nd 2 Edition October 15-30, 2007 Vol. XXV No. 10-b www.filipinostar.org President Arroyo pardons Estrada Thursday, October 25, 2007 reached 70, Estrada's 6 1/2 years' 7:21 AM MANILA, Philippines -- detention and his public pledge not to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seek any public office in deciding to pardoned her ousted predecessor pardon her political nemesis. Thursday, paving the way for Joseph A court order forfeiting a Estrada's release a month after he was mansion and more than $15.5 million sentenced to life in prison for in bank accounts believed to be owned corruption. by Estrada would remain in place, Acting Executive Secretary according to Arroyo's decision, which Ignacio Bunye said the pardon would was read by Bunye in a nationally restore Estrada's civil and political televised announcement. rights and would take effect upon his "Arroyo is fully convinced that acceptance. this pardon is in order," Bunye told There was no immediate reporters. reaction from the 70-year-old Estrada, A Sandiganbayan court who has been allowed by the anti-graft spokesman, Renato Bocar, said it Sandiganbayan court to be detained in would order Estrada's release after his sprawling villa near Manila while receiving a copy of Arroyo's grant of appealing his Sept. 12 conviction for pardon. plunder. Estrada was ousted by a Estrada's lawyers withdrew his nonviolent "people power" revolt that appeal Monday, removing a key was co-led by Arroyo, then his vice obstacle to the grant of pardon. president, in 2001 over allegations of Ousted Philippine President Joseph Estrada, right, waves beside his wife, former Senator Loi, Arroyo cited her government's See page 4 PARDON as he arrives at their house in San Juan city, Philippines, on Friday Oct. 26, 2007. policy of releasing convicts who have Page 10 Critics denounce PQ citizenship bill By Zenaida Kharroubi From time to time, we have controversies arising from the right of immigrants to practice their culture. We also hear about the question of Palawan whether or not there is still systemic racism that is deeply embedded in many places, be it in public or private Contents domains but no one seems to admit openly they exist. Lately, we have had Community News . p. 6 a series of stories or news about what has been happening in different Earth Talk . p. 8 quarters. One can recall about the school boy who was punished by his Classified Ads . p. 9 teacher for using a spoon that caused a furor in the Filipino community, the law Philippine Cuisine . p. 9 suit to demand the right of a boy to carry a “kirpan” for it is part of his Filstar Photo Gallery....... p. 10 culture, and the case of a soccer player who was ejected from a game Tourism . p. 12 for wearing a hijab. The latest furor has been created by the introduction of Bill Showbiz Gossip . p. 14 195 by Madame Pauline Marois. This Bill practically limits the democratic Global Perspectives . p. 17 rights of a person to run for public office if he is unable to speak French. Neighborhood Business . p. 18 Asmahan (Azzy) Manzour has the support of her team, the Nepean Hotspurs in Ottawa. A See Page 4 CITIZEN BILL referree judged that her heaadgear posed a risk to herself and others. Discover a one stop service From head to toe ... beauty and care! Hair Hands & Feet • Cut & Set • Manicure • Blow Dry • Pedicure & Foot Spa • Hair Coloring Body • Highlighting • Massage • Perm • Waxing Esthetics 514-731-8881 • Facial • Makeup for special occasions • Eyebrows coloring 5210, Décarie coin van horne, montréal (qué.) H3X 2J9 • Eyelash coloring Nena Alicia Thomas www.filipinostar.org 2 The North American Filipino Star October15-31 2007 of unthinkable style of governance Calling all that will basically jeopardize minority Members of the Filipino rights in a liberal democracy like Solidarity Cooperative EDITORIAL ours," race relations advocate Fo Niemi told CTV in Montreal. and other Just like any other idea that can be Filipino Canadians What is the controversy behind taken to the extreme, “reasonable in the Montreal accommodation” will blur the view of community “reasonable accommodation”? people who are self-centered and to support the fund Reasonable accommodation is a society even became more selfish but if it is applied properly legal term used in Canada, which is the complicated and controversial, to say under the right conditions, it is raising dance party legal obligation to modify a law or a the least, when Madame Pauline conducive to the development of a for the benefit of the norm when it is contrary to Marois introduced Bill 195 in the harmonious relationship in a multi- Cooperative fundamental rights stipulated in the National Legislature. Without the cultural society such as ours. to be held on Canadian Charter of Rights and knowledge of French, a person, old or We will be interested to know what Freedoms. This concept is, according new immigrant,even though the commission will find out about December 8, 2007 to the Supreme Court of Canada, a possessing Canadian citizenship will how people view immigrants and if 7:00 P.M. logical consequence of the Charter not be able to run for any public office. they understand the value of Studio 26 Mtl. itself. The term is currently used in the Premier Charest wrote an open letter in immigration. 