May 2015 Issue
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Volume XXXIII No.5 May 2015 Montreal, QC Canada www.filipinostar.org PrOen Msay 7ithd, 201e5, Pnresidtent Aquino’s state visit in Canada Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines made a historic visit to Canada on a three-city tour that saw the signing of significant bilateral agreements that will encourage greater trade between Canada and the Philippines, increased security, and development opportunities aimed at reducing poverty in the Philippines. President Aquino’s trip began with a red carpet welcome at Ottawa International Airport, where he was greeted by Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicolson, International Trade Minister Ed Fast, and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander. The president was then officially welcomed to Rideau Hall by His Excellency the Right Hon. David Johnson, the Governor General of Canada, and the Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism. In the afternoon, Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomed President Aquino to the House of Commons for a joint press conference where they announced key initiatives that will deepen the strong Canada- Philippines bilateral relations, including launching exploratory discussing towards a free trade agreement (FTA) and to work towards upgrading the existing Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Top, left, welcoming President Aquino upon landing in Ottawa at 12:30 PM, May 7, 2015. Top right: walking in the hall of honor with Prime Agreement (FIPA). These initiatives will Minister Stephen Harper, May 8, above left - Governor General David Johnston welcoming President Aquino at Rideau Hall during the State give Canadian businesses increased Dinner, May 7, and shaking hands with Filipinos in Toronto, May 8. opportunities for growth in the Asia- Francophonie, Christian Paradis, and President Aquino and the Canada’s first Senator of Filipino Pacific region. his Filipino counterpart signed an Filipino delegation were joined by descent, as they continued their visit to Minister of International important framework that outlines the Prime Minister Harper and many Development and Minister for La commitments of both governments Parliamentarians and Senators, See Page 4 President Aquino toward reducing poverty in Philippines. including Senator Tobias C. Enverga, Precarious jobs holding back young workers, OECD finds Income inequality retards economic growth and robbing a generation of opportunity PEPSO: The Precarity Penalty CBC News Posted: May 21, New OECD: In it together: Why less studies from the OECD and the United inequality benefits all Way of Toronto are exposing how precarious work is hurting economies Among temporary workers, close to and blocking opportunity for an entire half are under age 30 and almost 40 generation of young people. per cent of young workers in the OECD are in non-standard work, such as Much of the burden of insecure jobs is contract or temporary work, or falling on youth and they are at greater involuntary part-time employment. risk of spending their lives in poverty than the elderly across most Opportunity to move out of low-wage, developed economies, according to insecure employment as workers get the Organization for Economic Co- older is becoming increasingly limited, Young workers are being hurt by the rise of insecure jobs, with people of colour operation and Development. See Page 5 - Precarious Jobs most affected, according to new reports. (Eric Risberg/Associated Press) www.filipinostar.org May 2015 2 The North American Filipino Star Letter to the Editor The Liberal plan to deliver Editorial fairness for the middle class How do people view the visit of President Aquino to Canada? Dear Editor, Many Filipino-Canadians were of the President is warm and cordial, happy to see President Benigno Aquino Migrante BC’s Jane Ordinario says her For 10 years, Stephen Harper has III as he came down the Philippine group is planning a rally against been ignoring the people who do Airlines ramp to a red carpet welcome Aquino. most of the heavy lifting in our laid down for him at the Ottawa “We strongly oppose the visit economy. Those who work longer and International Airport. Everyone because Aquino has a poor human longer hours for an ever shrinking jockeyed for the best spot to shake his rights record. He does not embody the piece of the pie, and less and less hands. Some even screamed his name values of human rights that Canada financial security. and said “We love you, PNoy. We love has,” says Ordinario. you PNoy.” “He has no respect for migrant Middle class Canadians need to have Perhaps, the common feeling workers, as proven by his late response money in their pockets to save, invest Harper, the same family only receives was homesickness. Seeing our home to the appeal