Planet Philippines (Calgary Edition) June 1-15, 2011 issue

Calgary Edition

PLANET

15 PHILIPPINES

JUNE 1-15, 2011

JUNE 1-15, 2011

EUGENE DOMINGO PLANET

16 PHILIPPINES

Calgary Edition

LAUGHING HER WAY TO STARDOM

Eugene holds the record for starring in the most number of movies in a single year and for being the only actress in Philippine showbiz history to have appeared in six films produced by eight different production companies.

BY PEPPER MARCELO

HOUGH NOT your typical leading lady, comedienne Eugene Domingo has risen up the ranks of character supporting roles through sheer talent and mass appeal to become a fullfledged star in her own right.

In films such as Kimmy Dora, the Ang Tanging Ina Mo series, and Here Comes the Bride, she has displayed a unique comedic voice and sensibility, which has caused many people to eagerly crown her as the next “Comedy Queen” after star comedienne Ai Ai de las Alas.

Moreover, Uge, as she’s known to friends and fans, holds the record for starring in the most number of movies in a single year and for being the only actress in Philippine showbiz history to have appeared in six films produced by eight different production companies.

Becoming a hot commodity, studios and networks were eager to sign her to an exclusive contract. In a surprising move, however, she declined all offers, preferring to be a freelance talent who can pick and choose projects on her own accord.

In a recent press conference, Eugene explained that she enjoyed the ability to move in different circles and work with differ-

Eugene appeared in the comedy series Jejemom.

ent people, as it is a reflection of her personal life off-camera.

“Ayokong magsalita ng tapos, pero nag-e-enjoy kasi ako na tumatawid sa iba’t ibang channels para iba’t ibang tao, iba’t ibang mga director,” she said. “Ganun din ako sa totoong buhay, di ako mapapakali, kailangan lumalayas ako.”

She emphasized that she’s not just chasing after who can offer her the most money. “Dahil siguro sinusunod ko yung puso ko, e, kung anong gusto ko. Hindi ako yung, ‘Sige na kunin mo na ‘yan kasi malaking pera.› “Hindi naman talaga yung pera.

Minsan, the more important thing is knowing ano ba talaga yung gusto mo, ano yung interes mo, saan ka pa mapapakinabangan, saan ka makakatulong.”

Most of the time, she added, “I am happy that I made the right decisions.”

Eugene jokingly hinted that it would take a lot of incentive for her to be tied down to one

The multi-talented actress-hostcomedienne can be seen on TV5’s game show Lucky Numbers.

Calgary Edition

PLANET

17 PHILIPPINES

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JUNE 1-15, 2011

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PLANET

JUNE 1-15, 2011

network or studio. “Three years lang naman [the usual contract], di ba? [What they should offer in return are] apartment sa New York saka sa London, para kung Europe ka man o Amerika meron kang bahay.”

Originally a theater actress from the University of the Philippines, Eugene made her onscreen debut in a minor role in the 1991 Regal Films production The Emma Salazar Case. Appearing sporadically in a number of sitcoms, teleseryes and drama anthologies for various networks, her big break came in the movie Foster Child, which won her a Best Supporting Actress award in the academe-based movie ceremony Gawad Tanglaw.

2009 marked her first lead role, in the comedy Kimmy Dora, which became a box-office hit, followed by two more successes, Here Comes the Bride and Mamarazzi. Critics have already labeled her a certified “box-office queen.”

Attributing her rise to stardom to discipline and hard work, Eugene revealed that she had not taken any time off in the last several years to focus solely on her career. “Once in five years lang yata ako magbakasyon kaya itinaon ko na noong birthday ko,” she said, referring to a recent trip to Hong Kong.

Busy as she’s been, she’s not had time to entertain possible suitors, nor is she looking for that special someone. “Yang career, pana-panahon yan, e nagkataong panahon ngayon na sunod-sunod ang projects ko, di ito muna ang samantalahin ko bago bawiin uli sa akin.

Hindi mo masabi, e. Ngayon, sunodsunod ang movies at TV shows ko, e kung magluka-lukahan ako’t bigyan ko ng priority ang pag-ibig, ano sa tingin nyong mangyayari sa’kin?”

Eugene was incredulous that people would be interested to know about her off-screen relationships in the first place. “Feeling ko, para akong teen star, kailangang pag-usapan ang love life,” she said. “At this point in my life na 40 na ako, nabigyan ako ng chance na gumanda ang career ko, lalaki pa bang uunahin ko?”

After conquering the big screen, her latest challenge comes in the form of hosting a game show – Lucky Numbers for TV5.

She was elated to be offered the prospect of headlining her own

program. “Nang tumawag ang TV5 at inalok sa akin to do ‘Lucky Numbers,’ ganoon din ang feeling ko – lucky,” she said. “Siyempre, gusto mong pagbutihan kasi binigyan ka ng chance na mag-host ng game show na isa rin sa mga pangarap ko, tapos live show pa ito.”

Although it’s not her first time hosting (she’s done stints on Cool Center, Wachamakulit and Comedy Bar for GMA-7), the responsibility lays solely on her to make the program funny and entertaining to viewers. “Hindi man ito (Lucky Numbers) live, pero it’s still a hosting job. Kahit paano pamilyar na rin ako. Favorite ko kasi manood ng mga game shows.”

She’s had to do some preparation for the show, which is a local adaptation of the hit British program, Magic Numbers.

“I have to understand the mechanics of the game and I have to be convinced na masaya siya at madaling maintindihan ng mga tao.

Kasi Sunday afternoon ‘yan, e. Buo ang pamilya sa bahay, so huwag mo na silang pahirapan, di ba?”

She added: “Entertain mo na lang sila and give them the chance to win dahil lahat ng may cell phone puwedeng sumali rito. E, lahat naman tayo may cell phone, so it’s going to be a different Sunday afternoon na ino-offer ng TV5. Alternative viewing fare ito para sa buong pamilya.”

Asked if she was ready to dethrone popular actress-host Kris Aquino as “Queen of the Game Shows,” Eugene said that was the farthest from her mind. “Hindi ko naisip na competition ako ni Ms.

