For calling the President Joseph “Earp“ Estrada as “bobo (stupid),
Diplomat Pedro Chan was shipped from Ottawa, Canada to Russia in an apparent punishment and demotion. That was in 1998.
But Chan took all of this in stride declaring he has never said this publicly and the statement was his own personal belief.
By sending Chan to extremely cold and frigid Russia, Erap thought
This was a worse form of exile because Siberia is located in that country.
Siberia is a vast and unforgiving region in Russia’s Eastern part where the dreaded “Gulags “ or concentration camps are located.
Millions of internees, including prisoners of war, dissenters and those opposed to then Communist Russian rule have died in this lonely place due to isolation, cold and hunger.
But what Erap did not know was that he was throwing fish to water since Chan had spent some time in Ottawa and is used to cold weather.
Chan is the new consul general of the Philippine Consulate in Toronto replacing Ambassador Minerva Falcon, now charge d’ affaires in Ottawa.
Buckling down to work after arriving only two days earlier(June 8), Chan in an interview said he will set aside one day each week to hear our “kababayans “ concerns and issues by conducting a consulate “open house “ as he did in his past stint in Italy where he met OFWs every Thursday to hear their plaints.
A career diplomat, Chan got wind of the celebrated case of “nannygate “ involving former MP Ruby Dhalla and caregiver Richelyn Tongson.
In that case, Filipina Nanny suffered a setback when the court decided against her by ordering Tongson to honor a gag order requested by the camp of Dhalla and accept a $5,000 settlement.
Chan said “if what the Filipina (Tongson) said is true that she was abused, then it should have not happen here “ said Chan adding that Canada is a very civilized country.
He said it isn’t fair that such as a thing should happen to anybody whether you’re a doctor, nurse or caregiver.
“An abuse is an abuse and that is against human dignity “ he said.
Before his appointment here by President Nonoy Aquino as chief of Mission I, Chan had served as ambassador to Turkey from January 2009 and also as consul general previously in Milan ,Italy.
He is from Calbayog city.
******
LET THE DEBATE BEGIN: I definitely agree with our colleague Hermie Garcia of the Philippine Reporter when he questioned the holding of beauty pageants to coincide with historical events like the Philippine Independence Day of June 12.
To say that such contests have little relevance to our culture and traditions is an understatement.
But don’t get me wrong, I am not against beauty pageants or contest.
But as it is, every year as we observe our National Day, the historical meaning and lessons to be learned by our young people are always drowned out and overshadowed by such beauty contests and other non-related shows that features “imported showbiz “ personalities.
Yes, it’s about time that the Great debate on the subject should take place.
In the meantime, while we’re at the subject of beauty contest,. Would it be also timely and appropriate if we start taking a hard long look at beauty contest featuring young children?
Mr. Joe Paul of Brampton, whose daughter was a recent candidate in the Miss Little Philippines said her child suffered a very “traumatic experience “ as a result of the contest.
He and several other parents have several questions addressed to the organizers and some suggestions for future contest involving young children.
Paul said he and the other parents are not complaining nor protesting . They have these following observations.
-It seemed that there were no definite set of rules and criteria
-The organizers first declared that the contestants would be judged based on 60 percent beauty and 40 percent talent but later it was changed to 60 percent talent and 40 percent beauty.
Again, Mr. Paul said this was changed to 60 percent beauty and 40 percent talent . He said these changes went on as the contest progressed.
Also, Mr. Paul said when the winner was declared, one of the contestants (who turned out to be a sister of the winning contestant) began crying and this led organizers to decide to award to the crying child the first runner up prize.
Mr. Paul said this led to confusion and bewilderment among the other child contestants who also started to cry, apparently taken by surprise by the decision.
He said perhaps, in future contests, organizers should at least take the sensitivity of the children in consideration.
“You are dealing with young and vulnerable minds “ and maybe organizers should remember this.
He said the contest is supposed to be a good and clean fun for children not unlike the adult versions of beauty contests that are sometimes tainted with intrigues and favoritism.
They said if a beauty contest for children is to succeed, these factors should be taken into mind. They also cited several Toronto-based beauty pageants that are well organized and have flourished over the years, One of them is the Miss Manila beauty pageant which also involve young generations.