Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #33

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER VOL. 10 NO. 33

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

CANADA NEWS

Vancouver Trade Forum Focuses on Growth of PH Economy (On page 20) FilipinoCanadian Chefs in Focus (On pages 24 and 25)

THE PHILIPPINES Canada Trade Council (PCTC) recently held an investment forum in Vancouver promoting the Philippines, which, according to a report by HSBC, will leapfrog to be the 16th largest economy by 2050. Story on page 20.

Palace stands by cyber law

BY TJ BURGONIO AND JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG admitted that it didn’t see the legal challenges against the cybercrime law coming, but was standing by its legality.

The Palace made this statement as human rights lawyer Harry Roque and columnist Ellen Tordesillas filed before the Supreme Court of the fifth petition against the controversial Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Roque, Tordesillas, Vera files’ Ma. Gisel Ordones-Cascola, lawyer and blogger Romel Bagares, radio broadcaster Alexander Adonis and

lawyer Gilbert Andres called on the Court to declare Sections 4 (c) [4], 5, 6, 7 and 19 unconstitutional.

Named respondents were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas III, National Bureau of Investigation director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas, Philippine National Police chief Nicanor Bartolome and acting Director-General Denis Villorente of the Information and Communications Technology OfficeDepartment of Science and Technology.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte said the Office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. evaluated the controversial

law affecting communication through cyberspace before it was signed into law

by President Aquino on Sept. 12.

No objections But none of the questions on certain provisions of the law, including one on libel, cropped up during the evaluation and earlier congressional deliberations, the deputy presidential spokesperson indicated.

“When it was being discussed in the Lower House, in the Senate, and on the level of bicam (bicameral conference), nobody was raising an objection,” Valte said when asked in a briefing if the executive branch saw the legal questions coming.

More on page 5

We’ve got it covered. From amazing HD picture and sound quality to 200 hours of recording, and pausing and rewinding Live TV and 3D ready HD receivers.

The BC Certification Process Series: Getting to CHRP (On page 29)

Why Remyx rocks (On page 30)

Visiting Ottawa (On page 36)

Breaking news at your fingertips

www.canadianinquirer.net For your daily dose of the most current and up to date Philippine and Canadian news.

86

Limited time offer, offer ends October 16th, 201 2 . Offer available to new Bell TV residential customers in British Columbia, where access and technology permit. Subject to changes without notice; not combinable with other offers unless specified. Taxes extra. Other conditions apply; see bell.ca/bundle for details. (1) $19.86: The Good Package promotional price (monthly rate $32.57, less $9 Bundle discount, less $6.91 credit for months 1 to 12, plus $3 Digital Service Fee, plus $0.20 fees to fund Bell’s contribution to the CRTC’s Local Programming Improvement Fund (1%, see bell.ca/LPIF).

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 2

SC asked to declare cybercrime law illegal

BY JEROME C. ANING, NORMAN BORDADORA AND MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer SEN. TEOFISTO Guingona III yesterday filed a petition in the Supreme Court asking the tribunal to declare null and void libel penalty provisions in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 that he said violated basic constitutional rights and threw the nation back to the dark ages.

Senators Francis Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano also announced they would file bills that would amend the harsh jail terms under Republic Act No. 10175, which President Aquino signed on Sept. 12. A hacker group, Anonymous Philippines, defaced websites of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and other government agencies in protest.

While saying it was necessary, Guingona said that the law contained “confusing and vague provisions that suppresses the citizens’ right to freedom of speech and expression.”

“Without a clear definition of the crime of libel and the persons liable, virtually, any person can now be charged with a crime—even if you just like, retweet or comment on an online update or blog post containing criticisms,” he said.

RA 10175 also “demonizes technology and sends the message that the computer user is more evil than those who write on traditional media,” Guingona said.

He said its provisions were “an assault against our fundamental constitutional rights and throw us back to the dark ages.”

Law defended But presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda defended the new law.

“We already have responsibilities attached to print, TV and radio. So what the cybercrime act does is to also attach responsibilities in cyberspace,” he said. The law concerns “people who are not familiar with being responsible about what they write,” he said.

Asked about hackers defacing government websites, Lacierda said: “It won’t win them brownie points …

The better venue for them is to really show their protests in a proper forum.”

Somebody pulled a fast one Noting strong opposition to the measure after it was signed into law by the President, Cayetano said he

“It can be reasonably expected that the general public would now be under the impression that expression of public opinion with the use of information communication technology is now already a criminal offense under the law. Our people, especially those in social media, should not be forbidden from expressing their thoughts and opinions in cyberspace whether critical or not for fear of being labeled as cyber criminals,” Guingona said.

planned to file a bill to address the penal provisions on online libel.

He said that while there must be some accountability on the use of the Internet, liability should be civil, not criminal.

Escudero admitted that he was surprised by the public reaction to the penalties.

“That slipped past us. I didn’t see that when we voted and signed the committee report but my position has been clear as regards that matter. I’m one of the principal authors, if not the first, who filed a bill to decriminalize libel in our statute books,” he said.

Escudero in a news forum discounted negligence as a reason for the mistake of criminal online libel finding its way into the law.

“I don’t want to ascribe any reason or motive. I would just personally admit my own shortcoming as regards that matter,” he said “It wouldn’t have passed if nobody pushed for it.”

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III earlier admitted having a hand in the inclusion of libel as a crime punishable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act. “Libel is a crime. What do you think it is?” he told reporters.

Restraining order sought In a 39-page petition for certiorari

and prohibition with application for temporary restraining order, Guingona asked the high court to stop the implementation of Sections 4 (c), 6, 7 and 19 of the law and declare them unconstitutional.

Section 4 (c) of the law criminalizes libel, not only on the Internet, but also on “any other similar means which may be devised in the future” while Section 6 raises by one degree higher the penalties provided for by the Revised Penal Code for all crimes committed through and with the use of information and communications.

Section 7 provides that apart from prosecution under the RA 10175, a person charged may still be sued for other violations of the penal code and other special laws.

Section 19 authorizes the Department of Justice to restrict or block access to computer data when such data are “prima facie found to be in violation” of the law.

Named as respondents in the Guingona petition were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome and National Bureau of Investigation Director Nonnatus Rojas.

Equal protection clause The senator pointed out that under the Revised Penal Code, libel committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition and other similar means would only be punished by six months and one day up to four years in jail. However, under Section 6 of the RA 10175, libel committed “through a computer system or any other similar means under the Cybercrime [Prevention] Act would be the higher penalty of imprisonment of six years and one day up to 12 years, Guingona said.

“This is clear a violation of the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

It unduly discriminates persons of the same class, as it penalized the act of publishing libelous materials through Internet more heavily than those which are committed by means of writing, printing, etc.,” he said.

Section 7 exposes an individual to punishment twice—contrary to the rule on double jeopardy, which means that “if an act is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same act,” he said.

Guingona also criticized Section 19 for giving the justice department “unbridled authority” to issue an order restricting or blocking access to one’s computer data based merely on prima facie evidence. This, he said, was a “blatant” violation of an individual’s right against unreasonable searches and seizures.

RA 10175’s definition of a cybersex crime is also too broad, the senator said, pointing out that under the new law, an act would be punishable simply because there was an exhibition online of sexual organs or sexual activity.

This, he said, would cover nude materials that are classified as artistic works. ■

News-Phils Angry ‘hacktivists’ attack gov’t websites

3 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

ng Pilipinas (BSP), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team, Department of Health: Smoke-Free Philippines, and the University of the Philippinesbased Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis (Idea).

The attacks ended the local hacker community’s silence on the new Republic Act No. 10175, which Anonymous Philippines described as a measure that “effectively ends freedom of expression in the Philippines.

BY DORIS DUMLAO, PAOLO MONTECILLO AND MICHELLE REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer SEVERAL government and civil society websites were defaced by selfproclaimed “hacktivists” in an apparent protest against the controversial inclusion of a provision on libel in the recently passed cybercrime law.

Hacker group Anonymous Philippines defaced the websites of Bangko Sentral

Back to normal All the affected websites were back to normal as of yesterday, except for the MWSS portal, which was “under construction.”

News on the hacks went out at around 11 p.m. on social networking site Twitter, after which the INQUIRER relayed the incident to BSP officials.

“I saw it and I have alerted our Web managers,” said BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo. “We will go to the bottom of this issue.”

Instead of opening to the usual homepages, the affected websites were replaced with a black screen with Anonymous Philippines’ statement about the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The hacker said this law was “the most notorious act ever witnessed in the cyberhistory of the Philippines, and the language of the bill is cunningly designed to make you think it only applies to individuals who are deep in cybertechnology and doesn’t apply to everyone.

“Some part of the bill basically says it can imprison anyone who commits libel either by written messages, comments, blogs, or posts in sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or any other comment-spaces of other websites on the Internet,” the statement read.

The hacker demanded the revision of the law, adding that new technologies were giving people new opportunities to connect with a lot of people not only in this country but all over the world.

“It is just so disappointing that our government, in adopting our 80-year-

old antiquated libel laws to the cybercrime law, again seems to have retarded our march with the rest of the world with respect to giving full force to the people’s freedom of expression.

In a statement, the BSP said that its database was not at risk, noting that its IT personnel ensured that a safety firewall was in place to protect sensitive information.

“The BSP’s internal information technology group worked on the immediate restoration of our website after ensuring that our security firewall kept our database protected,” BSP Deputy Governor Juan de Zuniga Jr. Said.

Anonymous groups This is the latest high profile incident of hacking done by anonymous groups to voice their opinions on sensitive issues in the country.

In May, several Philippine government and news websites were also defaced by Chinese hackers at the height of tensions between Manila and Beijing over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. ■ West Broadway 604-736-6121

Calgary 1 (877) 502-7376

Richmond 604-279-1545

5th Street (403) 264-1100

Main Street 604-874-5571 Surrey 604-588-1975 MCE Warehouse 604-279-1544 Edmonton Northtown Mall (inside T&T) (780) 478-7352 Winnipeg 1(888) 947-7376 Isabel St. (204) 947-5888

Westwind Cres (403) 387-0022 36 St (inside T&T) (403) 452-3600

New Regina Office 1201 Osler St. 306-352-9922 Toronto 647-352-7376 North York 416-635-7376 Scarborough 416-299-8282

www.manila-express.ca

Manila Express REMIT TANCE

AND

C AR GO

presents...

Cast of Philippines Historama

Restaging of Philippines Historama October 20, 2012 James Cowan Theatre For inquiries, please call Lita (604) 551-4883

News-Phils Some LPS ask: Where are new faces?

5 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III had petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the law’s provisions that seek to impose a higher penalty on libel than those spelled out in the Revised Penal Code, opening the floodgates for the filing of similar cases.

Guingona charged that the law carried “confusing and vague provisions that suppresses the citizens’ right to freedom of speech and expression.”

Without a clear definition of the crime of libel and clear parameters on the persons liable, anybody could be charged with the crime, particularly those who retweet or comment on online updates or blog posts containing criticisms, the administration senator said.

Freedom not absolute Valte, however, said that Malacañang was standing by the provisions of the cybercrime law, which was published Sept. 18 and takes effect on Oct. 3 based on the 15-day publication rule.

She said Malacañang welcomed the filing of more cases against the law.

Valte said freedom of expression is not absolute but comes with

responsibility, and the same principle should apply on the Internet.

She said that the Revised Penal Code provides that anybody could be liable for libel, but the responsibility “has never stopped our press from being free.”

Valte called “a little paranoid” concerns that the government planned to institute a filtering structure that could be “potentially used for political and social censorship.”

Congress deliberation She explained that in all pieces of legislation, it’s the Office of the Executive Secretary that prepares the evaluation and submits this to the President, who decides whether or not to sign it into law.

“Well, you have to remember that in the way a bill becomes enacted into law, it is not only the executive branch that is primarily responsible for this,” she said, referring to the review of the bill. She pointed out that Congress deliberates on it for months before transmitting it to the President for signing.

“I would imagine that given the normal legislative experience that we’ve had, we’re not talking of three months or four months only,” she added. ■

Upcoming Free Public Educational Workshops: Volunteering and Networking For Adults Destined to Join the Labour Force October 5, 12, 19, and 23 2012 206-10090 152nd St. Surrey, V3R 8X8 Register: Call 604-588-6869 ext. 102 or Email: aurea.lucas@success.bc.ca Setting Up a Business Hear the Experiences of Filipino Business Owners Wednesday, October 17, 2012; 10am – 12pm 2058 Henderson Place, 1163 Pinetree Way Coquitlam, BC V3B 8A9 Register: Call 604-468-6000 or Email: manilyn.corpuz@success.bc.ca What Every Landlord and Tenant Needs to Know Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Tuesday, October 30, 2012; 1:00 – 2:30 pm 2058 Henderson Place, 1163 Pinetree Way Coquitlam, BC V3B 8A9 Register: Call 604-468-6000 or Email: manilyn.corpuz@success.bc.ca

Bikoy | Flickr Creative Commons

...from page 1

Rep. Teddy Casino: Is there no one else?

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer NOT ALL Liberal Party (LP) members are happy with the ruling coalition’s senatorial slate, which consists of only three LP members, two of them only recently sworn in.

Why could not the LP, President Aquino’s party, field homegrown long-term members, complained some party members. Others defended the LP leadership’s decision, saying “winnability” was more important that tenure in the party.

Only three LP members made it to the administration coalition slate— former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and newly sworn in members Jamby Madrigal, herself a former senator, and Paolo Benigno Aquino, the President’s cousin.

The rest of the administration slate is made up of candidates from its alliance partners the Nacionalista Party and Nationalist People’s Coalition, as well as candidates from Akbayan, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said the LP, with its status as the party in power and with a popular President, could have pushed for and increased the profile of its own members in the senatorial elections, instead of coalescing with too many parties and fielding “the same old names.”

“I think this would have been the most opportune time for the LP to develop party stalwarts and true liberals like [Quezon Rep.] Erin Tañada and [former] Gov. Grace Padaca as senators,” Baguilat said.

Baguilat wondered as well if party members could campaign for “a slate that does not look like it came from the LP at all.”

But LP official Neptali Gonzales II defended the choice of candidates. He said the longevity of an official in the LP should not be a factor in choosing candidates. What’s important is they were willing to become part of the LP and have embraced its principles, Gonzales said.

He said that in deciding on its senatorial candidates, the party had to face political realities and consider “winnability.”

“You also have to be realistic. It’s not enough that you want to run, if you’re just going to waste money and time. While surveys are not the be-all and end-all in making a decision, they serve as a good indication and a guide.

We all know how costly a senatorial campaign can be,” he said.

Another LP member, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, said party members should respect the decision of the LP leaders. He said the choice of newly sworn-in candidates “doesn’t mean the LP is a frail group.”

“It’s not a sign of weakness because we have national and local leaders who are credible and capable,” Evardone said.

Aside from Magsaysay, Madrigal and the young Aquino, the LPNP-NPC senatorial slate includes reelectionist senators Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Aquilino Pimentel III and Antonio Trillanes IV; Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara; former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar; Akbayan party-list member Risa Hontiveros, and censors chief Grace Poe Llamanzares.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño derided the two rival coalitions for fielding old names and faces who are unlikely to bring a new vision to the Senate. “Is there no one else?” he asked in a statement.

“Same old, same old,” was the reaction of ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio.

Even Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., LP vice chair but who did not participate in the selection process, said: “One wishes there were more new faces.”

“Unfortunately, name recognition and money will mainly determine this senatorial race. There are lots of good candidates out there who could win if voters were more informed and elections were not so expensive,” said Akbayan paty-list Rep. Walden Bello. ■

News-Phils

War tunnel: History under ritzy Fort Boni

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer IF YOU are a shopaholic who frequents the ritzy stores in Boni High Street or a resident of one of the upscale condominium buildings within Bonifacio Global City (BGC), chances are you’re missing an important piece of history.

Unknown to many, underneath the swanky commercial and residential district of BGC in Taguig City lies a 2.24-kilometer-long tunnel that witnessed some of the most violent episodes in the country’s fight for liberation during the American and Japanese occupation periods.

To honor the historical significance of the structure, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is rolling out a master plan to restore the underground passageway, known to the military as the Fort Bonifacio War Tunnel.

The century-old tunnel is known to historians. Cornered Japanese troops holed themselves up inside it toward the end of World War II—until American soldiers used flamethrowers to flush them out.

“It was said that even a year after the war, Japanese troops were still coming out of the tunnel and that some of them were gunned down by Filipino soldiers who were strategically positioned at the exits of the tunnel,” the BCDA said in a statement.

BGC and BCDA officials opened the tunnel to selected members of the media as part of the campaign to promote public awareness of the historic underground passageway.

Arnel Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said the project was intended to protect the tunnel and turn it into a heritage site.

“I believe that beyond the economic development that we have seen in BGC, the beautiful cities we build should have a ‘soul,’” Casanova said.

“The restoration of this tunnel is a perfect example of how we value our past.

It’s also a way to immortalize the heroism displayed by the Filipinos who fought and died for our freedom,” he said.

With the help of BGC and Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., Casanova said the BCDA would invite private companies to help them finance the rehabilitation project.

He said the restoration of the tunnel system “aims to contribute to the people’s understanding and appreciation” of the former site of Fort Bonifacio.

“Most of us walk over that area every single day without knowing that we are actually passing by a very vital structure that helped mold our nation,” Casanova said.

From its main entry point near the Market! Market! shopping mall, the tunnel located underneath the eastern portion of the BGC now leads to two exit points—one to Amapola Street in Barangay Pembo and the other to 27th Avenue in Barangay East Rembo, both in Makati City.

Retired Brig. Gen. Restituto Aguilar, former director of the Philippine Army Museum, said American forces ordered the construction of the underground channel in the early 1900s after the Filipino-American war.

Aguilar said the Americans brought in miners from the Cordillera region to lead the excavation and construction of the passageway.

“Since there were no modern equipment then, the Filipinos used only pick and shovel to dig up the area.

They actually spent decades before the tunnel was used by the Americans,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar said the burrow was first used as an “underground highway” to bring military supplies, such as medicines, medical equipment and food, to US troops based in Fort McKinley, later named Fort Bonifacio, the main camp of the Philippine Army.

“Because there were no concrete highways then, the tunnel served as the underground highway for the American forces,” Aguilar said.

In 1936, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, then the American military adviser to President Manuel Quezon, ordered the expansion of the tunnel. It was intended to be used as MacArthur’s headquarters and stockroom for military supplies.

“The Americans were actually readying it as a shelter for their troops if the Japanese would launch an air strike on Fort McKinley,” Aguilar said.

He said the 4-meter-wide passageway used to have channels that connected it to several vital US military buildings in Fort McKinley, such as hospitals and commissary units.

“The Americans ferried their troops’ supplies from Manila Bay through the Pasig River. This tunnel is said to have a portion that actually leads to the Pasig River,” Aguilar said.

From the river, the Americans used wooden carts similar to those used in mining sites to bring military supplies to their troops.

When the Japanese imperial forces invaded the country, they took control of the passageway from the Americans and used “forced labor” to further expand it.

Damaged due to neglect Aguilar said the Japanese built an additional exit outside Fort McKinley that stretched up to the current location of Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

In 1976, then Army commander Maj. Gen. Fortunato Abat ordered the 51st Engineering Brigade to rehabilitate the tunnel, which had been badly damaged due to neglect.

The walls and other portions of the tunnel were cemented to prevent it from collapsing.

Aguilar said the underground structure was eventually opened to the public and became the “main attraction” of the Philippine Army Museum and Library Complex.

But its main entrance had to be closed when the museum was torn down in 1995 to give way to the massive commercial development and privatization of the former military camp.

“After that, a few Filipinos remember that a tunnel existed underneath Fort Bonifacio,” Aguilar noted.

Adventure seekers who don’t want to leave the city will actually find the 21-meter-deep channel a perfect weekend getaway.

From the surface, one has to take a 17-step concrete stairway and another 59-step stairway to reach the tunnel’s main portion.

The passageway has 32 chambers that the American troops used as storerooms. It also has a 6-meterdeep well, which was the main water supply for the US and Japanese soldiers.

When the BCDA started developing the area in 1995, Aguilar said some outsiders were able to discover the tunnel’s main entrance and vandalized its walls. ■

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 6

Some bishops see pro-RH foes behind Cebu priest’s case

Msgr. Cristobal Garcia of Cebu is being linked to the illegal ivory trade.

BY TINA G. SANTOS Philippine Daily Inquirer SOME Catholic prelates believe that the issues raised against Msgr. Cristobal Garcia are being used by their enemies to discredit the Church and may also have something to do with its stand on the reproductive health (RH) bill.

“The enemies are using that particular case in Cebu to discredit the Church,” said Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, a member of the Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Garcia, who has a huge collection of religious icons made of ivory, has been linked by the National Geographic to the illegal ivory trade.

He has also been suspended and stripped of all his positions in the Archdiocese of Cebu on orders of the Vatican while the Holy See investigates the child abuse case that stemmed from accusations that he molested altar boys more than 20 years ago in the United States. “The great majority of Catholic priests are good,” Bastes said, adding that the “smear campaign” may have something to do with their continued opposition to the RH bill.

