched the hit film ‘Heneral Luna.’ It wasgood, both entertaining and informative.It made people think. I myself realize, weshould have more of this kind of films;films that are powerful and relevant tocurrent times,” he shared.

Petilla is a huge fan of local films,trying to catch one whenever he can.

A film he enjoyed watching withhis family is the Metro Manila FilmFestival (MMFF) 2015 entry “WalangForever” starring Jennylyn Mercado andhis namesake Jericho Rosales.

“I admire Jericho Rosales notbecause we share the same name butbecause he is good at what he does. Heis a very talented and very passionateactor…”

Petilla believes in forever, havingfound one in his wife, Anne, whom, hepointed out, shares the name of hisfavorite actress, Anne Curtis.

“I like Anne Curtis because sheis so versatile. She’s quite talented,” hesaid.

Petilla believes governmentshould be more active in helping the localmovie industry produce more qualityfilms. He said this will be one of hispriorities if elected senator.

“I would like to push forlegislation that would help our local filmindustry to grow and develop,” he said,noting he would also propel the creationof an expanded film festival that wouldcover other provinces and not just MetroManila.

He added government shouldalso help subsidize films that compete ininternational film festivals.

He credits his parents, formerLeyte Governor Leopoldo E. Petilla andcurrent Palo, Leyte Mayor Remedios“Matin” Petilla, for his nurturing nature.

“The principles and values theytaught me guide me in making importantdecisions. Every time I make a decision,it should be something that is consistentwith my principles and values,” he said.

Movies asmedium forchange

Former DOE Secretary JerichoPetilla



3.25lb

Half or Whole porkCut & Wrapped

6.99lb

Beef Blade steak

2.50lb

Picnic Ham w/bone

2.

Pork loinApproximately

15 lbs

2.35lb

Boneless Pork shoulder -$3.99 lb

Special10.lb

4.19lb

5.99lb

6.49lb

Regular smoked bacon

� Frozen pork blood

� Fresh liver

� Pork skin

GoatAvailable on order

83 Covey Hill, Hemmingford QC J0L 1H0

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

Fresh Pork Belly

Mon. Tue. Wed. 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.Thu. Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Sunday Closed

BUSINESS HOURS

19

Ground PorkSpecial 2.79/lb

Philippine Cuisineand

Favorite FoodCompiled by Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi

Fresh Pork Leg

Over 20 lbs 5.89 lb

lb

BBQRib Steak $16.50/ lb

French Denver Steak $9.99 / lb

Home smoked meat

50

Ground Beef

Balsamic Glazed Salmon

Ingredients4 fresh salmon fillets (5oz/140 g each)2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil

Freshly ground blackpepper1 cup (250 mL)CAMPBELL'S® Ready to Use30% Less Sodium ChickenBroth3 tbsp (45 mL) balsamicvinegar1 tbsp (15 mL) cornstarch1 tbsp (15 mL) brownsugar1 tbsp (15 mL) orangejuice1/2 tsp (2 mL) gratedorange peelDirections1. In a mixing bowl, mixtogether the oil, pepper, broth,balsamic vinegar, brown sugar,orange juice and orange peel.Marinate the salmon fillets for30 minutes in the refrigeratorand then grill over medium heatuntil fish flakes and juices runclear.2. In small saucepan, take theremaining marinade, add thecorn starch and heat to a boilover medium-high heat. Cookand stir until mixture boils andthickens. Simmer for 2 minutes.3. Place salmon fillets onto aplatter and serve with glaze.Recipe Tips1. When grating citrus fruitsyou'll want to avoid rubbing toodeeply into the peel. There's awhite layer between the outerpeel and the flesh, called thepith, which can be bitter.Nutritional Information (PerServing)360 Calories, 23g Fat, 4gSaturated Fat, 80mgCholesterol, 230mg Sodium, 8gCarbohydrate, 0g Dietary Fibre,29g Protein, 2% Daily ValueCalciumEXCELLENT SOURCE OFPROTEIN

Ingredients1 can (284 ml)CAMPBELL'S® CondensedLow Fat Cream of MushroomSoup1 pkg (300 g)chopped frozenbroccoli, thawed and welldrained6 slices bacon, cooked,drained and roughly chopped(about 3/4 cup/175 ml)1/2 cup (125 mL) all purposebaking mix1/2 cup (125 mL) Cheddarcheese, shredded1/4 cup (60 mL) milk3 eggsDirections1. Preheat oven to 375°F(190°C). Spray 12 (2 ½ inch/6cm) muffin cups with vegetablecooking spray.2. In bowl, stir together soup,broccoli, bacon, baking mix,cheese, milk and eggs; spoonabout 1/4 cup (60 mL) into eachmuffin cup.3. Bake for about 30 minutes oruntil quiches are golden brownand knife inserted in thecentres comes out clean. Letcool in pan on wire rack for 5minutes.Recipe Tips1. These adorable mini quichesare perfect for breakfast,brunch or served as anappetizer at your next party.Nutritional Information (PerServing)100 Calories, 5g Fat, 55mgCholesterol, 320mg Sodium, 7gCarbohydrate, 1g Dietary Fibre,6g Protein, 6% Daily ValueCalciumSOURCE OF CALCIUMwith Migneron De CharlevoixCheesePotato and Mushroom Bakewith Migneron De CharlevoixCheesePrep/Cook Time: 15/90 min

Mini Cheddar, Broccoli &Bacon Quiches Recipe

Mini cheddar, broccoli and bacon quiches


www.filipinostar.orgwww.filipinostar.org

The North American

FILIPINO STAR PHOTO GALLERY

The MMTV Global crew in full attendance for a surprise birthday (belated) celebration of the executive producer, Zenaida Kharroubi,(2nd from left). Photo shows fromleft: Al Abdon, Fred Narvas, Jovy Narvas, Mr. & Mrs. Raymund Faustino, Laurisse Cruz, Michael Davantes, Derwin Collantes, Tenne Rose Dayandante, Cristy Hunter, FelyRosales Carino, and Amy Manon-og. Not in photo is Remy Monteagudo who had to leave earlier for another appointment. Photo taken on March 19, 2016



March birthday celebrants: Fely Rosales Carino and ZenaidaKharroubi posing for a souvenir of their joint birthday celebration.

