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Local workers say more bodies found at plane crash site in east Ukraine as UN vote looms BY DMITRY LOVETSKY The Associated Press HRABOVE, UKRAINE—Rescuers retrieved more bodies Monday in the sprawling fields of east Ukraine where ❱❱ PAGE 15 Local workers
THE PHILIPPINE ARENA, a 50-hectare complex called Ciudad de Victoria or City of Victory, in Bocaue town, Bulacan province, a domed indoor
arena, is the centerpiece of the centennial projects of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) for its grand celebration on July 27. Its inauguration is to be led by INC executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo. PHOTO BY EDWIN BACASMAS
Impeachment complaint filed against PNoy MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Twenty-eight people, including prominent activists and a retired Catholic bishop, filed an impeachment complaint Monday against Philippine President Benigno Aquino III for his implementation of a major
economic stimulus program that the Supreme Court has declared partly unconstitutional. The complaint, filed in the House of Representatives, accuses Aquino of culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust by funding projects outside the Congress-approved
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Philippine News
3 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Lawmakers split on full accounting of DAP funds BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer LEADERS OF the House of Representatives are divided on whether its members should comply with Malacañang’s order for them to make a full accounting of the roughly P12 billion in funds from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) given to lawmakers from 2011 to 2012. Deputy Speaker and Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos M. Padilla questioned why Malacañang was asking lawmakers to account for the DAP funds when the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had total control of this economic stimulus program recently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Padilla also noted that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad had kept the legislature in the dark on the nature of these funds that were illegally impounded as savings and transferred to agencies, projects and local governments handpicked by the DBM chief. “[The] DAP was introduced and implemented without the knowledge and approval of Congress. It is only now that we came to know about it,” Padilla said. “We were not aware that some releases were done to fund projects in congressional districts. Considering also that all releases were done directly to line agencies and the projects were implemented by them, I wonder where the accountability of [congresspeople] shall come in?” he asked. But Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and his deputy, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Agga-
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bao, said it was the duty of House members to report where they disbursed money coming from Malacañang. “Certainly, every person should be able to account for such funds, DAP or not,” Belmonte said in a text message. But Belmonte admitted that he was unsure of how much DAP funds were released and how many members received these more than two years ago. “Can’t confirm who received what, if any,” he said. In a text message, Aggabao said: “If it were up to me, we should comply. There is no reason not to. Proof that the DAP funds were used judiciously should help belie the public notion that the DAP was a disingenuous program concocted by the executive to steal money.” “I received funds on top of my PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund). I am not certain about its source.
Palace hails US Senate support for Pacific allies BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG yesterday welcomed the US Senate resolution “reaffirming unwavering commitment and support” for its Asian allies, including the Philippines, amid territorial and maritime disputes in the region. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the resolution “affirms the longstanding partnership between the Philippines and the United States that is highlighted by the recent signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.” Coloma said the resolution was likewise “supportive of stepped-up efforts” to come up with a legally binding Code of Conduct “that will govern maritime entitlements in the South China Sea/
West Philippine Sea.” He also cited the Philippines’ pending case in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, a process China has refused to participate in. “We reiterate our commitment to pursue diplomatic, political and legal options, as well as our solidarity with our Asean neighbors and other allies toward the peaceful resolution of disputes and the promotion of long-term stability in the Asia Pacific region,” Coloma said in a statement. In Resolution No. 412, the US Senate noted that the Philippines “properly exercised its rights to peaceful settlement mechanisms with the filing of an arbitration case under Article 287 and Article VII of the Convention of the Law of the Sea in order to achieve a peaceful and durable solution to the dispute.” ■
But even if I was told it came from the DAP, it would not have made any difference because I understood the DAP to be a stimulus program—not a basket of commingled funds derived from premature savings,” he said. He said representatives who failed to provide a full accounting of DAP funds should be “prosecuted posthaste.” In a press statement in October last year, Abad reported that a total of P137.3 billion in DAP funds was released in 2011
(P82.5 billion) and 2012 (P54.8 billion) and disbursed to projects under various government agencies and LGUs. Abad noted that “only 9 percent of the total DAP releases for the same period (P12.357 billion) were released to projects identified by legislators.” He clarified that DAP releases were “never made to the legislators themselves or to their offices.” “We study their proposals based on the requirements they submitted, and we make the necessary fund releases to the implementing agency identified by the lawmakers,” Abad said. “This is why our records don’t specifically reflect releases made to senators or congressmen. We never release the funds to them. These releases are actually made to the appropriate implementing agencies as endorsed by legislators in their request letters.” The House leaders were reacting to a statement by Malacañang spokesperson Edwin Lacierda who declared that the 91 percent of DAP funds spent by the executive branch was properly spent. Lacierda said he could not vouch for the lawmakers’ deployment of the remaining 9 percent, as this was the subject of a Department of Justice investigation. ■
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Philippine News
JULY 25, 2014
FRIDAY 4
CA junks Napoles motion vs Luy BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has dismissed with finality the plea of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to have the illegal detention case filed against her by whistleblower Benhur Luy. In a two-page resolution dated July 8, the appellate court’s Former Special Third Division dismissed for lack of merit Napoles’ motion for reconsideration, saying the issues that she raised were a rehash and of issues that had been passed upon in the CA’s original decision issued in March. “The issues raised in the instant motion have already been judiciously evaluated and passed upon in our aforementioned decision. We, therefore, find no compelling reason to modify or reverse the same,” the resolution, written by Justice Ramon Garcia, said. Division members Justices Rebecca de Guia-Salvador and Vicente Veloso concurred in the ruling. The appeals tribunal reiterated that it could not find any error committed on the part of the prosecutors and
TIPID TAWAG
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the Department of Justice Task Force on Anti- Kidnapping in filing the case against Napoles and her brother, Reynald Lim. There was no grave abuse of discretion committed by the Makati City Regional Trial Court either when it issued warrants of arrest for Napoles and her brother, the court said. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Luy against Napoles, his estranged cousin and former employer, whom he accused of forcibly detaining him for two months from December 2012. Napoles reportedly got mad at Luy after she discovered that he had secured a P5.5-million loan using her name and without authorization. She also accused Luy of stealing P300,000. Luy, however, countered that he was detained by Napoles to prevent him from exposing her transactions involving lawmakers’ congressional pork barrel—officially called the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)—to the tune of P10 billion, which was reportedly siphoned through phony nongovernment organizations she founded. ■
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Philippine News
5 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Stop rice imports, implement price controls, Aquino urged BY ALLAN NAWAL Inquirer Mindanao DAVAO CITY—Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares urged President Aquino to stop the importation of rice and implement price controls on the staple to stamp out the rice cartel. “President Aquino should immediately stop import liberalization and deregulation policies, said the militant lawmaker, adding that “raids would be useless if imported rice continuously floods the market, which is controlled by the rice cartel Colmenares said conducting raids against unscrupulous small traders would not address the problem of the rice cartel, which has flooded the market with adulterated rice at high prices. In Digos City, Davao del Sur
Gov. Claude Bautista said unscrupulous traders were mixing commercial rice with cheap imported varieties. In a statement sent to the INQUIRER, Colmenares said a price ceiling should be enforced to protect consumers. The Philippines, under its commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO), however, is mandated to open up trade although some quantitative restrictions still apply to selected agricultural products. Last month, Department of Agriculture (DA) officials announced the Philippines had agreed to increase its commitment to a “minimumaccess volume (MAV)” of rice imports under the WTOrules. The increase—from 350,000 metric tons to 805,200 MT— was the exchange deal for processing the country’s request for a five-year extension of
quantitative restrictions (QR) or continuing special treatment for the national staple. Tariffs on MAV imports were also reduced from 40 percent to 35 percent. Shipments above the MAV would still be slapped 50 percent in duties. The country’s WTO permit for quantitative restrictions on rice actually expired in June 2012. This has created some confusion regarding the rice trade policy of the Philippines. To solve this, the DA asked for an extension of its QR on rice up to 2017 “to give Filipino farmers time to build their production capability and enable them to cope with increased pressure that comes with the enforcement of free trade.” Free trade agreement
Meanwhile, a free trade agreement within Southeast Asia will become enforceable in
2015 under the country’s commitments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The Philippine Congress ratified an agreement on this in 2009. According to DA officials, under the new MAV, 755,200 MT will be allocated as country specific quotas, while the remaining 50,000 MT can be imported from any WTO member. Countries which have been given specific rice import allocations were: Australia (15,000 MT), China (50,000 MT), El
Salvador (4,000 MT), India (50,000 MT), Pakistan (50,000 MT), Thailand (293,100 MT) and Vietnam (293,100 MT). The previous MAV policy allocated only 163,000 MT as country specific quotas, while imports that could be sourced from any WTO members were higher at 187,000 MT. The country’s petition for an extension of QR, subject to the increased MAV, will reportedly be endorsed to the WTO General Council for formal approval later this month. ■
DEVELOPMENT SETBACK
DPWH stops P5-B flood-control work BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has put on hold some P5 billion worth of high-impact, floodcontrol projects funded by the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson yesterday said that “with the Supreme Court ruling, I have no choice [but to temporarily shelve the projects] until a supplemental budget is passed to implement them, particularly those that have yet to be started.” He stressed the need to resume work on the flood-control projects, which he said were among the agency’s priority infrastructure programs. “Some of the projects are ongoing, so they cannot be canceled ... They are also covered by government contracts with corresponding budget allocations,” Singson told the INQUIRER.
The flood-control master plan requires funding of at least P351.72 billion up to 2035. The program was started last year. This year, the DPWH set aside P33.3 billion for 130 floodcontrol projects, an increase of more than 100 percent from its 2013 budget of P15.8 billion. The agency said the funds would go to the “maintenance of 11 existing flood-control projects and the construction and rehabilitation of 119 other projects nationwide.” Sometime in November 2013, the DPWH acknowledged that it received P5 billion in DAP funds, which it said went to 15 projects under its Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog. The agency disclosed that in 2012, it got an initial P3.94 billion in DAP funds. The outlay went to eight flood-control projects in Metro Manila, five in Central Luzon and two in Southern Luzon. The projects included the Valenzuela- Obando-Meycau-
way dredging, P100 million, and Marikina River dredging, P50 million, among others. Last August, the Palace released another P1.06 billion in DAP funds to the DPWH. The DPWH has expressed confidence that several highimpact projects would be completed before the end of President Aquino’s term in June 2016. 551 projects suspended
Earlier, the DPWH suspended the implementation of 551 small-scale infrastructure projects using the PDAF, which the court has likewise nixed.
ayan River improvement, P820 million; Phase 1 of the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas River improvement, P380 million; www.canadianinquirer.net
Upper Marikina River improvement, P222.5 million; East Mangahan Floodway dredging, P190 million; Mangahan Flood-
Earlier, the DPWH suspended the implementation of 551 smallscale infrastructure projects using the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which the court has likewise nixed. The projects, however, would be resumed “as soon as the DPWH secures funding from other government budgetary sources,” said Reynaldo Tagudando, director of the agency’s National Capital Region office. The DPWH and the Department of Budget and Management had “agreed to issue payments to contractors for their completed work,” he said. ■
Philippine News
JULY 25, 2014
FRIDAY 6
Philippine president, a known smoker, signs law requiring graphic warnings on cigarette packs BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES— Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, a known smoker, has signed a law requiring tobacco companies to put graphic health warnings on cigarette packs in a country where tens of thousands of people die every year from tobacco-linked diseases, an official said Sunday. Aquino signed the law Friday “to effectively instil health consciousness through graphic health warnings on tobacco products,” presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma Jr. said. With the law, the Philippines joins more than 40 other nations and territories that have adopted similar regulations and brought the battle against smoking to the cover of cigarette packs. Research has suggested that the scary warnings have
prompted some to quit smoking, but the World Health Organization estimates that nearly 6 million people continue to die globally each year from smoking-related causes. The tobacco industry has fought government efforts to introduce or increase the size of graphic warnings in some countries. The Philippine law was not immediately made public, but legislation approved by lawmakers last month required 50 per cent of the bottom of cigarette packs, front and back, to be covered by graphic pictures and illustrations of smoking hazards such as damaged lungs and throats. Anti-tobacco advocates welcomed the law rather cautiously. Emer Rojas, a laryngeal cancer survivor who heads an anti-tobacco group in the Philippines, said the law would discourage would-be smokers and reduce tobacco consumption,
but added it was a compromise that also accommodated the concerns of tobacco companies. “It’s like seeing poison on a pack,” Rojas said. “This will save many from smoking, especially the young.” He called for vigilance, saying there were provisions in the law that may allow tobacco compa-
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nies to interfere in the law’s enforcement. The Philippines is a tobacco producer and smoking haven, with one of Asia’s highest smoking rates. It had some of the lowest prices for tobacco products before a “sin tax” law took effect last year. A recent Department of
Health-commissioned survey indicated that the law helped reduce smoking among the poor and young people. Philippine health officials said in 2012 that 17.3 million of the country’s 96 million people smoke—one of Southeast Asia’s highest rates—and that 87,000 die each year from tobacco-related diseases. Aquino has been criticized by anti-tobacco advocates for refusing calls to give up the habit. After winning the presidency in 2010, he said he discussed his smoking habit in one of his first telephone conversations with President Barack Obama, who told him then that he had kicked the habit. “Mr. President, I understand we have the same issue with smoking,” Aquino said he told Obama at the time. “He said, ‘Well, I quit that already. I have quit. It’s your sole problem. At the time that you decide to quit, I’ll send the advice.” ■
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Philippine News
7 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
DAP: 900 Saros for lawmakers P-Noy warns SC of clash 2 sources from DBM divulge figures on controversial fund
President to appeal high court’s ruling on DAP
BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer
BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, PHILIPPINES—The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued 1,000 special allotment release orders (Saros) to facilitate the release of funds to the spending agencies for its Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) from 2011 to 2013, the Inquirer has learned. Two separate sources from the DBM, who declined to be named for lack of authority to speak for the agency, revealed that the lawmakers accounted for 90 percent, or roughly 900, of the DAPSaros but they could not verify the exact amount that went to legislators on top of their pork barrel funds as the agency had yet to complete its full accounting review. The sources said that the DAP-Saros received by legislators, worth between P95,000 and P10 million each, from 2011, when the facility was started with little fanfare, to 2013, when the economic stimulus program was questioned in the Supreme Court, which on July 1 ruled the facility as unconstitutional. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad declined to confirm these figures, claiming that “more research” was needed. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said that he himself had yet to get a full accounting of DAP funds that went to his members. Malacañang has claimed that legislators, in terms of value received, only accounted for 9 percent of the P150 billion to P167 billion worth of DAP funds handed out from 2011 to 2013, but it has so far refused to go into specifics, such as the names of legislators, the amount they received and project beneficiaries.
Late last year, Abad confirmed that P1.107 billion in DAP funds were given to 20 senators to dispel accusations by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada that DAP funds were used to bribe senators to ensure the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial in the Senate. Aborted release
The Inquirer reported as early as last year about an aborted DBM plan
“The devil is indeed in the details. The only way to dispel the public’s deepening suspicions on the DAP is to release the DAP-Saros,” said Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco. Renato Reyes, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general, whose group was set to file Monday an impeachment complaint against President Aquino on the DAP fiasco, questioned the lack of “good faith” on the part of the DBM when it released a DAP list. He said the move “raised more questions than answers” in the public’s thirst for transparency in the DAP. COA awaited
to release P475 million to Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr., Vicente Sotto III, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Loren Legarda through the Department of Agrarian Reform, which refused to act as conduit. The funds were later rechanneled to the National Livelihood Development Corp. and local government units. The DBM sources cited the P1.05-billion Saro issued to the Department of Agriculture in 2011 for farm-to-market roads as among the DAP funds that were showered on legislators. Glaring omissions
The sources cited glaring omissions in the DBM’s DAP project list, such as the P230 million DAP-Saro for the National Dairy Authority and at least two DAP-Saros for P100 million and P260 million for the Technology Resource Center that they believe went to lawmakers.
audit
Reyes pointed out that the DBM’s list of 116 DAP projects worth P167 billion as of July 14 this year included lump sum items with very general information, such as a P6.49 billion DAP allocations labeled as “other various local projects” disbursed not only to legislators but also to local government units and government agencies. “This kind of reporting is meant to deceive and mislead the public. We want to know the truth about DAP and we will not stop until we have a full accounting of DAP,” Reyes said. He pointed out that Commission on Audit (COA) Chair Grace Pulido-Tan had yet to live up to her commitment to reveal how much legislators received from the DAP. He noted that as early as 10 months ago, Tan, in her reply to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s call for a full audit of DAP funds disbursed to legislators, had promised to make a full report. Tan’s reply is still on the website of the COA, which itself received P143 million in DAP funds in 2011 for its computer upgrade program. Tan admitted in a Senate hearing that part of these funds were used to buy new vehicles for COA commissioners. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
“YOUR DECISION is difficult to understand.” A stubborn and combative President Aquino said this last night, warning the Supreme Court of a possible clash with the executive branch over its ruling two weeks ago declaring his Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional. Defending the DAP in a televised address for the second time in eight months, Mr. Aquino said the government would appeal the ruling despite a unanimous vote of 13-0. “My message to the Supreme Court: We don’t want to get to a point where two coequal branches of government would clash and where a third branch would have to mediate,” he warned toward the end of his 14page, 23-minute speech aired by major TV networks. Without elaborating, he told the court: “There was something that you did in the past, which you tried to do again, and there are those who are saying that [the DAP decision] is worse.” Not since he vigorously campaigned for the removal of then Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2011 and 2012 that Mr. Aquino had spoken so strongly against the Supreme Court. The President said the government would file a motion for reconsideration to “give way to a more complete look at our laws.” In the coming days, he said he and his Cabinet would release additional details on the benefits supposedly arising from the DAP. Mr. Aquino also invited the public to read the 92-page court decision, including the concurring and what he called “dissenting” opinions. All 13 justices voted against the DAP while another one did not participate in the proceedings. Shortly after the speech, Malacañang finally released a list of 116 projects funded by “savings” pooled by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, the chief architect of the DAP. The President criticized the high tribunal for purportedly not considering his basis for the
DAP, the Administrative Code of 1987. “How come they were able to say that our manner of spending was unconstitutional when they did not even tackle our basis?” he asked, insisting that Section 39 of the Administrative Code “is still in effect to this day.” Mr. Aquino was referring to the portion saying that “except as otherwise provided in the General Appropriations Act, any savings in the regular appropriations authorized in the [GAA] for programs and projects of any department, office or agency, may, with the approval of the President, be used to cover a deficit in any other item of the regular appropriations…” “You see, based on this law, the President is given outright power to transfer savings for other projects,” he argued. “Nothing is mentioned that the transfer of savings is limited to one department or branch of government.” “In simple words, we didn’t violate the law when we implemented the DAP,” he insisted, but did not say that he had abolished it just the same amid mounting criticism toward the end of 2013. In its ruling, the court declared unconstitutional the “cross-border transfer of the savings of the executive to augment the appropriations of other offices outside the executive.” The President resented that he was now being threatened with lawsuits for implementing the DAP, which he described as a “manner of governance in accordance with the law and the mandate given to the executive branch.” He likened his situation to that of a motorist who parked in a “no parking zone” to “save the life of an accident victim.” He said his case was worse because he was cited over space that had not been declared off-limits to parking. “Is that right?” he asked. Citing a number of projects funded through the DAP, the President all but pinned the blame on the court decision if the government would fail to ❱❱ PAGE 11 P-Noy warns
Philippine News
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 8
Albay model: Zero casualty Publisher Alan Yong Editor Melissa Remulla-Briones editor@canadianinquirer.net Associate Editor Laarni de Paula laarni.liwanag@canadianinquirer.net Community News Editor Mary Ann Mandap maryann.mandap@canadianinquirer.net Correspondents Ching Dee Angie Duarte Lei Fontamillas Frances Grace Quiddaoen Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Graphic Designer Victoria Yong Photographers Angelo Siglos Danvic Briones Solon Licas Operations and Marketing Head Laarni Liwanag (604) 551-3360 Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net Antonio Tampus (604) 460-9414 antonio.tampos@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 400-13955 Bridgeport Rd., Richmond, BC V6V 1J6 Canada Tel. No.: 1-888-668-6059 or 778-8893518 | Email: info@canadianinquirer. net, inquirerinc@gmail.com, sales@ canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly every Friday. Copies are distributed free throughout Metro Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto. The views and opinions expressed in the articles (including opinions expressed in ads herein) are those of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editorial Team. PCI reserves the right to reject any advertising which it considers to contain false or misleading information or involves unfair or unethical practices. The advertiser agrees the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of error in any advertisement. Member
40 killed by fallen trees, flying debris in 7 regions BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE Philippine Daily Inquirer RESIDENTS OF Albay province in Bicol got down to work clearing typhoon debris yesterday, but without any complaint. No one died as Typhoon “Glenda” came ashore late on Tuesday and swept across the province during the night. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda credited the residents themselves for the zero casualty. “Taking care of themselves has become ordinary, as taking a bath or eating,” Salceda said. He said communication and training had made the residents aware of the risks in times of disaster. Salceda said zero casualty was now also the goal for the other Bicol provinces—Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon and Catanduanes. In Catanduanes, the three fishermen earlier reported missing returned home yesterday. They said they took shelter in the coastal town of Panganiban as Glenda approached on Tuesday. But elsewhere, 40 people died and four others went missing as Glenda swept across eastern and southern Luzon. Most of the people who died were outdoors, killed by fallen trees, collapsing buildings and flying debris, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Typhoon out
Glenda (international name: Rammasun) left the Philippine area of responsibility around 10 a.m. yesterday after cutting a wide path of destruction across seven regions, shutting down the capital and knocking down trees and power lines, causing widespread blackouts. Most schools remained closed in Metro Manila and southern Luzon yesterday. Classes resume today
But classes at all levels resume today in Navotas City, Quezon City, Makati City and Malabon City. Power had been restored to just over half the Luzon grid, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). Electricity distributor Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said 35.3 percent of its 1.88 million customers in the capital and surrounding provinces were without power. Meralco implemented threehour rotating brownouts in Metro Manila yesterday due to transmission problems. Parts of Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Pasay and Bulacan province were affected by the power rotation. Full power tonight in Metro
Later yesterday, Meralco said power
MOUNT MAYON VOLCANO IN BICOL PROVINCE. No one died as Typhoon “Glenda” came ashore late
on Tuesday and swept across the province during the night.
