By Beatrice Paez Indigenous activist Vernie Yocogan-Diano said she started as a late bloomer. Early in her career she pursued human rights work, but her commitment and passion grew with time. “I was doing the work, but I felt more of an employee,” she recalls. A decision to volunteer with the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, a ⇒

By the numbers: The growing wealth gap   OTTAWA–Last year was a banner year for the world’s billionaires. In 2012, the world’s super-rich saw their net worth skyrocket by 16% – at a time when all major wealth indicators (GDP, currency, equity and combined wealth) were down, according to the 2013 World Ultra Wealth Report ⇒

KNIGHTS OF RIZAL, TORONTO CHAPTER PRESENTS: By Manuel Papa “The Building of a Nation”,  an educational and cultural Tableau about the Philippine History, was presented by the Knights of Rizal Toronto Chapter at the 519 Community Centre in downtown Toronto. These volunteer actors demonstrated their “thespian skills” when they  turned this educational and cultural Tableau ⇒

May 7 – 13, 2013 Toronto City Hall Rotunda The Philippine Reporter along with other ethnic newspapers at the exhibit at Toronto City Hall

Among those who spoke were Vice Consul Bolivar Bao, on consular services and dual citizenship; Voltlaire de Leon, on job search in Toronto; Flor Dandal, of KCC Multicultural Services on settlement services for newcomers; and Toronto Police Constables Don Cortes and Renato Valdez, on domestic violence and human rights; Dr. Venus Benigno briefly spoke about ⇒

TORONTO–All-Canadian cast includes Ma-Anne Dionisio as “Grizabella,” Martin Samuel as “Rum Tum Tugger,” Michel LaFleche as “Munkestrap” and Charles Azulay as “Old Deuteronomy” CATS, the show that revolutionized musical theatre around the world is making its triumphant return to Toronto. The 20-member company features Eric Abel as “Alozo/Coricopat,” Charles Azulay as “Old Deuteronomy,” original Canadian ⇒

FUNDRAISING WALK from Toronto to Niagara Falls on April 23-26, 2013 by DeSantos Martial Arts Team 2013, led by their Master Veronica de Santos (4th from right, standing, see below photo) raised over $11,000. The group’s partner is ADHIKA, a non-profit Filipino organization that supports Filipino communities in Canada and the Philippines. Proceeds of this ⇒

Officers and members of the Ontario Filipino Women’s Club headed by President Annabelle Migalbin and Vice President Rebecca Reyes during the club’s english tea party recently held at the Wellesley Community Center on Wellesley and Sherbourne, Toronto. (Romy Zetazate, St. Jamestown News Service)

TORONTO–CTS, Bell Canada’s largest distributor, has signed a one-year contract to distribute 100,000 Mavshack cards across Canada. Ken Kang, owner and CEO of CTS, said The Mavshack Cards “simplifies entertainment viewing to many Filipino Canadians. This makes it ever so easy and efficient for customers to watch their favorite Filipino movies on the go!” Mavshack ⇒

Diane Ventura has done acclaimed music videos and creative production in the Philippines, has managed one of the most groundbreaking artists in the Philippines, the Eraserheads, along with Domino, Pupil and Ely Buendia for his solo career. Before these, Diane took Filmmaking at New York Foundation for the Arts. Diane, who owns and runs DVent ⇒