Are you now a member? Find out how you can be a 2 for 1 member of the first Special Filipino Cooperative in Tonkinoise soup with beef Quebec. $6.75 tax See ad on page 7 February 2007 Vol. XXV No. 2 Call 514-733-8915 Valid Feb. 22 - Mar 2, 2007 with this ad www.filipinostar.org Nigerian kidnappers release 24 Filipino family represents NWT at Filipino hostages citizenship ceremony Nigerian kidnappers have released all 24 Filipino seamen they had been holding captive in the creeks of the oil-producing Niger Delta since January 20 Story on Page 3 The Pangilinan family was chosen to represent the Northwest Territory and to participate in the commeration of the 60th anniversary of citizenship. SEE PAGE 5 Parents and children invited to Scouts Fun Night The First Filipino-Canadian Scouts group is inviting parents and their children to attend its first Fun Night which will be held on Saturday, February 24, at 6767 Cote Des Neiges, 6th floor dining hall of the Intercultural Library building opposite Plaza Cote Laguna Province TOURISM |PAGE 10 des Neiges., starting at 3:30 p.m. Admission is free. Members and volunteers are bringing potluck dishes Contents for the supper to be served to all who will attend. Please call 514-485-7861 Earth Talk . p. 8 to let Laging Handa Scouts know how many people will attend this Fun Night. Classified Ads . p. 9 A lineup of activities, games, and video presentations will surely entertain the Philippine Cuisine . p. 9 parents and their children. The Area Commissioner, Mr. Mark Brenchley Tourism . p. 10 and other Scout leaders will be The Laging Handa Scouts pose for souvenir with La Union Governor Victor F. Ortega who was the moderating the games and they will guest speaker of FAMAS during the 108th Independence Day Anniversary Celebration, June 10, 2006 Photo Gallery . p. 12 also be happy to explain to the better alternative to watching TV or Paac, and Mary Joy Lizarondo. With parents what Scouting can offer to the playing video games. the increasing number of youth, there Entertainment . p. 14-15 development of our youth's leadership Mr. Claro Bermudez, Head Scout is also an increasing demand for adult and survival skills. There will be Leader, will be assisted by Scout volunteers. We are making an appeal Cooperative News . p. 20 demonstrations of typical Scouting Volunteers Romy Valenzuela, Anna to those who can devote two hours activities, ceremonies, games, and May Tappan, Richard San Miguel, weekly to help in the implementation of Global Perspectives . p. 21 songs. The parents can watch their Giovanni Ortiz, and parent volunteers, the Scouting program to Filipino- children participate in the games and Joselito Sarto, Riza Esmeralda, Arnold be convinced that Scouting can offer a Ortiz, Bob and Helen Araneta, Cristina See Page 4 Scouts GET A SECOND OPINION. When you invest, a second opinion can give you great peace of mind. Whether you’re a novice investor or a seasoned veteran, a second opinion on your investment portfolio can let you know whether you’re on the right track. Find out if your current investments are right for you.. Call JEAN-PIERRE SANCHEZ Scotiabank Branch at Van Horne branch to arrange a FREE 4861 Van Horne, Montreal, Qc H3W 1J2 Portfolio review. (514) 731-2203 (514) 731-2203 www.filipinostar.org 2 The North American Filipino Star february 2007 Filipino Solidarity Cooperative EDITORIAL Divisoria Cubao Let the world be inspired by the Scouting spirit 4711 Van Horne Avenue Everyone agrees that our contemplated. future lies in our youth. Yet, it would Scouting is a type of informal Montreal, QC H3W 1H8 seem that we render lip service to the education with an emphasis on task of making sure that our youth is practical outdoor activities, including prepared to take over the leadership camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, roles that will surely be left vacant by backpacking, and sports. It is learning the natural process of attrition. There by doing. It is also an excellent way of are many organizations, all of different promoting awareness of the orientations but it seems that there are environment and encouraging the a few that are devoted to youth conservation of our natural resources. development. Needless to say, it will Would it not be a wonderful project if all be worthwhile considering Scouting as young Filipino boys get involved in a good choice for our community to cleaning up our neighborhood, and support if we want our young people, beautifying our parks? They would both boys and girls to develop their certainly grow up to be caring and leadership and survival skills. They will responsible adults. Instead of also acquire ideal personality traits spending their time in Metro stations, such as courtesy, respect of their shopping centers, and playing video