From left are: Tenne Rose Dayandante, Jackie Sebellita holding Shamiaviel, andCristy Hunter during the christening reception on March 12, 2016.

Souvenir photo of christening of Shamiaviel at St. Kevin’s Church, March 12, 2016

20140810-CFCDN-Swong-StarAd-PRINT.pdf 1 2014-09-02 9:08 AM

March 201612



COMMUNITY NEWS

By W. G. QuiambaoIn the wake of the story

(FAMAS president decries communitycentre’s “unnecessary “ roof repairsand other irregularities) that appearedin another newspaper, ex FAMASpresident, Nida Quirapas, called thepress and her old Executive Board lastJan. 29. With the exception of CoraAberin and Naty Floresca who is inHawaii, everybody was in attendance

– Dante Tabamo, Romy Remigio,Joseph Gonzales, Danny Florentino,Mercy Sia, Terry Esguerra, LeahBaldelovar, Carmelita Quizon, LilyVasquez, and Elsa Penular.

“I don’t want to talk about this issuebecause we all belonged to the oldboard,” said Quirapas. “But what waswritten in the paper was below the belt.Cora made us look bad. I’ve no choiceexcept to call the press and mydirectors to give their sides of the story.” Quizon couldn’t hide herdisappointment when she said, “Ididn’t know that Cora had a grudgeagainst us.”

Soft-spoken Tabamo, former internalvice-president, was the first to explain,

“It’s not true that there’s no urgency torepair the roof. It was checked byRomy and Danny. Whenever it rainedsuccessively, the water caused floodin the center. Danny had to use a mop.And it became dangerous to rent therooms. We even called an inspectorwho is an expert on roof repair. Therewere three bidders from Cora and onefrom us. We compared not only theprices and the advantages and themajority decided that we use our

bidder. We didn’t have the roofrepaired then because we didn’t havemoney yet.

Bert Abiera, former FAMAS presidentand a volunteer at the center, was oneof the people who suggested that theroof should be repaired before winterbecause the damage would becomeserious.

Quirapas further explained that the roofwas last repaired during the time ofCarlos P. Reyes fifteen years ago. Sheadded that she even spoke toCouncillor Marvin Rotrand about theroof, and he agreed with the repairsthat have a 20-year guarantee. “Thebottom line is that Cora was included inthe discussion. The decision was

Quirapas and her 2013-2015EB break their silence

approved by majority of the board (11out of 13) even if Cora didn’t sign.” .Furthermore, Quirapas said that themembership lists and receipts wereput in a box, strapped with maskingtape and placed in the office room onthe last day of their term, Aug. 31,2015. After that, the members of theExecutive Board did not go to thecenter. However, she’d instructedFlorentino to type a new list and give itto the new board for the turn over.

She also tackled the financial turn overissue. She did not appear at the centerfor the scheduled financial turn over onNov. 29 because the financial report ofVasquez was stillincomplete andinaccurate. “I told Lily to fix her reportfirst but until now, the report isinaccurate.”

Gonzales and Esguerra, who usuallydon’t mince words, asked, “Is it a co-incidence that Julie Parado, AngieOgerio, Fred Magallanes, MaggieCalcetas, etc. were at the centre on thesame day that Josefa Nicolas wasconducting her leadership training?”

Vasquez, who distributed a financialreport, made a comment a couple oftimes that Aberin should have beeninvited to the meeting. However, themembers of the board reacted, sayingthe problem started when Aberin gavean interview to the paper without theirknowledge.

Another issue that ruffled the feathersof the EB was the irregularity that waswritten in the paper. “What does Cora

mean by irregularity?” asked Quirapas.Anomaly? Who was the treasurer thattime? It was Cora. When claimingreimbursement, the procedure is foreverybody to submit an expense reportthat he or she wants to be reimbursedwith supporting papers. And it has tobe signed by another director beforeCora can make reimbursement. Coranever made an expense report of herexpenses. When she went to thePhilippines, she bought things for theMunting Bb. Pilipinas. When she cameback, she asked for $1,500 Canadiandollars reimbursement without validreceipts.”

“Speaking of the Bb. Pilipinas whichCora claims had a deficit, we gave$2,300 total prizes to the candidates.At least, we know where the moneywent. How about her Munting Binibini?It’s total revenue was $9,000 but only$500 was left as total profit. On theissue of spending a lot, we bought newcurtains because for two years, theyhave never been changed. We alsobought new computers because theother one was old and slow and newchairs to make the center look nice andpresentable.

