Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #34

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER VOL. 10 NO. 34

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

WHAT’S INSIDE Poll says Trudeau could shake up federal politics as he wins key endorsement (On page 21)

Transgendered murder victim, good influence to many (On page 22) A month to go, Obama and Romney declare their intent to win a tight race, focus again on Ohio (On page 23)

RAFFY LERMA

Welcome To CANADA Phone Card Launched by S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Times Telecom & Philippine Canadian Inquirer (On page 24)

CYBER PEOPLE POWER A masked protester joins a big rally by different organizations composed of activists, netizens, and bloggers in denouncing the online libel provision of the cybercrime law during a silent protest outside the Supreme Court on the eve of the law’s implementation.

VMMC chief: GMA health is worse now

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE HEALTH of former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo appears to have worsened since she was discharged from Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in July after an eight-month hospital arrest.

The Pampanga representative, who still goes to VMMC three times a week for regular checkups, is badly dehydrated and weak.

“I think her health is worse now,” said Dr. Nona Legaspi, the VMMC director.

The former President has lost weight since leaving VMMC on July 25 after being allowed to post bail for the electoral sabotage case for which she was detained.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Arroyo should remain confined in a hospital despite a new arrest order against her.

“I think that’s exactly where she should be kept because she has really become quite frail, according to the reports,” he said.

“I myself would not want her anywhere else except in the Veterans (Memorial Medical Center) where medical assistance is readily available,” added Belmonte, a former political ally of Arroyo.

Belmonte said he “sympathized” with Arroyo. “I sympathize with her but I also believe that the processes of justice and the courts should go on,” he said.

Belmonte commended the way the warrant was served on Arroyo.

“There is no intention to make a spectacle out of it or to embarrass her in any way,” he said.

Legaspi theorized that Arroyo may have developed a phobia against eating because of the choking episodes More on page 5

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Brightest stars showed off some skin at Bench Fashion Show (On page 31) Hazy Oscar forecasts place ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Argo,’ ‘Les Mis,’ ‘Master’ in early awards contention (On page 32)

Sip, Sleep and Dine at BC’s Wineries (On page 36)

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86

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News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 2

MVP, GMA 7 talks collapse ‘P-noy may be ousted for cybercrime law’ over price, down payment

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer AN ALMOST “done” deal for a controlling stake in “Kapuso” network GMA 7 by the group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan has collapsed over regulatory “risk-sharing” issues.

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) group disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange that MediaQuest Holdings Inc., an investee company of PLDT Retirement Fund, had terminated recent discussions with GMA Network’s major shareholders.

Industry sources said the termination of talks had nothing to do with Pangilinan’s recent threat to move back to Hong Kong, noting that discussions had fizzled out even before that.

Knowing that the deal could encounter rough sailing among regulators, Pangilinan’s group was not willing to shell out the “advance” amount that would have guaranteed a windfall to the sellers at the buyer’s expense.

“The parties have been unable to arrive at mutually acceptable terms despite the continual discussions and efforts exerted in good faith,” PLDT said.

A separate disclosure from GMA7 contained the same message.

Price, other issues Pangilinan, who chairs PLDT, said in a statement that the termination of the initiative to acquire GMA 7 was not expected to adversely affect the PLDT group’s “strategy of evolving from a traditional telecommunications company into a multimedia service company.”

“The PLDT Group continues to believe that owning, producing and providing content across multiple platforms is an important component of its blueprint for growth and as such, intends to pursue its media strategy by building on MediaQuest’s current investments in TV5, the country’s third largest free-to-air television network by audience share, and Cignal TV, the leading provider of direct-to-home satellite television services,” he said.

GMA 7 chair Felipe Gozon said that aside from the price, “there were other issues, commercial and legal, that we (GMA 7 and TV5) did not agree on.

In good faith, we tried to resolve these issues, but we couldn’t. So, we decided to terminate the discussions.”

Gozon said GMA 7 remained “amicable and friendly” with the Pangilinan-led TV5. He said he could not divulge specific issues due to a confidentiality agreement.

INQUIRER’s Biz Buzz reported in early September that after moving close to an acceptable pricing of P52.5 billion (enterprise value for 100 percent of GMA 7), the parties were stalled by the amount of advance payment that the wouldbe sellers had wanted Pangilinan’s group to lay on the table ahead of a congressional approval to consummate the deal.

“In the Gokongwei deal, both parties were willing to share the risk,” one source said.

The source was referring to PLDT’s acquisition of Digital Telecommunications from the Gokongwei group, which attracted concerns over “monopoly” because it resulted in a combined telecom market share of 70 percent.

After some delay, the deal was approved by regulators on the condition that PLDT would give up the 3G frequency of its unit Connectivity Unlimited Resource Enterprises.

GMA 7 shares tumble Shares of PLDT gained 0.44 percent while those of GMA 7 tumbled 8.3 percent at the stock market on after it was announced that the talks had collapsed.

“If I were MVP, why will I put a big downpayment when it needs congressional approval?” said Wilson Sy, a director at Philequity Management Inc. Alfred Dy, CLSA Philippines head of research, said walking away from the deal would “allow Pangilinan to focus on core businesses of PLDT and other growth opportunities.”

Dy said the acquisition would not have been cheap for Pangilinan’s First Pacific group, which he noted was also into other businesses like infrastructure and healthcare.

Other analysts said Pangilinan may not have been willing to shoulder all the regulatory risks in this initiative, especially when his hands were full with the mining pond tailing leakage at Philex Mining Corp.’s Padcal site in Benguet.

Pangilinan also controls Philex, the country’s biggest gold producer. ■

BY JEROME ANING AND CATHY YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer KABATAAN party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, one of the complainants against newly enacted Republic Act No. 10075 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, yesterday said President Aquino could be impeached for enforcing the controversial law.

Palatino said the President’s insistence on the retention of the libel provisions in the law would result in the abridgement of the freedom of speech, which would made the Chief Executive liable for impeachment on the grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of the public trust.

“If Aquino is insisting that we accept the new law, not only is he violating the Constitution, he is also betraying the public’s trust, both of which are impeachable offenses,” Palatino said.

The Supreme Court is expected to tackle over 10 petitions against the cybercrime law during an en banc session. Yet another petition will reportedly be filed by Bayan Muna led

by Rep. Neri Colmenares.

“We warn you P-Noy, masquerading as a ‘clean’ President doesn’t make you unimpeachable. If you continue to betray the public’s trust, the masses are ready to call not only for your impeachment but for your ouster,” Palatino said.

Palatino did not say if he would initiate the impeachment complaint against the President.

Both the House and the Senate, which would act as the impeachment prosecutor and court, respectively, are dominated by Aquino allies.

The President said he did not agree

that the provision on online libel should be removed and that he had to enforce the law—otherwise he could be “impeached for dereliction of duty.”

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws, predicted the Supreme Court would declare it unconstitutional, citing the “overbroad and too vague” language used in the law’s provisions.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urged the public to let the Supreme Court deal with the Cybercrime Prevention Act. “Let’s leave it in the hands (“ipaubaya na natin”) of the Supreme Court. That’s how the system works.

Besides, we (lawmakers) cannot say we are always right. We are not gods. If something goes wrong in the executive or legislature, there is the Constitution and the Supreme Court to make a decision,” Enrile said in Filipino.

But Enrile insisted that the Senate observed proper procedures when it debated on and eventually approved its version of the cybercrime bill.

However, he lamented that he was not able to fully monitor the debates that happened in December.

Enrile admitted he was not an expert on the Internet or information technology. Also, he said he was too busy preparing for his role as presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona when the debates took place.

Earlier reports said that during the December interpellations, the debates centered on the definition and penalties for sex-related offenses like cybersex.

The online libel provision was not discussed extensively at the time. ■

News-Phils

3 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

LP, UNA defensive on dynasty issue

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA AND TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE UNITED Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is fending off criticism that it is building a “political dynasty,” but is struggling to explain why its so-called “3 Kings” are each fielding a son or daughter in next year’s senatorial election.

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s daughter, Nancy, has been tapped to complete the UNA ticket, which includes the sons of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and ousted President Joseph Estrada—Rep. Jack Enrile and Rep. Jose Victor Ejercito.

Not quite different is the Liberal Party (LP)led coalition, whose senatorial slate includes no less than a cousin of President Aquino.

Rep. Tobias Tiangco, UNA campaign manager, yesterday defended the inclusion of the UNA leaders’ three children in the party’s Senate slate, saying they were not building political dynasties with an eye towards the 2016 elections.

“It’s all about the sovereign will of the people,” Tiangco told the INQUIRER by phone. “We’re just presenting them as options. Ultimately, it’s the voters who will decide if they should serve in the Senate or not.”

Malacañang sang the same tune, saying it was up to the voters to decide whether or not to perpetuate a dynasty in power by putting into office its scions.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, acknowledged that the Constitution prohibits the establishment of political dynasties but said that the relevant provision still requires an enabling law before it can be enforced.

Article II, Section 26, of the Constitution states, “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

In the absence of such a law, she said, the decision to elect members of the same families to the Senate, House of Representatives and other offices in 2013 rested with the voters.

“You have to bring it back to the voters because those relations are not hidden, and it will be up to the voters to decide who should be their public servants, whether congressmen, senators or mayors,” Valte said in an interview over government-run dzRB radio.

Justify Bam’s presence Valte was attempting to justify the LP’s decision to include President Aquino’s 35-year-old cousin, Paolo Benigno “Bam”

Aquino IV, in the administration Senate ticket.

The ruling LP-led coalition is also fielding Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar and reelectionist Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Aquilino Pimentel III, among others, for next year’s senatorial elections.

Should they win, the young Angara would replace his father Sen. Edgardo Angara in the Senate, and Villar, her husband, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. The terms of Senators Angara and Villar end in 2013.

Cayetano would rejoin his sister Sen. Pia Cayetano in the chamber. Pimentel is the son of former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. Valte said the President had aired his views on the issue of political dynasties when he was campaigning for the presidency in 2010.

“What he said was, ‘Look at the qualifications.’ Let’s not disqualify on the mere basis of the name. But, again, look at the qualifications and the track record of someone who is being accused of being part of a political dynasty,” she said.

Former Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and his cousin’s daughter-in-law, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, are also seeking seats in the Senate under the administration and opposition slates, respectively.

“Well, it’s not that we are defending

it but what we’re telling you is that it is usually, it is normally up to the voters,” Valte said.

Tiangco dismissed the idea that Binay, Enrile and Estrada were fielding their children to ensure a stronger political footing in preparation for the national elections four years from now.

Binay, who put up UNA as a coalition with the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of Estrada and Enrile earlier this year, has expressed his intention to run for president.

Voters live in present “No, it’s not about 2016,” Tiangco said in Filipino. “Ordinary voters don’t look that far. For them, it’s about the candidate who could be of service to them at present, one who could help them get by.”

Tiangco admitted that having a relative as an incumbent official was a “built-in advantage” for candidates in terms of “name recall” among voters.

What was more important, he said, was the track record of the political family.

“It’s not just the name, it’s the public service,” he said. “Not all who want to serve serve well. Others disgrace themselves. That’s why there are cas es when an incumbent politician fields his children but they end up losing.” ■

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News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 4

Like Christmas, election bonanzas come early to voters

BY NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer WHO NEEDS a Christmas countdown?

Not the voters looking forward to holiday presents from politicians who have formally expressed their desire to run for the House, the Senate and local elective posts next year.

Last week’s filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) could well be the start of the Christmas holidays for those expecting gifts and favors from election hopefuls, according to the campaign manager of the Liberal Party-led coalition.

Sen. Franklin Drilon said local politicians who have firmed up their candidacies with last week’s filing of COCs are now at the mercy of their constituents who need various forms of assistance at a time nearer to Christmas than the campaign period, which does not start until the summer months of 2013.

“On the local level, this must be quite costly because as early as now, you already know who the candidates are.

Eh ’di marami nang mamamasko sa ’yo (Many would already start coming to you for Christmas gifts),” Drilon told the INQUIRER. Pressure on local bets Drilon said senatorial candidates are not that exposed to such requests from the electorate as those running for positions in the provincial, city and municipal governments and for seats in the House of Representatives.

“It’s not so much in the national level.

But on the local level you can imagine the pressure on the local candidates. Their constituents would ask favors from them,” Drilon said.

Before automation The automation of the country’s elections has made it imperative that COCs be filed before the year ends to give enough time for the screening of candidates and for the

printing of their names on the ballots meant for the counting machines.

Before the recent election automation, the filing of COCs is scheduled shortly before the campaign period—way after Christmas.

Next year’s elections make the candidates gift-giving more a necessity for their political future.

“As they say, Christmas came early.

But that is the reality of the situation given the very early filing of the certificates of candidacy,” Drilon said.

Drilon said those with a sizeable campaign kitty would have the advantage with the long period of time between the filing of COCs and the elections in May. “Admittedly, those with substantial campaign funds can take advantage of the situation,” Drilon said.

With no more prohibition against premature campaigning, candidates on the administration coalition’s slate are expected to start going around the country to introduce themselves to the electorate.

Time for exposure “On the part of the party, we will be preparing the infrastructure for the whole campaign. But individually, I’m sure the candidates take advantage of this period to expose themselves in speaking engagements and other activities in order to improve their chances of winning in May,” Drilon said.

“You cannot prevent interviews. You cannot prevent candidates from accepting speaking engagements. Whether or not you interpret that as campaigning is beside the point because until the campaign period, you cannot be charged of illegal campaigning,” he added.

Drilon said it is still too early to assess the local candidates of the LPled coalition because substitutions are still expected until December.

On the other hand, Drilon said, the senatorial slate is as good as done. ■

5 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

News-Phils

...from page 1

she has experienced due to her lingering cervical spine problem.

Though Arroyo is on a solid diet “as tolerated,” she seemed to be eating less, the doctor said.

“I think she is also afraid of drinking water for fear of choking,” Legaspi said. Doctors have constantly advised Arroyo to keep herself well hydrated.

According to Legaspi, Arroyo had another choking incident last Wednesday. She was admitted to VMMC the next day. She was at the hospital when police came to arrest her on orders of the Sandiganbayan where she is facing plunder charges for the alleged misuse of P325 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.

In a medical bulletin issued yesterday, VMMC said the patient initially complained of “generalized body weakness, persistent pain over the nuchal and left shoulder with numbness of both hands and frequent episodes of choking.”

According to the doctors who examined Arroyo, the former President was suffering from “dehydration due to poor oral intake.”

This was outside of her medical condition of cervical spondylosis, Legaspi said.

“She is being managed medically with intravenous hydration and pain reliever with continuation of physical therapy as tolerated,” the medical bulletin read.

Asked how long Arroyo would be confined at VMMC, Legaspi said the evaluation of the patient was on a dayto-day basis.

She said the former President was “not yet medically dischargeable.”

“We cannot predict when she will be discharged,” Legaspi said.

Arroyo has an IV drip attached to her, “she cannot go around with that,” she said.

The doctor described Arroyo’s medical condition as “nothing acute that will warrant an emergency procedure.”

Her complaints may be addressed through therapy and will be observed for the next 24 to 36 hours, she said.

Arroyo still uses a neck brace when walking around but can take it off inside the hospital’s presidential suite as “her mobility is limited there,” Legaspi said.

Dr. Martha Nocum, the admitting physician, said Arroyo has undergone an X-ray of the neck. She is also set to undergo blood extraction and an electromyelogram to determine the cause of the numbing of her hands, among other tests.

‘FOI needs Palace push’

BY LEILA SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer GETTING the freedom of information (FOI) bill through its second reading would require a push from Malacañang and House of Representatives leaders, since many lawmakers are expected to be preoccupied with the 2013 polls in the coming months, according to one of the bill’s proponents.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said he was “cautiously optimistic” the bill would finally be voted on and approved at the public information committee level given the number of lawmakers who publicly declared their support for it, and also because Speaker Feliciano Belmonte himself publicly vowed to ensure the stalled bill would be set for hearing.

But Bello acknowledged that despite statements of support from

at least 117 lawmakers, things would not be so easy.

A push from Malacañang as well as House leaders would be needed so that lawmakers would be goaded into attending sessions and ensuring that the bill would be put to a vote on second and possibly third reading before Congress adjourns for the campaign season, he said.

He noted that Malacañang played a big role when the House voted to end the contentious period of debates on the reproductive health (RH) bill.

On the day the House decided to end the interpellations on the RH measure, President Aquino called lawmakers to a meeting to explain his stand on the bill and to urge them to terminate the debates. They later did. But the House has yet to vote on the RH bill on second reading.

So far, Bello said, he hasn’t seen the same kind of commitment from Malacañang for the FOI bill. ■

Asked if Arroyo, who has filed the necessary papers for her reelection bid in Pampanga’s second district, could withstand the rigors of a campaign with her present state of health, Nocum said: “She will need the help of people to campaign for her. Right now, she can’t.”

Arroyo is suffering from cervical spondylosis, a degenerative disease of the bones and cartilage of the neck.

She had three surgeries performed by Filipino surgeons at St. Luke’s Medical Center in 2011.

Following a recent hospitalization after Arroyo choked on a piece of melon, Arroyo’s cardiologist said that the titanium brace that had been implanted in Arroyo’s neck had shifted, blocking her air and food pathways, a condition that he said was life-threatening.

The cardiologist said Arroyo’s condition necessitated a fourth operation that could be handled by a team of experts not available in the Philippines.

Legaspi said the hospital has not received any order from the Sandiganbayan.

“We did receive a verbal communication from the police that she (Arroyo) will be staying here for a while,” she said, adding that the

hospital’s presidential suite is always kept clean and well-maintained.

The police will be observing the same security arrangements for the hospital arrest of Arroyo, according to Chief Supt. Mario de la Vega, director of the Quezon City police district.

He said a contingent composed of members of the QCPD, the Police Security Protection Group, the Regional Public Safety Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office and the Special Action Force will be securing the sprawling VMMC compound.

“It will be the same procedure, the same arrangement as before,” De la Vega said, referring to Arroyo’s eightmonth hospital arrest for the electoral sabotage charges.

This arrangement includes “appropriate close-in security” for the former President, he said.

Forty policemen from the QCPD were tasked to guard the VMMC perimeter, while 30 policemen from the RPSB of NCRPO were there as backup.

What is new in the security arrangements was the SAF contingent of 30 policemen backing up the QCPD, De la Vega said.

“They are positioned there in case there is a threat or if anyone causes trouble,” he said. ■

News-Phils Palace OKS changes to rules in mining EO

Angara: Tough penalties due to Net’s global reach

Photo courtesy of Storm Crypt

BY NORMAN BORDADORA AND PHILIP C. TUBEZA Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT Aquino approved the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Executive Order No. 79 that sought to address concerns raised by mining industry players.

The revisions crafted by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) sought to clarify controversial provisions of EO 79, which defines the administration’s mining policy reforms, Strategic Communication Secretary Ricky Carandang said.

All the revisions to the EO the MICC submitted to the President were approved. Section 7, however, was “reworded” on the President’s orders, said Carandang, a member of the MICC. That particular section allows the expansion of mining areas in cases where a “failure to expand would lead to economic dislocation,” said Carandang.

“For example there’s amoratorium in expanding the mining areas. But in cases where failure to allow expansion could cause dislocation or have negative economic consequences, we will allow that, such as in the case of cement companies,” Carandang told reporters.

The revisions covered the terms for expired mining tenements; the grant of mineral agreements pending new mining legislation, and the opening of areas to mining through public bidding.

But on the controversial 25-year contract term provision, Carandang said the amended rules do not provide for “automatic renewal” and automatic rebidding, as in the past.

“There’s a period for review and there’s an optout period for both sides. And that’s always been the case,” he said.

The controversial IRRs were suspended after the mining industry clamored for the clarification of these provisions. The rules were supposed to take effect on Sept. 29.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines had earlier questioned Section 9 of the EO. The provision imposes a bidding when renewing mining contracts after the first 25years of a tenement.

With the revisions, the MICC—which is headed

by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima—hoped the industry players were clarified on the IRR provisions that that they had said were ambiguous.

The revisions were final and would be effective 15 days after publication, Carandang said.

The President issued EO79 in July in a bid to boost government revenue from the mining sector while increasing environmental safeguards. ■

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 6

JUST one click and a libelous content goes global.

So said Sen. Edgardo Angara in explaining a provision in the Cybercrime Prevention Act that prescribes a prison term for online libel longer than the penalty for the same crime under the Revised Penal Code.

Angara is the sponsor and one of the authors of the Senate version of what eventually became Republic Act No. 10175, the much-criticized cybercrime law.

“With one click, you can send it all over the world,” he said.

Angara said the reach of the Internet was more extensive than that of a newspaper. “You can call someone a thief in the newspaper. There would be a limited number of readers. In this case, with just one click, it’s global,” he said.

Angara said raising penalties a degree higher for online crimes, was the suggestion of the Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) unit involved in addressing cybercrimes.

“That was part of the recommendation of the DOJ and the technical working group that includes the NBI and the PNP cybercrime unit,” he said.

These agencies said cybercrimes were more widespread and more extensive, according to Angara.

He said his colleagues raised no objection to the provision penalizing crimes committed online one degree higher than those committed in the real world and already covered by the penal code.

“We thought there was a consensus,” Angara said after the provision breezed through the committee level on the Senate floor and in the bicameral conference committee.

