Category Archives: General

SPONSORS TO REPAY IMMIGRANTS’ DEBT TOP COURT RULES

By Edwin C. Mercurio – NUJP Canada Canadians or permanent residents who are sponsoring their family members from abroad to come to Canada could find themselves owing thousands of dollars should their sponsored relatives turn to social assistance during the sponsorship period due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada… Read More »

Will the US defend us against China?

By Leandro “DD” Coronel The fourth of July is of course Independence Day in America. But it is observed as Philippine-American Friendship Day in the Philippines. Actually, July 4th used to be Independence Day also in the Philippines, a date that was chosen by the Americans for the Filipinos for patently obvious reasons. The Filipinos celebrated that date… Read More »

Independence Day stories

Filipinos everywhere are celebrating the 113th anniversary of Philippine Independence this month, specifically June 12 – in Toronto. The festivities were held June 11-12 at Nathan Philips Square, featuring a lechon parade. The roasted pigs were chopped and served to the people after the parade. Various presentations from different organizations featuring some aspects of Filipino culture entertained the… Read More »

The Boxer, the Bachelor, and the Bishop(s)

Roman Catholic Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez is the bishop of the Diocese of Marbel. His ecclesiastical territory, as defined by the Church, encompasses the province of Sarangani, where pugilist Manny Paquiao resides. Many Paquiao is not just a resident there as he also is Sarangani’s elected representative to the Philippine Congress. The Bishop says Congressman Manny is a… Read More »

Western Union Foundation

WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION GRANTS USD250K TO DEVELOP MODEL TO CHANNEL REMITTANCES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OVERSEAS FILIPINO HOME COMMUNITIES UNDP and Philippines national and local government collaborate to lead project MANILA, Philippines, April 5, 2011 – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Government of the Philippines today launched a US$250,000 major project wholly funded by the… Read More »

Wanted Pretty Lavandera

There is a bill in the Philippine senate that aims to expand labour laws protecting the rights of women against employment discrimination. If approved, the bill will penalize guilty employers from 50 to 200 thousand pesos. Well and good as this is welcome especially in a country like the Philippines where playing fields are strewn with potholes and… Read More »

Embassies, consulates should start redefining roles

As Shirley Mae lay in her coffin muted talks circulate inside -and outside- the small viewing room of the funeral home. In a separate corner just before one enters the viewing area, tables were laid with platters full of Filipino snacks and sweets — untouched. For a woman without a single relative in Toronto, or in Canada for… Read More »

Court gives “Pillars” name to rightful owners

This is according to court documents provided to Balita by the winning camp and now the official set of officers for the cultural organization. The Minutes of Settlement from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice stipulate that the 16 plaintiffs, members and officers of “The Pillars Cultural Association” (1718149 Ontario Inc.), and represented by Gerry Elises and Rheza… Read More »

“Itanong mo sa lolo mong panot…” – so he said

If you think some smart alec of the alleyway said that, think again. Manny said that. Yes, the Manny – the world famous pugilist from General Santos City who moved to Sarangani to become the province’s representative in Congress. Properly, he is now The Honorable Gentleman from Sarangani. “Itanong mo sa lolo mong panot,” was his response to… Read More »

Filipino Food as Legacy

When I was teaching in a school in Toronto in the 90’s, a fellow Filipino teacher in the same school and I used to give a luncheon to the staff during the week of Thanksgiving. We usually served our native pansit”, “lumpiang Shanghai” and beef “mitsado”. The members of the staff looked forward to this Filipino meal and… Read More »