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Maguindanao massacre kin launch awareness campaign
Philippines reaps praise on global stage
Pope Francis' 5-day Philippine itinerary
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson wins third term
Pacquiao returns to China for fight against Algier
Bomb blast in southern Philippines kills 1, wounds 16 others THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., reviews the honor guards during the send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal II on Nov. 18 for his 2-day working visit to Singapore. The President was a keynote speaker during "The World in 2015 Gala Dinner" by The Economist. BENHUR ARCAYAN / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU
Too many probes, hardly any time for making laws BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer CONGRESS IS swamped with too many investigations that it has too little time left for legislation, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales said on Monday. “The committee on rules has slowed
down in referring (resolutions) for investigation because in truth, the committee on good government (the House counterpart of the Senate blue ribbon committee) is already overburdened. In fact, it has yet to finish one investigation with so many resolutions referred to it,” Gonzales said.
❱❱ PAGE 3 Bomb blast
Philippine Canadian Inquirer
Fil-Can in Focus: Bert Monterona ❱❱ PAGE 22
❱❱ PAGE 11 Too many
KIDAPAWAN, PHILIPPINES — A bomb exploded on a pedestrian overpass in a southern Philippine town threatened by Muslim rebels in the past, killing a student and wounding 16 others last Sunday, police and military officials said. Soldiers defused two other bombs near the scene of the first blast in the farming town of Kabacan in North Cotabato province, Police Senior Inspector Jarwin Castroberde said. Four of the victims were brought to a hospital in critical condition, according to Kabacan official David Saure. One of them, a 19-year-old girl, was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital,
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A bounty of Php200,000 has been offered by North Cotabato officials for information that will lead to the arrest of any suspects involved in bombings that killed 1 and wounded 16 others. NORTHCOTABATO.NET
Php200k bounty offered for arrest of North Cotabato bombers PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY KABACAN, NORTH COTABATO — The bounty for any information leading to the arrest of two men who set off improvised bombs along a busy street here Sunday night is now Php200,000. Mayor Herlo Guzman has offered another Php100,000 reward for anyone who can help police identify the suspects in the deadly blast that left one student dead and 16 others wounded. Earlier, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza offered Php100,000 bounty for information that could help the police in arresting the suspects she described as “barbaric and satanic.” Senior Inspector Jarwin Castroverde, Kabacan OIC police chief, said the blast could be a retaliatory attack by the BIFF to divert the attention of the military conducting manhunt operations against them in nearby town of Pikit, also in North Cotabato. However, Castroverde said the police are not discounting the possible involvement of illegal drug syndicate whose two alleged members were killed in a shootout with lawmen last month.
Castroverde said the suspects set off an improvised bomb made of 60 mm mortar with mobile phone as triggering device at the top of the overpass in front of a public elementary school at about 7 p.m. Sunday. Another IED of similar make was defused by responding bomb experts. “We condemn this barbaric act. We assure our constituents that your Local Government Unit (LGU) is doing everything to prevent similar act in the future to ensure the safety of our people,” Mayor Guzman said. Florence Mantawil, mother of Monique, a lone fatality in the blast, asked the authorities to conduct a deeper investigation and asked everyone to be vigilant all the time to prevent similar incident in the future. “It pains me losing my prescious girl but I will accept it perhaps it was Allah’s will,” Florence said in Filipino. To the perpetrators, she has this message: “I know you also have children. Your conscience will never let you sleep soundly at night.” Four blast victims remained in critical condition at a hospital in Kidapawan City due to shrapnel injuries in the head. ■
Bomb blast... hospital personnel said. Castroberde says investigators were trying to identify the attackers but the suspects include breakaway guerrillas opposed to a peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest insurgent group in the south of ❰❰ 1
the largely Roman Catholic nation. The few hundred breakaway guerrillas have continued occasional attacks against government forces and far-flung communities in the marshy heartland of southern Mindanao region in a futile fight for a separate homeland for minority Muslims. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
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Kin of Maguindanao massacre victims launch awareness campaign PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Relatives and colleagues of journalists who were slain in the gruesome November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre are set to launch a series of awareness campaigns in connection with the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the killings. Emily Lopez, chair of the Justice Now Movement, said Monday they will visit schools and local communities this week to properly inform the public about the progress of the cases that had filed against the suspect in the massacre that killed 58 people, including 32 media workers. She said they want the people to be properly aware of the latest developments on the case, especially the status of the continuing trial against members of the Ampatuan political clan
of Maguindanao who have been “We knew from the start that case’s prosecution panel, actagged as masterminds of the the road to justice will be long knowledged that case is indeed carnage. and difficult. But we’re fully already taking too long “in the The move was also aimed committed towards our goal sense that it is really very difto get wider support from the to get genuine justice for the ficult to prosecute as the case public for the case and in pres- victims, whether through the involves too many victims, acsuring the national government courts or the streets,” said Lo- cused and witnesses.” to speed up the trial as well its pez, who is also a local coordiThe victims were on their resolution. nator of militant human rights way to Shariff Aguak in MaguShe said they indanao on Noneed the help of vember 23, 2009 the people to ento file the cersure that genutificate of candiine justice will We’re fully committed towards dacy of then Bube served to the our goal to get genuine justice luan vice mayor victims. for the victims, whether through Esmael “Toto” Lopez said the courts or the streets. Mangudadatu they are hopefor governor ful that the case when their conwill be resolved voy was waylaid before the end of the term of group Karapatan. in Ampatuan town. President Benigno S. Aquino Justice Secretary Leila de Around 100 gunmen allegedIII in June 2016. Lima said earlier this month ly headed by former Datu UnShe said their group, which is that they are still targeting to say, Maguindanao Mayor Andal composed of families and close secure a conviction of the sus- Ampatuan Jr. herded them off relatives of the slain 32 media pects in the case before the end to a hilly portion of Masalay workers, remain “united and of the President’s term. where they were brutally killed. steadfast to pursue the case withDe Lima, who took over the Mangudadatu was spared out compromise until the end.” supervision last month of the from the massacre after he sent
his wife Genalyn and several female family members to file his candidacy. The media workers were part of the convoy to cover the filing. A total of 194 people had been charged over the massacre, 15 of whom were members of the Ampatuan clan. Eight of them led by the Ampatuan patriarch Andal Sr. had been arrested and already arraigned before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221. The seven others are the elder Ampatuan’s sons former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy, former Maguindanao vice governor Sajid Islam and former Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Mayor Anwar Sr.; nephew and brother-in-law former Mamasapano, Maguindanao Mayor Akmad Sr.; and grandsons former Shariff Aguak vice mayor Anwar Jr. and Anwar Sajid. ■
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Senators hail Flavier as giant of public service BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Former Senator Juan Flavier may be small in stature but senators described him as the giant of public service from small barrios to the Philippine Senate. “Thank you Johnny for being what you are and what you were. I am positive, as I shall always pray, that the Paradise you are in will not prohibit children. But here on earth, you will always be lovingly remembered as a funny, genial, gentle giant — the giant in the Senate, the giant of the barrios, the giant among Filipinos,” Senator Sergio Osmena III said in his eulogy during Monday’s necrological services held at the Senate session hall for Flavier. Osmena was one of the six senators who delivered eulogy as the Senate paid tribute to four-foot-eleven Flavier who served the Senate from 10th to 12th Congress. He succumbed to pneumonia last October 30 at age 79. “His ways were simple. He had no airs. He was always for the common man. And he exuded and laid down the proper values and the principles by which all men must live. Johnny Flavier transformed many lives. He certainly was a big inspiration to me and to so many millions of Filipinos,” Osmena, Flavier’s batchmate from 10th to 12th Congress, said. Senate President Franklin Drilon, another Flavier batchmate, turned emotional as he remembered Flavier as passionate and courageous colleague who never run out of jokes but with sharp mind in giving analysis to the issues. “Although he was the first one to make a joke of his height, Johnny was a giant of a man. His monumental achievements made him stand out from the rest. But what made him more extraordinary was his strong compassion for those who have less in life, his sense of duty, and commitment to make a difference,” Drilon said in his own eulogy. “The members of this august chamber and I are privilege to have known him, and have laughed, walked and worked with him. His memory will live forever in the hearts of count-
Two honor guards of the Philippine National Police carry the urn containing the ashes of former Senator Juan Flavier to the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City for the necrological services on Nov 17. Dr. Flavier served as senator from 1995 to 2007. He died of pneumonia last Oct. 30 at the age of 79. AVITOC DALAN / PNA
less people whose lives he deep- mon passion for healthcare. He Santiago said. ly touched,” Drilon added. was the teacher and I was the For his part, Senator GregoSenator Loren Legarda re- student. I had dreams and as- rio ‘Gringo’ Honasan II said the membered Flavier whom he pirations; he had wisdom and Senate became the bigger stage called ‘Manong Johnny’ as a man experience. I had a passion for for Flavier who drew bipartisan who was bigger than life, epito- healthcare. He had the medical support for his highest stanmized what public service really degree and expertise,” Cayeta- dard of statesmanship. means, and stood for the words no added. “The highest standard of of integrity and work ethic. Cayetano said Flavier taught statesmanship was never a “Manong Johnny will always her to be patient, resulting problem for Manong Johnny. I be remembered for bringing for the passage of the Tobacco wanted to be like Senator Juan healthcare to the unempow- Graphic Health Warning bill Flavier,” Honasan, who like ered and to the marginalized, and Reproductive Health two Flavier also won as senator in for being kind, for being gen- decades after his ‘Yosi Kadiri’ 1995, said. erous, for being noble. He has and ‘Let’s DOH it’ campaign. Drilon and acting minortouched us all ity leader Vicente and his memory Sotto III presentshall forever be ed to Flavier’s etched in our He was always for the common man. family led by his minds and in our And he exuded and laid down the wife Susan the hearts,” Legarda, proper values and the principles by Senate Resolua neophyte and which all men must live. tion 1014 expressFlavier’s seating the Senate’s mate in the 11th profound sympaCongress, said. “He was a strong advocate of thy and sincere condolence on Like Legarda, Senator Pia family planning when he was the death of former senator. Cayetano described Flavier as President (Fidel) Ramos’ secre“The hard working legislator her mentor specifically in pub- tary of health. After conducting registered a perfect attendance lic health service not only in my first hearing and a series of during the sessions and was inthe Senate but during Flavier’s consultations on RH at the start strumental in the enactment of stint as health secretary and a of my term in the 13th Congress, landmark legislations promoting barrio doctor for 40 years. I asked for his advice on how to public health care and improving “Back then I was a private proceed,” Cayetano recalled. the quality of life of the people,” citizen, a young lawyer who alSenator Miriam Defensor according to the resolution. ready idolized this amazingly Santiago described Flavier as “The passing away of the ilcharismatic health secretary her best friend in the Senate lustrious senator is a great loss who was taking on health cam- and “the most honest senator I not only to his bereaved fampaigns, that little did I know ever knew.” ily but to the nation as well,” it would be my very campaigns as “When I was sometimes tired added. well,” Cayetano, former chair- or bored or downhearted, I Other incumbent senators person of the committee on would saunter to Johnny’s desk present include Senators Juan health and demography, said. and engage him in a chat, confi- Edgardo Angara, Paolo Benig“He was a father to me. But as dent that I was sharing a com- no Aquino IV, Joseph Victor a legislator, we complemented panionable time with an honest Ejercito, Francis Escudero and each other. We shared a com- man; a good man; a great man,” Grace Poe. www.canadianinquirer.net
Former senators also paid tribute like Heherson Alvarez, Nikki Coseteng, Santanina Rasul, Rene Espina, Roberto Jaworski, and Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel Jr. along with members of Senate Spouses Foundation Inc., Milgros Drilon, Bettina Osmena and Bing Pimentel. The urn containing the remains of Flavier was given arrival and departure honor in front of the Senate building’s main entrance. The senators, together with Flavier’s wife and children, the Senate Secretary, Sergeantat-Arms, Deputy Secretaries, Senate Legal Counsel, Directors-General escorted the urn, carried by two pallbearers of the Philippine National Police, to the session hall. Among Flavier’s authored and sponsored bills that passed into law include the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (Republic Act 8423); Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (R.A. 8425); Philippine Clean Air Act (R.A. 8749); Indigenous People’s Rights Act (R.A.8371); Anti-Money Laundering Act (R.A. 9160); law declaring Eidl Fitr as a National Holiday (R.A. 9177); Barangay Micro-Business Enterprise (R.A. 9178); National Service Training Program for Tertiary Students (R.A. 9163); the Dangeous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165); the Plant Variety Protection Act (R.A. 9168); the Philippine Nursing Act (R.A. 9173) and the Tobacco Regulation Act (R.A. 9211). ■
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Trillanes slaps Tiu with P6.5-M countersuit BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has decided to file counter charges against Antonio Tiu, by way of a P6.5-million countersuit. In a counter charge filed last week Wednesday before a Quezon City court, Trillanes’ legal representatives, Chan Robles and Associates law firm said that “Sen. Trillanes has suffered sleepless nights, wounded feelings, extreme
anxiety and a slur in his reputation as a result of Tiu’s civil case.” The firm prepared a 29-page counter charge — with motion to dismiss — in which Trillianes appealed to Judge Evangeline Marigomen to mandate Tiu to pay him P5 million in moral damages, P1 million in exemplary damages and P500,000 in attorney’s fees. Trillanes accused Tiu of being a dummy of Vice President Jejomar Binay, after the former said he is the owner of the controversial property in Rosario,
Batangas. This allegation prompted Tiu to file a P5-million civil case against the Senator, on the grounds that the accusation besmirched his reputation as a businessman. According to Trillanes’ legal counsel, however, the Senator’s statement was based documents, reports and information which all indicate that Tiu is a dummy of the Vice President. As such, Tiu cannot hold the Senator responsible for the purported damages inflicted by his statement. ■
1 of 5 slain soldiers beheaded BY JULIE S. ALIPALA Inquirer Mindanao ZAMBOANGA CITY—One of five soldiers killed in a clash between government troops and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Jolo, Sulu, last Friday was beheaded, a top military official said yesterday. Col. Allan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu who made the report, refused to identify the beheaded soldier. At least 28 have been wounded since fighting started last Friday night in Talipao town, according to Arrojado. He said 10 Abu Sayyaf members were killed while 30 others were wounded. Among those killed were Abu Sayyaf group sub-leader Hairullah Asbang, whose body was recovered in the village of Bawisan; and Beting Jakka, brotherin-law of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. Maj. Maria Victoria Mandin, executive officer of the Don Basilio Navarro Hospital of the Western Mindanao Command, told reporters that 26 of the wounded soldiers were in stable condition, while two others were brought to the Ciudad Medical Center for treatment of major injuries. She said majority of the wounded personnel suffered shrapnel wounds “either from mortars or high caliber ammunition.” 3 Abu groups merged
Capt.
Maria
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Muyuela, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said three big Abu Sayyaf groups merged as the military troops were conducting law enforcement operations in the areas of Bud Bungao, Talipao town in Sulu. The groups were led by Sahiron, Hatib Sawadjaan and Juli Ekit. Muyuela said the soldiers had a hard time penetrating and recovering the wounded personnel because the terrain was “thickly vegetated and not easily passable by vehicles.” Stable condition
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the wounded soldiers were evacuated to the hospital last Friday night and were now in stable condition. The military declined to name the casualties until their nearest kin had been notified by the First Scout Ranger Regiment. AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. expressed his condolences to the families of the soldier casualties. “Please allow me to express my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their loved ones while fighting for the country. I thank them for their selfless service,” Catapang said. Catapang promptly ordered his senior staff officers to send medical teams, mission-essential equipment and additional supplies for the troops. “I want to personally pin the Gold Cross Medals on all deserving warrior-leaders who displayed conspicuous cour-
age in this particular firefight. Their bravery must be emulated by all soldiers,” he said. Malacañang meanwhile said the soldiers who were killed in the encounter last Friday made the “ultimate sacrifice” to keep the country safe from terrorists. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace condoled with the families of the six soldiers who belonged to the Army’s Scout Rangers. Ultimate sacrifice
“We thank them for making the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We salute them for the courage and valor of our soldiers because without them, we would not be able to sleep peacefully at night,” Valte said in Filipino. Valte assured the families of the slain soldiers that the government would not abandon them in their time of grief. In a detailed feature article, the AFP Public Affairs Office described the encounter through the eyes of 1Lt. Michael Asistores, 30. Asistores, who was among the wounded soldiers, was hit by shrapnel. High on marijuana
Asistores said that the Abu Sayyaf bandits appeared to have been high on marijuana while fighting the soldiers. Citing Asistores’ account, the Rangers began “trading fire with the bandits using assault rifles and machine guns” at around 2 p.m. www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine soldiers huddled with an American soldier (center) during a training exercise. Intense fighting between government forces and Abu Sayyaf terrorists last week left 5 soldiers dead, including one by beheading. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
“Unknown to them, all surrounding hills... were occupied by at least 300 bandits led by five notorious leaders, namely, Radulan Sahiron aka Commander Putol, Hairullah Asbang, Jurim Hussein, Hatib Sawadjaan and Juli Ekit,” the AFP said. Asistores was the combat leader of the 1st Scout Ranger Company in the “first major encounter of the military against the elusive bandit group after the release of the German kidnap victims three weeks ago,” the AFP said. Asistores praised the five soldiers for their during the firefight. “They showed us the true spirit of the Scout Rangers.