But Bastes said there was a need for bishops to be discreet in receiving applicants to their diocese.

“We must not receive just anyone who applies. I, for one, am very strict in admitting my own seminarians for ordination. In the priesthood, quality, not quantity, counts,” he said.

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, former vice chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, identified the Aquino administration as the one behind efforts to discredit the Church.

“This is related to Church’s championing life against RH bill. The present government desires to weaken all institutions that defend our country from being oppressed by foreign powers. But I know they will not succeed,” Arguelles said. ■

News-Phils Inquirer bags 6 CMMA awards

7 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINE Daily Inquirer won six awards, including best news coverage and photograph, and two special citations in the 34th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) ceremonies.

Photographer Lyn Rillon, who has been shooting for the INQUIRER for seven years, won both a special citation and the top award in the News Photograph category.

The annual awards organized by the Catholic Church cited Rillon for her photo “Noah’s Ark,” which captured animals that took shelter in an abandoned house in Bulacan amid unprecedented flooding in 2011.

She was on her way down the stairs when Rillon was again called to receive the top prize in the same category, this time for the photo “No Ordinary Traffic Violator.” The picture showed a Ferrari driver handing a bribe to a traffic enforcer to evade a ticket for ramming the center island on Meralco Avenue in Ortigas, Pasig City.

Two other INQUIRER photographers were also nominated in the category. Raffy Lerma was a finalist for his photos “Candles for Japan” and “When the Wind Blows, The Cradle will Rock” while Marianne Bermudez was nominated for her photo captioned “Lifeline.”

The INQUIRER also won in the Best News Coverage category for its comprehensive chronicle of the “Sendong” disaster in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City in December last year.

Reporter DJ Yap, who was sent from Manila to join The INQUIRER Mindanao team, roamed the disaster zone for five days and came up with accounts of victims that were both sad and hopeful.

‘Emotional’ “The challenge there was the emotional part… That’s really where you’ll see the misery of the people. I

remember on my last day there, that was the first time I cried in a coverage when I saw a little girl who had lost everyone in her family,” Yap said.

He was referring to 7-year-old Michaela Tabilon, who lost both her parents and two brothers in the flash flood that inundated Bayug Island.

“That’s the only time when it struck me that this is really happening. I’ve covered ‘Ondoy’ (2009) and other disasters but when I saw that child, that’s really when it hit me,” said Yap, who has been reporting for the INQUIRER for eight years.

The INQUIRER reportorial team was also nominated in the same category for its coverage of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial earlier this year.

Junior Inquirer citation Din Villafuerte, editorial assistant at INQUIRER’s weekly children’s paper Junior Inquirer, also won a special citation for her short story “Vanished.”

“First of all, I was already stunned when I got the invite from CMMA. I felt like that was a win in itself.

But when my short story was called for the special citation, it was more than enough,” said Villafuerte, who is now on her ninth year in the INQUIRER. INQUIRER columnist Minyong Ordoñez won two awards on Tuesday night. He took home the prize for Best Special Feature for his piece “How Girls’ Chores Can Make A Man,” which appeared in the INQUIRER Lifestyle’s “S” (Sexy, Stimulating, Sage, Survivor).

Editor Juan Sarmiento Jr. was also nominated for his full-page feature “Extending a Lifeline to a Quake/Tsunami Survivor.”

Ordoñez again won the prize for Best Opinion Column for a commentary piece. He had a second nomination in the same category for his column “Gut Feel” while Amado de Jesus was also a finalist for his piece “Green Architrends.”

Citizens’ rights safe in cyberspace, says De Lima

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima vowed that the constitutional rights of citizens in cyberspace will be protected in the implementation of the controversial Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. De Lima gave this assurance following the filing of at least five suits in the Supreme Court last week protesting the constitutionality of several provisions in the law that may infringe on the freedom of expression, of speech and of the press, the right to equal protection and due process, and the prohibition against double jeopardy and unlawful searches and seizures.

“Any power or authority granted by the law to the Department of Justice and the Secretary of Justice will be exercised judiciously and prudently, within the standards or parameters set forth in the law and with due regard to the fundamental human rights of individuals,” De Lima said in a statement.

De Lima, who chaired the Commission on Human Rights prior to her appointment as secretary of justice, was among the top government officials named as respondents in the petitions against the cybercrime law, which are expected to be tackled by the Supreme Court in its regular en banc session.

Among the controversial provisions in RA 10175 is Section 19, which gives De Lima the authority to issue an order to restrict or block access to computer data which is found at first appearance to be in violation of the law.

The cybercrime law could see Internet users sentenced to 12 years in prison for posting defamatory comments on Facebook or Twitter.

The stated aim of the law is to fight online pornography, hacking, identity theft and spamming.

However, it also includes a blanket provision that puts the country’s criminal libel law into force in cyberspace, except that the penalties for Internet defamation are much tougher compared to the old media. ■

INQUIRER stories were also nominated in the Best Investigative Report Category: “How the Iligan Disaster Happened” by INQUIRER research chief Miner Generalao and “Coconut Cavalry,” a threepart special report by Fernando del Mundo, chief of the INQUIRER’s investigative team.

Voice to the voiceless Catholic publication World Mission Magazine won the prize in the investigative category for a piece titled “Farms of Hope.”

CMMA chair and president Antonio Cabangon Chua noted that entries had been increasing every year, showing “the prestige and credibility” of the annual awards.

This year, a panel of 50 judges deliberated on some 779 entries in a total 56 categories in print, radio, broadcast, music and film.

During the awards ceremonies, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle reminded the media of the importance of “reflective silence,” the kind where one “becomes attentive, focused” and which gives the mind a break to become “just, true and peaceful.”

He also called on the media to help give a voice to the “different kind” of silence: People deprived of a voice. “Part of reflective silence is to listen and give voice to the voiceless,” Tagle said. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 8

Politics is addition: P-noy willing to work with Bongbong

An Aquino and a Marcos to be part of a grand coalition. Who would have thought?

Asked how the President would see this latching together of divergent political parties, Lacierda said what was “important” was their support for the reform agenda of Mr. Aquino.

“We don’t have any problem with that.

We need allies … in pushing for reform in our administration. And if we can get these lawmakers to support our reform agenda, then well and good,” said Lacierda.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said he was OK with a coalition with the National Unity Party (NUP) that is made up mostly of House members that staunchly defended then President Arroyo during attempts to impeach her and from allegations of corruption during her administration.

“Nelson Mandela once said that in a democracy we need to learn to work with people we dislike, in reference to those who in the past supported apartheid,” said Pangilinan.

“For as long as we are all clear that it is the President who calls the shots,

Lacierda would not disclose details of a meeting between Mr. Aquino and Sen. Loren Legarda in Malacañang, which from all indications showed the reelectionist senator had yet to sign on the dotted line.

Lacierda even appeared surprised when asked about the meeting.

The INQUIRER reported that President Arroyo had sought the meeting with Legarda to talk about her running as a common candidate of the LP and its opposition rival, the United Nationalist Alliance. then it is incumbent upon the LP “I’m not aware of it. I know that (Liberal Party) to build the broadest Secretary Mar Roxas and Secretary unity possible among various Jun Abaya were meeting with the political forces willing to lend their President. I’m not sure if Senator support to the President’s reform Legarda was, I was not present in that agenda,” he added. meeting,” said Lacierda.

Cayetano also saw nothing wrong “We discussed many things, with coalescing with Arroyo’s allies, including foreign relations,” said even admitting the coalition would be Legarda in a phone interview. beneficial to the administration.

She would neither confirm nor deny “Is it pragmatic? Yes. Is it a if she had accepted the President’s compromise? No,” Cayetano told invitation to join the LP-led reporters in an interview. administration senatorial slate.

Cayetano is a member of the NP “Abangan (Watch for it),” was all which has forged a coalition with the she would say.

LP for the May 2013 elections.

The Aquino administration has to Other members of the LP-led coalition learn to work with people it doesn’t for next year’s polls are the Nationalist like to make sure its reform agenda People’s Coalition and now the NUP. succeeds in Congress, an LP senator “The coalition will not protect them,” said in the wake of the LP’s formal said Cayetano of politicians who may be alliance with the NUP. joining just to get away with any anomalies Sen. Francis Escudero, an they may have committed in the past. independent and an ally of President “It is not a get-out-of-jail card,” Aquino, said the NUPhad long been he said. supportive of the President. ■ Jay Morales |Malacanang Photo Bureau

POLITICS is addition. That is a long accepted adage.

Malacañang welcomed politicians identified with the other side of the political fence—party mates of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo—to be part of a grand coalition of the administration for the May 2013 polls.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda did not see anything odd with the political arrangement. He said in a Malacañang briefing the Aquino administration could not just close the door on those supportive of the President’s legislative agenda in both chambers of Congress.

“I think during the past twoyears they have been supportive of the programs of the President,” said Lacierda, when the INQUIRER asked him if he saw nothing wrong with uniting with the Nacionalista Party (NP), Marcos’ party.

Mr. Aquino’s father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., was killed during the regime of Marcos’s father, the strongman Ferdinand Marcos. The elder Marcos in turn was ousted during the 1986 People Power revolution which installed the President’s late mother, Corazon Aquino, in the presidency.

The NP is fielding Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV as its senatorial candidates.

IlocosNorte | Flickr Creative Commons

BY NORMAN BORDADORA AND MICHAEL LIM UBAC WITH A REPORT FROM LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer

Volunteerism thrives at Laguna hospice; ‘young blood’ needed

BY MARICAR CINCO Philippine Daily Inquirer AS ONE hospice volunteer puts it: “18 (years) means you’ve (truly) aged, ... ready to get married, so to speak.”

The Madre de Amor Hospice Foundation Inc., a community-based institution that cares for cancer patients in Laguna, celebrated its 18th anniversary last month with volunteers sharing their thoughts about their work.

Most of them have had loved ones who succumbed to cancer or they themselves were cancer survivors, including its current president and one of the founding members, Dr. Fermin Adriano.

The hospice’s founding date is actually Aug. 19, 1993, Adriano said. It was the day his 14-year-old daughter Sarah died of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Fulfillment “Most of our volunteers are now getting old,” Adriano said, referring to the more than 40 volunteers, mostly 65 years old and above. Old age, however, doesn’t hinder them from doing their work.

Benefrida Bawagan, 81, the oldest in the group, has been with the hospice for the past 15 years. “I was introduced to the hospice when they first visited my husband who then had a stroke,” she said.

Even as she took care of her ailing husband at home, Bawagan found time to join the other volunteers when they visited dying people in Los Baños and in the nearby towns.

“We talked and listened to (the dying). I would tell them that my husband too was sick and what we did was to pray together,” she said. When she returned home to her husband, she said, “I would share to him stories about the patients we visited.”

Even after her husband died, Bawagan continued working at the hospice. “My children wanted me to just stay at home but I tell them that this gives me selffulfillment,” she said.

At her age, she said she would still tread slippery rice paddies or walk along rail tracks, “although very slowly,” to bring a bit of comfort to the dying patients.

“I feel like I’m being guided anyway. Whenever I step out of the house, people, like the tricycle drivers, help me get a ride or cross the street,” she said.

Best service to God “Away from the maddening (jobs) and (with no more) deadlines to meet, oh sweet stage of retirement,” said Teresita Gonzales, 72, one of the founding members who now sits in the board of directors. She is a breast cancer survivor.

“But being a hospice volunteer offers the best service to God through the dying,” Gonzales said. “And that’s the best essence of retirement.”

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, a friend of Adriano’s, opened the simple gathering during the anniversary celebration with a message about volunteerism.

“I am taking off my hat to the volunteers who selflessly and effortlessly give their time and much love to the patients. The greatest mover here is the spirit of volunteerism and love for neighbors,” Soliman said.

Adriano said the foundation, which sprouted in a quiet neighborhood in Los Baños, has volunteers working all over Laguna. But he said it needed “young blood” with the emotional and psychological stability to carry on the cause of caring for the sick and the dying.

That cause, he said, is bringing “hope when there’s none.” ■

9 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

News-Phils

Tubbataha Reef hailed as conservation model

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES’ Tubbataha Reef was recently recognized by an international policy research body for the excellent care of the heritage site, hailed as a model in coral reef conservation.

The World Future Council gave one of two Silver Awards to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act, the policy measure that created a protected marine sanctuary of almost 100,000 hectares of high-quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea.

The Tubbataha Reef, which sits in the center of the Sulu Sea southeast of Palawan, is located within the Coral Triangle, a global focus for coral biological diversity. It is home to a wide diversity of marine life and is a popular dive site.

World Heritage Site It was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in 1993. It is administered

as part of Cagayancillo, Palawan, and is under the protective management of the Department of National Defense.

In a statement, the World Future Council lauded the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act for ensuring the effective management of the Unesco World Heritage Site.

Model in conservation “Tubbataha has demonstrated that

with carefully planned management, local communities need not bear the burden of closed protected areas, but can be their primary beneficiaries; as a nursery site for fish, the reef supports local artisanal fisheries,” the council said.

The World Future Council also praised the management of the Tubbataha Reef by local authorities and nongovernment organizations, citing the excellent condition of the reef compared with neighboring sites.

“The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act has been hailed as a model of coral reef conservation and already similar legislation has been enacted in the neighboring Apo Reef,” the statement added.

The second Silver Award was given to Namibia’s Marine Resources Act of 2000 “for instituting an ecologically and economically viable fishing industry.”

Winning top honors was the Micronesian country of Palau, which received the Future Policy Award for 2012 for two outstanding marine policies, the Protected Areas Network Act, initiated in 2003, and its Shark Haven Act from 2009.

The World Future Council said the three winning countries “contribute most effectively to the sustainable management of the world’s oceans and coasts for the benefit of current and future generations.”

Leading by example The winners were announced at a press conference recently at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

According to its website, the World Future Council is an international policy research organization that provides effective policy solutions for decision- makers.

“With the Future Policy Award we want to cast a spotlight on policies that lead by example. The aim of the World Future Council is to raise awareness for exemplary policies and speed up policy action towards just, sustainable and peaceful societies,” said Alexandra Wandel, World Future Council director.

The winners will receive their awards on Oct. 16 at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad, India. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 10

JMParrone | Flickr Creative Commons

Clark too far for an int’l airport, says aviation exec

BY PAOLO G. MONTECILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer RELOCATING the Philippines’ major international airport to Clark Freeport, Pampanga, would not solve the problems in the country’s air transport

system, the world’s biggest aviation industry group said.

If anything, the government’s plan to move the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) 100 kilometers away from the metropolis would only make traveling more inconvenient

to passengers, the International Air Transportation Association (Iata) said.

“In my view, Clark is not the solution.

It’s too far away from Manila, which is where people want to go,” Iata chief executive officer Tony Tyler said.

Speaking to reporters, Tyler conceded that Naia needed to be relocated to a complex that has more space for expansion to accommodate the growing needs of the country’s aviation sector.

Tyler said Iata would urge the government to consider other locations for the new airport, preferably somewhere closer to Metro Manila.

Otherwise, he said, the Philippines would become the only country in the world whose major airport was so far away from its central business districts.

“If you want to cite Narita and Tokyo as an example, you have to know that Narita is closer to Tokyo than Manila is to Clark,” Tyler said.

Iata’s view mirrored recent suggestions by flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) for the construction of a new airport in nearby areas north of Metro Manila.

PAL president Ramon S. Ang earlier said Clark was too far from Manila to be a viable option to replace Naia, a view that was countered by the

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) this week.

The DOTC said Clark remained the government’s only “viable and practical” option for the country’s new major hub.

Tyler, meanwhile, said the planned construction of a high-speed rail line that would bring people from Manila to Clark in 45 minutes would be a costly experiment that would most likely fail.

Tyler said the Philippine aviation sector has fallen far behind other countries in the region, many of which have developed their air transport infrastructure to boost travel.

“In the last 15 or so years, we have seen whole new airports open in Hong Kong, Nagoya, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Bangkok,” he said. “These countries place aviation connectivity as a core component of their economic strategy.”

He said the Philippine aviation industry has suffered from “many years of inadequate investment in infrastructure and heavy tax burdens” by past administrations. He said Iata was confident that the new administration would take steps to allow the Philippines to catch up with its neighbors. ■

FIELD SALES REPRESENTATIVE WANTED As a Field Sales Representative you will be leading the drive to service and sales within the residential market, selling Bell TV, Internet and Home Phone services to residential users who live in an MDU (Multi Dwelling Unit) and/or SFU (Single Family Unit) by going door-to-door.

This is a great opportunity for a seasoned, sales professional to be part of one of the most critical sales teams within the company. Backed by one of Canada’s most iconic brand and elite line of residential products, you will be equipped to prospect and acquire new customers. The team is seeking individuals who are hunters (by nature), results oriented and have past success with improving revenue results.

Responsibilities: • Attract residential customers to purchase Bell TV, Bell Hi Speed Internet, and Bell Home Phone services by going door to door.

• Represent Bell in the promotion and sales of select Bell products in the field and at special events plus any customer follow-up from the sales process.

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with property managers and the clients it serves for the purpose of accessing and increasing the penetration rate of select products in targeted MDU’s.

• Order processing and qualifying customers for Bell services.

What Bell offers you: • Highly competitive base pay plus commission (benefits not included) . Opportunity to earn up to 70K + • Monthly Mileage allowance • Smart phone • Training program to help you master your role and ongoing coaching to ensure your success

All interested candidates please forward your resume in confidence to harley.esguerra@bell.ca referencing “ Field opportunity 2012 “.

The masculine and feminine used in this job offer refer equality to employees of both sexes and in no way represent a particular distinction based on gender; Bell is an equal opportunity employer.

News-Phils

11 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Mike A wants raps dropped: I was Bongbong laments decay of never part of gov’t FORMER First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo asked the Sandiganbayan to drop the graft charges filed against him by the Ombudsman in connection with his alleged participation in the botched NBN-ZTE national broadband network deal during his wife’s presidency.

In a motion to quash filed by his lawyer, Arroyo said the antigraft court had no jurisdiction over his alleged acts as the NBN-ZTE contract was signed and executed in Boao, China, on June 6, 2010, although the information alleged the place of commission was Malacañang.

Arroyo said that unlike the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act had no provision that allowed its application outside the Philippines. He also said the law did not cover private persons like himself.

Arroyo said he was never a public official and had never held a position in government. His wife, the former president, is now the representative of the second district of Pampanga.

“Accused Arroyo is not a public official, as the alleged Office of the First Gentleman is not a public office, hence, he could not be charged with violating Section 3(g), which by its own terms could be violated only by a public official,” read the motion to quash.

It said this was admitted to by the Office of the Special Prosecutor in its comment to the accused’s Motion for Authority to Travel dated June 7, 2012.

In that opposition, the prosecutor said “the facts alleged in the criminal information do not constitute a violation of... RA 3019 because the NBN-ZTE contract was already canceled and abrogated.”

Arroyo also said that while the Supreme Court–in Go v Sandiganbayan, Singian v Sandiganbayan and Santillano v People of the Philippines– had ruled that a private person in conspiracy with a public official may be charged with violating Section 3(g) of RA 3019, this ruling did not apply to him because unlike Go and the others, he was not a contracting party or a representative of one in the NBNZTE contract. ■

Photo by Vince_Lamb

mother’s gowns, shoes

BY CYNTHIA D. BALANA Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY CATHY YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer THE DECAYING condition of the clothes and other personal effects in the National Museum of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, reflects the “confiscatory policy” of the administrations that seized the Marcos properties “without purpose,” said Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The senator decried a statement from a Malacañang official that the gowns of his mother that are in a state of deterioration have no historical value, “except for some… made by prominent couturiers.”

After languishing in Malacañang for years following the Marcoses’ flight to Hawaii in the aftermath of the first

Ssh....alam mo na ba ang latest?

Get now from your suking tindahan!

Landline

39 minutes

Smart

29 minutes

Globe

35 minutes

To Order Call: VANCOUVER 604-278-3066 TORONTO 647-722-2124

People Power Revolution of 1986, the personal belongings of the Marcos couple were transferred to the National Museum in 2010. Palace caretakers had discovered that molds, termites and humidity had eaten into the objects.

The Associated Press reported that museum staffers realized that the gowns, shoes and other personal belongings of the Marcoses had deteriorated only after they noticed water leaking from the door of the room where these had been stored.

Marcos believes his parents’ personal effects should have been given better treatment since they still carry the memory of his father’s administration.

“So, that part of our history is not important? I’m just astounded by them dismissing outright years of our national history as insignificant,” he said.

Marcos said he is inclined to put the blame on the prevailing attitude that stems from the failure to “move away from 1986.”

“Again, we’re back to talking about politics here. Even if my family has moved away from (that period), why can’t they? I think that’s what it’s all about,” he said. ■

News-Phils Media groups, Filipinos step up calls for repeal of tough new law against online crimes

BY HRVOJE HRANJSKI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MANILA, Philippines - Media groups and Filipinos stepped up calls Wednesday for repealing a tough new law that targets cybercrime but activists fear will be used to suppress online freedoms in the Southeast Asian nation.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act took effect Wednesday despite last-minute petitions to the Supreme Court to stop it. The justices said they will take up the issue next week.