would be fully restored in Metro Manila by 10 p.m. today and only 4 percent, or 230,000 customers, south of the capital would remain without electricity. ( See related story on Page A1.)) The first major typhoon to hit the Philippines this rainy season destroyed about 7,000 houses and damaged 19,000 others, according to Alexander Pama, executive director of the NDRRMC. Social welfare officials said the typhoon, which struck the country with top winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 180 kph, affected 881,826 people, of whom 525,791 remained in evacuation centers yesterday. Damage to agriculture
Initial reports from the Department of Agriculture placed the damage to agriculture at P2.32 billion in 15 provinces across four regions. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told a news briefing yesterday that the biggest damage to any subsector was in fisheries, which reported damage of P810 million. Alcala said aqua-fisheries operations bore the brunt of Glenda, especially those in Laguna de Bay and Taal in Batangas province as well as those in Pampanga and Bataan provinces. Among crops, Alcala said rice suffered the biggest damage, P512.7 million, which was equivalent to 80,781 tons. Glenda wreaked havoc on 43,536 hectares of rice farms, more than half of which Alcala said had “a chance for recovery.” Most deaths from Calabarzon
The NDRRMC said that of the 40 reported deaths, 22 came from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon); two from Metro Manila (Pasig and Valenzuela cities); four from Central
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Luzon; five from Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan); four from Bicol; one from Western Visayas, and two from Eastern Visayas. The figures could increase, as the NDRRMC appeared to be receiving slow reports from the provinces. The INQUIRER Southern Luzon Bureau reported 24 deaths in Calabarzon as of yesterday and the INQUIRER Central Luzon Bureau reported eight. Missing
Two of the four people missing are from Quezon province. The other two are from Batangas and Marinduque provinces. The regional Office of Civil Defense said clearing and restoration work, including efforts to bring back electricity, began as the weather improved yesterday. Impassable roads
Most roads earlier reported to be impassable due to fallen trees and other typhoon debris had been cleared, except for the Sogod-Tiwi section of the LigaoTabaco road in Albay, the Sipocot-Barcelonita road in Camarines Sur, and the Tawad-Balud road in Masbate province. In Sorsogon province, the BaconSawanga-Prieto Diaz Road remained impassable. Bicol damage
The agriculture department placed the agricultural damage in the whole Bicol region at P1.1 billion. Helen de los Santos, regional agriculture director, said damage to rice was P459.5 million; corn, P62.6 million, and highvalue crops, P481.1 million. In Masbate, damage to livestock ❱❱ PAGE 14 Albay model
Philippine News
9 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Impeachment complaint... annual budget. Lawmakers from three left-wing political parties endorsed it, making it the first valid impeachment complaint against Aquino, but it’s unclear whether it will get enough support in a Congress dominated by Aquino allies. Aquino has said that under the Disbursement Acceleration Program, enforced from 2011 to last year, government savings and non-allotted revenues were used to provide electricity to remote villages, build schools and finance other projects. He has insisted that his administration acted in good faith and the money was not stolen, as alleged by critics. The son of revered pro-democracy icons, Aquino won the presidency by a wide margin in 2010 on a promise to rid his Southeast Asian nation of corruption and widespread poverty. The Supreme Court ruled early this month that Aquino and his officials violated the constitution when they used the executive branch’s finan❰❰ 1
cial savings to augment the funding of other offices outside that branch of government. It said excess, non-allotted funds were withdrawn from some government agencies and were declared as savings even before the end of a fiscal year. The administration has appealed the court’s ruling, saying the use of savings and unused funds pooled under the disbursement mechanism was legal and within the president’s authority under the constitution. Monday’s impeachment complaint said Aquino violated the constitution when he “usurped the powers of the legislature and undermined the system of checks and balances.” It said he betrayed public trust on several grounds, including when he illegally centralized billions of pesos in public funds and rechanneled them to his pet projects and favoured politicians, and “committed tyrannical abuse of power when he usurped the power of the purse of Congress.” Aquino has said the Supreme Court failed to take into ac-
The complaint, filed in the House of Representatives, accuses Aquino of culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust by funding projects outside the Congress-approved annual budget. PHOTO BY GIL NARTEA/RYAN LIM/MALACANANG PHOTO BUREAU
count the legal basis that his government used in appropriating revenue savings for projects in one government branch to another. He said the funds used in his program were different from
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the Priority Development Assistance Fund— government development and anti-poverty money allocated to pet projects of lawmakers that the Supreme Court has struck down as unconstitutional.
Three powerful senators have been indicted on charges of receiving huge kickbacks from the anti-poverty funds. They have denied any wrongdoing, but have been detained by police while awaiting trial. ■
Philippine News
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 10
Cut in security brings informal settlers back to rail tracks BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Informal settlers and illegal structures are coming back to the idle properties of the North Luzon Railways Corp. (NorthRail) from Caloocan City to Clark Field, Pampanga, because of senior management’s decision to save a few millions in security costs. This after the government had put billions into one of the country’s biggest relocation efforts of informal settlers. In the 2013 annual audit report of the state-run rail company released last week, the Commission on Audit (COA) questioned the NorthRail board’s decision to cut down on the number of guards protecting its 76-kilometer-long rail tracks to a third of the original security force. The COA said that as part of cost-cutting measures, NorthRail decided to reduce the security provided by Variance Protective and Security Agency Corp., from 236 guards in 2010 to 142 (divided into three-hour shifts) in March this year and down to 80 start-
ing next year. “While the board found it necessary to implement costcutting measures, this should be done without sacrificing the security of the Row (right of way), otherwise in the long run, it is likely that whatever savings generated from the reduction of guards may not be enough to cover clearing operations brought about by encroachments of ISF (informal settler families),” said the COA, which recommended the NorthRail board “revisit its policy on the posting of guards or implement other measures to compensate for the lack or reduction of guards [such as] increased number of site inspections.” Its website showed the NorthRail board is led by Conrado K. Tolentino as president and Jesus Enrico Moises B. Salazar as vice president. In its report, the COA noted that informal settlers had started to take up residence and illegal structures had been erected along the Row of the Philippine National Railways-NorthRail based on inspections conducted by its agents in December last year and March this year. “Although a great deal of funding and effort were exerted
in the clearing operations, the Row is still not 100 percent free of encroachments. These structures, if left unchecked and unattended, may give rise to ISF colonies,” the COA said. The COA recommended that NorthRail demolish the remaining structures along the Row “no matter how few or small, in order to mitigate the risks of encroachments.” In its reply, NorthRail agreed to implement new measures to secure its properties and increase its site inspections along with the security force to deter intruders. “Installation of concrete monuments along Row boundaries is now ongoing. Management is also planning to conduct grass-cutting activities. These will make the security provider more efficient in securing the Row. On the remaining structures, NorthRail cannot proceed with the demolition and clearing of structures without an approved design for the North South Commuter Railway Project,” said NorthRail in its reply to COA. NorthRail management also explained that they allowed some temporary structures in its properties to “maintain good
The COA said that as part of cost-cutting measures, NorthRail decided to reduce the security provided by Variance Protective and Security Agency Corp., from 236 guards in 2010 to 142 (divided into three-hour shifts) in March this year and down to 80 starting next year. PHOTO FROM NL.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
relationship with the barangay and the concerned local government units to prevent difficulty in securing necessary permits and assistance from them by the time that the project will already be implemented.” The COA has likewise criticized NorthRail for languishing in a “pre-operating stage after two decades from its creation.” NorthRail was formed in 1994 with an initial funding of P1.5 billion to kick-start the construction of a mass transport railway system that would interconnect the former base-
lands from Metro Manila (Fort Bonifacio) to Central (Clark and Subic) and Northern Luzon (Poro Point). NorthRail remains in limbo after the DOTC decided two years ago to discontinue its $593.88 million deal with China National Machinery Industry Corp. (Sinomach) “due to serious legal considerations and problems in the contract” which was granted without any bidding. The contract is currently under arbitration in the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center. ■
Sandigan junks new Enrile bid for bail BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer THE HIGH-CALIBER legal team of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has suffered yet another setback after the Sandiganbayan threw out for lack of merit his motion to set the amount of his bail. But in a separate ruling, the antigraft court’s Third Division allowed Enrile to stay at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City, pending the completion of his medical exams to be conducted by government doctors. Enrile’s lawyers, including former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, had filed a petition for bail, which the court promptly dismissed for being premature. In a resolution dated July 14
but released to the media only yesterday, the Sandiganbayan said it was baseless and premature for Enrile to ask the court to determine the amount of his bail as government prosecutors had yet to present evidence proving his guilt for plunder in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel racket. Discretion of the court
Enrile’s petition to fix bail, which his lawyers filed on July 7, was part of his legal team’s strategy to secure the provisional liberty of the 90-year-old lawmaker, who has been detained at the PNP hospital since his surrender on July 4. In junking Enrile’s motion, the court said that in cases which imposed reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment as punishment, such as plunder, the ap-
plication for bail was not considered a right of the accused, but a discretion of the court. “This discretion, by the very nature of things, may be exercised only after the evidence is submitted to the court at the hearing ... (I)t is obvious that a proper exercise of judicial discretion requires that the evidence of guilt be submitted to the court,” the court ruled. In the case of Enrile, it said posting bail “is not amatter of right, but is discretionary upon the court.” “To enable the court to properly exercise this discretion, evidence of guilt must be presented to it .... During the bail hearing, the prosecution shall be accorded the opportunity to present all the evidence it may deem necessary for this purpose,” it said. www.canadianinquirer.net
Present evidence
The Third Division, chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, said “it is only after the prosecution shall have presented its evidence and the court shall have made a determination that the evidence of guilt is not strong against accused Enrile can he demand bail as matter of right. “Then and only then will the court be duty-bound to fix the amount of his bail,” the division said. “To be sure, no such determination has been made by the court. In fact, accused Enrile has not filed an application for bail. Necessarily, no bail hearing can even commence. It is thus exceedingly premature for accused Enrile to ask the court to fix his bail,” it said. Citing the Constitution, the
antigraft court further said granting or denying bail in capital offenses “hinge[s] on the issue of whether or not the evidence of guilt of the accused is strong.” Premature
Determining the weight of evidence against Enrile would require conducting court hearings to allow both government prosecutors and defense lawyers to present their own evidence, it said. “(I)t is premature for the court to fix the amount of bail without an anterior showing that the evidence of guilt against accused Enrile is not strong. Wherefore, premises considered, accused Juan Ponce Enrile’s motion to fix bail ... is denied for lack of merit,” the court ruled. ■
Philippine News
11 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
P-Noy warns... relocate informal settlers living in danger zones in preparation for incoming typhoons. “My conscience cannot accept this,” he said. “I cannot accept that there are people who would be harmed because I allowed the delay in the delivery of benefits. Let us not forget: It’s the people who own the public coffers.” Mr. Aquino said the high tribunal “should help us help our people.” “Our people are hoping for your reasonable response [to the planned motion for reconsideration]. I am hoping that once you see the arguments that we will present regarding the law and the economy, we will be united and the government’s capacity to pursue the interest of the people will become stronger,” he added. The President said he was “bothered” by the high court’s application of the doctrine of operative fact, noting that it “recognizes that those who implemented an order have no liability under the law if it was done in good faith.” “But in the decision of the justices, they already presumed that there was no good faith and that we still had to prove [otherwise] in one or more trials. We wonder where the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ is,” he argued. In the ruling, the court said the doctrine of operative fact “cannot apply to authors, pro❰❰ 7
ponents and implementers of the DAP, unless there are concrete findings of good faith in their favor by the proper tribunals determining their criminal, civil, administrative and other liabilities.” The President again sought to distance the DAP from the graft-ridden Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which the court in November last year declared unconstitutional amid widespread public outrage over claims P10 billion in the congressional pork barrel allocations went to ghost projects and kickbacks. “Excuse me. The DAP is different from the PDAF,” he said, recalling that some PDAF funds went to “fake NGOs.” “In the DAP, it’s clear that the government’s fund was not stolen—we worked to spend this to deliver benefits to the Filipino. Not later, not tomorrow or the day after, but now. What we could implement, we already implemented.” Mr. Aquino earlier admitted that “9 percent” of DAP funds in 2011 and 2012 were spent on projects identified by legislators. The practice was reminiscent of the pork barrel system, which allowed legislators to exercise discretion over how government funds would be spent even if they were the ones mandated to approve the national budget. In those years, DAP funds in effect increased congressional pork barrel by P12.8 billion. ■
World Bank hails PH as next Asian miracle Kim praises Aquino fight vs corruption BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA AND PAOLO G. MONTECILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO yesterday received profuse praise from visiting World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, who declared that the Philippines would be the next Asian “miracle.” Kim, who was in Manila for a two-day visit, also announced that the World Bank was providing $119 million for the construction of new roads, bridges and irrigation systems in Muslim Mindanao in support of efforts to promote peace and economic development in the region. During the open forum at the Daylight Dialogue in Malacañang, Kim recalled that the World Bank had downgraded its “overall global [economic] growth forecast from 3.2 percent to 2.8 percent.” But the World Bank did not do so for the Philippine economy, where the forecast remained “around 6.4 percent with a lot of upside going into the future. “So I will just say again maintain these reforms, continue on the path that you’re on, and I think the future is very bright for the Philippines,” Kim said. Foundation for future
"I am hoping that once you see the arguments that we will present regarding the law and the economy, we will be united and the government’s capacity to pursue the interest of the people will become stronger.” PHOTO FROM RAPPLER.COM
Kim later offered a toast during a luncheon in the Palace, saying to President Aquino that “each of those things you’re doing are not only the right thing to do but they’re laying the foundations for your economic growth in the future.” “And we are absolutely certain that the impact of your administration will be felt far beyond the six years that you have as President,” Kim said. He said President Aquino should take much of the credit for the Philippine turnaround. “Can the Philippines be the next Asian miracle? [After] coming here, I think there is no question that is the case,” Kim said. Antigraft campaign
Kim heaped praise on Mr. www.canadianinquirer.net
Aquino’s antigraft campaign, which has seen the President’s predecessor and three sitting senators charged with corruption, as well as the impeachment of a Chief Justice. “Among the most important things you can do is tackle corruption and . . . that is one of the things that the [Aquino] government is doing frankly better than any government in the world,” Kim said. “Around the world, the spread of information technology is converging with grassroots movements for transparency, accountability and citizen empowerment,” he said. Under Mr. Aquino’s leadership, he said, “the Philippines is absolutely at the forefront of this transformation.” Kim said the Philippines, where one quarter of the roughly 100 million people live in deep poverty, had huge potential. He cited the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, prudent monetary policies and young workforce. Kim’s strong endorsement was a timely boost for Mr. Aquino, with two polls released this week showing the President’s public support dropping to record lows amid deep controversy over an economic stimulus program. The Supreme Court on July 1 ruled the Disbursement Accleration Program (DAP) was unconstitutional, with 13 justices handing down a unanimous decision that Mr. Aquino should not have bypassed Congress in spending P167 billion. Mr. Aquino on Monday said the government would appeal the Supreme Court ruling. Aid for Mindanao
Kim announced fresh World Bank aid financing for Muslim Mindanao at a news conference at the World Bank office in Taguig City. Muslim Mindanao remains one of the poorest regions in the Philippines, with development held back by four decades of conflict between separatist rebels and government forces. “We’ll support the peace pro-
cess in conflict-affected areas,” said Kim, who is here for a twoday visit. Kim noted that the poverty rate in conflictaffected areas in Mindanao was at 50 percent, or more than twice the national average. He said the $119 million in aid financing would be made available to the government to bankroll the construction of new farm-to-market roads, bridges, communal irrigation systems and potable water projects in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM, which will be expanded under a peace agreement signed in March between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest rebel group in the region. The government and the MILF are seeking the enforcement of the agreement, which grants broad autonomy to the expanded Muslim region, by next January. The fresh World Bank financing is part of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) that Kim himself announced this week during a visit to Leyte province. Under the PRDP, the government would receive $508 million in concessional loans from the World Bank to raise rural incomes across the country. The PRDP will be presented to the World Bank’s board of executive directors next month. Robust investments
On top of the new aid, the International Finance Corp. (IFC), the World Bank’s private investment arm, is also working on projects that will generate 6,000 new jobs in Mindanao. Kim said the bank remained confident of the Philippines’ prospects, citing robust investments by the Aquino administration in areas such as education and health care over the last four years. “Spending on health and education has doubled. This is extremely important,” Kim said, noting that the full impact of the investments would continue to be felt for decades to come. ■
Philippine News
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 12
DBM list of beneficiaries: Members got P17B from DAP BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA AND JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO has insisted that his Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was different from the graftridden Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), a pork barrel that the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional late last year in the face of public outrage over its misuse. But a list from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed that the executive branch had set aside a total of P17.585 billion in DAP funds for projects “requested by” legislators—a practice similar to how the congressional pork barrel worked. Mr. Aquino yesterday maintained that “only a minimal porP144.4 B tion of DAP releases have any issue.” “Rest assured: The Commission on Audit will ensure that, if there was any abuse or misuse of this fund, then those responsible will be held to account,” he said in a speech before local and international business leaders, including World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, in Malacañang. Of the amount, P17.308 billion was actually released, according to the list of 116-DAP funded projects finally made public by Malacañang on Monday night, two weeks after the Supreme Court declared DAP unconstitutional. The amounts were much higher than Malacañang’s previous estimate of P12.8 billion, which represented “nine percent” of DAP funds earmarked for projects of legislators. The P17.585-billion DAP fund proposed for projects of members of both chambers of Congress was on top of their annual PDAF allocation of P24.8 billion for 2011 and 2012. Cross-border mechanism
A total of P167 billion was proposed for 116 projects but “allotment releases” amounted to P144.378 billion, according to the 19-page document signed by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. Congressional pork barrel on Abad’s list came in the form of “priority local projects nation-
wide requested by legislators, local government officials and national agencies.” The practice of realigning savings to other branches of government falls under the “cross-border” mechanism, which the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional. Bogus NGOs
The INQUIRER reported early this month that Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, Juan Ponce Enrile, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Tito Sotto received a total of P425 million as DAP funds from the DBM between March and May 2012 and funneled it to bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs) put up by Janet LimNapoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion PDAF scam. The lawmakers denied receiving hefty kickbacks from Napoles. The senators’ DAP allocations were: Estrada, P100 million; Marcos, P100 million; Revilla, P100 million; Sotto, P70 million; and Enrile, P55 million. Estrada, Revilla and Enrile are in detention on charges of plunder and graft in connection with the PDAF scam. DAP ‘good’
In a televised speech the other night, the President rejected suggestions that the DAP was similar to the PDAF. “Excuse me. The DAP is different from the PDAF,” he said. “In the PDAF, there are those who brought government funds to fake NGOs and allegedly divided them among themselves. In the DAP, it’s clear that the government fund was not stolen.” Mr. Aquino defended the DAP once again the following morning, saying it was “good.” “The most compelling statement that has risen above the din and clamor surrounding the DAP has been this undisputed truth: The DAP was good. Neither the Supreme Court nor our most vociferous critics have made statements to the contrary,” he said. Critical agencies
More than half of the P144 billion released through the DAP went to what the President called “three critical agencies,” namely, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and National Housing Authority. Mr. Aquino said P30 billion was used to beef up BSP’s capitalization as part of the national government’s obligation under the New Central Bank Act of 1993. He said another P10 billion came from the General Appropriations Act. P33B for infra
More than P33 billion was spent for the “construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, flood-control projects and other critical infrastructure across the country” through the DPWH. “This helped boost the growth and effectiveness of industry; it made it easier for tourists to reach favored destinations; it helped make the Philippines a more attractive destination to investors. This, we did under the DAP,” the President said. Housing, livelihood
Another P11 billion went to housing projects, he said. “And there were many more projects: We renovated hospitals and health centers, and upgraded their equipment; we hired nurses and midwives and deployed them to areas where they were most needed; we expanded the coverage of our flagship conditional cash transfer program; we bolstered livelihood projects, preserved key tourism and heritage sites, and strengthened our weather forecasting abilities,” he said. “We also improved the facilities of state universities and colleges, and empowered our youth to join the workforce through the Training for Work Scholarship Program. Under the DAP, we were also able to completely settle a debt that past administrations had incurred: We released P3.46 billion to pay the balance of unpaid GSIS, or government pension premium payments.” P2B for Tarlac
The DBM list showed that Mr. Aquino’s home province of Tarlac also benefited from the DAP in the form of road and bridge projects worth P2 billion. Closer to home, the Presidential Security Group was allocated P248.327 million to upgrade the Malacañang compound’s “communication system.” www.canadianinquirer.net
The DBM also granted Speaker Feliciano Belmonte’s request for P250 million to complete the congressional “E-Library.” P3.3B for health
Health Secretary Enrique Ona identified the projects amounting to P3.3 billion in total DAP allocations that the Department of Health (DOH) received. The amount went to the purchase of medicines, supplies, medical equipment and the hiring of more nurses and midwives and improve public health facilities necessary for the ordinary Filipino to access better healthcare at the least possible cost, said Ona. “[The funding] gave us the capacity to modernize, to supply, equip and not only rehabilitate health facilities but also augment our resources to hire the additional health workers that our country severely needed at that time,” Ona said at a press conference at the DOH headquarters in Manila. Universal healthcare
Defending the program, which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional, Ona said the bulk of the allocation went to the government’s universal healthcare program. “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan is not a simple and fast program to implement but with the expansion in fiscal space provided by the DAP concept, the Department of Health was able to move at a faster pace than was otherwise possible,” said Ona. Based on his report, 44 percent or P1.496 billion was allotted to subsidize the PhilHealth coverage of over 2.9 million indigent families in 2011, with the biggest number of beneficiaries coming from Central Luzon (575,187 families) and Central Visayas (575,081). At least 23 percent of the DAP funding the health department got, equivalent to P770 million, was used to augment the 2011 maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlay requirements of the following hospitals: Lung Center of the Philippines (P105 million), Philippine Children’s Medical Center (P280 million), Philippine Heart Center (P357 million), Women’s and Children’s Protection Unit of 16 DOH hospi-
tals (P17 million) and 12 other DOH hospitals (P10.7 million). Financial assistance worth P76 million in 2011 and 2012 was given to indigent patients in various hospitals. The amount covered medical expenses, such as medicines, medical and surgical supplies, laboratory and diagnostic imaging procedures, said Ona. ARMM transition
To support the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Transition Investment Support Plan in the same years, P756 million was given to seven provinces in the region for health infrastructure development; construction, repair and renovation of 194 health facilities; procurement of lifesaving medical equipment and diagnostic tools in 231 health facilities, including land and sea ambulances. Hiring of nurses
A total of P294 million was used to augment funding for the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service. With the additional funds, the DOH was able to deploy 11,500 nurses to address the problem of lack of staff and improve accessibility to quality healthcare services in 1,529 municipalities, Ona said. “With additional funding from funding under the DAP concept, various DOH programs and projects were achieved to address the health needs especially the very poor,” he said. ■
View the full list of beneficiaries by scanning this QR code or by visiting http://bit.ly/DBMlist
13 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Makeup artist in QC jail for killing stepdad over BF BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer
Public opinion to decide P-Noy impeachment, say lawmakers BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer PUBLIC OPINION will be the “game changer” in any move to impeach the President, a member of the minority in the House of Representatives said yesterday. “Yes, impeachment is a political exercise, but even if it is a political exercise, public opinion will play a great role,” said ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, who noted the sharp dive in Mr. Aquino’s approval rating since the Supreme Court ruled that the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was unconstitutional. But Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares was less optimistic, saying the two unsuccessful attempts to impeach former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo should be indicative of the chances of Mr. Aquino being impeached. “The people think it’s a proceeding that must be done. It’s an accountability mechanism but it could also be a truthtelling mechanism. The people want to know where the DAP went, and Malacañang has not explained,” Colmenares said. The impeachment proceedings, Colmenares said, could be a venue “to tell the truth about where the DAP went.” “If our colleagues believe that the people are our bosses, what’s wrong with reading it first and making a decision accordingly,” he said. He described impeachable officials as “gods.” “They cannot be sued while in their posts. They’re immune. The only accountability mechanism left is impeachment, which is why it is good to hear from our colleagues who have no judg-
A MAN ended up behind bars for killing his stepfather in Quezon City after an argument about the former’s relationship with another man. Daryl Diamante, a 27-yearold makeup artist, was arrested on Saturday, three days after stabbing his stepfather Alden Resoco, a 54-year-old tricycle driver, at their house
ment yet towards the impeachment complaint, unlike our other colleagues who will say, without looking at the complaint, ‘ we have the numbers, we will block it,’” Colmenares said. Leaders of the ruling coalition in the House have vowed to collectively block any moves to impeach the President. The militant Makabayan bloc has postponed filing its impeachment complaint to next week due to the damage wrought by Typhoon “Glenda” in the metropolis. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), its allies and the Kabataan party-list group are poised to file separate complaints. Two impeachment complaints were earlier filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano and former Rep. Augusto Syjuco, but no member of Congress has come forward to endorse either complaint, a requirement for it to proceed to the plenary. A member of the House majority, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, said he would not prejudge the complaints as he was the senior vice chair of the justice committee. But he conceded that the impeachment process was a “numbers game.” “This is a political game … if the President still enjoys the support of both houses, there’s no way you can remove him,” he said. “If the Constitution did not want political color in the impeachment process, [it] would not have [been] put … in a political department. This is why the judiciary has nothing to do with impeachment,” Fariñas said. Even so, he added, “it’s not futile for them” to file impeachment complaints. “It’s a democracy … it’s up to each one’s conscience.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
on Laura Street, Barangay Old Balara. The police said Diamante and Resoco had an argument about Diamante’s relationship with Mark Joseph Aga, who is also being considered a suspect for allegedly hitting Resoco as well. The heated exchange Wednesday night ended with Diamante stabbing Resoco several times with a broken bottle and Aga hitting Resoco with a monobloc chair.