Gonzales, Esguerra, Quizon andBaldelovar all asked, “Why is Coraasking about the financial statementwhen in fact, she’s the first one to knowit. She was the treasurer in 2013-2015.All Nida had to do was sign whateverwas presented to her by the treasurer,accountant and auditor? It doesn’tmake sense that she’s asking theboard about expenses. She’s askingthe board in which she was part of. Infact, she was the treasurer. ”

“In fairness to Lily, how can shebalance her report when she doesn’thave complete report withoutsupporting documents?” said Sia Quirapas explained the issue onGuaranteed Investment Certificates.“We opened a Building Fund accountfor $15,000 and then decided to investit for a year to earn interest. Eventually,it will be transferred to the BuildingFund. Actually, this should be $20,000but we lowered it so the next EB willhave something to start. Besides,Cora, the treasurer, was with me at thebank.

“On the other hand, FAMAS accounthad a bank debit card which the Boarddid not even know the pass code, anonline banking to which the Boarddidn’t have access. The only personwho had access to this was Cora, thetreasurer. So what are the irregularitiesmentioned in the paper?” The $37,000

Last week, Ms Bell got a notice fromher landlord: it said that her rent wouldbe increasing by $150, and she couldeither stay in her apartment and acceptthe increase, or leave. This is the sort of situation we seeevery day at Project Genesis –

misleading rent increase notices orother inadequate information canquickly make a situation confusing.Here are six tips to help you makesense of it all.1) The timeframe. If you have ayear-long lease, your landlord must

send you a written notice of rentincrease between three and sixmonths before the end of your lease.You have one month to respond. If thenotice is not sent within that timeperiod, the lease is renewed with thesame rent and terms.2) You have the option to accept,negotiate or refuse the increase. Somenotices only give you the option toaccept the increase or move out. Youhave a third choice! You have the rightto refuse a rent increase and maintain

occupancy. 3) The Rental Board publishesrough guidelines every year that canhelp you decide how to respond to arent increase notice. The amount iscalculated based on building taxes,type of heating, renovations, and arange of other expenses. This meansthat even if the landlord has not takengood care of the building, they may

Information for tenantsregarding rent increasesby Project Genesis

See Page 18 Rent Increases

2013-2015 Famas Executive Board headed by Nida Quirapas, president (4th from the left)


SocialTidbits

Fely Rosales Carino

This has to happen. It is asocial venture of the FilipinoAssociation of Montreal AndSuburbs (FAMAS). It is the MissTeen Famas 2016 BeautyPageant held at Salle LaDecouverte at Westhill, Cote St.Luc, Montreal. The beautypageant was hosted by thetalented singer, Michelle VargasLao.

The pageant started withIlocano balladeer Mr. MarkSimbulan singing the nationalanthems. FFCAQ president Mrs.Josefa Nicolas followed with theinvocation. It was apparent thatthe crowd seated behind me weremore interested in what Mrs.Nicolas was wearing instead oflistening to what she was saying.They were talking about heroutfit, a deep blue flowing gownthat showed her nice figure.Also9, the gown had oneshoulder strap that was securelyheld by a large silver bling (daw).Ditto with FAMAS president Mrs.Cora Aberin who wore anattractive evening gown shebought from the Philippinesduring her last visit there. Not tobe outdone, Ms. SvetlanaSuarez’s blue-black gown made

her sexy, especially with thosetiny spaghetti straps.

Playing the leading rolesin this pageant were thefollowing. Contestant numberone was Mae de Jesus Berganio,13, a student at St. Luc HighSchool. She presented herself ina strapless light pink gown, whichhad brown flowers at the hips thataccented her hour-glass figure.For her talent exhibition, shegracefully interpreted a dancenumber to the tune of EnriqueIglesia’s song entitled Bailando.

The next contestant wasTamara Grace CalatinRadegonde, 15, attending EcoleSecondaire Des Sources.Stunning in her beaded straplesslight brown gown, sheaccompanied herself in thepiano, singing Adele’s ‘SomeoneLike You.’

The next beauty was AbbyRose Cesar Dar Juan, 14,astudent at Ecole Secondaire St.Laurent. She stepped out in awide-belted spider-webbeddesigned gown. She carriedherself gracefully in her white

gold-encrusted high heels. Herdad, Mr. Arnold Dar Juan,accompanied her on the guitarand her solo rendition had theaudience’s rapt attention. Shereally can sing!

Last but not least wasShaira Mae BernardinoSalamanca,14, a student at St.Luc High School. She came outswinging, showing a lot ofconfidence. Her strapless purple-beaded gown matched herequally attractive high heels. Forthe talent competition, she sangAdele’s Don’t You Remember.

For this beauty pageant, FAMASchose judges from a pool ofexperts from the field of music,Dance, and film industries. Oneof the judges was May AnnMiras, the winner of theBinibining Pilipinas Montreal2008. At the time, she won Best inGown, Best in Talent, and Best inSwimsuit. The next judge was IraTerk, President and CEO ofChannel Broadcasting Company.Next was Miss Sophie Wagner, anexpert in Global Wealth Trade(GWT). The last judge was MissErika Perez, a zumba instructorwith dance studios in downtownMontreal and at the West Island.Not to be forgotten are two of thewell known math wizards of theFilipino community. They are Ms.Cely Dagsaan and Mr. RamonVicente. Ms. Dagsaan has been acomptroller of Invera Inc. for 29years. She is currently theAuditor of the Seniors of the WestIsland and Suburbs (SWIS) aswell as an Adviser of theKapampangan Association ofMontreal. She has been an active

member and past Director ofFAMAS. Mr. Vicente is anAccountant, Consultant, and aBand Leader. He was formerly apresident of the Filipino CanadianAssociation of West Island(FCAWI). He was a FAMASDirector and Treasurer (2011-2013). Currently, he is a memberof the FAMAS Board of Trustees.

