Volume XXVIIi, No. 6 June 2010 www.filipinostar.org Outstanding Citizens of Montreal awarded Montreal, June 3, 2010 - The newly retired employees,” said Michael borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre- Applebaum, Côte-des-Neiges-Notre Dame-de-Grace (CDN-NDG) paid Dame-de-Grace borough mayor and homage this evening to the first seven Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee recipients of the CDN-NDG responsible for services to citizens, Outstanding Citizen Awards a special relations with the boroughs nd celebration held at the Mont Royal housing. “These are the people who Chalet. Frédéric Back, Sam “Sugar are building the borough’s reputation Sammy” Khular, Lennox Charles, and making CDN-NDG a great place to Pierre Ramet, the Coopérative la live. We wanted to express our sincere Maison Verte, Bryna Wasserman and appreciation to them.” Brian Smith were all awarded the litle of “Choosing the winners was Oustanding Citizen, the borough’s not easy, but it was definitely highest honor. rewarding” said jury chair and editor of The Outstanding Citizens the Actualités CDN--NDG newspaper event was an opportunity to focus on Victor Afriat. “Analyzing the the involvement and commitment of nominations we received gave us the individuals and groups that make an chance to discover or rediscover some exceptional contribution to community of the great potential and talents of the development in CDN-NDG and help people and organizaitons in this establish the Borough’s reputation. borough.” “This event was the perfect The 2010 CDN-NDG opportunity to bring together our Mr. Frédéric Back delivers his acceptance speech while Borough Mayor Michael volunteers, partners and the borough’s See Page 4 Outstanding Citizen Applebaum listens during the Outstanding Citizens Awards night, June 3, 2010. Ex-Cabinet men to Noynoy: Adopt good governance NEW By Ira Pedrasa, abs-cbnNEWS.com “Noynoy” Aquino III to jumpstart the proposed a “good governance FEATURE MANILA, Philippines -- (June democratic foundation of governance agenda” that basically provides for “a OP. ED. 18, 2010) Former Cabinet members started by his late mother. unifying framework” for the next By Budz and senior government officials have The group, Former Senior administration in the next six years. called on President-elect Benigno Government Officials (FSGO), It said the efforts would Sarmiento redound to the government providing See Page 5 an enabling environment for: * the modernization of public infrastructures; Contents * the protection of the environment; Editorial . p. 2 * the opening of all major sectors and industries of the economy; Filipino Cooperative . p. 3 and, * raising the gross domestic Community . p. 8 product to 8% by 2016. Catalytic acts Ask The Video Guy . p. 10 The group said strengthening the country’s democratic institutions Pinoy Cuisine . p. 15 will require a massive effort from the rest of the country. Tourism . .p. 16 It proposed three “catalytic acts” meant to spur the whole nation into moving. Showbiz Gossip . p. 18 The first, it said, is “for [Aquino] to call all citizens and join him Classifieds . p. 21 FSGO (Former Senior Government Officials) now numbering 80 have been very critical of President Arroyo’s administration. See Page 4 Ex-Cabinet Men Extra News . p. 22 Magandang pasimula sa Canada handog sa inyo ng Scotiabank. 2 The North American Filipino Star June 2010 EDITORIAL Why do people protest against the G-8 and G-20 Summits? It’s all over the news - TV, radio, organizations, such as the United newsprint, internet - people are Nations, WTO, OECD, World Bank, the protesting against the G-20 summit. African Union and the International Why are these people spending their Energy Agency, have also been invited time walking with placards, defying to participate in the outreach sessions. police riot squads, and risking their life The G8 summits during the and limbs to protest against both the G- twenty-first century have inspired 8 and G-20 summits? Does everyone widespread debates, protests and know what these summits do and why demonstrations; and the two- or three- some people are protesting against day event becomes more than the sum them? Are there many people who of its parts, elevating the participants, care to be involved in the debate of the issues and the venue as focal issues which are behind these points for activist pressure. protests? Perhaps, it is worth The main issues that have demystifying the G-8 and G-20 for the been discussed during the last G-8 Honourable Irwin Cotler sake of public education. By doing summit are summarized as follows: this, it may give us a reason to be more Economic Crisis and a Boost to Member of Parliament for Mount Royal involved with what is going on around Growth, Imparting a Fresh Boost to Tel.: 514-283-0171 us and to understand the issues that International Trade, putting people first, have emerged from globalization. Climate Change, Development in the The Group of Seven (G7) was Poorer Countries and in Africa, Food Happy Philippine Independence Day! an unofficial forum which brought Safety and Security, and Access to together the heads of the richest Water, Health, and International Political industrialized countries: France, Issues which include the commitment Germany, Italy, Japan, the United to making progress on the nuclear non- Happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day! Kingdom, the United States and proliferation front, the situation in Iran Canada starting in 1976. The G8, and in the Middle East, the struggle meeting for the first time in 1997, was against terrorism, the stabilization of formed with the addition of Russia.