Philippine Asian News Today Vol 19 No 13 | Page 10

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IMMIGRATION
Bulong
Pulungan
By Deedee Siytangco
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY July 1 - 15, 2017
PAGCOR reaches out to marawi evacuees
Cirque du
Soleil
‘s
Toruk, inspired by
James Cameron’s Avatar.
The
production,
its
interactive
lights,
moving
backgrounds, artistic gymnasts’
“flights” were very entertaining.
Incidentally we watched it on its
last day.
Then two days later, it was off
to watch the feel-good musicale
from Ovation Productions, the
stage adaptation of Sister Act
at Solaire, which was packed
with casino players. Was anyone
scared of the rampage at Resorts
World last month? It didn’t seem
so!
Tonight is the last night of
the show. Catch it if you can!
* * *
Heartwarming
news…
When I heard Sunday mass at
the Focolare chapel in Tagaytay
recently, I was heartened to see
a group of young Fofolarinos
outside selling secondhand
clothing to raise funds for Marawi
evacuees.
They were pretty good
secondhand clothing going for
P50 for pants, P30 for tees, etc.
Really, everything counts for
our Marawi brothers and sisters
at this very difficult time. Also
now, some people are paying
attention to domestic animals
like dogs being caught in the
Reprinted from Manila Bulletin
ANGEL THOUGHTS
“Those
who
leave
everything in God’s hands will
eventually see God’s hands in
everything”
I gave myself quality time
to mark our 51st wedding
anniversary, which started with
a mass at the beautiful St. Maria
Goretti church on UN Avenue.
My beloved Sonny, I am sure,
sent kisses from his heavenly
home, so I felt at peace.
We massgoers had extra
blessings because the relic of
our patron saint, St. Goretti,
martyred teenager from Italy
(rather than give up her virginity,
she let her attacker stab her),
was taken out to be venerated by
the congregation. Thank you,
Fr. Dave Concepcion, it made
the day truly special.
Then it was a family dinner
at the Spiral Cafe of the Sofitel
Hotel, home of our Bulong
Pulungan. It is always a special
treat to have dinner at the Spiral
with its grand spread of quality
international dishes, especially
their wide selection of cheeses,
wines, cold cuts, and hams. And
the service is impeccable!
Before that it was a trip
to SM MOA Arena for a light-
spectacular fantasy show, the
The Notary
Corner
By Editha Corrales Nelson
Immigration Consultant, Notary
Public, Mediation / Arbitrator
Saving for a mortgage
down payment can be hard
for first-time homebuyers. The
B.C. Home Owner Mortgage
and Equity Partnership program
contributes to the amount first-
time homebuyers have already
saved for their down payment,
providing up to $37,500, or up
to 5% of the purchase price, with
a 25-year loan that is interest-
free and payment-free for the
first five years. Through the B.C.
HOME Partnership program, the
Province is investing about $703
million over the next three years
to help an estimated 42,000 B.C.
households enter the market for
the first time.
“The first step into the
market can be the hardest
step, so our government will
partner with homebuyers to help
them achieve their minimum
down payment,” said Rich
Coleman, Minister of Natural
Gas Development and minister
Responsible for Housing. “This
partnership can help lower their
monthly costs in the first five
years, and help make home
ownership more affordable. This
battle in Marawi. They have been
sending pet food for the poor
animals that have had no food
or water for days.
Some more good news…..
5,000 families displaced by
the
ongoing armed conflict
in Marawi City received much-
needed provisions from the
Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Chairman and CEO Andrea
Domingo spearheaded the relief
operations for evacuees who
are temporarily sheltered at the
gymnasiums of Barangays Maria
Cristina and Sta. Elena.
PAGCOR initially allocated
P3.7 million to provide evacuees
with relief packs containing
assorted food items, toiletries,
and a malong (a native Muslim
blanket).
According to Domingo,
she did not hesitate traveling
to Mindanao to extend aid to
Marawi residents who were
forced to flee their homes after
members of the Maute terrorist
group began taking over several
communities since May 23.
“Kaunting tulong lang po itong
aming ipinag-kakaloob sa inyo
at ito po’y simbolo ng aming
pag-unawa sa inyong kalagayan
at kasalukuyang pinagdadaanan.
Gaya po ninyo, araw-araw rin po
kaming nagdarasal na sana’y
matapos na ang kaguluhan
sa Marawi upang muli
kayong makapagsimula
ng inyong mga buhay,”
she told the evacuees
(This is just a small
gesture of our desire to
help you in your present
situation.
Like
you,
we pray every day that
this messy situation in
Marawi be over so you
can continue with your
normal lives),” she said.
Joining Domingo
were PAGCOR president
and COO Alfred Lim,
directors
Reynaldo
Concordia and Gabriel Claudio,
and assistant vice president
for community relations and
services Arnell Ignacio.
Tw e n t y - s i x - y e a r -
old
housewife
Esnihaya
Macapundag, a resident of City
Jail West, Marinaut, Marawi City,
lamented the uncomfortable
living conditions at the evacuation
site where her family has been
staying for over a month now.
Sh