They died fighting for the country with their combat boots on,” said Asistores. He also said that he and his men who were now recuperating in the military hospital in Zamboanga, were all willing to come back to Sulu and rejoin their unit. “I will gladly go back and be with my men in the frontlines. We must crush the Abu Sayyaf and end its kidnapping business,” he said. Arrojado also said that more troops were deployed in the peripheries of the encounter area to block the Abu Sayyaf’s escape routes. ■ With reports by Cynthia Balana and Nikko Dizon in Manila
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President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal II on Nov. 14 from his successful participation in the APEC CEO Summit and the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. ROBERT VIÑAS / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU
Philippines ‘reaps praise on global stage’ BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer BACK FROM two summits of regional leaders, President Aquino this week reported praises for the Philippines from fellow heads of state, which, he said, showed that the country is once more on the global stage. Mr. Aquino arrived this week at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 after attending the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing, China, and the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Naypyitaw, Burma (Myanmar). “Our meetings were with the leaders of Vietnam, Chile, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, India and China. There was an exchange of knowledge about good governance, improving agriculture, and faster and more efficient trade. To improve what we call the people-to-people cooperation, we entered into agreements to improve the initiatives in education and tourism,” Mr. Aquino said.
pines to share its expertise in fisheries, finance, agriculture, public health, education and many others with Papua New Guinea. “In return, we will have better trade relations with them. He joked that [our experts] may not return to the Philippines because [Papua New Guinea] will take care of them very well,” he said. O’Neill also said that Papua New Guineans have made the Philippines a destination for medical tourism aside from coming to the country to study, Mr. Aquino reported. Thai strongman
The President said he also had a long discussion with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha “about the things [our countries] go through.” He noted that the Philippines and Thailand have had similar problems, but did not go into specifics. Mr. Aquino expressed confidence in stronger ties between the Philippines and Thailand, and said Prayuth invited him to make a state visit to Thailand. “Before we ended our talk, Prime Minister [Prayuth] and I shared the steps we both have taken to ensure good governance,” he said.
‘Red carpet’ for PH
The President highlighted his talks with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, which, he said, made him feel that the PNG leader had “rolled out the red carpet” for the Philippines. “It is clear that other countries, which shunned the Philippines before, now come and look up to us,” Mr. Aquino said. He said O’Neill invited the Philip-
Meeting with Xi
In his brief meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Mr. Aquino said he thanked the Chinese leader for his warm welcome for the Philippine delegation and “for the chance to start the process toward a better relationship.” “We also mentioned that our primary objective is to improve the situation of
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our countrymen and this is where our decisions are based on,” Mr. Aquino said. He said that before he left for Burma, he formally invited the leaders of the Asean countries to the 23rd Apec summit, which will be held in the Philippines next year. Mr. Aquino said the Apec and Asean summits allowed the Philippines to be part of the collective effort of nations to “push for progress” and together those nations face challenges that know no boundaries, among them climate change, the spread of Ebola, and terrorism.” “For every minute we spent in Beijing and Naypyitaw, we Filipinos showed that the Filipino can be counted on. We face challenges instead of running away from them and we are ready to cooperate in facing challenges,” the President said. Bullish Moody’s
Mr. Aquino added that he also met with Moody’s chief executive officer Raymond McDaniel, who told him that it was “very rare” for a country to receive a credit ratings upgrade and be given a positive outlook as well. “Let us remember that this happened when credit ratings agencies are very careful and conservative,” he said. Mr. Aquino said another good news was that in meeting with Sanofi executives, he learned that the dengue vaccines being developed by the pharmaceutical company may soon reach the Philippines. He said that Johnson and Johnson would put up a service center in the Philippines, generating 500 more jobs for Filipinos. ■
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China Apec show awes P-Noy: Can Philippines deliver? BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer BEIJING—President Aquino is so impressed by China’s hosting of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Meeting that he now wonders how the Philippines, next year’s host, can throw a party as spectacular as the one thrown by Beijing over the weekend. The thought crossed his mind, Mr. Aquino told reporters last week, speaking to them about the wonders that China did for its first outing as an Apec summit host. Mr. Aquino was all praises for the way China prepared for the welcome dinner and the accompanying entertainment hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Apec leaders at the Water Cube here on Monday night. Fireworks show
The three-hour dinner ended
with spectacular fireworks that Mr. Aquino said he was im- host Apec comes next year. lit up the skies over the Chi- pressed that the deaf dancers President Aquino formally nese capital as the leaders and could follow music that they accepted from Xi the task of officials from 20 Asia-Pacific couldn’t hear. hosting Apec in mid-November countries and the people who Actually deaf dancers follow next year during the closing gathered to watch it oohed and the beat of the music by feeling ceremony of the Apec leaders’ aahed in wonderment. the vibrations on the stage with meeting here. The President also admitted he the soles of their feet. was so awed that he couldn’t help “If I were to characterize one ‘Perfect hosting’ but stare “intently” at the “almost thing in the way they hosted it, Interviewed by Reuters after wall-to-wall” his meeting with painting inside Filipino reportthe Water Cube. ers, the Presi“We have the We have the talent, but how do you dent heaped talent, but how do actually produce something on this praises on Xi for you actually prolevel? China’s “perfect duce something hosting” of Apec. on this level?” he “The precision, said of the majestic interiors of especially this portion that I the perfection is, I think, sets a the iridescent bubble wrap of the was actually [a witness] to, [it’s] standard for us to try and at least rectangular Water Cube, the site the precision. The fireworks— match next year when we host of the swimming events of the you can’t see anything out of Apec,” he said. 2008 Beijing Olympics. sync,” Mr. Aquino said. When asked about the Philip“No one went first. No one pine preparations, Mr. Aquino Deaf dancers went last. But maybe in our said he did not want to disclose Equally mesmerizing for the case, it’s going to be a little less the plans so as not to preempt President was the cultural per- precise,” the President said, those behind the preparations formance at the welcome din- voicing doubt about the Filipi- themselves. He said the media ner for the Apec leaders, which nos’ ability to match the Chi- would eventually be briefed on included deaf dancers. nese show when their turn to the details.
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Talking business
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, meanwhile, said that in Apec 2015, the Philippines would convene for the second time only the Apec Structural Reform Group, which would be chaired by Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority. “This will [be] about the ease of momentum of labor, capital to make sure that the integration is just not trade but other areas also,” Purisima told reporters. Business leaders have also taken up the task of hosting the Apec CEO summit—a dialogue between Apec leaders and businessmen in the region—which is scheduled on Nov. 15-17 next year. It will be the second time that the Philippines will be hosting the Apec leaders’ summit, the first being in 1996 in Subic, Zambales province, under the administration of President Fidel Ramos. ■
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Philippine News
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
Accuser raps based on Wikipedia, ‘whispers’ BY TJ BURGONIO AND LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE FORMER Iloilo official who filed a plunder complaint against Senate President Franklin Drilon over the allegedly overpriced P700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) on Thursday admitted he relied on Wikipedia and “whispers” of architects to back his claims. Manuel Mejorada told the Senate blue ribbon committee that he had come to “unravel a complex fraudulent transaction” that led to the violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act. Reading a prepared statement, Mejorada also alleged that the construction of the P492-million first phase of the project was overpriced. Monitoring Drilon’s speeches and statements, the former Iloilo provincial administrator said he had observed the price of the project skyrocket from P300 million to P1 billion. “Do we just swallow it like a bitter pill when we know fully well that government procurement reform places emphasis on reducing costs?” he told the hearing where he faced Drilon. When confronted by senators, Mejorada said that Drilon himself had announced that the building cost P30,000 per square meter at its original price tag of P300 million. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV pointed out to Mejorada that at least in the case of the allegedly overpriced P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II, there was an acknowledged appraiser.
Online sources
To this, Mejorada responded: “I’m an investigative journalist. I rely on public records, especially online sources.” Asked for a round figure on the overprice, Mejorada said: “The original information that I obtained about the project which was gathered by various sources during the briefing held during the unveiling for Iloilo Convention Center, and it’s in Wikipedia, too, based on published sources, is 6,400 square meters. That’s what I used in computing that at P679 million to complete phase 1 and 2, this would reach P106,226 per square meter.” When Trillanes asked if he could provide documents to convince the committee and the public, Mejorada said: “Because of the figures involved here, architects in Iloilo are afraid to speak out but they whispered to me.” Otherwise, the Commission on Audit (COA) could determine if this was accurate, he said. When Trillanes asked how much the building cost, Mejorada said: “My original information is Wikipedia.” Had he asked for it, Mejorada would have been given the prebidding and bidding documents by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Publics Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said. User-generated source
“We would have given all the information to an investigative journalist just so he would not rely on Wikipedia,” Singson said.
Manuel Mejorada sitting in court. He told the Senate blue ribbon committee that he had come to “unravel a complex fraudulent transaction” that led to the violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.
ing here? Don’t beat around the bush. I’m just saying…,” he said. Sen. Teofisto Guingona III briefly suspended the hearing after Drilon’s comment. When the hearing resumed, he announced that Binay would direct her queries to Drilon. Binay then went on to ask whether Drilon had sought funding for the project. The latter replied in the affirmative but he said he was not sure from where exactly the funds came from. He had no control over the matter, he said. “Yes, I am proud to say that I requested funding for this project but I did not participate in any manner in the bidding, in the choice of the contractor, in supplying the materials for this project,” he said.
NIMFA RAVELO /TWITTER
Tourism
Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. agreed, and said: “I urge everyone, don’t use Wikipedia as an argument, because Wikipedia is a user-generated source. If one million said that apples were square, then apples will be square on Wikipedia tomorrow.” Mejorada filed a plunder complaint against Drilon, Singson and Jimenez in the Office of the Ombudsman, alleging that the ICC was a “high-level” conspiracy engineered by Drilon “to build an avenue for corruption.” PDAF, DAP
Mejorada charged that this was funded with Drilon’s allocation from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and Malacañang’s government savings impounding mechanism, Disbursement Ac-
celeration Program (DAP). Drilon, upon Sen. Nancy Binay’s questioning, also acknowledged that the funds could have come from the DAP, but he said that at the time, the program had a presumption of regularity because it had not yet been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Nancy’s questions
In a seemingly tense moment in the proceedings, Drilon prompted Binay to ask him about his role in the funding of ICC, after the neophyte senator asked Singson if any legislator had endorsed the funding of the project. Drilon interjected and wondered why Binay was not asking him about the matter directly. “Why doesn’t my colleague ask me what my role [is] in fund-
Letter to Mr. Aquino
When Binay asked how much funds Drilon had sought in his letter request to President Aquino, Drilon said he could not recall and questioned Binay’s query. “What is the materiality of the question?” Drilon said. “The issue here is the overprice. There has been no proof presented.” He added that what was important was whether there were any public funds that were pocketed. “Is there evidence that someone made money? We’ve been meeting here for three hours but I haven’t heard how the money was stolen. Only conclusions from Wikipedia,” he said. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed Resolution No. 906 ❱❱ PAGE 15 Accuser raps
Police probe slay of Leyte vice mayor PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY TACLOBAN CITY — The local police in Villaba, Leyte are looking for potential witnesses on Monday’s shooting incident that killed the town’s vice mayor. Unidentified gunmen mercilessly shot Vice Mayor Claudio Martin Larrazabal around 11:45 a.m. while the official was on his way to a family-owned restaurant in Barangay (village)
del Norte. acting police chief of Villaba a few meters away from the He was immediately brought town. crime scene. to nearby Ospa Farmers MediHowever, Bocade said that The motorcycle-riding percal Center in petrators rushed Ormoc City, but to nearby Palomattending physipon town after cians declared A lot of people witnessed the the incident. him dead on arshooting, but nobody wants to talk “We expect to rival. to us because of fear of getting get more details “A lot of people into trouble. by tomorrow as witnessed the we intensify the shooting, but noinvestigation on body wants to talk to us because they are trying to get informa- this case,” he told PNA in a moof fear of getting into trouble,” tion from a fish vendor and bile phone interview. said Sr. Insp. Miguelito Bocade, a store owner, who were just Bocade believed that the killwww.canadianinquirer.net
ing was not politically motivated since Larrazabal is an ally of Mayor Jorge Veloso and has no known opponent. He is a member of the ruling Liberal Party. The shooting incident is just an isolated case, according to the town police chief since the town is generally peaceful. The slain vice mayor, a cousin of former Commission on Elections commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, was a former mayor of Villaba for three terms until 2013. ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Armed group abducts 2 more police officers in Surigao del Norte BY NOEL B. NAJARRO Philippine News Agency BUTUAN CITY — Four days after the abduction of a police intelligence officer by eight heavily armed men believed to be CPP-NPA in a coastal town of Surigao del Norte province, a female and a male police officers in Alegria town, were abducted by about 30 heavily armed men around 1:45 p.m. last Sunday in a lakeside municipality of said province. Belated reports reaching the PNP regional headquarters here on Monday, stated that Police Officer 3 Democrito B. Polvorosa and Police Officer 1 Marichel U. Contemplo, both personnel of Alegria Municipal Police Station, Alegria, Surigao del Norte, were on board their station’s police patrol vehicle to attend a Police Community Relations (PCR), a joint activity of the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office and Alegria Municipal Police Station in Brgy. Pongtud, Alegria. Upon reaching a section of the National Highway in Brgy. San Pedro of said town, the police personnel were flagged down by an armed group believed to be NPA rebels. Both police personnel were brought by their abductors to the hinterlands of the said area, the police report said. The police regional headquarters here
had placed all units down to the municipal level on full alert status, in line with the recent abduction and that of PO1 Jorie M. Amper of the Malimono Municipal Police Station, of Malimono, Surigao del Norte. Negotiations for the latter’s release is still ongoing between the local crisis management committee headed by Malimono Mayor Teodoro Senaca and the abductors through some third party intermediaries. The 30th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, the 1st Special Action Battalion, of the PNP Special Action Force and Surigao del Norte Police Public Safety Company were dispatched to conduct pursuit operations. Likewise, coordination is now being made for the activation of the Provincial Crisis Management Committee to address the recent crisis. It could be recalled that four personnel of Alegria Municipal Police Station were abducted last July 10, also on their way to Brgy. Pungtod for a PCR activity, when they were flagged down by an NPA checkpoint, believed to be a blocking force of an attack group which harassed and overrun the said police station. They were released however, 19 days later following negotiation efforts of the DILG through Secretary Mar Roxas, the Provincial Crisis Management Committee headed by Gov. Sol Matugas and the LGUs. ■
Too many... “We would rather concentrate on legislative work and give the committee more breathing space,” he said. Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon lambasted the House leadership last Thursday for dragging its feet on his House Resolution No. 1466 seeking a probe of all government building contracts of Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., including both the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and Iloilo Convention Center (ICC). Ridon pointed out that he filed the resolution as early as September but that the House leadership had sat on it. In contrast, the Senate conducted its first probe of Hilmarc’s ICC project on Thursday. “With all due respect, House Resolution 1466 was filed way ahead of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s Senate resolution. When we filed it last September, we had a verbal commitment from House Majority Leader and committee on rules chair Neptali Gonzales II that the probe will push through. Yet in recent days, Gonzales and even Speaker Feliciano Belmonte backtracked, in an apparent attempt to bury the resolution,” Ridon said. He said the House was wary of opening the Hilmarc’s probe largely because ❰❰ 1
Antigraft court throws out 12-yr-old Singson case BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SANDIGANBAYAN has affirmed its decision throwing out the graft case brought against former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson which had been gathering dust for over a decade in the Office of the Ombudsman before the latter decided to recommend his indictment in 2013. In junking the Ombudsman’s motion for reconsideration, the Sandiganbayan antigraft court’s Third Division reiterated that the failure of government prosecutors to act on the complaint against Singson more than 10 years after it was filed on Dec. 5, 2002, was “prejudicial to the interests of the accused.”