Diamante’s mother and Resoco’s live-in partner, Renilda, rushed the victim to East Avenue Medical Center, where he died from his stab wounds at 10:40 p.m., according to a report reaching the Quezon City Police District. Diamante was turned over to the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit in Camp Karingal by members of the Batasan station. Aga remained at large as of Saturday. ■
Philippine News
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 14
Filipino worker kidnapped, Philippine military beheaded by militia in Libya; says 17 Muslim Philippines evacuating its nationals rebels, 1 soldier killed in clashes The Associated Press
MANILA, PHILIPPINES—A Filipino construction worker kidnapped by militia men in Libya has been beheaded by his captors, becoming the first Filipino casualty in the renewed violence in the North African state, the Philippine government said. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Filipino worker was kidnapped on July 15. He was subsequently beheaded and his decomposed body was found Sunday in a hospital in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city. “The vehicle he was riding in was stopped in a checkpoint. There were three of them - a Libyan a Pakistani and a Filipino and he was allegedly singled out because he was non-Muslim,” Jose said. The kidnappers initially demanded a $160,000-dollar ransom from the worker’s employers. But the abductors called
The Associated Press
again on Sunday, pointing them to the Benghazi hospital. Jose said it was possible the Filipino was already dead while the kidnappers were negotiating for ransom. His family has requested that worker’s name not be released. Libya is experiencing its worst violence since Moammar Gadhafi’s regime was ousted in 2011. Rival militias, largely made up of former rebels, have been fighting for control and sometimes engaged in targeted
killings. The Philippine government is currently enforcing the mass evacuation of around 13,000 Filipinos there due to the increasing violence and lawlessness, the closure of major airports, and the heightened threat to safety, particularly in Benghazi. “We are calling for total evacuation,” Jose added. The government has identified Egypt or Tunisia as exit routes for the Filipinos. ■
MANILA, PHILIPPINES— Breakaway Muslim rebels attacked army troops in two towns in the southern Philippines, sparking clashes that left 17 guerrillas and a soldier dead in a region where the government and the main Muslim rebel group were to enforce a new peace deal. Regional military spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement fighters assaulted the soldiers in two adjacent towns in Maguindanao province Monday, prompting government forces to retaliate in fighting that also wounded three soldiers. Hermoso said troops identified five of the rebel casualties but did not immediately provide other details. The rebels broke off from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,
and home affairs officials made an aerial survey of the damage in Southern Tagalog yesterday.
lacan State University, but classes in elementary and high schools remain suspended due to power outages. Most towns in Bataan province also had blackouts. In Pangasinan province, Dagupan City and neighboring towns were hit by an unscheduled twohour power interruption.
entire service area, which covers Dagupan and the towns of Calasiao, Santa Barbara, San Jacinto, San Fabian and Manaoag. In the Cordillera region, portions of the Bontoc-Banaue Road in Mountain Province remained impassable, according to the regional civil defense office.
Power outage
Police help
DFA Spokesman Charles Jose.
PHOTO FROM GLOBALNATION.INQUIRER.NET
the main rebel group which signed a new Muslim autonomy deal in the south with the Philippine government in March. The breakaway rebels opposed the peace talks, preferring to take up arms for a separate Muslim homeland in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation. The breakaway rebels have launched attacks in the past in what the government said were futile attempts to sabotage Malaysian-brokered negotiations that led to the signing in March of a new deal to establish a more powerful and potentially larger Muslim autonomous region in the south of the country. Both sides are finalizing draft legislation, which they hope Congress will approve that will allow them to set up the new autonomous region to try to wean poverty-wracked Muslim areas from decades of unrest and violence. ■
Albay model... amounted to P516,000 and damage to agricultural infrastructure came up to P123.2 million. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Dennis del Socorro said partial damage to fisheries as of Tuesday was P38.5 million for the whole Bicol region. In Calabarzon, authorities still had to estimate damage to infrastructure and agriculture, as communication remained down in some parts of the region. Civil defense, social welfare ❰❰ 8
Water up in Angat
Glenda’s rains raised the water elevation at Angat Dam in Bulacan by 3 meters. The water elevation at the dam, which supplies Metro Manila’s water needs, went down to critically low levels during the summer. Work at the Bulacan provincial capitol resumed yesterday despite the rotating brownouts. Classes also resumed at Bu-
Augusto Sarmiento, operations manager of Dagupan Electric Corp., said the power outage affected the company’s
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Policemen were helping local governments in relief and rehabilitation work. Chief Supt. Reuben Theo-
dore Sindac, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police, said the helping hand was a departure from the PNP’s usual search and rescue operations during disasters. “Our personnel are more involved in relief and rehabilitation operations, like cleanup of roads to make these passable, securing areas that need to be secured like evacuation centers,” Sindac said. He also said that PNP personnel were all accounted for after Glenda. ■
15 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
More bodies found... ❰❰ 1
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed, killing all 298 people
aboard. The chaotic rescue effort, which was marred by an outage in the refrigerated train that was to transport many of the dead, continued ahead of an expected vote later by the U.N. Security Council on an Australia-proposed resolution demanding international access to the crash site and a cease-fire around the area. The pressure has been growing on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who the U.S. and others say has backed and armed the rebels, to rein in the insurgents in Ukraine and allow a full-scale investigation. The rebels have been blamed around the world for Thursday’s downing of the Boeing 777. Putin lashed out against those criticisms on Monday, accusing others of exploiting the crash in east Ukraine for “mercenary objectives.” Putin said Russia was doing everything possible to allow a team of experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency, to investigate the scene. He also again criticized the Ukraine authorities in Kyiv for reigniting the fighting with the pro-Russian rebels who control the crash site. “We can say with confidence that if fighting in eastern Ukraine had not been renewed on June 28, this tragedy would not have happened,” Putin said. “Nobody should or does have a right to use this tragedy for such mercenary objectives.” By early Monday, local rescue workers had piled 21 further black body bags by the side of the road in Hrabove. It was unclear how quickly they would be transported to refrigerated railcars in the nearby town of Torez, where the other bodies are being held. On Sunday night, Ukraine’s emergency services agency said the total number of bodies found was 251. International indignation over the incident has grown as investigators still only have limited access to the crash site and it remains unclear when and where the victims’ bodies will be transported. A train engineer told The Associated Press the cars’ refrig-
eration had been off overnight but it was not immediately clear why. The cooling system was back up and running early Monday, according to the engineer. An Associated Press reporter on the scene said the smell of decomposing bodies was more pronounced than on Sunday, when the remains were first brought to the boxcars at Torez. The shambolic effort to recover the bodies and investigate the crash has aroused international outrage, as pro-Russian rebels have hindered efforts by Ukrainian and international authorities. More than three days after the jetliner crashed, international investigators still had only limited access to the area where the plane landed. A team of international monitors, including three from the Dutch National Forensic Investigations Team, were scheduled to visit both Torez and the crash site Monday. That statement came in the wake of comments by the United States on Sunday, presenting what it called “powerful” evidence that the rebels shot down the plane with a Russian surface-to-air missile. “Russia is supporting these separatists. Russia is arming these separatists. Russia is training these separatists,” Secretary of State John Kerry said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Australia also spoke to Putin by phone late Sunday. European foreign ministers are also meeting in Brussels Tuesday to consider further sanctions on Russia. In an opinion piece for the Sunday Times, British Prime Minister David Cameron said there was a “growing weight of evidence” suggesting that the rebels shot down the plane. If that was the case, Cameron said that was “a direct result of Russia destabilizing a sovereign state, violating its territorial integrity, backing thuggish militias and training and arming them.” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose country lost 28 citizens in the tragedy, said Putin “said all the right things” during their telephone conversation about ensuring an international investigation into the disaster. “I’m now going to try to ensure that as far as Australia hu-
Memorial at the Dutch Embassy in Kyiv after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 originating from Amsterdam was downed in Eastern Ukraine. PHOTO BY KATATONIA82 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
manly can, we insist upon these things happening,” Abbott told Sydney Radio 2GB on Monday. “The site is being treated more like a garden cleanup than a forensic investigation, and this is completely unacceptable.” The Ukrainian government said in a statement on its website that a second train with four refrigerator cars had arrived at Torez station. On Monday morning, four rebels armed with automatic weapons were standing guard around the cars. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose country lost 192 citizens on the plane, told a news conference that repatriating the bodies was his “No. 1 priority.” He said all efforts were aimed at getting the train with the bodies to “territory controlled by Ukraine” and that a Dutch military plane was being sent to Kharkiv to set up a co-ordinationcentre. On Monday, three Dutch members with Holland’s National Forensic Investigations Team arrived in Donetsk to join an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission. Michael Bociurkiw, a spokesman for the OSCE, said reports from the group’s investigators in Ukraine suggest some bodies were incinerated without a trace. “We’re looking at the field where the engines have come down. This was the area which was exposed to the most intense heat. We do not see any bodies here. It appears that some have been vaporized,” he said from the crash site. www.canadianinquirer.net
Rebel leader Alexander Borodai denied the rebels were trying to tamper with evidence, saying the bodies would be turned over to a team of Malaysian experts he was expecting. A group of investigators that included Malaysian officials was in Kyiv, but said they wouldn’t go into rebel-held areas until they get better assurances about security. The Ukrainian government, which has responsibility for the investigation, has also asked for help from the International Civil Aviation Organization— a U.N. body— and Eurocontrol, a European air traffic safety organization. Borodai insisted the rebels have not interfered with the investigation, and said he would turn over the plane’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders, or “black boxes,” as well. “The bodies will go nowhere until experts arrive,” Borodai said in the rebel-held city of Donetsk. But there were clear indications that the rebels were interfering in the investigation. Lyubov Kudryavets, a worker at the Torez morgue, said that on the evening the plane went down, a resident brought in the bloodied body of a child, about 7 or 8 years old. On Saturday, militiamen came to take away the body away, she said. “They began to question me: ‘Where are the fragments of rocket? Where are the fragments from the plane?”‘ Kudryavets said. “But I didn’t have any wreckage. ... I swear.” Experts said that even if in-
vestigators are granted access now, it might be too late. “Even without any deliberate attempt at a coverup, the crash site is already compromised in forensic terms,” said Keir Giles, an associate fellow at the Chatham House think-tank . “A reconstruction of the aircraft fuselage and wings would give a picture on how the missile struck and what kind it was. If any aircraft parts have already been removed ... this compromises the objectivity of the investigation.” Rutte said the Dutch foreign minister was headed to the U.N. to lobby “to further expand the international coalition pushing for quick recovery of the bodies and getting to the bottom of the terrible events on MH17.” In the Netherlands, worshippers at church services prayed for the victims, as anger grew over the rebels’ hindering of the investigation. Silene Fredriksz-Hoogzand, whose son, Bryce, and his girlfriend, Daisy Oehlers, were among those killed, said she was appalled their bodies weren’t being handed over. “Mr. Putin, send my children home,” she said, speaking on Sky TV from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. “Send them home. Please.” ■ Mills reported from Moscow. Peter Leonard in Kyiv; Michael Corder in The Hague, Netherlands; Danica Kirka in London, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.
Opinion
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 16
THERE’S THE RUB
Doesn’t make sense By Conrado De Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer TO BE fair, P-Noy never offered it as a serious proposition, he merely hinted at it. That is for people to wear yellow to signify their continuing trust in his leadership. But you never know, some people might think it a bright idea to people-power the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). It is not. At the very least, you have history to go by. Cory tried to do it more than two decades ago over the issue of the US bases. The Senate with Jovito Salonga as its president looked headed to reject the treaty that would renew the American lease on Subic and Clark, and Cory who had been saved by the Americans from the worst coup attempt against her administration tried to stem it. Specifically, by calling on the people to mass at the Luneta to register their protest against it. Only a handful came. The Senate went on to reject the treaty—the senators who voted against it subsequently came to be known as the “Magnificent 12”—which ended long years of American military presence in the country. Jaime Cardinal Sin tried the same thing. The other person most associated with Edsa, he called as well for people to mass at the Luneta to protest Health Secretary Juan Fla-
vier’s— “Mr. Condom’s”—efforts to distribute contraceptives to quell runaway population growth. Only a handful came too, and “Mr. Condom,” armed with marvelous wit and humor, went on his merry way doing what he was doing. With no small magic-realist irony, Flavier would take the form less than a couple of decades later of P-Noy himself who would lead the Reproductive Health cause to victory in Congress against the fundamentalists in the Catholic Church. The lesson is simple. People power is not a genie to be summoned by rubbing a magic lamp. If there is a magic lamp at all whose occupant is a genie, its owner is not a particular individual but a Good Cause. What summons people power is a good, indeed, magical, cause. Like bringing forth the opposite of Marcos, like bringing forth the opposite of Gloria. Retaining the US bases is not a good cause, stopping contraceptives is not a good cause, championing the DAP is not a good cause. It won’t summon people power. There is an important footnote to this, which is that Cory’s defense of the US bases and Sin’s defense of Church orthodoxy did not dent their credibility. Cory in particular bowed down to the Senate decision and went on to govern as best she could with the time left on
her term, stepping down gracefully less than a year later with her stature intact. That brings me to a more formidable reason why people-power-ing the DAP is not a good idea. It has to do with timing. The time when Cory did it was before the Senate voted against the US bases and not after. If P-Noy does it, it will be after the Supreme Court has ruled against it. That makes a whole world of difference. The arguments that have been appearing of late on the merits and de-
People power is not a genie to be summoned by rubbing a magic lamp. If there is a magic lamp at all whose occupant is a genie, its owner is not a particularindividualbutaGoodCause. merits of the DAP—and they are legion in the social and mainstream media— miss the point. The merits and demerits of the DAP are no longer the issue, they have been pushed aside by a more primordial one, which is whether the President has the right to challenge the Supreme Court ruling. Had he raised his points before the Court made that ruling, it would have made perfect sense for us to debate the DAP’s merits or lack
of them. But he did so after, thereby changing the equation entirely. The equivalent of this was for Cory to have refused to bow down to the Senate vote on the US bases. It would have been for Cory to have said that she found the Senate vote unacceptable because it stood to harm the country. Whatever the justices’ differences in the finer points of their ruling, they were unanimous, and categorical, in this: “The Court… declares the following acts and practices… unconstitutional for being in violation… of the doctrine of the separation of powers: 1) the withdrawal of unobligated allotments… and the declaration (of these) as savings prior to the end of the fiscal year, 2) cross-border transfers of the savings of the Executive to offices outside of it, and 3) the funding of projects activities, and programs (outside) the General Appropriations Act.” The fact that no one dissented on, or deviated from, this viewpoint suggests that the DAP manifestly and egregiously strayed from the law. How can you presume good faith on the part of those that created the DAP but not on those who struck it down? Had government stood its ground and insisted on the need for a leeway out of emergency before the Court made its ruling, had government mounted a campaign the way it does now to try to reverse
the justices’ sentiments before they made their ruling, the current debate would have been justified. Had government itself not tacitly agreed there was something wrong with the DAP by announcing that it would be discontinued, and had in fact been discontinued after 2012 when the DAP outlived its usefulness, before the Court made its ruling, the current debate would have been justified. It did not, and it is not. The debate at this late date is superfluous. The Court’s ruling is not unreasonable, appreciating as it does the DAP’s positive contributions while putting down its unconstitutional aspects on the ground that things that can be abused will be abused, in this country more than others. Why not accept that the DAP was an honest mistake with equal weight on both words—honest, but a (constitutional) mistake nonetheless? Why not opt for solutions other than the DAP? Why not seek instruments other than the DAP? Why not look for ways to come to an agreement with the Supreme Court and Congress to get the leeway to use the budget more efficiently rather than just seizing it? Why insist on debating something that really should be past debate? Why insist on flogging a dead horse? Doesn’t make sense. ■
PUBLIC LIVES
‘Antifragile,’ not just resilient By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer THE GOOD news is that Albay province, which has chronically stood on the path of countless devastating typhoons, registered zero casualty after Typhoon “Glenda.” The bad news is that in adjacent Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, and Cavite, 54 people lay dead in the wake of this killer typhoon, the great majority of them pinned inside their concrete homes by fallen trees and collapsing walls. It seems common sensical to say that while we cannot prevent typhoons, there is a lot we can do to shield ourselves from their harmful consequences. But, obviously, what this lesson means to people varies according to their circumstances and how they interpret advisories and warnings. Some communities become more fatalistic after repeatedly being battered by calamities, while others become more prepared. A few local governments, like Albay, appear to have integrated scientific knowledge and disaster preparedness into everyday governance and public education, while many other provinces and towns are content to just talk about it. What spells the difference is what some sociologists call
“resonance.” In some societies, environmental issues create a deep and enduring resonance in their institutional systems, and this resonance results in new awareness, new behaviors, new policies, new laws, and new ways of doing things. But, alas, in many others, including our own society, increasing environmental awareness has not always translated into an advance in institutional resonance. How typhoons are formed, how powerful they are, and what determines their strength and the path they take, are questions natural scientists study and try to answer. But, how ordinary people and their governments perceive and respond to typhoons, and what they do to become not only resilient but—to borrow Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s word— ”antifragile” are issues that belong to the social sciences and cultural studies. There is no direct communication between human settlements and a typhoon or an earthquake. Nature and human beings do not share a common language. Indeed, sometimes Nature acts as though it is punishing us for our sins against it. But that is just a moralistic way of interpreting its movements. Nature itself has no motives. The impact of typhoons, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, storm surges, and earthquakes are always mediated by a
society’s social systems. It is through these that we assign meanings to everything in the world. When it comes to weather forecasting and tracking earthquakes and volcanic activity in our own country, I would say dramatic progress came only in the last 20 years. Even so, what we have done has not been enough. The scale of the human tragedy that Typhoon “Yolanda” unleashed in 2013 in the Visayas mocked our ability to protect our people from calamity.
