April Fools' Day Special: Kuwentong Barbero at Iba't-Ibang Usapan

Volume 6, Issue No. 42

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Tuesday, April 1, 2025 

~ In a break with tradition, this issue of Currents & Breaking News is in Tagalog. It has been suggested that for us to reach a wider Filipino audience, we should try to report the news in our native tongue. Apologies to non-Tagalog speakers. And so for once, we would do that with the article below, timed with April Fools' Day to enliven our readers and share a little laughter too. 

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MUNTING MAYNILA SA TORONTO

 Kuwentong Barbero, Kuwentong Cochero, Kuwentong Marites at Iba't-Ibang Usapan

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

(April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is an annual custom on 1 April consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting ""April Fools!"" at the recipient. - Wikipedia).

TORONTO - Over the years, the neighbourhood fondly referred to by Filipinos as Little Manila has assumed the unpleasant image of its namesake. One excited visitor, a first-timer with her small family, commented that everything about the Philippine capital was here except the "mandurukot" (pickpockets).

It was a candid estimation of what the area has become, not quite a paradise, but a thriving spot for denizens of all shades, political beliefs, and perhaps, of the underworld such as scammers, pimps, extortionists and the like.

Here's an imaginary conversation overheard in one of the hole-in-the-wall eateries in Little Manila right after they heard that an extortion gang is now plying the area: 

"Ganun pala yun, huh, ganun pala yun . . . " said the man in a Taste of Manila orange shirt named Pedrito.

"Para ka namang gunggong, ginagaya mo pa si Kabise," the other guy, Juanito, responded with a smirk.

Pedrito: "Eh yun ang kinanta ni Kabise sa party nila sa Niagara. Pinanood mo ba sa YouTube? Pinagmalaki pa nga niya ang kutis-bayag niya."

Juanito: "Siyempre, proud yung tao. Isipin mo naman. Sa konsulado nag-serbisyo siya ng matagal bilang tsuper, pero walang medalya, maski takip ng softdrinks o kaya papel diliha na certificate."

Pedrito: "Hoy, Juanito, baka nalimutan mo, tulo laway niya kapag tinatawag siyang Congen o Amba. Gustong-gusto niya yun."

Juanito: "Nahihiya nga ako eh, baka isipin ng ibang lahi mga gunggong yung mga taga konsulado. Kung todo bihis pa yung tao, talagang pumapel."

Pedrito: "Teka, ano ba ang ibig niyang sabihin ng 'ganun pala yun, huh, ganun pala yun'? Hanggang ngayon hindi ko malaman ang ibig sabihin. Hindi kaya . . . na madaling maloko yung nagbigay sa kanya ng tigsi-singkong award?"

Juanito: "Ewan ko ba. Mukhang lutong macao eh. Ang dami namang matino sa tropa natin, si Kabise pa ang napili. Hindi kaya siya nagbayad?"

Pedrito: "Matino kamo? Sino, yung bakla o yung tomboy na apat ang pangalan? Gunggong ka talaga. Parehong mandurugas yun. Kaya nga kinuha ni Kabise eh."

Juanito: "Hoy, Pedrito, kilala mo ba yung nagbigay ng award. Ang dinig ko eh tropa ng barangay-tagay na taga labas ng Toronto. Ano yun, negosyo rin ba? Ano karapatan nila magbigay ng award?"

Pedrito: "Parang ganun nga. Barangay award yata ang ibinigay kay Kabise dahil magaling siyang mambola at magtagay ng beer-gin-coke na hinaluan yata ng ihi ng kabayo."

Juanito: "Nabalitaan na ba ninyo na may 'kotong' gang na rin dito sa Munting Maynila? Bukod sa 'kotong' may mga kalapating pokpok na rin. Ang namumuno daw sa 'kotong' ay si Rolito. Kasama rin daw si Sanito at Rosing. May isang pokpok na ka-alyado rin nila."

Pedrito: "Eh sino naman yung tatlong itlog na yun? Mahilig ba talaga silang mangotong? I-report natin sa pulis para matigil na ang pangongotong nila."

