MEET THE MAESTRO Romi MananQuil ISSUE SPRING 2016
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Joseph Morong: Staying in the Story Boxing: Down But Not Out Get ready for an eating combat!
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Table of Contents
what’s inside... Ronnie Dela Gana Publisher
Claire Dela Gana Managing Editor
Joi Lardizabal Editor
Gama Seva
16 Cover Story
8Journey of Success
Meet the Maestro: Romi MananQuil
Joseph Morong: Staying in the Story
14 Bayan Ko
26 Sports Update
Fire Mummies & Hanging Coffins
Boxing: Down But Not Out
Web and Mobile Operation
Erwin Segui
Creative and Graphics Contributors
Jane Taguicana Dominic Menor Rachelle Cruz Ysh Cabana Tony San Juan Photographer
Michael Carlos Panganoron Kubo Magazine is published quarterly by iKubo Media The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisers’ claims, unsolicited articles, transparencies and other materials. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without written permission of the Publisher. Copyright @ 2016 iKubo Media Proudly printed in Canada. iKubo Media 1735 Arborwood Drive Oshawa, ON L1K 0H6 Tel: (647) 300-1970 www.kubomagazine.ca ARTICLE PROPOSALS and unsolicited articles can be emailed to editor@ikubomedia.com or mailed to EDITOR, Kubo Magazine, 1735 Arborwood Drive, Oshawa, ON L1K 0R6 TERMS OF SUBMISSION: By submitting anything to Kubo Magazine in any format, written or otherwise, you agree that (1) Your submission and their contents will automatically become the property of Kubo Magazine without any compensation to you. (2) Kubo Magazine may use or redistribute the submissions and their contents for any purpose and in any way; and (3) there is no obligation to keep any submissions confidential.
4 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Pinoy Ako 11 12
Get Ready for an Eating Combat! My First Crush
Pinoy in Biz 20 24
Look for Someone You Trust Late Bloomer
Local 28
FCPACE: A Voice for Authentic Catholic Faith Formation
MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER’S NOTE “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards”. -Soren Kierkegaard
Becoming an entrepreneur was never part of my plan when we migrated to Canada. I did not realize that I have it in me until I stumbled on a small business venture that gave me the opportunity to express a burning passion. The experience and learnings from tagging along with my grandparents in all their coconut copra and farm duties when I was a kid helped a lot in starting up my business journey and staying on it. And what a journey it has been! Every business is challenged to find the right formula of strategies, people and technology to keep their business afloat these days, especially in print publication. But we remain focused in our vision to inspire and inform people, and to innovate the way we do things. Joining the Kubo Magazine team this year is digital marketing specialist, Gama Seva, who will be supporting our digital platform as we embark to reach out to the growing digital readership. A talented graphic designer, Erwin Segui, joined as well to Kubo Magazine’s creatives and graphics design. And not to forget, the growing number of young and experienced writers and photographers contributing to the magazine. Are we there yet? Definitely not. We still have a long way to go on our journey for success. And we would like to take you on that journey. We have lots of room for improvement. So give us your feedback and comments. Tell us what you want to see and read in Kubo Magazine. This is your magazine too! It is said that life is about the journey and not the destination. So allow us to share our experience with you and take you into your own journey to realize your potentials and show you the endless possibilities in this country we now call home. Tayo na at tuloy po kayo sa aming Kubo! ronnie.delagana@ikubomedia.com
Meet the Contributors Rachelle Cruz, is a multi-media journalist based in Toronto, ON. She graduated from Ryerson University in 2008, and majored in TV/Radio Broadcasting. But, her career in journalism started in print, when she first wrote for The Philippine Reporter. She is a correspondent for Balitang America, ABS-CBN News, North America Bureau, a global channel that caters to the Filipino community worldwide. She is also the host and executive producer of a newly-launched magazine-style talk show called “The It List” on FTV under Ethnic Channels Group (ECG). Aside from her experience in broadcasting and print, Rachelle hosted various events and festivals in her community such as the Youth Leadership Summit and The Toronto Sushi Festival. She is a member of the Philippine Press Club of Ontario and the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada. Just recently, Rachelle was nominated for the 2015 Notable Award in the Entertainment Category in Toronto.
Jane Taguicana, has been with Canada’s national wire service, The Canadian Press, for nearly 14 years. She takes pleasure in belting out a tune, dancing to her heart’s content and conquering her fears. She had climbed all 1,100 steps of the CN Tower, visited a pyramid on top of a mountain in Mexico and dreams of one day living in the loveliest castle in the world (Leed’s Castle in England.) Jane is the youngest of 10 (yep, ten!), a mum of two and a devoted wife of Sidney. Twitter: @ JaneTaguicana Tony A. San Juan, with Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees and PhD studies, is a former professor of education in the Philippines and Nigeria and a retired Ontario certified educator. He is a recognized community leader & organizer, public relations guy and member of several Filipino Canadian professionals, civic and community organizations.
Ysh Cabana, works across disciplinary boundaries in the fields of literature, graphic design and architecture. He is a member of the Toronto Society of Architects and the Ontario chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines, he is also an active advocate of Filipino migrant rights and welfare in Canada. Ysh’s research takes the complex physical geography, culture, politics and historiography of the contemporary city as a starting point for a speculative approach to architecture and urbanism. He writes in-depth analyses of a project’s performance, sustainable and design attributes, and local attributes. His interest lies in regional specific, i.e. responsive to its site and culture, and high-performance (but low impact building of) architecture.
Michael T. Panganoron was born and raised in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. He studied Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Mindanao State University in Marawi City. In his aspiration to help his family financially, he then moved for work in the Bahrain and Dubai for 9 years. Boredom and nostalgia keeps him no exemption for a Filipino working away from home. That sad reality of living away from love ones brought him to discover his passion in photography just to complement those deep yearning. Enthusiasm and feeling of mediocrity in his work had inclined him to take the next level. He equipped and harnessed himself with more training in his newly found passion from the contemporaries of Manny Librodo, Parc Cruz, John Fick and several online workshops.
Dominic Menor, has a background in print journalism, which unlike boxing is legitimately on its death bed. Dominic is a freelance writer based in Toronto and writes in his spare time.
Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 5
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6   Kubo Magazine  Spring 2016
Sowing Seeds
Photo by iKubo Media
7 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Journey of Success
Joseph Morong:
Staying in the Story By Ysh Cabana
H
e described the beat as boring and not sexy. Stories for peace, or what he considered were stories for peace. A wavy-haired, sturdy man of mid-thirties, with legs crossed tightly, he fashioned his talk on communicating the message of the marginalized.
