Let’s Help! SEPTEMBER 2015 Vol. 4 No. 9 Alan Kurdi, refugee victim EDITORIAL THE PALPAK CHRONICLES KWARTA o KAHON? THE BALIKBAYAN BOX FIASCO WHIPS A STORM OF FURY A series of blunders, mis- tive issues. Among them of Custom chief Albert Lina , chief Lina for being balikbayan boxes coming steps and mishandling by was the plan to inspect or now branded as the “most “insensitive “ but also de- from abroad. the government as well as scrutinize “balikbayan box- hated” government official. manded his outright resig- Lina justified their action politicians, who obviously es” sent by OFWs to their nation. Palpak is a street lingo for “a saying there have been re- misread public sentiments, families and imposing addi- big blunder or booboo” or a Sensing a big whirlwind the ported cases of balikbayan has fueled a nationwide an- tional taxes as well. failure. proposal was reaping, Presi- boxes being used as con- ger, outrage and indignation “Palpak!” is what majority of dent Noynoy Aquino imme- duits to smuggle in guns and against some government Netizens prowling the social Filipinos describe the pro- diately ordered the Bureau firearms as well as highly officials and leading presi- media had not only chas- posal put forward by Bureau of Customs to stop opening dential candidates on sensi- tised or castigated Customs (Continued on page 4) Canadians hit the polls on October 19 BREAKING NEWS POE finally joins presidential derby: says “Ako po si Grace Poe. Pilipino.” TRUDEAU HARPER MULCAIR Senator Grace Poe, in her declaration speech at the UP Diliman Bahay ng Alumni on Sept 16, affirmed that she is EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT. VOTE WISELY. offering herself to be the next president of the Philip- pines. FULL STORY Record-breaking crowd ON PAGE 3 got a Taste of Manila! Flashflood paralyzes Metro Manila HPG caught off guard; Palace appeals for understanding by Aaron B. Recuenco and Ellalyn B. De Vera Torrential rain that dumped by the flashflood. It said HPG 78.8mm rainfall in three hours personnel’s intervention on Tuesday night triggered flash- the EDSA flooding came a little flood in Metro Manila that left too late. thousands of motorists and So heavy was the traffic that it commuters stranded and stuck turned EDSA and other major in traffic till the early morning thoroughfares into virtual of Wednesday. parking lots for hours. The Philippine National Police- The bumper-to-bumper traffic Highway Patrol Group (PNP- earned the ire of the commut- HPG), which heaped praises for ers who got stranded. instilling discipline among mo- “Little Manila” is not so little anymore as throngs of Filipinos, friends and supporters, an estimated 200K torists since it took over the But what further surprised and lead in managing traffic on ED- disappointed the HPG is the over the weekend fiesta, filled the 1.4 kilometer stretch of Bathurst from Wilson to Laurelcrest to feast SA last Monday, admitted yes- very little help from the Metro- on the food and everything Filipino. Organized by Philippine Cultural Community Centre, the street festi- terday getting caught off guard val has been dubbed as the largest gathering of Filipinos in Canada. (PHOTO FROM PCCC FB PAGE) (Continued on page 3) September 2015 2 Waves Filipinos Making News September 2015 3 Waves Filipinos Making News Manila Feedback TO ADVERTISE please email at [email protected] Senator Poe offers herself as presidential candidate in 2016 By Jelly F. Musico MANILA, Sept. 16 (PNA) – Senator said she wanted to continue what the fight against corruption and I Grace Poe on Wednesday finally her father, the late movie actor Fer- personally thank our President for ended speculation about her politi- nando Poe Jr., started when he ran bringing back the confidence for an cal plans, offering herself as presi- but lost in a high-controversial pres- honest leader. We should continue dential candidate in the 2016 elec- idential race in 2004. our fight against corruption,” she tions. said. The first-termer senator said she Poe declared her candidacy for the would continue to draw inspiration ”My time now is not enough to give highest position of the land in front from the people who worked hard all my goals and objectives. In the of the more than 5,000 adoring to help their respective families next few days, I will give my com- crowd that filled the University of amid hardships and difficulties of prehensive programs which cen- the Philippines (UP) Bahay ng Alum- life. tered in simple principle and belief: The “foundling” named Grace Poe answers ni in Diliman, Quezon City. No Filipino will be left behind and ”All of you are my source of inspira- the call. no place in the Philippines will be ”I’m Grace Poe. Filipino. Daughter, tion. You give me strength to offer left behind. Together, we