A few days leading to June 12, Philippine Independence Day, a slew of Filipino celebrities and stars trooped to Toronto and other parts of Canada for a series of performances and concerts.
Among them were “songbird“ Regine Velasquez, songwriter Ogie Alcasid, Sarah Geronimo and of course diminutive international singing sensation, Charice Pempengco of Oprah fame and a protégée of David Foster.
They all make the Filipino proud for their achievements, talents and perseverance..qualities that propelled them to the top.
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TOP IMMIGRANT ACHIEVER: But what makes us even prouder is someone among our ranks of Filipino-Canadians, though he may not be one with a stature of a celebrity, was recently given a much-deserved recognition.
Young lawyer Rafael Fabregas may not be your ”abogado de campanile“,
a Filipino term to describe a top notch, high calibre attorney but certainly, Fabregas had become a giant in the Filipino-Canadian community here in Toronto and Canada.
A Toronto-Star affiliated new publication, “Canadian Immigrant“, in its June 2010 edition, has named Fabregas as one of the top 25 Canadian Immigrants for 2010, a list which included a doctor, a scientist and a first Asian senator in Canada, Vivienne Poy among others.
The magazine cited Fabregas for his tireless work to “get the Juana Tejada law onto law books recently “.
“Working together with his client(Tejada), they brought reform to the country’s live-in caregiver program by making it fairer for caregivers and their families to gain permanent residence status “ said the magazine.
This honor for Fabregas, I should say, is long overdue. Even his country of heritage and its government subalterns here in Toronto turned a blind eye on his dedicated work.
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CLOSURE? The suspects in the murder of Jocelyn Dulnuan in a Mississauga mansion last October 1,2007 were found guilty and stand to face life sentences for their crime. Finally, justice has been served and this makes us breathe a sigh of relief for the family of the slain Filipina overseas worker.
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LATEST MEDIA VICTIM: This makes us worried and angry. A report from Davao city said a radio journalist, Desiderio “Jessie“ Camangyan of Mati city Davao Oriental was the latest fatality in the country’s spate of killings of newsmen.
Camangyang, an anchorman of FM Sunrise was shot dead by a gunman as he was attending an event June 13 in the town of Manay,Davao Oriental.
He thus becomes the 138th media worker to be killed since 1986 and the 101st victim under the administration of outgoing President Gloria M.Arroyo.
His criticisms against mining activities in the province are among the motives being investigated by the police in his murder.
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THIS MAKES ME LAUGH: Publisher Eddie Lee of Atin Ito continues to make me laugh.
In Atin Ito’s opinionated article purporting to be a news item on page 1 of Atin Ito’s May 2010 issue, entitled “Semper Reformando or putsch at PPCO”, the article (without a byline regardless of bias reporting) stated”
“the attempt at stirring up a controversy did not however, gain traction from the rest of the community press“
I’m laughing out loud at that Atin Ito comment. Further, the article stated
”Not one of the 15 or so other community publication had picked up their cause and story “
Regardless of the statement, Atin Ito kept on dealing with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO )representative Frank Luna issue, in effect, picking up the issue and got tangled with it, unless of course, Atin Ito considers itself a public relations kit for Luna.
Nonetheless, I call publisher Eddie Lee to wake up. He had been in the community paper business for more than 35 years and he does not know that most other community papers are into entertainment, so have no place for this issue.
Atin Ito also tied up the PPCO election to its public relations POLO client Luna—which apparently, Eddie is courting the new administration of PPCO president Paul de la Cruz to side with him and his POLO client Luna on the issue.
You are so pathetic Eddie. You are asking the sympathy of the new PPCO administration—the very organization and members that you insulted in your “Corrigenda“ published in your January 2010 issue. In that article,
You wrote : “Does anybody in the PPCO, or the whole PPCO itself, honestly say that they possess the necessary muscle or clout to move the government officials….? “
I responded on this already in earlier columns. But I have good news for you and your public relations client Frank Luna: While the PPCO may not probably have the clout as you described it, probably in the Philippine government, the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PSEI) has it.
One ranking official of this association wrote us. saying “He (Frank Luna) is the best friend of then labour secretary Art Brion kaya yan napuesto. Canadian yan and lawyer, masyado yatang na-excite ng maging labor Attaché. Walang ginawang tama yan; the industry as well don’t like him not to mention na napaka anti-productive yan nawawala ang trabaho instead of us gaining grounds on the positions in Canada “
The ranking PSEI is just waiting for the new administration to take over the reins of Philippine government. Till next time Kuya Eddie.