A decade and a half had passed since he graduated with distinction from the State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. From that period onward, he has reported a formidable history of the people’s struggle in the southern parts of the Philippines. The newscasts may be specific to the regions predominantly comprised of Muslim provinces but they have a wider meaning providing an invaluable resource that describes not just the language of domination, but also the nature of peace negotiations, including bias, prejudice and hatred against the Bangsamoro. For him, it is important for media to provide the context so voices can be heard other than that of the popular ones. Since conflicts arise out of a series of incidents, reportage on Mindanao are better understood when history is given. So goes his lecture.
World
Context is King: On Mindanao’s History - 14th century Islam arrived in Mindanao, 200 years before the colonial Spanish Catholics and a number of Sultanates were able to resist attempts of external dominance - 1898 Philippines was annexed by US which started to promote the settlement of Christians from the other islands to the fertile lands of Mindanao - 1960s Moro Islamic Liberation Front was formed after the Jabidah massacre. Note this is the biggest group composed of Moro and Lumad people - 1969 Armed separatist group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was formed under the leadership of Nur Misuari - 1976 MNLF and the government of the Philippines (GPH) signed Tripoli Agreement with the assistance of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi to broker a ceasefire - 1987 MNLF accepted GPH’s offer for self-autonomy MNLF Tripoli Accord implemented in 1996 during Fidel Ramos administration with the creation of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao under MNLF leader Nur Misuari - 2000 Then President Joseph Estrada declared all out war against MILF, MNLF - 2003 Davao airport bombing, suspected by GPH to be MILF plot - 2006 Continued conflicts among clans - 2008 Supreme Court suspended extension of ARMM, then militant Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters was formed after breaking away from MILF group - 2009 Maguindanao Massacre, the single deadliest event for journalists in history - 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) was signed for the creation of an autonomous political entity named Bangsamoro, replacing the ARMM - 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed between MILF and GPH - 2015 Mamasapano fiasco took place where 44 Special Action Force troops were killed
8 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Journey of Success
Peace
Journalism
The Role The Beat of Media
His enjoyment, he says as his hands were steepled, is playing an adversarial role versus the government. He likens this to how things move forward. But the demands are sometimes too much. He knows that the fundamental aspect of creating public opinion is by constant connection with the masses. He broke the silence before a closely- He also adds that the broadcaster is forced acquainted audience in University of Toronto to compete with the varying voices in social on a chilly winter night: Is it easier to report media. on war or to report on peace? The corners of his mouth are pulled up as his face turns with a Duchene smile. Until the end of his presentation at the last leg of his two-week cross-Canada tour, Joseph Morong explicitly expressed favour toward pacifist journalism. Yet the power to translate dialogue to achieve freedom from war and hostility is something that remains elusive.
“
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Every new technology necessitates a new war
Given the ongoing unfriendly état de choses in the homeland, he’s willing to take post in conflict areas. During his younger years from his native of Lucena, Quezon province, he recalls, he tended to be masochistic with the career path he decided and indulged in any His sentiments echo the Canadian communications guru Marshall McLuhan, after risks involved with it. whom Morong’s fellowship prize is named. It is The Philippines continues to be one of the interesting to note that although in the world’s most dangerous places for journalists, Philippines, McLuhan is encountered by just behind war-stricken Somalia, Iraq and journalism students; it is not like so in other Syria. When the assignment comes and the countries. For example, in Chile, the influence of McLuhan is evident in politics and in China, camera rolls, it’s a job for him. it is an emerging trend in computer studies. In Peace is an intangible concept, he says. It’s Canada, it is generally under communication going to be a long process. One has to stay in and media studies. the story. A basic precept by the renowned thinker: Now Morong is a senior reporter in one of the “Every new technology necessitates a new huge mainstream TV networks in the country. war,” references one of the scholars at Coach Being an anchor in a program that is shown House, the same building where McLuhan nationwide, he shares a certain degree of taught and worked before. protection that is relatively more secure than local press people whose work focuses on While he switched to his last slide, the particular inflection in Morong’s acceptance politics on the ground level. of the investigative journalism award speaks as both medium and message. What appeared on the backdrop was a child standing in front of a seven-colour rainbow flag emblazoned in bold letters with the word PEACE.
He confided what gives him interest to do a “sustained coverage” on the peace process for all these years. He says, it’s because of the children. He believes something must be done, especially with the huge disparity of the living conditions between Manila and Mindanao. Wars have been very costly, he says. Money has been spent so much when children need a different kind of development. The journalist as a communicative force, he says, has the responsibility to look into the different nuances of the very definition of peace. Peace in terms, not only of disarmament, but also how it affects ordinary citizens’ lives. As the Philippines weighs in the presidential candidates in May, some people may still be relegated to the sidelines. McLuhan fellow Joseph Morong carries on.
Photo by iKubo Media Joseph Morong is the 19th awardee of the McLuhan Fellowship selected by five panelists on social justice issues for his excellent coverage on the peace process in Mindanao, especially the discussions around the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. He has also covered extensively the corruption scandal through the diversion of congressional funds to bogus non-governmental organizations. The Marshall McLuhan Prize is the flagship public diplomacy initiative for the Embassy of Canada in Manila. Launched in 1997, it encourages investigative journalism in the Philippines with the belief that a strong media is essential to a strong democratic society.
Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 9
10 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Kain Tayo
Boodle Fight:
Get ready for an eating combat! By Claire Dela Gana
P
lanning and hosting a party or a gettogether is not a walk in the park. Well, at least for me. As often as possible, I change it up a bit every now and then by introducing something new to the menu list, in addition of course to family favourites. On New Year’s eve, I skipped the silverware and china and went for clean hands and banana leaves instead. Yes, I hosted a boodle fight New Year’s Eve dinner! It was one marvelous celebration with great company, good conversation and sumptuous finger-licking dinner. Boodle fight is a terminology coined by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for their eating combat. It is the academy’s eating tradition wherein members of the military, regardless of ranks, gather around a long table where a jumble of food is spread over banana leaves, and eaten with bare hands. It is usually prepared in celebration of a successful event or a special occasion and it became a symbol of camaraderie, brotherhood and equality. The “fight” part refers to the fact that it’s everyman for himself during these feasts. This means you grab and eat as much as you can before the food runs out, or else go hungry because everyone else is gorging away. So if you’ve hosted too many parties, gettogethers and dinners, and you’re getting tired of the usual buffet setup of pansit, menudo and leche flan, why not try boodle fight. And here are some tips to take it to the next level and make it the talk of your dabarkads:
1. Come up with a theme. Why not? You can introduce boodle fight at your next Hawaiian luau party! Throw in some tacos and enchiladas for a Mexican fiesta. If you have vegetarian friends, challenge yourself and host a vegetarian boodle fight dinner. If you want to make it more fun for everyone, ask them to come in costumes to get them into the eating combat mood. Heroes versus villains. Sports team rivals. Better yet, make it an authentic boodle fight and make them come in army outfits.
