MARCH 2019 VOL. 8, NO. 02 TORONTO, CANADA

www.filipinosmakingwaves.com

LAUNCH OF FILIPINO HERITAGE MONTH

Coming Together for a Cause By Riley Mendoza

There's an inner satisfaction in seeing people coming to-gether for a cause. That those people are from the frac-tious Filipino community makes this feeling more intense. At this recent meet & greet and launching of Filipino Herit-age Month in Canada at Scarborough Civic Centre, I get the impression that the quality of guests outweighs the num-bers. The turnout was well within expectations by the organiz-ers but it's the calibre of the people who joined in that counts in having a successful first-ever celebration of Fili-pino Heritage Month across Canada starting on June 1st. Most of the guests are leaders in their own right. They are captains of fledgling industries run and owned by Canadi-ans of Filipino descent, local entrepreneurs, political lead-ers, educators, community leaders, and millennials just starting to etch their mark.

(Continued on page 3)

The federal government was represented by (L-R) MPs Shaun Chen (Scarb North), Salma Zahid (Scarb-Centre), John McKay (Scarb-Guildwood), Marco Mendicino (Eglinton-Lawrence), Michael Levitt (North York Centre) during the launch of the first Filipino Heritage Month in June. Also in photo are NFHC direc-tors Rolly Mangante and Tess de Jesus. PHOTO BY ROMEO MARQUEZ

New Zealand Mass Shooting

PM Justin Trudeau’s

Statement on behalf

of Canadians

Page 4

Budget 2019: Investing in the Middle Class to Grow Canada's Economy March 19, 2019 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

Since 2015, hard-working Canadians have proven what has long been under-stood: a strong economy starts with a strong middle class.

Nearly four years ago, Ca-nadians chose a plan to in-vest in the middle class and offer real help to people working hard to join it.

Investing in the middle class means investing in people—with more help for those who need it, and less for those who don't. It means building a better Canada—a stronger, more connected country—and it means better opportunities for people today, and the promise of a better future, even in a world of constant

change.

The Government's invest-ments in the middle class are paying off. Canada's economy is strong and growing, more Canadians are working, and families have more money to save or spend each month.

Building on this momen-tum, Finance Minister Bill Morneau today tabled Budget 2019—Investing in the Middle Class.

With Budget 2019, the Gov-ernment is continuing to invest to grow the economy for the long term, in a fiscal-ly responsible way—ensuring that Canada's fed-eral debt-to-GDP ratio con-tinues on a steady down-ward track.

(Continued on page 4)

Philippines officially out of the International Criminal Court Manila moved to quit after the body launched an ex-amination in 2018 into President Rodrigo Duter-te's drug crackdown.

The Philippines has offi-cially withdrawn from the International Criminal Court (ICC), though the beleaguered tribunal has pledged to pursue its ex-amination of alleged illegal killings in the govern-ment's drug war.

Manila's withdrawal on

Sunday came a year after it told the United Nations it was quitting the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal, becoming the second nation to do so after Burundi.

"The secretary-general ... informed all concerned states that the withdrawal will take effect for the Phil-ippines on 17 March," UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko told the AFP news agency

(Continued on page 3)

Women and Power

Philippine Army will

have its first female

brigade commander

Page 8

Entertainment

ABS-CBN names

Kerwin Du as new

Country Manager

for Canada

Page 17

Women and Power

International Women’s Day: Salma Zahid (MP for Scarborough Centre) hosted a community gathering

to celebrate International Women’’s Day on March 9 at the McGregor Park Community Centre. Special

guest speaker was the Hon. Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport. PHOT0: WAVES

Page 2 MARCH 2019

Filipinos Making WAV ES

MARCH 2019 Page 3

Filipinos Making WAV ES CANADA ~ PHILIPPINE NEWS WAVES

Particularly impressive was the swift conduct of the program. Maybe it's a first, maybe it's not, but it's a re-lief that there are a few se-lected talking heads. Only those who have meaningful roles in the event spoke well enough for me to di-gest the gist of their talk. I've been to a number of functions and always, the upsetting part is when em-cees speak more than they're allowed to say or adlib. At this event, it was strictly business. The result is an unimpeded flow of the program - ending on the very right time for snacks, and allow people to social-ize while they take in mor-sels of food. Interaction is an important part of any program. Giving time to let guests mingle

with other guests in friend-ly banter or business deals is a good opportunity to broaden support. Corporate sponsors, for example, get to know their clientele and the market they're trying to serve. I suppose it helped that the two emcees - Teresa Torralba and Tess de Jesus - were adept at managing the program, thus guaran-

teeing the non-involvement of habitual babblers. Ms. Torralba's announce-ment of a gift from Balita publisher and editor Tess Cusipag was a fine example of a straightforward, matter-of-fact bulletin. In just a few seconds, she told of the late Ruben Cusipag, his ca-reer as a journalist, and the book he wrote that his wid-ow was gifting to the guests. Ms. de Jesus' summation of the history of Filipinos in Canada leading to the dec-laration of Filipino Heritage Month was concise and gave the audience an over-view of why it's so mean-ingful to celebrate it. Election year or not, politi-cian or not, MP Salma Zahid deserves credit and the community's everlasting gratitude. I know to have to say that might trigger an unpleasant situation, but the truth is without her in Parliament, a Filipino herit-age month would still be a pipe dream nationally. Filipino Heritage Month is a reality in the City of Toron-to, and that was it, thanks to the collaboration of then Councillor Neethan Shan and Filipino community leader Paulina Corpuz. Across the second-largest country in the world, such

recognition was never be-stowed in nearly eight dec-

ades of Filipino presence in Canada. That's until MP Za-

hid moved it. On October

30, 2018, the Parliament of Canada declared a Filipino

Heritage Month throughout

Canada. ∎

(Continued from page 1)

Coming Together for a Cause..

Among the VIP guests were (L-R) Councillor Lisa Bower (Ward 3) of Town of Ajax, major sponsor Rafael Nebres (GM of Action Honda), and Rose Ami (Exec. Director of Durham Phil. Heritage Group).

Councillor Jim Karygannis of Ward 22 warmly welcomed eve-ryone to the Scarborough Civic Centre and joined hands with the federal government in cele-brating the Filipino Heritage month. The popular councillor for Scarborough-Agincourt also presented a certificate of appre-ciation to the organizers.

on Friday.

Under the treaty, withdraw-al is only effective one year after a country gives writ-ten notice of its decision to the UN secretary-general.

A signatory country also can "not be discharged" of any cases already pending in the court before the withdrawal.

That means the probe into possible crimes against hu-manity in the president's drug war launched by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in February 2018 would continue.

"The suspension of the withdrawal for a period of 12 months ... is to prevent situations just like this where a state is accused of

war crimes, crimes against humanity and they with-draw to shield themselves from prosecution," Toby Cadman, an international human rights lawyer, told Al Jazeera.

"The whole point is that you cannot be permitted to do that. So the ICC will con-tinue and will have jurisdic-tion over prosecuting the president and senior offi-cials who are considered to be responsible."

'Never part of the ICC'

The departure of the Philip-pines follows the court be-ing hit in recent years by high-profile acquittals and moves by several nations to drop out.

Manila moved to quit after the body launched a prelim-inary examination in 2018 into President Rodrigo Duterte's drug crackdown that has killed thousands

and drawn international censure.

However, the president's spokesman said Sunday the nation never legally joined the treaty that underpins the court, a reference to an argument that the Philip-pines did not complete all the steps to formalise its adoption.

"Our position on the matter remains clear, unequivocal and inflexible: The Philip-pines never became a state party to the Rome Statute which created the ICC," spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

"As far as we are con-cerned, this tribunal is non-existent and its actions a futile exercise," he added.

Duterte's drug war is his signature policy initiative and he defends it fiercely, especially from internation-al critics like Western lead-

ers and institutions which he says do not care about his country.

Controversial war on drugs

Duterte has made it clear his government will not cooperate with the ICC in any way.

The court "can never ac-quire jurisdiction over my person, not in a million years," he said in a speech on Wednesday.

Rights group Amnesty In-ternational said on Sunday the withdrawal should prompt the UN Human Rights Council to probe the killings.

