Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #140

RELEVANT SKILLS. MEANINGFUL JOBS. CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER VOL. 10 NO. 140

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NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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Fall in rating may hurt UNA recruitment

SC finally takes up case against Jpepa

Comfort Women urge Japan to apologize

BC residents gearing up for elections

Raonic loses Paris Masters title

Amid murder case, top Philippine diplomat says pact with US ‘imperfect’ but likely to stay

ELECTION TIME

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A security pact that allows thousands of American troops to join large-scale combat exercises in the Philippines is “imperfect” but Manila is unlikely to amend it, the country’s top diplomat said last week.

The Visiting Forces Agreement, which was signed by the treaty allies in 1998, has come under renewed criticism by left-wing groups and nationalists after it allowed American officials to retain custody of a U.S. Marine accused of killing a transgender Filipino last month.

The U.S. military agreed to transfer Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton

Residents of British Columbia are gearing up to elect their representatives in the upcoming 2014 BC Municipal elections.

Election coverage starts on page 19.

Alan cites Instagram posts as proof of ownership

BY TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer VICE PRESIDENT Jejomar Binay’s youngest daughter Joanna Marie Bianca may have unwittingly provided proof that their family owned the high-end P1.2-billion farm in Batangas province.

In her Instagram (IG) account jmblicious, Joanna posted messages and pictures of the farm’s amenities, claiming

the property as “our place.”

One of her posts, which came with a picture of three boys frolicking in a pool amid a grove of trees, read: “… our place in Batangas.”

In two other posts, Joanna uploaded a picture of her riding a Segway, and a photo of a unique-looking bicycle, owned apparently by brother Makati Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay Jr., both in front

❱❱ PAGE 9 Amid murder

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Remembering Haiyan ❱❱ PAGE 30

❱❱ PAGE 11 Alan cites

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Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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Vice President Binay wanted Makiling site Binay tried to take 57.7 ha for Boy Scouts, say UP execs

BY MARICAR CINCO Inquirer Southern Luzon LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA—Vice President Jejomar Binay, through his allies in Congress, allegedly has made several attempts to acquire control of the 57.7-hectare lot on Mt. Makiling that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) is leasing from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Several former and incumbent UPLB officials disclosed in separate interviews what they called “attempts” by Binay to carve out the BSP Jamboree site from the 4,244-hectare Makiling forest reserve.

“It should be known that there have already been three attempts by Binay, through the Congress, to have [the property’s] ownership transferred to the BSP,” said a UPLB source privy to the management of the Makiling forest reserve, but who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

In a phone interview, newly appointed UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr. said he talked to Binay’s daughter, Makati Rep. Abigail Binay—a human ecology graduate of the UPLB—out of pursuing her 2012 bill, “and they promised they won’t anymore.”

3 House bills

A check of UPLB records showed that three bills were filed in the House in relation to the attempted transfer of jurisdiction over the Makiling property to the BSP. The most recent is House Bill No. 6352, or the “Boy Scouts of the Philippines Charter of 2012,” authored by Representative Binay.

Although there is no explicit mention of the Makiling property, the bill has the same intention as the two other bills, the source said.

The source was referring to HB 4765, or “An act vesting the (BSP) with jurisdiction and administration over a parcel of land located at Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, to be known as the ‘Boy

Scouts of the Philippines Jamboree Site,’ and for other purposes,” which was an amendment to an earlier bill, HB 3005, that contained similar provisions.

HB 4765, filed in 2005, and HB 3005, filed in 2001, were both authored by former Marikina Rep. and now Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman and were cosponsored by Representatives Leovigildo B. Banaag, Roseller L. Barinaga, Francis Joseph G. Escudero and Agapito A. Aquino.

De Guzman, a known ally of the Binays, was council chair of BSP Metro Manila East.

Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado—a former close Binay ally who

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has turned against him and exposed the alleged irregularities in Makati and Binay’s ownership of a 350-hectare agricultural estate in Rosario town, Batangas province—was BSP chief for the National Capital Region and council chair of BSP Makati in 2005.

Fears of precedent

“We’re afraid that chunking out [the forest reserve] might set a precedent for other stakeholders [like local governments] to claim a piece of the Makiling forest. We just want to keep this ecological heritage intact,” Sanchez said. ❱❱ PAGE 13 Vice President

Philippine News

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Binay on Instagram post: Too much Binay laments: Why involve my youngest daughter?

BY NIÑA P. CALLEJA Philippine Daily Inquirer “THIS IS too much,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday, decrying the showing of pictures of his youngest daughter in the Senate last week as a way to prove he owns a 350-hectare property in Batangas province.

Binay said his daughter Joanna Marie Bianca Binay was dragged into the controversy as part of an effort to malign his name.

“It’s bad enough that [my own image is] being tarnished.

But why involve my youngest child? They threw her among those they shame and deride.

God will take care of them,” Binay said in a radio interview in Camarines Sur province.

During the hearing called

by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee looking into allegations of corruption against Binay, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano showed pictures posted on Instagram by the Vice President’s daughter showing her on the Batangas estate.

One of her posts, which came with a picture of three boys frolicking in a pool, identified the location as “our place in Batangas.”

Cayetano said that identification proved Binay owns the property in Rosario town.

But Binay said being photographed on the property did not prove ownership of the estate.

“What’s wrong with being photographed in that place?

That place is leased and the owner accepts visitors. Is being photographed visiting the place proof that you own the place? I don’t think so,” Binay said.

Social media public In a telephone interview yesterday, Cayetano said his job was “to fight for all Filipinos” and “to protect them from untouchable corrupt officials.”

“I never mean any disrespect nor do I drag people who are not involved,” Cayetano said. “However, when it comes to the people’s money, especially billions of pesos in taxpayer money, I

cannot ignore evidence. If the best evidence comes from his family, should I ignore it? Especially since their social media ❱❱ PAGE 12 Binay on

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Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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Fall in rating may hurt United Nationalist Alliance recruitment

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE FALL in Vice President Jejomar Binay’s voter preference rating may adversely affect his party’s recruitment of new members, Sen. JV Ejercito said this week.

Binay’s allies, however, remain loyal to him, Ejercito said.

The Vice President’s camp recently launched the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) as his political party for 2016, taking the name of the political coalition formed by several opposition parties in 2013.

Binay, UNA’s standard-bearer in the 2016 presidential election, is being investigated by a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on charges of corruption during his term as mayor of Makati City.

He is also accused of amassing ill-gotten wealth, including a 350-hectare property in Rosario town, Batangas province, worth P1.2 billion.

Ejercito said the charges

The logo for the United Nationalist Alliance party, of which Binay is president. The party could see its recruitment efforts damaged by Binay's falling voter preference rating for the 2016 Presidential Elections.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

against Binay could have an impact on UNA’s recruitment.

“Definitely, I have to be honest, I’m sure it will affect the recruitment somehow,” he said in a recent interview.

But if Binay would do well in future polls, politicians would still flock to his camp, Ejercito said.

Recent surveys showed a drop in Binay’s performance and trust ratings, though he still enjoys the highest numbers among government officials.

Those polls also showed that he remains the top preference of voters for president.

“It well depend on the next surveys. If the trajectory is still

the same, it will definitely have an effect. But if he is able to recover and [his numbers] stabilize—as of now, VP Binay is still the man to beat—it will be a different story,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito also said that despite the allegations against Binay, UNA remained intact. At present, he said, the group is not yet

focused on recruitment.

“We’ve not been busy regarding that because elections are still a year and a half away,” he said.

Ejercito said he would rather focus on the country’s pressing problems first before devoting time to planning for 2016.

“We’re wasting so much time on politics this early when we should be talking about our pressing problems. The country has so many problems we should be focusing on, but what’s happening is the other way around—it’s politics, which has been covering for misgovernance,” he said.

Earlier, before the Senate investigation, UNA officials said many politicians were lining up to join Binay’s camp for 2016.

Those clamoring to join UNA include members of the ruling Liberal Party, they said.

But UNA officials said they would rather officially take in new members near election time so as not to expose them to possible retaliation from the administration. ■

Solon seeks raps vs gov’t officials with unliquidated cash advances

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer AN ADMINISTRATION lawmaker is urging Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to charge 100 government officials and employees, including executives of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), for “embezzling” P5 billion in taxpayer money.

Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo said a Commission on Audit (COA) report showing that these state personnel had failed to liquidate cash advances totaling P5 billion over the past 10 years was proof the funds went to their pockets.

“The legal presumption is as clear as day. Under the Revised Penal Code, if you are a public officer and you’ve been advanced cash, and you fail to account for the money, then

you must have put it to personal use,” Romulo said.

Romulo has filed House Bill No. 1287, which has made failure to liquidate cash advances prima facie proof of embezzlement.

“The failure to settle a cash advance will be sufficient evidence that the recipient pocketed the money, unless the proof is rebutted. This means the Office of the Ombudsman may already initiate a criminal charge for malversation of funds,” he said.

Maximum penalty

If found guilty of malversation of public funds, violators face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, perpetual disqualification from public office and a fine equal to the sum misused.

Under his bill, Romulo proposes that government officials and employees liquidate their

advances not longer than six months after utilization.

Romulo proposed the liquidation of advances for salaries and wages within five days after each 15th day of the month; advances for petty operating expenses and field operating expenses within 20 days after the end of the year; advances for special operations, and operating expenses or purchases of supplies, materials of over P100,000 within 20 days after completion of the operation or delivery and acceptance of supplies, materials and the like; Advances for local travel within five days upon the officer’s return to official station; and advances for foreign travel within 60 days upon return to official station.

Under a COA circular, a cash advance is settled either by returning the money if unspent, or by presenting vouchers, with www.canadianinquirer.net

Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo.

UNIVERSITY OF PHILIPPINES

details as to the items paid for, which must be in accord with the purpose for which the money was released.

In addition, liquidating a cash advance must be backed by proper receipts and other evidence of payment, subject to the result of a post-examination by an auditor.

Early this year, COA Chair Grace Pulido-Tan told the Senate blue ribbon committee that her first act in office two years ago was to make a final demand

on the unliquidated cash advances made by government agencies and GOCCs. Pulido-Tan, however, did not name the 100 government officials and employees who made unliquidated cash advances and fund transfers to nongovernment organizations, civil society organizations and government agencies.

She said the COA would focus on individuals who had more than P1 million in unliquidated cash advances. ■

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NOVEMBER 7, 2014

X

FRIDAY

Vote for Change.

Gregor

Kirk LaPointe

Robertson is not listening to you

and the NPA Team

Made “cash for favours” deal with CUPE, got a campaign cheque for $102,000

Assist the creation of a Filipino community centre

(Vancouver Courier, Georgia Straight - October 2014)

The Most Open City Hall in Canada

The NPA will freeze property taxes until the books have been audited, pass a disclosure bylaw and create a lobbyist registry.

Taxes up 46%, debt up 58%, family incomes stalled and millions squandered on pet projects making Vancouver less affordable for us all

365 Nutrition Program for Children

No child should go hungry in a city as rich as ours. Success starts with nutrition; let’s get our kids in need fed every day of the year.

Elected on a promise to end homlessness by 2015 but homeless population has doubled

Constructive Action on Transportation

(Vancouver Courier - April 2014)

Clawed back millions in promised dollars for much needed Seniors Centre

Vancouver can’t take 4 more years of “Vision”

We Need Change.

The NPA built 75% of Vancouver’s bikeways without dividing the city. Let’s address all modes of transportation, including Broadway rapid transit, to get Vancouver moving again.

Restore Free Sunday parking outside the downtown core and after 8pm city-wide.

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Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

7

President Aquino weighs Cabinet members

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA AND GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

said that he has lost his trust and confidence in the Vice President, he added.

Corruption inquiry

PRESIDENT AQUINO is scrutinizing the performance of Vice President Jejomar Binay as a member of his Cabinet amid allegations of corruption against Binay and his family, Malacañang said this week.

But a key ally of Mr. Aquino said the President should fire not only Binay but also Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to restore the credibility of his reform program.

“The Aquino administration is losing moral high ground on the anticorruption issue. We cannot have double standard by condemning Vice President Jejomar Binay while tolerating administration allies involved in the [Janet Lim-]Napoles [pork barrel] scam and the [Disbursement Acceleration Program, or DAP]. Double standard has a tremendously corrosive effect on civic morality,” Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said in an interview with the INQUIRER. “Getting rid of Binay is only half the challenge facing the country. The other half is continuing the reform program,” Bello said.

“Unless the President gets rid of those around him who have compromised the reform agenda, it will continue to lose credibility. I can’t understand why these millstones around the President’s neck don’t have the [sense of propriety] to resign,” he added.

Like other Cabinet officials, Binay is undergoing a “performance audit” as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers and head of the Housing and Urban Development and Coordinating Council, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said on state-run radio.

“The President himself is the one evaluating his (Binay’s) effectiveness in this position and keeping his post is based on the President’s continued trust and confidence,” Coloma said.

So far, Mr. Aquino has not

Edwin Lacierda earlier said the signing of “Cabinet performance contracts” was part of an “outcome-based planning strategy” meant “to reinforce the Cabinet secretaries’ commitment to the President and ensure the delivery of their agencies’ priority programs and projects.”

Among Cabinet officials, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has been under fire, especially on social media, over worsening conditions in the country’s mass transport system, particularly the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

Bello has listed others whom he calls “trapos” (traditional politicians) masquerading as reformers.

First on his list was Abad, who was also the subject of his scathing complaint to Mr. Aquino in August that he reiterated to the President recently.

“I initially believed that the DBM (Department of Budget) secretary acted without malice but the baring of the list of congressional beneficiaries of the DAP floored me,” Bello said.

The DAP was an economic stimulus fund that Abad put together using savings of different government agencies. The

A Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is investigating alleged corruption in Makati during Binay’s term as mayor of the city, including alleged overpricing of the P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II. Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, the principal witness in the investigation, has alleged that Binay pocketed kickbacks from municiPresident Aquino is scrutinizing the performance of Vice President Jejomar pal infrastructure projects and Binay as a member of his cabinet amid allegations of corruption against the used dummies to conceal his Binay family, Malacanang said this week. ownership of an 8,877-squareBENHUR ARCAYAN / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU meter real estate property in Comembo village in Makati and a 350-hectare agricultural half of 2013, or the height of the responsibility and accountabilfarm in Rosario town, Batangas election campaign. ity. It’s the height of indecision. province.

“The DAP funds made a dif- Why not give the fresh face full Asked if the allegations ference in the outcome; she command?” Bello said. against Binay could eventually won by only 137 votes. That’s Alcala said his stay in the affect the Aquino administrabloody unfair, as the Brits Cabinet was all up to the Presition since the Vice President would say,” he said. dent. was a member of the Cabinet, “I told the President that On Purisima, Bello said Coloma pointed to how Binay the congressional list opened that while he considered the was performing as housing the [DBM] chief to charges of charges of unexplained wealth chief and presidential adviser. nepotism, and I was really, re- against the police chief serious, “These are areas where he ally worried that would fatally Purisima should be taken out is expected to perform his rewound the reform agenda, un- for ineptitude in dealing with sponsibilities as a member of less Abad left. The President the law and order situation. the Cabinet,” Cosaid he would “It has really gone out of loma said. look into it,” control, yet we have a somMr. Aquino Bello said, add- nambulist for a PNP chief, one earlier asked ing that he was who even tries to use statistics members of his speaking for to deny the hard reality of risCabinet to sign Unless the President get rid of those himself and not ing criminality. The President “commitment around him who have compromised for Akbayan, should realize that the inability contracts” as the reform agenda, it will continue which has sev- to contain crime erodes democa way of conto lose credibility. eral members in racy, as it frightens the middle cretely evaluatthe Aquino ad- class to calling for authoritaring their perforministration. ian leadership,” Bello said. mance during a Reached for given period. comment, Abad For P-Noy’s good Some Cabinet officials, in- Supreme Court declared it un- said: “You don’t prove those He said the President also cluding Binay, failed to attend a constitutional on July 1. baseless allegations by press needed to shake up his managrecent Palace event where they release.” ers in transportation, energy were supposed to sign a “Cabi- Too much for tiny Batanes Aside from Abad, Bello said it and foreign affairs. net performance pledge.”

“Not only [did] LP (Liberal was time for the President to let “People will not tolerate an In a previous interview, Co- Party) members running tight go of De los Reyes to “straighten economic policy that promotes loma played down Binay’s races and the administration’s out” his agrarian reform legacy. growth whose benefits do not absence, saying: “What is im- close allies [get] the lion’s share De los Reyes did not respond filter down to them. The reform portant is we understand the [of the DAP], but Mr. Abad gave to the INQUIRER’s request for program badly needs a rebootcontext of the event.” his wife (Batanes Rep. Henedi- comment. ing and this means fresh faces “All agencies, all Cabinet-lev- na Abad) the sixth largest alloin the Cabinet,” Bello said. el departments are part of this cation. Batanes is the smallest Two agri chiefs “Those of us who really beprocess to commit under the district with the smallest popOn Alcala, Bello said he saw lieve in the reform program concept of performance-based ulation and smallest number no point in having two de facto have a stark choice: Either we budgeting. The specific event of of registered voters, and Con- heads for the agriculture de- get dragged down by the foolsigning the contracts shows the gresswoman Abad gets P177 partment (former Sen. Francis ish, the corrupt and the inept in personal commitment of the million. This is outrageous,” Pangilinan was appointed pres- the ruling coalition, or we speak secretaries summarizing their Bello said. idential adviser on national out and tell the truth, even if commitment,” Coloma said.

Bello noted that more than food security). that may incur the President’s half of Batanes province’s DAP “This department is headed displeasure. It’s for his own Planning strategy allocation was made in the sec- to the doldrums. It will simply good and that of his cherished Presidential spokesperson ond half of 2012 and in the first bring about a fatal division of bosses,” he said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

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NOVEMBER 7, 2014 FRIDAY

Tributes pour in for poorest senator Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Managing Editor Earl Von Tapia earl.tapia@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 Shanice Garcia Photographers Angelo Siglos Solon Licas Operations and Marketing Head Laarni Liwanag (604) 551-3360 Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net Jennifer Yen (778) 227-2995 jennifer.yen@canadianinquirer.net sales@canadianinquirer.net 1-888-668-6059 PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin 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.

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Member

BY ERIKA SAULER, NIKKO DIZON AND TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PORTRAIT of a smiling Juan Flavier displayed at his wake in the Church of the Risen Lord in Quezon City is the image that will stay with the family of the former senator and health secretary.

“We have (that picture) in the dining room. So every time we eat, he (would be) smiling down at us,” Flavier’s wife Alma Susana Aguilar said yesterday.

Considered the poorest senator during his two terms from 1995 to 2007, Flavier had only one indulgence and that was food, his daughter Joy said.

“We have a running joke that (wiretappers) would not get any information from him other than ‘what’s for dinner?’” she said.

She recalled that no matter how busy Flavier was as a senator, he would always come home to be with his family for dinner. Her father was happy eating rice with any viand and enjoyed rice cakes and camote for merienda, she added.

President Aquino paid his last respects to Flavier on Friday night at the chapel in UP Diliman, where a 7 p.m. Mass was officiated by Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ.

Former Senator and health secretary Juan Flavier passed away this past October 30th.

RAPPLER

Former President Fidel V. Ramos visited the wake yesterday and recalled how he asked Flavier to be his health secretary in 1992.

“I called him and he said, ‘Mr. President, you do not know me.’ I said, ‘I know you because I was your student on how to make sanitary toilets,’” Ramos said of the former president of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction.

But Flavier countered that he was “just a barrio doctor,” to which Ramos said, ‘That’s exactly what we need for the Philippine health system.’ ” After three years as health secretary, Flavier was asked to join the administration’s senatorial ticket. That was when Flavier asked him, “Don’t you like me anymore?” Ramos recounted.

“No, you’re doing a good job,” Ramos had responded. “But you must stay longer in the Senate and make permanent policy through legislation,” the former Philippine President said.

Roby Alampay, Joy’s husband and Flavier’s son-in-law, recalled that grandchildren were the “biggest thing” for the wellloved official when he retired.

“When his grandchildren were around, everything else was extra,” he said.