PHILIPPINES

The box office hit Kimmy Dora was Eugene’s first lead role.

Calgary Edition

Kris Aquino,” she said. “With all due respect to Ms. Kris, ang dami na niyang game shows na pinasikat at kahit ako ay humahanga. We are just offering something new and different.”

With new opportunities coming her way, Eugene felt she had to remake her image. Recently she’s been looking more svelte and fit. “Iyong pagpapayat ko, parang sumakto na lang na kailangan ko pala sa mga trabaho. Siyempre you have to be active.”

She continued: “Ang katawan ng artista ang puhunan niya. Well, in general, ang puhunan ng lahat tao ay ang katawan niya. Kailangan naman na we think of our health kasi paano ka makakapagtrabaho kung pagod ka?

Lalo na sa aming mga artista na ang lifestyle namin at working hours namin ay unpredictable.”

Asked if her new figure meant she would be more open to sexy and daring roles, she brushed aside the suggestion, saying her new looks could open up even more opportunities for her. “Hindi ko naman sinasabing gusto kong maging sexy star, pero bakit hindi ko naman subukan once in an while, magpaandar ka nang konti?”

Bottom-line, Eugene hopes to continue to find good projects that will appeal to mass audiences. “Ako naman, artista lang ako and I can only do so much. Lahat nang nakapanood [nasiyahan] because the material was very good.” n

SUDOKU RULES: Place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell. Each row, column and 3x3 block bounded by bold line (9 blocks) contains all the numbers from 1-9

SOLUTION ON PAGE 27

CALGARY EDITION MARIA PERCY JAVELOSA ............................................................ Publisher/Advertising Manager CARMELA SARILE ...................................................................... Graphic Artist STEVE TARZWELL, JULIE PICOC, FERDIE GAYOS .......................... Contributors

PINOY NEWS AND MEDIA 6020 Martin Grove Rd. NE, Calgary, AB T3J 2M8 Tel. Nos.: (403) 667-2645 • (403) 474-9041 Email: percy@planetphilcalgary.com

18

PLANET PHILIPPINES, the global newsmagazine for overseas Filipinos, is published and circulated in various cities and countries around the world. Each edition of PLANET PHILIPPINES is published by authorized individuals and companies under an exclusive licensing arrangement. We welcome inquiries from anyone interested in becoming a publisher of PLANET PHILIPPINES in their territory. Contact us at planetphilippines@gmail. com or visit our website at www.planetphilippines.com.

PLANET PHILIPPINES Worldwide LEANDRO MILAN ..................................................................................

PEPPER MARCELO ...............................................................................

ARNEL RIVAL........................................................................................

ROMY FLORANTE..................................................................................

DIANA PAMELA TRISTE ........................................................................

Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Art Director Photographer Editorial Assistant

PLANET

Calgary Edition

19 PHILIPPINES

JUNE 1-15, 2011

CELEBR TY

PNOY HAS A NEW DATE

NOYNOY

PRESIDENT Aquino constantly complains about media intrusion into his private life, specifically his love life. He said it was unfair to the women he dates to be put in the spotlight.

After his election as president, he was linked to three women: his last girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor and now TV host Shalani Soledad; fashion consultant Liz Uy; and stock broker Len Lopez.

On May 16 he was seen dating 27-year-old Bunny Calica, a teacher, at the Hotdog reunion concert in a Makati hotel.

LUIS, JENNYLYN ARE DATING LUIS Manzano and Jennylyn Mercado have both admitted that they are dating.

“We are definitely dating,” Luis told the entertainment show E-Live on May 21. He said he and Jennylyn became close because they have martial arts training together.

“Everything started when we started training together ng muay thai and jiu jitsu,” he disclosed.

“Kahit nasa kabila pa lang si Jenn, I’ve always been a fan of her beauty.”

Luis also defended the actress against criticism that she is a single mom.

“I don’t take it as a bad thing,” he said. “So kung hinuhusgahan niyo si Jenn for having a son at nagkataon na may papasok sa buhay niya, eh ‘di parang hinusgahan niyo ang Mommy ko, which is very, very unfair.”

He added that he has already introduced Jennylyn to his mom, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos.

LUIS Jennylyn said she was overwhelmed by what Luis said. “He is actually the first guy na nagpa-interview to defend and praise me. He did what the others didn’t do, ipinagtanggol niya ako. And for that I am very thankful and lucky.”

She added: “Luis is what you really call a true gentleman. Kahit sinong babae napakaswerte na maging kaibigan siya. Kasi lahat ng gusto ng babae meron siya.

Gwapo, matangkad, edukado, ganda ng katawan (naks!,) good sense of humor, intelligent, and most of all, he knows how to treat a lady.”

Both Luis and Jennylyn are nursing broken hearts.

Luis’s ex-girlfriend, Angel Locsin, is now dating football player Phil Younghusband, while Jennylyn recently split from former boyfriend Dennis Trillo.

BUNNY In a talk with reporters during his recent trip to Bangkok, the President said that while he believes he will still be able to marry

CHARICE NOMINATED FOR GLEE MUSIC AWARDS INTERNATIONAL singing sensation Charice has been nominated at the “1st Annual Glee: The Music Awards” hosted by Hollywood blogger Perez Hilton on May 31.

The 19-year-old rising superstar is one of the nominees in the Best Guest Performance and Best Duet category, according to perezhilton.com.

Charice, who plays Filipina exchange student Sunshine Corazon is competing against popular characters of the US hit musical series Glee like Holly Holiday (Gwyneth Paltrow), Doris Sylvester (Carol Burnett), and Carl Howell (John Stamos) among others.

Charice’s powerful duet with Lea Michele, Telephone, originally sang by Lady Gaga, is the Filipina singer’s entry for the Best Duet awards.

Meanwhile, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said that he is open to the idea of appearing on Glee as a guest.

Pacquiao said that he was invited to guest on the show but had yet to receive confirmation about the offer.