A few local governments, like Albay, appear to have integrated scientific knowledge and disaster preparedness into everyday governance and public education, while many other provinces and towns are content to just talk about it. Many people died from drowning in Tacloban mainly because they did not anticipate the full scale of the threat that “storm surges” represent. Since then, there has been a furious debate on whether the people of Tacloban should have been warned about tsunamis rather than storm surges. Scientists say the two concepts are different and should
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not be confused. But, the precision of scientific language cannot always be communicated to the layperson in ways that capture the contingencies and dangers of natural phenomena. A good example of this struck me the other night over dinner with the family. Trained in the earth sciences, my son CP has been at the forefront of recent efforts by the Department of Science and Technology and the University of the Philippines to augment the forecasting services of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Using 3-D mapping and other advanced tools, the initiative called Project Noah, led by his UP colleague Dr. Mahar Lagmay, has been able to offer the public precise information on intense rainfall in specific areas and identify places most vulnerable to killer floods and storm surges. But how is it, I asked, that, despite this enhanced accuracy, Pagasa still issues storm warnings that cause schools to suspend classes on a sunny day? This was CP’s reply: Storm signals are warnings of weather conditions for the next 36 hours. They are meant to give people in affected areas enough time to prepare, seek refuge, or move to safer ground. Most deaths from such events occur because peo-
ple stay put in their homes or try to escape at the height of a typhoon or as floodwaters start to rise. Do you think communities need more lead time? In the first place, I said, I didn’t know that that’s what storm signals meant. Like many, I take a Signal No. 3, for example, as something that will happen soon—say, in the next few hours, rather than after one-and-a-half days. Naturally, people get angry when offices are closed and classes are called off, and the rest of the day turns out to be bright and dry. CP said science has, in fact, made it possible to tell exactly what time a storm is going to hit a place, and people can now rely on hour-specific updates on its progress. Arguing as a sociologist, I countered that we can’t be entirely sure how people actually understand storm signals or how they factor them into their behavior. I came away from the conversation convinced that at no other time has getting communication right become more crucial to saving lives than now. I thought that perhaps there is a need to give people not just environmental warnings but also vivid scenarios of what to expect in given situations. And, this can only be accomplished by natural scientists working in close collaboration with social scientists and cultural scholars. ■
Opinion
17 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
AS I SEE IT
Osmeña: power industry neglected By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer DON’T blame Meralco or the Department of Energy if there is still no electricity in your home. Or for the rotational brownouts. Blame Typhoon “Glenda” and former president Gloria Arroyo. Gloria Arroyo? Why blame her? She has been out of office for more than four years already. Here is why. First, Glenda brought down many power lines: electric poles toppled and huge trees fell on electric lines. It takes time to put up electric poles and string out new power lines. Meralco and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) have sent out thousands of workers to do these things. The NGCP is responsible for connecting the power plants to the grid. Meralco is responsible for distributing the electricity from the grid to the customers in its franchise area. As of this writing, Meralco claims that 87.25 percent of customers in its franchise area have power. In Metro Manila, only 2.64 percent of Meralco’s customers are left with still no electricity. In nearby provinces, bigger percentages are still experiencing
rotational brownouts. Why don’t my neighbors and I have electricity? Many irritated homeowners are asking this question. Probably there is something wrong with the electric circuitry in your home or to the line connecting your home to the distribution line. Call Meralco or a qualified electrician to check your home circuitry. But why did we have electricity and then lost it again for four or five hours? That’s not the fault of Meralco or the NGCP. It is the fault of the power generating plants. Five power plants shut down during the typhoon. Imagine how much power was lost. Three of them have come back online but two are still not operating. So there is still a power shortage. Even with all the power plants operating full time, the reserve power is still thin; so that when something happens to a plant, the reserve is not enough to cover the shortage. But what has poor Gloria Arroyo got to do with it? Why blame her? Because we should have had more power plants. Why blame her and not P-Noy for the lack of power plants? Because it takes four to five years to build one power plant, as Sen.
Serge Osmeña explained at the Kapihan sa Manila at the Diamond Hotel last Monday, Arroyo should have started building power plants during her term for the plants to come online during the term of her successor. If P-Noy does not start building more power plants now, he would be blamed for the power shortages that
[P]ower is a major requirement in the economy. The economy will not grow if there is not enough electricity. would surely come after his term. The power industry has been neglected by a succession of presidents, Senator Osmeña said at the Kapihan. And yet power is a major requirement in the economy. The economy will not grow if there is not enough electricity. Factories and other businesses need electricity to be able to operate. Even just the increase in population requires more power. More people use more electricity. The overabundant shopping malls alone require so much power. We invite other countries to invest
in the Philippines, but they will not do that if we have insufficient power. Electricity is a major necessity of any business, factories especially, which we need to provide work for our people. Our available power is not only insufficient but also very expensive. We have the second highest power rates in Asia. High power rates means high production costs for businesses. So why would investors come to the Philippines in a situation like that? Our power rates are high because most of the power plants use expensive fuel: diesel and bunker oil. Coal is cheaper but it is a very dirty fuel— it pollutes the environment. Power from hydroelectric and geothermal plants are not only clean, they are also cheap. We should have more hydroelectric power plants, big and small, but the government stopped the construction of the Laiban Dam in Rizal which it had already started. Why? We don’t know. Nuclear power is cheaper, but we are afraid of anything nuclear. Our first nuclear power plant, after spending billions of pesos on it, is now rusting in Morong, Bataan. When it was proposed that it be revived, the opposition was so huge that the plan
was immediately dropped. Renewable energy sources such as coconut, of which the Philippines has plentiful, and sugar cane, of which we used to be one of the world’s biggest producers, have been tried. We started producing coco diesel and “gasohol.” But because of the usual ningas-cogon mentality, the efforts were stopped. The Philippine Coconut Authority, after building a service station with coco diesel at its office beside the Quezon Circle, went back to its usual lackadaisical attitude. A proposal to plant on thousands of hectares of idle land the tuba-tuba, which bears beans whose oil make good fuel, was enthusiastically adopted and started. Tuba-tuba seeds were indeed planted, but after the ningas-cogon enthusiasm disappeared, the planting stopped. We have harnessed wind power in Ilocos, but the cost of building windmills is very heavy and the power generated by the wind we now have is pitifully small. Ironically, we have much of the cheapest power source: the sun. But solar panels are still very costly to build. We can only dream about having such power plants. ■
AT LARGE
Dani—the girl who fought cancer By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer “WHAT can you say about a girl who died?” The girl in Erich Segal’s book “Love Story” happened to be 25 when she died, setting off a flood of tears from readers and a memorable movie that launched the careers of Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw. But the girl who dies (no need for a spoiler alert, because it seems kind of inevitable) in “Dani Girl” is all of nine years. And the tears, at least for this member of the audience, come only toward the end, when Dani’s search for answers, especially the one for the most crucial question—Why is cancer?—reaches its timely conclusion. On the way there is a romp that combines fantasy, comedy, sci-fi, and plenty of music, defying the somewhat morbid tale of a girl with leukemia who wants an explanation for her illness, and redemption in a brighter future where she is able to grow back her hair. So that, even at the end, despite the sad ending, we feel Dani’s exaltation at her freedom, and her final understanding that in life, as in death, some things, like cancer, just ARE. For this we should be grateful to writers Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, who penned the music, book and lyrics of “Dani Girl.” And to Sandbox Collective, specifi-
cally to founder Toff de Venecia, who is also the director and executive producer of the play, and all the young people behind the production for betting on an off-Broadway production that dares defy the cheery formula for theatrical success. Though burdened with a somewhat gloomy premise, “Dani Girl” provides plenty of laughs, heartfelt song numbers, soaring hope and uplifting sentiment. It is indeed, as the blurbs say, “a musical good for the soul.” *** Ongoing at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza (until July 27), “Dani Girl” opens with a funeral for a stuffed rabbit and for Mr. Fritz, Dani Lyons’ teddy bear, who is stricken, oddly enough, with ovarian cancer. Through flashbacks, dreams and games, we are told of Dani’s struggle with leukemia, which has returned with a vengeance and necessitates the shaving of her hair. She is convinced that if she is able to puzzle out the answer to the question “Why is cancer?” she would get well and recover her hair. What she gets instead is a new roommate, Marty, a boy also stricken with cancer, who accompanies her in her search for answers, since Marty is a fervent believer in superheroes and in movies. But other questions bedevil the young girl. One is what happened to
her father, who has disappeared from her life. Another is why God has allowed cancer to enter her and Marty’s bodies, wreaking destruction. As to Marty’s contention that cancer is punishment for something they must have done in the past, Dani counters it isn’t possible, because “I’m fairly certain I’m perfect.” Dani’s mother believes the only answer is faith: in Dani’s doctors, in medicine, and in God. Dani thinks the answers lie elsewhere, maybe within the bloodstream of her beloved Mr. Fritz, or maybe in heaven.
Astounding indeed, and—I have said this many times before—how “deep” is the bench of theatrical talent on the Philippine stage. Her and Marty’s search brings them to various adventures, including a “Star Wars” light-saber battle with the embodiment of evil: cancer. Throughout, Dani is bravery itself, stalwart and true, but sadly, cancer is winning. *** The staging is simple and stark. The set consists of just two hospital beds and a metal construction that is at times a space ship, a tumor, a hiding place. Toward the end, a monster
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piece hovers above the actors, the symbol of—what? death, evil, bad things happening to good people, especially children? As Dani, Rebecca Coates (with Mitzie Lao as alternate) could have wrung all the bathos she wanted from her role. Instead, she is all spunk and spirit, defying her mother’s earnest intentions and insisting on her “fantasies” and the escape they allow. Playing her partner-in-adventure is Luigi Quesada, endearingly dorky, but matching Dani’s daring every step of the way. Shiela Valderrama as Dani’s mother is wise to play it lowkey, but in her big musical turn, the song “The Sun Still Rose” she showcases her powerful voice and compelling acting. Still, the most dynamic and versatile performer in the cast is Reb Atadero, who plays Raph, Dani’s guardian angel, who guides her through her search for answers and then essays other roles, notably that of cancer itself. At one point he surfaces as Pablo, who raps about the temptations and relief that drugs offer, a turn that draws wild applause from an appreciative audience. *** Astounding indeed, and—I have said this many times before—how “deep” is the bench of theatrical talent on the Philippine stage. Most
of the cast of “Dani Girl” are “just” teenagers, but their youth is no hindrance to a deeply felt performance, and gives them a distinct advantage in terms of conveying energy, feeling and sincerity. Also, despite their youth, the actors have a fairly long list of theater accomplishments and experience to boast of. And truly inspiring are their young voices that tackle the challenging songs and musical arrangements with verve and vivacity. The same can be said of the young De Venecia, whose “baptism of fire” as a director and producer “Dani Girl” is. Remarkable, truly, how, for a newbie, he succeeded in staging a challenging and not exactly commercially viable debut. A vote of confidence, then, to the young people behind The Sandbox Collective, together with their collaborators in 9 Works Theatrical (Anna Santamaria is co-executive producer), for their daring ventures, and their commitment to the uplift of local theater. By the way, the evening we watched, Toff’s mother, Rep. Gina de Venecia, bought the show for the benefit of the child patients in the PGH Cancer Ward. So many “real” Danis abound. May “Dani Girl” provide them hope, encouragement and comfort! ■
FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
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Canada News
Not in the brochure: Special federal site would warn of terror risks abroad BY JIM BRONSKILL The Canadian Press OTTAWA—The federal government is looking at creating a special web page that underscores the risks of travelling to parts of the world with a high incidence of terrorist activity. The information portal would be aimed at raising awareness among everyone from prospective tourists to those who might be tempted to join a foreign conflict. Artur Wilczynski, the Foreign Affairs Department’s director general of international security and intelligence, outlined the proposal to a group of community advisers from various ethnic groups, documents released under the Access to Information Act show. The idea emerges amid bloody fighting in Gaza and an outpouring of grief over a missile attack in Ukraine that downed a passenger jet and killed all 298 people aboard, including a Canadian.
The presentation to the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security warned that Canadians heading abroad could be hurt or killed in a terrorist attack, kidnapped, or drawn into extremist activities. They travel to areas where terrorism may be happening to conduct business, visit family, help global causes and, in rare instances, to participate in terrorist activities, says the presentation delivered to a closeddoor meeting in Gatineau, Que., in November. Canadians may wish to take part in relief efforts, support a political cause
or report on a conflict, the presentation notes say. “The impulse to help is understandable, but Canadians who decide to travel to a conflict zone should be aware of the risks they are taking.” Canadians have died or been wounded while participating in foreign conflicts, including the current hostilities in Syria. “What are the best ways to reach this group?” the presentation asks. “What kinds of messages should we convey?” The proposed new website would complement existing federal travel advisories found at travel.gc.ca, it adds. “Information is largely organized by country, but we are considering developing a specific page on risks related to terrorism.” A Foreign Affairs spokesman said ❱❱ PAGE 32 Not in
Double your money: Alberta doubles limit for small claims court cases The Canadian Press CALGARY—Alberta is doubling the dollar limit for small claims court in an effort to allow people more access and to free up judges. Justice Minister Jonathan Denis says that starting Aug. 1, the limit will double to $50,000 from $25,000. Denis says that should help people complete straightforward civil matters in a much shorter time. However, the NDP says the government should take meaningful steps to improve access to the pro-
vincial justice system, including properly funding Legal Aid. “Alberta provincial courts are already overloaded,” said New Democrat MLA David Eggen. “This increase will only invite an influx of complex, time-consuming cases into a system that is already struggling to keep up. The problem is exacerbated by the number of people representing themselves in these complex cases. Last week, Legal Aid Alberta announced it would be cutting drop-in services from most Alberta communities, a move which is expected to save $4 million over three years.
“This PC government can’t be trusted to stand up for Albertans and to protect their rights in the justice system,” Eggen said. “The announcement today is just another short-sighted fix for a crisis that wouldn’t exist if the PCs funded Alberta’s essential services properly in the first place.” The province is also setting up a provincial court pilot project to help Albertans resolve civil legal disputes. The intent is to direct civil claims to appropriate areas for quick and efficient resolution. Denis says he is not adding any new judges—at least not immediately.
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FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS
ENTREPRENEURS CAN BE KEY TO YOUTH JOBS TORONTO—Entrepreneurs could help create 10 million youth jobs across the G20 countries but they must be given the right support to grow and finance their businesses, according to a new report by global consulting firm Accenture. “Entrepreneurs cannot achieve success by themselves,” Accenture said. “In order to innovate, globalize and attract the right talent, they need adequate support from regulators, and they need to be part of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.” CANADA DEPORTS 20 HUMAN TRAFFICKERS HAMILTON—Twenty members of a Hungarian human trafficking ring that brought people from eastern Europe with promises of a better life in Canada have been deported, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said Tuesday.He said the victims were forced to work illegally, live in deplorable conditions without adequate food, and were intimidated or attacked repeatedly. B.C. LNG CLEANS AIR, WIPES OUT DEBT, SAYS PREMIER WHISTLER—Premier Christy Clark says British Columbia’s proposed liquefied natural gas industry has the power to fight air pollution in China and clear up smog in Los Angeles. The premier’s natural gas development minister also boasted to delegates in Whistler on Monday that the LNG industry will clean up the provincial debt. DUFFY ACCUSED OF CHARGING FOR FUNERAL TRAVEL OTTAWA—The RCMP alleges that Sen. Mike Duffy charged taxpayers for a personal trainer, a makeup artist and for the cost of personal travel to funerals and other ceremonies. New court documents that provide fresh details on 31 charges laid against Duffy last week allege five “inappropriate expense claims associated with personal attendance at funeral and related ceremonies.”
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21 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Q&A: How Malaysia Airlines can restore employee and customer confidence after 2 disasters BY ASTRID GALVAN The Associated Press
reaching changes it could remain a burden on taxpayers and shrivel into regional obscurity. Several experts give their views on the airline’s crisis.
MALAYSIA AIRLINES is in uncharted territory after the disappearance of Flight 370 in March with 239 people aboard was followed this week by the downing of another of its jets, carrying 298 people, over Ukraine. Before the disasters the carrier had among the worst financial performance of any airline. An even bigger question mark now hangs over the future of Malaysia Airlines, with its brand tied to two almost unfathomable tragedies. Some analysts say the stateowned airline won’t survive a year without a substantial cash injection from the Malaysian government. A bailout would address the airline’s immediate financial problems but without far-
crashed far off course in the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean, still hasn’t been found. The fate this week of Flight 17, heading to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, is far more clear-cut. It was shot out of the sky over an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatist rebels. “They are a victim this time, so it is very different from a situation where they have no answers,” said Caroline Sapriel, managing director of CS&A, a company that specializes in reputation management in crisis situations. “The whole world is going to be sympathetic to them.” A few airlines were avoiding flying over Ukraine, which involves taking a longer route, but most weren’t since Ukrainian authorities had not closed the airspace above 32,000 feet
How bad is the situation for Malaysia Airlines?
Other airlines have come back from disasters but none have experienced two tragedies of such magnitude within the space of four months. “There’s no historical precedent,” said Mohshin Aziz, aviation analyst at Maybank. “It’s completely not their fault, but right now if you ask any customers would they fly with Malaysia Airlines, they’d just have that negative sentiment of I’d rather choose something else.” The airline was already losing about $1.6 million a day and has been in the red for the past three years. The disappearance of Flight 370 with many Chinese passengers on board also
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caused a backlash in the crucial China market. Experts don’t see any short cuts to recovery. “It cannot be a quick fix,” said Aziz. “So the second question is do they have the financial resources to survive a year, two years? And the answer is, unfortunately, no.” Is Malaysia Airlines to blame?
The airline was blasted for its
erratic response to the disappearance of Flight 370 en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. Because the whereabouts of the plane was unknown, Malaysia Airlines had little meaningful information for the families of passengers. Communication of what information it did have was often mishandled, compounding the anguish of relatives. The plane, believed to have
❱❱ PAGE 24 Q&A: How
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Immigration
JULY 25, 2014
FRIDAY 22
Live-in Caregivers: Kenney’s New Scapegoats BY E. MAESTRO SOON AFTER Minister Kenney announced his “changes” in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, he came out with statements about the Live-in Caregiver Program “ran out of control” and a promise of reforms to come. Migrante BC responded to this with its statement LIVE- IN CAREGIVERS: KENNEY’S NEW SCAPEGOATS and the scathing reply to Kenney is reproduced in full. Minister Jason Kenney did it again. In his recent announcement about the LiveIn Caregiver Program (LICP), he cast the blame on the live- in caregivers for the Federal Live-In Caregiver Program that “ran out of control”. This is the same Minister who blamed the foreign temporary workers for stealing jobs from the locals and for making Canadian unemployment worse. Rather than looking at the structural features of the programs and the accountability and (mis) management of the labour and immigration agencies, the abuses of employers and unscrupulous recruiters, he has singled out the LICP as the target for more “changes” after his earlier so-called “changes” of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Only two weeks ago, at the various Philippine Independence Day celebrations, members of the Conservative Party (the party that Minister Kenney belongs to and speaks for) were all praises for the Filipino community and for their “contributions” to Canada. Minister Kenney has now exposed that appreciation for the Filipino community to be simple rhetoric. First, Minister Kenney, speaking for the Conservatives, cried out that Filipino migrant workers were “robbing” Canadians of their jobs under the TFWP. Secondly, Minister Kenney, speaking for the Conservatives, pointed his fingers at the caregivers and implied that they were “fraudulently” using the LICP to bring family members in and for essentially wrecking the program. Pronouncements like these are in character for the Conservatives and certainly reveal their cunning side as they twist around the issues of the TFWP and the LICP so that in the end they can justify “changes” that will be even more exploitative for these workers. Minister Jason Kenney’s comments are racist and an affront to the FilipinoCanadian community, many of whom came under the Live-In Caregiver Program and its predecessor the Foreign Domestic Movement. His comments show the disregard and contempt for the racialized migrant workers who come from the global south and work in the homes, farms, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, gas stations, and various construction sites in Canada, www.canadianinquirer.net
The LICP has systematically marginalized our community into low-wage jobs. It has robbed countless women of their capacity to fully contribute to society and has torn many families apart because of the length of time they spend under the LICP, and the even longer time it takes to apply for open visa and have their permanent residency applications approved. Because of its mandatory live- in requirement, the LICP has kept caregivers in indentured servitude, and in some cases in situations of human trafficking for labour. The social and emotional costs for the women who come are unfathomable; and this does not include the horrendous physical or verbal abuse and exploitation that many women have experienced. Minister Kenney uses and defines “family reunification” differently than the migrant advocates and by the caregivers who are separated from their families for five years and more. We use this term to describe the process and situation where the families of these caregivers do arrive in Canada to join their parents, usually their mothers. The social costs of the program are painfully revealed when the family reuniting is more of strangers reuniting. The problem of the LICP is not the caregivers. The problem is with the program itself. Within its structural features are imbedded the threat of and/or actual exploitation of the caregivers. The reality that it is a program populated by an overwhelming majority of women raises the vulnerability of these women to all kinds of exploitation, including sexual abuse. The reality that this is a program of racialized migrant workers means that the caregivers consistently face systemic discrimination and prejudice, not only in the workplace which is their employers’ home but also outside in the community. The LICP is the modern form of slavery. The problem with the LICP is the refusal of those in government who control the program to have these caregivers come in as landed immigrants. The absence of a national childcare and an eldercare program in Canada has primarily fueled the historic and systemic need for caregivers to take care of young children and elderly people in Canada. Canada as a receiving country of migrant workers will continue to see the influx of skilled but poor migrant workers pushed out from their countries, like the Philippines, by their government’s labour export policy, increasing unemployment and poverty, very low wages and the government’s desperate need for remittances. Who else is left to blame after the livein caregivers and the “low-skilled” temporary foreign workers? Ahh, yes, the seasonal agricultural workers are next (unless of course the farm lobby organizations are stronger than all government agencies combined.) ■
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Ex-Citizenship and Immigration Canada employee charged in alleged passport fraud The Canadian Press TORONTO—A former Citizenship and Immigration Canada employee has been charged with breach of trust after she allegedly helped 22 people fraudulently obtain Canadian passports, the RCMP said Friday. Aline Zeitoune, 50, of Toronto worked for Passport Canada, a division of CIC. Zeitoune, who was arrested Thursday, also faces 96 additional charges, the Mounties said. Four of the 22 people have also been charged with passport offences. The RCMP said the investigation began in March 2013, when the force was contacted by CIC investigators who suspected one of their employees
of processing fraudulent applications. “We suspect the accused may have been involved in the scheme for financial gain,” said Sgt. Richard Rollings, spokesman for the RCMP in Ontario. “However, this is a very much an ongoing investigation and the exact motivation behind the scheme is still to be determined.” Rollings said he was not in a position to disclose whether or not the remaining 18 people are in Canada. “We are working with our law enforcement partners in Canada and internationally to locate and arrest any other people associated to this crime,” he added. The breach of trust charge alone can bring a jail term of up to five years, Rollings said. ■
JULY 25, 2014
FRIDAY 24
Q&A: How... (about 9,750 metres). Still, Kuniyoshi Shirai, crisis management expert at A.C.E. Consulting, said he finds the eastern Ukraine route “unthinkable” from a risk management perspective. “Their brand is going to suffer serious damage,” he said. “There is even a possibility the airline will go out of business.” ❰❰ 21
How should Malaysia Airlines handle the latest tragedy?