855 Decarie Blvd. public debate in various meanings the Montreal Gazette, criticizing the Bill How well can the idea of St. Laurent involving minority rights. (The origin of and asking Mme Marois to withdraw it. “reasonable accommodation” resolve the term "reasonable accommodation" However, she refused to budge in her the conflicting attitudes towards is found in labour-market position and only slightly softened her immigrants? Will the recommenda- sponsored by jurisprudence, and refers to the stand by saying that she will be willing tions be actually used to overcome the North American obligation of employers to change to submit the bill to scrutiny by the the inherent prejudices against Filipino Star immigrants? Will there be funds some general rules for certain Human Rights Commission to see if and Gilmore International employees, under the condition that any of the provisions could be available to help accommodate the there is no "excessive constraint".) declared unconstitutional. needs of immigrants in their struggle College The term itself does not seem to be Constitutional or not, the fact that for equality in the social, political, and Tel. 514-485-7861 offensive or negative, however, it has Madame Marois has introduced a bill economic fields? become a controversial issue politically which focuses on the definition of Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi In an open letter to the Quebecois Quebec citizenship is quite people on Jan. 16, 2007, Mario disheartening or as Premier Charest FILIPINO SOLIDARITY FSCI Dumont, the leader of Quebec's third calls it, a “backward” move in a 2004 party, the ADQ, applied this phrase to democratic country like Canada. Such COOPERATIVE what some others in Quebec, Jean a bill actually reinforces the idea of a Coopérative de Solidarité Filipino Charest among them, prefer to call government being able to dictate "reasonable accommodation". After everything that an English speaking 4711 Van horne Avenue, Montreal H3W 1H8 the town of Herouxville enacted a code immigrant must do in order to of conduct earlier this year for participate in civil society. Needless to We sell Philippine & Oriental Food, Groceries, Dry Goods, Beauty immigrants, Premier Jean Charest, say, it is easier to participate in the Products, Spices, Frozen Meat & Fish, Fresh Vegetables, etc. citing several instances of debate when one can speak the Become a member now of "unreasonable" accommodation, language of the majority, but this the firt Filipino solidarity appointed a two-man commission in should not be a reason to deprive February 2007 to investigate the issue anyone of the right to run in a cooperative in Canada and report back by 31 March 2008. Its democratic election. Why not leave it formal title is the Consultation to the person’s common sense to seek Your support is urgently Commission on Accommodation knowledge of the language that is needed so you can have Practices Related to Cultural required to be a competent legislator? quality products at lower Differences, It is sometimes called the Another important question is about Bouchard-Taylor Commission. The the motivation of Mme Marois. Is she prices than anywhere town's "Code of Life" gained saying that Quebec is a separate else. international notoriety after councillors country and therefore can impose the stated that anyone wanting to live in requirements of citizenship? CUBAO-DIVISORIA the town - located between Quebec It appears that Madame Marois is City and Montreal -- had to live by also contradicting the idea behind Store Hours: certain rules. Among the rules are the “reasonable accommodation.” By prohibition of stoning of women, introducing the Quebec citizenship bill, Monday to Friday - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. wearing of the hijab, and mutilation of she seems to be saying that English Saturday-Sunday - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. women’s genitalia. As there are not speaking immigrants are not good even any visible minorities in the town, enough until they can speak French. 514-733-8915 one wonders why they bother to pass She completely ignores other these rules. Some critics alleged that qualifications like having the Tangkilin ang sariling atin. this may be due to the town’s intolerant intelligence to think through a problem attitude towards those who are and find solutions. In her mind, the Working together for common prosperity.