"Filipinos bravely challeng-ing the 'war on drugs' or seeking justice for their loved ones need interna-tional support to help them end this climate of fear, vio-lence and impunity," said Amnesty International re-gional director Nicholas

Bequelin.

The ICC examination, which is one step before a full-blown probe, zeroes in on allegations that the govern-ment has been involved in illegal killings as part of the crackdown Duterte launched in mid-2016.

Police say they have killed 5,176 users or pushers who resisted arrest, but rights groups say the actual num-ber of dead is at least triple that.

Critics have alleged the crackdown amounts to a war on the poor that feeds an undercurrent of impuni-ty and lawlessness in the nation of 106 million.

The Philippines's move to exit follows a string of set-backs for the ICC, including the January acquittal of for-

(Continued from page 1)

(Continued on page 5)

Honoured guests included Hassan Khan, General Manager, CIBC - Team OKR, Guild, Morningside Crossing, and title sponsor of the first Filipino heritage celebration on June 1st at Albert Campbell Square.

Front row dignitaries are MP Salma Zahid, MP John McKay, MP Shaun Chen, and Councillor Jim Karygiannis. Photo also shows Hor-ace Thomas, CEO of Trureal Inc., Josephine Zappone, Trureal VP, Raymund Abog-Country Manager, World Remit, Rosary Escano, TFC Marketing Head, Mazhar Shafiq representing MP Rob Oliphant.

PH officially out of Int’l Criminal Court

Page 4 MARCH 2019

Filipinos Making WAV ES PHILIPPINES ~ CANADA NEWS WAVES

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Teresa Torralba, PUBLISHER Mon Torralba, Managing Editor

Rolando Mangante, Marketing/Account Executive Office: 1002-650 Queens Quay West, Toronto ON M5V 3N2

For advertising: filipinonewswaves@gmail.com 647 718-1360

For Editorial Submissions: wavesnews247@gmail.com 647 707-7201

Waves News is published monthly by Mentor Productions and distributed free in the Greater Toronto Area and vicinities. Editorial or advertising inquiries may be sent directly to wavesnews247@gmail.com. Articles are copyrighted by their authors. Any re-posting or re-publication online or in print is prohibited without the written permission by Waves News and its editors. While submissions are welcome, the editors reserve the right to refuse and/or edit unsolicited materials. Any publication included in this newspaper and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of WAVES News and its publishers, but remain solely those of the author(s).

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“Canadians across the coun-try were appalled to wake up to news of the terrorist at-tack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that killed and injured so many people, including chil-dren.

“We extend our deepest con-dolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones in this senseless tragedy. To the people of New Zealand and to Muslim communities around the world: you are in our hearts and minds. We join in your grief and stand with you at this incredibly difficult time.

“Far too often, Muslims suf-fer unimaginable loss and pain in the places where they should feel safest. Cana-da remembers too well the sorrow we felt when a sense-less attack on the Centre cul-turel islamique de Que bec in Ste-Foy claimed the lives of many innocent people gath-ered in prayer.

“To move forward as a

world, we need to recognize diversity as a source of strength, and not a threat. Last night’s victims were fathers, mothers, and chil-dren. They were neighbours, friends, and family members. As with every life taken too soon, the full measure of their loss will never be known.

“Canada condemns this at-tack, and will continue to work closely with New Zea-land, our close partner and friend, and others to take action against violent ex-

tremism. Hate has no place anywhere. We must all con-front Islamophobia and work to create a world in which all people—no matter their faith, where they live, or where they were born—can feel safe and secure.”

Justin Trudeau spoke with his counterpart in New Zealand on Saturday, of-fering his condolences for the 50 people killed and dozens injured following Friday’s shootings at two mosques in Christchurch.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on March 15 issued the following statement on

the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand:

Early Monday morning, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern went to Kilbirnie mosque in Wellington to offer condolences to the grieving families of the victims and to lay flowers. People wept and grieved for the 50 people who died and those who were injured in the shooting.

In Budget 2019, the Gov-ernment of Canada propos-es to:

• Make homeownership more affordable for first-time buyers by imple-menting a First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, a shared equity mortgage program that would reduce the mortgage payments re-quired to own a home; and by providing greater access to their Registered Retire-ment Savings Plan savings to buy a home.

• Help workers gain new skills with the crea-tion of the new Canada Training Benefit, a benefit that will give workers mon-ey to help pay for training, provide income support during training, and, with the cooperation of the provinces and territories, offer job protection so that workers can take the time they need to keep their skills relevant and in-demand.

• Prepare young Cana-dians for good jobs by helping make education more affordable through lowered interest rates on Canada Student Loans, making the six-month grace period interest-free after a student loan borrower leaves school, and creating up to 84,000 new student work placements per year by 2023-24.

• Help Canadians with the cost of prescription drugs by taking steps to-wards a national phar-macare plan, starting with creating a new Canadian Drug Agency that could lower Canadians' drug costs by as much as $3 bil-lion per year, developing a national formulary for pre-scription drugs, and a na-tional strategy for high-cost drugs for rare diseases.

• Support low-income Canadian seniors who choose to stay in the workforce by enhancing the Guaranteed Income Supplement earnings ex-emption so that they can

effectively keep more of their hard-earned income.

• Support municipali-ties' local infrastructure priorities by proposing a one-time top-up of $2.2 bil-lion through the federal Gas Tax Fund that will double the Government's commit-ment to municipalities in 2018-19, and make sure communities have the funds they need to pay for crucial repairs and other important local projects.

• Give all Canadians ac-cess to high-speed inter-net so all Canadian homes and businesses have access to 50 Mbps high-speed in-ternet no matter where they live—including people and businesses in rural, remote and northern com-munities.

• Lower Canadians' en-ergy costs by partnering with the Federation of Ca-nadian Municipalities to increase energy efficiency in residential, commercial and multi-use buildings, and by introducing a new incentive for buying elec-tric battery or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with a manufacturer's suggested retail price under $45,000.

Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through new measures to help improve the quality of life for First Nations, Inuit, and Me tis Peoples in Cana-da and advance self-determination with invest-ments to improve water quality; preserve, revitalize, and promote Indigenous languages; improve the quality of education and health care for Indigenous children in a culturally rele-vant way; and promote In-digenous entrepreneurship and business. With the new investments in Budget 2019, combined with lower taxes, more money in their pockets each month and more good jobs, there is good reason for middle class Canadians to feel more confident about what the future holds for themselves and their families. ∎

(Continued from page 1)

Budget 2019: Investing in the Middle Class to Grow Canada’s Economy

MARCH 2019 Page 5

Filipinos Making WAV ES PHILIPPINES ~ CANADA NEWS WAVES

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Overseas Voting for Senators and Party-List Representatives

in the 2019 Philippine National Election

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto informs all Filipino Overseas Voters in the Greater Toronto Area, Manitoba and other areas under its Consular jurisdiction, that the VOTING PERIOD for overseas voting in the 2019 National Elections for Senators and Party-List Representatives shall be from 13 April 2019 to 13 May 2019. The mode of voting for registered Filipino overseas voters residing in the abovementioned areas is POSTAL voting as approved by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in its Meeting held on 14 November 2018 and through Resolution No. 18-1124. Official ballots, instructions for voting and other election materials shall be mailed to all registered Filipino overseas voters before 13 April 2019. Ballots must be correctly filled up in accordance with instructions issued by the COMELEC. Overseas voters must either MAIL or HAND CARRY their ballots to the Consulate. The Consulate must receive these ballots ON OR BEFORE 5 o’clock in the morning of 13 May 2019, Toronto time (5 o’clock in the afternoon of 13 May 2019, Philippine time) in order to be counted at the Consulate. For questions, overseas voters may send an email to the Consulate through ovs@philcongen-toronto.com or may call Ms. Fatima Muallam at telephone number 416-355-2782 or through the Consulate’s trunkline: 416-922-7181.

Filipino Canadian Community Leader Receives Lifetime Achievement Award By: Jennifer S. MacLean

Long-serving Filipino Cana-dian community leader and retired Toronto educator, Tony A. San Juan has been honoured with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Filipino Canadian Par-ents Association in Catholic Education-FCPACE. The prestigious award was pre-sented to T. San Juan dur-ing the Association's 5th Founding Anniversary event on February 22, 2019, at JCs Banquet Hall, Scarborough, Toronto, On-tario.