2. Set up food stations. One’s appetite is stirred to see all the food spread out on the table. But distributing the food equally on the table is a common setup. Try to change it up a bit and go for food stations. Meat in one area and seafood on another. Station the sauces at the corners. Place the desserts at each end of the table. Unleash your creativity!
3. Order or Dine out? If you do not have the luxury of time to prepare and cook and yet dying to host an amazing boodle fight dinner then order the food! Even if you did not do all the cooking, an extra effort in setting up the boodle fight table will be greatly appreciated. But if you really want to get away from all the preparation and cleaning then take your friends out for a boodle fight dinner. There are various Filipino restaurants that offer this dining experience such as Casa Manila (North York), Cucina Lounge (North York), Quiapo! Quiapo! (Mississauga) and Bella’s Lechon (Scarborough & Mississauga). Make sure to check it out first if they have reservation requirements for their boodle fight offering.
4. Wash your hands, Mom said so. Before you and your visitors dig in, wash your hands first! Instead of screaming at the top of your lungs asking everyone to clean up before the meal, put up some neat and fun signs to remind them. Direction to an accessible wash area is also a wonderful idea. All set? Attack! For comments and suggestions, email the author at Claire.delagana@ikubomedia.com. Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 11
Nostalgia
My First Crush By Joi Lardizabal
“Hi, Joi. It’s Tony. Remember me?” For the life of me I couldn’t remember who Annie Rubio was. Intrigued, I clicked his My very mediocre university years Facebook account and switched were a blur to me. But a two-year back to our chat: “Yes! We were teaching stint at a refugee camp university classmates in Manila, was the turning point in my life. Philippines in the 80s. How are I decided to go to grad school, you?” and for the first time in my life, collected academic awards—which We exchanged fast facts may have contributed to my poor summarizing the last 30 years. dad’s quadruple bypass and my We’re now both married with great mom to question the university’s spouses and awesome kids, stable quality of education. Clearly, I was jobs, blah blah. I thought the chat a late bloomer. was going to be predictably short but then he started randomly “What happened to your best talking about his crushes in our friend, Lisa?” classes. I told him Lisa did not end “My secret crush back then up with her perennial boyfriend, was Annie Rubio who from my Reyden. I wondered what she did eyes was the closest I could get to with her “LIREY” necklace. I made Phoebe Cates. Years later, I bumped a mental note to check e-Bay later. into Annie again. She still had her maiden name. Still charming and “What about you? Who was your fresh. She had short hair already crush then?” and the Phoebe look no longer cast its charm on me. We had coffee and My fingers froze on the keys I took her home and ended that for a second. I debated telling him illusion chapter of my life. We never I had to finish my laundry or that had coffee again.” someone was knocking at the door. Instead, my fingers began typing. 12 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
I did have a major crush on a guy 1 or 2 years older. His name was Nicolas Diaz. “Nicolas Diaz? He was active in student politics when we were freshmen, right? Fair skin, hairline on the side, prominent eye brows, lean, stood about 5’7 in height. Political Science or Philosophy major.” Unbelievable. Tony had a disturbing ability to remember the past. I told him I was 100% sure Nicolas would never remember me today. I was content admiring Nicolas from afar. I memorized his daily routine, where he ate, who his friends were, which bus he rode. I especially took note of the times he went to the library so I could synchronize them with mine. I would sit at the very end of the library, just watching him studying. Whenever he looked up, I would pretend to yawn and bury my face in a book.
Nostalgia
“What? You are a bizarre person, Joi.”
Photo by Joi Lardizabal
One day, my friends had had enough of my pathetic, oneway “love life”. They dared me to do something brave, or at least silly. Hmm… There was a picture of him posted on the bulletin board in every hallway because he was campaigning to be president of the university student council at that time.
“Then, what happened?” After a couple of days, Nicolas visited our classroom and asked our teacher permission to make an announcement. I thought he was there to campaign again, but he said: “May I speak with Miss Joi Irong?”
Nothing much happened after that because I was not really prepared to be chased by an upper class man. Or by any guy for that matter. I was an awkward 17-yearold with pimples, unwilling to venture out of my small, quiet world of Rick Springfield vinyl records, Molly Ringwald movies, and Mills & Boon novels. So, after I had evaded all his efforts, he eventually got the hint. Later, I transferred to another university and never saw Nicolas again.
Seriously? How did he “I just saw him on TV.” know my name? My friends stared So, early one morning, when at me as I nervously stepped outside Nicolas? no one appeared to be around, I the classroom with him. stood in front of a bulletin board. “Yes. He still speaks in the After a few moments of repeated “And?” same hard northern accent. He’s a I-can-do-this like a mantra in my renowned lawyer now and heads brain, I peeled off his picture and He handed me a new, bigger his own firm, aptly called Diaz & put back the double-sided tape on picture of him. He said, “This is for Associates.” the board. I was rather pleased you. This is a better version of me.” with myself until suddenly a deep After my chat with Tony, I voice boomed behind me. “I feel like I’m watching a cheesy spent the next hour or so checking out Nicolas’ website. How strange Korean soap.” “Um… What are you doing with that my once mysterious, almost my picture?” I thought I was in heaven. I ethereal, crush now looked like a whispered to God, “I can die now.” typical, middle-aged lawyer I’d hire I thought I would die. “It There was even a cute message on for my business. fell so I picked it up,” I mumbled, the back of the photo. He ushered avoiding his eyes. me back to my seat as I held his portrait close to my wildly beating “Riiiiighhht,” he said, with a laugh. heart. For a few weeks after that, he made several attempts to talk I smacked the photo back to me after school. He would wait on the board, turned and ran. for me outside the classroom, buy “Wait, what’s your name?” he called a sandwich for me at the canteen, after me, but I didn’t stop. even chat with me in the library. I was terrified, so I started avoiding Tony wrote back: him. Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 13
Bayan Ko
Fire Hangin
By: Adam Karlin (THE LINEUP)
14 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Pinoy Ako
The name, “Fire Mummies of Kabayan” conjures an admittedly awesome daydream combination of the Human Torch and a classic horror movie monster shambler wrapped in bandages. The real-life incarnation is just as impressive. Instead of a burning bandaged beast, one finds leathery corpses arranged into seated, cross-armed positions, their mouths open in a perpetual scream, their leather skinned-flesh stretched taut over yellowing bones and teeth. The creation of the Fire Mummies is unique to this region and the local Ibaloi people. In the past, the soon-to-die would drink a salty drink and, upon death, be seated over a closed fire. The process would dry the body of its juices; as the corpse cooked, tobacco smoke was blown into its mouth to stymie interior decomposition, while herbs were rubbed into the body’s skin.