“He encouraged them to talk. He was a very good listener,” Flavier’s wife added.

known for his sense of humor, was fond of puns and funny stories and would watch the comedy show “Mr. Bean” with his grandchildren.

The former senator also liked watching sports, particularly boxing and basketball, Alampay said, adding that his father-in-law also loved watching Tagalog teleserye.

“He genuinely appreciated them. More importantly, he knew it was what people watched. He understood that you have to speak their language. He could speak basketball and telenovela and (that) really helped him,” Alampay said of Flavier who was considered a great communicator.

Flavier was away “most of the time,” his daughter Joy said. “But he made sure to send us postcards and handwritten letters,” she said of the late senator who used to bring his children to bookstores and encouraged them to become voracious readers.

Flavier’s wife Susan recalled that she met Flavier in a philosophy class at the University of the Philippines. “Hewas a very bright student. He was always called upon to explain (the lesson) to us.

And I noticed that every time he went in front (of the class), he would always be looking at me.”

“Even if he was short, he was always happy,” Flavier’s wife said. “And he prayed a lot. Hewould say, ‘Mommy, if you have problems, bring it to the Lord in prayer.’”

But when it came to public policy and politics, Flavier was more pragmatic, Alampay said.

“He compromised, he negotiated, he knew how to give and take,” he said.

“He knew that in the laws he had passed, he had to give up some things, sometimes to the disappointment of his constituents,” Alampay said.

“He would tell us: ‘It’s not a perfect world and we have to keep moving forward. At the end of the day, I would rather be at point B rather than still stuck at point A. Then we move forward again from there,’” Alampay recalled Flavier saying.

‘Mr. Bean’

Statesman, dear friend

Barrio doctor

The Ramos Cabinet member, who was

The country lost a statesman, while

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he lost a “dear friend,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said. “He was a doctor who shunned the lure of a financially rewarding private practice to be a ‘Doctor to the Barrios (DTTB),’” he added.

Sen. Loren Legarda agreed: “Perhaps (Flavier’s) greatest achievement was bringing healthcare to rural areas so that it serves the marginalized and the unempowered.”

In 1993, after learning that close to 300 towns in the Philippines had no doctor, the former health secretary launched the DTTB program to encourage doctors to serve the country’s poorest and most remote villages.

RH bill

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. distinctly recalled Flavier aggressively pushing for the controversial reproductive health bill when the House of Representatives debated on it in 2010.

Former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. also extolled Flavier as a “heroic icon in the struggle to inform the public (about) the deadly menace of cigarette smoking.”

“Against tremendous odds, he succeeded in requiring cigarette packets to carry the warning on the toxic effects of smoking,” Pimentel said.

Former Sen. Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr. recalled an anecdote about Flavier that showed his “honesty and lack of materialism.”

“When I visited him and wife Susan in their house in Tierra Pura, I was pleasantly surprised at how simple and unpretentious their house remained.

It must have been the same house they owned since the ‘60s,” Magsaysay said.

Flavier’s remains will be brought to the Department of Health in Manila on Tuesday for a morning service, and will be cremated afterwards.

The former senator, who passed away at 79 on Thursday, was “an exemplary Filipino leader,” Malacañang said in a statement.

He served “with integrity and endeared himself by dint of his humility, simplicity, jovial character and common touch,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

6 soldiers slain in clash with Abu Sayyaf

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer

“was saddened by this fresh violence.”

Firearms, belongings taken

SIX PHILIPPINE Army soldiers guarding a Saudi Arabia-assisted road project in Basilan were killed in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf last Sunday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the casualties included a young 2nd lieutenant who was a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 2014.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, AFP public affairs office chief, said another soldier was wounded in the 45-minute firefight in Sumisip, Basilan.

“The soldiers, who belonged to the 64th Infantry Battalion, were providing security for the workers who were finishing the 64kilometer Basilan circumferential road project,” Cabunoc said on Sunday.

The clash happened at around 7:30 a.m. Sunday in Sitio Mompol, Barangay Libug, in Sumisip.

The attack came a day after the military launched air strikes and ground attacks against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Patikul, Sulu, the first major attack following the group’s release of two German captives recently.

Cabunoc said the soldiers were on security patrol when they were attacked by around 20 heavily armed men, believed led by the Abu Sayyaf’s Radzmi Jannatul.

The six soldiers, including the young officer, were killed while another soldier was wounded and is recuperating in a local hospital.

The military said it would release the names of the fallen soldiers once their immediate relatives were notified. Five of them were enlisted personnel.

Col. Rolando Bautista, chief of the 104th Army Brigade based in Basilan, in a phone interview said his men were on a clearing operation.

“We got reports there were some electric cords for improvised explosive devices sighted in the area,” Bautista said.

Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said he

An INQUIRER source from the intelligence community said the soldiers’ firearms and personal belongings were taken by their killers.

Bautista said he sent reinforcements to pursue the bandits.

“My soldiers are securing the Basilan circumferential road project to ensure its timely completion before the end of the year. I am saddened by this senseless violence against our soldiers who are helping deliver public services to the people,” he said.

Ensign Chester Ramos, public affairs officer of Joint Task Force Zambasulta, said the slain soldiers were on foot since they were providing security for the workers.

The workers were civilian employees of the Saudi Arabia-assisted road project.

While pursuing the terror group, the military on Sunday seized two Abu Sayyaf camps.

Col. Allan Arrojado, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, said the 32nd Infantry Battalion had cleared the two temporary encampments in Patikul.

He described the facilities as temporary camps where the Abu Sayyaf may have slept while on the run.

Arrojado said there would be no letup in the pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf.

“We are cautiously entering their lairs. They are now on the run,” he said, admitting that they had yet to receive reports of sightings of the 10 remaining hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf.

On Saturday, military attack helicopters fired rocket rounds at an encampment in Barangay Bungkaong in Patikul where Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Adjan Sawadjaan and his men were reportedly holed up.

The bandits retreated to Mt. Sinumaan.

Arrojado said the military was concentrating its operations in the area. ■ With a report from Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

The flag of Jihad used by Abu Sayyaf and other Islamic militant groups.

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9

Mercedes Wong for Vancouver Council I am originally from the Philippines, and have made Vancouver my home for more than 40 years.

I’m running for Vancouver Council because I believe in equal opportunity for all groups in society to be heard, especially those who can’t advocate for themselves.

For the past 25 years, I’ve dedicated my time volunteering in many charitable and non-profit groups for the betterment of seniors, the Aboriginal community, and homeless residents of the Downtown Eastside.

I’ve also spent the better part of two careers in corporate finance and real estate. As a woman and an AsianCanadian, I’ve dealt with discrimination and have learned to be a voice for minority interests.

If elected, I intend to focus on three issues: 1. Advocacy for seniors I will advocate in two areas – transit and better access to community centres. This includes better discounts for seniors on transit and free ride times, and reduced fees at community centres for recreational facilities.

2. Community Police for safety in the community Community policing brings police and residents together to prevent crime before it happens. Police become part of the neighborhood

and gain an understanding of residents’ needs and residents gain trust in the police. Everyone works to promote safe neighbourhoods.

3. Finding a way to reduce homelessness.

We know that many of our homeless neighbours struggle with mental illnesses. We urgently need more mental health facilities. If elected I would work with other Metro Vancouver municipalities including the City of Coquitlam, which is lobbying the provincial government to get the Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam renovated and reopened.

This would go a long way to reducing homelessness among those with mental illnesses.

Why vote for me?

I have a good understanding of the issues facing Vancouver and I have a proven track record of listening to residents, making a plan, and then achieving goals that benefit the community.

November 15, 2014 vote for Mercedes Wong to ensure your voice is heard on Vancouver City Council.

Thank you!

Jollibee is Thrillist’s ‘best global food chain’

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Filipino fast food chain, Jollibee — best known for its Pinoy-style burgers and crispy fried chicken — is pleasing palates across the world. The home of the big red bee weighed in as the world’s best international food chain, according to US website Thrillist.

On October 26, Thrillist’s Adam Lapetina wrote that Jollibee is “one of the most recognizable figures in the Philippines, and with good reason.”

“This guy slings Filipino comfort food (tuna pies!! SPAM sandwiches!!

Spicy fried chicken!!)… worldwide, including a few locations stateside. Look out, Grimace,” Lapetina commented, in reference to Jollibee’s well-known big red bee mascot and Mc Donald’s purple mascot.

Based on the Thrillist’ ranking, Jollibee bested 15 other international res-

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taurant brands. Rounding out the top ten were: • 2nd — Japanese ramen chain Ippudo • 3rd — Al Baik of Saudi Arabia • 4th — Oporto of Australia • 5th — Hamburguesas El Corral of Colombia.

• 6th — South Africa’s burger ad ribs resto, Steers • 7th — Giraffas of Brazil • 8th — Supermac’s of Ireland • 9th — Wagamama of United Kingdom • 10th — Telepizza of Spain Burger Ranch of Israel, weighed in as the 11th placer; Quick of France took the 12th spot; Kungfu of China came in at 13; ranked 15th was Nordsee of Germany; while Toast Box of Singapore, held the last spot at 16.

Thrillist’s poll was based on a referendum of its staff members’ “international friends.” The survey did not include popular restaurants like Mc Donald’s, Wendy’s and Taco Bell. ■

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Philippine News

NOVEMBER 7, 2014 FRIDAY

After 6 years, Supreme Court finally takes up case vs Jpepa

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SUPREME Court has resolved to “give due course” to the petitions questioning the constitutionality of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) that were filed six years ago, doing away with oral arguments and instead ordering the parties to make their respective cases through the submission of memoranda.

In a resolution dated Oct. 14 but released last week, the high court gave the petitioners and respondents 45 days to submit their respective memoranda summarizing their arguments.

The court also assembled three amici curiae to give their independent views on the petitions: Retired Justice Florentino Feliciano, and University of the Philippines law professors Merlin Magallona and Raul Pangalangan, the Inquirer publisher.

The court gave the “friends of the court” 60 days to submit a memorandum.

“Considering the allegations, issues and arguments adduced in the petitions, comments thereon and in the replies of the parties, this court resolves to give due course to the petitions; treat the comments as answers; and require the parties to submit their respective memoranda within a non-extendable period of 45 days from notice hereof,” the court said.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno had no part in the resolution, while Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Arturo Brion were on leave.

The Supreme Court took this fresh action on the six-year-old petitions just as oral arguments on another international pact, the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca), approached.

The court scheduled the oral arguments on the petitions against Edca on Nov. 18, six months after they were filed.

The court did not say why the Jpepa case took a while to be tackled again.

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., former Sen. Jovito Salonga, several lawmakers, and environmen-

The Philippine Supreme Court buildings in Manila, Philippines.

tal and fair trade groups filed two petitions in 2008 against the pact, a bilateral agreement that aims to facilitate greater trade and investment, boost intellectual property protection and promote transparency in government procurement, among other things, between Japan and the Philippines.

The pact, which undergoes periodic consultation between the two countries, drew criticism for provisions that could open up the Philippines to shipments of toxic waste, and for its “unfair” trade liberalization.

Named respondents in the petitions were the 16 senators who ratified the

economic pact on Oct. 8, 2008, as well as then Trade Undersecretary and Jpepa Philippine coordinating committee chair Thomas Aquino, Malacañang officials including then Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and some members of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet: Alberto Romulo (foreign affairs), Peter Favila (trade) and Rolando Andaya (budget).

In the resolution, the high court laid down what the parties’ memoranda should address in a “clear and concise” manner: The statement of the case, the statement of facts, and the statement of the issues. ■

Amid murder... from an American warship to the Philippine military’s main camp in metropolitan Manila but he remains guarded by fellow Marines in a compound with an outer security ring of Filipino troops.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said amending the agreement could disrupt joint military exercises. The Philippines has also turned to the U.S. for help in modernizing its underfunded military amid a territorial row with China.

“It’s an imperfect agreement but given that, as I said, it’s not plausible for us to amend at this time,” del Rosario told the ABS-CBN TV network, adding that the accord needed to be abrogated by both countries to pave the way for any proposed changes.

The agreement has no clear provision outlining how it can be amended, according to Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose.

“If we abrogate,” del Rosario said, “it interrupts the ... joint exercise between our two armed forces. It consequences the modernization, the joint training, the inter-operability.” ❰❰ 1

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Critics have cited the custody provision of the accord — which says American military suspects shall remain in U.S. custody until legal proceedings are completed — as proof that the agreement is lopsided and undermines the sovereignty of the Philippines, which was an American colony until 1946.

Both sides are trying to make the agreement work despite its flaws, del Rosario said.

Philippine and U.S. authorities engaged in a high-profile custody battle over another U.S. Marine, Daniel Smith, who was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on charges of raping a Filipino woman in 2005. A Philippine appeals court overturned his conviction in 2009, allowing him to leave the country amid anti-U.S. protests.

In the latest case, Philippine police said Pemberton met Jennifer Laude, 26, at a disco bar in Olongapo city, northwest of Manila, on Oct. 11, then went to a motel room where Laude’s body was later found. Laude, whose former name was Jeffrey, had apparently been drowned in the toilet bowl. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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Alan cites... of the farm’s clubhouse. amenities, such as a mansion, a maze In yet another, she posted a garden, orchard and horse ranch. picture of her father, the Vice Tiu, owner of Sunchamp, has come President, wearing a bull cap and a jack- forward as the owner of 150-hectares of et, holding a microphone, with the mes- the estate. sage: “its karaoke time!”

Subido claimed that the farm was only The pictures were apparently taken in 145 ha, not 350 ha, and 9 ha of this was December 2012. leased by Binay starting 1994. Binay’s Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday JCB Farms occupied three hectares. presented the Binay daughter’s InstaBinay said he sold JCB Farms for P10 gram posts to dispute claims by the Bi- million to Agrifortuna, which is owned nay family that it leased only 9 hectares by Laureano Gregorio. The Binay couple of the 350hectare farm in Rosario town. had been incorporators of Agrifortuna “Did you file a case against jmbli- for a paid-up capital of P50,000 but sold cious?” Cayetano asked lawyer Martin their shares to Gregorio in 1995, accordSubido at the resumption of the Sen- ing to the Binay camp. ate blue ribbon subcommittee inquiry Sunchamp acquired Gregorio’s rights into Makati City’s allegedly overpriced to the property, and this has been disP2.28-billion parking building. closed to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Subido, lawyer for the Vice President Tiu, also chair of agro-commercial and businessenterprise man Antonio AgriNurture Tiu, responded: Inc. and holding “Your honor, it’s firm for renewnot contrary to One of her posts, which able energy busithe rights of Suncame with a picture of nesses Greenchamp.” three boys frolicking in ergy Holdings, Cayetano a pool amid a grove of earlier said Sunpressed on and trees, read: ‘… our place champ was leasasked what “our in Batangas.’ ing land from place in Batanseveral parties, gas” meant. including AgriSubido said: fortuna Inc., but “This could mean anything.” Cayetano the contract with Agrifortuna was for asked: “In what world?” the lawyer re- less than 10 ha. plied: “In any sensible man’s world.”

Cayetano then asked: “Doesn’t that Most powerful pictures mean they own it?” Subido responded: Cayetano showed a lengthy Power“Your honor, I don’t see the question, Point presentation complete with TV ‘Where are you?” reports showing different holders of The senator then clicked on the slide titles to the farm close to the Binays, showing the young Binay’s response to a magazine write- ups referring to it as the friend asking about the backdrop of her Binay Farm, and pictures of the Binays pictures: “our place in batangas,” and inside the farm. said: “That answers your question.”

“The most powerful pictures come Subido maintained that the Binays from the Binay family themselves,” he were not claiming a right “adverse” to said.

Sunchamp Real Estate Development The pictures included that of Binay, Corp. clad in fatigues and combat boots, apparently touring friends in the estate.

Not proof of ownership “Tomorrow is Halloween,” Cayetano Pictures do not prove ownership, ac- said, drawing chuckles. “When the Vice cording to the Binay camp.

President was there, it wasn’t Hallow“Nag-videoke ka lang, may-ari ka na een. Perhaps, you don’t go to a resort or (Does enjoying a videoke mean that you a home of a friend in a costume. If you’re own the property)?’’ Binay’s spokesper- going around in fatigues, that means son Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said im- you’re at home; you own the place.” mediately after the photos were shown Tiu said he respected Cayetano’s opinat the hearing. ion.

Remulla said the Vice President and “I never wore fatigues except during his family had been “open about using the ROTC (Reserved Officers Training facilities and visiting Rosario.’’

Course),” Tiu said. He said he’d wear This was because Binay’s wife, Dr. El- Captain America or Iron Man costumes enita Binay, has a flower farm inside the to a party, but not on an ordinary day. property, according to the Cavite gover- “It’s not my kind of thing, too.” nor.

Cayetano then remarked: “He’s wel“But these photos, like previous pho- come to answer. If it wasn’t his place, tos shown by Senator Cayetano, are not why would he wear fatigues when we’re proof of ownership,’’ Remulla said. not in a war?”

Former Makati Vice Mayor Nestor Tiu confirmed that Binay’s wife, Dr. Mercado has accused Binay of own- Elenita Binay, was free to roam the farm ing the sprawling estate with luxurious beyond the 9 hectares as long as she ❰❰ 1

A screenshot from the (now removed) Instagram account of Vice President Jejomar Binay's daughter.

Binay's opponents have used it as evidence that Binay owns a massive farm in Batangas province.

INSTAGRAM SCREENSHOT

cleared this with Sunchamp.

He admitted seeing the Vice President visit the farm once. But when it came to the Binay children, he said he had yet to see Sunchamp’s records of visitors.

“So far I have not met them at the farm,” the businessman said of the Binay children.

Tiu said Dr. Elenita had access to the farm because the Binays leased 9 hectares of it.

“As a courtesy to the wife of the Vice President, I didn’t stop her from going around,” he said.

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Tailor sews stories together

When Cayetano asked if they were doing these as “acts of ownership,” Tiu replied that there was no problem with the Binays touring the farm as long as they cleared this first with Sunchamp.

“They went there more often than I did,” he said.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV butted in, and said: “Again, we’ve caught him lying… I told you it’s hard to be a tailor and sew stories together.”

He said Tiu had claimed the Binays were limited to visiting the orchard. Tiu denied saying this. ■

12

Philippine News

NOVEMBER 7, 2014 FRIDAY

‘David Tan’ slapped by BOC with charges of rice smuggling

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Picture of the smuggled rice.

FILE PHOTO

MANILA — A firm linked with purported rice smuggler, Davidson Bangayan or David Tan, has been slapped by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) with smuggling charges. The bureau filed the complaints last week before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In the complaint, the BOC alleged that the Intercontinental Grains International Trading Inc. smuggled at least 5,400 metric tons or 5.4 million kilo-

grams of rice from Thailand via the Manila International Container Terminal and the Port of Manila between September and October 2013. The illegally imported rice is said toi have a value of P217 million.

According to records of the BOC, the Intercontinental Grains International Trading was the fifth biggest rice importer in 2013, and the third rice-importing company connected to Bangayan to be charged with smuggling. The first two firms to be accused of illegally bringing in are Bold Bidder and Silent Royalty.

The complaint detailed that the Intercontinental Grains’ shipments in question arrived from Thailand on two separate occasions: first, at the Port of Manila; and second, at the Manila International Container Port in September 2013 and October 2013, respectively.

September’s shipment of 675,000 kg of rice had an approximate market value of P27 million and taxable value of P10.3 million; whereas the 4.75 million kg of rice that arrived in October had an estimated market value of P190 million and taxable value of P66.6 million. ■

Binay on... post was public, not private. I did not invade their privacy.”

Cayetano asked if Binay’s youngest daughter was denying her post that her family owned the place.

“Is she even denying that she posted that, and that her family treats the hacienda as their own?” Cayetano asked.

Cayetano agreed that one picture does not prove ownership.

But he said that taken together with the testimony of witnesses, pictures of different groups on the farm, and land titles in the names of Binay’s associates, “this is crucial evidence.”