I also want to direct thespotlight to some of thehardworking crew that made thecontest a success. Aside from theoverall effort of President CoraAberin, one cannot ignore theSuarez Touch which enabledher to get involved in pageantsfor over 25 years. As a renownedchoreographer, she knows how toproduce a show, the caliber ofwhich is awe-inspiring to theaudience. FAMAS is very lucky tohave Ms. Aris Elumbaring, thepageant chairman. She ensuredthat the show went well. Shegave a lot of credit to her co-chairman Ms. Mishael Thea de laCruz and to Ms. Richel Llacer.

There were seventeenMarch birthday celebrantspresented by Mrs. Mary Paanoduring the UnitedPilipino Seniors ‘ monthlybirthday celebrations held at theSaint Kevin Church social halllast March 13 2016 . Thecelebrants were Arjona DollyBrrouillette, Lindaq Armelon, FelyRosales Carino,Helen Cataguis,Juanita Corbett , CristinaCuaresma ,Fernando David, LinaFadera, Dolores Latino, HelenLobotan, Norma Madolid, LeonilaMercado, Enriqetta Nolasco, andCherry Palmos. �

March 201614



No goodbyes for TV host-actress Kris Aquino as she promisesto return after taking a break fromshowbiz.

“See you. I will see youagain,” said Kris, whose daily talkshow “Kris TV” ended Wednesday,March 23.

She was advised by herdoctors to take a rest for threemonths due to her high bloodpressure. Kris promised fans she’llcome back healthy.

“For now, I don’t want to saygoodbye kasi babalik ako. I’ll makesure of that. But I have to come backna healthy ako,” Kris said in the finalepisode.

While she’s taking abackseat from showbiz, Kris will befocusing on her health, taking careof her sons Josh and Bimby andtheir food business.

“Try muna yung mganegosyo, tututukan. Sabi nila ‘Bakamaganda na may routine ka din.After office, mag-exercise ka din.’ I’lltake the chance, hangga’t gustong-gusto pa nila (sons) ako kasama,marami kaming gagawin na hindi panamin nagawa,” she said.

Kris admitted that taking abreak was a hard decision,especially in an industry wherepeople come and go.

“I took everything intoconsideration. Kinausap ko ngmasinsinan ang mga kapatid ko,alam nilang kinakabahan ako. Alamnating lahat na mahirap umalis atmahirap asahan na makakabalik kaat the same level that you werenoong umalis ka,” she said.

Amid the big risk, Krisdecided to take a break to take careof herself and not cause any worry toher family. Kris wants to take care ofher health especially because sheprovides for her sons.

“Kinokondisyon ako ng mgakapatid ko, lagi nilang sinasabi nanobody will say naman na wala kangna-achieve. So sabi nila ‘Deserve mo

ito.’ And kasi ilang buwan na langang natitira kay Noy, bawas stressna lang. Naaawa na din kasi ako nalagi silang nagtatawagan, ‘Kumustana ba ang bunso? Ano namangnangyari?’ With my two sons, akolang. I’m the sole parent, soleprovider,” she said.

Kris shared she was offeredby ABS-CBN executives to sign acontract that she can always go backto work once ready. However, Krisdeclined as she wants to make sureshe’s completely healthy beforereturning.

“I want to say thank you saABS-CBN kasi yung bosses, fromBoss Gabby (Lopez), Tita Cory(Vidanes), they offered me to sign acontract. Sabi nila ‘Pirma ka. Onceyou’re ready, we’re here.’ And then Isaid, ‘I don’t want to do it to you.What if hindi pa ako ganoonkagaling?’ Ayaw ko din naman nama-stagnant kayo kasi very dynamicang trabaho natin. Super gratefultalaga ako kasi hindi naman lahatbinibigyan ng ganoon di ba. Soniyaya nila ako, ‘Lunch tayo.’ ‘Ayawko.’ Hindi ako pumunta,” she said.

Kris became teary-eyed asshe thanked the viewers and herfans who have been with her for 20years since she started working atABS-CBN.

“I’m so grateful kasi supernaman yung love. From themessages, sobrang bongga namanyung pinaramdam niyo na my life isalso your life. Na kung ano angpinagdadaanan ko, iyon din angpinagdadaanan niyo. So super thankyou, especially to those who said‘Hintayin ka namin.’ Sa love ngahindi ka hinihintay eh,” she said.

Saying that this chapter ofher life is not yet over, Kris said,“Malakas ang pananampalataya kona makakabalik ako at mananatilingKapamilya.” �

RESTAURANTLA MAISON NEW KUM MON

66556655 CCôôttee--ddeess--NNeeiiggeess RRooaadd((nneeaarr CCoorrnneerr AApppplleettoonn))Montreal, QC

Bean Curd Seafood Soup1/2 Crispy ChickenSalt and Pepper Pork LoinStuffed Bean Curd with

ShrimpsSauted Seasonal VegetablesSteamed Rice

$49.954 persons

FREE DELIVERYMinimum order of $10Del iver y hours:11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p .m.