Clear, consistent and compassionate communications are essential, experts say. “I think their immediate response has been consistent and caring. They are communicating on Twitter and Facebook, they are definitely going out on the commercial media,” said Sapriel of CS&A. That’s important, she said, because “if they weren’t getting the immediate response right, then it just would be the nail in the coffin for them.” Others say that being open and transparent, continuing to assist the families of passengers and crew members while also running a punctual and reliable business will help the airline build on the sympathy about its plight.
Malaysia Airlines “appears to have learned lessons from its halting slowness to react to the MH370 tragedy and is already applying those lessons,” said aviation consultant Robert Mann. What can the airline do to rebuild its brand?
The airline needs far reaching changes. “I think the Malaysian government is going to look at it eventually and say ‘Do we keep this same name or do we rebrand them?’ Maybe they will feel that they need a new name,” said Sapriel, the reputation management expert. Because of its financial struggles, some analysts had advocated the sale of the state-owned airline to bring in fresh capital, ideas and expertise. Like all international airlines, Malaysia Airlines needs to renew its fleet with modern jets to be competitive, which requires substantial investment. Its capacity to make those investments is further compromised if travellers avoid the airline because of the disasters. But even a partial sale of the airline is unpopular with the airline’s union, the government and
sections of the Malaysian public. There are other ways it could make a break with the past, such as installing a new executive leadership. “Malaysia needs to bring in a new CEO and head of flight operations to restore employee and consumer trust in the airline,” said travel consultant Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research. Beyond that, the carrier needs to demonstrate an absolute commitment to safety to overcome negative perceptions and rebuild confidence. “You need an expert on risk management at the top, who has the power equal to a chief executive,” said Shirai, the crisis management executive. “You have to change people’s consciousness. And while you’re doing all that, you have to keep the whole process transparent. Otherwise, you cannot regain the trust of either consumers or investors.” ■ AP Airlines Writer Scott Mayerowitz in New York and AP Business Writers Kelvin Chan in Hong Kong, Kay Johnson in Mumbai, India and Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed.
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GLOBAL FILIPINO: LIANE VALENZUELA
The latest Western social media fitness sensation is Filipino
The all-around performer and athlete recently released a workout video with some challenging moves
BY ANNE A. JAMBORA Philippine Daily Inquirer SHE’S TAKING Western social media by storm, and she’s 100-percent Filipino. Social media star Liane Valenzuela, a.k.a. Liane V, is a United States-born, 5’3” performer with golden tan skin, long wavy hair, a shapely bod and flat abs. She sings and cowrites most of her songs; she writes and acts in comedy skits; she models and dances; and she has, at this writing, more than 2.6 million followers on Vine, 1.1 million on Instagram and more than 60,000 on Twitter. Her pretty face and sultry appeal may have initially catapulted her to fame (she was among the finalists in Miss Asia USA 2008, representing the Philippines), but what really kept her on top of her game is her genuine desire to reach out and help. She bonds with her followers by organizing meet-and-greets, and discovered, to her surprise, how young most of them are (her fan base ranges in age from 12 to 30). When her legion of fans kept asking for her advice on fitness and health—she does have the body of a trainer—a friend talked her into producing a fitness video. Fitness has always played a big role in her life, she said. Her entire family works out. (Her dad Wally, a pastor, hits the gym regularly and often appears in her comedy skit videos on Vine, while her mom, Prima, a nurse, works behind the scenes.) Hard to say no
As a natural-born athlete—
“I never was impatient; I got that from my pastor-dad. I’ve always loved giving advice, even if they keep coming back to me with the same problem. I have a very strong Christian family. I was raised to be there for people.”
she plays basketball and volleyball, roller-blades, hikes, cycles and works out in the gym with a personal trainer—it was hard to say no to the proposition. And so on June 15 this year she launched “Workout with Liane V,” available only for purchase online at workoutwithlianev. com. The site has so far seen more than 20,000 visitors and downloads, majority from the US and Europe. The workout video is a collection of Liane V’s favorite routines, and that means a good serving of lower-body exercises, with the assistance of celebrity trainer Steven Maresca. A fitness trainer to the stars and star athletes, Maresca gives the technical information on the science and proper execution of each movement. “I’m not a personal trainer, but my friends work out with me. I learn a lot of things from my personal trainer and I apply what I learn in my workouts. And I’ve seen them grow and become stronger and lose weight. I want to inspire people, and fitness is a great way to
inspire them,” Liane V said. “Workout with Liane V” will keep you challenged. The basic lunge, for instance, a lower-body exercise that looks deceptively easy, is combined with upper-body sets. So it’s not just a lunge, it’s now a back lunge with elbow touch or back lunge-bicep curl with punch. Yup, Liane V also loves boxing, so she incorporates some mean punches (literally) into her sets. Sidesteps, an exercise that works on your inner thighs, quads and glutes, now includes a bicep curl. Mixing upper and lower body workouts not only cuts your workout time but also guarantees more calories burned per minute. Here you’ll also find one-leg push-ups, but if you’re a newbie, Liane V has a modified push-up. It’s less stressful but develops functional strength for you to progress into a full push-up. There’s weighted back squat and single leg squat—she squats with a 120-lb weight—but if you’re new, you can modify these by using your body weight
“If I can motivate [my followers] to workout, that’s a big deal. It inspires me to workout harder, too.” PHOTOS BY RAY TRAJANO
first, focusing on your form instead of strength. Build up
“First you must know how to properly squat. So start with no weights to make sure you get the movement correct. When you’re confident in your form, add some light weight like dumbbells. When you’re comfortable with that add the bar, and slowly build up from there,” she said. There are core exercises, such as leg raises, crunches, bicycle crunch, and pre- and postworkout stretches.
The package also comes with a digital booklet called “Lovely Liane V Meal Plan & Health Guides” that lists a daily meal plan of protein, grains, vegetables, fruits and smoothies. It’s a guide for people who don’t know where to start when dieting. There’s a wide selection of protein choices, low-fat dairy foods, vegetables, fruits, grains and fats, with each list informing you how much you can consume in a day. It also contains smoothie recipes, with info on how each
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❱❱ PAGE 32 The latest
Seen & Scenes - Vancouver
JULY 25, 2014
FRIDAY 26
CAMARADERIE AT SUMMER PICNIC Clockwise: UPAABC‘s luau at Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park. / Tony Aytona and Charen Cusi take on the hula challenge. / Free Hawaiian dance lessons for all. / Tahitian dancers. / The summer picnic is always a good time for camaraderie.
MEET AND GREET WITH THE SOUL DIVA
SURREY FUSION: A CELEBRATION OF FOOD, MUSIC AND CULTURE
GMA's 3rd OPM Festival featuring Jaya held a Meet and Greet at Max's Restaurant on July 19, 2014. The event was attended by various Vancouver-based Filipino media outfits and community leaders. Photo below shows the Philippines’ Soul Diva with the PCI and Juan Radio teams.
Jaya holds a copy of the Philippine Canadian Inquirer at the Meet and Greet.
Flamenco dancers
Mabuhay Philippines booth at the Surrey Fusion.
A young boy stares at the array of colorful Philippine products on display.
WALK WITH THE DRAGON HIGHLIGHTS Narcy Vinluan (L) proudly bears the Philippine flag at the Surrey Fusion festival.
WORLD FINANCIAL GROUP HOLDS OUTDOOR FUN Top: Members of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. celebrate another successful year. Left: MP Alice Wong, Minister of Employment and Social Development Jason Kenney, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. CEO Queenie Choo and S.U.C.C.E.S.S Foundation CEO Clarence Cheng
For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net.
Fun-filled day with families and friends last July 20, at the South Memorial Park in Vancouver (Photo by Angelo Siglos).
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Seen & Scenes - Toronto
27 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
KC INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND AWARDS NIGHT
ENVERGA ANNOUNCES CANADA’S AID TO TYPHOON GLENDA VICTIMS
Photo shows Rev. Fr. Regulo Imperial, pastor and chaplain of the Prince of Peace Church and District Deputy SK Wilfred Gomez, with the officers of Prince of Peace Council # 9144 after the installation ceremonies. SK Keith Coutinho, grand knight, honored the knights, ladies and friends who supported the Prince of Peace Council in the Fraternal Year 2013-2014.
Senator Enverga, through Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced up to $250,000 in humanitarian assistance to help meet the urgent needs of those affected by Typhoon Rammasun (Glenda). Todate, there have been 94 fatalities, six missing with more than 500,000 in evacuation centers, and millions of crops and properties destroyed.
Canada responds with $250,000 for Typhoon Glenda victims. Photo shows Senator Enverga previously announcing Canada’s humanitarian assistance to the Philippines.
DD SK Wilfred Gomez and SK Ed Prillo present the certificates to the major awardees:"Family of the Year" Bro. Rommel (Cynthia) Acayan and "Knight of the Year" SK Keith (Ramona) Coutinho
BARRIE FIESTA OPENS IN TORONTO
The crowd came for the celebration and stocked up on food staples, frozen goods, Pinoy sweets, snacks and ingredients for making Filipino desserts, traditional treats and favorite beauty products. Barrie Fiesta Foods also offers other services such as TFC subscription, and is an iRemit affiliate where you may send money or Jollibee delivery for special occasions of your loved ones in the Philippines (Photo by Michelle Ramos).
Barrie Fiesta Foods held a successful opening on July 12, at 304B Dunlop St. West Unit 4 to serve the Filipino community in Barrie. The store is owned by award-winning artist Teody Asuncion, Cecile Asuncion and Fhe Landicho (Photo by Michelle Ramos)
Consul General Junever Mahilum-West cuts the ceremonial ribbon signifying the opening of the new store (Photo by Michelle Ramos).
Barrie Fiesta owner Teody Asuncion (Photo by Michelle Ramos). www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
28
Are you ready?
Practical Tips for the Not-So Crazed Prepper BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer I’VE NEVER been a harbinger of doom. Nor have I subscribed to theories posited by those who are. Ever. Goth-girl that I am aside, I prefer to dwell (or at least try my best to) on the more positive side of things, even if it means forcibly yanking my head out of the dark spaces in which it often chooses to go; literally and figuratively. So when it comes to postapocalyptic, end-of-days, elemental level extinction (ELE) theories, I generally approach these with my ten-foot-pole in one hand, and a sack-full of grains of salt, in the other. Armed with idioms, I find strength to resist my morbid fascination and endless curiosity with such theories. I take these precautionary measures and keep a safe enough distance from such theories lest I find myself sucked into the black hole of doomsday sayers and preppers; the likes of whom are often at the receiving end of my snarky chortles. Their actions and obsessions are perfect fodder for derision, due to the extremeness of their beliefs. Their preoccupation with apocalyptic scenarios has them so fixated, that they waste their lives away (at least, in my opinion) preparing for what they believe to be “eventualities.” The times, they are a-changing
However…in recent weeks, beginning with the 5.7 magnitude quake that struck Manila on June 24 and up to the recent post-typhoon Glenda days, I have found myself thinking more and more of the “what ifs.” The times are changing, and the world’s natural cycles are off their rocker. Scientists report that the moon is phasing differently, and the sun’s cycles are erratic. Global weather has gone to the dogs, and we are all left going “HUH???”
The quake, which had its epicenter in the city of Batangas but was very much so felt in Manila, had everyone buzzing about “the big one.” It was a portent of mega-shakers to come, and supposedly, soon. The nation has tried to prepare, since then. TRIED TO being the operative phrase. They say countless buildings need to be refitted to get into quake-proof shape. I say, with what money? Will the government shoulder the refitting of these privately owned structures? We all know the answer to that. So we wait, and we shudder at the thought. The typhoon had me on the streets, as soon as the howler subsided, in search of food. I was unprepared for Glenda and her aftermath. Winds so intense they knocked down or uprooted everything in their path, the Metro found itself sans power for several days. Rammasun—Glenda’s international code name and Thai word for “god of thunder”—came to Manila to play tumbang preso with electric posts and trees, and jolen with glass panes on houses and building alike (I did not like this god very much for doing that.) Like a schoolyard bully, the typhoon had us all we cowering in fear; feeling helpless in the face of its wrath. Blank stares and the last roast chicken
That day, I roamed the streets with others—blank stares on most their faces—likewise in search of food. There was none to be had—all eateries, whether big chain restaurant or hole-inthe-wall carinderia were closed for the day, and understandably so. Broken glass was everywhere, turning the streets of my side of Makati into a veritable crystal beach. The only place for something to eat was the grocery; where check-out lines were as long as tempers were short. Not a good combination on any given day, but especially on this one. The grocery’s rotisserie was the one outlet sell-
ing cooked food; and that line stretched even longer than the check-out lines. It seemed there were numerous others who—like m e —w e r e reliant on electricity to cook. People shot dagger looks at each other over the last piece of roast chicken, and fights threatened to break out any minute. The rotisserie attendant (sweating profusely and hopefully not onto the chicken) looked as stressed as he was haggard, now having become a negotiator, of sorts, and not just a chickenchopping employee. My unpreparedness hit me like a ton of brick. And this was just the aftermath of a Category 3 tropical storm (granted, news reports pegged the casualties at 94 lives, with half a million folk displaced.) This was not the zombie apocalypse. Nor was it a super volcano or asteroid impact ELE. It was neither flu pandemic, nor solar storm. A world market collapse did not take place, nor did a Timewave Zero or Web Bot scenario. The doomsday preppers came to mind as I trudged through the debris-filled streets; and then again, as I waited in endless lines at the check-out, and once more at the rotisserie. Their efforts may be extreme verging on ridiculous, but at least they were prepared. I didn’t even have a stock of food to last one day; for me or
my cats. Tsk. Heaven forbid I find myself cat-nibalizing. Or the other way around (yikes.) An ounce of prevention (is better than fighting over the last chicken)
Convinced that I had to be more prepared than this (lest I find myself throwing punches at the rotisserie), I have researched on some survival tips for disaster situations, extreme or otherwise. The site Ready.gov (and a few other sites I found) gives the following tips. Things to have prepared: • Water, computed at one gallon per person per day, with a supply to last at least three days • At least a three-day supply of non-perishable, ready-toeat food. Other sites peg the supplies of food and water at 90 days, for serious prepping. • Battery-powered radio
• Flashlight • Extra batteries for both radio and flashlight • Extra gas for your car, if you have one. Always keep a full-tank of gas in your car, as well. • First aid kit with basic medicines and prescription medication • Eyeglasses should always be kept handy • Whistle, to signal for help • Dust mask that is heavy-duty enough to help filter contaminated air • Plastic sheeting and duct tape to help seal off your shelter • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for be used for personal sanitation • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities • Manual can opener for food • Local maps (because Google maps will presumably be ❱❱ PAGE 32 Practical Tips
Are you ready?
29 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Fireproofing Your Life BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer THERE’S A Filipino saying that goes: “Mabuti na ang manakawan kaysa masunugan.” Roughly translated, it means “It’s better for a house to be ransacked, than for it to be gutted by fire.” This saying holds true. Thieves can’t wipe out your belongings and turn your lifelong investments into ashes. A fire chooses no status, no position, no race— it just consumes. It does not distinguish between object and life—it simply burns. With careful planning and wise purchases, fires can be prevented and lives can be saved. Here are a few tips on surviving a fire and fireproofing your home. Fire Survival Tips
As with any life-threatening situation, presence of mind is key. As hard as it is not to panic, you must try to stay as calm as possible so your head won’t be clouded. If the fire started out small, a fire extinguisher should do the trick, so it is best to learn how to operate a fire extinguisher upon purchase. Out of control kitchen fires (like a flaming frying pan without intentionally flambéing something) can be easily smothered by placing a cover on it. Remember: no oxygen, no fire.
Always remember that smoke rises, so drop to the floor and crawl towards the nearest exit. Asphyxiation—or suffocating—due to smoke is one of the biggest and most fatal risks when encountering a fire, so do not forget to grab a piece of cloth or pillow cover to tie around your nose and mouth. If possible, run a blanket or bath towel over some water and wrap it around yourself before making your way out of the burning room. If by any chance your clothing caught on fire, DO NOT RUN. Remember that wind fans the fire! It is best to do the experts’ advice of STOP, DROP, and ROLL. Fireproofing your belongings
Fireproofing starts at construction. Choosing a fireproof or treated material will definitely lessen the likelihood of fast-spreading fires. In some countries today, building codes require the use of fireproof materials. In the Philippines, fireproof or treated lumber and concrete blocks are also available in the market, albeit on the slightly more expensive side. There’s this thing that experts call “passive fire protection” (PFP). According to buildings.com, here are the areas to focus on for PFP.
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❱❱ PAGE 31 Fireproofing Your
An ounce of prevention: B.C. shores up plan against risks of catastrophic flood BY TAMSYN BURGMANN The Canadian Press NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C.—In the spring of 2007, British Columbia’s Liberal cabinet was briefed on a potentially disastrous scenario: if temperatures climbed above 26 degrees over any twoday period before the end of June, the province would be struck with the most destructive flood since 1898. “Those of us that were privy to that information were probably the only ones who were praying for cold weather,” said Colin Hansen, then minister of economic development. The government lined up dump trucks. Dykes along the Fraser River came within half a metre of being breached. But the region escaped unscathed. “The kind of pictures that you’re seeing on television today coming out of southern Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan—those are the pictures you would have been seeing right here in the Fraser Valley,” Hansen said. He now heads the non-profit Fraser Basin Council, which has mobilized a provincewide think tank to design a plan for mitigating future flooding in the
Lower Mainland. Officials gathered Tuesday in New Westminster for a meeting overlooking the banks of the fast-flowing Fraser River. They said 300,000 people would be directly affected by an extreme flood, with ripple effects impacting 2.2 million residents in the region, destroying First Nations’ land and putting a major dent in the province’s economy. The area stretches from Hope to Richmond and White Rock to Squamish. A total of 25 local governments and four provincial ministries have pooled funds with the federal government and 10 private-sector and industry associations to generate $500,000 to cover the first phase of a plan to deal with the flood threat. “We’re not as fully prepared for existing flood hazards as we think we are,” said Steve Litke, the council’s senior program manager. “Those risks are likely to increase, and this initiative is intending to proactively prepare for and strengthen the level of protection.” Only one dyke in 15 currently installed meets B.C.’s provincial design standard, meaning the region is highly vulnerable, said David Park, who represents 13
Chambers of Commerce. The planning process will occur in two phases, the first involving widespread analysis charting out flood scenarios, vulnerable spots and economic consequences. The second phase, intended to begin in 2016 and with no set deadline, will establish a regional strategy and action plan. Litke said implementing the actual recommendations could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. “While we’ve been successful in funding Phase One of this work, it was a much more modest request,” Litke said. “We hope that it will lead to strengthening the dyking systems but we can’t promise that because we can’t be sure that the funds will flow.” River forecasters don’t foresee the river overflowing this year, but there’s no certainty beyond that, Litke said. The perfect storm would combine a cool spring where the snow pack sticks around until sudden, hot weather triggers a rapid melt, coupled with heavy rains. A 2014 study commissioned by the province points to sea level rise and climate change in positing that by the end of this century, a one in 50-year flood could reach the same magnitude as
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washouts currently returning every 200 or 500 years. Base sea level is projected to rise about one metre in B.C. by 2100. A great flood, from coastal or river waters, has the potential to become the most expensive natural disaster in Canadian history, said B.C. Attorney General Suzanne Anton. “The cost of responding to a major flood event far outweighs the costs of effective planning,” she said. Grand Chief Doug Kelly, president of the Sto:lo Tribal Council, said First Nations groups will “absolutely” lend support, especially because most of his communities are not protected by dykes. A flood plan will involve more than science, Kelly said. He said that a few years ago, a Fisheries Department worker visited him along the swollen river near Cultus Lake and pulled out his laptop. The worker rejected Kelly’s claim that the river had crested so high a day earlier that he’d nearly been knocked out by a tree and swept away. He finally convinced the man by pointing out a massive logjam, Kelly said. The council will release progress reports, with a final report on Phase One in 2015. ■
Are you ready?
