May 2006, Vol. XXIV, No. 5 www.filipinostar.org Community asks for accountability West Island Filipino school boy story sparks world wide outrage What seemed to be just a matter of went to see the lunchroom teacher, eating with a “fork and spoon” caused Madame Martine Bertrand, to find out world-wide stir among Filipinos around if what her son said was true. Galliardo the world. They are all upset and became upset when she was told that outraged by a story which they first Luc was like a clown and misbehaving read in the West Island Chronicle in because he was “eating with a fork and early April as they consider this spoon.” Galliardo explained to her that incident an affront to their culture. her son is eating appropriately as this is The story began on April 11 at the way we eat in our culture. However, supper time when Luc Cagadoc, a 7- the lunchroom teacher insisted that it year old boy who goes to Ecole Lalande is not about culture as she pointed to a in the West Island was having supper Filipino girl who eats with only a spoon. with his mother and told her that he did The next day, Mrs. Galliardo then not want to eat lunch anymore. When decided to complain to the higher asked why, he said his lunchroom authority of the school – the principal. teacher told him that his way of eating She left him a message and when he was “yucky and disgusting.” The next day, the mother, Mrs. Maria Galliardo, See Page 4 School Boy Tony Meloto urges Filipinos to Photo shows some of the community leaders with Luc Cagadoc and his family, during a meeting held at St. Kevin’s Church social hall, Sunday, May 7, 2006. Mr. Fo Noemi, of have pride in themselves CRARR, (6th from left, standing) participated in the group’s deliberations to support the By Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi family and to ask the school board to be accountable to its citizens. Last Saturday, May 7, 2006, the First Fil-Can Idol Concert sold out second GK concert featuring Joey Albert, was held in the Monument National theater on Saint Lawrence Boulevard. A press conference preceded the concert. Tony Meloto, the International Executive Director of GAWAD KALINGA, and Ricky Cuenca, President of ANCOP INTERNATIONAL - registered Canadian Partner of Gawad Kalinga, met with the Filipino- Canadian Press in Montreal represented by Zenaida Kharroubi of the North American Filipino Star and Heather Castro of the Asian Leader. Joey Albert, Ambassadress of GK, and Calvin Keene, Tony Melotos, CEO, Gawad Kalinga a Georgetown University student International volunteer, also joined the press Kalinga, he said that he decided he conference a little later and answered would not leave the country in order to some questions about their involvement do what he can to help it become a great with the work of the organization. From nation. the conversations, questions, and their Meloto presented an overall view answers, one could gather a clear of GK’s work which has already built impression of the devotion of these many homes for the poor in the most people to a cause of rebuilding a nation depressed and disadvantaged areas. In by changing the life of the poorest of the fact, he said that GK has become a poor in the Philippines. template for nation building in The conference lasted about half an developing countries and trusted by hour but it was enough to get the main governments like Canada which just message from Tony Meloto who showed donated about $450 000 for the a passionate commitment to make a Montreal’s local talents performed to a big crowd that flocked to the Rasa Restaurant in St. difference. In his answer to the Laurent last April 29. From left: Joy Medina, Ariel Tan, Filcan Idol 2005 1st prize winner, and See Page 4 GK concert Johnathan Pantaleon, 2nd prize winner, were warmly applauded by the audience. (see p.19) question: why he founded Gawad Page 2 The North American Filipino Star May 2006 say "you should eat the way Clean up begins after passage of tropical storm Canadians eat” nor to hear someone EDITORIAL remark that she has to adjust to The Philippines began cleaning up no reports of casualties. Canadian society. It is unfortunate after tropical storm Chanchu claimed Coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Accountability to imply that only Canadians know 32 lives, left large parts of the country Commander Joseph Coyme said the how to eat properly and that underwater and forced thousands to passenger ferry Filipinas Princess, and respect for immigrants must completely forget flee their homes on Friday May 12. which was reported missing Friday By midday Sunday May 14, night with 700 people onboard, had their own culture when they arrrive other cultures Chanchu was 430km out in the South been found anchored off a cove near here. In a democratic country like China Sea, charting a west- Mindoro island. He said tugboats had Canada, no one has the right to We have been outraged by the southwesterly course