551144--773333--66002299551144--773333--11006677For party menu, call Kenny

Fish Maw Seafood SoupBaked Lobster with GingerSeafood with Chinese BroccoliSalt and Pepper Cuttle FishFried Sea Bass FishSteamed Rice $74.95

4 personsBean Curd Soup1/2 Crispy ChickenShrimp Cake with Chinese BroccoliSweet and Sour PorkSeafood with Bean Curd in Hot PotSalt and Pepper SquidFried Sea Bass Fish $79.95Steamed Rice 6 persons

Fish maw seafood soup2 Baked Lobsters with GingerSeafood with Eggplant

in Hot PotStuffed Bean Curd with ShrimpSeafood with Chinese broccoliFried Sea Bass FishHouse Fried RiceSpecial Fried Noodles $159.95

10 persons

5047 Henri Bourassa EstMontréal, QC H1G 2S1Tel.: (514) 322-3133, 322-3130

Marian, Dingdong celebrateBaby Zia’s first trip

Proud parents Marian Riveraand Dingdong Dantes continue tocelebrate more firsts for daughterMaria Letizia.

The Kapuso primetime royaltyspent their first summer vacationtogether with Baby Zia in Busuanga,Palawan on Thursday, March 24, 2016.

On his official Facebook page,Dingdong shared their family photobefore boarding a plane to Busuanga.Dingdong noted that it was Baby Zia’s

first plane ride.On Instagram, Marian shared

four-month-old Baby Zia’s first photo ina swimsuit while sunbathing on thebeach.

Marian wrote, “I fall in love withyou more and more everyday, anak.Haaaay! #Priceless.”

Born on November 23, 2015,Baby Zia is Dingdong and Marian’sfirst child. The two tied the knot inDecember 30, 2014. �

Kris Aquino: “I will seeyou again”

Kris Aquino

Photo from Dingdong Dantes’ official Facebook page



A picture is worth a thousandwords but those being posted byMikael Daez on Instagram that showhim with Megan Young must remainwithout label.

Talks about them being acouple have been around for years butto this day, people have to keepguessing as Mikael, as always, onlyhas this to say on the subject in arecent interview, “Okay kami (niMegan). We are having fun. At leasthindi namin tinatago.”

The 28-year-old model-turned-actor would rather talk about work –and there’s a lot of that for him lately.Apart from hosting “Midnight Express,”he is a regular on the comedy series“Ismol Family,” where he plays a gaycharacter.

“Tinanggap ko ’yung sa ‘IsmolFamily’ dahil alam kong malakingbagay ’yun,” he said of the role. “Kungactor ka naman at kung hilig mo talaga(ang pag-arte) gagawin mo at

magiging open ka, opportunity kasi’yun. Besides, alam ko makakadagdag’yun sa reputasyon ko bilang actor;’yung hindi lang pang-gimik kundigusto ko talaga ’yung trabaho ko.”

Is he willing to do intimatescenes with a male actor?

“Dapat game ka… hindi dapattignan kung lalaki o babae… angmahalaga, alam mo ’yung charactermo…”

Ever-busy Mikael is also on“Poor Señorita.” It is his first timeworking with Regine whom he finds“kalog and kulit” between takes.

“Nakakagaan ng work kungganun ’yung mga ka-trabaho mo sohindi ako magrereklamo, dahil masayaat tsaka tatawa lang kayo ng tatawadito.”

Mikael plays the role of Paeng,a janitor.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa GMAna iba-ibang roles ang binibigay nila saakin,” he said. �

Mikael on Megan: ‘We’restill having fun’

After consulting a therapist,Lovi was surprised to learn she hasknee strength of a 50-year-old.

According to results, it wascaused by excessive running, Lovi’sfavorite exercise routine.

In an Instagram post, Lovipondered how “too much ofsomething, even if that something isgood, is bad.”

“I practically run 10 km everyother day… now it has bitten me inthe ass. I run a lot because malakasako kumain! Hindi ko kaya mag-diet,”she said.

As a consequence, Lovi nowrefrains from too much running andjust focuses on other workouts likeboxing and planking.

The actress is also currentlygoing through knee therapy hoping“my knees would feel brand newagain.”

Meanwhile, in a separateInstagram post, Lovi expressed hergratitude to actress Sunshine Dizonwhom she credited for being herpersonal acting coach since starting

her career.The two first worked together

in the now defunct 2006 series“Bakekang,” where Lovi played therole of Kristal Maisog, the daughter ofSunshine’s character, JacobaMaisog.

Calling herself “the girl whocouldn’t act” when she was juststarting in the industry, Lovi said sheis “forever grateful… to Ate Shine forcoaching me and staying up duringtaping just to guide and teach me. Ialso believe that the work itself is thebest workshop.”

Lovi told Pep how Sunshineonce said to her “You should explore,you shouldn’t stick to one (role). Ifyou wanna grow as an actress… trydifferent things, and that’s what I’mdoing.”

A decade after “Bakekang,”Lovi has grown as actress, earningnumerous accolades along the wayincluding the Best Actress plumduring the 2010 FAMAS Awards forher performance in “SagradaFamilia.” �

Lovi Poe’s kickingdiscovery

Dingdong tips hat to dad

The relationship betweenfather and son is a big factor in howthe latter sees the world and how he

wants to take it on – just ask actorDingdong Dantes.

In an interview, Dingdongcredits his success to the way hisparents raised him. He said his father,in particular, has always had opencommunication lines with him andrespected his opinions even when hewas younger. José Sixto Z. Dantes Jr.,now 68 years old, remains animportant and inspiring figure in hislife.

“Sa pag-develop nya sakin,’yung mga values na shinare nya…thankful ako don,” Dingdong said.“Actually, I owe everything to him.”

The actor summed his dad’sparenting style as “less talk but stillfull of authority.”

“He helped me define mygoals,” the actor said. “Mahalaga namayroon tayong good relationshiphindi lang sa ating tatay kundi pati samga magulang, kapatid, kaibigan.”

