Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #152 by Philippine Canadian Inquirer

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VOL. 1 NO. 152

JANUARY 30, 2015

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Full police honors for slain cops in Maguindanao

'Angels Walk' aims to beat world record

PHL rejects appeal to drop case against US Marine

Miss Colombia crowned Miss Universe 2015

Bright prospects for Philippine Economy in 2015

GRAND PROCESSION

‘Let Pope’s words guide you in voting for right bets’ BY TINA ARCEO-DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer

Images of the Child Jesus were paraded along Roxas Boulevard, near the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) during the annual Sto. Nino grand procession on Sunday, January 25, 2015. GIL S. CALINGA / PNA

Number of Filipino commandos killed in rebel clash rises to 43; terror suspect BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — At least 43 Philippine police commandos were killed in a fierce battle with Muslim guerrillas after launching an assault

in which they may have killed one of Southeast Asia’s most-wanted terrorists, officials said Monday. The clash Sunday — the biggest single-day combat loss for the government in recent memory — may have resulted

❱❱ PAGE 7 ‘Let Pope’s’

Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Vice President Binay and the rage of the middle class ❱❱ PAGE 28

❱❱ PAGE 5 Number of

DON’T KNOW whom to vote for among the national and local candidates in next year’s elections? Then let the words of Pope Francis be your guide. The Pope has laid out criteria for choosing a new set of elected officials, according to a new advocacy group led by musicians Jim Paredes and Noel Cabangon, Bases Conversion and Development Authority CEO Arnel Casanova and civil society leader Marian Pastor Roces. The citizen’s group called KayangKaya Kababayan (KKK), which was

m info@canadianinquirer.net sales@canadianinquirer.net A (888) 668-6059 facebook.com/ PhilippineCanadianInquirer twitter: @philcaninquirer

JANUARY 30, 2015

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

President Aquino’s family commemorates Cory’s 82nd birthday PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — A mass was held on Sunday to commemorate the 82nd birthday of the late president Corazon C. Aquino. “Sa araw na ito ginugunita ng buong sambayanan ang ika-82 kaarawan ni Pangulong Corazon C. Aquino, ang kinikilalang isa sa mahahalagang haligi ng panunumbalik ng demokrasya at kalayaan sa ating bansa, matapos sumailalim sa mahigit isa’t kalahating dekada ng batas militar (It is today that the nation commemorates the 82nd birthday of President Corzaon C. Aquino, who we remember as one of the stalwarts of democracy and freedom of our country, after it was plunged

into a decade and a half of martial law),” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Sunday during an interview aired over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. “Nagsilbi siyang inspirasyon at tagapagbuklod ng iba’t ibang sektor at kilusan sa pagbabagong-tatag ng isang demokratikong republika pagkatapos ng mapaniil na diktaduryang umiral sa bansa (She served as an inspiration and a uniter of different sectors and movements in establishing a democratic republic after a tyrannical dictatorship imposed on the country),” he added. The President’s sisters, Victoria Elisa Aquino-Dee, Maria Elena Aquino-Cruz and Aurora Corazon Aquino-Abellada, attended the 5 p.m. mass held at

the Manila Memorial Park and officiated by Fr. Catalino Arebalo. President Aquino, who was in Zamboanga City to visit the survivors of the explosion that killed two people and injured 52 others, and sister, Kris Aquino, were not able to attend the mass. An earlier mass offered by the Yellow Ribbon Movement was attended by former senator Rene Saguisag. Cory Aquino served as the 11th President of the Philippines, and was the country’s first woman to hold that office. She was also Asia’s first female president. She led the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled the 20-year authoritarian rule of then president Ferdinand

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The late president Corazon C. Aquino. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Marcos. She was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and died

peacefully on August 1, 2009 at the Makati Medical Center at the age of 76. ■

Philippine News

JANUARY 30, 2015

FRIDAY

Full police honors for slain cops in Maguindanao clash: PNP PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

The Philippines flags at the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and camps across the country fly at half-mast effective Tuesday (January 27, 2015) in honor of the bravery and sacrifices made by the 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) members who died in action during an operation to capture high-profile terrorists in Maguindanao on Sunday. JESS M. ESCAROS JR. / PNA

MANILA — The Philippine National Police is now in the process of delivering the sad news to surviving family members of policemen slain in an encounter on Sunday with lawless elements in Maguindanao, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP Spokesperson said on Monday. As a policy, the PNP withholds information about circumstances surrounding the death of a PNP member until the orphaned family has been notified. “I extend my deepest sympathy to the orphaned families of our fallen policemen. They died a meaningful death on the side of justice and righteousness. They did not die in vain,” PNP Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo A Espina said. Despite the momentary setback of law enforcement operations against lawless elements in Mindanao, Espina expressed confidence that “justice and peace will prevail.” Meantime, the PNP is preparing the highest police honors to be given to the slain policemen, including all benefits due to the surviving kin. Surviving kin of slain policemen in Maguindanao encoun-

ter are entitled to receive death benefits ranging from Php1.5million to Php2-million. Death benefits for policemen killed in line of duty include Php250,000.00 from the President’s Social Fund; between Php141,000.00 up to P181,000.00 as Special Financial Assistance (SFA) from the PNP; burial benefits worth Php50,000.00; and Php200,000.00 gratuity from the National Police Commission. PNP members of the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund are also entitled to death insurance ranging from Php225,000.00 to Php417,000.00 depending on rank. These death benefits are on top of the estimated Php15,000 monthly lifetime pension from the PNP and roughly the same amount of pension for five years from the Napolcom. On Monday, the Philippine Flag was hoisted at half-mast at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame as a sign of mourning over the loss of brothers in uniform. As it mourned the deaths of its policemen in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, the Philippine National Police on Monday cited its 28,000 policemen for their contribution in securing the successful visit of Pope Francis to the country.

Espina and Interior and Local Government secretary Manuel Roxas II led the symbolic pinning of medals and recognition to policemen in Camp Crame during the flag raising ceremony. The awarding coincided with the PNP’s 24th founding anniversary. Roxas cited the PNP and other government agencies for their outstanding work with the public in ensuring a successful papal visit. Several officers were awarded with the Medalya ng Paglilingkod Sa Santo Papa for their outstanding performance of duty during Pope Francis’ stay in the country from January 15 to 19. The rest of the 28,000 policemen who were also deployed for security duties will also receive similar citations for their sacrifices. “This citation will be put in your records. This is part of your recognition of your sacrifice and your efforts,” Roxas said. The PNP has received praise for a job well done of securing Pope Francis during his stay in the country. Policemen who secured the Pope were promised special ribbons, to be worn on their uniforms, as proof of the special honor that they served the Pope. ■

ARMM gov calls on stakeholders to guard gains of Mindanao peace process BY NOEL Y. PUNZALAN Philippine News Agency COTABATO CITY — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman has urged all peace stakeholders not to let Sunday’s violent incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao involving elements of the Philippine National Police–Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) derail the ongoing Mindanao peace process. As of the latest count, the incident claimed the lives of 49 police officers and 5 MILF fighters.

Hataman said even the MILF concurs that the operation launched by the SAF team was legitimate. He said even Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas called the incident a “misencounter” leading to the “single largest loss of life in the security sector.” Hataman also called on both government and MILF not to let the case affect the ongoing peace process, cautioning that detractors might use the incident for their own agenda and try to sow discord and derail the peace process. “As stakeholders, we must guard the gains in the ongoing

peace process,” he said. The misencounter, according to Roxas, occurred when the SAF team maneuvered inadvertently to an area controlled by the MILF without advance coordination after deciding to withdraw their action to arrest high value targets Abdul Basit Usman and Zulkipli Hir alias Marwan. Currently, a Board of Inquiry is looking into the whole incident. The ARMM government, through its Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART), has initially delivered 600 food packs to 563 families affected by the recent skirmishes in Barangay Tuwww.canadianinquirer.net

kanalipao, Mamasapano town. The affected families are temporarily sheltered at a Ma-

drasah (Islamic school) situated in nearby Barangay Daladap. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Number of... from the commandos’ failure to follow the terms of a cease-fire with the guerrillas by notifying them of their presence in the area, a rebel leader said. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas described the clash as a “misencounter.” A police Special Action Force member remained missing while 11 others were wounded in the fighting in the remote village of Tukanalipao in Maguindanao province, officials said. Seven of the dead were officers. Roxas called the commandos “fallen heroes” who sacrificed their lives to try to capture Malaysian bombing suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, or Marwan. The top terror suspect may have been killed by the commandos and efforts were underway to confirm that suspicion, he said. Another top terror suspect, Filipino bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman, managed to escape, according to Roxas, who flew to the south with the defence secretary and military and police chiefs following the police loss. The United States has offered up to $5 million for Marwan’s capture and $1 million for Usman. Both have been blamed by U.S. and Philippine authorities for deadly bomb attacks and providing bomb-making training to al-Qaida-linked militants in the country’s south. “There is sadness and bitterness because there are more than 40 bodies here,” Roxas said at a news conference, where he promised to provide help to the slain commandos’ families. After attacking Marwan, the police commandos came under fire from hard-line Muslim insurgents in the village, and some strayed elsewhere and became entangled in a firefight with insurgents belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main Muslim rebel ❰❰ 1

The government will continue to push for the Mindanao peace process despite Sunday’s encounter between the police and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. JESS M. ESCAROS JR. / PNA

Government will continue to push for Mindanao peace process despite Maguindanao incident, says Palace official PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

tinukoy (It is the Senate’s right to call for hearings on that. We understand that because of the incidents in Maguindanao yesMANILA — The government terday, our lawmakers are lookwill continue to push for the ing for explanations regarding Mindanao peace process dewhat really happened. Hence, spite Sunday’s encounter bewe understand why they are tween the police and members undertaking their current of the Moro Islamic Liberation steps),” he said. Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, “Ganunpaman, ay patuloy Maguindanao, Communication pa rin ang pagtataguyod natin Secretary Herminio Coloma, ng prosesong pangkapayapaan Jr. said on Monday. at ang pagtingin sa posibleng “Ang pananaw pagsasabatas ng pamahalaan ng Bangsamoro ay hindi nagbaBasic Law dahil bago. Mahalaga ito ay mahalaang peace process The peace process in Mindanao is gang hakbang sa Mindanao, maimportant, as well as the passage of sa prosesong halaga ang pagthe Bangsamoro Basic Law and we pangkapaypasa ng Bangsamare pushing continuously. apaan (Neveroro Basic Law at theless, we are patuloy pa ring continuously itinataguyod ang pursuing the prosesong panpeace process gkapayaan (The view of the oro Basic Law (BBL) due to the and the possible passage of the government remains the same. incident, Coloma said this is the Bangsamoro Basic Law for it is The peace process in Mindanao Senate’s prerogative. an integral part in its accomis important, as well as the pas“Karapatan naman po ng Se- plishment),” he added. sage of the Bangsamoro Basic nado ang pagtatakda ng mga The government and the Law and we are pushing contin- pagdinig hinggil diyan. Nauu- MILF signed the Compreuously),” he said during a press nawaan natin na dahil sa ulat hensive Agreement on the briefing in Malacañang. hinggil sa napabalitang insi- Bangsamoro on March 27 last Some 43 members of the Phil- dente sa Maguindanao kahapon year, in an effort to end the ippine National Police’s Special ay hahanap ng paliwanag ang decades-long conflict in MindAction Force (PNP-SAF) died ating mga mambabatas tungkol anao. and 11 were injured during the sa ano ba talaga ang naganap. The draft of the Bangsamoro encounter with members of the Kaya’t nauunawaan naman na- Basic Law is currently being MILF. min ang kanilang hakbang na discussed in Congress. ■ The police were in the area to arrest Malaysian terror suspect, Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan”, and Filipino bombmaking expert, Abdul Bassit Usman, who have been blamed for terror attacks in Mindanao. Asked about the announcement earlier made by chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Senator Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos, that he will stop Senate consultations regarding the Bangsam-

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group, national police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said. The Moro rebels signed a peace deal with the government last March that aims to establish a more powerful and better-funded autonomous region for minority Muslims in the south and end a decadeslong rebellion. The conflict has left 150,000 people dead and helped stunt development in the country’s poorest regions. Under the terms of a ceasefire, government forces are required to co-ordinate their anti-terror assaults and other law enforcement operations with the Moro rebels to prevent accidental fighting. But the police commandos did not notify the rebels before they entered the Muslim rebel stronghold in the dark, Moro rebel leader Mohagher Iqbal said. “If somebody barges into your house, what will you do?” Iqbal said by telephone. He said the 11,000-strong Moro group would file a protest over the action of the police commandos, adding that he hoped the incident would not undermine the peace process, a view shared by Philippine officials. The mayor of the township around the village where the clash occurred, Tahirudin Benzar Ampatuan, said by telephone that village leaders described the battle scene as “gruesome” and said many of the dead were stripped of their uniforms and other belongings, including their assault firearms. The military had previously announced in 2012 that Marwan had been killed in a U.S.backed Philippine air strike in southern Sulu province along with another militant, Singaporean Mauwiyah, but police special forces believed otherwise and continued to discreetly hunt him. ■

Philippine News

JANUARY 30, 2015

FRIDAY

House to investigate ‘outing’ of homeless BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN AND NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer

teau Royale, a beach resort in Nasugbu town, Batangas province, for “training” financed from the DSWD’s “modified conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.” She said the families were removed before the Pontiff arrived because they would have been “vulnerable to syndicates” and discrimination.

DESPITE EXPLANATIONS from government officials, the House of Representatives will investigate the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in connection with its hauling off hundreds of street children and Gov’t program homeless people to detention centers They were given training under a govand beach resorts during the recent visit ernment program that would give 11,000 of Pope Francis to the Philippines. street dwellers rent-free housing for up Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, to a year, she said. The unheard of prochair of the committee on Metro Manila gram was launched last year, according development, yesterday said he was just to her. waiting for the go-signal from the comShe denied the homeless people were mittee on rules to hidden from the open the inquiry, to Pope. “You cannot which Social Welfare hide poverty. When Secretary Corazon the Pope landed, the Soliman would be We will first things he saw summoned as princidetermine the were the shanties by pal resource person. legality and the river,” she said. “We will not hesimorality of There is no river tate to conduct an inthis alleged near Villamor Air vestigation and get to attempt to Base, where the the bottom of it. We cover up the Pope’s plane landed will determine the letrue state of our on Jan. 15. gality and morality of socioeconomic Backing up Solithis alleged attempt status. man’s explanation, to cover up the true President Aquino’s state of our socioecodeputy spokesperson nomic status,” CasAbigail Valte said on telo said in a text message. Friday that the DSWD was evaluating Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon will file a street dwellers to see if they were eligiresolution today asking Castelo’s com- ble for housing assistance from the govmittee to compel Soliman to explain ernment. reports that the government took the “eyesores” from the streets of Metro Not the first time Manila and kept them in municipal deValte said this was not the first time tention centers and resorts while the the DSWD took homeless families into Pope was in the country. the program, as it had been done twice Soliman has acknowledged that about before, when there were no visiting 490 homeless families were taken off VIPs. Roxas Boulevard and taken to ChaStill, no one was buying the officials’

explanations. In an interview with radio dzBB anchor Rowena Salvacion, Rep. Emmi de Jesus of the women’s party Gabriela said she would ask the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit to determine what funds were used for the “outing” of the homeless people. “If it is proven that the fund came from the CCT, then this is anomalous. Her (Soliman’s) explanation that the trip merely coincided with the Pope’s visit is preposterous,” she said. De Jesus said the militant bloc in the House would consolidate the resolution to investigate the banishment of the street dwellers and make privilege speeches condemning Soliman’s actions. Soliman lamented the controversy that followed her department’s helping the homeless people. She said there was nothing wrong with letting homeless families enjoy a week’s stay in an expensive resort. Criticized for helping poor

The House of Representatives will investigate the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in connection with its hauling off hundreds of street children and homeless people to detention centers and beach resorts during the recent visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

“They say we should all help the poor and when you help them and bring them to a place like that (Chateau Royale), you are asked why you brought them there. Where would we bring them? Don’t they deserve to be there?” Soliman said in an interview in Zamboanga City yesterday. She said her department spent P4.3 million for 490 families and staff mem-

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bers during the six-day “training.” It cost P1,193.50 per person a day, covering three meals, two snacks, the amenities and clean accommodations, she said. Soliman said the President had been informed about the controversy. Mr. Aquino’s instruction was “to keep explaining what you’re doing,” she said. “He said this is part of our regular program,” Under the modified CCT program, Soliman said, the government aimed to keep families off the streets by training them how to live in a house. In Metro Manila, a total of 2,479 families have been under the program since 2012, according to the DSWD. During the orientation, basic literacy and life skills for the adults and character building for the children are discussed. Also discussed with the adults are self-understanding and parenthood, differences between the sexes, and family relations, the DSWD said. The children are taught personal hygiene and values. According to Soliman, there are three types of homeless people in Metro Manila—the victims of eviction and fire, who stay in the streets for a year or two, those displaced by conflict and disasters, and those who are unable to recover from these tragedies and give birth to a second or a third generation of street dwellers. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

More blockades by China to follow, say experts BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer SECURITY EXPERTS believe China is pushing the region to the “brink of miscalculations” in the South China Sea with its expansive land reclamation in disputed territories as the Philippines anticipates more blockades by the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea once their facilities become fully operational next year. “The bases are being constructed very fast, done rapidly, that it’s estimated that they would be operational by next year,” military historian Jose Antonio Custodio told the INQUIRER in a recent interview. Custodio said the airfields and naval facilities built by China on reclaimed land on the reefs and atolls along the socalled nine-dash line would allow them to execute more blockades against other claimants in the South China Sea. Custodio said the Philippine military would have a more difficult time resupplying the Marine platoon posted at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), which China also claims.

Chinese coast guard vessels drive away Philippine ships dispatched on resupply missions. Last year, the Marines on the grounded ship BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippines’ symbol of ownership of the shoal, stayed at the garrison for nearly five months because the foreign vessels blocked the Philippine ships that attempted to resupply and rotate the troops.

