APRIL 2017 Killings are not state-sponsored-CHR However, Amnesty Inter- national’s 2016 report ac- cuses the PNP of paying officers and assassins to LIZA SOBERANO kill alleged drug offend- Is she the next ers Darna? MANILA - Extrajudicial killings in President Duterte’s war on drugs are not state-sponsored, according to an of- ficial of the Commission on Human Rights Speaking on the sidelines of a CHR-sponsored forum on women and children victims of the campaign against narcotics on Monday, CHR Commissioner Gwen Pimentel-Gana said there was no official policy ordering the Philippine National Police to kill suspected drug pushers and users. “We never said that it was state-sponsored at all,” Gana said. It’s Official: “There is no such finding that we can conclude that way. But what we can say is that the killings are still continuing and in an apparent vigilante manner [by] unknown assail- Jollibee To Open ants, so this is a police matter and they should be attending to this right away,” she said. All the current CHR officials are appointees of then In Scarborough President Benigno Aquino III: Chair Jose Luis Gascon and SANYA Commissioners Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Leah Tanodra- This Year Armamento, Roberto Cadiz and Gana. It’s Official: Jollibee Will Be Opening In Written policy Scarborough This Year @insideretail Lopez Attention Filipinos and food lovers – Gana said that to conclude that the war on drug killings Jollibee Canada will be opening a second were state-sponsored, there must be a written policy. fast-food restaurant in Scarborough this But she acknowledged that no such policy could be year. found, “because who will do that?” Heating up As per an announcement made a few KILLINGS months ago, Jollibee will be arriving at continued on page 23 the Kennedy Commons area in Scarbor- Encantadia ough along Kennedy Road just north of Ellesmere Road. It will be the second location in the GTA, following the opening of another chain in Mississauga. Pinoylicious As of now, there are no official opening dates; however, some job postings were made available a few weeks ago (some are now closed). Stay tuned for more on this story in the upcoming months! Filipina Movement FV Foods’ Mel Galeon finishes plating the Brazo de Ambassador Garcia joins the panel on the Filipino Women’s Mercedez at the Pinoylicious event. Network at the Toronto Consulate. 1 2017 1 2 2017 2 Why Angel Loc- US ready to sin can no longer provide more play Darna military as- MANILA -- Actress Angel Locsin no Honey Shot longer can play the Filipina superhero Darna in Star Cinema’s movie adaptation sistance to of the Mars Ravelo-created character. Cecilia is In an interview with ABS-CBN News PHL, says US reporter MJ Felipe, Locsin explained that currently a she had to back out again because of her spine contestant for envoy Kim problem. Miss Teen PCCF According United States Ambassador Sung Kim to the actress, 2017. Cecilia on Monday assured President Rodrigo who already plays volleyball Duterte that the Philippines’ long-time played the ally would remain committed to the na- superhero be- and badminton. tion’s defense alliance. fore, it was her Kim paid a courtesy call on Duterte training coach Someday, she in Davao City where they discussed the who reported would want to be Philippines and the US relations, presi- to ABS-CBN dential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that she was Psychiatrist. We in a statement. again feeling pain in her back. wish her all the “On H.E. Sung Kim part, he is quite “Actually hindi ako nag-report. Nala- proud of the cooperation between US man na lang nila kasi nakatutok ang ABS- luck. and PH intelligence forces in terms of CBN sa training. Na-report ng coach ko intelligence and information sharing, na nakaramdam ako ng pain ulit. Sinabi- training and equipment support,” he said. han na ako ng ABS-CBN, ‘O pinipilt mo “H.E. Sung Kim also assured PRRD na naman, masyado mong pinipilit, baka that the US understands the security kailangang pag-usapan ‘yung safety mo concerns of the Philippines and that the talaga,’” Locsin recounted. US is ready to provide more military “Sinabihan ako ng doctor ko na equipment, assistance and training,” he hindi ako bibigyan ng clearance kapag added. nakaramdam ako ng pain. Gusto kong Despite his sentiments against the magawa siya kasi parang ang daming US especially during the administra- umaasa. Ayaw kong maka-disappoint tion of former President Barack Obama, kahit alam ko na inilalagay ko na ang Duterte reiterated the partnership of the sarili ko sa risk,” she added. two countries in his meeting with Kim. On Monday, Star Cinema managing “The President said that PH-US rela- director Malou Santos announced that tions at the bilateral level remain strong Locsin will no longer play Darna in the and there is readiness to discuss more upcoming movie due to health reasons. matters of mutual interest with the US,” The film’s director Erik Matti stressed Abella said. that he and Star Cinema are just after “They agreed that PH and the US the welfare of Locsin. have mutual interests and shared values. The announcement was made more Both stressed that these fruitful engage- than a year after Locsin backed out from ments and discussions are very important doing the project after her spine was in ensuring that both states are on the damaged. Cecilia Gamit Hussanee same page,” he added. 