BC-RP Festival 2005

The B.C.-Philippine Festival 2005 celebration activities at the Vancouver Plaza of Nations on June 12 have been finalized. Listed as special guest performers from the Philippines are Aiza Sequera, Gizelle Sanchez, Luke Mijares, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragosa.

Avant garde choreographer and Vancouver Dance Center’s Artist-In-Residence, Alvin Erasga Tolentino recently presented his latest work "In Field" at the Scotiabank Dance Center. Tolentino’s work combined dance, music and video to evoke connections between people and the land. The dance which he said was created in the Philippines, Belgium and France toured Toronto and Montreal and is scheduled for presentation in Singapore and Venezuela later this year.

An interesting question was raised to me last week — "What do most or some Canadians do with their free time. This query was answered when the Ipos-Reid published a report that the Canadian recreational habits differ widely from coast to coast. Here’s how Canadians are most likely to relax if you live in:

• British Columbia – crafts, Quebec – Dining out

• Alberta – Fishing, Manitoba/Saskatchewan — Hanging out with family and friends.

Columnist Jonathan Manthorpe, a leading columnist of Vancouver Sun wrote a comprehensive, factual and realistic Asia Pacific Report. Here are some of the highlights.

• Sustainable management of environment is creeping up the agenda of China’s government as leaders in Beijing contemplate the threat pollution and degradation of resources pose to continued economic development.

• Asia-Pacific rankings in global survey of nations’ ability to absorb and utilize new information network technology. The top six are Singapore, US, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Australia. The Philippines never made the top 10 list.

• About two billion people making up a third of the human race could be speaking or learning English by 2015. Coastal China children start learning English at grade three as a basic, necessary skill.

• Estrada trial dissolves into a farce. The defense produced a master’s degree student in Islamic studies, carrying a Louis Vuitton bag, and one claims to be a royal prince. The article has more embarrassing details about the farcical legal system in the Philippines, one of the most corrupt countries in the world. On a personal note — What a shame!

According to the Conference Board of Canada, the country’s rising dollar is once again discouraging Americans from traveling to Canada, specially to British Columbia. US visits is expected to slow over the next few years, from 5.4 percent to a disappointing 2.8 percent by 2008. This is naturally a distressing projection to those involved in the province’s tourism.

The Catanduanes International Association, Vancouver Chapter and Friends of ConGen are jointly sponsoring a huge Farewell dinner-program for the departing Consul General Zenaida-Rabago on July 8 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown.

Consul General Rabago ends her successful six-year tour of duty in Vancouver this coming July. In my opinion, she is the most outstanding Filipino diplomat assigned to British Columbia. ConGen Rabago who hails from Catanduanes is not only loved by Philippine community but is highly respected by Canadians and the diplomatic community as Dean of the Consular Corps in British Columbia.

Her dedication, leadership, diplomacy, humanity, hard work and keen understanding of the complex, fragmented and demands of the Filipino Canadian communities with over 160 Pinoy-Na-Pinoy associations, professional fund-raisers, not counting the over-religious groups and well-intentioned activists who should be in the Philippines, not in British Columbia endeared her to many. She will definitely be missed along with her rich legacy and infectious laughter.

Almost half of Canadians (48 percent) say the constitutional monarchy is outdated and they would prefer a republic system of government with an elected head of state like the US. Quebec was most in favor of change, with British Columbia second.