China’s “massive” reclamation work in the disputed areas in the South China Sea. In a separate interview, a security official told the INQUIRER that at this point, China’s facilities on the reclaimed islands were already operational. “The small structures are already operating,” the official said on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the issue. The official said that China was “destroying the status quo

all claimant countries in the disputed territories would not alter the status quo until a binding code of conduct was agreed upon. The official agreed with the possibility of an increased blockade as asserted by Custodio. “China is actually pushing everyone on the brink of miscalculations. But the Philippines and the other claimants don’t want to reach that point of Nine-dash line fighting each other. That is not “China is consolidating its the solution,” the official said. nine-dash line The Philipand they are sucpines continceeding in this ues to advocate mission. Their a rules-based intention is up to diplomatic apa certain point, China is actually pushing everyone proach in the they will deny or on the brink of miscalculations. face of China’s cut the resupply But the Philippines and the other bullying, the ofmissions of the claimants don’t want to reach that ficial said. other claimant point of fighting each other. Foreign Affairs countries,” Cusspokesperson todio said. Charles Jose told China has conthe INQUIRER tinued its reclathat the case mation activities pending before at Gavin Reef (Gaven Reef ), with the structures and deliber- a United Nations arbitral comCalderon Reef (Cuarteron ately ignoring other countries.” mittee, filed by the Philippines Reef ) and Mabini Reef (JohnThe official was referring to against China, is the “longson South Reef ). the 2002 Asean-China Declara- term solution” to the maritime Philippine and US officials tion on Conduct of the Parties dispute that would be effective recently raised concerns over in the South China Sea where even after the term of President

Aquino ends in June 2016. Tough stand

“We have already planted the seed. We’ve started it and we are determined to pursue the case to a logical solution… We think that approach that the President started is already irreversible. It is a good starting point to find a durable and lasting solution to the South China Sea overlapping maritime claims,” Jose said. President Aquino has taken a tough stand against China’s expansionism, stressing that the Philippines will defend its territory following a rulesbased approach, which could put China in a tight spot before the international community if and when the UN arbitral committee decides in favor of the Philippines. As it is, China refuses to cooperate in the arbitration, ignoring the court altogether and has continued with its massive reclamation activities in areas which the Philippines says is within the country’s 200-kilometer exclusive economic zone. The UN arbitral committee is expected to reach a decision on the dispute early next year. ■

‘Let Pope’s...’ formed immediately after Pope Francis’ visit, took special note of what the Pontiff said— that more than ever, given the “scandalous inequality” in society, the “political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good.” ❰❰ 1

Women participation

Cabangon said the Pope’s words could indeed be used as a checklist against which to measure the candidates, since Francis also talked about the need to go to “the peripheries” to listen to the poor, learn from them and appreciate their wisdom. The Pope likewise delved on the importance of the increased participation of women in issues, and how women looked at issues from a different perspective than men and thus this should be taken into serious consideration. He likewise talked about the need for peace and respect for

the rights of the marginalized. With these words as a guide, Cabangon believes Filipinos would be able to elect the kind of leaders they truly deserve. “We should perhaps stop thinking of just voting for the lesser evil. Why not think about electing the better choice?” Cabangon said. Casanova told the INQUIRER the pastoral visit of Pope Francis left behind a palpable “energy” among Filipinos that could ideally be translated into positive action in next year’s general elections. National conversation

He said it would be such a waste if the words of Pope Francis had just fallen on deaf ears. Roces said the group wanted to start a “national conversation” on the issues Pope Francis raised during his visit, which ranged from poverty to income equality, indigenous peoples’ rights, peace in Mindanao, corruption, climate change and

Pope Francis during his recent visit to the Philippines.

gender equality. “While we are all doing our sectoral work, our neighborhood work, we also have to think in terms of a national conversation, that we all have to be part of something bigger,” said Roces. www.canadianinquirer.net

In a statement, the KKK said the Pope’s visit was “another massive turning point” for Filipinos, as over the four days the Filipinos’ innate sense of order and common identity were brought to the fore. “We want to keep that energy,

PNA

inspire the belief that each one of us can have a positive impact. Not all of us can be mayors, but you can do something in your own home or neighborhood. You have to add your own pixel to the bigger picture,” Paredes said. ■

Philippine News

JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

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Member

More than 12,000 people joined the “Angels Walk For Autism” held at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Monday. The crowd was hoping to beat the record for largest crowd wearing wings, which is currently only 1200 set by Germany. The validation of the attempt by a Guinness World Records representative will last about a month. FACEBOOK PHOTO

‘Angels Walk’ aims to beat world record BY MARICAR B. BRIZUELA Philippine Daily Inquirer MEMBERS OF Autism Society of the Philippines, families, friends and advocates join the “Angels Walk For Autism” held at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. MORE than 12,000 people Monday joined the “Angels Walk” in an attempt to break the world’s biggest gathering of supporters of a campaign to promote autism awareness. As early as 8 a.m., thousands of participants wearing green shirts and wings made from various materials like cotton, tissue, foil, paper and even synthetic feathers began marching around SM Mall of Asia Arena where they were treated to a program that featured the talents of children with autism. The event marked the start of Autism Awareness Consciousness Month. It was organized by Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP), a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to the well-being of people with autism. The group also aims to raise awareness of the neurodevelopmental disorder and advocate for disability inclusion in society. Theme of the month-long program is “Autism Inclusive Philippines: Aim High! Fly High!” In a statement, ASP said it hoped to continue to inspire awareness, acceptance and inclusion of people with autism (PWAs) in the society “to promote action by the public and private sectors toward enabling PWAs to live with dignity, enjoy equal rights and access, function independently and contribute productively.” According to ASP president Mona Veluz, yesterday’s gathering could “easily

beat” the world record for the largest crowd wearing wings, which stands at only 1,200 and which is currently held by Germany. “We are vying for a world record and I think we already beat the record of only 1,200 because of the overwhelming attendance. Our contingent from Cavite already beat that number and we have 25 chapters in attendance today,” she added. Veluz noted that ASP’s 25 chapters nationwide from Luzon and the Visayas had worked on making their wings for several months to vie for the world record. Among those who detailed how she made cute little angel wings made of synthetic feathers for her “baby” Daniel was Julie Llanera, a mother from Biñan, Laguna, who also shared on Facebook the excitement of her family in attending the gathering yesterday. Cynthia Arevalo, of Valenzuela City, also proudly showed off the wings she made for her son, Adrian, for the event where she and husband Dante joined their son and other individuals with autism celebrate acceptance and awareness for the disorder. “Adrian is our special angel. We love him so much and if there’s anyone who does not like or cannot accept him, it is their problem and not ours. He is a special gift sent to us by our creator,” Arevalo said. The Angels Walk has come a long way since the first event was organized on Roxas Boulevard in Manila in 2007. “When we started, we only had a few hundred walkers. Last year, during ASP’s 25th year anniversary, we filled up MOA Arena to the rafters. This year, we have around 12,000 in attendance and we hope to set the world record for the largest group of winged angels,” Veluz

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said. Aside from the Angels Walk, ASP launched the “It’s a-OK Philippines” campaign, a multisectoral movement that is aimed at building an autism-inclusive society. With this movement, Veluz said, the organization wanted to inspire more autism-friendly establishments, compassionate workplaces, job transition specialists and coaches, freelancers on the spectrum and livelihood opportunities for persons with autism. “For the welfare of a maturing population of Filipinos, care for persons with autism must transition from the confines of the home and school to universities, businesses and workplaces,” the ASP president added. The validation of the crowd count and documentation conducted with the assistance of a Guinness representative are expected to last for about a month before the official announcement on the record attempt. While autism is increasingly being diagnosed in places like the United States, where about 1 in 68 children are said to be on the spectrum, it is still largely unknown and undiagnosed elsewhere. According to Autism Speaks Foundation, the estimated spectrum cases in the Philippines have doubled today from 500,000 in the 1980s as a result of better detection methods of the disorder attributed to genetics and environmental factors, among many others. Persons afflicted exhibit difficulties in social, emotional and communication skills. It is common among boys (1 in 42) than girls (1 in 189). Tiptoeing is one symptom of autism among children, which is why yesterday’s event was called “Angels Walk.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

P-Noy visits bombing victims in Zamboanga BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer ZAMBOANGA CITY — President Aquino on Sunday flew to Zamboanga City, which was hit by a deadly bombing on Friday, to comfort dozens of casualties and vow to bring those responsible to justice. Under heavy security, Mr. Aquino also inspected the city jail, where members of the alQaida-linked terrorist group Abu Sayyaf are detained, three of them considered “highvalue” prisoners. An explosion near a bus terminal in Guiwan village here killed two people and wounded 50 others last Friday. Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco blamed the explosion on the Abu Sayyaf, saying it was part of a plot to spring 57 detained comrades from the city jail. It is rare for a President to see for himself suspected terrorists in jail. A well-placed source told the INQUIRER that Mr. Aquino’s visit was intended to ease fears of city residents, still haunted by memories of the deadly September 2013 attack by members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) loyal to founder Nur Misuari. “The President’s visit is to assure the people that [the] government knows what’s happening, that [the] government is in charge here. There may have been incidents but it could have been worse,” said the source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak to journalists. The source said the city would be vulnerable to attacks from the Abu Sayyaf for as long as there were members of the group detained in its jail. The military and the police continue to validate information they receive about possible threats to the city, the source

President Benigno S. Aquino III visits Zamboanga City Sunday (January 25) hit by a deadly blast last Friday that killed two people and wounded 52 others. President Aquino later visited the survivors in hospitals together with DILG Sec Manuel Roxas, DSWD Dinky Soliman, Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Zambonga Mayor Beng Climaco. GIL NARTEA / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

said. The President, accompanied by his top aides, spent 15 minutes at the city jail. Journalists were not allowed inside. Seeing the detainees

It was presumed that the President saw for himself “highvalue” prisoner Benzar Indama, brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Puruji Indama, and the other members of the terrorist group. As of press time, there was no information available on what the President did or say inside the jail. Mr. Aquino was accompanied in the jail inspection by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Mayor Climaco.

He spent practically the whole day in the city, arriving at 9:45 a.m. on a Lear jet at Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB). The President immediately presided over a security briefing and an update on the rehabilitation plan for Zamboanga City following the MNLF attack. At the briefing were the Cabinet secretaries, Climaco, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, and other top military and police officials. The briefing took three hours, after which the President and the Cabinet members inspected the blast site in Guiwan. The car bomb destroyed establishments near the blast site. At the blast site

The President took a few steps into what appeared to be a back street where the car that

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exploded had been parked by an unidentified man. Twisted metal from the damaged stores greeted the President. Debris remained scattered on the sidewalk. From the blast site, the President motored to five hospitals where some of the injured were still being treated. He spent at least 10 minutes in each of the hospital talking to the victims. Journalists were kept out of the hospital visit and it was not known what the President had seen and told the victims. But Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the President vowed to bring to justice the perpetrators of the bombing. “The government will be unstinting in pursuing those responsible,” he said. Mr. Aquino, who once said that he does not go to wakes for strangers, paid his respects to

the two fatalities in the bombing. With his entourage, he went to La Merced Funeral Homes where the fatalities’ wake was being held. He returned to the EAAB where he presided over another round of security briefing, which was still going on at past 6 p.m. It was the birthday of the President’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino. The military has tightened security in the city following Friday’s bombing. The police was still investigating the attack. “We’re hoping that there won’t be similar incidents but we are stepping up security. The probe has not yet been concluded so there are angles to look into, connections to be established,” said Col. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson. ■

Philippine News

JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

Pull-out of support to BBL DILG Chief sacks SAF chief, jeopardizes Mindanao, forms BOI to probe into PHL’s future – Deles Maguindanao clash BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles said on Tuesday some lawmakers’ withdrawal of support to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is equivalent to forsaking sacrifices in the past and bars a good future for Mindanao. In a statement, Deles said, “We understand the concerns of some senators that led to their decision to withdraw support from the Bangsamoro Basic Law.” “But, we would like to issue an appeal for our leaders in Congress and our people to continue supporting our work for peace,” she added. This after Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and JV Ejercito announced that they no longer support the proposed BBL after a violent firefight between members of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force (SAF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last Sunday. The incident, which the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) dubbed as a “misencounter,” left 44 SAF members dead. The SAF members were assigned to capture Malaysian Zulkipli bin Hir, a.k.a. Marwan, and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman, reportedly bomb experts who are linked with the terror group Jemaah Islamiya and who are being hunted by the United States. Deles said, “It is our duty not

only to those who have fallen in Mamasapano, but to all the lives which have been sacrificed over the decades, and to the yet unborn generation of Filipinos to pursue justice and peace.” ”To sacrifice both will be to jeopardize the future of our nation and throw away what we have achieved over the years,” she said. “Let us continue to find the way forward without losing sight of our ultimate goal of bringing just, inclusive and enduring peace that our people have been longing for and which our people — especially our children – deserve,” she added. The Aquino government has made progress in putting necessary programs that promote peace and economic growth in the country’s second largest island group. This after representatives of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed in March 2014 the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and submitted a draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to Congress last September. The agreement is targeted to provide political stability and economic growth in what is currently called the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), but will be called Autonomous Government of Bangsamoro once the new political entity is in place in 2016. Under the agreement, the government and the MILF will have to share the revenues from the resource-rich region as well as on governmental power in the area. ■

Statement of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles. OPAPP

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD T. CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday ordered the immediate relief of PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) commander in wake of the bloody clash with the MILF which left 44 SAF men dead. Roxas said SAF Director Getulio Napenas Jr was relieved and will be replaced by SAF Deputy Director Chief Supt. Noli G. Talino. Roxas also said that a total of 392 SAF members were part of the operation and 44 of them were killed, 12 were wounded and 336 were all accounted and now staying at Camp Awa in Cotabato City. “Kahapon sa nakalap na preliminary, fog of war effects, may BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) na umatake sa ating mga tropa, meron ding misencounter din with MILF kasi umiwas isang unit sa kanilang rota, pumasok sa area na may MILF kaya nagka misencounter on that side. (In yesterday's preliminaries, fog of war effects, the BIFF attacked our troops, and there was also a misencounter with the MILF for a unit avoided their path, then entered an area where there were also members of the MILF thus a misencounter happened.) This happened easily over 12 hours from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. hanggang sa gabi may putukan pa, sa gitna ng gubat, bakawan (until the evening there was still shooting in the middle of the forest area),” Roxas explained during the press conference held at PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Meanwhile, Roxas formed Board of Inquiry (BOI) that will investigate on a “tactical level” what happened in PNP SAF Maguindanao operation and also to find out how PNP SAF prepared, what coordination was made. Roxas said the BOI will be led by PNP-Officer in Charge (OIC) Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Police Diwww.canadianinquirer.net

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II announced the formation of a Board of Inquiry led by Philippine National police (PNP) Officer in Charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, during a press conference on Tuesday (January 27, 2015) at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. JESS M. ESCAROS JR. / PNA

rector Edgardo Ingking; Police Director Benjamin Magalong, CIDG chief; Police Director Catalino Rodriguez; and Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo. According to Espina this will be done to give justice to the fallen hero adding that the objective of it is to be able to know if there were lapses made in the operation and who are the officers and men that could be held liable and accountable in the incident and eventually file charges. “With the BOI ano ba talaga nangyari, it will entail both internal and external, ano ba mga culpability, liability ng officers who led the SAF operation. (For the BOI to find out what really happened, both internal and external will be needed to find out what was the culpability, liabilty of the officers who led the SAF operation.) Admin as well as criminal liability, and of course this is to include external liability ng lahat ng pumatay sa ating pulis. Importante malaman ano mga operational lapses para hindi na maulit (of all the members who killed our policemen. It is important to know what were the operational lapses in order to avoid this happening again),” he added. Espina said he ordered admin relief of SAF director Getulio Napenas pending outcome of board of inquiry, he was recalled back to Manila, and given chance to help recover body of his men, but today he was recalled back to Manila. “I personally talked to

Napenas about his admin relief for the start of BOI, I would like to get to the bottom of things,” Espina told the reporters. Meanwhile, Roxas said that he still has confidence with PNP for providing peace process despite fallen comrades killed in a clash with lawless elements in Maguindanao. “Tuloy ang tiwala at kumpiyansa ng PNP sa peace process na bagaman napaka lungkot, tindi ng kapaitan ng pangyayari, ang mas malawak na peace process ay mahalaga at kabahagi ang PNP sa pagsulong ng kasalukuyang peace process (The PNP continues to give trust and confidence to the peace process however sad and unfortunate the events that transpired are. A more encompassing peace process is important and the PNP is part in pursuing it's passage),” Roxas said. The target of the SAF troopers is allegedly Zulkifli bin Abdul Hir alias Marwan, a Malaysian bomb maker with a 5 million dollar bounty from the United States government. “Just for the sake of clarity, Marwan is top high value target both internationally, locally, sangkot sa (are involved in) bombings. Matagal na siya hinahabol, matagal na sya most wanted terrorist target ng pulis and other security forces (He has been a fugitive and he has been a most wanted terrorist target of the police and other security forces for a long time),” Roxas noted. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

President Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Singapore envoy V. P. Hirubalan PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross, Gold Distinction on outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Philippines Velupilla Ponnundurai Hirubalan in a simple ceremony at the Music Room of Malacañang Palace on Tuesday. Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Manoranchitham Hirubalan, VP Hirubalan accepted the award, which was given in recognition of his significant contributions in further strengthening and deepening bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore. President Aquino also cited the veteran ambassador for the facilitation of Singapore’s humanitarian assistance to the Philippines during times of natural calamities, particularly Typhoon Pablo in December 2012, the Bohol earthquake in October 2013, Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, and Typhoon Hagupit in December 2014. Hirubalan, who has 17 years of diplomatic experience, was commended for his efforts in arranging high-level meetings between the leaders of the two countries, including the state visit to the Philippines of Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam on April 2 to 5 last year, and the working visit of President Aqui-

President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu, Katangiang Ginto (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) on outgoing Republic of Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines V.P. Hirubalan during the farewell call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (January 27). LAURO MONTILLANO / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

no on November 18 to 19, 2014. The envoy was also cited for his outstanding initiative in revitalizing the two countries’ bilateral relations through the convening of the 2nd Round of Informal Consultations on the Philippines-Singapore Action Plan on July 4, 2014, 10 years after its inaugural meeting in 2004. President Aquino recognized Hiruba-

SO, DID the House of Representatives truly represent the interests of their constituents in 2014? Not as much as the people would have wanted, it would seem, judging from the number of laws passed since the start of the second regular session of the current Congress in July 2014. Out of more than 5,000 bills filed by the lawmakers, the record showed that only seven national laws were passed, including the P2.6-trillion national budget for 2015, Republic Act No. 10645 which provides mandatory health insurance coverage for senior citizens, and Republic Act No. 10648, which grants scholarships to top public high school graduates. However, if the entire 16th Congress, which opened in July 2013, were consid-

“Attracting and retaining the best international talent to fill skills shortages in key occupations is critical to Canada’s economic success.” - Hon. Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P.

House passed only 7 laws last year BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer

lan’s efforts in encouraging his government to fully support various Philippine initiatives in the regional and multilateral arena.

He further cited him for his hard work in the continued enhancement of people-to-people ties between the two countries through Singapore’s offer of technical assistance under the auspices of the Singapore Cooperation Programme, the Temasek Foundation, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Hirubalan was posted to the Philippines on March 12, 2012, after stints in the Middle East, North Africa and the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Central Asia Directorate. He also served as director of the ministry’s ASEAN Directorate in Southeast Asia, and ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain and Sultanate of Oman. After his diplomatic tour of duty in the Philippines, Hirubalan is set to assume his next post as Deputy SecretaryGeneral of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community on February 15, succeeding outgoing Deputy SecretaryGeneral Nyan Lynn, who is from Myanmar. He will assume the post for three years. ■

Minister of Employment and Social Development

Respond to Canada’s need for immigrants.

ered, statistical records released by the House rules committee would indicate that the House approved a total of 19 national laws, two local laws and two joint resolutions. In total, since the start of the 16th Congress, lawmakers have filed 5,352 bills and 1,871 resolutions, of which only 545 were approved by House committees and reported to the plenary for deliberation by the 290-strong chamber. Approved on third or final reading are 347 measures, while 30 others were approved on second reading, House records showed. In the third and last quarters of 2014, the House prioritized the passage of the 2015 budget, which put other urgent measures on the back burner, including the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, amendments to the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution, and bills on fair competition and freedom of information. ■

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Philippine News

JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

Philippines rejects US Marine’s appeal to drop murder case against him THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton.

