Legal Sources Say $500K Paid to Couple Likely Violated FCT Constitution Can Dr. Antonina de Villa Say Something About This Hot Issue?

by Cress Vasquez Working for the same organization for several years has its rewards, but wait until you see how the Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) board of directors passed a special resolution that put some $500,000 into the pockets of a husband and wife. The payment, according to lawyers from two different law firms, was likely a violation… Read More »

The Race Against COVID-19 Variants: Are There More Beyond Delta and Mu?

By Hermione Cabie Santos On August 23, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration finally granted its first approval of a COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine, under the proprietary name COMIRNATY, reached a significant milestone in the pandemic’s history. Less than a year after the issuance of emergency use authorization (EUA) to COVID-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical giants, approximately 33… Read More »

Filipino Organization Hides Behind Toronto Mayor John Tory to Mask Taxable Salaries, $678,000 Disbursements Omitted in Financial Statements Lawyers Hired to Intimidate Folks Who Ask Questions

by Cress Vasquez When Toronto Mayor John Tory spoke at the inauguration of the Filipino Centre Toronto’s (FCT) new office in Scarborough, August 2019, little did he suspect that he was in the company of individuals behind the omission of large liabilities, payables, and taxable salaries in FCT’s financial statements, and the hiring of lawyers for reasons unknown. … Read More »

A Taste of Freedom, Cheers and Hospitality

By:  Teresa Torralba June 2021 is an incredibly special month to our Filipino-Canadian community. It is when we celebrate the Filipino Heritage month all over Canada.  As well, Filipinos around the globe have events throughout the year to celebrate the Quincentennial year of the Philippines.  It was 500 years ago that the Philippines was discovered by explorers led… Read More »

Undocumented caregivers – Part Three

Ready, willing and able, but only requires a second chance By Faye Arellano Is there hope for permanent residence (PR) for out-of-status caregivers whose lives are in limbo? The short answer is yes. But how to achieve the desired result may be more complicated than that. Application on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) ground is one legal remedy that… Read More »

Undocumented caregivers, they are unseen among us

By Faye Arellano  Maria, 35, arrived in Canada a decade ago under the defunct Live-in Caregiver’s  Program. Her initial employer changed her mind about hiring her and immediately  released Maria on her first week.  It took Maria about seven months to find a new employer who was willing to do the  required paperwork. This time, Maria endured almost… Read More »

Undocumented Caregivers – Part Two

In pursuit of the elusive PR By Faye Arellano After several failed attempts to restore her legal status even with the help of a lawyer, Maria eventually became undocumented in 2014.  “I incurred so much debts in the course of my legal battle, to no avail,” recalled Maria. She added that she was desperate to renew her work… Read More »

UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL CANNABIS

By Hermione Cabie Santos A 55-year old patient has been taking pain medications round the clock for several months. Unable to sleep most nights and taking high doses of anti-anxiety medications, he seeks other means of addressing his condition.Finally, he reads about medical cannabis, discovers its benefits and now enjoysa more pain-free way of life! We all have… Read More »