Though already married toactress Marian Rivera who gave birthto their first child, Letizia, early thisyear, he said they’ve not neglectedtheir folks, holding get-togethersregularly (“at least once a week,Sundays usually” he said) to keep thebond strong.

“Nandyan siya (father) parapalakihin ako kaya ibabalik ko namansa kanya ang pag-aalaga,” Dingdongsaid. “It’s payback time.”

Looking back, the actor saidhis father has always wanted to havea joy ride with him on his restoredvintage motorbike. José also wishesto have a farm and to fly a plane.Dingdong is working to grant all ofthese things, if he hasn’t already.

“’Yung kanyang system tsaka’yung kanyang age, medyo nahi-hinder na rin siya to do some things,”the actor said. “Pero…as they growolder, dun na rin nakikita ’yung

kanilang passion and enthusiasm tomake things (happen). Hindi naman’yun nababawasan, kailangan langma-jump start ulit.”

The point is, he said,wherever you are in life, family shouldremain a unit with members whosupport one another.

“Kailangan kakampi talagatayo ng ating mga magulang allthroughout the journey,” he said.“Support not just your father, but thewhole family as well…”

This mindset is a big reasonAbbott Ensure tapped Dingdong andJosé to be ambassadors for itsproduct range. The actor said he andhis dad are all for the brand’s thrust ofbeing “enablers (to our family) andhelp them regain, restart theirdreams.” �

Lovi Poe (instagram)

Dindong Dantes

Mikael Daez & Megan Young

March 201616



Celebrities on Holy Week vacationHoly Week is not only for reflection, it is also the time for celebrities to go on vacation with their loved ones.

Since their schedule is always jam-packed, they grab this chance to rest and relax even just for some days. Check some of the celebrities’ getaways this HolyWeek posted in their Instagram accounts.coming yet,” she said, repeatedly touching the diamond-studded crown.

Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez with their son Zion in Bali. Nikki Gil is on vacation with her hubby in Paris, France.

Gretchen Barretto (left) met with couple Aga Muhlach and CharleneGonzales in Hong Kong with some other friends.

Baby Letizia on her first beach trip in Palawan with mommy MarianRivera and daddy Dingdong Dantes.

Isabelle Daza and Anne Curtis are in Australia.



In a Facebook live video airedon March at at 1 a.m. (Philippine time),Wurtzbach asked for suggestions fromMiss Universe Facebook pagesubscribers.

Wurtzbach liked the idea oflumpiang shanghai (fried spring rolls)among all the other suggestions thatincluded adobo, kare-kare, menudo,balut, etc. because the dish is easy tocook and the ingredients are readilyavailable.

She also pointed out that hername is incorporated in the dish’sname “lumPIA.”

Video and photos of theLumpiang shanghai with sweet-and-sour sauce which she will work on willbe posted on the different MissUniverse social media accounts nextweek, Wurtzbach said.

While on it, she also answeredsome of the questions raised by thenetizens in the comments section.

The 26-year-old beauty queenrevealed that, although she studiedculinary in the Philippines, she was nottaught how to cook Filipino dishes.

“They didn’t teach us to cook Filipinodish at school cause they expected usto learn it at home.”

Wurtzbach said that as of themoment, she is not craving for anyFilipino food. “Hindi ko pa siyanamimiss at matagal na rin kasi akonghindi kumakain ng kanin.”

What she misses is talkingusing the gay language, saying: “Imiss talking beki… yung baklaanlang.”

She also revealed that sheknows how to bake and that she hasingredients for choco-peanut butter,

red velvet, and carrot cupcakes.Although not disclosing the

specific date, Wurtzbach said that shewill be going home to the Philippinesvery soon.

"Filipino Cooking with Pia:Help me choose a dish!" was postedby Miss Universe on Friday, 11 March2016

The video has been viewed400,448 times, as of this posting andhas garnered more than 31,000reactions. �

Miss Universe chooses to cook‘LumPIA’

Happy suprise

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach

Robin Padilla bought wifeMariel Rodriguez a van as surprise giftcoinciding with the airing of his newshow “Game Ng Bayan” on Monday.

Mariel happily shared withInstagram followers photos of thevehicle the same day, and expressedgratitude to the 46-year-old actor-TVhost.

“I was rushing home after workso I can watch Game Ng Bayan athome. When I arrived, there was abrand new van parked in our courtyardwhen I opened it… the car was filledwith roses… the biggest surprise!!! Ithought my husband bought himself a

new car… When I saw the roses I knewthe new car was MINE,” she posted.

Obviously overwhelmed, sheadded, “I’m the lucky one!”

She went on, “I promise tocontinue being faithful to you, to honoryou at all times, to support you, tobelieve in you, to pray for you, respectyou and love you forever! I know youwork hard. Thank you for being a goodprovider for us. I still can’t believe it!!!What a surprise!!!!”

The couple married twice inBaguio in 2010. The first ceremony wasconducted by an Ibaloi native priest;the second was officiated by a pastor.

Mariel all smiles inside the van Robin gave her

Hilton-Garden Inn MontrealCentre-ville

is in search of part-time housekeepers.The job consists of cleaning the guest’s rooms:

changing the bedding, dusting furniture, vacuumingand cleaning and disinfecting the bathrooms.

Candidates must be available to work weekdays andweekends.

Please send your resumé to:[email protected] telephone calls please.