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippines has rejected an appeal by a U.S. Marine that it drop a murder case against him in the death of a transgender Filipino woman last year. A Department of Justice review panel said Tuesday that

evidence from prosecutors against Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton showed that he killed Jennifer Laude after picking her up in a bar in Olongapo city in October. Police say Laude, formerly known as Jeffrey, was found dead with her head inside a toilet bowl in a hotel minutes after Pemberton left the room.

The case has refuelled opposition to a military agreement between Manila and Washington that allows U.S. custody over American service members accused of crimes in the Philippines. Pemberton took part in combat exercises involving thousands of American and Filipino troops. ■

Solon calls for declaration of ‘national day of mourning’ for SAF officers slain in Maguindanao BY CEILITO M. REGANIT Philippine News Agency MANILA — A ranking member of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC) on Tuesday joined calls to declare a “national day of mourning” for the 44 officers and men of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force who were slain during an encounter with elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) over the weekend. Valenuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said that declaring a national day of mourning is a fitting tribute for the gallantry of the SAF personnel who were outnumbered and outgunned by the MILF and BIFF in a lopsided encounter last Sunday in Barangay Tukalanipao, Mamasapano town in Maguindanao. “The highest honor that the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III can bestow on these gallant police officers is to declare a national day of mourning and to raise the Philippine flag at half mast in all government offices as well as public schools,” Gatchalian said. The lawmaker noted that the SAF members were just doing their duties to serve the warrants of arrest to terrorists who were believed hiding in the area when the encounter happened.

Philippine National Police line up to rehearse procedures for the papal visit last month. Over 40 members of the PNP - Special Action Force were slain in combat against members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front this past weekend, and some lawmakers are calling for a national day of mourning because of it. PNA

“The PNP is still the only police force in the country and it is their duty to enforce the law, including the serving of arrest warrants,” Gatchalian said. PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director-General Leonardo Espina had said the police operation turned into a ‘misencounter’ after the SAF members attempted to arrest most wanted terrorist and Jemaah Islamiyah member Zulkifli bin Hir, aka “Commander Marwan.”

The operation against Marwan started at 10 p.m. of Jan. 24, Saturday. However, when the SAF members were withdrawing, they were ambushed by the BIFF while some had a misencounter with the MILF, Espina said. Of the 44 slain SAF commandos, seven were commissioned officers while the rest were non-commissioned police officers. www.canadianinquirer.net

Meanwhile, one of the noncommissioned policemen was still reported as missing. In the meantime, Gatchalian said the massacre of the 44 SAF personnel and the wounding of 12 others should be the reason enough for Congress to evaluate the peace deal between the government and the MILF including the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) itself, which seeks to create another politically

autonomous Bangsamoro entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “It is quite ironical that the massacre of the 44 SAF personnel happened at a time when there is an ongoing ceasefire between the government and the MILF. There is a need for a thorough probe on the incident to determine who were at fault for the massacre of the 44 SAF personnel,” Gatchalian said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

A test of Church clout in political intervention BY AMANDO DORONILA Philippine Daily Inquirer IN THE AFTERMATH of Pope Francis’ visit, the Aquino administration has been twisting in the backlash of the revitalized influence of the Catholic Church in the Philippines on public policy. From most indications, the Church has received an enormous windfall from the papal visit in enhancing its political role as the counterfoil to the secular Philippine State ruling a country with a predominantly Catholic population in such issues as corruption in governance, reducing poverty, and curbing the population explosion now standing at 100 million people. Viewed from a superficial perspective, the administration’s handling of the pastoral visit appears to be a huge success—in terms of security and crowd control. Thanks to the self-discipline of the Filipino people who massed in the streets to welcome the Pope, no untoward incident took place to threaten his safety. It is irrelevant and petty at this stage to raise questions whether 5 million or 6 million greeted the Pope along the papal routes in Metro Manila. It was clear from TV footage that Francis received the biggest crowd reception accorded to all papal visits during the past two decades. The security was an unprecedented show of force—25,000 policemen and 15,000 soldiers formed a wall of uniformed men on both sides of the routes, blocking the access of the Pope to the poor and children, whom he wanted to bless and touch and to reach out to—the main purpose of his visit—a sight that might have made the papal entourage wonder whether they were visiting a police state. The Pope didn’t visit to bless and touch security forces of the state. (They are meant to protect state functionaries; the Popes have only the Swiss Guard to protect them.) The spontaneity and fervor showed by the Filipino people to the Pope, who declined to use armored vehicles, moved the Vatican to describe the outpouring of love for Francis, as the “greatest home court for

mands of the present, and to pass on to coming generations a society of authentic justice, solidarity and peace. “Essential to the attainment of these national goals is the moral imperative of ensuring social justice and respect for human dignity. The great biblical tradition enjoins on all peoples the duty to hear the voices of the poor. It bids us to break the bonds of injustice and oppression, which give rise to glaring, scandalous, social inequalities. Reforming the social structures which perpetuate poverty and the exclusion of the poor first requires a conversion of mind and heart.” Aquino broadside

Pope Francis walks with President Aquino in Malacanang Palace during last month's papal visit. The church has received an enormous windfall from the papal visit in terms of its political clout, which has raised eyebrows in some circles. PNA

any Pontiff,” saying that he left encounter was marked by ness and its potential to inspire left behind euphoric Catholics barbed exchanges. a society of goodness, dignity reenergized in their faith. In his address before Mr. and aspirations of the Filipino The visit highlighted the con- Aquino, the diplomatic corps people… trast between the charismatic and government officials at the “The bishops of the Philipaura of the Filipinos’ foremost Palace on Jan. 16, Francis, after pines have asked that this year spiritual leader and the bland- thanking the President for his be set aside as the ‘Year of the ness and apparPoor.’ I hope ently uncaring that this prodemeanor of phetic summons their secular will challenge leaders. The Church has received an everyone, at all The euphoric enormous windfall from the papal levels of society, atmosphere in visit in enhancing its political role to reject every the streets—the as the counterfoil to the secular form of corruppalpable chemPhilippine State ruling a country with tion which diistry between a predominantly Catholic population. verts resources the Pope and the from the poor, Church’s constitand make conuency—masked certed efforts the underlying to ensure the tensions between the state and invitation to visit the Philip- inclusion of every man and church, the two most influen- pines, underlined the point that woman and child in the life of tial and social institutions that his trip was “above all pastoral.” the community. have defined the shape of their “As many voices in your narelationship since the Spanish Honesty, integrity tion have pointed out, it is now, conquest in 1521. He said: “It comes as as the as more than ever, necessary The secular Constitution of Church in this country is pre- that political leaders be outthe Philippine Republic man- paring to celebrate the fifth standing for honesty, integrity dates the separation between centenary of the first procla- and commitment for the comthe Church and the State, and mation of the Gospel of Jesus mon good. In this way, they will these underlying tensions Christ on these shores. The help preserve the rich human flared up during Francis’ visit. Christian message has had an resources and natural resourcOn the first day of the Pope’s immediate influence on Fili- es with which God has blessed visit, in his courtesy call to Pres- pino culture. It is my hope that this country. Thus will they be ident Aquino, who welcomed this important anniversary will able to marshal the moral rehim at Malacañang, their first point to its continuing fruitful- sources needed to face the dewww.canadianinquirer.net

In response to the Pope’s challenge, Mr. Aquino fired a broadside at members of the local clergy, who had opposed the reproductive health (RH) bill backed and pushed by the administration. He said: “There was a true test of faith when many members of the Church, once advocates for the poor, the marginalized and the helpless, suddenly became silent in the face of the previous administration’s abuses, which we are trying to rectify to this very day. In contrast to their previous silence, some members of the clergy now seem to think that the way to be true to the faith means finding something to criticize, even to the extent that one prelate admonished me to do something about my hair, as if it were a mortal sin.” In his prepared speech, which he didn’t deliver at Palo, Leyte, the Pope urged fair treatment especially of the poor. “Our treatment of the poor is the criterion on which each of us will be judged,” he said. How the new Church apostolate on behalf of the poor translates into votes for the Aquino administration or its surrogates in the 2016 elections or continuity of its policies on population control, opposed by the Catholic hierarchy, is an important issue involving the Church’s political influence. The papal visit has laid the grounds for the public debate on the RH bill. The key question is: Has the papal visit enhanced the Church clout in its interventions in public affairs? ■

Philippine News

JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

P-Noy told: Save BSP from Binay ‘It’s only Mercado claiming irregularity’ BY TJ BURGONIO AND CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer

am making this presentation,” he said at the resumption of the inquiry into charges of corruption against Binay. Mercado said the BSP had been selling its pieces of property in Pasig, Manila, Makati and Davao cities and Los Baños in Laguna under the watch of Binay.

ments of government,” he later told reporters. “If he’s not involved, he would have the agreement nullified.” Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano agreed: “We will give him (Binay) courtesy to answer all this.”

A FORMER senior executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) sent an SOS to President Aquino on Thursday for him to protect the interest Subpoena Oreta et al. of the prestigious civic orgaOn Trillanes’ motion, subnization which counts among Plunder charges committee chair Sen. Aquilino its members about two milFor doing this to Boy Scouts Pimentel III ordered the issulion schoolchildren in a land across the country, Mercado ance of subpoena for Alphadeal with developer Alphaland vowed to file plunder charges land owner Roberto Ongpin Corp. in which the BSP was al- against members of the BSP’s and president Mario “Babes” legedly grossly shortchanged. national executive board and Oreta, as well as BSP officials “Mr. President [Aquino], let’s Alphaland executives. Jose Rizal Pangilinan, Wendell not neglect this organization. “... I will file a case in the Om- Avisado and Enrique LagdaIt serves the youth, youngsters budsman and if it’s necessary, meo, among others. we should be molding and pre- I’ll go to civil courts because at In a PowerPoint presentaparing as future leaders of this stake here are the interests of tion, Mercado provided a timecountry,” former Makati Vice the Boy Scouts,” he said. line of the transactions between Mayor Ernesto Mercado said A BSP official last night the BSP and Alphaland on the at the resumption of the Senate maintained there was nothing development of the property inquiry into charges of corrup- anomalous in the joint venture on Ayala Avenue Extension and tion against Vice President Je- agreement. Malugay Street. jomar Binay, BSP president for In June 2008, Alphaland and 20 years. Aboveboard the BSP entered into a joint Mercado, a former BSP seWendell Avisado, BSP senior venture agreement to develop nior vice president, noted that vice president and acting sec- the property, in which AlphaMr. Aquino was the country’s retary general, said the joint land as the developer would Chief Scout. “Whoever is the venture agreement was above- acquire rights, title and interest president of any country, prime board. in 85 percent of the gross floor minister or the highest official “We want to assure the pub- area, and the BSP, as landownis designated the Chief Scout,” lic and members of the BSP and er, 15 percent. the former vice mayor said. members of the scouting moveMercado, then BSP senior Facing the Senate blue ribbon ment that an anomaly could not vice president, said he opposed subcommittee again, Mercado possibly happen here otherwise the sharing, and pushed for alleged that Binay and Alpha- BSP would have fallen apart,” 20percent share for the BSP, land, owned by businessman he said in a phone interview. but was overruled by Binay. Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin, profHe said the BSP national ited from BSP’s one-hectare executive board and national Fund for campaign prime property Quoting Biin Makati City, nay’s aide Gebut the BSP was rardo Limlingan, left holding an the former vice Let’s not neglect this organization. empty bag. mayor said that 5 It serves the youth, youngsters M e r c a d o percent, a fourth we should be molding and claimed that Biof the 20 perpreparing as. nay got some cent, representP200 million in ed Binay’s share kickbacks from to fund his electhe land deal. Bition campaign, nay and Alphaland have denied council would not allow the in- and for which the latter got an the allegation. tegrity of the institution to be initial P189 million. In a case of frying the BSP in tainted with irregularities. To escape responsibility, Biits own fat, Alphaland mortAvisado said that the joint nay asked Mercado to sign the gaged BSP’s Makati property agreement signed by the BSP agreement because he was leavfor P1.7 billion so it could use and Alphaland was carefully ing for abroad, opposite Oreta, the funds to develop it, the for- studied by the 45-member na- he said. mer Makati official said. tional executive board and ap“After the signing, I talked to proved by the national council. Oreta and Limlingan to ensure Papal message Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV the welfare of the Boys Scouts. “When we were visited by challenged Binay to order an in- But Babes Oreta told me not to the good Pope, I heard him say: vestigation of Mercado’s charg- worry, and that he and Gerry ‘Stop corruption and protect es if he had no hand in them. Limlingan would take care to the youth.’ I was challenged by “He should order a thorough hide VP Binay’s share because that. That’s why this morning, I investigation using all instru- he has his own company—Nowww.canadianinquirer.net

Vice President Jejomar Binay.

ble Care Management Corp.,” the former Makati official said. In the next slide, he showed that Oreta was the chair and president of Noble Care, which was incorporated in 2005. Noble Care

To collect Binay’s share, in August 2008, Alphaland granted Noble Care a 5.88-percent stake in Alphaland/Silvertown, equivalent to 2,031 shares at P10 each, or P20,310. It also granted Noble Care a P100.4million loan. After two years, Alphaland bought back Noble Care’s shares for P88.973 million, and wrote off its P100.4-million loan, or a total P189 million. Initial kickback

This amount became Binay’s “initial kickback,” Mercado said. All these transactions were carried out during Binay’s birthday on Nov. 11, 2010. After severing his ties with

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Binay in 2009, Mercado said he also learned that Alphaland mortgaged BSP’s property to the Development Bank of the Philippines in March 2010 so it could get P1.7 billion. “In effect, Boy Scouts entirely financed the project,” he said. “This is how VP Binay and Alphaland started frying Boy Scouts in its own fat.” If he had not made such discoveries, Mercado wondered: “Where would the P2.4 billion go?” He was referring to the current value of the property, less the kickbacks that allegedly ended in Binay’s pockets. “To the members of the [BSP] national executive board, I would like to apologize to you. I will include you, as well as the officials of Alphaland, in the plunder case I will file because I want the truth to come out,” he said. Trillanes told reporters that Binay should be included in the plunder complaint to be filed by

Philippine News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Mercado. BSP investment

Mercado also discovered that in June 2011, the joint-venture agreement he had signed with Alphaland was amended to authorize the sale of BSP’s property to Alphaland, and the investment of BSP’s P600-million fund into the project. “This is the point where the Boy Scouts of the Philippines was fried in its own fat,” he said. “The big question is, how come the land’s value was still pegged at P600 million? Since it has been reclassified, it should have doubled to at least P1.2 billion,” he added, referring to its 2008 reclassification from industrial to commercial and mixed use. COA’s comment

Mercado said the Commission on Audit (COA) observed that the BSP had not collected its money from the deal. He said that COA asserted its jurisdiction over the BSP in 1999, but Binay argued against this, saying it was detached from government. In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that the BSP was a public instrumentality, and subject to audit. Its first audit was conducted in 2012. In 2012, Makati, under Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-jun” Binay, approved Alphaland’s master development plan to upgrade the development of the property from FAR 8 to FAR 12. FAR, or floor area ratio, is defined as the allowable total floor area of a structure with respect to the available lot space. “While VP Binay and the Makati City government gave Alphaland all the concessions to further profit from this project, the Boy Scouts’ share in the project became smaller,” Mercado said. Share further reduced

In 2013, Mercado claimed that Alphaland “unilaterally” decided to reduce the BSP’s 15percent share from Towers 1, 2 and the Podium to only Tower

3 and the Podium. Towers 1 and 2 are intended for sale, while Tower 3 is for lease, he said. “VP Binay cornered 5 percent from the Alphaland deal to use it in the 2010 election. This 5 percent has initially reached P200 million, while the Boys Scouts has not received a single cent,” Mercado said. “The Boy Scouts lost a (piece of ) land because VP Binay asked Alphaland to sell it. They have not received the P600 million until now,” he added. Pure allegation

Avisado said it was only Mercado who was claiming that there was an irregularity in the land deal through the alleged 5-percent in kickbacks that Binay got from the transaction. “That is just a pure allegation (against Binay) and BSP has nothing to do with it,” Avisado said, adding that Mercado has to prove his allegations against Binay through “competent evidence.” He said the BSP, 93 percent of whose members are students, was caught in the crossfire of the fight between Mercado and Binay. Avisado said he did not like that Mercado was trying to show that the BSP got a bad deal from the transaction. Explaining the joint venture agreement, he said that Alphaland’s share was 85 percent while the BSP, a 15-percent share. Avisado said its 15-percent share of the BSP in the joint venture was equivalent to the P600-million appraised value of its land in 2008 that Alphaland was now developing. Land as equity

“BSP’s only equity is the land,” he said. “So it’s as if we just invested the land. No cash out.” He said the value of BSP’s investment had grown to P900 million after the floor area ratio was increased by Alphaland. “So we did not lose.”

He said the 15-percent share of the BSP was across-theboard, “meaning that the BSP gets a 15-percent share in the podium, which is now completed, 15-percent share each for Towers 1,2 and 3 and another 15-percent share for the parking spaces.” Avisado said that through the 15-percent share, the BSP would determine what to do with the property for its benefit. This meant that the BSP could decide to rent out, sell or have the developed property managed by someone, he said. Share not diminishing

He said that Mercado’s claim that BSP’s share in the joint venture became smaller was not true because this would go against the agreement signed in 2008. Avisado said the joint venture agreement was amended in 2011 so that the title of the land was transferred to Alphaland, a move that he said did not change the joint venture agreement because the share of BSP was still 15 percent. Asked to comment on Mercado’s claim that BSP had not received a single centavo from Alphaland, he said that since January last year the company had been paying a monthly rental of P530,000 for occupying the third floor of the already constructed Podium. BSP Cha-cha

At the Senate hearing, Mercado also told the subcommittee that Binay also carried out his own Charter change at the BSP to stay on as its president up to now. Binay initially served as national president from 1998 to 2000. After re-assuming the post in 2001, when its then president Robert Pagdanganan ran for the Senate, he “maneuvered” to lift the two-year term limit of the president, he said. “Binay also did a Cha-cha at BSP so he would stay on in his post,” he said. ■

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President Benigno S. Aquino III signs the book of condolences for the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Makati City. ROBERT VIÑAS / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

President Aquino signs Book of Condolences for late Saudi King Abdullah PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — President Aquino signed the Book of Condolences for the late Saudi King Abdullah at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Makati City Tuesday afternoon. The President arrived at the Saudi Arabia embassy 6 p.m. and was received by Isaac Ibrahim Al-Orini, charge d’ affaires of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Linglingay Lacanlale, acting secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. After the signing of the Book of Condolences, the President stood in front of the picture of the late King Abdullah for a moment of prayer. After that, the President was offered a small cup of traditional beverage as part of the Saudi Arabian tradition. Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 1, 1924, the late King Abdullah served as the head of Saudi Arabia’s government, first deputy prime minister and commander of National Guard.

