April 2008 Edition
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APRIL 2008 Vol. XXVI, No.4 www.filipinostar.org Rice shortage threatens Asia , Three billion people in Asia are the shortages: "When the price of rice rice guzzlers of the world and they are goes higher than a common man can facing a supply shortage. Production pay, heaven ordains a new ruler." at about 420 million tons a year has In Haiti, the prime minister was been static for the past four years. In dismissed after food riots. In Egypt, this period about 100 million additional less publicized food riots have created mouths have been added, which are a storm. In Pakistan, gun-toting police putting a dent in the supply-demand have been guarding food warehouses chain. for the last six months. In Thailand, Prices of rice have shot up 30 farmers with guns are guarding their percent in the two years from 2005 to rice fields. Even if the world gets over 2007 and 40 percent since the middle the present crisis, future crises are of last year alone. These have reached likely to be much more severe. a level, like wheat prices -- which are Expensive food or severe food 130 percent up -- that have made shortages will topple governments and governments nervous. India has unrest will follow. banned the export of most varieties of Of the world's rice, 80 percent is rice, except the high-end basmati rice, grown in Asia -- which also consumes to conserve as much rice at home as it all, plus some. Rain plays the possible. Other rice surplus countries greatest role in rice cultivation. Lack of have followed suit. They are scared of rain is sad news for rice growers. Rice shortages at home and the unrest that cultivation is labor intensive, making it follows shortages. unproductive in countries with high A Chinese saying of earlier times A farmer harvesting rice, a typical scene in the rural areas of an Asian country. is directly applicable to today's food See Page 4 TOURISM PAGE 6 May Ann Miras wins Bb. Pilipinas title Montreal, April 12, 2008 - Over 600 people witnessed the 34th year of the Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant sponsored by FAMAS on Saturday, GUIMARAS April 12, 2008 at the Hellenic Community Center. It was probably one of the largest crowd ever gathered Contents for such an event.and a memorable night for all the candidates and their parents. The excitement and anticipation could be felt right from the Cooperative News . .. .p. 5 beginning as enthusiastic supporters applauded loudly and cheerfully their Tourism . p. 6 favorite candidate. The program featured the past Filstar Photo Gallery . p. 12 Bb. Pilipinas title holders who were asked for their advice to the new candidates. Several folk dances were Showbiz Gossip . p. 10 performed by the Kalinangan Dance Troup and the Pamana Dance Troup. Classified Ads . p. 16 The talent performances of all the candidates added to the evening’s Philippine Cuisine . p. 16 entertainment to the delight of the audience. All the contestants Community News . .. p. 14 displayed great talents in dancing and singing. Moreover, they were all Global Perspectives . p. 18 beautiful in their swimsuits and evening gowns. The judges must have had a difficult time choosing the winners in the different categories. Marie Antonette Carbon, a 16- year old high school student, won three titles, namely, Miss Popularity, for having sold the most tickets; Miss Charity, for having solicited the most ads in the souvernir programme; and Miss Friendship for having been voted the most helpful by her peers. The title of Best in Evenig Gown. Best in Be a C.I.T.P. (certified int’l trade Swimsuit and Best Talent were professional) Register now at Gilmore International May Ann Miras, newly crowned Bb. Pilipinas - Montreal See Page 4 General College - Call 514-485-7861 www.filipinostar.org APRIL 2008 2 The North American Filipino Star FILIPINO SOLIDARITY FSCI 2004 COOPERATIVE EDITORIAL Coopérative de Solidarité Filipino Think globally, act locally 4711 Van Horne Avenue, Montreal H3W 1H8 We are re-organizing and re-decorating the Filipino Global issues are really local when customers had to pay to use Coop so we have to clear away freezers which are problems which require a concerted them. Perhaps, this is how we should action. This idea is best exemplified discipline ourselves – through our good for the home but not for commercial use. by the celebration of Earth Day on pocketbooks. PLEASE HELP US BY BUYING OFF OUR HANDS April 22, around the world in 174 On the other hand, if we THESE FREEZERS (SEE BELOW) countries. This annual event gives our observe the following environmental- AT REDUCED PRICES. students the chance to teach and friendly measures in the workplace, we become leaders in the movement to may succeed in reducing the waste we save our Earth Earth Day seems to produce everyday: gather more momentum every year. * Buy recycled content, Many