“Rather than make excuses and point to evidence, why doesn’t he make a cohesive answer? That’s why he prefers a debate to a hearing. Because he keeps changing his story,” Cayetano said. ❰❰ 4

Protocol disregarded

Binay criticized the blue ribbon subcommittee for disregarding protocol by expelling United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim secretary general JV Bautista and interim president Tobias Tiangco from the hearing.

“They no longer respect protocol. They sent Rep. Toby Tiangco away and I heard they had him physically removed from the hearing,” Binay said.

“That’s the Cayetano brand.

He wants to be seen as powerful. The people who were summoned to the hearing had the right to legal advice, but even the lawyer was sent away. I don’t understand. Those people in the Senate have their own

law,” he said.

Binay appealed to senators on the subcommittee to raise their standard of politics and not resort to mudslinging.

He said his detractors should not resort to lies to smear him.

“Present your plans to the people instead. We should aim for clean politics,” he said.

‘Paid broadcasters,’ PR

Binay also blamed the drop in his ratings on the attack by his rivals, which he said was “the work of PR” and “paid broadcasters.”

“The attacks against me have been intensified. The PR officers are feasting on me. Those broadcasters are paid per strike,” Binay said, but did not identify the broadcasters.

Binay defended his rating, saying it was not only his number that fell in the latest trust poll.

“The ratings of almost all the people in the government led

by President Aquino dropped,” he said.

He pointed out that the last Pulse Asia poll, taken between June and September, which showed his number dropped to 15 percent, was conducted before he addressed the nation from the Philippine International Convention Center on Sept. 18 to defend himself against charges of corruption.

“The people have not yet heard or seen on TV our side at that time,” he said.

Crossing the line

Meanwhile, Bautista said members of the blue ribbon subcommittee crossed the ethical

line in the conduct of investigation by shaming witnesses and embarassing innocent people.

Bautista said that in their desperation to tarnish Binay, the senators willfully allowed former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado to lift the modest picture of the Vice President’s youngest daughter from Instagram.

He added that Mercado and the three senators turned the Senate into a theatrical production of sorts by spreading lies and fabricated stories to pin down businessman Antonio Tiu as an alleged dummy for Binay by showing pictures of the Vice President’s daughter.

Bautista said gone were the days when the Senate was a bastion of democratic debate and dialogue, noting that the Senate inquiry has been onesided in appraising the testimonies of witnesses and receiving evidence to arrive at predetermined conclusions.

Lowest point

“Last Thursday was the lowest point in the Senate inquisition,” Bautista said.

Bautista said that the pictures lifted from Instagram were intended to link the Binays to the Batangas property.

“They dragged the name of the VP’s youngest daughter but the photos are not evidence. In the first place the Binays have never denied using those facilities because Mrs. Binay has a flower farm [there] and they are leasing the area. If you’re renting an apartment, you don’t own it but it is ‘your place’ and that’s all it is. The pictures www.canadianinquirer.net

Vice President Jejomar Binay.

again do not prove ownership but they do prove the perverted mindset of the inquisitors,” Bautista said.

Bautista added that “there seems to be nothing that the Senate inquisitors will not stoop to doing in their persecution of the VP and his allies.”

‘Innocent online musings’

“They dragged in the innocent online musings of his youngest daughter as well as totally irrelevant details like Mr. Tiu’s wearing of fatigues at the Tiu farm. [It was Binay in fatigues.– Ed.] They hid behind technicalities in order to muzzle the VP’s spokesmen from voluntary appearance,” he said.

“When the Senate says that it will seek the truth, it must seek the truth. And it must receive all and every kind of evidence to arrive at the truth. The trouble with the subcommittee is that they are selective. They don’t want to hear the side of Vice President Binay. That’s why they do that, and they will go to great lengths to throw us out of

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the subcommittee, just so we will not be allowed to bring out the truth,” he said.

Harassment, intimidation

Bautista turned on administration allies who he said were using the “government’s machinery” to harass and intimidate innocent people who they believed were associated with Binay.

“And now they have unleashed the [Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Agrarian Reform, the Securities and Exchange Commission]—and God knows what other government agencies in order to harass Mr. Tiu, a selfmade businessman and [Ten Outstanding Young Men] awardee. This last tactic is also obviously intended to frighten away people who might want to speak up for the Vice President and the truth,” Bautista said.

“The damage this kind of intimidation does to our political culture and the nation’s morale will long outlive this Senate inquiry, to the eternal shame of its instigators,” he said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

13

Vice President...

He said the BSP has been offered another UPLB land grant in Siniloan town, Laguna province, “to show that we support scouting.”

Sanchez, formerly UPLB vice chancellor for planning and development, said university officials were surprised that the hotel and cell tower were constructed within the forest. ❰❰ 3

Autonomy not ownership

Surprise hotel

“They told us they would just do some renovations to the Romulo Hall (a building being used for functions), but we were surprised that a hotel was built instead,” he said.

Sanchez said the UPLB had raised the issue with the BSP and it would be part of the discussions before the BSP’s lease contract expires in 2015.

The BSP jamboree site is leased out by UPLB to the BSP under a 25-year contract that will expire in 2015. Binay is the longest-serving president of the BSP, since he was first elected by the scouting board in 1994. The BSP has about 2 million members.

The Vice President’s camp yesterday refused to comment on the matter.

A BSP official, however, said yesterday that there were no attempts by Binay to take full control of the jamboree site.

BSP’s denial

The BSP national executive board and national council, not Binay, have proposed that the BSP be given autonomy to administer the entire property, the official said.

A Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is investigating alleged irregularities in Makati City during Binay’s term as mayor, including overpricing in the construction of the P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II. The subcommittee has expanded its investigation to cover alleged corruption and illgotten properties of Binay.

UPLB has registered strong opposition to moves in the House of Representative to transfer the jamboree site to the BSP. In December 2005, then UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco issued a memorandum “to consolidate our efforts to effectively respond to this unwanted move of [the] BSP.” Velasco said university officials were surprised at the attempts to take control of the property when the BSP had been leasing the land at a very low annual rate—P1 per hectare.

“We’re getting almost nothing [from the lease],” Velasco said in a phone interview.

Tipped off

The UPLB source said one of of three bills made it to a third and final reading in the House.

“We wouldn’t have known if not for one (UPLB) alumnus, who happened to be a staff member in the [House], who

Philippine boy Scouts talk with a US Marine during a visit to a military facility in 2011. Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, has allegedly attempted to transfer ownership of a BSP jamboree site from the Makiling forest reserve.

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tipped us off,” the source said.

The university launched a massive signature campaign from 2005 to 2006 and “lobbied the congressmen in Laguna and Batangas that they either not attend the hearing or they vote against the passage of the bill,” said another UPLB source, whose office is in charge of the university’s records.

“I don’t know what the press release was back then, but that’s how it happened. The fear now is if Binay wins [the presidency in 2016], it would be too easy for them [to effect the takeover],” the second source said.

to build a “world-class tourism site.”

“They’re not using it for scouting anymore. They’d bring in youths from Makati and the government employees here instead,” the source said.

Outsmarting UPLB

Sought for comment, BSP camp director Eusebio Mole dismissed the House bills, saying that they no longer existed.

“That’s over,” he said, but would not comment further.

“They’ve been trying to outsmart UPLB for several years already,” said another source who used to hold a second top university post, but declined to be named for fear of compromising his position.

“Imagine, a hotel and cell site were built without permit [from the university],” the source said.

He was referring to the BSP International Makiling, a fourstory hotel constructed on Makiling, and a Smart telecommunications tower in 2009.

Mercado earlier said the hotel, which costs P60-65 million, was built with funds from the BSP. A BSP source said the hotel costs P150 million.

The first UPLB source said talk among Makiling officials when the hotel was being constructed was that Binay planned



   

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But JR Pangilinan, regional director of the BSP’s Asia-Pacific scout committee, denied that Binay attempted to take full control of the jamboree site.

“The request was for the BSP to be given autonomy to administer the entire property,” Pangilinan said in a statement sent through Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado.

He clarified that the proposal for the BSP’s autonomy came from the national executive board and the national council of the BSP, and not from the Vice President.

The national council is the highest policy-making body of the BSP. “[The] BSP and [the] UPLB are very close allies in education and youth development. This issue is not a serious concern for the two institutions and will not affect their strong ties and partnership,” Pangilinan said.

He said the university, which administers the entire Mt. Makiling Reserve, had even agreed to provide additional areas for the BSP as camping ground because of the increasing membership of the organization.

“It is [the] BSP’s hope that the institution be spared from politicking and allowed to concentrate on its vision for our youth,” Pangilinan said. ■

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Philippine News

NOVEMBER 7, 2014 FRIDAY

Comfort women rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on August 2011. Many of the comfort women alive today, who were teenagers at the time of the war, were subject to wartime atrocities by Japanese troops, and are now fighting against the Japanese Government and time itself to have the war crimes recognized.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

War time sex slave urges Japan to apologize as survivors’ time running out PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY TOKYO — Almost seven decades have passed since the end of World War II, and for a group of women who suffered from Japanese wartime atrocities, their tough fight for dignity is compounded by ongoing fears that time left for them to witness justice is fleeting.

The women, who were forcibly abducted and served to Japanese soldiers in brothels run by the Japanese Imperial Army during the war in countries and regions occupied by Japan, are known as “ comfort women”, and most survivors right now were mainly teenagers at that ruthless time.

The comfort women issue always remains headline news both here and in victim countries, as the government here has spared no effort to whitewash the wrongdoing with its tricky wording on the worldrecognized “Kono Statement” that offers an official apology to the victims.

The latest case was Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga saying recently that no evidence can be found to prove the comfort women were “forcibly recruited” and the government does not recognize then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono’s words accepting “forcible recruitment” during a press briefing after the release of the 1993 Kono Statement.

However, for Felicidad De los

Reyes, an 86-year-old Filipino, a victim of such sexual slavery, Suga’s remarks are ridiculous since she herself is a living testimony to refute the Japanese top government spokesman.

Reyes was still a school girl in 1943 and was enrolled in a program to welcome Japanese soldiers in her school where a garrison of the Japan’s Imperial Army was based.

“I was No. 7 in the program that was held on a Friday. The following week on Tuesday, two Japanese soldiers came to our class room and said the No. 7 should come with us,” Reyes told Xinhua in an exclusive interview at the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace in Tokyo, adding the soldiers said that they had prepared a gift for

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her in the garrison.

“I was astonished and asked why, but my teacher told me that I should go with them or you might be killed. You know you can not disobey them as the Japanese occupied our country,” said Reyes.

Reyes, who was only 14 at that time, said the Japanese took her to temporary buildings for women who do chores for the Japanese troops in the back of the school and she were pushed into a room where she suffered the worst nightmare of her life.

“I was raped by three Japanese soldiers. They slapped me in the face and kicked me in the stomach. I was in terrible pain and tried to resist but more blows were delivered and finally I lost consciousness. What I

remember is that I was raped by three soldiers and heard their shameless laughs after they left the room, “ Reyes recalled.

Reyes was imprisoned for days but was finally released by the soldiers as she got a fever and was too weak to stand.

“During the days in the room, I also heard cries from other girls or women,” she said.

When asked about whether she acknowledges the Japanese government’s viewpoint on wartime sex slavery, the old women cried, trying to wipe the tears from her deep-wrinkled face, and said it is wrong that the Japanese government denies its wrongdoings.

“They committed many crimes in our country. They killed so many people, even in-

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

fants,” she said. the review only reinvestigated the Kore“The question in my mind is that why an cases and concluded that no evidence have we been fighting for so long? For was found that can prove the women so many years. We filed cases and lost were “forcibly recruited.” them, even in the United States we lost.

All Filipino victims found by Lila PiliSo until now, we have had no justice, pina testified that they were forcibly why?” taken, Extremadura said, adding no case “We want justice from the Japanese said they received payment for sexual government,” she continued, “We want services, referring to an absurd asserthe truth to be recorded in history books tion here in Japan that comfort women so that the younger generations can read were the equivalent of prostitutes and what happened to us. For us, the Kono were well paid.

Statement is not enough. If the Japanese “I don’t think the Japanese governgovernment accepts the facts, they must ment ever heard about our cases, it only compensate and apologize to us so that focuses on the Korean cases and said it will be a little bit easier for our pain.” they found nothing that can prove forcIn the Philippines, a total of 174 cases ible recruitment... it remains a question of victims of the Japanese wartime sex mark as to why it never mentions the slavery system were found by the Lila Philippines, Indonesia, the Netherlands Pilipina, a Filipino organization of sur- and China?” vivors of comfort women during World In fact, even if in the Korean cases, the War II, since it was established in 1994, Kono Statement mentions that many according to Rechilda Extremadura, cases were against women’s will. “The president and executive director of the Korean Peninsula was under Japanese women’s rights group. rule in those days, and their recruitment, “Of the 174 cases, only 97 are still alive, transfer, control, etc., were generally and only four of them could testify as conducted against their will, through the rest of them are too old to recall the coaxing, coercion, etc.”, according to an past,” Extremadura told Xinhua in the English version of the 1993 statement. same interview The English with Reyes, addversion on the ing they have Japanese Forbeen fighting eign Ministry’s for 20 years but website, which, are afraid that “We want justice however, was they might fail to from the Japanese labeled “unofhelp the victims, government,” she ficial translabecause of the continued, “We want tion”, goes on to limited time rethe truth to be recorded say that Japan maining for the in history books so that “hereby reitersurvivors. the younger generations ate our firm deJapanese can read what happened termination nevPrime Ministo us. er to repeat the ter Shinzo Abe same mistake by takes a very firm forever engravstance that coming such issues pensation will in our memories be never offered, the women’s rights through the study and teaching of hisactivist said, adding “even the UN said tory.” it (comfort women) is a war crime and “The Government of Japan shall congave suggestions to the Japanese gov- tinue to pay full attention to this maternment, but it maintains its uncom- ter, including private researched related promising stance of avoiding a political thereto.” it added. resolution.”

Extremadura, meanwhile, also urged “That is what we are afraid of because the Philippine government to act tangiit will happen again. Without resolution, bly to help the survivors and to negotiate without acceptance (to compensation), with the Japanese government on comnobody can say it won’t happen again... pensation to the living victims, rather History has proven it again and again. than accepting the statement.

A responsible government should deal She said her group sought dialogue with the issue sincerely with the inter- with the congress and every president, national community, but the Japanese including current Philippine President government has no such sincerity,” she Benigno Aquino III, but no progress was told Xinhua. made, although the government is very Extremadura said the Kono State- aware of the comfort women issue. ment is not the final word and is open “In Japan, civic groups are strong, to new evidence, criticizing a recent re- but the government here does not give view released by the government here them a chance,” Extremadura said, addto reinvestigate how the statement was ing that the Japanese government has compiled, stating it is too narrow and to change and be responsible, or Japan should include cases in the Philippines, can not be forgiven by the international Indonesia, China and all other regions community. occupied by Japan during the war.

Without justice to victims like Reyes, As the Kono Statement was compiled “how can I forgive Japan,” Extremadura based on about a dozen Korean victims, concluded. ■

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Supreme Court asked to create cybercrime courts

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE DEPARTMENT of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) has asked the Supreme Court anew to create special courts to handle litigation of crimes committed online amid the worsening incidence of cases such as child pornography, sextortion and other abuses through the Internet.

Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy, OOC head, made the appeal following the creation of a Prosecution Task Force on Cybercrime, a DOJ team dedicated to investigate online crimes.

“We are calling on the Supreme Court to be innovative and dynamic. Cybercrime courts should be the DOJ’s partners. Otherwise, we are doing cybercrime prosecution the courts do not understand,” Sy said in an interview.

Sy said the creation of special courts for cybercrime, which has been formally proposed to the high court, would “complete the picture” of a judicial system attuned with the needs of the times, from investigation to litigation.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have their respective cybercrime units, while the DOJ established in September a prosecution task force to focus on online crimes. The DOJ has also started training public attorneys, the defenders of indigent litigants, to specialize in cybercrime trials.

“We already have cybercrime prosecutors and cybercrime defenders. To complete the picture, all we need are the courts,” said Sy on the sidelines of a recent public-private sector forum on the campaign against child sexual abuse online.

With the creation of the DOJ’s cybercrime prosecution task force, Sy said

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five to 10 specialized prosecutors would be assigned to teams in Metro Manila and other known cybercrime hotspots— Angeles City, Cebu City and Davao City.

These teams will focus on priority cybercrime cases, such as pedophilia and other sex-related online crimes.

“The rest, like online fraud, are property issues which could be easily resolved. But for cases involving women and children, there should be no compromise,” said Sy. The DOJ aims to soon launch an atsource filtering system to block pornographic content off Internet service, seeking the cooperation of telecommunications firms to implement the effort.

Sy’s office handles cases of violations of Philippine laws on cybercrime, including the 2009 Anti-Photo and Voyeurism Act, the 2009 Anti-Child Pornography Act, the 2000 E-Commerce Act, the 1998 Access Devices Regulation Act and the 1965 Anti-Wiretapping Law. ■

Opinion

16

NOVEMBER 7, 2014 FRIDAY

AT LARGE

Frightening ourselves

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer EVERY year on November 1, we mark an annual ritual, trooping to cemeteries to pay homage to the dead, laying flowers and candles at their graves and saying prayers for the “eternal repose of their souls.”

The tradition evolved, I suppose, as a way to ensure that the living remember the dead, that at least once a year, those who are up and about take time from the humdrum business of living to visit the dear departed, make sure their surroundings are kept in order, and storm Heaven with prayers for their salvation.

And yet at the same time, Filipino tradition calls for gathering the generations at the grave sites, sharing meals, and catching up on family gossip. We really must turn every social obligation, even ones involving the dead, into a celebration and reunion.

And I’m sure our ancestors and late relatives don’t mind it a bit!

On Halloween (October 31), though, we observe another sort of tradition entirely, “celebrating” by reminding ourselves of the creatures in another dimension, mimicking ghosts and ghouls by donning costumes, festooning our homes with jack-o-lanterns and fake cobwebs, with children and youths making the

rounds with calls of “trick or treat!”

This is Mexico, and when I visited rounds in cyberspace calling for the Time was when this was known as the country around All Saints Day passage of the country’s first-ever “nangangaluluwa” (souls visiting the some years back, the streets were “Mental Health Act.” living), with the tradition involving filled with folks clad in all manner An initiative of the Philippine Psythe “stealing” of household imple- of frightening fashion, hopping from chiatric Association (PPA), the draft ments by the visitors who put up their vehicle to vehicle, in an urbanized law “aims to protect the rights of stash in the town plaza, where house- daredevil version of “trick or treat.” people with mental disorders and/or holders are supposed to “ransom” We visitors wanted to visit a cem- disabilities” by putting in place an oftheir goods. The returns are then used etery to observe howMexicans hon- ficial body that “will oversee the polifor drinking sprees or “good time.” ored the dead, but our hosts thought cies and programs that need to be deBut with urbanization and commer- families might object to being treated veloped to prevent and treat mental cialization, the practice has evolved as tourist attractions. illnesses, and to promote the mental into the Westernized “Halloween,” a Instead, we were taken to an exhibit health of Filipinos.” blander version of the native rite, with of art installations depicting the graves of Such a law and such policies are long candies replacing overdue. The World the forced monetary Health Organization But with urbanization and commercialization, the contributions. estimates that one practice has evolved into the Westernized “Halloween,” . . .

It’s all in the spirit in five people suffer with candies replacing the forced monetary contributions. of fun and faux horfrom mental health ror. But Halloween problems worldhas spooked some Church leaders who famous Mexican figures and how these wide, and yet in this country, there are now call for its banning, or for replac- might be decorated in typical, over-the- only 0.05 psychiatrists per 100,000 ing the fascination with otherworldly top Mexican rococo style. I remember people. To make matters worse, most creatures with homage to saints. This particularly the homage to artist Frida health insurance companies still don’t has inspired, in turn, columnists like Kahlo which was adorned in a manner cover mental-health-related issues Gilda Cordero-Fernando and Am- recalling her feminism and surrealism. or ailments, and, say supporters, “the beth Ocampo to suggest some saints Mexico is as much a Catholic coun- stigma still weighs heavily on people and martyrs whose manner and pre- try as the Philippines, although there suffering from mental illness.” sentation of their deaths could spark runs in Mexico a vein of deep, abiding The PPA version of the draft bill even more hysteria than the scariest anticlericalism. But its celebration of was presented to the public recently Dracula. Be careful what you wish for! the “Dia de los Muertos” was light- and was turned over to Sen. Pia CayetI KNOWof only one other country— hearted and gleeful, as much carnival ano, who chairs the Senate committee aside from the United States—where as religious obligation. on health. MENTAL health has been the “Day of the Dead” inspires as much *** described as an unacknowledged soghoulish delight and macabre fashion.