Reports of Pacquiao’s guesting on the hit series started after one of the show’s cast, Darren Criss, shared his dream to work with the boxing champion.

the woman he loves, he’s not in a hurry to do so.

He also asked for help so he, too, can achieve what every married man has gained.

“Yung gusto akong mag-asawa, tulungan na lang nyo ko. Paano niyo ko tutulungan? Wag nyo ako pansinin. Kung ayaw niyo naman ako ikasal, guluhin niyo kami nang guluhin,“ he said.

“Maski may potential, mag-iisip yun, ‹Teka muna, ito kapalit eh: bubulabugin na ako, baka ako o magulang ko.› Sinong papayag noon?

Kaya akin na lang yun,” he added.

VILMA

VILMA EYES MOVIE PROJECT WITH TV5 REACTING to reports that there is an offer for her to move to TV5, Vilma Santos clarified that she is negotiating with TV5 for a possible movie project.

“Sa totoo lang, nag-meeting na kami with TV5,’ she said.

“Naka-meeting ko sina Mr. Manny Pangilinan and some executives from TV5. Actually, isa sa napag-usapan namin, e, they are offering a movie. At sabi ko naman, e, wala namang masama kasi wala naman akong exclusive contract.”

She said they will finalize the movie project as soon as there is a script that is acceptable to her.

Vilma is not under exclusive contract with any movie studios. She appears in movies produced by such studios as Regal Films and Star Cinema, the movie arm of ABS-CBN. She stressed, however, that ABS-CBN and Star Cinema would get priority for both her TV and movie commitments.

“Yung TV show sa Channel 2 at yung movie ng Star Cinema, commitment ko na yun,” she said. “And even before yung meeting ko with TV5, okey na kami ng Channel 2. Baka isang movie lang ang magawa ko sa taon na ito, and that is yung sa Star Cinema. Pero pag naayos ang sked ko, baka I can do two—one for Star at yung isa nga sa TV5.”

PLANET

JUNE 1-15, 2011

20

PHILIPPINES

CELEBRITYFILES

ZSA ZSA: NO HURRY TO TIE KNOT AFTER finally getting her first marriage annulled, Zsa Zsa Padilla said she and long-time partner Dolphy are not in a hurry to tie the knot.

“Pinagdadasal pa kung anong susunod na hakbang… Sa kondisyon niya ngayon, di ba? Parang ang dami-dami naming dapat ayusin,” Zsa Zsa, 46, said of the 82yar-old King of Comedy.

“Sana respetuhin nila kung anuman ang magiging desisyon namin,” she added.

The singer-actress also professed her undying support for Dolphy whether or not they will get married or not.

“Kung saan man dumating ang pagsasama natin, alam mo naman na forever akong nandito para sa iyo Nirerespeto ko ang kasal, pero kung sakali man hindi tayo umabot doon, asahan mo nandito ako para sa iyo,” she added.

ZSA ZSA Zsa Zsa was only 16 years old when she married dentist Modesto Tatlonghari, who was 35 at that

time. In 1987, they separated after six years of marriage. They have a daughter, singer-actress Karylle.

Zsa Zsa and Dolphy began their relationship in 1989 and have been living together since then.

Their plan to get married was derailed pending the annulment of Zsa Zsa’s first marriage.

If and when, it will be Dolphy’s first marriage. He has been “an elusive bachelor” all these years, even now that he’s into his mid-80s, not having tied the knot with any of the women he has had children with, 17 in all, two of them with Zsa Zsa.

MARQUEZ IS PACMAN’S NEXT FOE

BOXING champ and Congressman Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has confirmed that he will battle Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12.

It will be the third meeting between the two fighters. Their two previous bouts were controversial.

In 2004, Pacquiao settled for a draw in their first fight despite knocking Marquez down in the first round.

Four years later, their second meeting ended in a split decision in favor of Pacquiao.

The third fight will be at a 145-pound catchweight.

Pacquiao said he will start training in September.

“Tuloy na po yun, abangan n’yo,” said the 8-division world champion.

SARAH

SARAH ADMITS USING SKIN WHITENER

POP Star Princess Sarah Geronimo admitted she is taking glutathione orally to achieve a pinky-white complexion.

“Opo naman, nagte-take din ako ng capsules,” she said when asked why her skin is getting fairer.

The actress-singer said that she sees nothing wrong in using glutathione since it is also an anti-oxidant.

“Anti-oxidant naman po ‘yun, ‘di ba? Ang side effect lang niya ay nakaka-whiten ng balat ng skin,” she told abs-cbnNEWS.com Asked if she has undergone a beauty enhancement procedure to maintain her good looks, Sarah replied: “Pina-enhance? How I wish. Alam niyo, pwede kong gawin ‘yun, alam mo ‘yun? May part of me na gusto ko talagang gumanda ‘yung ganoon pero sa tingin ko ay tanggap ko na din ang sarili ko, kahit paano.”

PINAY BEAUTY IS MISS WORLD CANADA 2011

RIZA Raquel Santos was crowned Miss World Canada 2011 at the River Rock Show Theater in Richmond, BC, last May 19.

Representing Calgary, the 5’7” beauty is the first Filipino to win the title. She will represent Canada at the Miss World beauty pageant in London in November. Riza, 24, is an engineering Photo: ANDREW CHIN major at the University of Calgary.

Calgary Edition

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

4-YEAR STAY FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS To the Editor: As I read the column of Mr. Joe Rivera (“Nannies’ New Conundrum”, May 1-15 issue), I noticed some twisted facts or misunderstanding regarding the new TFW amended law. The law is for work permit application and renewal only and didn’t mention about implications on permanent residents applications. This mean that only TFW who doesn’t want to apply for PR and wanted to work as TFW only.

They have to work for 4 years in Canada as Live-in Caregiver and have to exit and wait another 4 years before they can reapply and reissued a new work permit. I called up the immigration [department] and was informed the same as I interpreted the amended law.

This is not a good article and I hope this will be corrected in your next issue.

I attached a copy of the amended law, please read it carefully and understand word for word. If you’re still confused, contact the CIC or HRSDC for clarification.

Thank you.