Aggravating circumstance “Why was the penalty raised? The only rationale I can think of is that because of the novelty and swiftness, and the spread and reach of information and communication technology, it becomes an aggravating circumstance,” Angara said at a Senate news forum.

Section 6 of RA 10175 provides that all crimes “defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, if committed by, through and with the use of information and communications technologies shall be covered by the relevant provisions of this Act.” “Provided that the penalty to be imposed shall be one degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, as the case may be,” the law added.

Libel in the penal code is punishable by imprisonment of no more than four years and two months.

Online libel under RA 10175 is punishable by a penalty one degree higher than the one in the penal code. In this case, it’s a maximum penalty of 10 years, said information technology law expert JJ Disini.

Because the penalties are cumulative, a single act of online libel can result in a maximum jail time of more than 14 years, Disini said.

Protests The new law also allows government agencies to search, seize and destroy computer data deemed libelous.

Media groups and netizens stepped up calls for repealing the new law that targets cybercrime but activists fear it will be used to suppress online freedoms in the country.

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.

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

Asked during the forum if he would propose that online libel be punishable with the same prison term set by the penal code, Angara said, “Just remove the provision (on penalties in the cyberlaw being) one degree higher.”

Like, share He sought to allay fears that clicking “like” and “share” buttons on libelous materials posted on Facebook and other social media would automatically make a netizen liable under the cyberlaw.

Asked if one would be liable for “liking” a libelous material online, Angara said, “No, because you’re not the author.”

As to “sharing,” Angara said one must prove connivance or conspiracy between the one who shared and the one who came up with a libelous material.

“You know it’s more difficult to prove conspiracy.

There really is a difficult hurdle for those who’d complain,” the senator said.

With such nuances in the law, Angara said Filipino journalists shouldn’t be too concerned about online libel and the cyberlaw.

“Journalists are the most protected species on earth, especially in the Philippines... No one is convicted in the Philippines except the really brazen ones,” he said.

Angara, nonetheless, said that freedom of speech and of the press “does not protect libelous or malicious statements.”

Guingona lone dissenter Amid the uproar over the new law, he called for calm, noting that no one’s rights were being threatened.

He said there was even no implementing rules and regulations for the cyberlaw yet.

The Senate journal showed that the chamber approved on Jan. 30 its version of the cyberlaw on third reading.

The following senators voted in its favor: Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Aquilino Pimentel III, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla Jr., Vicente Sotto III and Manuel Villar.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III was the lone dissenter. ■

News-Phils Binay eldest daughter UNA’S 12th Senate bet

7 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE UNITED Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is fielding Vice President Jejomar Binay’s eldest daughter as its 12th senatorial candidate in next year’s midterm elections.

Nancy Binay, the eldest of Binay’s five children, is a newcomer to politics. She is replacing businessman Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, who backed off last minute.

UNA announced Binay’s candidacy, beating the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) by one day.

Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal also beat the deadline, filing her COC to run again for a seat in the Senate as a candidate on the Liberal Party-led administration coalition.

The 39-year-old Nancy Binay, a tourism graduate of the University of the Philippines, served as her father’s personal assistant throughout his three terms as Makati City mayor. She is currently her father’s assistant in housing matters (the Vice President heads the government’s housing program).

UNA announced the choice, hours after Vice President Binay told reporters that the coalition was still deciding who its 12th candidate would be.

UNA leaders’ kids Nancy Binay’s landing the UNAslate gives each of the coalition’s three leaders representation by blood on the coalition’s ticket.

Senate President Juan Ponce’s son, Rep. Juan “Jack” Ponce Enrile Jr., and former President Joseph Estrada’s son, Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, are running for Senate seats as UNA candidates.

UNA insiders said the Vice President did not want his daughter to run but was “outvoted” by Estrada and Enrile. The Vice President could not be reached for comment.

The coalition had been choosing between Nancy Binay and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn to fill the slot vacated by De Venecia.

Hagedorn, a veteran politician, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) as an independent senatorial candidate.

Nancy Binay had never before sought an elective office, unlike her siblings, reelectionist Rep. Abigail Binay and reelectionist Makati City Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay.

High in surveys UNA, however, said Binay had placed high in election surveys.

“We are encouraged by Nancy’s consistently strong performance in the surveys. She has always landed in the winning circle in both Pulse Asia and SWS [Social Weather Stations] with the least effort,” UNA Secretary General Tobias Tiangco said in a statement.

He said supporters, including sectoral and nongovernment organizations, had been lobbying for Binay’s candidacy.

“There has also been a ground swell of support for her candidacy coming from sectoral groups and nongovernmental organizations nationwide. We cannot ignore these voices and their commitment to help Nancy and the entire senatorial slate of UNA,” said Tiangco, who is also Navotas City representative.

Nothing personal Meanwhile, Madrigal said there was “nothing personal” in her alleged rift with her fellow senatorial candidates on the administration ticket, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar and reelectionist Alan Peter Cayetano.

Madrigal was among those who accused Cynthia Villar’s husband, Sen. Manuel Villar, of irregularity in the funding of the C-5 road extension project months before the 2010 presidential election.

Cayetano, a member of Villar’s Nacionalista Party, then asked the Comelec to disqualify Madrigal from the presidential race.

“There’s nothing personal in our dispute,” Madrigal told reporters after filing her COC. “We can see that in the Senate records so it’s up to the people to judge.”

She said she did not feel uncomfortable running with Cayetano on the same ticket.

“We are solid in spirit. We don’t need to be in a circus because we follow a straight path,” Madrigal said, making a reference

to the administration’s campaign theme of good government.

Independent Also yesterday, a 60-year-old corporate executive and social activist filed a COC to join the race for the Senate as an independent candidate.

Ricardo L. Penson, president and chief executive officer of Ausphil Tollways Corp., proponent of the Katipunan (C-5)La Mesa-San Jose del Monte-Norzagaray Tollway project, said he represented only people who were clamoring for “real change” and who believed that many apolitical leaders could very well fill the remaining slots on both the administration and the opposition tickets.

Penson noted that the senatorial tickets of the administration and of UNA had common or guest candidates, a sharing that he said put premium on political alliances rather than on the merits of candidates.

What the Philippines needs, he said, is not candidates with the right political connections, but candidates who can truly push for reform-driven national development initiatives.

“We are not a nation broke in talents, skills, dreams and aspirations,” Penson said.

“Aspiring for an elective position is every citizen’s right, and should not be treated as the birthright of special families,” he said. ■

News-Phils

JPE, Trillanes resume word war

BY CATHY YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

JUST WHEN everyone thought the smoke had cleared, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV have gone at it again.

From page A1 This time, Enrile said he would bare the truth about Trillanes during next year’s campaign—a move the Senate President believes would cost his young colleague his reelection bid.

Trillanes, in turn, dared the chamber’s oldest member to attend a seminar on public policy he was willing to conduct after Enrile accused him of copying an old bill on the country’s baselines territory that Enrile had authored.

The word war that began three weeks ago was apparently rekindled by rumors that Trillanes was behind a white paper that was circulated last week listing Senate reporters allegedly on the take from Enrile.

Hard copies of the list were left in the Senate press office.

Trillanes denied any hand in the anonymously penned charge sheet in a phone conversation with the INQUIRER. “I did not do that,” he said, after learning that he was the prime suspect behind the paper.

Trillanes also called other Senate reporters to deny that he was behind the white paper.

His name came up after reporters noticed that the white paper included the names of Malacañang reporters whose questions to Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda last month about the senator’s involvement in back channel talks with China were believed to have displeased Trillanes.

Enrile initially refused to discuss Trillanes in a radio interview when he was asked to comment about the

younger senator’s role as a back-channel negotiator at the height of tensions over the presence of Chinese vessels at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in April.

“I don’t want to discuss that guy. He does not amount to anything to me,” Enrile said.

But then he suddenly added: “I will discuss him during the campaign. I will test his capacity before the people.

That is the better forum.”

Enrile said he would leave it to the varied Senate committees to examine Trillanes’ back-channeling efforts that he had questioned in an impromptu Senate speech in mid-September.

The Brady notes Enrile then produced a sheaf of papers now referred to as the “Brady notes,” said to be written by Philippine ambassador to China Sonia Brady about Trillanes’ activities and statements as an unofficial negotiator.

This after Trillanes delivered a speech decrying Enrile’s involvement in the supposed railroading of the bill creating a new province from Camarines Sur. The Senate President in turn questioned Trillanes’ contacts and wondered whether the senator served the Philippines’ interests during his 15 discussions with his Chinese counterparts.

In the radio interview, Enrile said he would rather deal with Trillanes “outside the Senate so he could not say anything” about the Senate President taking advantage of his position in the chamber.

And then Enrile said: “He will lose votes. Take a look at his votes come election time from the sectors that he is confident will support him.”

Enrile let out a chuckle when asked whether he believed Trillanes was behind the white paper listing alleged beneficiaries of his payola.

“My God! Who would do something like that? Imagine saying (the names of two radio anchors) or even the others taking money from me? Maybe he’s the one who pays off journalists,” the Senate President said.

When pressed, Enrile stated: “Wait for the campaign. I will bare [the truth about] him before the people.”

The on-air discussion about Trillanes started innocently enough with a question on whether the young senator would be removed from the Senate Electoral Tribunal following his decision to leave the majority bloc as a result of his fight with Enrile.

Won’t retaliate The Senate President told dzBB anchor Nimfa Ravelo said he was not the type to retaliate, but added that Trillanes would not have been able to pass a bill without help in the chamber.

On Trillanes’ supposed claim that he authored the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law or Republic Act No. 9522, Enrile said the younger senator merely patterned his bill on an earlier draft that former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza put together for Enrile sometime back.

“I made the Baseline Law,” Enrile said.

Told that Trillanes’ staff sent an e-mail to reporters saying that the senator had authored RA 9522, Enrile said: “Who is this guy? Why don’t you look at the records? The one who drafted the baselines law that I sponsored was Titong Mendoza, not Trillanes. Maybe his version was junked. This guy is presumptuous.”

Trillanes later sent out a text message responding to Enrile’s charge on the baselines law.

“Just to educate Senator Enrile, in public policy making, there is no such thing as copying since best practices are supposed to be emulated,” he said.

Don’t reinvent the wheel “You don’t always reinvent the wheel. For example, if

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 8

Noah’s website survives great flood of cyberattacks

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer LIKE the biblical Noah who rode out the Great Flood, this Noah also emerged unscathed.

Attempts to hack the Project Noah website were repulsed by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) engineers and programmers according to project head Mahar Lagmay.

Project Noah, which only recently became operational, monitors weather patterns, measures rainfall and serves as a warning system, among other things.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is using it to monitor Tropical Storm “Marce” which is affecting the country.

Hacking attempts Lagmay said the hacking attempts came soon after other government websites were broken into to protest the Cybercrime Prevention Act or Republic Act No. 10175.

The hackers protested the new law curtailed their freedom of speech.

Lagmay first announced the online assaults through his Twitter account.

In a later tweet, he said there were Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks on Project Noah’s servers.

In a DDOS assault, a hacker or group of hackers use several compromised systems to maliciously flood a single one.

Sought for comment later, Lagmay said the DOST engineers and programmers had to “put communication lines down” to repel the attacks.

A check of the website at the time showed that some weather-related data could not be accessed.

On top of the situation Because the DOST personnel “were on top of the situation” though, Lagmay said, the website was completely functional after around four hours.

“Slow clap sa mga DOST engineers and programmers. We were just attacked but defenses repelled the assault,” he tweeted a few minutes before noon.

Lagmay said in the phone interview he had “no idea” who would want to hack the website but believed it may not have been connected to the controversial new law.

“These kinds of activities happen. To relate it to (that) is a little bit off,” he told the INQUIRER. ■ Singapore managed to curb corruption in a certain way, it would be wise for us to imitate them,” Trillanes said.

It would then be “commonplace,” he said, to see legislators in both the Senate and the House of Representatives refiling the same bills “that reflect their advocacies and could solve socioeconomicpolitical problems.”

“If Senator Enrile does not know this yet, I’m willing to conduct a seminar for him. Otherwise, he could file an ethics case against me and expose his ignorance to the whole world,” Trillanes said. ■

News-Phils

9 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

P-noy bails Grace Padaca out

BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC WITH A REPORT FROM CYNTHIA D. BALANA Philippine Daily Inquirer

Photo courtesy of World Bank Philippines

PRESIDENT Aquino played patron and friend to newly appointed election commissioner Grace Padaca by paying the P70,000 bail bond.

Malacañang saw nothing wrong with this arrangement because the President used his “personal funds,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told a Palace briefing.

Padaca, a 2008 RamonMagsaysay awardee, arrived at the Sandiganbayan, accompanied by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and her lawyer Rogelio Vinluan, to pay the bail. She later told reporters that the P70,000 came from Mr. Aquino.

Because she voluntarily surrendered and posted the consolidated bail of P30,000 for the graft case and P40,000 for the malversation case, the warrant of arrest issued against her was set aside by the antigraft court’s Fifth Division. Arraignment has been set for Oct. 18.

Padaca expressed confidence that she would be vindicated in the end and was not at all bothered by the case because the President himself and Roxas believed she was not corrupt as painted by her enemies.

“If you have Mar and P-Noy who have knowledge that you did not steal, what do you have to fear?” she said.

Malacañang, however, has yet to fully explain the failure of authorities to serve the arrest warrant on Padaca, 49.

The arrest warrant was issued by the Sandiganbayan antigraft court in May. Lacierda said Mr. Aquino had wanted to pay the bail then, but Padaca had taken a stand against posting bail in protest at what she said were politically motivated charges.

With her new appointment, however, she has no choice but to post bail.

“She can’t be behind bars while working (as commissioner), so she has decided to accept the offer of President Aquino,” said Lacierda.

The former Isabela governor has been charged with graft for awarding to a nongovernment organization in 2006 a contract to manage a P25-million credit facility for rice farmers, without public bidding. In her defense, she said bidding was not required for the project and that the government was not damaged by the deal.

Woman of integrity He said Padaca was the best person for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) job that was vacated when the appointee Gus Lagman failed to get the nod of the congressional Commission on Appointments.

“The President believes that Padaca can fulfill the work of a Comelec commissioner… She is a woman of integrity. She believes in an honest government, she believes in an orderly election, and she is competent to handle the responsibilities of a Comelec commissioner,” said Lacierda.

But Lacierda could not fully explain why Padaca was never arrested.

“I have no idea. You should ask the Sandiganbayan that,” he said.

He said that he had no idea “why the Sandiganbayan never executed that arrest.” ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 10

300 pets attend Kabang’s ‘despedida’

BY NIÑA CALLEJA Philippine Daily Inquirer SOME OF THEM sat dutifully in their proper places, content to watch what the other guests were doing.

A few groaned impatiently. Others tried to wander off and see what was happening around.

There were nearly 300 of them—pet dogs of residents of Makati City and nearby areas. They had come to attend a “despedida” (sendoff) party thrown by the city veterinary office and the Animal Welfare Coalition.

The honoree was Kabang, Zamboanga’s 2-year-old hero dog.

A female aspin (asong Pinoy) that lost the upper portion of her snout to save two girls from being run over by a speeding motorcycle, Kabang is leaving for the United States for “a much-needed” facial reconstruction surgery.

“It was both a despedida and a blessing for Kabang. A motorcade will send her off to the airport,” Dr. Van Joe Ibay, executive director of the welfare coalition, told the INQUIRER. Ibay said it was Filipino tradition to bless someone setting off on a voyage.

“In Kabang’s case, we are praying for her safe journey and her successful operation and recovery in the US,” he said.

Like a VIP Kabang’s special day coincided with the observance of World Animal Day and World Rabies Day, an annual event where the Makati City government through its Veterinary Services Office lines up activities for pets and pet lovers.

Like a true VIP, Kabang left immediately after the 7 a.m. Mass officiated by a priest and attended by the 300 pets and their owners.

Kabang’s veterinarians said the heroic dog could not stay longer at the party because she might catch various illnesses. The dog had been in the city for a month for a stem cell treatment at the Makati veterinary clinic to boost her immune system before her flight to America.

Vivien Manalastas, head of Makati’s veterinary office, said her office organized Sunday’s event because “we recognize the heroic acts of pets like Kabang, which displayed loyalty to her masters when she saved their lives.”

Kabang’s BFF “Bantay,” also a dog and the veterinary office’s official mascot for the animal welfare campaign, graced the event.

“Bantay accompanied Kabang, his BFF (Best Friend Forever),” Manalastas said in jest.

Kabang—touted as the Philippines’ Hachiko—became popular after the media published the story of how she saved two girls from being hit by a motorcycle in Zamboanga City in December last year.

In saving the two girls, Kabang suffered injuries that disfigured her face.

Hachiko was a faithful dog in Japan that continued waiting for his master at a train station every day for nine years even if the master had already died.

Team Kabang Since the December accident, a group of veterinarians and animal welfare advocates, called Team Kabang, has been supporting the Filipino dog.

The group asked for financial help to fund the dog’s facial surgery at Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in the University of California Davis.

Ibay said the special surgery, which requires expertise and equipment not available in the Philippines, would close the wound of Kabang and even prolong her life.

“Kabang will be treated by foreign veterinarians. Our resident veterinarians, Dr. Anton Lin and Dr. Edgardo Unson, will observe the medical procedure so that in the future, the surgery can also be done here,” Ibay said.

Overwhelming support He said public support for Kabang had been overwhelming. Donations kept pouring in.

“The donations have exceeded both our target and the surgical cost, which is $20,000,” Ibay said, adding that the excess amount would be used for the dog’s recovery and adaptation.

Kabang’s travel and that of the accompanying veterinarians to the United States will be shouldered by Philippine Airlines.

The team helping Kabang also tried to raise money for Rudy Bunggal, Kabang’s master, so he could go with his dog to the United States. But Ibay said Bunggal and his wife had no identification papers, like birth certificates, which they needed to secure their passports and US visas.

Fighting spirit In an earlier interview, the veterinarians said that months after the accident, Kabang showed them a “fighting spirit” “For a pet that has gone through so much, he has no fear and anger,” Unson said.

Kabang’s story has tugged at the heartstrings of animal lovers in and out of the Philippines. “If Japan has Hachiko, we have Kabang,” said Mona Consunji, external affairs coordinator of the Animal Welfare Coalition. ■

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News-Phils

11 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

One of 3 Filipinos can’t live without cell phones–survey

BY ANA G. ROA Philippine Daily Inquirer NEARLY a third of urban Filipinos claim not to be able to live without their mobile phones, according to a survey on the digital and media habits of consumers.

The Ipsos Media Atlas Philippines Nationwide Urban 2011-2012 survey results showed 30 percent of the Philippine urban population nationwide saying that mobile phones are necessities in life and 21 percent saying they plan to use their mobile phones more often.

“With the multi-functionality of mobile phones, Filipinos say that aside from TV, it’s their mobile phones that they can’t live without,” Steve Garton, executive director of Ipsos Business Insights, said at a presentation.

Ipsos Media Atlas Philippines, which is now on its sixth year, used 8,000 computerassisted telephone interviews and face-toface interviews.

Other uses Mobile phones are important for communication, but urban Filipinos

also use them for games (22 percent), as digital camera (25 percent) and MP3 or audio player (23 percent), Garton said.

The survey also showed that while access to the Internet has been increasing in the Philippines, it has not made other traditional media obsolete, which Garton attributed to Filipinos engaging in multi-tasking.

Carole Sarthou, Ipsos managing director said that the trend also showed how the different media correlate to each other.

Complementary “They complement each other. For example, something in print can push people to go online or something they see online can push people to look for its print counterpart,” said Sarthou.

According to the survey, 52 percent of the urban population accessed the internet in 2011 to 2012, from 32 percent in 2007 to 2008; 99 percent accessed free TV in 2011 to 2012, from 97 percent in 2007 to 2008 and; 29 percent accessed the newspaper in 2011 to 2012, from 36 percent in 2007 to 2008.

Further, 72 percent accessed FM radio in 2011 to 2012, from 69 percent in 2007 to 2008; 63 percent accessed cable

L L A C

TV in 2011 to 2012, from 51 percent in 2007 to 2008; 28 percent accessed AM radio in 2011 to 2012, from 36 percent in 2007 to 2008 and; 21 percent accessed magazines in 2011 to 2012, from 28 percent in 2007 to 2008.

The survey also showed that visiting social networking websites is the top online activity among urban Filipinos (76 percent), followed by e-mail and chat

(71 percent), information and search (48 percent), watching video (38 percent) and downloading or uploading (35 percent).

Facebook dominates all other websites, but users of Google and YouTube are increasing, according to the survey.

When asked about websites visited in the past seven days, 90 percent said Facebook, 69 percent said Google and 69 percent said YouTube. ■

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News-Phils

De Lima turns down Angara bid to suspend cybercrime provision

BY PHILIP C. TUBEZA AND NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima turned down the proposal of Sen. Edgardo Angara to suspend the implementation of a provision of the Cybercrime Prevention Act that gave the Department of Justice (DOJ) the power to block or restrict access to websites that violate the new law.

De Lima said the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law would “clarify” that provision to address the complaints of various sectors.

“On a finer legal point, no legislator can unilaterally ask for a suspension of a law nor can we decide to suspend,” she said.