T. San Juan, a founding member of FCPACE since its formation in 2013, was recognized for "his lifetime achievement and selfless, extraordinary service & dedication to our shared mission and vision". The organization expressed its " appreciation of his endur-ing commitment of time, support and inspiration for the common good of the parents, students, teachers in Catholic education in the Filipino community and the

greater Canadian society." The plaque presented to San Juan further cited him " your efforts have truly made a world of difference in what we have accom-plished."

An Ontario-certified & Phil-ippine - registered teacher and recipient of many awards, T. San Juan has taught college & high school in the Philippines, Nigeria, and Canada. He is the founding & current chair of FHMC - Filipino Heritage Month Council -Toronto. A professional educator, community histo-rian, contributing writer, and radio political com-mentator, he has been vol-untary serving in various

capacities as an organizer, convenor, founder, chair-man or officer of a number of professional, social and community organizations in the GTA.

FCPACE is a faith-focused, voluntary, and non-profit community organization of dedicated Filipino Canadi-an parents and guardians in the Greater Toronto Ar-ea. It is registered with Ser-vice Ontario with the mis-sion of providing support, guidance and advice to par-ents, students, and youth especially to newcomer-immigrant families. Specifi-cally, it aims to engage and assist various stakeholders within the Catholic commu-nity particularly high school and elementary stu-dents to achieve success and well-being in their edu-cational endeavours. Being a Christ-centred organiza-tion, with a focus on love, devotion and understand-ing, FCPACE continues to offer well-determined edu-cational & faith-based pro-jects, programs and activi-ties. ∎

Tony A. San Juan

mer Ivory Coast leader Lau-rent Gbagbo and the June 2018 not guilty verdict for former DR Congo Vice Presi-dent Jean-Pierre Bemba.

In a wave of unprecedented

defections, other African nations - Zambia, South Afri-ca, Kenya and Gambia - have also made moves to quit or expressed interest in with-drawing as they accused the court of being biased against Africans.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Fri-day the United States will revoke or deny visas to ICC

personnel seeking to investi-gate possible war crimes by US forces or allies in Afghan-istan

However, the court this month got a boost when Ma-laysia officially joined, mak-ing it one of just a handful of Asian members.

(aljazeera.com)

(Continued from page 3)

PH officially out of Int’l Criminal Court

MORTGAGE WORLD

Mortage Stress Test How does it affect you?

by Rosemarie Ami Seaborn, Mortgage Broker

As life is always filled with dynamic changes, so does the Mortgage World! Last year, the new mortgage policies were implemented. Many existing homeowners and new or repeat homebuyers still do not fully understand the details of these changes and how they are impacted. Last year, a lot of time was spent problem solving, nego-tiating, and fighting for mort-gage applications that no longer qualified under the new “stress test” lending cri-teria but carried all the mer-its for approval given the overall strength of the appli-cation. Everybody including consumers, lenders, mort-gage brokers, realtors and other individuals and compa-nies affected by these chang-es felt frustration, disbelief, and outrage with the new mortgage policy changes. These changes are real and they affect real people and real situations. Many indi-viduals, families and industry professionals are facing rude awakening with these mort-gage policy changes and real estate market adjustments. The new mortgage qualifying guidelines affect everybody who has an existing mort-gage or looking to get a mort-gage. Some of these changes are: · Borrowers must now qualify at 2% above the actu-al mortgage interest rate. For example, if the rate is 3.50% today then the quali-fying rate will be 5.50% which cuts your purchasing power by about 30% · Equity-based programs and Self-employed programs with prime lenders have been discontinued · Credit standing and his-tory is now under strict scru-tiny with all lenders placing emphasis on borrower’s credit utilization level and other important factors · Networth and cashflow have now become important elements for lenders · Other programs such as rental, new immigrant and cashback program have also been amended I encourage you to have a thorough review of your cur-rent mortgage, monthly cashflow, household budget, consumer debt, future ex-penses (tuition fees, home renovations, others), career opportunities, changing fam-ily dynamics (expanding or

retiring) and long-term goals. At the centre of this all is your overall financial standing and a huge part of it is having the right mortgage for you. As our needs continue to change, being a constant part of life, our solutions must adjust accordingly. If you have always had a fixed mortgage in the past then maybe variable is the answer for you today or vice versa. If refinancing was the solu-tion to your debt problem in the past maybe getting a sec-ond mortgage is the best op-tion for you today. If buying a bigger home was your next step maybe renovating your existing home should be your right next move. All these examples could be the result of prudent deci-sion making given the new lending environment we are in today. We can help you make the RIGHT decision with your next step in life. Do not assume things are the same and will continue to be the same. Drastic adjust-ments are happening and being cognizant of your own financial standing is key to making the right financial move which affects your life in every regard. If you are planning to pur-chase a home in the near fu-ture, please let us know so we can help you with your mortgage needs. If you are also looking to renew or re-finance your mortgage, please contact us for a no-obligation and no-fee consul-tation to ensure you find the most suitable mortgage product for your long-term needs. Please feel free to provide our contact infor-mation to anyone you know who is looking to obtain a mortgage. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

Mortgage World is a new section brought to you by Rosemarie Ami Seaborn. Rose is a licensed mortgage broker (M08007976) since 2010. She has helped hun-dreds of families realized their dream of home owner-ship in Ontario. To fully help the client understand their cashflow, she offers house-hold budgeting, down pay-ment solutions, debt analysis & consolidation and life insur-ance/critical illness coverage. She can be reached at rose@yourmoneyplanner.ca or 647 780 9166.

Page 6 MARCH 2019

Filipinos Making WAV ES COMMUNITY

TORONTO MAHARLIKA LIONS CLUB celebrated their Charter Night and 6th Anniversary Feb 23 at the

JC’s Banquet Halls in Scarborough.

Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance Board of Directors sworn in

HAPPY BIRTHDAY March 18: Baby K Jimenez

Baby K’s birthday treats started 2 days earlier at the Anne Kulit event held on March 16 at the Meeting House in Oakville. LEFT PHOTO shows her with celebrities Billy Crawford, Anne Curtis and Katrina Velarde. RIGHT PHOTO captures Baby K with Waves publisher, Teresa Torralba and Petronila Garcia, PH Ambassador to Canada. PHOTO CREDIT: Bing Mariano Photography.

PUP/PCC 2nd Global Reunion in Toronto After the successful 1st Global Reunion in Las Vegas, Neva-da USA in 2016, the Polytechnic University of the Philip-pines/Philippine College of Commerce (PUP/PCC) will be holding its once in a lifetime 2nd Global Reunion in Toronto on May 18-19, 2019 with the title “2Gather Again.” The highlight of this event will be a “Meet & Greet” of alumni in May 18 and “Gala Night” in May 19 in Holiday Inn Hotel, North York, Toronto. As expected, the event will be at-tended by hundreds of alumni in Canada, Philippines, & around the globe. There will be trips to different beautiful places in Ontario like Niagara Falls, in Ottawa, & Quebec City.

The President of PUP & the Board of Regents including the professors & staff will be coming to meet the alumni & join the celebration.

Please visit the facebook page: PUP/PCC alumni Canada for information & inquiry. For other inquiry in Toronto, please contact Alberto Rodil (647-518-2311)

For registration contact in Canada, please contact Ms. Lowie De Guia Andra (416-578-5106) & Ms. Maureen Caluya Paz in the Philippines (0928) 550-2852 or you can send your message inquiry in their facebook accounts.

Early bird registration can be availed until April 15, 2019

The new board of directors of Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance (PLACA) were sworn

into office by MP Michael Levitt-York Centre (4th from left) during the Filipino Heritage Launch

held at the Scarborough Civic Centre on March 15th. They are Andrew Roper, Vanessa Hold-

en, Horace Thomas and Mel Galeon. They were congratulated by TOM founder Rolando

Mangante, Teresa Torralba –Exec. Director and Philip Beloso - director for government affairs.

Not in photo are Linofiel Eroma, the new chairman of the board and Chanel Capua, director.