Roman B. Baruiz, P.Eng. Author’s reply: The new rules for temporary foreign workers which took effect last April 1st clearly meant that TFWs (Temporary Foreign Workers) from hereon shall be subject to a 4-year limit. After working for 4 years, TFWs will not be able to renew their permits and must go home. If they want to continue working in Canada, they have to wait for another 4 years to lapse before they can apply again for a work permit.

LICs (Live-in Caregivers) are lumped together with TFWs under these rules but may be exempted from the 4-year limit provided they have received an approval in principle after submitting their applications for permanent residence. Based on experience, LICs usually complete their contracts within 3 years, but there are cases however when PR applications take longer and could go well beyond the 4year limit. I cited examples like when the husband is uncooperative or when there is a family member who is medically inadmissible. Here lies the conundrum: what happens if their PR applications are not approved after 4 years because of the problems I mentioned? Will Canada Immigration issue removal orders? There are already some LICs who have received removal orders because of this situation.

The reader wrote that the new rules apply only to TFWs who are not interested in becoming permanent residents. This is absurd because most if not all TFWs would like to have permanent resident status after completing their job contracts, except seasonal employers who are already exempt under the rules. I have yet to meet a Live-in Caregiver who only wants to continue working under a TFW status. The reason LICs have joined the program is the promise of permanent resident status after completing their contracts. If there is no pathway to a PR status, Canada’s LIC program would just be like the nanny programs in other countries. But even that may not be clear under the rules because of certain cases which may not be exempted from the 4-year cumulative limit.

The reader may be right when he said that the new rules apply only to work permit and renewal applications, and not with PR applications.

As I have said in my piece, immigration officers who follow their Operations Manual have no obligation to find out whether LICs or TFWs will seek permanent residence after completing their work contract. The question to them is whether they would be satisfied that the person would not stay in Canada illegally.

Perhaps, the reader should read the new rules again, and if he has access to the Operations Manual that Immigration Officers use, he may have to read them, too, in order to fully understand the implications of the said rules.

By the way, I earned my law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and passed the bar exams in Ontario. I am retired now but volunteer my services to a local parish in Toronto and on some occasions, also represent clients on a pro bono basis before the IAD or IRB and the Federal Court of Canada.

Joe Rivera

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PHILIPPINES

BY RIGOBERTO D. TIGLAO

One characteristic of OFWs is their gutsiness, their willingness to take risks, as in going to a strange land to work, often even illegally.

HERE IS just too much bleedingheart sentimentalization over overseas Filipino workers, bordering on ridiculousness. They have been practically mythologized, in a manner they themselves would detest.

Yes, there are horror stories— runaways from cruel employers with no one to turn to in a strange land, young women forced into prostitution—but we have to put things in perspective. We are talking here of a population of eight million OFWs, nearly as big as the population of Switzerland or Greece.

With the caricature of OFWs imposed on us, the government has also been at a loss on what polices are really needed not only to assist OFWs themselves, but to harness their income for national development.

Myth 1: “OFWs are our country’s poor, the downtrodden, and they risk life and limb in strange lands for pittance wages.”

Well, they certainly make more than journalists writing about their “plight,” even more than a columnist writing two columns a week for this paper. OFWs’ average salary, based on several surveys by the Asian Development Bank and on extrapolations from total remittances abroad, is P40,000 to P50,000 per month. And that’s not only tax-free (by Philippine law) but often is the net or disposable income since his board and lodging are often free.

A sentence in a recent column by a colleague trying to portray the sufferings of OFWs nearly floored me: “The poor Filipino farm girl arrives in a foreign land and is soon snatched by her strange employer.” Well, in the first place, a poor farm girl doesn’t have any business arriving alone and without any support group even in Metro Manila, where she is as likely to be snatched by strange employers as anywhere in the globe.

Overseas employment, in fact, is closed to our poorest, as literacy and facility in English are prerequisites for work abroad—and I mean all, even for night-life entertainment places, or for farms in Israel. An Asian Development Bank survey in 2004 found that 58 percent of OFWs surveyed had several years in college, college degrees or even masteral units or degrees, while 28 percent had gone only through high school.

Calgary Edition

MYTHS

ABOUT OFWS The reason there has been a massive migration of workers abroad is not because of extreme poverty in our country, but because OFWs are so skilled, likeable and English-literate that there is a huge global demand for them.

In North America and Northern Europe the stereotype of an OFW is that of a professional often making more than P100,000 a month: engineers, hotel supervisors, nurses and medical technicians.

While they live austere lives abroad, OFWs send much of their income to their families back home.

In fact, the reason there has been consider the middle class in those a massive migration of workers areas. The impetus for their workabroad is not because of extreme ing abroad is a very strong and poverty in our country, but because admirable sense of ambition that OFWs are so skilled, likeable and they could move out of the C class English-literate that there is a huge into which they and their fathers had been born, that they could global demand for them.

Rather than the poorest, the finally build their own concrete typical OFW comes from the C+ house, and put their children to class. They are not starving, and college in Manila.

In an ADB survey, the usual, they live in decent houses. OFWs who come from towns outside expected response in focus-group Metro Manila are not “poor farm discussions to the question why girls” but mostly what we would they decided to work abroad was

that they wanted to have a higher income to uplift their families’ status. However, just as important a reason were “the perks and excitement of travelling abroad, the adventure.”

One little-appreciated fact in our OFW phenomenon is that it represents the Filipino females’ massive and liberating entry into the work force, in the manner that American women really first got into the workforce in World War II. While this has entailed risks to Filipino women—and the horror stories of OFWs indeed involves mainly domestic female workers—such risks have also emerged whenever females have left the protection of the home to work in a male-dominated world.

One characteristic of OFWs is their gutsiness, their willingness to take risks, as in going to a strange land to work, often even illegally. One term I often heard from OFWs when asked why they decided to work abroad: makip-

agsapalaran. That is a beautiful Filipino term with the root word meaning “fate.” Makipagsapalaran is to test fate, with the connotation of being bold in doing so.

This characteristic is the reason many returning OFWs have become leaders, even politicians, in their towns.