Angara’s reservations “On the ground, we will just be judicious on the first few cases to allay fears of abuse or excesses in the exercise of such power and also to gain trust,” she added.

Angara acknowledged having reservations about Section 19

NBI: Int’l group behind hacking of gov’t web sites

BY NANCY CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer THREATS to hack web sites of government agencies by a group with an international affiliation have become a matter of national security, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) lead agent assigned to the probe.

“The threats are now a national security concern because the targets are leading government agencies,” said special investigator Joey Narciso of the NBI computer crimes division.

Narciso told the INQUIRER in a phone interview the bureau, other law enforcement agencies and related departments would meet to address the threats.

He said the bureau would also seek cooperation from their counterparts abroad through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

“When it comes to cybercrime investigation, we would have to coordinate with the law enforcement agencies abroad, this is international cooperation,” he said.

He said the NBI would also work with the government agencies whose web sites were either hacked or fell victim to distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks.

Even Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle was not spared.

Amid the raging controversy over the Cybercrime Prevention Act, a statement under the archbishop’s name began circulating on the Internet supposedly favoring the measure.

“Please be informed Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle does not have a Facebook account,” said Manila archdiocese communications director Peachy Yamsuan.

“He has a fan page administered by JesCom (Jesuit Communications). (But) he has not issued any official statement on the cybercrime law,” Yamsuan added in a text message to reporters.

The anti-cybercrime law has been the subject of controversy and criticism for taking a libel law to the Internet and other provisions perceived to be tantamount to prior restraint.

Narciso said the group of hackers that calls itself Anonymous Philippines used software based in Europe that contained an IP address that could be traced.

He also said the NBI web site was not hacked contrary to claims by Anonymous Philippines.

“The NBI web site was not hacked, we shut down the site to check if we were hacked and immediately uploaded again,” he said. ■

of Republic Act No. 10175 that authorizes the justice secretary to block access to websites that show child pornography and other crimes spelled out in the new law.

“I think there is some ground for questioning not the authority granted but the lack of precaution and safeguards in the exercise of this blocking authority, said Angara, the sponsor in the Senate and one of the authors of the new law.

“For instance, in the warrant of arrest or search you need a court order before you can do a search or effect an arrest,” he said at a news forum.

“Personally, I would recommend that we ask the secretary of justice when promulgating the rules and regulations to suspend the exercise of this power in the meantime before the Supreme Court decides on this particular issue or the Congress passes the amendatory law,” he added.

The DOJ is set to hold a multisectoral forum on Oct. 9 to address the concerns of various sectors about

the law and to get inputs before the agency, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Science and Technology come out with the IRR. ‘Sugarcoating’ law However, a group of bloggers that asked the Supreme Court to nullify provisions of the cybercrime law for being unconstitutional said “sugarcoating” the law through its IRR was not enough.

“However good the intentions of President Aquino, his spokespersons and Secretary De Lima are in coming out with the IRR, those cannot change this bad law. It cannot change an evil law,” said Anthony Ian Cruz, owner of the tech and political blog tonyocruz.com.

“It’s like trying to soften the blow of a hammer or putting glitter on it,” he added.

Cruz said the promised amendments of the law’s proponents was an admission on the part of legislators that they made a “big mistake.” ■

Opinion

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 14

THERE’S THE RUB

Clueless

BY CONRADO DE QUIROS Philippine Daily Inquirer EDGARDO ANGARA, author of the anticybercrime law, justifies it in this way: “Why was the penalty (for libel) raised? The only rationale I can think of is that because of the novelty and swiftness, and the spread and reach of information and communication technology, it becomes an aggravating circumstance. With one click, you can send it (the libelous statement) all over the world.”

That is all very well, except for one thing.

Who’s to say a statement is libelous or not?

If this law had been in effect five months ago, Renato Corona might never have been ousted.

Among the things that ousted him was the netizens themselves making their sentiments known to the senators—a thing that posed tremendous consequences for the elections. The wording of those sentiments would have made a great deal of them arguably libelous, or at least slanderous. Corona would have considered it so.

The justices would have considered it so. They could have used the law to make an example of a blogger, Twitter-er, Facebook-er, or two to stop the tide of public outrage and vituperation against them.

With this law, no one will be called a thief again. No one will be called an opportunist, fascist, or idiot again. No one will be called a politician with the morals of a prostitute again.

No one may be permitted to say so—except Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg about what’s wrong with the law. The bulk of it is that by looking at the possible abuses of cyberspace, the law turns a blind eye to its aweinspiring power to make the public matter in social discourse. By attempting to curb the excesses of cyberspace, the law curbs instead its historyaltering capacity to effect change. The medium is new and it is novel. Which only drives home the point that the law was made by people who are either clueless about it, or glimpse its power and want precisely to stop it from subverting their entrenched position.

In fact, cyberspace is the most liberating and democratizing force to have come to us in a long time, perhaps for the first time.

Elsewhere in the world we’ve seen that—in the Arab Spring, or the uprisings in Egypt and neighboring countries against despotic rule.

WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, had a point when he told a sideline meeting of the UN recently that Barack Obama was a hypocrite to say that America was the inspirer of those revolts: “It must come as a surprise to Tunisians (that) the US supported the forces of change in Tunisia.” In fact, he said, WikiLeaks had more to do with it, with its exposés of the nastiness of the now deposed rulers, among them Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. But we see as well in Assange’s fate—he has been forced to hide in the Ecuadorian Embassy in the heart of London to avoid being fed to the wolves— what an anticybercrime law has in store for transgressors.

Closer to home, you see the immense power of cyberspace to democratize this country in a couple of ways.

One is that it offers a way for the citizens to get back at the people who oppress them.

Certainly, it offers a way to put the corrupt to shame. Which makes it the most ironic thing in the world that the anticybercrime law was passed under the very government that professes to fight corruption. I’ve said it again and again: Government alone cannot stop corruption, it needs the help of the public to do it. The public can do that by making the corrupt pay a high price for corruption.

That is how it’s done in other countries.

In Japan and Korea, the culture itself does the trick: Shame and dishonor are enough to make the shamed and dishonored disembowel themselves. In America and Western Europe, public opinion does the trick: Public revulsion and opprobrium are enough, if not to make the publicly reviled and detested hang themselves, at least to make them resign.

Here, it’s cyberspace, which is far more spontaneous and unfettered than the mainstream media and, more importantly, which directly reflects the views of the public, that has the potential, and power, to do that.

With one click, calling someone a crook will be sent all over the world? Well, if he is a crook—and the public officials netizens call so are invariably so—I’m glad the information is sent instantaneously to the world. Certainly I’m glad it is sent instantaneously to the person

concerned, the better for him to know that we know, mahiya ka sa balat mo, naturingan ka pa namang public servant.

Two, and far more importantly, like I said last time, what makes the Western democracies real democracies is that the people do not just participate in national life by voting but by shaping policies and decision-making through public opinion. That public opinion isn’t expressed only when survey-takers ask them what they think of things, it is expressed voluntarily, constantly, naturally. It’s not sporadic, it’s permanent. It’s not occasional, it’s continuous. It’s not a footnote to governance, it’s the text of governance.

More than anything else, it’s cyberspace that has made that possible for us. Almost unnoticed, it has come to us like a gift from the gods. Overnight it has become possible for ordinary citizens (the youth in particular) to have their say on life, without having to go to the radio to complain, without having to write letters to the editor (and compete with a thousand other letters) to set things right, without feeling powerless in the face of being wooed like lovers as voters but dismissed like beggars as citizens.

And the senators—with the luminous exception of T.G. Guingona who had the imagination to vote against the law, and who continuously oppose the law—will spit on this gift as though it were a curse. No wonder the netizens are fit to be tied.

And government is clueless why. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

Political influence

BY RANDY DAVID Philippine Daily Inquirer THE APPROVAL and trust ratings of the top public officials, as reported in Pulse Asia’s latest survey, probably tell us more about the nature of Philippine politics than they might suggest at first glance. President Aquino’s ratings are at 78 percent, up by 11 percent from the previous quarter, which is unusually high for a president after being in office for two years. Vice President Jejomar Binay’s are quite astounding—an approval rating of 85 percent and a trust rating of 84 percent. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s ratings are not far behind: 72 percent approval and 68 percent trust. If these are indicators of political legitimacy, then we may say that no previous administration has been perceived to be more entitled to exercise power than the present one.

But in stable societies, where legitimacy is rarely questioned, power seldom needs to be used. It may thus be more instructive to view these ratings as indicators of political influence. What is political influence and how is it measured? Survey firms have occasionally touched on this phenomenon by asking if the endorsement of candidates by political influentials would make any difference in voters’ preferences. They can do more by inquiring into the nature and sources of this influence.

Political influence takes many forms, and its careful analysis may show us what people in a given society admire in their leaders. In this

regard, we cannot fail to note how little—in terms of social and political background and leadership style—Aquino, Binay, and Enrile have in common with one another. This makes us wonder what kind of leaders Filipinos are really looking for.

Political influence, says the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann in his work, “Trust and Power,” comes in at least three forms: authority, reputation, and leadership. In Luhmann’s framework, someone is said to have authority when his influence cuts across time.

In this sense, it is synonymous with tradition.

Reputation, on the other hand, is influence that is generalized across different circumstances.

It is not questioned even when it is applied in the most disparate circumstances, as when a boxing champion is elected to a seat in the legislature. And we speak of leadership when someone’s influence depends on the sheer perception that it is worth following it because others abide by it.

P-Noy, Binay, and JPE are today the country’s three most influential political leaders, but the basis of their individual influence cannot be more different from one another.

P-Noy’s influence takes the form of authority.

Its starting point is the moral authority that his parents gained as a result of the heroic roles they played in the nation’s history. In the absence of a monarchy, the Aquinos are possibly as close as we may get to a political nobility. No one could match the enormous influence wielded

by Cory, the widow of the martyred Ninoy, when she challenged Ferdinand Marcos for the presidency. P-Noy became the heir to that tradition when his iconic mother died.

His presidency’s strong advocacy of upright governance is consistent with the high moral tone set by his forbears.

The antithesis of the Aquino tradition is, indeed, that of the Marcoses, whose presumptive heir, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., remains within striking distance of the presidency. But the young Marcos’ star can only rise further if the Aquino leadership loses its moral authority.

Binay’s form of influence is perhaps the most conventional one in our society. The form it takes, using Luhmann’s theory, is that of leadership, more specifically populist leadership. “Leadership,” says Luhmann, “is based on increasing willingness to follow, stimulated by the perception that others are also following; in other words, it is based on imitation.” In 2010, Binay deployed this quality to full effect when he pledged to do for the whole nation what he had done for Makati as its longtime mayor: take care of the ordinary citizens’ basic needs.

Of the three forms of influence we are examining here, I find reputation to be the most fascinating. I think this is what JPE exemplifies best. His reputation for intelligence and mental sharpness, despite his advanced age, is legendary, even more so after

his superb handling of the recent impeachment trial of the chief justice. Whether he can transfer this reputation to his son Jack would be interesting to watch.

Again, in the context of Philippine society, it would be useful to qualify Luhmann’s concept of reputation by equating it with prowess—the possession of exceptional ability, valor, or skill.

While Enrile’s reputation is based on his mastery of the law, that of his young antagonist—Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV—is based on apparent valor as the leader of military rebellions.

That P-Noy, Binay, and Enrile represent three distinct paradigms of political influence in our society—i.e., moral authority, populist leadership, and reputation for prowess—seems to be confirmed by surveys. But we are in transition. Theorists of modernity suggest that as a society becomes more complex, people will rely less and less on these forms of influence in the political choices they make. *** In 1963, I defied the advice of my parents by joining a fraternity. I managed to assuage their anger only by assuring them that I was not hazed, and that the Greek letters A and S in Alpha Sigma stood for Alay sa Sambayanan. I think I can tell my late parents that the fraternity I joined has lived up to the full promise of those letters.

On Oct. 10, Alpha Sigma marks with pride its golden anniversary at Makati Shangri-La, and like my son who followed me in the fraternity a generation later, I intend to be there. ■

15 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Opinion

AT LARGE

Lisa’s ‘last’ Don Q

BY RINA JIMENEZ-DAVID Philippine Daily Inquirer AT ITS heart, ballet is all about deception.

To succeed, the ballet dancer must employ tremendous physicality, athleticism and strength if he/she is to make the leaps, lifts, turns, jumps, and twirls that ballet demands. It is also no mean feat to be able to execute these steps through the two hours of a full-length ballet, without showing any sign of fatigue or flagging energy.

And yet to be truly successful, the ballet dancer must perform all these feats without effort—or no sign of it—masking the physical demands of dance with grace and suppleness, executing the most difficult steps or sequences with lightness and seeming weightlessness. I am continually amazed at how male dancers manage to lift their partners without a grunt or two, and how the women manage to stay aloft without any fear, leaping into the arms of their partners with nothing but air and confidence to boost them.

Now imagine having to do this at an age when more prudent contemporaries are giving up sports and demanding physical activities in a desire to protect vulnerable spots like knees and ankles, shoulders and backs, hips and groin— and to avoid the pain that comes on the heels of age, weight gain and thinning cartilage.

It may be for such pragmatic reasons that Lisa Macuja, the Philippines’ only prima ballerina (defined as a dancer who has performed, or performs, all the roles in classic canon), announced

a few years back that she was retiring from dance but would do so only after completing a series of “farewell” performances of her favorite, most beloved and best-known roles.

Indeed, as Lisa’s mother Susan confided, Lisa “thinks that in two years’ time, her ankles (for which she has undergone operations) will finally give way. And she wanted to dance these roles one last time, with no need to alter the difficult steps.” *** SO IT is that Lisa’s “Swan Song Series” is not just a farewell to a magnificent career in dance, but also to the women, to the characters, who have become, in the 27 years she has interpreted them, not just alter egos but also sisters in spirit, in feeling, and in artistry.

“To say that Kitri (in the ballet ‘Don Quixote’) is my dream role would be an understatement,” Lisa has written. Besides the fact that “this winsome, happy-go-lucky daughter of an innkeeper has become my stage alter ego, a character that fit me like second skin, the ballet persona that brought out the best in my dancing because of the passion and flamboyance that typified her,” Kitri also ushered Lisa into the professional ballet world.

As Lisa tells it, as soon as she was asked to join the Kirov Ballet in 1985, she began dreaming of dancing Kitri onstage, fueling “all my waking hours” so that even as she began dancing as part of the corps, “I already spent extra time rehearsing portions of the ballet that do not require a partner, just so I could fly on my own and enjoy myself.”

*** JUST a few months later, Lisa’s “Kitri dream” came true, when she was cast as the innkeeper’s daughter in the Kirov’s “first major matinee performance for the year.”

Not only would she be dancing her favorite role, and with the Kirov’s principal dancer, Faroukh Ruzimatov, as her lover Basilio, Lisa would also be performing onstage at the Mariinsky Theater, where Marius Petipa first staged Don Q! Any dancer or aspiring dancer would “kill” to dance Kitri with the Kirov Ballet, but to dance her on the very same stage where the ballet originated? No wonder Lisa describes the experience as a “fairytale-like feeling of this entire episode in my dancing career.”

In the decades since, after coming home to the Philippines and especially after establishing Ballet Manila, Lisa has brought us not only Kitri and the other heroines but also season after season of performances that explore the entire range of dance, while developing young dancers who are now making a name for themselves here and abroad.

Her avowed lifelong goal was to “bring ballet closer to the people and people to the ballet.”

With BM dancers, she has performed in various provinces, once even memorably dancing on a “stage” fashioned from plywood laid onto stacks of soft drink crates. She has brought BM on tours abroad, while also traveling as a guest artist for the most respected dance companies in the world.

*** GIVEN all this, and the billing of “Lisa’s last Don Q” (not really, there is still a performance this afternoon at Aliw Theater), expectations were high about Friday night’s performance.

And she—and BM—did not disappoint. In fact, Lisa seemed sprightlier, naughtier, and even stronger as she danced her favorite role.

How she could pull off dancing a young woman bent on frustrating her father’s marriage plans for her is a wonder, but even seated a few rows away from the stage, one was completely taken in, falling for her interpretation of a rebellious daughter so young she still stuck out her tongue at her father!

Equally deserving of praise was Lisa’s Basilio, Mikhail Martynyuk, principal dancer of The Kremlin Ballet Theatre, who is young (he was born just a year before Lisa debuted with Don Q, my daughter observed), goodlooking and equipped with an admirable “line” and fascinating technique. His high leaps and confidence were so breathtaking the audience broke into spontaneous applause at the end of each passage.

And a word about the corps. As always, excellent and coordinated. But special mention must go to the male corps, who are uniformly capable and agile, especially in the sequence of the gypsy men.

I can understand Lisa’s heartache at having to bow to the inevitable. But her “last Don Q” is a testimonial to her lifelong devotion to her art, and her enduring legacy that is Ballet Manila.■

AS I SEE IT

QC gov’t not being fair to property owners

BY NEAL H. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer IF YOU have been reading the business pages, then you must have read about Calata Corp. and the investigations being conducted by the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A 10-year-old company, Calata Corp. is the country’s biggest seller of agricultural feeds, chemicals, fertilizer and seeds. Its founder, chair, president and chief executive officer is Joseph Calata, a 31-year-old management graduate of La Salle with a ridiculous pompadour that sticks out in any crowd.

Bouyed by the success of his company (total sales in 2011: P2 billion), Calata decided to expand to the countryside, where he has practically no competition. He plans to construct 118 retail stores all over the Philippines and another 100 in the next 14 months. His goal is to have 1,000 retail stores that he projects will generate P10 billion in annual sales.

To raise capital, Calata went public last May. Its initial public offering (IPO) at the PSE began at P7.50 per share and zoomed to P23.95 per share in only two weeks, which gave rise to suspicions of stock price manipulation. (Price manipulation is any activity that attempts to interfere with the proper operation of the stock and create the appearance of an active and liquid market.)

Suspecting that the stockbrokers were profiting at his and the public’s expense, Calata wrote to the PSE last June 7, asking for an investigation. “This

is in connection with the sudden movements in the stock price of Calata Corporation for the past trading days since its maiden listing with the Philippine Stock Exchange,” Calata wrote. “The Company has expressed concerns over these developments and would like to formally request for appropriate action to be taken in order to ascertain whether there were any legal breaches and/or violations committed in connection thereto.”

What came out in the media is that Calata Corp. is being investigated by the market surveillance unit of the PSE after the latter received a report by the Capital Market Integrity Corp. (CMIC), an independent unit of the PSE responsible for spotting illegal trading ectivities. This is misleading—it’s as if Calata Corp. itself were doing the price manipulation. As shown above, it was Calata himself who asked the PSE to look into the sudden jump of the stock price of its IPO. (Calata’s stock price has since dropped to P5.50 per share, then rose to P6.30 per share, still below the P7.50 per share IPO.) Now Calata is puzzled: Why is it being made to appear that Calata Corp. itself was behind the stock manipulation when it is Calata himself who asked the PSE for an investigation? And even granting that it is because of the sudden spike in the price of its IPO, why only him when there are others with even more dizzying increases? For example: IPVG Corp.—204-percent increase in

four trading days; Tanduay Holdings Inc.—226percent rise in seven trading days. But here are more spectacular increases: Bloomberry Resorts Corp.—1,877 percent in just eight trading days!

Or. Century Properties Inc.— 616 percent!

Calata is wondering why the “big boys” of the PSE are ganging up on him, a probinsiyano.

I think I know why—his hairdo, and I don’t blame them for it. The pompadour went out of style with Ronald Reagan. But even if they don’t like Calata’s hairdo (they told him that to his face), that is no reason for the PSE big boys to gang up on him. Calata would be doing the farmers a favor by making agricultural supplies available to them.

As for Calata himself, the only advice I can give him is this: Go see a barber. *** The INQUIRER section published yesterday the story of squatters who were able to buy, with the help of a parish-based cooperative, 1,200 square meters of a squatter-infested parcel of land in Barangay Pansol, Quezon City. The land was sold at a public auction by City Hall for its owners’ nonpayment of real estate taxes.

That is well and good for the squatters, but what about the poor owners? The bid price was P700,000 for 1,200 square meters of land beside the high-class La Vista Subdivion (where Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other wealthy personalities live), and the University of the

Philippines Integrated High School which would soon be transformed into an Ayala shopping mall.

The proceeds in the auction sale will go to City Hall as payment for real estate taxes on the land that the owners were unable to pay. Nothing goes to the poor owners.

The QC government is not being fair to property owners who have made it the richest city in the Philippines. Consider this: The property has long been occupied by squatters; the owners could not use it nor derive any income from it. City Hall did not lift a finger to help the owners reclaim their property, which is its responsibility in exchange for the taxes already paid. Yet City Hall has the temerity to demand full payment for real estate taxes that the owners could not pay because the land was being occupied by squatters who were not paying any taxes either. If you were the owners, would you pay the taxes for a piece of land that squatters are using for themselves, and which the city government is not helping you to recover?

If their own government does not help landowners, is it fair for City Hall to demand tax payments from them but not provide them any service in exchange for the paid taxes? Wouldn’t it be fair for City Hall to suspend the collection of taxes until their lots shall have been restored to them? In such a case, the owners would not only be happy to pay the taxes but thank City Hall for its help in reclaiming their property. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 16

Kapatiran fields 3 Senate bets, vows to fight dynasties

Lawyer Marwil Llasos, Kapatiran president JC de los Reyes and sociologist-environmentalist Rizalito David

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer VOWING to work to dismantle political dynasties and negate traditional politics in the country, three senatorial candidates of the Kapatiran Party filed their candidacy papers at the Commission on Elections.