[2] the Afghanistan and Pakistan region, In addition, the President of the and the situation in North Korea. Happy Canada Day! European Commission has been As one can see from the brief formally included in summits since list of issues, the summit of world 1981] The summits were not meant to leaders is important and necessary. Yet, be linked formally with wider the demonstrations, protests, and international institutions; and in fact, a criticisms will always be made. It mild rebellion against the stiff formality seems as if every summit is met with of other international meetings was a protests, sometimes even violent ones part of the genesis of cooperation that make us wonder if there is any between France's President Giscard point to continue and if the progress FAMAS - Philippine Association of Montreal d'Estaing and Germany's Chancellor made during the summit justify the Helmut Schmidt as they conceived the trouble and the expenses incurred.. and Suburbs initial summit of the Group of Six (G6) in Many people believe that the G-20 is is hereby announcing the postponement of 1975. The G8 is an unofficial annual just a complete waste of time, money, the Gala Dinner celebrating Philippine forum for the leaders of Canada, the and effort. In fact, it was the finance European Commission, France, ministers of the original G-7which in Independence Day originally scheduled on Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the reality does not exist anymore that June 19th, will be held on United Kingdom and the United States. handled the international bank crisis in This was the first G8 summit for 2009. If problems can be solved in JULY 3, 2010 at 6:00 P.M. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe small group of leaders rather than in a Hellenic Community Center and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, huge conference of so many where it is and the final one for British Prime almost impossible to arrive at a All tickets sold will be honored Minister Tony Blair, Italian Prime consensus, why spend billions of You can still purchase your tickets Minister Romano Prodi and Russian dollars for security of all these leaders Call 514-341-7477 (FAMAS) President Vladimir Putin. and cause so much disruption. It still The G8 plus the five largest remains to be seen whether this current emerging economies - India, Brazil, summit will result in resolving most if China, Mexico,South Africa has come not all the world’s problems now than to be known as G8+5. Heads of later. international organizations such as Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Leaders of the major international SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NORTH 5450 chemin de la Cote des Neiges Tel.: 514-485-7861 Fax: 514-485-3076 AMERICAN FILIPINO STAR Suite 511 E-Mail: [email protected] Montreal, Quebec H3T 1Y6 Published by Filcan Publications, Inc. Name__________________________________________ Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Address________________________________________ Chief Editor & Publisher _______________________________________________ Al Abdon Hilda T. Veloso Tel.: __________________ E-Mail: __________________ Sam Kevin Community News Jerry Estrada News & Layout Editor Please send your cheque to Columnists Mary Joy Lizarondo 1 year - $24 (12 issues) The North American Filipino Star Sports News 5450, ch. Cote des Neiges Mark Flores Bert Abiera 2 years - $40 (24 issues) Suite 511 Advertising Representative Founder Montreal, QC H3T 1Y6 The opinions expressed by the writers and columnists do no necessarily reflect that of the management of the North American Filipino Star. and its editors. June 2010 The North American Filipino Star 3 Marché Coop Filipino Cooperative News calling all members to No other way to go but forward commit to buy a If people are wondering what is members buy every month, the more profit “box of basics” a month. going on with the Filipino Solidarity we will make. (Based on estimated prices) Cooperative, we can only say one thing - it With the cooperation of a most is still alive but maybe in a dormant status. compatible business partner, we are We continue to pay our monthly rent of hoping to have a new lease of life. With $600 plus heating only to wait for the end this prospect of success, I think members of the lease on July 31, so that we can will be more inclined to jump into the move out and start all over again in a “bandwagon” and become more active better location.