Taste of Manila Blacklists Non-Compliant Vendors

Volume 7, Issue No. 7

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 Thursday, August 7, 2025 

~ Organizers of Taste of Manila act like they own Little Manila, the site of their yearly festival in the general vicinity of Bathurst St. and Wilson Ave. in North York. Smarting from last year's fencing scandal, they now impose a new rule that effectively blacklists on-site establishments that refuse to "contribute" money and practically declare them as illegitimate. 

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UNCONTROLLED LUST FOR MONEY 

Taste of Manila's Abusive Restriction

The Notice Blacklists On-Site Vendors

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Above all else, treat those in the community like how you want to be treated.” ― Anonymous

TORONTO - On its face alone, the notice or warning posted to social media by the four-dimensional troll is condemnatory of those on-site vendors which do not wish to participate in the Taste of Manila (ToM) festival.

The mindset of ToM organizers is obviously still focused on punishing them, as they did last year when they erected a 13-foot steel fence that blocked five establishments along Bathurst St. that refused to pay grease money.

Rather than promote harmony and friendliness in what should be a festive Filipino setting, the organizers - Rolly "kabise" Mangante and his two-member contractual partners SPARC (Society of Philippine Artists, Recreation and Community) - seem to have chosen to pursue their unmitigated lust for money.

Related stories:

1. https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2024/12/for-some-money-tom-and-sparc-went-rogue.html

2. https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2023/07/organizers-smooth-things-out-for-taste.html.

Knowing how their simple mind works, perhaps they didn't mean to rebuke the on-site vendors whose presence in the Bathurst-Wilson area, colloquially known as Little Manila, predates the festival. 

These vendors, mostly consisting of coffee shops, mom-and-pop eateries, convenience stores, and restaurants would not have been operating for years if they didn't comply with health regulations and have the necessary licenses.

But the message in the ToM notice is unmistakable in this post by Rose To aka Marites Tolits aka Rose Ami aka Rosemarie Ami-Seaborn. It presumes those unwilling to support ToM are unregistered, even blacklisted, and shunned doling out fees. 

The notice reads: "Taste of Manila event attendees, please purchase from vendors displaying an 'Authorized Taste of Manila Vendor' sign. These vendors are registered, adhere to Toronto Public Health rules, have insurance, and contribute to event organization fees."

The unspoken flipside is not hard to understand, i.e. don't patronize those vendors, restaurants, eateries, etc. without the sign because they don't follow health rules, don't have insurance and, more importantly, they don't pay up.

It's clearly discriminatory and contemptible. Instead of being welcoming and inclusive, ToM organizers chose to set aside the decent thing to do. In the words of former MP Ya'ara Saks: "Everyone should benefit when a community festival comes in the area." (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLl_ud3-Xew).

ToM right now is disguised as a "community festival" when in fact it is a private business owned and run by Rolly Mangante and his family.

A published account by Tony San Juan, a retired-teacher-turned-publicist, said ToM is headed by Mangante as president and CEO, and his wife Nieves and daughter Jacqueline as directors.

Reports said Mangante, who claims he founded ToM at the time he was employed as a driver at the Philippine Consulate, was selling his alleged proprietary rights in the festival. His contractual partner named Sani Baluyot said ToM is not for sale.

(Related video at: Greed Breeds Contempt and Infighting in Taste of Manila).

How is it possible that ToM could impose fees and breach local laws by unilaterally deciding to penalize non-compliant vendors such as what happened in August 2024 when it installed a steel fence on government property? (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btf2yoU4AaE).

While it collects money from the public, ToM appears to be evading scrutiny through the convenience of a non-disclosure agreement. For example, what happened to its promise to put up something for the benefit of the community?

According to an announcement, ToM has set the bar for this year "even HIGHER!" than the purported "powerhouse performances" of guests in 2024.

I hope the organizers didn't mean fencing off establishments "higher" than normal so people would not attempt to climb up to access their favorite stores.

Their chosen theme looks aspirational - "a celebration of resiliency and diversity" - although it sounds good for those who know little or nothing at all about ToM and its repulsive activities.

