Volume XXXIII No.1 January 2015 Montreal, QC Canada www.filipinostar.org Pope Francis visits Philippines (CNN) Pope Francis urged millions gathered in Manila on Sunday to take care of one another -- and help promote peace in the world. Worshippers in ponchos of all colors held up flickering candles in the rain, hanging on his every word. The Pope wore a yellow poncho over his robe as he celebrated the Mass, which was attended by 6 million people, according to the Philippine News Agency. "May he enable all the beloved people of this country to work together, protecting one another, beginning with your families and communities," the Pope said. His homily followed a thunderous welcome to the capital. Pope Francis in Asia As he entered the park, the huge crowd chanted, "Papa Francesco, Papa Francesco!" See Page 4 Pope Francis (AP)Pope Francis and Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle salute a crowd with hand signal of “I love you.” Pascale Déry, former TVA anchor, launches bid to win Conservative party nomination in TMR riding Montreal, J anuary 21, 2015 - Pascalle Dery made her biggest decision to enter politics. With the support of her family and friends, she is ready to take on the traditionally held Liberal riding of the Town of Mount Royal. In her speech, she acknowledged that her decision is a big risk but she says she is determined to win the riding to be able to help all the citizens from different cultural groups and help create jobs for them. She said that giving up her TV journalism career of 15 years is worth the risk as she believes that she could make a difference. Present during the launching were many Conservative members, led by Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. He delivered a strong endorsement of Pascale and expressed hopes that she wins the nominatiion. The presence of so many other Tory members such as Pascale Dery speaking to a large crowd of supporters during the launching of her candidacy for nomination to represent the Conservative party in Adrien Pouliot, president of the the riding of the Town of Mount Royal on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at the CRC Building on Cote des Neiges. (Photo: Amy Manon-og) See page 4 Pascale Dery www.filipinostar.org 2 The North American Filipino Star January 2015 Lots of bold predictions here: The use Letter to the Editor of cash and plastic will decline; Apple Editorial Pay will launch in Europe; sellers of The incredible people and point-of-sale hardware will do battle; a place in Canada’s North What are the predictions for 2015 that major payment giant (Visa, AmEx, are worthile listening to? MasterCard) will buy up a challenger; Dear editor, social networks will integrate ‘buy’ Predictions of the future are both an impact on consumers, and not just buttons widely; a major global bank will Prime Minister Stephen Harper likes to interesting and helpful because they within the industry: start accepting cryptocurrency portray the showcase Canada’s North make us aware of the need to keep up transfers and payments. as a big empty place that we need to to date with trends that can affect both A thousand Ubers will bloom protect, but this place is filled with our personal and professinal or New media will take off people who lived here for millennia— business life. Services like Uber and Airbnb will and whose voices are not being heard proliferate this year. The argument is “Good story-telling and better editorial in Ottawa. By the time the Star hits the newstand slightly different from the usual ones styles” are returning, thanks to a spate outlets, we have had quite a bit of about under-utilized resources, or the of new publications that have captured To connect with Northerners, this experience with the New Year. efficiency of marketplaces. Instead GP the imagination of younger readers winter I traveled to the Northwest Perhaps, we already have an idea how Bullhound focuses on the fact that accustomed to finding content through Territories and Nunavut with my eldest our fortunes will change for the better such companies “sell trust in the social and mobile. Distribution has son Xavier, like my father did with me or worse, and we certainly need to see branded entity rather than the changed too, with publishers and thirty years ago. I wanted to how we can cope with challenges we component parts.” One example is amateurs alike publishing directly on experience the very real challenges will be facing. ThredUp, a second-hand clothing and platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Northerners face on a day-to-day basis accessories marketplace where the Medium, Vine, and others. These and see for myself the tremendous We found the following predictions “primary focus is on customer ongoing trends lead GP Bullhound to opportunities for sustainable regarding technology quite interesting, satisfaction, not daily sales.” Similarly, “expect a surge of global interest in the economic growth. and whether or not you have a real estate agents at Redfin, a tech- creation and acquisition of new media business, it seems important to keep in powered brokerage firm, “earn salaries brands in 2015.” Achieving that potential depends on tune with the latest trends in and bonuses based on customer federal willingness to work technology and become a wise satisfaction, not commissions.” Mobile gaming will be even more collaboratively with the North. In the consumer of goods and services. We Smart devices will start to become addictive only part of the country where reprinted the article of soothsaying intelligent legislatures work by consensus, Tech predictions for 2015 that you Free-to-play games such as Candy people here know better than most should actually listen to by Leo Mirani. Wearable devices such as Fitbit and Crush Soda Saga from King and Clash that problems aren’t solved by Jawbone are great at tracking real- of Clans from Supercell already hold pointing fingers and highlighting “January may be coming to a close, but world activity and turning that into data, millions in thrall. In 2015, they will differences. They are solved by people the flood of predictions, forecasts, and but they “required too much hand- improve their ability to hold on to, and working together. prognostications for the year ahead holding from consumers to make them make money from, their players. They hasn’t abated. Among the dross ‘intelligent.'” New devices will be and other games publishers will The North needs a partner in Ottawa to however is the annual list of predictions “context-aware applications that expand to new genres and markets, invest in their people, infrastructure from GP Bullhound (pdf), a boutique automatically collect data from multiple while makers of console games will and research in order to ensure this investment bank that specializes in sources, learn, make increasingly start to publish on mobile growth is realized. Indigenous peoples tech companies. The bank is worth recommendations, and, in some and all Northerners support listening to: As a dealmaker straddling instances, take action without requiring From the above article, it seems responsible development, but also start-ups and large firms, it sees trends input from users.” certain that technology is going to know that it needs to be done right— as they’re happening. And its record of control most of our daily activities, but and that’s where most Canadians are predictions from 2014 is more hit than Payments will see the biggest changes what is most disturbing is its too. Unlike the past, we all now miss. since credit cards addictiveness which may adversely recognize that major developments Quartz picked the ones that will have affect people’s lives, in particular, need social license and environ- young people who are hooked into mental responsibility. Consultation and playing all kinds of games that partnership, particularly with consume most of their time and also Indigenous people, must be at the their money. centre of any plans. On the other hand, there are also some In the North, the cost of many basic advantages that technology offers like goods is staggering, compared to the 5320-A Queen Mary Road Tel.: 514-485-7861 convenience and the instant access to South. I had honest conversations with Montreal, Quebec H3X 1T7 E-Mail: [email protected] information and news through the folks at the Qayuqtuvik Society soup Published by: Filcan Publications, Inc. internet. kitchen in Iqaluit about the reality Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi facing many Northerners who cannot W.G. Quiambao Chief Editor & Publisher Finally, it goes without saying that in access basic necessities. The failure of Community News Al Abdon Sam Kevin spite of predictions what the future the federal government’s Nutrition Fely Rosales Carino News & Layout Editor holds, we need not worry too much North Program to make nutritional Michael Davantes about them for it is a common food more accessible in these Bert Abiera Bernardo Sarmiento Columnists knowledge that there are always things communities is simply unacceptable. It Opinion Editorial Founder that happen that cannot be foreseen. must be rebuilt. The opinions expressed by the writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect that The best attitude is to take things in of the management of the North American Filipino Star nor its editors. stride for this year and next. Zenaida Kharroubi See Page 2 Letter to the Editor 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.