The North American Filipino Star Classified AdsDRIVING

Office cleaners for West Island,car needed, work Mon-Fri

after 6 pm Michael call 514-624-3437

CLEANERS

Cheapest way to advertise isthrough the classified ads1 Heading & 1 line of body

text =$14, additional line = $3per line, must be [email protected]

ADVERTISING

Computer Literacy, Keyboarding,Microsoft Office,

Sage Premium AccounringCall 514-485-7861

COMPUTERS

Well established imports islooking for a full time

receptionist/office assistantCandidates must have good

computer knowledge/skills. Theideal candidate must be veryorganized and able to multi

task in a fast pacedenvironment. This is a

permanent position with asuccessful company. Salary will

be based on skills andexplerience. Location Montreal

(Chabanel district)[email protected]

3 chairs, 2 shampoo sinks5887 Victoria/De la PeltrieOpportunity owner retiring

Take as is, no cost, new lease514-898-1339 available July 1

HAIRDRESSERFOR RENT

DRIVING LESSON* Car for EXAM.• 1 hr practice $25.

• Full course:- 24 hrs theory, 15 hrs practical. only $650.

KHALIL 514-965-0903.

ReceptionistOffice Assistant

SHIRTS ONLYShirts pressed, ironed andcologned. Colognesavailable or bring your

favoriteCall Katie: 450-936-3316

514-229-1900

CDN APTS. FOR RENTBourret & VictoriaRenovated 3½ $620+Heated, h/w, appliancesElevator, near metro

(514) 735-2985,(438) 820-9543

We speak Tagalog www.locationvictoria.ca

still raise the rent. Because this amountis based on building and dwellingexpenses, each household mustcalculate their increase individually.

4) Calculating your rent increase.First, calculate the increase based ontype of heating: increase 0.7% forelectric heating, 0.2% for gas andnegative 4.2% for oil. If you pay for yourheating, add 0.4%. Next, consider anymajor repairs or renovations. Thelandlord can increase the rent by $2.08for every $1000 spent in 2015.Remember, all of these guidelines arevery rough estimates that do not takeinto account a number of influentialfactors that would be used if theincrease were calculated at the RentalBoard.

5) Good and bad reasons forrefusing a rent increase. If theproposed rent increase is substantiallyhigher than the rough guideline andyour landlord does not provide anyinformation about his or her expenses,this may be a good reason for refusingthe rent increase and having the RentalBoard determine the appropriateincrease. However, if your landlordgave you an abusive increase last yearand now you plan to refuse to eventhings out, this won’t be consideredvalid by the Rental Board.Unfortunately, inadequate heating andother problems are not considered bythe Rental Board as valid reasons forrefusing a rent increase. You can openyour own file at the Rental Board to getthese problems resolved.

6) You can negotiate a rentincrease. Just make sure you put yourfinal agreement in writing.

Need help? Project Genesis is availablein person or by phone (514-738-2036).Preventing abusive rent increases is animportant way of keeping housingaccessible for Montreal’s tenants!

From Page Rent increasesGiving it their best cited Elphaba from the Broadwaymusical “Wicked.”

In a separate interview,composer Claude-Michel Schönbergpraised the Pinay singer deeming her,along with Lea Salonga, “the easiestactors to work

with.”“She’s fantastic. She’s a

wonderful Fantine. She’s doing anoutstanding moment onstage, she’salso very talented and cute,” he saidof Rachelle Ann.

Welcome!Aside from Rachelle Ann,

Bulletin Entertainment got to interviewother members of the cast during arecent media call.

One of them is first-time visitorChris Durling who plays Enjolras.

“I find that the Manila area isbusy and crazy in a good kind of way,”he said then.

Earl Carpenter, who playsJavert in “Les Misérables,” hopes tofind time for roaming the city.

“Our schedule has been quitebusy since arriving in the Philippinesbut it has been great being here,” Earlsaid.

“The previews we’ve had thelast couple of weeks have been greatand we’re all looking forward to do therest of the shows.”

Emily Langridge, whoportrays Cosette, enjoys Pinoyhospitality.

“Everyone is so friendly andeveryone that you meet on the streetswill say hello to you,” she said. “It’s socolorful and vibrant here in thePhilippines.”

Paul Wilkins, who playsMarius, is happy to have been giventhe chance to perform for theFilipinos.

“There was a petition for ‘LesMisérables’ to be brought over here,so the Filipinos really want this show,so the pressure’s on, in a good way, ofcourse,” he said.

“Les Misérables” runs untilApril 24 at The Theatre of SolaireResort and Casino. �

She may have gotten goodreviews over her essay of Fantine inthe Manila run of “Les Misérables” butRachelle Ann Go is not about to relax.

“Napaka-talented ng mgaPinoys, halos lahat marunongkumanta so feeling ko lahatperfectionists,” she said. “Magkamali

lang ako on stage or maykonting flat or sharp sa mga

kanta, (baka) mapuna nila.”The high regard she has of

the Filipino audience intensifies nowthat her kababayans are finally able towatch her here. Recall that RachelleAnn had been away for months onend as she worked on “Miss Saigon”and “Les Misérables” in the UK.

Living in London for two yearsand training non-stop for theproduction made Rachelle a betteractress and more mature person.

“Ibang klase ’yung disiplinana nakuha ko sa teatro… at nahirapandin akong mag-adjust kasi walanaman akong training or backgroundsa acting… nakikinig lang talaga akosa mga tinuturo… ng mga directornamin sa London,” she humbly said.

After Manila, Rachelle will bedoing the London staging of themusical by May 9.

Broadway-bound?Given the chance, Rachelle

Ann would also like to conquerBroadway in the US.

“Ipagpe-pray ko ’yan,” shesaid.