JULY 25, 2014
FRIDAY 30
Nenita Yap, Iskolar ng Bayan A story of survival
BY MELISSA REMULLABRIONES Philippine Canadian Inquirer THERE WERE a few stars in the sky, the moon was visible, it promised to be another normal night that night of November 8, 2013. Except that it quickly became a nightmare. Those who lived to tell the tale said it was worse than a nightmare. "Storm surge," a word unknown in the Philippine vocabulary, and the world's, lashed out at the tiny island of Visayas in the Philippines, its waves engulfing Samar and Leyte and nearby towns. Nenita Yap's family—unprepared at the ferocity of the storm like many other families—held on to hope, to debris, to their lives that night. Some made it, some not. Nenita, a thousand miles away—safe in Canada—thought
she would not make it. She could only think of her daughter, her mother, her siblings, her relatives, her friends; of the town she knew like the back of her hand. At that moment, utterly destroyed. Blackout
"First there was nothing, no news of what's going on at my home place. Then, Friday night when the news coverage started, I realized how strong the power of this Haiyan/Yolanda Typhoon was. I [could] not sleep, I [could] not take my eyes off the computer, every minute count[ed]. [I was] searching [for] any bit of news about Leyte, Tanauan in particular. Every now and then I kept on clicking the refresh button on my Facebook page just to see if there is something new, a piece of news or if anyone from my hometown managed to post," she said. She felt so helpless. "What can I do against the fury of nature? All I can do [at
that time was] pray to God that He may spare and protect all the people that's in the path of the typhoon, especially my family." There was no sleep for Nenita that entire weekend. "I just kept staring [at] the computer, reading, looking for any bit of news until the words got blurred from my tears and exhaustion. Then, I closed my eyes and prayed and cried my heart out to God Almighty that He may send His angels to protect my entire family, especially my daughter, but His will be done. I just prayed for strength and peace in my heart to accept whatever His decision will be. "Until we finally confirmed whom we lost and who survived. "I mourned for my mother, she was the first one that was confirmed that we lost. But we have to concentrate and be strong for those who survived." Months after, the nightmare was still too real.
Nenita delivers a speech at the awarding ceremony.
"Although there are still times when I cry [myself ] to sleep, or wake up crying for the ones that we lost, I still thank God that He answered my prayers. He spared some of my family, specially my daughter," she said. After the storm
The Philippines has recently faced the wrath of another storm, Glenda (Ramassun). "I thought Glenda is Yolanda all over again. Every time I read something in the news that another super typhoon is in the Philippines, I get worried. I don't want anyone to experi-
PCI FILE PHOTO
ence what the victims of Haiyan/Yolanda have experienced. All I can do is pray to God that HE will spare our beloved country," says Nenita. A veteran of life's trials, however, Nenita knows that after every storm, a rainbow appears. "In life, there are always hurdles preventing us to reach our dreams. "Just keep on dreaming, don't give up. Take one step each day trying to reach that dream of a better life, partner it with hardwork, perseverance, prayers and faith." ❱❱ PAGE 40 Nenita Yap
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Are you ready?
31 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Earthquake Safety Tips: How to shake that quake away BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer WITH THE recent study showing how a 7.2 magnitude earthquake can kill up to 37,000 people in Metro Manila alone, it becomes worth asking: ‘Is Juan ready to shake that quake away?’ The research conducted through a three-year risk analysis project via the three-year partnership of Australia and the Philippines showed that thousands of people might die and about P2.4 trillion worth of properties on areas sitting along and near the West Marikina Valley Fault may be destroyed. And that is in Metro Manila alone. But as grounds may shake anytime, anywhere and in various magnitudes and intensities, everyone, not just in Manila and the Philippines, are in danger of being (literally) “shaken to death.” Caused by the breaking and shifting of rocks beneath the earth’s surface, earthquakes are one of the most unpredictable natural calamities in the world. Worse, it is a destructive form of disaster—it can kill without rhyme or reason, and without a person having an inkling of it happening. Before the earth trembles
In every disaster, everyone must have the armour called “preventive measures.” Risks are always minimized when things are planned not in time for, but way before, the destruction occurs. Several government agencies worldwide have devised their own helpful ways to prepare before the ‘ground-shaking’ event happens, including the following from the American Red Cross: • Become aware of fire evacuation and earthquake safety plans for all of the buildings you occupy regularly. • Pick safe places in each room of your home, workplace and/ or school. A safe place could be under a piece of furniture or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you. • Practice “drop, cover and
hold on” in each safe place. If you do not have sturdy furniture to hold on to, sit on the floor next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms. • Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person’s bed in case the earthquake strikes in the middle of the night. • Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation. • Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs. • Bolt bookcases, china cabinets and other tall furniture to wall studs. • Hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, away from beds, couches and anywhere people sleep or sit. • Brace overhead light fixtures. • Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets. Large or heavy items should be closest to the floor. • Learn how to shut off the gas valves in your home and keep a wrench handy for that purpose. • Learn about your area’s seismic building standards and land use codes before you begin new construction. • Keep and maintain an emergency supplies kit in an easy-to-access location. On the ‘ground-shaking’ moment
Knowing how to “shake that quake away” doesn’t end on preventive measures. Being able to prepare before destruction arrives may be useless if one will only die during the event itself. That’s why, it is always better to take preventive measures not just before but also during earthquakes. Here’s what you should do, according
to the American Red Cross: If you are inside when the shaking starts... • Drop, cover and hold on. Move as little as possible. • If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on. Protect your head with a pillow. • Stay away from windows to avoid being injured by shattered glass. • Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. When it is, use stairs rather than the elevator in case there are aftershocks, power outages or other damage. • Be aware that fire alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire. If you are outside when the shaking starts... • Find a clear spot (away from buildings, power lines, trees, streetlights) and drop to the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops. • If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible. Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Then, drive carefully, avoiding bridges and ramps that may have been damaged. • If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance. • If you are in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes or cliffs, be alert for falling rocks and other debris. Landslides are often triggered by earthquakes. After shaking the quake away
And because an earthquake is an entirely different calamity as ❱❱ PAGE 39 Earthquake Safety
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Fireproof Your... First area is structural fire protection. According to buildings. com, “Structural fire protection guards essential structural components, such as structural steel and joint systems, from the effects of fire.” This can be done by fireproofing materials with the use of spray-on films called intumescents, or using “endothermic materials like gypsumbased plasters and cementitious products, mineral wool wraps and insulation, and fireproofing cladding, or building the structure out of concrete products.” The next area is compartmentation. This includes “fire barriers, firewalls, fire partitions, smoke barriers” such as “fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings—often made of concrete, combination wood, gypsum, or masonry.” Establishing said features in any home or office will slow down the spread of fire. “These walls are built structurally stable, so even if there is collapse of a building on either side of the wall, the wall will remain standing,” says Bill McHugh to buildings.com. McHugh is the Executive Director of Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA) in Chicago. The third area is what they call “opening protection.” This means “fire doors and windows are installed in an opening of a fire barrier to maintain its fire resistance.” Opening protection also requires the installation of fire and smoke dampers in duct systems. PFP also showed emphasis on using fire-resistant (or fireretardant) wires and cables in homes and offices. Electrical issues are some of the most common fire causes. The use fireretardant wires and cables will lessen the likelihood of a short circuit or spark to start a fire. Preparing your home means equipping it with fire/smoke detection devices. A standard ❰❰ 29
smoke detector is important and has saved countless lives. In some countries, it is against the law to not have a smoke detector in your home or office. It is also against the law to remove a detector from a facility. In the Philippines, homes are being built everyday without the legal necessity of arming it with a smoke alarm or sprinkler system. However, business establishments and condominiums have to abide by fire safety rules implemented by the law and this means the construction of unobstructed fire exits, smoke alarms in fire-prone areas, a sprinkler in every room, and provision of fire extinguishers. Most experts also emphasize on redundant fireproofing, which means purchasing smoke/fire alarms and detectors, use of fireproof materials, and installation of sprinkler systems. One can never be too sure. Speaking of fire extinguishers—it is best to learn how to use it upon purchase, as this author have mentioned earlier. It is also not enough that you know how to use it—your entire household (whether it’s your family or roommates) should know how to operate it effectively. Do not forget to also check the “expiration date” on the fire extinguishers before buying. Fire extinguishers do not normally expire per se, but most kinds do need to be refilled or recharged every six to seven years for maintenance reasons. Even if the canister doesn’t have any “expiration date” on it, it won’t last forever. It is best to take note of the date of purchase so you’ll know when to have your canisters refilled. There’s another saying that goes: “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” When faced with fire and armed with basic knowledge and survival techniques, lives and dreams can be saved. ■
Are you ready?
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 32
Practical Tips... down) • Emergency numbers and addresses of disaster response agencies (you may need your map to get there) Cell phone with chargers, power bank or solar charger If you have small children/ babies: Infant formula, infant food and diapers If you have pets: Pet food and extra water for your pet Cash Important family documents such as passports, copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. Emergency reference material such as a first aid book. Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Complete change of cloth-
❰❰ 28
• • • • •
• • •
•
• • • • •
ing including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper. Household bleach is a good water sanitizer. Nine parts water to one part bleach makes for a good disinfectant. In an emergency situation, or in face of a depleted water supply, you can treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Fire extinguisher Matches in a waterproof container Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items Paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils Paper and pencil (for leaving notes and documenting your experience. Who
knows, it may be the next blockbuster TV series.) • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children Make sure to keep your supplies updated, especially food items. A good tip would be to write down the expiration dates or food shelf life on storage containers. Remember to consume the food and replenish when you can, so stocks are always fresh. Also, check expiration dates and throw out anything that may have gone bad. It is also essential to prepare “bug out packs”—backpacks or duffel bags—containing these supplies good for at least three days. Not that we want to join the ranks of seemingly crazed preppers, but neither do we want to find ourselves fighting over the last piece of roast chicken. ■
Liane with celebrity trainer Steven Maresca. PHOTO BY RAY TRAJANO
The latest... is beneficial to you. A tomato, carrot and apple smoothie, for example, eliminates bad toxins and improves skin complexion; a combo of apple, cucumber and celery prevents cancer, reduces cholesterol and eliminates stomach upset and headache. But that’s not all. The booklet also has a nifty little guide on the importance of drinking water, especially when you’re working out. It’s a step-by-step guide, such as drinking four glasses of water in the morning before brushing your teeth. In the guide, Liane V said that according to a Japanese medical society, drinking water first thing in the morning acts as protection against many diseases, ❰❰ 25
including “headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heartbeat, epilepsy, excess fat, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, and ear, nose and throat disorders.” The workout video comes in two packages. The “Workout with Liane V Video Bundle” for $9.99 includes “Workout with Liane V” and “Lovely Liane V Meal Plan & Health Guides.” The “Super Fan Premium Bundle” at $19.99 includes “Workout with Liane V,” “Lovely Liane V Meal Plan & Health Guides,” a digital autographed photo, a Liane V soundtrack, outtakes and workout photo gallery. ■
Not in... ❰❰ 18
there had been no decision on whether to proceed with the
project. Lawyer Hussein Hamdani, a member of the cross-cultural roundtable, says the idea would be to go beyond the typically staid government website to create something both useful and eye-catching. “I like to think that Canadians are intelligent people, that people wouldn’t decide to go to Central African Republic for a vacation without doing some homework on it and realizing, oh no, there’s some bloodshed going on there,” he said in an interview. “But maybe they don’t know ... if it’s confined to one part of the country, not to the other www.canadianinquirer.net
part of the country, or what precautions they should take.” Canadians going abroad to train with a terrorist group or take part in attacks can face legal penalties at home. During the November meeting, Hamdani told Wilczynski it should be an offence for a Canadian to join any foreign army, whether it is listed as a terrorist entity or not. “If you’re a Canadian citizen, you should have fidelity to Canada and Canada only. If our issue is with young people learning military training, becoming radicalized, and returning back to Canada it should be universally applied,” he said. “If you want to be in an army, join the Canadian army.” ■
FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
33
Entertainment
Has Kris given up on love? BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—Has the Queen of All Philippine Media given up on love? In an interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), Kris Aquino jokingly answered the question, “Oo, give up na!” (Yes, I give up!) “Hayaan mo na lang muna. Parang hindi talaga doon ang suwerte. And siguro, kung anuman… parang as it is now, masasabi kong okey ako kasi kailangan pa ako ng mga anak ko. Kasi seven lang si Bim [Bimby], nineteen lang si Josh,” she explained. “Siguro ‘pag hindi na nila ako kailangan, doon ko mapi-feel na sad ang buhay. But while you feel needed in love, it’s okay.” (Let’s just leave it this way for now. Perhaps my luck just isn’t there. As it is now, I can say I’m okay because my kids still need me. I mean, Bim is just seven, Josh is only nineteen. Maybe when they stop needing me, that’s when I’ll start feeling sad. But while you feel needed in love, it’s okay.) When asked to describe her closeness with hunky actor Derek Ramsay and how he helped her get over from her failed relationship with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Kris said, “Kasi mabait siya [Derek] talaga (He’s really nice).” “Kasi, I think, nasabi rin niya ito sa interview na, maraming beses na immediate family mo lang ang puwede mong hingan
Derek Ramsay with Kris Aquino, Josh and Bimby. PHOTO FROM KRIS AQUINO'S INSTAGRAM PAGE.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS AQUINO’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
ng samaan ng loob. Pero minsan, ang pamilya mo rin ang nagsasawa na sa angst mo, ‘di ba? So, dapat may ibang sounding board.” (Like what he said in an interview, there are times that you can only share your sentiments with your immediate family. But sometimes, your own family gets tired of your angst, right? So, you should have other sounding boards.) During the screening of the box-office movie ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’ Kris watched the movie with her two sons and– who else–Derek Ramsay. “Napi-feel ko with him na whatever I tell him, nagkakaroon ako ng male perspective. Alam mo naman na halos lahat ng friends ko, bakla. I mean, yun ang mga pinaka-close ko— si Vice [Ganda], si Boy [Abun-
da]. Puro gay. Tapos yung mga staff ko, katrabaho ko lahat. So, walang male,” Kris added. (I feel that whatever I tell him, I get a male perspective. You know, all my friends are almost all gay, I mean the closest ones–Vice Ganda, Boy Abunda. And my staff all work with me. So, no males.) So is this lack of “male perspective” in her life the only reason for their close friendship? “Sabi ko nga kay Derek, ang suwerte ko kasi siya yung isa sa mga or natatangi na alpha male na naging kaibigan ko, na puwedeng sabihin sa akin, na puwedeng diretsuhin na, ‘Can you just stop? Don’t waste your time.’ Yung ginaganun ako na talaga na parang, ‘Stop, don’t waste your time. Cut it off!’ Alam mo yung sa ‘Sex In The City’ na he’s
not that into you, na kailangang yung lalaki lang ang magsasabi sa iyo nun? Yun ang papel niya,” she continued to explain. (I told Derek, I’m really lucky because he’s one of or he’s the only alpha male I became friends with who can tell me straight ‘Can you just stop? Don’t waste your time’ or ‘Stop, don’t waste your time. Cut it off!’ You know that thing from ‘Sex in the City’–where he’s not that into you–and you need the guy to tell you that? That’s his role.) “At the same time, ‘pag malungkot ako, gumagawa talaga siya ng paraan. Sa gitna nga ng bagyo, sabi ko, ‘You know, yung mga constituents ng friend ko, sobrang matutuwa na makita ka kahit bumabaha, please.’ So, gagawan niya talaga ng paraan pumunta.” (At the same time, when I’m sad, he [Derek] really makes
ways. In the middle of a typhoon, I said, ‘You know, my friend’s constituents will be really happy to see you amid the flood, please.’ So, he made a way to be there.) “Tapos yung ‘The Fault In Our Stars,’ noong nanonood kami, hagulgol ako nang hagulgol. Lukang-luka siya sa akin! Nakagitna ako, dito si Bim… silang dalawa talaga abot nang abot ng tissue sa akin. Iyak lang ako nang iyak. Sabi ko, ‘Hayaan ninyo, may pinagdaanan lang.’” (Then while watching ‘The Fault in Our Stars,’ I kept on crying. He was so rattled! I’m sitting between him, Bim’s on my other side. The two of them kept handing me tissue. I just kept on crying. I said, ‘Just let me be, I’m just going through something.’) ■ With reports from Rey Pumaloy, PEP.ph
Entertainment
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 34
Maja Salvador makes her move Gerald Anderson joins her onstage and she turns weepy BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer
tects me.” She said she was lucky to have Gerald. “If I could only share details with you. I’m such a lucky girl.”
IT WAS Maja Salvador’s concert, but the audience kept imploring her boyfriend, Gerald Anderson, to go up the stage. When he relented, that very moment became the highlight of the two-hour production, “Maj: The Legal Performer,” at the Music Museum on July 12. Maja was thanking guest performers when the audience started chanting Gerald’s name. The spotlight was trained on Gerald, leaving him with no choice but to get up from his seat in the farthest row and head up front. Maja became emotional when she started singing Demi Lovato’s hit “Skyscraper” to Gerald and a wildly cheering crowd. (The actress earlier said she didn’t want Gerald to tell her for sure that he’d make it to the show, so she wouldn’t feel self-conscious.) Holding his hand, Maja then addressed the crowd, apologizing “for not openly talking about our relationship, but I’m happy because of how he pro-
One for mom
Another touching moment had Maja thanking the four most important women in her life—her mom and three aunts, who took care of her as a kid growing up in Aparri, Cagayan province. They raised her to become responsible and diligent, she said, and she was grateful. Maja sang a duet with one of her idols, Jaya. She said doing the number gave her goose bumps. Jericho Rosales, Maja’s leading man in the recently concluded “The Legal Wife,” had volunteered to be a guest. He performed OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” after Maja sang “Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin,” theme song of “The Legal Wife.” Other guest performers were Piolo Pascual, Enchong Dee, Rayver Cruz, and Maja’s best friend Kakai Bautista, who impersonated her. ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes,
Gerald Anderson shows up in girlfriend Maja Salvador’s show on Saturday. PHOTO BY NESTOR T. MACALINAO JR. / INQUIRER.NET
“The Legal Wife” director Rory B. Quintos, veteran actress Gina Pareño and singer Martin Nievera were among the attendees.
“It’s amazing how God made this dream come true,” Maja said of the concert. “I hope I get more opportunities like this.” ■
Piolo and Shaina choose friendship over romantic involvement BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—Piolo Pascual and Shaina Magdayao have reached an agreement to “preserve” their friendship. This admission comes in the midst of persistent rumors that the two are romantically linked. Pascual revealed in an interview with “The Buzz” on Sunday that he is not in a position for a relationship, at the moment, due to his numerous responsibilities. “Shaina and I are good friends eh, she’s friends with my family, I’m friends with hers. I guess mas pinipili lang po siguro namin na i-preserve ang friendship namin. Kasi parang it’s hard for us now kasi pareho kaming busy sa trabaho and siguro lalo na ako dahil hindi ko na mabibigyan ng oras if ever I’m in a relationship. I have a son, I have a career, I have my life. So, unfair,” he said. “Sa 24 oras na meron ako sa isang araw hindi ko po kayang isiksik ‘yun sa isang araw. So I just have to be fair I guess,” he www.canadianinquirer.net
added. He did, however, clarify that he is not turning his back for good on love, saying that he hopes to settle down sometime in the not-so-distant future. He also added that he “prefers” to eventually find a partner who is in her mid20s, because he wants to have at least four kids. “Preference lang naman po ‘yun. Kasi siyempre I want to be able to have more kids so one every year. And I come from a very big family, six kami, I’m the youngest. I want to enjoy them while I am young. I want them to enjoy each other while siguro their mom and I are away,” he said. And when that time does come around, Pascual explained that his family will be his top priority, and that showbiz will have to take a backseat. “The thing is, it’s hard to mix both. It’s hard to juggle both at the same time. If you get married and you have kids, mahirap nagtatrabaho ka tapos walang kasama sa bahay ‘yung asawa mo at ‘yung mga bata. I want to be able to prioritize that should it come to a point na kailangan ko na mag-settle,” he said. ■
Entertainment
35 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Raymart slams Claudine’s “battered wife” photos BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—After Claudine Barretto and legal counsel Atty. Ferdinand Topacio tweeted “the magic of make-up” photos of Claudine’s bruised face (see photos 1, 2, 3), Raymart Santiago’s camp vehemently denied all allegations that he physically abused Claudine while they were still together. On July 18, Claudine had a photoshoot to show her legs– filled with wounds and scars, including cigarette burns. The Kapuso actress did not name anybody responsible for the horrible afflictions, but she did say that she has accepted that she’s a “battered wife.” According to Raymart’s camp, all photos supplied by Atty. Topacio and published by showbiz blog Fashion Pulis were from Claudine’s “postsurgical procedure.” In an interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) on July 21, the photos were taken during the Holy Week of 2010– between March 31 and April 4. Raymart also provided several photos taken on the same week with Claudine having fun with the rest of the Santiago clan. A statement from Raymart reads: “Here is a truthful version of the recent Twitter post of a make-up tutorial to conceal bruises, perhaps even wounds and scars, with the allusion of the subject having been battered… The wounds and scars are definitely real, but how they were sustained is a different story altogether.”
Lorna T., no plans of marching down the aisle again BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer
Raymart’s caption reads, “Before applying make-up, first make sure that the wounds from the post-surgical procedure have healed so the bandage can be safely removed.”
