Vol. XXX, No. 3 March 2012 http://www.filipinostar.org Governments of Canada and Quebec invest in affordable housing Québec, March 19, 2012 – The Governments of Canada and Quebec announced the signing of a new agreement that will result in an investment of $346 million over three years and that will help improve the housing conditions of Quebec households in need. The Investment in See Page 11 - Tourism and Vacation Affordable Housing 20112014 Package Show Agreement was confirmed today, in Québec, by the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and by Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Human Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Resources and Skills Development Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy who is also the Minister responsible for how important affordable housing is in work with the provincial government in the Société d’habitation du Québec building safe communities and at the delivering solutions throughout Quebec, (SHQ). same time, economic growth,” said Minister Finley. “We are very pleased to “Our Government understands See Page 7 Housing See Page 13 - Blessing of Ravi Tours Agency office point that Filipinos everywhere need to Dr. Anton Juan’s lecture on remember their culture and pass it on to their children. He urged us to emulate heroic deeds because if we Philippine culture hits home do not, we do not really remember our culture and we also forget our values. Reported by Z. Ferry-Kharroubi It was evident from the very Montreal, March 16, 2012 - In beginning of his lecture that he was spite of the short notice, a big well versed with Philippine history and audience was on hand to listen to Dr. that he was not only delivering a Anton Juan, a UP alumnus and a full speech but also helping us build a tenured professor at Notre Dame unique Filipino identity which we seem University in Indiana, who came to to be losing after a long absence from Montreal on a brief visit, our home country. He interspersed accompanied by the Philippine his lecture with humorous anecdotes Embassy diplomatic corps, the that elicited laughter. Time passed Philippine Ambassador, Leslie Gatan unnoticeable as he really made a lot of and his wife, Mrs. Debbie Gatan, and sense and provoked some questions. Consul and First Secretary Porfirio M. For instance, he said “Of course, we Mayo, Jr., and his wife, Mrs. Flerida can have fun, but we can also have the Anne Camille P. Mayo, also a Consul truth.” He pointed out not only our and First Secretary. FAMAS headed strengths but also our weaknesses. by Au Osdon, a UP Alumna, along “Instead of erecting towers of with members of the executive board knowledge, we are destroying and volunteers made all the ourselves at the bottom.” arrangements at 6767 Cote des Dr. Juan traced the roots of Neiges, a community resource center Philippine cultural history - from the where the welcome reception was ancient times to the present. He held. Co-hosts are: The Auxiliary for presented examples of great works of FAMAS, Ladies and Knights of Rizal, art by Filipinos. He said that we as a Tess and Derek Fincham and the nation must be proud of ourselves. Council of Canadian Filipinos of We have many talented artists, Dr. Anton Juan, a professor at Notre Dame University in Indiana, delivered a lecture on Philippine Quebec. cultural heritage which he is passionate about. He urges Filipinos to remember their culture as Dr. Juan’s main theme he says, if we forget it, we will also forget our values. See Page 4 - Philippine culture seemed to have driven home the • RESP (Education Savings Plan) Shana Zhao Life and Disability Insurance Save Money as little as Insurance Broker • Health Insurance (Acupuncture, Massage...), $10/month for your kids, it will Office: 514-932-3003 ex: 231 • Travel Insurance (Super Visa) change their future. Cell: 514-993-0269 • High Interest Savings Account (1.75%-2.25%) Fax: 514-932-8998 Products provided by: RBC, BMO, Desjardins, SSQ, Federal Grants: 20% ~40% E-mail: [email protected] Canada Life, Blue Cross, Sun Life, Industrial Quebec Grants: 10%~20% Alliance, Manulife, Standard Life, La Capital, Investment return: 5% Address: 4115, rue Sherbrooke O Empire Life, Transamerica, Foresters…etc. Suite 200 • FREE: Apply Maternity and Westmount, QC H3Z 1K9 Parental Benefits www.filipinostar.org 2 The North American Filipino Star March 2012 Letter to the Editor 5 March 2012 This is an unacceptable situation and needs to be fixed now. We have given Raising awareness and pride of Disappointed at the Department DND and the CF ample time to fix this of National Defence’s Inaction inequity but there has been no our cultural identity By