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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
As I write this piece, Philippine President Aquino would still be at the Istana Merdeka, the official residence of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyona. By the time I finish this, Aquino would probably be in Singapore and by the time this gets off the press he would already be back in his official residence, Bahay Pangarap, inside the… Read More »
My mother will turn 92 this March and is upbeat as ever. When I talked to her by phone the other day —3pm in Vancouver, BC— she said that she’s fine and that she was baking pizzas for her apos, aged 18, 16, and 13. Whew, when are you going to stop, mother? No, not now — not… Read More »