PLACA is organizing this year’s Taste of Manila to be staged on August 17-18, 2019 at Bath-

urst Street (corner of Wilson). (Photo by Romy Marquez)

Rommel S. Billanes (centre) celebrated his special day with loved ones Carolinda Luanzon and Sophia Billanes at the Oldest Restau-rant in the World located in Madrid,Spain – Sobrino De botin

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROMMEL March 20

MARCH 2019 Page 7

Filipinos Making WAV ES COMMUNITY

YOU ARE ALL INVITED

DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF PENAFRANCIA

2019 Our Lady of Penafrancia Novena

Our Lady of the Assumption Church 2565 Bathurst St., Toronto ON

The 3rdd month Novena Devotions to the Virgin of Penafrancia will be on

March 31, 2018 (5th Sunday of March 2019) Starts at 1:30 pm

Rosary and Novena prayers Followed by the Holy Mass

Refreshments, Kumustahan at the Church Hall

Feast Day Saturday Sept 21, 2019

Fluvial Parade, Mass & Fellowship at Bluffer’s Park Lake

SPONSORS FOR THIS MONTH

Devotees of the Virgin of Penafrancia

from CAMARINES SUR

c/o Olayon Family & Friends Cheryl Angeles 416 858-5178 416 783-6654

We encourage all Bicolanos to attend and participate in the spon-sorship of this novena to the Virgin, for abundant blessings for all the provinces of the Bicol Region, especially for the province of Camarines Sur. Our Lady of the Virgin of Penafrancia is the Patroness of the BICOL region. SHE listens and loves us all ! Viva la Virgen !

For more information, please call : Jenifer Amaranto 416 781-3105 Cheryl Angeles 416 858-5178 Michelle Serrano 416 783-6654 Paeng Nebres 416 618-1362

BCCA Palarong Bicol 2019 championship games were held recently at the Lawrence Heights Commu-

nity Centre. They were visited by Marco Mendicino, MP for Lawrence-Eglinton, who did the ceremonial

first toss. PHOTO BY Earl Francis Oriño Dacara

Anne Curtis Rocks Toronto Story and more pics on page 16

Photo by: 4ensphotography

Page 8 MARCH 2019

Filipinos Making WAV ES WOMEN AND POWER: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH FEATURE

Philippine Army to have first female brigade commander Jaehwa Bernardo

The Philippine Army will have its first-ever female brigade commander, Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said Monday.

Colonel Joselyn Bandarlipe is set to lead the 53rd Engi-neering Brigade in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu after President Rodrigo Duterte approved her appointment papers, Zagala told ABS-CBN in a phone interview.

"She will be the first wom-an to command a brigade in the Philippine Army," said Zagala.

Bandarlipe graduated from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Candi-date School in 1990.

Zagala noted that in the

past, women were only al-lowed to serve in the Army's reserve ranks and technical services as part of the Women's Auxiliary Corps, where Bandarlipe also served.

The enactment of Republic Act No. 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act in 1993 grant-ed women the right to be-come trained combat sol-diers.

"From the Women's Auxil-iary Corps, Ma'am Jo moved as a line officer of the regular force," said Zagala.

Zagala added that other women in the past have made marks in the Army, citing Brigadier General Ramona Go, the first female general.

Zagala said regardless of gender, "everyone is given equal opportunity" in the Army.

"Colonel Bandarlipe quali-fied and has performed in the past in her assignment as an engineer officer, as a combat engineer, thus she was chosen," he said.

Bandarlipe will assume her post on March 26. ABS-CBN NEWS

Colonel Joselyn Bandarlipe is the first female brigade com-mander in the Philippine Army. PHOTO FROM LIEUTENANT COLO-NEL RAMON ZAGALA

Filipina nurse to receive British royal award for community work

Joy Ongcachuy, Lead Robotic Nurse at the Royal London Hospital, will receive an award as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) on April 4 in ceremonies at the Buckingham Palace. Rose Eclarinal, ABS-CBN News

Rose Eclarinal, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

LONDON – A Filipina nurse here is set to receive a Brit-ish royal citation for her community work, including her contribution to the re-sponse to the London Bridge terror attack on June 3, 2017.

Joy Ongcachuy, 45, Lead Robotic Nurse at the Royal London Hospital, will re-ceive an award as an Of-ficer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) on April 4 in cere-monies at the Buckingham Palace.

“It’s very overwhelming receiving that phenomenal award. It’s not an ordinary award that I received. I consider it as one of the best gifts that I have,” said Ongcachuy.

It was an ordinary night shift for the Talisayan, Misamis Oriental native when injured victims were taken to the hospital, one of the closest medical facili-ties to the site of the June 2017 incident that involved vehicle ramming and a knife attack.

“Usually, when we are working at night, we are only two sets of nurses. When the hospital declared a major incident, I had to call people at home be-cause we couldn’t accom-modate the number of peo-ple who came to the hospi-tal and to the theaters,” Ongcachuy recalled.

She stayed calm through-out the night until she fin-ished her shift at 8 a.m.

Ongcachuy is grateful that all 7 patients taken to the operating theaters sur-vived and recovered well.

“We are absolutely delight-ed that Joy got her OBE, one of our very competent Band 6 sisters. She has worked here for a very long time. She ran the Lon-don Bridge incident night shift when she was on du-ty,” said Anne Gully, Ma-tron at the hospital.

“She is a gold mine, like many other nurses from the Philippines: very hard working, very dedicated, very loyal to the Trust," she added.

A nursing graduate from Liceo de Cagayan in Caga-yan De Oro, Ongcachuy al-ways wanted to work abroad for a better future for her family. She started at the Royal London Hospi-tal in 2002 as a scrub nurse.

Now, 17 years later, she leads 25 robotic nurses at the same hospital.

The OBE is an unexpected feather added in her cap, she said.

“I don’t need more. I think I am now in the peak of my career. I think that’s all I want,” said Ongcachuy.

A daughter of a former sol-dier and teacher, Ong-cachuy described her pro-vincial background as “average” and her beloved town as “ordinary.” She always dreamed of becom-ing a nurse.

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Lawyer Honors Taho Vendor Who Supported Her in College, Makes Him Honorary Dad Attorney Alex Castro’s February 22 feel-good FB post has gone viral. So far, it has garnered over

119,00 likes and over 29,000 shares . It is so fitting to herald this story in our feature page on Interna-

tional Women’s Month. - WAVES editor

“‘Tay, may abogado ka na.”

“I imagined myself saying those words to you as I was driving along the University Avenue this morning. Com-ing home to UP always meant coming home to eve-rything I loved and cher-ished for eight years, includ-ing you. So as I drove around campus, I kept throwing glances at large crowds, or the places you used to frequent, searching for the great mantataho — my Tatay Dong,” lawyer Alex Castro wrote on Face-book, thanking the taho vendor who made a big dif-ference in her life back when she was still in col-lege.

While she didn’t elaborate about her background in life, it was clear that Alex struggled financially back in her college days. There were many days when she would go to school hungry and would only eat taho for breakfast.

When the taho vendor learned this over their reg-ular chats, he made sure to

wait for Alex even if it was raining – just to make sure she had something to eat!

“I met you when I was a wide-eyed freshie. We’d see each other at 7am every day, because you were sta-tioned at the building I had my morning class in. We’d chat every morning over taho. Eventually, you found out that I’d always go to school with an empty stom-ach. So you made it a point to wait for me in the morn-ing, rain or shine, with a

fresh cup of taho, every sin-gle day for four years, until I finished my undergrad de-gree,” Alex narrated.

But Tatay Dong, as Alex fondly calls the taho ven-dor, did not just provide her with food; he was also one of her staunch support-ers in all her endeavors. Upon seeing that his ‘adopted daughter’ didn’t have a jacket, this kindhearted taho vendor washed his only jacket and

(Continued on page 13)

Photo Credit: Facebook/Alex Castro

MARCH 2019 Page 9

Filipinos Making WAV ES

EMAIL thetasteofmanila@gmail.com

WEBSITE

tasteofmanilacanada.com

LET’S BE ONE IN CELEBRATING US

Saturday, June 1, 2019

10am - 11pm Albert Campbell Square

Scarborough Civic Centre 150 Borough Drive,

Scarborough

June 1, 2019: Pivotal moment for Filipino Canadians Tess de Jesus, in a speech delivered before the Filipino leaders and government officials at a Meet and

Greet/Launch of the Filipino Heritage Month held March 15 at the Scarborough Civic Centre.

