Saturday, May 7 · 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Our Lady of the Assumption Church
2565 Bathurst Street
Toronto, ON M6B 2Z3

A host of talents in one uplifting evening of inspiring songs, dances, and great youthful energy for everyone’s enjoyment. Featuring soprano Lilac Caña; tenor Emilio Zarris; the Singing Filipino Priests; the OLA Youth Ministry; the OLA AFCM Choir; and pianist Ronnie Pasajol. Proceeds to help 19 Youth go to Madrid, Spain for WYD 2011 (August 11th to 21st).

Tickets: $25.00 Contact: OLA Parish Office (416.787.4547) or Joey Abrenilla (647.830.5639)

Vallehermoso, with a population of 40,000, is a fourth class municipality in the northernmost part of Negros Oriental. Its name befits the rustic beauty and serenity which characterizes this “beautiful valley.” The VHHF was founded in 2008 to transform Vallehermoso into a center for learning and historical research, a provincial hub for culture and the arts and a progressive municipality with fully developed potentials in the hands of educated, cultured, nationalistic and capable citizens and a technically skilled populace.

To this end, the VHHF has started to bolster and complement the existing educational system of Vallehermoso, by establishing a library and a day care center, thereby improving the learning opportunities of children, youth including those out of school, teachers and illiterate townsfolk. The Foundation will fund publications, updated learning materials for teachers and students, livelihood and other skills development workshops, cultural performances and exhibits.

The Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas is a biennial award established by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas – an agency of the Philippine Government tasked to promote and uphold the interests of Filipino emigrants and permanent residents abroad, and preserve and strengthen ties with Filipino communities overseas. The awards are conferred on Filipino individuals and organizations that contribute to Philippine development or promote the interests of Filipino communities overseas. It is also given to Filipinos overseas who have distinguished themselves in their professions.

Among the four award categories, the Pamana Ng Pilipino Award is conferred on Filipinos overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.

Ms. Caña continues to play an active role in the GTA, sharing her musical talents and services not just within the Filipino-Canadian community here, but also with the wider Canadian, US, European, and Philippine audiences. She has given concerts, vocal workshops, served as music director at St. John’s Cathedral Polish Catholic Church, recorded seven CD albums, and continues to help several charities with her fundraising events and efforts.

Former awardees of this prestigious Presidential Award are: internationally reknowned concert pianist Dr. Raul Sunico (now Dean of Music at the University of Santo Thomas); former Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Arthur Viola; Jeffrey Rustia, President and CEO of Front TV; and Norma Carpio, former PIDC President and founder of Toronto’s Mabuhay Festival.

Lilac is deeply grateful and humbled by this honor bestowed on her and her family. She is to sing at the ceremonies, accompanied by the Leggiero String Ensemble, and violinist John Lesaca. Accompanying her at Malacañan Palace and at the CFO conferences for the awardees, are her proud parents: Sir Lapulapu P. Caña (Commander, Knights of Rizal), and Lady Ligaya L. Caña (Ontario State Regent, Daughters of Isabella).

ST BONIFACE CHURCH
21 Markanna Drive
Scarbourgh, Ontario
7:00pm
Musical Concert
For Tickets call 416-438-3791

You’ve read and heard the news…million-dollar fake lakes, the mounties and illegitimate imported security services, sonic sound-blasting anti-rioter machines, an armada of special services staff and media people to cover this über-expensive world get-together.

I just never imagined it could come SO uncomfortably close to home.  My backyard is the shared courtyard of the Rogers Centre Skydome, where on a good Blue Jays Game day, or rock concert evening, I can see streams of sports fans or concertgoers mingle outside of the big dome.  These days, there are platoons of OPP officers on horseback practicing their drills, or handfuls of event coordinators starting to put up metal fence posts around the perimeter of Bremner Avenue, all the way around to the south entrance of the Metro Convention Centre near Rees St. (where the bulk of the G20 summit activities will take place).  On Front Street West at the corner of Blue Jays Way, there are already cement barricades in place, I imagine to keep out the crowds a few feet away from the actual Metro Convention Centre front of building.

It’s surreal, and yes it’s history in the making, but what a spectacle!  Tomorrow I’m going to an information session for residents of this G20 summit zone, where hopefully some of our questions are going to be answered. As in, will we be able to survive this ordeal? And, what can we do, short of leaving town altogether, to live normally (as much as possible). Part of me wants to do just that: take a flight to a remote island off of Java (like the mysterious island in LOST). But another part of me refuses to be ousted out of my own home, just because the politicians decided they would use our taxpayers’ money and lavish it on our out of town guests, just to prove that we Canadians have a beautiful country.

I think I’ll stay and witness the silliness, and (hopefully) live to tell about it.

I notice more provincial police officers decked in OPP Black & White uniforms, lurking with their Vespa-like scooters — parked at most corners of this quadrant, from King St. West and Bathurst, to right at my front door. Are they extras from a film-shooting of “The Matrix — Final Attack”?  Also, I see our taxpayers’ loonies being put to use whenever I attempt to drive anywhere on the Lakeshore or Gardiner Expressway…and, there’s construction. Or Bridge work, or widening of lanes, or any other possible form of blockage or delay to anyone who has to pass on these public highways.  I can understand the necessity — Toronto needs to be prettified for our international guests. But it’s beginning to feel a little claustrophobic.

Think I’ll take the bike out more often, to get around. Bound to be some rockin’ times ahead…

The MQHM (Mary Queen of Heaven Missionary) Sisters have invited me to join them in their first-ever CD recording – an album of inspiring new songs by fresh local composers in Cebu, Philippines, which will feature the Sisters’ Choir and me as soloist on some songs.

We first met last January 2010, coming together for the fund raiser concert at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City, to benefit women and children victims of prostitution. Thank God the event was successful…with the help of many generous benefactors, we were able to raise significant funds to help the rebuilding of their (recently fire-damaged) Home of Love – a rehabilitation and training center for over 50 women and children on their road to recovery.

How nice to see and work with the ever-joyful, highly-spirited Sisters again, and with amazingly talented Filipino musicians in this venture. The Sisters hope to create more awareness and to spread hope and joy with the songs on their new album, as they continue their work. This will also be my first time doing a recording outside of Canada…looking forward with gusto!

Civil unrest and discontent will always find expression among people who are unjustly treated by those in authority who abuse their power. The protests in downtown Bangkok may have been violently repressed by the Thai soldiers for now, but the people’s rage could now be channeled into guerrilla warfare. The desire for necessary justice remains unquenchable.

Civil unrest and discontent will always find expression among people who are unjustly treated by those in authority who abuse their power. The protests in downtown Bangkok may have been violently repressed by the Thai soldiers for now, but the people’s rage could now be channeled into guerrilla warfare. The desire for necessary justice remains unquenchable.