Raymart’s caption reads, “Battered wife?!? Seriously…?!?”
MANILA—It has been six years since actor Rudy Fernandez passed away, but wife, actress Lorna Tolentino, says she does not see herself exchanging ‘I do’s” again. In an interview with The Philippine Star showbiz columnist Ricky Lo, Tolentino said: “I’m happy with my life now,” she said. “I am happy being a lola. I have two men in my life and I don’t need one more.” The actress, who turns 53 this year, admits that although Fernandez gave her the green light to “fall in love again,” she is okay with her situation, at the moment. “He told me naman that it’s okay lang for me to fall in love again. Kaya lang huwag daw d’un sa kasing-edad ng mga anak namin. But then, okay
sana if I were in my 40s. Kaya lang nasa 50s na ako. As it is, as of now, okay lang ako,” she said. Although she has moved on from the passing away of her husband, Tolentino acknowledges that her husband’s things are still intact in their home. “They are intact, nasa cabinet. Rudy’s things are in order, ayos na ayos, so why touch them?” she said. “Actually, Rap and Renz (her sons) are using some of their dad’s things. They would say, ‘Ay, kelangan ko ng ganito.’ And I would tell them, ‘Ayan, tumingin ka sa cabinet ng Papa n’yo, mayroon dyan.’ It’s a good thing na magkasukat sila…shoes, shirts etc.” When asked by Lo how she sees herself in the next 10 years, Tolentino replied: “Sana umaarte pa rin ako; sana I will still be in this business. I see myself managing a business on the side, like farming.” ■
Raymart’s caption reads, “…Amidst these happy faces…?!?!”
One photo provided by Raymart’s camp shows Claudine with the rest of his family. ■
With reports from Rachelle Siazon FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF LORNA TOLENTINO
Alessandra on rumored rift with Heart: ‘Okay kami’ BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA—Alessandra de Rossi is trying to evade all questions about her rumored rift with close friend Heart Evangelista. The rumor started after Lovi Poe’s guesting on showbiz talkshow ‘Startalk.’ During their interview on July 5, Lovi admit-
ted her relationship with Rocco Nacino. Heart, being a co-host, chimed in and said on national TV that Alex (Alessandra’s nickname) should also come clean with her reported relationship. Alex is currently being linked to fellow Kapuso actor Sid Lucero. After the said exchange between Lovi and Heart, there
were reports that said Alex was upset. In fact, during the July 9 episode of Alex’s morning show ‘Basta Everyday Happy,’ Alex seems to be throwing meaningful comments during a discussion with co-hosts Gladys Reyes and Donita Rose about her primetime series ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real.’ “Kapag nangako ka sa kaibigan mo na hindi mo sasabihin ang sikreto niya, hindi mo www.canadianinquirer.net
talaga sasabihin, ‘di ba?” Alex said, “Kasi pinagkatiwalaan ako ng kaibigan ko, so siyempre importante yung salita ko sa kanya. Dapat ganyan din kayong klaseng kaibigan.” (When you make a promise to a friend that you won’t tell anyone about their secret, you really shouldn’t say anything, right? Because my friend trusts me, so my word is important to my friend. That’s the kind of
friend you should be.) The next day, during a press conference of ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real,’ Alex declined to clarify her statement on her morning show and refused to give any comment on her relationship with Heart. On a separate interview, Alex simply said, “Okay kami (We’re okay).” ■ With report from Gorgy Rula
Entertainment
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 36
Charlie Hunnam ‘excited’ to watch ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’; was ‘heartbroken’ to exit film BY ANNE FLAHERTY The Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.— The first trailer for the “Fifty Shades of Grey” movie will be released this week and the original Christian Grey, Charlie Hunnam, says he can’t wait for the finished product. Speaking Sunday at a Fox event as part of the Television Critics Association press tour, the 34-year-old actor said he still believes in the film although he’s no longer a part of it. “I’m just really excited to see it. I was just really, really invested and wanted to work with (director) Sam (Taylor-Johnson) and play that character. I’m really, really curious.” Hunnam went on to say it’s not fair to dismiss author E.L. James’ writing as so-called “mommy porn.”
“I think people really do that book a disservice when they reduce it to that type of talk,” he said. “What (E.L. James) actually created is a really sophisticated dynamic and presented it in a package which was accessible to people who normally would be terrified of that subject ... Actually what she did was pretty brilliant.” The “Sons of Anarchy” actor dropped out of the big-screen adaptation one month after it was announced he had landed the role of the billionaire Grey, a sexual “dominant” with major baggage who falls for an innocent college coed (played by Dakota Johnson.) Universal Pictures and Focus Features said Hunnam’s preparation time for the movie was limited by his TV schedule. He was replaced shortly after by actor Jamie Dornan. Hunnam admits walking
away from the part was “pretty heartbreaking.” “I don’t think people have had unchaperoned access to me since all of this went on ... the CliffsNotes were exactly what we said. I couldn’t do it because of (the) schedule. It was as simple as that.” The actor even said he would be willing to have his audition tape be included as a DVD extra for curious fans. Hunnam says Dornan is “probably a lot better looking and a lot smoother” than he is. “I would’ve brought a certain rugged charm to (the role) but believe me, he’s going to do just fine.” “Fifty Shades” is scheduled to open on Valentine’s Day in 2015. ■ Online
http://www.fiftyshadesmovie.com/
Charlie Hunnam.
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE / FLICKR
A Star Wars Car, a Doomsday doll highlight some of Mattel’s creations for Comic Con BY DERRIK J. LANG The Associated Press LOS ANGELES—When it comes to designing coveted collectible toys for sale at ComicCon, the annual celebration of pop culture lifting off Thursday in San Diego, the sky’s the limit for the designers at Mattel. Fittingly, the building where Mattel’s dreamers conceive of their limited-edition playthings is just down the street from the Los Angeles International Airport. Inside the colorful design centre—a Hot Wheels-themed shuttle bus transports employees from Mattel’s parking garage—the designers have spent the past year working on 10 toys created especially for the Comic-Con crowd, including a replica of the Batmobile from the upcoming game “Batman: Arkham Knight” and a 9-inchtall action figure of Superman killer Doomsday. “We don’t have to worry about retail. We don’t have to
worry about margins,” said Doug Wadleigh, Mattel’s senior vice-president of global brand marketing for boys and entertainment. “We don’t have to worry about operational efficiencies. We only have to worry about creating the coolest toys for our fans. Period.” It also offers some escape from Mattel’s reality these days. Like other toy makers struggling in this digital, videocentric age, the company is trying to remain relevant in the retail world. Core brands like Barbie have seen less of a demand, with a 14 per cent drop in sales in the first quarter of this year. Mattel had a net loss for the first three months ending March 31 that totalled $11.2 million. But things will at least seem rosier at Comic-Con, where eager buyers for the toys await (the only other place they will be sold is on the Mattel collector’s site). Mattel’s exclusives this year run between $20 and $85, but elite toys can fetch much more when they’re put
Comic-Con crowd inside the second floor of the convention center in 2011 awaiting the exhibition hall to open PHOTO FROM POPCULTUREGEEK.COM / FLICKR
up for auction. The crown jewel for Wadleigh and his team this year is a Darth Vader die-cast car, the first official collaboration from Hot Wheels and the “Star Wars” franchise. The car— imagine if a Chevrolet Corvette C5 and the www.canadianinquirer.net
villainous Sith lord’s helmet had a baby—comes in a sleek black box and encased in a replica of Vader’s lightsaber, complete with a swooshing sound effect. “We’ve been trying to partner with Lucasfilm and Disney on
this property for a long time,” said Wadleigh. A full-size working replica of the Vadermobile will be on display at Mattel’s booth at the massive San Diego Convention Center. The vehicle is capable of going up to 80 miles per hour, and the dashboard inside will resemble the interior of Darth Vader’s helmet (yes, it will emit his breathing sounds, too). Comic-Con will be the first place that fans can see the initial line-up of “Star Wars” Hot Wheels. The first set is modeled after such classic characters as Han Solo, Yoda, R2-D2 and Chewbacca. Several other toy makers and publishers are also pushing collectible toys and books at Comic-Con. The line-up from Mattel rival Hasbro this year includes a set of Marvel superhero figures that comes with a wearable foam Infinity Gauntlet, a box of Transformers figures depicting the ‘bots as rock stars and a giant foam replica axe from “Magic: The Gathering.” ■
Lifestyle
37 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:
FILIPINOCANADIAN IN FOCUS Every week, the Philippine Canadian Inquirer celebrates the unwavering Filipino spirit through a feature called “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.” The feature recognizes the achievements of Filipinos living in Canada who have shown concern for the community, success in spite of trials, and the uniquely Pinoy practice of “bayanihan.” This year, we are welcoming nominations for the next subject of “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.”
MECHANICS: - All nominees must have (a) Filipino heritage/ancestry - All nominees must be residing in Canada at the time of nomination - Nominees from all industries are welcome (e.g. medical/ health, politics, community service, business, entertainment, charity institutions, etc.) - Who can nominate? Anybody.
Fill up the nomination form online by scanning the code with your smartphone or by visiting InFocus.canadianinquirer.net.
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
38
Lifestyle
Big Lake Ontario shark hoax shows risks posed by viral marketing, experts say BY COLIN PERKEL The Canadian Press TORONTO—An online video hoax of a shark in Lake Ontario that caused real-world consternation this past week demonstrates the attention-grabbing risks marketers are taking in an increasingly media-fractured universe, experts say. The problem, they say, is efforts to stand out from the crowd via “prankvertising” or “guerrilla” marketing can easily backfire. “Until you’ve done something, you can’t really say, ‘OK, maybe that wasn’t the smartest idea’,” said Stephen Morgan, former creative director with MR.G in Toronto. “There is definitely no rule book.” It was only on Wednesday— six days after the Youtube video surfaced that frightened some lake users and sparked safety concerns that ultimately reached the Ontario legislature—that Discovery Canada admitted the finned creature was a life-like model. The idea was to create some buzz for a TV series on real sharks, not cause terror, Discovery Canada president Paul Lewis said by way of an explanation. “There was no anticipation on our side to cause any kind of fear or upset at all,” Lewis said. Some observers were skeptical. Morgan said creative talent at ad agencies aim to be “disruptive” and that in his opinion: “You can bet the (Discovery) creatives hoped for that, even if they downplayed it to the client. Shame on agencies for selling this kind of stuff.” Those behind the fake shark video said they decided to come clean when they became aware of stories of people talking about not getting in the water.
“The intent really was simply to stir up some discussion,” Lewis of Discovery Canada has said. Sometimes, the disruption appears to be inadvertent, as happened earlier this month when a summer marketing campaign run by Coors Light Canada—featuring a briefcase attached to a metal railing— prompted an emergency response and closure of a major intersection in Toronto during rush hour. The briefcase, one of hundreds hidden across the country, was part of a month-long challenge to find prizes using an online map and social-media clues. At other times, the law of unintended marketing consequences kicks in with a vengeance. In one example from 2006, a blogger helped his buddy get a PlayStation Portable for Christmas. A furious backlash ensued when people discovered the bogus blog was simply a Sony marketing ploy. And studies suggest people tend to pass on negative information at double or quadruple the rates of positive info. Jeremy Robinson, creative director with Toronto-based Jar Creative, said engineering a “viral” video without provoking anger or upset is difficult. “We’re in unchartered territory,” Robinson said. “A lot of this stuff is brand new and people are going to push the boundaries. Ultimately, it’s up to the brand to determine what they’re comfortable with.” What’s clear, experts said, is that Discovery’s shark campaign did reach part of advertising’s holy grail: awareness spread via social-media sharing and water-cooler chat—in this case about the possibility or improbability of sharks in the lake. Less clear is whether the heightened awareness would
translate into more Discovery viewers. Monica LeBarge, assistant professor of marketing at Queen’s University school of business, said grabbing attention is one thing. Creating a negative attitude is another. “I’m not really inclined to go watch “Shark Week” now—I’m more just annoyed at the Discovery Channel for making me worry,” LeBarge said. “(But) it’s not surprising to see things like this happen when people are trying to be cutting and edgy and maybe just aren’t thinking through what the implications are.” David Soberman, professor of marketing at the Rotman School of Management, said Discovery might have been onto something initially, but should have stepped in to unmask the deception more
quickly. “They might have let it go too far,” Soberman said. “You have to close the loop quickly. You can actually upset people. Once it gets to six days, some people may have already lost face.” Morgan said he doubted Discovery would see any kind of spike in viewership. At the same time, he said, any ill-will the ad might have caused will likely subside quickly. After all, we live in a fast-paced world where people are constantly bombarded with messages and images. “We can’t hold their attention,” Morgan said. “So even when things go bad, it will be forgotten in no time.” On one point there is substantial agreement: that mar-
keters and advertisers will keep pushing the limits to try to make people sit up and take notice. Much of those efforts will happen through social media, where a deluge of Facebook “likes” or a tsunami of shares— in other words, having a video or some other message “go viral”— is the modern equivalent to striking gold on the Klondike. “There’s a sense of urgency: What do we do to get the message out?” said Michel Neray, chief differentiation officer with Toronto-based The Essential Message. “I do think we’re going to greater and greater shock value. It’s all about how to we stand out from the crowd.” ■
Lifestyle
39 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Digital afterlife: What happens to your email, other accounts when you die and don’t specify? BY ANNE FLAHERTY The Associated Press WASHINGTON—You’ve probably decided who gets the house or that family heirloom up in the attic when you die. But what about your email account and all those photos stored online? Grieving relatives might want access for sentimental reasons, or to settle financial issues. But do you want your mom reading your exchanges on an online dating profile or a spouse going through every email? The Uniform Law Commission, whose members are appointed by state governments to help standardize state laws, was on track Wednesday to endorse a plan that would give loved ones access to—but not control of—the deceased’s digital accounts, unless specified otherwise in a will. To become law in a state, the legislation would have to be adopted by the legislature. If it did, a person’s online life could become as much a part of estate planning as deciding what to do with physical possessions. “This is something most people don’t think of until they are faced with it. They have no idea what is about to be lost,” said Karen Williams of Beaverton,
Oregon, who sued Facebook for access to her 22-year-old son Loren’s account after he died in a 2005 motorcycle accident. The question of what to do with one’s “digital assets” is as big as America’s electronic footprint. A person’s online musings, photos and videos—such as a popular cooking blog or a gaming avatar that has acquired a certain status online—can be worth considerable value to an estate. Imagine the trove of digital files for someone of historical or popular note—say former President Bill Clinton or musician Bob Dylan—and what those files might fetch on an auction block. “Our email accounts are our filing cabinets these days,” said Suzanne Brown Walsh, a Cummings & Lockwood attorney who chaired the drafting committee on the proposed legislation. But “if you need access to an email account, in most states you wouldn’t get it.” But privacy activists are skeptical of the proposal. Ginger McCall, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, said a judge’s approval should be needed for access, to protect the privacy of both the owners of accounts and the people who communicate with them.
“The digital world is a different world” from offline, McCall said. “No one would keep 10 years of every communication they ever had with dozens or even hundreds of other people under their bed.” Many people assume they can decide what happens by sharing certain passwords with a trusted family member, or even making those passwords part of their will. But in addition to potentially exposing passwords when a will becomes public record, anti-hacking laws and most companies’ “terms of service” agreements prohibit anyone from accessing an account that isn’t theirs. That means loved ones technically are prohibited from logging onto a dead person’s account. Several tech providers have come up with their own solutions. Facebook, for example, will “memorialize” accounts by allowing already confirmed friends to continue to view photos and old posts. Google, which runs Gmail, YouTube and Picasa Web Albums, offers its own version: If people don’t log on after a while, their accounts can be deleted or shared with a designated person. Yahoo users agree when signing up that their accounts expire when they do.
• Put on long pants, a longsleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves to protect against injury from broken objects. • Look quickly for damage in and around your home and get everyone out if your home is unsafe. • Listen to a portable, battery-operated or hand-crank radio for updated emergency information and instructions. • Check the telephones in your home or workplace to see if you can get a dial tone. Make brief calls to report life-threatening emergencies. • Look for and extinguish small fires. Fire is the most common hazard after an earthquake. • Clean up spilled medications, bleach, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately.
• Open closet and cabinet doors carefully as contents may have shifted. • Help people who require special assistance, such as infants, children and the elderly or disabled. • Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and stay out of damaged areas. • Keep animals under your direct control. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • If you were away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. Use extreme caution and examine walls, floors, doors, staircases and windows to check for damage. • Be careful when driving after an earthquake and anticipate traffic light outages.
But the courts aren’t convinced that a company supplying the technology should get to decide what happens to a person’s digital assets. In 2005, a Michigan probate judge ordered Yahoo to hand over the emails of a Marine killed in Iraq after his parents argued that their son would have wanted to share them. Likewise, a court eventually granted Williams, the Oregon mother, access to her son’s Facebook account, although she says the communications appeared to be redacted. Enter the Uniform Law Commission. According to a draft of the proposal, the personal representative of the deceased, such as the executor of a will, would get access to—but not control of—a person’s digital files so long as the deceased didn’t prohibit it in the will. The law would trump access rules outlined by a company’s terms of service agreement, although the representative would still have to abide by other rules including copyright laws. That means, for example, a widow could read her deceased husband’s emails but couldn’t
send emails from that account. And a person could access music or video downloads but not copy the files if doing so violated licensing agreements. Williams said she supports letting people decide in their wills whether accounts should be kept from family members. “I could understand where some people don’t want to share everything,” she said in a phone interview this week. “But to us, losing him (our son) unexpectedly, anything he touched became so valuable to us.” And “if we were still in the era of keeping a shoebox full of letters, that would have been part of the estate, and we wouldn’t have thought anything of it.” ■
Earthquake Safety... compared to other disasters like typhoons, ensuring one’s safety before and during the event is still not enough. The American Red Cross offers another list on how to fight that shaky event even after its occurrence. • After an earthquake, the disaster may continue. Expect and prepare for potential aftershocks, landslides or even a tsunami. Tsunamis are often generated by earthquakes. • Each time you feel an aftershock, drop, cover and hold on. Aftershocks frequently occur minutes, days, weeks and even months following an earthquake. • Check yourself for injuries and get First Aid, if necessary, before helping injured or trapped persons.
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PCI and Sprott Shaw College is in need of a pool of part time Tagalog teachers for their Vancouver and New Westminster Campus. Submit resume to info@canadianinquirer.net. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.
Business
JULY 25, 2014 FRIDAY 40
Your power of attorney may lose power across the border BY MARGARET O’SULLIVAN AS MORE Canadians take extended stays at vacation properties in warmer climes, the question of incapacity takes on great importance. In the event that you become incapable of making either financial or personal care decisions—whether permanently or temporarily—while enjoying palm trees and margaritas, it’s become crucially important to have legal provisions in place—no matter where you are—for your care if you can no longer make decisions for yourself. It’s fair to say that people are living longer and travelling more, as well as acquiring assets and spending a longer time away from home. Whether it’s a golf villa in South Carolina or a country home in the south of France, people are investing in foreign vacation properties like never before. And while the use of multiple wills is a relatively common planning strategy for assets in different jurisdictions, it is not as common to see multiple powers of attorney put in place for the different jurisdictions in which we spend time and hold assets. Powers of attorney here, there, and everywhere
To date, unfortunately, there has been very little harmonization among jurisdictions in terms of what effect a power of
attorney prepared in one place will have in another. This is particularly true with respect to powers of attorney for personal care and health care directives, which can vary significantly from place to place. There is legislation in many Canadian provinces and territories, as well as some U.S. states, that recognizes powers of attorney that have been validly created elsewhere. This is also true for European Union countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults, 1999 in an attempt to harmonize rules applying to incapable adults. Practically, however, there may be limitations to actually using powers of attorney in a foreign jurisdiction in spite of such legislation. For example, the recognition of foreign powers of attorney under Florida and Arizona legislation applies only to instruments executed in another U.S. jurisdiction. And despite legislation and conflictof-laws rules that recognize foreign powers of attorney that are valid in the place where executed, many jurisdictions—either by local law or the requirements of third parties such as financial institutions and title companies—may insist on conformity with local law. For example, some jurisdictions require powers of attorney to be witnessed by a notary public, which is not a requirement in Ontario.
Local powers
This lack of certainty—not to mention the possible time, expense, delays and uncertainty of success when seeking legal opinions to try to validate powers of attorney in other jurisdictions— supports the practical approach of putting local powers of attorney for property and personal care (or the equivalent document) in place in each jurisdiction where you have assets (in particular, real estate) and/or spend a significant amount of time. When doing this planning, it is important to retain professional advisors in each jurisdiction who can work collaboratively to ensure your financial and personal care planning needs are properly addressed in case of incapacity, based on each jurisdiction's laws. Here are some of the key issues to consider:
Unintentional revocation. Ensure that executing a power of attorney in one jurisdiction does not mistakenly revoke one in another if they are intended to co-exist. Conformity of attorneys. Use the same set of decision-makers if possible, subject to any local requirements. Termination rules. Be aware of rules in different jurisdictions that can terminate powers of attorney (e.g., while not the case in Ontario, marriage or divorce may automatically terminate one in other jurisdictions). Compensation. Understand what attorney compensation is permitted (if at all) in each jurisdiction and integrate provisions to prevent double or overcompensation. Local requirements. Adhere to the unique formalities and requirements for executing
valid powers of attorney in each jurisdiction. Local law will also dictate what an attorney can do in that jurisdiction pursuant to a power of attorney. Incapacity planning continues to move to the forefront of estate planning. Given the lack of cohesive rules among jurisdictions regarding powers of attorney, your incapacity planning should stretch beyond domestic borders to encompass any jurisdictions where you spend significant time or own assets—requiring in many cases multiple powers of attorney. ■
someone will hire me immediately. Then I will be able to help my siblings' families back home, for them to rebuild their homes."
will be better." And everything will be better because Nenita's Permanent Resident visa will soon be issued. More importantly, her daughter will also be joining her. She adds, wistfully, however, "It is up to Citizenship & Immigration Canada. I hope it will before September 2014." ■
Courtesy Fundata Canada Inc. © 2014. Margaret O’Sullivan is the principal of the Torontobased trusts and estates law firm O’Sullivan Estate Lawyers. This article is not intended as personalized advice.