The law is envisioned as a measure against hacking, identity theft, spamming, cybersex and online child pornography.

But citizens and groups who protested on social networking sites, blogs and out in the streets fear politicians will use it to silence critics.

The law contains a provision that says libel - which is already punishable by up to six years in prison - is also a cybercrime. It doubles cumulative penalties for online offences and allows government agencies to search, seize and destroy computer data deemed libelous.

Human rights and media groups have unsuccessfully campaigned for years to downgrade libel from a criminal to a civil offence, saying politicians often use the law to harass journalists and other critics.

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s husband sued 46 investigative journalists and publishers in more than 50 libel cases from 2003 to 2007 but later dropped them in a ``gesture of peace.’’

The journalists wrote stories alleging Jose Miguel ``Mike’’ Arroyo was corrupt, which he denied. He is now facing two corruption cases linked to an

overpriced government deal and the sale of secondhand helicopters to police.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said that the new law’s criminal libel provision ``and the insidious way it was inserted during the bicameral deliberation - without benefit of public consultation - are direct strikes at the rights to free expression and press freedom.’’

Journalist Alexander Adonis, one of seven petitioners against the law who himself was jailed on libel charges from 2007 to 2009, argued that the law is unconstitutional and its provisions ``so vague, so overbroad that these can be applied arbitrarily on all users of social media.’’ ``In the context of the cyberworld, ‘libel’ is very difficult to determine since there are many actors in the cyberworld,’’ including the blogger, the blog service provider, the Internet service provider, the person who comments on the blog and the person who posts a link to the blog site, he wrote.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda assured the public Wednesday that the constitution ``is clear and uncompromising in the civil liberties it guarantees all our people.’’

President Benigno Aquino III’s administration has not pursued any libel cases since he took office in 2010.

Lacierda criticized hackers who defaced many government websites in support of the movement against the cybercrime law, saying they engaged in online vandalism.

Many Facebook and Twitter users in the Philippines and the portals of the main media organizations have replaced their profile pictures with black screens as a protest against the law. ■

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 12

13 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

News-Phils

Country’s biggest mining firm to contest fines for tailings leak

BY RIZA T. OLCHONDRA Philippine Daily Inquirer ASIDE from being penalized for the tailings discharged from its Padcal mine site in Benguet province, Philex Mining Corp. will be liable to pay other fines for violations of the Clean Water Act and the company’s own Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said.

Philex yesterday said it would dispute the penalties being imposed on it as the MGB had found that the breach of its Pacdal tailings damwas not the result of negligence on the part of the mining company.

“It is grossly unfair to penalize Philex and impose a huge fine on it when the government agency imposing the fine itself has confirmed that Philex is just a victim of force majeure event or an act of nature over which it had no control,” said Mike Toledo, Philex senior vice president for corporate affairs, in a statement.

As for additional fines and penalties, Toledo said in a phone interview that Philex management would review any

such announcement that the MGB would make before commenting.

In a Sept. 26 letter, the MGB informed Philex president Eulalio Austin Jr. the tailings fee due as of Sept. 6 was P1,034,358,971, “without prejudice to [a] final survey after the leak has been totally contained.”

The amount does not include yet the P200,000 penalty per day under the Clean Water Act, said MGB director Leo L. Jasareno in a text message yesterday.

There is also the P50,000 penalty per violation committed under the terms of the company’s ECC, he said.

‘Force majeure’ Jasareno also said there is no provision in the Mining Act of 1995 qualifying that the penalties for sediments discharge could be waived in case of “force majeure,” or an act of nature. Philex, which blames the breach in its tailings dam on the unprecedented rains spawned by two typhoons, earlier said it cannot be held liable for an accident that was arose from natural causes.

Inquirer Tab for SSS execs

BY CYNTHIA D. BALANA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE DIGITAL edition of the INQUIRER and other publications in the INQUIRER group can now be accessed through a dedicated mobile device with an initial batch of 20 “Inquirer Tabs” delivered to employees of the Social Security System (SSS).

Blair O. Marquez, business development head of the INQUIRER group, said the delivery kicks off the Inquirer Tab’s breaking into the market using the Huawei MediaPad as a platform.

The Inquirer Tab will be available starting Oct. 1 to a wider market, particularly those with credit cards issued by the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

According to Marquez, the Inquirer Tab is part of the INQUIRER’s efforts to reach out to a younger market, noting that market research had shown that the average reader of the print edition is in his or her 40s.

“Atwo-year subscription to the INQUIRER digital edition comes with the free tablet,” he said.

Users can access the daily paper as well as the full range of titles of INQUIRER publications, bundled together in the “Inquirer Digital Newsstand.”

But more than that, subscribers can also use the Inquirer Tab as a mobile phone.

“They can make calls, access social networking sites, use a wide array of Android apps and even work on their personal documents,” Marquez said.

Hermie de Guzman, information and communication technology specialist at the SSS, said the pension fund is looking for ways to go digital with their newspaper subscriptions.

The pension fund provides at least 56 SSS officials with several newspaper subscriptions.

“One of the options that we are considering is to switch to Inquirer Digital, which is accessible through desktop computers and mobile phones,” De Guzman said.

When they learned that Inquirer Digital was coming out with a tablet, it was an even more attractive option, he said.

He clarified, however, that no decision has been made yet to provide select SSS officials with Inquirer Digital Newsstand subscriptions.

The 20 Inquirer Tabs delivered are to be paid for by the employees themselves. ■

Jasareno also noted that Philex was being fined only for the spill of waste sediments into the surrounding environment.

Under the Mining Act, mining companies are required to fully contain within the tailings pond all mine wastes and sediments. “It must be 100 percent contained. From a technical point of view, Philex was not able to comply, so they must pay,” Jasareno said.

According to a DENR administrative order, a fee of P50 is to be imposed per metric ton of solid fraction of tailings to contractors found to have discharged tailings to areas other than the approved tailings disposal area.

The more than P1 billion in penalties for sediments discharge was based on the 20.66 million metric tons of sediments discharged from Padcal’s tailings pond No. 3. Jasareno said state investigators were able to compute the total volume of the sediments using Philex’s own software.

Philex voluntarily stopped operations at the Padcal mine at about 12:00 midnight of Aug. 1 after finding out that its tailings dam had been breached, allowing

sediments to leak into the Balog Creek.

Philex said it received late the letter from the MGB imposing the P1-billion fine, as well as a copy of the “Report on Investigation Re: Mill Tailings Fee and Liabilities of Philex Mining Corporation of the Multi-Disciplinary Team” that was tasked to determine the mill tailings fee that may be imposed and to investigate any liabilities in connection with the incident.

Aware of SOPs, SJPs In the disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Renato N. Migrino, Philex senior vice president for finance, said the company will contest the imposition of the tailings fee.

“PMC (Philex Mining Corp.) personnel have not been remiss in carrying out the guidelines (guidelines on emergency preparedness), SOPs (standard operating procedures), and SJPs (standard job procedures) and thus, may not be held liable for the incident,” Philex said in its disclosure.

The MGB gave Philex seven calendar days from receipt of the letter to submit its comments on the report. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 14

THERE’S THE RUB

En-riling

BY CONRADO DE QUIROS Philippine Daily Inquirer I SAID it before: Juan Ponce Enrile has got to be one of the luckiest persons on earth. In at least two life-changing, or history-altering, situations, he was there at the right place at the right time.

The first was Edsa. Ferdinand Marcos uncovered his plot and sent him and his rebel group fleeing in fear of their lives to Camp Aguinaldo. Fortunately for him, the people massed at the camps to protect them. Overnight, he turned from a chief architect of martial law to a chief destroyer of martial law. Overnight, he turned from oppressor to liberator.

The second was Renato Corona’s impeachment. What are the odds that the first chief justice of this country to be impeached would be so at the very time Enrile was the Senate President thereby making him its presiding officer? A role to which he was as eminently suited to as presiding officer of martial law. A role indeed that he performed magnificently, earning rave reviews from the public itself.

With these things, he has managed to make the country forget his unsavory role at a time when a great many of the best and brightest disappeared from the face of the earth. But he wants more: He wants us in fact to remember martial law and his role in it—but so in ways removed from our experience of it. He wants us to remember him no longer as the Hermann Goering of martial law (Goering

used the Reichstag fire, which the Nazis lit off themselves, to round up the communists; Marcos used Enrile’s fake ambush to round up his critics) but as the Oskar Schindler of it. Will his luck hold? What makes his gamble particularly stupendous is that he did it just one week after the 40th anniversary of martial law.

Only a couple of weeks ago, the Edsa People Power Commission held a two-day conference on how to build a memory museum, with guests from Argentina, Chile and Peru coming over to help us find ways to help ourselves remember.

Only a week ago, P-Noy was in Fort Magsaysay talking about once wanting to exact revenge on the people who oppressed his family and the nation but finding comfort instead in the struggle that ended their rule. Only a week ago, the Department of Education was locked in a debate with other groups on how best to teach martial law so that the youth would know about it and make sure it never happens again.

And now, suddenly, mind-bogglingly, depressingly, this.

I saw the photographs of Enrile’s book launching in the newspapers and found myself despairing. The only one who wasn’t there was Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but give it a year or two and she’ll be there too. Indeed, the only ones who were not there, who will never be there whether it takes a year or 10, were those who were imprisoned and tortured during martial law, and the kin of those who died in the hills. Two things rile about that event. One is the book itself. The only thing worse than

forgetting is remembering the wrong things, or recalling only an implanted memory. Enrile’s propositions, which he had been floating around months before he launched his book, were long debunked by the Nuremberg trials.

Those contentions are: one, that if he hadn’t been there, martial law would have been worse; and, two, that he was a victim of martial law—if he had tried to walk away from it his life would have been forfeited.

The “what could have been” is never provable, the “what was” is, and Enrile was Marcos’ right hand in an iron-fisted rule. That was how he got rich and (in)famous, not least by razing this country’s forests. The second is easily refuted. Rafael “Rocky” Ileto never fell in league with Marcos, not even from the start when the generals of all the military branches gathered full force to prop up martial law.

Marcos never jailed him or killed him, though he cast him aside and impoverished him. That was all Enrile needed to do if he violently disagreed with Marcos—endure poverty and obscurity for principle. He did neither.

While at that, he could always have done a Ninoy. Instead, he did, well, an Enrile.

But what riles even more about that affair is the horrendous message it beams to the public.

Marcos used to joke in his time that he was going to let history be his judge, but just to be sure he would write history. Enrile has just turned joke into reality, with the blessings of friend and foe alike. Which makes you wonder how much of our history is really biography, or worse, PR.

But more than this, there’s the sheer injustice of it all. A couple of weeks ago, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines launched “Not In Our Watch,” which told of its members’ ordeals during martial law.

Some months ago, Susan and Nathan Quimpo launched “Subversive Lives,” which told of the humongous sacrifices a family made to fight off the oppression. None of these launchings drew the crowd Enrile did, and the books told a far more truthful story of what happened.

What does all this say, particularly to the youth we are exhorting to remember?

That it doesn’t really pay to make those sacrifices, if you’re lucky your version of life will just be ignored, if you’re not, no one will even know you existed at all? That it pays instead to become rich and famous, however you become so by screwing the world, by oppressing your countrymen, if you’re lucky you can be at the right place and time, and later on make people forget, if you’re not you can always hire someone to write an alternate version of reality?

Or preferably both? That at the end of all those exhortations for people to remember the horrors of the past and the heroism of the people who pushed it back, many of them perishing in the effort, nothing really happens, the bang will just go with the buck, fortune will just favor the brazen, history will just reward those who get to stay around to (re)write it?

It does rile, en or otherwise. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

Postures of power

BY RANDY DAVID Philippine Daily Inquirer ON THE front page of the Inquirer yesterday, there is a fascinating photograph of the main personalities who came to the launch of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s memoirs. This picture is worth a thousand words. It shows four seated figures: Imelda Marcos, Cristina Ponce Enrile, Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE), and Benigno S. Aquino III (P-Noy), and is captioned “No permanent friends, only permanent interests.” I think one would have to be of a certain age or to know a little about Philippine politics to draw that message from the picture itself.

Yet there is something else about that photo that a perceptive reader might grasp even without any knowledge of the nation’s recent political history.

It has to do with what the writer Elias Canetti, in his classic work “Crowds and Power,” refers to as “human postures and their relation to power.”

Everyone else is standing behind the seated dignitaries. JPE and his wife Cristina are flanked

by P-Noy to their left, and Imelda to their right.

The Enriles and P-Noy are comfortably seated on wide cushioned lounging chairs. Imelda appears to be sitting on a taller and stiffer dining chair, next to but slightly pulled back from Mrs. Enrile’s chair.

Her presence is visible but marginal, almost like that of a lady-in-waiting. She wears no expression.

“The dignity of sitting is a dignity of duration,” writes Canetti in his eloquent deconstruction of

human postures. We expect people who are sitting to continue sitting. The pressure of their weight, he observes, confirms their authority, and the longer they stay that way, the more secure they appear.

“There is hardly a single human institution which has not made use of this fact to preserve and strengthen its position.”

JPE was definitely the picture of authority and ease in that Inquirer photo. Sitting on what could well have been his throne for the evening, he was durability personified. In contrast, while Imelda seemed securely glued to her own chair, like someone accustomed to privilege, hers was the posture of someone exerting pressure on something hard and inert.

The usually graceful and elegant former first lady looked grim and uncomfortable.

“An upholstered chair is not only soft,” continues Canetti, “but also obscurely gives the sitter the feeling that he is sitting on something living. The give of the cushions, their springiness and tension, has something of the quality of living flesh and this may conceivably be the cause both of the aversion which many people feel for chairs that are too soft, and of the extraordinary importance which others, not generally self-indulgent, attach to this form of comfort.”

Once upon a time, Imelda Marcos sat on a throne, the powerful spouse of a powerful dictator.

The pressure that the couple’s rule exerted on the

living was immense. The Filipino people felt the enormous weight of their power, and for a long time, it seemed as though they would sit on their thrones forever. Today, the Marcoses no longer command the same royal treatment they used to get. But, they are not exactly powerless.

Ferdinand Jr. (Bongbong) is a senator. Imee is governor of Ilocos Norte. And Imelda herself sits as the representative of her late husband’s congressional district. But, perhaps more than these, the fact that she can confidently take her place in any social gathering of the country’s elite without having to feel unwelcome or out of place signifies the durability of her own family’s standing in a society dominated by a small elite.

Offering Imelda a chair among the VIPs during Enrile’s book launch was perhaps someone’s way of acknowledging her status as a former first lady and as a Marcos. Whether by design or by accident, the chair she was given and the manner it was positioned in relation to those of the principal guests however effectively conveyed the diminished rank and authority she now wields.

Members of the elite may sometimes find themselves out of power, but they are never completely stripped of influence. Their awareness that dominant power oscillates within a very narrow band inclines them to be accommodating toward their rivals. The favors and courtesies they extend to one another in the

worst of times are the bonds that unite them as members of a ruling group. Imelda is quite adept at this game. For now, she will gladly take the subtle humiliations that come with being out of power. She knows that if fate looks with favor at Bongbong, he may one day become president and escort her back to Malacañang.

As for JPE, I suppose the amazing longevity of his political career is in large measure attributable to the unique role he played during martial law.

Many people say he gave the dictatorship a humane side. Families of detainees and those waiting to be arrested sought his help for the little things that mattered—extended visiting rights, prearranged arrests, transfer to less harsh detention camps, and even release from prison of the young and innocent. He was the martial law administrator that one could talk to without fear of losing face. In the end, he turned against the dictator.

Perhaps, the tribulations he himself went through in life—growing up as the illegitimate offspring of a prominent family, being jailed and tortured during the Japanese occupation, struggling to educate himself amid difficult circumstances, and the strong sense of being an outsider to an elite that could not fully accept him—equipped him for this role. He seems to have emerged from all these with no resentment.

He has seen power and what it does to people, and he appears determined to show he would neither be seduced nor intimidated by its postures. ■

15 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Opinion

AT LARGE

‘Huwag kang plastic’

BY RINA JIMENEZ-DAVID Philippine Daily Inquirer LAUNCHED YESTERDAY amid intermittent rain—and busy shoppers—in the premier weekend market of Metro Manila: “Huwag Kang Plastic: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle at the Salcedo Community Market.”

A project of the “Women of Bel-Air” and officials of Barangay Bel-Air, which founded the Salcedo Market eight years ago, “Huwag kang Plastic” encourages its vendors and customers to espouse the “green lifestyle,” mainly by rejecting the use of plastic bags and bringing their own reusable bags and food containers. Barangay chair Nene Lichauco also proudly touted their use of innovative plastic bags that are partly made from starch and thus more biodegradable than the ubiquitous—and highly polluting—plastic “sando” bags.

Cutting the ribbon at the project launch was Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, who confided that the city had yet to finalize its regulations regarding the use of plastic bags mainly because he wanted to find a reasonable compromise, conceding that “we cannot go 100 percent” in banning plastics unless there are effective and practical alternatives.

Among the giveaways to the media at the launch were bayong full of sample products from the many stalls in Salcedo Market. Bayong have long been on sale at the market, although I spotted many shoppers storing their purchases in their own carts, cloth bags and baskets. Mayor Binay even proudly

showed off a shopping tote made of recycled tarpaulin streamers, fashioned by inmates of the city jail. The bags, produced by a cooperative, not only reduce wastage of plastic tarpaulins for which the government spends money and manpower just to collect, but also provide a bit of income for the inmates. Although, the mayor joked: “We don’t want it to be so successful that people end up committing crimes just so they end up behind bars and earning money.” *** IT’S been two years since the city government of Makati and the Ayala Group submitted an application for the implementation of the “BRT” or Bus Rapid Transit program. The program consists of setting apart a dedicated “bus lane” which will ferry passengers in much the same way as the elevated railways, but at much lower costs.

“The program has yet be approved by the Department of Transportation,” Mayor Binay explained when I asked why the program, which is a proven success in many cities in Latin America, the United States, and Europe, has yet to get off the ground. “Our aim is really to make moving around the city as easy as possible to discourage people from having to bring their cars,” he said.

He is, he proclaimed, a proponent of “small” cities or distinct districts, where people live, work, shop and relax in a compact area, discouraged from too much commuting. *** THE “Legends” of the PBA will take part in three “mini-tournaments” in Dammam, Jeddah

and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia in “dream games” scheduled from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2. The PBA Legends Games have been timed for the annual Hajj or pilgrimage season, which this year falls in the period between Oct. 24 and 29.

The program, which will pit the PBA legends against Filipino expatriate teams as well as those made up of young Saudi players, is supported by His Royal Highness Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahad, who heads the Youth Welfare section of the Ministry of Sports and Welfare of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Ruffy Ignacio, one of the organizers of the visit, says the goodwill games are “aimed at strengthening athletic and cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.”

Managed by Coordinations Est. Co., the PBA Legends visit was organized with the cooperation of regional Filipino basketball organizations in Saudi Arabia: the Pilipino Basketball Association in Dammam, the Overseas Filipino Basketball League in Jeddah, and the Philippine Arabia Basketball Association in Riyadh.

Already, the Pinoy basketball veterans have been warned not to downplay the “threat” from their opponents on the court. Locals warn that they will be facing “young and strong players, including the Saudi teams.” Among the Filipino expatriate teams are former PBA and PBL players, including Melvin Mamaclay, Jovie Sese, Joel Dualan, Boboy Rodriguez, Jessie Cabanayan, and Ariel Layug, who at 6’9” is a formidable opponent.

One of the organizers also warned the visitors that they will find an avid crowd in all their games, since people (Pinoys, Saudi and other nationals) are “starving, thirsting and lusting” after some basketball action. For one thing, there are 1.4 million Filipino expatriates in the Kingdom, all of whom, it seems, are basketball-crazy. *** PAINTINGS and other objects by renowned Filipino artists, potters and illustrators will be auctioned off on Oct. 2 at the Dusit Thani Manila at 7 p.m. (although the doors will be open earlier to the public) for the benefit of Museo Pambata.

The proceeds of the art auction will go to the Museo for its many “wishes”: installing a better playground for the children, and acquiring a tent for outdoor summer events as well as new sound systems and air-conditioning units for the Museum.

Yesterday, De La Salle Lipa, which is turning 50 years old, hosted an art exhibit, called “Continuum,” to raise funds for its scholarship program. The La Salle System has set a goal of 20 percent of its students on full scholarship, and DLS Lipa is on the way to reaching that goal with 16 percent of its students on scholarship.

In terms of student population, this means that there are more than 1,700 full scholars out of the total student population of 10,800.

Br. Kenneth Martinez, president and chancellor of DLS Lipa, says the goal is to maintain, if not increase, support for its scholars so they can finish their education without too much stress insecurity. ■

AS I SEE IT

Straight from the horse’s mouth

BY NEAL H. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer I GOT AN autographed copy of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s memoir launched only three days ago. I immediately skimmed over it, wanting to get to the portions about important events in the Philippines that involved him. They were the declaration of martial law, the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, and the People Power revolt.

The public had only a cursory knowledge of these events. For years, there were only speculative and sometimes inaccurate versions of these events.

