Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #121

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JUNE 27, 2014

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Bong Revilla turns to reading the Bible

Lani worried about Bong’s health condition in jail

Jinggoy and wife renew wedding vows

Celebrating Canada

Your first Canadian moment

Malaysia’s top court upholds ruling that non-Muslims cannot use ‘Allah’

BY EILEEN NG The Associated Press

WAITING FOR THE INEVITABLE

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA—Malaysia’s top court weighed in Monday on the country’s longstanding fight over the word “Allah,” saying non-Muslims cannot use it to refer to God. But the ❱❱ PAGE 20 Malaysia's top

Sen. Bong Revilla, with his wife Rep. Lani Mercado, son Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla and other family members, addresses supportes in the Revilla mansion in Bacoor, Cavite province, shortly before the Sandigan ordered the issuance of a warrant for his arrest on Thursday. Left: the many expressions of Revilla's co-accused Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during a media forum at the Sheraton Hotel in Manila. Estrada, Revilla and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who are charged with plunder and graft of over P10-billion pork barrel scam, say they are ready to be arrested.

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Philippine News

3 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

New cells for accused in P10-B pork scam

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SMELL of freshly painted rooms will greet lawmakers indicted for plunder in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam once they are taken to the newly constructed detention building at Camp Crame.

The Philippine National Police yesterday allowed members of the media to inspect the would-be detention rooms of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, ending weeks of speculations over the purpose of the construction of the building in the PNP Custodial Center.

Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP spokesperson, said the four-room structure was originally built as barracks for the officials of the Custodial Service Unit (CSU) as part of the facility improvements at the PNP national headquarters in Quezon City.

“This is just a temporary detention facility. These rooms are not built for this purpose,” Sindac said as he led reporters to the bungalow.

He said the facility was supposed to be the officers’ quarters. “But because of last-minute changes and adjustments, the officers would no longer occupy the rooms to give way to the high-profile detainees.”

Sindac said it was still up to the Sandiganbayan where the lawmakers and their coaccused would be locked up, saying the PNP was merely readying its facilities should the antigraft court order their detention at Camp Crame.

Arrest warrants

The antigraft court is expected

DETENTION CENTER FOR VIPs. A newly built bungalow in Camp Crame in Quezon City with four rooms measuring 32 square meters each will serve as the detention

facility for Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, who have been indicted for plunder in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

A room has its own toilet, shower, ceiling fan and metal bed with foam mattress.

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO AND NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER.NET

to issue arrest warrants for the 54 people charged with plunder and graft over the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) after it raffled off the cases to its three branches on Friday.

“How long are they going to be detained here? It’s up to the court. We will comply with the court’s order,” Sindac said.

“Since maintaining jail facilities is not the primary duty of the PNP, we will make do with what we have,” he added.

While the PNP vowed not to give VIP treatment to the lawmakers, the detention rooms it prepared for the senators were obviously very different from the usual cramped jails.

Measuring 32 square meters each, the rooms are almost similar to studio-type apartments.

Each detention room has its own toilet and bath with a new shower, sink, toilet bowl and ceramic tiles.

The room’s main area has a ceiling fan and tile flooring. Its interior walls are covered with

cream-colored paint.

It also has a kitchen sink with two wooden cabinets below it.

When the reporters visited the area yesterday, workers were still painting the outside walls and installing iron grills of the windows of the four detention rooms.

Special accommodation

“If you compare this to the regular city or provincial jails, you can say that this is a special accommodation for the senators,” said a junior police official who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal from his superiors.

“But the arrangement is understandable because the PNP cannot mix them with the terrorists and rebels who are also detained at the Custodial Center,” he said.

Three rooms have single metal beds with foam mattresses while the room at the end of the building has two double-deck beds.

Sindac said the fourth room may be used to detain women

www.canadianinquirer.net

who were charged along with the three senators.

The detention building is just beside the maximum compound of the one-hectare Custodial Center where retired PNP Director General Avelino Razon Jr. and four other former police generals are detained in connection with graft cases.

Beside the structure is a newly built 64-square-meter multipurpose building where Enrile, Revilla and Estrada “might be processed once they are detained,” Sindac said.

He said it could also serve as a working space for the lawmakers if the court will allow them to hold office at the detention facility.

“They may also be allowed to receive visitors in this building,” Sindac said.

Adjacent to the detention facility is the CSU’s new administrative building.

The detention compound’s 3.7-meter-high walls are crowned with barbed wire. A closed-circuit television camera

is also installed in the compound.

Watchtowers

Policemen armed with highpowered firearms were seen manning the three watchtowers of the facility.

Visitors would have to pass through three security gates before reaching the 600-squaremeter jail compound.

Supt.

Mario Malana, CSUchief, said a 1.5-meter high metal barrier would be installed to separate the two buildings and to prevent the unauthorized entry of visitors to the detention rooms.

Cell phones banned

“Mobile phones and other gadgets are strictly prohibited inside. We will screen all the persons who will visit the detainees,” Malana said.

He said the PNP had also prepared 16 smaller detention cells, each measuring 9 square meters, for the other individuals indicted in the pork barrel scam. ■

Philippine News

JUNE 27, 2014

FRIDAY 4

‘Dead’ top Filipino DAR sees wider land reform coverage militant, alive and well; deemed a threat by military

BY TONETTE OREJAS Inquirer Central Luzon

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer HE WAS believed dead, as reported by members of the Philippine media in 2010. But it turns out that this Filipino militant bomb-making expert is alive and well, and considered a threat by the military.

Expert bomb maker, Abdel Basit Usman, recently escaped a military raid of a Muslim guerrilla camp in the Philippines, proving wrong earlier reports that he had been killed in 2010 in a US drone attack that targeted a Pakistani Taliban leader in a remote area of northern Pakistan, the military said Saturday.

Usman, who is on the US government’s list of most-wanted terrorists, is believed by Philippine and US authorities to have links to the Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf group of Southeast Asian militants. In 2009, the US State Department offered an $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

According to southern Philippines military spokesman Colonel Dickson Hermoso, the militant Muslim activist was seen in the camp of another armed Muslim group on the island of Mindanao.

“We launched a raid two weeks ago. There was a firefight and we recovered an arms cache, but he was able to get

away. He’s the one training the BIFF members who are conducting bombings in central Mindanao,” Hermoso told reporters from the Associated Foreign Press (AFP).

The BIFF or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters is an offshoot of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the biggest Muslim guerilla group behind the armed rebellion that, for decades, has gripped the southern region of Mindanao.

“Based on what we know, he is still active,” Philippine military spokesman LieutenantColonel Ramon Zagala told AFP Saturday.

“As far as we’re concerned he’s with the BIFF,” he said.

Zagala disclosed that the Philippine government has offered a reward of a P 6.3 million (roughly $144,000) for information leading to Usman’s capture.

“There is a standing warrant for his arrest on charges of multiple murder,” Zagala added.

“We are securing our communities and vital installations from his activities,” Hermoso added.

Although the MILF signed a peace treaty with the Philippine government early this year, with both parties agreeing to create Muslim self-rule in the region, the BIFF has rejected the accord, committing to continue the insurgency. ■

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) plans to place more farmlands under the agrarian reform program after civil society groups submitted lists for notices of coverage (NOCs) and President Aquino certified as urgent bills that would allow the agency to issue such notices even after June 30, an official said.

“There may be more landholdings since there are many civil society organizations submitting lists for NOC issuance, which our field offices have to validate,” Anthony Parungao, DAR undersecretary for legal affairs, said in an interview yesterday.

An NOC officially places a landholding under the program through which agricultural lands will be distributed to tenants or landless farmers at state-subsidized rates, to be paid in 30 years and to be made productive with government aid.

The DAR is set to distribute 5,635 NOCs, covering 48,344 hectares, by June 30, the deadline for issuing NOC. The agency, Parungao said, is looking forward to seeing the social justice program expand its scope if Congress extends the power of the agency to issue NOCs and accept voluntary offers to sell beyond June 30.

“I’m confident a law will be passed soonest, especially in light of President Aquino’s certifications,” Parungao told the INQUIRER in a text message.

Mr. Aquino has certified as urgent the House and Senate versions of bills on NOC extension by two years until 2016, the same year when Republic Act No. 9700, or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper), will expire.

The DAR is set to distribute 5,635 NOCs (notices of coverage), covering 48,344 hectares, by June 30, the deadline for issuing NOC. PHOTO BY ANTONIO V. OQUIAS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

for publication,” he said.

“Of course, we intend to issue NOCs for all remaining landholdings, assuming that information and documents for details needed to finalize NOCs are available,” Parungao said.

He said the Land Registration Authority had certified the loss of the original copies of 1,200 titles in Negros Occidental province while DAR records were washed out by floods spawned

by Supertyphooon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in Leyte province last year.

More time

“So, for sure, there would be landholdings left without NOCs. That’s why [there is a] need to give the DAR more time to issue NOCs,” Parungao said.

He said the DAR had been working to hasten the process since three years ago.

“We’ve done everything to expedite, starting with publication of NOC, cleansing of database, personnel augmentation and movements, logistical support and even the adjustment of our legal framework by coming out with an [administrative order] allowing for the use of other documents, [such as] photocopies of titles, tax declarations, titles or deeds, for adjacent properties, among others,” he said.

Parungao said RA 9700 allowed the DAR to buy and distribute lands that were covered

by NOCs.

For publication

Abdel Basit Usman PHOTO: NEWS.NFO.PH

Citing a report by Jose Grageda, DAR undersecretary for field operations, Parungao said the agency would be publishing the NOC in national newspapers and tapping additional personnel to encode data.

“We don’t have estimates yet.

We’ve set a June 22 deadline to our field offices to submit a list www.canadianinquirer.net

Compulsory acquisition

Grageda, in a statement, said the DAR issued 67,577 NOCs for 628,745 ha for compulsory acquisition from 2002 to 2013.

On its website, the DAR said the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, through RA 6657 from 1987 to June 2009, covered 2,321,064 ha of private

agricultural lands and 1,727,054 ha of nonprivate agricultural lands for a total of 4,048,118 ha.

A total of 2,396,857 beneficiaries were “installed” on these lands.

Under Carper, the DAR said it distributed 196,055 ha of private agricultural lands and 209,151 ha of nonprivate agricultural lands from July 2009 to December 2012, installing 210,586 beneficiaries.

No to Carper extension

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) opposed the Carper extension.

“The DAR’s boast that 4.49 million ha, or 84 percent of the total 5.36 million ha targeted for distribution, has already been awarded to farmer-beneficiaries is belied with hundreds of thousands of cases of cancellation of awarded lands due to exemption from land reform coverage and land use conversions from agricultural to industrial, residential, commercial and tourism use, including mining operations,” Rafael Mariano, KMP chair, said in a statement.

In a statement on Saturday, Parungao said, “The DAR wishes to reassure the farmers that there is no need to panic.”

“Even if the NOC extension bill was not passed last Wednesday, the DAR can still distribute land. What the DAR cannot do after June 2014 is to issue notices of coverage and accept voluntary offers to sell unless its power to do so is extended,” he said.

Parungao also clarified that the proposed bills pending in Congress were for the extension of the power of the DAR to issue NOCs and to accept voluntary offers to sell, and not for the extension to distribute lands. ■

Philippine News

5 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Honasan, 10 others face malverse raps NBI to file third batch of pork cases this week

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer A SENATOR, a government official and eight former and current members of the House of Representatives will be charged with malversation of public funds this week for alleged misuse of their pork barrel from 2007 to 2009, the INQUIRER has learned.

To be charged with them in the Office of the Ombudsman is businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

The charges will be the third batch of cases to be brought by the government against Napoles, lawmakers and government officials who allegedly pocketed millions of pesos in public funds intended for rural development.

The National Bureau of Investigation will file the charges against Napoles, Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Director General Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), La Union Rep. Victor Ortega (first district), former La Union Rep. Manuel Ortega, former Zamboanga Rep. Isidoro Real Jr., Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing (fifth district), Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (second district), Abono Rep. Conrado Estrella III and former Abono Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella.

Of those to be charged, only Villanueva is a member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party.

Honasan is an independent.

‘VLL’ identified

A source who have knowledge of the NBI investigation said on Saturday that charges would also be filed against the older brother of Napoles, Valentin Limchu, who allegedly facilitated the Honasan transaction with Michael Benjamin, the senator’s chief political officer.

Limchu is the “VLL” in the Benhur Luy files published by the INQUIRER in a series of reports last month.

Luy, a relative and former aide of Napoles, is the principal whistle-blower in the pork barrel scam scandal.

According to the source, Ho-

nasan will be accused of authorizing the release of P15 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation to a foundation controlled

by Napoles, the Agriculture and Economic Program for Farmers Foundation, for various livelihood projects to be implemented by the National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC).

The source said alleged agents of the lawmakers would also be charged. Among them are Energy Regulation Commission Chair Zenaida Ducut, Celia Cuasay, Maite Defensor, Anthony Dequina and Manuel Harmin.

The INQUIRER tried to contact Honasan and the alleged agents for comment yesterday, but failed to reach any of them.

Ducut has chosen to keep silent since the start of the scandal, while Dequina, a former North Cotabato representative, has expressed surprise at the mention of his name among the alleged pork barrel agents.

“I could not believe my name was dragged into this mess.

How could I transact whatever deal with Napoles when I was no longer a solon at that time?” he said.

Already explained

Learning on Saturday that he was among those to be charged, Bagatsing, a member of Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (Kabaka) party, said he had already responded to and explained allegations linking him to the pork barrel scam. He said he did not understand why the NBI was proceeding to bring charges against him.

Bagatsing said that if there was a real whistle-blower against him, he should have been included in the first batch of pork barrel scam cases filed by the NBI in the Ombudsman on June 6.

Earlier, Bagatsing denied any wrongdoing, saying the documents covering his alleged pork barrel transactions were forgeries.

“I’ve already explained the documents I have,” he said.

Bagatsing has filed perjury charges against Napoles for spreading false information involving him.

Napoles has said Bagatsing channeled P1 million of

(From left) Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva and Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing (fifth district) are three of 11 persons that will be charged with malversation of public funds this week for alleged misuse of their pork barrel from 2007 to 2009, the Inquirer has learned.

INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

his pork barrel funds to one of her foundations and received a 40percent “rebate.”

Bagatsing said he could not have authorized funding for any project in 2007 because he received his PDAF allocation only in 2008. He also denied authorizing anybody to accept a rebate on his behalf from a transaction with Napoles.

Facing the music

For his part, Rodriguez, a member of Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former Vice President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, said on Saturday that if complaints would be filed against him, he would answer the allegations and prove he had not committed any wrongdoing.

“If there’s a filing, we will face the music because we’re sure of our innocence,” Rodriguez said.

Yesterday, he maintained that he had never received any amount from Napoles or any of her associates.

“I have not met her at any time nor any of her people,” Rodriguez said. “My signatures in all the documents were forged.”

P-Noy’s friend

Villanueva, a former nominee of Citizens Battle Against Corruption to the House and a friend of President Aquino, could not be reached for comment yesterday. But he has denied knowing Napoles or doing business with any of her “lieutenants.”

“I’ve been working hard to build my name and that of my father and this is [what they accuse me of ],” he said in Februwww.canadianinquirer.net

ary after he was reported to be among those under investigation in the pork barrel scam.

“If there’s any evidence against me, I will go to jail myself,” he said.

Estrella III has admitted meeting Napoles, but denied doing business with her.

“I have no association with her. I see her sometimes and we just exchange hellos. I did not know that she was associated with the foundations mentioned in the papers,” he said.

Estrella has said that he never channeled pork funds through any foundation, stressing that government agencies are the implementers of his projects.

Abono’s Robert Raymund Estrella has the same thing to say in denying dealing with Napoles.

“We never gave any of our funds to any Napoles NGO,” Estrella said.

La Union Representative Ortega, a member of the LakasCMD party, has also denied ever meeting or doing business with Napoles.

Former La Union Rep. Manuel Ortega, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, could not be reached for comment up to press time last night.

Real, a Lakas-CMD member, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Official records from the Department of Budget, a Commission on Audit (COA) special audit report, documents from the implementing agencies and the financial records of Benhur Luy form part of the evidence to be submitted to the Ombudsman against the respondents, the

source said.

The source added that as in the first two batches of cases, the third batch would also use as evidence the testimonies and documentary evidence submitted by the whistle-blowers led

by Luy, Marina Sula and Merlina Suñas.

In an interview last week, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the third batch would cover “a [few] more” lawmakers than those charged in each of the first two batches and would not involve plunder charges but malversation of public funds.

First, second batches

The first batch of cases covered 39 respondents, of whom eight were former and incumbent lawmakers, including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. The three senators and the others were indicted in the Sandiganbayan for plunder and graft on June 6.

The second batch of cases, filed on June 9, had 34 respondents, seven of whom were former members of the House of Representatives.

In previous interviews, De Lima said the lawmakers received from Napoles 40 to 60 percent of the cash value of the projects as kickback in exchange for selecting the foundations identified with her as handlers of their pork barrelfunded projects. Most of the projects were nonexistent.

In filing the cases, De Lima said, the NBI focused mainly on the criminal charges and that it was up to anyone to file other charges against the accused. ■

Philippine News

JUNE 27, 2014

FRIDAY 6

Bong Revilla turns to reading the Bible

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES–Sen. Bong Revilla spent his first Sunday as a jailbird in Bible fellowship with his family.

His wheelchair-bound father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., arrived around 11 a.m. and stayed at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame for about two hours.

Revilla’s wife, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado, their children, and his siblings also joined the service led by Pastor Chinkee Tan. Actors Phillip Salvador and Jimmy Santos also visited Revilla, who made a name for himself as an action movie star like his father.

“I’m OK. I can handle this,” Bryan Revilla, the senator’s oldest son, quoted his father as telling him during the family visit.

“He said he would suddenly wake up at night and be startled on realizing that he’s not sleeping at home,” Bryan told reporters.

“After that, he said he just goes back to sleep,” he continued.

During the religious service, Bryan said his father thanked their relatives for praying for him and for their unwavering support for him.

Bible studies

He said his father had been joining their family in going to Christian services and Bible studies every Sunday.

“The Sunday service was very peaceful. It was very uplifting,” Bryan said.

He said his father was keeping himself busy by reading books and by sweeping and watering the concrete floor outside his detention room.

While they were trying to put up a brave front, Bryan admitted their family had been hurt by criticisms on social media, particularly by insinuations that his father was being given special treatment by the police.

He said their relatives were trying “to keep everything positive” amid the biggest challenge to be faced by the family.

“It really hurts, I must admit. Even though we say that we’re not affected, deep inside it hurts. It really does hurt,” he said.

He said he himself had been receiving hate mail, but he had been ignoring them “because I don’t want to let anger take control of me.”

As to his family’s bashers, Bryan said: “We might as well pray for them. If they were offended or hurt, I’m sorry.”

Visitation policy

Meanwhile, the PNP spokesman, Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, said Revilla’s custodial guards would strictly implement the visitation policy amid criticisms that the PNP was giving special accommodation to the senator.

As agreed, he said Revilla’s family and friends were allowed to visit him only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday and Sunday.

“As a matter of policy, the families of the detainees may choose two days every week to see their loved ones. We are doing this

Sen. Bong Revilla spent his first Sunday as a jailbird in Bible fellowship with his family.

PHOTO FROM MANILACHANNEL.COM

because the visitors’ lounge of the Custodial Center can handle only a small number of people,” Sindac told reporters.

He said Andrea Revilla, the senator’s sister and wife of Antipolo City Mayor Junjun Ynares, was allowed to bring in food for her brother beyond the allowed visiting period last Saturday “because the family was

still adjusting to the situation.”

“But starting Sunday, the rules and policies of the Custodial Center will be strictly implemented,” he said.

Sindac said two employees of the PNP Health Service went to the Custodial Center at around 4 a.m. Sunday when Revilla complained of headache caused by migraine. ■

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Philippine News

7 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

3 gov’t officials named in pork scam still in office

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer THREE WOMEN—Gondelina Amata, Ophelia Agawin and Zenaida Ducut—have managed to hang on to their government posts despite being implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded

by Janet Lim-Napoles.

Amata, an accused conduit of Napoles in funneling pork barrel funds into bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs), has kept her post as president of state-owned National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC) despite President Aquino’s appointment of her replacement more than two-and-a-half years ago.

She’s now a coaccused in the graft cases against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada. She’s also in the Bureau of Immigration Hold Departure Order.

Agawin, allegedly Napoles’ point person at ZNAC Rubber Estate Corp. (ZREC), is still an agriculture assistant secretary, while Ducut, allegedly a Napoles agent, remains the head of the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Ducut is among those to be charged with malversation in the third batch of pork barrel respondents to be filed shortly by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Official documents obtained by the INQUIRER showed that

Mr. Aquino named Josaias T. de la Cruz, vice president of BPI Globe Banko (the microfinancing arm of the Ayala Group), the replacement of Amata, who was appointed to her post in 2005 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

On Nov. 11, 2011, Mr. Aquino signed the appointment papers of De la Cruz as acting member of the NLDC’s board of trustees in place of Raymund R. Sabarre.

In a letter to Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima on the same day, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said, “I am pleased to inform you that the President has approved the nomination of Hon. Josias T. de la Cruz as acting president of the National Livelihood Development Corp. vice Gondelina G. Amata.”

Purisima wrote a marginal note on the letter with a side note: “For appropriate action.”

The documents were received by NLDC two months later or on Jan. 12, 2012.

A source from NLDC, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak for the firm, said De la Cruz’s takeover, who had planned to move in on March 2012 to give him more time to wrap up his duties at the bank, did not push through as he was informed in February 2012 that his appointment had been put on hold.

Amata did not reply to the INQUIRER’s calls or text messages for clarification. The INQUIRER tried to get De la

Cruz’s side but his bank’s official spokesperson did not return calls as of press time.

Sabarre has left NLDC, leaving Malacañang with no representation on its board following De la Cruz’s decision to return to BPI Globe Banko.

Agawin was ZREC treasurer and director from 2006 to 2010 when she facilitated the disbursements of a total of P282 million in pork barrel funds of Senators Estrada and Bong Revilla, and former Representatives Edgar Valdez of Apec andReneVelarde of Buhay to Napoles’ NGOs. Alcala assistant

Agawin was transferred to the Department of Agriculture when Mr. Aquino took over Malacañang and resumed her role as a Napoles conduit under Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

She was named head of the agriculture department’s committee tasked with accrediting NGOs to be tapped as recipients of the agency’s funds for livelihood programs.

Ducut, who was then Pampanga representative, was

among several lawmakers who were listed in 2002 as recipients of P407 million worth of computers and communication equipment purchased by the Department of Transportation and Communications from Napoles’ company, Jo Chris Trading.

The project is under investigation as Napoles was believed to have made ghost deliveries of the computers and communication equipment.

Ducut is also among the 34 people (including former

Muntinlupa Rep. and Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon) charged by the Office of the Ombudsman with plunder and graft in its second batch of pork barrel scam cases.

Ducut was accused of getting a 5-percent commission for brokering the transfer of pork barrel funds of Biazon and five other former representatives (Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr., Salacnib Baterina, Douglas R. Cagas, Marc Douglas CM Cagas IV and Arrel Olano) to the Napoles NGOs. ❱❱ PAGE 8 3 gov’t

High-profile slays alarm President

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer IN THE WAKE of high-profile murders, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma yesterday said President Aquino was taking seriously all aspects of crime prevention and law enforcement.

Coloma said the high-profile crimes should prompt law enforcement authorities to intensify their crime prevention efforts.