After ascending to the throne in 2005, he initiated a range of major economic, social, educational and health projects that brought remarkable changes to the kingdom. One of his greatest legacies is in the field of education when he sent thousands of young Saudis to study overseas. The King also founded in 2008 the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the country’s first co-educational campus. On his policies on women, King Abdullah was the first Saudi monarch to appoint women to government positions. In 2003, he appointed 30 women to the Shura Council. King Abdullah also promoted interfaith dialogue, making him the first Arab monarch and Saudi King to meet the pope. He was also an advocate of constructive global cooperation and he fought actively against terrorism during his reign. ■

Opinion

JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

AS I SEE IT

Politicians should be banned from BSP By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer ISN’T IT sad and ironic that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), a heretofore prestigious organization that trains the youth to be good and morally-fit leaders, is now controlled by politicians who are not? Before each troop meeting or activity, the boy scouts recite the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. The Scout Law enumerates the qualities of a boy scout: “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent.” Every good boy scout tries to live by that oath and law. Do the adults who run the BSP adhere to these qualities? The very first qualification of a boy scout is trustworthiness. But if the recent revelations about shady deals that the BSP has entered into are true, it seems that the adults who control it now cannot be trusted. The BSP national president is Vice President Jejomar Binay who is now being investigated by the Ombudsman and the Senate for corrupt ac-

tivities, among them the deal signing mayor, then reassumed the mayorThe boy scouts, who gave the orover a one-hectare BSP property in ship himself, then made his son may- ganization its reputation because of Makati to Alphaland, a land devel- or. He has established a family dynas- their good deeds (a scout is expected oper. Former vice mayor and BSP se- ty in Makati. Besides his wife and son to do at least one good deed every sinnior vice president Ernesto Mercado serving as mayor, his two daughters gle day) and their moral uprightness, told the Senate blue ribbon subcom- are members of Congress. have no say in the running of their mittee that Binay got P200 million as Why does Binay love the BSP so own organization. Running the BSP kickback from the deal. Binay and Al- much? Because like Makati, the BSP is a group of politicians and their alphaland deny this. Does Binay quali- is like a gold mine. It has plenty of lies, who pretend to be boy scouts by fy to be a boy scout under the Scout real estate properties that, under wearing the scout uniform of khaki Law? Judge for yourself. Binay, it has been selling, according shirt, shorts, neckerchief and knee Binay has been socks during BSP national president ceremonies. The very first qualification of a boy scout is trustworof the BSP for the Young scouts thiness. But if the recent revelations about shady deals that past 20 years now, cannot help but gigthe BSP has entered into are true, it seems that the adults although its constigle during these octution limits a prescasions because the who control it now cannot be trusted. ident to serve for old men look funny only two years. When Binay became to Mercado. Where do the proceeds in shorts that expose their knobby BSP president in 1980, he changed go? The two million boy scouts and knees and skinny legs. These old its constitution to allow him to be the rest of the public do not know be- men control the BSP and its billions president for life. Since then, except cause Binay allegedly refuses to have of pesos worth of assets. The young for a two-year interval when former the Commission on Audit audit its fi- scouts are not told about these asBulacan governor Roberto Pagdan- nances in spite of the fact that the Su- sets, what are being done to them ganan was the president, Binay has preme Court has ruled that the BSP and where or to whom the proceeds been national president of the BSP is a public corporation and therefore go. Only the old men who control the and shows no sign of leaving. should be audited by the COA. Un- BSP know. Yet it is the reputation of Also, since Binay was appointed der Binay, the BSP also tried to grab these young scouts and their orgaofficer-incharge of Makati, he has a part of the Mt. Makiling campus of nization that are used to acquire converted it into his little kingdom. the University of the Philippines, ac- these assets that are used to benefit He made his wife succeed him as cording to UP officials. only the clique of old men who con-

trol the organization, not the young scouts. Not one of the old men running the BSP is a young scout. The BSP organizational structure should be reformed so that half of the board is composed of scoutmasters and Eagle scouts. They can then tell their troops what happens in those meetings. The youth should be allowed to decide what to do in their own organization. They should also elect their own leaders. The BSP, after all, is a training ground for future leaders. If our present leaders were good boy scouts, then this government would be run like heaven. I used to be a boy scout myself. I learned much from being one—not only how to tie knots and make a fire without matches, but most of all how to be a good, helpful and God-fearing citizen. I loved the campings and hikes and camaraderie, the storytelling and the singing around campfires. I never thought that the BSP would degenerate into its present sad state under its present leadership of politicians. Politicians should be banned from the BSP. They cannot be trusted. ■

AT LARGE

No ‘hiding the poor’ By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer THE BIGGEST controversy in the ruckus being raised against the “field trip” organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development is Sen. Bongbong Marcos speaking out against the practice of “hiding the poor.” It was not right, he said, for government to even attempt to herd the homeless, vagrants, street people and street vendors and trundle them off to a resort just to keep them out of Pope Francis’ sight during his visit last week. It’s ironical because the one who began the practice of “shielding” the poor from the sensitive eyes of visitors (mainly by erecting walls to hide settler communities on the route from the airport) was none other than the senator’s mother, now congresswoman Imelda Romualdez Marcos. But while the DSWD, especially Secretary Dinky Soliman, essentially has my sympathy on this issue—I am sure at least that they were motivated by the purest and most innocuous of reasons—I do feel uncomfortable about the thought that the poorest and most marginalized folk had to be taken out of the city while the Pontiff was here. As a government spokesperson herself said, “You cannot hide

the poor.” And that by merely looking focused on some who said they had they enjoyed while in the resort? out the window of the plane as it was been forced, coerced or duped into One of the motivations for organizabout to land at Villamor Airbase, the boarding those buses, while others ing the outing, it was explained, was Pope would have known about the complained about being put on a to evaluate the families and see who poverty of this land, since shanties schedule instead of being allowed to could be eligible for the Pantawid or line the coast of Manila Bay and the loll about in bed or by the pool. But 4Ps program. The program provides rusting GI roofs of urban poor com- I for one am happy for them, for this monthly subsidies for poor families munities attest to how poor Filipinos break from the daily grind, the daily with school-age children, to enable are. ordeal of eking out a living while cop- the children to go to school, and the Was it, as Soliman asserts, merely ing with hunger and insecurity. And mothers (especially those who are a coincidence that the “family out- give the children a break! The five pregnant) and children to receive ing” was timed just when the Pope days at the resort would surely have regular healthcare and followup, and arrived? Were the families collected served them well, since there were no then gather the beneficiaries to reguand transported to that resort in classes anyway, and the vacation was lar sessions on different aspects of Batangas taken there on their own surely a treat. family life and gender relations. free will and did In other areas they stay on their of the country, the I for one am happy for them, for this break from the own volition for evaluation is done daily grind, the daily ordeal of eking out a living while coping those five days? And on site, with DSWD with hunger and insecurity. to what end, aside personnel visiting from being swept the homes of poout of the Pope’s sight, was the gathEven the poor don’t want to be tential beneficiaries. But perhaps beering meant for? poor. And any escape from the grind- cause the folks brought to the resort *** ing realities of poverty would surely are street people and thus don’t have LET me stress that I don’t agree with prove to be a welcome respite—be- permanent addresses, there was a romanticizing poverty, as so many fore they would have to return to need to gather them in one location, critics of the outing seem to be doing. their old haunts, to the same old one occasion. WHAT sort of followThere is nothing attractive to it, and struggle for survival. up is being done to give the itinerant there is nothing wrong in seeking to *** poor more permanent help? Some end it. THAT is one of the things that cause social media commentaries pointed Ask any of the 490 beggars, ven- discomfort as the issue comes before out that instead of five days of lecdors, homeless and vagrants brought the public. Did those five days help tures, exercises and bonding in a to the resort if they regretted their the poor families long-term? Or did resort, the money spent could have five-day “vacation,” and I’m sure they the break only serve to underline their been better used for health checkups. would on average say they enjoyed misery, highlight the contrast between But would hardened denizens of the themselves. Sure, TV news reports their everyday lives and the good time streets willingly surrender their in-

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dependence to visit a health center? Others say the money would have been better spent on housing. Or on providing these street families accommodations that give them a semblance of permanence. In other cities abroad, governments have been buying abandoned hotels and housing street families there, and records show that once given a sense of security and permanence, the parents are better able to support their families. The most disturbing thing about this story is the “hidden” but patently obvious reason for this outing. Government denies this, but at least one consequence of bringing them to Batangas was their disappearance from their usual haunts in the bayside area around Manila Bay. There is no hiding the poor, obviously. But there was apparently something to gain from keeping the homeless, the beggars and the itinerant vendors out of sight during those days of euphoria and elation. The Pope reminds us that there is much to “learn from the poor,” just as the poor surely needed to feel his presence, even just a brief glimpse of him, as his popemobile sped by. It was a teaching opportunity that, for the 490 poor folk vacationing in Batangas, was lost amid the hubbub of the fervid reception for the Vicar of Christ. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

BUSINESS MATTERS

I have a dream By David L. Balangue Philippine Daily Inquirer THE TITLE brings back memories of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, “I Have A Dream,” delivered during the African-American Civil Rights Movement’s march on Washington in 1963 demanding equal rights for blacks in the United States. What the words connote are the aspirations of King that were shared by his fellow blacks, and supported by the majority of whites as well. One could argue that King and his famous moving speech were instrumental in bringing forth the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that gave blacks and other disadvantaged Americans the rights that they have been deprived of for centuries. Great changes often start with an idea or a dream that is shared by a large number of people. We Filipinos who truly love this country also share a common dream for our nation and people. We dream of a country where the rule of law is observed and the infrastructure is adequate to not only support but also propel our growing population and economy. We dream of a universal healthcare program where even the poorest of the poor

have free access to medical care and pointing how we ended up where we cases—sometimes taking decades— are not left to die prematurely, of ac- are. Is it due to our culture? Is it due to are unacceptable and will never be cess to quality education at par with corruption? Or does one feed the oth- an effective deterrent for those who those of our richest neighbors, and er? Would following the daang matu- stray from the daang matuwid. of a secure and safe society where wid( straight path) lead us to the promWhile corruption robs our people we live in peace and harmony rather ised land of walang mahirap (no one in of dignity and a decent life, there are than in fear and anxiety, with wanton poverty)? The P-Noy administration some who now claim that economic criminality that involves even those has been hewing to this battle cry and development is not hampered by corwho are supposed to protect us. has had limited success, with no less ruption. And ironically, they cite as Clearly, these are the inherent than a chief justice being impeached, proof the economic growth that the functions of government. That we an ombudsman resigning, and three Philippines has achieved despite our fail or fall short in these can only senators being detained for the non- very high rating in corruption. Permean that our government has failed bailable charge of plunder. But are haps it is true that economic developus. Unfortunately, ment is still possible we have become so even in a corrupt accustomed to the government, but it I believe the daang matuwid has contributed to the situation that most is also true that our years of high growth in our gross domestic product. Thus, it of us have accepted economic developis a road worth traveling. With barely one and a half years it as a given or are ment would have left for this administration, the challenge now is ensuring constantly adjustbeen much better that the country will continue to tread this path. ing to it. But should if corruption in our we resign ourselves to our situation these sufficient to deter others from midst had been routed. How many and accept these dire circumstances continuing their corrupt ways? Or do foreign direct investors have backed that we are in? Certainly not! We owe we need to do more to send the clear out because of corruption, specifiit not only to ourselves and our suf- message that corruption does not pay? cally extortion, in the local governfering fellowmen but also to the next I, for one, would venture to say ments? Worse, when one such incigeneration of Filipinos. We want the that indeed much more has to be dent was reported to the media, the changes that would make us truly done. Our judiciary and court system concerned local government officials proud to be Filipinos, with a state of need to be cleaned up and become claimed that it was the foreign invesaffairs that backs our pride. more efficient in upholding account- tors who were offering them bribes! But how do we make our dream a ability, justice, equality and the rule That economic development is reality? We can, of course, start by pin- of law. The delays in the resolution of hurt by corruption is a fact. While it

is true that some foreign investors still come despite the corruption in the country, it is also true that many chose to pull out because of it. This is because many foreign multinational corporations have a policy of not investing in countries that rate high in the corruption index. How many jobs would these investments have created for the thousands of our graduates who enter the job market each year? Wouldn’t our economic growth have fared much better, and perhaps become more inclusive, benefiting as well the poorer sectors of society? I believe the daang matuwid has contributed to the years of high growth in our gross domestic product. Thus, it is a road worth traveling. With barely one and a half years left for this administration, the challenge now is ensuring that the country will continue to tread this path. Who among the presidential aspirants is more likely to continue the program pursued by P-Noy? Who can help us deliver on our dream of a truly responsive government that would provide the environment conducive to foreign direct investments as well as local investments to move our country toward prosperity for all? ■

LOOKING BACK

A woman as pope and Jesuit By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN, during his encounter with the youth at the University of Santo Tomas, Pope Francis advised the organizers to include more women next time, to offset the program dominated by men, I remembered John Paul II at Mass in Luneta who brought cheer to women when he changed the standard invitation to prayer or exhortation, “Brothers and sisters in Christ,” to “Sisters and brothers…” While we know that the ordination of women in the Catholic Church are light years away, comment on this issue during the papal coverage should have been made over the cold malunggay soup served the Pope in Tacloban. There are many women today, including Sen. Miriam Santiago, holding more advanced theology degrees than men, but they cannot be ordained because of their gender. While some countries have been governed by women, the Vatican is reserved for men. But there is a persistent legend about a woman who became Pope Joan. Before the 16th century, it was generally believed that a certain Joan or Joanna was elected pope in the 9th, 10th, or 11th century, depending

on which source you are reading. A then furious; a mob tied her to the tail Loyola. When she was widowed in critic of the papacy, John Hus, used of the horse, had her dragged around 1541 she followed Ignatius to Rome the story of Pope Joan against the the city, and stoned her to death out- and pestered him to accept her vows Council of Constance in 1415 and side the walls of Rome. as a Jesuit. After two years of vain was not contradicted. Petrarch and Jesuit Cardinal Robert Bellarm- pleading, she went to Pope Paul III Boccacio picked up the story of Pope ine, together with other 16th-century (the same pope who approved the Joan, claiming that Pope Leo IV (who scholars, questioned the existence of founding of the Society of Jesus), died in 855 AD), or Pope Victor III this popessa and, after some research, who invoked the obedience of Ignati(who died 1087 AD), was succeeded found no contemporary evidence us and ordered him to accept Roser’s by one Pope Joan Anglicus. This about any pope named Joan in any of vows. “popessa” also appears under other the periods given as her reign. HowOn Christmas Day 1545, Isabel names: Agnes, Gilberta, or Jutta. In ever, some people refuse to believe the Roser, her lady-in-waiting Francisca some accounts, she Cruyllas, and her remains nameless. friend Lucrezia di Allegedly eduBradine took their There are many women today, including Sen. Miriam cated in Athens, she especially formulatSantiago, holding more advanced theology degrees than traveled to Rome ed vows of poverty, men, but they cannot be ordained because of their gender. via Mainz dressed chastity and obedias a man. She impressed people in the historians and insist that the physical ence before Ignatius. Unfortunately, Vatican with her learning and was in- examination of a pope-elect is under- Roser turned out to be a cross too vited to stay as a notary in the Curia taken to determine his true gender. heavy for Ignatius to bear, and two where she rose to the rank of cardiWhile there was no female pope, of her nephews, disinherited by her nal and was eventually elected pope. history does record the existence of donation of her estate to the Society, She reigned for two years, seven a woman Jesuit. While the consti- sued in a church court claiming that months and four days before she was tution of the Society of Jesus spe- the Jesuits had stolen her fortune. To exposed, according to Dominican ac- cifically forbids its members to work cut a long story short, in November counts, during a procession from St. regularly with women, and provides 1546, less than a year since the three Peter’s to the Lateran. That morn- against the establishment of a wom- women took their vows, Pope Paul III ing, while passing one of the narrow en’s branch of the order, and regular transferred their vows to a diocesan streets between the Colosseum and spiritual direction of women, there bishop. In May 1547, Ignatius asked Sant Clemente, she alighted from her was one woman, Isabel Roser, who the Pope to release him and the order horse and walked on foot a bit. When would not take no for an answer. Ros- from the care of women in organized she remounted the horse, she deliver was a childless, wealthy Catalan communities, and the Pope obliged ered a baby! Everyone was surprised, who was the benefactress of Ignatius with the 1549 document Licet debi-

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tum. Roser returned to Barcelona where she continued to do good works. She later entered a Franciscan convent in Jerusalem where she lived until her death. What is not so well known is that there was another woman who took her vows as a Jesuit and died as a Jesuit: Juana de Austria, daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (who is also Carlos I of Spain and known to most Filipinos today as a brandy trademark) and Isabel of Portugal. As mother of the King of Portugal and Queen Regent of Spain, for her brother Philip II, hers was a case hard to refuse. Widowed, she lived a monastic life and even took vows as a Franciscan, but later chose to become a Jesuit. Juana de Austria was admitted to the Society with the vows of a scholastic, a form devised by Ignatius, that bound the princess but reserved to the Society the right to release her from vows. All this was kept secret, and she corresponded with the Society hidden under the name, Mateo Sanchez. While she was not a fully professed Jesuit, she was a secret Jesuit from 1554 to her death in 1573. Church his-story, when made into her-story, can be a lot stranger than fiction. ■

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Canada News

Government’s re-tooled anti-terror law to be introduced Friday, says Harper

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FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS

THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The Conservative government’s overhaul of anti-terrorism legislation will be introduced by the end of week and will make it crime to promote terrorism, Stephen Harper told party faithful on Sunday. The measures, which are also expected to give police greater ability to restrict the movements of purported extremists, will not be an assault on civil liberties, the prime minister said. “These measures are designed to help authorities stop planned attacks, get threats off our streets, criminalize the promotion of terrorism, and prevent terrorists from travelling and recruiting others,” Harper told a campaign-style event in the Ottawaarea. “To be clear, in doing so, we shall be safeguarding our constitutional rights of speech, of association, of religion and all the rest.” Restricting the movement of suspects radicals can be done by lowering the threshold for obtaining a peace bond, a federal source, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Canadian Press last week. In addition, the government wants to retool Canada’s no-fly list procedures to make it easier to stop a suspected terrorist from boarding an airplane.

The conservative government's overhaul of anti-terrorism legislation will, among other things, retool Canada's no-fly list procedures to make it easier to stop suspected terrorists from boarding an airplane.

An internal federal review of last fall’s deadly attacks on Canadian soldiers concluded there is a lack of suitable laws to crack down on radicals who openly encourage others to wage terrorism. Michael Zehaf Bibeau shot Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, an honour guard at the National War Memorial, before storming Parliament’s Centre Block on Oct. 22. Zehaf Bibeau was gunned down outside the Library of Parliament. Two days earlier, a car driven by Martin Couture-Rouleau ran over and killed Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., near Montreal. Police later shot

and killed Couture-Rouleau when he advanced on officers with a knife. Harper repeated for the partisan crowd that violent jihadism had declared “war” on the west, but painted it as a much wider problem than just the Islamic State, which has overrun vast parts of Iraq and Syria. “Jihadi terrorists are destabilizing large parts of the globe,” Harper said. “In Asia and Africa, an increasing number of territories are becoming ungoverned and under their influence, attacks and plots outside these regions are becoming ever more frequent and dangerous in Australia, in France, in Belgium just recently, and of course here.” ■

B.C. politician Jenny Kwan to run for federal NDP seat in Vancouver East BY LAURA KANE The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — A veteran member of British Columbia’s legislature is vowing to fight for First Nations and temporary foreign workers if she wins her bid to run for the NDP in this year’s federal election. Jenny Kwan announced her plans to seek the nomination in the riding of Vancouver East on Sunday, while surrounded by members of the di-

verse neighbourhood’s aboriginal and Chinese-Canadian communities. “What we need is someone who is fearless in Ottawa to take on the Prime Minister,” she declared in her speech. “Some might say I am a fighter and I’m not afraid to take on Stephen Harper.” Kwan will square off against a fellow member of the legislature, Mable Elmore, who represents VancouverKensington in the legislature. Kwan praised her opponent on Sunday, telling reporters she expects a tough fight.