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... a corpse is more than an empty vessel. It is an object of veneration and, beyond that, a sacred relic that must be maintained.
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T
he first time I saw a backyard in the high mountains of the province of Benguet, Philippines, I wasn’t shown a pleasant garden, a trampoline, or other assorted typical symbols of an American lawn. I was shown a charnel house— shelves packed with hundreds of skulls and femurs, like I had stumbled upon Pinhead’s own file cabinets. All right. Technically, I wasn’t in someone’s back yard. The Opdas mass burial cave in the Philippines village of Kabayan belongs to no one individual, but to the community as a whole. This makes sense, as the bodies stored in that cool gulch represent the ancestors of the area’s contemporary residents. Kabayan is a small burg, and as I peered over the lip of the burial grounds—a place that felt as if it should be tucked away from the prying eyes of the living world—children laughed and kicked a deflated soccer ball just a few feet away. The Cordillera Central of the Philippines, a mountain range of deep valleys, high walls, white waterfalls, and lush jungle that form the highland heart of Luzon, has always had an iconoclastic approach to managing the dead. In this part of the world where ghost stories are taken at face value and the ancestors—living and dead—are reliable moral compass bearers, a corpse is more than an empty vessel. It is an object of veneration and, beyond that, a sacred relic that must be maintained. Yet the Opdas mass burial cave was far from the most unusual sight of my journey; when I considered its design and execution, it was effectively a cemetery with an open window. A few hours hike away, I encountered more vividly the unique funerary location.
Bayan Ko
Mummies & g Coffins
Photo by Stephen Bugno/Flicker
The newly created Ibaloi Mummies were then placed in pinewood coffins and buried in caves across the mountainous spine of the Cordillera. Only Ibaloi elders know the location of these resting areas, although intrepid travelers may access some of the burial sites with the help of a hired guide. Not all Fire Mummies are found in caves, however. Some rest in niches or rock outcroppings or isolated yet exposed places. In traditional Filipino highland culture, privacy and understatement were never priorities when it came to interment. A few hours from Kabayan, the village of Sagada is an alpine retreat, a cool respite from the heat of the lowlands, a former enclave for dissident Filipino intellectuals and European hippies, and currently a pit stop for backpackers. Those who hike in Sagada will sometimes wander the road to nearby Ambasing, where you can see, cut into the cliffs, coffins stacked like cordwood, clinging to the rock face like mountain goats.
The cliff hanging coffins supposedly kept their occupants closer to heaven, although the efficacy of this practice is called into question when you hear tales of smashed coffins and bones lining the bottom of local valleys. Other bodies are interred in the enormous cave systems that dot the Sagada valley walls like Swiss cheese holes. At the entrance to the Lumiang caves, some 100 coffins are stacked at the entrance, many of their lids carved with crawling lizards, a local symbol of long life and fertility. For a truly dark journey, one can hire a guide who will take you on an underground trek through Lumiang, past underground river systems and through narrow capillary tunnels, into the Sumaging Cave. It’s a journey that hopefully avoids burial grounds—in the mountains of the Philippines, the dead are more likely found at a cave’s entrance, as opposed to its depths—yet still sends shivers down your spine.
This story was originally featured on The-Line-Up.com. The Lineup is the premier digital destination for fans of true crime, horror, the mysterious, and the paranormal.
Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 15
MEET THE MAESTRO Romi MananQuil By Rachelle Cruz Photos by Michael Carlos Panganoron/DigiCambay
T
Cover Story
he honey-coloured yellow walls brightened the living interiors, spotlights beaming at his paintings. Like a mini art gallery, his works of art formed a cultural mosaic that made its way through each room, from the moment you walk in. “Maestro” Romeo Mananquil, also known as Romi, invited us to his Mississauga residence, his home radiating familiar warmth, as each painting imbued a sense of nostalgia, drawing back to his roots of Philippine subjects and landscapes, recounting his life experiences as a young boy in his homeland. Breakfast by the Beach displayed in the dining room showed strokes of his impressionistic style that depicted the simple life of a couple. Another painting stopped me in my tracks, as I gazed carefully at a beautiful portrait of a young woman, in seated pose, wearing a salmon-pink coloured dress, looking directly back at me. It hung in the main living area, and soon as I look to my right, I quickly realized that it was a portrait of his wife, Aniceta “Necie” Maron, whom he has five children with: Roani, Jordan, Anicee, Herson and Maila. At that moment, she was busy in the kitchen, an older version of herself, but still looking radiant and lovely.
And he kept going. While still a student, he started illustrating for Liwayway. He was later hired as Staff Artist/Illustrator, and later on became one of the top celebrated illustrators, along-side with veteran artists Rodolfo Herrera and Amado dela Cruz, commissioned to do paintings that were used as covers for special issues,. During that time, Mananquil popularized the dry brush technique that caught fire, “Instead of applying the ink in full, ginagawa ko, ipapahid ko muna yung excess sa isang papel. Pag meron nag texture, yun ang ginagamit ko,” he explained. By the late 1970s to early 80s, Mananquil worked as professor and chairman, at the Department of Visual Communications, U.P. College of Fine Arts.
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I always love my mother country. And I always miss living in my country. All my life I really wanted to be an artist.
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Mananquil, eldest of five children, was born on December 1, 1942 in Caloocan, Rizal. As a young inquisitive boy, he discovered his calling to become an artist at an early age, when he found a stock room at his aunt’s house. Fascinated, he rum-maged through stockpiles of old Liwayway magazines with Amorsolo covers and Carlos Francisco illustrations. In those pages he found a watercolour painting by his father of the Caloocan town hall, “So nagulat ako. Nag pa-paint pala ang tatay. I was so fascinated by that. Parang nagkaroon nang desire, on my part, to be an artist, parang gusto kong mag drawing kaagad,” Mananquil narrated. Thereafter, he hurried to the store, purchased bond papers from five centavos and started drawing, “Ever since, hindi na ako tumigil,” he said.
