OCTOBER 2016 www.filipinosmakingwaves.com VOL.5, NO.9 WA V ES TORONTO, ONTARIO Fall is our humbling experience By RILEY MENDOZA Waves Staff Writer FALL has been with us here in To- ber, not necessarily fall, heralds the ronto since almost four weeks ago. longest Christmas season any- Also called autumnal equinox, it where in the world, although critics officially arrived September 22, claim commercialization of the making night and day equal in du- birth of the Lord trivializes its ob- ration. servance. What makes fall special? For many But that's in the Philippines, our Filipinos used to two kinds of native land, even as we've em- weather systems in the Philippines braced Canada like it's also our - the rainy and the dry seasons - fall own homeland. is a harbinger of both happiness and gloom. Not being used to fall and winter, we marvel and grunt at the same That it begins in September is PHOTO BY TERESA TORRALBA time. We behold the changing col- equated with other "ber" months ours of fall and wonder why every (October, November) of joyous cel- Even nature reminds us to thank Canada through this prominent red maple leaf. year without fail, the green leaves ebrations leading to the ultimate And being a predominantly Catho- erings all associated with Christ- turn red, yellow and brown and fall "ber" month of the year - Decem- lic country, December is the once-a mas. from their branches in nature's ber. These "ber" months are actu- -year season of gift-giving, merry- gesture of life's decline. ally the fall season in Canada. making, festivities and family gath- It is said that the onset of Septem- (Continued on page4 ) PH Secretary of Halloween In the Philippines Agriculture, Hon. Halloween is a big – that is, when you nos call “Undas,” Emmanuel Piňol, to deal: time to plan the celebrate it in coun- which means “Day of meet Fil-Canadian best spooky costumes, tries like the U.S. and the Dead.” This hap- time to get a whole Canada. In the Philip- pens during Novem- community tub of sweets and pines, it’s somehow ber 2 but Filipinos goodies through trick different. observe this holiday or treats, and a time to as early as November October 29, 2016 - 2:30pm A few days before No- Canada Christian Church hop on one party after 1. At this point in another. It’s such a vember 1, local news time, graves, mausole- 50 Gervais Drive, Toronto will feature cemeter- merry time to spend a ums, and tombs get night of terror and fun ies being cleaned in (Continued on page5 ) time for what Filipi- IN MEMORIAM Strategist says Duterte, Miriam Defensor Santiago not media, the cause of June 15, 1945 - September 29, 2016 miscommunication “THE BEST PRESIDENT WE NEVER HAD” te's off-the-cuff remarks tend to grab headlines leaving behind the real point of his message. "The problem really is his off-the- cuff remarks. These are the ones that grab the headlines instead of focusing on the meat of what his pronouncements are, and he blames the media for that. It's not fair," German said. PH President Duterte, AP PHOTO He compared Duterte first 100 MANILA-- The numerous clarifica- days wherein he apologized tions and explanations made on around five times for his colorful President Rodrigo Duterte's state- remarks to that of former Presi- ments can only be blamed on one dent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who thing: his off-the-cuff remarks. only apologized once for the "Hello Miriam Defensor Santiago, dubbed She was a feisty lady known for her Communication strategists believe Garci" election scandal. as “The Iron Lady of Asia”, suc- no-nonsense drive against graft that the public tends to accept German added that the need for cumbed to cancer on September and corruption. 29, 2016 while confined at the St. Duterte's colorful words as his real constant clarification and explana- Santiago was a Filipino politician Luke's Medical Center at the Boni- message at the expense of what the tion of the president's message is a and judge, who served in all three facio Global City in Taguig. president is really trying to say. sign that the president's communi- branches of the Philippine govern- According to veteran public rela- cation team has no direct access to She was 71. (Continued on page4 ) tions strategist Reli German, Duter- (Continued on page3 ) Page 2 Filipinos Making WA V ES October 2016 To advertise, please email at [email protected] October 2016 Filipinos Making WA V ES Page 3 News TO ADVERTISE please email at [email protected] (Continued from page1 ) She became an icon of in- Fidel Ramos turns critic to corruptibility, honest gov- In Memoriam...Miriam De- ernment service, and con- fensor Santiago stitutional law. She was giv- salvage