Kwan, a former city councilor, was elected to the legislature in 1996 and subsequently became the first Chinese-Canadian to sit in the provincial cabinet. She has served as community development minister and municipal affairs minister. The federal seat opened up after high-profile New Democrat MP Libby Davies announced last month she will not run again. The riding is a long-standing NDP stronghold, and the race for the coveted nomination is shaping up to be a tight one. ■

TIM HORTONS LAYS OFF STAFF AT HEADQUARTERS TORONTO — Tim Hortons is laying off an unspecified number of employees at its headquarters in a reorganization of its operations. The coffee chain, which was taken over by Burger King Worldwide last year, did not immediately respond to questions about how many employees would be cut at its Oakville, Ont., offices. FEDS FACE DEFICIT IF OIL PRICES STAY PUT: PBO OTTAWA — Canada's parliamentary budget office says Ottawa will stay in a deficit in the coming fiscal year if battered oil prices stay near their current lows. The budget office's new analysis says low oil prices have put the government on track to exhaust the federal contingency reserve and run a deficit of $400 million in 2015-16. GRAIN SHIPPERS FACE RAILWAY BACKLOG: REPORT REGINA — A coalition of agriculture associations says the grain industry is dealing with deteriorating rail service and an 11 per cent shortfall in the supply of railway cars. The Ag Transport Coalition released a report saying that the railways have failed to supply more than 11,000 cars that were ordered in the first five months of the crop year. FEDERAL ANTI-DRUG AD BLITZ COST $7 MILLION OTTAWA — Newly released figures show the Conservative government spent more than $7 million on a 10-week, anti-drug advertising campaign that wrapped up at the end of last month.That's more money than Health Canada spent advertising all its programs and services combined in the previous 2013-14 fiscal year.

Canada News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Harper government braces for grilling on oil price plunge, sputtering economy BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Move over Mike Duffy and Julian Fantino. The stars of past parliamentary theatre will be supporting players on Monday as MPs return to the House of Commons and the economy takes centre stage. The Senate expenses scandal and the government’s treatment of armed forces veterans will continue to be fodder for opposition outrage and government discomfort. But with an election on the horizon within nine months, expect MPs to train their sites primarily on the uncertain economy — the one issue most likely to move votes. The Conservatives have made sound fiscal management the cornerstone of their re-election bid. Indeed, they’ve chided opposition MPs for ignoring economic issues in their pursuit of scandals. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who looked to be in campaign-mode on Sunday, cast aside doubts and made it clear he still intends to present a balanced budget and deliver on last fall’s promise of incomesplitting for families with young children, even though the collapse in oil prices has sucked billions out of the federal treasury and delayed the budget. “The government’s fiscal flexibility has been reduced, at least for the short term,” Harper told a high school gym packed with Conservatives in Orleans, Ont., a suburb of Ottawa. “To some, it’s a reason not to balance the budget. But to them, there is always a reason not to balance the budget. That’s how the small Trudeau deficits of the early 1970s became big deficits that went on for a quarter of a century, and

ended up with the Liberals partisan rally Monday evening. dramatically hiking taxes on NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will everybody and massively cut- offer his own assessment in a ting even the most essential of major speech on Tuesday. programs, our health care and If it seems like non-stop cameducation.” paigning between now and the For the government to fo- election, that’s because it is. cus on its economic record, it’s “There will be an election a case of “be careful what you overlay over almost everywish for,” says NDP finance thing,” acknowledges Goodale, critic Nathan Cullen. adding that’s the inevitable “The economy will certainly consequence of having a fixed dominate, partly because the election date. issues have grown even more The election is scheduled by serious over the Christmas law for October but New Demo- Prime Minister Stephen Harper answers questions in the House of Commons as break and the problems con- crats and Liberals remain sus- Parliament resumes in 2015. PM.GC.CA fronting the country are more picious that Harper may try to significant,” says deputy Lib- pull the plug sooner. Goodale, eral leader Ralph Goodale. for one, “wouldn’t put it past” cards to play, however, to divert distant third place. “The government has a seri- Harper to call an election be- the spotlight from troublesome Suspicious that Harper is ous set of very troubling eco- fore tabling the budget, argu- ethical or economic issues. playing politics with terrorism, nomic issues to deal with and ing that he needs a mandate The government is expected the opposition parties intend to they’re sending a message of to guide the country through to introduce soon legislation to scrutinize the legislation closely confusion and incompetence in choppy economic waters. crack down on suspected ter- to ensure it strikes a balance beaddressing those issues.” While there would doubtless rorists and those who openly tween protecting Canadians and The Bank of Canada contra- be some blow-back, an early encourage them. Among other preserving their civil liberties. dicted the government’s rosy election call could get the vote things, the legislation is expect“You can’t protect freedoms assessment of the situation, out of the way before the start ed to make it easier to stop sus- while destroying those very in Goodale’s view, with its sur- of disgraced Tory Sen. Duffy’s pected terrorists from boarding same freedoms,” says Cullen. prise move last planes and give Opposition parties also inweek to cut its police greater tend to grill the government trend-setting inability to restrict over what they believe is “misterest rate in a their movements sion creep” in Iraq, where Cabid to goose the The economy will certainly dominate, by lowering the nadian special forces have been sputtering econpartly because the issues have grown threshold for ob- involved in firefights with Isomy. even more serious over the Christmas taining a peace lamic radicals. The government In hopes of unbreak and the problems confronting bond. maintains that was strictly in derscoring that the country are more significant. The legislation self-defence but Liberals and contradiction, the was promised in New Democrats see it as proof NDP is asking the the aftermath of that the mission, which they chair of the Comtwo deadly at- opposed, has expanded. mons finance tacks on CanadiNor have they given up on committee to invite Finance trial on charges of allegedly fil- ans soldiers last October, one of the government’s allegedly calMinister Joe Oliver and Bank of ing fraudulent expense claims. which ended in a wild shoot-out lous disregard for the plight of Canada governor Stephen Poloz That trial is set to begin April 7. in the halls of Parliament. armed forces veterans. Harper to update the committee on the Whether Duffy has any more The attacks, combined with started the new year by demotstate of the economy. bombshells to drop, after impli- the Harper government’s deci- ing the controversial Fantino But the competing narratives cating Harper’s former chief of sion to take part in a coalition from the veterans affairs post about the government’s eco- staff for paying back his dubi- air campaign against Islamic and replacing him with the nomic management will extend ous Senate expense claims, re- radicals in Iraq, helped boost more congenial Erin O’Toole, well beyond the halls of Parlia- mains to be seen. But Goodale the governing party’s popular- who has been conducting a ment. says any time the Duffy matter ity and narrow the gap with the charm offensive with veterans Liberal Leader Justin is in the spotlight, there’s a tre- front-running Liberals. The groups. ■ Trudeau is scheduled to offer mendous negative, public back- two parties are virtually tied, a tough critique of the govern- lash against the government. according to the most recent With files ment’s economic record at a The Conservatives have other polls, with the NDP stalled in a from Murray Brewster

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Canada News

JANUARY 30, 2015

FRIDAY

The recent terror attacks in Paris have unleashed a barrage of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments on the Facebook pages of federal politicians and their parties in Canada — much of it plainly visible to the public. Managing racist, sexist, homophobic and harassing material is just one of the new challenges facing parties who want to have an active social media presence, but maintain a stance of free speech and open dialogue. HADRIAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Federal parties struggle to stay on top of offensive Facebook comments BY JENNIFER DITCHBURN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The recent terror attacks in Paris have unleashed a barrage of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments on the Facebook pages of federal politicians and their parties in Canada — much of it plainly visible to the public. Managing racist, sexist, homophobic and harassing material is just one of the new challenges facing parties who want to have an active social media presence, grounded in the concept of free speech and open dialogue. A Jan. 7 post on Stephen Harper’s Facebook account, in which the prime minister said he was “horrified by the barbaric attacks in France,” received approximately 575 comments. Some six dozen — expressing support for blocking immigration from Islamic countries, closing Canada’s borders or just

criticizing Islam — were still on A handful of other comments “family-friendly page,” which the page more than two weeks were taken down after The Ca- notes that the administrators later. nadian Press asked the party reserve the right to delete inap“Time to step down on all last Tuesday about their Face- propriate submissions includIslamic communities world- book policy. ing hateful, malicious, uncivil wide,” wrote one visitor to the A few commenters expressed or disrespectful content. page. dismay with the vitriol against Party spokesman Cory Hann Said another: “All muslims Muslims. explained that an online Faceshould go home and never be “Wow ... so much hate, big- book tool is used to screen out let back here please mr harper otry and fear mongering on this certain words, but the rest of make that hapthe work falls pen they steal to a party staff real peoples jobs member who that belong to us must scan the canadians.” content manuA Jan. 14 ConBoth the NDP and the Liberals also ally. servative Party have a policy against hate speech “With over of Canada Faceand racist comments on their 100,000 fans of book post entiFacebook pages. our Facebook tled “Protecting page, we do our Canadians from best to keep up Barbaric Culwith the large tural Practices” volume of com— aimed at proments we get moting the government’s leg- page! So sad to see that so many daily,” Hann said. islation barring forced or child in Canada have been brain“Obviously it goes without marriages — elicited similar washed to think like this,” said saying we don’t endorse every sentiments. one. single comment, and work to One example: “Deport them Harper’s Facebook presence remove inappropriate ones that all if you want to save Canada.” is described on the site as a the built-in filter does not pick www.canadianinquirer.net

up.” Facebook pages for NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau relating to the Paris attacks also included a sprinkling of comments critical of immigration from Muslim countries, all of them along similar lines. Both the NDP and the Liberals also have a policy against hate speech and racist comments on their Facebook pages. Privately, party insiders say keeping up with the sheer volume of comments can be difficult, given that staff are also taking care of a range of other tasks. Ian Capstick, managing partner of public relations firm MediaStyle, said major corporations will purchase a separate filtering program from Facebook’s, plus hire staff or an outside firm to keep up with the comments. Capstick, a former Parlia❱❱ PAGE 29 Federal parties

Canada News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

When Like doesn’t mean like: Experts say there’s nuance to Facebook behaviour BY MICHAEL OLIVEIRA The Canadian Press A LIKE shouldn’t always be taken literally. Tech experts are closely watching the case of 13 Dalhousie University students suspended for their actions on Facebook. The case is interesting for many reasons, including the fact that it exposes how users often don’t appreciate that nothing is truly private online, said Aimee Morrison, an associate chair in the English department at the University of Waterloo. “We’re in this moment with social media where people haven’t quite modulated their behaviour in what is actually a pretty public space,” said Morrison, who studies digital issues. The 13 fourth-year dentistry students belonged to a schoolrelated private Facebook group, which was set up when they met each other in 2011. One of the students, Ryan Millet, has gone public to protest his suspension, claiming that he helped expose offensive posts in the group, including misogynistic comments about some female classmates. Lawyer Bruce MacIntosh suggested at a recent press conference that his client, a father of three, didn’t interact much with his fellow students outside of class and used the group to stay in touch. “He also described what the Facebook group started out being and continued to be: they exchanged thoughts about dental things,” MacIntosh said, adding that only a small percentage of the thousands of posts to the group over the years were offensive in nature. Millet’s lawyers say that he added a Facebook Like to a suggestive photo of a woman sitting on the steps of a public building with a sign tucked under her folded legs that reads “public entrance.” While not specifically referring to that photo, Morrison believes Dalhousie’s administration does not truly understand the nuances behind how users behave on Facebook and are looking at the act of Liking a post too simplistically.

Leaving a Like on a post were ... does every comment education for the non-profit ordoesn’t always mean that a per- get a Like? Are there people ganization MediaSmarts, which son literally likes that content, who just indiscriminately Like researches how kids and teens Morrison said, especially when everything and that’s just what are growing up in today’s digital users feel social pressures to ac- they do everywhere on Face- age. knowledge friends’ posts. book, or are there people who “Likes are strongly taken “These are kinds of (online) only Like stuff that they really as a measure of popularity. social norms of behaviour. It’s agree with? There’s often a lot of stress, for the same as in instance, when a real life when photo is posted, you meet someover how many body. There are Likes it will resome people Likes are strongly taken as a measure ceive,” Johnson you know you of popularity . . . but young people said. should shake do have to understand that when “But young their hand, some they’re Liking something negative people do have to people you know they are adding their own voice; understand that they’re going to they’re essentially joining in. when they’re want to hug you, Liking someand other people thing negative don’t like to be they are adding touched. Some their own voice; people you sit beside and some “I don’t think we’ve done any they’re essentially joining in.” people you sit across from. real thinking about the norms He said the tenor of a group’s These are negotiated patterns of interaction in the Facebook discussions can encourage usof interaction,” Morrison said. space and I think it matters.” ers to act more aggressively or “If we were going to deterYoung people especially often with less empathy than they mine relative levels of culpabil- place a very high value on hav- normally would face-to-face ity among people in this partic- ing their photos and comments with another person. ular Facebook group we would Liked and know their friends “Particularly teenagers take have to understand what nor- also crave that validation, said a lot of cues from the values of mal modes of behaviour there Matthew Johnson, director of the space that they’re in — we www.canadianinquirer.net

behave the way we see other people behaving and ... so when we spend time in online environments we do take on the values of those spaces, at least when they’re in them,” Johnson said. “When we’re online we may not feel the same sort of checks on our behaviour that we feel when we’re offline. A lot of the things that normally trigger empathy in us — things like a person’s tone of voice, their body language, their expression — are absent when we’re communicating online and so we may not feel empathy in situations where we normally would.” Morrison said it’s likely there are different levels of culpability among the 13 members of the Dalhousie Facebook group and finding them all automatically guilty by association is too simplistic. She can understand how it might have been difficult for Millet — or someone else in his situation — to leave the Facebook group upon first seeing posts that could be deemed offensive. “It’s always awkward to leave a group, especially if it’s people you have to see every day,” she said. “If I was involved in a group with English professors at Waterloo and it’s every professor in my department and then it gets kind of offensive, I would probably feel very awkward about leaving and being the only person to leave because ... you’re making a pretty strong statement.” Morrison said young people in particular seem to have trouble grasping how damaging their online actions could be, whether it’s a post, Like or otherwise. “There’s a lot of research now about how impulse control and consequence consideration does not really develop fully in human beings until the late 20s so you’re not thinking when you put that post up of what’s going to happen in 10 years,” she said. “But a lot of this has to do with the nature of social media itself and its relative newness and culture. Grownups and teenagers and youth alike have to figure this out.” ■

Canada News

JANUARY 30, 2015

FRIDAY

Paying failed refugee claimants to leave Canada didn’t work as planned: review BY STEPHANIE LEVITZ The Canadian Press

A spokesman for ISIL praised the gunman who shot and killed a soldier at the War Memorial in Ottawa on October 22 before storming Parliament Hill, where the gunman was shot and killed by Parliament Hill security forces. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ISIL praises October slaying of soldier in Ottawa; calls for attacks in the West BY BASSEM MROUE The Associated Press BEIRUT — The spokesman for the Islamic State group has praised the gunman who killed a Canadian soldier at the National War Memorial in October and is calling on Muslims living in Western countries to carry out attacks. The spokesman says any loyalist who has the opportunity to “shed a drop of blood” should do so. Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, in a nine-minute audio recording released Monday, praised recent attacks in Australia, Belgium and France — where gunmen killed 12 people in an assault on the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo magazine. He also praised the gunman who shot and killed an unarmed sentry at the War Memorial in Ottawa on Oct. 22 and then stormed the Parliament Hill’s Centre Block before being killed by security forces, saying: “You all saw what one Muslim did in Canada and its infidel parliament.” Michael Zehaf Bibeau’s killing of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo came just two days after another attack by a man with known jihadist sympathies who ran

down a soldier in Quebec, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. The attacks ingnited a debate on home-grown terrorism in Canada. The Canadian government is expected to introduce legislation soon to crack down on suspected terrorists and those who openly encourage them. Al-Adnani, the spokesman for the Islamic State group, also made reference to the death last week of Saudi King Abdullah, saying Muslims “are happy for the death of the tyrant of the peninsula.” Monday’s recording did not mention the two Japanese hostages that his group threatened on Jan. 20 to behead unless Tokyo paid $200 million within 72 hours. That deadline has since passed without word on the hostages’ fate. “We repeat our call to Muslims in Europe, the infidel West, and everywhere to target the Crusaders in their home countries and wherever they find them,” al-Adnani said in the audio released by one of the group’s media arms, AlFurqan. “We will be enemies, in front of God, to any Muslim who can shed a drop of blood of a Crusader and abstains from doing that with a bomb, bullet, knife, car, rock or even a kick or

a punch.” Speaking about the ongoing airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria, the spokesman said they “made the holy warriors stronger, more steadfast and sure about victory.” Canadian CF-18 jetfighters are among the forces that have been conducting air strikes against the Islamic State group. Some Canadian special forces troops advising Kurdish fighters have been involved in firefights with Islamic State extremists. Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney responded Monday to the ISIL audio message. Echoing comments made earlier this month by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Blaney said the international jihadist movement had declared war on Canada and its allies. Blaney said that’s why the government committed the Forces to the coalition against the Islamic State group. The minister’s response also cited planned legislation from the government to — among other things — “criminalize the promotion of terrorism.” ■ With files from The Canadian Press www.canadianinquirer.net

OTTAWA — A controversial government program which tried to get failed refugee claimants out of the country faster by essentially paying them to leave won’t be renewed after a scathing internal evaluation. The assisted voluntary return and reintegration pilot program, or AVRR, was supposed to save time and money by getting low-risk failed claimants to leave on their own instead of having border agents enforce deportation orders. But an evaluation by Canada Border Services Agency found that’s not what happened. “The need for the AVRR as currently designed is questionable in that removals take longer and cost more compared to other low-risk removals since the refugee reform came into effect,” the evaluation found.