Now, finally, here are the words of a key player in all these events. These are now words straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Whether or not you would believe his narration, the book provides interesting reading and satisfies curiosity regarding some aspects of these events.

• The declaration of martial law. It was generally believed that the ambush of Enrile’s car in WackWack subdivision was faked to provide an excuse for the declaration of martial law. Not true, wrote Enrile in his memoir.

“What would I have faked my ambush for?” he asked. “When it happened, the military operation to impose martial law was already going on. I had already delivered Proclamation 1081 and all the General Orders and Letters of Instruction to the military leaders. I had already ordered them to proceed with the military operation that carried out the orders of President Marcos to place the country under martial law.” (It was Enrile himself

who drafted the proclamation, general orders and letters of instruction and delivered them to Malacañang. President Marcos later sent them back to him for implementation.)

“In fact, when the ambush happened, I was already on my way home. Whether I was ambushed or not, martial law in the country was already an irreversible fact. So what was the need for me to fake my own ambush?....

“I honestly did not know why Marcos suddenly decided to cite my ambush in justifying the declaration of martial law when he made his public statement on Sept. 23. There was absolutely no need for it.” Who ambushed him?

Who ordered it? My enemies, Enrile wrote, and he had many, according to him. But who among them? Up to this day, he does not know. • The assassination of Ninoy Aquino. When Ninoy was assassinated at the Manila International Airport tarmac, Enrile said he was preparing to take a nap. It was Gen. Fabian Ver who first reported the assassination to him by telephone.

“Incoherently,” according to Enrile. Here is a reproduction of their phone conversation: JPE: “What happened?” Ver: “Ninoy was shot, Sir.” JPE: “What?” Ver: “Ninoy was shot, Sir!” JPE: “Where was Ninoy shot?” Ver: “He was shot at the airport tarmac, Sir!” JPE: “Why was Ninoy at the airport tarmac?” Ver: “He was being taken to Fort Bonifacio, and he was brought

down through the airport tarmac for security reasons, Sir.” JPE: “Who took Ninoy down to the airport tarmac?”

Ver: “The soldiers, Sir, who met him and acted as his security escort.” JPE: “Who shot him?” Ver: “A man disguised as an airport personnel, Sir.” JPE: “What do you mean by ‘disguised as airport personnel?’”

Ver: “The man who shot Ninoy was wearing the uniform of airport personnel, Sir.” JPE: “Was the gunman arrested?” Ver: “He was killed by the soldiers, Sir.” JPE: “Where is Ninoy?” Ver: “Ninoy was taken to the General Hospital, Sir.” JPE: “How is he?” Ver: “He is dead, Sir.” • Who ordered Ninoy killed? President Marcos formed the Agrava Commission to investigate the assassination. The Fact-Finding Board was headed by Justice Corazon Agrava; its members were Ernesto Herrera from labor, Dante Santos from business, Amado Dizon from the academe, and Luciano Salazar from the legal associations.

It was generally reported that the Agrava Commission found that the assassination was a communist-inspired plot. False, wrote Enrile.

That was the minority report written by Agrava.

The majority report of the four other members of the board “concluded that the killing of Ninoy was the result of a deliberate government-military conspiracy,” Enrile wrote. “It pinned the blame

directly on Gen. Fabian Ver and several others. It recommended the indictment of General Ver and a number of high-ranking military officers and enlisted men.”

• The People Power revolt. Enrile wrote that it was the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), led by Col. Gringo Honasan of the Army, Col. Red Kapunan of the Air Force, and Maj. Noe Wong of the Philippine Constabulary, that was at the forefront of the move to “withdraw their support from Marcos.” Others saw it as an attempted coup. Four RAM members had already been arrested. The coup plot was revealed by Maj. Edgardo Doromal, a recruit of Gringo, to Col. Irwin Ver who told his father, General Ver, who told Marcos. Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, chief of the Constabulary, and director general of the Integrated National Police, was not yet a member of the plot.

Enrile and his men decided to make their stand against the Marcos forces at Camp Aguinaldo. It was at that point that Enrile called General Ramos at Camp Crame. “I called you to ask if you care to join us,” Enrile said.

“Eddie was quiet for a while,” Enrile added.

When he was about to put the phone down, Ramos said: “Sir, I will join you. Let me just finish with my visitors.

He did and the rest is history. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 16

Britain, Australia, Canada join US security warnings for their citizens in Philippines of terrorist attack and the high level of serious crime.’’

Britons were told that terrorist attacks ``could be indiscriminate’’ and targets could include places frequented by foreigners such as airports, shopping malls, and churches.

Canadians were warned of ``an ongoing terrorist threat to Westerners and Western interests in the Philippines’’ and bombings that ``could occur at any time in Manila and other key cities.’’

Metropolitan Manila police chief Leonardo Espina said Saturday that he had ordered beefed up security for embassies with increased patrols by uniformed and plainclothes officers.

Such measures were taken in the wake of attacks that killed the American ambassador in Libya following Muslim

Embassies in the Philippines on high alert

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, Philippines - Britain, Australia and Canada joined the United States on Saturday in warning their citizens of a security threat in the Philippines, particularly in the capital, Manila.

Philippine authorities say they have no information of a specific threat against Westerners but are treating the warnings seriously.

On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said ``reliable security forces’’

detected a threat specifically in suburban Pasay City where it maintains a residential facility and a Veterans Affairs office.

It urged U.S. citizens to avoid gatherings that may be regarded as ``American events.’’ The threat remains through Oct. 10, it added.

In their separate warnings, the three other governments cited Friday’s U.S. ``emergency message.’’

Australians were advised to ``exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines because of the high threat

Ousted Philippine President Estrada runs for Manila mayor in polls dominated by dynasties THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, Philippines - Ousted Philippine President Joseph Estrada is running for mayor of Manila in midterm elections that are dominated by political dynasties, celebrities and the rich and powerful.

The list of candidates offers little change when it comes to who gets elected in the Philippines.

About 18,000 positions will be contested in the May 13, 2013, polls, including 12 senators.

The 75-year-old Estrada was ousted in 2001, convicted on charges of plunder and later pardoned. He is challenging incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim, a former Manila police chief and his former ally.

Estrada filed his papers Tuesday.

He’s promising urban renewal and an ``all-out war’’ against corrupt police.

His eldest son is a senator and another wants to join him. The sons of two other senators are also running. ■

protests against an anti-Islam film.

Similar protests in the Philippines have been peaceful.

Espina said the U.S. Embassy warning is based on ``their own parameters and systems of risk assessment.’’

Armed forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said the military has not monitored any ``significant threat’’ against Americans and other Westerners. ``Nevertheless, we are taking this seriously,’’ he added.

The foreign governments reminded its citizens not to travel to certain areas in the southern Philippines where the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group operates.

The group is notorious for kidnappings, beheadings and bombings.

It is on the U.S. and European lists of terrorist groups. ■

News-Phils

17 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

PH doesn’t have to repay Northrail loan, says lawyer ONE OF THE critics of the North Luzon Expressway project with China said the government should not repay its $500 million loan from China, because the deal was void from the start.

Lawyer Harry Roque, who was among those who had filed a pending suit to nullify the NorthRail contract, said a deal that violated the law was invalid from the get-go.

And under the Philippine Civil Code, a contract that is null and void does not need to be paid, Roque said.

“If our government and [Finance] Secretary [Cesar] Purisima pays it that would be a violation of the antigraft law. It is very clear in the Civil Code that a contract that is null and void must not be paid,” said Roque in a Quezon City media forum.

He also said a Supreme Court ruling and a Commission on Audit report had both noted defects in the NorthRail contract with China.

barrera_marquez2003 | Flickr Creative Commons

LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer

He said China would be able to recover the money it had forwarded for the NorthRail project only if it could prove that it was a “builder in good faith.”

But, he said, China could no longer claim good faith because, early on, there had been a court case against the project for alleged irregularities and questions about its compliance with Philippine procurement laws.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares also said the Philippines should not have given in to China’s demand for payment, stressing that the contract between the two countries was illegal.

“This contract must be annulled because our consent to the loan was vitiated by fraud and is no different to the voidable contracts under the…

Civil Code,” Colmenares said.

Roque said that if the Philippines paid the $500 million just to ease the tension between the two countries brought on by a sea dispute, that would be tantamount to succumbing to China’s bullying.

Relations between the two nations have been strained the past months over China’s claims to islands within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Amid the tension, China asked for payment of the $500 million it had already shelled out for the NorthRail project that was aborted.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, whom President Aquino recently sent to China as a special envoy, said the demand for payment did not stem from the territorial dispute but from the Philippine Supreme Court’s ruling that the NorthRail contract with the Chinese was not immune from suit.

In light of the high court ruling, the case questioning the validity of the contract and the loan agreement between the Department of Finance and ChinaEximbank would continue.

But Roxas said Purisima had made arrangements to repay the loan in tranches in two years.

The NorthRail project, which was intended to link Metro Manila with northern Luzon by rail, had been questioned from the start because it did not go through a public bidding, its cost appeared bloated, and there were no detailed plans of the project before the deal with China was made. ■

News-Phils

Photo courtesy of tesda.gov.ph

Tesda to turn ‘hot’ logs to cool chairs

Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer FROM HOT logs to cool chairs.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has donated over P13.7-million worth of confiscated lauan lumber to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to be turned into chairs and desks for the public schools.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje presented the lumber to Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva.

The 137,726 board feet of lumber would make 11,477 armchairs.

The donation was part of the P-Noy Bayanihan Project in which the DENR turns over confiscated lumber to be made into desks, chairs and tables for the Department of Education.

“We are keenly aware of the immense benefits of the P-Noy Bayanihan Project to the enrichment of the education of our children,” said the environment secretary.

The P-Noy Bayanihan Project aims to reduce the backlog of 2.5 million desks in 45,000 public schools throughout the country.

Tesda provides the manpower, training and production facilities, while logistical support to the tune of P29.4 million is given by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Paje meanwhile disclosed that 435,285 board feet of lumber valued at P43.5 million were still being held at Pier 16 in Manila’s North Harbor.

The wood, he said, would make 36,273 chairs and desks. ■

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 18

Ongpin, 24 others face raps over DBP ‘behest’ loans

BY CYNTHIA BALANA Philippine Daily Inquirer OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of criminal charges against 22 former officers and executives of state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and three private individuals, including businessman Roberto Ongpin, in connection with two loans amounting to P660 million granted to his firm in 2009.

Deltaventures Resources Inc. (DVRI) used the loan to acquire Philex Mining Corp. shares owned by DBP and sold these to businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan months later, allowing him to gain control of the country’s biggest gold producer.

The case stemmed from a complaint against the 25 respondents for violations of the antigraft law and other banking regulations. It was filed in August 2011 by DBP represented by its chair, Jose Nuñez, and its president and chief executive officer, Francisco del Rosario Jr. The new DBP management said the accused allegedly participated in the grant under relaxed concessions of P660 million in “behest” loans used in the purchase of DBP-owned shares in Philex Mining Corp., all orchestrated in a span of less than a year. The Senate also investigated the transactions.

In a review resolution signed on Sept.

25, Morales found probable cause to indict Patricia Sto. Tomas, former DBP chair; Reynaldo David, former president and vice chair; Alexander Magno, Floro Oliveros, Miguel Romero, Franklin Velarde, Renato Velasco and Joseph Donato Pangilinan all former board directors; and Edgardo Garcia, former senior executive vice president (SEVP) and chief operating officer.

Armando Samia, former SEVP and head of marketing sector; Rolando Geronimo, former SEVP; Perla Soleta, former senior assistant vice president; Jesus Guevarra II, former SEVP and marketing head of the branch banking sector (BBS); Crescencia Bundoc, former vice president and head of Regional Marketing Center-Metro Manila (RMC-MM); Arturo Baliton, BBS manager for RMC-Western Luzon; Nelson Macatlang, RMC-WL chief accounts management specialist; Marissa Cayetano, RMC-MM assistant manager.

They were charged with violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices

Act, in relation with the grant of a P150million credit line to DVRI. Aside from Ongpin, who is DVRI general manager, the two private individuals charged were Josephine Manalo, DVRI president; and Ma. Lourdes Torres, treasurer of Goldenmedia Corp. (GMC).

Morales also found probable cause to indict Sto. Tomas, David, Magno, Oliveros, Romero, Velarde, Velasco, Garcia, Samia, Geronimo, Soleta, Guevarra, Bundoc, Baliton, Ongpin, Manalo, Torres along with Ramon Durano IV, former DBP director; Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr., former EVP and head of finance sector; Teresita Tolentino, former AVP; Rodolfo Cerezo, RMC-MM assistant manager; and Warren de Guzman, RMC-MM assistant manager, for another count of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, in relation with the grant of a P510million loan to DVRI. The charges against Benilda Tejada, Josephine Jaurique and Justice Lady Flores were dismissed for insufficient evidence.

‘Incomprehensible’ Contacted by the INQUIRER, Ongpin, who is in Europe, said he had yet to read the resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“All I can say now is it is incomprehensible how a transaction in which the DBP earned some P1.4 billion, when the loans to my companies were fully secured and in fact paid ahead of schedule, can ever be adjudged by anyone as being unfavorable or having caused injury to the government,” Ongpin said.

“I have instructed my lawyers to oppose this judgment vigorously.”

‘Pure harassment’ David said the filing of the charges was “pure harassment and I am innocent of the charges.”

He said the transactions were done completely “in good faith.”

“In fact, if you look at it, you’ll see that the profits of the bank for these deals constituted almost a third of its income for that year,” he said.

David said the filing of only two charges among the many complaints filed by the present DBP management reflected how weak the issues being raised against him are.

Nonetheless, the former DBP president said he would “respect the process” and take remedies available to him under the legal system.”

GAME Equities The review resolution pointed out that a majority of DVRI shares were registered in the name of Manalo and the firm’s paid-up capital amounted to only P625,000, while most of GMC’s equity was owned

by Boerstar Corp. whose shares are, in turn, held in majority by GAMEEquities Inc. The resolution added that Manalo and Torres were GMC’s president and treasurer, respectively, but Ongpin was the chair and shareholder of GAME. Philex directors The resolution noted that in November and December 2009, Ongpin and David were directors of Philex. Ongpin was a former DBP director and is a known associate of then DBP president David.

The resolution further stated that DBP extended two loans, P150 million and P510 million, in April 2009 and November 2009, respectively, to DVRI, even though DVRI was undercapitalized.

Insider trading It also noted the following: the values of DVRI securities did not comply with the collateral-to-loan ratio prescribed by the Central Bank and DBP’s credit-policy memoranda.

There were indications that corporate layering was resorted to.

Proceeds of the second loan were used to purchase DBP-owned mining shares, although the private company was not licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a securities dealer. There were indications of insider trading. The resolution said that DBP sold to DVRI in November 2009 about 50 million shares in Philex at only P12.75 per share.

DVRI used the proceeds of the loan to purchase from DBP the Philex shares, which were subsequently registered in the name of GMC. In just a span of one month or in December 2009, the Philex shares were sold at P21 per share, or at almost double the value.

Morales directed that copies of the review resolution be furnished the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Securities and Exchange Commission and AntiMoney Laundering Council for their immediate action on the possible violations of the National Internal Revenue Code, Securities Regulation Code and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. ■

19 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

News-Phils

20 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Vancouver Trade Forum Focuses on Growth of PH Economy

Senator Yonah Martin and Commissioner Mike Ignacio were special guests at the recently-concluded PCTC trade and business forum. More photos on page 35.

THE RECENTLY held trade and business forum organized by The Philippines Canada Trade Council (PCTC), with the assistance of the Philippine Consulate General’s Office in Vancouver, was a resounding success as an SRO crowd attended the forum to listen to guest speakers and learn about current investment opportunities in the Philippines. The talks centered on the Philippines as a progressive and

fast growing economy, and the featured guest speakers were San Franciscobased Philippine Trade Representative Commissioner Michael Alfred Ignacio and Tourism Director Rene de los Santos.

According to Commissioner Ignacio, statistics would show that there has been an improvement in Canada-Philippine trade relations in recent years. Canadian merchandise exports to the Philippines were at CAD $554.6 Million in 2011 and

New language rules for would be Canadian citizens to begin in November THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA - Would-be Canadians will be required to submit tangible proof of how well they speak English or French beginning this November.

The new requirements were unveiled last year and will see citizenship applicants given three ways to prove their proficiency.

Applicants will have to submit results of a government-approved third-party language test, show they’ve finished high school or post-secondary education in English or French or prove they’ve received an appropriate level of language education via government-funded training programs.

Knowledge of French or English has been a requirement to obtain citizenship since 1977, but Immigration Minister Jason Kenney had sought to find an objective way to prove proficiency.

It used to be assessed as part of the general citizenship test and related interview.

That will still be part of the criteria but before would-be citizens even get to that step, they’ll have to submit the evidence as part of their overall application.

The changes come into effect as of November 1.

An analysis published in April found the new rules could have the effect of decreasing the number of citizenship applications, as people hold back in order to seek out language training.

The government analysis also suggested the changes will be costly: as much as over $70 million for applicants and close to $40 million for governments who’ll need to increase free language training programs.

But the analysis said the benefits to society and to individual applicants that will come with stronger language skills outweigh the costs. ■

Canadian imports from the Philippines were at CAD $915.8 Million in 2011, making Canada the Philippines’ 19th largest trading partner as of 2011. In fact, Commissioner Ignacio adds, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, M.P. called for increased trade and investments between the Philippines and Canada, saying that the presence of huge numbers of Filipinos, about 800,000, in Canada should spur a livelier trade in goods across the Pacific.

According to Commissioner Ignacio and Director de los Santos, available investment opportunities in the Philippines include Manufacturing, Mining, Tourism, Information and Communications, Real Estate Activities, Administrative and Business Support Services. The Philippines also has worldclass human resources, established infrastructure and telecommunications networks, strategic location, government incentives and support.

The Department of Trade, in particular, also offers support services to interested investors, including, business matching, organization of Trade and Investment Missions, commercial and market intelligence reporting, among others.

The guest speakers were followed by officers of companies like Aquilini Resources, Accenture and PharmaCanada who shared how their respective business and operations in the Philippines is doing.

Several media groups such as Balitang Canada of ABS-CBN and the Philippine Canadian Inquirer were present to cover the event. Ms. Laarni Liwanag, current president of PCTC, later gave all the speakers a certificate of appreciation.

The event was held last September 23, 2012 at the Radisson Hotel, Richmond, B.C. For more information about the recent event and about Philippine Canada Trade Council, please visit : www. pctcnet.org. ■

NEWS BRIEFS Canadian business must invest more: Deloitte TORONTO - Failure by business to invest in growth is a major factor hampering productivity in Canada and the ability to compete internationally, according to a new report by the Canadian arm of professional services consultant Deloitte. The report - The Future of Productivity: Clear choices for a competitive Canada - makes it clear that Canadian companies need to be bolder when it comes to investing in productivity-boosting measures and seeking out growth, both within Canada and internationally.

Target’s entry to impact retailers: Barclays TORONTO - A new report says the arrival of U.S. retailer Target in Canada next year will take a bite out of the sales of several key rivals. But Barclays Capital says other retailers that don’t overlap in their offerings may benefit from the increased traffic generated by the new stores.

Manitoba government still looking for cuts WINNIPEG - With its fiscal year half over, the Manitoba government is still trying to find many of the spending cuts promised in last spring’s budget.

The government has identified $66 million of $128 million it wants to cut in program spending, but has yet to sell off any of a promised $80 million in government assets, Finance Minister Stan Struthers said Monday.

B.C. Ferry watchdog permits fare hikes VICTORIA - BC Ferry customers will soon be paying more for less service.

British Columbia Ferry Services spokeswoman Deb Marshall said Monday ferry users can expect to fare increases of 12 per cent more over the next three years.

21 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

World News

Federal appeals court in Calif. fast tracks green card applications of thousands

BY PAUL ELIAS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO _ A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that immigration officials must give priority status to thousands of green card applicants who lost their place in line for U.S. residency when they turned 21.

A narrowly divided 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the United States Citizen and Immigration Services wrongly determined the applicants were no longer eligible for special visas as children of green card holders after they turned 21.

The immigration service said those children who ``aged out’’ during the process lost their place in line, even if the parents’ application took years to process.

Under U.S. immigration law, children 21 and older cannot immigrate under their parents’ applications for green cards.

The court ruled 6-5 court otherwise, saying the applicants may keep their ``priority date’’ established when their parents filed for a derivative visa for their children.

The ruling held that Congress meant to aid these applicants with the 2002 passage of the Child Status Protection Act. The act meant to preserve the original

date of application of a minor who turned 21 during the pendency of the parents’ application, the court ruled. ``We conclude that the plain language of the CSPA unambiguously grants automatic conversion and priority date retention to aged-out derivative beneficiaries,’’ Judge Mary Murguia wrote for the majority.

The court ruled that immigration officials were wrongly forcing many of these applicants to file new applications for residency, putting their application at the bottom of the pile. The new ruling requires immigration officials to consider the original application date while processing the application for residency.

The opinion reversed a trial court judge, who tossed out a class-action lawsuit filed by legal U.S. residents whose children were removed from residency consideration under their application when they turned 21. ``Tens of thousands of children living in the U.S. or abroad who have ‘aged out’ of the green card process would reclaim their place in line based on this decision,’’ said Carl Shusterman, one of the lawyers representing the applicants.