Philippines-US ties en numerous awards and ment – judicial, executive, recognition for her fight and legislative. against corruption in the country. In 1988, Santiago was named laureate of the Ra- In 2012, Santiago became mon Magsaysay Award for the first Filipina and the government service, with a first Asian from a develop- citation "for bold and moral ing country to be elected a leadership in cleaning up a judge of the International graft-ridden government Criminal Court. She later agency." resigned the post, cit- ing chronic fatigue syn- Santiago became senator of drome, which turned out to the republic in 1995 and be lung cancer. authored the most number of laws and bills in the en- Santiago served three tire history of terms in the Philippine Sen- the Philippines. She ran ate. On 13 October 2015, again for president in Santiago declared her can- the1998 presidential elec- didacy for President of the tions but lost after heavy Philippines in the 2016 black propaganda against elections after her doctors her which were eventually from the United States de- proven false. She continued clared her cancer 'stable' Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos. AP FILE PHOTO her work as senator - ex- and 'receded', but lost in Three in five Filipinos may helping to fight Islamist eral, was among those who posed and lambasted nu- the elections. merous government scan- have given their new Presi- militants in the Philippines’ led a US-backed popular Following her death, she dals, such as the Priority dent’s performance the troubled south to leave be- revolt that ousted dictator was called by her support- Development Assistance thumbs up, but the one per- cause their presence there Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. ers as "the best president Fund scam, which led to son whose approval Rodri- is complicating his efforts He is a graduate of West we never had". ■ go Duterte craves has rated to forge peace with Muslim Point, the US Military Acad- massive outrage and trig- his government a “huge secessionists. emy. gered major reforms disappointment and let- throughout the country. down.” Lately, he has declared the Calling Ramos the Ameri- Philippines will stop joint cans’ “top dog” on Monday, Former president Fidel Ra- war games and patrols with the Communist Party of the Ten of Miriam Santiago mos, whom Duterte credits the US in the South China Philippines said he is “now for handing him the presi- Sea while he is President. set to lead the pack to con- Defensor’s Quotes dency, said the government He said yesterday in a solidate the pro-US camp of was “losing badly” by prior- speech before new govern- reactionaries to put greater 1. “I have only entertainment value in Philippine pol- itizing a war on drugs at the ment appointees: “I do not pressure on the Duterte itics.” – Santiago’s comments to a foreign journalist. expense of issues such as mean to cancel or abrogate regime to backtrack on its 2. “If he’s brave, he should switch place with me. He poverty, living costs, for- our military alliances. But promotion of an independ- should be funny and I’ll be the asshole” – Santiago eign investment and jobs. let me ask you, do you real- ent foreign policy.” challenging fellow Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile for his al- ly think we need it?” Presidential spokesman Noel Medina, a political an- leged role in the pork ban. Ernesto Abella played He has chafed at US criti- alyst with the Institute for 3. “Head-bashing is the best strategy. Sometimes I down Ramos’ comments, cisms of the more than Political and Electoral Re- have to splatter their brains on the pavement” – saying the 88-year-old was 3,500 extrajudicial killings, form, said that Ramos, Santiago on being asked the best way to fight corrupt just “acting like a father” both by police and vigilan- though pro-US, “is a practi- officials. and a “senior statesman.” tes, that have blighted his cal thinker.” “He really war on drugs. He has thinks Duterte is overdoing 4. “When the government employee is poor, and he Duterte has spoken often of threatened to sever ties his attacks on the West and works in a corrupt agency, he can resist everything his respect for Ramos, who with the US, as he pitches the US, and that it is unnec- except temptation.” – Santiago on why some govern- was president from 1992 to for an “independent” for- essary.” ment officials are corrupt. 1998. eign policy anchored on Asked if Ramos has the 5. “The chances of me quiting are like the chances of It is unclear why Ramos has forging new alliances with gravitas to sway Duterte, a snowball in hell.” – Santiago after knowing that chosen to criticize Duterte China and Russia.