elders. Knowing all these benefits of games, they can be mobilized to use Scouting for the young, why is it then their excess energies for the good of that there are only a few families taking our community. advantage of the services offered by It is of great interest to see how devoted Scout volunteers? It seems many parents show up at the Scouts that everyone is opting to be involved Fun Night. It will serve as an indicator Check our low prices! only in basketball or hockey. What of how much interest our parents can could be the reasons for this lack of give to the development of their own interest? Do they know that there is a children. The more parents get variety of activities that boys and girls involved in Scouting, the better it will can learn? be for all of us for it will surely have a We urge parents to consider lasting impact on the improvement of finding out more about Scouting and our society in general, and of the family what it means to the world at large. If in particular. they become aware of how this As we all know, the modern movement spread around the world family is often dysfunctional because Likas $2.69 Sunsilk $3.99 and the reasons behind its popularity of the pressures of having both mother everywhere, perhaps more parents will and father work to earn a living. be interested in enrolling their children Childlren are often left to fend for with the Laging Handa Scout Group. themselves, or in the extreme, are often As we reflect on what is going spoiled and become stubborn. on around us, perhaps we can Parents become helpless and do not appreciate the fact that there is too seem to know where to turn. Scouting much violence, conflict, and wars in may offer an alternative to some several areas of the world. Do we ever families who are in this difficult wonder what each one of us can do to situation. There are resources make a difference? The vision of one available that can help, if only these Eskinol $3.99 Dried Banana Flower 99¢ man, 100 years ago in England, made parents will check out the services it possible to make this difference for offered by the Scouts organization. our young people thus enabling them We hope parents will heed our Store Hours: to contribute to the betterment of call to celebrate the centennial year of society. This man’s pioneering spirit Scouting by joining in the movement Monday to Friday - 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. lives on until this day. Lord Baden- for the sake of our children. Saturday-Sunday - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Powell, was a 50-year-old retired army We hope to count you all and general when he founded Scouting, join us on Saturday, February 24, at and his revolutionary ideas inspired 3:30 p.m. at 6767 Cote des neiges. 514-733-8915 thousands of young people, from all You will be glad you did! parts of society, to get involved in Tangkilin ang sariling atin. activities that most had never Zenaida Kharroubi The North American Filipino Star SUBSCRIPTION Name:___________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________ 4950 Queen Mary Road Penthouse (5th Floor) Montreal, QC H3W 1X3 Tel.: 514-485-7861 Enquiries: [email protected] Columnists Advertising: [email protected] Telephone: Residence:____________ Office: ________________ Riza Esmeralda Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Lina V. Fernandez Lourdes Fabia Enclose a cheque or money order for: Dr. Victor Gavino Chief Editor & Publisher Entertainment News Prof. Isaac Goodine Sam Ferry Hilda T. Veloso Esther Stansfield Assistant Editor Community News Editor 1 year or 12 issues$28 2 years or 24 issues$45 Anna May Tappan News & Tourism Nida Verginom Butaran Alvin D. Veloso Bert Abiera Mary Joy Lizarondo Sales Representatives Founder Opinions, comments of writers and columnists do not necessarily reflect that of the management of Filcan Publications, Inc. www.filipinostar.org february 2007 The North American Filipino Star 3 Nigerian kidnappers release 24 Filipino hostages Emotional homecoming for February 13, 2006 country, to destabilize the 2007 general spoken for MEND since the group Filipino kidnap victims Nigerian kidnappers have released elections in the region." emerged in late 2005, has repeatedly February 17, 2007 all 24 Filipino seamen they had been Nigeria is due to hold elections in denied his group was involved in the Twenty-four Filipino seamen holding captive in the creeks of the oil- April that should mark the first abduction. He says a separate group recently released after being held producing Niger Delta since January democratic transition from one civilian was responsible and MEND does not captive at gunpoint for 24 days in 20, the men's employer, German government to the next in Africa's top share that group's objectives.