Patricia (Pat) Varga commitment to date. Now, with the federal After hearing Dr. Anton Juan Having the experience of How could two departments of government deficit reduction a certainty, speak about Philippine cultural listening to lectures similar to Dr. the federal government be so The Royal Canadian Legion is looking for diametrically opposed? I ask this question a commitment and a firm date. heritage, we felt quite pleasantly Juan’s is certainly a positive step because there are two economic support This is a substantive example of surprised to learn that we have such a towards broadening our common programs for our veterans in play here. how the federal government’s deficit rich cultural heritage. Perhaps, some knowledge of our culture. It is also an One is the Service Persons reduction program is being run on the of us knew this before but the long opportunity to have a dialogue with Income Security Insurance Plan Long backs of our veterans. Surely our veterans absence from our home country others and begin to understand what Term Disability (SISIP LTD), a mandatory deserve better treatment than this. Those makes us forget the past Moreover, is behind our apparent disunity. Often insurance program for Canadian Forces that have been injured in the performance not many parents have the time to times, we make critical comments that (CF) members, and the other is the of their duties with the CF deserve the teach their children about Philippine are the result of miscommunication. Veterans Affairs Canada Earnings Loss same income support regardless of which history. As years go by, and our On the other hand, if we manage to Benefit (VAC ELB). program they are on. This is only fair. children grow up, we have not really work on the idea that we have Before October 2011 the New It is inconceivable that Veterans Charter (NVC) and the Service institutions such as the CF and the federal been diligent enough to go out of our common values as Filipinos, we may Person’s’ Income Security Insurance Plan government can stand up and say we way to show something that will make eventually succeed in overcoming the (SISIP) provided for 75% of a Canadian care for our troops and we care for our them understand that their parents negative traits of a “crab mentality” of Forces member’s salary at release – the own when they treat the most vulnerable came from a civilized country, even which we easily accuse others of. two programs were exactly the same. of our veterans so shoddily. before the Western powers came to Although Dr. Juan did not Injured members were on one or the Young men and women today colonize us. This lecture reminds us of discuss the issue of community unity, other. join the CF for a rewarding career. To have our obligation to show to our youth he has probably made it possible to Last year, in response to appeals it cut short by a debilitating injury is that cultural traditions connect us to think about this in relation to Filipino from veterans’ groups, such as The Royal hard enough, however, the loss of a our ancestors and provide a cultural cultural traditions. There are many Canadian Legion, the federal government suitable income should they be treasure that connect generations to organizations in our community that announced they would increase the unable to work again is a two-fold benefit to ensure basic needs as shelter, one another, providing continuity and are based on dialects which seem to burden that they should not have to food, clothing, etc., could be met. VAC bear. identification. imply that there is an inherent obstacle implemented the increased amount to the It is quite a refreshing and an to community unity because of the ELB program on 3 October 2011. The inspiring experience to listen to fragmentation created. When the time Department of National Defence Patricia (Pat) Varga is the Dominion another Filipino whose heart is full of comes to hold festivities, each group (DND)/CF did not. Therefore, there is now President of The Royal Canadian passion for Philippine culture. He has seems to have the desire to have their a huge inequity! Through no fault of their Legion. captured the admiration of his fellow own party. Naturally, the dissipation of own we have some veterans who have “kababayan” in realizing that we are resources is unavoidable and the been injured attributable to their military For more information call Bob Butt at blessed for having so many great success of any activity is service being paid $40,000 per year and 613-591-3335 Extension 241 from 8 artists, and beautiful works compromised because of lack of some at less than $20,000. a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.