Volume XXXVII No. 6 June 2019 Montreal, QC www.filipinostar.org Filipino-Canadians celebrate first Heritage Month in Canada Filipino Heritage Month launching in Montreal last year when an Ad Hoc Committee was set up to organize the first celebration in Montreal. Philippine Ambassador Petronila Garcia (center, 9th from left) is flanked by the members of the commitee. Story on page 4 on this year’s celebration. Canada's House of Commons has declared a national cRaclhielmAielalo, tOettawaeNmews eBurregau eGnreecn My Ps. The motion was was put Online Producer forward by Environment and Climate @rachaiello Change Minister Catherine McKenna. Published Monday, June 17, 2019 The motion describes climate 8:45PM EDT change as a "real and urgent crisis, OTTAWA – The House of driven by human activity," notes how it Commons has passed a motion is impacting Canadians, and states the declaring a national climate need to pursue clean growth methods emergency, and supporting Canada’s to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. commitment to meet the Paris Given this, the House has Agreement emissions targets. voted to “declare that Canada is in a Conservative MPs voted national climate emergency which against the motion, but it still passed requires, as a response, that Canada 186-63 with the support of the Liberals, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna rises during Question Period New Democrats, Bloc Quebecois and See Page 4 - Climate emergency in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand ≠ NO-CHARGE OIL CHANGES LEASELEASE A MICRAMICRA S MTMT FROMFROM $170$170 /MONTH/MONTH † FOR 3 YEARS FORFOR 6060 MMONTHSONTHS. ≠≠≠≠ THAT’STHAATT’S $ $ LIKELIKE RETAILRETAIL PAYINGPAAYYING 3939/ WEEK VALUEVALUE OFOF 1212,173173 WITH $ CASH DOWNDOWN MICRA MANIA 2 ST ND 7’’ TOUCH-SCREENTOUCH-SCREEN DISPLAYDISPLAY AND BBLLUETOOTHUETOOTH HANDS FREE PHONE SYSTEMSYSTEM USB CONNECTIONCONNECTION FROM JUNE 1 TO JULY 2 ONLY REARVIEWREARVIEW MONITORMONITOR1 0 2 June 2019 The North American Filipino Star June 2019 The North American Filipino Star 3 From the Executive Publisher’s Desk Photo exhibit to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month in Toronto First Filipino Heritage The Philippine Advancement LARAWAN (which means portrait) Month, a through Arts and Culture (PATAC) honours individuals of Filipino Heritage invites you to its 2019 community whose work and story inspire our recognition of our project“LARAWAN”, a photo exhibit to community and highlight their positive contributions to be displayed in various locations in contributions to our new home, Toronto. Canadian society, an Toronto as part of the series of events to We hope these portraits provide good honor and source of celebrate The Filipino Heritage Month. role models for our young people to inspiration for all Filipinos PATAC was involved in initiating emulate and encourage them to be the movement to declare June as a leaders in their chosen fields. Filipino Heritage Month. We are Come and join us at our photo Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi therefore proud to celebrate the Filipino exhibit in the following locations: It was almost nine decades ago community associations based on Heritage Month this June 2019, with the June 3-5, 2019, 9 am to 8 pm that the first Filipino immigrants arrived common interests, provincial origins, or theme, ‘Celebrate. Inspire. Unite.’ As Scarborough Civic Centre, in Canada in 1930 but it was only in the dialects. But there seems to be no part of the month-long celebration, we 150 Borough Dr, 1960’s that our population steadily particular interest in running for public have selected stories from our Scarborough increased. After all these years, we are office. Once in a while we may have one community, across generations, to M1P 4N finally given recognition for our or two people who put their hats in the inspire our young generations, motivate June 11-16, 9 am to 8 pm contributions in our different roles as political arena, but the support from the them to improve their lives and make a Metro Hall, 55 John St. nurses, doctors, medical technicians, community is not enough to make them positive contribution in Canada. Toronto M5V 3C6 teachers, caregivers, entrepreneurs, win. The Filipino Canadian August 24-26 Mabuhay artists, architects, engineers, and On this occasion of Filipino community is now ranked among the Festival workers in factories and industries. Heritage Month, we may have some largest immigrant populations in Nathan Philipps Square What does this recognition reasons to think differently about the Canada; approximately 830,000 of 100 Queen St W mean to most of us? How will this future. We need to ask: What will inspire Filipino Heritage that reside throughout Toronto, Ontario inspire our young generation to be more our young people to think about making the country and over 300,000 are in the active in the decision or policy making a difference, or to run for public office, to Greater Toronto Area alone. Majority of Sent by: Ben Corpuz roles