What’s also admirable about OFWs is that while they live austere lives abroad, they send much of their income (averaging 60 percent, according to the ADB study) to their families back home, even when these already have comfortable lives or even if their children are already productive grown-ups.

The more common horror story about OFWs is how their children or spouses splurge their remittances on the latest cell-phone model and designer clothes.

Myth 2: “OFWs are unskilled workers, and the typical OFW is a domestic helper exploited cruelly like slaves.”

That may be true in certain places like Hong Kong and Singapore, but it is not representative of the current stock of OFWs. Using data on the deployment of OFWs from 1998 to 2000, their main occupations are: production workers—30 percent; professional and white collar staff—28 percent; domestic workers and caregivers—28 percent.

“Production workers” are mostly skilled workers such as electricians, welders, carpenters, auto mechanics, crane and earthmoving equipment operators.

Their average salary ranges from P60,000 to P80,000.

On the other hand, in North America and Northern Europe the stereotype of an OFW is that of a professional often making more than P100,000 a month: engineers, hotel supervisors, nurses and medical technicians.

Of course domestic help and caregivers make up a significant percentage of OFWs, and in several Western European countries, the stereotype of a Filipino is either a female domestic help or a male household maintenance man. That doesn’t mean that they are poor or necessarily exploited. The standard wage for a domestic help in Greece, where I had been ambassador, was 900 euros (P55,000). An OFW there who became a good friend of mine earns enough to be able to visit the Philippines twice a year and to have two residences, one in her hometown and another in Metro Manila.

To portray OFWs as our poorest, and even to weep for them as if they were wimps or refugees from poverty, is to denigrate them and to miss their audacity. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) n

PLANET

Calgary Edition

23

PHILIPPINES

GMA SUMMONED TO PROBE ON OWWA FUND MESS

F

ORMER President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been subpoenaed by the Department of Justice in connection with the P551-million plunder complaint filed against her regarding the alleged misuse of funds of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Arroyo was ordered by a panel of DOJ prosecutors led by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva to appear during the preliminary investigation set on June 6. The case against Mrs. Arroyo was filed by former solicitor general Frank Chavez.

Aside from the former president, other respondents in the suit were also ordered by the DOJ panel to submit their counter-affidavits. They are former executive secretary and foreign affairs Alberto Romulo, former health secretary Francisco Duque III, and former OWWA administrator Virgilio Angelo.

Chavez, in his plunder complaint, alleged that OWWA funds were misused by Mrs. Arroyo and the three Cabinet officials in three ways: to finance the acquisition of several vehicles by several diplomatic posts in the Middle East; the humanitarian assistance to Iraq; and to enhance her 2004 presidential bid.

In all these transactions, Chavez claimed, Arroyo gave her imprimatur as evidenced by several memorandum orders addressed to Romulo, who made the requests for release of funds from OWWA, as well as in her executive orders for the transfer of some P530-million OWWA Medicare

funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., for alleged partisan purposes.

Chavez said the respondents were liable for violations of the Constitution, the plunder law (Republic Act No. 7080), the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), the Omnibus Election Code and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713), as well as qualified theft.

He argued that the OWWA funds, which came from monetary contributions of overseas Filipino workers and held in trust by the government, may not be used for expenditures completely unrelated to the purposes for which the fund was set up.

Meanwhile, another DOJ panel has given Arroyo’s son, Ang Galing Partylist Rep. Mikey Arroyo until June 27 to submit his counter-affidavit regarding the P73.85 million tax evasion complaint filed against him and his wife Maria Angela by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The couple’s counsel, Ruy Rondain, told the DOJ panel that Mikey and his wife were overseas and have scheduled their return to the country on June 17.

ARROYO Under a new schedule agreed on by the parties, the couple must file their counter-affidavits on or before June 17, after which the BIR camp will have 10 days or until July 7 to reply. In turn, the Arroyo camp will have until July 15 to file their rejoinder. The BIR lawyer said he would also file a reply to the rejoinder also on July 15.

The bureau alleged that Mikey did not file his income tax return in 2005, 2008, and 2009 while his wife was declared as a one-time tax-payer in 2004.

The BIR said that based on Mikey’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Networth from 2002 to 2009, he and his wife brought from 2004 and 2009 millions of pesos worth of properties, including houses, vehicles, and shares of stock that were not reflected in their income tax returns. n

AQUINO ORDERS PRISONS SYSTEM OVERHAUL PRESIDENT Aquino has ordered sweeping reforms in the country’s penal system amid reports of certain prisoners receiving special treatment and privileges.

“The President also recognizes the state of prisons in the country and acknowledges that steps need to be taken, especially as regards the ratio of guards to prisoners and congestion due to lack of facilities,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the President wanted to make sure that those liable would be punished accordingly.

“The President has already stated that if investigations hold that government officials should be accountable, then they will be held accountable. We will do what is right, so long as it is clearly what is right – and what is clearly right can only be arrived at by a thorough, unbiased study of the situation,” Laci-

AQUINO erda added.

Lacierda said the President had ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and his team of economic managers to come up with a list of proposals to reform the penal system.

“In the same way that due process is being accorded to the victims, it must also be accorded to the accused. What the government can assure the public is that the scales of justice will not be tipped over to one side or the other,” Lacierda said.

President Aquino, while in Thailand on a state visit, told reporters that he had ordered DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo to initiate the process of cleaning up the penal system.

Robredo began the effort by ordering the relief of Chief Inspector Glennford Valdepeñas, Quezon City jail annex warden in Taguig City.

Valdepeñas was relieved following allegations of giving special treatment to former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., one of the principal accused in the Maguindanao massacre.

Robredo tasked Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno to head the in-

JUNE 1-15, 2011

GOV’T SEEKS TO NULLIFY GARCIA PLEA DEAL GOVERNMENT lawyers asked the Sandiganbayan to reverse its May decision approving the plea bargaining agreement between former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman.

In its 124-page motion, the Office of the Solicitor-General, led by Solicitor-General Jose Anselmo Cadiz, also asked the Sandiganbayan Second Division to nullify the arraignment of Garcia for the lesser offense of direct bribery, and revoke the bail he has posted for his temporary liberty last December, 2010.