will also wife and mother, and with the help myself for the highest service of our transportation, information technol- achieve progress,” she said. of our loving God is offering to you country,” Poe said. ogy, sports, climate change, tourism myself for the highest form of ser- Poe said she would allocate seven She laid down some of her platforms and education. vice as President,” Poe said to close percent of the country’s Gross Do- of government that will focus on ed- If she wins, Poe promised to imme- her 25–minute speech to the delight mestic Product for infrastructure ucation, agriculture, infrastructures, diately enact into law the Freedom of almost 5,000 supporters inside development, particularly the im- fight against graft and corruption, of Information (FOI) bill to reinforce and outside the jampacked UP Ba- provement of roads, railways, air- tax reform, fight against poverty, the fight against graft and corrup- hay ng Alumni. ports, seaports and even Internet overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), tion. service. Just like in 2013 elections when she illegal drugs, peace and order, ”President Aquino has done a lot in ran and won as No. 1 senator, Poe health, West Philippine Sea, traffic, (Continued on page 6) (Continued from page 1) Flashflood paralyzes Metro... CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON EDSA This photo that went viral on social media on Tuesday night was taken at 10:30 p.m. at the peak of the traffic jam that turned Edsa into a giant parking lot and stranded tens of thou- sands of tired, hungry and angry motorists and commuters. It was taken by Myk Josh Wierzbicki from the 18th floor of Paragon Condominium Plaza on Edsa corner Reli- ance Street with a Samsung S3 smartphone. politan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which was supposed to be their partner in improving the traffic condition on EDSA, a claim denied by the MMDA. APPEAL FOR UNDERSTANDING With the inconvenience, Malacan ang ap- pealed for the “kind understanding” of motorists and commuters affected by the flashflood and heavy traffic Tuesday night. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma assured that government will continue to exert efforts to mitigate the occurrence of floods and ease traffic flow but still asked for the co- operation of the public. “We understand the plight of many who were stranded and delayed considerably in reaching their homes and destinations (Continued on page 6) September 2015 4 Waves Filipinos Making News EDITORIAL TO ADVERTISE please email at [email protected] (Continued from page1 ) THE PALPAK CHRONICLES: KWARTA o KAHON? COUNTERPOINT dutiable goods in commercial quantity. But OFWs associations and other sectors said the Bureau Tenny F. Soriano of Customs should instead concentrate its efforts to catch big time smugglers who almost always are evading taxes by the billions. They said the goodies contained in a balikbayan box are LADY OBAMA? the “fruits of labor” of the long hard years of the OFWs The stage is set. It’s Show- dent Jejomar Binay. citizenship law which some time! Senator Grace Poe sectors describe as abroad. If and when she succeeds in has ended months of specu- “creating a two tier citizen- “Those items contained in the box represent the OFWs care the May 2016 polls, she fol- lations on her political ship system“. and love for their family members. Thus the box itself is a lows in the footsteps of US plans when she declared sacred symbol of sharing with their loved ones of what he President Barack Obama The British Columbia Civil Sept.16 that she’s a candi- has earned abroad.” who won the US presidency Liberties Association date for the 2016 presiden- as a first-time US senator in (BCLA) said that as a result Aside from the threat of being randomly inspected, the tial elections. 2008. of the new rules, “there is balikbayan box also, at times, suffers pilferage during un- Poe finally put to rest all now an official second class loading at the point of entry. Some boxes are missing one Senator Poe is a neophyte doubts about her plans citizenship in effect“. piece of a pair of shoes for instance or some expensive member of the Philippine when she dramatically an- items like electronic gadgets are replaced by cheaper or senate having been elected -The changes in the Care- nounced that she’s offering old ones. in 2013 and could be the giver Program which limits herself as a candidate for third woman president of the entry of applicants The balikbayan box fiasco is only one of a series of “faux the 2016 polls at a special the Philippines, after Cora- pas” by both the Aquino government as well as politicians gathering at the University -the slow response of the zon Aquino and Gloria aiming for the highest post in land - the presidency.