by Benjie de Ubago I was recently informed by a reliable source that the Multi-Purpose Centre was allegedly selling shares. The news sent shock waves to the system. Let’s summarize. In 2004, they called for a press conference at Parramatta Town Hall, informing us that they were planning to sell the Rooty Hill site. They […]
Month: June 2008
Widow seeks justice for slain husband
Juliet Arrogante and her son Renerio IV are in Sydney seeking as many signatures they could gather from Filipino Australians. Their objective is for the Australian government to intervene so that the criminal case lodged against the suspected killer of Renerio ‘Jun’ Arrogante III would be heard in Manila instead of Daanbantayan in Cebu. With […]
They eat “Pagpag”
What is ‘pagpag’? If you don’t know, read on! For the poor who live in slums around garbage dumps in Metro Manila, it is food – actually leftover pieces of chicken or morsels of meat swarming with ants and other impurities. Yes, it is food that they call ‘pagpag.’ (Pagpag means to shake off.) They […]
The Botong Pinoy Software
For those who have not heard of it yet, Botong Pinoy is a software that will fully automate the election process in the Philippines. Once adopted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), it will ensure honest and speedy election results because the counting of ballots is tamper proof. Thus, the so-called dagdag-bawas (addition-subtraction) strategy of […]
Mobile Phone Scam
Readers are warned not to open SMS or text messages from unknown senders. There are at least two companies stealing money from unsuspecting owners of mobile phones. They somehow manage to obtain mobile phone numbers and other personal data of people. Then they send unsolicited SMS messages which are in essence nonsense. In the process, […]
Pride by Association
by Benjie de Ubago Ooops, it’s time to dust those barongs and sayas. Yep, it’s that time of the year when the community is agog as to who’s coming and who gets an invite. Some will be jumping from one event to another only to see the same faces. Get ready for those waist bending […]
Conversation with a Runaway Filipino Boxer
by Inessa Rivera Remember that song “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel? It goes “I’m just a poor boy, though my story’s seldom told…” and its chorus goes “…lie-la-lie…” This song played over and over in my mind as a Filipino boxer told me his story. And when I read his Manager’s letter clarifying the […]
Filipino parents board flight, forget toddler at airport (Agence France-Presse)
OTTAWA—Tickets, check. Passports, check. Luggage, check. Baby? … Oops. A family boarded a flight on Monday in westernmost Canada, and forgot their tot at the Vancouver international airport, media said Tuesday. The 23-month-old boy’s family had just arrived in Canada from the Philippines, but they were forced to repack their overweight bags before catching a […]
Modern Day Slavery in the Philippines
by Fr. Shay Cullen Slavery today is the same as it always was, its human beings being reduced to a commodity, deprived of freedom, working for nothing, exploited for profit, owned like an animal, forced to grovel. And worst of all it is the slavery of children in the organized sex industry, a billion dollar […]
Marching Band bound to play at the Big Apple
They look like ordinary children romping the playgrounds. But they are far from ordinary. They have exceptional talents that parents can certainly be proud of. Many of them can play at least two musical instruments – Clarinet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Violin, French Horn, Trombone – you name it, they play it. They don’t just […]
IMPORTANT NOTICE to Readers of Philippine Tribune
Starting next month on July 2008, those persons who are in our mailing list but are not paid subscribers will no longer be sent free copies of the Philippine Tribune. Now on its 9th year, this newspaper is now widely circulated and is available free in various Filipino and Asian stores statewide.