“The plea bargaining agreement suffers from fatally grave infirmities, primarily because it does not bear the consent of the Republic of the Philippines, or the AFP as the most closely-offended agency of the Republic,” the Solicitor-General said in the motion filed on Tuesday before the Sandiganbayan Second Division.

The government lawyers added that contrary to the claim of the Sandiganbayan in its May 2011 decision, the plea bargain “is not the deal most favorable to the People.”

“By approving the plea bargaining agreement, the Honorable Court virtually allowed accused Garcia and his family to walk free.”

Garcia has been accused of plunder for amassing over P300million government funds. Last May 9, the Sandiganbayan approved the plea bargain agreement saying Garcia was able to comply with the anti-graft court’s condition for the immediate transfer, conveyance of his real and personal properties

vestigation into the allegations that Valdepeñas gave special treatment and privileges to Ampatuan while in detention.

Robredo’s order came amid the allegations of special treatment to Ampatuan supposedly shown in the pictures and videos provided by Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife and relatives were among the victims of the massacre.

Mangudadatu claimed that Ampatuan was even seen using a cell phone inside the jail and could walk in and out of detention.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima assigned Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) chief Manuel Co as concurrent officer in charge of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

including bank accounts to the government.

Garcia has turned over to the government P135-million worth of properties.

The anti-graft court is also waiting for the US government to turn over to the government bank accounts of Garcia and his family, as well as the Trump Park Avenue Condominium in New York worth P43.155-million.

As part of the agreement, Garcia was allowed to enter a plea to a lesser offense which is direct bribery instead of plunder.

Government lawyers said direct bribery carry the penalty of four years two months and one day to eight years. Since Garcia remained incarcerated from 2004 to Dec. 15, 2010, the period of detention shall be included in the computation of period of his prison term which is far lighter than the penalty provided for plunder, which is reclusion perpetua, or 20 to 40 years imprisonment.

“Moreover, Garcia’s wife and children will no longer be prosecuted in the country, and elsewhere pursuant to the plea bargaining agreement,” Cadiz said.

They added that contrary to the Ombudsman’s claim, there is enough evidence to convict Garcia of plunder, even in the absence of the names of contractors and suppliers who allegedly gave him gifts and kickbacks.

Clarita Garcia, in her two written statements, said that she and her husband received travel allowances, shopping money and other “gratuities, gifts and perks” while he was holding key position in the military. n

De Lima ordered Co to take over the operations “temporarily” while BuCor director Ernesto Diokno is on leave.

Diokno earlier took a leave of absence to allow the investigation over allegations of incompetence and violation in the implementation of prison rules, particularly in the case of former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste.

The DOJ has created a fact-finding panel to investigate why Leviste was able to slip out of prison without authorization or court order.

The investigation uncovered the supposed privileges given to a select group prisoners, among them Leviste, who was allowed to be a living out prisoner. n

JUNE 1-15, 2011

PLANET

24 PHILIPPINES

RIZA SANTOS:

Calgary Edition

MISS WORLD CANADA 2011

Riza Santos was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is of Philippine, Spanish, and Chinese descent. Her father is from Malolos, Bulacan, and her mother is from Mariveles, Bataan. Riza’s interest to promote environmental awareness and sustainability led her to work in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency [CIDA] and the Philippine Tourism Authority as an Ambassador of Goodwill.

She has worked with CIDA in both Manila and Cebu, Philippines. While residing in the Philippines, Riza became an actress for ABS-CBN. She is most recognizable for her roles in many Philippine television shows and movies. Her leading lady role in the movie “Dobol Trobol” gave her the opportunity to work with the Philippine King of Comedy, Tito Dolphy and Bossing Vic Sotto. “Dobol Trobol” ranked in the top three at the Philippine box-office for the year of 2008.

In addition, Riza was the official television host of the Asian Poker Tour, with tournaments in Manila and Macau, airing on the CS 9-Sports Channel and Solar Sports. She has graced magazine covers such as Gadgets, Action & Fitness, Total Woman, Women’s Journal, Speed, and MOD to name a few. She has also been an endorsement model for Samsung’s 2010 Winter Olympics campaign, Gold’s Gym, Virgin Cola, Colt 45, and Summit Water In 2009, Riza returned home to Canada to be with her family and pursue her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. She is an engineering student at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering. Presently, she is working at Provident Energy Ltd in Environment, Health and Safety. She is actively involved in the Filipino community and has volunteered with several organizations such as the Lions Club, as a track and field coach for Special Olympics Canada, and as an emergency ward volunteer and prevent alcohol risk-related trauma in youth program volunteer at Foothills Hospital.

She proudly endorses Variety – the Children’s Charity and is actively fundraising and raising awareness for the charitable organization. She is currently represented by Sophia Models International and has walked the runway for Calvin Klein and modeled in campaigns for Sportchek and Kingsway Mall.

Following a week of preliminary competition, rehearsals and appearances, Riza was crowned Miss World Canada 2011 on May 19th, 2011 at the River Rock Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia. She competed against 22 selected national finalists. Riza will be Canada’s representative to the Miss World competition in London, UK. Miss World is the oldest international pageant and one of the most prestigious and watched television events in the world. Past titleholder includes Bollywood star, Aishwarya Rai, and on the turn of the new century had a record 2.3 billion people watch the live event. She will be in London competing and attending events for a few weeks, leading up to the live international broadcast of Miss World on November 6th.