Cover Story
He also held Illustration and Cartooning classes at the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila later on. Since his 1976 first one-man show at Rear Room Gallery, Mananquil had participated in more than 100 group exhibitions in the Philippines, Australia, United States, and Canada. One of his career highlights was when Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) hired him to design bank notes and coins with two other artists. ”To me that was a very singular honour because there were so many artists in the Philippines, and yet I was sought out. It was truly a huge honour. Lahat ng Pilipino makakahawak ng trabaho ko,” he humbly expressed. Mananquil designed the first two-peso Bonifacio decagonal coin, the Balagtas 10-centavo coin, the one-peso tamaraw coin and the Tandang Sora five-centavo coin, including the discontinued green five-peso Aguinaldo bank note, the trihero 1000-peso bank note, and interestingly, a 500 pesos Marcos bill that never circulated.
In the 1980s, when his career was gaining momentum, he made the difficult decision to leave the country and relocate his family to Canada. “The biggest factor was the safety of my family and my kids. Because at that time nga, medyo magulo na. Puro rally. Marcos was so unstable, and sabi ko, I don’t know what future we have here, so might as well go and try my luck in Canada,” he said. His friendship with the Canadian Consul General at the time helped him facilitate his immigrant visas to start a new life.
Fast-forward years later, Mananquil was hired as a part-time art instructor for Watercolour & Oil Painting at the Hilltop Community for Continuing Education in Etobicoke, and later conducted workshops for the Etobicoke School of the Arts. One of his major contributions is to reorganize the group and became one of the founding officers for the Philippine Artists Group (PAG), a community of Filipino artists. Their mandate is to showcase Philippine visual arts through art exhibitions. Mananquil served as its first president and held the Mananquil’s flowering career blossomed title for 14 years. in the Philippines, amidst growing political instability and social unrest at the height of the Marcos movement. Continued on next page
Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 17
Cover Story
The portrait of Romi’s wife, Aniceta “Necie” Maron
But like most immigrants settling in a foreign place, the road to this path was never easy. “Back in the Philippine, modesty aside, I didn’t have the experience of looking for a job. I was the one who was offered a job. Namimili ako kung ano ang gusto kong trabaho,” he said.“Pag dating ko dito, first time na I was rejected. Maraming rejections parang naiiyak na nga ako dahil naglalakad ako, nag yeyelo, ginaw na ginaw ako, sabi ko, ano ba itong napuntahan ko, tama ba to?” he recounted, as memories of harsh winter, of feeling alienated, of not knowing where to go, who to see, all the elements of a newcomer experience sucking him back into the cold vortex.
18 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Eventually, in 1989 he was hired as a graphic artist, designing flags for The Yellow Pages Group. Though he adjusted to this new lease of life, his memory and heart still yearned for something more fulfilling. “If you noticed, nandito na ako sa Canada, but I still paint Philippine subjects. I long so much about my home country. So lahat nung experiences ko as a boy, the things that I remembered when I was there, they are the ones that inspire me,” he said. “Actually nung bata ako, madalas ako mag bakasyon sa Pangasinan. So most of my subjects were rural... very Filipino,” he expressed, recounting the childhood days he spent his summers at his grandfather’s house. The everyday rural living of locals told the stories in his paintings. Although Mananquil does not ascribe to a specific style or artistic influences, his expression leans more towards impressionism, with strokes of romanticism. Gathering Seashells and Nay…Hanggang Saan ang Dagat? paint a story of subjects along the beach. Munting Ate, tells the story of girl feeding her little brother with a spoon, not with a fork. In his art forms, he remained the outside observer looking in, and by committing to memory and compiling photographs, it helped arrange his compositions and vision. His works also represented reveal the true inspiration behind his paintings: his wife. The iconic tricycle captured in Tanghalian and Talipapa, symbolize, not just of the life in the province, but to a larger extent, the beginnings of his love for her, “Nung unang nagpunta ako sa kanya, first time ako naka sakay ng tricycle,” he admitted.
One day, unfortunate circumstances drove the young Mananquil, now working as a professional for Liwayway in Manila, back to Pangasinan because he learned that his grandfather was ill at the hospital. There, his mother’s cousin convinced him to stay on longer so she can introduce him to a special friend, “I wasn’t excited. But hindi muna ako umuwi,” he recalled, sharing the story of how he went with his aunt to visit a school in Pangasinan where Necie of Binmaley, was studying. “So naghintay ako kasi wala naman akong choice andun na ako. So nanood na lang ako nang nagdadaan. Tapos nung lunch break na, andami naglalabasan. Nakita ko sa malayo (si auntie) pero wala akong nakitang kasama. Yun pala nasa likod. Nung malapit na sabi ko, aba merong maganda sa likod. Sana ito na. Fortunately, she was,” he smiles as he shares his story. His meeting Necie was synonymous to the first time he discovered the love for art. Just as he quickly was inspired to draw, his initial meeting with the love of his life also inspired him to draw her face from memory as soon as he got back to Manila. And from there, the outpouring of love letters were sent, the first one with his portrait of her tucked in. With all the frequent visits to Pangasinan, not just for his lolo, the waiting game he had to endure just like the rest of his rivals vying for her attention and affection, developed the two-year courtship into something worthwhile. Asked if it was love at first sight, he laughed merrily and said, “I can say she was!”
Cover Story
2011: In a mammoth joint project by the University of the Philippines, the UPAA and the Araneta Centre, Mananquil was among the 30 UP artists (including National Artist Bencab) invited to paint the 30 mural paintings on Philippine history in celebration of the UPAA centenial and the Araneta Coliseum’s Golden Jubilee. He was also the only artist based outside the Philippines (in Canada) and the only one supported by an outside organzation (UPAA Toronto). His 6’ X 12’ was titled “Himagsik”, featuring the Filipinos’ long struggle, both peaceful and armed, for Philippine independence from the regional uprisings to the Katipunan 1st Cry of Pugadlawin.
