By Dyan Ruiz The daughters of Maricon Gerente, the live-in caregiver who was granted permanent residency while she was confined in an Oakville hospital in a vegetative state, have been granted temporary resident status. Lean, 14, and Saniel, 11, the daughters of Ma Concepcion Ala Gerente, also known as Maricon, have been granted temporary residency ⇒

DOCUMENTARY: “The End of Immigration?” By Dyan Ruiz “We’re here to do the very manual labor that no Canadian would touch,” said a Filipina who packs produce and is interviewed in the documentary, “The End of Immigration?” Meatpackers in Alberta, agricultural workers in Southern Ontario, fast food workers in Calgary, nannies in affluent neighborhoods all ⇒

By Beatrice Paez Filipinos wear their pride on their sleeve. When it comes to high fashion, Philippine designers infuse their fashion lines with hints of the traditional garb, the terno (butterfly sleeve attire) and indigenous style elements. The localized approach has come to define Philippine fashion, with designers taking old styles to new heights. Now ⇒

By Dyan Ruiz Filipino art forms, cultural pride and tackling tough issues were the hallmarks of arts-based outreach to elementary and high school aged Filipino-Canadian students conducted in a pilot program this Spring. Artists from the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture led workshops for students in two high schools and an elementary school ⇒

WINNIPEG–Canada’s leading voice for agriculture workers, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada), is applauding the Manitoba government in response to its decision to extend public health care coverage to migrant farm workers: the people who make the country’s food supply and production system possible. As Canada’s strongest voice for migrant workers, UFCW Canada ⇒

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 ⇒

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 ⇒

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 ⇒