3 2017 3 First Golden Balangay Wat Da FACT? Awards For Filipino Canadian BY JOSE BAKING Achievers Launch By Tony A. San Juan, OCT. Tax church-run schools like NYC taxed the PHL Consulate when it rented out space When the city of New York found out that the Philippine Consulate was renting out spaces to fast food eateries, the threatened to revoke its tax-free status. The Consulate stopped renting out the spaces. Complaints about TV show Madam Secretary about portrayal of Philippine president TORONTO - Truly meeting Ronnie De La Gana, iKubo CEO They complained more about a fictional TV show than China passing at Benham the long-cherished desire of and project co -founder reasoned recognizing purposefully the out that : “ we wanted a moniker Rise. Ano ba iyan? “remarkable achievements that would symbolize our journey of Filipino Canadians across in chasing our collective dreams as Republican President Trump achieves 2 things Canada”, the 1st Golden Balangay well as one that would give us the Awards was significantly launched sense of community.” 1. President Trump managed to silence his own party - the Republican party. Not even on March 18, 2017 at the Edward The Project’s major sponsors former Democrat President Obama was able to do that. From his accusations of election Village Hotel in North York, and partners are: Awards Online, fraud to wiretapping, the Republicans are curiously silent on these accusations. They just Toronto. Thus, the first nationwide Canadian Industry Event Awards, search for outstanding Filipinos in Filipino TV, iKubo Media, Kubo wish he would stop making them. Canada is now underway ! Magazine, Philippine Chamber of 2. Divide the Republican party. The Republican party withdrew the bill repealing Under the auspices of iKubo Commerce -Toronto, Pinoy Radio Obamacare because they did not have enough votes. So, rather than face defeat in the Media and Awards Online and Proximity Wave. House of representatives, they withdrew it from consideration. Ironically, they have the Canada, the initiative will provide Nominations are now accepted a vehicle for the pangkalahatang and will close on August 12, majority, an absolute control of Congress and the White House. Regrettably, they are 10 masa to choose and honour the 2017. The full list of nominees to 15 short of the votes to pass it because their own members were going to vote against it. high achievers and exemplary and judges will be announced Fortunately, there still members of the Republican party who worries about the 24 million members of the ever- growing on August 19, 2017. The Awards who will lose health care if their party bill passes. So, they were going to vote against it. community in respect of their Night will be held on September highly significant contributions 9, 2017(Saturday) at the BMO and meaningful participation into Institute for Learning. For Another warning about corruption from whistleblower Jun Lozada about the life, work and well-being of the more details about the awards Filipino Canadian and mainstream and to nominate , visit : www. the National Broadband Project. communities. goldenbalangayawards,com or Wala nang kaptapusan ito. He gave that warning before. If all the major players involved Specifically, the Balangay contact : Ronnie Dela Gana in the bidding were cleared of corruption, why not just ask the Chinese company ZTE to Awards aim “to promote at 647-300-1970. With the proceed with the project. Whether they will keep the same price is very doubtful. That’s excellence, hard work, higher mantra “Libo-libong kwento understandable. After all, that was two presidents ago. The Philippines got lucky that China education, entrepreneurship, ng paglalakbay, isang gabing did not sue us for restitution. They simply said not to involve them in our zarzuela. If we open public service and community pagdiriwang”, aptly encapsulates involvement.” When asked why the novel celebration of the 2017 a bidding again, the losers will claim corruption again and we are back to a never- the name Balangay was chosen, Golden Balangay Awards. ending investigation again. It just never ends. And projects never get started and stay on budget. Nothing New Pinas Sarap shows a different Remaking, or rebooting old movies - call it what you want - and changing the gender of the taste of Philippine cuisine star from male to female or vice versa is not really being creative, or exciting.