From L-R: Keatha Walsh, 2nd runner-up from Ontario; Riza Santos, Miss World

Canada 2011; Poonam Punni, 1st runner-up from British Columbia

Calgary Edition

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25 PHILIPPINES

Yes, spring is here and summer is close! The stench of thawing dog poo from our neighbors yard has been replaced by the aroma of BBQ’s and freshly planted flowers. It is always good to get the flowers planted 2-3 weeks early like we did this year, to allow them to get strong for the hot, dry July and August conditions. As well, Ludy and I have something exciting to look ahead to this spring. A Robin has constructed a nest in our yard and over the recent Victoria Day weekend laid an egg on Friday, another on Saturday, a third one on Sunday and one more on Monday! If the squirrels don’t get the eggs, in 14 days Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo and Apat will be born. Then, while the babies are learning to fly, hopefully the cats won’t eat them! It is a good thing that Pogi, our Kitty doesn’t go outside – I see him licking his chops in anticipation! As I named the babies, Ludy got to name the Momma – Robina. No surprise, the father skipped out of town… You can check out their progress in our Facebook Albums.

I hope you are planning to attend one of the upcoming Philippine Independence Day Galas. This is a proud celebration of your heritage and is continued worldwide by Filipinos. Also coming up on June 25 is everyone’s favorite party – KASAYAHAN! Join the KASAYAHAN team on Facebook at Kasayahan 2011 “Alive” for details or call Laurie Callao at (403)681-4276 for your tickets. You will be glad you did!

Adding to the successful release of twice a month of Planet Philippines–Calgary, the debut of Planet Philippines–Edmonton has been an enormous hit! Desirous of local news and stories from back home as our northern friends are short on Filipino publications, they now have a growing directory of Filipino businesses to frequent. Be sure to inform your friends!

I would like to encourage you, especially the younger Filipinos, to try to be more active. My wife knows that I am impressed that many Filipinos, especially the girls, are slim and have gorgeous legs. She says that is because they walked a lot back home. Just because you are now in Canada doesn’t mean you have to become a couch potato and swell up like the Goodyear blimp! Get out and walk, run, cycle – whatever it takes and it will keep you young and gorgeous!

In closing, I would like to wish my dearly beloved, AND youthful and fine-looking wife Ludy, a Happy Anniversary on June 7. Fourteen years of wedded bliss, OK maybe a day here and there of trials, and here’s hoping we can keep our Promise to our Father in Heaven for many years to come! I love you!

Have a great summer!

JUNE 1-15, 2011

JUNE 1-15, 2011

PLANET

26 PHILIPPINES

Calgary Edition

PLANET

Calgary Edition

27 PHILIPPINES

JUNE 1-15, 2011

NEWSROUND-UP

X-RAY SCREENING FOR BALIKBAYAN BOXES BALIKBAYAN boxes sent by family members and relatives residing or working abroad will now take a longer time to arrive at your doorstep.

In response to a proposal by lawmakers, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) will now require the mandatory X-ray examination of all balikbayan boxes to curb smuggling.

“What is being implemented is more on the physical inspection with the balikbayan boxes. But because of this development, I already issued an order that these should also undergo (X-ray) scanning procedures,” Customs

11.3 MILLION FILIPINOS UNEMPLOYED - SURVEY

UNEMPLOYMENT is still high and has “appreciably” increased from late 2010, affecting some 11.3 million in March compared to 9.9 million in November 2010, according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations.

The SWS said joblessness among Filipinos at least 18 years old rose to 27.2 percent in March, when thousands of students graduated from college. The figure increased from 23.5 percent four months earlier.

The SWS survey said the 11.3 million who are out of work included those who resigned or were retrenched, plus an increase in firsttime jobseekers.

It noted the official unemployment figure of 7.4 percent as of January — equivalent to some 2.9 million Filipinos — was up from 7.1 percent in October 2010.

The SWS defines joblessness as those “not working and at the same time looking for work.”

On the other hand, the government’s official definition since 2005 has included the concept of “availability for work,” taking away individuals looking for jobs but are not available and includes those available but not seeking work for reasons such as tiredness/belief no job is available, awaiting results of an application, temporary illness/ disability, bad weather and waiting for rehire/recall.

In calculating unemployment, the government also uses a lower labor force boundary of 15 years of age.

Applying the official definition, the SWS said the jobless rate among adults 18 years old and above would be 16.8 percent, equivalent to an estimated 6.1 million Filipinos.

SWS said unemployment has been high since May 2005, falling below 20 percent only three times, the last being 18.9 percent in September 2010. It added the new rate of 27.2 percent is similar to 27.1 percent in March 2010.

The SWS record high is 34.2 percent, hit in February 2009. n

Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said.

Alvarez was referring to revelations by car dealer Allan Bigcas, suspected of smuggling luxury vehicles and guns, that he was able to bring “chop-chop” vehicle parts into the country via the balikbayan box system.

Balikbayan boxes traces its roots to the Filipino culture of sending items, such as food, clothing, perfume, soaps, and other sundry items to their families here in the Philippines.

Alvarez said Customs inspects hundreds of thousands of balikbayan boxes yearly, lumped in container vans.

With the enormous volume of arrivals from different parts of the world, physical examination of the balikbayan boxes contribute to the congestion at the ports, he added.

With the additional X-ray scanning, “we just have to improve the process of moving forward,” he said.

Alvarez said no additional funding is required for the purchase of more X-ray machines.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives pushed for the X-ray examination of balikbayan boxes following Bigcas’ claim that he used the balik-

bayan system to import the vehicles seized in his custody.

Around 25 luxury vehicles and expensive motorcycles were recovered from his residence in Bukidnon during a joint operation of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During the congressional probe, Lourdes Mangaoang, Customs X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) head, said balikbayan boxes are not scanned by their X-ray machines because these are categorized as Consolidated Shipments. n

CHURCH DARED TO HELP THE POOR

SUPPORTERS of the reproductive health bill on Wednesday challenged the Catholic Church to release to the poor some P12.9 billion it has locked up in shares of stock in the country’s third largest bank in assets.

The challenge came after a lawmaker allied with the Church against the bill, House Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, questioned the funding of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population Development, a group of lawmakers that favor population management.

During the debate of the reproductive health bill, principally authored by House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, Garcia suggested that the group, which Lagman heads, was being used by the United States to depopulate the Philippines.

Most of the authors of the reproductive health bill, including House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, are also members of the committee.

“US funding is meant to depopulate the Philippines. It is part of the US imperialism,” Garcia said.

But Lagman said the “human development agenda” that the group supported had been determined with the participation of various countries, including the Philippines.