THERE is a petition making the cial problem, with families and policy-

makers preferring to sweep the problem under the rug, seeking ad hoc, private and hush-hush treatments, far from the public eye.

The petition (which may be accessed through change.org) calls for the swift passage of the proposed Mental Health Act which would create “comprehensive and rightsbased” programs aimed at “developing solutions to multifaceted and serious problems concerning the mental health of Filipinos.”

Truly, our understanding of mental health issues and our response to those in need of help still have a ways to go.

For most Filipinos, mentally ill persons have to conform to stereotypes in movies, TV and comics: talking to themselves, tearing at their hair, unkempt, wild-eyed and raving. There is little information regarding depression, much less its connection to suicide, and to signs of suicidal tendencies and what to do to stave off an attempted suicide or address a call for help.

Indeed, there are very real problems under our nose, and the mental health of our people, especially our stressed-out youth, is one. But instead of learning more about mental health issues and what we, as family members and as a society, can do about it, we frighten ourselves with tales of manananggal and kapre, and brace ourselves for a zombie apocalypse. ■

ANALYSIS

Aquino dim on ‘right candidate’ in 2016

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer WE HAVE not yet heard the last word from Malacañang on whether or not President Aquino will step down when his term ends less than two years from now. Last month, he intensified speculation over his plans after 2016 when he told a gathering of semiconductor and electronic industry groups that extending his administration for another term would not be the “right solution” to sustain the Philippines’ economic growth.

His pronouncement was hailed by the media as “the most categorical answer he has made to the question of whether he is open to extending his term.”

I beg to disagree with this perception. On the contrary, the President’s statement was the most evasive, if not devious, declaration he has made on the issue since August.

The announcement was an exercise in duplicity and obfuscation, which did not clarify his position on the issue “once and for all,” as claimed by sources close to the Aquino family.

The President made the remark in answer to a question by a member of the electronic industry group about

how the Philippines could maintain asks you to deliver the same,” he left his to go to waste. During his trip to Euor increase its competitiveness when audience mystified over what he meant rope in August, he told reporters that the ASEAN economic integration be- by the “right candidate”—whether it there was still time to amend the Congins in 2015. He was also asked how was himself or someone else he did stitution and lift the provision on term sustainable the Philippines’ econom- not identify. His recent statements did limits if “the vast majority” thought it ic growth would be after 2016. “There not indicate who will get his support in should be done. Mr. Aquino received are some quarters that were saying I the 2016 election, and whether he was a jarring message from the public last should try and go for a second term. I seeking a second term. month from a survey conducted by don’t think that’s a right solution,” he Since August, the President has Pulse Asia showing that six out of 10 said. That was a political reply to an been coy about the possibility of term Filipinos, or 62 percent, opposed the economic question. extension. His statements before the amendment of the Constitution to On the issue of sustainability of Tuesday gathering left many in the allow him a second term. Apart from growth after 2016, Mr. Aquino said, administration in anguish and uncer- opening himself to calls for term ex“We all have a time card in this world, tainty, most of all Interior Secretary tension, he shifted to another reason and we have to prepare for the even- Mar Roxas, the presumptive presiden- to justify constitutional amendments, tuality of being called to meet our tial candidate of the Liberal Party, who arguing that these offered a remMaker. So, there has to be that con- has yet to receive his official blessing as edy to the Supreme Court’s judicial tinuation of people “overreach”—a refof like minds who erence to the high . . . the President’s statement was the most evasive, if not will deliver on the court’s decision devious, declaration he has made on the issue since August. promises that are striking down as not self-serving or nice, or pleasant the “right candidate” to succeed him. unconstitutional portions of the Disto hear.” To ensure competitiveness Consequently, it’s not far-fetched to bursement Acceleration Program, the and economic growth, he would “vote conjecture that Roxas was wondering administration’s patronage scheme in for the right candidate,” he said, and if the President was pulling his leg in the distribution of pork barrel funds urged his audience to do the same, speaking about the “right candidate.” for public works projects. adding that choosing the right leader After all, each time the President spoke On the issue of term extension as was “really a collective effort.” about term extension since August, he the answer to ensure sustainable ecoWhile he went on to tell his audi- offered different reasons. nomic growth, Socioeconomic Planence “to discern properly as to who is In September, he told the IN- ning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan extolling populist sentiments with no QUIRER that he was open to the idea came forward with a cautionary ecosubstance, as opposed to [one] who not of term extension because he did not nomic explanation (not a political only says the right things but who also want the gains of his administration one, such as constitutional change),

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to sustainable growth. Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the same gathering addressed by the President, Balisacan pointed out that the country could have grown faster in the third quarter of this year and that it might reach only the lower end of the target because of external shocks.

He said it was possible for the economy to accelerate by a faster rate during the July-September period over that of the previous period.

Balisacan maintained that the 6.5-7 percent full-year growth target could still be attained but that the economy must expand by at least 6.9 percent in the second half of the year for it to attain the lower end of the 2014 GDP growth. “Achieving the lower end of the [target] range is still a possibility, but the upper end is now a huge challenge,” he said. While the country’s performance in the second half is expected to be better than that of the first half, he said, external shocks, such as the problems facing Europe, continued to weigh on domestic growth prospects.

He avoided any comment on the President’s political approaches to sustained growth beyond 2014. He was obviously struggling to avert a clash with his boss, by showing him off. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

17

AS I SEE IT

People want to hear Vice President Binay, not his gatecrashers

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer NOW IT IS CLEAR WHY Vice President Jejomar Binay does not want to relinquish the presidency of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP)— he has been president of the BSP for more than 20 years already, the longest-serving BSP president: He wants to grab the 57.7hectare jamboree site that the BSP has leased (for one peso) from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). The lease expires next year.

Officials of UPLB revealed that there were at least three attempts by Binay’s allies in Congress to grab part of the 4,244-hectare Makiling forest reserve. The latest attempt was made by his daughter, Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, who filed House Bill No. 6352, or the “Boy Scouts of the Philippines Charter of 2012.” There is no explicit mention of the Makiling property in HB 6352, but it has the same intent as two other bills.

One, HB 4765, “an act vesting the (BSP) with jurisdiction and administration over a parcel of land located at Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna,

to be known as the Boy Scouts of the and expert handling of the investiga- investigation of Binay who constantPhilippines Jamboree Site…” was tion and to Senators Alan Peter Cay- ly refuses to directly answer the alfiled in 2001. The other, HB 3005, etano and Antonio Trillanes IV for legations against him and his family. filed in 2005, contained similar pro- their dogged pursuit of the truth. If The public should not be denied the visions. Both bills were authored by not for these three, the investigation right to be informed of the alleged ilformer Marikina representative and would be over by now, and Binay and legal activities of the second highest now Mayor Del de Guzman, a known his family would be laughing as they official of the land, who wants to go ally of Binay. One of these three bills enjoy the luxuries of Hacienda Binay even higher and become president. was almost passed. It had been quiet- in Batangas and the other Hacienda It is comforting that Senators ly railroaded to a third and final read- Binay in UPLB. The other senators Cayetano and Trillanes, unlike the ing in the House when UPLB officials seem afraid of Binay (who may, God other senators, are as determined as were tipped off by a House employee forbid, become president of the Phil- Pimentel to expose the truth on how who happened to be a UPLB alumnus. ippines), and are not participating in the Binays amassed their wealth. The If not for him, that part of the UPLB the investigation. efforts of the three senators should campus would now not be wasted since be another “Binay public money is It would be pointless to stop the investigation of Bihacienda.” involved and the nay who constantly refuses to directly answer the allegations Obviously, the hearings must conagainst him and his family. ambition of Binay tinue until the truth when he was still “poor” was to be The pressure on the subcommittee comes out. an hacendero. He pursued that am- to stop the investigation is daunting.

Binay is doing everything except bition as soon as he became a public Pimentel’s fair treatment of the re- face the Senate to defend himself. He official (as mayor of Makati). source persons is commendable. He goes everywhere delivering speeches Details of how he apparently ac- constantly explains to the witnesses, during which he repeats, like a broquired the 350-hectare “Hacienda “Para maging malinaw lang tayo,” or ken record, that the corruption alleBinay” in Rosario, Batangas, are “Linawin lang natin” (Let’s make it gations are “only politics,” but refusslowly coming out in the investiga- clear) to avoid any impression of de- es to answer them point by point. His tion being conducted by the Senate liberately confusing or deceiving the four mouthpieces are doing the same blue ribbon subcommittee chaired by public—as the Binay camp seems to thing, creating plenty of noise only Sen. Koko Pimentel. Credit should be be trying to do. but saying nothing to explain how given to Pimentel for his courageous It would be pointless to stop the the Binays acquired their immense

wealth.

Binay challenged Senator Trillanes to a debate and when the latter accepted it, he got cold feet and he is now trying to find excuses to avoid it. His mouthpiece, Rep. Toby Tiangco, claims he is trying to dissuade Binay not to go through with the debate.

Binay said that if it is the blue ribbon mother committee that would invite him he would attend the investigation. So the mother committee’ chair, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, sent him an invitation, but now he is hemming and hawing and has not indicated, until now, if and when he is going to the Senate investigation.

But while Binay refuses to show himself in the Senate, his two noisy mouthpieces, Tiangco and JV Bautista, tried to gatecrash the investigation last Thursday. The two have got it wrong: The senators wanted to hear their boss, not them, so they were quietly escorted out the door.

Mr. Vice President, the people want to hear you explain how you acquired your unexplained wealth. Don’t hide behind your mouthpieces. They only create noise, nothing else. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

The power of the dead

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer AFTER MY parents died, I made it a point it to visit their graves whenever I had the chance. Instead of mumbling a prayer, I would silently address my thoughts to them. I would bring them news about a wedding in the family, or a new baby, or how my children were doing at school. If any of my siblings was going through a difficult time or had been ill, I would ask for their guidance and prayers on his or her behalf. If I had just returned from an overseas trip, I might tell them where I had been, as though to say I wish they had been there.

I am neither religious nor superstitious, and I don’t believe the dead could communicate. But I think regular communion with the dead is very much an integral part of our culture.

I suppose one of the reasons our families are strong is because we don’t easily let go of our dead ancestors.

We don’t treat them as dust; we can’t imagine them as bones or as ashes.

Long after they have died, they retain a vivid presence in our lives. We wish them to be around to look after us although we don’t necessarily want to see them. We are content to feel traces of them in the objects they left behind, or to catch fleeting glimpses

of them in the faces and mannerisms grounded in a notion of life as con- prescribes a way of living that, with of our siblings and children. sisting of the physical body and a God’s mercy, opens a path to redempDespite the carnival atmosphere spirit/soul that does not perish with tion and eternal life. that seems increasingly to enve- the body at the moment of death.

All this is palpable in the prayers lope our celebrations of All Saints’ Almost all religions have something and the rituals for the dead. These Day, there is something that does to say about this dichotomy. Most of forms of communication employ not change in the way we treat our them assume the body dies but the the semantics of salvation—and are dead. We continue to accord them spirit lives on. Others say both body meant to ease the soul’s journey to the power to affect our lives. We seek and spirit die, but the latter may be God’s Kingdom. Without the concept their love and fear their wrath. We let restored to life at the right time de- of soul, death erases all accountabilthem communicate to us through our pending on how well it conducted ity. The idea of soul or spirit is not dreams and our thoughts. We do ev- itself in its lifetime. It is through this exclusive to the religions of the book. erything to appease Rather, it is found them if we had disin nearly all reliappointed them in gions—“in the form Despite the carnival atmosphere that seems increaslife. We assure them of ancestor worship, ingly to envelope our celebrations of All Saints’ Day, there is that we are living in a shadow realm something that does not change in the way we treat our dead. our lives in a way of the dead, in the that would make them proud. We concept of spirit that we are able to ‘grand tour’ of reincarnation, or in draw comfort from being able to un- conceive of eternal life after death. the form of modern spiritism” (Nikburden ourselves in their imagined This is why death occupies a central las Luhmann, “A systems theory of presence. place in every religion. religion”).

But sometimes we also blame them It has been said that perhaps But, for the agnostic, for whom for leaving us with many problems. Christianity offers the best prepara- death is where everything ends, the We resent the vicious role they may tion for death. Its cosmology offers a prayers, rituals, and incantations have played in the misunderstand- concept of life defined by two forms accompanying the dead would have ings and conflicts that have split the of time. There is God’s time—eter- no meaning. Still, friends and loved family. When misfortune strikes, we nity. And there is the finite time of ones might wish to celebrate a perask if they might know the reason human life. Humans have the chance son’s life and publicly express their and if they could help. We beg for to participate in God’s time through grief—without the protocols supplied their forgiveness if we had offended the soul. Death is certain, though by religion. It has never been easy to them, or we ask them to intercede for we don’t know when and how it will hold such memorials without being us with the forces of the unknown. come for each one of us. Neither do confronted by an awkwardness that Such practices are typical of an- we know what will happen to our summons “an awareness of what is cestor worship, but they are clearly souls after our death. But religion missing.” It was in this context that

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the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas once bewailed the modern age’s failure “to find a suitable replacement for a religious way of coping with the final rite de passage which brings life to a close.”

This failure is, of course, only an aspect of the broader question of modern reason’s inability to clarify its relationship with religion, which, quite obviously has not lost its social significance under modernity. That relationship was supposed to have been adequately defined by secularization.

But, hardly anyone makes that claim nowadays, if what is meant is the demise of the religious experience.

Faith has not retreated into the private sphere, as had been predicted. Indeed, outside Europe, there has been a resurgence of public religions.

What is becoming the norm in modernity, however, is the view that a religious description of the world is only one of many available descriptions. It neither invalidates the other descriptions nor is it called upon to submit to them.

Indeed, religion may often view secularization as a provocation and respond to it by asserting the primacy of its own definitions. But that’s just the flipside of secular reason’s own inability to make room for religion without violating its own vision. ■

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Canada News

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A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet takes off from CFB Cold Lake in 2003. A total of six CF-18 jet fighters, two CP-140 Aurora surveillance planes and one C-150 refuelling jet are operating out of airfields at an undisclosed location in Kuwait in the fight against ISIL. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

First Canadian air strikes in Iraq may have been aimed at ISIL dump truck

BY MURRAY BREWSTER The Canadian Press KUWAIT CITY — The first strikes of Canada’s air war over Iraq appear to have been aimed at construction equipment belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Although the military has been silent about what targets were bombed by two CF-18s during Canada’s first air raids of the war, the U.S. command overseeing operations in the Gulf region released a list of the weekend bombing missions.

The only official Canadian acknowledgment came from Defence Minister Rob Nicholson, who said Sunday’s attacks took place in the area of Fallujah, a militant stronghold about 71 kilometres west of Baghdad.

Nicholson wouldn’t release details, but said more information would be forthcoming at an Ottawa briefing on Tuesday — 48 hours after the mission.

However, U.S. Central Command, based in Tampa, Fla., said four strikes

hit a large ISIL unit in the vicinity where Canadian planes reportedly dropped their laser-guided bombs.

The attack apparently destroyed five ISIL bulldozers and one ISIL dump truck used to build obstructions and berms.

It is unclear whether Canadians carried out all of the strikes in the vicinity of Fallujah or if aircraft from other coalition nations were involved.

No one at the Canadian task force headquarters was immediately available for comment Monday night.

The U.S. military says a total of nine airstrikes took place in Iraq on Sunday, using jets and drones. Interestingly, the news release from U.S. Central Command neglected to mention Canada’s involvement in air operations.

The Iraqi government lost control of Fallujah in early January after local police were unable to hold back Islamic State fighters in the aftermath of the withdrawal of army units from Anbar province.

An offensive to retake the key re-

gion, which was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting during the U.S. occupation, began in late September.

The battle, which has involved tanks and armoured vehicles, has ebbed and flowed throughout October. There were reports in local media last week that as many as 400 ISIL fighters had massed in the area, which has been repeatedly bombed by coalition aircraft.

The construction equipment might have been used for constructing defensive positions for militants.

A total of six CF-18 jet fighters, two CP-140 Aurora surveillance planes and one C-150 refuelling jet are operating out of airfields at an undisclosed location in Kuwait.

The warplanes receive their strike orders and targets from the U.S.-led coalition and join aircraft from a number of different countries, including the U.S., Britain, Australia and several Gulf states.

The Canadian contribution to the air campaign is mandated to last six months, but is likely to be extended. ■

REGINA — The appearance of a crude-looking map on a social media site has Regina police investigating a possible new lead in a missing persons case that captured Canadians’ attention more than 10 years ago. The hand-made drawing posted this past Monday on Reddit by a user called “my secret is out” claims to show where the body of Tamra Keepness is located.

She was five years old when she disappeared from her home.

SENTRY ON DUTY WITH CIRILLO RETURNING TO POST OTTAWA — The young corporal who was standing sentry alongside Cpl. Nathan Cirillo the day he was killed is set to return to duty.

Cpl. Branden Stevenson says he’s preparing to return to his post at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the coming days. Stevenson was at the National War Memorial on the morning of Oct. 22 when Michael Zehaf Bibeau killed Cirillo and then stormed onto Parliament Hill, where he died in a gunfight in the Centre Block.

DEL MASTRO SEEKS TO RE-OPEN HIS TRIAL OTTAWA — Former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro, found guilty last week of violating the Canada Elections Act, says his lawyers will seek to re-open his defence in order to present new evidence. Del Mastro was found guilty last week of exceeding spending limits during the 2008 election, failing to report a personal contribution of $21,000 to his own campaign and knowingly submitting a falsified document.

SEX KILLER MILITARY PENSION SAFE FROM LAWSUIT TORONTO — The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that a woman pursuing a lawsuit against convicted sex killer Russell Williams cannot target his military pension for potential damages at this point. Williams, once a rising star in the Canadian Forces, was sentenced to life in prison in October 2010 after pleading guilty to the murders of Jessica Lloyd and Cpl. MarieFrance Comeau.

Canada News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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British Columbians gearing up for Municipal Elections

BY EARL VON TAPIA Philippine Canadian Inquirer BRITISH COLUMBIANS will be heading to the polls next week in order to vote for their Mayors, City Councillors, and other elected city officials for the next few years. Below we highlight the contests in some of the high-profile areas and look at some of the specific issues facing each community.

the 2011 election). The COPE and Vision parties split years ago, and COPE's revival is drawing upon some of that common voter base. Depending on how much support Wong and COPE can drum up at the election booth, it could make for a close finish between Robertson and LaPointe for Mayor.

Affordable housing is the number one issue to deal with according to Vancouverites, but candidates have been battling it out on every other issue from crime, homelessness, drugs, transportation, growth, corruption, and employment.

slate of candidates. Rasode was elected before as a member of the Surrey First Vancouver party, but decided earlier this year to sit Being the most visible city in the Provas an independent, and now runs with a ince, the race for the team of seven other positions of Mayor, council candidates City Councillor, under her "One SurSchool Trustee and rey" banner.

Parks Board ComDepending on how much support Wong and A poll conducted missioner has drawn COPE can drum up at the election booth, last month by Inconsiderable interit could make for a close finish between novative Research est, with 119 candiRobertson and LaPointe for Mayor.

Group that surdates in 11 different veyed 300 residents slates running for showed that Hepner these positions. had 27% support, Gregor Robertson of the Vision VanVoter turnout for Vancouver was 34% while McCallum had 22% and Rasode couver Party is looking to win his third in the 2011 elections (slightly higher had 15%, while 32% were undecided and straight term as Mayor of Vancouver. than the Provincial average of about 3% were voting for another candidate.