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Citing the constitutional right of all individuals to a “speedy disposition of their cases,” the court said that it found “no reason to disturb” its Aug. 20 resolution dismissing the three counts of graft against Singson. “(The court) still cannot adhere to the prosecution’s explanation (of the delay)… Not only has he been subjected to prolonged anxiety, but also must face the rigors brought about by a trial,” the court said in its Nov. 14 ruling. Not accurately prepared
Since it was only on July 3, 2013, that the Ombudsman recommended the filing of three counts of graft against Singson, the court said “it cannot be reasonably expected that for more than ❱❱ PAGE 12 Antigraft court
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among the projects to be covered were the House of Representatives annex building and the newly constructed North Lounge Extension. In an interview on dzBB radio, Gonzales noted that the House leaders felt that there was no need to look into Hilmarc’s projects such as the ICC since the Senate was already investigating allegations the pet project of Senate President Franklin Drilon was overpriced. “Personally, we would rather devote our precious time to meaningful legislative measures needed by our country. After all, if there are indeed anomalies in these projects, it is up to the Ombudsman to make the appropriate findings,” Gonzales said. At best, he said, the House committee on good government, just like the Senate blue ribbon panel, could only make recommendations to file cases and that there was no assurance that these recommendations could be used in filing criminal cases in the Sandiganbayan. Gonzales said the House should extend parliamentary courtesy to senators or else members of the two chambers would not stop investigating each other. “The Senate will have a more difficult time because the House has more members,” Gonzales said. ■
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Philippine News
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
‘Sustansya sa Batang Pilipino Act’: Turkey expresses support A way to fight hunger among Filipino for the Philippines’ position children in public schools —Senator Poe in West Philippine Sea issue BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippine News Agency
PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
MANILA — Recognizing that there is a need for collaboration in fighting the threat of hunger and the importance of investment in the children as the future leaders of the country, Senator Grace Poe is pushing for the enactment of the proposed “Sustansya sa Batang Pilipino Act” that she filed in the Senate more than a year ago. “Children will not learn in school a lot if they do not have enough food support,” the lady senator noted during a forum entitled “Aiming for Zero Hunger” held Friday at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati City. She recalled that her late father, the Filipino movie king Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ, often said that the greatest problem that “the people face every day is food security or where to get the food to eat in breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Senator Poe said that to be able to arrive at the level of food security, a lot of things should be done and that is why her Senate Bill No. 79 is anchored against hunger and malnutrition — the greatest threats to public health. She explained that under the law she is pushing, the “Sustansya sa Batang Pilipino Act of 2013,” she is calling for free lunch for Filipino children in public schools. In the forum organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its media partner Rappler in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), she cited the timeliness of the passage of the law as she connects it to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 9.3 million Filipino families consider themselves as “food poor.” Estimating that at least three children were in each of the family, she cited the condition that at least 27 million children need food nourishment or are apparently experiencing hunger in the country. She stressed that such is un-
MANILA — Turkey has expressed support for the Philippines’ quest for a rules-based approach in settling its West Philippine Sea dispute with China. In his press statement following his bilateral meeting with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Malacañang Palace this Monday, President Benigno S. Aquino III said he briefed his Turkish counterpart on the situation in the West Philippine Sea and underscored the need to settle the dispute through peaceful means. “The Prime Minister noted that the Philippines’ decision to pursue arbitration is one that advances a durable and peaceful resolution to the issue,” President Aquino said. “Likewise, Turkey stands with the Philippines in calling for the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), as well as an expeditious conclusion of a legally-binding Code,” he added. The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are laying claim, in whole or in part, to the West Philip-
Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares (right, seated front row) pushes in a forum last Friday for the passage of the proposed "Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino" Law (Senate Bill No. 79), her first bill filed in the Senate last July 1, 2013. BEN BRIONES / PNA
acceptable considering the fact that it is said that the country is experiencing an economic growth averaging 6 percent. “So obviously, where we are right now is not trickling down to the ones that need it the most,” the lady senator said. She, however, pointed out that the current administration cannot be blamed because the problem has been going on even under the past administrations. She said that in fairness to the present administration, there are programs that are addressing certain issues of poverty like the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). She emphasized that the country’s young population, which will be the future workforce, should be given adequate support right now so they can be tapped to really work for the advancement of the country in the future. “For us to be able to be competitive, the workforce at that time should be intelligent and able enough. And they cannot achieve full potential if in the very beginning they are hungry,” she said, stressing the need for the government to be supportive in giving subsidies or incentives for the poor children as an investment for the future. She likewise cited certain studies which say that the effects of malnutrition are often irreversible and that children who grow up underweight and stunted are most likely to end
up as adults with inferior intellectual and physical capabilities. She said it is urgent that the nutrition program under the law that she is pushing will be institutionalized at the soonest possible time so that it is already in place ahead of the next administration. She added that her proposed law will give a boost to the children currently being served under the Php 2.3-billion budget of the DSWD Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in the daycare schools nationwide. Admitting that while the law she is advocating may be expensive to look at, it should be weighed as an important component that will go directly to the stomach of the Filipino school children in public schools. “I think the government should do what it can to be able to afford this type of program because it is for our advantage,” she said. “That is why before President Aquino leaves or reaches the near-end of his term, let’s pass what needs to be passed (referring to the law that she authored). Because this one guarantees the future of the children,” she stressed. Aside from Senate Bill No. 79, Senator Poe is also author of other proposed laws, like the “Tulong Kabataan sa Agrikultura at Kabuhayan Act 2013” which aims to encourage youth sector opportunities in agriculture by providing the necessary support to the young farmers as a way to curb poverty in the country. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
pine Sea. At the same time, President Aquino said, he and Prime Minister Davutoğlu discussed the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as well as the danger posed by similar organizations against religious and ethnic minorities in various parts of the world. “We share the belief that it is the fundamental purpose of government to safeguard the welfare of its people, and we seek to fulfill this purpose by working hand-in-hand with our partners at home, within our regions, and in the larger community of nations,” he said. In his press statement, Prime Minister Davutoğlu said he discussed with President Aquino the Middle East crisis, especially the ongoing civil war in Syria. There is a humanitarian tragedy in the region, and about two million refugees from Syria are now in Turkey, he said, noting that 1.5 million were victims of the repressive Syrian regime in the last three years while 500,000 were forced to relocate because of the brutal attacks of the ISIS. Prime Minister Davutoğlu said regional stability and peace are essential to Turkey’s security and it shares the experience of the Philippines in these issues. ■
Antigraft court... 10 years thereafter, Singson would be able to accurately prepare his defense, gather evidence and talk to his witnesses.” “This is exactly the situation which the Constitution seeks to avoid,” said the resolution penned by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz. Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, chair of the Third Division, and Associate Justice Samuel Martires concurred Quiroz’s decision. The case against Singson was filed by Estelita Cordero, chair of the Save Ilocos Sur Alliance Foundation, who accused the ❰❰ 11
then governor of unlawfully giving P24.18 million to MultiLine Food Processing International Inc. In 2001. The funds came from the province’s share of tobacco excise taxes, as stipulated by Republic Act No. 7171, also known as the Act to Promote the Development of the Farmers in the Virginia Tobacco Producing Provinces. In asking the court to junk the case against him, Singson said the failure of the Ombudsman to act swiftly on the complaint against him was “a blatant violation of (his) constitutional right to a speedy disposition of his cases.” ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
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Pope Francis’ five-day Philippines itinerary includes motorcades, meetings, lunch with Yolanda survivors BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer DURING HIS trip — dubbed Pope Francis Papal Visit 2015, Mercy and Compassion — to the Philippines from January 15-19, 2015, Pope Francis will have a full schedule; which includes a visit to Malacañang Palace, several motorcades and meetings, and lunch with the survivors of Haiyan in the municipality of Palo in Leyte province. The Pope’s itinerary spans across almost a dozen venues in Manila and Leyte over his five–day stay in the country. According to the papalvisit. ph site, the Pope — who is set to arrive in Manila from Sri Lanka in the late afternoon of January 15 — will be residing at the Apostolic Nunciature, the embassy of the Holy See, on Taft Avenue in Manila. On January 16, the Pope will be officially welcomed to the Philippines by President Benigno Aquino III at a reception in Malacañang Palace, where the Pontiff will also meet with members of the Diplomatic Corps. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said that “Pope Francis will be here not only as the leader of the Roman Catholic, but he is also the head of state of the Vatican, and as such, his Holiness will be extended all the courtesies provided to visiting heads of state.” Pope Francis will head back to Rome on January 19, after fulfilling the duties related to his pastoral trip to the country. The Pope’s official itinerary for his Philippine trip was disclosed by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at a news conference held on Friday, November 14, at the Arzo-
and the Diplomatic Corps at Malacañang Palace (Manila) • Motorcade to the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) • Mass with Bishops, Priests at Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) • Motorcade to the Mall of Asia Arena (Pasay) • Meeting with the Families at the Mall of Asia Arena (Pasay)
During Pope Francis' Papal visit to the Philippines in January 2015 he plans on having lunch with Yolanda survivors, among the many other meetings he is scheduled to have during his five-day trip. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
bispado de Manila. “The pastoral visit of Pope Francis will surely bring much blessing to all of us, especially to the poor, the survivors of calamities both natural and human-caused, to the victims of different kinds of injustice,” Tagle said. Tagle noted that the Pope admired “the faith and resilience of the survivors” of natural calamities, and that he would bring a message of solidarity and hope to the people of the Philippines; a predominantly Roman Catholic nation. The Cardinal added that the Pope expressed his hope to be
strengthened by the “faith of the simple people”. Meanwhile, former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Marciano Paynor urged the public to avoid creating a “people surge” as they follow his Holiness around. Paynor explained that this measure needs to be observed, so as to allow Pope Francis to stay on track with his hectic schedule. On the other hand, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., who was also in attendance at Friday’s meeting at the Arzobispado, revealed that an international media center will be set-up at the Manila Ho-
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tel tent situated in Rizal Park. The Vatican media center will be located at the Diamond Hotel, as well as on the field in Leyte, Coloma added. The Pope’s itinerary was detailed by Tagle, as follows: January 15, 2015 • Arrival from Sri Lanka (Villamor Air Base) • Motorcade to the Apostolic Nunciature (Taft Avenue, Manila) January 16, 2015 • Welcome Ceremony, Courtesy Visit to the President, and Meeting with Authorities
January 17, 2015 • Departure for the Archdiocese of Palo from Villamor Air Base • Arrival at Tacloban Airport • Holy Mass near Tacloban Airport • Lunch with the Poor and Survivors of Calamities at Gonzagahaus, the Residence of the Archbishop of Palo (Palo, Leyte) • Blessing of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor (Palo, Leyte) • Meeting with the Priests and Women and Men Religious at Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration (Palo Cathedral in Palo, Leyte) • Departure for Manila • Arrival at Manila (Villamor Air Base) January 18, 2015 • Brief Meeting with Religious Leaders, and meeting with the Youth at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (España, Manila) • Motorcade to Rizal Park (Manila) • Celebration of the Concluding Mass at Rizal Park (Manila) January 19, 2015 • Motorcade from the Apostolic Nunciature (Taft Avenue, Manila) • Departure for Rome from Villamor Air Base ■
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Philippine News
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
Over 100,000 typhoon ‘Yolanda’ survivor families assisted in reconstruction of civil documents BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said over last weekend that a total of 119,530 families affected by super typhoon “Yolanda” last year have been assisted in the reconstruction of their lost or damaged civil documents. According to DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, the reconstruction initiative was conducted with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc. (IDEALS). Other partners of the DSWD in such endeavor were the Philippine Statistics AuthorityNational Statistics Office (PSANSO), local government units (LGUs) and their local civil registrars. “In working with them, we were able to reconstruct vital civil documents of 119,530 families affected by ‘Yolanda’,” Soliman said, adding that among the reconstructed documents were certificates of birth, land registration, and civil marriage which are all important in claiming benefits. Soliman cited that such initiative was something that they considered to be of great importance because civil documents are very vital in proving one’s identity. She noted that it is very hard for any government agency or international organization to provide support or services to individuals who lack the documents because of the necessity of accounting, especially when moving to early recovery from
A Philippine Airman guides Yolanda survivors out of a rescue aircraft during rescue operations last year. DVIDSHUB / FLICKR
the humanitarian relief state during a disaster. It may be recalled that due to vast devastation caused by “Yolanda” in November last year, many survivor families in Samar and Leyte provinces, lost their civil documents as their houses were wiped away by the storm surges caused by the super cyclone. Soliman explained that such documents, like the birth certificates, are essential for children so that they may not be denied of their rights to education. The lack of official identification documents makes it more difficult to uphold laws to prevent early marriage, child labor or child recruitment in the armed forces. In addition, birth certificates are required in obtaining social assistance or job in the formal sector, to prove one’s right to
inherit property, to vote, obtain a passport and other tasks that require legal documents. On the other hand, a marriage certificate is very important to a man who lost his wife, or a woman who lost her husband due to typhoon “Yolanda” as such document is necessary to prove his or her relationship to the deceased. Typhoon Yolanda struck a wide area of the Visayas region on Nov. 8, 2013, affecting a total of 1.4 million families and killing at least 6,000 persons. Aside from the reconstruction of civil documents initiative, the DSWD also provided other forms of assistance to the survivors, like trauma counseling, particularly to children who lost their parents and to husbands and wives who lost either their children or spouses. Immediately after the ty-
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phoon struck, the DSWD became very busy in providing relief assistance such as food packs, drinking water, blankets and mosquito nets to the victims. Along with the implementation of a Cash-for-Work (CFW) program, the DSWD eventually had moved to recovery stage wherein the department provided temporary shelters and emergency shelter assistance (ESA) with the goal to gradually remove the survivors from temporary tents. At the height of giving such assistance, international organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UNICEF also gave assistance to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries affected by Yolanda to help them recover by giving cash and other assistance in addition to the cash grants that they are re-
ceiving from the poverty-alleviation program. The communities affected by “Yolanda” are also among the targets in the construction of sub-projects under the KC-NCDDP (Kalahi-CIDDSNational Community Driven Development Program), where the local residents can participate in the implementation of a projects which they choose themselves. The DSWD is currently leading the Social Services Cluster formed under the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) headed by Secretary Panfilo M. Lacson. ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
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Accuser raps... seeking an inquiry into alleged anomalous transactions between Hilmarc’s Construction Corp. and local government units, including ICC. ❰❰ 10
For Apec summit
ICC is being built inside Megaworld Corp.’s P25-billion Iloilo Business Park in Iloilo City for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in September next year. The state-of-the-art convention center—venue of senior ministerial meetings in the Apec summit—will rise between Megaworld’s posh hotels, Richmonde Hotel and Marriott Courtyard Hotel. By donating 17,371 sq m worth P521 million as a site for ICC, Megaworld expected commercial benefit, project proponent Drilon said. Drilon’s idea
Drilon said he broached the idea of building a convention center with Megaworld president Andrew Tan right inside the Megaworld complex. Tan agreed by donating the site. The Senate President requested a budget for the construction of the project from the Department of Budget and Management, but stayed away from the bidding. Otherwise, Singson and Jimenez dismissed allegations by Mejorada that ICC was overpriced and violated rules on bidding. They swore no lawmaker or official approached them to intervene in any part of the project. No evidence
Mejorada admitted he had no evidence of “conspiracy” among government officials. “That’s correct. There was commercial benefit,” Drilon,
who ended up fielding ques- sourcing structure would have Jimenez confirmed this. tions from colleagues, told the easily risen on the site. But on “Nothing wrong with that. committee. the suggestion of Iloilo leaders, We just want to get it right,” the After the hearing, Jimenez led by Drilon, everyone agreed senator said. said this was a given since that a convention facility for Singson strongly denied he “Megaworld is a business.” But the site would be ideal, the benefited from the project. he said that the government tourism secretary said. Before accepting his present had never been put at a disadpost, he said he was “fairly well vantage. Between two hotels compensated” as president and At the hearing, Sen. Sergio Jimenez noted that ICC was CEO of Maynilad Water SerOsmeña III tried to elicit re- located between the Rich- vices Inc. sponses from Drilon, Singson monde and Marriott hotels. “I didn’t accept this job to enand Jimenez that Megaworld On Osmeña’s questioning, rich myself, steal, enjoy life or benefited from the project. Jimenez admitted that the do- play politics,” he told the comAddressing Drilon, Osmeña nation of the property came mittee. “If our accuser proves asked if Tan would have paid for with the architectural and en- that I benefited a single peso the convention from the projcenter. Drilon ect, I’m ready to replied: “I could resign immedinot speculate on ately.” that matter.” If our accuser proves that I benefited The public “Megaworld a single peso from the project, I’m works secretary has a master ready to resignimmediately. said ICC was a plan and I would convention censuppose that the ter, and not a Department of “typical office Tourism checked out this plan gineering design of ICC by W.V. building.” Unlike a typical floor in order to make sure that the Coscolluela and Associates. of regular buildings, which is 3 convention center would be “The donation came with the meters high, the main convenin conformity with the master plan,” he said. tion hall is 12 meters high; the plan of Megaworld,” Osmeña Osmeña pressed further lobby is 14.6 meters high and said. by asking if acceptance of the the backroom office is 6 meters “As a matter of fact, it could donation of the property was high, according to Singson. have been Megaworld that de- conditioned on the acceptance cided where to put the conven- of the donation of the design. 1.7-hectare lot tion center,” he added. Drilon attempted to butt in but Through a PowerPoint preOsmeña told him to allow him sentation, Singson said the doSynergistic to finish his questions. nated lot was 1.7 hectares and At this point, Jimenez reBut which came first, the do- the building footprint was 80 by sponded by saying that the rela- nation or plan? 76 meters. The total floor area tionship was “almost perfectly Jimenez said the donation was 11,693.79 sq m, not 6,000 symbiotic, synergistic.” came first. He proceeded to sq m. “Because as I have pointed read from the agreement on the The roof deck had been deout earlier, the formula for a donation, said: “… To ensure signed to take on two more successful convention center, consistency with the overall floors and hence, it was a reguif you took the convention cen- design of the surrounding area, lar roof deck, he said. ter’s point of view, is proximate the donee shall use the proThere are instances when inor serviced by large, meaningful posed conceptual design of the frastructure projects of the prihospitality or hotel facilities,” convention center.” vate sector could cost less than he said. government projects because Jimenez said the vision of a Part of Megaworld plan of the different procurement convention center was “born Hearing this, Osmeña con- process, according to Singson. when people realized that there cluded that the donation was Singson made the statement was this opportunity.” conditioned on the acceptance after Osmeña wondered about A business processing out- of Megaworld’s master plan. the different per square meter
cost between ICC and a commercial building like Mall of Asia Arena, which, like the convention center, also has a big distance between the floor and ceiling. Overdesign or overprice
Jimenez defended his department’s decision to keep the original roof deck design of ICC. Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III raised this issue after noting that the DPWH, in trying to bring down the cost of the project, adopted value engineering to tweak the structural aspect of ICC. Even with changes to the structural or foundation plan, it was still enough to support the addition of two floors to the roof deck. Pimentel said the cost of the ICC project could have been further reduced by abandoning the plan to construct two more floors and changing the plan for the roof deck. He said that to him, it made sense to value engineer or tweak the plans for both the structure and roof deck if the aim was to bring down the cost of the project. Pimentel also said he raised the point about the roof deck design because if the two extra floors were not built, it might be seen as an overdesign or an overprice. Singson said there were limits to what the DPWH could value engineer, and the roof deck was not among those it could touch as the department was tasked with following the design given by the owner. Jimenez said the roof deck design was maintained because he thought the architect wanted to have an option for expansion. “This can’t be compared to a regular office building,” he said. ■
Laude family files petition vs. EDCA BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The family of slain Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude on Monday filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to be included in the petitioners against the Enhanced De-
fense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Laude was allegedly killed by United States Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton in Olongapo City last Oct. 11. In a 10-page petition-inintervention, the Laude family argued that as taxpayers and family of Jeffrey Laude alias
“Jennifer”, who was allegedly killed by a United States Marine, they should be allowed to be part of the petitioners against EDCA. The Laude family also asked the SC to declare as “illegal” the creation of EDCA allegedly because it is violative of Section 25, Article 18 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution for disregarding www.canadianinquirer.net
the country’s sovereignty. Former Senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tanada, former University of the Philippines (UP) president Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., among others, earlier argued that the government allegedly abused its power when it signed in the EDCA which is considered as “disadvantageous to the country’s na-
tional interest.” They also argued that aside from signing the EDCA without the “concurrence” of the Congress, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin also allegedly has no jurisdiction to sign and enter into the said agreement. The SC is set to conduct the oral arguments on the petitions against the EDCA this week. ■
Opinion
16
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
PUBLIC LIVES
In defense of politics By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer THE WORD “politics” or “pulitika” has been so abused and so misunderstood in our society that there is probably a need to clarify what it means. The concept comes out so badly in everyday usage that it is no longer recognizable except as a synonym for everything that is negative in public life. If it were so, we should ban all politics and its institutional expressions— i.e., free elections, political parties, legislatures, public opinion, etc. From our brief experience with martial law, we know what that means. When politics is banished from society in the name of order, unity, or progress, all decisions are made by a ruler, dictator, or a junta into whose hands the roles of legislator, administrator, and judge are entrusted. All dissent is regarded as subversive. Critics are silenced, detained, tortured, or killed. Yet, even under these circumstances, politics is never completely obliterated. It goes underground, or it expresses itself in conspiracies that are hatched in the dark and narrow corridors of power— away from the public view. Politics is as essential to a community’s life as the production of its
material necessities. It is society’s basis, it presents itself as the alterna- of the Office of the Presidential Assisway of determining for itself what its tive to the existing government. tant for Rehabilitation and Recovery collective goals should be, how best What we usually call politics is expressed his disgust over Tacloban to achieve them, and who should be this continual struggle between gov- City Mayor Alfred Romualdez’s enentrusted with the power to make ernment and opposition, between couragement of antigovernment prodecisions in the people’s name. majority and minority, to secure for testers during the first anniversary of Like everything else in society, pol- their respective visions and programs Supertyphoon “Yolanda” by telling itics evolves from simple to complex a clear mandate from the electorate. the mayor: “You should forget performs. In traditional society, poli- But this particular usage—politics as sonal and political agenda and think tics tends to be massively shaped by the jockeying for power—represents about your constituents.” Not to be what happens in the other spheres. only one moment in politics. There outdone, Romualdez has been using Thus, for example, recruitment for are two others that are of equal im- the term in the same negative sense political roles is coursed through the portance—administration and public when he charges the national governfamily, and religious leaders might be participation. The second moment— ment with “politicizing” the rehagiven a say in how bilitation program. government is run. Clearly, all they are It is society’s way of determining for itself what its collecModern politics, in telling each other tive goals should be, how best to achieve them, and who should be contrast, develops is: “Focus on govits own autonomous ernance, and forget entrusted with the power to make decisions in the people’s name. operations, jealouswho is opposition ly guarding its boundaries from in- politics as administration or gover- and who is government here.” If that cursions by the other parts of society. nance—refers to the utilization of is what they mean, I think they should Hand in hand with its differentia- political mandate to craft laws, poli- say so, instead of denigrating politics. tion from the rest of society, modern cies, programs, and decisions. The When President Aquino marked politics also acquires a level of com- third moment in politics is public the first anniversary of Yolanda by plexity that is visible in its internal opinion—the articulation by citizens choosing to visit Guiuan in Eastern composition. First, it rests on a split of their views about government. Samar, he said there was “no politics” at the top rather than on an obligatoWe may now pull these different in his decision to skip Tacloban. If it ry consensus. A loyal opposition ful- conceptual strands together to try wasn’t political, what else could it be? fills its duty to the nation by keeping to make sense of what people mean I think politicians should explain the the government of the day on its toes, when they say: “This is just politics” political choices they make rather by calling it to account for its actions, or “This is nothing political” or “This than be defensive about being politiand by offering a different approach is all politically motivated.” cal. There is nothing wrong with beto solving society’s problems. On this Recently, Secretary Panfilo Lacson ing political if the context is correct.