“And one of the principles in crime prevention is getting the support of the citizenry in terms of police community coopera-

tion because crimes take place in our communities,” he said.

Coloma was responding to a query about what the government, particularly the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police, was doing to prevent criminal activities.

Hotel chain owner Richard King and race car driver Enzo Pastor were gunned down in separate incidents in Davao City and Quezon City, respectively, on Independence Day. Five days earlier, gunmen killed a Pangasinan town mayor on the eve of his wedding anniversary.

Coloma said the President was taking a hands-on attitude toward crime and police matters.

“I have been with him on several occasions where I have actually witnessed him calling up a particular officer to inquire about an incident report or to make sure that a report on a serious crime is being handled properly and with utmost urgency,” he said.

On June 12, the 57-year-old King, who owned the Crown Regency chain of hotels and resorts, was shot dead in his office in Davao City. That same night, Pastor was killed on the corner of Visayas and Congressional Avenues in Quezon City on his way to the Clark International Speedway.

On June 7, Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. of Urbiztondo www.canadianinquirer.net

town, Pangasinan province, was shot 27 times by two armed men. The President later attended the wake of Balolong, who was a member of the ruling Liberal Party.

At yesterday’s Palace media briefing, a reporter asked Coloma about what Interior Secretary Mar Roxas had been doing to prevent crime under his watch. The PNP is under the supervision of Roxas.

“What can the public expect from the PNP now? Or perhaps the interior secretary is now busy with politics?” Coloma was told. Roxas is the presumptive standard-bearer of the ruling party in the 2016 presidential election.

“All crimes that take place in our country have to be solved.

All steps should be taken by the national police and [other] law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our people and give them peace of mind,” Coloma replied.

Coloma acknowledged a reporter’s suggestion that the President consider appointing to law enforcement positions officials who really understand the job, including police operations.

“We can be assured that the President considers the things that you have mentioned, especially our law enforcement authorities’ level of capability or skill in performing their duties,” he replied. ■

Philippine News

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JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 8

Liquor firm told off: ‘Hic!’ No way to use heroes’ names on brandy, rum

BY TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer IF A POPULAR beer and gin can bear the name of an archangel, why not a brandy or rum after Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio? Not a chance, says Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Cayetano on Monday assailed a plan by liquor company Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc. (DLI) to register the names of national heroes as brands for its alcoholic beverage products, calling it a desecration of their memory.

DLI’s plan to register Rizal, Bonifacio and Gomburza as trademarks threatened to “desecrate, misappropriate and trivialize” their national and historic significance, she said.

Gomburza stands for martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora.

“Dr. Jose Rizal, Gat Andres Bonifacio and the three martyred priests all laid their lives for the freedom and rights we enjoy today, and this is how Destileria Limtuaco intends to honor them?” Cayetano said in a statement.

She wondered aloud: Does the company merely want to profit from having their names and images emblazoned on their bottles of whisky, gin, brandy and rum?

‘Intramuros’

“It boggles my mind that the corporate executives of this company are so callous and un-Filipino that they would appropriate the names of Philippine heroes and landmarks for use on their alcoholic products which are known vices,” she said.

As of press time last night, DLI did not respond to calls requesting comment from the INQUIRER. Cayetano, chair of the Senate committee on education, arts and culture, twitted the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) for “allowing the initial approval” of DLI’s application to register “Intramuros” as a liquor brand.

“I cannot understand how the IPO, a

government agency that is tasked to uphold the law and the national interest, would allow the name of a national heritage site to be reduced into a brand of an intoxicating beverage?” she said.

The senator said the IPO should have used its authority to reject the application outright.

After all, the trademark examiner has the discretion to deny an application during the substantive examination based on Section 123 of the Intellectual Property Code, she said.

“If he or she denies it, then it will not be allowed for publication for purposes of opposition,” she said. ❱❱ PAGE 12 Liquor film

3 gov’t... ❰❰ 7

The Arroyo appointee has kept her post despite her poor performance as the head watchdog of the power industry.

Chief Justice Renato Corona.

All senator-recipients, except for Marcos, voted to impeach Corona on May 29, 2012.

DAP fund

Rejected by DAR

The NLDC source pointed out that following De la Cruz’s aborted takeover, Amata facilitated the release of P375 million in funds from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to four senators—Estrada, Revilla, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vicente Sotto III. Amata has been charged with graft in each of the cases filed against Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Revilla and Estrada in the Sandiganbayan for acting as a conduit in the release of millions of pork barrel funds dating back from 2009.

The NLDC source claimed that Napoles lobbied to retain Amata because she was a vital cog in her pork barrel scheme.

Both the special allotment release order and the notice of cash allocation for the P735million DAP allocation were released in March 2012 or in the middle of the Senate’s impeachment trial of then

Documents with the INQUIRER showed that DAP funds were originally part of the P475-million DAP allocation rejected by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in December 2011.

At the time, the DAR was being pressed to explain unliquidated funds it released the previous years to NGOs that were found to have been bogus. The balance of P100 million in DAP funds was allocated to Enrile (P50 million) and Sen. Loren Legarda (P55 million). The INQUIRER could not verify from where these funds were realigned.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad had previously revealed that Marcos “wrote Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile through Sen. Franklin Drilon on Nov. 23, 2011, requesting an endorsement of his request ... then he wrote the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) on Feb. 8, 2012, requesting that the implementing agency be changed from

www.canadianinquirer.net

DAR to NLDC.” Marcos has denied endorsing DAP funds for Napoles NGOs, claiming that the signature on his supposed endorsement letters were forged. “That’s the senator’s contention but that’s not what our records show,” Abad said of the Marcos allegation.

In a previous interview, Amata said that she resisted the use of NLDC as a conduit for pork barrel fund releases, claiming that this hampered the firm’s core function of lending to poor entrepreneurs.

The DBM, however, has refused to remove the agency from its list of accredited implementing arms for pork barrel funds.

The principal whistle-blower in the pork barrel scam, Benhur Luy, said in his affidavit that Amata was among Napoles’ close associates.

Luy noted that Napoles gave Amata money to cover the hospital expenses of Amata’s ailing husband.

Curiously, Napoles left out Amata on her list of agency contacts in her affidavit, which was part of requirements in her failed bid to be granted state witness protection. ■

9 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Lani worried about Bong’s health condition in jail

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—Bacoor Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla and her children can’t help but worry about their family man, Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr.—one of the lawmakers implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Revilla turned himself in to the authorities on Friday, June 20—the same day the Sandiganbayan issued the warrant for his arrest. He was with his wife Lani and their children when he surrendered at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

On his first night in prison, Revilla complained about the heat, which caused him migraine. All his family could do was bring food and water for him.

“Tumataas ang BP [blood pressure] niya pag mina-migraine siya, ‘yon ang problema.

So, we have to control that at

‘yon ang ipinakiusap ko sa kanila kasi if that happens, puwedeng mag-cause ng aneurysm, puwede kasing pumutok ang ugat niyan eh,” said Lani in an interview with ABS-CBN’s primetime news program ‘Bandila.’

(His blood pressure shoots up whenever he has a migraine, that’s the problem. So, we have to control that and that’s what we’re asking for, because if that happens, it can cause an aneurysm. He could pop a vein.)

According to her interview, the family will request to the court of Sen. Revilla can be moved to a different jail cell or at least get a visit from his doctor.

In a separate ABS-CBN report, Lani is asking the court if her husband could have an aircooler in his jail cell to lessen the heat. No word from the Sandiganbayan on this request as of posting.

With everything going on with their family, the kids are the ones most affected.

Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. with wife Lani Mercado face the public on the night before he surrenders to PNP. SCREENSHOT OF SOLAR NEWS FOOTAGE

“Masakit na makita ang iyong ama na nakakulong. Pero expected na rin po namin ito eh.

Hoping naman na una, magig-

www.canadianinquirer.net

ing patas naman po ang labanan, na alam din naman po namin na hindi kami iiwan ng Diyos,” said eldest son Brian Revilla.

(It’s painful to see your father in jail, but at the same time we also expected this. We’re still hoping that the proceedings will be fair. We know God will never abandon us.)

PNP gave the Revilla family leeway on its second night, but soon they have to follow the facility’s visiting hours: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM every Thursday and Sunday.

According to Lani, Sen. Revilla asked for his favorite food before they left.

“Yung favorite niya kare-kare ganyan, sinampalukang manok, pagdalaw ulit sa Linggo,” Lani said.

(His favorites are kare-kare, sinampalukang manok [chicken with tamarind]; we’ll bring it when we visit on Sunday.)

Sen. Revilla’s arraignment for his motion for bail is scheduled on June 26th. The motion was submitted despite plunder being a non-bailable offense. ■ With report from Glen P. Sibonga

Philippine News

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 10

Aquino, Abe to discuss new China strategy

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer TOKYO—President Aquino and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to examine China’s island-chain defense strategy as they open talks here on Tuesday to explore security cooperation in the face of Beijing’s increasing aggressiveness in asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea. China is reclaiming land on various reefs in the South China Sea in what security experts believe is a first step to building lines of offshore defense to protect the mainland, part of Beijing’s ultimate aim of dominating the Asia-Pacific region as an economic and military superpower.

The Philippines and Japan, both rivals of China for territory in the South China Sea and in the East China Sea, as well as Vietnam in the East Sea are very much a consideration in Beijing’s aim of establishing geopolitical dominance in the region.

But more than its territorial rivalry with its East Asian and Southeast Asian neighbors, China is concerned about the United States’ planned “pivot” to Asia under which it will move 60 percent of its warships to the region by the end of this decade.

The Chinese leadership sees the US plan as a strategy aimed at containing China’s ambition to dominate the Asia-Pacific region.

Filipino security experts expect President Aquino and Premier Abe to tackle China’s island-chain defense strategy and how the Philippines and Japan can cooperate to respond, as well as discuss other areas of cooperation.

Defensive perimeter

China’s island-chain defense strategy is a concept little known to the public, but has been a concern of security specialists in Asia for decades because of its objective to form an expansive maritime defensive perimeter straddling Asian waters and stretching out to the Pacific Ocean.

Given their geographical locations, the Philippines and Japan are two countries in the way of the Chinese defense strategy.

President Aquino (left) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to examine China’s island-chain defense strategy as they open talks in Tokyo on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, to explore security cooperation in the face of Beijing’s increasing aggressiveness in asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea. PHOTO BY RYAN LIM / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Japan sits above the first and second island-chains, while the Philippines lies between the two chains.

“This concerns regional security in the Asia-Pacific region, most importantly the state of the two disputed maritime territories in the East China Sea and the South China Sea,” Chester Cabalza, a professor at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), told the Inquirer by e-mail. “Both leaders need to reaffirm their strong stand for adherence to international rule of law and freedom of navigation.”

Although the “precise and official boundaries [of the two island-chains] are undefined and often exaggerated and so are subject to speculation,” they are often discussed because of their strategic implications for the Western Pacific region, according to Cabalza.

The first island-chain includes the major archipelagos of Japan and the Philippines, including the Aleutians, the Kurils, and the Ryukus, Taiwan, and the Greater Sunda Islands.

The second island-chain includes the Bonins, Marianas, Guam and Palau.

Cabalza described the second chain as quite vague in boundaries, as it extends to the oceanic region and some US territories in the Pacific. A third island-chain, which reaches as far as Hawaii, is a topic for debate, he said.

Regional implications

For military historian Jose Antonio Custodio, China’s island-chain strategy should be tackled by Aquino and Abe “to interpret” China’s strategy and determine its implications for the Asia-Pacific region.

In an e-mail, Custodio said the island-chain defense strategy would ultimately push out “in phases” the United States and its allies from East Asia and Southeast Asia.

He said he believed that China’s aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea, encroaching on the West Philippine Sea by building artificial islands on disputed reefs and shoals, indicate its intent to “consolidate the nine-dash line and make the southern half of the first island chain a reality.”

The nine-dash line is a demarcation on official Chinese maps that encompasses 90 percent of the South China Sea and indicates the extent of China’s territory.

The Philippines has included in its challenge to the ninedash line in the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea China’s land reclamation on Mabini (South Thomas) Reef, the two Gavin (Gaven) reefs, Calderon (Cuarteron) Reef, Malvar (Eldad) Reef and Kennan (McKennan) Reef, all in the West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea within Manila’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone. www.canadianinquirer.net

Leaders’ meeting

President Aquino will arrive in Tokyo before noon on Tuesday and proceed to the Old Prime Minister’s Residence where he and Abe will hold a 20-minute meeting.

They will be joined by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Assistant Foreign Secretary Henry Bensurto, and Reynaldo Delantar Jr., a special assistant to Aquino.

Joining the meeting from the Japanese side are Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama; Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu; Kazuhide Ishikawa, director general, Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Hiroshi Suzuki, Abe’s executive secretary.

Abe will host lunch for the President and his delegation after which the two leaders will give statements to the press.

They will not take questions from reporters.

Aquino and Abe will also discuss bilateral cooperation, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime issues, and peace and development in Mindanao, where Japan has taken strong interest in trade and investment.

Cabalza said China had “reenvisioned itself as a maritime power.”

He said the People’s Liberation Army Navy had made a shift from “coastal defense,” or land-focused, to “offshore defense,” or ocean-focused, strategy.

“This shift is preparing them from safeguarding Chinese shores to possible maritime operations in the seas off the Chinese littoral,” Cabalza said.

Access denial

In separate e-mails to the Inquirer, Cabalza and Custodio said China’s island-chain defense strategy was aimed at denying rivals access to the disputed territories and resist invasion from the sea.

It is believed to be part of China’s Anti-Access Area Denial (A2/AD) strategy, a military doctrine viewed as the Chinese denial of other foreign militaries’ capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region as well as impinge on freedom of navigation.

“The goal of the Chinese Navy is to perform a mix of sea and area denials and to flex power projection. In simple security parlance, strategic security depends upon supply lines and natural resources. China’s objective is to develop a Navy capable of defending and protecting its lifeline of energy and mineral supplies as it flexes its muscles, strengthen its economy and modernize its armed forces,” Cabalza said. ■

Philippine News

11 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Project New Dawn: Private firms PH seeks freeze carry on rehab, heart over ‘Heels’ in South China Sea

BY BEN O. DE VERA Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer

SEVEN MONTHS after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) unleashed its fury in the central Philippines, private businesses are not relenting in their campaign to rebuild heavily damaged communities.

For one, the social development organization Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) on Wednesday launched “Project New Dawn”— a continuation of its relief efforts but now coupled with long-term rehabilitation focusing on four northern Cebu municipalities right in the middle of the typhoon’s path.

These are the municipalities of Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos and Santa Fe. Madridejos Mayor Salvador S. dela Fuente said at the launch of the project that private sector aid was among the factors that drove the towns toward recovery.

“At first, recovery seemed unbearable.

Yolanda left us roofless, homeless but never hopeless, because of the immediate support shown by organizations like PBSP,” Dela Fuente said.

FOREIGN SECRETARY Albert del Rosario yesterday said the Philippines would propose to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) a moratorium on activities in the South China Sea that raise tensions in disputed waters, two days after China began building a school on an island in the Paracels contested by Vietnam.

Speaking in an interview on ANC, Del Rosario said he expected China to push more aggressively its expansion plan in the South China Sea. Del Rosario said he found “reasonable” a suggestion from Danny Russel, the top US diplomat in Asia, for a freeze in activities of all the claimants to territory in the South China Sea that escalate tensions while a code of conduct is being worked out.

He said he would propose that the Asean call for a moratorium, which could be done this year, and added that the Philippines was supporting the proposal of Indonesia for a meeting on tensions in the South China Sea. “We are looking for a consensus and then set a meeting,” Del Rosario said.

China is likely to ignore any call for a freeze to activities in the South China Sea. It is reclaiming land on various reefs in the contested Spratly Islands that it can use as offshore military outposts.

On Saturday, China began building a school on Woody Island in the Paracels to serve the children of its military personnel stationed there.

“Project New Dawn” is a continuation of Philippine Business for Social Progress' relief efforts coupled with long-term rehabilitation focusing on four northern Cebu municipalities right in the middle of the typhoon’s path.

PHOTO FROM NEWS.PIA.GOV.PH

tems, provide feed corn seedlings, repair health centers, install mobile water filtration systems, give away school supplies, and establish sari-sari stores.

For Aboitiz, private sector participation remains important even as the government, on its own, seems capable enough to fund and implement the rehabilitation projects.

“There’s always room for the private sector to get involved in nation-building no matter how rich a country or efficient a government is,” he told reporters.

Challenges remain

Seeing businesses extend their helping hand “inspired us to pick up the pieces of what was left by Yolanda,” the mayor said. “The donations and assistance were very much appreciated and valued.”

But while residents of the four municipalities are looking forward to moving on, challenges remain, according to Dela Fuente.

Gaps in the sectors of health, education, environment, livelihood and enterprise development, and shelter—collectively dubbed “Heels”—are what Project New Dawn will fill.

Stringent processes

Undersecretary Danilo A. Antonio of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery acknowledged the speed with which private businesses had been rolling out their projects.

Such a speed cannot be matched by government agencies, he said.

“In the private sector, since these are donations, they don’t have to go through stringent processes, such as approval and planning that the government goes through,” Antonio said.

Expansion agenda

China calls Woody Island Sansha and ignores Vietnam’s claim to it and other islands in the Paracel chain.

Del Rosario said the tensions between

People getting together Projects worth P180M

According to Jose Antonio Y. Aboitiz, chair of PBSP’s Visayas executive committee, the organization has identified P180 million worth of projects.

The projects would involve reconstruction of critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, health centers and classrooms, as well as livelihood services.

To date, PBSP has raised half of these projects’ total cost. Aboitiz expressed confidence that through the kindness of their over 250 member-companies, they could even exceed the target amount.

At the pledging session on the sidelines of New Dawn’s launch, seven individuals and firms committed to support projects that would install water sys-

Under Project New Dawn, PBSP will spend the next 18 months raising funds, bidding out and implementing projects, and coordinating with local governments to ensure that drastic improvements happen as early as November—a year after the onslaught of Yolanda, according to the organization’s executive director Rafael C. Lopa.

Lopa said Project New Dawn would be pitched to more potential foreign donors at a conference on disaster prevention that he will attend in the United States next month.

“This will be an encompassing campaign that tells a story of people getting together and how their support is changing a situation,” he said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

the Philippines and China were caused

by Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea, including land reclamation in the Spratly Islands and all had to do with its “aggressive expansion agenda.”

“For example, we have been restricted in Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal), we have been blockaded at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) ... . [There is land] reclamation on various [reefs], which is intended to change the character, the features there, to change the status quo ultimately, to promote their expansion agenda,” he said.

Del Rosario said China was pressing the expansion to beat the conclusion of a code of conduct with the Asean and a decision from the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Manila’s case challenging Beijing’s claim to 90 percent of the 3.5-millionsquare-kilometer South China Sea. He said something must be done quickly, citing the importance to the entire international community of the freedom of navigation and the freedom of overflight in the region.

Air defense zone

Asked about the possibility of China declaring an air defense identification zone over the West Philippine Sea, Del Rosario said the former Chinese ambassador, Ma Keqing, had “threatened us with that.”

“We think this is a threat and something that China may consider at some point. It’s obviously a [threat to the freedom of overflight],” he said.

Del Rosario also said the Philippines hoped the UN arbitral tribunal would hasten its decision on Manila’s case against Beijing.

China has refused to take part in the proceedings, citing its “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea, but the tribunal has ordered it to respond to the Philippines’ petition by Dec. 15. ■

Philippine News

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 12

‘It is getting worse’: 12 Sino ships monitored inside PH’s EEZ

BY NIKKO DIZON AND TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINE Air Force monitors 10 to 12 Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the West Philippine Sea on maritime patrol missions, sensing haste in Chinese activity in disputed waters. This has prompted Manila to seek an expeditious ruling by a United Nations tribunal on its challenge to Beijing’s expansive claim over the South China Sea. Late on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said China’s increased activities in disputed waters were escalating tensions in the region so that Manila was looking to seek a quick ruling from the UN arbitral tribunal.

“What we want to do is, because China is not participating, and because the situation is getting worse every day in the South China Sea, I’m asking our [lawyers] in the US if we can present a request to the tribunal if they can hasten the process,” Del Rosario told reporters.

The West Philippine Sea is part of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but China, insisting that it is part of its territory, is reclaiming land on various reefs in those waters that may be used to build offshore military outposts.

China’s dredging vessels are escorted by Coast Guard ships to keep vessels from other claimant states away.

“We intensify the number of flights in the area so that we can detect the presence of ships and the developments on the islets ... We can’t count the number

of ships on a particular day because these are moving vessels on patrol. Their presence can’t be fixed in one place,” Air Force spokesperson Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya said.

Col. Florente Falsis, deputy Air Force chief for intelligence, said there were times when the Chinese Coast Guard vessels numbered from 10 to 12, or just three or four.

Canaya said the maritime patrols had also observed dredging on islets, confirming reports of “development” on islets and reefs in the media.

“Every time there is an air patrol, we observe their presence,” Canaya said.

Asean code, UN ruling

China’s haste to stake its claim to 90 percent of the 3.5million-square-kilometer South China Sea is seen as an effort to beat the conclusion of a code of conduct in disputed waters with its Southeast Asian neighbors and a ruling by the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on the challenge to that massive territorial claim brought by the Philippines in January last year.

China has refused to take part in the proceedings, but the tribunal has ordered it to respond to the Philippine case by Dec. 15.

Beijing has become increasingly aggressive in asserting its claim since the Philippine case went up and US President Barack Obama visited Asia in late April, assuring US allies Japan and the Philippines that the United States would defend them if attacked over territorial disputes.

The Philippines has asked the tribunal to nullify China’s

claim to almost the entire South China Sea, which Manila says encroaches on its exclusive economic zone and those of Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, all of which also have claims in the strategic and resource- rich waterway.

A photo released by Philippine Navy chief Admiral Alexander Pama shows one of the two Chinese surveillance ships engaged in a standoff with the BRP Gregorio del Pilar off the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. PHOTO FROM INTERAKSYON.COM

Ruling may take 4 years

Manila also wants to clarify maritime entitlements in the South China Sea and halt China’s incursions into the Philippines’ economic exclusion zone, which have become frequent in recent months.

Government officials have said it may take three to four years for the UN tribunal to issue a decision. “[We hope], since China is not participating, perhaps we can get a quicker resolution from the tribunal,” Del Rosario said.

For int’l community

“I’m hoping that we will get something by next year, but we really don’t know,” he added.

Del Rosario described the case as the “goal line” for the Philippines, which is also pressing for a freeze on activities that raise tensions, a nonaggression pact to prevent the rival claims from erupting into conflict, and legal action for resolving the conflicting claims.

“The only mechanism [for dispute resolution] that’s out there right now—the Philippines is the one that advanced it—is arbitration. So we hope to be able to get the arbitration in place, that will be the goal line for all of us,” Del Rosario said.

“It’s not only for the Philippines, it’s for the international community,” he continued.

“With that, we can make sure that maritime entitlements are

clarified ... and, having done that, we will be able to say that there’s no more danger to freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight.”

Claimants meeting

Del Rosario said he was encouraging Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa to pursue his proposal for a meeting among the claimant states for discussion of the increasingly tense situation in the South China Sea. He said he hoped the meeting could be held before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Regional Forum in Burma (Myanmar) in August and that he would be “honored to host” the claimants’ meeting.

Del Rosario said the meeting would be an appropriate place to raise his proposed moratorium on “provocative activities” in the South China Sea, an echo of a suggestion from Daniel Russel, the top US diplomat in Asia, who had been speaking about a freeze on activities that stirred up tensions pending the conclusion of a binding code of conduct among the claimants.