Challenging him is Kirk Lapointe of the 30%). That number is expected to rise Surrey has a reputation across Canada NPA Party, and Meena Wong of COPE, for this coming election. as a high-crime area, so it's no surprise in addition to 7 other candidates. that crime and safety is the most pressPolls released early this month from a Surrey ing issue for Surrey residents, and an iscouple of independent pollsters showed With the news that current mayor Di- sue that the parties and candidates have that in the Vancouver mayoral race, Rob- anne Watts, who won by a landslide back all built their platforms around. Growth ertson had an advantage over LaPointe, in 2011 (80% of the total vote), is giving with 46% support compared to 32%. up her seat as mayor in order to try her Wong was trailing at 16%, and the rest hand at federal politics next year, a numof the candidates were at 6% combined. ber of candidates are stepping in to try These echo the results of the 2011 BC and fill up the void that will be left in her Municipal Elections, where Robertson departure. won with 54% of the total vote (77005 The most high profile of these canvotes), while his chief rival in that race didates include former mayor Doug Suzanne Anton (NPA) received 41% of McCallum, and two city councillors in the vote (58152 votes). What is differ- Barinder Rasode and Linda Hepner. ent this time is that in running Wong McCallum joins with four other counas a Mayoral Candidate, COPE is taking cil candidates to form the "Safe Surrey away some of Vision's support (COPE Coalition", while Hepner is with the did not run a Mayoral Candidate in "Surrey First" team that is running a full www.canadianinquirer.net

(Surrey is soon poised to become the largest city in BC, population-wise), and the issues that come with it such as infrastructure and transportation, is another major issue that candidates are focusing on.

Richmond

Richmond is the stronghold of current Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who first won the seat in a by-election in 2001 and has defended it by large margins in every election since then. In the 2011 election, Brodie crushed the only other Mayoral Candidate, Richard Lee, with a vote total of 20955 to 9054.

What was significant about that result was that Lee gathered more votes than any other candidate had gotten against Brodie in nearly a decade. Seeing that as an encouraging sign, Lee is giving the Richmond Mayor's seat another go in â?ąâ?ą PAGE 20 British Columbians

Canada News

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NOVEMBER 7, 2014

British Columbians... this election. He is joined in the race for Mayor by a third independent candidate, Cliff Lifeng Wei. Richmond BC has the highest population of immigrants in Canada (60%) and is the city with the largest proportion of its population identifying as Asian in North America (50%). This has brought up the issue of foreign language signage in the city, an issue unique to Richmond in the Lower Mainland.

In a recent televised debate between the Richmond Mayoral candidates where they debated on issues from ethnic signage to city worker wages to housing developments, after intense back-and-forth between Brodie and Lee on several of the questions, Brodie walked quickly off the set without shaking the hands of his opponents or the moderator when the debate ended, and offered no comment on it to reporters afterward. ❰❰ 19

BRITISH COLUMBIA

NORTH VANCOUVER

New Westminster

New Westminster is another stronghold, where current Mayor Wayne Wright has held his position since 2002.

In the 2011 elections he gathered 61% of the total votes (6633) against three other candidates.

But change may be in the air. The New Westminster District Labour Council, a highly influential group in the city, is backing Councillor Jonathan Coté for the Mayor's seat (in 2011 they "tacitly" backed Wright, according to local media). The Labour Council's unions provide a support network of volunteers and cash to the preferred candidates, and insiders have said that it is more than enough to get someone into or out of office. All of the support the Labour Council can muster will now be put towards unseating Mayor Wright and getting Coté into the Mayor's office.

In addition, James Crosty, who came in a respectable second in the 2011 Mayoral race with 3139 votes, is going to try for another attempt at the Mayor's seat, making the contest for Mayor in New Westminster one to follow.

The biggest issue for New Westminster residents is the aging and under-

VANCOUVER

TRI-CITIES BURNABY NEW WESMINISTER

RICHMOND SURREY DELTA

sized Patullo Bridge and all of the traffic and congestion problems that it brings to the city. Development is another big issue, as New Westminster is rapidly transforming its classic streets and buildings along its main thoroughfares into more modern designs, in order to attract more businesses and residents to the city.

Burnaby

Burnaby belongs to Derek Corrigan, who has been a City Council member since 1987, and Mayor since 2002. In the 2011 election, Corrigan won handily by getting 76% of the vote - 25,035 votes against 4 other candidates (the next closest candidate came in at 5450 votes).

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

What makes this race interesting is Mayoral Candidate Sylvia Gung, whose platform is making headlines across the country for its extreme stance on certain issues. Highlights of her platform include a crackdown on public displays of affection, replacing city workers with volunteers, prioritizing the remediation of the "pollution of the human mind", and abolishing the school board.

One local radio host said not to let Gung "anywhere near Burnaby City Hall."

fraud and security issues as well. Another is to lower the voting age in the province from 18 to 16, in order to make the pool of voters larger.

There are also ongoing efforts by those concerned about the low voter turnout to spread the word about the elections, and make voting easier for those who have difficulty physically getting out to voting places by making the logistics of voting easier (providing shuttles, more/ convenient voting places, etc.).

The Rest of BC

Resources

In areas close to the lower mainland, such as the Tri-Cities, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, and Langley, growth and the issues that come with it (transportation, infrastructure, crime) are hot topics of debate, as more and more people come into the Lower Mainland to begin their lives, but find themselves squeezed out into the fringes by living costs.

But perhaps the biggest issue of all province-wide is low voter turnout.

While smaller communities have seen voter turnouts in the 50%+ range, the provincial average in 2011 was just 29.51% according to CivicInfo BC. The cities and municipalities in the Lower Mainland were all in this general range (Vancouver was at 34%, Burnaby was at 23.29%). Just outside the Lower Mainland, Chilliwack saw a 17.5% voter turnout. The lowest turnout belonged to Langford, a small city just outside of Victoria on Vancouver Island. Of its 29,000 residents, only 13.98% turned out to vote (the highest voter turnout was from Bowen Island in Howe Sound, where 83.77% of its 3,400 residents went out to vote).

There has been lots of talk on how to fix the issue of low voter turnout, which is simply following the general declining trend of low voter turnout across the country, for all elections. One way is to implement online voting to make the voting process easier, though that raises all sorts of logistical issues in terms of technology and infrastructure, and

www.elections.bc.ca This is the official website of Elections BC, which contains information on candidates, voting places, voting procedures, and other things of that nature. w w w. e l e c t i o n 2 014 . c i v i c i n f o. bc.ca/2014 The CivicInfo BC website, a not-forprofit local government information service, contains a wealth of information on the election, including lists of all candidates in all areas for all positions, links to websites so you can browse policy platforms, past election results, unofficial election results when they happen, and contact information (including phone numbers) for all candidates.

A quick search on your favourite search engine should also bring you to your local City/Town/District/Municipality website, which should have even more detailed information for all candidates in all positions running in that area, as well as general voting information such as places to vote, voting procedures, and other things of that nature.

Advanced polling in many areas has already taken place, but general voting will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Be sure to check out the above websites to determine where to vote, and what you need to do in order to make your vote count. ■

Manitoba premier moves quickly to replace five cabinet ministers who resigned

BY STEVE LAMBERT The Canadian Press WINNIPEG — Five senior Manitoba cabinet ministers resigned Monday over concerns their leader had stopped listening to them and were quickly replaced by Premier Greg Selinger.

The five said Selinger cares more about his own power than staying true to NDP priorities.

“In recent weeks and months it has become clear to us that he is increasingly being driven by his desire to hold onto his leadership rather than the best interests of Manitobans,” former finance minister Jennifer Howard said.

Theresa Oswald, who stepped down as minister for jobs and the economy, said it became clear that the priorities and projects of ministers supporting the ❱❱ PAGE 31 Manitoba premier

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NOVEMBER 7, 2014

FRIDAY

FILIPINO-CANADIANS IN FOCUS:

Candidates for the 2014 BC Municipal Elections RJ Aquino

www.onecityvancouver.ca

Vancouver OneCity Party City Council Candidate RJ AQUINO is a proud Filipino-Canadian, parent, and community activist who works in the local high-tech sector. He is co-founder and Board Director of the Tulayan Filipino Diaspora Society and a Director of Collingwood Neighbourhood House. He is a recipient of the Maharlika award for leadership. He has also been involved in the BCNDP Provincial Executive, Vancouver City Planning Commission, and Vancouver’s Asian Heritage Month.

Rod Belleza

www.riterichmond.ca/candidates/board-of-education/rod-belleza/

Richmond RITE Richmond Party School Trustee Candidate (incumbent) ROD BELLEZA made Filipino-Canadian history in 2008 when he became the first Fil-Can to win a civic position in BC (as School Trustee). He followed it up with another win in 2011, and is hoping to win a third straight term. Belleza has served the community for over 25 years on the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee, Services advisory Committee, East Richmond Community Association, and many other positions.

Narima Dela Cruz

www.narima.ca

Surrey One Surrey Party City Council Candidate NARIMA DELA Cruz is a Founding Director of the Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society, and has served with organizations such as S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and Options Community Service Society, and as Vice-Chair of the Johnston Heights Secondary School Parent Advisory Council. Narima Dela Cruz is a recipient of the 2012 Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award, and was honored with the REALTORS Care Award for excellent community volunteerism.

Abraham Deocera

adeocera@hotmail.com

Vancouver Independent City Council Candidate ABRAHAM DEOCERA is a Registered Nurse in BC since 2000. He has worked with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and is now working as an educator at Gateway College and a community nurse under Folkstone Adult Family Care Homes.

HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS > PRACTICAL NURSING - 75 Weeks (Biology, Math, & English Upgrade Available*) > HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT - 29 Weeks > MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT - 33 Weeks > COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER - 49 Weeks > HEALTH UNIT CLERK - 12 Weeks*

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7 LOWER MAINLAND CAMPUSES / 13 CAMPUSES IN BC CALL 310.HIRE (4473) OR VISIT SPROTTSHAW.COM www.canadianinquirer.net

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23

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Edwin Empinado

kitimat.ca/EN/main/municipal/mayorcouncil/about-your-council.html

Kitimat Independent City Council Candidate (incumbent) EDWIN EMPINADO was the first Filipino-Canadian elected to a Municipal Council position when he won a seat on Kitimat City Council during the 2011 BC Municipal Elections. Empinado was the president of the Filipino Canadian Association in Kitimat and the contract steward for the BC Nurses Union at Kitimat General Hospital, and then became the Steward Liaison and Member Educator for the BC Nurses Union of the Northwest.

Via Fearnley

www.viafearnley.ca

North Vancouver Independent City Council Candidate VIA FEARNLEY is a registered nurse and businesswoman who has lived in North Vancouver for over 28 years. She is a co-founder of the Kultura Filipino Society, and has been an active and involved member of the community. She is married to former North Vancouver City Councillor Bob Fearnley.

Ferdinand Ramos

www.uniteherelocal40.org

Vancouver Independent City Council Candidate FERDINAND RAMOS is an electrician that has worked at the Hyatt Vancouver for 17 years. He is one of 10,000 hotel workers in Vancouver, and has the backing of Hotel Workers United Local 40.

His Union, UNITE HERE Local 40, was the first to win humane workloads and better health insurance in the hotel industry.

Sammie Jo Rumbaua

www.votevision.ca

Vancouver Vision Vancouver Party Park Board Candidate SAMMIE JO Rumbaua is a Vancouver community organizer, youth settlement worker, and employment program assistant. She is a board member of the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society and Tulayan, a non-profit Filipino-Canadian organization. In 2010 she received the Vancouver-Kensington Community Leadership Award, and in 2011 the Filipino Canadian Cultural Heritage Society Maharlika Award for Community Service.

Mercedes Wong

www.vancouver1st.com

Vancouver Vancouver First Party City Council Candidate MERCEDES WONG has lived in Vancouver for over 40 years. In that time she has volunteered for many non-profit groups serving various communities such as seniors, the Aboriginal community, and the homeless in the Downtown Eastside. She was the first female director for G&F Financial Group, and has served as director of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. www.canadianinquirer.net

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NOVEMBER 7, 2014

FRIDAY

THE CENTRE OF THE C 3 Bike Routes for a green commute

12 Boutiques with must-have accessories Over 30 Places to Head for Dinner

14 places to find your favourite caffeine fix

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

CITY JUST SHIFTED 99 B-Line every 1.5–3 minutes

12 Parks to Chill with Friends

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Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

FRIDAY

HALLOWEEN PARTY The Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors’ Association proved that Halloween isn’t just for kids when they partied at the annual Halloween Costume Dinner and Dance at the Bayanihan Centre.

AKLANON ASSOCIATION Scenes from the Aklanon Sto. Nino Association of British Columbia induction of new officers and election of town representatives.

CIRCULO PAMPANGUENO Deputy Consul General Anton Mandap, who hails from Pampanga, swears in the new officers of Circulo Pampangueno.

Officers of Circulo Pampangueno take their oaths of office during the recent swearing-in ceremony at the Holiday Inn on W. Broadway.

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

Seen & Scenes: Toronto

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

CAREGIVER TALKS MAPA HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

Senator Enverga was a special guest during the inauguration of the Filipino-Canadian Heritage and Resource of Durham in Ajax, On. on Nov. 2.

Enverga, Citizenship and Immigration Canada Minister Chris Alexander, Consul General Junever MahilumWest and Justice Steve Coroza were special guests of the organization where they shared news of the recent improvements in the federal Live-In Caregiver Program. (Photo from FB page of Congen Junever Mahilum-West).

Graduates of the Mapa High School in Manila will hold their grand reunion on June 22 to 29, 2015, at RIU Guana Case Resort, Liberia, Costa Rica. The Mapa High School Alumni Association, Ontario Chapter, held a meeting on Oct. 25, to plan their forthcoming event. Seated (from L) Mercy San Agustin and Melissa Buenaventura. Standing (from L) are Gina Ting, Nena Palomares, Cesar Abrenica, Shirley Tigbayan, and Tony Buenaventura. (St. Jamestown News Service, Romy Zetazate)

CLOSE FRIENDS Simeon Sarte (L), branch manager of I-Remit in the province of Ontario, was visited by close friend, journalist Jojo Taduran, a member of the board of directors of the Philippine Press Club - Ontario in one of the Filipino events in Toronto. (St. Jamestown News Service, Dindo Orbeso)

TALAKAYAN May Cabrias, co-anchor of Toronto’s Radyo Talakayan, with guest Tony A. San Juan and wife Jocelyn, after the on-air interview on Nov. 1, at Fairchild Broadcasting Studio in Thornhill, On. Other FilCan broadcasters, not shown, operating the pioneering community-based GTA station are Jess Cabrias, Nelson Galvez and David “Bobby” Achacon.

CAMARINES NORTE ASSOCIATION Camarines Norte Association Canada-Ontario 7th year Foundation anniversary and induction ceremony held recently at Rembrandt Banquet Halls, Scarborough, On. Officers, directors and town representatives (from L) Rey Senis, Randy Fermo, Salvador San Juan, Jr., Vic Ricafrente, Diego Kalaw-Linan, Sylvia Leaver, Shirley Rosales, Shey Silvio, Manny Ching, Minda Sayoc, Marie San Juan, Andrea San Juan, Angie San Juan, Virgie San Juan, Eva San Andres, Sonia dela Cruz, Elizabeth Cruz, Carlito Cruz, Joy San Juan, Nely Lopriego, Pong Ostonal, Merle Canlas and Susan S.J. Llanera, president.

Inducting officer is a representative from the Philippine Consulate in Toronto. www.canadianinquirer.net

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28 Community News Oct. 31 - Philippine Canadian Inquirer ROP 5” x 6”

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

FRIDAY

ON NOV. 15

ELECT RJ AQUINO TO CITY COUNCIL

Photo by Bert Morelos

“Vancouver City Council would be better with RJ Aquino on it.”

- Mable Elmore, NDP MLA, Vancouver-Kensington

Maraming boses. Isang lungsod.

TERESA WAT (L) British Columbia minister for International Relations and Multiculturalism, presents a token to newly-installed Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia, who recently called on the minister to discuss matters of mutual concern between the Philippines and the Canadian province. ■

Visit us at VOTEoneCITY.ca Authorized by Mia Edbrooke, Financial Agent, info@onecityvancouver.ca

Filipino envoys map out economic plans PROJECT NAME: 102814_Phil_Can_Inquirer_ROP_5x6 NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION: Phillippine Canadian Inquirer SIZE: 5” W x 6” H RUN DATE: October31, 2014

FILIPINO DIPLOMATS in Canada, led

by Amb. Petronila Garcia, recently met in Vancouver for a two-day workshop to map out strategies to intensify trade, investment and tourism between the Philippines and Canada.

The group likewise discussed consular matters with a view to streamlining procedures for passport, notarial, civil registry and dual citizenship applications.

Participants were career diplomats from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, the Philippine honorary consular officials in Edmonton, Halifax and Winnipeg, the labor attaches in Toronto and Vancouver, as well as the trade attaché in New York, and the agriculture and defense attaches in Washington D.C., USA. The group likewise met with Canadian investors including the Aquilini Investment Group, which has invested $25 million in a waste-to-energy plant at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) complex in Mactan, Cebu.

John Negrin, president of the Aquilini Renewable Energy, told the delegation that Aquilini is looking to expand its investments to other areas like agriculture, aquaculture, housing, and infrastructure development.

“We’re in this for the long haul,” Negrin said, assuring the group that the

Participants to the economic summit were career diplomats and consular officers from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, the Philippine honorary consular officials in Edmonton, Halifax and Winnipeg, the labor attaches in Toronto and Vancouver, as well as the trade attaché in New York, and the agriculture and defense attaches in Washington D.C., USA.

Aquilini Group, owner of the Vancouver Canucks, has great confidence in the Philippine economy.

The trade, agriculture and labor delegates also met with representatives

of Asian food retailer T&T and frozen yogurt chain owner Warrick Chu to explore ways of promoting or increasing Philippine exports to Canada.

Agriculture attaché Joysiline Javelo-

www.canadianinquirer.net

sa, meantime, met in Victoria with Stacey Toews co-founder of Level Ground Marketing, a company promoting fair trade in agricultural commodities and directly dealing with small farmers in developing countries, including the Philippines Level Ground is already importing and retailing natural coconut oil and specialty heirloom rice varieties from the Philippines, but is looking to import more products that would pass their stringent nutrition, safety and health content criteria.

Members of the delegation likewise met with Alan Yong, president and CEO of the Filipino weekly Philippine Canadian Inquirer and long distance service provider TimesTel. Yong is seeking Philippine government support for Invest Philippines, an investment road show to be held in Vancouver and Toronto.

On the sidelines of the consular and economic diplomacy workshops, Ambassador Garcia and some members of the delegation met with B.C. Minister for International Trade and Multiculturalism Teresa Wat to discuss and assess Philippines-B.C. economic relations.

Ambassador Garcia told Minister Wat she is hopeful that trade between the Philippines and the Canadian province would increase, considering the “maturity of relations” between them. ■

Immigration

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

29

Government hoping Government changes live for modest increase in caregiver program, does in immigration away with the ‘live in’ part levels next year

BY STEPHANIE LEVITZ The Canadian Press

THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Economic immigrants will continue to make up a growing share of new arrivals in Canada next year as the government keeps an eye on plugging labour gaps.

The 2015 immigration plan unveiled Last week sets a target of up to 285,000 new permanent residents next year, an increase of about 20,000 people over last year’s goal.

Students and temporary foreign workers seeking to settle in Canada permanently will have the best chance at nabbing a spot: spaces in the Canadian Experience Class program are set to jump to up to 23,000 from last year’s maximum goal of 15,000.

The program fast-tracks permanent residency for people who are already in Canada as part of other programs, including the controversial temporary foreign workers program, which is undergoing an overhaul.

The government is also set to admit more federal skilled workers, aiming for 51,000 people as it revamps the entry program to bring them to Canada.

One exemption is admissions under the humanitarian and compassionate category; the government says it will admit up to 4,000 people in order to clear backlogs.

The 2015 levels plan was introduced Friday by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander.

It also reviews final numbers on immigration admissions for 2013.

That year, Canada had planned to settle between 240,000 and 265,000 permanent residents. In the end, 258,953 were admitted.