The controversial program was part of the Conservative government’s overhaul of the refugee system, launched in a bid to crack down on people making unfounded refugee claims and tying up government resources. Critics said the changes were made without considering the implications, a point echoed by the government’s own evaluation of the return project. “Like many aspects of the refugee reform, the pilot program was designed based on a set of assumptions that could not be validated prior to launch, some of which proved not to be accurate,” the evaluation said. Among them: the idea that giving people money to help them resettle in their home countries would convince them to stop trying to appeal negative decisions. “Since the assistance received ❱❱ PAGE 43 Paying failed

Canada News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil prepares for ‘Ottawa inspired’ reform BY JOCELYNE RICHER The Canadian Press QUEBEC IS preparing for a major reform of its immigration policy, with proposed changes partly inspired by Ottawa, says the province’s immigration minister. The time has come for Quebec to re-examine its immigration model, and the way the province chooses, welcomes and integrates foreigners into the job market, said Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil ahead of year-long public consultations on the issue set to begin Wednesday at the Quebec legislature. Weil told The Canadian Press she was ready to launch a “big reform” of relations between new immigrants and Quebec society at-large by the end of the year, a process that will include the revision of Quebec’s immigration law. Everything will be on the

table: the number of immigrants welcomed annually, the selection process and favoured countries of origin, the importance of knowing French before arriving, French language courses, the recognition of training undertaken abroad, regionalization, and the sharing of common values. The minister said she wanted a wide-reaching debate on the issues, and was “very open to everything that will be proposed.” Fifty stakeholders are expected to participate in public consultation hearings over the next few weeks on the future of immigration to Quebec. The province’s current policy has been in place for 25 years. A later consultation will also be held on two specific aspects of immigration: the number of immigrants Quebec wants to welcome every year and their countries of origin. The emphasis, however, will be placed on the economy and

Quebec is preparing for a major reform of its immigration policy, and according to Immigration MInister Kathleen Weil, "Everything will be on the table," including the number of immigrants welcomed annualy, the selection process, and favored countries of origin.

balancing between the recruitment of new immigrants and workforce needs. Finding candidates that can fill empty jobs will be key, and on that point, Quebec is being inspired by Ottawa. Last year, the federal govern-

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ment reformed its selection process for new immigrants. With the focus now primarily on filling jobs, every candidate for immigration to Canada must produce a “declaration of interest” showcasing his or her ability to meet employers’

needs. Weil said she wanted to appropriate that model. “ 1/8What 3/8 I want to arrive at, is an immigration system based on the Canadian model,” she said. ❱❱ PAGE 27 Quebec Immigration

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

JANUARY 30, 2015

FRIDAY

ATENEO BADMINTON TOURNAMENT

Ateneo Alumni officers Alya Manansala and Amado Mercado III (Photo by Christian Cunanan).

Ateneo Alumni Association & Friends Badminton Tournament (Photo by Christian Cunanan).

Badminton tournament participants (Photo by Christian Cunanan).

UP Alumni Association players

AYALA Ayala Land executives Benedict Redulla (middle) and Josue Ferrer (R) met with Laarni Liwanag (L), Philippine Canadian Inquirer operations and marketing head, to discuss Vancouver’s newest condo and townhouse development by Ayala Land in partnership with Rize Alliance Properties.

FRIENDS OF STO. NINO ASSOCIATION OF BC Some scenes from the Friends of Sto. Nino Association of BC’s 18th anniversary at St. Patrick's Gym on Jan. 24 (Photos by Angelo Siglos).

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

Seen & Scenes: Toronto

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

UNITED AKLANON ASSOC. OF TORONTO The United Aklanon Association of Toronto recently celebrated the annual cultural and religious festival venerating the child Jesus featuring a parade of devotees and revellers (Photos from PCCF FB).

PHIL. CANADIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION The Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation (PCCF) recently held the induction of newly-elected officers and members at Delta Hotel in Toronto. Here are some snapshots of the event. (Photos by Ariel Ramos)

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Community News

JANUARY 30, 2015

Options: Making a difference in communities BY MARY ANN MANDAP Philippine Canadian Inquirer METRO VANCOUVER is known for its natural beauty, with cityscapes blending with mountain views and coastal regions. It has likewise been consistently voted as one of the most livable urban centres in the world with the highest overall quality of life in the whole of Canada. This is probably why the metropolis has one of the most ethnically diverse immigrant groups in the country, and is home to large Chinese and Asian communities. This, too, explains why Options Community Services (OCS) and other help lines are thriving in the area. OCS provides services primarily in Surrey, Delta, White Rock and Langley. It is committed to celebrating the rich diversity of people. “We are guided by the principle that celebrating diversity enriches and empowers the lives of all people,” Connie Hong, Options Senior Program Manager said. History

On Apr. 1, 2009, two societies merged to create OCS. Surrey Community Services Society had been providing services in response to the needs of Surrey residents since 1969 and OPTIONS: Services to Communities Society had been building services in Surrey since 1971. Research shows that during their early years in Surrey, the two former agencies operated transition houses for abused women and their children, crisis lines, counselling services, youth shelters and transportation for seniors and disabled. Now, Options currently operates over 80 programs and projects, employs about 400 staff

Mineque, Taduran represent Rizal Scarborough in global assembly BY DINDO ORBESO St. Jamestown News Service

Tamondong.

members and as many as 300 volunteers. Settlement Program

The Settlement Program is aimed at providing immigrant and refugee newcomers in Surrey and North Delta the tools, knowledge and confidence necessary to establish themselves in Canada. Hong said they help new immigrants and refugees settle in Canada by giving orientations to their new communities as well as guidance and support to access necessary government and community services. The $1.25-million per year settlement program provides information in various languages including Korean, Spanish, Mandarin, Punjabi, Somali, Arabic, Tagalog and English. Process

Newcomers can have a formal needs assessment and obtain referrals to available programs. Then when needs are identified, a settlement plan is given in order to guide them along their settlement paths. Newcomers are given ac-

cess to information to prepare themselves for entry into the Canadian labour market and to become active and productive citizens. Cynthia Tamondong, a settlement volunteer, said she reaches to the community by going to places frequented by Filipinos like malls and the Surrey library and community center. She also holds information sessions so newcomers are provided with more knowledge of the Canadian work environment. “Most Filipinos need assistance in upgrading their education and finding work prospects,” Tamondong said. “We help immigrants by giving orientation to new settlers as well as guiding and supporting them toward the necessary government and community services available.” Meanwhile, Hong said the program may be in English, Korean, Punjabi, Vietnamese and Filipino. To be eligible, one must either be a temporary foreign worker; a provincial nominee; or immigrants who have become naturalized citizens, Hong explained. ■

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FRIDAY

CHAPTER COMMANDER Aristeo (Bert) Mondragon of the Scarborough Chapter of the Order of the Knights of Rizal announced the official designation of Placido (Dong) Mineque, and Joaquin (Jojo) Taduran, Jr, as official representatives of the chapter during the 20th International Assembly of OKOR on Feb. 19 to 22, in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Vigan city is a heritage city recently selected as one of the new seven wonders cities of the world. Vigan is a historical city which still has buildings constructed during the Spanish era. The designation of both Mineque and Taduran as chapter representatives was unanimously voted upon by the officers and members of the

chapter in a meeting hosted by Joe Sison Luzadas in his residence. Present during the meeting include Mondragon, Vir Amante, immediate past chapter commander of the OKOR Scarborough Chapter, Joe Sison Luzadas, Taduran, Willy Paragas, Doner Asaret, and Dong Manique. Manique is the OKOR Canadian Region assistant chancellor while Yanga is the deputy area commander of the East Toronto. Taduran is a four-year regional trustee in charge of publicity and promotions. In the meantime, the OKOR has lined-up several programs and projects for this year and Mondragon is inviting members of the Filipino community to join the Order of the Knights of Rizal in order to help promote among the young Filipino-Canadians the teachings of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. ■

Vigan city, site of the international assembly of the Knights of Rizal.

Community News

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

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Filipinos enjoined to use Philcomcen for meetings BY DINDO ORBESO St. Jamestown News Service THE PHILIPINE Cultural Community Centre (Philcomcen), producer of the Taste of Manila, has put-up an office at Suite 311, 3rd Floor, 3768 Bathurst St. (cor. Wilson) Toronto, On. Rolly Mangante, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, pointed out that the Philcomcen office is open to any Filipino organization

Mangante.

which wants to hold meetings subject to proper scheduling. Mangante said that the second "Taste of Manila" is slated on August 22-23, at Bathurst corner Wilson. He said that several Filipino businesses have requested booth reservations during the scheduled event. Filipino community, religious, seniors, and youth organizations are called upon to call Mangante to book their organization’s use of the Philcomcen. Mangante may be reached at (416) 845 4984. ■

Fiesta Filipino (151 East 3rd St, North Vancouver) Jen-Rex Phil-Canadian Market (114 West 15th St, North Vancouver)

Quebec Immigration... In 2013, unemploy- Quebec, the majority of whom migrants’ knowledge of French ment among new im- are from Africa. From 2009- prior to their arrival in Quebec migrants to Quebec 2013, one immigrant in five and French-language courses. sat at 11.6 per cent, four per- came from Algeria or Morocco. Upon their arrival, nearly half centage points higher than the After the public consulta- of all immigrants (43 per cent) general population. This was tions, Weil will produce a new do not speak a word of French. despite the fact that the majori- immigration policy and an ac“What can we do to go even ty of new immigrants were well tion plan. She said she would further?,” Weil asked, to make educated: 57 per cent complet- present a bill in the fall to French “the cement” and Queed at least 14 years of schooling. “modernize” the current law, bec’s common language. She Employers added that new in each secimmigrants tor across the must have an province will be “adequate level invited to betof French” to ter define their She said she would present a bill in find jobs and workforce needs the fall to “modernize” the current successfully inand provide a law, which she described as “really tegrate. profile of the outdated. Drawing new ideal worker to immigrants to bring to Quebec. towns across the Professional province will associations, also be a priormeanwhile, will ity, as three out be asked to betof four currently ter consider candidates holding which she described as “really settle in the greater Montreal diplomas earned abroad. outdated.” area. Local mayors must play This is even more important The new bill will be “the last “an increased role” to address at a time when the search for piece of this large reform,” and this issue, Weil said. qualified immigrants is “much an “absolutely fundamental” Ultimately, immigration remore competitive” than in the piece of the puzzle, she added. form needs “the full participapast, Weil said. Among the provincial gov- tion of each and every member Every year, between 50,000 ernment’s challenges will be to of Quebec society,” the minister and 55,000 foreigners move to specify the importance of im- said. ■ ❰❰ 23

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Immigration

JANUARY 30, 2015

FRIDAY

Vice President Binay and the rage of the middle class BY JOE AMERICA Special to the Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES is a democracy in transition and it is moving faster than some people think. The transition is from economic poverty to economic wealth, and from a feudal democracy that favors the few to a forthright democracy that works for common good. The catalyst may be President Aquino, but the transition is out of his hands now. Control rests with the Middle Class. And the Middle Class is angry. It is angry that it carries the burdens of train fare increases, traffic jams, lousy internet service and expensive electricity. And it is in a rage that Vice President Binay is allowed to game the system, fool the people, and use sneaky premature campaigning – at taxpayer expense – to try to establish a Binay rule. It is angry at the sense of entitlement that oozes from the Binay family. After all, the Middle Class has to EARN its way forward. We can see the transition taking place if we look at the Senate. A few years ago, it was ruled by “the good old boys” of Enrile and Sotto, Drillon, Osmena and Angara the Elder. They connived and colluded and operated in smokey back rooms deciding how to kill legislation that would put the entitled’s grasp of authority at risk, or pass legislation that would favor them. They are out. We now have a younger crowd moving in to take over, funded by the old dynastic ways, yes, but with a different mindset. They operate under the ideals of youth, that this nation can do better. So we have Freedom of Information and Anti-Dynasty Bills in the works, likely to pop out in 2015. We have aggressive attack dogs like senators Cayetano and Trillanes, and even Legarda and that old but vicious purebred Santiago, on the hunt for people and deeds that are offensive to their sense of what is right. We have progressive pragmatics like Bam Aquino, Sonny Angara, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar working diligently on legislation that will energize the economy, promote better health and well-being, and an honest government.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay waves to the crowd as he led the launching of the "Kilos Kaayusan" (Movement for National Discipline) on Saturday (January 24, 2015) at the Lapu Lapu Monument, in Rizal Park, Manila. The movement aims to instill the value of national discipline as a key to a strong, democratic and progressive society. PNA

The “old dogs” have been pushed to the side, three of them all the way to jail. Senators Sotto, Drillon and Recto are largely irrelevant except as figurehead statesmen. Senators Marcos and Ejercito are marginalized. Senators Escudero and Pia Cayetano seem not yet able to get to the forefront of the new movement, but they could jump in any time. Senator Binay is an outcast. This is not your father’s Philippines. The last dying gasp of the feudal Philippines is to be found in the (alleged) crook who is running for President, Vice President Jejomar Binay. Here’s my take on him. The Vice President is fostering class warfare in the Philippines but the classes are a little different than the routine alphabet classes based on income. They break out as follows: • The oligarchs, generally law

abiding but using the forces of unrestrained economic power to acquire huge commercial empires. • The feudal barons backing Binay, those who owe him favors, or are owed favors by him. And those seeking a ride on the gravy train, the sister city mayors, many of whom share his values: “I get a priority claim to taxpayer money”. • The middle class and honest local politicians, an educated, decent people . . . some funded by OFW’s or even family wealth. . . who desire a Philippines of honorable intent and good deeds, a nation that presents opportunities for citizens to be safe and healthy, and to prosper. • The poor and the subsistence workers who are not in touch with opportunities to prosper because they have so few. They are the fertile field of votes that Binay seeks to harvest in 2016. www.canadianinquirer.net

Many of us think the fate of the 2016 election rests with the poor, the D/E class in terms of personal income. I have come to the conclusion it rests elsewhere. It rests with the oligarchs and the feudal barons. These two groups control Philippine politics. One operates in the backroom with money and whispers being its way to exercise power. The other operates in the public eye, controlling local votes through favors granted to friends, favors too often funded by taxpayers. I suggest that it is very important for people in these two groups to read the Middle Class rage accurately. Their futures depend on it. Here is what they need to factor into their calculus: There is a possibility that if Jejomar Binay is elected President, the Philippines will tear itself apart. What are the odds that this will occur, what is the

risk? Small? So-so? Big? The danger scenario is that – if Binay is elected – Middle Class rage will erupt in another people power moment that will shut Manila down in ways that Hong Kong protesters could not imagine. It will be huge, it will engage not just the youth but the ordinary man and woman, and it will be destructive, on the fringes. Now this may give Binay the incentive to declare martial law and “move like Marcos” to seal his control. In that case, the eruption will go national. It will go nuclear. So the questions the Oligarchs and the Feudal Barons need to ask is . . . • What are the chances? Do I want to risk that? Will I prosper if that occurs? • Or do I want the stability that is assured under a transforming government that emphasizes honesty and productivity? I’ve conducted no survey and

Immigration

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

I’ve read no tea leaves, but I uncles, the young senators, ity. The palpable dislike for have read commentary on so- the priests, the oligarchs and Binay threatens the stability cial media and in discussion business leaders, will be forced and progressive development threads here and there. The to speak as the elections ap- of the Philippines. Stability rage is intense. It is widespread. proach. Their futures and repu- and growth is the platform for It is like nothing I’ve seen dur- tations ride on the preferences riches and success across the ing my nine years here. Maybe of the Middle Class, not the nation. you have insights into it that poor, and they are also likely I suggest the oligarchs and you could share. to shun destructive turmoil. Or feudal barons calculate well. Well, I’m guessing the even the social media storms There are many paths to concrooked sister city mayors will they will witness as the elec- tinued success. accept Binay There is one because an honclear path to est government trouble. ■ is threatening to them. It will The danger scenario is that – if Joe America is a eventually catch Binay is elected – Middle Class rage permanent resithem. But the will erupt in another people power dent in the Philhonest sister moment that will shut Manila down ippines with his city mayors may in ways that Hong Kong protesters Filipina wife and reject Binay. He could not imagine . . . Now this may culturally amrisks leading the give Binay the incentive to declare bidextrous son. Philippines nomartial law and “move like He is a retired where or backMarcos” to seal his control. banking execuward in time, and tive with degrees the city needs to in Mathematics move forward. tion approaches. They will start and Radio and Television Arts. The Oligarchs, if faced starkly to shade their opinions against He arrived in the Philippines with those questions, may very a Binay presidency. Or for his in 2005 and lived for a time in well direct their money and mainstream opponent. Northern Mindanao and Zamwhispers toward the mainThe point here is very sim- bales Province on Luzon. His stream opposition to Binay. For ple. By offending the Middle family now lives in the Visayas stability in their money-mak- Class, Vice President Binay in a rural rice-growing area. ing empires. has thrown a monster wrench The now-silent opinon mak- into the Philippine machinRead more of Joe’s work at ers, the Aquino sisters and ery for growth and prosperwww.joeam.com

Federal parties... ment Hill aide to NDP and Liberal politicians, says the real source of the problem for Canada’s political parties is they still only see social media as a oneway conversation. “Canadian politicians are very good at using social media to broadcast, but they’re very bad at using it to have actual conversations,” said Capstick, whose firm does some social media management. “If there were more actual conversations going on, there would be more regular usage of those Facebook sites and Twitter accounts, and people would be cleaning them more regularly.” The media industry has also grappled with the challenge of policing comments sections, and the racist, sexist or homophobic comments that can live there. Last year, the Chicago Sun-Times took down its comments sections in order to study the issue, while other sites have played down the sections. Paula Todd, digital media ❰❰ 20

professor and author of “Extreme Mean: Trolls, Bullies and Predators Online,” said some offensive speech should be left online so that it can be exposed and critiqued by others. But Todd, the chair of the digital issues committee at Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, said political parties have an obligation to ensure sites they’re responsible for do not contain examples of hate speech. The Criminal Code’s section on the “wilful incitement of hatred” describes a perpetrator as someone who “wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group.” Such groups are defined by colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. “We’re discovering the effects of putting all this horrible stuff online,” said Todd. “One of the effects is that because it’s 24 hours a day, because it flies around the world in seconds, and because it’s permanent, these kinds of hate attacks can be more damaging than just the face to face.” ■

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FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Entertainment

Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez join roster of ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ hosts BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Paulina Vega from Columbia has been crowned as the newest Miss Universe last Sunday.

Miss Colombia crowned Miss Universe 2015, Miss USA and Ukraine runners up PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MOSCOW — Paulina Vega from Columbia, has been crowned as the newest Miss Universe Sunday, while Miss USA Nia Sanchez came in second, the Las Vegas Sun reports. Contestants from 88 countries were represented at the Miss Universe pageant in Miami, Florida on Sunday night. Vega is a 22-year old student of business administration from Barranquilla, Colombia

and is the granddaughter of legendary tenor Gaston Vega. The world’s most beautiful woman said the pageant was the first beauty contest she has ever participated in and it will be her last one as well, as Vega is eager to return to her studies, according to Washington Times. “It is amazing,” Vega said about her new sapphire-studded, US$ 300,000 crown, as cited by Miami Herald. “It’s very new, very modern, it’s very different. I will wear it with pride and excitement.” The 24-year old Miss USA

from Las Vegas, Nevada was the runner up, while Diana Harkusha of Ukraine was the second runner-up. Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell and Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen were the other two ladies that made into the Top Five, passing into the final stage from a total of 88 contestants, the Las Vegas Sun reports. For the contestants, the coronation concluded three weeks of preparation for the pageant, participating in parades, attending photo shoots and visiting local attractions in Miami, Miami Herald reports. ■

SPORTS DUO and 2007 Amazing Race Asia teammates Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez embark on their next adventure as the newest hosts of the upcoming reality show, Asia’s Got Talent. The show, which will soon be airing on AXN, will showcase entertainment industry greats, such as producer-songwriter David Foster, former Spice Girl Melanie C, Indonesian celebrity Anggun, and ex- F4 member Vanness Wu. Marc made the announce-

ment via his Instagram account, posting the following message: “At long long last the secret is out! Sorry to keep you all in the dark for so long, but I’m very happy to announce that my good buddy Rovilson and I are the hosts of the Biggest Talent Show in the World… Asia’s Got Talent! woohoo!! We just wrapped judges auditions and they were awesome! So privileged to be working alongside our amazing judges Melanie C, Van Ness Wu, Anggun and David Foster. It’s going to be epic! :)” Asia’s Got Talent will be telecast beginning June 1, 2015. ■

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FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Piolo Pascual says bike accident was minor; clears rumours about major mishap BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Film and television actor Piolo Pascual suffered a “minor bike accident” on Thursday, while shooting an advertisement for ABSCBNMobile. “He has a few scratches and a small fracture in his finger. He already received proper medical attention for his injuries and has been cleared by the doctors to go home and rest,” read a statement issued by the actor, and released on “Aquino & Abunda Tonight.” The talk show’s host, Kris Aquino urged viewers not to exaggerate the incident.