Calling themselves “Tatlo Kontra Trapo” (3 against Trapo), Kapatiran president JC de los Reyes, lawyer Marwil Llasos and sociologistenvironmentalist Rizalito David offered themselves as the “better alternative” to the senatorial slates

of the country’s two dominant party coalitions.

The three were accompanied by Kapatiran officials led by the party’s founding chair, gun control campaigner Nandy Pacheco.

The Kapatiran candidates said the widespread negative reaction against political dynasts and celebrities aspiring for elective positions was a sign that Filipinos “have had enough”.

‘Just madness’ “This popularity contest is just madness.

The duplicity is just unbelievable! Our dominant political parties have bastardized politics and have endorsed political opportunist as candidates—like fighting cocks in a derby,” De los Reyes said.

He likened President Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to boxing match promoters more concerned about their senatorial candidates’ “winnability” rather than the issues. “[Amid the] immoral compromises, horsetrading, bigmoney and hypocritical politics, where is principled partisan

politics? Many of us have been fighting [against these] for very long, but those in power are countering them,” he said.

De los Reyes admitted to be again seeking public office over his wife’s objections. A former Olongapo City councilor, he ran for president in the 2010 elections but lost.

“No God-fearing person and patriot would allow what’s happening [in our country],” he said, adding that the party would be counting on support from the youth, the poor and “netizens” dissatisfied with the trapo system.

De los Reyes said Kapatiran’s platforms are a “magnet for passionate people” aspiring for genuine change in the country’s political system.

Pacheco said Kapatiran will not actively seek support from church groups and church leaders in the coming elections.

“We will welcome endorsements.

But we will no longer actively seek their support anymore. The Catholic Church, for instance, have guidelines on engagement in politics and through their pastoral encouragement they can tell the

people whom to support,” he said.

In the 2010 elections, Kapatiran obtained the endorsement of several Catholic bishops and even leaders of lay groups and other churches.

De los Reyes said Kapatiran’s platform and issues—the prohibition of political dynasties, abolition of the pork barrel system, legislated gun control, passage of the freedom of information bill, opposition to the reproductive health bill—have not changed.

Rich in principle He said that while Kapatiran may not have a big campaign kitty “we are rich in principles that guide us”.

“Like the North Star, principles guide and provide directions to look upon it. Change calls for new ways and methods—the only antidote to and to make obsolete the madness in our traditional practice of politics,” he said.

The party recently launched its new website (www.kapatiranparty.org) which, interestingly, also contains links to the sites of other politicial parties. ■

Albay, Makati, Cebu town are UN’s ‘best’ in PH

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN disaster strikes, they survive.

Three Philippine local government units (LGUs)—Albay province, Makati City and San Francisco town on Camotes Island, Cebu—are on the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNODRR) list of 29 model communities worldwide that are “exemplars in disaster risk management and reduction.”

These LGUs have been noted for their “best practices” on a wide range of challenges, including flood management, early warning earthquake reconstruction and legislation.

Also on the list are Venice, Italy; Bonn, Germany; Austria’s Tyrol province; Mumbai, India; Bangkok, Thailand; Cape Town, South Africa; Santa Fe, Argentina; Santa Tecla, El Salvador; Cairns, Australia; North Vancouver, Canada; Nashhad, Iran; and San Francisco, California, among other places.

In its “Making Cities Resilient” report, the Genevabased agency also cited the Philippines for the 2010 passage of the Natural Disasters Risk Reduction Act, which is described as a “proactive approach to disaster risk governance.”

The act obliges LGUs to earmark 5 percent of their total revenues to disaster risk reduction. Local governments may also use 20 percent of their Internal Revenue Allotment from the national government on

financing resilience.

In the 114-page report, the UNODRR noted that Albay’s disaster risk reduction strategy “centers on relocating businesses and over 10,076 households.”

“Albay province has also supported 18 municipalities to prepare comprehensive land use plans that address climate and disaster risks and integrate them into provincial plans. This has been institutionalized through a special planning ordinance and an updated provincial comprehensive land use plan for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation,” it said.

It also praised the province for “involving households in community risk training programs” and “addressing flood risks through infrastructure projects.”

TRI-CITIES

JOB FAIR FREE ADMISSION

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‘Sophisticated’ system Makati made it to the UN agency’s list for its “sophisticated and efficient disaster risk management system, in which disaster risk reduction, preparedness and emergency management are fully institutionalized with dedicated organizations and direct funding at the local government level.”

“The city takes a holistic approach to resilience, recognizing that it requires coordination between various sectors and a governance system where disaster risk reduction is mainstreamed into other core activities … In Makati, disaster More on page 17

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17 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

News-Phils

...from page 16

risk reduction is integrated into urban planning, health, disaster response and risk governance at different governance levels,” the report said.

It also noted that Makati engages all levels and sectors of society, particularly barangays; publishes monthly publications, brochures and posters with risk management messages in local languages; and conducts regular barangay ugnayan or community dialogues to discuss disaster risk management issues.

On the other hand, San Francisco town “has integrated disaster risk reduction into environmental and social development programs, which prioritize selected resilience targets that are practical and tangible in the eyes of the local community.”

“These include solid waste management, tree planting, mangrove rehabilitation and integrated farming. Children and youth are involved in all aspects of resilience building,” the report said.

‘Purok’ system The municipality’s purok (subvillages) system “has been important in mobilizing and empowering communities by

connecting them into a wider model of participatory governance. The system undergoes regular evaluation to ensure continuous improvement, using indicators developed to measure success,” it also said.

Last year, San Francisco won the prestigious UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, mainly for its purok system to improve the citizens’ ability to manage risk. In May 2010, the UN agency launched the “Making Cities Resilient” campaign.

As of August this year, more than 1,050 local governments worldwide, including the 29 model cities, have joined the program.

The model cities “share their knowledge of best practices on a wide range of challenges, including flood management, early warning, earthquake reconstruction and legislation.”

“From San Francisco, Philippines, to San Francisco, California, the campaign’s constituency ranges from small municipalities in developing nations to some of the world’s most populous and economically vibrant capital cities. And while there are significant differences in the ability of local governments to cope with disasters and build resilience, there

are also many similarities in the challenges they face and in their political will to invest in making their cities safe,” the report said.

Resilient cities A resilient city is “one where disasters are minimized because the population lives in communities with organized services and infrastructures that adhere to sensible building codes, without informal settlements built on flood plains or steep slopes because no other land is available; where a competent and accountable local government is concerned about sustainable urbanization and that commits the necessary resources to manage and organize itself before, during and after a natural hazard event; where people are empowered to participate, decide and plan together with local authorities; and where there is an ability to respond and implement immediate recovery strategies and quickly restore basic services after such an event.”

In July, the Senate committee on climate change joined the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in launching a series of radio and TV commercials in the country aimed at educating Filipinos about disaster risk reduction.

Margareta Wahlstrom, UNISDR head,

expressed hope that more countries will aspire to become a model like the Philippines, which has already advanced in disaster risk reduction policies.

PH tops list The Philippines tops the list of countries affected by disasters in 2011, according to the UNISDR. A total of 33 disasters ravaged various parts of the country last year, resulting in the death of scores of people and the destruction of billions of pesos worth of agricultural products, infrastructure and property.

The worst disaster in 2011 was Tropical Storm “Sendong” that hit Northern Mindanao on Dec. 17 and took the lives of over 1,430 people.

Sometime in mid-January, Wahlstrom visited the flood-hit areas in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities to discuss ways to improve the resilience of their communities to similar disasters in the future.

She also called for increased government funding for disaster risk reduction and the establishment of a comprehensive land use policy to better protect LGUs against increasing and more severe climate-related hazards. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 18

P-noy, Binay, Enrile top trust ratings

Double-digit jump In terms of approval ratings, the President posted double-digit improvements across almost all areas and socioeconomic classes except in Balance of Luzon where it went up by 8 points, from 69 percent to 77 percent.

The President posted the best improvement in approval ratings in Metro Manila where it went up by 18 points from 57 percent to 75 percent, while the number of those who disapproved of his performance dipped by 7 points, from 12 percent to 5 percent.

His approval ratings in the Visayas improved by 11 points, from 69 percent to 80 percent, while it improved by 13 points from 66 percent to 79 percent in Mindanao.

Aquino’s approval ratings went up by 14 points among the Class ABC (from 58 percent to 72 percent), 10 points among the Class D (from 66 percent to 76 percent), and 12 points among the Class E (from 71 percent to 83 percent).

For Binay, his highest approval rating of 88 percent was from the Balance of Luzon and Class E. His approval ratings was statistically unchanged from 84 percent to 82 percent in Metro Manila and from 81 percent to 78 percent in the Visayas. It went up by 8 points from 78 percent to 86 percent in Mindanao.

His approval rating was almost unchanged at 78 percent (from 79 percent) among the Class ABC, and at 84 percent (from 81 percent) among the Class D.

Improvements in Mindanao Enrile’s highest approval rating of 82 percent was from the Class ABC. He posted the best improvements in Mindanao where his approval rating went up by 14 points, from 61 percent to 75 percent.

His approval ratings also went up in the Visayas, from 61 percent to 73 percent, while remaining almost the same in Metro Manila at 75 percent (from 74 percent). It declined by 4 points from, 73 percent to 69 percent, in Balance Luzon.

For Belmonte, his highest approval rating of 49 percent (from 42 percent) was from Metro Manila.

His approval rating also improved in the Visayas (from 36 percent to 45 percent) and was statistically the same in Mindanao (from 29 percent to 32 percent). It, however, declined in Balance Luzon, from 40 percent to 34 percent.

Across classes, Belmonte’s approval rating improved among Class ABC (from 39 percent to 45 percent) and Class E (from 30 percent to 39 percent). Among Class D, it was at 36 percent (from 39 percent).

By geographical areas and socioeconomic classes, a majority expressed trust in Mr. Aquino (from 71 percent to 86 percent), Binay (from 78 percent to 88 percent) and Enrile (from 59 percent to 77 percent). The proportion of those who expressed trust in Belmonte ranged from 28 percent to 46 percent.

Mr. Aquino’s trust rating improved the most among the Class ABC and E by 20 points. His ratings went up from 57 percent to 77 percent among the Class ABC and from 66 percent to 86 percent among the Class E. Among Class D, he improved by 9 points, from 66 percent to 75 percent in September.

Across geographical areas, Mr. Aquino’s trust ratings went up by 12 points in Metro Manila (from 59 percent to 71 percent), 9 points in Balance Luzon (from 68 percent to 77 percent), 15 points in the Visayas (from 65 percent to 80 percent) and 16 points in Mindanao (from 64 percent to 80 percent).

Photo courtesy of Bikoy

Photo courtesy of ederic

PRESIDENT Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile continue to enjoy majority approval and trust ratings, according to the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey.

The survey, conducted from Aug. 31 to Sept. 7, showed Mr. Aquino’s approval ratings improving by 11 percentage points, from 67 percent in May to 78 percent in September, and his trust ratings going up 13 points, from 65 percent in May to 78 percent in September.

Binay’s approval and trust ratings remained high at 85 percent (from 81 percent) and 84 percent (from 78 percent), respectively.

Enrile’s approval and trust ratings also improved, from 68 percent to 72 percent and from 62 percent to 65 percent, respectively.

The survey also showed that House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte’s trust rating went up by 7 points, from 29 percent to 36 percent, while his approval rating was almost unchanged, from 37 percent to 38 percent.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was not included in the survey because she was appointed to the Supreme Court only on Aug. 25, a few days before the field interviews for the survey commenced.

Malacañang Photo Bureau

BY MARIELLE MEDINA, INQUIRER RESEARCH Philippine Daily Inquirer

Binay earned his highest trust rating among the Class E where he scored 88 percent (from 79 percent in May). Among the Class ABC, his trust rating went up by 16 points (from 66 percent to 82 percent) and among Class D, he improved by 4 points (from 79 percent to 83 percent).

Unchanged in Metro His trust rating was statistically unchanged in Metro Manila (from 80 percent to 78 percent) but improved in Balance Luzon (from 78 percent to 86 percent), the Visayas (from 79 percent to 84 percent) and Mindanao (from 75 percent to 84 percent).

Enrile scored his highest trust ratings among the Class ABC with 77 percent (from 76 percent). It was almost unchanged among the Class D(from 62 percent to 63 percent) but improved among the Class E (from 60 percent to 65 percent).

Across geographical areas, Enrile’s trust rating declined by 7 points in Balance Luzon (from 66 percent to 59 percent) but improved in Metro Manila (from 70 percent to 74 percent), the Visayas (from 59 percent to 71 percent) and Mindanao (from 54 percent to 65 percent).

Belmonte scored his highest trust rating in the Visayas where he got 46 percent (from 31 percent). His trust ratings also improved across all areas and classes.

The approval ratings of the Senate, House of Representatives and Supreme Court also improved significantly in the period surveyed.

The Senate’s approval rating went up by 11 points from 48 percent in May to 59 percent in September.

The approval rating of the House of Representatives improved by 6 points from 45 percent to 51 percent.

The Supreme Court’s approval rating also moved up from 44 percent to 52 percent in September.

Pulse Asia used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents and had a margin of error of plus-orminus 3 percentage points for national data and plus or minus 6 percentage points for regional data. ■

19 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

News-Phils

Squall kills 3 Taiwanese off Boracay Avoid media exposure, poll chief

BY JERRY ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE MOTORBOAT “Kevin 2” was battered by a squall while on an islandhopping tour causing it to capsize off Barangay Manoc-Manoc in Boracay, leaving 3 tourists dead, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)Caticlan station in Malay, Aklan.

The PCG-Caticlan station said three Taiwanese tourists died in the accident.

Two women, Chang Hi Ling, 49,and Lai Yu Mei, 71, and 3-year-old girl Chen Szu Ching, were declared dead on arrival in a hospital in the island-resort.

Twenty-seven other Taiwanese tourists and a Filipino crew member of the vessel were rescued by PCG personnel and some local fishermen.

Twenty-one of the tourists are “in good condition and have returned to their hotel, the Fairways Blue Water Resort,” according to the report. They were earlier brought to the Don Ciriaco Tirol Memorial Hospital in Boracay for medical treatment. The six other Taiwanese nationals and the crew member are still confined at

the Baptist Hospital in Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay.

All the Taiwanese tourists were wearing life vests when the boat capsized, according to the PCG station in Caticlan.

An initial PCG investigation said, “At around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, while the Kevin 2, owned and operated by Allan Brillantes and skippered by Emeterio Niel, was island-hopping, it was battered by a squall near Manoc- Manoc, causing it to capsize.” At about the same time, two local tourists drowned in a separate incident in Boracay.

“With the two incidents in one day, resulting in loss of lives, the PCG-Caticlan station was directed to coordinate with the Malay municipal government and other concerned groups to discuss the issues at hand with an end view of preventing the occurrence of similar incidents in the future,” the PCG headquarters in Manila said. The PCG is trying to determine if the Kevin 2was overloaded when it left for the islandhopping tour. ■

advises bets

By Jocelyn R. Uy Philippine Daily Inquirer THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) advised candidates who have formalized their participation in the 2013 elections to observe delicadeza (propriety) and avoid television guestings and appearances even though the campaign period was still months away.

Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said candidates must refrain from making their presence felt in the mass media for the sake of observing fair election practices even in the absence of a law prohibiting candidates from premature self-promotion.

Brillantes made the appeal on the heels of the week-long filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) by aspirants for the Senate, House of Representatives and local government posts.

A total of 84 candidates for senator have registered with the Comelec.

The election body is set to screen these candidates and come out with the list of qualifying candidates in the coming days.

“Out of delicadeza, prospective candidates who filed their COCs last week should refrain from indirect campaigning by appearing on TV, radio and in advertisements,” said Brillantes via his Twitter account.

Appearing on TV and commercials can be construed as indirect imagebuilding and an attempt to take advantage of the absence of a ban on early campaigning, said the poll chief.

“Regardless of what you call it, it can be readily misinterpreted as an implied endorsement,” he said.

“Media exposure of a limited number of prospective candidates cause undue disadvantage to others not afforded the same opportunity.” ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 20

21 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Poll says Trudeau could shake up federal politics as he wins key endorsement The poll also suggests that while Trudeau is a threat to the Conservatives, the NDP has the most to lose from his leadership of the Liberals.

The poll suggests that if Quebec MP Marc Garneau were leading the Liberals, 18 per cent of respondents would be certain or likely to vote for the party, while the Bank of Canada’s Mark Carney stood at 16 per cent.

The telephone poll taken between Sept.

27 and 30 of just over 1,000 Canadians is considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

It also looked at LeBlanc’s chances in the leadership race, but the New Brunswick MP set his own ambitions aside on Friday to back his lifelong friend.

Justin Trudeau in Richmond, BC LeBlanc’s move, coming only three days after Trudeau announced his candidacy, effectively leaves the Montreal MP without

BY MICHAEL MACDONALD any serious challengers waiting in the wings, THE CANADIAN PRESS prompting more speculation about a boring DIEPPE, N.B. - On a day when Justin coronation rather than a exciting race leading Trudeau’s Liberal leadership bid won the to the final voting in April.

In a brief speech that was mostly in French, support of Dominic LeBlanc - a scion of LeBlanc told about Canada’s Liberal 250 people in establishment - a “This road will be one long Dieppe, N.B., that new poll came out Canadian highway,” he said. he and Trudeau have that suggests he could reshape the “We will have ups and downs, not only been friends since childhood, country’s political we will have breathtaking vistas but they also share landscape.

The latest Canadian and a few boring stretches, and deep Liberal roots - LeBlanc’s late Press Harris-Decima with winter coming, there will father, former survey released governor general Friday says 36 per be icy patches for sure. But Romeo LeBlanc, cent of those who we will match the size of this was a longtime took part in the poll Liberal MP and across the countrwy challenge with hard, honest cabinet minister last week said they work, because hard work is who served under would be certain or Trudeau’s famous likely to vote Liberal what’s required. Always has father, former prime in the next election been.” – Justin Trudeau minister Pierre if Trudeau is at the Trudeau. party’s helm.

LeBlanc said their families vacationed The poll says he would get ``significant support’’ east of Manitoba, with 40 per cent together in New Brunswick in August, and of those surveyed in Ontario, 43 per cent in the two politicians share not only a close Quebec and 48 per cent in Atlantic Canada friendship, but the same political values. ``We spoke, Justin and I, about our shared indicating they would be certain or likely to vote for the Liberals if Trudeau is leading love of Canada,’’ he told a campaign event where the announcement was made. ``We the party. ``Justin Trudeau - more than any other spoke about the challenges facing our country prospective candidate we tested - holds the best and we spoke about how we can participate, prospect for a revival of the Liberal party,’’ said fully, in the future of Canada and in giving Allan Gregg, chairman of Harris-Decima. ``In Canadians a progressive, inclusive government fact he is the only candidate we tested that has of which they can be proud.’’

In the past, LeBlanc has had aspirations to the potential to broaden the Liberal vote beyond lead his party and briefly ran for the top job its current base.’’

Gregg said the results in Quebec in 2008 before stepping aside for Michael ``debunk the myth that the Trudeau name Ignatieff.

Although he’d mused publicly about is a liability in the province of Quebec or running again this time, he made no effort to among francophones.’’

put together a campaign team and few Liberals actually expected him to take the plunge. An insider close to Trudeau said no pressure was put on LeBlanc to stand aside.

For his part, LeBlanc made it clear he would be part of Trudeau’s team. ``We have been friends our entire lives,’’ he said. ``I have seen up close Justin’s toughness, his work ethic. Justin is one of the most energetic, hard-working people I have ever met. I’ve seen how his hard work, how his energy, how his enthusiasm can inspire others.’’

LeBlanc then pointed out there was another 200 people waiting outside the auditorium to see the two men.

In his speech, Trudeau spoke in broad terms about his desire to lead the party and the country. There were no policy announcements, no clues as to what he would do if handed the mantle of power.

But he pumped up the crowd with little effort. He also punctuated most of his sentences by looking directly as the assembled cameras like a seasoned campaigner. ``It’s not about me. It’s not even about our party,’’ he said. ``It’s about the fact that

Canadians are listening because they’re not satisfied with the government they have. They want better. They know they deserve better.’’

Like LeBlanc, he spoke mostly in French, appealing to residents of the Moncton area, known for its large contingent of francophones and dedication to bilingualism. The area is part of LeBlanc’s Beausejour riding in eastern New Brunswick, an area where the LeBlanc name is synonymous with Liberal royalty.

After the speech, Rick Sear said he liked what he heard from Trudeau. ``He expresses a vision of a new generation for Canada,’’ said Sear, a retired accountant from Sussex. ``It’s really what we need in this country - new leadership. Let the younger people take over.’’

Sear also said he was impressed with Trudeau’s vision. ``He expressed values, Canadian values,’’ he said. ``I know (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper has values that don’t resonate with Canadians. His is a divisive type of leadership just to gain power. We need a vision that all Canadians can get behind.’’