China has refused early talks for a code of conduct, insisting on bilaterial negotiations with individual claimants and proceeding to develop territory in the sea where islands, islets, atolls and reefs are believed to be sitting on vast oil and gas reserves.

China’s aggressive moves

On May 1, China moved a deepwater oil drilling rig near the Paracel Islands in the East Sea, waters within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, sparking a standoff between dozens of Chinese and Vietnamese ships in the area.

The result has been rammings, the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat, and deadly anti-China riots in Vietnam.

China is reclaiming land on strategic reefs within Philippine territory in the Spratly archipelago, including Mabini (Johnson South) Reef, the two Gavin (Gaven) reefs and Calderon (Cuarteron) Reef.

Both the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy, through the Naval Air Group, conduct aerial patrols in the West Philippine Sea. Aerial surveillance

Aerial surveillance photographs released recently by the military showed a Chinese dredging vessel anchored on Mabini Reef and what appeared to be reclaimed land that it was feared could be used to build an airstrip within Philippine territory.

The Philippines has protested China’s moves in the West Philippine Sea but Beijing has rejected the protests, insisting it has “undisputed sovereignty” over the South China Sea. ■

Liquor firm... ❰❰ 8

Very strict guidelines

Cayetano noted that the Intellectual Property Code laid down very strict guidelines on the registration of a mark associated with names, national symbols and geographical areas.

She cited Section 123.1(a), which stated that “a mark can-

not be registered if it consists of immoral, deceptive or scandalous matter, or matter which may disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt or disrepute.”

Cayetano likewise hit DLI’s

applications to register names of provinces and cities, including “Tacloban” as “markedly opportunistic and insensitive.”

Tacloban now global symbol

“Tacloban has become a global symbol of Filipino resilience, hope, recovery and cooperation. And this liquor www.canadianinquirer.net

company has the gall to misappropriate it for selfish ends and corporate profits,” she said of the city in Eastern Visayas that was ravaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in November last year.

The senator backed the National Commission for Culture

and the Arts and the Intramuros Administration in opposing the DLI’s trademark applications with the IPO. “I trust that the IPO will rectify this glaring oversight on their part and immediately reject all the controversial trademark registration applications of DLI,” she said. ■

13 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

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Philippine News

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 14

Jinggoy and wife renew wedding vows shortly before issuance of warrant of arrest

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Jinggoy and Precy Estrada, overcome with emotion, at their surprise 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

SCREENGRAB FROM VIDEO

MANILA—Shorty before the Sandiganbayan 5th Division issued an arrest warrant on Monday for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the embattled lawmaker and his wife, Precy, were feted by their children to a surprise silver wedding anniversary party on Sunday.

In a short speech at the party, daughter Jahella “Jel” Estrada honored her parents and ex-

pounded on the reasons for the celebration.

“It’s been 25 years for the both of you, dada and ma. At alam kong matagal niyo ng plinaplano na magpapakasal kayo ulit.. But problems and challenges are with us right now..

So we (Jolo, Julian, Jill, your bestfriend Ninang Joan and my bestfriends) came up with this surprise wedding. We also want to thank Tita Jacq and Mommyla for helping us out.. And to all who came and for not spoil-

ing the surprise. Npakasarap sa pakiramdam na makita kayong masaya.. Mahal na mahal ko kayong dalawa, dad and mom…”

Visibly moved, Estrada and his wife openly shed tears even before they renewed their wedding vows, as seen in a video posted on Instagram, Estrada is one of three lawmakers accused of plunder and graft charges before the antigraft court for his purported involvement in the P10 billion pork barrel scam. ■

Low supply? hoarding? DA probes ‘garlic gold’

BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Inquirer Northern and Central Luzon GARLIC IS now retailed at more than P300 a kilo. Prices of ginger have also gone up, causing households to cut down on the use of these condiments. As for rice, it now costs P2 more a kilo.

In an effort to temper the price spike, at least in Metro Manila, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has arranged sorties of rolling trucks that sell local garlic in key marketplaces.

Market monitoring by the DA showed that prices of garlic shot up to more than P300 a kilo for the imported variety and P180 per kilo for the local variety.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has ordered an inquiry into the garlic price spike, hinting that this could be the handiwork of unscrupulous traders. Based on DA monitoring, in the first quarter of 2014 alone, garlic prices rocketed by 213 percent—or more than thrice—”due to a lower supply of imported garlic and a higher demand from traders.”

Malacañang said the government was “exerting all efforts” to ensure the stable supply of rice, garlic and ginger amid the “unusual” spike in prices.

“Surveillance is being carried out to discourage hoarding and other practices that could lead to an artificial shortage,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a press conference.

Coloma said those behind the artificial shortage of these commodities would be made accountable.

The DA is considering a second and possibly third batch of garlic importation to bridge the supply gap.

Government data show that local production barely covers demand, pegged at 1.43 kilos yearly for each Filipino.

On a monthly basis, garlic consumption is about 11,700 tons. But according to the DA, local growers have so far produced just over 10,000 tons.

Agriculture Undersecretary Emerson Palad said that in 2013, domestic output was recorded at just 8,848 tons, up 2 percent from the 8,681 tons in 2012.

He said that there was only one crop cycle each year for garlic, which takes about five months from planting to harvest.

In a meeting held last week, the National Garlic Action Team—where both the private sector and the government were represented—proposed the approval of 932 permits for the importation of garlic.

At 50 tons for each permit, this means total shipments of 46,500 tons. If given the goahead, this would be the second importation this year following the 29,000 tons that arrived last April.

Palad said that a third batch of importation later this year was possible because the planned second batch represented just about half of the supply deficit.

Jebsam Butlig, a garlic trader, said the supply in Metro Manila

was not enough. But because of high prices, garlic has been difficult to sell, he said.

“So, in order for it to move, traders and retailers usually reduce the price by P10 a kilogram and if it moves fast, the price will increase again,” he said.

In Ilocos Norte, provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay said there could be an “artificial shortage” created by big-time players in the industry.

She said the increase came at a time when almost all garlic growers had nothing left to sell, except for their personal consumption and for planting purposes.

From the average farm-gate price of P69.25 in 2013, retail price of garlic in Ilocos Norte reached P139.55 a kg this year, provincial DA records showed.

“We are happy to know that garlic price is increasing but at the same time we sympathize with consumers who buy expensive garlic. We have nothing left to spare,” said Wilfredo Valdez, president of the Vegetable Growers Association in the Ilocos region and a member of the National Garlic Action Team.

Valdez said the price increase may also be attributed to an intensified monitoring of smuggled garlic from Taiwan.

Over the years, Ilocos Norte has maintained its status as the garlic capital of the Philippines, producing about 905 tons in 2012 and more than 800 tons in 2013.

Even Sinait town, the socalled “garlic capital” in Ilocos Sur province, has only a few www.canadianinquirer.net

Garlic is now retailed at more than P300 (CAD $7.50) a kilo.

tons to sell.

Bernardine Ines, president of the Sinait Garlic Growers Association, said the price of garlic this month increased from P130 to P230 a kg (large), from P100 to P180 a kg (medium), and from P80 to P150 (small).

Ines said the association would not gain much because most of its supply had been stored for the planting season starting September.

Central Luzon, where garlic is also grown, has also suffered from the lack of supply and high cost.

Andrew Villacorta, regional director of the DA, said the region was not a major garlic producer. It was only last summer that large-scale garlic planting was introduced in Nueva Ecija province, where farmers grow mostly red and white onions.

Imported garlic shipments are not released via ports in the region either, he said, noting that the imported stocks were distributed through Divisoria and Balintawak markets in Metro Manila.

Paz Mones, assistant Ilocos regional agricultural director,

said during harvest in the Ilocos provinces in April and May, traders bought garlic at P90 a kg. Traders then sold these at P140 a kg. But last week, garlic prices reached up to P300 a kg.

“Prices increased when the stocks were no longer in the farmers’ hands,” she said.

The Ilocos region produces 65 to 68 percent of the country’s total garlic production.

But Mones said this was only about 6,500 tons, which, she said, was not much.

In Metro Manila, the rolling stores kicked off on Saturday with two trucks loaded with three tons of garlic each, visiting the public markets of the cities of Marikina and Pasig.

The rolling stores stayed for two hours in each market, offering six kg bags at P100 to P200 a kilo, depending on the size of the bulbs.

Rolling stores were also stationed at Nepa Q Mart in Cubao, Quezon City, on Monday, and at Kamuning market yesterday.

The stores on wheels will be visiting six other markets from today until Saturday. ■

Philippine News

15 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Jinggoy Estrada... ill-gotten wealth in “jueteng” collections but for embezzling tens of millions of pesos in government funds.

It was April 25, 2001, all over again, except that the father was not accused this time, but was only accompanying his son to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, where the senator would be held while being tried on charges of plundering the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in connivance with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10billion pork barrel scam.

On the coaster ride from the Estrada home on Polk Street, San Juan City, to Camp Crame with the ex-President, who is now mayor of Manila, was the senator’s mother, former Sen. Luisa Ejercito, his wife, Precy, their children and other relatives. ❰❰ 1

Family for company

The senator and his wife, who renewed their wedding vows on Sunday night ahead of their silver anniversary on June 28, and their children stopped at Polk, in Greenhills, from their home in Corinthian Hills in Quezon City to pick up the elders.

Estrada surrendered to the police after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest.

He is accused of pocketing P183 million from the PDAF and of 11 counts of graft. He is facing life in prison if convicted.

As he had promised, Estrada did not stage a show for his surrender, unlike Sen. Bong Revilla who traveled in a 10-vehicle convoy carrying family members, political supporters, fans and a camera crew to surrender to the Sandiganbayan last Friday.

But about 80 of Estrada’s supporters gathered in front of the PNP headquarters to give him moral support. Some wore

T-shirts marked “Keep the faith and hold on” and “It might be stormy now, but the sun will shine again.”

Estrada’s group arrived at 3 p.m. After blowing a kiss to journalists who had been waiting for him, Estrada boarded a police vehicle, which took him to the PNP multipurpose building where he was booked.

Then he was taken to the PNP Custodial Center, where he joined Revilla, who is accused of embezzling P242 million from the PDAF, and where they expected Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, accused of pocketing P172 million of his pork barrel funds, to join them soon.

Fight to the last breath

“I’ll fight this case to my last breath,” said Estrada, a former movie actor. His lawyer, Alexis Abastillas-Suarez, said she would ask the Sandiganbayan to grant the senator bail, which is not allowed in cases involving plunder.

Estrada turned himself in to Director Benjamin Magalong, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, who waited for him at the police headquarters.

Suarez said Estrada and his family thanked the police for treating him well.

“His condition is OK. The police respected his integrity as a person,” Suarez said.

She said Estrada would occupy the second of the four rooms in the detention bungalow at the Custodial Center, next to the room where Revilla is being held.

Both detention rooms measure 32 square meters. Like the two other rooms, both have ceiling fans, small kitchens, toilets and beds.

“His cell is just beside Senator Revilla’s. They’ve already seen each other,” Suarez said.

“It was normal and sober. It was very quiet inside. He was not smiling during the book-

ing process,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac told reporters. “[Estrada] looked fine. The family members were just there observing the whole procedure,” he added.

He said Estrada’s blood pressure was 110 over 70 when police doctors conducted a checkup.

“There is no sign of external injuries or recent application of trauma,” he said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrendered to the police after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest. He is accused of pocketing P183 million from the PDAF and of 11 counts of graft. He is facing life in prison if convicted.

Two down

Estrada was the second senator to be arrested in the pork barrel scam. The first was Revilla, who was taken in last Friday after days of campaigning for sympathy from his supporters in the slums of Cavite province and Metro Manila.

Both Estrada and Revilla blame their predicament on politics, accusing the administration of President Aquino of singling out opposition lawmakers in the prosecution of the people responsible for the pork barrel scam.

Commenting on Estrada’s arrest, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday that she had always expected the Sandiganbayan to sustain the Ombudsman’s finding against the senator in the pork barrel scam investigation.

“As I’ve been always saying, we would have not referred the case (against Estrada) to the Ombudsman if we were not convinced that we had a strong case and that it was also the position of the Ombudsman. It would not have filed the case in the Sandiganbayan if it was not convinced at the very least of the existence of probable cause,” De Lima said.

The third senator accused, Enrile, is questioning the evidence against him submitted to the court, which has said it will review the nearly 10,000 documents before deciding whether to order his arrest.

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PHOTO FROM ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

Rerun of 2001

Monday’s rerun of the 2001 event wasn’t lost on the senator’s eldest child, San Juan Councilor Janella Ejercito, 24.

“All of us are sad about what’s happening. What happened 13 years ago is happening again,” she told reporters at Polk Street in an interview aired over radio.

“I was 11 at the time. But I feel stronger now.”

Otherwise, Ejercito said her father and the rest of the family were confident he would be acquitted, as he was in 2007, although his father was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment but pardoned by then President Gloria MacapagalArroyo shortly after his conviction.

Estrada fought back his tears as he tried to stay calm following news of the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

“This is very painful for me.

But this is an order from the court, and I have to face it,” Estrada, clad in light-blue polo, told reporters.

His lawyers were to file a petition for bail on Monday, and the senator expressed confidence this would be granted by the antigraft court. He said the case against him was weak.

“I see no case against me,” he said. If given a fair trial, he would win acquittal, he said.

When they arrived at Polk Street from Corinthian Hills,

the senator embraced his parents. Amid the crush of TV cameramen and reporters, the elder Estrada asked for privacy with his son.

The senator’s sister Jackie Lopez and brother Jude were also around.

‘Why my son?’

The emotional mother ranted against the government for singling out her son, who she said did not pocket any kickbacks from the scam but merely endorsed his pork barrel to foundations.

She wondered why government agencies discovered that more than 80 of the recipients were dummies only now.

“They merely endorsed the NGOs. No money passed through their hands. If at all, it’s the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and the implementing agencies that disposed of the money. They knew whether the NGOs were fake or not,” she said.

“If they wanted to implicate me, they should have implicated me, not my son. Go ahead, file the charges,” added the former senator, whose name was also mentioned during the Senate inquiry into the pork barrel scam. ■ With reports from Christine O. Avendaño and Kristine Felisse Mangunay

Opinion

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 16

THERE’S THE RUB

Short walk to jail

By Conrado De Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer What would they do inside jail?

For Bong Revilla, he would probably spend some time reading the Bible.

And of course, he said, exercising—doing pushups, stretching, stationary jogging—so that when he gets out, “I’ll still be cute.” For Jinggoy Estrada, he’ll probably bring his iPad along so he can play games. He proposes to work out as well, such as he can work out in confinement, to keep fit.

There and then, you see why they seem predisposed to do the things they are accused of doing. An idle mind, as they say, is the devil’s workshop. I’m not knocking reading the Bible, it’s still reading and there’s enough racy stuff in the Songs of Solomon—who says wisdom is to be found in self-abnegation or denying the senses?—to offer Revilla some diversion. I’ll leave the denizens, or citizens, of social media to remark on his pa-cute remark about wanting to remain cute for when he gets out of jail.

As for Estrada, what else can he do with his iPad but play games? I don’t know that jail offers Wi-Fi among its accommodations, thereby putting Facebook out of reach and out of the question. But the fact that neither he nor

Revilla answered that they would be doing a lot of reading (of books) says a lot.

Improving their bodies has never been their problem, improving their minds is.

It was left to Juan Ponce Enrile to say that reading was exactly what he was going to do. When, or if, he is jailed, he said, he would bring “‘The History of Political Theory,’ the book about Nelson Mandela, and a book of poems.” Meant to impress the world about the depth of his literateness or range of interests, he in fact merely sparks laughter with the no-small irony of his answer.

Specifically his reference to “the book about Mandela.” That in fact is Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Walk To Freedom” which was turned into a movie last year. The tome is a magnificent one starting from Mandela’s boyhood in a small village to his election as the first postapartheid president of South Africa. It deals at great length with his incarceration for 27 long years and the heroic spirit, or spiritual heroism, that sustained him there.

There are some similarities between Enrile’s and Mandela’s life, which is probably the reason why Enrile proposes to bring Mandela’s book with him to jail. He figures he will find himself in the company of

kindred spirit. Like Mandela, Enrile studied law, though in his case he finished it while Mandela did not, failing in his final year after spending too much time in politics. Like Mandela, Enrile wrote his own biography, detailing the twists and turns of his life. Like Mandela, Enrile has had a long life, Mandela living up to 95 and Enrile, now at 90, threatening to do the same.

One is tempted to say, that’s all the similarities they have, but even those similarities are not really similari-

It is one thing to be jailed for being a revolutionary, it is another to be jailed for being a crook. It is one thing to be jailed for unwavering principle, it is another to be jailed for the wayward lack of it. ties at all, they are contrasts. Mandela might not have finished law, but he was as quintessential a lawyer as Thomas More, giving new heights and reverberations to the majesty of the law. Enrile might have been a full-fledged lawyer, but all he did was give new depths, and embarrassments, to law, turning it into an instrument of, and for, martial law.

Mandela wrote his life story, telling the world about his dreams and sacri-

fices, his loves and struggles, his—and his country’s—long walk to freedom.

Enrile wrote his life story, or had it written, telling the world, after having denied it before, that he had really been ambushed in Wack-Wack.

Mandela lived to a ripe old age, deeply beloved by a people he had set free. When he himself was sprung free, a country erupted in wild cheers and made him president. When he died, the world wept. Enrile has lived to a ripe old age, deeply scorned by a people he had helped Marcos imprison. When he gets to be jailed, his country will erupt into wild cheers and make of him an example. I will try my best to practice Christian charity and not say anything about what the world will do when he leaves this earth.

In fact, Enrile need not bring his own copy of “Long Walk To Freedom,” hard copy or digital, to his cell, he can always borrow the copy of the presumed subversives currently detained in various camps. Maybe even the copy of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, which will probably contain heavy and quite instructive annotations at the margins. They are the ones who may genuinely reckon themselves to be in the company of kindred spirit.

It is one thing to be jailed for being a revolutionary, it is another to be

jailed for being a crook. It is one thing to be jailed for unwavering principle, it is another to be jailed for the wayward lack of it.

In the end, if Enrile will have shown anything, it is only that a long life is a guarantee only of justice finally catching up with you. And catching up with you when you least expect it. I’m surprised Miriam Defensor Santiago hasn’t come out to gloat at the precipitous reversal of fortune her nemesis has suffered in but a couple of years.

Only a couple of years ago, Enrile cut a grand figure in judicial robes, presiding over the impeachment trial of no less than a chief justice, using all his lawyerly skills to steer it to inestimable heights. Now he cuts a miserable figure in the company of Jose Flaminiano, who gives a face to what Philippine law is all about, a thing that exists to thwart justice—as it was quintessentially during martial law!—pleading to be kept out of jail on grounds of old age. You looked at Enrile in the TV coverage, and you could truly feel the weight of his age.

In lieu of “Invictus,” Mandela’s favorite poem, which says, “My head is bloody but unbowed,” there is the Bible written all over it. Which says: And the exalted will be humbled, and the humble exalted. ■

anduanes, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Oriental Mindoro, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato and Surigao del Norte.

The tailenders among the “compliant” provinces were: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Benguet, Cavite, Iloilo, Mountain Province, North Cotabato, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Rizal, Romblon and Tawi-Tawi.

The IRA share of the LGUs is 40 centavos out of every peso of national internal revenue taxes. The municipalities get the biggest IRA slab: 34 percent. The provinces and cities bag 23 percent. The barangays are at the end of the begging-bowl queue: 20 percent. In 2012, the LGUs got a hefty P273 billion in IRA. Diokno said this spurs the stampede to convert ill-prepared towns into cities. Cities receive larger IRA chunks because of populations swollen by the flood of migrants and their sprawling land areas.

There were 60 cities in 1960. By 2014, their numbers had more than doubled to 144, many of them infected by the Juan Tamad virus, as seen in local officials’ “sense of entitlement” to doles.

Take the 20-percent Local De-

velopment Fund (LDF). It had been crafted after the 1972 UN Environment Conference in Stockholm. Delegates from 113 countries, including the Philippines, adopted an action plan that proposed a “20-20 Pact.”

Governments earmark 20 percent of resources for the poorest. The fund would address the needs of the most deprived: nutrition, healthcare, medicine, potable water, sanitation, primary schooling, etc.

Instead, the LDF is the “most abused” budget item, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo told local officials at a Cebu conference, shortly before his death in a plane crash. Six out of every 10 LGUs flunk the “full disclosure” criterion on tax spending in both the appropriations law and local government code, the Magsaysay awardee said.

He issued guidelines in 2011 that directed: no underwriting of “salaries, wages or overtime pay”; no cash gifts, bonuses, food allowances, medical assistance, uniforms, no junkets or lakbay aral out-of-town jaunts; no dipping into the fund for “registration fees in training, seminars, conferences or conventions.”

That policy remains in force today.

But, the policy is honored more in the breach than in practice. The begging bowl syndrome persists. ■

VIEWPOINT

Beggars by choice

By Juan L. Mercado Philippine Daily Inquirer Remember the ancient folk tale of “Juan Tamad”? Today, it is the motif of local government units (LGUs) that prefer the begging bowl to selfreliance.

The Local Government Code (LGC) empowered cities and towns to generate their own income two decades back.

No, thank you, many LGUs responded.

They opted to panhandle internal revenue allotments (IRA) instead, the Department of Finance notes in the latest issue of “Tax Watch.”

Seven out of every eight provinces collect less than 15 centavos of every peso they spend. They patch that gap by siphoning from IRAs. As a result, local-government spending is hobbled.

Instead of collecting taxes, towns and provinces scramble for IRA slabs from a stretched national treasury, Prof. Benjamin Diokno of the UP School of Economics noted earlier.

Their delivery of service has stagnated. So has their governance.

Diokno ticked off these points at an earlier Institute of Public Economics and Regulation forum. The LGC sought to spur autonomy by decentralization. Instead, it spawned fiscal beggars. “LGUs no longer seek

other sources of funds.” There— that’s the Juan Tamad syndrome.

Back in 1919, an unknown author printed the folk tale into a book titled: “Buhay na Pinagdaanan ni Juan Tamad.” The 1957 compilation of “Philippine Tales and Fables” by Manuel E. Arguilla included the story of Juan Tamad with illustrations by Romeo V. Tabuena.

A 1965 edition was illustrated with woodcuts by the late J. Elizalde Navarro, posthumously named National Artist for the Visual Arts. The out-of-print book is a collector’s item today.

It spins the tales of an indolent Juan Tamad who bucks climbing a guava tree. Instead, he lies down below the fruits, waiting with open mouth for gravity to work. Buy mud crabs at the market, his mother ordered. Juan Tamad frees them in a ditch, instructing them to go ahead while he snoozed.

Land or real property taxes (RPT) are the latest focus of the finance department’s Tax Watch campaign.

Obsolete valuations, in 62 of 80 provinces, curry favor with land-owning elites but cripple delivery of services—from health to education.

Given the festering insurgency and bandit gangs, Sulu province is the tailender, Tax Watch reports. Jolo’s local income made up a tenth of a percent

of its total 2012 regular income. The rest were national doles. In contrast, the best performer was Aklan. Almost half (45.3 percent) was gleaned from local taxes and other forms of revenue.

The Juan Tamad syndrome spurs many LGUs to dodge the requirement to update taxes on real property valuation every three years. Of the 80 provinces more than half (50) dither on long-overdue mandatory chore.

Maguindanao, for instance, still uses 1985 as base year. Bureau of Local Government Finance data pinpoints “deadbeats” deploying

Buy mud crabs at the market, his mother ordered.