Nenita Yap... For her kababayans who hit rough weather in Canada, she says, "Access some Government funded programs that gives free courses to connect you to your dream jobs. The best is yet to come." ❰❰ 30
Silver lining
In March 2014, Sprott Shaw College and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in British Columbia (UPAABC) launched the Sprott Shaw-UPAABC Iskolar ng Bayan Scholarship, an initiative to benefit those who were victims, or whose families were victims, of Typhoon Haiyan. Several applications were re-
ceived and Nenita was selected to receive the scholarship which fully covered tuition, student fees and books for the Health Care Assistant diploma program at Sprott Shaw College. In her speech during the awarding ceremonies held at the offices of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, Nenita thanked all those who made the scholarship possible. “To all the people behind Sprott Shaw and to its president Patrick Dang, thank you very much for your generosity and for choosing me for this scholarship grant. By giving me this opportunity, you are not only helping me but you will be helping my family too. God
bless you all. "To UPAABC, I want to thank you for conceptualizing this project. It is through your collective ideas and efforts that the Sprott Shaw Scholarship materialized. You are doing good, so please continue doing this kind of projects. Mabuhay! God bless." When asked about her plans for the future, Nenita said, "[My] short term plan is to finish the HCA course and at the same time continue working to financially support myself and my daughter back home. God willing, when I get my diploma, I will have a chance of getting a better paying job as a Health Care Assistant and hopefully www.canadianinquirer.net
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Storms that can topple hundred year old trees, fling concrete, and fold-up steel—these are the storms of today. Nenita advises, "Do not underestimate the power of nature. Be vigilant, be ready to evacuate immediately. There should be an emergency evacuation center in every barangay or municipality that can withstand such calamities like Typhoon Haiyan." She adds, "Be strong. Don't give up. Have faith. Everything
On June 30, 2014, Nenita was awarded the Sprott ShawUPAABC Iskolar ng Bayan Scholarship at the offices of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, Sprott Shaw President Patrick Dang and UPAABC President Melissa Briones handed her the award.
Sports/Horoscope
41 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Canada’s basketball team seeks valuable international experience in Europe BY DHIREN MAHIBAN The Canadian Press TORONTO—After failing to qualify for this summer’s FIBA World Cup, the Canadian men’s basketball team is making sure it’s prepared to make a run at the 2016 Olympics. Canada is in the midst of a three-day training camp in Toronto to gear up for 11-game exhibition trip through Europe. The goal is to have Canada play competitive teams in hostile environments to try and duplicate the valuable international experience the World Cup would have provided. “Last year we came up short, we had some injuries, I think it really cost us,” veteran guard Carl English said Monday. “This year we’re taking it the right way. We’ve got 11 games in 15 days so we’re trying to simulate a tournament. “The ultimate goal is to quali-
fy for the 2016 Olympics.” Canada went 4-4 at last summer’s FIBA Americas Championship and fell short of a berth in the World Cup, which runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 14. So instead, the Canadians will leave Wednesday for a 20day, four-city road trip. Canada opens Thursday against Slovenia and will also play in Croatia, Italy and Spain before returning home Aug. 13. “We’re going to learn a lot of lessons while we’re over there, but it’s what these players need,” said coach Jay Triano. “We need to learn the international game and that’s why we picked these countries.” Canada will play games against World Cup host Spain and qualifiers Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia (twice), Serbia, Turkey and Angola. They will also play exhibition games with non-qualifiers Georgia, Italy and Bosnia. Boston Celtics centre Kelly
Olynyk said there are advantages to playing in an exhibition series, where results are secondary to team building. “Everyone wants to play in the (World Cup),” he said. “I think you could look at it as this is going to be a good opportunity to get as many games as we can to come together as a team, build team chemistry, put in a system where you’re not worried about wins and losses as much as you’re worried about the experience and trying to get better.” Added Triano: “In hindsight, this might be a better situation for us. To play so many games on foreign soil, against great competition, we might not have got that at the (World Cup).” At 33, English is one of the elder statesmen on the Canadian squad heading overseas. He has been with the national program since 2000. With nearly nine years of experience playing in Europe, the St. John’s, N.L., native will be
leaned on heavily. “It’s a totally different game, it’s a lot closer, it’s team oriented, the spacing is different and the whole concept of the game is totally different,” said English, who signed with Spanish team Iberostar Tenerife earlier this year. English said teammates in Europe have been inquiring Canada, especially with players such as Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennet headlining the NBA draft. The University of Hawaii product doesn’t shy away from boasting. “What I say is our goal is in 2016 to be a top 10 team in the world,” English said. “I’m not afraid to say the next (Olympics) that will be past my time (2020 in Tokyo), I’d be very disappointed if these guys weren’t a medal team. “It’s fabulous, the young group of talent, and there’s more guys coming.”
As for what type of game Canada’s competition could expect on the European tour, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dwight Powell says to expect a team willing to compete every night. “We’re always going to work hard, we’re going to play hard, play tough and bring a lot of energy,” said the 23-year-old Toronto native. “Our biggest thing is trying to play harder than other teams.” Part of the learning experience for Triano’s squad is playing in hostile environments. “You better have a toughness about you and about how you need to play,” said Triano. “If you can go in and compete against these circumstances, then when you get on neutral soil or you get to maybe play at home at some point, it’s going to be super positive for you. “It’s a great learning experience. Sometimes, I think you have to go through some tough times.” ■
HOROSCOPE ARIES
CANCER
LIBRA
CAPRICORN
(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)
(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)
(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)
(DEC 22 - JAN 19)
Last week’s stressful days will soon be over. Remember that you bear the key to lock all the negative vibes inside a room and never open it forever. Today, you only need the courage to use that key and free yourself from all the unnecessary troubles. Use it to open doors that will lead you to a room of positivity.
Patience is a virtue, your musthave trait this week. The stars are saying that sometimes you need not just luck to win every round. You need the will to keep on trying even when you don’t see that pot of gold at the end of the road. You need more than just courage. You need patience to calm your thoughts and put yourself together again.
TAURUS
LEO
(APRIL 20 - MAY 20)
(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)
The stars are saying that this week, you will have no reason to feel troubled and miserable. You are the author of your own story, so grab that magic pen and write it the way you want it to be. Write “happy,” “wonderful,” “good,” and “great” and you will have it. The most important word you have to remember this week is “believe.”
SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21)
Being too oversensitive may not do you any good this week. A certain friend may not take your oversensitivity lightly, which may lead to a prolonged argument and worst, you may end up adding that person to your list of foes. You need to keep an eye on the words you say. Learn to ignore petty mistakes that need not be taken as a big deal.
Being too cautious will ruin your relationship with a longtime friend. It’s not bad to prioritize your safety and comfort. But remember that too much carefulness may lead you to forget what is essential—building a better relationship with the people around you. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Go, ahead and dare to take risks, Leo.
GEMINI
VIRGO
(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)
(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)
You might be pushed to the limit of your patience this week, so brace yourself for a fury of emotions. Taking a break and relaxing before the storm comes might help you store a lot of patience again so you won’t end up empty. Keep your cool and maintain a kind of calmness that will help you better address the burst of feelings.
SAGITTARIUS
Now is the best time to assess the spiritual aspect of your life. Remember that no matter how rich you are physically, emotionally and financially, you will still be incomplete without spiritual growth. Learn the right practices to help you develop your faith, and make that practice a hobby.
AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18) You may get bothered about the lack of spirit and enthusiasm of the people around you this week. Just take it easy. Sometimes you might be feeling that because you are overloaded with energy which makes you put your wilfulness as the standard for all. This may not always be the case for everyone. Learn to consider your differences and be considerate.
PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20)
(NOV 22 - DEC 21) An open mind is what you need to survive the coming storm this week. Being appreciative of others’ opinions and efforts may help you surpass all the challenges that may come your way. Bear in mind that you can be wrong sometimes, and others’ thoughts may be a lot more brilliant than your excellent views. Don’t be stubborn, open up, Gemini.
This is the best time to listen to the inner “you.” You will be faced with dilemmas that will measure your skills in making the right decision. But don’t rush. You might not realize it, but there is still time to sit, keep calm and listen to the right voice that will guide you. Keep in mind that the best decisions are made with a good heart and a calm spirit.
You will be bringing home the bacon this week if you play the game without any hesitations. Do not fear to make the first move. When you hit the right road and the right timing, keep your eye on the road and speed up cautiously. You will be very motivated this week, so take the chance.
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The stars are moving mountains to give you something new this week. You have to be observant of the changes that will happen. You’ll only get that chance of a lifetime if you’ll be an extra observant of the signs. Developing a little more sensitivity will help you see and grab that newest present.
FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
42
Travel
Reach for the stars Disabled Sailing at Canada’s Dark-Sky Preserves Association The Popular Astronomy Festival at Quebec’s Parc national du MontMégantic is just one of the hot night spots this year for stargazers. BY JOSEPHINE MATYAS Courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission NO MATTER how hard you try, you cannot touch the stars at Parc national du Mont-Mégantic. Besides being trillions of kilometres away, the stars and the night sky are protected at this provincial park in Quebec. Mont-Mégantic was named the world’s first International Dark-Sky Preserve in 2007. There are several telescope observatories at the park; the mountaintop one at 1,100 m (3,608 ft) is used mainly by researchers, but the smaller observatory on the roof of the park’s ASTROlab is open yearround at a lower elevation for public stargazing. The observatories at the park sit atop small mountains and are ringed by the dark forests of Quebec’s Eastern Townships. It’s the perfect spot to stargaze: it’s high up, the climate is dry and there is little light pollution. These are the perfect conditions for exploring the solar system, especially with a boost from the observatory telescopes. A highlight of the summer is the Popular Astronomy Festival, the only time of the year when the general public can watch a little cosmic scenery through the large research observatory’s telescope, the most powerful astronomical telescope in eastern North America. In 2014, the festival takes place every Friday evening from July 18 to Aug. 22. The Friday festival begins with a shuttle-bus ride to the top of the mountain (dress warmly, as it can be cool) and a guided observation of the sunset as the skies make the shift from light to dark. Inside the
Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic.
PHOTO BY KHAYMAN / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Point Pelee National Park Dark-Sky Preserve. PHOTO FROM RASC.CA
observatory, the astronomers talk about their research and answer questions about the night sky. If the skies are clear, the large telescope is opened up. If the sky is cloud-covered, guests are treated to a multimedia program on the cosmos. This evening program is offered in French only. Lower down the mountainside, inside the ASTROlab visitor centre, the story of the universe unfolds through films, photos and multimedia displays. As the skies darken and the stars come into view, visitors climb the staircase to the observatory on the roof of the lab. The doors of the observatory roof slide open, with the telescope lined up and focused to let the magic happen.
Mont-Mégantic is not the only place to go for stargazers in Canada. Star parties are a bit of a tradition at some of the country’s other Dark-Sky Preserves: • Point Pelee National Park Dark-Sky Preserve, ON • Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park Dark-Sky Preserve, SK and AB, holds a Summer Star Party every August. • Jasper National Park DarkSky Preserve, AB, will feature Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield at the October 2014 festival. • Beaver Hills Dark-Sky Preserve, AB, celebrates the dark skies on Labour Day weekend. • Gordon’s Park Dark-Sky Preserve, ON, holds star parties in July and August. ■
of Alberta Presents Mobility Cup 2014 WHAT DO mountains, sailboats and wheelchairs have in common? The 2014 Mobility Cup! This September, the Disabled Sailing Association of Alberta is hosting the Mobility Cup, the international sailing championship for sailors with a disability. From September 7-13, 30 sailors from across Canada and beyond will come together in a spirit of competition, camaraderie and freedom of movement here in Alberta. This event will be hosted in the heart of Kananaskis country, on Lower Kananaskis Lake at William Watson Lodge, an accessible wilderness retreat. Join us as we bring the sport of adaptive sailing to the Rockies! Established in 1994, the Disabled Sailing Association of Alberta, a registered charity, has been providing accessible sailing opportunities to Albertans. Our purpose is to provide programs that allow those with disabilities, regardless of severity, access to and enjoyment of a sport synonymous with freedom of movement. Our specialized vessels are designed for stability, and have a range of electronic features which allow those with even the highest level of disability to sail safely and confidently. To celebrate its 20th year, DSA Alberta is bringing the Mobility Cup back to Alberta. While the last three events have been hosted at established sailing centres in Halifax, Ot-
tawa and Montreal, this year, Mobility Cup 2014 will be held in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Kent Hehr, MLA for Calgary Buffalo and himself a quadriplegic as the result of being the innocent victim of a drive by shooting in 1991, has thrown his support behind Mobility Cup 2014, and has agreed to be our Honorary Chair. Please help us get the message out. Members of DSA Alberta and the Mobility Cup 2014 organizing committee are available for media interviews and presentations. We invite you to come down to our sailing centre to see our specialized fleet and equipment, and to learn about how accessible sailing works. We can also arrange to take you out for a sail on the Glenmore Reservoir so that you too can experience what our sailors’ experience. Thank you in advance for your support of DSA Alberta and Mobility Cup 2014. For more information please contact either Matt Schneider, businessmanager@ dsaalberta.org, 403-225-8050 or Herb Matthews, Mobility Cup Organizing Committee, matth519@ telusplanet. net, 4032 7 1 - 9 3 4 9. Please also visit the following websites: www.dsaalberta.org www.mobilitycup.com www.ablesailnetwork.com For more information on Express Entry, please see www. canada.ca/ExpressEntry. ■
Travel
43 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
10 things you need to know about… unique Newfoundland and Labrador delights
Newfoundland and Labrador delights. Get adventurous on your trip to this Atlantic province by trying crispy cod tongues, a lighthouse picnic, shaking an ugly stick and more. BY CINDA CHAVICH Courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission NEWFOUNDLAND is literally an island unto itself—a land of historic fishing outports, wild, windswept bogs filled with berries and moose, and even wilder pubs bursting with traditional music. Explore these unique corners of The Rock: 1) Cod is king: Dig into a plate of crispy cod tongues or try traditional fish ’n brewis—a fisherman’s stable of salt cod and soaked hard-tack biscuits with crispy pork scrunchions—at Bacalao, the best place for modern takes on Newfoundland comfort food. 2) Labradorite rocks: Flash your shiny new Labradorite jewellery. Inuit legends say the iridescent blue and green gems fell to earth from the mystical
northern lights. 3) Bite into a bakeapple: Venture into the bogs to pick bakeapples (a.k.a. cloudberries) or taste the unique tart flavour in jams from Dark Tickle or The Rocket bakery. 4) Play the ugly stick: Keep time at the kitchen party on a jangly, bottle-cap encrusted mop with a rubber boot foot (a.k.a. ugly stick), musical spoons or a beautiful bodhran, all from historic O’Brien’s Music Store. 5) Picnic at a lighthouse: Lounge on a blanket, watching for whales (and icebergs), indulging in crab cakes, pastries and lemonade all made, baked and squeezed on-site at Ferryland Lighthouse Picnics. 6) Meet a mummer: Bump into one of these costumed characters at Christmastime, or just get into the groove with “The Mummer Song” and oth-
Beans, a touton, fried egg and Canadian bacon. A touton is a type of traditional pancake commonly made in Newfoundland, produced by frying bread dough on a pan with butter or pork fat. PHOTO BY JEREMY KEITH / FLICKR
er lively Newfoundland tunes from local rock legend Great Big Sea. 7) Bake a seal flipper pie: Check the freezers at Belbin’s
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grocery, a longtime familyowned food store, for traditional seal flipper pot pies. Or look for jarred moose nose and moose bologna, seal sausages,
Mt. Scio Savory and local Purity Jam Jam cookies and candies at Bidgood’s markets. 8) Language lessons: Learn to speak the local dialect—or at least figure out some of the more colourful Newfinese phrases (wadda ya’at b’y?)— with the Dictionary of Newfoundland English. 9) Explore Doyle’s republic: Filming of the popular “Republic of Doyle” TV show may have wrapped (the final season airs this fall), but you can still wander the streets of St. John’s to see familiar locations and have a pint at the Duke of Duckworth pub, where much of the action takes place. 10) Crafty characters: Shop for hand-knit sweaters, thrummed socks, hooked rugs and funky folk art at The Craft Councilshop, where two-thirds of the retail price is paid back to the crafters. ■
Seen and Scenes
JULY 25, 2014
FRIDAY 44
FILIPINOS RAISE FLAG IN FORT MC The Filipino-Canadian Association of Fort McMurray held a simple flagraising ceremony at Howard Pew Park on June 29, to belatedly commemorate Independence Day.
Filipino Albertans showed their full support of Jim Prentice during a community gathering on July 20, at the Marlborough Park Community Centre.
CALGARY FILIPINOS JOIN TEAM PRENTICE Tata Gascon and Estrella Casta are two avid Filipino supporters of Progressive Conservative Party Candidate Jim Prentice.
BLUE MOON HIKING GROUP TRAMPS AROUND YUKON Right: Yvonne Clarke, former head of the Canadian Filipino Association of Yukon Below: Blue Moon Hiking Group
FILIPINOS ENJOY FAMILY DAY IN FORT MCMURRAY
Members of the Blue Moon Hiking group pose for a group shot at the peak.
Photos show highlights of the annual summer camp of the Filipino-Canadian Association in Fort McMurray at Gregoire Lake Provincial Park.
For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net
Events
45 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
Music Throwback with Randy Santiago, Gino Padilla & Fe de los Reyes By Pinoy Times WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., July 25, at the Polish Canadian Cultural Centre 3015 15 St., NE, Calgary MORE INFO: Call 403-9752150 or email pinoytimes@gmail.com
YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Music Throwback with Randy Santiago, Gino Padilla & Fe de los Reyes By Pinoy Times and MY 780 NUNAVUT Creative Solutions WHEN/WHERE: 5 p.m., July 27, at Ramada Edmonton Hotel & Conference Centre 11834 Kingsway Ave., Edmonton MORE INFO: For tickets call 1-888-666-4259
BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA
Your Kontinent Film & Media Arts Festival By Cinevolution Media Arts WHEN/WHERE: ongoing till July 26 at 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: 100 Artists. 40 Films. 18 Countries. 10 Days. Vancouver Multicultural Society’s 40th Birthday By Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada Society WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 6 p.m., July 26, at the Vancouver Art Gallery at the North Plaza on W. Georgia, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Treenee- 604773-9192 or Violet – 604-616-8258 Consultative Meeting By Tapsilog WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 4 p.m., July 26, at 5294 Imperial St. (near Royal Oak St.), Burnaby. MORE INFO: Agenda includes the two hot issues, organizational setup, plans, etc. Foundation Day Potluck Picnic By the Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors Association WHEN/WHERE: July 27 at Kinsmen Park, Gorge Road, Victoria, BC MORE INFO: This picnic is for members of VFCSA, their family and friends
ONTARIO
EVENTS
View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting
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Consular Outreach in Montreal, Quebec By the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 7 p.m., July 25; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 26 at the Philippine Community Centre (FAMAS Centre) 4708 Van Horne Ave., Montreal Quebec MORE INFO: Contact 1-514-3417477
NEWFOUNDLAND
MANITOBA
SASKATCHEWAN
CANADA
QUEBEC
Filipino Seniors Club of B.C. Summer Festival By FSCBC WHEN/WHERE: 12:30 p.m., July 27 at Capri Hall, at 3925 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC 12th Street Music Festival New Westminster Hosted by Salvacion Dayao WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 7 p.m., July 28 on 12th Street, New Westminster MORE INFO: There will be four stages of performances this year. The Java Jazz stage will be located at the corner of 10th Ave. and 12th St. (Our Lady of Mercy) from 11a.m.to 4 p.m. Dimasalang Expressions By Dimasalang III International Group of Artists WHEN/WHERE: August 1 to 30, at the Vancouver Moat Gallery, Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC Vancouver Pride Parade By Vancouver Pride Society WHEN/WHERE: 12 noon, August 3 on Robson St., through downtown West End to Sunset Beach. MORE INFO: Over 150 floats
Consular Outreach in Winnipeg, MB By the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto WHEN/WHERE: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., July 25 to 28, at the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba 737 Keewatin St., Winnipeg, MB Mabuhay Cup 2014 Invitational Slates Tourney By Philippine Independence Day Council WHEN/WHERE: JULY 25-27 at the Downsview Park's HoopDome, North York, Toronto. MORE INFO: contact mabuhaycup@yahoo.ca
Wency Cornejo Live in Victoria By Even 8 Events Production WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., August 9, First Metropolitan Church 932 Balmoral Rd., Victoria MORE INFO: with special guest Goldie. For tickets, call 250-984-1620 www.canadianinquirer.net
Workshop on WordPress, Microsoft Basics By Digital Ink Group (DIG) with FilCore Support Group WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 3 p.m., July 26, at the Canada International Career College (CICC), at Unit 100, 345 Wilson Ave., Toronto, ON, M3H 5W1. MORE INFO: To reserve a seat in the workshop, contact Odette Montelibano at 416-743-9610, or send an e-mail to odette@odettemontelibano.com; or e-mail Christine Salubre, FilCore Support Group chairman at mcsgurdag@gmail.com. Fiesta ng Kalayaan By Philippine Independence Day Council WHEN/WHERE: 12 nn to 10:30 p.m., July 27, at the Mississauga Celebration Square
To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
46
CANADA
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47 FRIDAY JULY 25, 2014
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JULY 25, 2014
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FRIDAY 48