With more than 40 years as an artist, and a slew of accolades and trophies honouring his work, Mananquil also became either a member or affiliate of many associations such as the Society of Philippine Illustrators & Cartoonists (SPIC), grUPo (Artists from U.P.), and Art Association of the Philippines (AAP), among many others. Notably, he was among the recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012; and was one (for Visual Arts) of the five recipients of the ASNA Award trophy and certificate, the highest and most prestigious award to outstanding Pangasinenses given personally by Governor Amado Espino at the highlight presentation ceremonies of the 433rd Founding Anniversary of Pangasinan in 2013. In that same year, he was given a Plaque of Recognition and Conferment of the title ‘Maestro’ through the
Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs by Ambassador Leslie Gatan and then -Toronto Consul General Junever Mahilum-West, during the formal opening of the 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition of the PAG. His career may have taken a turn into a new direction once he migrated here, but the success still followed him, and his passion remained unceasing, “I always love my mother country. And I always miss living in my country,” Mananquil stated. “All my life I really wanted to be an artist.” Sabi ko nga sa nanay ko either I take art or I don’t go to school. And in a way, I was able to prove to them that I was right,” he said, with the only tinge of wonder where his career would have taken him if he had stayed behind in the Philippines. Yet, in exchange for what he sacrificed, he also had much to gain.
Being in Canada now, he is grateful nevertheless, “Sabi ko nga sa wife ko, if we stayed in Philippines, baka byuda ka na ngayon. O kaya meron ka nang ibang asawa (laughs) binibiro ko sya kasi syempre pag nawala ako, and she was still young, baka maligawan,” he commented, explaining away his health issues of undergoing heart bypass surgery back in 2004. He also suffers from poor eyesight, “I am glad I am still able to paint, pero hindi na kasing bilis noon. Hindi kagaya noon maliwanag lahat. Ngayon medyo nahihirapan ako,” he admitted. Today, Maestro Mananquil spends his time with his wife and big family, enjoying the simpler pleasures in life, and of course, you will find him in his basement studio, “Sabi ko hanggang kaya ko, I will paint.” Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 19
Biz Buzz
Look for Someone You Trust By Jane Taguicana Low fees and a competitive exchange rate are reasons cited by the husband-and-wife team of Alejandro and Magdalena Geron in choosing a money transfer operator. They have been sending money to their son Ronald in the Philippines monthly since moving to Toronto 12 years ago. So far, so good. Once the money is sent and a control number has been received by Ronald, he goes to the nearest pawnshop to receive the transfer. About four years ago, Ronald accepted a balikbayan box without noticing that there has been a slash over the tape used by the cargo company. Once he opened it, most of the canned goods were gone. “You can push the box down and feel it’s about a third empty,” Magdalena recalls.“Look for someone you trust,” she warns many, to make sure they use a reliable and reputable company. Although both of them rely heavily on friends’ recommendation, they also want others to check that the businesses you choose are registered (Check Financial Transactions and Report Analysis Centre of Canada or go to www.fintrac.gc.ca) and compare the rates against other services. Below are profiles of two businesses dealing with money transfer and cargo:
Rafael Policarpio LBC Mundial Cargo Corp How long has LBC been in the business?
Over 60 years in the industry. And how long has it been in Canada? Over 15 years in Vancouver and five years here in Toronto.
What type of service/s do you provide?
We do door-to-door balikbayan boxes, both by sea and or air cargo. We do air parcels and documents.
How long does it take for the boxes to get to the recipient?
From Vancouver approximately 30 days by sea and by air is 7 to 10 days. From Toronto about 50 days by sea and our air is also 7 to 10 days but we have twice weekly service by air out of Toronto.
Can you provide the price/s?
Prices are available at our box outlets and or air cargo agents. You can also call our customer call centre team who is available 24/7 for prices and/or any questions the customer may have.
Or if you can’t, how about the range?
Prices range from as low as $50 Cdn to Metro Manila by sea for our small box. We also have for example $15 Cdn for documents up to 1 Lb to Metro Manila .
Business
Are there any guarantees on the boxes sent?
No, we do have an air product which we call BB15, balikbayan box 15 days. If it does not get delivered in 15 days, your next BB15 is free of charge. 15 days count is based on cut offs as explained to the customer before shipping.
What sets you apart from other cargo services?
LBC has this vision to give our 3C’s and 1H, which stands for convenient, clear and certain service to our customer and reinforced by a very helpful LBC attitude. Continued on page 22
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Biz Buzz
Manuel Arnaldo PNB Remittance Company (Canada) How long has PNB Remittance been in the business?
PNB has been in the money transfer business since it started as a government bank. PNB opened its wholly-owned subsidiary, PNB Remittance in the U.S., in 1990. The U.S. company opened its subsidiary, PNB Remittance Canada in 2000.
What type of service/s do you provide?
We do Money Transfer to the Philippines and to other countries in tie up with Western Union and other international remittance companies. We also provide account opening assistance to SSS pensioners and those who want to open an account with PNB in the Philippines. We also offer other remittance products such as a Peso Money Card, which we call our “Global Filipino Card” (GFC). Our GFC is a prepaid card which is used like any peso ATM card in the Philippines.
How long does it take for the money to get to the recipient?
For remittances for credit to PNB accounts or for pick up at PNB branches, transfer is almost instantaneous. For credit to accounts with other banks, same-day delivery if the other bank is online. For non-online banks, funds are transferred to the other bank on the same day. Other banks credit the account from 1-3 days after they receive the funds. Door to door deliveries in Metro Manila and major cities are delivered on the same day. Deliveries to provinces take 1-5 days depending on the distance.
Can you provide the price/s? Or if you can’t, how about the range? Our fees schedule are attached.
Are there any guarantees on the money sent?
Funds are guaranteed until delivered. If funds cannot be delivered for any reason, they will be refunded to the sender.
What sets you apart from other remittance services?
PNB Remittance – Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippine National Bank. We were the first bank to open in Canada. Money sent are secure and guaranteed. Delivery is often faster or just as fast as our competitors. We have seven branches in Canada, 4 in Ontario, one in Winnipeg, and two in British Columbia. We have two staff in Alberta, one in Calgary and one in Edmonton, for those who want to open accounts with PNB and need assistance. They can also take remittances. We have the most number of company-owned branches in Canada, and over 70 agents throughout Canada. We will soon open our Online Remittance and Phone Remittance. For the tech savvy Filipinos, they will soon be able to send money online through PNB. For those who want to speak to a live person, we will soon have our call centre set up to receive phone calls from Canadian residents who want to send money to the Philippines.
