Filipino Web Magazine : 2025

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

The U.K.'s Prince Andrew: Ruined and Disgraced

Volume 7, Issue No. 21

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of 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, October 21, 2025

~ The erstwhile Duke of York - that's (ex) Prince Andrew - younger brother of King Charles, and uncle of Prince William, heir apparent to the throne, has been divested of his royal duties for his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein who died by suicide in 2019, and his cohort, the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving 20 years in prison in the United States. The developments in London are interesting for Canadians, especially because Canada is tethered to the United Kingdom though its monarch.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE BRITISH MONARCHY

The Saga of Prince Andrew:

Disgraced and Stripped of Royal Duties

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Around thrones the thunder rolls.” ― C.J. Sansom

TORONTO - Current news developments in the British capital involve the disgraced 65-year-old Prince Andrew, erstwhile Duke of York and brother of reigning King Charles. Andrew Albert Christian Edward is no longer "His Royal Highness."

His fall is intensely reported in world media, much of it owing to his association with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted cohort Ghislaine Maxwell, the former British socialite now serving a 20-year jail sentence in the United States.

From a journalism standpoint, Andrew's still-unfolding story is great fodder for news reporting. It's quite rare for a royal to be sucked into a news cycle as demeaning as this where the once second heir to the throne is a major actor.

For Canadians, it feels extremely pernicious to see the second son of Queen Elizabeth II tumble into disrepute. The relevance is in witnessing in real time how a person of wealth, power and influence could be so abusive.

Multiple news reports from London say Prince William, 43, Prince of Wales and heir to King Charles, 76, will ban Andrew, his uncle, from all royal duties when he becomes king. (Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZewturXN70).

The evolving drama should be of interest to us, especially to Canadians and Filipino-Canadians, particularly because we're politically tethered to the United Kingdom by virtue of Canada's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations.

As a former British colony, Canada is one of the 15 realms in the Commonwealth whose head of state is King Charles, father of Prince William. As Canadians, we pledge allegiance to the King.

The Oath of Citizenship that we recite and sign to become citizen of Canada is a "declaration of fealty to Canada in the name of the Canadian monarch (presently King Charles) and a promise to abide by Canada's laws and customs."

That kind of impersonal relationship with the British monarchy through King Charles may create some concern for some of us who may have some affinity in the UK through marriage or other means.

The saga of Andrew, though far removed from us, is indeed intriguing. It's a real life drama many Filipino Canadians find watching in their favourite soap opera on television.

But that is not to diminish its significance. After all, Canada, as a constitutional monarchy, has for its head of state King Charles. That ties us up with the United Kingdom of which we are a part. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).

Sunday, 19 October 2025

Millions Attend Biggest Protest Rally Against Donald Trump

Volume 7, Issue No. 20

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

Our latest as of Sunday, October 19, 2025

~ Millions of protesters turned up across the United States in a historic show of unity against President Donald Trump's increasing extreme right-wing inclination befitting a king. Yesterday's (Saturday, Oct. 18) "No Kings" protests dramatized his growing unpopularity highlighted by his deployment of National Guards in Democrat-controlled cities.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"THE BIGGEST IN U.S. HISTORY"

The Seething Cauldron of Protests in the U.S.

Against the Convicted Felon Donald Trump

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

TORONTO - Hundreds of thousands of people from every major city came together on Saturday, October 18, to form at least seven million protesters, and braved threats in the biggest show of defiance in the history of the United States against the sitting president, Donald Trump, a convicted felon.

Live accounts from multiple news outlets brought to life the many lies of the administration, in particular the allegations of his Republican MAGA movement that the mass action was instigated by so-called antifa (or anti-fascists) opposing Trump's extreme right inclinations.

American-Canadians and their families mounted a similar "No Kings" protests in Toronto in mid-June, gathering at a small park fronting the U.S. consulate on University Ave. and marching around the city. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDjuEmU-B7k&t=9s).

Trump has been condemned for his increasing use of military tactics and his deployment of National Guards in Democrat-controlled states and cities to enforce immigration laws leading to the arrest and deportation of hundreds of undocumented.

Though he has lost several cases in courts of law, Trump continues to impose his will, emboldened by an earlier Supreme Court ruling clothing him with immunity for official acts. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).

Tuesday, 14 October 2025

How Did Taste of Manila Spend $34K in Grant Money?

Volume 7, Issue No. 19

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

Our latest as of Tuesday, October 14, 2025

~ A little more patience and the community may soon learn how organizers of Taste of Manila (ToM) convinced the City of Toronto to give the festival $34,000 in taxpayers money for its August staging. Authorities have responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to unseal documents, but held on for weeks to give the other party time to explain.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE $34,000 QUESTION

Would the City Disclose the Financial

Situation of Taste of Manila Festival?

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Nothing is hidden that will not be made known, nothing is secret that will not come to light.” ― Dan Brown

TORONTO - Six days ago, I received an email from City authorities replying to my Freedom of Information request to unseal documents about the financial status of the Taste of Manila (ToM) festival and its organizers.

At last, I thought, my readers and the Filipino community would get to know how and why ToM managed to secure a City grant amounting to $34,000 for its two-day festivity in mid August at the North York hub of Little Manila.

Nobody in ToM has made a public announcement of the grant. I had to dig in until I found the list of organizations chosen by the City for funding, among them ToM and Mabuhay Philippines Festival.

The silence made me suspicious, all the more because ToM officials and organizers appeared in social media indulging themselves in parties and post-ToM gatherings.

I've been waiting since Sept. 9 when I filed and paid for the FOI request and, 30 days later on Oct. 9, a response came. I was ecstatic, but as I read through the email, I became a bit disappointed.