At this juncture, another guy - Felipe - joined the conversation. It's his nature to butt in, especially when he sees a chance for a photo op with prominent politicians. This time he could not help himself, knowing the discussion was quite important.

Felipe: "Sa probinsiya namin sa Quezon, lambanog ang paborito dahil madaling gawin sa dami ng mga punong-niyog. Madalas nga, nagkakaloko-loko yung mga tao dahil sa kalasingan sa lambanog."

Juanito: "Sabi-sabi, inutusan ni Kabise na nakawin yung mga litrato at video sa YouTube para palabasin na malakas siya sa mga politico at para na rin ma-promote yung asawa niyang si Never."

Pedrito: "Ogag ka talaga. Ang pangalan Nieves, hindi Never ha ha ha. Isa ring makapal yun. Gusto itawag sa kanya pers lady, pers lady siguro ng Bathurst."

Felipe: "Pwede ba huwag na ninyong ungkatin yan. Minsan kasi, dahil yata sa lambanog, nakisali ako kay Kabise. Eto yung panahon ng COVID. Wala kaming magawa si Kabise kaya pinanakaw yung mga litrato at video at gumawa kami ng promo, starring nga si Never, este Nieves."

Pedrito: "May kakambal yata itong Nieves. Kamukha niya, maliit, bilog at mukhang busog na busog sa mga pagkain sa Munting Maynila. Sa totoo lang para silang pinagbiyak na tumbong."

Juanito: "Nasa-isip ko naman, kaya Never, Never silang magbayad dun sa ninakaw. Never mag-apologize sa pagnanakaw. At never din na umamin ng kasalanan niya. Religious daw yung pamilya?"

Felipe: "Sa pagkaka-alam ko, alagad sila ni Quiboloy, yung tinatawag na Apollo Quiboloy na 'appointed son of God' kuno. Maraming naniwala diyan kay Quiboloy at sa mga boladas niya. Dito sa Toronto, yung ibang alagad niya, namamalimos at nandun sa mga shopping centers, humihingi ng 'donation' daw."

Pedrito: "Maniwala ka diyan na religious sila. Kung religious sila bakit nagnanakaw at nangongotong? Pampaganda lang yun para maniwala yung mga tao na matino sila. Saan kaya nila dinadala yung mga libo-libo na kinita ng Taste of Manila?"

Juanito: "Well, kung malakas ang loob nilang magnakaw ng litrato at video, hindi malayo na ibinulsa na yung pera. Pa-project project pa nga para daw sa community, eh wala naman. Paek-ek lang pala."

Pedrito: "Hoy, hoy, nadinig nyo ba yung dakdak-iyak ni Monching dahil na-onse ni Kabise. Nakakaawa ang itsura. Para bang nadukutan ng pera sa Munting Maynila. Labis-labis ang himutok at hinagpis."

Felipe: "Kasalanan nya yun. Dikit-linta siya kay Kabise, akala nya appointed son of Kabise siya na kagaya ni Quiboloy. Eh ngayon, eh di nadugas siya kasama ng matronang partner/girlfriend/alalay/sugar mommy, etc. ha mahilig daw sa five-six."

Juanito: "Masyado kang chismoso Felipe. Hindi mo ba alam mas maraming chismis sa yo. Matakaw ka raw sa publicity wala ka namang ginagawang matino, puro selfie ka lang."

Felipe: "Inggit lang sila. Ako yata ang pinakamaraming pictures sa Facebook. Naisip ko gumawa na lang ng sarili ko, tatawagin ko na FBook or FelipeBook."

Juanito: "Ano ba talaga ang organization mo, ha Felipe? Nandun ka sa Filipino Centre Toronto, mayron ka pang PESO, nandiyan ka rin sa Taste of Manila, at dikit ka ng dikit sa mga MP pag may picture-taking. Ano talaga racket mo? Yung PESO mo scam yata?"

Felipe: "Bahala sila. Basta ko, happy ako pag nakita ko na ang mukha ko sa Facebook, video at mga diario. Sabi nga ng marami, sikat na sikat daw ako."