that affect our daily life? We have reach out and use their talents for a the Filipinos in the province of Ontario had a few pioneers in this field. good cause? Surely, we have talented population are workers in different For media inquiries, please contact Considering that we now have a biggger 2nd, or 3rd generation Filipinos who are sectors, including those in precarious population, perhaps the time has come capable to do the things that their working conditions. Paulina Corpuz President, Philippine parents were too busy to do. This is to for us to be represented in the Despite its large population, Advancement through Arts and Culture say that we may have to change our mainstream of Canadian society. the Filipino community lacks visibility Filipino Heritage Month proponent and mind set, and be inspired to contribute No formal study has been done and representation at all levels of advocate more to the betterment of society. The to find out the reason why we seem to government, in media, in labour and Tel 416-320-8703 | www.patac.ca recognition we have received is not only shy away from politics. Some people various sectors. Our photo exhibit, surmise to say that we are more inclined a source of pride but must also be an to work hard in order to support our inspiration to seek ways to continue to families back home. In Montreal, most improve ourselves, our homeland and Filipinos are busy in organizing our adopted country. Tel.: 514-485-7861/ 514-506-8753 7159 ch. de la Cote des Neiges E-Mail: [email protected] Montreal, Quebec H3R 2M2 .. www.filipinostar.org Published by: Filcan Publications, Inc Fely Rosales Carino Zenaida F. Kharroubi W.G. Quiambao Chief Editor Tagalog Columnist Society News Publisher - North .American Filipino Star April 1998-present Bert Abiera Sam Kevin Founder-Publisher, Filipino Star Show Biz News & Layout Editor Nov. 1982- Nov. 97 The opinions expressed by the writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect that of the management of the North American Filipino Star nor its editors. www.filipinostar.org 4 The North American Filipino Star June 2019 Scarborough. In November 2017, the City Council of Toronto passed a motion Filipino-Canadians celebrate Filipino introduced by Councillor Neethan Shan By Zenaida Ferry-Kharroubi of Scarborough-Rough River declaring June as Filipino Heritage Month in In thanksgiving for the The NDG-CDN Borough Council, on a in Montreal where Filipino-Canadians Heritage Month in Canada Toronto. It was followed by Toronto recognition of Filipinos’ contribution to motion by Councilor Marvin Rotrand hold most of their festivals, particularly, Catholic District School Board Canada, an Eucharistic Mass was held seconded by Councilor Lionel Perez, the annual Philippine Independence proclaiming June as Filipino Heritage at the St. Joseph’s Oratory on Friday, passed a resolution ‘’That the Borough Day. Month on May 17, 2017. The proposal, June 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. The mass Council congratulate the volunteers of Starting in 2018, Toronto supported by the Philippine Consulate celebrated Filipino Heritage Month in Offering by different representatives from different professions and occupations Father Nicholas Sengson, (at the podium) a Filipino priest, celebrated the mass wearing their Filipino costumes (Photo by Delsys ) and assisted by Fr. Sivarinmuthu Yesappan (2nd from left), Fr. Frank Alvarez, 3rd was celebrated by Father Nicholas the Filipino Heritage Committee for from left), Father Thomas Gomez (CSC), Father Claude Cruz (CGC). Deacon Pete Sengson, assisted by Father their devotion to assuring the success Tapia of St. Luke’s church was also in attendance (Photo by Delsys) in Toronto, was presented by School Sevarinmuthu Yesappan of St. Kevin’s of the 1st Filipino Heritage Month in June, becoming Canada's first city to Board Ward 8 Trustee, Garry Tanuan. Church, Father Frank Alvarez of the Canada; That the Borough Council create a heritage month for Filipinos. Different cities in Canada where Filipino Catholic Mission, Father wish the various local Filipino Alberta was the first Canadian province there are Filipinos living and working Thomas Gomez, and Father Claude community organizations success in to declare June as Filipino Heritage celebrated the First Filipino Heritage Cruz. the activities they have planned as part Month. Montreal also named June as Month with great flair and enthusiasm. Filipino Heritage Month, by the local The following shows a comprehensive Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de- view of these celebrations: Grâce Council in February 2018, June 1 Salu Salo sa Earl Bales, introduced by Councillor Marvin Earl Bales Park, North York ON Rotrand and Councillor Lionel Perez. June 1 Pinoy Glam and On March 15, 2019, MP Salma Zahid Fashion, Marconi Centre, Ottawa ON led officials in launching Filipino June 1 Filipino Heritage Month Heritage Month in Canada in her Kickoff, Albert Campbell Square, federal riding of Scarborough Centre Scarborough ON On October 30.