In this case, I think the President wanted to avoid having to confront critics who were massing for protests on a special day that he thought should be a solemn moment of solidarity. Whether one agrees with it or not, it was a political statement. Politics is also being needlessly flogged at the Department of Health, where Acting Secretary Janette Garin has been busy removing from top positions some people identified with Health Secretary Enrique Ona who is on leave. Defending her recent designation as acting secretary, Garin said “there is no politics involved in the current situation.” She added: “I admit I was a politician. But that does not prevent me from serving our country.” The negative reference here to politics is puzzling. All appointments to the Cabinet are political. Thus, there is no reason for any member of the Cabinet to feel defensive about having a political past. I think we might begin to have a positive view of politics when we learn to differentiate the pursuit of political goals from the pursuit of personal or familial gain, or the pursuit of governance from the quest for power. We might then learn to differentiate politics from the corrupt mold in which it has been trapped in our society. ■
ANALYSIS
Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables’ revisited By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer Words are the mysterious visitors of the soul.— Victor Hugo CANBERRA—On Sunday, 152 years after the first publication of Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables,” the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne concluded its five-month exhibition celebrating the evolution of “Les Misérables” (1862) from one of the greatest international novels of the 19th century into “arguably the most celebrated and beloved musicales of all time.” Since it was first published, the novel has gripped the imagination of readers, audiences and artists around the world, and has had a profound effect on society, politics and political culture, according to the catalogue published by the State Library of Victoria. The exhibition, titled “Victor Hugo: Les Misérables—From Page to Stage,” spans two centuries from the start of the story in 1815 to the most recent production of the celebrated Boublil-Schonberg musicale in Melbourne in 2014. Hugo’s original manuscript, on loan from the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, was the center of attraction of the exhibition “that had never
before left Europe.” To tell the story impossible: “selling a serious work part, Paris, which is Hugo’s self-deof the influence of the novel on art for the masses, or for the time being, clared center of world culture, itself a and music, the library gathered over inspiring the masses with a desire to leading character in the novel. 300 exceptionally written, painted, read it.” The novel, according to the exhibidrawn, photographed, filmed, printThe catalogue also presents an in- tion, depicted the “struggles and mised, sewn and published works that, formative and entertaining interpre- ery of Paris’ poor and displaced, [in the library hopes, would transport tation of the exhibition. French cu- the] journey from night to death to the visitors through over 150 years rators Anais Lellouche and Vincent light, played out against the city’s unof “Les Misérables.” The manuscript Gille illuminate the life and times of derbelly of repression, class struggle, shows pages of handwritten texts by Victor Hugo—his upbringing, family, and violent political revolt.” Hugo Hugo, correction marks from me- and social life, alongside the political finished writing “Les Misérables” ticulous editing, including insertions circumstances that frame and inform during his exile from France (from and shifting of paragraphs, and mar- the writing of “Les Misérables.” Rare 1851 to 1870) mainly on Jersey and ginal notes. As the heart of the exhi- examples of Hugo’s illustrated prose, Guernsey in the English Channel. bition, it drew the biggest crowds. poetry and drama, photographs and This period saw Paris undergoing The catalogue extreme changes features Hugo’s letwrought by politiSince it was first published, the novel has gripped the ter to the publisher cal unrest and social imagination of readers, audiences and artists around the of the Italian transengineering. world, and has had a profound effect on society, politics and lation of the novel in Some of the expolitical culture. October 1862. “You hibits explain the are right, sir, you tell me that ‘Les Mi- his own exceptional drawings “il- significance of these images which sérables’ is written for all nations,” lustrate the grace of his moral phi- capture the before, during and after Hugo wrote the publisher. “I do not losophy, the tumultuous history and of the 1848 uprising and the urbanknow whether it will be read by all, politics of France and the redemptive planning reforms of Baron Haussbut I write for all.” From June 1862 power of spiritual, familial roman- mann. The true power of the “Les onward, just two months after its tic love [that make] Hugo’s literary, Misérables” story, says the catalogue, first release, the book was published political and artistic legacy a unique “lies in the universal appeal of its in nine cities ranging from New York and compelling event in the 21st cen- theme: the possibility that the conto Petersburg, from London to Rio. tury,” says the catalogue. demned can rise above poverty and By the time Parts II and III appeared The era chronicled by “Les Mi- degradation to become good and in May (1862), writes the catalogue, it sérables,” however, is the 19th cen- honorable, an aspiration that inwas clear that Hugo had achieved the tury, and the location is, for the most spires readers and audiences around
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the world.” At the heart of Hugo’s magnum opus pulsates the theme of his pursuit of freedom, progress and social justice. Written and reworked over a period of four years, after an interruption of 13 years, it was influenced by the social milieu and historical events of the time. In the famous preface to the novel, Hugo states his intention: “As long as social damnation exists, through laws and customs, artificially creating hell at the heart of civilization and muddying a destiny that is divine, human calamity; as long as the three problems of the century—man’s debasement through the proletariat, woman’s demoralization through hunger, the wasting of the child through darkness—are not resolved … as long as ignorance and misery exist in this world, books like the one you are about to read are, perhaps, not entirely useless.” Hugo’s commitment to freedom and social change and the adversity he faced are emphasized in the exhibition. The novel was only completed after he had spent a decade in exile as a political opponent of Napoleon III. The restrictions on his freedom “gave [Hugo] the independence to express his opinions.” ■
Opinion
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
17
AS I SEE IT
Land-grabbing in Subic export zone? By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer SOMETHING IS rotten in the state of Olongapo. A Japanese locator in the Subic Freeport Zone has been stopped from constructing a manufacturing plant in Subic on the claim of former Zambales governor Vicente Magsaysay that he has the rights over a one-hectare piece of land where the plant is being built. Much to the Japanese’s consternation, Judge Richard Paradeza of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the construction of the plant on that piece of land. The Japanese firm, which is engaged in the ink-refilling business, is Cresc Inc. The piece of property on which it is building its plant was leased to it by the Subic Coastal Development Corp. (SCDC) in 2013, with the approval of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). And what did Magsaysay provide the court by way of evidence to justify Judge Paradeza’s issuance of the TRO? His own self-serving testimony and an allegedly outdated memorandum of agreement (MOA) he had with the SBMA back in 2008, which reportedly never came into effect be-
cause Magsaysay failed to get SBMA’s in clearing the land it started leasing Globe Telecom is not yet over despite final approval within 30 days of the from the SBMA in 2002. Reportedly, the recent court decision in favor of MOA’s execution. he had pestered SCDC no end to give Globe. The primary issue here is moAs stated clearly in the 2008 control of the property to him al- nopoly. Remember when PLDT had a MOA, the land was to revert back to though the claimed help he extended monopoly of the telephone industry? SCDC’s control under the terms of to SCDC was only token. Applicants had to wait for years to get SCDC’s original August 2002 lease Not wanting to have anything to a telephone line and even after they agreement with the SBMA. Thus, it do with the questionable claim of the were given phone lines, the phones is puzzling to the business commu- arm-twisting Magsaysay, SCDC re- were almost always busy. The emernity in Subic why Magsaysay is now, turned the one-hectare property be- gence of cell phones broke the PLDT six years later, claiming the right to ing claimed by the former governor monopoly, but even then the giant that piece of land. Indeed, Filipino to the SBMA for proper disposition. PLDT-Smart telecom company still and foreign investors in Subic are up Subsequently, the SBMA, Magsay- wanted to keep competitors away. in arms over this deEven now, comvelopment because plaints regarding The lack of competition puts consumers at the mercy what is happening telecoms services can of the major player that calls the shots in every important asto Cresc can also be heard everywhere. pect of the market, such as pricing and accessibility to prodhappen to them, Improvements are ucts and services. more so since the trifling; consumers specter of TROs being issued capri- say and SCDC forged the MOA which have to endure what is being provided ciously has again reared its ugly head. never came into effect because Mag- by their preferred service provider. This is also very troubling to business saysay’s Mobi and Red Enterprises Industry players ware again in a locators in Subic, who see the former never met the MOA’s terms and con- clash at the Court of Appeals. The governor still bullying his way around, ditions since, allegedly, what the ex- court issued a TRO to prevent the unwarrantedly delaying Cresc’s expan- governor wanted was not a lease but National Telecommunications Comsion of its manufacturing plant. outright ownership. mission (NTC) to act on Globe TeleThe Supreme Court, through its But observers are saying that the com’s application to acquire Bayan court administrator, should look fact that the SBMA approved SCDC’s Telecom (Bayantel) on competitor into this matter because the public sublease contract with Cresc shows PLDT’s petition. perception is that in the Philippines, the MOA with Magsaysay was stillThe lack of competition puts conTROs can still be bought. born and Magsaysay is clutching at sumers at the mercy of the major Magsaysay claims he has the right straws with his claim. player that calls the shots in every imover the one-hectare lot as “payThe fight between Philippine Long portant aspect of the market, such as ment” for his alleged help to SCDC Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and pricing and accessibility to products
and services. Consumers call for a playing field that is open to competition as this is a door to better service. With the acquisition and planned rehabilitation of Bayantel by Globe, the expanding needs of consumers may be better served. Competition can strongly benefit consumers. Bayantel, a very small player, can increase its subscribers from the present 350,000. The delay in its rehabilitation jeopardizes the existing customers of Bayantel who have long been waiting for service improvements. But PLDT claims that the GlobeBayantel deal is unfair and anticompetitive. Looking back, PLDT acquired Digitel. But now that the competing side is doing the same thing, PLDT is calling the deal “unfair.” Does the Globe-Bayantel partnership pose a threat to PLDT-Smart? Globe clarified that Bayantel would still be a different entity, but PLDT is afraid that the rehabilitation will result in a merger. It is afraid of its own shadow. The PLDT monopoly is definitely anticonsumer. It has cornered the market and has long dominated the industry. In pushing for the TRO, it has shown that it does not consider the interest of consumers or their freedom of choice. ■
AT LARGE
Malala’s story and the light of learning By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer WASHINGTON, DC—The story of Malala did not begin when a 16-yearold boy jumped into a school van in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, asked who among the girls aboard was Malala Yousafzai, and then shot at her three times, hitting her on the head. Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala’s father who represented her at the launch of a college-level resource guide based on her autobiography, said he did not believe that Malala’s shooting and all the events that followed were an “accident.” “How did we get to that point?” he asked at the launch, held at the George Washington University in this city, whose Global Women’s Institute with Little, Brown and Company developed the guide based on “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.” The series of “unfortunate events” is “a long story,” Yousafzai said, dating back 30 years and, even before then, to the halcyon days when the Swat Valley, “Pakistan’s most beautiful spot,” was a princely state before being incorporated into the Pakistan Republic. But the struggle in Afghanistan, first against the invading Soviet army,
then the takeover of the conservative asked. “It is that of a child walking keynote speech, Yousafzai was joined Taliban forces, spilled over onto the down the street with a school bag by Catherine Russel, who serves valley, leading to the day a lone gun- and on the way to school.” He cer- as ambassador-at-large for Global man shot up a school bus filled with tainly knows what he’s talking about, Women’s Issues for the Obama adschoolgirls. having founded a school in the Swat ministration. Malala was 15 in 2012, but even Valley after obtaining his master’s Russel spoke on how Malala’s then she was already fairly known in degree in English. crusade for education for girls is a Pakistan, speaking at various affairs When the Taliban began enforcing response to the status of girls worldand writing a blog on the need for their “ban” on girls going to school, wide, who “start falling off” as they education for girls, a cause frowned Yousafzai said he asked Malala, his el- finish their elementary studies and upon by the Taliban who didn’t be- dest child, why she continued to speak are not able to finish or even start lieve girls should be going to school. out on the need to educate girls. “Why a secondary education due to such The world rallied around Malala, not?” was her simple answer. factors as “violence (at home or in who was flown to the United Kingdom “This is the story not just of one school), early marriage, the need to where doctors sucwork,” or simply cessfully operated “not being valued” Without the light of learning, we would surrender the on her and where by their families. world to the forces of darkness that sought to silence Malala she and her fam“We need a hoand snuff out her promise. ily live today. Earlier listic approach,” this year, it was anasserted Russel. To nounced that Malala, now 17, had won family of five,” Yousafzai said (Malala which Yousafzai said one area he is the Nobel Peace Prize, the youngest has two other siblings). “It is a story concentrating on is “working with the laureate in the Prize’s history. of families all around the world, of fathers of tomorrow,” teaching young Fittingly, Malala was in school 57 million children who are out of men to recognize and respect girls’ when the news broke, in chemistry school, half of them in conflict ar- “dignity, honor, and freedom” and class when a teacher announced the eas—in Jordan, in Syria, Lebanon, “respect the rights of their daughters.” honor given her. “But she chose to stay Afghanistan.” Russel stressed that promoting in school to finish her lessons,” her To this end, Yousafzai serves as the and protecting the rights of girls not father recalled, and when he and Ma- cofounder and chair of the Malala just in the United States but around lala’s mother greeted her at the gate Fund, raising money to protect the the world have been a policy cornerwith tears in their eyes, they found right of girls to an education, and also stone of both the Clinton and Obama their daughter calm and composed. as the United Nations’ special advi- administrations. It is simply good “YOU know what the most beauti- sor on global education. governance, she stressed. Or as US ful sight is in the world?” Yousafzai AT the first panel following his Secretary of State John Kerry put it:
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“You don’t play a game and leave half your team on the bench.” THE Resource Guide to Malala’s memoir has been described as “a window into complex issues of politics, history, human rights, religion and tradition through the lens of one girl’s story.” In some way, “I Am Malala” may be considered the contemporary version of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” which, upon its publication and release, gave the world a glimpse into the life of a teenage girl caught in the darkness of the Nazi regime, while shedding light on the thoughts and feelings of a girl emerging into the light of womanhood, a life tragically cut short with the discovery of her and her family’s hiding place and her death in a Nazi concentration camp. We can thank the fates for saving Malala from such an end. But we would not honor her life if we “read” her story only as one of survival and prevailing against violence. Instead, we should join her cause—the need to provide education for young people, but especially girls—because without the light of learning, we would surrender the world to the forces of darkness that sought to silence Malala and snuff out her promise, as well as that of all our girls. ■
18
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Canada News
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson wins re-election for third term
NEWS BRIEFS
FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS
BY JAMES KELLER The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson won re-election Saturday, defeating his main opponent despite indications late in the campaign that the mayor’s bid for a third term was in trouble. Robertson, co-founder of the Happy Planet juice company and a former NDP member of B.C.’s legislature, was first elected in 2008 and will now serve a third term. Outside of Vancouver, he is perhaps best known as the city’s public face during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The mayor and his Vision Vancouver party entered the campaign as the clear front-runners against Kirk LaPointe of the Non-Partisan Association, a newcomer to politics who was relatively unknown outside his colleagues in the news media. But polls suggested Robertson’s lead had waned in the final weeks of the campaign, which became increasingly ugly as LaPointe accused the mayor of corruption and Robertson, in turn, filed a defamation lawsuit. On election night, however, Robertson took the lead in early returns and that gap only widened as the evening progressed. He was elected with 46 per cent of ballots cast, compared with 40 per cent for LaPointe. Robertson’s Vision Vancouver also won a majority on city council. No single policy issue dominated the campaign, which instead focused on the perception that Robertson ignored the concerns of residents as he expanded bike lanes, added to the city’s supply of social housing and homeless shelters, and green-lit new property developments. Robertson responded to those complaints during a mayoral debate this past Wednesday, offering a surprising and unprompted apology to voters for falling short of their expectations. He also made a last-minute pitch for strategic voting, urging supports of a left-leaning third-place party, the Coalition of Progressive Electors, to vote for him to keep LaPointe out of office. The mayor echoed his apology during his victory speech. “I’ve heard from lots of Vancouver-
TOP 1 PER CENT LOST SHARE OF CANADA’S TOTAL INCOME
Gregor Robertson won a third term as Mayor of Vancouver in last week's B.C. municipal elections. KRIS KRÜG / FLICKR
ites about their strong belief and love for our city, our shared values,” Robertson told a room full of supporters in downtown Vancouver. “I’ve also heard loud and clear that there are things that we could do better and we will.” After a campaign that focused in part on discontent with Robertson’s environmental and social policies, he made it clear Saturday night that he planned to continue on the same path. “There are some very urgent issues we face,” said Robertson, singling out climate change, homelessness and public transit. “There is a lot more to do and we’re really looking forward to working together as one big team in Vancouver to accomplish these great goals.” In a concession speech to supporters in a nearby hotel, LaPointe acknowledged the especially heated campaign. “So the campaign has not always brought out the best in us, but it did deliver a clarity of choice,” said LaPointe. LaPointe cast Robertson as a leftwing ideologue who repeatedly ignored residents’ concerns, particularly when it came to bike lanes and development. He also criticized the mayor for opposing the proposed expansion of a Kinder Morgan oil pipeline before a federal review is complete, and he accused Vision Vancouver school trustees of putting politics above students when they reject-
ed classroom funding from Chevron. When a video surfaced during the campaign showing a Vision councillor soliciting donations from a union while pitching the party’s policy of not contracting out city work, LaPointe ran advertising that accused Robertson and his party of corruption. The ads prompted Robertson to file a defamation lawsuit, though the legal manoeuvre did not appear to affect LaPointe’s messaging. LaPointe attempted to contrast Robertson’s leadership style by promising to create a city hall that is more transparent and to ensure residents are properly consulted — and their concerns taken into account — on major policies. For example, when it comes to development and housing, a significant issue in a city where housing costs are the most expensive in Canada, LaPointe promised a renewed citywide planning process to guide policy and respond to potential concerns. However, that approach allowed him to avoid providing many specifics about just what he would do. Before entering politics, LaPointe had a long journalism career that saw him work at several major news outlets, including The Canadian Press, where he served as Ottawa bureau chief, and the National Post, where he was executive editor. He was senior vice-president of news at CTV in the early 2000s before becoming managing editor of the Vancouver Sun newspaper. ■
OTTAWA — Canada’s mega-rich lost ground to the other 99 per cent, say newly released figures from Statistics Canada. The top oneper-cent of Canadian earners saw their share of the country’s overall income tumble to a sixyear low in 2012, the agency said in a report Tuesday. The wealthiest Canadians, the data show, held 10.3 per cent of total earnings, a drop from a peak of 12.1 per cent in 2006. CF-18S STRIKE ISIL BOMB-MAKING FACILITY KUWAIT CITY — Canadian fighter jets and other coalition aircraft have effectively flattened an enemy warehouse in northern Iraq as part of a major night-time operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The attack took place near Mosul, the embattled country’s second largest city, and was announced Tuesday via news release from Defence Minister Rob Nicholson’s office. TRUDEAU SHOULD HAVE JUST TALKED TO MPS: NDP OTTAWA — The NDP justice critic Francoise Boivin says Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau should have just given a verbal warning to two MPs accused of misconduct, in the absence of a formal complaint by two female New Democrats. Trudeau suspended MPs Massimo Pacetti and Scott Andrews two weeks ago after hearing allegations of serious personal misconduct involving the two female MPs. MARINER APPEALS FERRY SINKING CONVICTION VANCOUVER — B.C.’s highest court is set to hear the case of the navigating officer who was on the bridge of a provincial passenger ferry the night the vessel sank, killing two people. Karl Lilgert was convicted last year and sentenced to four years imprisonment for criminal negligence causing death for the March 2006 sinking of the Queen of the North.