We are from a nation of 7, 641 islands, speaking 185 dialects learned from almost 4 centuries of foreign occu-pation and colonialism. These are the reasons why Filipinos are resilient, perse-vering, and hardworking. The entrenched poverty pushed us to work harder and explore opportunities even on foreign lands; left our families and found greener pastures.

Our culture then emboldened us to be migratory social be-ings.

Seven decades hence…

How and why has a nation with highly literate and in-dustrious people, an Asian nation second only to Japan in terms of social and eco-nomic indicators in the early post-war period, been re-duced to a country crushed by poverty, which has earned a dubious reputation for be-ing the most significant source of caregivers and do-mestic workers around the world?

For Filipinos in Canada, a version of this haunting ques-tion might be: How and why have Filipinos, already the fourth largest visible minori-ty group in Canada, remained invisible as a social and po-litical force, as an overlooked strong professional force, yet visible as workers in the do-mestic-like service sector.

There’s a more prominent voice representing our "Bayanihan" spirit and strength of character.

Years ago, there had been provincial and municipal ap-plications to recognize Filipi-

no Heritage-- they were ful-filled and celebrated in Al-berta, Ontario, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto.

We pay respect to the organ-izers and government sup-ports. All of them had put the Filipino community on the map.

Everyone agrees that the Fili-pino community is the fastest growing ethnocultural com-munity in each of the10 provinces and 3 territories in Canada. The Filipino com-munity is one of the most diverse in terms of lan-guages, professional back-grounds and cultural tradi-tions.

Everyone agrees, too, that this exclusive kind of herit-age celebration reflects on the many outstanding contri-butions Filipino Canadians have made in Canada, and in the world.

And each effort was one step closer to success. What about the whole Filipino-Canadian population of Canada?

But the GOOD always pre-vails. It was October 31, 2018, when M155 was passed—bar none. In a unan-imous vote of 290 in favour and none against, the House of Commons of the Parlia-ment of Canada adopted the Motion--declaring each year of June as Filipino Heritage Month throughout Canada—from coast to coast to coast.

The recognition was meant to enhance, empower and give each Filipino an opportunity to come together in solidarity and support for one another; to celebrate our accomplish-ments, to enrich and uphold

the culture from which we have emerged, and to flour-ish and contribute within this beautiful Canadian cultural mosaic. The opportunity is too real that today is the time to become socially-connected, engaged with the government policies, sup-portive of the OFWs who are still struggling to adapt here.

With this recognition, we needed a united front to give a louder voice for Filipino Canadians numbering to al-most 900,000 in Canada.

We need Filipino leaders with an untainted reputation. Leaders who do the deed, not the lip service. New attitude, a new mindset, new ways to make things happen.

We’ll make our first celebra-tion of June as the National heritage month as the em-blem of our strength. June 2019 also marks the 70th dip-lomatic and bilateral rela-tions between Canada and the Philippines. We’ll give it a boost in the coming years.

Our fellow Filipinos in other provinces have been making waves, building bridges and most of all- DELIVER. That’s the mark of a strong foundation. No one’s a hot-shot. No one, a minion.

Our “successfully” ever after begins on June 1, 2019, our first ever nationwide celebra-tion of a heritage that even our children will be proud of.

We shall inspire success through a unified communi-ty...

Cheers to great things to come!

Lechon, kare-kare, crispy pata in 2019 list of world’s best dishes MANILA – Three meaty vi-ands from the Philippines have made it to Taste Atlas’ list of 100 best dishes in the world for 2019.

Lechon, kare-kare, and crispy pata were among the dishes named by Taste At-las as some of the best eats across the globe, joining the likes of Japan’s sushi, Vi-etnam’s pho, and Spain’s paella.

View the full list of Top 100 dishes in the world here.

Adobo, meanwhile, was in-cluded in a separate list of favorite national dishes.

Taste Atlas is described as “a world atlas of food and drinks” and an “encyclopedia of flavors,”

with a record of over 10,000 dishes and ingredi-ents from different part of the world.—ABS-CBN News

“Since I was a child, I want-ed to be a nurse because I want to care for people,” Ongcachuy said.

Ongcachuy is also thrilled that her only daughter has followed in her footsteps. She is studying nursing at the London Southbank Uni-versity and got a placement at the A&E department of the same hospital where her mother is working.

Ongcachuy joins the league of famous British celebri-ties awarded the OBE, like David and Victoria Beck-ham, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley and Eddie Red-mayne, among others.

The OBE is an order of chivalry for extraordinary contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare or-ganizations, and public and community service. ∎

(Continued from page 8)

Filipina nurse to receive British royal award for community work

Lechon (roast pig) with its crispy delicious skin, is the favorite table centerpiece in Filipino fiesta, festivals, parties and most large gather-ing events

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Filipinos Making WAV ES

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Filipinos Making WAV ES

2019

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Filipinos Making WAV ES

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Filipinos Making WAV ES National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

131 McCaul St, Toronto

(416) 598-3269

WEEKLY WEDNESDAY MASS & DEVOTIONS: 7:30 am * 9:30am * 12 noon, * 2:30pm * 5:05pm * 7:00pm

Even the WAVES obey Him...

Religious Inspirations

Women make the world beautiful, they protect it and keep it alive. They bring the grace of renewal, the embrace of inclusion, and the courage to give of oneself.

- Pope Francis International Women’s Day, March 8, 2019

March 19: Feast day of St. Joseph

How half a dozen recent popes have called us to learn from St. Joseph

By Kathleen N. Hattrup

The Church has given us much to consider about this "silent saint"

A line from Pope Pius IX’s 1870 decree by which St. Joseph was declared patron and protector of the univer-sal Church strikes me as an open window into the home of Nazareth.

The Church, Pius said, “after the Blessed Virgin, his spouse, has always held [Joseph] in great honor and showered him with praise, having recourse to him amid tribulations.”

I originally misread it, and formed the idea of the Blessed Virgin, not the Church, showering Joseph with praise. My imagina-tion sat with that and sa-vored it.

Our Lady, the humble girl of Nazareth, the future queen of heaven, lovingly showering her spouse with praise. Her affections and affirmations would have been answered with his own unabating honoring of her, as the first representa-tive of the first generation

of all those generations that would call her blessed.

Our Savior had left the glo-ries of heaven to take resi-dence in that holy house, but with such interchange between his parents, he must have experienced some taste of what he’d left behind.

When I realized that I’d misread the line from the decree — that it was the Church doing the praising, not Mary — it seemed to me a providential error. What a lesson for me (my husband doesn’t hear near-ly enough praise from his wife). And as Mary is the image of the Church, in this too I’m sure the Church is following her example.

I love St. Joseph — my firstborn, who was due on his feast day, carries his name — but I’ve never had a particularly strong devo-tion to him. Yet when I find him in prayer, his testimo-ny and example always bring light. Just like you’d expect from a dad, I guess.

One factor that can compli-cate devotion to St. Joseph is his silence. There are a

handful of references to him in Scripture, but he himself never speaks.

Nevertheless, the Church even in just the last couple centuries has given us much to consider about his life.

There’s the aforementioned declaration of Joseph as patron of the Church.

Then, just a few years later, in 1889, Pope Leo XIII de-voted an encyclical to him. (I always love reading old documents of the Church. Imagine what the poor pon-tiff would think if he were alive today, since in 1889 he had this to say: “We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see char-ity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft …”)

On the 100th anniversary of that document, Pope St. John Paul II offered an ap-ostolic exhortation on St. Joseph, which includes a mini-reflection on eight key

moments in Jesus’ life when Joseph was the protagonist. These could serve as mys-teries of a “Joseph rosary”: the census, the birth, the circumcision, conferral of the name, presentation in the temple, flight into Egypt, Jesus’ stay in the temple and the support and education of Jesus in Naza-reth.

Both Leo’s and John Paul II’s documents are brief but provide much fruit for meditation.

There’s also the Litany of St. Joseph, promoted for public use by Pope Pius X, but rather unknown today.

Without any words of Jo-seph’s own to meditate up-on, the listing of his virtues in the litany gives direction to our prayer: He is remem-bered as just, chaste, pru-dent, strong, obedient and faithful.