The federal government could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the matter.

A U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson couldn’t be reached after hours in Washington D.C. Judge Milan Smith wrote a dissenting opinion. Smith called the 2002 law ambiguous and said it’s unclear what Congress meant with its passage. Further, he said the new class of applicants now eligible for priority consideration will likely bump other, more clear applications of other seeking residency further down the line. ■

KIA APPLEWOOD IS NOT JUST ABOUT CARS, IT HAS BEEN A PRIME MOVER IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVES. IT HAS TAKEN ITS MOTTO, “DRIVE CHANGE” TO HEART, BY BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THESE VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVING ACTIVITIES: The Surrey Food Bank has been serving 15,000 people every month, with a majority of those being fed to be children less than 12 years old.

Kia Applewood has been opening its doors to accepting donations to be forwarded to the Food Bank.

The Fleetwood Park has been the site of reforestation and tree planting activities of KIA Applewood employees . It is KIA applewood’s contribution in making Surrey a cleaner, greener and healthier city. The company also donated $22,000 to the city of Surrey in its tree planting drive.

Applewood’s Chief Financial Officer, Norman Isaak, joins this year’s exciting Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley, where cops and emergency services personnel from across the province brave the weather as they cycle up to two weeks across the daunting terrain of Vancouver Island, Northern British Columbia, the coast of British Columbia and the Fraser Valley to raise funds for cancer. Donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society through Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley are used to fund life-saving research and caring support programs to reduce cancer’s devastating impact to the victims and their families. Apart from Isaac doing the Tour de Valley, he also teamed up with no less than Applewood’s President, Darren Graham, in joining the Big Honkin Head Shave wherein they shaved their heads to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research. They were part of Canadian Cancer Society and Cops for Cancer’s combined efforts to promote childhood cancer research, to raise awareness for childhood cancer prevention, and to fund incredible support programs, like Camp Goodtimes.

“It’s all good at Applewood!”

Mike Vargas has joined Applewood Dealership to serve the Filipino community.

For inquiries, call MIKE VARGAS at 604-779-2515

Diaspora

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 24

Filipino-Canadian in Focus: Chefs Executive Chef Romeo Oloresisimo

BY MELISSA REMULLA-BRIONES Philippine Canadian Inquirer Valley Food Show 2012. Although he did not win the Master Chef title that day, he is one who is used to looking at challenges as opportunities.

Advice to other aspiring chefs “I think if they want to be an executive chef one day, they just got to do it.

Working in a kitchen is a very, very tough environment. First of all, we don’t make that much money until you make it to executive chef, but it does take a while and [it is] very, very hard to get that position, hours that you have to put up sitting there, waiting for everything, learning,” he said.

“If I look at myself – I would tell myself, don’t change anything in the way you did. Work, go to school, learn as much as you can about food.” He discloses, “Honestly, at one point, all I ever thought about was food. That’s all I did in my drive from Kamloops to Abbotsford. And I would read about food and go on the internet about cooking any kind of sauce.”

Filipino food When asked about Filipino food going mainstream or high-end, Chef Romeo had this to say: “You got to have the support of the Filipino community as well. I’ve seen a couple of restaurants in Vancouver do that – a little bit more high-end. But maybe somebody has to step up and say this is how Filipino food is – to me, Filipino food cannot be fine dining, it should be family style. I love Filipino home cooking. It is comfort food. I would not change anything. At the end of the day, food is food.”

Chef Romeo will be opening a new restaurant in Kamloops and will be putting out the dishes that has won him countless impressive accolades, including Silver at the SeaChoice For The Love of Fish competition in 2007, Gold at the 2008 Hot Show Competition in both the team and apprentice categories, a Red Seal Certification in 2010, winning the CityTV Master Chef title in 2011, and winning the 2012 Iron Chef 100 Mile Diet competition.

His story, a testament to the excellence of Filipinos wherever they are, continues. ■

Rene Artiga, Mauricio Rivera Photography

IT WAS a defining moment, but it was not what one would expect in a defining moment. There was no blinding light, no flash of insight. He was just given an ultimatum: get a job or languish in a juvenile detention camp.

But it became the beginning of the rest of his life.

“How I got into cooking was basically because I was rebellious when I was young because I [just] moved here. When you are 11 years old, you kind of have a lot of friends in the Philippines too,” said Chef Romeo Oloresisimo, Vancouver’s premiere Filipino-Canadian Executive Chef – of course, he was still not a chef at that time and had no inkling of what a force he would be in the restaurant industry.

His father made the decision, and young Romeo had no choice but to leave the Philippines and his friends. And rebel, of course.

“I got myself in trouble and then I had to go to a probation officer. He told me I had to get a job so I started working at 18. [I did something and] I was not proud of it but it was one of those days that turn your life around,” he explains.

But it was not an easy beginning.

He started as a dishwasher and moved up the kitchen ranks. But it was that stint that made him recognize his passion for cooking. Romeo decided to further his education by attending culinary school, and he finished at the top of his class.

“Filipinos are hard workers. They do what they are told to do and that’s the reason why it got me to where I am right now. All I do is say, ‘Yes chef, I’ll do it’.

I just want to be better than the average person. That’s all there is to it, and that’s a good trait of Filipinos anywhere,” he said.

Chef Romeo went to culinary school 8 years ago and had the executive chef position twice already in those 8 years.

“Some people take years and years, maybe never. But I am a perfectionist.

When I do something I want to make sure that I’m doing it right and as perfect as I possibly can, and maybe that’s what got me up in this [Master Chef] competition.

I like to be challenged,” he said.

At the time of the interview, Chef Romeo was defending his Master Chef title at the tenth Master Chef Competition (Iron Chef style) at the EAT! Fraser

Chef Romeo was winner of the CityTV Master Chef competition in 2011

Chef Romeo Oloresisimo with Chef William Tse

25 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

BY KATHERINE MARFAL Philippine Canadian Inquirer RISKS TAKEN in the past would be the fruits that you will reap in the future.

In the Philippines, Chef Mark Uy was a cooking show host, product endorser and the head of a College Department; but, he left all these things to try his luck in Canada. Today, he is doing what he loves the most - cooking and proving his real worth.

He is a scriptwriter for a cooking segment in the Philippines, and with his work ethics and outstanding cooking and interpersonal skills, it is not a surprise that he had already gone this far.

This is his story.

Can you tell us about your immigrant roots?

Our family has always been immigrants.

My grandmother was born in a little town in Xiamen, China. She moved to the Philippines with my great grandmother and great grandfather, riding a boat.

During her time (Japanese occupation), life was difficult. They had nothing to eat so they had no choice but to nibble old stale bread. My great grandfather had to protect his fellow

Diaspora

Chef Mark Uy

Chef Mark Uy with GM of Hyatt, Herb Rackliff

Filipinos and new Chinese immigrants from the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers, so my grandma had to stop studying to take care of her younger brothers and sisters and the Filipinos who asked for their help during these difficult times. I could still remember her telling me all these stories like it was just yesterday.

Can you tell us your citizenship and the citizenship of your family?

Chef Mark Uy’s Chicken Breast Fillet skin-on Chicken Marination: 2g tarragon 5ml olive oil 2 tsp pepper 50-60 g squash in cubes 30g/half white/red onion small diced With a cling wrap, cover the chicken breast then pund till even in thickness. Then tie with kitchen twine.

1. In a hot pan, add olive oil and sear the chicken (skinside on) until crispy, then on to the oven 2. In another saute pan, start sauteing onions and squash till softened.

Salt and pepper to taste always. Brush the asparagus with olive oil and place to screaming hot grill pan. To get those nice grill marks.

3. Salt and pepper to taste always. Assemble on plate

We were all born in the Philippines; it is the place we call home. My dad and my mom were both born in the Philippines; but all my mom’s families are currently living in San Diego, California.

This was how it started. After my moms’ nephew graduated from high school in Majayjay, Laguna, he was recruited by the US Navy, (when US bases were still situated in Cavite and Clark). Right after he passed and topped the exam, he was invited to join the military. And after some time, he petitioned everyone in the family. As time passed, our whole clan was in the US already.

Can you tell us about your journey from the Philippines to Canada?

After graduating Cum Laude in 2003 with a degree in BSHRM, I had a short working stint in Shangri-la Mactan in Cebu. Afterwards, I needed to go to California because I was presented with a promising job offer. I was there for quite some time to work at George, La Jolla Cove (part of San Diego county).

I was only earning a minimum wage during that time. I told to myself that it could not be this way; I told myself that I have to upgrade my profession. I know it very well that it is very expensive to study in the US even if one avails of a student loan, surely one will be broke in no time. So, I decided to come home to the Philippines to pursue my nursing career (Chef Mark also finished BS Nursing). After passing the Board exam in the Philippines, I was ready to go back to the US. At some point in my life, I felt that God wanted me to do something special. In 2008, I was offered a position to be the head of BSHRM in my alma mater (Chiang Kai Shek College). In the same year, I already

had my eyes set for North America.

So, while I was teaching and heading a program at that time, I met a good friend of mine who was preparing to immigrate to Canada. She invited me to submit my application to Canada as well. And I did. Although, I knew it would be tough to try my luck in a country where I did not know anyone, I still pursued it to prove something to myself again.

With God’s glory, I was immediately approved for Canadian residency. It took me several months and years to finally leave what I was doing in the Philippines, including all the speaking engagements, TV shows /radio stations interviews, and endorsements from different sponsors. Finally, on April of 2012, I decided to settle in Canada, equipped with hope, and a promise of a better future for my family, and strengthened by the will to be the best in whatever profession I may partake.

What were the things that you like doing in Canada and in the Philippines?

Now, I am involved in Filipino community Bible study/sessions, with the PICPA Calgary Chapter. Although, I’m not an accountant by profession, I am knowledgeable as to how a professional organization works. I’ve been volunteering my services for a professional organization of deans and president of HRM schools all over the Philippines, under the leadership of Dr. Gloria Baken-Siy. How was your life as an immigrant?

As an immigrant, I try to fit into whatever community I am in. The utter truth is, it is very hard in the beginning.

There were a lot of challenges, especially in my stint in North America.

Whether in the US or Canada, racism existed in the workplace because of the color of one’s skin. The fact is, Filipinos still belonged to the minority.

But nevertheless, I am proud of who I am. I am comfortable in my own skin.

Being an immigrant, I am completely aware that I had to start from the very bottom of the rung. Luckily, I was hired by Hyatt Regency in Calgary as they valued my work ethics and credentials. Now, I am already part of the Lead line in Thomson’s Fine Dining Restaurant under the Leadership of Chef David Flegel, whose wife is also a Filipina. ■ **** For more recipes, questions or comments, Chef Mark can be reached via www. chefmarkuy.com

26 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

BY JULIET WILLIAMS, MICHAEL R. BLOOD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES - Arnold Schwarzenegger says his wife, Maria Shriver, was told to ``snap out of it’’ by her mother for her attempts to persuade him against running for California governor in 2003, a conversation that ultimately opened the door to his successful candidacy.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver told her daughter that her husband would be ``angry for the rest of his life’’ if she stopped his ambitions, Schwarzenegger writes in his new autobiography, ``Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story.’’

The former governor says in the book that he had decided against running to recall Gov. Gray Davis after his wife implored him not to for the sake of their family. Maria Shriver announced his decision to their four children.

But he writes that when Maria Shriver told her mother about her efforts to thwart Schwarzenegger’s political ambitions, Eunice - sister of President John F. Kennedy and Sens. Robert Kennedy and Ted Kennedy - told her daughter that women in their family ``always support the men when they want to do something.’’ Schwarzenegger says he didn’t know about the conversation at the time, but learned of it later.

Maria Shriver then softened her stance, paving the way for Schwarzenegger to announce his candidacy on ``The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,’’ where he says he felt most comfortable.

The announcement came after a week of wavering.

Schwarzenegger says before he headed to the TV appearance, his wife handed him two pieces of paper with talking points she had written: one in case he decided to run, another in case he decided not to.

He writes that Shriver went on to become a key ally and adviser to his campaign and eventual governorship.

Schwarzenegger has often said that Maria’s mother and her father, Sargent Shriver, were essential to his eventual decision to seek public office, and the most ``extraordinary

human beings I’ve ever met.’’ But he also writes in the book that he often teased his wife that the close-knit Democratic Kennedy clan was ``like a bunch of clones’’ because there was such conformity among them.

A spokesman for Maria Shriver, Matthew DiGirolamo, declined to comment on the contents of the book. Eunice Shriver died in 2009. ``Total Recall’’ will officially be published next week.

The Associated Press purchased an early copy.

Schwarzenegger also writes he had a ``hot affair’’ with actress Brigitte Nielsen at a time he and Maria Shriver were dating and already living together.

Schwarzenegger and Nielsen co-starred in the 1985 film ``Red Sonja.’’ Nielsen wrote in a memoir published last year that she and Schwarzenegger had an ``outrageous affair’’ while making the movie and that she didn’t know until later that he was involved with Shriver.

In ``Total Recall,’’ Schwarzenegger writes that he knew the fling with Nielsen wouldn’t last and in fact it only made him realize that he wanted to marry Shriver.

The book is part of an effort by the onetime ``Mr. Universe’’ and Hollywood action star to rebrand himself after leaving office with a mixed record and subsequent embarrassing revelations about a fling he had with the family’s housekeeper. Schwarzenegger, who fathered a son with the housekeeper, says he also let the boy down.

Schwarzenegger, 65, said he avoided telling his wife for years about the boy, who is now a teenager, even when Shriver asked him, partly because of his longtime penchant for secrecy, and his fear that the news would become public and undermine his political career. He told his wife in January 2011, when she confronted him the day after he left office.

In an interview with ``60 Minutes’’ scheduled to air Sunday, Schwarzenegger said having sex with his housekeeper was ``the stupidest thing’’ he ever did to his now-estranged wife and caused great pain to her and their four children. CBS aired excerpts of the interview Friday.

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Schwarzenegger: Maria Shriver’s mother told her to ‘snap out of it’ and back his bid for gov

``I think it was the stupidest thing I’ve done in the whole relationship. It was terrible. I inflicted tremendous pain on Maria and unbelievable pain on the kids,’’ Schwarzenegger tells ``60 Minutes.’’

Shriver filed for divorce in July.

In his book, the usually ebullient Schwarzenegger admits to some loneliness, even though he packed his schedule with speeches, projects and movie-making after Shriver and the children moved out of the house.

He said his career had been fun for 30 years because he shared it with Maria.

They had done everything together, he writes.

The former GOP governor also writes about a 2003 White House meeting with Karl Rove in which the top GOP strategist told him the recall would not happen and instead introduced the actor to then-national security adviser Condoleezza Rice as his pick to run for California governor in 2006.

Schwarzenegger felt snubbed.

He asks, ``How could Rove have been so wrong?’’

Rove’s office said he was travelling Friday and could not be reached for comment.

Rice’s chief of staff at Stanford University, Georgia Godfrey, said Rice cannot recall ``any conversation on this subject.’’ ``She has stated many times in the past that she has no desire to run for public office and those sentiments have still not changed,’’ Godfrey said in a statement emailed to the AP. ■

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS Adele has confirmed she has co-written and performed the theme to the upcoming James Bond movie, ``Skyfall.’’ The singer posted a picture on her Twitter feed Monday of what appears to be the sheet music cover page for the song, credited to Adele - as A. Adkins - and Paul Hepworth, who co-wrote her hit ``Rolling in the Deep.’’ Rumours have swirled for months that the Grammy-winning British singer had recorded the theme, but there has been no official announcement from producers. The film, Daniel Craig’s third Bond adventure, opens in Britain Oct. 26 and in the U.S. Nov. 9. The cast includes Javier Bardem, Albert Finney, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris. The theme to the last Bond film, ``Quantum of Solace,’’ was performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys. ■

Reese Witherspoon welcomes 3rd baby to the world cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com

Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

Adele confirms she has recorded Bond theme tune

LOS ANGELES - Reese Witherspoon has given birth to her third child, naming him after a place close to her heart. Meredith O’Sullivan Wasson, Witherspoon’s publicist, said Thursday that ``Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth welcomed Tennessee James into their family today. Both mom and baby are healthy and the entire family is thrilled.’’ The 36-year-old ``Legally Blonde’’ and ``Walk the Line’’ star lived in Tennessee when she was young. Witherspoon is already a mom to Ava, 13, and Deacon, 8, from her prior marriage to Ryan Phillippe. Toth is an agent for Creative Artists Agency. ■

27 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Entertainment

Indie star feels challenged by coming television work

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer ACTRESS Mercedes Cabral, who attended the recently concluded 2012 Venice International Film Festival as a cast member of the Brillante Mendoza film “ThyWomb,” reported that a member of the audience had walked out of the movie’s special screening.

The viewer reportedly couldn’t stand watching a very graphic scene of a ritualistic slaughter of cattle.

“The Italian audience is very vocal and blunt.

If they people don’t like your work, they will really make it known. The killing of cattle is really one of the rituals of the Badjao tribe (in Mindanao). I understood that viewer’s reaction.

I myself couldn’t stand looking at the scene,” Mercedes told the INQUIRER. Like the French “Thy Womb” is the story of a Badjao midwife (Nora Aunor) who cannot conceive a child. Eager to please her husband (Bembol Roco), she arranges for a young woman (Lovi Poe) to be a surrogate mother. Mercedes portrays a young Badjao bride.

“The Italians are very similar to the French. ’Pag ayaw nila, babastusin nila ang pelikula mo (If they don’t like your film, they will become rude).

During the press conference we attended, most of the questions were for the director and about the film. They didn’t care about the actors, but [they did care] about the actors’ work and how they prepared for their characters,” she noted.

Mercedes first joined Mendoza at the 2008 Cannes IFF in France for the film “Serbis.”

She returned to Cannes the following year for Mendoza’s “Kinatay,” which won for the latter the best director honor; and for Korean Park Chanwook’s romantic film “Thirst” (also as part of its cast). In 2009, Mercedes was invited to attend the Asia Pacific Actors Network at the Pusan IFF in South Korea.

Venice highlights Asked for more highlights of the Venice IFF, Mercedes recalled the long standing ovation that “Thy Womb” received after its gala screening on Sept. 6. “The people stayed until the end credits.

When the theater lights were finally turned on, they all stood up and applauded for the four of us for five whole minutes,” she said. (Mercedes attended the festival with Brillante, Nora and Lovi.)

She continued: “It was overwhelming! While it went on, I thought about how sad it was that most Filipinos didn’t support their own films. Projects like this first have to win awards abroad to be appreciated locally.”

Extreme reactions Mercedes added: “I was told that, as in Direk Dante’s (Brillante’s nickname) earlier movies, reactions to ‘They Womb’ were extreme— people either really liked the film or hated it. I personally think Ms Nora portrayed her character very effectively. Most people in the audience were amazed to learn about the culture of the Badjaos.”

Mercedes said the five-day trip to Italy was mostly work. “We walked the red carpet and attended press conferences. We didn’t have time to watch other films. We had free time only on the fourth day. On the fifth [day], it was time to head to the airport,” she recalled.

The actress recounted that she learned a lot about Nora after working with her on the set on Sitangkay Island in Tawi-Tawi. “Tita Guy (Nora’s nickname) is very down-toearth. She never made us feel that she’s the country’s superstar. In TawiTawi, we lived in houses on stilts. There were no toilets. We used only rain water for washing. We never heard her complain.”

Mercedes added: “There were six or seven of us in one house. We all slept on woven mats. One time, I was packing in a hurry because we were scheduled to leave for another set location. She invited me to have merienda with her. I said I’d just follow her after I’m done packing my sruff. After a few minutes, she came back with a bowl of noodles for me. I was very embarrassed, so I dropped everything and joined her.”

Mercedes is in the cast of the Christian Libanan indie film “Aberya,” an entry to the 2012 Cinema One Originals Film Festival in November. On television, she will join the cast of Gina Alajar’s afternoon drama series “Magdalena,” which premieres on Oct. 8.

Escort girl “I have yet to start taping for the show. All I know about my character, Kim, is that she’s an escort girl. She was instructed by the pimp Baron (Ryan Eigenmann), with whom she’s in love, to train Magdalena (Bela Padilla). Kim is jealous now that the spotlight is turned on her (Bela), but the two will eventually become allies.”

Mercedes said she found acting on television very challenging. “I admit to having a hard time doing TV acting because I got so used to working in the movies. In film, you already get a full grasp of your character just by reading the script. On TV, your character evolves faster. You get new scripts every week.”

She pointed out: “I’m excited to be working with Direk Gina. She’s an actor-director. She is very detailed. She would explain to you what emotion she needs from your character for a particular scene. That’s important for an actor.”

“Magdalena” also features Dion Ignacio, Pancho Magno, Pauleen Luna, Maria Isabel Lopez, Irma Adlawan, Alan Paule and Deborah Sun, among others. ■ E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph

Entertainment

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 28

Grace Lee weathers high-profile entanglements family and even people I loved in the distant past were dragged into the fray.”