Juan Tamad frees them in a ditch, instructing them to go ahead while he snoozed. obsolete base years: Basilan (1992), Marinduque (1993), Pampanga (1994), Camarines Sur (1997), Negros Oriental (1998), Guimaras (1999), Tarlac (1999), and Zambales (1999).

In contrast, 30 provinces were “generally compliant” with the required update. But 12 of these did not use the latest base valuation year.

The 18 that used the most recent base valuations were: Agusan del Sur, Camarines Norte, Capiz, Cat-

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Opinion

17 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

AS I SEE IT

No fines for those who obey traffic rules

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer WHY are drivers and operators of public utility vehicles afraid of the higher penalties for colorum vehicles and traffic violators if they do not intend to break the law? No matter how high the penalties are, it won’t affect them if they obey traffic laws, rules and regulations.

The fine for a colorum vehicle goes as high as P1 million. So what? If you are not operating a colorum vehicle, it does not make any difference to you. And if you are a law-abiding driver or operator, you won’t have to pay any fines.

On the other hand, the fear of stiff fines will make drivers drive carefully, and avoid accidents and traffic violations. The same fear will also force the operators not to field buses that have no franchises.

One reason we have a chaotic traffic in Metro Manila is the lack of discipline among drivers. Another reason is the presence of many colorum vehicles. It has been estimated that as many as 20 percent of buses plying Edsa are colorums. But it is difficult to apprehend them because it takes time to scrutinize their permits and

the records at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

LTFRB records show that there are only so much buses plying Edsa, just enough to service commuters. But Edsa is crammed with half-empty buses at all hours, crawling bumperto-bumper, with very few passengers even during rush hours. There are simply too many buses on Edsa.

The desperate competition to get passengers and lack of accountability make bus drivers drive carelessly and violate traffic rules.

Another reason is the “boundary system”—where drivers pay the bus, jeepney or tricycle operators a fixed amount; what is left of their earnings after paying the boundary becomes their take-home pay. The Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Labor and Employment should concentrate on the abolition of the boundary system next. *** The government and the farmers are spraying massive doses of chemical pesticide on coconut trees infested with the pest that has been christened “cocolisap.” The tiny insect pests suck the life out of coconut trees.

The use of massive doses of pesticide always has dangers. The largely invisible pesticide affects birds, other insects, animals and even humans.

Read Rachel Carson’s classic “Silent Spring” to know how pesticides affect the environment.

The fine for a colorum vehicle goes as high as P1 million. So what? If you are not operating a colorum vehicle, it does not make any difference to you. And if you are a law-abiding driver or operator, you won’t have to pay any fines.

But how do you kill the pests?

There is another way, without using pesticides: biotechnology.

Biotechnology consists of breeding pest-resistant varieties of plants and trees. Because of this natural resistance, they can survive without chemical pesticide.

For example, eggplants are susceptible to tiny worms. They may look beautiful on the outside but inside they would be infested with these worms. So farmers are forced to use pesticide to kill the pests.

But the trouble with these pests is that they become immune to the pesticide; so the farmers are forced to spray the plants with bigger and bigger doses of pesticide. Those eggplants with smooth, shiny skin you see in supermarkets are loaded with pesticides that may accumulate in the bodies of the humans who eat them and may harm them. Wash those beautiful eggplants thoroughly before cooking them. Better yet, peel the skin first.

On the other hand, biotechnology can breed eggplants that are naturally resistant to these pests without any need for the application of pesticides. Filipino scientists have already bred a naturally pest-resistant variety: the “Bt talong.”

This is advantageous to the farmers and the environment. It will save the farmers the cost of the pesticide and will save them from the health risks posed by chemical pesticides. It will also decrease the level of chemical residue in the soil and the vegetables we eat.

The trouble is a European environment group called Greenpeace is opposing biotechnology on the grounds that you never know what this will bring. It has workers and allies here in the Philippines who are now bent on stopping our scientists

from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) from developing and introducing plant varieties using modern biotechnology.

Greenpeace does not want these plant varieties adopted here. Its local allies and collaborators have brought our scientists to court and got the Court of Appeals to stop the scientists from completing field trials.

UPLB appealed to the Supreme Court to allow it to resume its trials. But Greenpeace is not about to let that happen. It has hired the best Filipino lawyers to thwart the efforts of Filipino scientists.

The Supreme Court case may have far-reaching consequences: Greenpeace may get the Court to impose a permanent ban on field trials for crop varieties developed by biotechnology.

When that happens, Filipino farmers will continue to be dependent on chemical pesticides whose use poses dangers to the environment and to humans. *** In reply to queries from fans of Aliw Awardee Margaux Salcedo on her next gig at the Tap Room of the Manila Hotel, it is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 24. I heard she is going to sing Cole Porter tunes this time. ■

more than once, by the way.

Or as Pacheco puts it: “Gun control in public places simply means making the harmless act of carrying a gun in public a criminal offense before such a harmless act turns… violent.

This is crime prevention. An ounce of prevention is (worth) more than a pound of cure.”

Now that the President has expressed “alarm” over the random assassinations and shootings that have made it to our headlines and TV news shows, is he ready to think again about the wisdom of a gunless society? *** Pacheco, who looks a most youthful 81 years old, even if he’s been constrained in the meanwhile to walk around with a cane, is not about to wait, sitting on his hands, while gun violence continues to take its toll on human life and civility.

Typical of him (he also helped found the unusual political party Kapatiran that takes a moral stance on political issues), Pacheco has come up with a “big idea.” This year, he notes, has been declared by the Vatican as the “Year of the Laity.” Seven years from now, in 2021, the Philippines will celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Christianity on our shores.

The years between now and 2021 (and beyond) he believes, should be

devoted to pursuing a grand vision.

And that vision is for the Filipino people “to accept and live Christ’s peace not as the world gives but through truth, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation and nonviolence.”

Such a vision is contained in three images that Pacheco believes sum up what should be the concerned Catholic’s focus in the coming years: the Risen Christ, a dove of peace, and a handgun with its nozzle tied into a knot, rendering it useless.

Pacheco is organizing a group, a “lay-initiated apostolate” that he dubs the “Movers of Christ’s Peace (MCP).”

“It will have no structure, no officers, no central directorate,” Pacheco shares.

“But we invite all concerned Filipinos to work on creating peace not just in our streets and public lives, but in our workplaces, our homes and in ourselves.”

Certainly, we must petition the responsible persons, beginning with the police, the entire law enforcement community, our local and national officials, to take faster, more decisive action against the criminals, the killers-for-hire, the violent and shameless in our midst. But “Christ’s peace,” says Pacheco, must also be pursued by ordinary men, women and children, beginning with our persons, our families, our communities and ultimately, the entire nation. ■

AT LARGE

Guns and criminals

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT Aquino is said to be “alarmed” over the number of killings of prominent personalities—a hotel chain owner, a race car driver, some mayors and political figures—in recent days.

Among them were hotel chain owner Richard King and racer Enzo Pastor, who was driving a trailer bearing a race car when he was shot by a gunman aboard a motorcycle, riding tandem.

Still, despite this public airing of the President’s concern, the police establishment seems to be merely shrugging off this expression of alarm. “It’s still manageable but it’s a cause of study,” said the PNP spokesperson. Take note, a cause of study, not even of concern.

So far, the only concrete step that law enforcement agencies seem inclined to take is to “revisit our operational procedures” and change their “system” in the areas where the killings have taken place. That seems a recipe for inertia, if you ask me.

But there is one step the police, perhaps through the Department of the Interior and Local Government which has direct command over it, can take to address the alarming increase in killings, including the escalating number of politically-related attacks given

the approaching elections.

And that step is to get behind the long-pending legislation that would place strictures on the sale, licensing, carrying and use of guns. To ease the way toward its passage, more than a decade after the first bills were filed.

Of course, no one is talking currently or with any sense of urgency about the need to curb gun ownership in this country. Indeed, gun owners and sellers are even growing more and more aggressive in their positioning. When PNP Director General Alan Purisima sought to centralize the registration and licensing of firearms, for instance, gun owners, club members and sellers raised a howl. Their mouthpieces claimed such a move, which entailed longer waiting times for prospective gun owners, placed them at jeopardy and constituted an unjust inconvenience.

Although one must wonder what is so urgent about getting a gun license, when the trend elsewhere is to impose longer waiting times for licenses pending a more thorough evaluation of the applicant’s fitness to bear arms. *** In the view of Nandy Pacheco, who initiated the “Gunless Society” movement that, against all odds many years ago, managed to convince legislators to file bills calling for more stringent

controls on gun licensing, “guns are at the root of the problem.”

The early “gunless” bills—which would have imposed controls on gun licensing and outlawed the carrying of a loaded gun in public places by civilians—were filed during the “first” Aquino administration, but in the intervening years, the bills have met with one obstacle after another.

During this “second” Aquino presidency, the biggest obstacle seems to be the President himself, who is an

[I]f P-Noy would only bother to read the latest versions of the gunless society bills, he would find that lawabiding citizens and gun lovers likehimcouldverywelltransport their weapons to firing ranges provided these were licensed and werenotloaded. avowed gun enthusiast. But if P-Noy would only bother to read the latest versions of the gunless society bills, he would find that law-abiding citizens and gun lovers like him could very well transport their weapons to firing ranges provided these were licensed and were not loaded. God forbid, for instance, a hot-headed licensed gun owner using his weapon during a traffic altercation. Which has happened

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FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

18

Canada News FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS PCI FILE PHOTO

Many visitors to Canada will pay $7 fee beginning next year under security plan

NEWS BRIEFS

BY JIM BRONSKILL The Canadian Press OTTAWA—Millions of visitors to Canada will pay a $7 application fee beginning next April under a new electronic security screening plan.

The federal government announced the fee Friday for online travel applications, a key element of the perimeter pact with the United States intended to protect the continent from security threats.

Foreign nationals who currently do not need a visa to visit Canada—including people from Britain, France and many other countries—would have to successfully apply for a socalled electronic travel authorization before arriving by air.

U.S. citizens would be exempted from the requirement.

Visitors would apply through the Citizenship and Immigration website by entering biographic details, passport and background information—the kind of data now requested by officers at Canadian entry ports or in a visa application.

Officials would verify the information against immigration and en-

HIGH PROFILE MEDIATOR DECLINES REQUEST TO HELP SETTLE B.C. TEACHERS STRIKE forcement databases and conduct a risk assessment of the applicant.

Canada expects approximately 3.5 million electronic travel authorization applications annually.

“The information required by these proposed amendments would allow Canada to determine the admissibility of foreign nationals before they arrive at the border and whether their travel poses migration or security risks,” says the federal notice published Friday.

In 2012-2013, more than 7,000 visa-exempt foreign nationals were

found ineligible to enter Canada for various reasons upon arriving in Canada by air, the government says.

That includes 28 people who had previously been handed removal orders and were trying to return to Canada without authorization.

Reasons for refusing entry can include membership in terrorist or organized crime groups, espionage, participation in war crimes, human rights violations or endangerment of public health due to tuberculosis or ❱❱ PAGE 22 Many visitors

Filipinos, Vietnamese call out China, Canada on sea dispute

BY MARY ANN MANDAP Philippine Canadian Inquirer BRITISH COLUMBIA-BASED Filipinos and Vietnamese joined forces in a prayer rally at the China Consulate on Granville St., Vancouver, to protest what they called “incursions” of China in their maritime jurisdictions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

About 50 protesters joined the rally, bearing placards urging China to stop the coercion and intimida-

tion of its neighbors. This time, they also called out Canada to make a stand on the brewing regional conflict.

This is also the first time that ethnic Filipinos and Vietnamese have come together in Vancouver, hoping to nudge China from its hard-line position and invite international condemnation of its actions.

In recent months, tension in the region has intensified, with both the Philippine and Vietnamese governments denouncing China’s growing aggression, while China insists it

has “indisputable sovereignty” over the vast sea expanse, including the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands.

Wilfredo Bagunu, spokesman for the newly formed community advocacy group Tapsilog (FilCan Network for Truth & Justice) warned this will only be the first of a series of protest actions against China.

“This is Tapsilog’s first activity, coinciding with Dr. Jose Rizal’s 153rd birthday celebration. It’s fitting that ❱❱ PAGE 22 Filipinos, Vietnamese

VANCOUVER—Educators huddled Sunday night, trying to come up with a plan B after a veteran mediator declined their invitation to help resolve British Columbia’s teachers strike. B.C. Teachers Federation spokesman Rich Overgaard says Vince Ready didn’t have time in his busy schedule to mediate the dispute that has closed classrooms to more than half a million students across the province.

Ready is one of Canada’s top labour troubleshooters, and the more than 40,000-member teachers union had said it felt he could be the key to moving things forward. The strike began last week, and though there’s still no end in sight, classes are due to wind down this week in most schools.

BELL MEDIA CUTS UP TO 120 EMPLOYEES AT ITS TV OPERATIONS, BLAMES WEAK AD SALES TORONTO—Bell Media says it plans to cut as many as 120 jobs in Toronto due to “financial pressure” in its advertising and subscription TV services. The radio and television section of BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE) says it has informed the federal Minister of Labour of the layoffs, which will happen this summer.

TD DOWNGRADES CANADIAN GROWTH TO 2.2% OTTAWA— The TD Bank says Canada’s economy will be slightly weaker than it had expected, mostly because it is waiting for the U.S. to kick into gear. The chartered bank’s latest forecast has Canada expanding by 2.2 per cent in 2014, one-tenth of a point slower than previously thought, but will make up for it in 2015, when it speeds up to 2.6 per cent.

Canada News

19 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Critics ask what’s the rush at pipeline hearings by regulator in Edmonton

BY BOB WEBER The Canadian Press EDMONTON—Critics of a proposed pipeline project from the Fort McMurray region to Edmonton want to know why the province’s energy regulator seems determined to rush the project’s public review.

“The process is being rushed for the benefit of TransCanada to the detriment of landowners,” said lawyer Keith Wilson, who represents businesses and farmers along the route.

Hearings opened Monday on the Grand Rapids plan for two new lines half-owned by TransCanada (TSX:TRP) that would have a combined peak capacity of more than one million barrels a day—more volume than Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway project.

It’s the first hearing the Alberta Energy Regulator has held since replacing the Energy Resources Conservation Board and taking over duties from the province’s Environment Department.

Wilson said the new regulator is hobbling public participation through tight timelines.

He points out that because the new hearings combine issues that used to be dealt with separately—the Grand Rapids hearings involve more than 90 different approvals under several different pieces of legislation—the burden on members of the public wishing to address them is greater than ever.

“It’s a monumental task to landowners to respond to all that information.”

TransCanada has changed its application four times since originally submitting it, the most recent version being released four weeks ago, Wilson added. “(The process) gave TransCanada well over a year to work with the regulator on the process and now that it’s time for the landowners to participate in the process they were given only a matter of weeks.”

Important information illuminating concerns isn’t even included in the application, Wilson said.

As well, lawyers have been given a maximum of two hours

to cross-examine TransCanada officials, although the panel chairman said he’d be “flexible” with that.

“One of the things you learn as a lawyer early on is that if a witness knows there’s a time limit, they just stonewall you— they just be evasive, they forget, they’re slow, they run the clock on you,” Wilson said.

Regulator spokesman Darin Barter said the new approach is more complex than the old one.

“We’re going to see more applications discussed within the context of a single hearing,” he said. “It really is an expanded role.”

It’s typical for a “flurry” of information to come in at the last minute, he said.

“This is very typical for a hearing. I don’t think we’ve been in a situation where we’re pushing people along. The hearing will take as long as it takes.”

However, Barter acknowledged time limits are intended to keep the hearing focused.

“We need a hearing that’s going to be defined in length,” he said. “We want to make sure that the issues that need to be

Hearings opened Monday on the Grand Rapids plan for two new lines half-owned by Trans- Canada that would have a combined peak capacity of more than one million barrels a day—more volume than Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway project.

brought forward are brought forward and we don’t see a lot extraneous issues that don’t relate directly to the application.”

The hearing has been scheduled for three days in June and two weeks in mid-July.

Dalton Trenholm, a farmer and landholder along the proposed route, is concerned about TransCanada’s plans to dig up topsoil this summer and not

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fully replace it until 2017.

“This is a long time to leave our topsoil out there—our resource—to collect weeds, suffer erosion, all of these things that we have to deal with when they’re completed.”

He said the company’s changing mitigation plans have hobbled his attempts to articulate his concerns.

“We had to have everything

in here by the sixth of June and we find out that as of last week some time that there’s changes.”

Wilson suggested the new regulator isn’t making a great impression at the Grand Rapids hearings.

“This is the very first hearing of this new super-regulator that the government’s been bragging about and so far we’re not off to a good start.” ■

World News

JUNE 27, 2014

FRIDAY 20

Malaysia’s top... government said hours later the judgment applied only to one newspaper at the centre of the case, adding still more confusion to a deeply divisive debate over religious freedom in the Muslim-majority country.

In a 4-3 ruling, the Federal Court upheld a government ban on the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims in a case against The Herald, a Catholic Malaylanguage weekly. The court did not elaborate on the implication of its ruling, but the government issued a tersely worded statement saying it only applied to The Herald and that Malaysian Christians can still use the word Allah in churches.

The government statement appeared to be an attempt to diffuse tensions in the nation of 29 million people, including a large non-Muslim minority that has often complained that it is treated unfairly in jobs and education and is denied full freedom of religion.

Government officials declined to clarify whether the ban would apply to Bibles and other published texts, as appeared to be the case in last year’s ruling by the Court of Appeals that banned The Herald from using Allah. The church had asked the Federal Court to overturn the ban, but the court decided not to hear the challenge, declaring that the lower court’s decision had been correct.

Earlier this year, 300 Malay-language Bibles containing the word Allah were seized by Islamic authorities from the office of a Christian group.

“We are disappointed. The four judges who denied us the right to appeal did not touch on fundamental basic rights of minorities,” said the Rev. Lawrence Andrew, editor of The Herald.

He said the ruling would have a chilling effect on the freedom of religion guaranteed in the constitution.

“It will confine the freedom of worship,” he said. “We are a minority in this country, and when our rights are curtailed, people feel it.”

The law doesn’t clearly stipulate the penalty for violating the ban, but it appears that a newspaper using the term would lose its publishing license.

The government says Allah should be reserved exclusively for Muslims, who account for nearly two-thirds of the population, arguing that if other religions use the term, it could confuse Muslims and lead them to convert away from Islam.

Christian leaders deny this, arguing that the ban is unreasonable because Christians who speak the Malay language have long used the word in their Bibles, prayers and songs. Christians make up about 9 per cent of the population.

“This is a sad state of affairs that shows how far and fast religious tolerance is falling in Malaysia,” said Phil Robertson, a spokesman for New York-based Human Rights Watch. “The Malaysian govern❰❰ 1

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ment should be working to promote freedom of religion rather politically exploiting religious wedge issues.”

The controversy has provoked violence in Malaysia.

Anger over a lower court ruling against the government ban in 2009 led to a string of arson attacks and vandalism at churches and other places of worship. The 2013 judgment by the Court of Appeals reversed that decision.

An umbrella group of Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches in Malaysia said Christians will continue to use the word Allah in their Bibles and worship, saying the court ruling was only confined to the Catholic newspaper.

“We maintain that the Christian community continues to have the right to use the word ‘Allah’ in our Bibles, church services and Christian gatherings,” the Rev. Eu Hong Seng, chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, said in a statement.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters he welcomed the ruling, but said he hoped no groups would politicize the matter and use it to divide races.

“This is an emotional issue that can affect the country’s (racial) harmony. We must handle it with wisdom,” he said.

“The court has made a decision, so let’s accept it.”

Some experts believe the Allah issue is an attempt by Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ruling Malay party to strengthen its conservative Muslim voter base. Religion has become an easy tool because government policies have made Islam and Malay identity inseparable.

“This is a situation that is peculiar to Malaysia. It is tied to politics and the identity of Malays. It is a bending of the interpretation of Islam to suit Malay politics and Malay interests,” said Ibrahim Suffian, who heads the Merdeka Center opinion research company.

The issue hasn’t surfaced in other Muslim-majority nations with sizeable Christian minorities.

In Egypt, where at least 10 per cent of the population is Christian, both Muslims and Christians refer to God as Allah, and this hasn’t generated any controversy or antagonism. Christians often refer to God as “al-Rab” in their liturgy, but use Allah more frequently in their daily life.

The same is true for Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

Both groups use Allah— although Christians pronounce it “Al-lah” and Muslims say “Al-loh,”— and this hasn’t caused friction. ■ Associated Press writers Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, Maamoun Youssef in Cairo, Amir Bibawy in New York, and Vijay Joshi and Malcolm Foster in Bangkok contributed to this report.

World News

21 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Media exaggerated horror at Irish orphanage, but hard questions remain about mass graves

BY SHAWN POGATCHNIK The Associated Press DUBLIN, IRELAND—Revelations this month that nuns had buried nearly 800 infants and young children in unmarked graves at an Irish orphanage during the last century caused stark headlines and stirred strong emotions and calls for investigation. Since then, however, a more sober picture has emerged that exposes how many of those headlines were wrong.

The case of the Tuam “mother and baby home” offers a study in how exaggeration can multiply in the news media, embellishing occurrences that should have been gripping enough on their own.

The key fact is that a researcher, Catherine Corless, spent years seeking records of all the children who died in the orphanage in County Galway during its years of operation from 1925 to 1961. She found 797 death records—and only one record that one of the youngsters had been buried alongside relatives in a Catholic cemetery.

The rest, Corless surmised, were likely interred in unmarked graves on the orphanage grounds, including in a disused septic tank. She and other Tuam residents called for a state-funded investigation to identify remains and give the children a proper memorial.

The reports of unmarked graves shouldn’t have come as a surprise to the Irish public, who for decades have known that some of the 10 defunct “mother and baby homes,” which chiefly housed the children of unwed mothers, held grave sites filled with forgotten dead.

The religious orders’ use of

Ireland last week announced it would open a judge-led investigation into the care of children in Tuam and nine other defunct facilities, and the handling of their remains.

PHOTO FROM IRISHCENTRAL.COM

unmarked graves reflected the crippling poverty of the time, the infancy of most of the victims, and the lack of plots in cemeteries corresponding to the children’s fractured families.

Until recent weeks, nobody had put a precise number on the fatalities at Tuam. Corless spent months— and more than 3,000 euros ($4,000) of her own money—buying copies of death certificates and organizing them.

Her list of the dead shows that nearly 80 per cent were younger than 1; two died within 10 minutes of birth and never received first names. Ninetyone died in the 1920s, 247 in the 1930s, 388 in the 1940s, 70 in the 1950s, and one more

child in 1960. The most common causes were flu, measles, pneumonia, tuberculosis and whooping cough. Contrary to the allegations of widespread starvation highlighted in some reports, only 18 children were recorded as suffering from severe malnutrition.

While publicly available records are incomplete, sporadic inspection reports indicate that the orphanage’s population exceeded 250 throughout the worst years of child mortality, when overcrowding would have encouraged the spread of infection.

When Corless published her findings on a Facebook campaign page, and Irish media noticed, she speculated to re-

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porters that the resting place of most, if not all, could be inside a disused septic tank on the site.

By the time Irish and British tabloids went to print in early June, that speculation had become a certainty, the word “disused” had disappeared, and U.S. newspapers picked up the report, inserting more errors, including one that claimed the researcher had found all 796 remains in a septic tank.