Habang nag-uusap si Juanito at Felipe, dumating si Kabise at bitbit yung mga folders na may lamang mapa ng Bathurst St. Binibilang niya yung mga booth na itatayo dun sa Bathurst at kung magkano ang sisingilin niya sa mga vendors. Ngiting-aso siya habang iniisip niya na limpak-limpak na salapi ang darating na naman sa kanya. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction based on facts. Any similarities to circumstances, events, organizations, and people are purely coincidental.

Bring Ex-President Duterte Home, Rallyists Demand

Volume 6, Issue No. 41

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Monday, March 31, 2025 

~ Covering the support/protest/birthday rally for former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at Earl Bales Park on Saturday, March 29 gave us a sense of what and how the thousands of Filipinos abroad feel about his continued detention in The Hague, Netherlands under the custody of the International Criminal Court. The same outcries, the same demands, the same revulsion are repeated a thousand times here in Canada's largest city. 

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IN TORONTO, HUNDREDS BRAVED RAINS

World Outcry for Ex-President Duterte's Release

Supporters Say He Was 'Kidnapped' by ICC

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"We are easily comforted for the misfortunes of our friends, when those misfortunes give us an occasion of expressing our affection and solicitude." - Francois de La Rochefoucauld

TORONTO - What appears to be a spontaneous outpouring of support for detained former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is real, an unforeseen phenomenon seemingly unprecedented in magnitude.

This past weekend here at Earl Bales Park in Canada's largest city, hundreds of individuals and organizations braved the rain and chilly weather to show their affection, respect, and concern for the 80-year-old.

Those are the driving force - made even more compelling when experts' opinion are taken into account that he was kidnapped - for their call for his return to the Philippines from detention in the Netherlands. 

Currently in custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for what it calls "crimes against humanity" he allegedly committed during his term as president from 2016 to 2022 and as mayor of Davao City years prior, Duterte looked unperturbed by all the fuss around him.

He accepts his fate, or whatever awaits him, and says in news videos on social media that he is resigned to the fact that his age, coupled with some health issues, would be the deciding factor on what remains of his life. 

If he's able to ride out those problems and the ICC continues to prosecute him to the end, he declares he'd gladly choose to be executed by firing squad as what had happened to Philippine national hero Jose Rizal in 1896.

Love and respect for "Tatay Digong" (as he is affectionately called) rather than politics are generating the rallies, which, basically are a show of gratitude for what he had done to uplift the pitiful plight of hundreds of thousands of overseas workers at the hands of their abusive employers.

It's not a wonder then that the rallies began at the grassroots level. Duterte's base has always been the underprivileged, the common men and women whose life struggles echo his own. 

Even as the ICC claimed his "arrest" was lawful, in the eyes of legal experts and his supporters, it was a surprise "kidnapping" done soon after he deplaned in Manila from a trip to Hongkong.

That "kidnapping" was tantamount to a surrender of Philippine sovereignty to an organization (the ICC) and enabled by the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"Former President Duterte deserves the due process," a rallyist named Violet told this reporter. "If he did anything wrong he should be tried in his own country and at his age, it's not very Filipino to be treated like that."

Related videos:

1. Toronto Joins Clamor to Bring Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte Home - Part 1

2. Why Ex-President Duterte Is So Popular and Respected - Part 2

"In our culture, we never treat people like that, especially somebody who has done so much for our country. So I support the Duterte family and I pray for the Philippines and I am here because of that," she added.

Maria, another supporter, explained: "Hindi po dumaan sa due process ang pagka-arrest sa kanya and it's not fair. We are here to support former President Duterte. We're asking the ICC for his release."

Regardless of the politics, Duterte endeared himself to his countrymen by championing the cause of small people, particularly the downtrodden.

In many world capitals where Filipinos and OFWs have significant presence, international news and videos on social media show a massive turnout of folks demanding Duterte's release.

In fact, if online video postings are to be believed, the Netherlands, particularly The Hague where ICC is located, is experiencing a sudden surge of visitor arrivals from across Europe, thanks to Duterte and his followers. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).

Leftist Ideologues in Community Journalism

FOREWORD

Timeliness and relevance are two important elements of journalism. While reviewing my files this week, I found them in an article, undiminished by years, necessitating a second look and checking if the publication it had been written for still carried it on its website. 