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Fairview Dental Centre Tel.: (416) 496-0900 Fax: (416) 496-0928 Email: fdcdental@yahoo.com
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Pinoy in Biz
Late bloomerfloral advice offers up some
on picking flowers for your big day
I
By Jane Taguicana
melda Martinez is a late bloomer -- a description that fits her just fine especially now that she’s found her love and ultimate passion in flowers. The floral designer and owner of ‘Flowers and Designs by Imelda’ said her journey may have been long but the destination is totally worth it. “I’m one of the lucky ones (who is) able to do what I am called to do in this world: It is to share my passion and designs for flowers.”, Imelda shared with Kubo magazine. The 50-year-old Torontonian said she’s been told she’s crazy because she talks to flowers and plants. “I love flowers!” Imelda said. “You look at the flowers and they smile at you. I feel that.” Imelda holds an Interior Design Diploma and a Ceramic Arts Certificate but none of them panned out into a career. The mother of two worked in retail, production line and administration. She was working as a receptionist more than a decade ago when she started feeling that there was a hunger that’s not being filled. “It just made me think that I need something else,” Imelda said. And the questioning began: “What have I done? Why is my life missing something?” Then life took a sharp turn. Just right after her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, her mother passed away.
Photo by Jane Taguicana
24 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Pinoy in Biz
Wedding Flowers
And remember to have fun with it. Imelda said you can add jewels, feathers, ribbons, sinamay, branches, fruits and vegetables. Let your personality come out of the design. The best thing about working with blooms is you’re making nature a part of the event. “It just gives added beauty to it. It makes the nature a part of it and it becomes an expression of the bride and groom.”
As the wedding season gets into full swing, Imelda offers the following suggestions in incorporating flowers into your big day. She says the first thing she asks at consultations is, “How are flowers a part of your wedding?”. Some consider blooms a piece of art while others likes that they help enhance the scene. Next is identifying your budget. The basic formula is usually Career Advice 10 per cent of your overall fund but there are many ways to get around For those who are still it if you don’t have the dollars. searching for a career, Imelda has Imelda said to look for this advice: flowers that are in season as they are generally cheaper. Also consider locally-grown blooms, such as Dig deep hydrangeas and carnations. “I know a lot of people stay away from within yourself. them. Give them a chance. They are Really find what’s your beautiful in their own way.” Most couples consider the strength and your blooms “an added piece of art” but don’t have any clue as to what passion and look really flowers they exactly want. For cases closely what makes like this, hiring a designer can help with the execution. “Some of you smile every day (the brides and grooms) have the when you get up and vision of what they want. (Floral designers) just enhance it.” say: “Oh, I do this for a
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She quit her job at the dental office and stayed with her kids throughout the summer to find herself. “I was home with the kids throughout the summer and then when they went back to school I sat back there and opened the Yellow Pages. When I opened it, right there was the floral design school,” recalled Imelda. More than a decade since planting the seed through her training in school, Imelda’s career blossomed into a full-time gig, allowing her to design for more than 100 occasions, most of them are weddings. Kosta Korinis, president of ‘Floral, Home & Gift Savvy’, has worked with Imelda since her start in the industry: “She’s actually taught me quite a lot. Out of all the Filipinos I’ve worked with, I can honestly tell you she’s the most reliable one,” said Kosta. “She’s a very homely person, very much into her family, religion. An overall personable, gentle human being.” Imelda remembered her last conversation with her mum who told her: “When I get up there, I’ll talk to Jesus to give you a better life and a better perspective of yourself.”
living! Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 25
Sports
Down But Not Out By Dominic Menor
Photos by iKubo Media
Local
B
oxing purists and mixed martial arts enthusiasts are known to never back down from a fight. In defence of their respective crafts, even more so. For decades, boxing owned the throne as the undisputed leader in must-see combat sports. With a shortage of marquee names, its death has been reported countless times, all of them apparent exaggeration. Couple the dearth of iconic stars on the heavyweight division with Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s retirement and Manny Pacquiao's date with the sunset after the Timothy Bradley fight on April 9, and boxing's demise could be real this time. If that happens, MMA, which continues to gain massive mainstream appeal, would be happy to take up the mantle. Socrates Celestial, 39, a boxing coach who works at Kombat Arts Training Academy in Mississauga and an occasional fighter as the need arises, will be the first to say, “Not so fast.” 26 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Celestial, a Brampton resident born to Filipino parents, currently trains FilipinoCanadian prospect Marc Pagcaliwangan. He discusses why, despite the hoopla surrounding the Kevin McGregors and Ronda Rouseys of the world, the sweet science known as boxing should never be counted out.
Q: Having a sense of the general environment of combat sports, what do you think is the state of MMA? A: MMA has actually died off a lot. I know that
a lot of gyms in our area directly, the GTA, have actually disbanded from having MMA programs because they don’t work for the general public. We have a lot of people who just fell in love with it right away. We actually had an octagon here, an MMA program, and the numbers just started dwindling.
Sports
I think what they did was they oversaturated the market. They just did so many UFCs, they just hit it so hard, and the people started getting bored. But boxing has remained consistent. People say, why is boxing surviving? It’s because it’s a gentleman’s sport. It sounds funny because it’s boxing. But the whole reason why it got coined as a gentleman’s sport because if you and I have a disagreement, no matter what, OK, no knives, no guns, no friends jump in, no kicking, no kneeing, no biting, let’s just fight with our hands. Let’s settle our disputes hands only. And if you fall down, I’ll let you get back up. There’s a certain type of dignity, class in boxing whereas MMA, not that it lacks dignity, but it’s more for the high intensity, “I wanna see blood, I wanna see knockouts.” Whereas, at least for me and for other fans, (boxing) is a form. It’s poetry, seeing two guys move with their own techniques and one will win because one is sharper, one is faster or the other one is smarter.
Q: Which has a brighter future in your mind -boxing or MMA? A: I’d go with boxing. You look at the average boxing
fight in Vegas? It’s not just the purses for the boxers. Vegas makes lots of money in boxing. Vegas will never get rid of boxing. Ever. MMA hasn’t had that type of resources. I’m also a cutman. I’ve been a cutman for certain MMA competitions and fights. The number per year don’t number the match of professionals.