Then there’s the special titles attributed to him, some an invitation to vir-tue, others a source of com-fort in life’s difficulties. Mir-ror of patience, for exam-ple, and lover of poverty. But also solace of the wretched and patron of the dying. I’m going to intro-duce my own Joseph to the saint’s title as terror of de-mons. What action hero-crazed 7-year-old wouldn’t relish contemplating his patron in that way?

Yes, St. Joseph has much to tell us, even in his silence.

As Paul VI said: “He is the proof that in order to be a good and genuine follower of Christ, there is no need of great things — it is enough to have the com-mon, simple and human virtues, but they need to be true and authentic.” ∎

gave it to her the following day.

“I was just a daughter you picked up along the way, but you were so protective of me. One rainy day in De-cember of 2009, I went to school without a jacket. I remember you were so con-cerned. So the following morning, you handed me a package along with my taho. When I opened it, it was your jacket. The one you were wearing the previ-ous morning, and all the mornings before that. Your ~only~ jacket. You wouldn’t take it back, and the only thing you said to me when I tried to give it back for the last time is, ‘Nilaban ko na ‘yan, ‘Nak. Iyo na ‘yan,’” Alex shared.

He didn’t have a lot of stuff himself, yet this taho ven-dor was willing to give his only jacket to keep this

young student warm.

“Eventually, I was able to return the favor. I got you a new jacket for you to wear. You wore it with so much pride and such a huge smile the morning after, and all the mornings after that. Whenever your friends asked about it, you’d always say, ‘Bigay ng anak ko ‘yan,’” Alex added.

Now that she is a lawyer, Alex went back to UP to visit her honorary dad. It was a heartwarming reun-ion!

“Fortunately, earlier today, word got to you that I was in UP. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw you rush-ing to the Sunken Garden from afar. When you saw me, you immediately em-braced me and exclaimed, “I missed you!” It truly felt like a homecoming. You held me so tight, and finally, I was able to tell you the words you said you’d wait to hear from me — “‘Tay, may abo-gado ka na.”

I hope I made you proud, ‘Tay. You deserve all the love in the world.”

(Continued from page 8)

Lawyer honors Taho vendor who supported her in college...

Page 14 MARCH 2019

Filipinos Making WAV ES THE SEASON OF LENT

Fasting and Abstinence at Lent: A CNA Explainer by JD Flynn

Most Catholics, even those who don’t often go to Mass, know that Lent is a time for Friday Fish Fries and “giving something up.” But many Catholics wonder what exactly the Church requires during Lent, and why.

Here are a few points that might help you have a great Lent this year:

What is Lent?

At the beginning of his pub-lic life, Jesus was baptized by his cousin John the Bap-tist in the Jordan River. John was a prophet and a preach-er, and he urged people to be baptized as a sign of their repentance from sin.

After Jesus was baptized, according to the Gospel of Matthew, the Holy Spirit descended upon him “like a dove,” and a voice from heaven said “This is my be-loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

People were amazed, but Jesus immediately went away by himself into the desert. There he fasted and prayed, and while he was there, Satan appeared to him three times, tempting him.

Jesus stayed in the desert for 40 days. When he left the desert, he began calling his disciples and apostles, as the mission that led to his crucifixion had begun.

The Church says that Lent is a 40-day period of unity with “the mystery of Jesus in the desert.”

By sacrificing small things, as well as fasting, praying, and giving to charity, Catho-lics are invited to experi-ence a period of prayer like the one Jesus experienced, and to prepare themselves to resist Satan’s temptation, and fulfill the mission God has given the Church.

Lent comes before Easter, and is a preparation for that feast, which is one of the most important in the Church’s life.

Cool. So, I can’t eat meat then?

During the Fridays of Lent, Roman Catholics are to ab-stain from meat, in union with the fasting of Jesus, and in memory of Christ’s

death on a Friday. Fish is not considered meat for these purposes, nor are some other kinds of aquatic creatures in certain places- alligator is ok in Louisiana, and, curiously, muskrat is allowed in some parts of Michigan!

Generally speaking, prod-ucts derived from animals, like broth or gelatin, are not considered to violate the rule of abstinence- this is because the point is to make a spiritual sacrifice in union with Christ, not to become consumed with parsing in-gredient lists for animal by-products.

The point, really, is for the Fridays of Lent to be days of simplicity and even a bit of hunger- while seafood is allowed, a butter-soaked lobster probably misses that point.

All Catholics age 14 and old-er are expected to abstain from meat, although those who can’t do so for health reasons, along with preg-nant and nursing women, are obviously exempted.

I have heard the Fridays of Lent referred to as “days of abstinence.” Usu-ally when the Church talks about abstinence…

This is a surprisingly com-mon question. When the Church talks about absti-nence in this context, she is referring to abstention from eating meat.

What about fasting? When do I fast? And what do I do?

The two required days of fasting during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Fri-day. These are also days of abstinence. All Roman Cath-olics who are 18 but not yet 59 are required to both fast and abstain from meat on those days.

In 1966, Pope St. Paul VI said that the Church’s “law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and even-ing.” This is often taken to mean that the most Catho-lics should eat on a day of fasting is one normal sized meal--with no meat--and two smaller snacks.

Those who wish for a more intense fast are not prohib-ited from more fasting, but

this is generally a good idea to discuss with a spiritual director, confessor, or pas-tor.

Wait-- so I’m 60, and my grandson is 17. Does that mean we don’t have to fast?

That’s correct. You are not required by canon law to fast- though you are still bound by the law of absti-nence. This means that whether to fast should be a matter for your discern-ment, perhaps with some guidance from your pastor or confessor.

What about candy? Should I give that up? What’s that about any-way? I don’t even like can-dy.

I like candy. But here a few thoughts on what to do for a fruitful Lent:

The season of Lent empha-sizes three things: prayer, fasting, almsgiving. Prayer means prayer, that's pretty simple. Almsgiving refers to acts of charity or generosi-ty. And fasting refers to go-ing without something, es-pecially something on which we’ve become de-pendent, something we think we can’t live without, or something that distracts us from God.

Actually, these three themes are related directly to the three temptations Christ faced in the desert, and you can read about that here.

But for a fruitful Lent, it is helpful to decide on one practice for each of those themes. To find some prac-tice of prayer you can add to your day. To decide on some act of charity or work of mercy you’ll take up. And to decide what you can fast from- it might be food, like candy, or it might be your phone, or music and news on the car radio, or soda.

The key is to choose some-thing that you will sustain the whole of Lent, and something that does not gravely disrupt your family life or the people around you. If you drive miles to work, don’t give up driving. If you take care of young children, don’t commit to all-night prayer vigils, at least not every night.

Ideally, the practices of prayer we commit to will

become incorporated into our regular lives, and our sacrifices and almsgiving might become something we continue to do as well.

There is a story about Doro-thy Day, who used to give up cigarettes each year, but who would annually be-come so grumpy that the members of her community would beg her to take them back up again. Think about the people you live with, and work with, as you de-cide on your Lenten practic-es-- If you work in this of-fice, don’t give up shower-ing, please.

But think also about prayer. Eventually Dorothy Day de-cided that instead of giving up cigarettes for Lent, she would start praying daily, “Dear God, help me stop smoking.” She prayed it faithfully for years, though she continued to smoke. One day, she realized she didn’t want to smoke. She never picked up a cigarette again.

Prayer should be the central focus of our Lent. Without prayer, Lent will be a kind of endurance test for us. A test of how strong we are, or how much willpower we have. But Lent isn’t really about that. Lent is about how much we can turn to God the Father, through Je-sus, and hand over our lives to him. That should be the center of our Lenten disci-pline.

So, no candy then?

Maybe on Sundays. Sunday is weekly our celebration of Christ’s resurrection, and some Catholics decide to put aside their Lenten disci-plines, in order to celebrate Christ. There are no rules about this; it’s a matter of your individual conscience. If keeping Lenten practices on Sunday helps you to fo-cus on Christ, keep them. If celebrating Sunday with candy helps you to focus on Christ, that’s ok too. CNA

Have a blessed Lent!

By Vito Barcelo

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines says this is the start of the day devoted to fasting and absti-nence when Filipino faithful across the country attend Masses and receive ashes on their foreheads made from fronds used at last year’s Palm Sunday.

“The season of Lent is a time for almsgiving, prayer and fasting,” the CBCP said.