More on page23

NEWS BRIEFS BMO: Alberta leads Canada’s economic growth CALGARY - Canada’s economic growth is being driven by resourcerich Western provinces, according to a Bank of Montreal report released Tuesday. Alberta leads the pack, with the bank predicting 3.5 per cent real GDP growth this year, falling back a bit to 2.9 per cent in 2013.

Pipeline review hearings return to B.C. PRINCE GEORGE - The environmental assessment panel examining the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline returns to British Columbia on Tuesday, for final hearings that will put the project’s environmental impact and emergency planning under a microscope. The hearings slated to begin in Prince George will see the proponent, Enbridge Northern Gateway, scientists and project critics questioned under oath about the evidence they’ve submitted to the panel.

Canadians hit by e coli should get annual tests: researcher TORONTO - Canadians sickened by tainted beef from the XL Foods plant in Alberta should be tested annually over the next few years for kidney damage and other health problems that can result from E. coli, says a researcher who has studied the long-term effects of the infection.

Pharmacists allowed to provide more services TORONTO - Pharmacists in Ontario will soon be able to renew most prescriptions and offer more services that are currently provided by doctors.

Pharmacists will be able to give out flu shots starting today, and even though only about 600 pharmacies are set up for it this fall, officials say it will expand next year.

Canada News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 22

Transgendered murder victim, good influence to many

BY KATHERINE MARFAL Philippine Canadian Inquirer Last week, transgendered January Marie Lapuz was bashed to death in New Westminster, Vancouver.

According to police reports, Lapuz died in hospital after being stabbed on Saturday at around 10 p.m. in the 500-block Third Avenue. Some people were at the crime scene and saw a man escaping swiftly. The suspect was described to be an Asian male, wearing a black muscle shirt and grey shorts. He is in his mid20s, about five feet, five inches tall with short black hair, and a muscular built.

At the moment, police officers led by Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team are doing preliminary investigations.

The victim served as a volunteer to a support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered South Asians. The group’s name is Sher Vancouver.

According to Alex Sangha, founder of Sher Vancouver and friend of Lapuz, he was very shocked upon hearing the bad news. He added that his friend became a good influence to all the people she met. “She was a hit right from the start. She would volunteer as a host at our social and help us out with fundraising and she’d even perform. ... She did a great Beyoncé and she was a great singer and dancer,” he said.

Sangha added that the late Lapuz has the talent to make everybody laugh. Aside from being a volunteer, Lapuz had also delivered presentations that aim to educate high school students about homophobia.

“January educated me about acceptance, about not being judgmental, about being open-minded.

The obstacles she overcame as an immigrant, as a transgendered person, as a person in poverty, as a person working in a high-risk occupation, she really overcame a lot. ... I learned that society is not providing enough supports for people like January Marie,” he ended. ■

World News

23 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

MEXICO CITY - Republican Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, exactly one month from Election Day, are both declaring they will win a race for the White House that remains anything but clear. Their trails cross again Tuesday in Ohio, the state that could decide the election, and signs of urgency are emerging from each campaign.

Romney was set to campaign in Iowa and then Ohio, where Obama planned to rally support from students at Ohio State University on the last day for Ohioans to register to vote. Early voting is under way there and in many other states in one form or another.

The U.S. president is not chosen by a nationwide popular vote but in state-by-state contests making battleground states like Ohio, which are neither reliably Republican nor Democratic, especially important in tight elections, as the Nov. 6 vote will be. ``I very much intend to win this election,’’ Obama told donors in San Francisco on Monday night. ``But we’re only going to do it if everybody is almost obsessive for the next 29 days.’’

Romney, speaking on a rainy day in Newport News, Virginia, joined the kind of die-hard supporters he needs for victory. ``People wonder why it is I’m so confident we’re going to win,’’ he told them. ``I’m confident because I see you here on a day like this. This is unbelievable.’’

Romney will campaign in Iowa and Ohio, two of the nine contested states on the path to 270 electoral votes. Still riding high after a strong debate performance, Romney is expected to attend a midday rally in Van Meter, a small town west of Des Moines. Tough-talking New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to join Romney for a night rally near Akron, Ohio.

As negative ads blanketed the toss-up states, the Obama campaign on Tuesday unleashed one on national broadcast and cable networks featuring its favourite new weapon - Big Bird.

Employing ominous narration, the spot ridicules Romney for singling out the ``Sesame Street’’ character and PBS subsidies as examples of how he would cut spending. ``One

Talk Radio News Services

A month to go, Obama and Romney declare their intent to win a tight race, focus again on Ohio THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

man has the guts to say his name,’’ says the ad, flashing to Romney and then the feathered creature. ``Big. Yellow. A menace to our economy. Mitt Romney knows it’s not Wall Street you have to worry about. It’s Sesame Street.’’

Obama maintains more paths to victory, but polling shows a tightening race after more than 67 million people watched Romney shine in the Denver debate last week. The challenger’s path victory is extremely narrow, particularly without Ohio. No Republican has won the presidency without carrying the state.

The competitors pivot to Ohio after closing out different missions.

Obama capped a two-day California visit that took him from the cliffside mansions of Beverly Hills to the golden fields outside Bakersfield to downtown San Francisco. The trip was mainly about raising millions of campaign dollars.

Romney sought to burnish his credentials as a potential commander in chief with a foreign policy address before Virginia Military Institute cadets, asserting that Obama’s efforts have been weak in the volatile Middle East and his leadership in world affairs lacking overall.

Obama’s aides said the president was upbeat in private, well aware that he had to do better in next week’s debate in New York, but steady and looking forward to another shot.

Based on the presumed outcome of the 41 non-battleground states and Washington, D.C., Obama enters the final period banking on 237 electoral votes. Romney is assured of 191.

On the road to 270, the battleground states account for the final 110 electoral votes: Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina and Colorado.

Both Democrats and Republicans say internal campaign surveys following last week’s debate show Romney cut into the lead Obama had built up in many key battleground states. But they say Obama still has an advantage in most of them.

A lack of independent polling makes it difficult to know whether that’s true. Romney pulled ahead of Obama, 49 to 45 per cent nationally, among likely voters in a Pew Research Center poll conducted after the debate. ■

...from page 21 Despite Trudeau’s youthful appearance - he’s 40 Bertin LeBlanc said he reminds him of another era. ``It reminded me of the years when we felt that national unity was a priority, not only on the questions of language and culture but also in terms of economic development and respect for all provinces,’’ said LeBlanc, who lives in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B. Victor Boudreau, leader of New Brunswick’s Opposition Liberal party, said Dominic LeBlanc has been a friend of his for 25 years, but he said it was clear why one friend was stepping aside for another. ``The buzz that has been created around Justin Trudeau’s candidacy ... it’s a buzz that we’ve not felt within the Liberal Party of Canada for quite some time now,’’ he said. ``That’s certainly encouraging to see the attention that it’s bringing to the party.’’ ■

Immigration

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 24

Welcome To CANADA Phone Card Launched by S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Times Telecom & Philippine Canadian Inquirer RICHMOND, BC October 4, 2012 – S.U.C.C.E.S.S. announced today the availability of free calling cards aptly named “Welcome to Canada” for eligible immigrants to help them reconnect to their family and friends in their home countries. Participating countries are China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Vietnam and Canada.

“This is a great opportunity for partnering with Times Telecom and the Philippine Canadian Inquirer to launch the ‘Welcome To Canada Phone Card’. We are excited about the future opportunities to assist people from the Philippines to get settled in Canada, ”says Queenie Choo, CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. The Welcome to Canada card is being operated by Times Telecom, one of Canada’s largest ethnic long distance and retailer of mobility products, and leading provider of telecom services. The Philippine Canadian Inquirer, the first free weekly FilipinoCanadian newspaper distributed nationwide, also joins this first-ever endeavour.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is recognized as one of British Columbia’s largest social service providers and was founded in 1973 and incorporated in 1974 as a non-profit charitable organization. Initially founded to assist new Canadians of Chinese descent to overcome language and cultural barriers, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

New York-based international organization, for its best practices in Board governance, operations management and standards of service excellence and was re-accredited in 2008 and 2012.

“This card, in partnership with S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and Philippine Canadian Inquirer, is our way of giving back to fellow immigrants, so they can connect with their loved ones for free as they start their new lives in Canada.” Terry Bahar, President of Times Telecom adds.

The card will be available to newcomers at all S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Service Centres in Greater Vancouver starting October 2012.

About Times Telecom Inc.: Times Telecom is an established one stop next-generation facility based Communication Service Provider with operations in four countries and a network that spans three continents. Its extensive products and services include prepaid and post-paid domestic and international long has evolved into a multicultural, multi-service distance, voice and fax solutions, wireless agency assisting people at all stages of their telephony, 1-800 telephony solutions, Canadian experience.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Today, the organization has over 20 locations and other integrated telecommunication and proudly serves local communities services serving over 300,000 residential in Greater Vancouver, Fort St. John and and corporate subscribers. Times Telecom overseas in Taipei, Taiwan and Seoul, Korea. is listed among the top 100 National and In 2004, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. was successfully Global Companies in British Columbia accredited by Council on Accreditation, a for 2011 and also listed on the list of the top 100 fastest growing companies in B.C. by Business in Vancouver (BIV) for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. As well, Times Telecom was listed as one of British Columbia’s Top IT Companies by BIV in 2008 and was one of three finalists nominated for business excellence by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce in 2009.

For more information, please visit our website at www.timestelecom.ca.

Cautionary Statement: The statements made in this news release contain statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, constitute “forwardlooking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forwardlooking information includes statements about the Company issuing letters of transmittal and investors receiving their post-consolidation common share certificates. Forward-looking information is based in part, on assumptions that may change, thus causing actual future results or anticipated events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking information. Times Telecom does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by securities law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact: Gloria Chiu

Gloria.Chiu@timestelecom.ca About S.U.C.C.E.S.S.: S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is a group of three registered charities and one limited liability social enterprise. It is driven by its vision of “A World Of Multicultural Harmony” and focuses its mission on building bridges, harvesting diversity and fostering integration through service and advocacy.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. provides settlement, language, employment, family & youth services and programming, business & economic development resources, health education, affordable housing, as well as community and volunteer development.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society was incorporated in 1995 with the purposes of providing a continuum of integrated, linguistically and culturally appropriate health services including, but not limited to, complex residential care, adult day care as well as assisted living for seniors. Since 2004, the Society has been accredited by Accreditation Canada for three consecutive three year terms, obtaining the highest designation level possible - “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” in 2012.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation, incorporated in 2001, is a charitable foundation responsible for raising funds for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and its affiliated organizations to support their mandates for the betterment of the community.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Housing Society, incorporated in 2011, provides and operates non-profit residential accommodation and incidental services and facilities exclusively for adult persons and families primarily of low income, senior citizens primarily of low or modest income, and disabled adult persons primarily of low or modest income.

Canada Social Enterprises Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. incorporated in 2007 to offer vocational training tailored to the new immigrant populations; and home care services to elderly immigrants who have special language, dietary and cultural needs. The enterprise is a fully-registered business incorporation and offers services in a self-financed manner.

Contact Person: Eileen Lao

604-408-7243

eileen.lao@success.bc.ca

Another partnership among

25 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Immigration

Harley and Christian Jacob Esguerra: Filipino-Canadians in Focus BY: KATHERINE VERANCES MARFAL Philippine Canadian Inquirer

HARLEY ESGUERRA was 6 years old when he, along with his parents and 3 brothers, migrated to Canada.

Fast forward to today, Toronto, a city known to provide opportunities to its growing Filipino community, has undoubtedly been very good to him – and now it has also opened its doors to his son, Christian Jacob or CJ, a top performer in the World Dance Competition recently held in Blackpool, England.

But the father – Harley – was the first dancer of the family.

And he will never forget his very first ‘break dance’ performance in front of Filipino senior citizens in Toronto. At that time, he was paid $2.00 for 15 minutes of ‘breakdance’ entertainment – which to him was big. It meant doing what he loved to do – dancing and entertaining his fellow Filipinos.

But never in the dad’s wildest dreams did he think that his son – whom he described as shy – would receive world acclaim.

“He had always been very shy as a child.

During parties, he would just sit beside me as he doesn’t mingle with other children,” Harley exclaimed of CJ, his son who currently attends the 8th grade in the Oscar Peter School in Mississauga.

So that CJ can overcome his shyness, Harley had him participate in a big talent event in Toronto where hundreds of talented kids competed. “He registered for the dance, singing and modeling contests and I acted as his choreographer and coach,” he said. Harley also recounts that at that time, he was very afraid.

But it was the beginning.

CJ ended up placing second in the singing and dancing categories. He got 6 call backs from agencies in the US which he did not pursue because it would mean time off from school, which was their priority.

But to encourage his son’s interest, Harley enrolled CJ in Jades Hip Hop Academy.

“After 2 months of trial camp, the studio director, Jade, asked if CJ can continue in his competitive level. We accepted the offer and after 25 live shows and flash mobs, CJ was night and day in comparison to the old shy CJ,” Harley said.

With self-confidence came more accolades for the formerly shy boy.

“CJ qualified for the World Dance Competition that we recently attended in Blackpool, England which he absolutely enjoyed. He took home the award for Number 1 World Breaker in his age group, Number 1 in the Duo Hip Hop with his partner Isaiah Peck, and second in the Solo Hip Hop Dance as well,” Harley proudly reports.

It was indeed a great experience for Harley and son because CJ is the first Filipino to win in the above events.

He says of CJ, “We are very proud of him. My intention to break a child out of shyness has just opened new doors for

him in the entertainment industry. As his mentor, I hope that he relies on God’s direction for all the decision that he has made for himself and continued dedication to our church. We are truly grateful for the blessings that keeps flowing in CJ’s life.”

Tobey, CJ’s younger brother, is also raring to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

Harley mentors them both, and is truly thankful for the great opportunities that Canada has made possible for him and his family. ■

26 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

The ‘High School Musical’ heartthrob is all grown up very flattered, but I felt that would fight my main focus, which was to be an actor.

IT TASTED great. It’s actually really good,” Zac Efron said, tapping the table in front of us to stress his point.

The Hollywood actor was talking about his first balut experience. “I had seen it on TV a few times and I’ve always been an adventurous eater. I’m not very picky, I’ll try anything once but the idea of it was a little weird.”

He overcame his apprehension and ended up enjoying his first balut, little duck and all. In fact, he enjoyed it so much that he had three—for breakfast.

It was hours before the Penshoppe Fan Conference.

We were sitting inside the Wine Cellar Room of LiLi Restaurant at the Hyatt Hotel Manila for a roundtable interview with Efron, who was fresh from his vacation in Misibis Bay in Legazpi, Albay.

During the interview, he was relaxed and in good spirits, showing no signs of jet lag. A journalist asked him to describe the real Zac and he joked, “I’m not sure. I can go stick to my core values and my beliefs that I’ve had since the ask him. He’s somewhere, he’s in the bar, I think.” beginning, which is to be a good person first, work hard second and have fun third, in that order. That’s sort of my motto.”

A-lister Although fame has its challenges, Efron said he Efron was in the country for the Fan Con. Penshoppe appreciates it. “I would never be able to see the Philippines signed him earlier this year, succeeding in becoming the or explore the culture in the way that I have or even come first clothing brand he’s ever endorsed. here if it wasn’t for that fame. I remain grateful for it.”

Penshoppe brand director Alex Mendoza said, “Zac When asked how he wants to be remembered, he said, Efron perfectly embodies the Penshoppe person. He “Just that I was a good guy to be around.” is energetic, stylish, fun, talented and an achiever, someone you can proudly introduce to your friends and Why did you say yes to Penshoppe? family! He’s also a bona fide A-lister, which is a great I had never really looked at any sort of endorsement reason for him to lead our stellar campaign.” deals in the past. When I started talking to Penshoppe, As Penshoppe’s newest endorser, Efron joins the other it was a pretty unique opportunity. And one of the things big names in the clothing brand’s All Stars campaign— I really enjoyed about it was that they were Filipino and “Gossip Girl’s” Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester, they offered me the chance to come to the Philippines “The Vampire Diaries’” Ian Somerhalder and Thai and get to know the culture. I love Asian culture, I’ve model and actor Mario Maurer. always wanted to learn more, specifically about the Efron said, “It’s super fun. They’re an amazing group Philippines. It worked out on all ends. I think I came here and it’s great. It’s a very exciting time for Penshoppe.” for Penshoppe but the trip took on a whole different side, He thinks Penshoppe’s clothes are “really cool.” which was sort of unexpected, and that was that I really “They’re very laid-back, there’s a sort of a beachy vibe got to immerse myself in the culture, try the different to them. There’s also a cool, kind of retro vibe with the foods, ATV up Mayon Volcano. It was very fun. varsity jackets, a little bit of a throwback to the ’70s.”

He added, “Everything that I’m wearing here is Penshoppe. You had your shoot for Penshoppe in LA; how was it?

Since I’ve been to the Philippines, I’ve been wearing The shoot was awesome. My good friend Darren Tieste Penshoppe the whole time… They’re very relaxed and fun.” shot it and he’s just very fun to be around. He’s worked with Penshoppe for a long time. He was one of the reasons Huge gift I was so excited to do it too, he’s a fantastic photographer.

And he loves the brand for another reason. “They gave Which of the pieces was your favorite? me a huge gift; they let me come to the Philippines.”

My favorite was this one jacket, the varsity jacket. It was Zac Efron shot to fame as Troy Bolton, one of the lead really neat. It was just nicely made. I like the style. I like stars of “High School Musical,” a role that changed his that the sleeves were a different material than the rest of life. “I was probably the most lucky to get ‘High School the jacket. It was cool, it was kinda funky, kinda retro.

Musical’ because that could have been a thousand other people who got that role.”

Is it true that Simon Cowell offered you a record deal Since then, the 24-year-old has successfully transitioned to and you said no because you wanted to focus on acting? more adult roles like Logan Thibault in “The Lucky One.” Sort of. I think he inquired as to whether I’d be interested “I’ve grown up. I’ve matured in a lot of ways but I still in doing music, and I was pretty honest with him. I was

But is music something you see yourself returning to in the future?

Maybe. Music will always be a part of my life and my career to a certain extent and in a certain way. I would love, for instance, to do more Broadway, I’d love to do a musical on Broadway, I would love to do a musical movie.

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

BY PAM PASTOR Philippine Daily Inquirer

Any particular musicals you want to work on?

I don’t know, they’re probably not written yet. I would love to do something like “Jersey Boys.”

People got to know you first in “High School Musical.” Was it hard for you to transition to adult roles? Was that something you worried about?

I wasn’t really worried about it. I’ve never really been afraid of failing because I always made sure I picked roles that helped me evolve as an actor. There has to be a sense of progression. But I would never want to compromise. I am more afraid to compromise than I am of failing.

What’s the craziest thing a fan has done to get your attention?

Oh I can’t talk about it in the interview (laughs).

If you weren’t an actor, what would you be doing now?

I’d probably be doing music. ■

27 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Lifestyle

12 women, one man, zero passion– ‘Nine’ in a nutshell

BY PAM PASTOR Philippine Daily Inquirer

“LA BELLA CONFUSIONE” was the original title Federico Fellini wanted to give his film that eventually became “8 1/2,” which then became the unacknowledged basis for the 1982 Tony-winning Broadway musical “Nine” that has music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Arthur Kopit (with assist from Mario Fratti’s Italian play “Six Passionate Women”).

The phrase translates into “the beautiful confusion,” and that’s about the most charitable assessment you can say of the Manila production, directed by Bobby Garcia for his Atlantis Productions, which just ended its three-weekend run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

The beauty came chiefly from two elements: the massive Roman-bath set by David Gallo that visually expanded the stage to soaring dimensions; and the constellation of female stars that populated this scenery—some of the finest specimens of Filipino pulchritude and talent on stage and pop entertainment today, in fact: Menchu LauchengcoYulo, Carla Guevara-Lafortesa, Cherie Gil, Eula Valdes, Ima Castro, Jay Valencia-Glorioso, even ingenues such as Sitti Navarro and Yanah Laurel.

Whenever these ladies occupied their respective perches up and down the multilevel set, a stunning vision materialized—that of a grand grotto on which the lone male character, the film director Guido Contini (Jett Pangan), seemed to have arranged the many women in his life, goddesses to be displayed, worshipped, fetishized and also, whenever needed, kept at a safe, sterile remove.

Debonair and dissolute The confusion, on the other hand—well, where to begin?

“Nine” isn’t the most cohesive musical to start with, its individually distinct songs for each character or set piece adding up to a sprawling, revue-like (if also stylish and adventurous) whole. That already fuzzy center, however, just about disappeared here with fatal miscasting.

Pangan as Guido, the tormented, midlife-flustered filmmaker that Marcello Mastroianni originated in “8 1/2,” faced a rather insurmountable problem. For the part, “You need a man who is handsome and never seems to have given it a thought,” declared Roger Ebert (quite apt that the best appraisal of the part of a film director came from a film critic).

Both Raul Julia and Antonio Banderas, the 1982 original and the 2003 revival Guidos on Broadway, embodied Latin fire and sensuality, which made them persuasive choices to inhabit the role of a world-famous Italian auteur immobilized, at 40, by a high-pressure life of fame, booze, art, women, money and all that Catholic guilt.