Q: : On one hand, you have the Filipino culture that's generally restrained. On the other hand, you have the MMA culture where it's all guns a-blazing inside the ring. Do you think those two cultures make a perfect match? A: : You got Brandon Vera, Filipino. Filipinos back him. But it’s not the same thing. It’s different. We back him because he’s Filipino. We always back each other as a people. MMA, as a general, I’m not there so I don’t have the numbers. But I don’t think MMA has grabbed the Filipino male the way that boxing has. There’s a certain prestige in boxing. It’s ingrained in our culture and it has been for a long time. Could MMA be in the Filipino culture? Sure, it could. You have Mark Munoz. There’s been a couple of Filipinos here and there that have done it, but the numbers aren’t large. I’m not sure exactly what it could be, but I’d say the general culture of who we are as Filipinos has been always more toward boxing. Manny Pacquiao didn’t help either. He started a revolution. If we were to have a Manny Pacquiao in MMA, I’m sure we have people jump over. I see Filipinos in Thai boxing, kung fu, taekwondo, jujitsu, wrestling. There’s no sport that Filipinos don’t do. I’ve seen them in hockey, baseball, everything. But as a general sense, what does the average Filipino male in my area? Boxing.
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Mixed martial arts may grab the occasional spotlight here and there, but coach Socrates Celestial believes boxing is still the champion of combat sports.
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Boxing and contact sports action at the Kombat Arts Training Academy in Mississauga
Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 27
Celebrations
The Filipino Canadian Parents Association in Catholic Education:
A Voice for Authentic Catholic Faith Formation By: Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Faith. Family. Formation.
T
hree interwoven and significant tenets that make up the guiding light which spells challenge and propels action. With a strong faith in Divine guidance, and believing in the beauty of the human spirit, a group of Filipino Canadian Catholic parents and teachers in Toronto gathered and collectively formed a vehicle in order to help contribute and transform their common ideals and aspirations into a purposeful undertaking for their children to achieve student success in Catholic secondary and elementary schools. Thus, the Filipino Canadian Parents in Catholic Education (FCPACE) was conceived in the GTA milieu. FCPACE was formally organized on November 6, 2013 with twelve parents in initial attendance, and Tony San Juan as convener at Blessed Mother Teresa Secondary School in Scarborough, Ontario. For its Nature, the organization is operating as a non- profit, non- political community of Filipino Canadian parents, guardians, teachers and other Catholic stakeholders it seeks “to have a voice and representation within the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB)”. It aims also “to participate in an advisory role, on matters of faith, moral values, & student achievement as well as in those that affect Filipino Canadian students in respect of Catholic education, heritage and culture”.
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To articulate its presence and participation, FCPACE has a collective Vision of becoming a “leading and unified voice representing and advocating Catholic education for responsible & continued formation and preservation of authentic Catholic faith among Filipino Canadian students, parents, families and communities within the Catholic education system and Canadian society in general “. In support of its Vision and Nature , the Association desires and expects its Mission to : 1)” help maintain and increase enrollment in Catholic schools by advocating for the excellence of Catholic education, 2) collaborate with TCDSB on its Multi-Year Strategic Plan in alignment with Filipino Catholic values, 3) Work with the TCDSB and other parent organizations to help strengthen public confidence in Catholic education through collective responsibility of maintaining authentic Catholicity, 4) Work in partnership and collaboration with Filipino and other ethnic organizations in increasing the number of faithful and practicing Catholic administrators, teachers and staff in the TCDSB, 5) Engage with and provide input to other Working and Special Committees of TCDSB, and 6) Promote Filipino heritage, culture and arts within the Toronto Catholic education environment and the general community”. Comprising the 2013-2015 Executive Board are founding members : Francisco Galema, chair; Marla Tanuan, vicechair, Ruth Oliveros, secretary, Randy Bucao, treasurer and Ben Corpuz, Paulina Corpuz, Eugene Guiyab, Jeng Guiab, Gina Lim, Manuel Lim, Jocelyn San Juan & Tony A. San Juan as directors, with TCDSB Ward 8 Trustee Garry Tanuan and community relations officer Jodelyn Huang who served as special advisers. Other notable Filipino Canadian leaders who joined in were: Joey Abrenilla, Myrna Alforte, Rose Apilado, Francis & Therese Baduria, Claire & Ronnie De la Gana, Cielito Drapeza, Dario & Maria Guiao, Perly Laganas, Christine & Joseph Manrique, Jeffrey Oliveros, Joel Pine and Lorelei & Joseph Redoblado and Michele Serrano.
Celebrations
Proudly, the FCPACE leadership in solid representation and collaboration with TCDSB senior officers worked towards the creation of a Filipino Advisory Committee (FAC) by the Board of Trustees on October 9, 2014 with solid support and representation by Trustees Angela Kennedy and Garry Tanuan. FAC, with its Terms of Reference, is composed of Joey Abrenilla, Francisco Galema, Carole Martin, Mary Ann San Juan, Tony A.San Juan and Kaylene Tolentino. Sitting in the 13- person Advisory Committee are: 2 school trustees, the Associate Director of Academic Affairs, three school superintendents and 1 community relations officer.
Last year’s Keynote Speaker, Dr. Ashleigh Molloy, at the first FCPACE Conference, “Meeting the Challenges of Filipino Canadian Catholic Students and Parents”
One of FCPACE’s big events last year was the holding of the historic First Annual Conference of Catholic Parents, Students and Teachers on April 25, 2015 at the Catholic Education Centre, TCDSB. With its theme : “Meeting the Challenges of Filipino Canadian Catholic Students and Parents”, the oneday event conducted group workshops on the identification and discussion of concerns and challenges impacting students and parents in areas of parent involvement, student performance, curriculum- related issues, adjustment to teaching- learning practices & academic requirements .The conference engaged more than 150 participants including notable speakers and guests from the Catholic community in the Greater Toronto Area. The maiden conference was generously supported by numerous individual donors, businesses and organizations. On track, FCPACE is holding a “Second Annual Parents, Teachers and Students Conference on Parent Engagement” in April 2016. Also, in planning stage, is the establishment and operation of a long-term, multi-pronged general program which would offer Sustainable Services and Special Projects that will address continuing challenges and specific issues in Catholic education and faith formation within the Filipino Canadian Catholic community. Membership to FCPACE is open to all who believe and support Catholic education and Catholic schools. To become a member, one has to apply by completing a membership form and paying a modest registration & annual fee. Interested individuals are requested to contact: Marla Tanuan at: mtanuan@yahoo.com, Tel.416-209-8659 or Ruth Oliveros at rutholiveros@sympatico.ca , Tel. 416-2827282.( T. San Juan)
Families participating in an FCPACE workshop discussing the challenges of new immigrants transitioning to the Canadian education system Photos by iKubo Media
Spring 2016 Kubo Magazine 29
30 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016
Presyong Kabayan, Serbisyong Maaasahan
Berbo Bustamante EXT 262 berbo.b@scarboroughnissan.com 31   Kubo Magazine  Spring 2016
32 Kubo Magazine Spring 2016