and packing reached the vessel and would help it impose his or her culture upon winds of up to 140kph, according to the back to port. “There are no problems. story of the little schoolboy who others. weather bureau. The passengers are safe and well,” he “was punished for eating with a fork Besides practicing common Rain and strong winds continued to said. and spoon.” Just to think that he courtesy, knowledge about cultures lash parts of southern Luzon and the Power, which had been down in did not want to eat his lunch is is obviously critical in the case of central Visayas, which bore the brunt of many areas including the capital quite heartbreaking and incredible. our public schools which are the storm. Manila, was slowly being restored. In According to the National Disaster Manila teams were still clearing fallen It sounded so cruel to isolate the dealing with many immigrants from child for his way of eating.. When Coordinating Council 32 people died, trees and debris from streets and different countries. Although eight are missing and 13 were injured. residential areas. confronted by the mother, the Canada has a very liberal lunchroom monitor was reported to More than 42,000 people were forced to By Sunday afternoon airline immigration policy, there is evacuate their homes as the storm services out of Manila were back to have said that he was a clown and evidently a need for cultural triggered landslides and widespread normal and most of the ports in the liked to show off. Even if this were competency training among its rank flooding in the southern Tagalog, Bicol, worst affected areas of the country had true, was it proper to punish him by and file. The story of this little boy Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas reopened. isolation? And to make things will probably serve as a reminder to regions. Floodwater submerged parts of After the storm, President Arroyo worst, the mother complained to the our public schools personnel that two provinces in the Visayas and several ordered Agriculture Secretary Domingo villages in Leyte’s Sogod town were cut Panganiban to help farmers whose principal who seemed to have parents have a right to protect their agreed with the lunchroom off after landslides and floods damaged farms were damaged by Typhoon Caloy. children's welfare and they are a bridge and a highway. The President issued the instruction monitor's way of disciplining the accountable to them. After all, their child. Moreover, the principal's use In the worst accident a small ferry after receiving reports of the deaths and salaries are paid by all taxpayers capsized just off the central city of damage to properties, including of words like "eating like a pig" and and they must recognize that they Masbate early Friday and drowned 21 farmlands, caused by Caloy late last "you should eat the way Canadians should show some respect to their people. Three people are still missing week. Mrs. Arroyo encouraged the eat" really hurt the most. Not only clientele regardless of their cultural and 18 survived after the vessel was people to pull together, aid the victims was her child punished unjustly but backgrounds. swamped by rough seas about a mile and get their communities back on she also felt gravely insulted. She Besides the home, the school is offshore. track. A second ferry sank while docked at continued to seek redress for her a place where children learn by a port in Albay province but there were complaint and went to the school example. If Luc’s mother kept silent board, only to be disappointed again about the problem, no one will when she was told that "she needed probably ever know or care about Divisoria cubao to adjust to Canadian society." the proper way to treat young Having gone through the proper children. The consequences of an Filipino Solidarity Cooperative channels to air her complaint and uncaring attitude and thoughtless 4711 Van Horne Avenue, Montreal, QC H3W 18 finding no satisfaction, where else remarks are indeed serious, could she turn but to the media? particularly when young children Tel. 514-733-8915 But if only the people she expected are involved. For this reason, we More choices, • Barong Tagalog to be accountable to her had congratulate Ms. Galliardo for her competitive prices! • Frozen/Refrigerated • Phone Cards reacted in a proper way, this viigilance. products • Health, Beauty and unpleasant incident could have After all is said and done, it will • Dry Goods Home Care been avoided be interesting to see what will be the • Fruits & Vegetables Products From what we have gathered results of the complaint filed with • Canned Goods, Oil, • Ladies, Childlren’s from this experience, we realize how the human rights commission and Vinegar, Spices Wear important it is to have properly what steps are undertaken by • Juice, Soft Drinks, • Souvenirs trained people to deal with young government leaders concerned in Snacks • Miscellaneous new children.