The Associated Press was among the media organizations that covered Corless and her findings, repeating incorrect Irish news reports that suggested the babies who died had never been baptized and that Catholic Church teaching guided priests not to baptize the babies of unwed mothers or give to them Christian burials.

The reports of denial of baptism later were contradicted by the Tuam Archdiocese, which found a registry showing that the home had baptized more than 2,000 babies. The AP issued a corrective story on Friday after discovering its errors.

Brendan O’Neill, editor of the London-based online magazine Spiked, said journalists worldwide “got a whiff of Corless’s findings and turned them into the stuff of nightmares.” He noted that several top newspapers in the United States stated that 800 baby skeletons had been found in a septic tank, and that commentators fueled by a “Twitter mob” mentality compared the deaths to Nazi-era genocide.

The Irish Times in Dublin interviewed Corless about why she thought the former septic tank could have become a bone repository. She explained that her assertion was based on the study of old site maps and the 40-year-old recollections of two local men who, as boys, had

found an underground chamber on the site containing skeletons. It had sounded to her like the tank could be the location.

But the newspaper spotted discrepancies in Corless’ maps, and found records showing that the actual septic tank remained in use until the late 1930s, which meant it could not have been used as a burial spot.

Other analysts pointed out that the decommissioned septic tank would be too small to hold many bodies. And the two men who had reported seeing skeletons in 1975 said, on reflection, that they doubted more than 20 were inside the concreted hole.

Ireland last week announced it would open a judge-led investigation into the care of children in Tuam and nine other defunct facilities, and the handling of their remains. Whether the fact-finding effort will include excavations at any of the former homes or DNA analysis of remains has yet to be decided.

In an editorial, the Irish Times said Ireland was suffering “self-induced amnesia” given that historians already had documented “staggeringly high mortality rates in some mother and child homes.” It noted that Tuam’s mortality rate appeared lower than others, and predicted the upcoming inquiry into the entire system would be painful.

“Learning from the past can be a disturbing process,” it said.

“It involves an examination of failures and the acceptance of hurtful conclusions. It means making amends for past societal wrongs. It should establish why certain things happened, rather than heap blame on those who implemented policy. An examination of current discriminatory practices would also help. As a society, we have an uncomfortable road to travel.” ■

Immigration

JUNE 27, 2014

FRIDAY 22

Government welcomes Royal Assent of Bill C-24 The government celebrates the passage of reforms to the Citizenship Act OTTAWA, ON—Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced last week that reforms to the Citizenship Act received final passage and Royal Assent. The reforms will strengthen the rules around access to citizenship to ensure that new citizens are better prepared for full participation and integration into Canadian society, with the goal of fostering in new Canadians a stronger attachment to Canadian values and traditions. According to Minister Alexander, “Our government expects new Canadians to take part in the democratic life, economic potential and the rich cultural traditions of Canada. Our government remains committed to the successful integration of new citizens into our labour market and our communities, ensuring that they are better prepared to assume the responsibilities of citizenship, and fostering in new Canadians a strong attachment to Canada.”

Key reforms include:

Improving efficiency

Canada’s citizenship program is being improved by reducing the decision-making process from three steps to one. It is expected that, by 2015–2016, this change will bring the average processing time for citizenship applications down to under a year. It is also projected that by 2015-2016, the current backlog will be reduced by more than 80 percent.

Reinforcing the value Canadian citizenship

of

The government is ensuring citizenship applicants maintain strong ties to Canada. These amendments to the Citizenship Act provide a clearer indication that the “residence” period to qualify for citizenship in fact requires physical presence in Canada.

More applicants will now be required to meet language requirements and pass a knowledge test to ensure that new citizens are better prepared

Many visitors... other conditions.

“At present, the government of Canada does not possess the necessary authority to screen these individuals before they travel to Canada,” the federal notice says. “This causes significant expense, delay and inconvenience for the inadmissible foreign national, other travellers, airlines and the Canadian government.”

Under the new system, unwelcome travellers would be advised before getting on a plane to Canada.

All negative decisions would be made by an officer following a thorough review, the notice says.

Highly complex cases—expected to be “very few” in number—would require assessment by a senior decision-maker and could be referred to an overseas Canadian mission, it adds.

“Once a case is referred overseas, applicants may be asked to provide documentation to support their application, as well as to attend an interview with an officer to confirm that they are a bona fide traveller.” ❰❰ 18

to fully participate in Canadian society. New provisions will also help individuals with strong ties to Canada, such as by automatically extending citizenship to additional “Lost Canadians” who were born before 1947 as well as to their children born in the first generation outside Canada.

Cracking down on citizenship fraud

The updated Citizenship Act includes stronger penalties for fraud and misrepresentation (a maximum fine of $100,000 and/or five years in prison) and expands the grounds to bar an application for citizenship to include foreign criminality, which will help improve program integrity.

Protecting and promoting Canada’s interests and values

Finally, the amendments bring Canada in line with most of our peer countries, by providing that citizenship can be

revoked from dual nationals who are convicted of serious crimes such as terrorism, high treason and spying offences (depending on the sentence received) or who take up arms against Canada. Permanent residents who commit these acts will be barred from citizenship.

As a way of recognizing the important contributions of those who serve Canada in uniform, permanent residents who are members of the Canadian Armed Forces will have quicker access to Canadian citizenship.

The Act also stipulates that children born to Canadian parents serving abroad as servants of the Crown are able to pass on Canadian citizenship to children they have or adopt outside Canada.

Quick facts

• Requiring 14-64 year-olds to meet knowledge and language requirements provides an incentive for more individu-

als to acquire official language proficiency and civics knowledge, which helps them successfully integrate into Canadian society.

• Citizenship applicants will need to be physically present in Canada for a total of four out of their last six years. In addition, they will need to be physically present in Canada for 183 days per year for at least four of those six years. These provisions will come into force in approximately a year.

• Under the new streamlined decision-making model, citizenship officers will decide all aspects of a citizenship application. Under the old model, obtaining citizenship was a threestep process that involved duplication of work.

• Since 2006, Canada has welcomed over 1,300,000 proud new Canadians. Citizenship and Immigration Canada received 333,860 citizenship applications in 2013, the highest volume ever. ■

Filipinos, Vietnamese...

Some cases may also require further investigation by the Canadian border agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or the RCMP. The $7 fee is intended to cover processing costs for each travel authorization, which would be valid for five years from date of issue or until the applicant’s passport or travel document expires.

During consultations, some expressed concern that the fee would discourage tourism.

However, the notice says, the price is competitive with similar systems in place elsewhere including the U.S. and Australia.

Successful introduction of the electronic travel authorization could persuade the federal government to allow visitors from countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Chile—who now require a visa to come to Canada—to use the new, less onerous document, said David Goldstein, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

“That’s the direction we’ve been presenting to the government.” ■

we honor the Philippine national hero’s memory by raising awareness about this sovereignty issue like what Rizal did during the Propaganda Movement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eric Lieu, vice president of the Vietnamese Canadian Community in Greater Vancouver Society, said the growing outrage over China’s intransigence also united Vancouver Vietnamese from both North and South. “About 30 people, mostly from the Vietnamese international students and the business community called on China not to bring their oil rigs to the east sea because it belongs to Vietnam.

We also want to send a strong message to China to desist from making aggressive actions like attacking Vietnamese fishermen in Hoang-sa and Truongsa islands,” he said.

Bagunu said he was hopeful they can get more individuals to come out and join their activities. “We will continue to raise awareness primarily using the social media, town meetings, prayer rallies, seminars, until ❰❰ 18

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Filipino and Vietnamese activists hold up their placards and banners to protest China’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea.

a tipping point is reached.” He believes that there are thousands of quiet people supporting this cause. “When a tipping point is reached, thousands will roar,” he added.

Amado Mercado, a member of the Filipino Canadian Construction Society, said they are strongly urging Canada to condemn Chinese aggression in

the contested territories. “The U.S., U.K., Australia and the 10 member-countries of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have already sided with us. Canada should do the same,” he said.

Businessman Ed Tapia also bemoans Canada’s silence on the issue. “Canada, help us fight the bullies,” cried his placard. ■

Immigration

23 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

So, How Many New Friends Have You Made?

BY BOLET AREVALO NEW FRIENDS YOU MAKE MAY BE KEY TO FINDING THE RIGHT JOB THAT MATCHES YOUR SKILLS. THE MORE FRIENDS, THE HIGHER YOUR CHANCES OF FINDING IT. The old saying does not say, “Tell me how many friends you have and I will tell you who you are.” It simply states, “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.”

Thus, a person starting all over again has this one great chance to once more start accumulating friends, but this time with full awareness and maturity to discern the kind of friends he should nurture and keep, the maturity to know that it is never a matter of quantity, but instead is a matter of quality.

Or perhaps, you can go by the rule of the smart lover who believes “Collect and collect, and then select.” Many friends may come by you. Accept them but eventually filter them as to those which ones you’d keep close to your heart. In fact, sometimes you do not even have to do your own elimination process because eventually the number will dwindle as the not-so-true ones slowly drift away by themselves.

But I hope you never for once thought that friends are going to drop from heaven for you. You may have one or two that you knew from way back home, but that is not going to multiply by itself when the rain comes and they get wet like gremlins. You need to go out and meet them.

Upon arrival in Canada, I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many compatriots I do have in this country. I met them everywhere I went. I knew them by their nose or perhaps color, or maybe I just knew.

However, looking back, I realized that the most that I could do then was look them in the eye and give out a half-smile.

While they may want to engage you in a conversation, there are probably a lot of things going on in their minds or maybe both of you are rushing somewhere and you can only hope to see them

around again sometime.

You are really not able to stop and talk to them until they become your church-mates, officemates, schoolmates or community volunteer-mates.

You need to find occasions to meet them and be able to make friends. I would surmise that a lot of those who used to be introverted or withdrawn start to learn to come out of their shells in order to know people, to network and spread themselves.

Many studies on job searches say that networking is still the most effective way to get the job you want. For a lot of survival jobs, you do not need any network to be accepted into.

You must simply walk in to any store you want and ask if they are hiring. Chances are you will hit upon one that could end up as your first employer.

But to be able to hit upon the job that is in line with the skills that you have brought with you or near the line of work that you used to do back home or were trained for, you need to be able to chance upon the right people to help you or open doors for you.

But these right people can be new friends or friends of new friends.

By simple mathematics, the more new friends you make, the higher your chances are of hitting upon the right job that matches your skills or credentials. The more people you come to know, the more referrals you will gain. There is, however, an investment of time and effort that has to be made. The more time and effort you invest, the more you gain people’s trust and confidence because they get to have first-hand knowledge of observing you at “work” or working with you on a project.

You need to go out and spread yourself to be able to increase your network of new friends.

Invest time and energy in your community where you will meet people who might be key in helping you find the job that you really want. Only when you are able to exhibit your capacity or ability to do certain things well will you gain the trust and confidence of people who may speak well of your abilities to others.

Then, What About Your Old Friends?

KEEP OLD FRIENDS AS

THEY CAN BE THE KEY TO FINDING YOUR FIRST JOB, OR MAYBE YOUR BEST JOB. I always believe that good friends are your true wealth.

I can’t be naive to say that that means you can count on them when you are broke, financially. As a matter of fact, you can’t. Or you shouldn’t.

I do not know, but I have this horrible feeling when I think of having to borrow money from friends. If they volunteer to lend to you, maybe. But you shouldn’t count on them or to run to them when you need financial help. After all, they are your friends, and it is not good to take advantage of friendship in that sense. Also, it is not good to lose that friendship for that reason.

For the many happy thoughts and nice things you and your friends have shared together, causing a rift because of that lowly dollar or any other currency is not worth it. While we all need money to survive, money is the nastiest reason to lose friends. If for any reason you had to borrow from a friend, keep the trust and be really thankful.

Friends may volunteer to help you but you will realize in the end that they may also withdraw that help from you.

And that is the point that I do not want to see or ever be part of, because it hurts, no matter how politely or cleverly it is done. And the worst part is, you can never show how you really feel about it because you also do not want to hurt in return. It’s a plain and simple fact of life.

But that is about money, cold money.

So, my advice is, before you come to the point where you will need to borrow money, seek friends instead to help you find a way to earn money, to find a job. www.canadianinquirer.net

Friendships made from back home, whether the people are here or there, can be your first source of information or tips on job prospects. They can always refer you to some connections or knowledge of available jobs or good employers.

With the internet and email, being able to network or increase your network through friendships you have made in your “former” life is easy and quick.

My very first direct contact with a Canadian company was by way of an email introduction to a former colleague of a friend back home. It paved the way for my resume to get to the HR and head of the unit I was applying with, and my eventual completion of all the tests and interviews. That initially gave me an idea of the hiring process in Canada.

Believe me, however, when I say that technology can never replace human, face-to-face interaction or introduction. This is still the best thing that works.

Being personally introduced to a prospective employer or a contact to the employer is perfect.

Why would employers want to hire someone that way? Because employers prefer people whom they can trust. If they are referred by people they also trust, the less work they have in having to background check or credit investigate an applicant.

They save time and money that way.

And why would you also want to be hired that way? Because

you also need an employer you can trust. An employer who will not shortchange you. Someone who is fair. Someone who will not make your period of adjustment more difficult than it already is.

Keep friendships forever. It is always wise to keep adding, rather than subtracting. Your old friends may be able to help you find your first job or probably even your best job. Employers prefer hiring referrals because they need people they can trust. In the same tone, your adjustment to your new life will be easier if your first job is with an employer you can also trust. ■ Nobody ever said that our journey, will be easy. But as I write and as you read, we share our strengths and we can hold to the promise that “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them,” Matthew 18:20.

Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion.

She is author-publisher of the book: The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts. The book is available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, the Reading Room and other online bookshops worldwide, and in National Book Store and Power Books in the Philippines. Please check out https://www.amazon. com/author/boletarevalo.

JUNE 27, 2014

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FRIDAY 24

FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

25

Celebrating Canada Canada, the Great White (and Quirky) North

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer AH, CANADA. Land of lofty dreams, perfectly seasoned and cured bacon, sticky sweet maple syrup, Sasquatch sightings (if wild-eyed witnesses are to be believed), and the pro-weed Parti Marijuana.

She is a land as vast (she is the second largest country in the world) as her people are multicultural (in this melting pot of races, over 500,000 Filipinos call Canada home.)

Her winters are bitter cold, but her people are warm. And

funny. And always saying sorry.

Apologies in Canada are as predictable and frequent as trips to the toilet in a bar full of burly beer-drinkers. A Queen’s University poll titled “Sorry ... I’m Canadian,” found that 90% of Canadians aged 18-25 will immediately apologize if a stranger bumps into them. Good luck getting this kind of treatment in most parts of the (generally rude) world.

With her amazing natural attractions (parks, lakes, mountains, falls are in no short supply), clean air (Canada placed third in the World Health Organization’s list of countries with

the cleanest air on the planet) and superior quality of life (always ranked among the top ten countries in the OECD Better Life Index), it’s no wonder she is considered the sixth happiest country in the world.

Here are some fun, interesting, random facts you may or may not have known about the Great White North: 1. Canada is land-massive, with a total of 984 670 sq km and six—yes, you read right, 6!— time zones.

2. A bear cub named Winnipeg was exported from Canada to the London Zoo in 1915. A little boy named Christopher

Robin Milne loved to visit Winnipeg (or Winnie for short) and his love for the bear cub inspired the stories written by his father, A.A. Milne, about Winnie-the-Pooh.

3. As recorded in the journal of French explorer Jacques Cartier regarding his voyage to present-day Quebec, in the early 16th century, Canada’s name originates from the Saint-Lawrence Iroquoian word “canada”, which means “village” or “settlement.” It was once thought to originate from the Mohawk word “Kanata,” which means the same thing.

4. Canada has the world’s

longest coastline, measuring 125,567 miles, or 202,080 kilometres.

5. Canada is the garter snake capital of the world. At the Narcisse Snake Dens, 130-km north of Winnipeg , tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes slither out from their dens for a few weeks from mid-April to early May. Viewing platforms have been built, so visitors can watch from afar.

6. In 1967, Canada built the world’s first-ever UFO Landing Pad in St. Paul, Alberta, as one of the country’s most unique ❱❱ PAGE 30 Canada, the

JUNE 27, 2014

Your First Canadian Moment NO IMMIGRANT will ever forget their first day in Canada— whether they arrived during winter and felt its icy bite, or were blinded by the pulsating colour of spring; whether they saw Niagara or the Rockies or Vancouver Island and were impressed by it; whether they were shown kindness or given hope or thrown a lifeline. Those first few days were the most heart-pounding, worryinducing, ultra-exhilarating days of finding out whether they have made the right decision (although the realization would fully come many years away); whether they will make friends or find a job or afford Canada; whether they will make it or not.

Let’s relive your first few days. Here are some of what stood out in the minds (and memories) of others who were in the exact same shoes. ■

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FRIDAY 26

Celebrating Canada

27 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Putting the “Great” in the Great White North Why living in Canada is so great

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer FROM BEING sixth in United Nation’s 2013 Happiness Index Report, Canada is now ranked the third happiest country in the world out of 34 polled countries according to the ‘Better Life Index’ released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in May 2014.

According to OECD’s 11-point index—which includes income, education, housing, health, and life satisfaction—Switzerland topped the list, followed by Norway, and then Canada.

In the OECD index, Canada garnered an overall score of 7.6 points—tied with Denmark.

The report stated that 88% of its population said they are in good health (third highest in the world) and only 4% of employees work long hours (the 11th lowest in the polled countries).

Employed Canadians also reported having an average of US $30,212 annual disposable per capita income—the highest out of 34 countries in the study.

Canadians also live an average of 81 years—17th highest in the list.

Canadians’ net financial wealth also exceeded US $63,000—the highest of any nation in the study, which makes a lot of sense because the study also showed that a lot of Canadians are employed and “less likely” to be unemployed.

These figures may seem all high and serious, but these values are just some of the reasons why living in Canada is great. To some, the figures mean more vacation time with the family, a new computer or phone for the kids, one or more date night for the month. To some, it’s simply numbers and squiggles.

Calgary.

Despite the fact that it’s never just about the money, it is safe to say that being financially capable contributes to overall satisfaction and ultimately—happiness.

When asked if they had someone they could count on in emergency situations, 94% of Canadians said they have a “person” (‘Grey’s Anatomy’ fans will get that). And at 94%, Canada—as always—is at the top of the list as well.

As an employee, Canadians— in general—have it pretty good: decent working hours, one of the highest employment rates and disposable per capita income. But other than having more dough, Canadians have more to be proud of.

And I’m not talking about thick-cut Canadian bacon. Or poutine.

KnowsWhy.com noted that Canada is a great place to live in because of its excellent health care system.

Run by the government, its health insurance system is 100% free and preferred by most residents.

The indigent citizens can also avail of the public health system because it is covered by public funds. Filipinos all over Canada can attest to this wonderful fact—something we lack back home. I’ve heard sto-

PHOTO BY GRANT / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Toronto.

Vancouver.

PHOTO BY ROMAKOMA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ries from friends of mine who moved to Canada who are now enjoying its superb healthcare benefits.

Elderly Canadians also enjoy full benefits since the government makes sure that they have their medications free of charge.

Other than an excellent health care system—both for locals and immigrants, the cost of living in Canada is considerably lower compared to other countries.

The food products are very

affordable, which is why the country barely suffers from poor nutrition.

Canada’s low population density also makes it possible for legal immigrants to find a decent paying job. This is why Canada has one of the highest immigration rates in the world and the nation continues to maximize this influx of diverse manpower in order to boost its economic and demographic development.

According to NatWest International Personal Banking, British expats believe that Can-

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PHOTO BY VALESTOCK / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ada provides the best quality of life around the world.

92% of English expats in Canada rated Canada as “very good” or “excellent” in terms of their working environment and 90% when it comes to all-over financial security.

“This is the second year Canada has topped the tables of the NatWest IPB Quality of Life Index. Its excellent working conditions, financial security and peaceful reputation have pushed Canada into this year’s pole position. As a member of the Commonwealth, Canada offers Brits common values and goals shared with the UK, helping British expats settle into the country and feel at home,” said Dave Isley, head of NatWest, to an interview for the Telegraph UK. Whether for business or for pleasure, Canada surely delivers more than just basic necessities. The Great White North continues to share its innate greatness with anyone who is seeking a better life halfway around the world or just above the border. With these factors in mind, together with the rest of the world, Canadians believe that they will continue to push forward and emerge on top, confirming that indeed—Canada knows how to put “great” in the Great White North. ■

Seen & Scenes - Vancouver

JUNE 27, 2014

FRIDAY 28

INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVITIES CONTINUE IN GALA NIGHT

Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver with special guests John Negrin, president of Aquilini Renewable Energy, and Ross Dickinson, president of EnEco Systems, Inc. Also in photo are Consul General Ferrer’s daughters Maggie and Mia.

Members of the Philippines Cultural Pista ng Bayan Society receive a proclamation from MP Wai Young (Vancouver South), honoring the Filipino community of Metro Vancouver. Photo by Christian Cunanan

Highlight of the gala night was a fashion show tracing the evolution of Filipino attire through time.

Volunteer models in their Filipiniana haute couture collection.

PH OPERA SINGERS SHARE A NIGHT OF MUSIC

Liggayu and De Guzman serenade the audience with traditional Filipino love songs or kundimans.

Royal City-Sister City Society Chair Annie Miles (L) and Consul Melanie Diano were instrumental in bringing Zip and Kay to Vancouver to regale Filipinos with their talents.. Photo by Narcy Vinluan

The Royal City Sister City Society sponsored Summertime, an opera musical concert featuring Filipino baritone Zip de Guzman and Filipina soprano Kay Balajadia-Liggayu at the Sapperton Pensioner’s Hall in New Westminster. The singers performed in various Independence Day events in Metro Vancouver this past month. Photo by Narcy Vinluan

For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net

RIDE TO CONQUER CANCER Ryan Ferrer, Erich Trinidad and Josh Carampatana promoting Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 240-km. bikathon from Vancouver to Seattle held last June 14 and 15. The trio were among 2,100 riders who joined the trip.

Seen & Scenes - Toronto

29 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

THE NEXT QUARTER A HISTORICAL GRAND OPENING

By Michelle Chermaine Ramos Photo credits: Ariel Ramos

Independence Day celebrations were in full swing as an excited crowd of friends, fans and diplomats gathered at the opening of the Philippine Artists Group of Canada’s 26th anniversary exhibit at the Neilson Park Creative Centre on June 7. The show entitled, “The Next Quarter,” is the group’s largest art opening showcasing 69 original works of art and marks the start of a new era in Philippine-Canadian art history.

Guests of honor included Consul General Junever Mahilum-West; Debbie Mijares-Gatan, wife of Ambassador Leslie Gatan and close friend of the PAG who flew in from New Jersey; Senator Tobias Enverga and wife Rosemer Enverga, Indonesian Consul General Julang Pujianto and Madam Pujianto.

Consul General Junever Mahilum-West reads Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s letter to the Philippine Artists Group at the opening ceremony.

Following the opening speeches, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Consul General Junever Mahilum-West as her birthday cake made by PAG President and professional cake designer Nelia Tonido was wheeled in.

Visitors enjoyed a hearty reception cum surprise birthday party while they watched the artists perform a live interaction painting in acrylic on canvas.

The painting was later presented to a visibly delighted Consul General as her birthday gift.