The setting of each year’s immigration levels renews the debate about achieving the right mix of newcomers for Canada.

In Citizenship and Immigration’s 2013-2014 tracking survey, 43 per cent of Canadians didn’t actually know how many immigrants were admitted to Canada that year. When told, about 48 per cent thought the levels were about right.

Recent research suggests there are negative implications for the growing increase in immigration.

In a paper published earlier this year in the journal Canadian Public Policy, research-

In Citizenship and Immigration’s 2013-2014 tracking survey, 43 per cent of Canadians didn’t actually know how many immigrants were admitted to Canada that year. When told, about 48 per cent thought the levels were about right.

Though more economic immigrants are being admitted, spaces for family class immigrants and refugees are being held stable even as the government pledges to do more to bring over those escaping the brutal conflicts in the Middle East. ■

ers found that the increase in immigration levels in Canada over the last three decades has resulted in a roughly nine per cent decrease in average entry earnings of immigrant men, and a three per cent decline in earnings for immigrant women.

OTTAWA — A long-awaited overhaul of the program that brings thousands of caregivers to Canada every year will remove the requirement that they live with their employers.

The change is part of an effort to reduce caregiver abuse but also clear a backlog of some 60,000 cases that have seen caregivers stuck waiting as long as a decade for permanent residency and to be reunited with their families.

The live-in requirement feels like modern-day slavery, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said he was told over the course of designing the new program.

“We are saying to the whole Canadian population, to caregivers above all, the time of abuse and vulnerability is over,” Alexander told a news conference in Toronto.

“We want caregivers to participate fully in the economic life of this country without having to fear for their treatment in forced living conditions.”

In addition to removing the live-in requirement to qualify for permanent residency, the changes will split the path to that goal into two streams: one for child-care workers and one for those working as healthcare aides.

A total of 5,500 applications for both per year will be accepted and they will be processed within six months.

At the same time, the government is nearly doubling the number of caregivers and their families who will be granted permanent residency in 2015 to 30,000 from about 17,000 this year.

But the changes weren’t universally embraced. Liza Draman, a one-time live-in caregiver from the Philippines, wasn’t impressed, warning that the annual cap of 2,750 applications for the child-care stream is too small and will hurt working families.

“We know that caregivers make work possible for both parwww.canadianinquirer.net

Caregivers that come to Canada under the caregiver program are no longer required to live with their employers, in an effort to reduce caregiver abuse, but also to clear a backlog of 60,000 cases of caregivers waiting for permanent residency.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ents, so what do you expect if one parent cannot go to work — what will that mean for the economy of Canada?” Draman said.

“We need both parents to earn; this will have a chain reaction and have an economic impact.”

The live-in caregiver numbers form part of the overall immigration plan for 2015, which sets a target of taking up to 285,000 new permanent residents, an increase of about 19,000 people over last year’s goal.

The focus remains squarely on economic immigration, which is about 65 per cent of the total.

Students and temporary foreign workers seeking to settle in Canada permanently may have the best chance at nabbing a spot: spaces in the Canadian Experience Class program are set to jump to up to 23,000 from last year’s maximum goal of 15,000.

The program fast-tracks permanent residency for people who are already in Canada as part of other programs, includ-

ing the controversial temporary foreign workers program, which is undergoing an overhaul.

The government is also set to admit more federal skilled workers, aiming for 51,000 people as it revamps the entry program to bring them to Canada.

Though more economic immigrants are being admitted, spaces for family class immigrants and refugees are being held stable even as the government pledges to do more to bring over those escaping the brutal conflicts in the Middle East.

Alexander has faced persistent criticism over a perceived failure by the government to honour a 2011 commitment to resettle 1,300 Syrian refugees in Canada by the end of 2014.

On Friday, he said more work is being done on those files, with an announcement expected soon on taking additional refugees.

“There is a dynamic of growth in our refugee resettlement performance reflecting the scale of the challenge in the world.” ■

30

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

FRIDAY

Nelson Fabi and Charlie Daga visit the rock-covered graves of their loved ones who were killed when Supertyphoon "Yolanda" caused sea surges that devastated Palo town, Leyte province, nearly a year ago. On Sunday, All Soul's Day, survivors visited the mass burial site in Barangay Candahug, near MacArthur Shrine.

RAFFY LERMA

Filipinos remember victims of last year’s Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) on All Saints’ Day

BY OLIVER TEVES The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Filipinos paid their respects to departed loved ones on All Saints’ Day rituals in cemeteries around the archipelago, including at mass graves for victims of a powerful typhoon that left more than 7,300 people dead or missing last year.

The day is one of the most important holidays in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, as Filipinos pack cemeteries for reunions to remember dead relatives.

Police and army soldiers were deployed at the two biggest cemeteries in Manila, where children were given identification tags to help reunite them with their parents in case they get lost in the maze of alleys and

tombs.

In central Leyte province, a group helping survivors cope with the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which barrelled through the central Philippines last Nov. 8, held brief memorials at makeshift graveyards for the victims.

A year after the typhoon, thousands of people who were left homeless by the storm are still living in tents.

Efleda Bautista, who heads

People Surge, an alliance of Typhoon Haiyan survivors, said her group visited a mass grave to pay their respects to the dead in the heavily devastated city of Tacloban, Leyte’s capital, where officials say more than 2,000 mostly unidentified bodies have been buried.

The group also visited the mass grave inside the San Joaquin Parish Church compound in nearby Palo township and another on a roadside in Tanau-

an township. They also offered prayers, flowers and candles at a little-known grave site where more than 50 villagers were buried.

The powerful winds of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) generated tsunami-like storm surges that inundated entire communities in the central Philippines, leaving the region devastated.

More than 6,300 people were killed and over 1,000 are still missing. ■

The Philippine Canadian Inquirer (PCI) joins the Filipino nation in solemn commemoration of the one-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) on November 8. PCI pays tribute to Yolanda’s victims, more than 6,000 of whom perished, while many more were left homeless.

We recognize the survivors for their resiliency and strength of will to survive and rebuild.

We also honour those who helped in the massive relief effort and contributed towards the country’s rebuilding and recovery.

We are grateful for their encouraging support.

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31

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Tzu Chi unveils post-Haiyan aid for victims

BY MARY ANN R. MANDAP Philippine Canadian Inquirer TENS OF thousands of survivors of Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as “Yolanda”) still live in government shelters a year after the world’s strongest typhoon struck 10 million people, killed 6,000, and left widespread destruction in its wake.

In response, the Tzu Chi Foundation, a humanitarian agency, is looking to install 3,000 temporary homes at the Tzu Chi Great Love Villages in Tacloban, Ormoc and Palo, Leyte. The prefabricated shelters are temporary.

CEO of Tzu Chi Canada Gary Ho said, “the foundation will build permanent houses and classrooms for the long term.”

Ho also recently unveiled its post-typhoon rehabilitation program for Typhoon Haiyan victims in Leyte. He enumerated the foundation’s relief works which include: relief supplies and cash voucher — 44,168 households; Cash-for-Work Program — 289,026 participants; Hot Meal Service — 280,320 meals served; Free Clinics — 6,316 patients treated; Temporary Classrooms — 128 classrooms provided; Tzu Chi volunteers — 5,299 volunteers from 11 countries mobilized.

Reports say Tzu Chi has provided P1.2 billion ($26.5 million) to survivors of the Haiyan disaster. The world-wide charity founded by Dharma Master

Gary Ho with guests from the Filipino Canadian community.

Candlelight ceremony marking the first anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan.

Cheng Yen in 1966, has undertaken humanitarian projects in 84 countries and is currently operating in 47.

According to Ho, Tzu Chi started operations in Canada in 1992 and currently has nine offices with over 2,000 volunteers serving more than 80 service stations across the country.

LAARNI LIWANAG

units for Tacloban City.

Tzu Chi said the model unit of the prefabricated shelter displayed at the Ormoc City Plaza has attracted the attention of passers-by since it was assembled on Sept. 27. The following day, the would-be beneficiaries checked out the homes the Buddhist organization has promised them.

Carlos Christian Garbo, with his wife and two kids, travelled from Brgy. Can-untog to the plaza to lay eyes on their fu-

ture home. “It’s beautiful,” the 34-year-old father said. “I am very happy that this kind of house will be our home soon.”

Just like the other Tzu Chi beneficiaries, the Garbos are currently living in a small bunkhouse composed of only one room, which also serves as a living room, sleeping quarters and dining hall.

Under the foundation’s temporary housing project, however, a family of four, like the Garbos, will receive a 21-sqm. prefab shelter. This comes with a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a toilet and bathroom. It also has ventilation and sliding doors and windows for ease and comfort.

In Ormoc, Ho said 2,000 temporary shelters will be put up in a 50-ha. land in Brgy. Liloan, 700 units will be installed in Brgy. San Jose in Palo, and 300

The model unit shown at Ormoc City Plaza was installed by residents of Brgy. Concepcion and Can-untog as part of their training under Tzu Chi Taiwan volunteers from Taiwan.

On Sept. 28, the traineebuilders installed the model unit of the 27-square meter prefab shelter, which is for families with five and more members.

Some 2,000 prefab houses will be put up in Ormoc. By teaching them to build their own homes and those of their fellow typhoon victims’, the Taiwan volunteers hope to inspire love and care for each other among the residents.

And it was love and care that many of these locals have displayed when they voluntarily

signed up to learn how to build the temporary shelters without any inkling that it was a cashfor-work program.

Ulysses Federicos, for instance, has took time off his work as a mechanical technician at a geothermal power plant to learn to install the prefab houses. This was before he even knew he would get a small amount of cash assistance money from this training.

What inspired him to do so, he said, were the teachings of Master Cheng Yen that Tzu Chi volunteers always remind them.

“To do good deeds, say good words, think good thoughts: that’s what Tzu Chi volunteers say. If you do these three, you will truly succeed in life.”

Ho said Tzu Chi aims to give new strength to survivors for them to open a new page in their lives. ■

good work over the (last) 15 years for the people of Manitoba, so my vote was very much in the spirit of supporting the government I represented.”

All five ministers said they plan to stay in the NDP caucus and run in the next election, slated for April 2016.

Selinger’s new cabinet appointees have far less experience.

Longtime backbencher Greg Dewar was named finance minister. Sharon Blady was moved from the junior portfolio of healthy living to health. James Allum, a rookie member and education minister, was promoted to justice.

Kevin Chief, another rookie who headed the small department of children and youth opportunities, was named jobs

and economy minister. Drew Caldwell, who served briefly in cabinet a decade ago, was elevated from the backbench to become minister of municipal government.

Selinger rejected the accusation he was not listening to his ministers’ concerns.

“I’m the premier that put in place a planning and priorities committee of cabinet, which brings people together ... and we discuss our priorities as a group,” he said following a swearing-in ceremony.

“We all work together and we make decisions together as a cabinet.”

The revolt first erupted Oct. 27 when the five ministers suggested Selinger should think about his future, given the NDP’s

drop in opinion polls. Numbers over the last year suggest the party is well behind the Opposition Progressive Conservatives.

The public rift has raised questions over how long Selinger can remain at the helm. Many of the other cabinet ministers and backbenchers have so far straddled the line, saying they support both the premier and the rebel ministers. When Selinger first reacted last week, less than half the caucus stood beside him at a news conference.

The party’s annual convention is set for March and a leadership review could be proposed. The ministers who resigned from cabinet have talked about party “mechanisms” to deal with the leadership issue.

More immediately, Selinger will have to recall the legislature at some point with his new ministers to face the Opposition. The legislature normally reconvenes in mid-November for a throne speech, which lays out the government’s agenda for the coming year.

Selinger said Monday a decision on a fall session would be announced shortly.

He refused to say whether he will oust the former ministers from caucus or prevent them from running for re-election, calling the questions “speculative.”

Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari called Monday for a snap election, She said Selinger “has lost the confidence of his party, of the opposition and of Manitobans.” ■

Prefab units

Volunteers

Manitoba premier ... premier would “move up the queue ahead of what was once a government plan and ... the priorities of Manitobans.”

Others who resigned were Erin Selby from health, Andrew Swan from justice and Stan Struthers from the municipal government portfolio.

Struthers was finance minister when the government raised the provincial sales tax to eight per cent from seven last year.

He suggested Monday that the tax increase, which caused the NDP to drop in opinion polls, was not his idea.

“What was our choice? We were going to vote against our own government? I wasn’t prepared to vote against a government that has done so much ❰❰ 21

www.canadianinquirer.net

32

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Remembrance Day

MI 5 spy who outed Nazi sympathizers in WWII retired to quiet life in B.C.

BY DENE MOORE The Canadian Press

1942 to 1945 to ensure it did not reach the enemy.

Among hundreds of pages of transcribed conversations involving Jack King is information meant to aid a German invasion of Britain and an appeal for a renewed blitz by German bombers.

It is believed that Roberts was one of the inspirations for spy writer John Le Carre’s famous character George Smiley.

To McDonald, he was a great father for her and her two brothers and a humble man.

“Our family life was different because of his work, but having said that, we had a great family life,” said McDonald, who has one living brother with whom she has spoken about the revelations.

They were aware to a certain degree that their father led a

VANCOUVER — To his neighbours on Saltspring Island, B.C., he was an avid gardener and a history writer who lived a quiet life with his wife and children.

But to the British spy agency MI-5, he was a wartime agent who exposed hundreds of Nazi sympathizers and intercepted secrets meant for Gestapo eyes.

Records released by the British National Archives reveal the identity of the spy code-named Jack King as Eric Roberts, an unassuming banker who rebegan working for MI-5 at 17 in tired and came to Canada in a minor role.

1956. He died on the island in Officially, the archive records 1972 at the age of 65. show that on June 8, 1940, Lt. “We’re still reeling from it,” Colonel Allan Harker wrote to his daughter, Christa McDonWestminster Bank Limited to ald, said Tuesday from her request Roberts’s release to the home in Qualisecurity service’s cum Beach, B.C., employ. after learning of His unassumthe release of the ing bank job was documents.

Anybody who does this work part of his cover, “We’re absoand (is) good at it, really doesn’t his daughter lutely so happy get any accolades or medals . . . said. that he’s getting Basically, you do it for your “My father some recognicountry and hope that you will was highly inteltion for his work live through it. ligent. He really but, at the same was. And when I time, it’s been think back now ... quite emotional to lead a double for the family.” dangerous second life. life for so long, when you think Declassified documents “We knew to keep quiet when about it, is quite amazing,” Mcposted online by the British we were outside the house,” she Donald said. “He was very witty. archives on Friday say Roberts said.

He was unassuming and you posed as a Gestapo officer, gathThe archive records say Rob- would never have any idea what ering information from Nazi erts joined the service July 4, his work was.” sympathizers in Britain from 1940, but his daughter said he The archive records note

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Roberts spoke some German, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

“Roberts is thoroughly familiar with everything connected to the various pro-Nazi organizations in this country and Maxwell Knight has the highest opinion of his character and his abilities,” the file said. Knight was a famous British spymaster known for destroying wartime spy rings.

Roberts’s work for the spy agency continued after the war, McDonald said. He didn’t retire until he moved to Canada.

“I think there are a lot more stories to come when the files are finally released,” she said of her father’s Cold War activities.

McDonald said her father and mother, Audrey, brought the family first to Hamilton, Ont., for several months.

“My father used to go to the library and he’d read up about

these Gulf Islands and he thought he would like to move out West and see what they were like, and that’s how we ended up on Saltspring,” she said, recalling the move at age 15.

“For my parents, they thought it was just a piece or paradise on Earth.”

Roberts wrote a book on local history, “The Saltspring Saga.”

And he and his wife tended their garden.

“I think that was very good therapy,” McDonald said.

On the cusp of Remembrance Day, she said her father’s story is a reminder that many people served their country with no recognition.

“Anybody who does this work and (is) good at it, really doesn’t get any accolades or medals,” she said.

“Basically, you do it for your country and hope that you will live through it.” ■

Group places 116 Canadian flags along Alberta highway to remember war dead THE CANADIAN PRESS SYLVAN LAKE, Alta. — A group has placed a long row of 116 Canadian flags along a central Alberta highway in a colourful

tribute to Canada’s war dead.

Each flag that has been set up along Highway 11 west of Red Deer represents 1,000 soldiers who have died since 1900 while serving the country.

The group Veterans Voices of

Canada is behind the project, which was originally scheduled to coincide with Remembrance Day. Organizers say they moved the event ahead and began putting up the flags Saturday

because of the two soldiers who were killed in the past few weeks, one in Ottawa and the other in Quebec.

Allan Cameron, spokesman for the group, says they hope people who drive by and see the

flags will think about the sacrifices that have been made by people who have served in the military.

He says the 116 flags will fly until Nov. 15. ■

33

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Entertainment

‘It made me stronger and wiser’ — Billy Crawford, on jail incident

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer ACTOR-SINGER BILLY Crawford says he is all the wiser after landing behind bars in September of this year, on charges of malicious mischief and disobedience.

The 32-year-old celebrity, while intoxicated, barged into a community precinct in the City of Taguig and made a scene, prompting police to detain him.

“I think it made me stronger and wiser and taught me to take things slowly,” Billy said, speaking to reporters at a press conference for his latest film, “Moron 5.2: The Transformation” “It actually made me closer to the people who really matter in my life,” he added, citing that his relationship with girlfriend and “It’s Showtime” cohost Coleen Garcia grew even stronger amidst the trial.

“It tested us; we found out how much we could take as a couple,” Crawford revealed.

Crawford recounted that they were in the thick of shooting the comedy flick when the incident occurred. He likewise expressed his gratitude for the support he received from costars Luis Manzano, Matteo Guidicelli, Marvin Agustin, DJ Durano and John “Sweet” Lapus during those challenging times.

“They were all texting me. Luis even visited me (in the police station). I will treat them like my own brothers, no matter what,” he shared.

The film’s director, Wenn V. Deramas was equally supportive and did did not condemn Crawford for his actions.

“He laughed and jested that it was too early to promote the movie,” Crawford said.

“Moron 5.2: The Transformation” under Viva Films hits theatres nationwide on November 5. ■

James Reid talks about break-up with GF

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — James Reid finally revealed the reason behind his break-up with exgirlfriend Ericka Villongco.

In an interview during Nadine Lustre’s 21st birthday party, Reid said that the “bad break-up” is the “better way for everyone.”

“I wanted take my showbiz career seriously and I found it too hard at the same time –handling both a relationship and work –and I had such a big opportunity. I didn’t want to waste it. She [Villongco] understood this,” he said.

Reid and Villongco called it “quits” last March before the release of the actor’s movie “Diary ng Panget.”

He reiterated that Lustre had nothing to do with it.

Last Thurday, Villongco said that Reid has been “loyal, faithful, [and] very loving” throughout their three-year relationship.

FACEBOOK PHOTO

In a separate interview, Lustre said that she does not want to comment on what happened between the two.

When asked about her opinion on Villongco’s statement that she will be supporting her and Reid should they pursue a real relationship in the future, Lustre said that she is happy.

“I’m happy. Even though their relationship did not end well, she still shows her support to me and James,” said Lustre. ■

PHOTO FROM DEREK RAMSAY’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Derek Ramsay and Mary Christine Jolly reach settlement; concubinage charge dropped

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer DEREK RAMSAY and estranged wife, Mary Christine Jolly have finally reached a settlement, following a legal battle which lasted for some months.

Argee Guevarra, Mary Christine’s lawyer, said in a statement that the couple agreed on a settlement for the benefit of their 11-year-old son Austin. He added that Mary Christine has decided to withdraw the concubinage complaint she lodged against Ramsay and his ex-girlfriend Angelica Panganiban. Ramsay’s estranged wife had also earlier withdrawn the charges of violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act which she filed against the actor.

In his statement, Guevarra said: “Derek and Mary can now move on with their lives but with a renewed realization and deepened sense of com-

mitment to fulfill their parental responsibilities and obligations to their son, Austin. Although the legal battle exacted untold stress between the couple, Derek and Mary emerged as victors with their coming to an amicable settlement which is always a Win-Win solution for all litigants.”