“Huwag nila i-exagge (They should not exaggerate it.),” Aquino said. “Bakit sinasabi natin ito mga kaibigan? Dahil lumabas po ang iba’t ibang balita kanina na napakalaking aksidente ang nangyari kanina kay Piolo Pascual, hindi po totoo ito (Why do we say this, friends? We say this because many different versions of the story came out earlier, that a very bad accident happened to Piolo Pascaul, and those stories are not true.),” co-host Boy Abunda added, as he noted that the statement was issued to put a stop to all the rumours and false reports about the accident. ■

John Lloyd says top priority is career; no wedding bells, just yet BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Popular actor John Lloyd Cruz said that he has no plans of tying the knot just yet with his girlfriend of two years, to date; actress Angelica Panganiban. Although he admitted to feeling the pressure to settle down and start a family. Cruz said that despite several recent celebrity weddings — the main reason for the pressure — he has to focus on his career, at the moment. The actor, who just last week John Lloyd Cruz. renewed his three-year contract with the ABS-CBN net- the contract, to deliver on what na ma-achieve ko muna yung work, spoke about the matter to I signed, to my commitment to gusto ko munang ma-achieve reporters from ABS-CBN News the network.), Cruz said. ” in terms of the content of the and “The Buzz.” “Bihira na sa kagaya ko na contract (It comes rare these “At this point, kakapirma lang medyo matagal na rin sa indus- days that such an opportunity natin. I’d like to is given to someshow my bosses one like me, na nasa top priorwho has been in ity natin ngayon the industry for ang trabaho and I’d like to show my bosses that work some time, to be gusto natin mais my top priority now, and that I given this kind of achieve yung condesire to achieve the content of the blessing from the tent ng kontrata, contract, to deliver on what I signed, network. I guess maka-deliver to my commitment to the network. what comes next tayo sa pinirmais whatever ophan natin, sa portunity that commitment nayou are given, tin sa network (At this point, triya at nabibigyan ng ganitong but for now what is more imwe just signed the deal. I’d like klaseng tiwala from the net- portant that I first achieve what to show my bosses that work is work. I guess ang kasunod nun I want to achieve in terms of my top priority now, and that I is kung ano yung opportunity na the content of the contract.)” desire to achieve the content of binibigay sa ‘yo, mas mahalaga he added. ■

Oscar nomination comes after a few lean years for National Film Board BY NICK PATCH The Canadian Press TORONTO — After a tumultuous period of budget cuts and high-profile staff departures, the National Film Board celebrated its 75th year with a welcome bit of good news: an Academy Award nomination. During a tough 2014, the NFB weathered the full ramifications of the governmentinitiated budget cuts of 2012

(shrinking the organization’s public funding by around $6.5 million to roughly $60 million) while earning headlines with the sudden exits of former chair Tom Perlmutter and his deputy, Ravida Din. So the recent arrival of an Oscar nomination for NorwegianCanadian filmmaker Torill Kove’s winsome short “Me and My Moulton” came as a rare bit of good news. It was the NFB’s first Oscar nomination since landing two

in 2011, and for an organization that wears its golden Oscar history proudly — 73 nominations in 75 years — it came as a validating acknowledgment. “Well, of course, the Oscar nomination is at the top of the list of any awards that exist in this world,” said NFB commissioner Claude Joli-Coeur in a telephone interview. “I think you have the Oscars and you have the other prizes. ... It’s some proof of the potential of the talents that we are dealwww.canadianinquirer.net

ing with.” He pauses to point out how many accolades the NFB receives from other bodies, 111 last year alone, 68 from international sources. So it’s not only the Oscars that are important. “But of course the Oscars is really special. Really, really special,” he added. If the NFB’s potential for creating award-worthy fare remains intact, Joli-Coeur acknowledges that the organiza-

tion’s biggest challenge now is connecting more deeply with audiences. On his organization’s reach, Joli-Coeur supplies a staggering statistic: 27 million Canadians “one way or another” in the last year screened an NFB product. The organization’s mandate hasn’t changed; the NFB exists to “reflect Canada and matters of interest to Canadians, to ❱❱ PAGE 33 Oscar nomination

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JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

Meryl Streep Oscar’s most-nominated actor BY RUBEN V. NEPALES Philippine Daily Inquirer LOS ANGELES — With her recent Oscar nomination, Meryl Streep extends her lead as the most nominated performer in the Academy’s history. Meryl’s best supporting actress nod for her portrayal of the Witch in Rob Marshall’s “Into the Woods” brings her total to 19, way ahead of Jack Nicholson and the late Katharine Hepburn, who have 12 each. Meryl also lords it over esteemed actors Al Pacino, who has eight; and Dustin Hoffman, Judi Dench and Robert De Niro, seven each. Meryl’s latest nomination was revealed by the Academy in its nominations announcement at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Chris Pine, directors JJ Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron and Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs read this year’s list in early morning rites attended by select media from around the world. The world’s preeminent living actress is up against Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”), Laura Dern (“Wild”), Keira Knightley (“The Imitation Game”) and Emma Stone (“Birdman”). Colorful reaction

Emma, for whom it is a first Oscar nom, had a “colorful” reaction: “Well, this is surreal. I am completely knocked out. Thank you to the Academy... I am very proud and lucky to be a part of ‘Birdman’... I am so f***ing excited. Are you allowed to say f*** when you’re making a statement for the Oscars? I’m just really f***ing excited.” Laura, who plays the mother of memoirist Cheryl Strayed ( Reese Witherspoon) in Jean-Marc Vallée’s adaptation of the bestselling book “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” said, “I share this with Reese, who worked so diligently to pro-

tect this story, and our amazing producers, as well as Jean-Marc Vallée and Nick Hornby, who gave their art to shape ‘Wild.’” Michael Keaton, also a firsttime Oscar nominee at age 63, thanks to his acclaimed lead performance in Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu’s “Birdman,” remarked, “Humbled and, more than anything, grateful. So, so happy that Alejandro, the cast and crew are getting recognized. I am proud to be a part of such a bold, gutsy and daring experiment... Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to try as best I can [to] wipe this smile off my face. Wish me luck.” Nine each

“Birdman” tied with Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” for the most nominations with nine each, followed by Morten Tyldum’s “The Imitation Game” with eight. Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” and Robert Linklater’s “Boyhood” snagged six each; James Marsh’s “The Theory of Everything,” Chris Nolan’s “Interstellar” and Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash,” five each. Only eight made it to the best picture race, a first since 2011, when the Academy changed balloting rules to allow between five and 10 nominees: “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” Ava DuVernay’s “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Whiplash.” Alejandro, who also earned a best director nod, gushed, “I am very happy for the whole ‘ Birdman’ flock; it took a lot of courage to make this film out of conventions. These nominations reflect the recognition of our colleagues [and] the Academy. I amproud, thankful and humbled.” Clear message

“Birdman” producer James Skotchdopole addressed directors everywhere: “Nine Oscar

ceived three consecutive acting nods in recent Academy history. Bradley’s fellow nominees are all firsttimers: Michael, Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”) and Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher”). Knocked for six

Meryl Streep.

nominations for the singularly original ‘Birdman’ send a clear message to filmmakers around the world: ‘Taking risks while on a creative tightrope (without a net!) can have an incredible outcome!’” Speaking of “singularly original,” Wes Anderson reacted this way about the nine nominations, including best director, of “The Grand Budapest Hotel”: “I’ve been asked to make a ‘statement,’ though I feel it does sound more like bragging... My producers and I send our... deepest thanks to the Academy and its 8,000 members for a whole slew of nominations, especially for my long-time collaborators Robert Yeoman, our cinematographer who has worked with me on seven movies; Milena Canonero, our Italian costume designer; Alexandre Desplat, our French composer; Barney Pilling, our English editor; Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier, [also] English, hair/makeup; and Adam Stockhausen, production designer, [from] Wisconsin. “Also, my friend Hugo Guinness, who cowrote the movie with me, expresses his gratitude. We feel deeply honored, thrilled and, frankly, very, very pleased with ourselves.” Richard Linklater, who also bagged a best director citation, said on behalf of “Boyhood”: “It’s a huge honor for the film but I am most excited for my

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longtime collaborators of over 20 years— Sandra Adair and Hawke— and for our new, well, not-so-new partners Cathleen Sutherland and Patricia Arquette. I am also very thankful to Jonathan Sehring and everyone at IFC Films, to my good friend John Sloss and to everyone who worked on the film. Daunting task

“I am especially thankful to the young actors Ellar Coltrane Ethan and Lorelei Linklater, without whom there would have been no movie, and who became wonderful young adults in the process.” Sandra had the challenging task of cutting “Boyhood,” which was intermittently shot over 12 years, and was justly rewarded with a best editing nod. “To see the film get this kind of recognition is very humbling,” she said. “I feel privileged to have been a part of Richard’s team on this incredible journey.” Richard, Wes and Alejandro square off with Bennett Miller (“Foxcatcher”) and Morten Tyldum (“The Imitation Game”) in the best director race. Bradley Cooper’s citation in “American Sniper” is his third consecutive acting nod, after “American Hustle” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” He joins Renee Zellweger and Russell Crowe on the list of performers who re-

“I am knocked for six by this,” said Benedict, sounding like the British guy that he is. “To ring my parents, who are both actors, and tell them that their only son has been nominated for an Oscar is one of the proudest moments of my life.” Eddie, Benedict’s fellow English thespian, remarked, “I’m so incredibly honored to be recognized by the Academy, and even more thrilled to share this honor with the entire family of filmmakers, cast and crew of ‘The Theory of Everything.’ Congratulations to my fellow nominees, thank you to the Academy and thank you most of all to Stephen and Jane Hawking.” Marion Cotillard’s best actress nod for “Two Days, One Night” is her second for a performance in a language other than English. She wonthe first, for “LaVie en-Rose.” She’s in good company; she is only the fifth actor to earn two or more nods in foreign-language films. The other four are Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Liv Ullmann and Isabelle Adjani. Marion is vying against Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”), Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”), and two first-timers, Felicity Jones (“Theory…”) and Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”). Among the best supporting actor hopefuls, JK Simmons is the only one who notched his first nod (for “Whiplash”). The other nominees are Robert Duvall (“The Judge”), Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”), Edward Norton (“Birdman”) and Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”). In ❱❱ PAGE 39 Meryl Streep

Entertainment

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Oscar nomination... Canada and the rest of the world.” And yet, it’s still worth distinguishing the NFB from other arts-boosting agencies. Where the Canada Council for the Arts provides grants or Telefilm Canada funding, the NFB produces and distributes its material, often reaching outside for funding. With a production slate of roughly 60 to 80 films per year and around 400 employees, the NFB is an “incubator of ideas,” argues Joli-Coeur, offering a creative atmosphere uncommon for a film producer. “We have at the NFB an environment of creation that doesn’t exist anywhere else,” he said. “We are efficient about how we do things but we are never in a rush. We can adjust the creation process to get the best work.” In Kove’s case, the NFB provided her equipment, technical advisers and a place to stay, among other things. Online editing and sound mixing for her films take place at the NFB’s Montreal headquarters and, though Kove says her NFB producers are creatively nonintrusive, she leans on them for help throughout the process. All three of Kove’s NFB co❰❰ 31

produced short films have been nominated for Oscars (and 2006’s “The Danish Poet” gave the NFB one of its 12 wins). She doesn’t solely credit the NFB with Canada’s history of esteemed animated fare, but says it’s an important piece in the puzzle. “I think (the movies) would probably be made anyway — animation comes out from all places in the world that don’t have an NFB,” she said. “But very few countries have this kind of continuity where you can depend on this institution to come out with a few really good films every year. “There’s not a lot of places like that, if any. And I think that’s important.” Kove moved to Montreal in the late ‘80s and became enamoured of the NFB’s archive quickly. She was considering attending Concordia University for animation and was “amazed by the range of different techniques” on offer in the NFB’s catalogue. Graham Annable, co-director of the recently Oscar-nominated “The Boxtrolls,” was similarly won over by NFB animation. As a Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., high-schooler with a biology textbook covered in doodles, he

Me and My Moulton.

was trying to decide between a future in science or art when he discovered Richard Condie’s 1985 NFB production “The Big Snit.” Annable chose art. “And I still think that’s the funniest piece of entertainment that’s ever been created,” he said in a recent telephone interview. Joli-Coeur hopes that the NFB’s move to a new headquarters in Montreal’s cen-

tral Quartier des Spectacles (planned for 2017) will have a transformative effect on the film board’s presence in the city, noting that their current building is “in front of a major expressway, between two car dealers.” Right now, a modest $5 million of the NFB’s budget is derived from reinvested film revenue, with the rest coming from the public. But Joli-Coeur says the budget cuts of the past few

years have not been debilitating. “Of course it has been stressing on the organization, but at the end of the day it hasn’t had a major impact on how we’re delivering our service to Canadians,” he said. “Sometimes, cuts like that or revenue shortages, they force you to reinvent and look at things differently. “A difficult financial situation can also be inspiration for innovation.” ■

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

You will be pressured with harsh comments and feedbacks from your friends this week, so make sure to build a secret line of defense inside you to strengthen your patience wall. Try holding it in and looking at things positively.

Keep an eye on your goals, Cancer. You might have been wandering out in nowhere because of focusing on activities that are not in line with your priorities. Making a list of the goals you really want to achieve will help you make the right decisions.

You might have planned everything in the past week but some things may not just go the way you want it to be this week. Remember that being a chameleon ready to change colors when needed will help you make this week extraordinary.

A friend of yours will react negatively on your statement, so start being careful, Capricorn. Look for the right and modest words. Politeness is your best companion when it comes to dealing with heated conversation.

TAURUS

LEO

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

The stars will require you to take a momentary pause from the very dreadful week that has gone by. Remember to take breaks and re-charge for a more productive work. Finding some time to relax the mind will help you get that job well done.

You’ve been losing focus lately because of a personal problem that has been troubling your mind. This week might be a crucial week for your career goals. Try de-stressing before going to work so you can start fresh and with a clear mind.

The people around you will be relying heavily on your skill to decide swiftly. Your ability to analyze situation and create possible outcomes will help your team succeed in your group task. You certainly won’t fail them so try practicing now, Scorpio.

Now is your chance to boost that creativity inside you. Trying something different “artsy” like painting, sketching, designing your room or your house, and a bunch of activities will help you start enhancing your creative mind.

GEMINI

VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

Your success will depend on the kind of commitment you make with the tasks assigned to you this week. Putting your best foot forward is the key in building your career milestones. Start giving your best today and the best things will come running to you later.

Do not fear of taking risks, Virgo. Sometimes you have to break-free from the traditional ways to create innovative directions. Change is the only constant thing in the world so embrace it. Be confident!

It’s about time to free yourself form all the negative emotions you’ve been keeping inside. Going out for a walk, starting a “shock-absorber” journal or running around the park may help you unload that negative energy.

www.canadianinquirer.net

This week is the best week to stage a real fight, Pisces. And the stars mean emotional and not physical. Fighting for what you sincerely believe to be true is just one of the many things you must start to keep your spirit in good shape.

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Lifestyle

Kids who play outdoors solo, with pals more active than supervised peers: study BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press TORONTO — Children permitted to play outdoors on their own or with friends are getting more physical activity than kids who are constantly supervised, a new Canadian study suggests. Study lead author Raktim Mitra of Toronto’s Ryerson University said researchers wanted to explore the impact on kids’ physical health if they were given freedom to explore places within their neighbourhoods without adult supervision. Researchers analyzed data from a survey of more than 1,000 parents and caregivers of Grades 5 and 6 students at 16 public elementary schools across Toronto, including those located in both low-income and affluent areas, as well as in urban and suburban neighbourhoods. Kids had to wear an activity measurement unit known as an accelerometer for seven days. About 35 per cent of parents or caregivers reported that they never allow kids to go out on their own or with friends. Only 16 per cent said they either frequently or always permitted kids to travel on their own independently. Mitra said researchers found that kids who were allowed at least some time to go out and explore on their own or with friends were between 14 and 19 per cent more physically active than kids who were always supervised. “Hypothetically speaking,

Researchers found that kids who were allowed at least some time to go out and explore on their own or with friends were more physically active than kids who were always supervised.

when children are out on their own or with friends, that kind of creates opportunities for them to walk more or go to places or participate in spontaneous play times, which contributes to their overall amount of physical activity,” said Mitra, a professor in the school of urban and regional planning at Ryerson. “When they’re with parents, (much of ) the time, they’re either driven to different activities; and as a result, they don’t get these opportunities for spontaneous physical activity.” Guidelines recommend that Canadian kids and youth get 60 minutes of moderate to vig-

orous activity daily. Walking quickly, skating and bike riding are examples of moderate activities, while running, basketball and soccer are examples of vigorous activities. However, in the most recent physical activity report card released by Active Healthy Kids Canada, only seven per cent of five- to 11-year-olds and four per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds were meeting those targets. In the study of the Toronto kids, they accumulated, on average, about 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Mitra co-authored the study with Guy Faulkner and Ron