Asked what her dream role is, she

Rachelle Ann Go

March 2016 19The North American Filipino StarThe North American Filipino Star


March 11, 2016 Washington, D.C.

Introduction

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, todayengaged with students from AmericanUniversity in Washington, D.C. in aquestion and answer session whichtouched on many topics, including FirstNations' issues, Canada's role in the fightagainst ISIL, and his commitment togender parity. Several students askedquestions on diversity. The Prime Ministertook the opportunity to underline Canada'scommitment on this matter, notingreasonable, respectful, discussion is key todemocracy.

Students were enthusiastic aboutCanada's role in addressing the Syrianrefugee crisis, in particular the decision tobring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada.They were equally impressed with thechoice made to bring gender parity to thefederal Cabinet.

When asked about climate change, PMTrudeau said that he saw a role for NorthAmerica to not only work together to fightclimate change, but be an example for therest of the world. He stressed thatcollaboration with NAFTA partners is an

important part of this. The Prime Ministeralso noted that science is essential todeveloping solutions and innovations.

“Our two countries share a vision of astrong and sustainable North Americaneconomy. One built on collaboration, cleangrowth, and economic diversification. Ourpartnership is vital to the success of bothour countries. I’ll leave this visit veryencouraged and extremely confidentabout the future of our nations.”– Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister ofCanada

Media Advisory

Washington, D.C., United States ofAmerica – 03-11-2016

9:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will lay awreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldierand at the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice.

Arlington National Cemetery

10:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will host aquestion and answer session withstudents.

American University

12:00 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend aluncheon hosted by Canada 2020.

Mayflower Hotel

1:30 p.m. The Prime Minister will meetwith the President of the World Bank.

Prime Minister Trudeau answersquestions from students at AmericanUniversity in Washington, D.C.

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on thebilateral meeting with President Obama

March 10, 2016Washington, D.C.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, todayissued the following statement after abilateral meeting with U.S. PresidentBarack Obama:

“Today, President Obama and I had a veryproductive meeting that will help our

countries transition to low-carboneconomies, foster clean growth, andcreate good jobs and great opportunitiesfor our citizens.

“The President and I agreed to formallyjoin the Paris Agreement in the global fightagainst climate change, and to take

ambitious actions to reduce methane,hydroflurocarbon, and greenhouse gasemissions.

“We announced a new partnership to builda sustainable Arctic economy, and we willwork together to develop new, science-based standards for commercial fishing,low-impact shipping, sustainabledevelopment, and Arctic biodiversity.

“We also committed to make our bordersmore open and more secure, and weagreed in principle to expandpreclearance to Billy Bishop Airport inToronto, Jean Lesage International Airportin Quebec City, as well as rail service inMontreal and Vancouver.

“The President and I reaffirmed ourcommitment to streamline trade between

our countries. Each day, $2.4 billion worthof goods and services cross the border.We agreed to work in collaboration tobring trade and investment to new heights.

“Finally, we agreed that Canada will hostthe North American Leaders Summit in theSummer of 2016. President Obama will

address Parliament during his visit toCanada for the summit.

“Canada and the United States share thesame values, the same origins, andthe same space. We face many of thesame challenges, and we are all betteroff when we tackle them together.”

Together with the children of Prime Minister Trudeau and President and Mrs.BarackObama happily posing for a family portrait.

President Obama welcoming Prime Minister Jusin Trudeau and family to the WhiteHouse

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama meet the pressaftertheir speeches.

President and Mrs. Obama with Prime Minister and Mrs. Justin Trudeau posing forsouvenir of the state dinner gala.


Education raises the barbut lowers the barriers to

a rewarding career.

7159 ch. Côte des NeigesMontreal, QC H3R 2M2Tel.: 514-485-7861Fax: 514-485-3076www.gilmorecollege.com

Gilmore College Internationalprovides immigrants the tools fora successfull career change. Thetraining and the skills that Ilearned gave me the confidenceto work as a nurses’ aide.Adele Lascano (October 2009)

The knowledge and skills I havelearned at Gilmore College gaveme the edge to work in the healthcare field where one needs toshow willingness to render serviceto the sick and the elderly.

Ethel Tugna (March 2011)

Gilmore College gave me theopportunity to start a new career. Igot a job easily because I learnednew things from the course whichfocused on how to care for theelderly and the sick. I’m proud tobe part of Gilmore CollegeInternationalGiselle Arellano (October 2011)

PAB-PSW Nursing aide graduates, Batches 8 and 9. Ceremony held at La Cucina on Sherbrooke West, October 7, 2012. First row: From left toright: Annabelle Alloso. Ethel Tugna, Teachers: Terry White, Amy Manon-og, Director-General, Zenaida Kharroubi, Teachers: Edith Fedalizo,Josefina Toledo, andLourdescita Lubang. Standing: Grace Calvo, Vilma Lagonilla, Mildred Mendoza,Giselle Arellano, Marilou Hechanova, AnneSigney and Joesie Bingayen.

• PAB/PSW Nursing Aide

• Early Childhood Education Assistant

• Office Systems Technology- Secretarial

Medical/Legal/Executive- Accounting Technician

•

• Second languagesEnglish - French - Filipino (Tagalog)Mandarin - Spanish

• Computer TrainingMicrosoft OfficeSage Premium AccountingKeyboarding

• Seminars - Small Business, Writing, Photography, Artistic Makeup

PROGRAMS COURSES & SEMINARS

Documents

Filipino Star - March 2016 Edition · Australian magazine. Experts say Santiago, who is running for the third time, is a legitimate candidate running on her reputation as a brilliant