“Handling a good case is always bettered by a good settlement between the parties — in stark contrast with the acrimonious animus between Derek and Mary which animated the conduct of the legal proceedings a few months ago. The peaceful resolution of the case between Derek and Mary should now serve as a template for others similarly situated and for those who have closely followed the drama to view Family Law from the prism of fair play and respect between husband and wife bearing in mind the best interest of the child,” the lawyer added; noting that Ramsay and Mary Christine can now devote their time and attention towards raising their son. ■

34

Entertainment

NOVEMBER 7, 2014 FRIDAY

Kris Aquino hints at possible retirement from showbiz, come 2016

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Kris Aquino hinted that she will possibly be retiring in 2016 from showbiz, for the welfare of her two sons. In preparation, she has decided to buy a franchise of a well-known fast food chain.

On Wednesday, the “Queen of All Media” clarified via her morning talk show, “Kris TV,” that she purchased the franchise with her “hard-earned money;” and that it was not an inclusion of her renewed contract with the fast food chain.

“It is my hard earned cash.

Pera ko ‘to talaga. Hindi ito galing sa talent fee because I felt I would have less at stake [would have been less committed] kung talent fee lang, so kailangan talaga galing sa pera na pinagipunan (It really is my money.

It’s not just from my talent fees because I felt I would have less at stake if it was, so it had to be money I really saved up),” she said.

Aquino — an 18-year showbiz industry veteran — likewise revealed the possibility of her retirement when 2016 rolls around “The reason also na pinasok ko ‘to (that I did this) is that I should have several fast food

franchises because this is for the future of my sons. Kasi parang inisip ko (Because I thought): How much longer can I work at this level that I work?

And fame is so fleeting,” she said.

“Sobrang suwerte ko na 18 na years na ako dito. May cutoff din ako. Sinabi ko na after 20 years, sana I can walk away gracefully. Siyempre naman kailangan mabuhay ng mga anak ko (I’ve been blessed to be in the business for 18 years. I also have a cutoff. I told myself that after 20 years, I hope I can walk away gracefully. Of course my sons also need to be taken care of ),” Aquino added. ■

PHOTO FROM KRIS AQUINO’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

Piolo felt bad for KC Gringo’s daughter is ‘Voice

PH’ second ‘4-chair-turner’

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Piolo Pascual revealed that he felt bad for exgirlfriend KC Concepcion.

Pascual and Concepcion were in a relationship before but broke up three years ago. When they parted ways, Concepcion went to the media and shared what happened between them.

He shared that he still love KC with all his heart, but added, “I felt bad for her because she didn’t have to resort to that (going on TV to tell her story)… it’s something I wish she hadn’t done.”

Despite what happened with his latest relationship, he still wishes for his son, Iñigo, to find love.

“He has to experience romantic love,” said Pascual.

However, seems like his son is more focused in making a name for himself in the show business. With that, Pascual admittedly said that he is not open to his son being a full-time actor just yet.

“My greatest fear is that he’d stop school once he’s had the taste of earning his own money,” Piolo said. “I’ve come to terms with the eventuality that Iñigo will end up in show biz just like me. He’s very much into the arts, especially theater. When I brought him to New York last year, he said he was thinking of

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

WIKIPEDIA PHOTO

taking acting courses there. I’d be glad to pay for his studies. I want him to have a college degree.”

He also shared that he worries a lot about his son’s working schedule.

“I think he’s busier than I am. He juggles work as a student, an actor and a product endorser. He wasn’t supposed to join show biz until he turned 18, but Sun Life Financial got him as an endorser, and then he was offered a movie, which Star Cinema is distributing. ABSCBN also got him to appear on ‘ASAP’ for a month. I’m glad he’s enjoying himself.” ■

MANILA — Kai Honasan, 25-year-old singer, classical pianist, ukulele player, and youngest daughter of Senator Gringo Honasan, has become the second “four-chair turner” contestant during the blind auditions of the second season of The Voice Philippines. The first to achieve this was rocker, Tanya Diaz, on the show’s pilot episode.

Honasan impressed the judges with her distinct singing voice, as she performed her own unique rendition of Katy Perry’s hit, “Teenage Dream” with ukulele accompaniment on the show’s episode on Sunday.

All four coaches turned their chairs for Honasan, with Sarah Geronimo sounding her buzzer even before the song ended.

“Kai, ‘yung klase ng style, hindi the usual na bumibirit, powerful ‘yung voice, pero, ‘yun ‘yung kailangan natin eh. Gusto kong yakapin ‘yung chance na ‘yun na i-angat ka naman, ‘yung mga artist na tulad mo. Sana bigyan mo ako ng chance, (Kai’s voice isn’t the usual that is characterized by singing one’s lungs out; her voice is powerful but that’s what we need. I want to be given the chance to hone that, www.canadianinquirer.net

KAI AND DAD GRINGO HONASAN. The Voice PH photo posted by Kai Honasan

on her Facebook page, with the caption: “Welcome to your new life as my Mommy Dionisia, my Papa Beyoncé and my Mama Swift. Thank you for waiting for hours during my audition (along with Lara and Jim.) The chairs turned and now we’re about to have a lot of fun in #KampKawayan. Love you pops, pwede nang huminga.”

to hone artists like you. I hope you can give me that chance)” Geronimo said.

“Yung song na ‘yan kasi, napaka-familiar sa lahat nang mga nandito ngayon (That song is very familiar to all present here). So, you sat there with a ukulele, and it was just perfection. Maganda eh, malamig, malamig pakinggan. ‘Yung boses mo, masarap sa tenga. So sana ‘yung team ko ‘yung piliin mo (It was good, it was suave.

Your voice is great to listen to. So I hope you choose my team),” Lea Salonga said.

“Kai, i just want to say, your voice is, there’s nobody like it. I

like you to be on my team,” apl. de.ap told Honasan.

“Who has been crazy enough, brave enough, to bring artists like yourself forward to battles, forward to the semis. People say, ‘Hindi ‘to bumabagay (it doesn’t match), it doesn’t fit sort of a spectrum.’ Sa akin, it doesn’t matter. Ako, it’s about artistry, it’s about growth over prize. Ako lang, I think I’ll be a good coach, right, Dad?” Bamboo said.

At the end of it all, Honasan decided to go with Team Bamboo, expressing her feelings that she and Bamboo are from the same world. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

35

Toronto police investigating 3 assault complaints against Jian Ghomeshi

BY WILL CAMPBELL The Canadian Press TORONTO — Three women have now filed abuse complaints against fired CBC star Jian Ghomeshi and investigators are looking into reports of a “graphic” video in the network’s possession, police said Saturday.

“These people have come forward. They’ve seen that other people are talking about it and it’s brought it back up in their lives,” Insp. Joanna BeavenDesjardins told reporters after confirming a third person has come forward with allegations.

“At this point, these are allegations. He has not been convicted of anything, these are allegations. We are trying to get all the information from our reportees — our victims — first, so that we have the best evidence to move forward,” with the assault and sexual assault investigation, Beaven-Desjardins added.

Police have not sought an interview with Ghomeshi, she said, but investigators will approach him “when the evidence leads us to that point.”

Ghomeshi has said he has engaged in rough sex, but that it was always consensual, and said he was fired as a CBC Radio host because of the risk that his sex life would become public “as a result of a campaign of false allegations.”

Ghomeshi said the firing came after he “provided” network officials with information he claimed showed consent.

As many as nine women — two named — have alleged in the media he attacked them physically and/or sexually without warning, but none had gone to police until Friday.

Ghomeshi said Thursday on

As many as 9 women have come forward alleging that former CBC star and host of Q Jian Ghomeshi had attacked them physically and/or sexually without warning.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Facebook he would meet the allegations “directly,” but that he won’t discuss “this matter” further with the media.

Word of police involvement came hours after the CBC announced on Friday that the emergence of “graphic” evidence that Ghomeshi had caused physical injury to a person prompted his firing last Sunday.

Beaven-Desjardins says police believe someone has viewed “graphic evidence of physical injury to a woman” and are looking into the possibility of video footage.

“That’s something we have to confirm — we don’t know if there is a video or isn’t a video... we have to do our due diligence.” She said police haven’t yet contacted the broadcaster

but plan to do so.

The Toronto Star quoted unnamed sources in a report on Friday that Ghomeshi showed his bosses videos depicting bondage and beating during sexual activities in an effort to show bruising could happen and still be consensual.

The paper said it had not seen the videos but had heard from unnamed sources that Ghomeshi is in them.

When asked if CBC had seen a video with Ghomeshi in it, spokesman Chuck Thompson said in an email Saturday only that “On Thursday, Oct. 23, CBC saw, for the first time, graphic evidence that Jian Ghomeshi had caused physical injury to a woman. We have reached out to the police and will fully co-operate with their investiga-

www.canadianinquirer.net

tion.”

Ghomeshi and his lawyer have not responded to questions from The Canadian Press regarding the allegations or the Star report.

Beaven-Desjardins said it’s believed there may be more complainants — including outside Ontario — and appealed to them, or anyone with information relating to the allegations, to contact police.

Police have already contacted media outlets that have published accounts of the alleged abuse, asking them to tell their sources to contact the force’s sex crimes unit, she said. Work on the investigation, which Beaven-Desjardins described as in its “infancy,” began after the stories first ran earlier in the week.

“I felt that it would be better for us to get ahead of it and see exactly what’s coming together” in case an alleged victim approached police, she said.

The allegations have made headlines across the country and led to discussion about sexual consent and violence against women — publicity Beaven-Desjardins believes encouraged the complaints.

“It was an opportunity for it to be brought to the forefront in our society. And the way that our community gathered around it, and they were disgusted by it and knew that something had to be done, it allowed the alleged victims to come forward and get their story out.”

One of the women who contacted police was “Trailer Park Boys” star Lucy DeCoutere, her publicist has confirmed, but Beaven-Desjardins wouldn’t offer any details on the three complainants.

DeCoutere told the Toronto Star she first met Ghomeshi in 2003 at the Banff World Media Festival and later went on a date with him in Toronto. She alleges that when they returned to his home, he pressed her up against a wall, choked her and slapped her across the face several times.

Ghomeshi, 47, has launched a $55-million lawsuit against the CBC for breach of confidence and defamation. He has also filed a grievance alleging dismissal without proper cause that damaged his reputation.

The CBC has hired an independent investigator to look at its handling of the situation after at least one former employee said she had complained about his behaviour to a union rep, who spoke to his executive producer, but nothing substantive was done. ■

36

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Lifestyle

Cookbook offers tips to relieve stress at rink and on road for hockey parents

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press TORONTO — Two hockey moms who have written a new cookbook are hoping young athletes will improve their diets when they read about what the pros eat.

Erin Phillips, who is married to Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips, teamed up with recipe developer and food stylist Korey Kealey to write “The Ultimate Cookbook for Hockey Families,” focusing on the foods that players need to fuel themselves for optimum performance.

Phillips came up with the concept for the cookbook on the first day of school two years ago. “Two of my kids had made competitive hockey and one of them was a figure skater and my husband was back in training camp and I just felt like I was cooking all the time,” she said.

“I have a nutrition background and I was struggling to maintain healthy meals at all different hours of the day and thought basically, if I was struggling, I’m sure a lot of other hockey families, other sport families out there were as well.”

The book includes tips and recipes from 27 hockey and skating stars, such as Kyle Turris, Dany Heatley, P.K. Subban, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Randy Robitaille and Steve Yzerman, who share their recipes and secrets for how they prepare for the big game and how they feed their muscles afterward.

“I’ve been a nutritionist for 10 years and when I tell parents ‘do this, do this,’ they don’t really listen as much as when, I guess being a wife to Chris and being in that world, when I speak to kids they sort of listen and they really want to know the tips and the tricks and want to know what Chris eats and what all his teammates do,” Phillips said from Ottawa.

“We wanted to write it so kids

were empowered to take on their own healthy journey here and be able to get a little bit of advantage of what makes the difference and why.”

The authors face off with daily nutritional requirements, along with pre- and post-game eating strategies and examples from the pros.

“My husband’s been in the league 18 years and I’ve been around for 16 of those so we’ve met so many friends along the way,” Phillips said. “We started off wanting to really pay tribute to the moms. Now as hockey moms ourselves we know what it takes and how much dedication and time and commitment

to raise a hockey player.”

Mothers, wives and girlfriends — along with women from the Canadian national team — offered recipes. “I have a little figure skater as well so I called two of my friends in the figure skating world and we have two of the Olympic athlete women in there as well,” Phillips said, referring to Tessa Virtue and Jamie Sale.

Pros now favour eating their pregame meal seven to eight hours before to maximize their energy rather than just a few hours before. For children attending after-school or early evening practices, that means they should eat a proper lunch.

“Really lunchtime is the time when those lunches should not be hitting the garbage,” said Kealey. “They go from maybe not eating a great breakfast to having no lunch, maybe a snack or two, go home and rushing and eating whatever they wolf down, so it’s pretty hard to have energy when you’re not properly fuelled.”

Kealey, whose three children also spend a lot of time on the ice, advises planning and multitasking with food prep.

“Yesterday I was boiling eggs, so I’ve got hard-boiled eggs in the fridge for a protein snack on the go. Half of them I made into egg salad, so you can have

those as a sandwich, as a wrap or you can have with crackers.

And then at the same time I had some leeks and sweet potatoes and started making soup and then I’m always cooking quinoa.

“I always have a soup in the fridge, some quinoa or brown rice, some thing the kids can grab quickly — ham salad, egg salad, hummus, guacamole, chopped-up veggies. I think I spent an hour yesterday and I had four components kind of ready and then some basics.”

There’s an emphasis on stickhandling nutrition during tournaments. Phillips, for instance, is away about 10 weekends during the season.

“So you’re not only driving there, you’re eating on the road.

Those are pretty intense schedules for the kids,” she said.

They need to eat healthful food rather than processed items to maintain energy to play in back-to-back games and avoid the “crashes” from consuming sugary snacks.

“When I leave it’s not only looking after the one I’m taking it’s looking after everyone else at home as well. We have a lot of how to pack your cooler and what to bring and tournament signup sheets so you’re not eating at restaurants so the kids can actually bond and play ... in the hotels instead of sitting in the restaurant.”

There are charts to help with assembling soups and lunches.

In Sniper Smoothie, for instance, kids pick the liquid, fruit, veggie, protein, sweetener and flavouring. Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson always headed to the dressing room kitchen to drink a recovery smoothie after a game when it would be most effective, the authors write.

Proceeds from books purchased at participating Canadian Tire stores go to the Jumpstart Foundation to help underprivileged kids in that community play hockey. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Think you have Ebola?

It’s probably just the flu

BY LINDSEY TANNER The Associated Press FEVER? HEADACHE? Muscle aches?

Forget about Ebola — chances are astronomically higher that you have the flu or some other common bug.

That message still hasn’t reached many people in North America, judging from stories ER doctors and nurses swapped this week at a Chicago medical conference. Misinformed patients with Ebola-like symptoms can take up time and resources in busy emergency rooms, and doctors fear the problem may worsen when flu season ramps up.

That’s one reason why doctors say this year it’s especially important for patients to get their flu shots: Fewer flu cases could mean fewer Ebola false alarms.

“The whole system gets bogged down, even if it’s a false alarm,” Dr. Kristi Koenig said during a break at the American College of Emergency Physicians’ annual meeting.

Since the first Ebola diagnosis in the U.S., on Sept. 30 in a Liberian man treated in Dallas, doctors say they’ve had to reassure patients with many fears but

none of the risk factors.

Examples shared by those attending the meeting include: — An Ohio patient who thought she had Ebola because her husband had worked in Dallas, but not with the Ebola patient.

— A New Mexico woman who sought ER testing for Ebola because she had visited Africa two years ago.

— Two Alabama patients who worried they were infected after travelling through an airport in Atlanta, the same city where Ebola patients were treated.

Those Alabama patients had intestinal symptoms but no contact with Ebola patients nor recent travel to Ebolaplagued countries in West Africa, and they were sent home after doctors consulted with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Dr. David Pigott, an emergency medicine specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Flu and other airborne diseases can be transmitted by indirect contact with infected people. By contrast, the only way to get Ebola is through direct contact with blood, vomit and other body fluids ❱❱ PAGE 39 Think you

www.canadianinquirer.net

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38

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Business

Uber taxi app continues to face resistance to Canadian expansion

BY JAMES KELLER The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — The taxi alternative Uber has been busy expanding its controversial UberX service in several Canadian cities in recent months, often against the wishes of local politicians and taxi regulators, who warn the service is bad — and potentially dangerous — for consumers.

The U.S.-based company recently launched its UberX brand, which uses a smartphone app to connect passengers with non-licensed drivers, in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

The company is also believed to be planning an imminent UberX expansion into Vancouver, where it has been searching for managers and drivers through postings on its website and on social media. Similar job advertisements have also been posted for Calgary.

But wherever Uber goes, the company is forced to fend off criticism from local governments, regulators and the taxi industry. Critics argue UberX is attempting to skirt regulations designed to protect passengers and drivers, such as requirements for insurance, licensing, training and vehicle inspections.

“My message to Uber and any other company like Uber is: we have rules; we have laws in this province that are all about protecting the travelling public and ensuring that people can travel safely,” B.C.’s minister of transportation, Todd Stone, recently

told reporters.

“If Uber wants to operate in this province, they’re going to have to operate under the same rules taxi operators currently abide by.”

Consumers may be most familiar with Uber’s traditional taxi service — aptly named Uber Taxi — which connects users with licensed cabs. Passengers pay the standard meter rates, plus a tip, and Uber takes a cut of the transaction.

UberX is a relatively new addition to the company’s lineup.

The service allows anyone over 21 with a vehicle to apply to become a driver, though Uber says it subjects applicants to criminal record checks and provides comprehensive insurance.

Municipal taxi regulators in Canada have generally concluded UberX cars meet the definition of taxis, and therefore drivers must be licensed.

Uber, however, disagrees with that assessment and has been proceeding without such licences.

Last month, bylaw officers in Ottawa conducted a sting and fined two UberX drivers, and the city says more charges are expected.

The City of Toronto issued a statement last month that said UberX violates municipal bylaws and “may pose a serious safety risk.”

Montreal’s mayor has publicly said he believes UberX is illegal.

Uber isn’t revealing its plans for Vancouver or other Canadian cities.

Vancouver’s city council

passed a motion last month imposing a moratorium on new taxi licences for six months while it studies several issues related to the industry, including services such as Uber.

B.C.’s transportation minister warned last week of stiff fines and legal action if Uber operates without the proper licences. The Opposition New Democrats plan to introduce legislation this week that would dramatically increase those fines.

Uber attempted to launch its black-car service in Vancouver in 2012, but the company withdrew from B.C. after the provincial transportation regulator imposed a minimum fare of $75 per trip.

Uber did not make anyone available for an interview, but in a written statement the company argued traditional taxi regulations are outdated and shouldn’t apply to its service.

“It’s important to note that Uber is not a taxi service — we are a technology company — and as such we don’t believe it makes sense to force-fit the services we provide into a taxi regulatory framework that is often decades old,” wrote Uber spokesperson Arielle Goren.

Goren said the company has been meeting with local governments and encouraging them to adopt regulations that would accommodate Uber services. The statement also insisted Uber drivers are subjected to more rigorous screening than traditional cab drivers.

In Vancouver, recent rumours surrounding UberX lit

A screenshot from the Uber website inviting people to become drivers for their service. The company is going ahead with Canadian expansion despite resistance from city governments.

up social media, with many users on Twitter practically begging for the service to launch amid the usual complaints about a lack of taxis and long waits.

Similar grumbling about taxi service has helped fuel Uber’s popularity elsewhere.

Last month, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird took to Twitter to complain he waited 75 minutes in Ottawa for a cab that never came, ultimately concluding: “Tonight I see the need for more competition with (at)Uber.” The post was retweeted nearly 400 times.

Joshua Gans, who teaches at the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto, says Uber’s popularity exposes problems with the traditional taxi industry.

“If the (traditional) taxi service is that good, I shouldn’t want to order (an Uber car), so from an economics perspective, it’s a no-brainer,” says Gans, a frequent Uber Taxi user who has also tried out UberX in other cities, though not in Toronto.