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer TV HOST Grace Lee did a lot of growing up this past year—a roller-coaster ride that saw her gaining sudden fame due to her widely reported romance with President Aquino.

The Korean TV personality admitted: “I learned that when we go through trials, we should remember, and rely on, the things we already believed in when we were younger.”

The resulting fame and controversies could have been dizzying. She said it was important for her to stick to the values that her parents had instilled in her.

“I realized that God would not put someone in your life without a purpose,” she told the INQUIRER during the launch of her latest endorsement deal, with Korean restaurant Chef’s Noodle. “I also found out who my real friends were. Lastly, I learned that it’s always important to love yourself first.”

People-pleaser that she was, she tended to prioritize others’ happiness before her own. Now she makes it a point to strike a healthy balance in all her personal relationships. “I wouldn’t want to lose my identity,” she said.

As if the Presidential scuttlebutt wasn’t enough, she figured in a nasty feud with former radio colleague Angelicopter early this year, too.

She noted that 2012 is a dragon year and those born in the year of the dog, like herself, are believed to be at a disadvantage. “But I don’t think that was being unlucky. I must’ve matured 10 times over this year. I became more understanding and acquired restraint.”

Through all the drama, she insisted, she remained

Current focus She recalled gasping upon seeing the May-June cover of Look magazine (published by INQUIRER Hinge) which declared: “Before, During and After the President.” “My initial reaction was: OMG (Oh, my God)!”

But in the end, she conceded that the cover blurb aptly summed up the hectic year that was.

“It’s true naman.”

These days, she’d rather focus on good news. For starters, she moved to TV5 after five years in GMA 7.

She is now part of the morning show “Good Morning Club” on TV5 and anchors (with Martin Andanar) the newscast “Andar ng mga Balita” on Aksyon TV (TV5’s Filipino news channel).

She was convinced to make the big switch because TV5 allowed her to go beyond “lifestyle and entertainment” and tackle hard news.

“I am now training under the team of (TV5 news head) Luchi Cruz-Valdes,” Lee said.

Coincidentally, it was Valdes who interviewed optimistic. “I’m still a hopeless romantic.” She has Lee at the height of the brouhaha over the learned to be “less angry, more forgiving” as well. Presidential romance early this year.

In the past year, she was deluged with intrigues Ontop of her TVwork, anewwebsite is in the left and right. “All sorts of rumors came out. My works (www.graceleemanila.com), too. ■

Jolo plays it coy, but says Jodi is ‘special’ to him

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer ACTOR Jolo Revilla would neither confirm nor deny the status of his relationship with Jodi Sta. Maria, but nonetheless admitted “she’s special to me, too.”

“That much is obvious,” Jolo told media during the birthday party of his dad, Sen. Bong Revilla, on Monday night at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

He added: “She has made it public. ’Yun na ’yon (That’s it). What you see is what you get ... I just want to keep my personal life private in the meantime.”

Asked what’s keeping him from making public his relationship with Jodi, Jolo responded: “Not now.

The right time will come. I can’t say when exactly, I’m still waiting for something.”

Jodi recently admitted on national television that Jolo was “someone special” to her.

The rumored romance between Jolo and Jodi became the subject of tabloids and blogs when they were spotted, along with their respective children, vacationing in Hong Kong last month. Jodi reportedly failed to attend the annual Star Magic Ball because she was in Hong Kong Disneyland.

In an interview on the show biz program “The Buzz” on Sunday, Jodi—lead star of the popular

ABS-CBN teleserye “Please Be Careful With My Heart”—said: “I would say he’s someone special [to me] right now. Hanggang doon na lang po muna. (That’s all for now).”

She refused to elaborate, adding: “I am happy ...

I’ve never lost faith in love.”

In 2010, Jodi separated from Pampi Lacson, the father of her 7-year-old son Thirdy. Pampi is a son of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson Sr. Last year, Jodi and Pampi filed for annulment of their marriage.

Pampi’s elder brother, Ronald Jay, will go headto-head against Jolo for the post of Cavite vice governor in the May 2013 elections.

Bacoor Rep. Lani Mercado gave a guarded answer when asked to comment on her son Jolo’s involvement with Jodi. “Kung anuman ’yung sinabi niyang (Jodi) mga salita (Whatever she said), let’s take it from there,” Lani said. “Ang pag-ibig kasi, hindi mo masabi kung ito na nga o siya na nga (There’s no telling if it’s indeed the real thing).”

But Lani has this wish for Jolo: “Whoever he chooses to love, I just hope she will love him back. I hope they would both be careful with their hearts.” ■

29 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

national code of ethics, thereby setting a gold standard for the profession.

Changes to certification process

BY LIZETTE In an effort to harmonize the CHRPLOFRANCO-ABA granting process across the various provinces in Canada, the certification process has undergone some important changes, both recent and ongoing.

GLOBAL-FILIPINO AT WORK For example, a few years ago, there IN CANADA were only two major exams that one needed to take and pass to become a CHRP: the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) as well as the National (The BC Certification Process Series) Professional Practice Assessment (NPPA). As the term denotes, the NKE FROM time to time, I would be asked is more of a knowledge-based exam the question, “How does one get to where the NPPA is geared towards a CHRP?” Not how to tweet like flying situational judgment test covering HR feathered creatures, mind you, but how competency-related critical incidents. to get certified as a Human Resources After passing the NKE, one became a Professional in BC. For those CHRP Candidate and after passing the immigrants, old and new alike, who NPPA, one proceeded to become a fullmight be interested in knowing about fledged CHRP (pun a coincidence). getting the CHRP designation, this Also, a Bachelor’s degree was not required for one to qualify to take the article hopes to provide an overview.

The CHRP or the Certified Human exams then.

Today, if you are contemplating on Resources Professional designation is considered to be a desirable standard taking the first step towards the CHRP, in the human resources profession. or to register for the NPPA, you need Although HR is currently not a regulated to have a minimum of a Bachelor’s profession in BC and the CHRP is not degree from an accredited college a required designation for one to be or university (or the equivalent from able to work in the human resources outside of Canada). This educational field, more and more organizations requirement became in effect as of are seeking HR professionals who are January 1, 2011.

Having said that, if you have “CHRP’d”. This is a growing trend already passed the NKE and now among organizations that have a strong people culture. It is especially prevalent plan to take the NPPA, you have among more progressive work only until June 2013 to pass it. The environments where Human Resources CCHRA or the Canadian Council of is seen as strategic business partners Human Resources Associations has and not just a transactional department announced that the NPPA exam is performing perfunctory paper-pushing being phased out as a route to obtain tasks. HR professionals may come with the CHRP. According to the guidelines a variety of job titles: Organizational set forth by CCHRA, the final sittings Development Specialist, Job Analyst, of the NPPA will be in October 2012 Labour Relations Officer, Employee and June 2013. “By offering two more sittings of the NPPA exam, Relations professional, etc.

Understandably so as HR those members who have prepared for professionals who pursue the CHRP and were planning to write the exam must not only meet all professional to gain the CHRP will still have the requirements set out by the provincial opportunity to do so.” After that, the HR Management Associations, they NPPA will no longer be available. also need among others, to maintain their designation by continual Experience Requirement education, prove a demonstrated Furthermore, the BC Human Resources commitment to their craft, work by a Association and the CCHRA announced

Getting to CHRP

that effective January 1, 2013, an experience requirement will be added where applicants need to show that they have accumulated three years of professional experience in the field of human resources. Thus, from this date you will no longer be required to sit and pass the NPPA. Instead, you need to prove that you have worked in human resources-related jobs.

There are several components of the “experience requirement”. These include a minimum of three years’ work experience gained within the last ten years. At least one of these three years must be work with an organization within Canada. Work experience to be counted must not be just any type of work: it must involve work using your HR knowledge and with a demonstrated level of professional responsibility.

To help determine whether your experience may qualify as HR work, it must cover at least two of seven functional dimensions of the Required Professional Competencies. For details of the RPC’s, see http://www.chrp.ca/ required-professional-capabilities/ After one successfully gets the CHRP, one keeps the designation for three years within which one may work towards recertification. Many of CHRPs recertify through professional

development activities which they keep track through a National Recertification Log which they then submit before the end of the three-year period, together with the CHRP Recertification application.

It is important that one becomes a member of the provincial HR association to start the certification ball rolling.

The CCHRA as well as the provincial HR Management Associations provide detailed information on the certification such application forms, deadlines, and fees, etc. on their websites: CCHRA http://www.chrp.ca/becomea-chrp/ BCHRMA http://www.bchrma.org/ chrp/become-a-chrp/ The HR certification process is seeing many changes and although it appears it is becoming a more stringent process, these changes do serve to improve professional standards in Human Resources, a field which does not fall squarely in either categories of strictly science or purely art, but a dynamic combination of both that is constantly evolving and drawing from various diverse disciplines such as psychology, business, law, adult education, management, industrial engineering, IT, statistical analysis, etc. Moreover, these changes are considered most welcome in a vibrant yet competitive knowledge-based economy where human capital is premium. And not to say the least, these changes might just be necessary to sustain a highly educated and professional society such as Canada where tens of thousands of talented immigrants from around the world flock not only to work but also make it their permanent nest. ■ (The writer is a Certified Human Resources Professional in BC. Please note that statements expressed herein this article are those of the author’s. They are provided for general information purposes only. This column is not intended to provide specific professional advice and should not be relied on as a basis for any legal decision. If you wish to suggest a particular occupation write-up, please contact the author via email for possible consideration: hopefortheflowers.2012@yahoo.com.

Thank you.)

Lifestyle NIKO QUIDDAOEN

BC AS CAN BE

WHY REMYXS ROCKS WHEN I was in Grade 9 at David Thompson Secondary School, I became a member of the Filipino Club and I met Sammie Jo, whom everyone calls Ate Sammie. She is the Youth Coordinator at the at the Multi-cultural Helping House Society (MHHS) and she would come to our school every Wednesday for our meetings. We would play games, each of us aiming to win the prizes that she always brought.

Afterwards, we would munch on snacks, joke around and just chill.

With Ate Sammie, we looked forward to attending the club meetings.

Ate Sammie later got us interested to join the MHHS Youth Group called Remyx. Being a member means doing fun stuff together and volunteer service. I did not hesitate to sign up as the Helping House (or MHHS) has always been close to my heart. When we arrived in Canada last September 2011, we stayed for 3 days in the Respite Housing of MHHS which consists of rooms on the upper floor of MHHS building. I loved the family suite where I would wake up in the morning and see the quiet street below from the glass window. I loved walking in the chilly air to No Frills grocery store to buy our breakfast of eggs, ham, bread, butter and milk which we would cook in the spacious kitchen on the second floor.

As a Remyx member, I volunteer in the “Surfing Grannies” program. I thought the title was pretty cool. In my mind, I saw grannies wearing Hawaiian shorts riding the waves on their surf boards. I began helping seniors to set up their Facebook account, check songs and watch videos on YouTube and follow people on Twitter. At first, just two or three seniors would show up but pretty soon, we were having a room full of grannies all eager to try their hand on the computers. Kevin, a grade 12 student and a fellow volunteer taught me some great stuff about computer programs which I shared with my students. Summer meant devoting more time with my grannies.

Now, I believe that youth teaching

grannies bridges the generation gap.

Aside from computer tutorials, we design posters for the Remyx and MHHS events. Kevin and I were in charge. It was Kevin who taught me how to use the Microsoft Publisher program for our posters. My mom was surely impressed when I showed her my designs. When Kevin left, which sure made me sad, I have learned enough from him to handle my seniors class and to make the posters for the youth events.

I met lots of nice young people at Remyx. There’s Ate Joy who is probably the most random person I have ever met. She just laughs and dances out of the blue and her actions sure lighten up a room. Ate Sofia, a bookworm like me could strike up a lively conversation anytime. We talk about different books we have read and haven’t read yet as we share the joy of reading. I like trading jokes with Ate Leizl and Kuya John, who are also my classmates in Arnis. My closest buddies in Remyx whom I always hangout with are Don, Lance and Karl. We would always jog or work out together, or attend martial arts sessions. Yep, that was one of the things we all had in common – love for martial arts and to some extent, a love for reading. We hang out at the South Hill, Richmond and Vancouver Central Public Library.

As members of Remyx, we attend and participate in a lot of events and activities almost every week. Each event was unique and fun there is always something new to learn. I learned more about my own culture and other countries’ culture as well.

The first event I attended was the “Caribbean Days”. We were introduced to Caribbean music, Caribbean dancing and best of all, yummy Caribbean food prepared by a real chef named Chez Liza from Kiss Yo Mama. The food

she prepared was heaven in my mouth.

Since then, I have been attending every single event. Last June, we celebrated Philippine Independence Day by watching a play about Philippine History called “Historama” at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. We also cheered for Paquiao on pay per view while sharing a pot luck meal and went home in disbelief after the winner of the fight was announced. We checked out the night market at Richmond, eating squid, fishballs, BBQ, downing them with bubble tea and whatever we fancied until my stomach ached.

With Ate Sammie’s invitation, I had a chance to meet the cast of Mr. Young, a popular Canadian sitcom and I was thrilled to be a part of the audience, delivering sound laughs while we watched their taping and getting autographs afterwards.

ReMyx also offers something which interests me the most. It’s the Arnis

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 30

class that happens every Wednesday.

Arnis, a style of Philippine martial art involves using two bamboo sticks, each about 2 feet in length, for self-defense.

It’s fun and a good way to get fit and to develop self-discipline and … did I say, six-pack abs? (No I haven’t gotten that one yet) and the good news is … the classes are free! Our two instructors are masters at their craft. Kuya Jesse is a black belt at Arnis. He teaches us not just Arnis techniques but words of wisdom as well. He sure is a funny and cool guy but gets totally serious when it comes to training. I really appreciate him helping us out to reach our goal of becoming stronger, faster and more alert. And then there’s Johnson, who teaches us boxing skills that can be applied to Arnis as well. He’s big and strong and can easily lift a 100-pound object without breaking a sweat. He gives us boot camp at the start of each class (difficult exercises to warm you up). He also knows a lot about the human body and its flaws and he said we could use that to advantage when fighting. I tell you, when these guys are training you, you’d get hooked in Arnis and feel you’re getting stronger in no time.

So yeah, I’m enjoying everything that ReMyx has to offer. I am so grateful that I met someone as cool as Ate Sammie, who gives her time and effort to make youth group activities worthwhile. And I am also thankful for my “surfing grannies” with whom I have become friends with in the course of time and all the friends I have known. I love volunteering at the MHHS for Remyx where I am a valued part of a big, happy family. ■

31 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Lifestyle

BY RUDY M. VIERNES

FAST FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FILIPINO FOLK BELIEFS AND PRACTICES, Part I THE PHILIPPINEs is a predominantly Catholic country (85%), the only Christian country in Asia. However, there are still Filipinos who worship God with ritualistic fervor that demonstrates a strong attachment to folk beliefs and traditions.

This is especially true in the remote areas of the country, or out in the boondocks where life goes on in sonorous languor in contrast to the vibrant, sophisticated hurried life in the urban centers. But the inroads of modernism is slowly dawning on the rural folks due to the intrusions of high-tech devices such as the cellular phones, internet, radio, television generated by satellites.

When Magellan came into the Philippine scene in the island of Mactan in 1521, he immediately introduced Christianity to the ignorant and befuddled natives who had been practicing animism and anito worship since the time of their forebears.

The Cross was not the symbol that won the day for the conquistadores but the statue of the Madonna and the Child Jesus, richly dressed and with porcelainfine faces, albeit alien as could be, with blandishments that beguiled the local queen who could not resist conversion to the faith as her subjects. Mass baptism ensued and the queen was gifted her wish – the icon of Santo Nino that would soon replace the anitos and unknown deities they have been edifying for so long.

Soon after came the Creole Friars from Spain who tried to convert the natives in earnest, teaching them catechism and building churches while accumulating vast land holdings for the Catholic Church.

Thus started the Christianization of the country, which was then distinctively pagan, and the Virgin Mary and her son became the objects of devotion and symbols of folk-Catholicism.

Propaganda was part of the missionary kit. The friars used astute psychology to win the hearts of the natives and inculcated in them the drawing power of the icons of the Virgin Mary and the Santo Nino as agents of everything that is good – good health, good harvest, a good catch from the sea, as well as their power to prevent fire, earthquakes and deter marauders.

Mystifying as it was, most of their prayers and wishes were granted, and the natives attributed this to the wondrous icons enshrined in their altars and on garden mounds. Thus, the folk beliefs were fostered and it further flourished when the natives’ crops were saved from insect infestation, when droughts were kept at bay when the rains came, when they were spared from floods and famine and the brigands turned away by Divine intervention.

But the natives, though already Christianized, still adhered to superstitions animated by fatalism and fear of the unknown. Bahala na! Leave it to God! Throughout life, following these practices has charmed their lives and it did not make sense to defy them. (To be continued)

Lifestyle

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 32

Sparse brows? Tattoo out, transplant in THICK AND FULL brows are hot again, and this can’t be good news to many women who might only have sparse growth—or worse, only ink or eyeliner—over their eyes.

While women in the last two decades (especially baby boomers) went for permanent eyebrow tattoos to compensate for their balding brows, and the less brave settled for makeup, recent years have seen the rise in the number of western women going for a more natural and equally permanent solution: eyebrow transplant.

This is, however, a relatively new concept, even as modern scalp hair transplant techniques have been around in the last 10 years.

Aivee Aguilar-Teo, a dermatologist popular among celebrities who owns her skin laser and aesthetic center, says Filipinos are likely unaware that eyebrow transplant is even done.

“The problem with [eyebrow] tattoos, it alters the anatomy of the eyebrows,” she says. “When the patient gets Botox, she ends up looking fierce. We now have patients asking for [laser] eyebrow tattoo removal.”

Tattoos look good when new as the lines are quite defined, she points out.

But after a while, the pigments begin to fade or turn bluish, such that the tattoos look too obvious. “After some time, they begin to smear. That’s our bodies’ natural reaction to these pigments.”

Causes of baldness Several months ago, Aguilar-Teo launched her clinic’s Hair Restoration Center ( Fort, BGC, tel. 4033245, 5562533, 8280197, 4031982; Alabang Bellevue, tel. 8221546/48) At the helm is Dr. Jose Crisanto, who came home after 20 years as a hair transplant specialist with the Elliott & Thomas Medical Group in New York.

According to Crisanto, or Dr. Third as the clinic staff calls him, there are several causes of eyebrow baldness.

“It was once fashionable [to have thin brows], so they plucked,” he says.

“If you keep plucking, it’s the nature of hair that some don’t grow back.”

Another is aging: Like the hair on one’s head, age causes one to lose hair. It could also be caused by certain medical conditions. The rest can blame it on their genes.

“The function of eyebrows is that they frame the eyes,” says the hair surgeon.

“If you frame something, the frame

Photo courtesy of Alanah Torralba

BY CHECHE V. MORAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

enhances it, just like a painting. That’s the aesthetic effect. It’s just like the hair on our head; it enhances the face.”

Just like having a full head of hair, fuller brows make a person look younger, Aguilar-Teo points out.

“Notice that when you do your makeup, if you skip [shaping] your eyebrows, something seems missing.”

Tedious phase Both doctors agree that an eyebrow transplant may sound intimidating, just like scalp hair transplant. But they assure that it’s a simple procedure that takes only up to 2½ hours, with the patient fully awake on local anesthesia.

Crisanto begins by harvesting hair follicles from the back of the patient’s head. He does this by making tiny incisions on the scalp. It’s a tedious phase that requires him and his team to create 200-400 grafts (depending on the amount required by the patient).

He then designs the shape of the patient’s eyebrows and makes small incisions where the grafts will be inserted. There’s an art to doing this, according to Crisanto, as eyebrow hair grows in different directions.

The brows follow what he calls the “fishtail” appearance.

The patient can go home right after the procedure, and may not even be prescribed a pain reliever, depending on their comfort level. Like any wound, there will be puffiness for a day, but patients generally go back to their usual activities the next day, says Crisanto.

A patient is fully healed in five to seven days. But since it’s the follicles

(roots) that are implanted, full results can only be seen from a month onward.

“Wait a few weeks,” he says. “It doesn’t mean that when you leave the clinic, you already have a full set of brows.”

“But once you do the transplant,” adds Aguilar-Teo, “you can already see the shape. You already know what it’s going to look like. In between waiting, you can apply makeup, eyeliner.”

Anyone can undergo the procedure, say the doctors. Some do both scalp and eyebrow transplant. Hair transplant is the most popular procedure among Filipino men.

Trimming hair If you’re wondering if the hair would grow long since it came from your head, it will, says Crisanto.

“Hair grows like half an inch a month. When it’s transplanted, it will behave like the hair on your head,” he says. “But as a patient who’s concerned with appearance, you’ll always look in the mirror and trim it.

It’s like your fingernails; you don’t grow it 5 inches. Once it grows a little, you trim to the length you want. Then you can style it, because you have material to work on already.”

Once the hair has grown, once more you can prune, shave, wax, thread, or shape it any way you like, just like ordinary eyebrows. You can even have it dyed, say the doctors.

If you have wavy hair, not to worry, says Crisanto. “If you trim it short, it won’t go wavy.”