Canada News
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SkyTrain requires millions in upgrades to prevent system wide shutdowns: report BY KEVEN DREWS The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Implementing 20 recommendations that could prevent shutdowns of Metro Vancouver’s SkyTrain transit system and improve customer service will cost at least $71 million, says the operator TransLink. The recommendations released Tuesday were included in a report written by McNeil Management Services and follow two system-wide, five- to six-hour shutdowns on July 17 and July 21. On those days, passengers pried open train doors and walked along the elevated guideways next to electrified tracks back to the nearest transit stations. Report author Gary McNeil, the former head of Toronto’s Go Transit, said each shutdown was caused by a different problem, but a common issue was behind each of the extended delays. He said after staff fixed the problems, they spent hours manually re-entering train information into the automated system known as SELTRAC. “Because of the duration of the delay, unauthorized self-evacuation from the trains occurred,” he wrote. “Severe pedestrian and vehicle congestion was experienced around stations.” He said customers were stranded in unfamiliar locations, had to find alternate transportation and their “experience was poor.” McNeill made 20 recommendations, and listed first is a new auto-restart program for SELTRAC, estimated to cost $5 million but expected to reduce delays.
He also said the system needs new guideway-intrusion technology that will allow staff to cut down on unnecessary alarms that stop trains and cause delays. His other recommendations addressed issues like staffing and customer service and new technology. For example, ensuring there are enough qualified front-line staff to respond to problems is expected to cost $1 million annually, and improving the passenger-address system and installing programmable message signboards could each cost $15 million. A TransLink news release said the cost of all 20 recommendations is expected to hit $71 million. “The service disruptions in July were unacceptable to customers and unacceptable to us,” stated the document. “We are committed to better service on SkyTrain and with this review, we now have a clear plan of action for improving our customers’ experience with this vital regional service.” Transportation Minister Todd Stone said he didn’t think funding of the system was the problem. He said the question was about whether the dollars were being spent wisely. He also said TransLink is responsible for making operational decisions, like those included in the report. “Certainly, I acknowledge the frustration of the travelling public,” he said. “I think on a system like we have in Metro Vancouver, the expectations are not unreasonable for the travelling public that these kinds of disruptions just should not take place.” ■
COLIN / FLICKR
Keystone XL pipeline down, but not out, after U.S. Senate vote BY ALEXANDER PANETTA The Canadian Press WASHINGTON — The woman who almost forced U.S. President Barack Obama to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline stood quietly on the Senate floor as her plans went down in flames Tuesday. Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu had pushed the chamber to take its first-ever vote on the pipeline after a half-decade of debate. The result was what Senatewatchers called the biggest nail-biter vote in years. She fell one vote shy of putting a pipeline bill on the president’s desk — which would have forced Obama to deal with the issue sooner than he’d hoped. Landrieu’s party colleagues walked by. The vast majority were lining up to vote against the plan, though one fellow propipeline Democrat hugged her. Landrieu got affectionate greetings from Republicans who’d worked with her on the bill.
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“You’re a fighter,” one Republican told Landrieu on the Senate floor, as he shook her hand. She fought, and lost. The chamber fell one vote short of the 60 per cent majority needed to override a filibuster. Polls now suggest she’ll lose her seat in the pro-oil state of Louisiana in a run-off election next month. The Keystone XL pipeline, on the other hand, will live to fight another battle. Republicans vowed to bring the issue back in the new year — under circumstances potentially more favourable to them, to the president, and to the project’s proponents. By early 2015, an ardently pro-oil, Republican-dominated Congress will have been sworn in. A court case over the route should be cleared up in Nebraska. And the State Department should be done with its on-again-off-again regulatory review. The next leader of the Senate prom❱❱ PAGE 20 Keystone XL
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Keystone XL... ised to make it a priority. “The Senate will act again on this important legislation,” Republican leader Mitch McConnell said. “I look forward to the new Republican majority taking up and passing the Keystone jobs bill early in the New Year.” By then Obama could, in theory, gain a political concession in return for approving the pipeline. The White House was asked about a report that he’d plan to make a deal with Republicans: They get a pipeline, and he gets a bill he wants — perhaps on infrastructure funding. An Obama spokesman didn’t deny that possibility. When asked whether he was weighing those kinds of next steps, Josh Earnest said: “Yeah, I think that’s probably fair to say.” It remains to be seen whether there’s a deal to be had. Obama would have to face the wrath of his base, which vigorously opposes the project. Signs of that opposition were noisily evident in the Senate gallery Tuesday. Even after winning the vote, anti-pipeline protesters erupted in chants, prompt❰❰ 19
ing security to whisk them away. And Republicans would have to give up a favoured cudgel. While they profess frustration over the interminable debate, it’s been useful to them as a rod to repeatedly beat up on the president — a favourite item to pull out in any debate over the U.S. economy, as an example of how they’d create more jobs than him. The president has sought to blunt that weapon lately. When he talks about the pipeline these days, Obama is increasingly dismissive of its significance — and now essentially argues that it will have no effect on the U.S. economy. He says he’ll make his decision on environmental grounds. The pipeline company appears cognizant of the political sensitivity. TransCanada Corp. issued a statement Tuesday that heaped praise on supporters from both parties. “Today’s vote in the U.S. Senate demonstrates a growing and high level of support for Keystone XL both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives,” said a statement
from company president Russ Girling. “Senators Mary Landrieu and (Republican) John Hoeven are to be commended for leading a bipartisan coalition in support of a legislative solution to the protracted regulatory process
Keystone XL has languished in for six years.” The Government of Canada was only marginally more aggressive. Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford issued a statement blaming the delay on “U.S. politics” — without sin-
gling out any people or party. The Democratic leadership in the Senate had stalled any attempt to vote on Keystone before Tuesday. The party is divided over the issue, and had ❱❱ PAGE 32 Keystone XL
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FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:
Bert Monterona Social Realist Artist BY EARL VON TAPIA Philippine Canadian Inquirer “I BELIEVE in the rule of art for social change.” So says Bert Monterona, an international award-winning self-described social realist artist. Through the creation of massive art murals featuring motifs that highlight social justice topics, Bert hopes to use his art to inspire dialogue and ultimately become a force of good for this world. The Beginning
Bert grew up in a very poor family of farmers. Only by earning a scholarship was he able to attend schooling from high school all the way until college. And it was in his second year of high school that he fell in love with art, nurtured by a group of professional artists at his school that organized a young artists society. “During my high school education there was a group of professional artists who nurtured the young artists, and they organized this young artists society,” he said. By the time he was in college, Bert was actively honing his craft. His scholarship permitted him to only take engineering courses, but he found some friends with which to share in his love of art. “When I was already in college, I was so active in art. I had three friends who were also interested in art. We were really interested in taking fine arts, but we couldn’t afford it. We just took engineering courses because that’s the only offered scholarship. But every weekend we went out to do some on-thespot paintings, landscapes. We climbed the mountains and painted the whole city, and
“Women for Peace and Environment,” Inkjet on vinyl, 25ft x 40ft.
Bert Monterona in his studio.
sometimes we just put up some still life object,” he said. The way in which Bert and his friends self-taught themselves art helped them develop their own unique styles. Though Bert was struggling in his engineering courses, his art was getting noticed, and the peer and guidance counsellors at his school developed him into a peer facilitator, where he taught an art workshop for students after school. Even some of his teachers ended up enrolling in his workshops. Art Career
After finishing university in 1985, he was offered by his school (Mindanao State University) a position as a teacher of architectural drafting. However, before he started teaching, while he was exhibiting some of his artwork in Davao City, his work caught the eye of someone special. Ms. Aida Rivera Ford was the founder of the Ford Academy of the Arts in Mindanao, and she happened to like Bert’s art.
Bert in his hometown studio in Davao City, Philippines.
“She liked my work, and asked if I’m a fine arts graduate. No, my major is architectural drafting, but I also have some basic drawing skills, and I was already teaching art through the guidance and counselling centre as a peer,” he said.
“She asked, can you come back next week for an interview? We really need a teacher. I said, I will be leaving tomorrow. If you want to do the interview right now, I’m ready.” “So I was interviewed right away, and I did a demonstra-
tion, teaching still-life drawing,” he said. Bert was offered a job as as the artist in resident and teacher in that school, which he accepted. The following year he decided to branch out and do his own thing, and he organized
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his own alternative school, the Mindanao Alternative Center for Visual Arts, which lasted until 2002. Throughout that time, Bert was a full-time visual artist, providing all kinds of visual and graphic services, such as making posters, designs, comics, murals, and also some political artwork for rallies and campaigns. He also won a few art competitions both at home and abroad. Bert was a finalist in the Philippine and Asean Art Competition in the Philippines, and the winner of the International Mural Festival in Winnipeg, where a massive mural he worked on for two months took first place from amongst a crowd of international artists. the 25’ by 40’ mural was displayed on the street in public for all to see.
exhibit at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. But during his visit he again met another special person. Bert was introduced to the owner for the Vancouver Film School, who then invited Bert to become an artist in residence at the VFS in 2004. After Bert’s one-year contract was complete, he applied as a Provincial Nominee (sponsored by his boss) for him and his family to live in Canada permanently. He was successful in his efforts. “I think it is very rare for an artist to land in Canada as a Provincial Nominee because what they are looking for is scientists, mechanics, constructions specialists, people with special skills,” he said. Bert thinks some of his international competition credentials helped him get in. Bert knew going in that he would face a lot of challenges coming to Canada. But he says it’s all worth it, for his family. “For me if I have a choice, I will not really migrate, because it’s really hard for an artist to
Canada
In 2002, Bert and a dozen other artists and cultural workers were invited to the Philippine Independence Day celebrations at the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver, BC. Bert provided the backdrop for the performances, and also scheduled an
❱❱ PAGE 30 Filipino-Canadian in
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Seen & Scenes: Vancouver
NOVEMBER 21, 2014
FRIDAY
MCLUHAN FELLOW Veteran broadcast journalist Che che Lazaro, 2014 Marshall Mcluhan fellow, gave on Nov. 17, an inspiring talk on, ‘Ethics & Accountability in the Changing Media Landscape’ at the Liu Institute for Global Issues at UBC.
RIGHT HERE WRITE NOW Right Here, Write Now! is a musical of interweaving tales of friendship, life, family, and love that will move your feet and your hearts. Catch the remaining performances on Nov. 29, at the Bell Theatre in Surrey, BC. Produced by ANCOP Canada and St. Matthew’s Parish.
FILCANES The Filipino Canadian New Era Society of British Columbia recently held their monthly birthday celebration and coronation of FilCanes Ms. Fall 2014 at the Capri Hall. Here are some highlights. (Photos by Freddie Bagunu.)
HAIYAN ANNIVERSARY The Philippines and Canada mark the first year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan with a reception last Nov. 14, hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver and Red Cross Canada. Here are some scenes from the event (Photos by Angelo Siglos).
For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net
Seen & Scenes: Toronto
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
HAIYAN A YEAR AFTER
ASIANS IN ONTARIO Senator Enverga was a special guest of Canadian Multicultural CouncilAsians in Ontario (CMC-AO) during their Year-end Food and Cultural Festival at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto in Scarborough, On. on Nov. 15, 2014. CMC-AO celebrated the diversity that comprises Canadian society, with food and cultural performances.
Gawad Kalinga (GK) Canada Director Luis Oquinena reported on the GK rebuilding efforts in Central Visayas which was struck last year by the strongest typhoon on record. GK Canada raised $365,000 from fundraising campaigns it initiated, in partnerships with businesses and other organizations.
PASKUHAN The festive Christmas mood was brought to life at the Toronto Paskuhan Festival on Nov. 16. Filipinos and Canadians alike who can’t make it home for the Holidays trooped to the Artscape Wychwood Barns to experience the traditional Filipino Yuletide merriment. (Photos from Consul General Junever Mahilum-West’s FB account) www.canadianinquirer.net
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Community News
NOVEMBER 21, 2014
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PH-Canada mark anniversary of deadly typhoon BY MARY ANN R. MANDAP Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES and Canada marked the first year anniversary of deadly Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in commemorative ceremonies at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, B.C. on Nov. 14. Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer thanked the Canadian Red Cross and all those who helped in the relief efforts and contributed toward the country’s rebuilding and recovery. Reports show that the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) has raised over $47 million. Of the $47 million, 45% went to emergency relief and early recovery; while 34% went to long-term recovery and development. The rest of the funds were allocated for the emergency field hospital and fundraising. Data from its website show that 91 cents of every dollar donated for Typhoon Haiyan relief went directly to impacted individuals and communities. CRC Chair for Western Canada Cassandra Consiglio likewise said that Red Cross cared for more than 1,200 patients in the mobile field hospital set up immediately after the disaster, performed more than 100 surgeries and helped deliver more than 400 babies. “The donations have given people the chance to rebuild their livelihoods,” Consiglio said. She cited rice farmers in typhoon-hit areas have been using grants to buys seeds and fertilizer to re-plant crops washed away by the storm. “Fishermen have used grants to repair boats that were damaged,” she added. A similar event was held on Nov. 8, at the Our Lady of Assumption Church in Toronto. Amb. Petronila P. Garcia and Joseph Oliver, minister of finance, together with Sen. Tobias Enverga and Member of Parliament Patrick Brown led members of the Filipino-Canadian community in remembrance of the devastating impact of said disaster. Minister Oliver also announced, on behalf of Devel-
opment Minister Christian Paradis, the Typhoon Haiyan Reconstruction Assistance Call for Proposals. This call for proposals, valued at up to $20.6 million over a period of four years, is designed to help restore the livelihoods of people in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan. It forms part of the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund through which the government of Canada matched the $85 million in eligible donations made by individual Canadians. “On this one-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, we pay tribute to the resilience of the people in the Philippines affected by the storm, the work of our partners and the generosity of Canadians,’’ said Minister Oliver. “Our relationship with the Philippines and the Filipino-Canadian community is long and strong, and we will continue our support to help build a better future for the people of that country.” For her part, Ambassador Garcia indicated that typhoon Haiyan “changed the way Filipinos now see each other, and how we respond to calamities.
It also changed the way we see how the world sees us. We have been touched by the generosity of Canadians, and we are forever grateful. On this week of remembrance, we will do as much to remember that Canada demonstrated how it can be a true friend.” Canada was among the first responders from the international community in mobilizing its resources when the typhoon slammed into the Philippines.