Participating artists in the exhibit included PAG members Rolly Abarilla, Antonio Afable, Teody Asuncion, Joyce Bondoc, Cobie Cruz, Frank Cruzet, Jhun Ciolo Diamante, Tony Doctor, Marissa B Corpus-Gaa, Alex Gonzales, Martin Hechanova, Charlie Hermoso, Lina Jeffers, Gene Lopos, Romi C MananQuil, Omel Masalunga, Koni Marcoux, Mila Ureta Navaleza, Maridi Nivera, Calixto “Toots” Quiachon, Michelle Chermaine Ramos, Mark Edison Salinas, Frank Tonido, Nelia Tonido, honorary member Consul General Junever Mahilum-West and guest artists John West and Tenzin Younten Tsering.

Rosemer Enverga, Senator Tobias Jun Enverga and artist Michelle Chermaine Ramos are all smiles at the camera.

PAG founder Maestro Romi MananQuil shakes hands with Senator Tobias Jun Enverga as PAG President Nelia Tonido holds the certificate of recognition Senator Enverga presented to the PAG from the senate of Canada.

Debbie Gatan, wife to Ambassador Leslie Gatan and a friend of PAG shares her thoughts.

BIRTHDAY BASH Rudy “Boy” Rosales Jr., an avionics technology expert of a premier Canadian airline, celebrated his 50th birthday on June 14, 2014 with family and friends.

Photo shows from L: Jacob and Nanette Lectura, Mark Tait, Pien Lectura, Tony San Juan, Simone and Rommel Rosales, Rudy Rosales, Jr. (celebrator), Iean, Josie and Angelica Tait, Baby Julia, Eddie and Sonia Dela Cruz, Eva San Andres, Virgie and Badong San Juan and Juliet Dela Cruz (sitting).

Consul General Junever Mahilum-West holds her birthday present, a painting created by the PAG during their live painting group demo at the show.(Back row from L) Mila Navaleza, Debbie Gatan, Marissa Buyco Corpus-Gaa, Michelle Chermaine Ramos, Nelia Tonido, John West, Consul General Junever Mahilum-West, Jhun Ciolo Diamante, Maestro Romi MananQuil, Alex Gonzalez, Calixto “Toots” Quiachon, Gene Lopos, Frank Tonido and Frank Cruzet. (Front row from L) Joyce Bondoc, Antonio Afable, Teody Asuncion and Rolly Abarilla.

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Celebrating Canada

JUNE 27, 2014

FRIDAY 30

Canada, the...

Centennial projects.

The town donated the land, while local businesses contributed the building supplies and labour for the elevated cement pad, which was officially opened by Paul Hellyer, then Minister of National Defense.

7. Alberta has a national park larger than the whole of Switzerland. Wood Buffalo National Park extends from the border of Northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories. Created in 1922, the park serves as a protected area for the world’s largest herd of roaming Wood Bison, It is also the last known nesting site of whooping cranes.

8. Canada is home to a variety of large animals, like the moose and grizzly bear, but it is also home to about 55,000 species of insects and about 11,000 species of mites and spiders.

9. Hollywood loves making movies in picturesque Canada!

Several territories have been used as sets for major productions. Some famous movies filmed in Canada include: •“Twilight” (2008) (New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn)—Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, B.C. • “Blades of Glory” (2007)— Montreal, Quebec • “Titanic” (1997)—majority of the film was shot in Halifax, N.S. • “Incredible Hulk” (2008)— Toronto, Ontario • “Capote” (2005)—Winnipeg, Manitoba • “Mean Girls” (2004)—Toronto, Ontario • “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)—Canadian Rockies, Alberta • “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002)—Toronto, Ontario • “Taking Lives” (2004)— Montreal, Quebec • “One Week” (2008)— Coast to Coast—from Toronto through the Prairies and the Rockies to Vancouver Island 10. Canadians are a joke—in the best way possible! They are among the world’s most hilarious people. Canadians seem to be innately humorous, a characteristic which has given rise to many sociological studies.

Several comic heavyweights are from Canada . Among them: Jim Carrey, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Seth Rogen, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Michael Cera, and Leslie Nielsen. Satur❰❰ 25

The inspiration for the classic children’s literature character, Winnie the Pooh.

Winnipeg, the Canadian black bear with original owner, Lt. Harry Colebourne in 1914.

WIKIPEDIA PHOTO

Albert Klyne shows off the statue he made of the creature he says he spotted near his home south of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba in 2001 Tilt your head to see the proper configuration of the object he carved..

PHOTO BY JASON HALSTEAD, SUN MEDIA / SASQUATCHCANADA.COM

The world’s first-ever UFO landing pad in St, Paul, Alberta.

PHOTO FROM WWW.TOWN.STPAUL.AB.CA

day Night Live was created and produced by a Torontonian, Lorne Michaels. Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival is the world’s biggest comedy festival.

Canada is truly a laugh and a half.

11. Perhaps this love for laughter is a reason that Canadians live longer than many other people groups across the world. In 2009, Canada ranked sixth in terms of longest life expectancy worldwide. The gap in life expectancy between Canada and the U.S., for instance, is ever-widening; with Canadians living three years longer than Americans, on the average. Life expectancy is a good indicator of overall health in a country.

12. Canadians like to finish a sentence with the word “eh.” And, if you want to smile, ask any true Canadian to say “about.” Canadians are also known for their idiosyncratic yet adorable phrases and expressions, such as calling their two-dollar coins “Toonies,” cases of beer “two-fours,” and ask-

ing the question “What do you pay for hydro?”

13. No other part of the globe has locations with names like— errrrr—Balls Falls (a conservation area in Ontario), Crotch Lake (also in Ontario), and Dildo, Newfoundland (a town name capable of inducing a guffaw or giggle in even the most stoic of persons.)

14. Montreal is home to many beautiful churches and is often called The City of Saints or City of a hundred bell towers.

15. Forget the brew, grab a bottle of bubble bath for this race, instead! Vancouver Island is Home to an Annual Bathtub Race. This competition may seem a bit of a bubble-headed idea, but it has become a serious sport. Tubbers come from as far as Australia to compete in this crazy competition that started as Nanaimo’s Centennial event in 1967. Bathtubs are covered and fashioned into high-performance boats and jet across a 90-minute course. The race is held on the last weekend www.canadianinquirer.net

The fabulous Hotel de Glace in Quebec is built every winter and melts every summer.

PHOTO FROM HOTELDEGLACE-CANADA.COM / XAVIER DACHEZ

of July, as part of the weekendlong Nanaimo Marine Festival, which includes a Bathtub Parade.

16. Shhhh…don’t tell anyone, but The Canadian Postal is North Pole in disguise. Every year, thousands of kind-hearted and Christmas-spirited Canadians volunteer to answer letters that kids around the world send to Santa). For over 32 years, Canada Post employees and retirees have helped Santa answer over 21.8 million letters in 30 languages (including braille). Santa’s address is: SANTA CLAUS NORTH POLE H0H 0H0 CANADA 17. In Canada, The Order of the Jedi (yes, the Star Wars kind) is an official, state-approved philosophy, bordering on religion.

18. Canadian inventions include the game Trivial Pursuit (Scott Abbot and Chris Haney), the telephone (Alexander Graham Bell), basketball (James

Naismeth) and the snowmobile (Joseph-Armand Bombardier).

19. Canada is home to 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites and four marine conservation areas. There are 15 world heritage sites in Canada.

The one with the most interesting name is Head Smashed InBuffalo-Jump.

20. The Hotel de Glace in Quebec is built every year using 400 tons of ice and 12 000 tons of snow. Every summer it melts away and every winter it is rebuilt. This icy wonder is open for three months every year, from January to March, and takes 50 workers a month and a half to construct.

Just twenty fun facts about a land as fascinating as she is quirky; as breathtaking as she is mind-boggling; as sought-after and desired as she remains a dream, for many.

Ah, Canada.

Or, should I say...Eh! Canada!

Perhaps more accurately…

Canada, eh!

Celebrating Canada

31 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

What’s in a name? A Colourful History behind ‘Canada Day’ Celebration

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer IN COMMEMORATING a county’s birthday, nothing is more important than knowing the real and often untold stories—the historical colour behind Canada’s birthday celebration.

Every year, colourful confettis, outdoor events, parades, carnivals, concerts and fireworks mark Canada’s birthday celebration.

But there is not a standard Canada day list of activities as Jennifer Welsh, a professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, puts it, "Canada Day, like the country, is endlessly decentralized. There doesn't seem to be a central recipe for how to celebrate it—chalk it up to the nature of the federation."

But despite the diverse nature of Canadians’ celebration, there is a single most important thing that unites their activities—the story behind their country’s creation.

Historical colour behind the name Canada Day is not just a celebration of Canada’s creation; it is also a celebration of the union of formerly divided lands into a single country.

It marks the anniversary of the Constitution Act of 1867 which joins Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Canada Province (now Ontario and Quebec) and created Canada, a single, united country.

But though Canada was given its selfgoverning powers, it still remained a dominion of Great Britain even after its creation and unification as a federation of four provinces. Canadian nationalism was then an unpopular notion as people regarded themselves as British citizens.

Only when the people have started celebrating the creation of their country as a fully independent Canada, that the sense of nationalism started growing among Canadian citizens.

The first official celebration was held in 1917 to honour Canada’s 50th birthday. But it was only later in 1982 when the celebration’s name “Dominion Day” was changed to “Canada Day.” Evolving celebrations Since its first celebration in July 1, 1917, there were several evolutions on the country’s ways of celebrating its birthday.

The first official celebration in 1971 was held as a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Confederation.

The Parliament buildings that were then still under construction were dedicated to the Confederation founders and to the valiant Canadians who fought during the First World War.

Ten years later, the Peace Tower Carillon was inaugurated to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Confederation.

Viscount Willingdon, the governor general during that time, laid the cornerstone of the Confederation Building on Wellington Street.

It was only in 1958 that the government organized the celebration of Canada’s national holiday every year and the Secretary of State was tasked to oversee the activities during the celebration.

A format which includes a flag ceremony in the afternoon on the lawns of Parliament Hill and a sunset ceremony in the evenings, followed by a concert of military music and fireworks, was followed.

Beginning in 1967, the 100th year anniversary of the confederation, Parliament Hill has been the backdrop for Canada’s birthday.

In the same year, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has participated in the celebration of Canada’s 100th birthday.

Since then, a huge celebration is yearly organized in the Parliament Hill which includes cultural, artistic and sport activities and involves the participation of various municipalities and volunteer associations.

From 1980, the government extended the celebration in the Parliament Hill throughout the country by funding local celebrations.

The traditional fireworks display which lights up 15 major Canadian cities was also started the following year in 1981.

Last 2011, Royal Highnesses Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, participated in Canada Day festivities. This was after

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh

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also joined the festivities to celebrate Canada’s anniversary the year before. ■

Celebrating Canada

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 32

Canada’s 147th birthday in the Capital

BY THESSA SANDOVAL Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE 1ST of July holds a significant place in every Canadian’s heart. It was on the same day 147 years ago when the colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada became united to become one nation. In short, it was the day when Canada became Canada.

Canada’s birthday is usually celebrated with barbecue parties, concerts, parades, picnics, and fireworks displays. You can show your true patriot love on Canada Day by partaking in the celebrations in your own city. However, if you and your family want to take part in the nation’s biggest birthday party, then there’s no better place to go but Ottawa, where festivities will run from morning till night.

The Capital’s Canada Day celebrations will take place at the following sites:

Parliament Hill

The celebration on the Hill will begin with a flag-raising ceremony at 9 a.m. and the Changing of the Guard at 9:30 a.m.

Concerts, shows, performances, and dance workshops will follow. In the afternoon, the Canadian Armed Forces will also be presenting “Images from Afghanistan,” a selection of photos from the last 100 days of Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan. Don’t forget to stay for the pyrotechnics show, which will light the skies over the Ottawa River, starting at 10 p.m.

Major Hill’s Park

Major Hill’s Park will be divided into four zones on Canada Day. Each zone will feature a variety of cultural performances, displays and activities for any kind of spectator. Major Hill’s Park is located in the heart of downtown Ottawa and is close to Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Byward Market.

Canada Day fireworks in Ottawa.

Jacques-Cartier Park

If making your kids happy is a priority during your trip in the Capital, then, turn Canada Day into a play day by bringing your kids to Jacques-Cartier Park.

The Canada Day activities at this site will include fun games,

www.canadianinquirer.net

PHOTO BY SKEEZIX1000 / CC BY-SA 2.0

physical activities, performances, face painting, and inflatable slides. Jacques-Cartier Park is located in Gatineau, next to the Canadian Museum of History.

You can take the free Canada Day shuttle from Major Hill’s Park to get to this location.

Aside from the three major sites, there will also be free activities for your whole family to enjoy at most of the National Capital Region’s museums and institutions all day long. Visit www.canadaday.gc.ca to see the full schedule. ■

FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

33

Entertainment

MISS B’S ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS

The house that “power” artists built - Part 2

BY BABES CASTRONEWLAND

THIS IS in continuation of last week's list of talented local artists pooled under Vancouver Powerhouse Station Entertainment's mentorship and management: Ralph Lazaro

This dapper looking youngster is a BC Conservatory of Music-Level 6 in Piano graduate and currently attends Tarlington Acting Training. Ralph epitomizes the ultimate multifaceted whiz kid as he masters in Advanced Math Program Grade 9 Level at Kumon. Aside from playing piano and talents in singing/rapping and dancing, Ralph also hones his skills in playing the guitar at the Long & McQuade School. And as if these were not enough, Ralph is also a sports enthusiast. He swims, ice skates and plays competitive tennis. For this "super" kid, sky is definitely the limit when it comes to stage performing and threading the academe. Apart from being honed and managed by Powerhouse Station Entertainment, Ralph has an agent handling his professional acting career.

Andrea Legaspi

Dusky 14 year old Andrea is born to sing and express herself in various artistic forms. She

has developed deeply soothing vocal skills through years of training since she was 7 years old. She's also spent a brief time honing her terpsichorean moves by joining Vancouver B.C.'s premier dancing training group PraiseTEAM. Over the years, Andrea has joined and won in various amateur singing competitions. She was awarded Best Broadway Ballad in her category at the 2012 Kiwanis Fraser Valley Music Festival, as well as the Outstanding Performance award in 2013. She was first runner up in BC Junior Talent Search of 2011. Not only does Andrea excel in arts and music, she also does extremely well in academics. Andrea had received many honor roll medals over the years, and holds a 4.0 GPA today. Her interests other than performing is reading, writing poetry, playing guitar, and cooking. Andrea's biggest dream and goal is to make it big in the music industry, but also wants to finish university with high grades for a bachelor's degree in nursing and psychology. Andrea continues to be motivated and is determined to reach her goals, and there's no stopping her!

J.J. Cepeda

Probably the only kid who performed on the same stage fronting for the Vancouver B.C. concert of phenomenal R&B recording artist, Brian McKnight.

Now just 14 years old, J.J. was once dubbed as the "Wonder Boy" for being able to belt out

tunes via his high-ranging vocal pipes. He started learning how to sing at the age of 5 under tutelage from pioneering vocal coach, Kikks de Leon. J.J. won the first TnT Talent Showdown and became a regular performer at the Zodian Senior Society and A Star Dance Studio. He also bagged top prizes at Surrey City Jam and BC Junior Talent Search. Aside from fronting for Brian McKnight, he became a regular showcase in various concerts of known Philippine celebrity artists such as Rico J Puno, Regine Velasquez, Sarah Geronimo, Pops Fernandez, Jed Madela, Eric Santos, Rachelle Ann Go, Mark Bautista and many others. At the Oakridge Music Studio, J.J. received rigid training in piano.

And as if these accolades were not enough, he performed at the Blueberry and Fusion Festival and spearheaded various fundraisers such the Leukemia Foundation Gala in New York City where he was met up with international superstar Taylor Swift and other celebrity artists on broadway and daytime soap actors. He currently comprises the prestigious Princess Margaret School Choir. And although his now maturing vocal pipes could no longer allow him to wail high-hitting notes of Mariah and Whitney, J.J.'s vocal artistry has certainly started aging to perfection into becoming a resplendent young male performer out to swoon both the young and old alike. (To be continued)

Ralph Lazaro

Andrea Legaspi

J.J. Cepeda

Entertainment

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 34

Lovi Poe to perform at Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto GMA INTERNATIONAL, the business unit that operates and distributes GMA Network’s international channels—GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International—is poised to delight its Kapuso audience abroad as it brings Kapuso Premier Actress Lovi Poe to the 2014 Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto this June 28.

Sponsored by GMA International and the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation (PCCF), the event is one of many celebrations around the world in commemoration of Philippine Independence Day. The program includes a performance by Lovi as well as a meet and greet with her fans.

The event will be held at the

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Hall A, North Building from 9:00 AM— 11:00 PM. This month, Lovi returns to international television screens as she breathes life to the character of Shiela Salazar-Real in Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real, currently airing on the GMA’s flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. Compared to her previous TV roles, Lovi plays a totally different character in the series as she is required to be adventurous and strong-willed. Eventually her vulnerability as a woman who loved a man dearly will also be revealed.

“My character here as Shiela has a strong personality and is a bit boyish. Kasi in ‘Akin Pa Rin

ang Bukas’, medyo weak yung character ko, naging strong na lang siya towards the end,” said Lovi. “But this one, strong siya in the beginning pero nung nalaman niya yun ginawa ng asawa niya… siyempre pag tayo naman mga babae kahit gaano pa tayo ka-strong but once we get our hearts broken, may time na tumitiklop tayo and that’s what’s going to happen.”

With the international premiere of their series, Lovi is also looking forward to reaching out to their fans abroad. “I’m really excited na mai-share yun sa kanila. At least it will make them feel a lot closer to us here pag may pinapakitang shows from the Philippines,” she says.

Playing the leading man in the

series is Kapuso primetime king Dingdong Dantes as Anthony Real as the man Shiela fell in love with and married. However, everything will change when she finds out that she is not the only Mrs. Real; that her husband is also married to Millet portrayed by the Diamond Star Ms. Maricel Soriano. ■

For updates on GMA Network’s programs, artists and events, visit www.gmanetwork.com/ international, Facebook pages www. facebook.com/ GMAPinoyTV or www.facebook.com/ gmalifetv, and, www.facebook. com/gmanewsinternational, and Twitter pages @GMAPinoyTV and @GMA_LifeTV.

TFC Fiesta Dingdong says everything’s Caravan highlights cool with Richard ‘Filipino greatness’

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—This year’s The Filipino Channel’s 20th Anniversary highlighted Filipino greatness on its TFC Fiesta Caravan with a parade of great Filipino performances, sights and sounds.

According to ABS-CBN Europe Ltd. managing director Edgardo Garcia, this year’s caravan of events brings a different flavour as TFC builds partnerships with organizations “to bring world-class Filipino talent and the Philippines’ colorful culture closer to Pinoys all over Europe.”

“What makes this year’s celebrations different is that it coincides with TFC’s 20th anniversary, which fittingly highlights the galing or greatness of

the Filipino,” Garcia added.

An event in Vienna staged by the Filipino network with ABSCBN’s Regional Network Group started the celebration.

Teleserye stars Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban and dance icons Maja Salvador and Enchong Dee, and comedienne Pooh starred the event held at the Austria Center Vienna.

The kick-off party was followed by the 116th Philippine Independence Day celebrations on June 7 and 8 at the Morden Park by the London Road in Morden with Enchong Dee, Jon Avila and Ima Castro.

Another round of celebrations will also be held in June 29 to celebrate the Philippine Independence and 12th Philippine Spain Friendship Day at the Colegio del Nuestra Señora de Consolacion, Plaza Madre Molas in Madrid. ■

MANILA—After Dingdong Dantes’ successful trip to Chicago for official GMA business, he headed to New York City for a romantic rendezvous with long-time girlfriend and actress Marian Rivera.

The lovely couple attended Baby Zion’s—Sarah Lahbati and Richerd Gutierrez’s child— first birthday a few weeks ago, where Marian reportedly mentioned that she’s ready to have children because she wants what Sarah and Richard have.

“Ah talaga, buti pa siya alam niya (Oh, really – it’s a good thing she knows),” Dingdong laughed when asked about Marian’s statement.

The ‘Dalawang Misis Real’ star also admitted that he’s also looking forward to having children and settling down.

“Kaya nga natutuwa ako sa lahat ng kaibigan kong nagkakaroon ng anak because it’s really a blessing. Nowadays, hindi naman na siya guarantee if you’re kasal or in a relationship, ‘di ba?

Binibigay lang talaga ‘yan ng Panginoon,” he continued.

(That’s why I’m happy for all my www.canadianinquirer.net

Actor and youth advocate Dingdong Dantes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @DONGDANTES ON INSTAGRAM.

friends with kids because it’s really a blessing. Nowadays, being married or in a relations is no guarantee, right? God just gives it to you.)

“That’s why, I’m sincerely happy lalo na sa mga bagong silang. Kasi, sa kabila ng mga nangyayari sa atin, sila ang mga bagong pagasa,” Dingdong—a youth advancement advocate—added.

(That’s why I’m sincerely happy especially for the newborns, because despite everything that happened, they’re our new hope.)

When asked if he wants to get married first before having kids, he answered, “Ayokong magsalita ng tapos. So basta ako, kung ano’ng blessing, yun yun (I don’t want to say anything final. For me, if there’s a blessing, that’s it).”

The two men, Dingdong and Richard, have a shared fascina-

tion with motorcycles—one of the reasons why the two are often seen together recently.

When Dingdong attended Baby Zion’s birthday, people were finally convinced that there’s no issue between the two GMA leading men.

“Wala naman po talaga. Actually, wala talaga to begin with…

Siguro wala lang din chance before to interact and now that there’s the opportunity, wala namang problema. I’m happy that it’s happening,” Dingdong said.

(No, there’s no issue. Actually, there’s no issue to begin with…

Maybe we just didn’t have the chance before to interact and now that there’s the opportunity. There’s no problem. I’m happy that it’s happening.) ■ With report from Rose Garcia

Entertainment

35 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Kris: Derek is a good friend

Piolo excited about ‘Hawak Kamay’

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—After months of being linked with Derek Ramsay, actress-host Kris Aquino finally talks about her relationship with the actor on her show “Aquino & Abunda Tonight,” Monday night.

“He is a wonderful person.

Any girl would be the most blessed girl to have him as a best friend, a boyfriend, a husband or whatever,” Kris said.

During the show, Kris said without mentioning the actor’s name he has been a good friend to her and she dearly appreciated his ‘nice gestures.’

“I think it was just really a nice gesture from a friend who cares who knew that I wasn’t feeling great over the weekend. Kapitbahay nung 19 East kung saan siya nakatira so dumaan lang siya on his way to play golf, (He was a neighbour at 19 East where he lives so he dropped by on his way

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS AQUINO’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

to play golf)” the actress said.

Kris was surprised by Derek during on the set of her morning show “Kris” TV earlier that morning.

The tv host-actress also mentioned how Derek has been there to comfort her over the weekend.

Reports have also circulated about Kris posting something about moving on and having a second chance in love, while extending her thanks to Derek for always being there for her.

“For every girl with a broken heart, there’s always a boy with glue gun,” the quote read.

“Mabait maasahan at matiyaga kahit iyak ako ng iyak ay pinagtitiyagaan niya ang iyak ko. Kahit hindi siya ang iniiyakan ko, nagtitiyaga siya,” she added.

(He is kind, dependable and patient. Even when I’m crying so hard, he is very patient on me. Even if he’s not the reason why I’m crying, he is being patient.) ■

MANILA—Piolo Pascual said he is very excited about his upcoming family-oriented soap, “Hawak Kamay.”

“First of all, I’m working with four kids, these are child superstars. I’m also working with Iza. It’s different because it’s a family thing,”Piolo said in an interview for ABS-CBN News.