Guido, in other words, called for debonair and dissolute in equal measure; Pangan could do neither. Offstage, this man appears to be the steadiest, squarest rock star there is (Pangan and his rock band The Dawn are going as strong as ever three years shy into their third decade).

That unflappable persona, alas, bled into and subverted his Guido at every turn.

Lovely menagerie Pangan (exceptional a mere four months ago in “Rock of Ages,” also by Atlantis) did sing the score faultlessly. Yet whether he was doing an ironic musical soliloquy (“Guido’s Song”) or tearing himself apart over sin and sexuality (“The Bells of St. Sebastian”), he barely managed to skim even the shallow edges of his character’s ennui and despair.

He could’ve compensated with his Don Juan side; Guido is Italian, after all. (“If you want to make a woman happy,” so he learned as a boy, “you rely on what you were born with. Because it is in your blood.”) But there was none of the charming, erotic, flirty nature that would, at the very least,

explain why this man was able to attract this menagerie of lovely, formidable women squawking all over him. Sans passion—libido—on Guido’s end, “Nine” made no sense.

The musical is essentially an egomaniac artist’s extended nervous breakdown, the song-and-dance explosions serving as overlapping interludes of reality, memory and fantasy in his head. One could imagine, say, Nonie Buencamino (Fredrik in Garcia’s 2010 staging of “A Little Night Music”) lending this role more manic, actorly weight.

Without it—with Pangan’s exertions unable to evoke a genuine sense of creative rut and inner aridity—the musical’s resolution, where Guido is saved from selfdestruction by his nine-year-old self, felt unearned, the emotional journey that would have justified all that angsty jazz ending just this side of spurious.

Insubstantial singing Still, if it’s any consolation to Pangan, he wasn’t the only one shoehorned into an illfitting role. Valdes, luminous as Guido’s movie-star muse Claudia Nardi, simply couldn’t sing her part—and what heartbreak that her character had the musical’s most ravishing song (“Unusual Way”).

From Valdes’ first two solo notes early in the first act, whenshe called out Guido’s name in what sounded like a hurriedly primed semi-classical voice, one instinctively felt Valdes was in for a struggle.

Not that she couldn’t sing. The longrunning “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal” was proof enough that she possesses adequate pipes for the demands of musical theater. But there she tackled lite soul and pop; this one called for something quite beyond Valdes’ range.

In the Broadway revival, Laura Benanti’s glistening soprano went a long way toward giving “Unusual Way” its due. Here, not only was Valdes’ voice tense and thin; she went distressingly flat, while holding the note besides, at the end of the long ascending line, “You’re the reason WHY...”

Was it an unfortunate fluke? Perhaps. But we saw the show twice, and she flubbed that note both times.

More than the insubstantial singing, however, was Valdes’ apparent disconnect with the song—her stillunsteady ability to put the musical moment over with the kind of storytelling insight and lucid personality that welltrained musical-theater actors do with panache.

was one part that required aplomb more than pretty vocals (Liliane Montevecchi and Chita Rivera were quite the dowagers when they dazzled Broadway with this role), and Gil was smashing in her “Follies Bergere” number.

Thrilling spectacle “Nine’s” sort-of anthem, “Be Italian,” went to Castro as Saraghina, the buxom seaside prostitute who would initiate young Guido into carnality.

In Tommy Tune’s original staging, Saraghina performed this number with a gaggle of prepubescent boys, ending with her teaching them a sly anatomy lesson disguised as a tarantella routine involving tambourines. (The English translation of the Italian lines: “Kids! Listen up! Nowyou’ll learn the tarantella—the most beautiful dance in the world!

The dance that awakens passion and love!”)

David Leveaux’s 2003 revival ditched the kids and opted for a more realistic setup—Banderas and the young Guido moving in tandem as they interacted with Myra Lucretia Taylor’s Saraghina, now a figure even more fleshy and earthy, in the mold of Bloody Mary. The tambourines were gone, too; the tarantella would be danced by Saraghina as a sort of ritual, with the young Guido hoofing about and somersaulting on the sand, exulting in his first taste of sexual freedom.

Garcia not only restored the tambourine in his “Nine,” he also transformed “Be Italian” into a thrilling spectacle, taking a leaf from the flamboyant version Rob Marshall had choreographed for the movie on a vast sound stage (with Fergie playing Saraghina). Now, everyone in the cast swung the instrument, and the precision-exercise-cumtarantella-jig they would launch into became the show’s most rousing showstopper.

Head-scratchers Even this potent number, however, provoked headscratching. “Be Italian” clearly came across as below Castro’s vocal comfort zone. This “Miss Saigon” alumna is a powerful high belter, but here, against an uneasy fit, her lung power sounded oddly clipped. She couldn’t throw her voice out as much in the peak refrain (“BE A singer!

Be a lover!”) because the notes were still too low for her.

A further damper on Castro’s turn was Robin Tomas’ perplexing costume for Saraghina: a sheer, all-black ensemble with a leather corset, stockings—and high Effortless standouts heels. This outcast woman lived on the beach (the foreign The veterans, for instance— Lauchengco-Yulo as Guido’s Saraghinas were barefoot and sparsely dressed); why was stalwart wife Luisa, Valencia-Glorioso as his mother, and Castro trussed up like a city streetwalker? the fearless Guevara-Lafortesa as his mistress Carla— were effortless standouts, their brief turns in the spotlight Visual cues marked by piercing clarity and authority.

The baffling visual cues also extended to Laurel’s Stephanie You could argue, in fact, that Lauchengco-Yulo was Necrophorus, who, in knee-high white boots, white shorts also miscast as Luisa, a part that tamped down the actress’ and white jacket under a ’60s bouffant hairdo, made for a strong presence and natural radiance. Tall and elegant, striking vintage fashion plate.

Lauchengco-Yulo would havemade a truly cosmopolitan The inspiration, perhaps, was Kate Hudson’s Stephanie in Claudia (in real life, a figure said to be based on Fellini’s the movie version. But that character had good reason to glam “La Dolce Vita” star, Anita Ekberg, hence Nicole Kidman’s up: Hudson was playing a journalist for American Vogue—a Nordic-looking Claudia Jenssen—changed from Nardi— significant change from the original character in the musical, in the 2009 movie version; in “8 1/2” the part was played who is supposedly a film critic (“Thanks to him,” she intoned

by Italian legend Claudia Cardinale). at one point, referring to Guido, “we have boredom at the And, in her hands, of course, “Unusual Way” would movies!”) and now assistant to Liliane La Fleur. have had a luckier fate.

And not even a film critic for a middling fashion rag, Then again, hearing Lauchengco-Yulo break “My but the venerable Cahiers du Cinéma! The Marxist-leaning Husband Makes Movies” into a three-act drama of French magazine first edited by André Bazin that spawned equipoise, protectiveness and resignation over her the pillars of the French New Wave—Truffaut, Godard, crumbling marriage; and, later in Act 2, release all that Chabrol, Rivette, among others—would have found pent-up sourness in a burst of unhinged fury in “Be on amusing the idea of a glamazon (though the word didn’t Your Own,” one understood why Garcia had to make her exist then) in its midst writing polemical reevaluations of this “Nine’s” Luisa. Who else could do the part?

Howard Hawks and Nicholas Ray. Gil, too, more than held her own as the fastidious film (In the Banderas revival, Saundra Santiago’s Stephanie producer Liliane La Fleur, even if one could barely breathe stepped out during the “Follies Bergere” number in a slinky every time her raspy voice threatened to give out. But this More on page 28

Lifestyle

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 28

I want to retire early but…

BY WILLIE JOSE

EVERYBODY is talking about retirement.

When I recently broached the idea to some of my media friends that I’m planning to retire, they quickly retorted: retiring from what, you mean retiring from writing?

Well, they were right, journalists don’t retire – they just fade away.

When wife, Lilia and I visited my 93-yearold Mom in Long Island, NY a few months ago, my sister Vicky, discussed with us about her plans to enjoy her so-called Golden Years.

“I’ll definitely retire once the closing sale of my house has been done. I’m readying to retire in North Carolina and I might buy a small house in the Philippines for my vacation trips there,” she said.

With her home equity and pension fund, she will definitely have a very comfortable life in the US and the Philippines.

However, many Filipino boomers who have worked for many years in North America are planning to retire either in North America or in the Philippines. But most of them would rather spend a few months in the Philippines and go back to Canada or US, thereby enjoying the best of both worlds.

My neighbours, a couple named Aling Lina and Mang Vino, both aged 67, said that they are enjoying their usual 5-month stay in the Philippines and spendng the rest of the year in Toronto —and in fact they are scheduled to visit the Philippines this month.

“We are staying in our house in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and the life there is simple, we have lots of fresh fruits, seafood, all around us are mountains and hills, so aside from the scenery, we also enjoy the cool breeze coming from these mountains. But we have to be back in Canada by April just right in time for the start of the school break of our grandson,” Mang Bino said.

“We are the ones taking care of our grandson during his school break. April is also the tax season in Canada, so, this is the time we have to pay our tax obligation to the government,” Lina said.

“With Lina’s pension of $1,200 a month, it’s good enough for us. Kung madadala

because they are part of my life— and what’s life without these memories.

With the looming financial instability in North America, my wife and I have decided that we couldn’t retire yet. Retiring this early could only mean thinking about our financial obligations such as mortgage payments, hydro bills, condo maintenance fees, food and clothing bills.

For the meantime, we’d just go with the flow, not allowing life’s anxieties to weigh us down, and stay focused on our spirituality. On second thought, even if we had saved enough money for our retirement, still it would have been not enough to give us the peace of mind we need in this troubled world. mo itong pera sa Pilipinas, maganda na ang buhay mo doon. Truly, maganda ang buhay sa Pilipinas, maluwag ang buhay (If you can bring your money to the Philippines, life there will be good. Truly, life in the Philippines will be great, easier). The prices of commodities are cheap,” Mang Bino adds.

While he’s in Toronto, Mang Bino’s normal routine is spending time with some kababayanpensioners like him, chatting with them at a Tim Horton coffee shop, mostly exchanging views on how the Philippine authorities are doing their jobs back home.

On my planned retirement – I’m putting it off for now – but it might do some good if I would indulge myself in some kind of mental calisthenics--reflecting on how best I could spend my retirement when the right time comes for me to give up working for good.

At present, I’m looking forward to a blissful retirement: prioritising more important things in life, spending time with my family, catching up on reading some books, travelling to places that I’ve not been to or simply staying more time on the bed without having to wake up early in the morning.

And I’m also thinking of writing my own life story-- dredging up lots of memories about my pains and fears beating the Big C, how Jehovah God helped me survive this illness, my struggles to overcome life’s ups and downs, at kung papaano ang maging mahirap sa buhay (and how it was to be poor). I don’t want to forget all these things

...from page 27 dominatrix outfit, complete with a whip.

But then Guido saw her as an emasculating presence, constantly breathing down his neck on Liliane’s behalf, so the feverdream imagery could be justified.)

Problematic elements “Nine’s” problematic central elements— Pangan’s muddled Guido; Tomas’ disorienting costumes; and Garcia’s fitful direction—would reach their perfect storm of incoherence in the comic-opera sequence “The Grand Canal” in Act 2. At this point, despite the ensemble’s unflagging singing (“Overture Delle Donne” had jumpstarted the show on a high note), the musical all but degenerated into a tacky, campy puddle.

The sight, meanwhile, of Pangan shambling about, hands periodically

outstretched to frame the cacophonous goings-on around him—Look! Director in action, get it?—will possibly go down as the least convincing thing he’s ever been asked to do onstage.

Finally, for what felt like an interminable stretch during the “Grand Canal” segment, the two most human characters in “Nine”—LauchengcoYulo’s Luisa and Guevara-Lafortesa’s Carla—would be blocked with their backs to the audience, their reactions to the putative semi-autobiographical Casanova movie and its garishly attired cast being shot above them by their shared lothario an object of puzzlement to the rest of us.

“La Bella Confusione” was now plain “confusione.” ■

At present, we are looking forward to a bright future and holding on to what the Holy Scriptures say “Then he said to them: Keep your eyes open and guard against every sort of covetousness, because even when a person has an abundance, his life does not result from the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15.

“Whereas you do not know what your life will be tomorrow. For you are a mist appearing for a little while and then disappearing. Instead you ought to say, “If Jehovah wills, we shall live and also do this or that.” James 4: 14-15 (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures) ■ williejose1@gmail.com

THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FACE What you need to know before you buy that designer brand skin care product WHEN WE turn the pages of those Hollywood magazines, we are always in awe of celebrities that seemed to have achieved perfect skin. Let me tell you frankly that most of the images that you’re seeing are “photoshopped”. They do not look like that in real life.

The summer season can cause havoc with our skin because of sun damage and sunscreen. That combined with oily skin and our pores become totally clogged. Clogged pores are very bad ladies because they can make your pores bigger and give you blackheads.

And if you used makeup on those hot sunny days then you just added to your troubles.

So, before I get give you loads of tips on how to achieve beautiful young looking skin let’s begin by making sure you know some basics.

1. Knowing your skin type and condition is crucial in order to make the right choices about how to care for your skin. Once you’ve figured that out then you can begin to purchase the right face products for you.

So what does “skin type” mean? It means the skin that you were born with.

• Normal • Dry • Oily • Combination Skin condition means the current state of your skin which is influenced by the environment (cold, wind, sun, etc) and is also significantly affected by internal factors like your health and lifestyle. Here’s some typical skin conditions: • Dehydrated • Sensitive • Eczema • Acne • Rosacea • Psoriasis Know your skin type and condition. If you can’t figure it out for yourself go to a spa and have a complimentary skin analysis. Either way you need this information other you might be making your situation worse instead of better.

2. If you have a chronic skin condition, consult with a Dermatologist. Unfortunately you may need some medication in combination with your skin care products. As a former spa owner I have often seen how some Dermatologists give a prescription to cure or heal a skin problem but they rarely if ever

provide accurate advise on how to actually take care of your skin on a daily basis.

3. Another option is to ask a skin specialist like SKINWORKS in Vancouver and ask for a complimentary consultation. Ask them to assess your skin and make product recommendations.

4. If you think your skin is in a fairly good shape I suggest you go to SEPHORA. Sephora have specialists in each department and you can discuss with them what your best options are once you know your skin type and condition.

I love Sephora because if you purchase a product and it doesn’t work for you, you can return it and they’ll help you figure out what works until you see the results you’re looking for. Let’s keep things in perspective - don’t expect your skin to look perfect after a week of using the product. Things don’t happen overnight, there are no short-cuts to maintaining beautiful skin - you have to work at it and have the discipline to incorporate a skin care routine on a daily basis.

5. Do not go to bed with make up on.

If you have any questions I’d love to help you out. Email me at cadizbennett@gmail.com Anna Cadiz Bennett: Beauty & Spa Guru A past Binibining Pilipinas pageant winner Anna has 20+ years’ experience & expertise in Fashion Retail Operations, Training & Development, and a former owner of an award winning Day Spa for six years. She is a Certified Facebook Strategist and specializes in Social Media Marketing for Businesses. ■

29 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Dingdong on ‘Tiktik’: Historic, socially relevant

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer ACTOR Dingdong Dantes’ film outfit Agostodos Pictures has partnered with GMA Films and Reality Entertainment in bankrolling a fantasy-adventure flick at the whopping cost of P80 million.

Dantes described Erik Matti’s “Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles”—which he coproduced and stars in—as “worthwhile and something Filipinos can all be proud of.”

He said he joined this new venture because he wanted to “make a difference” in the movie industry by making films that have “social relevance.”

“Tiktik,” which also features Lovi Poe, LJ Reyes, Janice de Belen and Joey Marquez, will be screened in local theaters nationwide starting Oct. 17.

Dantes said the aim was to “make viewers come out of the movie houses feeling proud of Filipino talents. We want them to see that, given enough resources and time, our products can be at par with those of other countries.”

Here are excerpts from our interview with Dantes.

What made you decide on coproducing ‘Tiktik?’

My involvement began five years ago. Dondon (Monteverde, head of Reality Entertainment) and I co-own a restaurant in Makati. We would always meet there and talk about how much we care for the movie industry and how we want to contribute to its improvement. With what he does in PostManila (a post-production outfit) and Mothership (a computer graphics company), I knew that Dondon wanted to set the notch higher for digital technology (in Philippine movies).

Dondon told me that he and Direk Erik had a project in mind. I read the script and liked it. I agreed to collaborate, but I didn’t want to be just one of the actors. I believed in the project so much that I wanted to be part of its creators.

How involved were you as a producer?

I participated in everything from the casting to the final editing. On Oct. 2, I even accompanied Erik to the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) office to have the film rated. What’s good about working with him and Dondon is that we’re always on the same page.

Never did our ideas clash. This made it easy for us.

Through this project, I realized how difficult the work of a producer was. I appreciate them more now, and how they collaborate with their directors and actors to create something really artistic.

What’s the best thing about being an actor?

A director?

Acting is my outlet. This enables me to create different personas, to be a different person completely. I find fulfillment in being able to do this effectively. As a director, you call the shots.

It’s you who’s talking to the viewers. It’s your voice that they hear and your vision that they see.

You get rewarded if you’re able to reach out to the audience through your film.

Don’t you think wearing too many hats will make you lose your focus?

Not really; it just so happened that I got to wear two at the same time for this one. I don’t want to direct a project that I’m also a cast member of. I prefer to collaborate with other people.

This also goes for being both a producer and an actor in one film—I don’t think this setup will work all the time. I’m just fortunate that, for this project, it did. I’m open to producing more films, those that would not require me to act.

Everything is possible. I may have many hats, but I make sure to wear only one with full force at a time.

Would you still be willing to play or offbeat roles in the future?

I’m open to doing more offbeat roles, but maybe not contravida, in the future. I like

characters who are complex. I feel that I’m effective when viewers are able to understand what my character is going through and are able to learn from the experience.

In your previous interviews, you described “Tiktik” as “historic.” Why so?

This is the first local movie to make use of the green screen from start to finish. The entire film’s backdrop is computer-generated.

Everything is done manually by Filipino artists.

They’re very meticulous. They made sure we’d have a realistic feel of a barrio or town far from Metro Manila.

What do you expect out of making this film?

Most Filipinos are fond of foreign movies of this genre. We hope that, after this, we can make moviegoers see that it’s possible to produce one locally, and in fact, that it can be better. We can all relate to it, from its humor and visuals, to the fact that the story is part of Philippine folklore.

The film cost P80 million to produce. Do you expect to recoup your investment?

Every positive comment I read on YouTube or hear from people I meet are worth more than the millions we spent for this project. More than the monetary investment, it’s our commitment to the industry that’s more important. We want to contribute something that will showcase Pinoy talent. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 30

Half-sisters ‘crazy’ about Regine’s baby Nate the refrigerator to see what leftovers we have and make something out of them.

Sometimes, I make soup— which, I realized only recently, is very hard to do.

It takes so much time and effort just to complete the taste.”

Regine said she cooks pasta most of the time because, like pizza, it can be combined with food.

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer SINGER-ACTRESS Regine Velasquez said her family’s recent week-long trip to Singapore was meant to introduce her son Nate to his half-sisters Leila and Sarah.

“They were very happy to see Nate,” Regine told show biz writers during the recent launch of her new show, “Sarap Diva,” at the GMA 7 studios in Quezon City. “Nasira ang ulo nilang tatlo (the three of them went crazy).”

She added: “They really had time to bond. Each morning, the girls took care of Nate so I could sleep.”

Leila and Sarah are daughters of her husband, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, with his ex-wife, Australian beauty queen Michelle van Eimeren. The trip was also the girls’ first time in Lion City.

Regine continued: “What’s funny about Nate was that nagpapakitang gilas din siya( he showed off). He would laugh aloud for his sisters. He would roll and tumble, which only made his sisters crazier about him.”

Godmother Michelle Regine likewise said that Michelle, also one of Nate’s godparents, bought a lot of baby clothes and toys for the child.

“I think Nate is in love with Michelle,” Regine said. “He was scared of her in the beginning, but after a while, we would always catch him staring at Michelle’s face. I guess it’s because it’s his first time to see blonde hair.”

In an earlier interview, Ogie said he was determined to make his children develop a close relationship, in spite of the distance between their homes. Leila and Sarah stay in Australia with Michelle and her new husband, Mark Morrow.

“To see my children grow up and love each other is priceless. I’m actually excited to see them together,” Ogie said.

Regine, who had long wanted to have a baby, said she enjoyed sharing pictures of baby Nate, especially on Instagram.

Somebody had told her, she added, that it was good to share one’s experiences with other people “because they learn things.”

“True enough, I get a lot of thank you’s especially from mommies who follow my account,” Regine noted. “In turn, some of them give me pieces of advice too.

Whenever I have time, I make sure to answer some of their questions.”

For her show, “Sarap Diva,” Regine displays her cooking skills alongside those of other mothers, who likewise shared with her tips on how to be an efficient wife to Ogie and mom to Nate.

Mommy talk “Unlike Chef Boy Logro’s show (“Kusina Master”), which is instructional, this program isn’t just about cooking,” Regine said.

She said that aside from giving cooking tips, she and her guests would likewise be talking about “mommy things.”

She cited an example: “In some of the episodes, my guests will help me plan Nate’s birthday party. While I’m an expert in performing onstage, I’m clueless when it comes to these things.”

Nate will turn 1 on Nov. 8.