As the storm made landfall, Canada was already putting in place a rapid, whole-of-government response working closely with the Filipino-Canadian community, humanitarian partners and the government of the Philippines. Canada established the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Matching Fund, through which eligible donations by individual Canadians were matched by the government of Canada. The relief
Kimberley Nemrava, Canadian Red Cross Society’s director of BC and Yukon (L) and Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer during the commemoration of the one-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan. Canadian Red Cross has raised over $47 million from generous individuals and corporations in Canada for Typhoon Haiyan relief and recovery efforts.
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funds from Canada were channelled through various Canadian non-government organizations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society and United Nations Relief agencies. Canada also sent relief supplies such as tents, blankets, water purification tablets, shelter kits, and other essential items from Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada’s emergency stockpile. Canada also deployed the Canadian Armed Forces’ Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to support relief efforts by providing clean water, medical assistance and logistical support, including addressing pressing needs on Panay Island. Last month, President Benigno Aquino III signed the P167.9 billion (C$4.2 billion) Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) which aims to “build back better” across resettlement, infrastructure, livelihood, and social services. The CRRP defines four operative sectors — resettlement, P75.6 billion; infrastructure, P35.1 billion; livelihood, P33.6 billion; and social services, P26.4 billion. It includes a P98-billion fund for Tacloban City, Cebu, Iloilo, Eastern Samar, and Leyte previously approved by the president. The recovery and rehabilitation effort is expected to take more than two years. ■ With reports from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa
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Filipino-Canadian in... survive in a country like Canada, otherwise you will sacrifice your art and do something else different for your livelihood,” he said. “But I’m so lucky because this is really the best country for my two kids, not for me as an artist . . . they really love this place. And for me, even if we will be rich in the Philippines, the quality of life they are enjoying now, it’s the best,” he added. ❰❰ 23
Philosophy of Art
Bert believes that his art can play a huge role in social change. His paintings frequently feature motifs and symbols of peace, justice, human rights, and the environment. “I believe that there is a social function of art. I believe that paintings are materials for wall decorations, but they are also a path for education,” he said. “Using art, it’s easier to
transmit some issues, because it’s like a neutral force. Like, if you’re talking about human rights, it’s easier if you do it in painting and discuss the painting about human rights, rather than right away speaking about human rights . . . not all people like issues, but through art it’s more easier. It can facilitate dialogues,” he said. The Struggle
Bert lives a quiet life these
days. His kids are all grown up, with one being married, and the other in post-secondary school. He is separated from his wife. For three days a week he works as the caretaker of his old bosses’ property in the Vancouver West End, where he also stays. The rest of the time, he devotes to his art. “For the past 10 years it’s a hard struggle . . . but now that the kids are adults, it’s time to start again,” he said.
He says the challenge now is to get recognized by the established artists in Canada. “I think to be a good artist and to be recognized is the most challenging thing, because even if you are recognized in the country you came from . . . in western countries, they’re always controlled by western concepts and ideas, and the people running it. They are always circulated or binded on that kind of circuit, so if you are from outside of that circuit then it’s a huge challenge for you to penetrate or get in,” he said. “So I always believe the power or the strength of my creativity of my work, but it’s not really good enough to be recognized and to deserve the circuit so you will be part of the circle,” he added. He is also living a bit of the starving artists’ life, whereas people back in the Philippines people think he has lots of money from some of the international competitions that he has won, which is not the case. The Future
“If you see my tapestries, they’re not really commercial pieces. Who will buy those huge and issue-oriented tapestries?” he said. Bert hopes to change that. He has started producing artwork that can be hung in galleries or as decorations, as that is more commercial friendly. “Now I am starting to make some works that if I stop working or doing other jobs then I can survive as an artist financially,” he said. And despite the long and winding artist’s path that has brought Bert from the Philippines to Canada, he now hopes to take his art and his message to the rest of the world, before bringing it back home to the Philippines. “I want to travel around the globe with my art, bringing the issues of global warming, peace, and justice to people. I’m now preparing for an exhibition tour first maybe around Canada, and then maybe in Europe, then back to the Philippines or Asia. And then I can publish my first book,” he said. “I’m already here in Canada, but I still believe I have a responsibility to work for peace and justice and development in my homeland,” he added. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
Immigration
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
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TANONG MO KAY KUYA BOY
What do I do if I get into a car accident? CHRIS FROM North Vancouver emailed this question: KUYA BOY, I do not know what to do if I get into a car accident. Can you give me some advice on what I need to know and what I should do? Chris, you are lucky that I happen to personally know one of the best personal injury lawyers in Vancouver. So I asked ATTY. JOEL ZANATTA, the managing partner of HAMMERBERG LAWYERS. For more than 25 years, his law firm has been expertly handling ICBC and personal injury cases and you may contact them at 604 269 8500. Atty. Joel Zanatta has helped several Filipino clients and has generously provided this information. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT: Most Canadians will be involved in a car accident at some point in their lives. Fortunately, with standard safety equipment found in most automobiles, severe injuries are relatively rare. That said, an accident can be scary, especially if you do not understand the Canadian personal injury system. The following is a brief overview of what you should know if you are involved in an accident. By knowing the basics you can protect your legal rights if you are involved in an accident. The first thing to know is that you should never drive an automobile unless it is properly insured. This may sound obvious, but with the rising cost of insurance many people attempt to save money by cutting corners when buying insurance. Make sure that when you are dealing with a broker you are accurate about the purpose for which you are using the car and the people in your household that
will have access to the car. Even if you have to pay a little more for your insurance, it is well worth it to be properly covered in case of an accident. Now assume that you are out on the road and you are involved in a car accident. What should you do? The first thing to do is to take a moment to get your bearings. An accident can cause a sensation of shock, but in most instances there is absolutely no need to panic. Take a deep breath and survey the situation. Do not rush to exit your vehicle, especially if you are on a roadway. Though it is important to collect information at the scene, do not risk safety to do so. Once you have your bearings it is best to move your car into a
safe area. If you were involved in a serious accident you may not be able to move your vehicle. In that case it is best to call 911 for emergency assistance. Once the vehicles are safely out of traffic it is time to exchange information with the other driver. The key information to collect is the other drivers name, license plate number and driver’s license number. You should also record information about location and the direction of travel. In a case where fault is not going to be clear you should also record the names and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident. If, after collecting information, you feel well enough, you can leave the scene of the accident. If your car is not safe
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to drive or if you are not well enough to drive make sure that you call emergency services. Once emergency services arrive, make sure that you are assessed by a paramedic. If the paramedic feels that you need to attend at the hospital allow them to transport you. Many people are in a state of shock following an accident and do not realize that they need medical attention. Once you are safely at home, you should do two things: 1) report the accident to your insurance company; and 2) if you are injured or feeling poorly make an appointment to see your family doctor for a medical check-up; after the initial shock of an accident wears off people often begin to feel
symptoms of injury. If you are injured in an accident you may have the ability to pursue a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim allows a person to receive a financial award as compensation for the injuries and losses that they suffered as a result of the accident. Because injury claims are complex I frequently advise people to contact a lawyer to discuss an injury claim. I have personally consulted with many hundreds of people after car accidents. In most cases people have little or no idea of the value of their injury claim. Without representation they risk settling the claim for much less than they are entitled to. It is important not to feel intimidated by the idea of calling a lawyer. Most lawyers who practice in the area of personal injury law will offer a free consultation. Furthermore, in most cases a “contingency fee” can be arranged. A contingency fee means that the accident victim will not have to pay a legal fee until the claim is completely finalized. Overall, accidents are a part of life. Just make sure that if you are involved in an accident you protect yourself and your family by knowing your legal rights. Collect the information at the scene, report to your insurance company and your doctor. If you are hurt consult a lawyer for proper legal advice. ■ We invite you to tune in to our weekly legal advice program “Tanong Mo Kay Kuya Boy” every Saturday from 1230 pm to 1pm on JUAN RADIO 96.1 FM. Every week, we will feature various professional lawyers who will discuss and give advice about different legal topics. If you have any legal questions, send an email to kuyaboycanada@gmail.com
Immigration
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NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS
So, Did You Cover Everything in Your Cover Letter? BY BOLET AREVALO A COVER letter is an introduction to your resume. It must compel the reviewer to read your resume. But at best, the cover letter must get you an interview whether or not the reviewer has read your resume. My worst mistake in writing a cover letter was believing that there should be a standard cover letter. However, the cover letters that gave me my first two interviews are those that deviated from the standard format taught to me in my resume writing class. The cover letter I was taught in one of the first job search organizations I attended was not necessarily bad or incorrect. The length was just right (keep it as a one-pager), make mention of the position you are applying for, summarize your skills, highlight your attributes, and close with anticipation. They say most reviewers get only as far as your cover letter. Remember that the cover letter is intended to whet the reviewer’s appetite to make him continue to reach out for your resume. Failure to interest them at all with your cover letter is failure to invite them to view your resume. If you are replying to an in-
ternet posting, both your cover was the one which I had written letter and resume may not even from the heart. catch the attention of the reWriting my cover letter from viewer. So let me share with you the heart was easy for those a tip—make your cover letter job postings that I felt strongly your transmittal letter in your about because I firmly believed email message. Copy and paste that I was best fitted for the the whole cover letter into your position being advertised. In email. That guarantees that the these, I was able to express what cover letter gets through the I had in mind, how I envisioned first base of the elimination myself in this job, and how my process. And if it is written well interests and background could enough, then lucky you, your bring value to the position. documents may be set aside for However, I was very carefurther review. ful about saying too much, too But I want you to bear in soon. First the reviewer might mind that the only objective think it was too good to be true. of the cover letter is to get you Second, I might overvalue myan interview. Such being, you self, and end up being perceived should be able to express your as overqualified. Third and most desire to be invited to an inter- important, I might make the review in a very subtle but expedi- viewer feel that I was a threat to ent manner. Like, will they be his job or to his beloved boss. missing a lot if they are not able The human factor is inevito let you come in for an inter- table even in a cold-blooded est as possible but, you are also view? Yes? Why not? But as I job of having to review the one- compelled to think from the said, tell them in a very subtle, thousandth resume coming in point of view of the person or but not too coy manner. Be ag- for a job posting. Anybody that persons who will review your gressive, but not application. abrasive. Write A well-written with a sense of cover letter is urgency, but do half the battle not be imposing. Remember that the cover letter is won to get a reCertainly, alintended to whet the reviewer’s viewer to want ready there are appetite to make him continue to to see you for an hundreds of reach out for your resume. interview. Thus, books and artimake sure that cles that will tell your cover letter you how to write the best cover reads a cover letter also reads covers the most salient points letter. I am not about to com- in-between sentences and in your resume, and provides pete with them. I just wanted grasps unspoken messages. So an interesting narration of to say here that the only kind of as the cover letter writer you your most valuable attributes. cover letter that worked for me want to be as natural and hon- Write a cover letter from the
heart by being truthful. But do not discount the human side of the letter reviewer whose first impression of you in this letter will spell all the difference in getting you through the next steps. ■ Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion. She is author-publisher of the book: The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts. Please check out https://www.amazon.com/ author/boletarevalo
Keystone XL... failed to bring numerous House bills to the floor. A frantic effort from Landrieu had succeeded in convincing her leadership to allow a vote. In the dying moments of a sixhour debate Tuesday, Landrieu called the project a “no-brainer” — echoing a phrase famously uttered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She said America had always had friends, ever since the French and Dutch had helped it in the Revolutionary War. Now was the time, she said, to build an energy partnership with Canada. “Who is the best energy partner we could have?” Landrieu asked, referring to the northern ❰❰ 20
neighbour. “I’m sure they’re listening to this debate, feeling very offended.” The debate looked like a battle of duelling charts. As they delivered speeches, supporters stood next to maps showing all the other pipelines on the continent and flow-charts showing how long the Keystone XL project had been delayed. An opponent stood next to a poster that said, “Misery Follows Tar Sands.” California’s Barbara Boxer also showed pictures of oil-linked pollution, and linked the toxins in oil to a litany of ailments ranging from cancer to asthma. “What does XL stand for?...
For me, it’s Extra-Lethal,” Boxer said, showing pictures of a dark sky over a Texas refinery. “This is what it looks like in Port Arthur, Tex. And this is what the kids have to put up with. Here is a playground, in a low-income community... We will have to bear the burdens of the refining. The filth in the air. The petcoke in our cities — as we see the products being exported to other countries... This trail of misery should not be put upon the American people.” The debate also featured duelling donors. The string of speakers who led off the debate happened to be the top recipients of cash from pro- and anti-oil constituwww.canadianinquirer.net
encies in U.S. federal politics — where donations from companies and special interests remain legal. On the pro-pipeline side, Landrieu was the No. 3 recipient in donations from the oil-andgas sector among all 535 members of the U.S. Congress in the last election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a pro-transparency group that tabulates known corporate donations. The man who launched the debate, McConnell, was the No. 4 recipient. On the opposing side, Boxer was the No. 2 listed recipient of alternative-energy donations in her last Senate election campaign. The only member who
received more that year was top Senate Democrat Harry Reid — who until now was responsible for blocking a Keystone vote. The bill’s original sponsor dismissed the president’s claim that the pipeline would simply export oil through the U.S. He pointed out that the project would gather crude from his own state. “It’s not just oil from Canada,” said Hoeven, a Republican whose bill was co-sponsored by Landrieu. “It’s oil from my state of North Dakota. And oil from Montana. Light, sweet crude.” Hoeven’s biggest donor, according to the Center for Responsive Politics: the oil and gas sector. ■
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Entertainment
Cristine Reyes confirms pregnancy BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Sexy actress Cristine Reyes on Sunday confirmed on live television that she is pregnant and will soon expect a baby. After her production number with Jericho Rosales, Sam Milby, and Piolo Pascual on ASAP, Reyes said “To all our Kapamilya supporters, I want to share that I have a wonderful blessing. I’m having a baby.” Reyes also said that she will always appreciate all the support she is receiving from her ABS-CBN, Viva, and ASAP families.
“I’m super excited and happy. Thank you for all the support and for the love you’ve showered upon me. Thank you so much. My heart is filled with so much joy,” she added. Rumors about her pregnancy started last August. During her interview on “The Buzz” last August 31, Reyes shared that she and her non-showbiz boyfriend are already planning of settling down. “We’re not yet engaged, but we have plans. I’m not yet sure, that’s why I can’t give a definite answer as of the moment,” she said during the interview. The 25-year-old star also mentioned that they are already at the right age to start a family. ■
Vice Ganda back on ‘It’s Showtime’ BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — After going on a temporary leave from the noontime program, Vice Ganda is now back on ‘It’s Showtime.” “Sobra ko kayong na-miss lahat, mga kapatid ko sa ‘It’s Showtime,’ mga madlang people (I missed you so much, everyone here in ‘It’s Showtime,’ the ‘madlang people’),” he said shortly after his opening production. The host-comedian took a temporary leave form the noon-time show citing health reasons. Contrary to rumors that he went on leave because of problems with his co-workers and the management, Vice Ganda said his leave was purely because of health reasons. “Nakakainggit pag nanunuod ako sa inyo. Maraming salamat talaga at pinayagan ninyo akong makapagpahinga ng sandali (I felt envious as watch you on TV. Thank you so much for allowing me to rest for a while),” he added. His co-hosts also gave him a warm welcome.