In so many words, it said I had to wait again at least another three weeks - the length of time the city was giving ToM to answer my questions. (Related story: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2025/08/toronto-taxpayers-are-funding-taste-of.html).

My thinking was why would the City be more protective of a private entity (a numbered company, i.e. 5012252 Ontario Inc., supposedly owned by Rolly "kabise" Mangante and his family) than of taxpayers whose money went to ToM to partly subsidize its expenses.

"Disclosure of the requested records (from Aug. 1, 2025 to Sept. 9, 2025)," according to the City, "may affect the interests of a third party."

"Therefore, the third party is being given an opportunity to make representations concerning disclosure of the agreement. A decision on whether the records will be disclosed will be made by November 10, 2025," the City said.

I had to do a FOI request because ToM is not exactly a model of transparency even as Mangante, its self-named founder, had declared early on that ToM has nothing to hide. I hope so. But why is it so secretive?

Monday, 6 October 2025

New Consul General: Filipinos in Toronto Are 'Very Welcoming'

Volume 7, Issue No. 18

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

Our latest as of Monday, October 6, 2025

~ Consul General Kristine Leilani R. Salle, the ambassador recently appointed to head the Philippine Consulate in Toronto, finds the Filipino community here "very welcoming" and the big turnout at her Meet & Greet "heartwarming." During an hour-long dialogue, folks dish out problems, mostly personal, which she attributes to inadequacy of information. The event was one infrequent chance for selfies and photo ops for all, and a blessing for some with questionable motives in being photographed with her.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AMBASSADOR KRISTINE LEILANI R. SALLE

New Congen Debuts at 'Meet & Greet'

with Toronto's Filipino Community

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“A confident woman wears a smile and has this air of comfortability and pleasantness about her.” ― Agu Jaachynma N.E.

TORONTO - The questions came pouring in, the kind that can be described as sublime and ridiculous, from among the dozens of Filipinos out to get a sense of what's in store for them now that a seasoned diplomat is taking the reins of the Philippine Consulate.

Fresh from her ambassadorship in the United Nations, Consul General Kristine Leilani R. Salle is, in a manner of speaking, the new sheriff in town whose constituency in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba consists of nearly half the estimated one million Filipinos in Canada.

The evening of Thursday, Oct. 2, was her public debut in the Filipino community notable for its socials, picnics, lavish parties, cash cows such as beauty pageants, street festivals, fashion shows, concerts, entertainment spectacles and the like.

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVA22DkOZSo

That same community is where one finds a proliferation of alleged not-for-profit orgs and foundations, fake heroes, scammers, liars, thieves, so-called role models, social media trolls, leaders in pictures only, praise (not press) media, and "editors" who suppress news unflattering to their friends.

With 25 years of experience as a diplomat under her belt, it's reasonable to assume that Congen Salle must have encountered some of them some place else. If not, she's in for a surprise.

Selfies with them, like the ones we witnessed at her Meet & Greet (M&G), are potential credentials validating themselves as being close to persons of authority, or chummy with top officials, which then translates to access to solicit personal or business favours.

In the Filipino community, proximity to important people, or the illusion of it, is like a license to peddle one's self-importance. In fact, some folks jostle for berths or choice seats closest to the very important person, especially during photo sessions memorializing the moment.

At the M&G, at least one good-for-nothing publicity hound known for his relentless pursuit of the limelight sought to ingratiate himself by asking Congen Salle her favourite food. Hearing that, I was almost tempted to ask: what's your favourite colour, ma'm? just to spite him.

It's a come-on, clearly an attempt to gain acceptance, especially when he explained he and his purported organizations (which one?) would be prepared to serve her food preference when the time comes to host her.

But the diplomat in her surfaced as she deftly handled the solicitous offer, and answered with a toothsome smile. The exchange evoked a little laughter and raised some eyebrows particularly because most people there knew his usual gimmicks.

This person has a rich history of inserting himself when he sees an opportunity to be physically close to public officials being interviewed or photographed - for no reason at all - than to be seen shoulder to shoulder with them. He's also a crook.

At the beginning of the question-and-answer session, a camera-carrying person who looked old enough to be her father asked if she was single (she replied promptly that she's married). The question was quite jolting for some who wondered if he was being mischievous, ignorant, or smitten by her good looks.

He may have momentarily lost his composure. Just minutes before M&G opened for questions, everybody hesitated until the guy grabbed the microphone and queried Congen Salle about her marital status. Though clownish and flirtatious, he somewhat broke the ice.

Whatever his mindset was, or his intention was, really didn't matter. Questions like his, in my opinion as a journalist, are best left in the privacy of a one-on-one interview. The guy, unprepared and disrespectful, put her on the spot. If he were writing a story, would he headline it "Consul General Is Not Single"? It's ridiculous.

If he had done his due diligence, he would have found that Congen Salle does not advertise her family nor her personal information. That's what I learned from googling her for background. And that, I believe, is for reasons of security.

The real, meaningful question came from Kathleen Mae Ranjo, a registered nurse and vice president of the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA). (Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvD2y3tanLY)

She prefaced her query with a declaration: "Filipinos are the largest exporter of nurses. Basically, we take care of the world. But who will take care of us?"

Rhetorical or not, the question struck me. Her statement underlines the problems health care workers are facing in Canada.

Other questions were mostly personal which Congen Salle attributed to a lack of information and a misunderstanding of the procedures involved in documentation.

"Actually, many of them, it's just that they don't know the process . . . that's why we're very active and increasing our consular outreach mission for us to reach more Filipinos. Obviously many of them lack information," she explained. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).