“The human development agen-

da is not imperialist,” Lagman said.

Tañada reminded Garcia to stick to the salient points of the bill that seeks to establish a national policy on responsible parenthood, reproductive health and population development.

Reacting to the exchange, Elizabeth Angsioco, national chairwoman of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, said the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila owned P12.9 billion worth of stocks in Bank of the Philippines Islands.

That, she said, was apart from the P2.4 billion in stocks owned by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (Real Case de Misericordia) and the P1.3 billion owned by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila’s Hospital de San Juan de Dios.

“This is scandalous to say the least,” Angsioco said.

Based on BPI’s list of its top 100 stockholders as of Dec. 31, 2010, at least nine of the 100 were corporations belonging to the Roman Catholic Church.

Those included the fourth largest stockholder in the bank, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, its Real Casa de Misericordia; its Hospital De San Juan De Dios; its Mayordomia dela Catedral; its St. Paul’s Hospital; Carmel of the Divine Infant

Jesus of Prague Inc.; Archicofradia De Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Recoletos; the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro; and Corporacion de Padres Dominicos.

“All this money in one bank!

We can only imagine the Catholic Church’s holdings in other businesses besides the fact that they run profitable learning institutions and hospitals,” Angsioco said.

“It is unthinkable that as the [Church] is sitting on billions of pesos, it staunchly opposes the RH bill that can actually help in the provision of life-saving services to women so they have safe pregnancies and childbirths,” she said.

“If it does not want the bill to be enacted, why doesn’t the Church spend its money to save Catholic women from suffering and dying of pregnancy and childbirth-related complications?

“If the [Roman Catholic Church] truly cares for life, why isn’t it at the forefront of fighting infant and neonatal mortality? Why isn’t it taking care of children of parents who are so poor that their children’s education, health and well-being are sacrificed? What is the Roman Catholic Church doing with its billions? Why does it continue to ask for donations from the poor? Isn’t this selfish?’’ n

ROBREDO, PAJE GET PERMANENT STATUS ACTING Secretaries Jesse Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will soon be appointed in a permanent capacity, President Aquino said.

With Paje’s permanent appointment, the President said former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta would be given a different position but still related to environment and natural disasters and also with a Cabinet rank.

However, the President could not exactly say if Acosta, who is his ally in the ruling Liberal Party, can be called an “environment czar” pending the creation of such an office.

“He (Acosta) will help me have a better, sharper focus because he will be able to tackle it in a more in-depth

manner,” he said.

“We still have to define his title.

But basically with his work he can really help coordinate all ecological and environmental concerns to ensure that we can have coherent implementation of our environmental policy,” he said.

The President said he decided to appoint Paje, who is a career official, in a permanent capacity because Acosta might only be drawn into politics in the department. Earlier, Acosta accused some DENR officials of involvement in several syndicates alleged to have links with the agency.

“When you are the DENR secretary, there is a tendency that you will be affected by politics that may only be a distraction to his work,” he said.

The President had clarified that

his meetings with Acosta did not involve making any deal with him.

Robredo, for his part, vowed to do his best to continue to earn the confidence of the President.

Robredo and Paje are the only two Cabinet secretaries who were not given permanent appointments because the President was reportedly reserving the posts for his allies, including those who lost their bid in the May 2010 national elections.

Before the President’s confirmation that Robredo and Paje will become permanent members of his official family, the DILG post was reportedly being offered to former Sen. Mar Roxas, Sen. Panfilo Lacson whose term will end in 2013, or former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jesus Verzosa. n

NAIA-3 CASE REACHES COURT OF APPEALS

THE Philippine International Airport Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco), builder of the disputed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), is not about to give up its claim of just compensation following a trial court’s ruling affirming government’s payment offer.

Piatco has elevated expropriation proceedings on NAIA 3 to the Court of Appeals (CA) after the Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 117 ruled on Monday that government should only pay them some $175.78 million, a far cry from Piatco’s claim of $842.80 million.

Government has been insisting it owes Piatco over $149 million, an offer affirmed by the RTC plus attendant costs pegged at $26.34 million.

Piatco filed before the appellate court a notice of appeal. A notice of appeal was also filed before the Pasay RTC informing the trial court that Piatco intends to seek a reversal of the ruling from the CA. Moises Tolentino Jr., Piatco’s vicepresident for legal and public affairs, bared this was because a reversal of the trial court’s ruling, handed down

by Presiding Judge Eugenio dela Cruz, was unlikely.

“We had a meeting with the stakeholders, officials and lawyers and we arrived at this decision. This is a formal notice of intent that we are not in agreement with the decision, but instead of filing a motion for reconsideration, we chose to appeal in the Court of Appeals,” Tolentino said.

Piatco said construction cost alone for the airport already totalled $470 million, which is why the figure awarded by the court was “way low.”

In its decision, the trial court said the amount government owed Piatco should still be less the over P3 billion which was already paid to Piatco in compliance with a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that Piatco had to be paid first for building the terminal before its actual takeover could proceed.

The NAIA-3 contract was declared irregular by the Aquino administration in 2002 -- the year the terminal was scheduled to be operational. In 2003, the high court voided the deal. The next year, government moved to seize the facility. n

SUDOKU ANSWER FROM PAGE 18

28 PHILIPPINES

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JUNE 1-15, 2011

We are a very Straight Forward & Licensed Company. No hassles, no gimmicks. We operate for the good of all Filipinos since 1998.

We have branches all over the world however this ad is only focusing in AB, Canada. Check us online for our other branches.

Manila Forwarder Calgary & Surroundings: 203 3912 Stanley Rd SW Calgary, AB T2S2P3 3544 Fonda Way SE Calgary, AB T2A6E8 (403) 890-7975 c/o Richard Panuelos

Kung magpapadala ka, Check us online to see how big and stable we are as a company:

Direct: (403) 890-7975

Toll Free:

Manila Forwarder Edmonton & Surroundings: 9818 163 St Edmonton, AB T5P3M8 (780) 818-6684 c/o Sonny Suarez