Regine said she once planned on enrolling in a culinary school, but it didn’t push through because of her hectic schedule. Instead, she watched different cooking channels.

“I was amazed to learn that a lot of people loved to cook, including (broadcast journalist) Jessica Soho, who will be one of my guests on the show,” she said. “Jessica regards cooking as a way to de-stress. That’s also how I feel. I don’t think of it as a chore.”

“I like cooking when I’m stressed,” Regine said. “All the negative feelings disappear when I’m in the kitchen. I’m able to focus on what I’m doing.”

She doesn’t have to cook for the family every day because they have a cook. So, she cooks depending on her mood.

“I don’t have a favorite dish to prepare,” she said. “What I do is open

Healthy dishes For Ogie, Regine cooks mostly healthy dishes. She explained, “Since his cholesterol level went up, he only eats grilled fish and chicken breast.

Sometimes just soup, but with less oil.”

Now that Nate can eat solid food, Regine often gives him boiled and mashed vegetables, as well as chicken and fish because “he needs a lot of protein to grow.”

The singer-actress said she seldom hears Ogie complain about her cooking. “He would tell me what I should put in a dish to improve its taste, but this doesn’t happen often.

Most of the time, he’d say, ‘ Ayos!

Sarap!’ (Alright! Yummy!) When he likes something, he would make me cook it again for special gatherings at home. That’s why I have to remember, madalas kasi inimbento ko lang (I improvise most of the time).”

“Sarap Diva,” directed by Treb Monteras III, also features Nate and Regine’s pet dog George in “virtual animation.” Her brother-in-law Raul Mitra is musical director.

Regine is also seen on the Sunday variety program “Party Pilipinas” and the magazine talk show “Hot TV,” both on GMA 7. ■

Actress happy to be in series that helps empower women The actress added: “I love all the roles I play on TV, but some of them have themes that are so unrealistic, they don’t happen in real life. On the other hand, ‘Magdalena’ is shockingly realistic. Even I learn so much from it. I’m glad I can help empower women, open their eyes.”

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer ACTRESS Bela Padilla said the best thing about landing the lead role in “Magdalena,” the latest GMA 7 afternoon drama series, was that she could help empower women.

Bela is a member of Called to Rescue, an organization that helps women and children victims of human trafficking. “The group conducts rescue operations,” she explained. “Sadly, it’s not advisable for celebrities to participate in the operations. That’s why I was so excited when I learned I was finally doing the TV series. What better way to promote the group than this?

Magdalena, who is forced to work as an escort girl, is a victim of human trafficking, too.”

Complex character Based on the Pilipino Komiks series “Kukulayan Ko Ang Langit,” the series is about a provincial lass, Magdalena (Bela), whose marriage to Baron (Ryan Eigenmann), a rich businessman from Manila, is arranged by her mother Luding (Irma Adlawan). But instead of marrying her, Baron abuses Magdalena and forces her to work as an escort girl.

“No woman should be sold, bought, or taken home if she doesn’t want to,” Bela stressed.

“This character is complex. She’s a vidacontravida,” Bela added. “On the first week of the shoot, all of my scenes required crying. Magdalena is so naive. I’m like her in real life—too trusting. I think I’d be more effective playing the vengeful Magdalena because I’d feel more detached.”

As to how much skin she would bare in the series, Bela said: “We’re still bound by the standards of television.

I know my director (Gina Alajar) will take good care of me. She briefed my mother about what I would be doing.”

“Magdalena” premieres on GMA 7’s “Afternoon Prime” timeslot today. ■

31 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Entertainment

Anne Curtis won Famas Best Actress Award for ‘No Other Woman’ ANNE CURTIS revealed that winning her second best actress award is definitely sweeter.

The first best actress trophy of the 27-year-old, host-actress was for the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Baler,” which was directed by Mark Meily.

In the recently-concluded Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (Famas), she bagged again the best actress award for the movie ‘No Other Woman.’

Anne Curtis said: “The first win came as a shock. The second time was sweeter and more real. It gave me a sense of achievement. It meant that I wasn’t just a one-time-big-time thing.

It took me 15 years to get to where I am. I had to play the roles of a balikbayan (homecoming Filipino) or a sister of the lead actress again and again. I had to do all these before finally getting the awardwinning lead roles.”

Curtis is full of gratitude to all the people who recognized her acting in the blockbuster movie ‘No Other Woman’: “Thank you so much to the board member and jurors of FAMAS for giving me the Best Actress award for No Other Woman. From the bottom of my heart,

have HOPE. It’s up to you to take that step closer to pursue your own dreams.”

The noontime show host admitted that she never intended to win an award. She claimed that she was just challenged to play the role of her character in ‘No Other Woman.’ Anne played Kara, a rich and liberated woman who had an affair with a married man. (Derek Ramsay).

thank you so much.”

The brave actress who had her own concert last January, bested 7 other actresses nominated for the best actress award, including Angel Locsin, Kris Aquino, Pokwang and Cristine Reyes.

Anne also claimed that without her director, Ruel S. Bayani, she would not have given justice to her role in ‘No Other Woman’:

“I’m so happy I was under your wing and guidance whilst portraying the role as Kara Zalderiaga. There is No Other Director like YOU. Love you. Thank you!”

She also posted inspirational message to her Twitter account: “I tell you, dreams really do come true.

Just have the patience, push yourself a little extra in everything that you do and

Anne’s ‘love life’ Anne is very happy with the status of her heart at the moment but she cleared that she and her boyfriend, French-Filipino fashion model and chef, Erwan Heussaff, have not talked about getting married at this stage.

Curtis also denied the fact that Heussaff does not favor her move to do love scenes on T.V. and in film.

It helps that he’s half-French and a film enthusiast,” she explained. “The sexy scenes here are nothing compared to what he normally sees in the films he watches.

This doesn’t bother him at all. Of course, there’s that awkward feeling, especially when we watch my movie together.

But he understands. He would always squeeze my hand and tell me that this is not something we will quarrel about.” ■

Brightest stars showed off some skin at Bench Fashion Show MANILA, Philippines – Last September 13, and 14, the brightest stars from major T.V. networks came together for the denim and underwear fashion show by local clothing line Bench. The fashion show was held at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Held every two years, the fashion show intends to showcase the latest denim and underwear collection of the fashion and lifestyle brand as worn by its equally fashionable celebrity endorsers.

This year, the team composed of world-class Filipino designers Rajo Laurel, Randy Ortiz, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Joey Samson, and Furne One worked together to showcase a mix of diverse and revolutionary themes for “Bench Universe.”

There were thousands of spectators who watched the fashion show. They were also entertained by the opening number of Fil-Australian rock singer Mig Ayesa.

The first to show her stuff on the stage was Kapamilya star Kim Chiu who delighted the crowd with her runway skills. She wore a shimmering white corset with a ruffled skirt, and later revealed her printed skimpy shorts underneath.

Kapuso stars Joseph Marco, Janine Gutierrez, Stephen Silva, and Kapamilya young actor-singer Sam Concepcion then came out wearing tribal prints.

Hunk-actor Jake Cuenca surprised the audience when he came out wearing orange briefs. That didn’t end there as he removed the briefs to show off his thin black thongs underneath.

Enchong Dee, while sporting a pair of boxer briefs, performed some acrobatic tricks as he appeared from a boat that slowly fell down onstage, tumbling in mid-air on his harness.

Diether Ocampo showed up next riding a motorcycle. He was joined by models and celebrities Regine Angeles, Kris Lawrence, Grace Lee, Carla Abellana, Paul Jake Castillo, Angeline Quinto, and Bela Padilla.

Teen star Kathryn Bernardo walked the ramp with a vibrant, neon-colored shirt and jeans during the denim segment of the show.

Fil-German young actress Julia Montes opened the futuristic segment with her curves cast in a corset made of metal, and a pair of gray jeans.

Singer-host Karylle showed off her toned body, flaunting a set of white underwear with metal accents.

The show was highlighted with the appearance of prominent couple Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao who paraded in their formal suit and jeans, and a couture white dress, respectively.

Versatile actor Richard Gomez showed that he can still strut alongside younger models. He wore a non-traditional black suit with one black sleeve and the other in red.

At the bench after party

Award-winning actor Coco Martin was personally selected by Bench’s head Ben Chan to close the show.

The “Walang Hanggan” lead actor came out wearing a sleeveless

undershirt, a pair of jeans and intricate structured wings. Although, he did not bear much skin, he still got the strongest applause and screams from the audience. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 32

Hazy Oscar forecasts place ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Argo,’ ‘Les Mis,’ ‘Master’ in early awards contention

Ben Affleck’s ‘Argo’ is an early contender

terrific reviews but has little best-picture buzz among Hollywood odds-makers.

Even ``Avengers’’ director Joss Whedon avoids thinking about awards possibilities. ``It would be a lovely thought, but I don’t go there in my mind,’’ said Whedon, who was floored when he shared a screenplay Oscar nomination for 1995’s ``Toy Story.’’ ‘’When we got nominated for ‘Toy Story,’ it was like, ‘What are you talking about? Is this a prank?’ Anything’s possible, but if you start to go down that road, you make yourself crazy.`` A late-summer threesome of film festivals - Venice, Toronto and Telluride - premiered many potential contenders for the Oscars, whose nominations come out Jan. 10, with the ceremony following on Feb. 24.

Among festival prospects: ``The Master,’’ directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (``There Will Be Blood’’), with Phoenix as a combustible World War II veteran who falls under the sway of a cult leader (Hoffman); ``Argo,’’ with Affleck starring in and directing a thriller about the rescue of six Americans who evaded the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979; ``Anna Karenina,’’ director Joe Wright’s fanciful adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s tragic romance, starring Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson; and ``Silver Linings Playbook,’’ from director David O. Russell (``The Fighter’’), featuring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro in a comic drama about two deeply troubled souls finding romance.

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Anne Hathaway plays the role of Fantine in the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic, ‘Les Miserables’

s-bukley / Shutterstock.com

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood is in its usual hazy head space when it comes to the Academy Awards race.

The dilemma: Handicapping the players when so many of the potential front-runners have yet to show their game face.

Films such as Ben Affleck’s ``Argo’’ and Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s ``The Master’’ already are proven contenders through rapturous reactions from festival crowds or early theatrical audiences. A handful of summer releases have a shot at best-picture slots - but that depends on the movies still to come.

Late prospects include Steven Spielberg’s ``Lincoln,’’ with Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th president; ``The King’s Speech’’ director Tom Hooper’s ``Les Miserables,’’ the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic that features Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway; ``The Hurt Locker’’ director Kathryn Bigelow’s ``Zero Dark Thirty,’’ chronicling the hunt for Osama bin Laden; and ``The Lord of the Rings’’ creator Peter Jackson’s ``The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,’’ the first in his three-part ``Rings’’ prelude.

Jackson’s three ``Lord of the Rings’’ films earned bestpicture nominations, and the finale won. ``The Lord of the Rings’’ is a heavyweight drama of a fantasy compared to the more playful ``Hobbit,’’ which could hurt the new trilogy’s chances among Oscar voters, who usually lean toward weightier stories.

But since ``Lord of the Rings,’’ academy overseers expanded the best-picture category from five nominees to as many as 10 to bring in a broader range of films, including action blockbusters that often get overlooked for awards.

A big test plays out this season on that effort to make the Oscars more relevant to mainstream moviegoers. Academy bosses cited the best-picture snub of 2008’s critical and commercial sensation ``The Dark Knight’’ as a key example for expanding the category.

With reviews nearly as ecstatic as its predecessor’s, the Batman finale ``The Dark Knight Rises’’ may have a better shot depending on the number of nominees, which will range from five to 10 based on voting results among the nearly 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Or the film may fall victim to the academy’s general distaste for fantastical tales. Comic-book adaptations have been money magnets for Hollywood, yet no superhero saga has managed a best-picture nomination so far. ``You don’t get into the business of making these kinds of films with any thought toward awards,’’ said Christopher Nolan, director of the current Batman franchise. ``If that’s what’s of interest to you, then if you look at the odds, you’re far better off making a very different kind of film.’’

The same may hold for this year’s biggest hit, the superhero mash-up ``The Avengers,’’ which also earned

Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

BY DAVID GERMAIN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ stars Daniel Day Lewis as the 16th president

Earlier independent releases might creep into the best-picture race, among them the youthful dramas ``Moonrise Kingdom’’ and ``Beasts of the Southern Wild.’’ But that depends on the late-comers premiering over the next three months.

Along with ``Lincoln,’’ ‘’Les Miserables,`` ‘’Zero Dark Thirty`` and ‘’The Hobbit,`` the lineup includes Robert Zemeckis’ airline drama ‘’Flight,`` starring Denzel Washington; the Alfred Hitchcock tale ‘’Hitchcock,`` with Anthony Hopkins as the filmmaker, Helen Mirren as his wife and Scarlett Johansson as ‘’Psycho`` co-star Janet Leigh; Quentin Tarantino’s Civil War-era bounty-hunter saga ‘’Django Unchained,`` featuring Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio; and the shipwreck story ‘’Life of Pi,`` from director Ang Lee (‘’Brokeback Mountain``).

Contenders rarely talk about their prospects, but they do welcome the fun of the Oscars and the attention they bring to the films. ``I mean, you get to go in a tuxedo and stuff. Blah blah.

And you know, if your mother’s around, you can take your mother or something,’’ said Bill Murray, a potential bestactor nominee as Franklin Roosevelt in ``Hyde Park on the Hudson.’’ ‘’But the cool thing is that people always say there’s Oscar buzz, but Oscar buzz only means people are talking about your movie. Which means more people go see your movie. That’s all I care about. I just want people to see it.`` ■

Obama campaign deploys Big Bird in new ad

Charlie Brown, ‘Peanuts’ pals head to big-screen

NEW YORK - President Barack Obama deployed Big Bird in a new campaign ad Tuesday mocking Mitt Romney’s vow to end federal funding for public broadcasting. Romney’s campaign dismissed it as an example of Obama being smallminded while the foundation behind Big Bird’s program, ``Sesame Street,’’ asked that the ad be taken down. The satirical spot, set to air on national broadcast and cable TV stations, shows images of convicted financiers, including Bernie Madoff and Enron’s Ken Lay, and suggests Romney thinks Big Bird is behind their crimes. ■

LOS ANGELES - Charlie Brown and his ``Peanuts’’ pals are coming to the big-screen. Charles Schulz’ beloved characters will star in their own animated film scheduled to hit theatres Nov. 25, 2015. That year marks the 65th anniversary of the ``Peanuts’’ comic strip and the 50th anniversary of ``A Charlie Brown Christmas,’’ the first of the gang’s many TV specials.

catwalker / Shutterstock.com

Photo by Donna L. Cole

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Canada: Seen and Scenes

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 34

sary at the ioners prayed the Ro er families and parish mb cession to me pro y led sar s Ro ard ck y, Sep. 29. The Blo Columbus Honor Gu da of tur ts Sa igh on Kn e ss d Fr. Ben Th Ma an rs. g l the past thirty yea with a Thanksgivin r Fr. Regulo Imperia ether continuously for their 30th Anniversary Peace Church. Pasto tog of friends ed y , rat et) pra nce eb to Pri ark s cel wm the ilie to in Ne on , fam n r Tor ille sade of ing, Whitby, Stouffv Bishop Vincent Nguye graces in allowing ou v. ker his Re Pic all st ax, The Block Rosary Cru for Mo (Aj rd by n Lo ed tow the rat of r Mary, to thank g Mass was celeb Members from out church grotto of Mothe ees. The Thanksgivin members, including ndred Block Rosary followed by the devot hu h, al urc ver Ch Se ace d.

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35 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28 2012

Canada: Seen and Scenes

Justin Trudeau, who has BC roots, addressed his supporters in Richmond, BC on October 3.

36 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Sip, Sleep and Dine at BC’s Wineries

BY MARGO PFEIFF Courtesy of Tourism BC A BREEZE scented with sage sways the sun-dappled canopy of Chardonnay vines shading the tables at Terrafina Restaurant.

There’s quiet chatter as cold Pinot Gris is sipped, a respite from the hot, buttery late afternoon sun ripening Merlot clusters on rows of green vines marching down the valley. The musty aroma of crushed grapes fermenting their way into awardwinning wines in the adjoining winery mingles with the fragrant basil and Asiago focaccia with sun-dried tomato tapenade the waiter just delivered.

Southern France? Tuscany? Actually, it’s Hester Creek Estate Winery in southcentral British Columbia along the winefuelled Golden Mile where more than two dozen wineries hug a stretch of country highway on the 20-minute drive between Oliver and Osoyoos in the Thompson Okanagan region.

Wine is created to be savoured with food so it’s logical that more and more wineries across southern BC are not only pulling corks to pour samples in their tasting rooms, but also offering everything from picnic tables for your bring-along lunch to bistros and full-scale dining rooms where chefs create dishes using the best local ingredients to highlight their wines.

Hester Creek’s Tuscaninspired Terrafina, one of two winery restaurants to open in the southern Okanagan Valley in 2011, is a cosy villathemed eatery, all wood and brick, serving Italian comfort food with style, including prawn and smoked trout pizza and braised brisket Bolognese with wild mushrooms over tagliatelle pasta.

After a day of sipping and sampling, does it get any better than this? Actually, yes, it does. Hester Creek offers six luxury guest suites in their Villa. After dinner, head to your room, throw open French doors and lounge on a private patio overlooking vineyards and orchards.

Then head for the soaker tub or warm up in front of the fireplace on cool desert nights.

Just down the road, Tinhorn Creek Vineyard’s Miradoro Restaurant also opened its doors last spring. A chic

contemporary eatery overlooking the Black Sage Bench of vineyards, it is a partnership with Manuel Ferreira, owner of Vancouver’s long-running French restaurant Le Gavroche. Tuck into Mediterranean-influenced market cuisine like pasta with fresh peas, house-made ricotta, mint and preserved lemon. Nibble tapas that beg to be wine-paired, or crisp Neapolitan-style pizzas from the openhearth stone oven.

A short drive south along a vinelined road, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery’s grand adobe winery is perched on a hillside amid vines that produce some of the province’s most coveted releases.

Their Sonora Room Restaurant serves gourmet cuisine developed by Executive Chef Chris VanHooydonk to showcase their premium wines. Here, too, you can sample dinner wines without worrying about driving by spending the night in one of their luxury Guest House’s 10 suites.

Chill on your deck above the vineyards, head for the outdoor pool or hot tub, or curl up with a good book and a nightcap in front of your own fireplace. Fresh local “wine country” breakfasts are included.

Snaking north-south, the winding road up the long Okanagan Valley passes alongside lakes and through small towns.

On the Naramata Bench — a rapidly growing wine niche — a pair of new winery restaurants opened in the early summer of 2012. The Misconduct Wine Co debuted The Kitchen, a casual patio

eatery featuring two sizes of tapas in both the style of the Portuguese winemaker — think traditional bacalao salt cod — and the Mexican chef who recommends his shrimp and octopus ceviche, a reminder of his Guadalajara home.

Nearby, Paul and Sheila Jones moved their popular, six year-old Vanilla Pod Restaurant from Summerland across Okanagan Lake smack into Poplar Grove Winery. Here, chef Bruno Terroso offers specialties like roast lamb rack and paella with prawns, scallops, chicken, chorizo, bell peppers and spicy saffron rice.

Highlighting local, organic and seasonal cuisine, the year-round restaurant’s menu changes three times throughout the summer before switching to robust fall harvest fare.

A short, scenic drive along the Naramata Bench is The Patio at Lake Breeze winery, an oasis for creative casual lunches including wine-poached pickerel with BC spot prawns or a sirloin burger with bocconcini cheese, pancetta and arugula. If red wine pleases your palate, be sure to try their 2008 Tempest. This vintage recently won the coveted Red Wine of the Year award at the 2012 AllCanadian Wine Championships.

Continue north to the winery-hub around Kelowna where The Terrace at CedarCreek Estate Winery is renowned for its epic weekend brunches — on both Saturday and Sunday — that have lobster and jalapeno hollandaise making appearances in your eggs Benedict.

Quails’ Gate Winery’s Old Vines Restaurant is another favoured year-round winery restaurant. At this stop, stunning views across Okanagan Lake complement chef Roger Sleiman’s menu of regional cuisine, including Haida Gwaii halibut and local lamb with veggies from their own kitchen garden. Also on the menu are “flights” of different wines to compare and enjoy, among them library and rare releases, selections unavailable outside the winery.

In the Kelowna area, pick up or print out a copy of the new local Wine Trails brochure, then head off on a self-guided car day-trip or bicycle-powered prowl.

Book in advance for lunch at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, the grand cathedral of Okanagan wineries perched on a hilltop, complete with a Chagall tapestry and a 12-storey bell tower. Here, Terrace Restaurant is where Executive Winery Chef Matthew Batey and Terrace Restaurant Chef Chris Stewart make fresh

local magic with the likes of ‘Farm to Table’ charcuterie meats and estate-made pickles as well as Okanagan honey-glazed duck breast.

Pyramids are not a usual sight at a winery, but that’s where Stephen Cipes, the colourful owner of Summerhill Winery, ages his organic wines, including award-winning sparklies which are paired up with dishes at his Sunset Bistro, the Okanagan’s only wild and organic eatery.