“It’s definitely a pleasure to have you back here again,” Billy Crawford said. Vice Ganda also announced that he will be taking another short leave on January as he will be undergoing an operation to remove a polyp in his throat. A polyp is a fluid-filled collection in the throat forming when the vocal cord is not well-rested. ■
Save the Children names Mikael Daez and Kylie Padilla as official Filipino ambassadors GMA ARTIST Center stars Mikael Daez and Kylie Padilla are the first Filipino representatives of Save the Children. They join international ambassadors Hollywood A-listers Jennifer Garner and Julianne Moore, football star Cristiano Ronaldo and distinguished stylist/editor/fashion designer Rachel Zoe in promoting the advocacy that aims to provide both emergency and long-term support to improve the quality of life for children. Mikael shares that being chosen as one of the first Pinoy ambassadors of Save the Children is such an honor and fulfils his dream to help an advocacy close to his heart. ”I’ve always wanted to help children. All children should be able to dream about what they want to be when they grow up. Save the Children’s work means that more children can have those dreams. I am excited about the opportunity to work alongside this amazing charity and am privileged to be able to use my work for this excellent cause.” Meanwhile, Kylie is eager to take on her new role as ambassador of a children’s organization. ”It is a privilege to be a representative of Save the Children and
be given the opportunity to help children in need, especially typhoon Yolanda survivors. I want to do whatever I can to help provide them everything they need so they can recover from their experiences and reach their full potential.” In the coming days, Mikael and Kylie together with some of the staff of Save the Children will visit Yolanda-affected communities in Tacloban to meet some of the survivors of the typhoon. Save the Children has already reached nearly 800,000 people in some of the ‘Yolanda’ hit areas providing them with emergency life-saving aid and long-term support for livelihood programs that will sustain their everyday living. Save the Children’s Country Director, Ned Olney, shares that they are happy to be working with passionate Kapuso stars. ”Save the Children is delighted to have such passionate engaged young people working with us as we strive to give every child in the Philippines the best start in life. We hope that our relationship with Kylie and Mikael will give us the opportunity to reach many more children and save even more lives.” ■
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Entertainment
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
Angeline Quinto Comedienne Ai Ai delas Alas turns reveals that Erik 50, stays mum on relationship Santos asked her with younger boyfriend to be his girlfriend BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer
BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Singer Erik Santos has asked Angeline Quinto to be his girlfriend, the latter revealed in an interview with Queen of All Media and “Kris TV” host, Kris Aquino. On Wednesday’s edition of the show, Quinto said: “Sa text po (nagtanong) Nahihiya ako, bakit ako? Siya na lang ‘yung tanungin mo, nahiya ako eh (He (asked) through text. I am shy, why ask me? Ask him instead, because I am shy.).” Despite being shy about the matter, Quinto firmly stated that she and Santos are not officially a couple, but that they both love each other. “Kasi madami ang nagtatanong sa akin bakit hindi pa kami since mahal namin ang isa’t isa. Hindi ba sinabi ko na hindi naman porket mahal niyo ang isa’t isa ay kayo na dapat
agad? Ayaw ko lang (Because many have been asking me why we are not together since we love each other. Didn’t I say that just because you love each other, it does not mean that you should be together right away? I just don’t like it that way.),” the singer-actress said. Adding that her career comes first, Quinto pointed out that she is afraid to go all-out in a relationship. “Paano kung mabuntis ako (What if I get pregnant?)?” Quinto queried. She remains hopeful, however, that Santos would gift her with an infinity ring for Christmas; that way, she said, they will always remain friends. “Yun naman ang gusto ko. Kung ano man ‘yung mangyaring hindi maganda, at least magkaibigan pa din kami (That is really what I want. Even if things should happen that are not good, at least we will remain friends.),” she said. ■
MANILA — Comedienne Ai Ai delas Alas, who celebrated her 50th birthday on Tuesday, November 11, wishes for nothing more good health for her and her children. “Madami namang blessings si God na ibinigay sa akin, so yun super good health na lang ng mga bata at sa akin (God has already given me so many blessings, so all I wish for is super good health for me and my children.),” delas Alas said. She quickly added, however, that “super blockbuster” success for her latest movie, “Past Tense”, would be nice, too. Directed by Mae Cruz Alviar, the romantic comedy also starring Xian Lim and Kim Chiu is set for release under ABS-CBN Film Productions and Star Cinema Productions before the end of 2014. Delas Alas, however, declined to talk with reporters about her relationship with 20-year-old non-showbiz boyfriend Gerald
Ai-Ai de las Alas with her new boyfriend, Gerald Sibayan. FACEBOOK
Sibayan. “Huwag na natin siyang isama. Okay naman ‘yon, happy naman ako sa life ko, at happy naman ako na nandiyan siya (Let’s not include him in this. It’s all okay, I am happy with my life, and I am happy that he is in my life.),” she said. Dismissing criticisms about the 3-decade age gap between her and Gerald, delas Alas said: “Ang pag-ibig naman wala ‘yan sa edad eh. Dumating siya sa buhay ko. Siguro ibinigay siya
sa akin kasi ‘yun ‘yung time na ayaw ko nang mag-boyfriend (Love knows no age, anyway. He arrived in my life. Maybe he was given to me because at that time, I did not want to have a boyfriend.),” she said. In a previous interview, delas Alas also did not give details as to how she and Sibayan – a badminton player from De La Salle University – first met. She did say, however, that her children have expressed their support of the relationship. ■
Vic Sotto invests in real estate for the future BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Actor and host Vic Sotto recently shared that he is starting to take interest in real estate. As a matter of fact, he is looking at investing in a leisure property
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in Tagaytay City. And of course, his girlfriend Pauleen Luna is involved in his decision making. “Every time I invest, I think of my immediate family, my children, and of course, with my partner,” shared Sotto. “Pauleen is a part of my life.” He also noted that at his age, he now wants to relax and
spend his time doing things he loves, one of which is golf. Meanwhile, he also shared that the shooting for his upcoming movie “Big Bossing’s Adventures” is about to end. Despite this, he admitted that he had a lot of fun taping the movie with child star Ryzza Mae Dizon. ■
Entertainment
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Jolina-Marvin: Was it more than just an onscreen tandem? BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — In an interview on “Gandang Gabi Vice” aired on Sunday, actor Marvin Agustin admitted that he had “real feelings” for former onscreen love interest, Jolina Magdangal; and vice-versa. After an exchange of banter, host Vice Ganda asked Agustin if he had real feelings for Magdangal, during the days of their onscreen romantic relationship. Agustin readily replied, “Of course, yes! Hindi man naging tayo pero totoo yung naramdaman ko sa ‘yo (Of course, yes! We may not have ended up together but what I felt for you was real.);” he said in reference to Magdangal. Before Vice Ganda prompted the admission from Agustin, Magdangal revealed that there
was a time that she told the actor about her feelings, but received a less-than-romantic response. “Kasi feeling ko noong mga bata pa kami, kapag magjowa kayo nag-a-’I love you’-han kayo. E ako lang ang nag-a-’I love you! (Because I felt during those days when we were young, that when you are in a romantic relationship, you exchange ‘I-love-yous’ But I was the only one who said ‘I love you!’),” Magdangal said.’ “Sabi ko [kay Marvin], ‘I love you, babe!’ Heto ang sabi niya– nag-babe naman siya–’Thank you, babe! (I said, [to Marvin], ‘I love you, babe!’ He replied this way — although he did say babe — ‘Thank you, babe!’),” she added. Agustin apologized, saying that he did not remember that particular incident, but that he showed his feelings for the singer-actress in other ways.
“Una sa lahat, sorry pero di ko natatandaan ‘yon. Ikaw kasi marami kang mga [pasaring]. Pero teka lang, ako rin naman, ang dami ko rin namang pinaramdam sa ‘yo (Firstly, I am sorry, I don’t remember that incident. You always had a lot of [insinuations]. But wait, I, too, sent you a lot of feelers.),” said Agustin.’ “Kung hindi ako nag-’I love you’ sa ‘yo, hindi mo ba naramdaman ‘ang pagmamahal ko sa ‘yo? (If I did not say ‘I love you’ to you, did you not feel my love, anyway?),” he added. To this, Magdangal said to Vice Ganda: “In fairness, maalaga si Marvin (In fairness [To be fair], Marvin was caring towards me.)” ■
KathNiel trended worldwide BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The popular on-screen tandem of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, otherwise known as “KathNiel,” on Thursday trended on Twitter after their appearance in ABS-CBN’s Christmas station ID. The music video showed ABS-CBN personalities thanking the most important people in their lives and giving praise to those who give service and serve as model to others. Bernardo and Padilla, for their part, wrote letters to each other. Bernardo’s letter to Padilla read: “Thank you, Daniel. Hi Bal! Mery Christmas! Thank you for taking care of me. Stay as you are. Can’t wait to spend another year with you. God bless you.” On the other hand, this is what Padilla wrote to this leading lady:”Thank you, Kathryn because you kept me sane. Hope to spend more years together. Merry Christmas!” After the airing of the station ID, “KathNiel” fans aired their reactions via Twitter. Within an hour, “#ThankYouKathNiel” became a trending topic on
Twitter as well as “KathNiel Kapamilya Thank You.” Bernando and Padilla were set to star in the remake of “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” a Valentine’s Day offering of Star Cinema next year. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
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Entertainment
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
Lawyer: Bill Cosby won’t dignify ‘decade old, discredited’ abuse allegations with a response BY LYNN ELBER The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Bill Cosby will not dignify “decade-old, discredited” claims of sexual abuse with a response, his attorney said Sunday, the first comment
from the famed comedian on an increasing uproar over allegations that he assaulted several women in the past. In a statement released to The Associated Press and posted online, lawyer John P. Schmitt said the fact that the allegations are being repeated “does not make them true.”
Here is the full statement from Schmitt: “Over the past several weeks, decadeold, discredited allegations against Bill Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the
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outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives.” The renewed attention to a dark chapter for Cosby began last month when a comedian, Hannibal Buress, assailed him during a stand-up performance in Philadelphia, Cosby’s hometown, calling him a “rapist.” His remarks were captured on video and posted online, gaining wide exposure. It was harsh criticism of the veteran entertainer known equally for his charming standup comedy, ethnically groundbreaking 1984-92 NBC TV sitcom “The Cosby Show” and demands for personal responsibility directed at fellow African-Americans. Adding to the growing firestorm: One of Cosby’s accusers, Barbara Bowman, levelled allegations of sexual assault against him in interviews and in an online column for the Washington Post. Bowman wrote that in 1985, she was 17 and an aspiring actress when Cosby “brainwashed me into viewing him as a father figure, and then assaulted me multiple times.” Cosby, who was never criminally charged in any case, settled a civil suit in 2006 with another woman over an alleged incident two years before. He stonewalled National Public Radio host Scott Simon during an interview broadcast last weekend with Cosby and his wife, Camille, about their African-American art collection. Cosby fell silent when asked by Simon about “serious allegations raised about you in recent days,” which prompted the host to say, “You’re shaking your head, no. ... Do you have any response to those charges? Shaking your head, no.” Cosby also declined comment when asked by The AP about the allegations last week in Washington, where the Smithsonian Institution was opening an exhibit on the collection. Cosby postponed indefinitely an AP interview. It had been intended to discuss an upcoming Netflix project. Whether the latest scrutiny will substantially affect his still-active career has yet to be seen. An appearance on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” was cancelled, and another engagement, on “The Queen Latifah Show” on Oct. 30, was characterized by that show as a postponement granted at Cosby’s request. He has standup performances scheduled, including one Sunday night in Erie, Pennsylvania, and a special premiering Nov. 28 for Netflix. Cosby has been in talks with NBC for a new family sitcom, featuring Cosby as the patriarch. No air date has been announced. An email request Sunday to Netflix on the status of its project with Cosby did not receive an immediate response. NBC declined comment. ■
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Lifestyle
Playing video games for money? 3 guys make career out of gaming, blaze new path online BY TAMARA LUSH The Associated Press LAKELAND, FLA. — From nine to five, seven days a week, Robert Schill plays video games while sitting on a plush, brown sofa in central Florida. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people watch. His web channel has more than 35 million hits in one year. And Schill gets paid for it. He’s a shift worker, a labourer in a brave and strange new economy that rewards a Big Brother-like existence combined with entrepreneurial pluck. Schill’s not alone in this venture, not even in his own home. When the 26-year-old gingerhaired Schill finishes his shift, he unplugs his game controller and his roommate, 29-year-old Adam Young, sinks into the sofa and plays until 1 a.m. Then a third roommate, Brett Borden, 26, clocks in for his eight-hour shift. They are the stars of StreamerHouse. They broadcast via Twitch.tv, an online network that attracts tens of millions of visitors, most of whom watch footage of other people playing video games. StreamerHouse is set in a 1920s-era Mediterraneanrevival home graced with 20 cameras, at least 15 computer screens and two bulldogs (Mister Pig and Baby Pig). It’s part reality TV, part talk radio and part performance art. The trio play games, chat with fans and narrate their daily lives into an expensive microphone setup. They make money from a cut of Twitch advertising, subscriptions, video game sales and from fan donations. In October, one admirer from the Middle East gave StreamerHouse $6,000. StreamerHouse capitalizes on a cultural moment that demands engagement and intimacy with everyone from celebrities tweeting pictures of
A screenshot from the StreamerHouse live stream on Twitch.tv. The three men of StreamerHouse have found a way to make a living by playing video games 24/7.
their newborns to friends and family posting Facebook photos of breakfast. The StreamerHouse guys deliver with an intimate, non-stop show where they interact with fans in real time. There’s something genius about this. “I live on the Internet, man,” joked Schill, known as “The Real Deal,” and “Rober” online. His fans recently sent him a guitar and a memory foam mattress. Fans routinely send pizzas, candy and t-shirts. All three “streamers” admit their career prospects would be bleak outside the house. None have college degrees and all have been gaming since they were boys. Twitch has more than 7,000 similar streamers in its affiliate program — which means the game players receive ad revenue and can solicit donations — although StreamerHouse’s 24/7 broadcast is unique. There’s an appetite to watch gamers. YouTube’s most subscribed channel belongs to Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, a Swede known online as PewDiePie. He is a video game commentator, much like the StreamerHouse guys, and has over 32 million subscribers. “It has become a very substantial piece of the entertainment landscape,” said Matthew Di Pietro, vice-president of marketing at Twitch. “We’ve seen it explode.”
And before you dismiss the appeal of watching a guy on a sofa shoot virtual zombies, consider this: people have been watching other people do stuff for millennia. Roman gladiators. Horse races. The Super Bowl. “There’s something enjoyable about watching someone overcome a challenge,” said Austin Walker, a doctoral student at the University of Western Ontario who is studying the intersection between work and play. “Gaming content production” — essentially, playing video games — is now a viable career. “That’s the dream we all have at 12 years old,” said Walker. “It’s a lot of hard work. A lot of preparation, behind the scenes, community issues. At a certain point, once it becomes something that can pay you, it also becomes a responsibility.” Top streamers can make six figures a year, said Di Pietro, while many earn only a few dollars a month. The StreamerHouse guys are reluctant to discuss their take, but say they’ve earned enough to cover monthly house expenses and not have debt from the tens of thousands of dollars of electronic equipment powering the live broadcasts. They also bought a new Jeep Liberty and had fans vote on their license plate. (It says “VIRGINS.”) StreamerHouse started as an idea between a group of friends,
including Ryan Carmichael and Randy Borden. Both grew up in Lakeland in Central Florida and were interested in gaming and television. Carmichael, also known as “Tree,” played video games live on Twitch’s predecessor, Justin.tv. Borden owned a local community access television studio and the giant Mediterranean home. Carmichael and Borden initially conceived of the project as a reality TV web series: what would happen if you put a few guys in a house, had them play video games nonstop and videotaped their antics? They offered the gig to three people: Brett Borden, Randy’s longhaired cousin from upstate New York; Young, a former ATV aficionado who broke his neck while riding and came from Washington state with his two bulldogs; and Schill, a recovering agoraphobic from Pennsylvania. Only Young and Schill had streamed before; Borden loved video games and was hanging out and helping to get the house ready. “It was more of a joke at the time,” said Carmichael who lives in the home and acts as the house manager, public relations director, IT guy and fill-in gamer. StreamerHouse went live in September of 2013. The main stream showed the game being played, while smaller windows on the screen showed live video of the on-duty gamer and footage from a handful of the other cameras in the home. That turned out to be a bit too intimate. “We lost a lot of privacy,” said Carmichael. Now, they broadcast just the game and the gamer. Only on special occasions — when there are visitors or when the roommates gave candy to hundreds of kids on Halloween — they fire up the cameras around the house. They also feature edited videos of their antics on their YouTube site; some non-gaming clips show them cooking, walking around their historic neighbourhood and the time
a fan sent $2,100 in pizza and other food to the house. (That video received 70,000 views). Two downstairs rooms are devoted to the stream. One has four desks holding 12 computer screens. The main gaming server is nestled in the stone fireplace and cables snake along the walls. Here the roommates play games when they’re not on the stream, interact with fans, check email and social media. The other room is the studio, where the on-duty gamer sits for eight hour shifts in front of a laptop and two large TV screens. One controls the game, the other shows the Twitch chat feed. The guys cleaned the house when an Associated Press crew visited recently, but forgot to for an earlier visit when it was casually littered with Mountain Dew cans, bags of candy, pizza on the kitchen counter and overflowing ash trays on the porch (there’s no smoking inside and some of the guys are trying to switch to e-cigarettes). The guys caution they are not “professional-level gamers.” “We’re too old,” said Young, who has an impish smile and goes by the online nickname of Inigo Montoya, the character from the movie ‘Princess Bride.’ “It’s like martial arts. The younger you start doing it, the better you are.” Yet they have found their niche as entertainers with a talk radio schtick: — jokes about sex, food and farting are commonplace. StreamerHouse is unique because the trio tries out different games. Lately, the game of choice has been Destiny, an online first-person shooter game in a sci-fi setting. Fans who want a deeper interactive experience can actually play online games with the StreamerHouse guys. “It really is the first successful example of truly social video,” said Di Pietro. “When you really sit down to think about it, it doesn’t seem odd anymore.” ■
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Lifestyle
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
Brain stimulation therapy can help major depression when medications fail: doctors BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — Doctors are increasingly turning to brain stimulation therapy, a non-invasive procedure that uses electromagnetic energy, to treat severe depression that doesn’t respond to standard antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. Known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, the treatment “exercises” an area of the brain thought to be underactive in people with depression. TMS is administered using a hand-held electromagnet that is held over the skull above the targeted area of the brain — within the prefrontal cortex — which is determined through an MRI scan. “The magnetic field passes unimpeded through the skull, and so when it interacts with the brain, it causes an electrical current to flow in the brain tissue that it touches,” said Dr. Mark George, director of the
Brain Stimulation Laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina. “And so it’s a relatively neat trick where you can non-invasively get in and stimulate the brain of an awake, alert person without any real major discomfort,” George explained Tuesday during a teleconference organized by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. George, a psychiatrist and neurologist who pioneered the use of TMS to treat depression about 15 years ago, said the therapy is well-tolerated by patients and has minimal side-effects. Up to 40 per cent of people diagnosed with major depression don’t respond to antidepressants, the drugs’ effects don’t last, or patients can’t tolerate their side-effects, he said. “So it’s a big part of the population that needs a new treatment, and TMS is now starting to go there.” Gail Bellissimo, 52, of Mississauga, Ont., suffered for years with severe depression, and she
could find no relief, even after trying several antidepressant drugs, combined with psychotherapy. “Depression steals so much from a person. I describe it as an illness that insidiously takes one’s senses — sight, sound, touch, even smell and taste,” she said. “There’s no dimension to anything. Everything is dull, flat, monotone.” Bellissimo said depression affected her ability to absorb and remember information. She often retreated into silence because the disorder hampered her ability to communicate properly. “I began to hate myself because I knew that I was letting down my family,” said the married mother of four sons, aged 16 to 25. “And I just couldn’t get to that place where I felt that everyone else was, experiencing and enjoying life.” “Telling someone who’s depressed to look on the bright side, appreciate the little things or live in the moment — it doesn’t work. There are no moments. With depression, there’s
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just existence.” But in February, Bellissimo was enrolled in a clinical trial at CAMH to compare different lengths of TMS therapy in patients with so-called treatment-resistant depression. She had the shorter version — about three-minute sessions in which she received TMS therapy five days a week for four weeks, with an option for two more weeks, which she opted for. Treatment typically involves 40-minute sessions, five days a week for four weeks. Her treatment, given in roughly five-second pulses with a few seconds’ rest in between, “felt like someone tapping away at one spot” on the left side of her forehead, she said, adding that she experienced a headache, among the most commonly reported side-effects, but only after that first treatment. Two weeks into her sessions, Bellissimo noticed “a shift ... it was a clarity and lightness,” and fullfledged senses began to return. “I could breathe. The lead
weight and the incapacitating fog was lifted, allowing me to see a path, the direction of which was finally a positive one,” she said. “I could laugh again.” Dr. Jeff Daskalakis, head of the Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention at CAMH, said treatment-resistant depression costs the health-care system about $19,000 per patient per year, while TMS costs about $6,500 per person. “And the treatment itself has persistent effects,” he said. “So once you achieve remission, the likelihood of staying in remission is quite high, provided you get maintenance treatments ... And the longer you keep people in remission, the less likely it is that they’re going to experience a relapse.” “In other words, they don’t have to get the treatment forever, but if you can maintain them in a wellness state for a prolonged period of time, then eventually the brain takes over and stays in that wellness state.” ■
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Business
Recession, debt, deflation: A look at the mounting threats facing the global economy BY DANICA KIRKA The Associated Press LONDON — The global economy’s problems seem to be multiplying. Hours after the leaders of the world’s 20 most developed economies sought to boost confidence by promising to increase global output by $2 trillion over five years, Japan said it had fallen into recession. That leaves the country — the world’s third-largest economy — on a long and growing list of troubled economies. China is slowing as well, and Europe can’t seem to take off. Among major economies, only the United States and Britain are growing at decent rates, and how long that lasts depends on how much trouble their trading partners are in. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned in an opinion piece in the Guardian newspaper on Monday that the “red warning lights are flashing” for the world economy. Here’s a look at the problems in some key economies. Japan’s recession
This setback was not in the plan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had pledged to end two decades of stagnation with a strategy dubbed “Abenomics” that included big economic reforms and stimulus. But the economy contracted at an annual pace of 1.6 per cent in the third quarter after housing and business investment dropped following a
That flow of money back to the U.S. can create huge turbulence in markets. It was behind sharp drops in emerging markets and currencies in February, for example. Eurozone woes
sales tax increase. The contraction came despite predictions the economy would rebound from a drop in the previous three months. Consumer spending is faltering as the population shrinks and grows older. Household incomes peaked more than a decade ago, and workers are increasingly having trouble making ends meet with part-time or contract work. Manufacturers, meanwhile, have lost their leading edge in innovation while shifting production to cheaper locations offshore. Japan’s weakness could hinder growth elsewhere if its companies cut investment and buy fewer imports such as machinery, electronics and raw materials. The island nation is one of the world’s biggest importers of food and the thirdbiggest buyer of natural gas.