Piolo will be playing the role of Gin, a frustrated singer who will be forced into guardianship of his sisters’ children (Xyriel Manabat, Zaijan Jaranilla, Yesha Camile) when his sister sister (Jennifer Sevilla) and her husband (Lander Vera Perez)

die in a car crash.

Piolo, who was left by his girlfriend (Nikki Gil), will get the help of lawyer Bianca (Iza Calzado) in the legal adoption of the children.

“Usually love triangle or love story pero ito, it’s more on the family side. Filipinos are very family-oriented so I believe na makaka-relate ang maraming pamilya.

Para sa mga Pilipino talaga ito,” he added.

The prime time series will be the third major project of Piolo and Iza together after “Milan” in 2004 and “Starting Over Again” this year. ■ With reports from ABS-CBN News

Bianca Gonzales answers bashers: “that’s what social media is for–to share opinions”

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—The last few days were filled with senators heading to jail and social media is, as always, buzzing with everybody’s opinion.

Host and endorser Bianca Gonzalez is no stranger to social media’s darker side — bashers.

Bianca received tweets and comments bashing her for the tweets she posted on June 19th, when Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. appeared on TV prior to his imprisonment.

Here’s are just some of Bianca’s tweets: “Reality (aka news) can really be stranger than fiction.” “#Telenewserye o #Balitaserye o #Porkserye. Anong pinakamagandang magandang term para dito?”

“Oo, may nag-tweet sa akin ng ganoon. I don’t think I have an opinion except na ngayon lang ako natanong. Wala naman akong… hindi naman ako

pupunta sa press and say ganito, ganyan. Or hindi naman ako nag-tweet only because if I do, people would say, ‘Bakit mo dinidefend?’” she said.

(Yes, I got tweets like that [negative, bashing]. I don’t think I have an opinion except when somebody asks me. I won’t go to the press and say this and that.

Or I won’t tweet because if I do, people would say, ‘why are you defending yourself?’)

“If I don’t say anything, I’m quiet. If I say naman something, bakit mo dini-defend hindi ka naman tinatanong ng tao. So yeah. In another interview recently, tinanong ako about the PBB issue. So, happy ako to share my thoughts,” she added.

Some netizens are even describing Bianca’s actions as “pakikisawsaw” or basically just piggybacking the pork barrel issue, which is the “in” thing to talk about at the moment.

“Bina-bash ako dahil nakikisawsaw daw ako sa issue? Ah, siguro i-backread nila lahat ng tweets ko for the past three years, kapag may mga ganyan

PHOTO COURTESY OF @IAMSUPERBIANCA ON INSTAGRAM.

namang issue, nagpu-post din talaga ako,” she said.

(They’re bashing me because I’m piggybacking? Maybe they should read my tweets for the past three years. Whenever there’s an issue like this one, I always post something.)

“And to be perfectly honest, ang dami pang mas malalang, masasakit na salita na post ng ibang tao and ako, as much as possible, I want to share my opinion pero responsible pa rin ako sa words ko. I’m sure nakikita niya sa timeline niya yung www.canadianinquirer.net

mga lait ng tao, ‘di ba? I tried not to be like that kasi gusto ko civil pa rin naman yung magiging komento ko and yeah, that’s what social media is for, i-share mo yung opinion mo.”

(And to be perfectly honest, there are a lot of other worse and more hurtful words in other people’s posts, but as much as possible, I want to share my opinion while being responsible with my words. I’m sure they can see people’s negative comments in their timeline, right? I tried not to be like that

because I want to keep my comments civil. And yeah, that’s what social media is for — to share your opinions.)

When asked if she regrets posting those tweets about Sen. Revilla, she answered, “No, no, definitely, not.”

“May mga words pa siguro ako na na-post in the past na siyempre alam ko may family sila na nasaktan sa whatever bashing na makuha ng family member nila.

Pero part, I guess, yun ng public life… Social media is there. Magpu-post talaga yung mga tao ng opinion nila,” she said.

(There are words that I may have posted in the past and I’m sure there’s a family member out there who got hurt with the bashing their family got. But I guess that a part of the public life. Social media is there. People will post their opinions.)

Bianca said that she will continue to post her opinion on social media despite this new round of bashers.

With report from Julie E. Bonifacio, PEP.ph

Entertainment

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 36

Casting changes, including star Wahlberg, give latest ‘Transformers’ film a fresh start

BY ANGELA CHEN The Associated Press HONG KONG—The robots aren’t the only part of the latest “Transformers” film that changed. Led by star Mark Wahlberg, a whole new cast was brought in to give a fresh start to the blockbuster franchise.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” stars Wahlberg as a mechanic who strikes up a friendship with good-guy robot Optimus Prime.

Wahlberg said the idea of joining the franchise came while he and Bay were working on last year’s film, “Pain and Gains.”

“I’ve never done a sequel to any of the movies that I’ve done and this is my first installment in the series. So, still not really a sequel for me. Just thought it was fun to do something different and I really wanted to work with Michael.”

The first three films were anchored by Shia LaBeouf, and Wahlberg has previously said he felt pressure about stepping

into the shoes of other actors.

Still he jumped at the opportunity, and while he’s signed to do future installments, “I’m not doing it if Michael doesn’t do it.

So we’ll see what happens.”

At the film’s worldwide premiere in Hong Kong on Thursday, Bay praised the 43-yearold Wahlberg as a leading man with maturity and gravitas.

As a father of four, Wahlberg saw his scenes with on-screen daughter Nicola Peltz as a sign of things to come and says he’s fiercely protective of his own two daughters. “I’m not excited about that part of it,” he admitted of their becoming teenagers.

The 19-year-old Peltz said she took Wahlberg’s advice to come to the film set extra prepared.

“He told me, ‘Before you go to set, know your script, know your lines, know everything about the script.’ Because you’ll go to set, sometimes Michael will pick a scene not supposed to be filmed in a month. He’ll be like, ‘Let’s just shoot it today’ So it’s really good to be extra prepared on a Michael Bay film.”

Another new addition, Kelsey

Mark Wahlberg.

Grammer, said he didn’t mind playing a villain since he got the chance to work with Bay. “It’s like throwing a lot of things up in the air (at) one time, and somehow he pulls them back down, and sticks them in his movie. He’s got so many ideas all the time. His mind is so quick and rich, and creative. It’s kind of like a wild ride just to work with him.”

Hong Kong and China plays

PHOTO BY TOGLENN / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

an important backdrop in the latest installment, another indication of China’s growing importance to Hollywood. The franchise’s third film, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” earned $1.1 billion at the global box office, with $165 million from China, its second biggest market after North America.

But it hasn’t been smooth. A Beijing property developer had called for the Chinese screen-

ings to be suspended because of a sponsorship dispute, before all parties said Monday they’d smoothed out their differences. The Beijing Pangu Investment Co. Ltd. owns the dragonshaped Pangu Plaza featured in the film.

Production in Hong Kong also was briefly disturbed by two extortion attempts on the set last year. In one case, a man reportedly tried to throw an air conditioning over Bay’s head.

One assailant was later sentenced to 30 months in prison.

At a news conference Friday, Bay said he thought the sentence was harsh. “I personally wouldn’t want them to be punished. He was on drugs and he probably didn’t know what he was doing.”

He also said that after the incident, people came up to him and apologized to him on behalf of Hong Kong.

Supporting actor Jack Reynor said despite the incident, the cast and crew had a great time on set. “Our experiences of Hong Kong were all very positive ones.” ■

DeGeneres’ show wins 8th Daytime Emmy award; Harvey scoops up talk, game show honours

BY LYNN ELBER The Associated Press LOS ANGELES—Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Harvey and the soap opera “The Young and the Restless” were among the 41st annual Daytime Emmy winners.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” received its eighth trophy as outstanding entertainment talk show at the awards ceremony Sunday in Beverly Hills.

The “Steve Harvey” show was honoured as outstanding informative talk show, while Harvey won as best game show host for “Family Feud.”

CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” captured six awards, including honours for best drama series and best lead actor for star Billy Miller. Eileen Davidson of NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” was named best drama

series actress.

ABC’s “Good Morning America” won the best morning program Emmy.

The Daytime Emmys introduced new awards for Spanishlanguage shows. Trophies went to Telemundo’s “Un Nuevo Dia” as best morning program, to CNNE’s “Clix” as best entertainment show and to Rodner Figueroa of Univision’s “El Gordo y la Flaca” as best daytime talent in Spanish.

CBS, which received eight creative arts Daytime Emmys for technical achievements at a ceremony last week, emerged as the network leader with a total of 14 awards after Sunday’s ceremony.

PBS received a combined 13 awards, with six for HUB Network; five for TOLN.com; four for ABC and three for NBC. The ceremony, which aired

on the cable news channel HLN last year and in 2012 after losing its longtime home on the broadcast networks, this year settled for streaming the proceedings online. The change in fortune reflects the dwindling daytime audience and programming shifts.

Kathy Griffin hosted Sunday’s ceremony, with Billy Bush and Mario Lopez among the presenters.

Other winners were: Talk show host (tie): Mehmet Oz, “Dr. Oz Show,” Katie Couric, “Katie.”

Entertainment news program (tie): “Entertainment Tonight,” “Extra.”

New approaches drama series: “Venice the Series.”

Supporting actress in a drama series: Amelia Heinle, “The Young and the Restless.”

Supporting actor in a drama series: Eric Martsolf, “Days of www.canadianinquirer.net

Ellen DeGeneres.

Our Lives.”

Game show: “Jeopardy!”

Legal or courtroom program: “The People’s Court.”

Culinary program: “The Mind of a Chef.”

Culinary host: Bobby Flay, “Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction.”

Special class special: “The Young and the Restless: Jeanne

PHOTO BY ANGELA GEORGE / FLICKR

Cooper Tribute.”

Younger actor in a drama series: Chandler Massey, “Days of Our Lives.”

Younger actress in a drama series: Hunter King, “The Young and the Restless.”

Drama series directing team: “One Life to Live.”

Drama series writing team: “The Young and the Restless.” ■

FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

37

Lifestyle

Sunscreen can protect against cancer causing UV rays if it’s used properly

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO—With all the warnings about skin cancer from excess sun exposure, the need to put on sunscreen while outdoors is pretty well a nobrainer. But it takes more than a quick slather to successfully to protect the skin from potentially harmful ultraviolet rays.

The effectiveness of a sunscreen to limit skin exposure is measured by its sun protection factor, or SPF, number. The higher that number, the more protection a product will provide against UVB rays, the ones that cause sunburns.

“People need to use SPF30 and up, and what that reflects is proper UVB protection,” says Dr. Anatoli Freiman, chair of Canadian Dermatology Association’s sun protection program.

“Number 2, the sunscreen should be broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against UVA and UVB as well.”

The Canadian Dermatology Association reviews research on various sunscreens and those that meet scientific standards get its stamp of approval. While the CDA logo on the packaging helps consumers know they are choosing an approved product, Freiman acknowledges that many people still don’t use sunscreens to get their utmost benefit.

Here is advice for using sunscreen to optimize protection from the sun’s harmful rays:

Pick the correct SPF

The CDA recommends that consumers use a minimum sunscreen strength of SPF30.

“The question is: is the more SPF, the better?” said Freiman, who is also medical director of the Toronto Dermatology Centre. “And typically, yes, because the higher the SPF, like SPF60, the higher the protection. But the curve sort of plateaus, so with SPF30 you get about 97 per cent protection against UVB rays, and with SPF60, you’re getting into about 98.5 coverage.

“So it’s incremental increases. That being said, a lot of people underapply sunscreen.

They don’t apply enough, so in that sense there’s actually been some studies that show that getting SPF higher—say SPF70—can compensate for under-application. So therefore you get a little bit better protection.”

While no one becomes immune to sunscreen’s effects over time, people have different sensitivities to the sun and may need to use a higher SPF product than others to achieve the protection they need. Fairskinned people, for instance, can burn more easily than darker-skinned people whose skin contains more melanin, the pigment in skin.

“Some folks who take certain medications can be more sun-sensitive,” says Freiman, suggesting they may need to use a product with a reading of SPF60 or higher.

Getting started

Sunscreen should not be used for babies six months and younger, nor should their delicate skin be exposed to direct sunlight. But older children and adults should be vigilant about using sunscreen, which should be applied at least 15 minutes before going outdoors so it can be absorbed by the skin.

Don’t skimp

Freiman advises applying the equivalent of about a shot glassfull of sunscreen over the body and about five millilitres (a teaspoon) on the face. “Sometimes people forget obvious places, behind the ears, the lower lip (and) the back of the hands,” he says. And don’t forget the

toes, which are can be exposed in sandals, and the backs of the knees and legs, common sites for melanoma to develop.

showing the efficacy of sunscreen with protection against skin cancer clearly outweigh any hypothetical claim,” says Freiman.

“As scientists, we know that sunscreens work, they make a difference, they prevent skin cancer and that’s what we advocate. It’s safe and effective.”

Reapply frequently

Generally, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours during exposure to the sun (even on seemingly overcast days), but it may be needed more often depending on h o w hot the weather is a n d types of activity, he says.

“Nothing is completely waterproof or sweat-proof, so they’re more water-resistant,” Freiman says of products that are formulated for those engaging in water sports and strenuous, perspiration-producing exercise. Usually, such sunscreens recommend reapplication every 40 to 80 minutes.

“So that needs to be respected because 40 to 80 minutes after, most of the sunscreen is washed off. It depends on the type of the sunscreen, but usually what it means is it needs to be reapplied more frequently than every two hours.”

When in doubt, throw it out

Because sunscreen can degrade over time, products carry expiration dates, after which bottles should be tossed as their ingredients will no longer offer proper protection.

And while storing sunscreen

What else

in a vehicle may make it readily accessible, the heat of summer—or indeed, the cold of winter—can play havoc with products’ chemical ingredients, which can lose their power to protect against the sun’s rays, says Freiman. “It does reduce effectiveness. It can become photo-unstable ... and disintegrate with time. It probably doesn’t go to zero in terms of efficacy, but we don’t encourage people to keep it in a heated environment for too long.”

Is sunscreen safe

There have been suggestions that the ingredients in sunscreens may be carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, but experts say there is no proof the products carry any risk of harm.

“There’s always talk, it’s controversial, but basically we do know that the proven studies

Statistics released last month by the Canadian Cancer Society show cases of skin cancer— particularly the most deadly kind, melanoma— are on the rise in both women and men. This year, an estimated 6,500 Canadians will be diagnosed with melanoma, and 1,050 will die from the disease.

Besides using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer, experts recommend seeking the shade when outdoors, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and covering up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

Skin cancer can occur on eyelids and too much exposure to sunlight can lead to cataracts.

Some manufacturers sell sun-protective clothing that carries an ultraviolet protection factor, or UPF, rating; there are also products that can be thrown in the washer with clothes to make them sun-protective; and special wristbands can tell wearers when they need to reapply sunscreen. ■

Lifestyle

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 38

Digital screens usher in new era of interactivity at Canadian retailers

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press LONDON, ONT.—Facebook suggests friends you may know, Netflix picks movies you might enjoy and, one day, digital menus at Tim Hortons drivethru could be personalized, showing you your favourites and suggesting alternatives it thinks you might like to try.

The concept might seem a stretch, but the ability to launch the technology isn’t that far away, said Nick Prigioniero, president of Cineplex Digital Networks.

“They’re going to suggest things that I like, just like Netflix,” he said of the concept. “(It’ll be) on your phone or a digital menu board.”

Retailers hope by launching a digital revolution within their stores they can lure shoppers’ attention away from their Facebook and Twitter feeds long enough to be impressed by what’s on shelves.

“Personalization is really key,” said Prigioniero. “We live in a world where it’s all about ‘me,’ it’s not about anybody else anymore.”

While smartphones will play a role, Prigioniero is confident that digital screens are making headway into changing the industry.

Cineplex Digital is leading the charge with nearly 33,000 screens of various sizes in retailers, fast food restaurants and banks. The operation was called EK3 Technologies Inc. before movie exhibitor Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX) bought it last year.

Tim Hortons recently yanked its static menu boards in favour of Cineplex Digital’s new screens that show iced drinks that tempt viewers with a hypnotic frozen swirl and bagels that bounce across the screen with slow-motion determination to attract your taste buds.

Cineplex also handles hardware and technical support for menus at McDonalds, and inside Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO) and Royal Bank (TSX:RY) locations, where promotions for RRSP season and the latest credit cards have become animated spectacles.

Butterbeer ice cream, ploughman’s platter and magic elixirs: dining in Harry Potter’s world

BY TAMARA LUSH The Associated Press

A drive thru only Tim Hortons location in Moncton, New Brunswick PHOTO BY STU PENDOUSMAT / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

While Cineplex Digital isn’t the only digital screen company in Canada, it’s deals with some of the biggest clients. Other smaller companies like Wolfe Works and a division of Toshiba are focused on serving smalland medium-sized businesses.

Cineplex Digital’s headquarters in London, Ont., serves as the laboratory for many of the company’s campaign ideas. It’s where Tim Horton’s menus face scrutiny from a team of techies who monitor walls of screens, and designers lay out the look for U.S. fast food clients such as Chik-Fil-A and Panda Express.

Capturing the attention of customers, and keeping it, has become a challenge for retailers as fast-paced TV shows and the endless barrage of social media shorten attention spans, said Brynn Winegard, a marketing analyst at Winegard and Co. “You have to have content that varies, so it maintains their interest, otherwise people are so good at tuning things out,” she said.

“If it’s not flashing or moving, they’re not as likely to pay attention.”

Earlier this year, Sport Chek opened a store at the West Edmonton Mall that has become a prototype for other retailers.

The store has more than 800 digital screens that simulcast 240 channels of information including promotional footage, from sporting goods companies like Nike and Adidas, that flashes at a pace that makes it hard to look away.

Shoppers can also use a digital touchscreen to design their own hockey jersey, or pull up information on a running shoe by waving it in front of a giant screen that displays the details

using chip technology.

Screens are also starting to replace the traditional community bulletin board. At Sport Check, an interactive screen lets customers browse snapshots of photos emailed to the store from local kids’ soccer games and other neighbourhood events.

At Tim Hortons, the company is testing its own version of a community space with Tim’s TV that it describes as a home for the latest news, weather, local events and branded videos.

The channel, in partnership with Cineplex, will advertise for “complementary” brands like food and automotive companies, similar to a concept that’s been used at Pizza Pizza’s Ontario locations for several years.

“It reduces perceived wait time because you’re so busy watching it,” said Prigioniero.

“At some point you’re going to be able to interact with what’s happening on Tim’s TV using your mobile device.”

While digital screens are only part of the future of retail, they’ve become a symbol of the possibilities as stores look for ways to overshadow the convenience of online retailers like Amazon.

Canadian Tire Corp.

(TSX:CTC.A) recently announced a deal with TSN that will have the broadcaster produce branded advertising content to be posted online and shown in Sports Chek stores.

“Things are evolving very quickly,” said Michael Medline, president of Canadian Tire, the owner of Sport Chek, at a recent retail conference in Toronto.

“But if you don’t start trying things ... you’re going to be in bad shape. You’re going to be a dinosaur.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Mini-pie combination

ORLANDO, FLA.—Food at the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley park at Universal Orlando Resort is based on traditional British cuisine, with some unusual twists inspired by the Harry Potter books and films. And it’s very different from the American fare on steroids a few steps away at The Simpsons’ Springfield area of the theme park, where the menu includes ginormous doughnuts, burgers and beer.

The new Harry Potter area has one main eatery called the Leaky Cauldron. It’s a large restaurant with large group tables just inside the entrance. There are also street kiosks with food and drink, plus Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour.

Here are some must-try culinary adventures from Diagon Alley for us ordinary muggles.

Butterbeer ice cream

When Universal’s original Harry Potter attraction—the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade—opened in 2010, butterbeer—a sweet, butterscotch, non-alcoholic beverage—was instantly popular.

Diagon Alley offers butterbeer soft-serve ice cream, and it’s just the thing for a hot Orlando day. The ice cream shop also sells other unusual flavours, such as Earl Grey and lavender, or chocolate chili. Cost: $4.79.

If you’re unsure whether you’ll like a large portion of traditional British meat-andpotatoes pies, try the mini. It includes two smaller savory pies with a side salad. One pie is salmon, shrimp and cod, the other is beef and vegetables, both baked under a mashed potato crust. Cost: $12.99. (And if you’re still hungry, add on a toad in the hole—sausage baked in a flour-egg batter, $8.99.)

Ploughman’s platter

This is like an English charcuterie plate, with cheeses, crusty bread, cornichon pickles, apple-beet salad, Branston pickle (pickled diced vegetables) and a Scotch egg (hardboiled egg wrapped in sausage meat and baked). Cost: $19.99 (serves two).

Sticky toffee pudding

This moist, spongy cake is covered in gooey toffee and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Yum. Cost: $6.99 Gillywater

In the Harry Potter stories, Gillywater is made from Gillyweed, a magical plant. In real life, it looks like plain bottled water, but costumed Universal employees add magical and colorful elixirs for a slightly sweet taste. The names of the elixirs are fun: Draught of Peace, Babbling Beverage, Elixir to Induce Euphoria and Fire Protection Potion. Cost: $4. ■

Entrance of Honeydukes candy shop at Islands of Adventure.

PHOTO BY SNOWMAN GUY / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lifestyle

39 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

U.S. First lady to DC graduates: Don’t avoid your struggles, conquer them

BY CONNOR RADNOVICH The Associated Press WASHINGTON—U.S. First lady Michelle Obama on Thursday told graduates of a local college access program not to shy away from their personal struggles, because overcoming them is the key to success.

“Don’t ever, ever shy away from a good struggle,” Mrs. Obama said. “(Life) is an endless process of struggle and success.”

The first lady spoke to graduates of the D.C. College Access Program, which provides mostly low-income, minority

students and parents with college preparatory counselling and financial assistance. These students are also often the first in their families to go to college, according to program.

Mrs. Obama said that while growing up she experienced some of the same hardships that many of the graduates have endured. Struggle is not a sign of weakness, she told them; it is a sign of growth. Everyone struggles in life, she said, but those who succeed work harder when faced with challenges, rather than giving up.

“Don’t get angry, don’t get anxious or insecure,” she said.

“In the end, success is always your best revenge.”

Her speech was interrupted by laughter and applause throughout, and shouts of “Amen!” and “Yeah!”

This was the first lady’s third address to graduates this year.

In May, she gave the commencement address for Dillard University in New Orleans and, a week later, spoke to graduating seniors from public schools in Topeka, Kansas.

Last month, she announced the Reach Higher Initiative, which aims to get more high school graduates enrolled in post-secondary education.

First Lady Michelle Obama.

PHOTO BY USDAGOV / FLICKR / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Helping young people defy odds to complete their education is one of her goals, the first lady said.

“I will be doing this work, not just for the rest of my time as first lady,” she said, “but for the rest of my life.” ■

New guidelines to help parents, MDs better manage kids’ recovery from concussion

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO—A Canadian-led team of researchers has released a comprehensive set of guidelines and online tools aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of concussions in children and adolescents.

“There have been recommendations and policies on concussion available in the past, but they tend to have focused on sports-related injury and not on children and youth,” said Dr. Roger Zemek, an emergency medicine specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), who led the team of more than 30 Canadian and U.S. experts that created the guidelines.

“We’ve developed a reliable resource that is valuable for everyone affected by pediatric concussion—from children and their families to healthcare providers and to schools and recreational organizations.

This is so important because children get more concussions than adults do, with increased risk because their brains are still developing.”