to save the life of Mary and grow the economy – to bring around $275 after-tax. Over a year, country’s President reminded us of Jane Veloso,” Ordinario adds. fairness and to strengthen the heart of that’s $2,500 more help, tax-free. We During the visit of President those days when we used to live in the the Canadian economy. will also provide more help to lower- Philippines. Now that we are living in Aquino, another negative fact was income families. our adopted country, we are really brought up in the news in Manila But Mr. Harper’s unfair system has excited to show that we have not lost regarding the Canadian garbage been giving money to those who need All families in the middle class, and our love for our mother country. shipped to the Philippines illegally in those hoping to join it, will receive President Aquino’s state visit is 2013. In view of the friendly diplomatic it least. The Liberal Party has a better, fairer plan: we will give a tax cut to the more in monthly child benefits than considered to be an important event for relations between the two countries, it under Mr. Harper’s system. That is 9 was decided not to ship the trash back middle class and provide middle class several reasons. Canada is the out of every 10 families. Philippines’ 21st largest trading partner, to Canada and had them disposed of in families with more money to raise their its 6th top source market for tourism, the landfills in the Philippines. instead. kids. Liberals will continue to present and is home to almost 700,000 In spite of some criticisms solutions to grow the economy. Our Filipinos. In 2014, Canada announced lodged against President Aquino, the Our plan will make the tax system that the Philippines had been success of his state visit cannot be fairer and cut the middle class tax rate plan will put more money in the designated a Country of Focus for denied. Prime Minister Harper sums it from 22 percent to 20.5 percent. We pockets of the middle class and those development assistance, and a Priority all up in the following words: will ask the wealthiest Canadians – working hard to join it. Emerging Market for Canadian “It was a pleasure to welcome those in the top one percent of overseas trade and investment. During President Aquino to Canada. During his incomes – to pay a little more so the Yours sincerely, the three-day visit, President Aquino highly productive visit we were pleased middle class can pay less. and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to announce several important bilateral witnessed the signing of bilateral initiatives in the areas of commerce, This tax relief is worth up to $670 per Justin Trudeau agreements on labor cooperation, development and security that will year, per person, or $1,340 per year development assistance, and benefit citizens in both countries. His for a two-income household. Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada infrastructure development, which will visit also provided an opportunity to highlight the vibrancy of people-to- introduce the Pr esident to Canada’s We will also provide one bigger, fair, 613-947-5100 people relations. According to Prime hard working Filipino communities and tax-free, monthly cheque to help Minister Harper, Canada and the highlight some of their major middle class and low-income families Advertise your business Philippines enjoy a “close friendship” as contributions to the fabric of our with the high costs of raising kids. on MMTV they have shared democratic values society.” and strong people-to-people ties.” A powerful way to A typical two-parent family, with two Although the general reception Zenaida Kharroubi promote your business kids, earning $90,000 per year will get $490 tax-free every month. Under Mr. Call 514-485-7861 5320-A Queen Mary Road Tel.: 514-485-7861 Montreal, Quebec H3X 1T7 E-Mail: [email protected] Published by: Filcan Publications, Inc. Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Chief Editor & Publisher Al Abdon Sam Kevin Fely Rosales Carino News & Layout Editor W.G. Quiambao Michael Davantes Community News Columnists Bert Abiera Founder 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. Dr. G. Santander DDS. is happy to announce her association with Dr. John Calder BSc. DDS. She has relocated her patient files to the new location at 4685 Avenue Van Horne, Montreal, Quebec, H3W 1H8. Phone numbers remain the same - 514-484-3110 or 514-737-1612. Vangie is here to serve you! [email protected] Dr, Gene Santander, DDS www.filipinostar.org Dr. John Calder, BSc., DDS May 2015 The North American Filipino Star 3 SMagramllaniees nastko fo rw amiincasb lel isbetetlelm cenat. se against Magallanes By W. G. Quiambao false, devoid of any After almost two years, foundation and published the legal battle between Budz with malice to spite and Sarmiento, former columnist of tarnish the image of Mr.