Vol. XXX, No. 9 Septemner 2012 http://www.filipinostar.org City celebrates International Peace Day Montreal, September 21, 2012 - On International Peace Day, Mayor Gerald Tremblay of Montreal convened all Montrealers to celebrate in their own way this event. For this occasion, he was accompanied by representatives from the “Cercle de Paix” which presented the programme for the 8th edition of its festival “Pacifest.” The festivities started in the morning at the City Hall of Montreal where a ceremony took place in coordination with the United Nations in New York. A delegation of 50 young people arrived in an American city on board the “l’Autobus de la Paix.” Our young ambassadors will assist in the traditional ceremony in the “Cloche de la Paix.” to be led by the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon in the company of personalities like Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Forest Whitaker.. Mayor Gerald Tremblay poses with some of the Canadian Peackeepers, speakers, and youth members of the audience. Full Programming - The 8th edition of Pacifest for the International Peace Day will last from Friday, 21 Candidate from Quebec crowned September to Sunday, 23 September by W. G. Quiambao Miss Earth Canada 2012 See Page 4 International Peace Day From left: Second Runner up Angel Bhathal from Winnipeg, Manitoba, First Runner up Cynthia Loewen from LaSalle, Omtario, Miss Earth CANADA 2012 Valérie Rémillard from St-Felix de Valois, Québec, Third Runner-up Suzette Hernandez from Vancouver, British Columbia, Fourth Runner Up: Chanel Beckenlehner from Caledon, Ontario. Photo taken after the crowning ceremony. And the winner of the Miss Remillard competed in the Miss Earth Earth- Canada 2012 is ... Canada in 2009, came back in 2010 Valerie Remillard, 24, from St. Felix de and placed Miss Earth Canada first Valois, Quebec. Remilard, a nurse in runner up. CHRTR (Centre Hospitalier Regional Two of the contestants in the de Trois-Rivieres) bested fourteen 14 Miss Earth Canada 2012 are Filipinos beautiful candidates from all over who didn't go home empty handed. Canada in a beauty pageant held at the One is Mariel Dimayuga, reigning Holiday Inn Hotel, Sherbrooke St., last FAMAS Miss Ambassador of Goodwill August 24. who was awarded the Miss "I'm very happy," said the Congeniality title and was chosen one willowy winner. " I'll do my very best to of the five best in swimming suit represent Canada at The Miss Earth See Page 4 Miss Earth Canada 2012 Pageant in Manila. Philippines.” www.filipinostar.org 2 The North American Filipino Star September 2012 Editorial LETTER TO THE EDITOR Should we have a free university education? September 6, 2012 understanding of financial products d The student strikes in Quebec sides in order to develop some insights services such as credit cards, bank were viewed as both puzzling and that may lead us to the correct or To the Editor accounts, mortgages and disturbing. It was puzzling because judicious answer. investments. Since that time, FCAC the increase was so minimal that it Proponents of free university As a former high school teacher, the has become a pioneer in creating would not prevent anyone from getting education cite the fact that there are beginning of September always meant clear, simple publications and easy-to- a university education. It was about 20 countries already providing back-to-school. use web tools that give consumers disturbing because the rights of other free or nominal fee university objective, reliable help when they students who wanted to go on with education. Why can we not do the For students, it’s a time for many new make financial decisions. their studies were not respected and same in Quebec? They also say that it things at school. It can also be a time the laws seemed to have been is a question of political will and not a for new experiences: becoming more The Government of Canada has given completely ignored. The same group financial one because if the independent, going to a different FCAC the mandate to foster financial of students are now vowing to demand government chooses to spend money school or moving out on their own. literacy. The Agency continues to free university education. Will the on education rather than on big develop innovative resources for government again give in and make corporations, it has the power to do so. Now, as a parent of two-grown students and all Canadians to help university education free? On what They also cite the wastes in children, I am looking at the back-to- them strengthen their knowledge, grounds will the move for free government such as bureaucrats school season differently, reflecting on skills and confidence to make university education be based on? earning huge salaries and heads of what I might have done to help them responsible financial decisions. They Before answering these universities receiving huge payouts better prepare for school. are available at itpaystoknow.gc.ca. questions, we believe it is important to and retirement packages. These examine the different sides of the arguments lead us to ask the question: I realize now that back-to-school is the Our commitment to Canada's youth is debate – both those who are for and How should we pay our government perfect time to have a frank to give them the tools they need to those against free university education. bureaucrats and senior executives conversation with children about the increase their ability to understand, A lot of literature has been published running government corporations? importance of managing their personal analyze and navigate the financial and talk shows conducted on the Perhaps, the public should be given a finances, especially if they are moving marketplace with confidence not only subject. A general idea seems to be clue as to how they establish the pay out on their own for the first time. for the new school year, but also for more focused on the question of who scales. Teachers in public schools are the rest of their lives. should be paying for it and where the paid according to scholarity but there The Agency I lead, the Financial revenue to finance the universities is a cap to the salaries of those in the Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), Ursula Menke should come from. highest category equivalent to a was established in 2001 to help FCAC Commissioner As far as the first question is doctorate degree holder. Canadian consumers gain a better concerned, the answers are not easy The arguments presented by to understand although we all know those who are against free university skilled work force for our knowledge- This means that we have to study the that government services are funded education often cite that Quebec has based economy but we must also have issue more objectively and determine from the taxes everyone pays. the lowest tuition fees in the country, an enlightened citizenry who must be the best possible way to finance our Presumably, the issue seems to boil and perhaps in the world, if we do not well informed in order to exercise their universities without burdening a single down to the way the government in consider those where university right of suffrage wisely. The trend is to group of taxpayers. A symposium on power spends public funds, and education is free. They also say that have more education than less in view education is projected to be held in the priorities it establishes during its term. Quebec has the lowest percentage of of the advancement of technology and near future. We hope that everyone In other words, the management of the youth opting for university science. Our survival in this world lies who participates will have done his funds becomes an ultimate reason why education. An editorial writer cites in a well-educated population. homework and present valid we can either have an economy, or UBC president Stephen Toope’s Therefore, we must find an equitable arguments either for or against free waste in government spending. It also remarks that there are “costs to too way to make it affordable, even if it university education. a becomes obvious that there are certain cheap tuition. If students don’t have a cannot be completely free. Just like values that come into play, for financial stake in their education, they other things in life, a balanced Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi example, does the government value are less likely to devote themselves approach is the best way to proceed. education and really believes it to be seriously to studies, wasting their own an investment in the future of the time and the resources of an already country? Or does the government strained post-secondary system.” This think it is more beneficial to give statement reminds us of the state of subsidies to big corporations because our CEGEP education system which they create jobs? If one reflects on began in the 1960’s. Students do not these two questions alone, it becomes pay tuition in these publicly funded difficult to give any definitive answer colleges. Critics have pointed out there 5320-A Queen Mary Road Tel.: 514-485-7861 without having done enough research are many problems in these Montreal, Quebec H3X 1T7 E-Mail: [email protected] to compare the benefits derived from institutions. They say that it might be Published by: Filcan Publications, Inc. Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi having a well trained manpower with a wise move to abolish them and just Chief Editor & Publisher W.G. Quiambao that of having corporations creating add another year in high school to Community News jobs for the country. At first glance, it prepare students for university Al Abdon Sam Kevin seems like the proverbial question of education.