The pediatric guidelines, initiated by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, are intended to help doctors, parents,

schools and community sports organizations to recognize the symptoms of concussion in children aged five to 18, with the goal of better managing their recovery.

Zemek said a survey of more than 800 Ontario health professionals found that while doctors are doing a “fairly good job” of recognizing when a child has experienced a concussion, many are not applying the most up-todate evidence regarding treatment—namely that patients don’t need only physical rest to recover, but also cognitive rest.

Concussion is a brain injury usually caused by a blow to the head, which can cause dizziness, confusion, memory loss, headache, nausea or vomiting.

Depending on the severity of the concussion, symptoms can persist for some time. Concentration and the ability to remember may be impaired; the person can be irritable, depressed and have marked personality changes; sensitivity to noise and light, along with disturbed sleep, are also common.

“I think people need to know that a child who’s suffering may not look injured to their friends and family,” Zemek said Tuesday from Ottawa. “There’s no bandage, there’s no cast, there are no crutches. However, kids can take weeks to months to re-

cover, and it’s so important to allow that brain to heal.”

About two-thirds of pediatric concussions are related to sports or recreational activities, while a third result from such causes as falls or motor vehicle accidents, he said.

The guidelines— available online at http://onf.org/documents/ guidelines-for-pediatric-concussion and www.concussionsontario. org/guidelines-for-pediatric-concussion—are the result of two years of work, including a review of more than 4,000 research papers.

Interactive tools are geared to different types of users. For example, a pocket tool can be used by a coach or parent on the sidelines of a sports venue to recognize concussion and find advice on removing a child from play and when to seek emergency medical attenwww.canadianinquirer.net

tion.

The website also provides guidance for emergency room doctors on whether to order CT scans and provides recommendations for managing symptoms for community health providers, with aids for deciding on when a young patient can “return to learn” and “return to play.”

“We thought it was really important to have a one-stop resource

for these primary providers and specialists alike which summarizes all the best management in concussion in children and adolescents, and at the same time provide them all the necessary tools to manage patients,” said Zemek, noting that there are plans to create a smartphone app for the guidelines.

Concussions among children and teens are common: about one in every 70 visits to pediatric emergency departments are for suspected concussion, and Zemek said his Ottawa hospital alone sees about 900 cases each year.

Dr. Reb e k a h Mannix, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, called the guidelines “exceedingly clear and comprehensive. I think this will be an indispensable resource for caregivers in a wide range of care settings, and also be accessible for the general public.” ■

Business

JUNE 27, 2014 FRIDAY 40

Nothing worries Wall Street these days, and that’s worrying. ‘It’s quiet ... eerily quiet.’

BY BERNARD CONDON The Associated Press NEW YORK—Is the lack of fear on Wall Street something to fear?

Sunni extremists are inching closer to Baghdad. A housing bubble in China is deflating.

Russia is massing troops near the Ukrainian border again.

Military forces in Egypt and Thailand have staged coups.

In a world suddenly more dangerous, you’d think fund managers and traders would be selling and buying and selling again in a frenzy of second-guessing. Instead, they’re the picture of calm and contentment.

People are trading 38 per cent less each day than they did four years ago. Prices of bonds and stocks are barely moving day by day. For 46 days in a row the Standard and Poor’s 500 index has risen or fallen by less than 1 per cent, a state of serenity unmatched since 1995. Then, last Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen told investors the U.S. economic recovery was on track, and things got really dull. A gauge of expected swings in stock prices, known as the “fear index” among traders, sunk to lows not seen since 2007, when stocks began a 2 1/2 year plunge.

Which helps explain why the calm may not last: The lack of

fear is spooking some people.

“It’s quiet out there,” says Robert Buckland, chief global stock strategist at Citigroup.

“Eerily quiet.”

As with weather, the theory goes, so with markets: Calm often precedes storms. Investors get cocky, take on too much risk, and prices of stocks and bonds collapse.

Most professional investors, strategists and economists don’t appear worried that the lack of worry is leading to reckless bets, not yet anyway. Yellen, for one, says there’s little evidence of trouble brewing. But a few dissenting voices see trouble aplenty.

Investors are borrowing money more than ever to buy stocks.

Sales of “junk” bonds from the riskiest companies are at a record. Some investors are so heedless now that they’re willing to accept rock-bottom interest payments to lend to even the shakiest of governments.

Spain, struggling to collect taxes from a population facing 26 per cent unemployment, is paying just 1.3 per cent to borrow money for five years, less than the U.S. pays.

Says Michael Lewitt, founder of the Credit Strategist Group, an investment manager: “No one is afraid of anything.”

The list of things to shrug off over the past three years is lengthy: two dozen government collapses, surprise military

moves and mass demonstrations.

That tally comes from a recent Citigroup report that, predictably, created few waves. Titled “Taking It To The Streets,” it attributes much of the political turmoil lately to a combustible mix of angry middle classes and the ease with which they can organize using the Internet and social media.

In Italy, “Pitchfork Protests” broke out over political corruption and unemployment in December as demonstrators blocked roads and occasionally clashed with police. In Brazil, people has taken to the streets over high transportation costs and expenses for hosting the World Cup. The Citigroup report suggests this new “vox populi risk” isn’t going away soon and asks, Why so little reaction from investors?

David Levy, chairman of the Jerome Levy Forecasting Center, blames “fear fatigue.” Investors have faced down lots of trouble over the years, from a European debt crisis to a pair of near defaults by the U.S. government. None of these things have kept stocks down for long.

“It’s hard to be scared all the time,” Levy says. But, he adds, “The more sectarian violence, the more countries fighting civil wars, the greater the potential for something going wrong.”

Another reason for calm is

central banks. From Tokyo to Washington and London, they’ve kept short-term borrowing rates they control low and bought trillions of dollars worth of bonds to push down long-term rates, too. Many investors are convinced little can upset markets as long as central banks are willing to pump money into the financial system.

The problem is, panic can spread fast at times when there is little trading. A few big sales can push prices down dramatically. That is what happened last summer, when owners of municipal bonds found few buyers during a bout of selling. Panic mounted and prices plunged.

Other areas of the $100 trillion global bond market are vulnerable, too. Some investors have been fretting for years that bonds are due to drop after a three-decade bull run. With the low levels of trading in some corporate and government bonds, the fear now is a single big move could push them over the edge.

Japanese government bonds may be especially fragile. Credit Strategist’s Lewitt notes that some 70 per cent of these bonds are bought by the country’s central bank upon issuance now, then held to maturity instead of re-sold on the market.

The lack of supply means that the first trade in Japanese bonds some days doesn’t occur until the afternoon, which

is stunning considering that Japan’s government debt market is the second-largest in the world. Lewitt fears that prices could suddenly drop in that thinly traded market, walloping investors with losses, spreading fear and setting off selling and losses elsewhere.

“All markets are linked through webs of ownership,” says Lewitt. “There’s no escaping.”

That said, it may all work out in the end.

Buckland, one of the authors of Citi’s “vox populi” report, notes that periods of calm don’t always presage turmoil. In 1995, for instance, the fear index was also low. The S&P 500 ended that year up 38 per cent, including dividends.

Then there is this line of argument, offered up in a June 13 report from Charles Schwab: With more people worried about the lack of worry, maybe it’s the wrong time to worry.

If you don’t find that logic convincing, assuming you can follow it, there’s a way of betting the calm will break: Buy a stake in the clumsily named VelocityShares Daily Long VIX ShortTerm ETN, a fund that tracks the fear index. The price of the fund will rise as people get worried.

But you better hope for nothing short of Armageddon. Despite all the chaos in the world this year, the fund has dropped 32 per cent. ■

Insured annuity guarantees retirement income and creates an estate

BY ROBYN K. THOMPSON ONE OF the big questions facing new retirees is how to protect your income during retirement while leaving something to children or grandchildren in your will. Straight annuities can provide a guaranteed stream of income, but once the annuity is paid out, there won’t be much left for beneficiaries. Luckily, there is a solution to this problem.

There is no doubt that we are living in trying times, and protecting your retirement income is top of mind for most retirees.

Many opt to place at least some of their nest-egg into an annu-

ity. An annuity is basically a contract you buy, usually from an insurance company, under which the company guarantees you’ll receive a specified income flow for a specified period of time.

Standard annuities are not designed for growth or residual value. They’re designed simply to pay out the agreed income for the duration of the contract.

If you die before the contract ends, the residual will go to your beneficiaries, but that may not be much. If the contract expires before you die, the payments end and there typically is no residual.

The insured annuity

However, to get around this problem and ensure you leave an estate to your children or grandchildren, you might consider what’s called an “insured annuity.” This type of annuity has two components: a “prescribed” annuity and a life insurance policy. It typically provides more after-tax cash flow than you’d get from the dismal interest earned on a GIC in today’s market.

The insured annuity is really geared for a conservative investor with at least $100,000 invested in GIC-type assets looking for income protection.

Typically, you would purchase www.canadianinquirer.net

the annuity with non-registered funds and then purchase a life insurance policy that equals the amount of capital used to purchase the annuity.

Guaranteed income plus an estate

The annuity provides you a guaranteed cash flow for life.

The twist here is that you use part of the income that you get from the annuity to pay the premiums on the insurance policy.

When you die, the insurance company pays the death benefit on the insurance policy to your beneficiaries, thereby replacing the capital used to purchase the annuity.

With the insured annuity strategy, then, you’ve achieved the best of both worlds – a guaranteed stream of retirement income and an estate you can leave to your heirs.

Annuities are a complex product and come with all sorts of variations. It’s best to talk to an independent financial advisor with insurance expertise to see if this strategy makes sense for you. ■ Courtesy Fundata Canada Inc. © 2014. Robyn Thompson, CFP, CIM, FCSI, is president of Castlemark Wealth Management.

This article is not intended as personalized advice.

Sports/Horoscope

41 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

Holidays, lost business in Brazil, other countries during the lazy days of the World Cup

BY JENNY BARCHFIELD The Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL— Lucky students in Chile went home early, many Brazilian offices and stores went dark, and across the megalopolis of Mexico City traffic was as calm as midnight. With three Latin American countries playing for their World Cup futures Monday, fans across the region succumbed to soccer fever, slowing regular business to a crawl.

Brazilians, who already are used to generous time off for Carnival celebrations and Catholic observances, have enjoyed even more holidays during the month-long soccer tournament.

When Brazil’s national team plays, many workplaces across the country shut down. In host cities such as Rio de Janeiro, the government declared half- or full-day holidays on game days

to clear the streets of commuters and enable soccer fans to move about with greater ease.

Last week, there were only two regular work days in Rio, a city of 12 million people. This week will be much the same.

On Monday, before Brazil defeated Cameroon 4-1 in Brasilia, Catia Santiago was soaking up the sunshine on the golden sands of Copacabana beach rather than head to work to sell hair products.

Indeed, critics contend all of the time off is bad for business.

Financial newspapers have reported the volume of trade on Sao Paulo’s Bovespa stock exchange began to slow even before the June 12-July 13 tournament. Fecomercio, a Sao Paulo-based group representing the goods, services and tourism sectors, warned that those businesses may lose up to $13.5 billion due to lost productivity and the need to pay double salaries to people who work

government-declared holidays.

However, Brazil’s Tourism Ministry has said the World Cup itself will inject that much money into the nation’s economy, offsetting any such losses.

Katia Andrade, a saleswoman for a Rio online data storage company, complained that the extra time off was putting her way behind on her yearly revenue target.

“The World Cup is literally costing me money,” Andrade said. “Since the beginning of the year, projects have been lagging behind, with everybody putting things off until after the Cup. And now, with almost every day a public holiday, it’s totally impossible to get anything done.”

Mexico City started to resemble a ghost town by midday Monday as locals geared up for the Mexico-Croatia game in the northeastern Brazilian city of Recife, which Mexico won 3-1.

During the national team’s matches, “one can cross Mexico

City as if it were the middle of the night, stopping only at a few stoplights,” taxi driver Alejandro Ramirez said, adding that traffic Monday morning already was about 20 per cent lighter than a regular day.

In Chile, some schools and universities suspended classes ahead of the national team’s match with the Netherlands in Sao Paulo, while thousands of people congregated on a central square fitted with a giant screen to follow the game. Chile lost 2-0, but still advanced to the tournament’s second round.

Schools in Brazil also pushed winter break forward to coincide with the World Cup, as the dropoff and pick-up of school children is a major source of traffic jams.

While students may be rejoicing, a recent column on the website of Veja, a right-leaning newsmagazine, called such school and business holidays a “confession of incompetence”—

evidence that authorities’ failure to build adequate infrastructure forced them to concoct a fix to Brazil’s traffic woes.

“This is definitely not a serious country,” he concluded.

Honduras’ president also has been criticized for making an extended visit to Brazil, where his country’s national team is making its first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades.

The Central American country lost the game 2-1, and the U.S. ambassador to Honduras, Lisa Kubiske, remarked, “You have a very important soccer game in Brazil, no one can deny it, but the country has priorities that need the one in command to be present.” ■ Associated Press writers Alberto Arce in Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Eduardo Castillo and Michael Weissenstein in Mexico City and Eva Vergara in Santiago, Chile, contributed to this report.

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

Stop trying to make yourself happy by always thinking of ways to give yourself the pleasures of the material world. Today, luck will come your way if you think about the happiness of others. Remember that real happiness is not measured on how happy and satisfied you are, but on how happy and blessed others have become because of you.

TAURUS

Do not lose focus on your priorities in life. Once your goals are clouded with unnecessary things, you may not be able to fulfil what you really want to. Today is the best time to re-assess your priorities. Write them down or make a mental note so you will always be guided of the most important things to do.

Filling yourself with good vibes will help you make a lucky day, today. Keep the positive thoughts coming in by removing the negative possibilities and filling your mind with the good things. A bountiful harvest always starts in the mind. Think of the positive goal; believe that you can achieve it because you really will.

You might be worrying financially today but never lose hope. There will be a wonderful opportunity to help you redeem what you lost. Just always remember to prioritize spending your money with the most important things first. You can only maintain financial stability by prioritizing what is necessary and saving the future.

LEO

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20) The coming days might be a little difficult for you. Problems will start coming but the heavens will always be there to protect you, no matter what. You don’t have to be afraid of the storm, just lower your sails a bit and dance with the wind, courage will make you stronger than you think of yourself.

GEMINI

“Fair and square” are your words for today. You will be making decisions that may change not just your lives but the lives of the people around you. So before saying or doing anything, think about the two words that will help you pick the right options. Be fair, and square at all times and the stars will choose a better path for you.

Be extra careful in meeting new people today. It is always nice to keep on adding to your list of friends by welcoming strangers and getting to know them well. But make sure to maintain a healthy distance especially with those whom you haven’t known better yet. The stars are saying that it always pays to be cautious.

VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21) There are a lot of people who truly believe in your capacity to change people’s lives. Do not lose that person so keep changing what needs to be changed. You may not know it but slowly, you are becoming the gods’ warrior to change the world. Keep on doing what you do, and the heavens will later, crown you for your efforts.

Today you will be blessed with the opportunity to let go of the bad things a friend has caused you in the past. Call this a day to free you from the bad vibes; a day that is only possible through forgiveness. The heavens care about that burden you keep inside, so let it go. Forgiveness is the only way to having the peace of mind you have always wanted.

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

In maintaining your relationship with the people dear to you, you will need to sacrifice a little of your professional priorities. Just be careful in balancing your time between your career and your other personal priorities. One wrong step may cause you to lose one for the other so manage your time wisely and be extra careful.

www.canadianinquirer.net

A person will make you realize how life is made easier when shared with people who truly care for you.

Never look away because you might just miss the wonderful things that person will show you.

Be open to people’s advice and you might just find that person who will bring you the good news today.

Your faith must be unbreakable. This is the most important thing you have to remember today.

People may try to convince you to change the things you believe in, but do not be swayed.

Do not be dyed with just any color, instead, pick your own color and stand for it ‘til the very end.

FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

42

Travel

The greening and cleaning of Naples nurtures tourism by bike, metro and boat

BY PAOLO SANTALUCIA The Associated Press NAPLES, ITALY—Luca Simeone rides his bike along the sunny beachfront of Naples while his little daughter sleeps on the baby seat.

It may sound ordinary, but this simple act is revolutionary. Three years ago Naples’ seafront was an urban highway, noisy and smoggy, jammed with car traffic, while smelly trash erupted from garbage bins along streets and alleys. Urban cyclers were regarded as ecofundamentalists.

Three years later, Naples has a new mayor, clean streets, a wide pedestrian beachfront and a 20-kilometre (12-mile) cycling lane overlooking a beautiful bay. This is the liberated beachfront (“Il lungomare liberato”), as the new mayor, Luigi De Magistris, a former prosecutor and party outsider, calls it.

The liberated beachfront quickly became a paradise for runners, cyclists and also those who love pizza or fish, with the sound of waves as background music and the island of Capri and sleepy Vesuvius volcano framing the view of the bay.

The transformation also allowed Simeone to launch a bike tour business.

“A new era has opened for those who love to ride a bicycle in our city,” said Simeone. “Today we can say that speaking about sustainable and environment friendly tourism, like our project, is reality and not fantasy anymore.”

Bike Tour Napoli—http:// www.biketournapoli.com—offers both an urban route along the city’s UNESCO-protected ancient centre and a countryside tour, with organic food tasting included. The tours wind through tiny medieval alleys and past baroque churches, around volcanic lakes of the Pozzuoli

The islet of Nisida as viewed from Parco Virgiliano, Naples, Italy.

PHOTO BY GENNARO VISCIANO / FLICKR

area, the Vesuvius volcano and the breathtaking Amalfi coast.

The most popular route is a ride past art nouveau villas, parks and up Posillipo hill for a view of Naples and its bay.

Anja Hayek from Germany and Antonio Sorace of Italy recently rode up the hill to enjoy the sunset. “This is the only good way to visit and know Naples,” Hayek said. “I found it very nice this year, the bicycle lanes and the pedestrian area by the sea. I found it very beautiful.”

Sorace added that “visiting Naples by car is impossible due to the traffic. By car you can’t enjoy the alleys and it is difficult to breathe.”

Naples is planning to extend the cycling lanes into the suburbs.

For Simeone, the success of his tours represents more than just business. It’s also a way to stop the brain drain. Youth unemployment in Naples is 50 per cent. Migration abroad or to the industrialized north is the norm as talented young people leave to find work. The local mafia syndicate Camorra has long taken advantage of the lack of jobs to gain recruits for

illegal businesses.

But the green revolution gives hope to those like Simeone who want to erase the image of Naples as a city of garbage and pollution.

“We bet on a revolution of transportation,” explained De Magistris from his office overlooking the port and a new metro construction site. He recalled his parents trying to squash a childhood love of cycling, saying, “Stop this passion, because in Naples you can’t ride a bicycle in the streets.”

Now, more locals are using bike lanes, pedestrian areas have been improved, and some 2.4 million visitors are staying in Naples hotels each year, with the numbers growing.

The expansion of the metro system will add to the environmental improvements for this city of 1 million (4 million in the metro area). The metro also connects riders to art. At the Toledo station, a ride down the escalators reveals works of bright blue representing the sea. “Oh, it is very beautiful. It is like plunging into the sea,” said Pierre Bonini, a tourist from Paris, at the bottom of the escalator.

Cityscape and urban scenes in Naples, Italy.

PHOTO BY EDELLA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

But pure blue water is not just an art motif. Thanks to improved wastewater management, pollution has been reduced and vast stretches of the coast have been reclaimed.

Neapolitans and tourists now swim again in the bay. And young kayak enthusiasts have launched Kayak Napoli— http://www.kayaknapoli.com/ home_eng.html . A few motorboat tours had previously been offered, but they were not allowed—as the kayaks are—to

enter the marine park of la Gaiola and the Trentaremi bay, which contains submerged ruins of ancient Roman villas.

Giovanni Brun, founder of Kayak Napoli, brings guests to see the submerged archaeological sites and other beautiful coastal spots. His full moon tour offers a sunset paddle with a return as the moon reflects on the waters of the bay. The trip includes one other special moment: An aperitif of white wine on a secluded beach. ■

43 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

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Seen and Scenes - Ottawa and Calgary

JUNE 27, 2014

FRIDAY 44

OTTAWA PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY His Worship Mayor Jim Watson and Philippine Independence Committee in the Ottawa Valley Chair Nora Arriola

The Philippine Centre Canada set a paraw afloat on the Gatineau River. Built by hand by Rafael Mamaril and Knight of Rizal Richard Fairweather, the paraw sported a giant sail with the colors of the Philippine flag emblazoned on it.

Philippine Embassy ChargĂŠd'Affaires Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo read the independence day messages of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario.

The Philippine flag was raised for the first time in front of Parliament's Centre Block courtesy of Canada's first and only Senator of Filipino heritage Tobias Enverga, Jr. Through his good offices, a giant Philippine flag was again unfurled by hundreds of Filipino-Canadians on the steps of Parliament Hill, both a venerable symbol of Canada's nationhood and a century-old Ottawa landmark.

PCI IN CALGARY

Cliff Belgica and Rudy Tuliao show copies of the Philippine Canadian Inquirer at Pacific Hut Restaurant in Calgary, AB.

For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net.

PIOCC MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY Operation Pagbangon volunteers express their identity by showcasing their national costumes at the Independence Day Parade in Pacific Place Mall in Calgary, AB. The event was organized by the Philippine Independence Organizing Committee of Calgary.

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Events

45 FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

CANADA EVENTS

YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

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View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

Philippine Canadian Independence Day Celebration

By Filipino Canadian Association of Fort McMurray WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., June 28 at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre, Fort McMurray

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

Annual Stampede Breakfast NEWFOUNDLAND

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QUEBEC ONTARIO

By Country Hills Toyota and Country Hills Scion WHEN/WHERE: 8:30 a.m. July 10, UTC-06 Country Hills Toyota, Calgary, AB

Philippines Canada Friendship Ball By the Multicultural Helping House Society, Barangay North Vancouver Filipino Community Centre and Victoria Bayanihan Community Centre WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., June 28 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown 6083 Mckay Ave., Burnaby B.C. Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika

A Summer Serenade with Jose Mari Chan and Jamie Rivera

By Quasar Productions WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., June 29 at 7200 Cariboo Rd., Burnaby, B.C. MORE INFO: For ticket inquiries and reservations, call 778-980-1558

By P & O Productions & IMG Infinity Entertainment WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., June 28 at Toronto Pavilion 190 Railside Road, Toronto, On.

Seniors’ Ball

Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto

By Filipino Canadian New Era Society of B.C. WHEN/WHERE: 12 nn to 6 p.m., Capri Hall, 3935 Fraser Street

By Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation

Tanghalan Showcase

By Kababayang Pilipino WHEN/WHERE: 4 p.m., June 29 at Massey Theatre 735 Eight Ave., New Westminster, B.C. MORE INFO: Tickets - $20 (adults) Kids (3 to 12 years old) $10 at www.masseytheatre.com or call 604-521-5050.

Surrey Night Market WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. from July 5 to Aug. 30 (weekends only) at the Agriplex Complex within the Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds, at 17726 62 Ave., Surrey, B.C. MORE INFO: The Surrey Night Market will be an open air summer market for local residents to sell and consume a variety of local foods, services and goods. It is also a multicultural family-friendly event for all residents of Surrey and neighbouring cities.

WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., June 28 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Hiring Information Event

By The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) WHEN/WHERE: 4:45 p.m., July 7, at the TDSB Head Office, 5050 Yonge Street, North York, Toronto MORE INFO: Interested education professionals are requested to RSVP Tony A. San Juan, OCT at tnysanjuan@yahoo.ca. Registration will close on or before July 1.

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

46

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