The ash will be applied on the faithful’s forehead, forming a cross, to signify submission to Christ, remorse for sins, and a turning away from sin. The ash also symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which resulted in man’s freedom from sin.

It also reminds the faithful that life is short and, one day, man will return to ashes.

The CBCP has reminded the faithful to fast and live the essence of Ash Wednesday.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Len-ten season was a time for good works and charity, as he urged Filipino families to go back to God and nation.—manilastandard.net

Ash Wednesday ushered in Lent Millions of Filipino Catholics packed the churches on March 6 to observe Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40-day Lenten period.

MARCH 2019 Page 15

Filipinos Making WAV ES COMMUNITY

HISTORY OF “RAM”

and “GUARDIANS” (PHILIPPINES)

2nd of a 2-part series

THE BIRTH OF RAM The RAM, then known as REFORM the ARMED FORC-ES MOVEMENT, was orga-nized on July 23, 1982 by a group of young idealistic officers in the Armed Forc-es of the Philippines in re-action to the widespread rampant abuses and highly anomalous elements within the Military establishment. Its basic aim were compre-hensive and substantial reforms in the Armed Forc-es, Government and Society

March 21, 1985 RAM made its first public appearance during the Philippine Mili-tary Academy Alumni homecoming day. Some 300 members paraded, waved banners and plac-ards demanding reforms in the AFP. Since then, RAM members openly travelled in various AFP units sta-tioned around the country, recruiting fellow Officers and Enlisted Men to join the organization exhorting them to agitate reforms.

February 07, 1986, a snap Presidential election was held, and the result was not in conformity with people’s will and expectations as well as to the RAM organi-zation. This resulted to the February 22-27, 1986 Peo-ple’s Power Revolution in EDSA where RAM played a vital role. That uprising led to the downfall of Ferdi-nand E. Marcos regime and the beneficiary, Corazon C. Aquino was installed Presi-dent of the Republic of the Philippines.

However, in Her initial year of incumbency, the RAM organization’s watchful eyes observed the color of Arrogance, Vindictiveness and incompetency in Her administration. These to them was betrayals of the ideals and spirit of the Edsa People’s Power Revolution. On August 28, 1987 and November 30, 1989 RAM mounted actions against President Corazon C. Aqui-no to achieve reforms in

the government and socie-ty.

On December 1989, the RAM Movement in alliance with the Young Officers Un-ion (YOU), the Soldiers of Filipino People (SFP) and brilliant patriotic civilian personnel continued the struggle in support to the unfinished revolution of 1986. Therefrom, the or-ganization assumed the name RAM - REBOLUSY-ONARYONG ALYANSANG MAKABANSA.

In the year 2011, the new RAM in continuance of its aim and vision joined in the unification with GBI. Both with similar advocacy, RAM GUARDIANS BROTHER-HOOD INC. was organized, and Brig. General Danilo Lim of the AFP was desig-nated to lead the Unified RGBI. It was registered and recognized by the Securi-ties and Exchange Commis-sion as a non-profit organi-zation on April 13, 2011.

The RGI ALAKDAN” (Ram Guardians Inc.- Alakdan )

Year 2004, Melvin “PCGS ISAAC” Contapay and Brig. General Danilo Lim have already organized the RAM GUARDIANS INC-ALAKDAN prior to the official unifica-tion of RGBI. It was “PCGS ISAAC” who handled the preparations, arrange-ments and follow ups to complete the official twin-ning with the General as Adviser and Consultant. It was at that time when the General was not in the con-venient position to exercise movements for other un-dertakings. Operations and Labors of “Alakdan” steadi-ly and silently travelled though sometimes on a rugged and stormy journey.

On the 27th day of May 2011, the certificate of in-corporation of RGI-Alakdan was issued by the Securi-ties and Exchange Commis-sion-Philippines.

This Seven Knotted Stinger “ALAKDAN” (Scorpio) also called “Pitong Buko” crawled swiftly overseas. At present, there are sever-al chapters in the ASEAN, Papua New Guinea, Middle East, Europe, Canada and the U.S.A.

Other Guardian Rooted or-ganizations also reached foreign shores.

In Canada, Guardians who are now Residents and Citi-zens of this land have done and still doing their best to make the brotherhood strong and united. Howev-er, way of life and exist-ence, working schedule, original membership from the Philippines (Mother Unit), old comrades, un-foreseen situations, distant places of dwelling, work and other circumstances beyond control are factors that brought the emergence of different chapters. Some are based in British Colum-bia, Alberta, Manitoba, Que-bec and mostly here in On-tario where larger ele-ments of this brotherhood are active. Other chapters: the PCGBI, RCGBII, UNITED GUARDIANS, DELTA FORCE GUARDIANS and MUG (Makabansang Unipikasyon ng Guardians).

RGI-ALAKDAN-CANADA founded on October 02, 2017 is one of the active chapters based in Ontario. In most of their activities the Madonnas always find time to assist the brother-hood. Today, RGI ALAKDAN-CANADA, it being fraternal in nature, its development and members activities are being carried out thru civic or community services both here in Canada and in the country of their origin, the Philippines. Several programmed projects are drafted and special or emergency undertakings are done on its own limited ways and means.

(RMG jack – PIO-AC)

Its First Anniversary and Induction of Officers was held on the 21st of this October 2018, at the Marina Banquet Hall, Bluffers Park, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. The Master Founder Jessy “MFGGF JAPS” Pareja and the Chapter Chairman, Taki “CFRMG PRIMUS” Onate welcomed the Guest of Honor and Father of RGI ALAKDAN himself, Melvin “PCGS ISAAC” Contapay. Sergeant Phillip Mendoza of the Toronto Police Services delivered the CHARGE in the induction ceremony.

Notable Community Leaders Vie for Filipino Centre Toronto Outstanding Filipino Canadian Senior Awards

In its extensive search for "Five Outstanding Seniors for 2018-2019" which com-menced earlier this year, the Filipino Centre Toronto - FCT, a prominent and pro-gressive Filipino Canadian community service hub in the Greater Toronto Area, has already received sever-al nominations considered to be highly competitive. The Scarborough-based community centre is engag-ing to conduct a public trib-ute of appreciating, recog-nizing and honouring sen-ior citizen achievers in the very discriminating Filipino Canadian community.

Specifically, the bi-annual awards project is being of-fered by the FCT-Filipino Centre Toronto to encour-age, identify and celebrate seniors who have made outstanding service and valuable contribution into the life and well-being of the community by helping build a better community through their personal, so-cial or professional endeav-ours. With their varied backgrounds as community leaders, business & man-agement executives, social-

cause advocates & volun-teers, public & non-governmental officials, ser-vice-oriented & faith-focused people, and art, health, sports & media practitioners, these still active individuals are serv-ing or have served as role models and inspirations to students, youth & young adults and their fellow sen-ior citizens.

The "5 Outstanding Filipino Canadian Seniors of the Year" - OFCSY Awardees will be selected from any of the following areas of en-deavours, profession, disci-pline or service, namely: 1) Business and Entrepre-neurship, 2) Certified Pro-fession / Trade, 3) Commu-nity, Public or Non-governmental Service, 4) Health, Wellness, and Sports, 5) Arts, Media, and Public Relations. Every awardee or winner will be given a prize in the form of a "Plaque of Recognition", "Congratulatory Certifi-cate", and "Cash Award".

Applications or nomina-tions for the OFCSY awards are still open but must be received by FCT,#4395 Sheppard Avenue East, To-ronto. ON M1S 1T9, Tel. 416-335-0485 on or before March 15, 2019, Friday. The final selection is on March 16, 2019, Saturday and the awarding day is scheduled during the FCT Gala Event on April 13, 2019, Saturday at Grand Cinnamon Ban-quet Hall, Scarborough, To-ronto. (TSJ)

Knights of Rizal-Canada Region officers posed with Talalakayan Radyo Filipino broadcast staff after a radio discussion on the family, early life and education of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal at MCBN-TV Pinoy Radio station on March 9, 2019. Shown, front LR: Sir Jess Cabrias, Sir Frank Crawford, and Sir Richard Saldana and back row: Sir Bobby Achacon, Prncess Crawford (KAPARIZ president), Sir Joe Damasco and Tony A. San Juan.( Photo by: Bobby Achacon)

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Filipinos Making WAV ES ENTERTAINMENT

annekulit toronto: SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST by baby k. jimenez

Entertainment plus is the beat of the evening. ‘Promise, last na to’ is a promise Anne Curtis swears by as she repackag-es herself live on stage. You know more or less what to expect - dancing (but better than any terpischorean moves leaning towards sexy ), singing (ah, but di ba, she sweetly aplogizes, “I am not a singer but I try because I want to please you and I have improved”), unimited array of glittering fashion statements (wardrobe changes at the wink of an eye to display the best there is at a razzling/dazzling specta-tor’s delight). And throw in everything else that’s seam-less featuring a back-up of guaranteed headliners to produce a treat of glorious fun.