One example is Mangante's betrayal of an earlier agreement with International Entertainment Company (IEC) of Cecille Araneta and Mon Datol in favour of another contractor, SPARC, that led to a lawsuit.

Prior to that, Datol was a staunch defender of Mangante and his cabal of blind supporters. In excerpts from a video he created (it seems it has been taken down from his YouTube account because of embarrassment), Datol was pitifully crying out loud. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGVqgszwyYA starting at 3:23 mark).

It may be inconvenient for some but allowing attempts by Mangante, ToM, and SPARC to continue to shake up existing vendors and get away with it should not be tolerated. None of them own Little Manila. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).

Friends Suggest Sharing the Written Word Through a Book

Volume 7, Issue No. 6

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 Sunday, August 3, 2025 

~ Absurd it would appear to ignore suggestions by two friends for me to write a book about personal experiences as a journalist in the Filipino community. Plans are in the works actually. But now that I'm getting unsolicited endorsements from these writers themselves, I'm persuaded as ever to continue with an earlier book titled Prerogative which I had started in my former hometown in California. 

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ANOTHER CHAPTER IN MY 'PREROGATIVE'

Detailing Experiences As a Journalist

Friends Suggest Putting Them All in a Book

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.” ― Sir Francis Bacon

TORONTO - After reading a story I wrote in 2019 about my late father, media colleagues Ores Ting and Mogi Mogado commented on my online Filipino Web Magazine (FWM) that I should write a book.

I genuinely felt the sincerity of their idea at that time, and now, six years later, their proposal still touches me, especially coming from friends whose understanding of the power of the written word is as good if not better than mine.

Ores is the humorous writer - and occasionally a poet when she feels indulgent - behind the popular "Boomers in Action" column in what's then the largest Filipino newspaper in Toronto. 

Her followers are uncountable but one thing sure, they're captives to what she writes and says, and that means the entire Filipino boomer population in the Greater Toronto Area where the paper circulates.

At this point, I don't know if Ores still writes for that paper, or if she has moved some place else where she can breathe freedom. I lost track as I no longer read that paper, well, unless I'm looking for some comic relief that it provides.

"Humble beginning . . . but perseverance, hardwork, humility . . . all can reach the peak! Write a book about your existence here on earth Mon Ami!", Ores wrote and posted at the comment section below my story.

That story was headlined "A Friendship That Opened Doors to Journalism" and subtitled "A Cochero and a Fisherman Who Made Good" which appeared in the August 28, 2019 issue of FWN. (Full story at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-friendship-that-opened-doors-to.html).

On the same day Ores published her comment, Mogi also added his: "AWWWW naman, such nostalgia, humble beginnings just like me I can totally relate ... is this chapter 1 in your upcoming book?" 

The story evidently struck a chord in Mogi. To give context to his comment, I borrowed these lines from Ms. Michelle Chermaine Ramos, the artist and journalist who profiled Mogi in an article in Atin Ito newspaper: 

"The interviewer, seeing my heartbreak at not being admitted (to fine arts study), said these kind words: 'Michelangelo et al did not go to arts school, but they became famous. Hone up your skills . . . who knows! . . . That episode was seminal for my arts life,' " Ms. Ramos wrote, quoting Mogi. (Full story at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2024/01/portrait-of-artist-in-eyes-of-another.html).

Reading that from her account, I knew then that in my (or shall say in everyone's) struggle, I wasn't alone; everyone has his or her own aspirations to build a good life outside the homeland. 

To Mogi, the unpretentious celebrity, artist, and writer, his ambition has become reality with his iconic sculpture of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, who he brought to life by peeling off his perpetual solemn look and gave him a smile. The artwork now stands in Markham. (Full story: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2019/07/jose-rizal-statue-stirring-symbol-for_25.html).

I'm taking serious note of Ores' and Mogi's suggestion. In fact, I've started out two years ago at the Toronto Reference Library where one can enlist help to self-publish. And then I got busy with news coverage as a YouTuber and writing commentaries for my blog and other publications.

Self-publishing takes a lot of time. From writing to editing, layouting, proofreading, etc. everything is done by you and nobody else. It saves a lot of money, yes, but the toil and toll is on you.