Executive Chef Jesse Croy uses free-range meats, fish and sustainable seafood. The produce, including 40 different heirloom tomato varieties as well as a rollcall of veggies and herbs, is harvested from the winery’s own organic garden that is part of the view from the restaurant balcony.

While the Okanagan Valley is the hotbed of winery restaurants, others are popping up across the province. In the Kootenay Rockies region, near scenic Creston in southeastern BC, Al and Marleen Hoag run Skimmerhorn, named after a nearby mountain range that provides the view for an intimate bistro serving dishes like seared albacore tuna with sweet potato gnocchi paired with their French-styled wines, including a Marechal Foch that won gold at the 2011 All-Canadian Wine Championships.

In the west, the Gulf Islands’ Saturna Island Family Estate Winery bistro nestles at the base of a bluff with a northern Mediterranean micro-climate and serves visitors — many of whom arrive by yacht or kayak — paninis and salads along with their wines. And on Vancouver Island in Duncan, Zanatta Winery’s Vinoteca Restaurant and Wine Bar offers country cuisine in a restored 1903 farmhouse.

Finally, just 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Domaine de Chaberton’sBacchus Bistro in the suburb of Langley is earning medals for its classic French cuisine like chef Ashley Chisham’s crispy duck confit with de Puy lentils (best paired with the winery’s Gamay Noir), and a dessert of anjou pear poached in Chaberton Rouge with aromatic spices (lovely with Domaine de Chaberton’s Siegerrebe dessert wine).

There’s something magical about eating at a winery, even if it’s just nibbling cheese with a baguette and wine on a blanket among the vines. It’s an ephemeral pleasure since many winery restaurants are only open while grapes are on the vine, roughly May through October. A seasonal indulgence to mull over during long, chilly winters. ■

37 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

Travel

San Fernando is a showcase of heritage preservation

BY CONSTANTINO C. TEJERO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE CITY OF San Fernando, capital of Pampanga, evokes Christmas.

Mention its name and one thinks of Paskuhan Village, that showcase of the traditional Christmas parol which rivals in flamboyance the Star of Bethlehem.

Not many people associate the place with heritage structures, as they do with Angeles City, the province’s commercial and cultural capital; or with Bacolor, the former official capital, known as the Athens of Central Luzon.

But San Fernando does have a Heritage District comprising some 30 sites and structures. These are relatively recent in vintage, dating only to as far back as the late 19th century, as the ancient ones had been destroyed by war, natural calamities and other vicissitudes of time.

What’s left are mostly restored structures and a few old houses that have stood intact through the years, though no less significant as witnesses to history and remnants of culture.

Metropolitan Cathedral An example is the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando. The first church was of wood built in 1755 by the Augustinians under its titular patron St. Ferdinand (Fernando III, king of Castile and Leon).

This was replaced in 1888 with a structure of stone and bricks, which stood for over a century until it was burned by the Philippine Revolutionary Army in 1899 upon orders of Gen. Antonio Luna, and again destroyed by fire in 1939.

The church was restored by pioneering Pampango architect Fernando Ocampo in 1948. It was canonically erected on June 25, 1975.

The looming structure of white, beige, gray and maroon may look ancient at first glance, but both exterior and interior are relatively new, really neo-Art Noveau with faux columns.

original structure was built in 1904, shortly after the seat of government was transferred from Bacolor to San Fernando. Today’s dirty-white building dates back to the 1930s, and was the site of a major battle between Filipino guerrillas and Japanese soldiers during the war.

Installed at the entrance are heroic figures of President Diosdado Macapagal and poet-legislator Zoilo Sangalang Hilario, like two stone lions guarding at the gate. Fronting it is Macario Arnedo Park, where a statue of the first governor of the province on horseback overlooks an expanse of grass.

also burned by Luna upon his retreat from advancing American forces. It has been reconstructed several times since and now looks modern.

Baluyut Bridge, that short span over San Fernando River, across the cathedral, next to the municipio, is another witness to the march of history.

It was originally a wooden bridge called Puente Colgante, which was reconstructed in 1896 using iron and stone, but three years later destroyed during the Philippine-American War. It was replaced in 1928 by an arch bridge of reinforced concrete designed by Sotero Baluyut, known as the Father of Concrete Pavement, later senator.

At that time the only link of Northern Luzon to Manila, the bridge was bombed during World War II. It was restored and unveiled on Feb. 2, 2003, on the second anniversary of the cityhood of San Fernando.

Train station Another landmark is the San Fernando Train Station, inaugurated in 1892 as part of the Bagbag-Mabalacat stretch of the Manila-Dagupan Railway system. José Rizal disembarked here City Hall and bridge The City Hall was built in 1917 under four months after its inauguration, the supervision of district engineer EJ when he visited friends in the town to Halsema, replacing the 1874 building recruit members for La Liga Filipina.

Among historical figures who passed this way were war hero and later senator Macario Peralta Jr.; the first Miss Universe Armi Kuusela, on her way to Baguio (where she met future husband Virgilio Hilario Jr. in a ball); Gen. Douglas MacArthur, when he returned in the 1960s.

The site is more famous, however, as the transient point of the Death March of April 1942. This was the end point of that infamous walk of Filipino and American prisoners of war from Bataan, before they were carted off by the Japanese to Capas, Tarlac, on the way to Camp O’Donnell.

When the railroad company stopped operation during the Cory Aquino administration, treasure hunters reportedly came and dug the station’s brick walls for antique Spanish coins.

It was restored last year, but just a fraction of the original station ground covering 85 meters x 630 meters, with only 40-50 percent of the extant structure’s original walls remaining. It is only a shell, used as venue for city activities, art exhibits.

There is a proposal for it to be turned into a war museum.

Provincial Capitol The Pampanga Provincial Capitol’s

Odd structures Adaptive reuse has been practiced by Fernandinos for decades. Pampanga Hotel, one of the oldest structures in the city, was first a residence; then the first site of the provincial high school; and later the hotel that hosted MacArthur for a night.

The Presidio behind the capitol, built in 1907 as designed by William Parsons, used to house the courts of Pampanga before it became the provincial jail. The cream-colored building with brown and green accents was the typical architecture of provincial jails during the American colonial period.

The Tabacalera House, also typical of the architecture prevalent during that era, was the residence of the Tabacalera representative, its ground floor serving as offices. It was used as headquarters by the Kempetai during the war. The current owner has preserved its original elegant look.

A few odd structures still stand as mute witnesses to a bygone era, such as the Leaning Water Tower, a 95-fttall structure of reinforced concrete from the American regime; and the Pikalderan, a cylindrical structure of stone at what was once a primitive sugar mill. ■ By Vangie Baga-Reyes Li’l People is on the 4/L, SM City San Fernando, Downtown, Pampanga; tel. 09209699930, 0920-4072410, 045-4363394. Other branches: SM Baliwag, SM Clark, SM Pampanga, SM San Fernando, SM Tarlac and Robinsons Starmills.

Canada

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 38

BY HEIDI CAROLINE NG

THE GOOD LIFE

Thanksgiving in Vancouver HEIDI CAROLINE NG Philippine Canadian Inquirer

THE LONG weekend has passed and it was a time for families and friends to reconnect because of Canada´s celebration of thanksgiving. Even Canadians of Filipino descent have taken a liking to this festival, marking it as one of the most important holidays they plan for.

As a newbie here in Vancouver, I was fortunate enough to experience Thanksgiving on both Sunday and Monday dinners. Just as a normal Filipino holiday is spent with a lot of preparation of food, celebrating in Canada is no different. Both thanksgiving dinners I attended had a lot of dishes that were good to share.

While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, Canadians might eat their Thanksgiving meal on any day of the three-day weekend, thus the celebration on Sunday, or even a Saturday. In the Thanksgiving dinner I was blessed to be part of last Saturday, the hosts served delicious salmon cooked two ways- one was made with teriyaki sauce, and ther other with lemon butter garlic dressing. The hosts made it possible for the Filipino families to enjoy traditional Filipino foods like ginataan and lumpiang shanghai, while serving some Canadian specialties like the salmon cooked two ways. In the Saturday dinner in Coquitlam, they even had a counter for make your own sushi, given sushi´s popularity in Vancouver.

In the Sunday thanksgiving I attended in a beautiful house in White Rock, with sweeping views of the ocean that is visible from the dining room, friends and family gathered over turkey, ham, spinach salad, home baked cakes like strawberry shortcake, and berry pie with Jhet Van Ruyven, the hostest with the mostest,

using berries such as blueberries and blackberries she picked herself. What is a Filipino get together without the ubiquitous magic sing? After dinner ended, it was time for some good old karaoke and dancing. Thank goodness no one sang ‘’My Way.”

Thanksgiving in Canada is also often a time for weekend getaways, with some people flying to Las Vegas for the weekend, or driving up to the Rocky Mountains, or crossing the border to the United States.

Incidentally, Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with the U.S. observance of Columbus Day. As such, American towns with high amounts of Canadian tourism often hold their fall festivals over Thanksgiving slash Columbus Day weekend in part to draw and accommodate Canadian tourists. In Bellingham Mall, for example, a number of stores were having a Columbus day and Thanksgiving sale weekend, where clothes were priced as low as $5 for tops, and $1 for jewelry and some accessories. ■ For feedback, email us at heidicarolineng@yahoo.com, follow twitter @iamheiding

Business BSP to regulate in-house 14K Pinoys lost jobs in H1, data show funding schemes 39 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012

BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY MICHELLE V. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas is drawing up policies to regulate the proliferation of inhouse financing schemes, a popular means of aiding prospective buyers of real estate assets.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said monetary authorities were reviewing in-house financing activities in the country, particularly their extent and economic impact, to avoid an asset price bubble. The review will serve as the basis for the appropriate regulations to be implemented.

Tetangco said the review was being led by the BSP and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC regulates financing companies while the BSP oversees the overall credit and liquidity situation in the economy.

“A closer look at in-house financing schemes is necessary. If there is excessive lending, this could create a bubble,” Tetangco told the INQUIRER. In the ongoing review, regulators wanted to find out the volume of transactions accounted for by in-house financing companies as well as their credit standards.

Tetangco said working closely with the SEC, together with other government agencies that are members of the Financial Stability Coordinating Council (FSCC), was necessary given that the BSP has no regulatory power over financing companies.

He said in-house financing schemes were one of the subjects being discussed by the FSCC as far as managing risks to the entire financial sector was concerned.

Other issues included activities related to the sale of securities.

“The FSCC is tasked to identify areas of brewing pressures and to take proactive measures before these risks spill over,” Tetangco said in a speech during a convention of finance executives.

The move to look into the activities of financing companies was in line with efforts of the SeBSP to caution banks against excessive realestate lending.

Last July, the BSP directed banks to review the extent of their exposure to the real estate sector and ensure that this was kept within prudent levels.

In particular, the BSP said banks should now include housing loans extended to individuals and loans given to socialized housing developers in the computation of “real estate exposure.” Banks are required to keep their real estate exposure at a maximum 20 percent of their loan portfolios.

Previously, only commercial loans to property developers were included in the computation of real estate exposure.

Documents from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that outstanding housing loans extended by thrift, universal and commercial banks in the country amounted to P232.57 billion as of the end of the first quarter, up 21 percent from P192 billion the previous year.

Nonperforming real-estate loans, or loans for which amortization has remained unpaid for a certain period following maturity, accounted for 5.6 percent of total real estate loans. Although considered negligible, the 5.6 percent was higher compared with the average NPL ratio for all types of loans, which was just about 2 percent. ■

BDO completes sale of P5-B deposit certificates

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer BANCO de Oro Unibank has completed a P5billion fund-raising from the issuance of longterm deposit certificates on the back of strong demand from yield-seeking investors.

BDO announced that it had closed the offering of long-term negotiable certificates of deposit (LTNCDs) a day ahead of the original schedule “due to oversubscription from retail and institutional investors.”

The LTNCDs will mature in seven years after the issue date and carry a coupon rate of 5.25 percent a year. Interest will be paid quarterly and will be tax-exempt for individual investors if held for more than five years.

“The LTNCDs will support the bank’s medium-term growth objectives and help

lengthen the maturity profile of its deposit base,” BDO said in a statement.

The securities are covered by deposit insurance with the PDIC up to a maximum amount of P500,000 per depositor.

While the LTNCDs cannot be preterminated, these are negotiable and can be sold in the secondary market to other investors. By using the LTNCD structure, which is tax-free because of the long tenor, banks can offer better yields to clients.

Deutsche Bank’s Manila branch and HSBC Ltd. acted as joint lead arrangers and selling agents for the LTNCD, while BDO and BDO Private Bank were the other selling agents.

BDO, the largest bank in the country, is controlled by the family of tycoon Henry Sy. ■

SOME 14,000 Filipinos lost their jobs in the first semester this year as some 1,000 companies closed shop or laid off workers because of the economic situation, according to the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES).

Data from the BLES show that from January to June, 14,034 workers were “permanently displaced” as 1,018 firms suffered financial or organizational problems as well as lack of demand or raw materials for their products.

Most of the affected workers were in real estate, renting and business activities (5,321 individuals); wholesale and retail (2,575); and manufacturing (3,009).

In the manufacturing sector, most of those laid off worked for employers doing business in food and beverages, wearing apparel, and fabricated metal products other than machinery and equipment.

Among these companies that resorted to permanent closure or retrenchment, most of them did so because of the need to reorganize or downsize and rationalize redundant positions (with 628 firms); lack of market or slump in demand for their outputs (155); and financial losses (109).

Workers who got displaced due to decisions made by these groups of firms numbered

6,193; 3,942; and 1,277, respectively.

In terms of location, more than twothirds (69 percent or 9,724 individuals) of the displaced workers in the first semester were based in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Also, 14 percent or 1,952 workers were based in Central Luzon and 11 percent or 1,537 workers were from Central Visayas, which includes the province of Cebu.

Related data from the BLES show that the number of jobs among the top large enterprises in the Se NCR continued to grow slower in the first quarter as the decline of employment in agriculture pulled down gains in industry and services.

For every 1,000 enterprise workers in Metro Manila, 81 new hires were added but 75 quit or were fired.

Among 18 industries covered, job growth was greatest in mining and quarrying (9.8 percent); and professional, scientific and technical services (5 percent).

On the other hand, job loss was highest in “other service activities” (18.6 percent) and education (3.2 percent).

The data is part of the BLES’ survey of 700 large corporations in NCR, which were drawn from the 2011 edition of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s list of “Top 25,000 Corporations.” ■

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012 40

Café Mary Grace: Healthy Food for the Family

BY KATHERINE VERANCES MARFAL

WELL-KNOWN for their ensaymadas that melt in the mouth because of its just-baked freshness you cannot resist, Mary Grace Foods has now 8 cafes and 9 kiosks all over the country that serve bountiful healthy goodness from breakfast to dinner.

Café Mary Grace, which was named after its founder Mary Grace Dimacali, started opening several branches, after a successful stint in various bazaars that showcased their homemade ensaymadas and cheese rolls.

In 2001, their first kiosk opened in Glorietta, and five years later, their first full service restaurant had its grand opening in Serendra.

In 2006, they began to offer a variety of healthy and delectable menu ranging from pastas, sandwiches, salads, which compliment their brewed coffee, hot chocolate and signature pastries.

When asked what makes their ensaymadas unique, it is simply baked with 100% real butter topped with imported Edam cheese. To ensure that their recipes are also healthy, they make use of extra virgin olive oil in the sauces of their pastas.

Health studies showed that extra virgin olive oil helps in preventing heart-related diseases.

Their healthy sandwiches coupled with fresh vegetables are ideal for health conscious patrons.

They also serve homemade iced teas, which are made from premium tea leaves and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Studies showed that premium tea leaves help people alleviate stress, either from work or home. It is also said that drinking iced tea with tea leaves is healthier than drinking water or wine.

Mary Grace wants to offer recipes which are a good source of energy. Their menu utilizes three major nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats so anyone who dines at Café Mary Grace will be able to meet the complete nutritional requirements.

They also have a lot of vegetables in their menu that contain vitamins and minerals. Their recipes are

also a good source of fiber To top it all, their baked products do not contain preservatives.

Cooking techniques that they employ are braising, grilling, sautéing, boiling and baking.

Aside from serving healthy and delectable dishes, the secret behind Mary Grace Foods’ success is they treat their customers as family members. What they can be truly proud of is that their service always

comes with a heart that cares. Perhaps, the healthiest ingredient a customer, like you can avail.

When you dine in at Café Mary Grace, you will be able to write a note, detailing your dining experience.

It is one way to make sure that all their customers are satisfied with the food that they prepare for the whole family. ■ Photos courtesy of Mary Grace Foods

Contact: Jo Pinera, Joy Sibyan, Grace Resurreccion

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Canada ‘Ateneo, La Salle profs so not duwag, they make sabi RH stand’ “ATENEO & La Salle profs are like so not duwag.”

They, after all, are “so tapang” to “make sabi (their) stand on (the reproductive health bill).”

Believe it or not, these are real excerpts.

As some students of three of the country’s Catholic universities battled it out in the online world following a controversial editorial published in the University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) school organ The Varsitarian, a blogger has taken advantage of the ongoing tension, and has recently come out with a post that has earned quite a following among Internet users.

Jules Vitriolo, executive director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the agency was implementing a hands-off approach to the incident as of press time.

According to him, anyone was within the bounds of free speech guaranteed in the Constitution.

The writer or writers of The Varsitarian, in particular, he said, was within his right to express how he feels.

He emphasized that the CHEd came in only in “academic” matters.

In an editorial on Sept. 30, The Varsitarian slammed professors of Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University for supposedly supporting the controversial RH bill, calling them “intellectual pretenders and interlopers.”

The editorial, titled “RH bill, Ateneo, and La Salle: Of Lemons and Cowards,” has gone viral in social media, drawing various reactions from netizens.

The editorial said that since Catholic universities existed for evangelical purposes, the 192 Ateneo and the 45 La Salle University professors who declared support for the RH bill should resign to show conviction.

“But alas, it seems intellectual honesty and moral conviction are in such short supply in Katipunan, Quezon City, and Taft Avenue, Manila,” the article said.

‘Conyo English’ The blog post, published on http://sankagesteno.wordpress. com/2012/10/08/ateneo-la-salle-profs-

Photo by Gezelle Rivera

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer

are-like-so-not-duwag/, scored the writer (or writers) of The Varsitarian’s editorial in a mixture of English and Filipino, an apparent spoof of the “conyo English” that several people say is used by most of the affluent students of La Salle and Ateneo.

The post was written by one snap2104. It was unclear whether the blogger was a student of any of the three universities.

“The nerve of other schools to make paratang to our beloved profs, calling them names like ‘coward’ and ‘papansin.’ It’s so nakaka-irritate! Like super! (The nerve of other schools to accuse our beloved profs, calling them names like ‘coward’ and ‘attentionseekers.’ It’s so irritating! Like super!),” the post said.

According to snap2104, the labels were unnecessary since the Ateneo and La Salle professors who expressed their support for the RH bill on Aug. 13 and Sept. 3, respectively, “ma(d)e tayo nga for what they believe in (stood up for what they believe in)” despite “a huge potential that (their) employers will make sipa (them) out of the school (a huge potential that their employers will kick them out of the school).”

“And you call them duwag? Are you kidding me? (And you call them cowards?),” the blogger asked.

Despite the criticisms, the blogger said he agreed with The Varsitarian on one thing.

Borrowing a line from the editorial, snap2104 said, “It takes guts to be a Catholic nowadays.”

Stands by editorial Reached by phone Tuesday, The Varsitarian faculty adviser Lito Zulueta—arts and books editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer—referred an Inquirer reporter to a statement from the editorial board of the school paper.

The statement said: “The Varsitarian comes up with editorial positions in the same manner as news organizations like yours do. Editorial judgment and prerogatives rest with the Editorial Board. Editorials reflect the stand of the newspaper and as such, do not carry bylines. Needless to say, The Varsitarian is editorially independent of the UST administration.”

In an earlier phone interview over the television program “Saksi,” Zulueta said of The Varsitarian editorial: “The editorial position is put vehemently, I must admit. Siguro (Maybe) unChristian, yes, we admit,” he said.

Zulueta also said on the TV program that “vehement speech is a very grave speech … We admit that, and we apologize for that.”

Reached by the Inquirer, Zulueta denied apologizing for the content of The Varsitarian editorial and said, “Our editorial stands.”

Antonio Contreras, a political science professor at De La Salle University and a supporter of the RH bill, acknowledged the right of the writer or writers of The Varsitarian editorial to express their opinions.

But Contreras took offense at the name-calling that was made.

“I hope they don’t call us insulting names. That was what was unacceptable in the statement—that we were treated as if we were dishonest intellectually,” he said in Filipino.

“But it’s their right. Let them say that. This country is free,” he said Also on Tuesday, the UST administration, in a statement e-mailed to the Inquirer, supported The Varsitarian in its stand against the RH bill. But it disowned a part of its editorial that said the Ateneo and La Salle professors were “intellectual pretenders and interlopers.”

The statement said the UST administration “does not impose its will nor exercise prior restraint on the opinions of the school paper’s writers nor the manner by which they are expressed.”

It added: “We remain united in Christ with the Ateneo de Manila University, the De La Salle University and the other universities in our mission to promote Catholic education and to form students to become living testaments to the teachings of Christ and the principles we hold sacred—competence, commitment and compassion.” ■

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 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.

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