"The first rough draft of history," was how the late Washington Post publisher Phil Graham called journalism. The article I mention here is a chunk of history, but for some unstated reason, it had been removed from the site. Quite a bit of a disappointment especially for those who keep watch of developments in the Filipino community, and for students of history.

Because it provides an earlier glimpse into what two tabloid editors had been doing before they were exposed recently by one of their staff writers for lies and deception makes a compelling case to republish it in my blog. For the record.

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Volume 6, Issue No. 40

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Friday, March 21, 2025 

~ They dispense with convention like they toss their stinky socks. Journalism is not like that. Advocacy journalism is fighting for principles, standing firm and uncompromising despite adversities, not selling out to favor friends and supporters. Because they would rather be on stage to bask in fleeting moments of false glory, a couple thought they could lead the community blind to their leftist cause. Ideology is a handy mask to hide their true intent. They are no more than agitprop agents out to cash in on the unsuspecting Filipino community. 

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COMMUNITY JOURNALISM IN TORONTO

 Leftist Ideologues and Agitprop

Is Their Outlet Forever Gone?

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others, that in the end, we become disguised to ourselves." - François de la Rochefoucauld

TORONTO - On the outside they look benign, a seemingly loving couple perpetually tethered to each other - at least that's how they appear in public.

More than newspapering, they share a passion for being photographed with the high and mighty and with those who have a potential to shine.

They appear in their own paper, stiff but smiling broadly and looking directly at the camera, and in other publications where space, for lack of advertisements, needs constant filling with irrelevant stories and photos.

They dispense with convention for the fleeting glory of the moment. They seem to have no qualms in being seen anywhere and everywhere despite protocol enjoining the observance of a code of ethics and conduct. In journalism, after all, appearances are critical to the performance of one's job.

It is unethical, for example, to be constantly rubbing elbows, and photographed at that, with people who are potentially subjects of adverse stories because public perception, real or imagined, would impact a journalist's independent disposition.

The reason is that in most, if not in all cases, journalists take on an adversarial role. They pose challenges to draw out the truth. An impassioned, free-wheeling discussion of issues would result only from such professional non-partisan behaviour. 

On the other hand, an over-friendly journalist would not have this ability if public perception about him is already muddled with instances of impropriety.

So journalism, not the kind practiced by the lamestream Filipino newspapers in Toronto, is impaired by extreme familiarity with news sources and with people who happen to be in the news for their undoing.

The nature of a journalist's work entails honesty, conviction, neutrality and impartiality.

But the couple here must establish a wide media presence, perhaps to sustain the notion of active community involvement when in fact such involvement is projected only by constantly being filmed.

This strategy very much mimics the tact used to advantage by so-called community leaders and heads of community organizations. For those who doubt this assertion, just flip the pages of Filipino tabloids (those that still exist anyway) and see for yourselves.

Even as the iconic Reds are all dead - Marx, Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Chou, Che, Castro - and the Philippine version that they inspired, some capitalistic journalists in Toronto still hanker for the idea that evaded them in their youth.

Thus we have the Red Couple, their relationship sealed forever by fate and faith, and by a common hatred for something that exists only in their minds. It could be professional and business envy, distrust of others who outshine them, their awful lack of self-esteem and failure to advance commercially.

It's hard to pin blame on them, harder still to understand why they would engage in underground warfare in such an open society as Canada. They carry a double face - one that radiates an image of peace and contentment, and the other, a grinning, back-biting snake hiding in trenches.

I suspect the ideology they purport to hold and advance is just a cover to pursue private deals, thus financial support, not just from Canada but also from what's called cause-oriented groups in the Philippines. Otherwise, their paper would not be a propaganda sheet for the Left as it appears.

Toronto's Filipino community has barely time for such ideologues due mainly to the fact that the economy is able to feed the demand for jobs which in many cases are well-paying. Who would instigate changing the status quo than the professional "agitprop" agents?

For example, if the personal and health care providers are an aggrieved lot, it is not because no one is advocating for them. The problem is systemic that needs constant refining by whatever political party in power.

Our Red Couple are opportunistic agitprops of convenience who feign their social advocacies for their own personal comfort. Like the humbug they openly support, they are a sham. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).