China's declining growth
Growth in China, a manufacturing giant, is slowing — from 10.4 per cent in 2010 to an estimated 7.5 per cent this year. Explosive growth in China has been one of the primary drivers of the world economy for the past decade, so its slowdown is having ripple effects. The question for Chinese leaders is how to let the country’s economy slow to more sustainable growth rates without having a “crash landing.” The government is trying to boost domestic spending while easing off its dependence on trade and state-sponsored investment. Because China has strong trade links to the West, a slowdown would do some damage to the U.S. and Europe. Its massive manufacturing sector is a big consumer of raw materials, so weaker growth would particu-
EXCHANGE RATES
larly hurt commodity-producing countries like Australia and Brazil. Emerging markets
China’s slowdown from high rates is echoed in many other emerging markets, such as India and Brazil. Many of these countries have benefited for years from a steady flow of investment from developed economies. Because interest rates have been at record lows in the U.S. and Europe, many investors there have sought higher yields in emerging markets, where interest rates are higher. That is changing, however. The U.S. Federal Reserve is considering raising interest rates, which will entice some investors to keep their money in the U.S. — or withdraw it from emerging markets.
The economy of the 18 euro countries has been struggling to grow since it emerged from recession last year. It expanded by a mere 0.2 per cent in the third quarter from the previous three-month period. Its problems are compounded by the threat of deflation — when prices fall. A sustained drop would hurt growth by encouraging people to delay purchases in hopes of better deals later on. Government debt, meanwhile, remains high among large economies like France, Italy and Britain. That means they will have to limit spending for years, potentially stymieing growth. “National debt levels are perhaps double what they were before the (2008) crisis,” said John Whittaker, an economist at Lancaster University’s Management School. The conflict in Ukraine is also raising uncertainty, leading to sanctions between Russia and the U.S. and European Union. The impact has been visible in a drop in factory orders and business confidence in Germany. The eurozone’s combined $13 billion economy is the world’s second-biggest, trailing only the United States, meaning its problems cast a pall over the global economy. ■
As of November 19, 2014, from finance.yahoo.com
PRICE
CHANGE
% CHANGE
CND / USD
1.1328
+0.0026
+0.2296%
CND / PHP
39.7159
-0.0915
-0.2300%
CND / EUR
1.4180
+0.0016
+0.1125%
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Business
NOVEMBER 21, 2014 FRIDAY
Philippine exports post double digit increase BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer
and transport equipment; other mineral products; coconut oil; and other manufactures. In terms of destination of the exported products, Japan takes the top spot with 29.6 percent share of the total. The country’s exports to Japan increased by 52.6 percent to $1.734 billion in September compared to $1.136 billion in the same period last year. From the start of the year
try’s exports for the remaining months of the year, especially during the holiday season. “The Japanese and the US MANILA — Earnings from Philmarkets will likely boost Philippine merchandise exports ippine exports for the remaincontinue to grow in September ing months given the recent with consistently strong deoptimism building up in the mand for electronics and five Japanese manufacturing sector other commodities. and the broad-based expansion According to the Philippine in industrial production in the Statistics Authority (PSA), US,” he said. the local merchandise exports Meanwhile, Philippine Exincreased by porters Con15.7 percent to federation, Inc. $5.849 billion in president Sergio September 2014 Ortiz-Luis Jr. compared with There will be an upward trend in the said that they $5.056 during country’s exports for the remaining expect the merthe same period months of the year, especially during chandise exports of last year. This the holiday season. to increase by 10 is because of percent from last the good perforyear. mance of elec“This growth tronic products. until September, the country’s is really based on the recovery Outbound shipments of elec- total merchandise exports of the market of the electronics tronic products account for increased by 9.9 percent to sector. Before, the electronics $2.442 billion in September, $46.596 billion from $42.386 sector was negative…Considerup by 13.6 percent from 2013’s billion in 2013. ing all product lines are constant, $2.150 billion. Deputy Director General Ro- I think the 10 percent (growth) is Aside from electronic prod- lando Tungpalan of National very achievable,” he said. ucts, other goods that contrib- Economic and Development Last year, the Philippines’ touted to the September growth Authority said that there will be tal merchandise exports were include chemicals; machinery an upward trend in the coun- valued at $53.978 billion. ■
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Canadian manufacturing sales rise to $53.0 billion in September THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales rose 2.1 per cent to $53.0 billion in September, rebounding from a sharp drop the previous month. September’s growth was much stronger than the 1.1 per cent gain that economists had estimated. Statistics Canada says the improvement from August was
due to higher sales in the transportation equipment industry. It adds the primary metal and food industries also posted sales gains. Statistics Canada says it was the eighth gain in nine months, and comes after a 3.5 per cent decline in August. It says sales in constant dollars increased 2.3 per cent, indicating that a higher volume of products was sold. ■
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Travel
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York, USA.
PAUL STEIN / FLICKR
Forget Paris of the East: Brooklyn has replaced Paris as the city every city yearns to be BY BETH J. HARPAZ The Associated Press NEW YORK — For more than a century, cities around the world have compared themselves to Paris. Many claim to be the Paris of the East: Bucharest, Prague, Istanbul, Beirut and Shanghai to name a few. There’s also the Paris of North America (Montreal), the Paris of South America (Buenos Aires) and the Paris of the Plains — Kansas City in the Jazz Age. But now the wannabe city is Brooklyn. Every neighbourhood with a critical mass of bearded hipsters, bike shops and vegan cafes calls itself “the new Brooklyn.” Ballard is the Brooklyn of Seattle. Glasgow and Melbourne both claim Brooklyn cool. And Oakland, California, has been called the Brooklyn of San Francisco so many times that Julia Cosgrove, editor of AFAR travel magazine, says she “can’t bear to read another story about it.” There’s even a Brooklyn of
Paris: the once-gritty suburb of Pantin. Its derelict, graffiti-covered warehouses have been taken over by galleries and artists, turning it into the hippest place in the City of Light. Just like in Brooklyn, real estate prices have shot up, and old industrial buildings now house luxury lofts. “It may have a way to go before it’s on a par with Brooklyn, but I expect it will continue to develop, considering how much investment and risk-taking is going on there — alongside the natural flux of artists toward the area,” said artist Oliver Beer, who works both with a gallery in Pantin and with the Museum of Modern Art’s contemporary arts outpost, PS1, in New York City. Other signs of what’s called the “Brooklynization of Paris” include gluten-free restaurants and juice bars popping up. “It used to be when young chefs studied under the great chefs, they wanted to open important restaurants or go to the countryside and get their Michelin star. Now they’re rejecting that
model, they’re saying, ‘I’m going to do more back-to-the-roots, farm-to-table cooking in a small restaurant with a few tables,”‘ said Katherine Johnstone, a spokeswoman for Atout France USA, the French tourism agency in New York, describing a shift that some observers compare to Brooklyn’s culinary scene. Tourism folks in Asheville, North Carolina, say their city was once called the Paris of the South, but now they compare it to Brooklyn, thanks to artisanal food, indie entrepreneurs and a thriving music and arts scene. An emerging arts and entertainment district in Miami that will link to areas like Wynwood, known for street art, is said by promoters to be “like Brooklyn in its nascent days” — an interesting thought, since Brooklyn was settled by the Dutch in the 1600s. And San Diego’s South Park-North Park neighbourhood is called SoNo, but it would be a no-no to compare it to Soho. Instead it claims a mix of Brooklyn and Southern California vibes.
But cities that once compared themselves to Paris were evoking something much grander than culinary trends or gentrification. In the mid-19th century, the “narrow, labyrinthine streets” of medieval Paris were demolished, making way “for the massive boulevards and squares where restaurants, cafes, theatres and other centres of amusement satisfied bourgeois taste,” according to Villanova University history professor Alexander Varias. Cultural capitals in many regions underwent similar redesigns, then called themselves the Paris of wherever to signal pride in their architecture, broad boulevards, parks, arts and even nightlife. Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s emergence as a global symbol of all things trendy marks quite a turnaround for a place once mocked as Manhattan’s less sophisticated neighbour — even if the new Brooklyn has new problems, like young professionals and affluent families pushing out the poor and working-class folks who populated
Brooklyn for decades. “We’ve become the epicenter of cool as cool is now defined,” said Marty Markowitz, 69, who was born and raised in Brooklyn in an era when it was better-known for ethnic enclaves, working-class culture and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Markowitz, who served as Brooklyn borough president for 12 years and now works for NYC & Company, the city’s tourism agency, promoting all the boroughs, added: “There is no question that Brooklyn now serves as an example for other urban centres of how a community can transform itself into a hotbed of style.” On Oct. 10, The Atlantic published a list of places The New York Times has compared to Brooklyn with headlines like “Brooklyn in Beijing” and “Brooklyn on the Hudson.” Undaunted, a Nov. 6 Times headline read: “A Touch of Brooklyn in Ridgewood, Queens.” And if Queens is the new Brooklyn, there’s already a name for that, too: Quooklyn. ■
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
Sports
Manny Pacquiao returns to China for fight against unbeaten Chris Algieri BY TIM DAHLBERG The Associated Press MACAU, MACAU — Manny Pacquiao didn’t need the huge bouquet of flowers he was holding to feel welcome in this gambling enclave, where he will be fighting at an odd hour Sunday against an opponent who has to already feel as though he won boxing’s biggest lottery. Pacquiao got them anyway Tuesday night at his official grand entrance in the lobby of the massive Venetian hotelcasino. He smiled and posed with them because there’s a fight with Chris Algieri to sell, something Pacquiao seems to be taking more seriously as his career begins heading into the later rounds. There are also new rumblings along the Floyd Mayweather Jr. front, but more on that later. For now, Pacquiao seems reenergized as he plots what he hopes will be a spectacular performance that might stop talk about his declining knockout power — he hasn’t had a stoppage in five years now — and entice Mayweather to finally enter the ring with him sometime next year in what would surely be boxing’s richest fight ever. “I’m not predicting a knockout, but I’m looking for a good fight and looking to prove I can still fight,” Pacquiao said. “I’m willing to fight anybody. I’m not ducking anyone.” That includes Mayweather, of course, and promoter Bob Arum said there have been some preliminary behind-the-
Manny Pacquiao (right) is all set to face off against Chris Algieri this weekend in Macau, Macau. RAPPLER
scenes talks to make the long- sibility of a Mayweather fight vitalize his career and possibly awaited fight finally happen. to try to spark interest in Pac- cement his legacy as one of the Whether it actually takes place, quiao’s second bout in China, top pound-for-pound fighters though, depends largely on which will take place about of his time. But if he doesn’t take Mayweather, who only recently noon Sunday so it can be sold care of business against Algieri has given indications he may on pay-per-view in the United in a fight in which he is heavily be more agreeable to make the States. A Pacquiao-Mayweath- favoured, boxing may never get fight than he has in the past. er fight has been the talk of the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight Arum said he that is the one has had recent fans really want. discussions with “Let’s finish Leslie Moonves, this fight first,” head of CBS I’m not predicting a knockout, but I’m the Filipino conCorp., about looking for a good fight and looking gressman said the fight and is to prove I can still fight. Tuesday. “My somewhat optijob is to fight. I’m mistic that the not picking opparent company ponents. Whoof the Showtime network May- boxing for five years now, and ever wants to fight me, we will weather is contracted to can nothing has come of it, mainly fight.” help get it made. because Mayweather wants to In Algieri, Pacquiao has an “I believe they have talked to control his own destiny and opponent who seems to have Mayweather and that he is on wants nothing to do with his everything but a big punch. Algboard,” Arum said. “Whether Arum, his former promoter. ieri is a promoter’s dream, a colthat is true or not, I don’t know.” Pacquiao could certainly use lege graduate with a masters in Arum could be using the pos- a fight with Mayweather to re- clinical nutrition who wants to
be a doctor. Algieri still lives in his parents’ basement on Long Island, but talks confidently about not only beating Pacquiao but making himself into a big name. Algieri got the fight after getting off the canvas twice in the first round to win a disputed decision over Ruslan Provodnikov for a piece of the welterweight title in June. They will fight this bout at a catch weight of 144 pounds. Arum said he believes Algieri’s story will help sell the fight, unlike Pacquiao’s first fight in Macau last November against Brandon Rios that did well at the box office but was not a pay-per-view smash. “This time we’re selling Algieri instead of trying to sell the fight as being from China,” Arum said. “So far it seems to be working.” ■
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
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Seen and Scenes
NOVEMBER 21, 2014
BASKETBALL GAME Basketball matches brought fun to Filipinos in Calgary as they warded off the cold weather. (Photos by Evelyn Lopez).
VICTORIA OPEN FORUM Vancouver community leaders attended the open forum on Live-in Caregiver and Temporary Foreign Workers sponsored by the Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregiver Association. The forum last Nov. 16, at the Bayanihan Centre tackled new developments in the Live-In Caregiver Program among other things. (Photo by Angelo Siglos).
ECLIPSE Philippine stars Aldred Gatchalian, Bangs Garcia and Milagring and Big Mouth held a show entitled, ‘Eclipse’ on Nov. 15, at The Boyce Theatre in Calgary.
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Events
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2014
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Group Volunteer Opportunity By MTG Healthcare Academy WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8 a.m., Nov. 22, at Calgary Drop-In Centre 1 Dermot Baldwin Way, SE, Calgary, AB MORE INFO: Contact Marianne 403-2642009; 403-617-4347 or Ferdie 403-264-2049; 403-978-4212.
CANADA EVENTS
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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.
Post-Secondary Education Fair By S.U.C.C.E.S.S. WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 22, at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Social Service Centre, 28 West Pender St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: This is a free event that aims to facilitate newcomer families and international students in gaining a better understanding of post-secondary options in Canada.
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.
Youth Leadership Training Program By Richmond Multicultural Community Services WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 22 to Jan. 10, 2015, at RMCS 210-7000 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, 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. Ethics & Accountability in the Changing Media Landscape By Cheche Lazaro (2014 Marshall McLuhan Fellow) WHEN/WHERE: 5 p.m., Nov. 17, Case Rm. Liu Institute for Global Issues, 6476 NW Marine Drive, UBC Operation Oblivion By UBC Learning Exchange WHEN/WHERE: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Nov. 22 at the UBC Learning Exchange, 612 Main St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Operation Oblivion tells the remarkable story of 13 Chinese-Canadians who volunteered to be trained by the secret service for a covert ‘suicide’ mission.
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2014 Toronto Paskuhan Festival (2 locations) By Toronto Paskuhan Festival Canada, Our Lady of Assumption Church and Archdiocesan Filipino Catholic Mission WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 29 at Gateway Centre for New Canadians at 3450 Wolfedale Rd., Mississauga; Dec. 20 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 2565 Bathurst St., Toronto.
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Surfing the Net…for Family Law By ISS of BC Settlement Program and St. Mary’s Migrant Ministry WHEN/WHERE: 9 to 11 a.m., Nov. 22, at 5th Flr., Computer Lab No. 1, 333 Terminal Ave., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: To register, contact Lenn Castro at stmarysmigrant@gmail.com or Resochita Arma at resochita.arma@issbc.org. 604-684-7498 ext 1666. Fundraising Facial and Back Massage By Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers’ Association and Safra Day Spa WHEN/WHERE: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 22, at Safra Day Spa, West Village Shopping Centre 130174 Wilson St., Victoria, B.C. MORE INFO: Only $60. Call Annette at 250-382-3701 or call Safra Day Spa for appointment 250-388-7388. 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. www.canadianinquirer.net
Majestic Celebration of 2014 Ms. FSCBC By Filipino Seniors Club of BC WHEN/WHERE: 12:30 to 6 p.m., Nov. 23, Capri Hall, 3925 Fraser St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Tickets $10 at door. Coop Housing – an Alternative Affordable Rental Housing By ISS of BC Settlement Program and St. Mary’s Migrant Ministry WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 3 p.m., Nov. 23, at St. Mary’s Parish Seminar Rm., 5239 Joyce St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: To register, contact Lenn Castro at stmarysmigrant@gmail.com or Resochita Arma at resochita.arma@issbc.org. 604-684-7498 ext 1666. 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 35th Aniversary Gala Dinner By Battered Women’s Support Services WHEN/WHERE: 6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 25, at Terminal City Club, 837 W. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. Right Here Write Now By Ancop Canada WHEN/WHERE: 2 and 7 p.m., Nov. 29, The Bell Theatre, Surrey, B.C. MORE INFO: Tickets at $25. To purchase tickets online http://bellperformingartscentre.com or call 604-589-2448 or 778-861-6418.
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