This is Anne’s grand way of celebrating her 21 years anniversary in showbiz. So there she is gyrating to bouncy tunes like One Last Time, Break Free, One Kiss. We do not notice how her voice almost cracks at ap-

proaching crescendo mo-ments only identified with authentic Divas - you’re amazed at this pretty sweetheart who endears herself in other ways. She makes up for quality by distracting your attention to other elements on stage - the setting is so re-splendently perfect, so Swarovski! She even wins you by singing ala-Celine Dion, and remember Celine is Canadian just

like her audience. Oh wow, she even lets you dream with her to take you back to the dramatic Titanic scenes, “My heart will go on!” Her voice too shrill? But she captivates you with a charm so rare it pierces your heart. So you just let her stomp, romp, whirl and twirl as you join her happy vibe.

Anne shares the stage with Billy Crawford, Katrina Ve-larde, Chad Kinis and G Force Angels. Front act tal-ents include Angelique Dan-cel, Alecza Marie and Kaye Caisido. Produced by Danny Baluyot, Elaine/Ed Virola and Jannie/Jonas Benico. Don Laurel and Elaine Viro-la were the emcees.

One last thing - will ANN break her promise - that ANNEKULIT will be her last concert? “But we want her back, we love her - so sweet, so nice, hindi pa pri-ma donna, grounded, ap-proachable…SUPER LIKE namin sya!!!!” says Jannie. Me, too.

PHOTOS BY:

4ensphotography

Anne Curtis Katrina Velarde & Billy Crawford

The producers, production staff and the huge audience

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Filipinos Making WAV ES ENTERTAINMENT

Tune in to 1610 AM Radio Dial for new Filipino weekly programs ORAS NA (WED 8-9pm); PATROLYA (WED 9-10PM), TSIKAHAN TAYO (THURS 9-10PM)

and KUYA ROMANTIKO (FRI 9-10pm)

ABS-CBN names Kerwin Du as new Country Manager for Canada

ABS-CBN Global, the or-ganization that oversees all international subsidi-aries of ABS-CBN Corpo-ration, the world’s larg-est Filipino media and en-tertainment company, has recently named Kerwin Du as the new Country Manag-er of Canada. As Country Manager of Canada, Du is responsible for strategy execution, business operations, profit-ability, growth and expan-sion in the country. He re-ports directly to ABS-CBN Managing Director for North and Latin America Jun Del Rosario. Du is a proven leader who began his career with ABS-

CBN Global in 1997 as Di-rector for Telecoms Mar-keting and introduced both the ABS-CBN and Bayantel joint product 123-700 Bayan Kollect sa America and the ABS-CBN Long Dis-tance Direct product to the Filipino American market. He joined the ABS-CBN North America team in 1999 to assume product management of the compa-ny’s telco business, and lat-er on its flagship channel TFC, Retail, and Theatricals. In 2012, Du was appointed Head of Product Operations of North America, and in 2017 was named North America Business Unit Head for Cargo and Retail concurrent to his existing role. He started the TFC

Store on Amazon and is re-sponsible for rapidly grow-ing its online retail sales. Prior to joining ABS-CBN, Du was Head of Marketing of Sprint Philippines. He also worked for Eastern Telecommunications, Inc., NCR Corporation Philip-pines, and Citibank Philip-pines (Asia Pacific Divi-sion). Du graduated from De La Salle University in Manila with a degree in Computer Science. He lives with his wife, Pia, in Toronto, while their daughter, Angelica, is taking Engineering and Ap-plied Sciences at the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania. ∎

Kerwin Du (center, in blue suit), ABS-CBN’s new Country Manager of Canada, is shown with his team at the ABS-CBN Toronto office. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSARY ESCANO/ABS-CBN CANADA)

“One Great Love” reveals if “the one” is determined by destiny or dependability

DALY CITY, Calif., March 18, 2019 --- TFC at the Movies brings a movie that asks if destiny provides the viewer with their one great love or is that significant other somebody that one gets to choose for oneself.

One Great Love is about love, which remains to be one of the greatest myster-ies up to this day. Falling in love with someone is one thing but staying in love with that person is another story.

The story revolves around Zyra Paez (Kim Chiu), a woman who has broken-up so many times with her boyfriend, Carl Mauricio (J.C. De Vera), and yet fate has them meeting each oth-er repeatedly, under seren-dipitous circumstances, one might call it fate.

And then, there is Dr. Ian Arcano (Dennis Trillo), a doctor whom Zyra has just met, but proves to be a very dependable friend,

ready with a shoulder to cry on and a good listening ear to absorb all of Zyra’s woes.

Ian falls in love with Zyra who is still strongly attract-ed to Carl by virtue of des-tiny’s way of putting them in each other’s paths every single time. But can Zyra be responsible for her life choices?

One Great Love is a Filipi-no love story directed by Eric Quizon, starring Kim Chiu, J. C. de Vera and Dennis Trillo. It was an official entry to the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festi-val last December, where Trillo won the Best Actor award for his performance in the movie.

“One Great Love” starts screening Friday, March 22, 2019 in theaters across the U.S. and Cana-da. Go to mytfc.com/onegreatlove for a list of theaters in your area. ∎

SAVE THE DATES April 5: ROMANTIC RHYTHMS

April 13: ALL HEART with Ice Seguerra & Juris

June 1: NATIONAL FILIPINO HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION

June 8: 70s SUPERBAND

August 17-18: TASTE OF MANILA FESTIVAL

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Filipinos Making WAV ES

Mon Torralba

MUSIC STAND

(Waves of our Lives)

www.pinoyradio.com

Every Friday 8pm on FTV

Channel 869

Watch TV host

Joel Recla with his guests

Host: KUYA NESTOR

Sundays 8:30 pm - 9:00pm

In Remembrance

Chokoleit: Short and Sweet

As the reverberating phrase goes… life is short.

On the evening of March 9, the life of a very popular comedian who goes by the name, Chokoleit, was cut short. He was 48 years old.

The sudden death of Chokoleit, whose real name was Jonathan Aguilar Garcia, was confirmed by Star Magic.

In a statement, Star Magic said: "Chokoleit was performing in an out of town show in Abra, and experienced difficulty in breathing after his perfor-mance."

The comedian was rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital, where he suc-cumbed to pulmonary edema and heart attack, his attending physician Dr. Rosauro Seares said.

It was a sad day when news of his death hit social media. His fans, his colleagues in comedy and in show business were shocked.

His wake was like a comedy show as his top-of-the-league colleagues knew

that this is what Chokoleit would have liked. Pooh, Pokwang, K Brosas and Vice Ganda took turns in recalling fond memories of the deceased. Though the joke was on the deceased, the four-some cannot hide the grief and tears over the loss of their very dear friend. The scene brings us back to the iconic 2-contrasting masks symbol of come-dy. Laughter and Sadness.

As Vice Ganda attested, Chokoleit raised the standards of Philippine comedy so high that fellow comedians find it difficult to be at par with MNR (Mahal na Reyna), a title “Chokie” owned in the comedy circles. Through their stories, the sweetness of the man was unwrapped.

Chokoleit’s wonderful life was cut short. He made a career in making peo-ple laugh. Along the way, he endeared himself to his family, colleagues and friends.

Chokoleit’s life is like a beautiful sona-ta that induces a standing ovation at the end. Now, it has come to a full rest.

Rest in Peace.

Let the WAVES herald your advertisement

Email

filipinonewswaves@gmail.com

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Filipinos Making WAV ES TORONTO CONCERTS & EVENTS

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Filipinos Making WAV ES