Aguilar-Teo explains that the physiology of the human hair is that those on the back of our scalp tend to stay and don’t fall off. “That’s why you

see people who have no hair on top but have hair on the back.”

While some patients ask to have their tattoos removed before transplant, it’s also possible to follow the same shape for their transplant.

“If they opt not to remove the tattoo, it can help as a guide, and will also improve the appearance,” says the surgeon. “Hair is all about appearance, whether it’s a transplant on your head or eyebrow. If you have something darker underneath the hair, it looks fuller.”

Unlike in the US, where patients have been bringing in photos of celebrities like Kim Kardashian as template for their eyebrow transplant, as reported in the New York Times, Crisanto’s Filipino patients have been coming in with their individual ideas.

“Transplant is permanent,” he points out. “Unlike an eyebrow pencil, you can’t wash it off. With our aesthetic eye, we advise patients on what we think will look best on them. But we listen to what they want.”

Since Asian hair is more wiry that Caucasians’ finer hair, this is an advantage, as it requires less graft. Darker hair covers more as well, he adds.

Fast healing The procedure costs from P80,000 to P120,000. In Singapore, it costs three times as much, says AguilarTeo’s husband, Z Teo, a Singaporean doctor. It costs from $6,000 in the US, according to the New York Times.

Crisanto stresses that the procedure isn’t only aesthetic, as he has also performed reconstructive eyebrow transplant on a patient who has survived an accident.

“If you’re a keloid-former and you’re concerned you’ll get a keloid,” says Aguilar-Teo, “you don’t have to worry: You don’t get keloid on the face.”

The face heals very fast because of the blood supply. Crisanto adds, “That’s also why we don’t get so much scar on our face, because it has very good blood supply.”

It pays to know that the clinic you choose has the most modern techniques. But if you’re considering the procedure, the most important thing to ask your surgeon is his experience, says Aguilar-Teo. “The most important is the number of patients he has done,” she says. “You learn from each and every patient.

Experience is still the best teacher.” ■

CONNECTING YOU BACK TO HOME WITH SHAW EXO STARTER BUNDLE Personal TV  Over 100 channels, including up to 20 in HD  Access to Shaw Exo On Demand with over 7,000 titles, including 1,200 in HD High Speed 10 Internet‡  Download and stream content on multiple devices simultaneously  Free WiFi Modem rental included Home Phone Basic  Call Display included

$59.90

*

Per month For first 6 months

$89.90 per month regular price

Bonus: Filipino Theme Pack of your choice free for the first month Filipino 2 Pack

$17*

PER MONTH

◊

$17*

PER MONTH

Filipino 3 Pack ◊

$25*

PER MONTH

Call 310.SHAW or visit SHAW.CA

*Offer available until September 16, 2012. Offer is subject to change without notice. Offer applies to new customer only. Must not have subscribed to any Shaw services in the past 90 days. Regular rates apply after promotional period and are subject to change without notice. Price shown does not include tax. Not all Shaw services are available in all regions. Channel and Theme Pack availability vary by market. Equipment not purchased by you must be returned to Shaw if any of your services are cancelled. ‡Availability of Shaw High Speed 10 Internet may vary by region, modem equipment, or residential wiring. Internet download speed is based on optimal conditions. ◊Some channels are available in Digital Network Upgrade ready area only.

2012-08-13 Filipino Ad.indd 1

8/13/2012 4:36:39 PM

Canada: Seen and Scenes

an Dumael Knight Vicente de Guzm - Photo shows Grand ING ts of Columbus ET igh ME Kn the CIL of UN s CO cer KOC r the meeting of the offi ove ing East, sid nue pre ) Ave era ce (facing the cam d at 2210 Lawren rence The Martyr, locate of the council n Law atio St. par 17, pre 134 the il ut unc abo Co sing Canada. They are discus do Orbeso Scarborough, Ontario, lemented this year. - Din imp be will ich wh ms projects and progra

The Block Rosary C rusade of residence Toronto S to finalize teering Co th Anniversa mmittee h ry celebra eir program of eve eld a mee nts for the tion, whic Sts. Peter ting a h will be cu Septembe and Paul r 29th-30th t the Poblete lminated b Banquet H , y a Dinne all at 231 r-Dance to 2012 30th Milner Ave be held a nue. t the

onal Internati Toronto e stine th ri t h a C 9 tember 2 nner-up); g from p ru e t S s n ir o wned tandin ligsay (F ducers s inners cro heng Ma ); with pro Photo by Larry hanan W nto. From left: S p a u T rg e N n l n ge ru ro Que. 2012 An hurch Hall, in To Crispin (Second d Edward C yn ducio, an a C Celerbrity d winner; and L l e u , Mig pa ran e Araneta ice - Manny Pa Diego (G tol, Cecill erv a S D s n w o e M N left: town t. James Torres, S

Photo by Paula Kirman

The Order of the Knights of Rizal Region Council Officers joined Jojo Taduran, KCR, in celebrating his Birthday with a dinner at a local Chinese Restaurant. Jojo is a Trustee of Canada Region Council. The group discussed the actions to be taken to help Dr. Romy Sinajon, KCR, the Host Commander for the upcoming 13th Rizal Commanders’ Ball to be held at the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre on October 20th, 2012. Ambassador Leslie B. Gatan will be the Guest of Honor and Speaker at the Commanders’ Ball.

Photo by Nicola Ramsey

FRIDAY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER28, 5, 2012 34

Hundreds of free, interactive events and activities showcased Alberta’s culture, heritage, artistic diversity and provincial during the Alberta Culture Days, which pride was held from September 28 to 30 and participated in by several Filipino comm organizations. Alberta Culture Days is unities and an annual province-wide celebration and is part of national Culture Days, a pan-C movement to raise the awareness, acce anadian ssibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural communities. For more information, visit life of their AlbertaCultureDays.ca.

35 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28 2012

Canada: Seen and Scenes

New Westminster Candidate’ held At Hops for the ‘Meet Hector D. Bremner, your ner.

Virginia Brem

n wife,

adian supporters of Hector and his Fil-Canadia

on September 27 and attended by Filipino-Can

stment forum promoting the e Council (PCTC) held an inve The Philippines Canada Trad included San Francisco-based l in Richmond, BC. Speakers Philippines at the Radisson Hote Ignacio, Tourism Director d Alfre ael ive Commissioner Mich Philippine Trade Representat Resources, Accenture and ilini ers of companies including Aqu Rene de los Santos, and offic ino community leaders and Filip tin, Mar ah Yon ator sts included Sen ia. PCTC President Laarni PharmaCanada. Special gue med the of bers n and investors, and mem ulated for the success of decision-makers, businessme grat e con PCTC Board of Directors wer the of bers mem the and Liwanag page 20. the forum. Please see story on

36 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Visiting Ottawa, Canada A few reasons why you should visit Ottawa • Parliament buildings • The Rideau Canal • Tour The Museums • Enjoy World Class Restaurants Ottawa is the capital of Canada and one of the centers for things like art, culture, politics, and history. It is a lovely, huge city full of life of all different sorts from all different walks of life. As such, it’s only natural that the very first (or last!) place to stop on your journey through Ontario should be Ottawa. In fact, once you get here, it may be hard for you to leave again. Check off these places and things to do on your tourist map of Ottawa today.

About Ottawa Ottawa lies in the southeast portion of the province, about 200km from Montreal and close to the AmericanCanadian border (Vermont in this case).

The name comes from the Algonquin word ‘atawe’ which means ‘To Trade’ and replaced the original name of ‘Bytown’ in the 18450s when Ottawa became a center for trade. Soon after that (1857), Ottawa became the capital of the young country of Canada.

Historic Sites There are many beautiful historic sites to see in this city, including:

• Parliament Hill with the lovely Parliament building. This isn’t the original though; the original burned down in the Great Fire of 1900 • Parliament Library, the only building in Parliament center to survive said fire • Byward Market, a huge market which was established as the heart of Bytown in 1826 and has exploded ever since to a huge center for fashion, music, art, shopping, and of course, tourist sights!

• Rideau Canal, the historic canal built in the 1820s and has since

The Rideau Canaal in winter

•

become a UNESCO site. You can go skating there in the winter!

Heaps of museums in Ottawa including National History Museums and culture museums.

Ottawa Canada hit it off well in the 1820s as humble Bytown and has continued to thrive and grow into today where it has hosted many international events, sporting events, music and arts festivals and plenty of other events. It’s definitely worth visiting!

What to Do in Ottawa There are countless things to do in this city! There are over two dozen museums, fifty art galleries, night clubs, fine dining, heritage sites, awesome architecture, and festivals at many points year round.

Some notable events include:

Parliament Hill in spring

•

• • • • •

Canada Day. Celebrate the day of Canada’s birth with the most aweinspiring fireworks in the country and a wide range of things to do throughout the city A beautiful display of Christmas Lights in December Winterlude, Canada’s largest winter festival The Canadian Tulip Festival Fringe Festival See a hockey game at the Senator’s Dome

And many, many more events.

And even if you manage to miss a huge event in Ottawa, you can still take part in things like craft fairs, farmer’s markets, music, plays, art tours, heritage tours and a range of recreational activities like hiking,

skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, kayaking and fishing. Of course, there is always the option of walking along the streets and seeing beautiful architecture and all of the cultural sites that Ottawa has to offer.

A trip through Ontario would not be complete without visiting the capital of Canada. There are so many more things to see and do there that we have covered here; what you’ve seen in this article is only a taste of what to do in Ottawa! Shopping in Ottawa Canada is amazing with many markets, food and wine are fantastic and often home grown, and there are tons of recreational activities and fun things to see and do. Any season of the year, any day of the month, you will find something amazing to see and something memorable to do. ■

37 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Travel

The serious and the frivolous the monstrous floods. Still, a pleasant surprise revealed itself. “Ford designed the Ranger’s ECU (computer box) to be waterproof. My Ranger was running again after five days, with a monoblock chair as the driver seat. We restored the Ranger and our other (Ford) vehicles with our own sweat.”

Now, Rav’s Ranger, five years old and floodtested, is still up and running. He even uses it to respond to fire emergencies.

BY TESSA R. SALAZAR Philippine Daily Inquirer I RODE an American on my first time up Mount Pinatubo.

Wait a second, before minds get dirty, what I meant was I drove a Ford Ranger pick-up during my first climb up Mount Pinatubo. That was over a decade ago. Then, no other pickup brand had the guts to take on the volcano, which barely a decade before had erupted so violently and spewed out so much volcanic matter into the upper atmosphere that global temperatures cooled by an average of 1 degree Celsius. Ford Ranger took on the challenge, and successfully brought its appreciative passengers right to the foot of Pinatubo, and from there it was an easy hourand-a-half trek to the caldera, which by then had become a beautiful, cleansing crater lake.

Those were pre-Facebook and Twitter days, and we didn’t think too much of posing for those profile pics, or for that wacky jump shot for our hundreds of friends to click “like” or post witty comments on. If we did take photos, the Ford Ranger would surely have been in at least one of them, and the caption would have read something like “Built Ford Tough, so that we could take it easy”.

If you’re an automobile brand, and your flag isn’t white with a red circle in the middle, you have an uphill climb ahead of you on these shores, indeed. Faced with reliable, saleable competition from Japanese brands, the Ford DNA has been “toughened” by the market’s high expectations and the great old pride of the Stars and Stripes (Hey, the Japanese flag only has one sun, right in the middle. The USA flag has 52 stars). The Ford Ranger pickup must have become an irritant to the makers of the Hi-Luxes, the D-Maxes, Frontiers and Stradas by now, seeing as it were that this “darn Yankee” has been stubbornly holding the fort.

1955: The transformation For well over five decades, the Ford pickup has had to play catch-up to its other playmates even on the home front. According to Automotive News, in 1955, Ford trailed the Chevrolet brand by 67,000 units. A year later, that gap stretched to 190,000. As quoted

by Matt de Lorenzo of “American Cars Past to Present”, Henry Ford II reportedly said of his Ford Division manager, “(Robert) McNamara is

selling safety, but Chevrolet is selling cars.” De Lorenzo wrote that during this period, the pickup truck design and ride started to become more car-like. The 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier sported a fiberglassskinned flush cargo box and chromed bumpers. Later models added two-tone treatments, and even fins.

“Ford responded in 1957 by not only restyling the F-Series pickup, but also converting the Ford Ranch Wagon (a two-door wagon similar to the Nomad) into a car-based pickup called the Ranchero,” De Lorenzo wrote.

The Ford Ranchero pickup offered the utility of a truck with the comforts of a car, and was loaded with such features as air-conditioning, power seats, power brakes and power steering. Chevrolet responded in 1959 with the car-based El Camino. In fact, the Ranchero and El Camino were the first vehicles to somewhat bridge the gap between cars and trucks. According to De Lorenzo, although these two are no longer being built, their influence has been felt in many carlike amenities as well as ride and handling attributes found in modern pickups, vans and sports utility vehicles.

1980s: From rancher to ranger In the early ’80s, Ford engaged in another battle, albeit this time in an uneasy alliance with Chevrolet, as they went “mano y mano” with the thenemerging auto powerhouse Japan— this time for world dominance in the pickup category. Ford launched the Ranger in 1982, replacing the Mazdabased Courier. The Ranger was, at first, available only as a two-wheel-drive truck. By the third quarter of 1982, a four-wheel-drive version was offered.

The Ranger style was inspired by its bigger brother F-Series pickup, and similarities could be seen in the grille design and bodyside character lines.

It took a good 17 years for the Ranger to paddle to Philippine shores, finally making it to land in 1999. Since then, the Ranger has become Ford Motor

Company Philippines’ third’s strongest nameplate, behind its best-selling subcompact Fiesta and SUV Everest.

To ford floods and fight fires So, after 57 years of staving off competition, you’d expect the Ranger to be battle-weary, looking none the worse for wear. On the contrary, though, the Ranger has kept itself brand-spanking fresh, even gaining a substantial following here by people who take their work seriously. Case in point is volunteer firefighter, video editor, and photographer Ravien “Rav” Bracero, a Ranger owner and a Ford loyalist who can’t wait to upgrade his ride to the 3.2-liter Ranger Wildtrak as soon as it becomes available here. After recently test-driving the new Wildtrak in Thailand, he made up his mind that this would have to be the natural next step after his 2.2-liter Ranger.

Rav said the Ranger came along at just the right place and time, when he was on the lookout for the VGT engine and dual airbag. He also said that he had come to trust American-built brands, as his family had owned an Escort, a Cortina and a Fiera before—all tough vehicles that lived up to the carmaker’s reputation for durability.

His first Ranger was in 2001, when his parents gave him an XLT 4×2 to enable him to cross the floods that frequently occurred between his place near Araneta Avenue and his school University of Sto. Tomas along España in Manila. He said that not once did his Ranger break down. His replacement car in 2007 was the Ranger Trekker 4x2 TDCi, which he first saw at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

He upgraded it to “Ran MkII,” complete with the HID headlights, yellow fog lamps, a killer audio system set up to a DVD head unit, and a blue racing stripe for the exterior.

I was able to feature Rav in Inquirer Motoring, after getting his first-hand account of the “Ondoy” disaster in 2009, when his Ranger succumbed to

The FB frivolous If you ask me, the secret to the Ranger’s staying power isn’t just about its deadserious image of being “built Ford tough”. This pick-up, like the company behind it, knows how and when to shed its serious mien, let its “hair” down, and just play like there’d be no more roads tomorrow. That’s what happened recently when Ford Group Philippines recently let us drive a 2.2L Ford Ranger XLT 4x2 A/T in a fuel run mashed up with a Facebook contest. So, the first half of the run involved the usual fuel economy competition. The second half required participants to post pictures of the run on the FGP facebook page, with the team getting the most number of “likes” within a specified period of time winning. The fuel run represented the American auto giant’s serious intent to highlight the Ranger’s fuel efficiency and car-like comforts. The Facebook contest? Maybe it could have been the automaker’s clever bait to attract a younger, online-savvy market.

In what I can only describe as a cyber deja vu, I witnessed the post of our Facebook pics “erupt” from a mere 600 likes a day before the contest deadline, to a “stratospheric” 8,000-plus as time expired, “burying” our nearest competitors in a lahar of likes. Our twogirl team (composed of yours truly and fellow auto journalist Angel Rivero) won the contest and rode off to the sunset with substantial prizes, which included a weekend drive with the Ford Ranger, of course.

The fuel run inspired me and Angel to come up with a “parody” of the activity, expressed in pictures which depicted the two of us dressed in long shirts designed with sexy bikini-clad bodies and “committing” all the ways one could cheat in a fuel efficiency run.

Well, let the pictures tell the story. The captions are the actual captions as they appeared on my Facebook page.

If you ask me, it’s becoming more fun to ride a Ford that’s going uphill, or against the current. Tough never looked and felt so easy. ■

Business

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 38

Pepsi-cola launches coco juice Salcon bags Malaya power plant contract brand, eyes export to Asia after listed SPC Power Corp. was

BY RIZA T. OLCHONDRA Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer PEPSI-COLA Products Philippines Inc. has entered the coconut juice business, creating a homegrown product that can also be exported to other Asian countries.

The move is in line with the company’s strategy to further grow its non-carbonated drink business segment.

The new product, Tropicana Coco Quench, which is 100 percent fresh and made from real coconut water, is the first locally-produced drink with an eightmonth shelf life, PCPPI officials said.

It harnesses tropical Philippines’ vast coconut production and capitalizes on the advanced technology of Tetra Pak packaging to keep the coconut juice fresh without the need for preservatives and added flavors, according to the officials.

The new product is part of PCPPI’s plan to jack up the revenue share of non-carbonated beverage to 50 percent from the current range of 20-30 percent within the next three years, PPCPI president Partho Chakrabarti told reporters after the product launch.

“The upsurge in demand for coconut water is remarkable. This phenomenon has drawn global attention to the Philippines as one of the leading sources of coconut water in the world.

Tropicana Coco Quench leverages the expertise of Tropicana to come out with a revolutionary product from locally grown coconuts that addresses the need for better and healthier choices for consumers,” Chakrabarti said.

Starting 2013, the first full year of Coco Quench in the market, Chakrabarti said PCPPI was expecting to sell two to three million cases of the brand.

He said PCPPI would ride on the combined strengths of its key shareholders—American multinational

firm Pepsico Inc. and the Lotte group— to distribute this homegrown brand to Southeast Asia and North Asia.

Pepsico started importing coconut water from the Philippines two years ago. Charkrabarti said the group later decided to make the product in the country.

The product is the only drink that uses an octagon-shaped packaging for easier grip. The 330-ml pack comes with a pulltab mechanism which allows a consumer to drink straight from the pack. This size is selling for about P30.

The bigger 1-liter pack has a resealable cap and is selling for P80 each.

Coconut water contains electrolytes similar to the human plasma, making it naturally hydrating with less sugar and calories, said product manager Beverly Po. This is also a rich source of iron, calcium and magnesium. It has four times higher potassium content than bananas.

Supermodel Charo Ronquillo is the brand ambassador for Coco Quench.

In the last five years, Chakrabarti said PCPPI’s non-carbonated beverage segment had grown by 1520 percent compared to the average 5-percent growth of carbonated products. This was despite the fact that non-carbonated drinks were usually priced higher than carbonated drinks, he said.

He said PCPPI’s growth plan was “insatiable” and part of the strategy was not just to sell more of its products but to add more to its product offering.

He said that the company had, in the last four months, launched four new products: sports drink Sting, Gatorade LowCarb, Pepsi Pogi and this Coco Quench.

“I don’t know any of other beverage company that has launched that much and each of them with considerable success,” he said. ■

STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has picked a new contractor for the oneyear operation and maintenance of the 650megawatt (MW) Malaya thermal power plant in Pililla, Rizal.

“Salcon Power Corp., the lone bidder, submitted a bid within the approved budget for the contract, so it was declared the winning bidder, subject to postqualification,” PSALM president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said. The approved budget was P554 million.

Salcon Power won at the Sept. 26 auction for the Malaya operation and maintenance service contract (OMSC).

This was the second bidding following a failed first round last month.

Under the auction’s rules, bidders should have completed a contract similar to the project within five years from the date of submission and receipt of bids.

PSALM declared the first round of bidding for the Malaya OMSC a failure

disqualified due to some documentary deficiencies.

Pending the Malaya power plant’s privatization, PSALM is operating the facility in Rizal.

Last year, the OMSC for the power plant was awarded to the SPC Power consortium, a joint venture of SPC Light Co. and SPC Power Corp. The company was the only bidder for the auction. It submitted a bid of P715 million, which was within PSALM’s approved contract requirement of P716.8 million.

The Malaya thermal power facility supplies electricity to the Luzon grid. It was rehabilitated in 1995 by Korea Electric Power Corp. under a 15-year rehabilitate-operatemanagemaintain agreement.

The power plant consists of two units, a 300-megawatt (MW) unit with a oncethrough type boiler and a 350-megawatt unit fitted with a conventional boiler. Both are powered by bunker fuel. ■

39 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012

Sports

Down-the-wire NCAA Final Four race looms

BY CEDELF P. TUPAS Philippine Daily Inquirer FOUR teams brace for a downthewire finish in the second round of the 88th NCAA basketball tournament as they contest the three remaining Final Four berths.