In 15 years of covering the news in Toronto, I have amassed a lot of articles needing minor editing for a book. I could also do documentaries from my own video coverage of events.

For the book, I would devote two or three chapters each for subjects such as community organizations and their leaders, the media, in particular the praise, oops I mean press, club and some newspapers and their editors; the false leaders and scammers, the cottage industry called beauty pageants, the so-called foundations, the thieves and seasonal fiestas in Little Manila, and many more.

It's a big challenge to set them all in a book. And I realize too that should the book come to fruition, not all would be pleased to see their misdeeds immortalized and recorded for posterity. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).

The Gift of a Widening Readership

Volume 7, Issue No. 5

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 Thursday, July 31, 2025 

~ Looks like readers of this online magazine have gifted me with something priceless on this seventh year of serving the community through news reporting. Much to my big surprise is the steep rise in readership, from 5,251 in June to nearly 8,000 and counting this July, so far away from the monthly average of 1,000 plus. I suppose the numbers speak of trust and reliability of reporting. 

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READERS FLOOD FILIPINO WEB MAGAZINE  

Sea Change in Reading Habits

Notable Is the Big Jump in Numbers

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"Journalists should be watchdogs, not lapdogs." - Newton Lee

TORONTO - A heartwarming development happened these past two months, i.e. an avalanche of readers is swamping this online Filipino Web Magazine (FWM).

To naysayers, I'm just too happy to invite you all to take a look and find out for yourselves why thousands, repeat thousands, are taking time to peruse the articles I've written about our community and our people.

Without sounding too boastful, it's only in FWM that readers could get some enlightenment in what's happening in our neighbourhood and why our performative role-players shy away from investigative journalism.

Most, if not all, of our community periodicals (or at least those that still exist) focus on socials and entertainment, basically ignoring meaningful developments impacting our lives.

It seems to me there's a realization going on that news coverage by the local media, superficial as it is, is devoted to the same organizations and group of people who are forever addicted to seeing their names and faces splashed in the papers.

FWM does not do that as a matter of editorial and personal policy. Positive online exposure is limited to people deserving recognition for their accomplishments.

And for those who engage in scams and perpetrate fraud, there is no stopping in highlighting them even at the risk of physical threats and lawsuits. That's how investigative journalism works.

I launched the online magazine in 2019 after losing the print platform I thought was home for seven years. I stood for principle, and that was not good enough unless I also succumb to lying and rumor-mongering.

That was a big fat no-no in journalism. I still believe in what Virgil, the ancient Roman poet, said: "The noblest motive is the public good." It was the motto of the Manila Chronicle, the daily newspaper that gave birth to my journalism career.

This month and last, I found it exhilarating when the numbers from Google analytics came in. For June, for example, the number of readers stood at 5,251 which was way above the previous months.

FWM was averaging a little over a thousand a month. So, the June figure was quite astonishing. But wait, a big surprise was coming to upend that number. Now it's July, and the number keeps rising, settling at 7,892 as of this writing today, Thursday, July 31.

I was happy with having an average of 1,000+ readers a month. But to see nearly 8,000 readers this month alone spending time to digest the articles is truly fascinating! It's a sea change by all means.

I can only see that as an indication of a growing multitude seeking factual, honest, and trustworthy journalism about the community and the issues affecting them. 

The general feeling, I believe, is that FWM is filling a vacuum in information not readily available in Filipino periodicals. As it is, our media is engrossed in shallow entertainment fare which has no redeeming value.

People need to know, want to know, credible answers not only to the who, what, when, where, and how queries, but more importantly, to the why question. For example, how can one trust a person with four aliases posting to social media exaggerated claims about Taste of Manila?

That's where it matters. The why question usually unlocks secrets and selfish, even criminal, motives; that's the reason persons in authority avoid being pegged for an exhaustive interview.

This shift in readership implies that confidence is being placed on the FWM articles to such an extent one can talk about them in good authority. There's certainty in the facts, an assurance that readers are not being lied to.

Seven years is a long time to build trust. And once it's earned, readers come in droves. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).

Were Hermie and Mila Garcia Ousted from Ethnic Press?