“Whenever Uber has come into a city and has become popular, it’s very hard for the city to get rid of them.” ■

Business

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

EXCHANGE RATES

39

As of November 5, 2014, from finance.yahoo.com

PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CND / USD

1.1455

+0.0051

+0.4507%

CND / PHP

39.3362

-0.1122

-0.2844%

CND / EUR

1.4290

-0.0023

-0.1630%

Think you... from Ebola patients, experts say.

While Ebola can be quickly ruled out for many patients by asking about recent travel to West Africa and contact with Ebola patients, “there’s still some concern about anybody with symptoms that could be Ebola because it’s so much in the news right now,” said Koenig, director of public health preparedness at the University of California in Irvine.

That means a patient with the flu could trigger a full-court press in the ER, including isolating the patient and ER staff grabbing the hazmat suits until Ebola is ruled out.

Ebola was among hot topics at the meeting, and hundreds packed sessions on how to handle a disease they most likely will never have to treat.

Only four people have been diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, and experts doubt that Ebola will become widespread in this country.

But if more Ebola cases do occur, getting vaccinated against the flu now “would make the screening process a lot easier,” said Dr. Daniel Bachmann, an emergency medicine physician at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. ❰❰ 37

Foreign investors urged to set sights on Philippine investments

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

economy,” she said.

“The Philippines is unique and it needs to be looked at with a long-term view longer than a 2- to 3-year window. Given that we are a strong service-oriented economy, the BPO industry is a natural fit,” Sy-Coson added.

She stated her prognosis that “as a domestic investor, I am very optimistic. There is a lot of liquidity for our size in the Phil-

Throughout the course of the discussion, participants analyzed and shared their insight on investment and wealth opMANILA — Now is the time for portunities in Asia. They also foreign investors to invest in touched on the impact of techthe Philippines, according to nology and geopolitical tenSM Investments Corp. (SMIC) sions in the region. vice chair Teresita Sy-Coson.

The gathering marked the Speaking at the 14th Forbes 14th year of the Global CEO Global CEO Conference in Conference. Dubbed “The Next Singapore, Sy-Coson strongly Horizon,” this year’s conferadvised foreign ence was attendinvestors to set ed by business their sights on magnates, enthe Philippines, trepreneurs, and which has regOur population is young (between persons of influistered an avthe ages of 21 and 35) with a ence in the busierage of 5-perhuge earning capacity and a large ness sector from cent growth in overseas Filipino working base that over 31countries. gross domestic consistently send remittances Aside from Syproduct (GDP) to their families.

Coson, members over the last five of the Philippine years. delegation in“We have had cluded Enrique a remarkable improvement in ippines. If you look back at the Razon of International Congovernance. Our population is country’s economic history, we tainer Terminal Services Inc. young (between the ages of 21 have had steady growth.”

(ICTSI), Manuel Villar Jr. of and 35) with a huge earning caThe panel discussion Starmalls Inc. and Josephine pacity and a large overseas Fili- on “Profit for Tomorrow’s Gotianun-Yap of Filinvest Depino working base that consis- Growth” was moderated by velopment Corp. and the Antotently send remittances to their Rich Karlgaard, publisher of nio family of Century Properfamilies. This, in turn, helps our Forbes Magazine. ties. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

So far, flu activity is low nationwide and only one death has been reported, in a child earlier this month.

But unlike Ebola, flu contributes to thousands of deaths each year and many more hospitalizations. And unlike Ebola, there’s a vaccine to protect against the flu, recommended annually for adults, teens and children starting at 6 months of age.

So when patients express fears about Ebola, Bachmann tells them, “Go get your flu shot.”

Flu vaccination rates are low; a little over half of eligible children and teens and just 42 per cent of adults got vaccinated in the 2012-13 flu season, CDC data show.

While there have been reports of scattered flu vaccine shortages this fall due to delayed vaccine shipments, seven manufacturers have estimated that as many as 156 million doses — an adequate supply — will be available this flu season, said CDC spokeswoman Erin Burns.

“As of Oct. 17, 2014, manufacturers reported having shipped 117.8 million doses of flu vaccine,” she said.

Flu season often begins in October, peaks between December and February and then tapers off. ■

40

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Travel

Hotels try to speed guests through check in process; smartphones are being used as room keys

BY SCOTT MAYEROWITZ The Associated Press NEW YORK — Hotels don’t want guests to have to linger at the front desk — or even stop by at all.

New programs are helping speed up the check-in process for busy travellers, or in at least one case, letting them go straight to their rooms by using their smartphone to unlock doors.

The innovations are still being tweaked as hotels scramble to catch up to airlines. Fliers today use their phones to check in, select seats and as a boarding pass. Hotels envision a similar relationship, with guests ultimately ordering poolside drinks via an app.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts on Monday became the first chain to let guests unlock doors with their phones. The feature is available at only 10 Aloft, Element and W hotels but will expand to 140 more properties in those brands by the middle of next year.

Hilton Worldwide is the only other hotel chain to publicly acknowledge plans for mobile room keys — which it plans to roll out at the end of 2015 at some U.S. properties. Hilton won’t say how many hotels will be included, except that the service will be available at four of its brands, Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Canopy.

“Guests want this because it makes their lives simpler,” says Mark Vondrasek, who oversees the loyalty program and digital initiatives for Starwood. “The ability to go right to your room, gives them back time.”

Other hotel companies are finding other ways to streamline the arrival process.

Marriott International launched the ability to check in through its app at 330 North American hotels last year. By the end of this year, the program will be live at all 4,000 hotels worldwide. When a room

The Hilton in London, England. Hilton Worldwide is one of two hotel chains that acknowledge plans for integrating mobile phones as room keys.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

becomes available, a message is sent to the guest’s phone.

Traditional room keys are preprogrammed and waiting at the front desk. A special express line allows guests to bypass crowds, flash their IDs and get keys.

At Hilton, all 4,000 properties worldwide will have a similar check-in by the end of the year. The one added feature: Guests can use maps on the app to select a specific room.

InterContinental Hotels Group is testing express checkin at 60 hotels.

The services are geared toward road warriors who don’t want to slow down, even for a second. Guests who like personal interaction can still opt for a more leisurely check-in, and hotel companies say the move isn’t about cutting jobs.

“If you’re at the end of a long day, you might want a little less of a chatty experience. But if you’re showing up at a new re-

sort, you may want to know what the pool hours are,” says Brett Cowell, vice-president of information technology for Hyatt, which is testing permanent keys for frequent guests at six hotels.

The push isn’t just about avoiding frustrating check-in lines. Hotels are trying to get more travellers comfortable using their mobile apps to interact. In some cases, that means using an iPad to request a wakeup call. But ultimately hotels would like to see people purchasing suite upgrades, spa treatments and room service though their phones and tablets — and at some point wearable devices like smartwatches.

Marriott guests made $1.25 billion in bookings last year through its mobile app, according to George Corbin, senior vice-president of digital for the company.

Switching to smartphone

room keys won’t be easy. Starwood’s app communicates using a Bluetooth data connection. Each hotel room needs to have a new lock that can communicate with phones.

The top 15 hotel companies have more than 42,000 properties worldwide with a combined 5.2 million rooms, according to travel research firms STR and STR Global. Many hotels have made updates over the past few years, but they remain the minority.

Then there is the issue of security. If there is knock on the door late at night and a guest goes to the peephole to see who is there, nobody wants the phone in their pocket to accidently unlock the door. That’s why Starwood requires the phone to actually touch a pad on the outside of the door to open it.

Finally, only one phone can be linked to a room at a time.

So if two people are staying in

the room, they still need to get a traditional key for the second traveller.

Marriott says it is holding off on smartphone keys until all the potential bugs can be resolved.

“If there was ever a moment that matters,” Corbin says, “it’s the moment when you go up to your door and the key doesn’t work.”

But for the frequent business traveller, this might just be the time-saver they are looking for.

Bruce Craven spends about 100 nights a year on the road, travelling between his California home and New York where he does executive training programs and teaches at Columbia Business School. He’s been testing Starwood’s smartphone room key since March.

“If you’re travelling all the time, little things can take on a symbolic importance,” Craven says. “This is one less thing that I need to think about.” ■

Travel

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

41

Globetrotting travel writer Pico Iyer’s new book ‘Art of Stillness’ makes case for staying put

BY JENNY BARCHFIELD The Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Pico Iyer has spent the past several decades on the move, incessantly hopping from one far-flung destination — Ethiopia, Morocco, Indonesia — to another. But the globetrotting travel writer is now convinced the most exciting place to go is nowhere at all.

In his new book “The Art of Stillness,” the British-born, California-raised son of Indian parents preaches sitting quietly in one place as an antidote to our constantly-connected, multi-tasking, airport-hopping lifestyles.

Iyer, 57, a Time Magazine journalist, shot to international fame with his 2000 book “The Global Soul,” which chronicled the emergence of a new breed he dubbed “transnationals” — people who all but live in airports, have ad-

dresses on different continents and carry several passports and multiple currencies in their pockets at all times. After years of living the sort of rootless existence he so deftly described in the book, Iyer began to feel the need to slow down like a nagging itch.

“It was gradual. I noticed I had 1.5 million miles on United Airlines alone, so I thought, ‘I’ve got plenty of movement in my life,’” he said in an interview in Rio de Janeiro, where he spoke at a TED conference last month. “I need stillness.”

Iyer’s move some 15 years ago to a remote village in Japan, where he lives with his wife and children but without a cellphone, car, bike, or television in a language he understands, and with only sporadic email access, helped him step away from the fray.

“The longer I’m in rural Japan, the more I end up in the 13th century,” he said. “The rest

of the world is surging forward, and I’m there and I’ve never heard of Facebook or smartphones or Skype or any of that.”

While this chosen isolation might seem counterintuitive for someone who still makes his living as a travel writer — Iyer acknowledged that being hard to reach has infuriated many an editor over the years — he insisted it enriches both his life and his work by giving him the time and the space necessary to process, digest and reflect on experience.

“We’re very different people when we’re running from one plane to the next appointment to the next email and we can only keep gathering fragments but never get any deeper than that,” he said. “I can feel inside myself that spending time very quietly is like the construction of a house that then you can go and inhabit, rather than always running on quicksand, which I

www.canadianinquirer.net

feel that more and more of us are doing now.”

A heartfelt manifesto to the benefits of ditching the cellphone and snipping up the frequent flier card, “The Art of Stillness” is anything but a selfhelp book or how-to guide for achieving inner peace.

“I’ve never meditated in my life, I don’t practice yoga nor any religion,” Iyer said. “I’m a tourist on the realm of stillness. I can tell people a little of this foreign country but I don’t live there, don’t speak the language.”

In the book, he profiles uncontested masters of stillness, from Matthieu Ricard, a Frenchman with a Ph.D. in molecular biology who ditched a promising scientific career to become a Tibetan monk, to revered singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, who traded the pleasures of the senses for several years of living the near-silent life of meditation as a Zen monk.

“Leonard Cohen had been my hero since I was a teenager,” said Iyer. “Probably because he seemed glamorous and he was always travelling around and had beautiful girlfriends and wrote so wonderfully. And then to encounter a man who’s had all that and says nothing compares to the adventure of stillness, says it’s the most voluptuous entertainment.

“That made a big impression” — one that would lead Iyer to a retreat at a Benedictine hermitage to which he’s returned year after year.

“When I began travelling, when I would tell people about going to Tibet or going to Cuba or India, their eyes would really light up,” Iyer said. “Now, I notice that their eyes really light up when I talk about going nowhere, or going offline.”

“The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere” hits bookstores this month. ■

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Sports Canada’s Raonic loses Paris Masters title, turns attention to World Tour Finals

BY BILL SCOTT The Canadian Press PARIS — Canadian Milos Raonic’s most reliable weapon was turned back on him on Sunday.

Raonic admitted that topranked Novak Djokovic handled his normally threatening serve with ease as the Serb defended his Paris Masters title with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over the native of Thornhill, Ont. “Every time he put his racket on the ball, he was making me play a deep ball,” said the tenthranked Raonic. “If he gave me a short return and I would attack, he would be there. It elevated a certain pressure or demand of having to serve close to the lines.

“That weighs on your shoulders when the guy is playing as well as he did.”

Despite the disappointing finish to the Masters tourna-

ment, Raonic’s season has been extended. His play in Paris has helped him qualify for next week’s World Tour Finals in London for the first time.

Djokovic, who did not drop a set during the whole week, won the indoor tournament for the third time on Sunday and claimed the 20th Masters title of his career. The Serbian limited his opponent’s serve, with Raonic scoring only nine aces after reaching double figures in many of his matches this week.

Djokovic also made a big step in his bid to finish the year at the No. 1 spot for a third time, extending his lead over Roger Federer before the finals in London from Nov. 9-16.

The 23-year-old Raonic, who has never beaten Djokovic in their four meetings, appeared apprehensive and could not convert his few openings.

Djokovic’s only scare came in

the first set when Raonic won eight straight points but failed to convert three consecutive break opportunities.

Raonic saved the three break points in the sixth game, two of them with aces. Djokovic then recovered from 0-40 down to hold a game later for 5-2 before taking the opening set in 43 minutes.

“The key points of the match was to get as many returns back in play (as possible). It’s easier said than done when somebody serves regularly around 220 kilometres an hour,” said Djokovic.

“Milos uses that as his big weapon, throughout the week that was his best shot. He relies on the serve very much in his game.

“If you can make him play an extra shot, maybe he’s going to drop the percentage of first serves and I can step in and maybe take initiative on the second.”

Raonic dropped to 0-2 in the

second set on a double-fault and saved two match points in the penultimate game with a service winner and a pass before Djokovic closed out the win a game later, firing a forehand winner down the line to clinch victory.

“He played some great tennis; neutralized my serve well,” said Raonic. “Even when I was able to open him on the backhand side, he was moving really well. He was always getting two hands on it. It was never sort of defending with a slice.

“He was always playing deep and didn’t really give me too many looks. Even on the break chances I had, he played them well. He just made life difficult for me today.”

Raonic, who won his first career match against a member of the top three tennis elite in the quarter-finals when he upset Roger Federer, had backed up

that success in the semis, beating fifth-ranked Tomas Berdych.

But Djokovic was not going to be another victim.

“I was feeling good about things,” said Raonic. “In the last two matches, I’ve been playing some really good tennis. I felt ready to face on the challenge and try to make the most of the opportunity.”

As he heads to his World Tour Finals debut, Raonic is nursing some minor doubts.

“The toughest thing — especially for the first time in London — is going to be to adapt to is not really having those early round matches where you sort of find your way into the event, tournament,” said Raonic.

Raonic is the first Canadian to play in the year-ending singles tournament. Toronto’s Daniel Nestor, playing with Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic, will be in the doubles competition. ■

43

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

GAYLE GAVIN for Council

Put Community into City Hall Prominent Trial Lawyer Stands up for neighbourhoods fighting inappropriate development Will support Community led Neighbourhood Development

Vote COPE • Meena Wong for Mayor • Lisa Barrett • Tim Louis • Sid Chow Tan • Jennifer O'Keeffe • Gayle Gavin • Wilson Munoz • Keith Higgins • Audrey Siegl votecope.ca gaylegavin.com Photo: John Watson

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44

Seen and Scenes

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

PINOY WITHOUT BORDERS Pinoy Without Borders held their spooky halloween gig at the Marlborough Community Hall in Calgary on Nov. 1. Here are some scenes from the event.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN AT FORT MC Partygoers from the Filipino-Canadian Association of Fort McMurray, AB recently held their Halloween bash at the Nistawoyou Friendship Centre.

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

FRIDAY

Events

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

45

Darren the Homecoming Concert

By ABEC Promotions and Greatway Financial WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Nov. 7, Grey Eagle Resort and Casino 377 Grey Eagle Dr., Calgary, AB MORE INFO: Tickets 1-888-943-8849 Community Forum

By Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 8, Coast Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, 1316 33 St. NE, Calgary, AB

CANADA EVENTS

Retroductive Disco Night WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 15, at Isaac Brock Community Centre 715 Telfer Ave., WinNUNAVUT nipeg, MB MORE INFO: For tickets call Kathy or Vhong 204-898-3586 or 204-509-8502.

YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

BRITISH COLUMBIA

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

2014 Toronto Paskuhan Festival

ALBERTA

(3 locations) NEWFOUNDLAND

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN Free Tagalog Lessons

By Philippine Language School WHEN/WHERE: ongoing every Saturday, 2 p.m., at Sprott Shaw College (walking distance from Rupert Station).

MORE INFO: Learn conversational Tagalog for free.

Course will lead to regular Tagalog curriculum from K-12 in 2015. Call 694-551-3360 or 778-239-0500.

Peer Support Training in Coquitlam

By Immigrant Women’s Peer Support Program and Citizenship and Immigration Canada WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., till Dec. 13, at Immigrant Services Society of BC - Coquitlam Settlement Services, 200C-504 Cottonwood Ave., Coquitlam B.C. Culture Smart

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., every Monday till Nov. 24 at Mosaic 1720 Grant St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Mike at 604-254-9626 ext.

484. Registration is required.

Rex Navarrete

By Litonjua and Factora WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 and 10 p.m., Nov. 7, at The Columbia Theatre 530 Columbia St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: $25 general admission/ $35 VIP. For tickets: Flipnfunny@hotmail.com 40th Anniversary Gala

By Vancouver Multicultural Society WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 p.m. to 12 mn, Nov. 8 at Floata Seafood Restaurant 400-180 Keefer St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: $40 per person (dinner-dance-entertainment-live band-free parking). For tickets, contact 604-687-6631.

ONTARIO

QUEBEC

Right Here Write Now

By Ancop Canada WHEN/WHERE: 2:30 and 7 p.m., Nov. 16, River Rock Show Theatre, 5811 River Rd., Richmond, B.C. Cheche Lazaro (2014 Marshall McLuhan Fellow): Ethics & Accountability in the Changing Media Landscape

By Marshall McLuhan WHEN/WHERE: 5 p.m., Nov. 17, Case Rm. Liu Institute for Global Issues, 6476 NW Marine Drive, UBC Philippine Fest

By Symphony Hill in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Philippines WHERE/WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m., Nov. 23, Aberdeen Centre, 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: A dazzling showcase of Filipino culture, arts, songs, sports, handicrafts and food. Call 604-551-3360; 604-808-8945.

My Tween & Me Multicultural Mom’s Support Group

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursdays, Dunbar Hts. Church 3320 Crown St., Vancouver MORE INFO: call Daisy 604-254-9626 ext 273 Candlelight Conservation Dinner

By Max’s Restaurant and BCHydro WHEN/WHERE: 5 to 9 p.m., every Wednesday until Nov. 26, at Max’s Restaurant, 3546 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-435-3505 Young Prodigies Concerto Concert

By Music Without Borders WHEN/WHERE: 2 p.m., Nov. 23 at The Chan Centre of Performing Arts 6252 Crescemt Rd., Vancouver MORE INFO: Tickets – www.chancentre.com www.canadianinquirer.net

By Toronto Paskuhan Festival Canada, Our Lady of Assumption Church and Archdiocesan Filipino Catholic Mission WHEN/WHERE: Artscape Wychwood Barns at 601 Christie St., Toronto, On.; Gateway Centre for New Canadians at 3450 Wolfedale Rd., Mississauga; Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 2565 Bathurst St., Toronto.

Angel ng Tahanan Canada 2014

By The Philippine Courier WHEN/WHERE: 7 to 10 p.m., Prestige Lounge and Disco House, 4554 Dufferin St., North York, On.

Light Up 2014

By Ladysmith Festival of Lights WHEN/WHERE: 6:45 p.m. Nov. 27, at Eagle’s Hall and Aggie Hall, 1163 4th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. Steveston Christmas Craft Fair

By Steveston Community Society WHEN/WHERE:10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 29, Steveston Community Centre Filipino Canadian Construction Society Dinner and Dance Night

By FCCS WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Santa Monica Parish Function Hall, 12011 Woodhead Rd., Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Nisha Lalwani 604-3385544 or Ferdie Lontok 778-868-8759

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2014

46

CANADA

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