With the elimination round down to its final week, the postseason picture remains muddled as only San Beda has gained a spot in the semifinals with San Sebastian, Letran, Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal U all in contention for the three slots.

The Stags, Knights, Altas and Bombers could end up in a quadruple tie at second, which could mean an extended season for the league.

The last time this scenario happened was in Season 84, which was determined by the quotient system to rank the four teams and four playoff matches to determine the seeding, before the actual Final Four games.

San Sebastian, last year’s losing finalist, has two tough games remaining against this season’s

surprise package, Perpetual Help, on Thursday and San Beda on Oct. 8.

With an 11-5 record, the Stags are assured of at least a playoff for a Final Four berth just like the Knights, who have the Arellano Chiefs for their last game on Oct. 6.

The Bombers, with a 10-7 card as the Altas, have the lighter assignment in the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.

With a 15-2 record, the Lions, who are on a nine-game winning run, have already locked up the top seeding in the Final Four.

Meanwhile, Mapua hopes to match its win total last season when it battles Lyceum at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Already out of the running for a Final Four slot, the Cardinals are gunning for a seventh win against the Pirates, who are trying to avoid ending up at last place this season.

Laying the foundation for next season’s campaign, Arellano and St. Benilde also look for confidencebuilding wins in the second game. ■

St. Clare guns for first Weiss: Best yet to come for Azkals Naascu title

BY CEDELF P. TUPAS Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY MARC ANTHONY REYES Philippine Daily Inquirer ST. CLARE guns for its first ever title when it collides with Centro Escolar in Game 2 of their National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball title playoffs at Makati Coliseum.

The Saints, who won Game 1 82-77, will lean on their powerful lineup and their big desire to finally make it to the champion’s roster in the match.

“We have one foot inside the championship door but it’s not over until we get one more win,’’ said St. Clare coach Jinno Manansala.

“We still have to work very hard and prepare for the game because I’m very sure they will make some adjustments for Game 2.’’

The Scorpions, who are also in their first title series appearance, were in the thick of the fight in Game 1 until the final period with strong performance from Axel Garcia and Ryan Beldad.

CEU held St. Clare’s gunners Jeff Viernes and Eugene Torres at bay with a solid defense, but Saints managed to pull through

behind unheralded wingmen Mark Robin Dulalia and Dennis Santos.

“I give my respect to my teamGAMES TODAY (Makati Coliseum) 8 a.m.—STI vs AMACU (srs, for third) 9:30 a.m.—STI vs CEU (jrs, Game 2) 11 a.m.—St. Clare vs CEU (srs, Game 2) mates they were really a revelation,’’ said Viernes, who nevertheless scored 38 points, including six straight to ignite an early fourth quarter rally that put the Saints ahead for good.

Viernes is hoping to close his collegiate career on a bright note before embarking on a PBA D-League career with Torres.

CEU is coached by former amateur stalwart Egay Macaraya who steered San Sebastian-Cavite to back-to-back titles in the league.

But Manansala, son of former PBA star Jimmy Manansala, is no stranger to a title series as he mentored University of Manila to championship last year. Both SSCCavite and UM are on indefinite leave from the league. ■

UNDER scrutiny after the exclusion of two of its most popular players, the Philippines proved more than equal to the challenge in the Paulino Alcantara Peace Cup. Pulling off a three-match sweep capped by a 3-1 conquest of Chinese-Taipei at Rizal Memorial Stadium, the Azkals, playing some attractive football, captured the first international title for the country in 99 years.

While the bigger goal remains the AFF Suzuki Cup crown in November in Bangkok, the win was a huge confidence boost for the side that unleashed its youth brigade in the tournament.

But Azkals coach Michael Weiss has no illusions that the Peace Cup victory will easily translate to success in the Suzuki Cup. “The work of the last two to three months paid off and the best is yet to come,” said Weiss, whose side trained in Chicago for two weeks in August. “We

hope to continue to build on this success.”

With key players based in Europe unavailable and the unceremonious dropping of Phil and James Younghusband, Weiss fielded a side made up mostly of Under-23 players with the exception of veterans Chieffy Caligdong and Denis Wolf, the tournament MVP and top scorer.

The likes of Jeff Christiaens, Demitrius Omphroy, OJ Porteria, Jason de Jong, Marwin Angeles and Matthew Uy, who excelled with his distribution and composure at midfield, repaid Weiss’ faith as they combined in a cohesive display that led to a total of nine goals in three matches.

“We’re happy that this young team is really showing what they are capable of,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami, who missed the Saturday clash because of a family matter. “It gives us a lot of hope for the future.” ■

Food

BY ANNA CADIZBENNET

VANCOUVER FILIPINO FOODIE

THE “DIRTY” SECOND KITCHEN

Pampanga inspired Filipino dishes can be found here at CASA PINOY: #101 - 11911 Bridgeport Rd.

GROWING UP in Manila I recall how many Filipino households had two kitchens - a “clean” kitchen and a second kitchen, referred to as the “dirty” kitchen. If you were raised in Canada most of your life, then you’re probably saying “Huh?” Keep reading and you’ll see why.

Living in Coquitlam, where there is only one Filipino restaurant, and being married to a Caucasian, Filipino cuisine is not easily accessible to me. He’ll only eat my Adobo and I wouldn’t dare cook anything strong smelling like “bagoong” because I can’t take a chance of that smell sticking to my kitchen walls! So I understand the concept of the “dirty” kitchen - a second kitchen where you prepare and cook smelly food, and use the “clean” kitchen for show.

The quest for the best Filipino restaurant has been mostly uninspiring. In the last couple of months many of the places I’ve found are at least an hour’s drive from home. After the long trek, when I walk into a restaurant I say to myself, “This place better be better worth it!”

Next on my list was CASA PINOY in Richmond. I walked in at an odd

hour and I was lucky enough to speak with the Head Chef, Dennis Pineda, who has created the menu since he started April 2011. By the end of our conversation the phrase “Second Kitchen” stuck with me.

He went on to explain that CASA PINOY is everyone’s second kitchen - a place where you can go to find traditional dishes inspired from his native home Pampanga.

He spoke with passion and he went on to say, “My goal is to speak to my customers every day, to get feedback and to see how we can make it better. It’s not about me, it’s about the customers.” I was immediately invigorated by his way of thinking. This place is not your typical Filipino operation - he actually welcomes feedback!

I had a chance to try several dishes including a refreshing drink of sago and gulaman. I was fortunate enough to be the company of Luisa Marshall and her husband Steve, from the show “Simply the Best”, who graciously hosted the dinner. For additional information about the food at CASA PINOY visit www.facebook.com/groups/ VancouverFilipinoFoods/ Every week you can count on me to be your Vancouver Filipino Foodie Concierge. I look forward to your questions and provide you

Dennis Pineda - Head Chef of CASA PINOY RESTAURANT

content that matters to you. Email me at VancouverFilipinoFoods@ groups.facebook.com

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 40

GINATAANG SITAW & SQUASH $7.99 Sauteed sitaw and kobocha squash with prawns cooked in flavourful coconut milk.

Served with white rice. This was my favourite!

Prawns & vegetables cooked to perfection, firm but tender on the inside.

The “BEST HALO-HALO” I’ve come across. Glass is half full of all the sweet fillings - langka, saba (banana), leche flan, pinipig, gulaman, sago, coconut strings, vanilla ice cream, but most of all their ube halaya is made from scratch. $5.50

Anna Cadiz Bennett: Vancouver Filipino Foodie Contributor A past Binibining Pilipinas pageant winner, Anna has 20+ years’ experience & expertise in Fashion Retail Operations, Training & Development, and owned an award winning Day Spa for six years. She

is a Certified Facebook Strategist and specializes in Social Media Marketing for Businesses. Anna does not accept any fees or free meals for her reviews. She is doing this as a hobby to help Filipino restaurateurs and to promote Filipino food. ■

Contact: Jo Pinera, Joy Sibyan, Grace Resurreccion

W oul dn t i t be gr eat to al ways have thi s much peace of mi nd?

Would’t it be great to always have this much peace of mind?

You can! By creating your plan ahead of time, you will protect your wonderful spouse and children from uncertainty and stress. Than you can all rest easy knowing the details are taken care of.

You can! B y creating your plan ahead of time, you will protect your wonderful spouse and children from uncertainty and stress. T hen you can all rest easy knowing the details are taken care of.

nc.

All of this (and much more!) provided by Assurant Life of Canada, the oldest and largest funeral insurance company in the world.

.ca

Funeral expenses have increased in cost exponentially over the past 20 years. A no frills service and cremation or burial can cost thousands! B ut today s seniors want something special, a personalized service that their family will appreciate one that celebrates life and will ease the grief during a time of loss.

W ith C anada Purple Shield, you can preplan your services and pay for it over time at a rate you choose. W e also have W orldwide Travel A ssistance Plan coverage that protects you while traveling anywhere in the world! O ur plans allow you to lock in current prices while saving your family from making hard decisions under pressure.

4 year fixed: 3.09% 10 year fixed: 3.89%

WANTED

W hy worry? A ct now to plan with C anada Purple Shield. W e ve served C anadians since 1927, and we look forward to serving you.

Contact: Contact: Jo Pinera, Pinera, Joy Joy Sibyan, Sibyan, Grace Grace Resurreccion Resurreccion Jo

F uneral expens es c an c reate a tremendous burden. B y planning now with C anada P urple S hield, you c an:

Now hiring Skilled Laborers

• • • •

P rotec t agains t inflation Have plans that inc reas e in value B e protec ted while traveling C hoos e low premium rates that fit your budget • Have immediate c as h exac tly when you need it mos t

Would’t Would’t itit be be great great to to always always W oul dnoft mind? i t be have have this this much much peace peace of mind? gr eat to al ways You can!

By creating your ahead of your plan plan ahead of time, time, thi s much B esYou t of can! all: By creatinghave you will your willalprotect protect your wonderful wonderful spouse spouse and and • Noyou medic required peace of mi nd? children from uncertainty and stress. children from uncertainty Than • P lans are available to age 90 and stress. Than

all knowing the • Pyou urple S hield is aceasy c epted by funeral youcan can allrest rest easy knowing the details details are are direc tors worldwide taken care of. taken care of.B y creating your You can! plan ahead of time, you will protect your wonderful spouse and children from uncertainty and stress. T hen you can all rest easy knowing the details are taken care of.

Filipino Auto Salesperson If you have a positive attitude & high energy - joinInc. us!

Kyle Green Mortgage Services Call Sunny or Kal at778-373-5441 604 273 1311C a ll (8 8 8 ) 5 7 9 -2 2 3 3 for more informa tion 12100 Featherstone Way, Richmond kgreen@mortgagealliance.com www.kylegreen.ca In Vancouver, Call Tel No. 604-551-3360 Funeral expenses have increased in cost exponentially over the past 20 years. A

F uneral expens es c an c reate a tremendous burden. B y planning

frills and cremation or burial now with C anada P urple S hield, A ll of this (and muc h more! ) provided by A s s urant no L ife ofservice C anada, All ofofthis much more!) provided Assurant Life of Canada, the s seniors B ut today Allthousands! this (and (and much more!) provided by byyou Assurant c an: Life of Canada, the the oldes t and larges t funeral ins uranc e c ompanycan incost the world.

want something special, a personalized oldest and funeral in oldest and largest largest funeral insurance insurance•company company in the the world. world.

P rotec t agains t inflation service that their family will appreciate • Have plans that inc reas e in value one that celebrates life and will ease • B e protec ted while traveling the grief during a time of loss.

• C hoos e low premium rates that fit your budget W ith C anada Purple Shield, you can • Have immediate c as h exac tly preplan your services and pay for it when you need it mos t over time at a rate you choose. W e B es t of all: also have W orldwide Travel A ssistance • No medic al required Plan coverage that protects you while • P lans are available to age 90 traveling anywhere in the world! O ur • P urple S hield is ac c epted by funeral plans allow you to lock in current direc tors worldwide prices while saving your family from

Now hiring hiring Skilled Skilled Laborers Laborers Now

making hard decisions under pressure.

W hy worry? A ct now to plan with C anada Purple Shield. W e ve served C anadians since 1927, and we look forward to serving you.

WANTED

C a ll (8 8 8 ) 5 7 9 -2 2 3 3 for more informa tion A ll of this (and muc h more! ) provided by A s s urant L ife of C anada, the oldes t and larges t funeral ins uranc e c ompany in the world.

Filipino Auto Salesperson In Vancouver, Call Tel No. 604-551-3360 If you have a positive attitude & high energy - join us!

Call Sunny or Kal at 604 273 1311 12100 Featherstone Way, Richmond

ORT RESIDENCES”

UIG PHILIPPINES FURNISHED ABLE 3 to view pictures

CONDO FOR FOR SALE SALE AT AT “THE “THE FORT FORT RESIDENCES” RESIDENCES” CONDO

RUSH

LocatedatatGLOBAL GLOBAL CITY, CITY, TAGUIG TAGUIG PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES Located BR22WR WR79SQM, 79SQM, FULLY FULLY FURNISHED FURNISHED 22BR NEGOTIABLE Php 8.5 M, NEGOTIABLE ContactTEDDY TEDDY@ @ 778-327-8423 778-327-8423 to to view view pictures pictures Contact

H

RUS

Raj Gupta Personal Real Estate Corporation Century 21 In town Realty 421 Pacific Street Vancouver B.C. V6Z2P5 Cellphone no. : 604-835-2477 Business no. : 604-685-5991 Business fax no. : 604-6852807 E-mail : rajgupta21@hotmail.com www.VancouverRealEstate4Sale.ca

Canada How many times have you said “Someday”?

BY MELISSA REMULLA-BRIONES Philippine Canadian Inquirer “SOMEDAY.” It seems like a safe enough word, almost wistful, and if one listens closely, it has with it the tinkling of bells – of hope, of desire, of longing.

Only, it sneaks up and arrives before its time and comes to pass without coming true, for most. Look and you can see in its wake many unrealized dreams.

I look around, look within, look at memories – to the eyes of my father, my grandfather, my grandmother – those who have left us behind. Do they have regrets?

I know “someday”. I could have sworn that I have seen it in my father’s eyes.

For most of my life, I only knew stability and stability was my father. We never knew a day of hunger or scrambling to pay for expenses. There were those occasional trips to the restaurant at the corner, new clothes, new toys. By social standards we probably did not have much, or are just okay – but we did not know it, which was good. My father did dabble in some businesses, little attempts and little clues at what went on in his brilliant mind. He probably knew that there was another way, a better way and took a few stabs at it, albeit halfheartedly because he had mouths to feed and he could not falter or make time for dreams or take uncalculated risks. He was a responsible father and it was just not right. So he clung to his employment as if it was his and our salvation. It was ours. But I am just not sure if it was his.

Sometimes I could see him lying on his bed, eyes to the ceiling, far away.

It is almost funny. What people want most in life is time – time to do what they want and the opportunity to do what it is they want but it seems that they get lost in the search, and get stuck, then they pine for that lost time which they can never get back.

How many times have I been told: Do not be too happy, save for a rainy day, wait for the right time? How many times have I been the recipient of disapproving looks, of heads shaking from side to side at a perceived indulgence: a trip, a particularly risky endeavor, a trinket, careless laughter?

To this my husband says: Don’t care about them. This is our life. When do we do it? When every step kills our backs? When hearing the waves would make us crouch in fear? When cobblestones and fountains of the

places in the postcards are obstacle courses and we could no longer stand straight or smile for pictures? When we already need to breath through tubes and all we ever want is to sleep and to never wake up?

Yes indeed. When?

It seems that dreaming in the present day is a crime, pursuing an interest is a crime, being happy or enjoying without having hedge funds is a crime. People are too hard on themselves and are too busy. But, if they are to be believed, they are busy getting to their dreams.

I wonder: Has my father met his someday and looked away?

Maria of Coelho’s Eleven Minutes realized a great truth as she was looking at the floral clock: She looked around her. People were walking alone, heads down, hurrying off to work, to school, to the employment agency, to Rue de Berne, telling themselves: “I can wait a little longer. I have a dream, but there’s no need to realize it today, besides, I need to earn some money.” She understood that it was all a question of selling her time, like everyone else. Doing things she didn’t want to do, like everyone else. Putting up with horrible people, like everyone else. Handing over her precious body and her precious soul in the name of a future that never arrived, like everyone else. Saying that she still didn’t have enough, like everyone else. Waiting just a little bit longer, like everyone else. Waiting so that she could earn just a little bit more, postponing the realization of her dreams.

Letting life pass her by.

Tim Ferris, in his book The 4-Hour Work Week, says: For all of the most important things, the timing always sucks. Waiting for a good time to

quit your job? The stars will never align and the traffic lights of life will never be green at the same time. The universe doesn’t conspire against you, but it doesn’t go out of its way to line up all the pins either. Conditions are never perfect. “Someday” is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. Pro and con lists are just as bad. If its important to you and you want to do it “eventually”, just do it and correct course along the way.

Erin Doland of Unclutterer (as quoted in Wisebread) explains why several attempts at business – like my father’s – never took off – because it also happened to her: “My biggest mistake was thinking that I could make a go of my business while working a full time job for someone else. It wasn’t until I quit my other job and jumped into my business with both feet that things took off for me. I wish I would have made the switch much earlier than I did.”

Indeed, our jobs could be our cocoon. It protects us from realizing our true potentials. We go through it, going through the drudgery, watching our lives pass us by, and in the meantime, dreaming.

Yes. For most of us, leaving our employment and starting out on our own is our big “someday”.

Coelho is right. People pay us for our time but there is no way for us to buy it back. No way.

Getting to this path of making your dreams come true – starting a business or pursuing an interest or being true to yourself – may not be easy. As a matter of fact, it may take every ounce of you not to go back to “stable” and not to quit realizing your dreams. But realizing your potential and living this life is the most wonderful, most satisfying thing in this world.

It is what you were meant to do. It is what you are here for.

We were at a wedding, my father’s last. I heard him tell the groom, wistfully, “While you are young, enjoy life.” It is as if he packed into those words all of his good intentions, all that he will never realize because he knew that he was near the end of his road, that after everything he had gone through, this was the most important conclusion, the secret of life that he utters – to the wind and to the world.

He then looked at us, his children, and I knew he meant for us to hear, he meant for us to understand, he meant for us to believe.

And we do.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2012 42

Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editor Melissa Remulla-Briones Associate Editors Maria Ramona Ledesma Frances Grace H. Quiddaoen Correspondents Lizette Lofranco Aba Jeffrey J.D. Andrion Gigi Astudillo Dr. Rizaldy Ferrer Rodel J. Ramos Stella Reyes Agnes Tecson Heidi Ng Graphic Designer Victoria Yong Illustration Danvic C. Briones Photographers AJ Juan Solon Licas Ryan Ferrer Angelo Siglos Art Viray Operations Laarni de Paula Sales Laarni de Paula Alice Yong Heidi Ng sales@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Managing Editor Maita de Jesus Graphic Artists Reggie Goloy Maud Villanueva Editorial Assistants Phoebe Casin Anne Lora Santos Sarah Moran Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva Jr. Associate Publisher Millicent Agoncillo Project Coordinator Lychelle Ang In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER is located at Suite 400 North Tower 5811 Cooney Road, Richmond B.C. Canada Tel No. 778-383-6090 / 778-383-3203 / (604) 279-8787 ext. 1722.

• Email us at : info@canadianinquirer.net or inquirerinc@gmail.com

Member:

T:10”

Join millions of newcomers with the RBC advantage...

Get a credit card with no credit history required1 Start building your credit history today T:13”

Plus, no monthly fee on banking for 6 months2

No annual fee Visit an RBC® branch, rbc.com/inquirer or call 1-866-864-8527 today.

TM

A security deposit may be required. Secured RBC Royal Bank® credit card is subject to meeting Royal Bank of Canada’s eligibility criteria. Unsecured RBC Royal Bank credit card is subject to meeting Royal Bank of Canada’s eligibility and credit criteria. Eligible credit cards include: RBC Cash Back MasterCard‡, RBC Rewards® Visa‡ Gold, Signature® RBC Rewards Visa, RBC® Visa Cash Back, RBC Royal Bank Visa Platinum Avion®, and WestJet‡ RBC MasterCard. 2 Monthly fee will be waived for the first 6 months upon account opening. Monthly fee is $14.95. Other account transaction fees may apply. Applies to the RBC Signature No Limit Banking® account only. Available only to newcomers to Canada who have arrived in Canada within the last year and who show proof of permanent resident status. Also available to newcomers to Canada that have arrived between 1 – 3 years when clients switch their account from another financial institution using CustomSwitch®. Other conditions apply. See branch for details. This offer may be withdrawn at any time and is subject to change without notice. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. ‡ All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner(s).

1

26995 (08/2012)

Samsung Galaxy S III™

UP TO

$1000 in savings

Burnaby • Crystal Mall • Metropolis at Metrotown • Cornerstone at SFU • Richmond • Aberdeen • Parker Place • Surrey • Central City • Vancouver • Hudson • UBC • North Vancouver • West Esplanade www.timestelecom.ca 604.288.0111 * Terms & Conditions apply.