Volume 7, Issue No. 4

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, July 29, 2025 

~  The National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada appears to be withholding the names of its new board of directors by limiting its release only to members. The preceding board had two officials - Hermie Garcia and Mila A. Garcia - who were exposed for their lies and deceptive schemes on their two staff writers, on a federal agency and on the organization itself. Were they ousted, and the press group now tries to cover it up? 

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THE CASE OF HERMIE AND MILA A. GARCIA  

Did NEPMCC Oust Them?

Names of New Board Released Only to Members

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"To say nothing is saying something. You must denounce things you are against or one might believe that you support things you really do not." - Germany Kent

TORONTO - Of the 2,116 words contained in 142 sentences that make up the Statement of Principles of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) there's not a single mention of the word "transparency."

So there's no mistaking what it means, the Cambridge dictionary defines transparency as "the quality of being done in an open way without secrets" or "the characteristic of being easy to see through."

None of those definitions appear in NEPMCC. I read the Statement five times and combed through every sentence in hopes of finding justification of why the organization seems to have resorted to self-censorship in not releasing names of a new board of directors for 2025-2027.

At best, transparency is inferred in this wise: "Journalists must be free to comment on the activities of any publicly elected body or special-interest organization."

In the June 9, 2025 minutes of its meeting published recently on its website, NEPMCC announced, and I quote: "The List of the new Board for (sic) Directors for 2025-2027 was mailed to all the members."

That aroused my curiosity. Why was it mailed instead of posting the contents to its website where anyone can see it? 

It is significant when viewed in light of questions surrounding two NEPMCC officials, namely, Hermie Garcia and Mila A. Garcia, the conjugal owners and editors of The Philippine Reporter (TPR), the left-leaning tabloid that appears to have shutdown.

The couple are members of the board for the term 2023-2025, he, as one of the 13-member executive board being senior VP, and she, as one of the 20 vice presidents. (Related story: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2023/05/hermie-and-mila-garcia-freedom-fighters.html).

Withholding names of board members for scrutiny does not speak of transparency. Taxpayers like us have every right to know how their tax dollars are being disbursed by the federal government to recipients like NEPMCC.

I am now prompted to ask: could the Garcias have been ousted, dismissed, thrown out, punished, or sanctioned by NEPMCC because of what they did to their TPR reporters Michelle Chermaine Ramos and a writer based in Edmonton, Alberta?

Is NEPMCC trying to protect them by not releasing the names of the new board because the Garcias are probably no longer there, although they remain NEPMCC members for their defunct (?) newspaper?

"They were sanctioned," was how Maria Saras Voutsinas, executive managing director, described what the NEPMCC purportedly did to the couple in a brief talk in May at Toronto City Hall. And that was all, no further explanation.

Related stories: 

1. https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-not-so-welcoming-world-press-freedom.html

2. https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2025/05/forsaking-truth-for-friendship-at.html

Her word that the Garcias were "sanctioned" was an implicit admission of the wrongs they brought about not only against their staff writers but also against the federal Canadian Heritage and its officials and NEPMCC.

Canadian Heritage provides funding for its information outreach called Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) which is implemented by NEPMCC through its members, among them the Garcias' TPR.

The Garcias concocted an elaborate story, told repeatedly to Ms. Ramos and to the Edmonton writer without the knowledge of NEPMCC, that a "grant guy" at Canadian Heritage had been withholding their salaries as LJI reporters for months.

It was a lie and a deception apparently to hide significant amounts of money that they had used for something else. When the writers inquired about their salaries, the same trickery was foisted on them.

All the times it was happening, the Garcias had the full grant money on their hands, paid in lump sum in advance of the LJI project for the salaries of LJI reporters.

This is why the listing of names of new board member is critical to the practice of journalism. Would NEPMCC allow itself to cover up the unlawful and unethical practice of members?

One of the ethical guidelines embodied in NEPMCC's Statement of Principles states: "Journalists who abuse their power for selfish motives or unworthy purposes betray the public trust." That should speak for itself.

Another says: "News organizations should not tell journalists to commit illegal or improper acts."

My question: But what if it's the organization itself and its editors who are committing illegal or improper acts? Where do the aggrieved parties run? (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).