polluted waterways have remanufactured, and recyclable office improved. Recycling is widespread. products, and recycle them when Conservation is top of mind. Started in appropriate (including e-cycling the late 1960s amid the "environmental electronics). At a minimum, buy crisis," Earth Day has become a huge recycled paper and recycle it again. success. Or has it? See the small business guide to Although there have been pollution prevention for more some great accomplishments, mostly information: as a result of increased awareness of http://www.epa.gov/ecycling/index.ht environmentalism since the 1960s, it's m. hard to imagine the planet is better off * Clean Out Your Files and recycle today than it was five decades ago. papers you no longer need. Many Despite the community cleanup organizations sponsor cleaning programs, the schoolyard tree weeks; check with your office plantings, the endless legislation and management staff. Check prices of new freezers and then make an offer all the talk, we still have a long way to * Use spell check and proofread because no reasonable offer will be refused. go before we can rest on our laurels. before you print or copy. Print double The main culprit is not government or sided whenever possible. Minimize the industry or agriculture; it is us. Many amount of paper you use. people might do something on Earth * Buy reusable office supplies instead Day, but simply slide back into our of disposable supplies. comfortable ways afterward. There *Set up an area to store and are more of us every day (almost exchange reusable office supplies, double the world population, in fact, such as binders since 1970). SUVs were rare in 1970; * Recycle fluorescent bulbs properly now they dominate the North to prevent hazardous mercury from American highways. Bottled water was entering the environment. We sell not only frozen fish, meat, but also canned and drygoods almost unheard of in 1970; now In addition to individual millions of litres are shipped back and efforts, government initiated programs forth across the oceans daily to suit are worthwhile. For example, the FILIPINO COOP the particular tastes of people who CDN-NDG Borough held a community don't like the stuff from the tap. Lettuce forum on Earth Day, April 22, where (FORMERLY DIVISORIA-CUBAO) didn't come in plastic boxes in the they invited citizens to voice their under new administration 1970s. Nobody in Canada had ever opinions as to what should be heard of raspberries in January. Air included in the Green Plan to create an STORE HOURS conditioning is now commonplace in environmental model in five years’ cars and homes. The leafblower has time. How do we promote public Monday to Wednesday - 10 am to 7 pm replaced the rake; the snowblower has transport more actively? Can the Thursday to Friday - 10 am. to 9 pm Borough’s service reduce electric nudged aside the shovel; the electric Saturday-Sunday - 10 am to 6 pm hedge trimmer and the weed-whacker consumption, use more fuel efficient are making the garden shears vehicles, switch to cleaner fuels? Is Telephone: 514-733-8915 obsolete. our tree policy sufficient? Can we add Lately, we have had a debate more mini-parks? Is our garbage Not yet a member? Support your first and only whether or not to ban the use of plastic policy outdated? Do we need more Filipino cooperative in Canada. Be a member now! shopping bags. They are usually recycling and composting? Do we given free to every shopper but they need to modify snow removal policies? TANGKILIKIN ANG SARILING ATIN end up in trash cans, or on the streets. More public discussions and Is it a good idea to ban them research are certanly going to be completely or charge customers for helpful in looking for the right answers their use? Ikea Canada did the latter to the above questions. Hopefully, the and it had a dramatic effect on their Borough’s Green Plan will receive the use. It resulted in a 90% reduction support of the whole community. The North American Filipino Star 4950 Queen Mary Road Penthouse Tel.: 514-485-7861 (5th Floor) near Snowdon Metro E-Mail: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION Montreal, QC H3W 1X3 Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Name:___________________________________________________ Hilda T. Veloso Jerry Estrada Chief Editor & Publisher Community News Lina V. Fernandez Mary Joy Lizarondo Address:_________________________________________________ Dr. Victor Gavino Sam Ferry Prof. Isaac Goodine Assistant Editor Sports News News & Tourism 12 issues $25 24 issues $45 Esther Stansfield Nida Verginom Butaran Alvin D. Veloso Bert Abiera Sales Representative Telephone: Residence:____________ Office: ________________ Contributors Founder Opinions, comments of writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect that of Enclose a cheque or money order for:$_____ the management of Filcan Publications, Inc.