Buliung from the University of Toronto and Michelle Stone of Dalhousie University in Halifax. The paper was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and published in the December issue of the journal Urban Studies. Mitra said researchers found no statistically relevant association between a neighbourhood’s traffic conditions and parents’ willingness to let their kids go out on their own. However, when parents expressed concern about “stranger danger,” Mitra said that would work as a barrier in preventing

kids from going out unsupervised. Kids’ fitness expert Mark Tremblay said the findings are consistent with other research that finds children in playgrounds tend to be more active when their parents aren’t around. And while adults may have good intentions in protecting kids from potential injury or harm, there’s no evidence that such danger has changed over time, he noted. “If anything, it’s probably been reduced,” said Tremblay, director of Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. “It’s sort of an irony that in an attempt to be the best generation of parents ever that there’s emerging evidence that the behaviour of the parents is one that’s actually going to accelerate physical problems with their kids in the long run.” Tremblay said the reasonable approach to allowing kids to have more freedom is for parents to begin to permit a bit more roaming distance or independent mobility, either on their own or with friends. “In that independence comes the ability to develop executive functioning, problem-solving skills, these sorts of things which of course we all want our kids to have,” said Tremblay. “If we’re hovering over them constantly making the decisions for them, of course we’re delaying that development which is fundamental to their well-being.” ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Got a rash from your belt buckle or ring? You could have contact dermatitis BY HELEN BRANSWELL The Canadian Press TORONTO — It could come from the metal on the back of your watch face, or your belt buckle’s tendency to brush against the skin on your stomach. Or it could be the hair dye gooped onto your scalp when you go to have your roots touched up. Or the talc in the latex gloves you pull on at work. It could even come from sitting on your sofa. It is contact dermatitis, an irritating, sore and little understood skin problem that is suffered by many and caused by a plethora of different products and exposures. It looks a bit like localized eczema — a scaly patch of pink or red skin on an arm where a watch would normally sit, or cracked and oozing eruptions on hands. Sometimes you might see swollen ears and a strip of angry red skin along the hairline. The good news is the condition isn’t life threatening and is generally pretty manageable — after you figure out what is triggering your skin’s reaction. Getting to the bottom of the problem can sometimes take Dr. House-like skills, with a dermatologist doing what amounts to a forensic investigation of the various items to which you are exposed every day to try to figure out if the culprit is your laundry detergent, your body lotion or a chemical you encounter at work. “That’s what’s fun about it,” says Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, a Toronto-based dermatologist who has a subspecialty in contact dermatitis. “We are known as sort of detectives in the contact dermatitis realm. ... Sometimes you get crazy stuff.” She’s seen a pig farmer who reacted to cobalt in pig feed. A veterinarian who developed a reaction to peppermint oil applied to cow udders. And a drug compounder whose face swelled up from a reaction to an antibiotic she was crushing to make into pills. Then there was the woman who would get violent skin eruptions on the soles of her

feet and the back of her thighs at work. She worked in a paint production plant and was allergic to a preservative used there. Skotnicki says it turned out a co-worker was surreptitiously spraying the woman’s work shoes and the seat of her chair with the preservative. Skotnicki didn’t solve this mystery, but likes the example: Awhile back, people were showing up at dermatologists’ offices with mysterious and extensive skin rashes. It turned out a lot of people are allergic to a preservative put into fabric used to upholster some couches — dimethyl fumarate. More common cases involve hairdressers who develop an intolerance to hair dyes, mechanics who start reacting to preservatives in oil or nurses who develop reactions to a compo- Contact dermatitis, an irritating and little understood skin condition, can be caused by anything from a metal belt buckle nent of the gloves they wear at to a scoop of hair gel, and even rubbing against a couch. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS work. Despite the wide range of causes and the fact that it’s a by a shellfish allergy. is a common component in cos- Skotnicki says. pretty common condition, conIrritant dermatitis is caused tume jewelry, is a frequent culConfirming the cause of a tact dermatitis is a sort of un- by persistent exposures to prit here. Inexpensive jewelry contact allergic dermatitis der-the-radar ailment. something which irritates an can trigger rashes; so too can problem is done using a patch “It is a condition that is not individual’s skin; that some- metal snaps on shirts. test, where tiny amounts of susreally known to the general thing can differ from person to Hair dyes, henna and even the pected allergens are taped to a public. Or, for that matter, to person. It could be fragrances inks used in tattoos fall into this person’s back, sometimes for as most doctors — unless they are in body lotions or creams, or category. Developing an allergy long as three days, Sapijaszko dermatologists,” says Dr. Mari- chemical components in cos- to the ink in tattoos presents a says. A red welt will appear if usz Sapijaszko, an Edmonton- metics or solvents. real challenge, says Sapijaszko, the dermatologist has figured based dermatologist. The solution is to figure out who notes trying to remove the out the correct cause. There are actually two types the source of the problem and tattoo the regular way — with a Some discoveries mean peoof the condition: laser — can make ple must make small changes in contact irritant the situation their lives. dermatitis and worse. A body wash or shampoo that contact allergic “It’s a very contains methylisothiazolidermatitis. The ‘That’s what’s fun about it,’ says Dr. tricky situation. none — an omnipresent chemiformer is more Sandy Skotnicki, a Toronto-based Your tattoo just cal that is causing “an epidemcommon. dermatologist who has a subspecialty swells up and ic” of allergic dermatitis these The names in contact dermatitis. ‘We are known becomes wet days, Skotnicki says — can be provide clues to as sort of detectives in the contact and itchy and replaced with something that the conditions dermatitis realm. ... Sometimes you bumpy,” he says. doesn’t trigger a reaction. A hair and the differget crazy stuff.’ A confusing el- colourist who becomes allergic ences between ement of contact to permanent dye can apply the them. As it imallergic dermati- product wearing a heavy-grade plies, contact tis is that it can glove. (There’s no work-around means this is an external reac- dial back the exposure. develop over time; you can be if your head has become allergic tion to something which the “If you have a strong soap fine with something for a long to dye; then it’s time to embrace skin touches. and you wash your hands fre- time, and then you are not. For the grey.) It’s in the same ballpark as quently or your body, you may some people, the 10th exposure But sometimes bigger changallergies to foods or things we develop contact irritant der- may be the one that triggers es have to be made. People inhale like pollens or pet dan- matitis to that soap. You’re not the first allergic reaction. Or it working in a profession where der; it is caused by an immune allergic to the soap. You just could be the 100th or 1,000th. they cannot avoid exposure to a system response. But the por- have to use it less or less often It doesn’t make any difference. substance that induces contact tion of the immune system that and you’ll be fine,” Sapijaszko Once you become allergic to allergic dermatitis may need to kicks into action with contact explains. something like hair dye or the find a new job. dermatitis is not identical to Contact allergic dermatitis is lavender in your skin cream, “If you’re a baker and you’re the part that delivers the runny trickier. That’s where a person that’s it. allergic to flour, it’s pretty hard nose symptoms of hay fever or develops an allergy that leads “Allergic is all or nothing. to work,” says Sapijaszko, using the anaphylactic shock induced to skin eruptions. Nickel, which Once allergic, always allergic,” a real-life example. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Lifestyle

JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

Researchers have found that the "Percent Daily Value" nutrition label found on most food products in Canada and the US were the "least usable" out of several different methods examined. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

New rating system would be easier to digest than current nutrition labels: study BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press TORONTO — If labelling on food was easier for consumers to digest it might improve nutrition and curb the obesity epidemic, suggest two McGill University researchers. “I had no idea the obesity crisis was a real crisis, but when you actually look at the economic consequences it’s enormous,” Thomas Schultz, a professor of psychology and computer science at the university, said from Montreal. “If unchecked it will bankrupt the medical systems in even the richest countries, so it’s an important problem.” Schultz and Peter Helfer, lead author of the study and a PhD student in psychology and neuroscience at McGill, compared four labelling systems. They found that Percent Daily Value, the nutrition facts label on most food products in Canada and the United States, was the least usable. A system called NuVal, which scores foods on a scale of one to 100, developed by Yale University professor David Katz, came out on top. The Traffic Light system used in the U.K. let people

make more nutritious choices “And the food companies into account that not everyone but took more time to assess have learned that they can needs the same nutrients, she because the colours of several charge more for products that added. traffic lights have to be counted have nutrition-sounding adverThe majority of the populaand compared. tising on them. Like advertising tion needs to ingest more poThe fourth type, a binary sys- low-fat, they can charge more tassium, for example, and its tem that certifies some foods for that and people are willing content in a food would raise as nutritious but not others — to pay it.” its score. But people with kidsimilar to Canada Health Check But registered dietitian ney disease or other conditions — made for quick decisions Christy Brissette thinks a graph might need to limit the mineral. but didn’t increase nutritious or stoplight system — request“Based on the system (NuVal) choices, the researchers found. ed by many consumers when uses, it would rate a yogurt that “What our study shows is Health Canada opened up dis- uses artificial sweetener as bethat a system like (NuVal) could cussions about improving food ing more nutritious than a plain be useful; someyogurt because thing that simthe artificially plifies nutrition sweetened one information, rewould be lower solves conflicts, The %DV is ‘such a bad system in total sugar,” is very easy and that people will use advertising said Brissette, quick to use,” on the product instead who works in the Schultz said. — and advertising can be very Ellicsr kitchen For their study, deceptive.’ at Princess MarSchultz and garet Hospital in Helfer recruited Toronto. 192 participants “This is refrom Canada and the U.S. and labels — helps people interpret ally missing the bigger picture conducted an online experi- nutrition at a glance, rather of choosing more natural, less ment to measure people’s abil- than oversimplifying it into a processed foods when it just asity to compare pairs of foods on single number such as with Nu- signs a number or tries to make nutrient levels — based on la- Val. this mathematical and puts all bels — and to estimate amounts “People like the idea of seeing the nutritional information unof saturated fat, sugar, sodium, this kind of stoplight where you der one bucket.” fibre and protein in the foods. get a red, or high, for something Reading ingredients lists is The %DV is “such a bad sys- like salt and that might give you key, she added. tem that people will use adver- the red flag if you’re watching “If there’s all kinds of chemitising on the product instead salt in your diet,” Brissette said. cals you can’t pronounce it’s — and advertising can be very The problem with a rating not going to be a healthy choice deceptive,” said Schultz. system is that it doesn’t take and so this does ignore that aswww.canadianinquirer.net

pect,” Brissette said. Health Canada is currently overhauling nutrition labels, taking into account such factors as suggested serving sizes being more consistent among similar foods and helping consumers determine how much sugar is in packaged foods. A series of public consultations on the proposals ran until September. Schultz said their evidence indicates a simpler system than the %DV used now is a step in the right direction, though he lamented there is a tendency on labels to emphasize the negative characteristics associated with health, like salt, sugar and fat. “I think the NuVal system or something like NuVal does better by also emphasizing the positive aspects of food, not just the negative aspects. So the more positive aspects that food has and the fewer negative aspects, the better it’s going to be. It seems unfortunate that people are coming up with schemes that just emphasize the negative,” he said. “I suppose the problem with tobacco is the model for that. You just put these warning labels on it and maybe people will use it.” The study is published in the December issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. ■

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Business

North American newsprint capacity being cut as demand continues to slip BY ROSS MAROWITS The Canadian Press MONTREAL — North American newsprint manufacturers will continue to pare production and jobs in 2015, mainly as they complete cuts announced last year, according to industry officials and observers. After this year’s reduction of about 350,000 tonnes, capacity will have been cut by almost 700,000 tonnes in Canada over the past 13 months and by about 550,000 tonnes in the United States. An analyst with forest products trade publication RISI said he doesn’t foresee large additional capacity cuts in 2015 beyond what has been announced. “Unless demand really underperforms expectations and shows no sign of improving and exports are even worse than the 15 per cent decline that we’re showing, there might not actually be a need for capacity closures through most of 2015,” said Derek Mahlburg. Faced with slipping newsprint prices, Kruger and Resolute Forest Products (TSX:RFP) have been the most aggressive at chopping capacity in Canada, reducing output at several mills in Quebec and Ontario late last year. Resolute will also stop two machines at Clermont, Que., later this month with about 255,000 tonnes of output. Overall, that will mean the loss of 300 jobs at Resolute mills in Iroquois Falls, Ont., and BaieComeau and Clermont, Que.

North American newsprint demand fell nine per cent to 6.5 million tonnes in 2014, marking the 15th consecutive year it has decreased, said the Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC). WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Meanwhile, Kruger cut 100 decreased, said the Pulp and Pa- this year as readers continue jobs and 100,000 tonnes of per Products Council (PPPC), to shift to digital media from capacity late last year after which represents North Ameri- newspapers. closing a paper machine at its can newsprint producers. North American producers Brompton plant in Sherbrooke, The decrease accelerated late have tried to offset domestic Que. last year, falling by 11.9 per cent weakness by increasing exPaul Quinn ports, which of RBC Capital now account for Markets said about one-third he expects fallof shipments. ing demand will Unless demand really underperforms After rising 32 prompt more expectations and shows no sign per cent in 2013, conversions of of improving . . . there might not offshore shipnewsprint maactually be a need for capacity ments dropped chines to other closures through most of 2015. nearly seven per paper grades, alcent last year though the lower and are forecast Canadian dollar to decline anothmay have bought them some in December. Demand in Can- er 15 per cent in 2015. time. ada decreased 4.5 per cent last Exports were affected by North American newsprint year, while it was down 10 per lower demand in the two largdemand fell nine per cent to 6.5 cent in the U.S. est markets — a 23 per cent remillion tonnes in 2014, marking Demand is expected to drop duction in Asia excluding Japan the 15th consecutive year it has to about 6.1 million tonnes and a 4.1 per cent drop in Latin

EXCHANGE RATES

America. Weak global currencies outside the U.S. are compounding the problem, allowing foreign producers, especially Russia, to increase sales in these important markets, officials say. Prices are more than US$70 per tonne lower than in mid2013. Meanwhile, producers in North America, Europe, Korea and China are fighting for market share in India, where demand is rising because of the publication of new newspapers, especially non-English publications, and additional products outside traditional markets, said PPPC vice-president Martine Hamel. “Basically everybody’s looking at India so it’s a very competitive market,” she said. ■

As of January 28, 2015, from finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CND / USD

1.2434

+0.0042

+0.3430%

CND / PHP

35.4476

-0.0943

-0.2654%

CND / EUR

1.4100

+0.0005

+0.0379%

Business

JANUARY 30, 2015 FRIDAY

Bright prospects seen for Philippine economy in 2015 BY KRIS M. CRISMUNDO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Despite the slower growth of the economy in 2014, economists, the government, and the business community project brighter prospects for the Philippine economy in 2015. The country’s average gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first three quarters of last year settled at 5.8 percent, lower than the government’s target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent GDP growth for 2014. For Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, the economy is seen to regain its fast growth this year after “resting” at 5.8 percent last year — correcting and adjusting from the booming 7.2 percent GDP growth in 2013. In an interview, Domingo projected the country’s GDP to grow at 7.0 percent and above this year supported by the expansion of the manufacturing sector, sustained strength of the services sector, continuous flow of remittances, better performance of agriculture sector, rolling out of public-private partnership (PPP) projects, higher infrastructure budget, election-related spending due to the approaching national election in 2016, continuous decline in prices of oil products, and inflation rate slowdown, among others. For the part of Alfredo M. Yao, the president of the country’s largest business organization Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), he also forecast the Philippine economy to expand better this year than in 2014. Yao projected GDP growth for this year to settle at 7.0 to 7.2 percent. His reason: Same as the DTI chief’s. Economic developments

* Investments in manufacturing sector are expected to continue. Both the Board of Investments (BOI) and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) — two of the country’s largest investment promotion agencies (IPA) — noted surge in investments in the manufacturing sector in 2014. Approved investments by

On the other hand, the national government has committed to increase the infrastructure budget for this year to around 4.0 percent of GDP. Seize the opportunities

BOI in the manufacturing sector last year increased by 78 percent to PHP24.5 billion from PHP13.8 billion in 2013. Likewise, PEZA recorded huge investments in the sector last year as four out of 10 biggest economic zone developers were for the manufacturing sector while six out of 10 largest projects in the previous year were expansions from manufacturing companies. BOI and PEZA, which are under the DTI, expect investments in the manufacturing sector to continue with positive expectations of foreign investors in the country. Both IPAs will continue to promote the Philippines this year as an investment destination, with focus in Japan and European countries for PEZA, while BOI — aside from the traditional markets — will attract investors from South America. * Automotive industry will continue to perk up. The auto industry ended 2014 with a booming 27 percent growth in sales totaling 270,312 units last year. The industry expects total sales this year to reach 300,000 units. * Recovering electronics sector. Positive outlook is seen for the electronics industry, both in trade and investments. The World Bank has said that markets of electronic products already recovered. Thus, the

Philippines — as one of the major electronics exporting countries in the region — will benefit from the recovering global electronics industry. The Semiconductor and Electronics Industry of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) said the industry’s exports in January to November 2014 period grew by 8.0 percent to USD22 billion. Electronic products account for around 30 percent of the country’s total exports. In terms of investments, PEZA said the electronics industry will remain the top investor this year, particularly with the robust demand in the auto electronics. * Lower oil prices, higher purchasing power. The Philippines is a big beneficiary of the declining oil prices in the world market since the country is a net importer of oil products. According to the World Bank, oil prices have decreased by more than 40 percent between January and December last year and is seen to further decline by an average of 31.9 percent this year. The World Bank added that this will push for higher household and business purchasing power, which can support consumption growth in 2015. “Moreover, lower oil prices can boost the economy of the Philippines’ oil importing trade partners, thereby increasing www.canadianinquirer.net

demand for Philippine exports,” the World Bank noted in its Philippine Economic Update published earlier this month. * Favorable exports sector. Aside from the benefit of falling crude prices to the export sector, the inclusion of the Philippines in the European Union Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (EU GSP+) will be favorable to the country’s exports revenue. The EU GSP+, which took effect Dec. 25, provides zero duty to 6,274 products from the scheme’s beneficiaries entering the EU market. DTI expects exports to EU to increase by at least 600 million euros in the first few years of the GSP+ implementation. Other countries can also take advantage of the Philippines as a gateway to EU markets with this GSP+. * Rolling out infrastructure projects. PPP projects which will boost the construction sector of the country will also back the economic growth of the country in 2015. Citing the Philippine Economic Update of World Bank, there are PHP435-billion worth of PPP projects in the pipeline up to this year. Eight projects have started their construction while seven others are expected to kick off this year.

The bright prospects for 2015 will be possible when both public and private sectors will do their best efforts. The World Bank, which projected Philippine GDP growth at 6.5 percent this year, has listed risks and policies that shall not be neglected in order to achieve the GDP forecasts for 2015. These concerns and actions cited by the World Bank include: * Achieving growth of around 6.5 percent in 2015 is within reach if the government executes the 2015 budget as planned. * A commitment to fully utilize the budget, in particular, reaching the 5.0 percent of GDP target for infrastructure spending by 2016 and fully implementing the typhoon "Yolanda" master plan. It will not only raise the contribution of public spending to GDP growth, but will also encourage the private sector to invest more, thereby boosting GDP growth further. * Eradicating poverty and boosting shared prosperity requires implementing an already well-known policy agenda of structural reforms. * Higher investments need to be supported by tax policy reforms, since tax administration reforms are inadequate to fully fund the investment gap. * A more equitable, efficient, and simpler tax system should be the aim of any tax policy reform. * A two-phase tax policy reform can be considered to improve the equity, efficiency, and simplicity of the tax system. * For tax policy reforms to be successful, reforms to improve the transparency and accountability of government spending and to strengthen tax administration are essential. * Higher investments in infrastructure, health, and education need to be complemented by reforms to enhance competition. * The country needs to push for more competition and level the playing field between firms of all sizes and origins. ■

Business

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

BP set to call expert witnesses in fight to avoid maximum penalty over Gulf oil spill THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW ORLEANS — It will be oil giant BP’s turn Monday to call witnesses as it makes its case for a civil penalty lower than the $13.7 billion the federal government is seeking for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The second week of a three-week trial was set to begin in New Orleans. Last week, government experts testified about environmental, economic and social damage arising from the spill. BP attorneys disputed much of that testimony, and have argued the recovery of the environment and the Gulf economy has been strong. Also at issue in the trial is whether a heavy penalty would put too much financial strain on BP Exploration and Production — also known as BPXP. That’s the affiliate in the BP corporate group deemed responsible for the spill. The government has argued in briefs that other BP companies’ resources should be considered when the judge weighs the effect of a penalty on BPXP’s economic health. Among the first witnesses BP attorneys are expected to call are BP executive Laura Folse and Frank Paskewich, a retired Coast Guard captain familiar with oil spill cleanup work. They are expected to counter government witness

testimony downplaying the effectiveness of BP’s oil recovery efforts. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier is presiding over the case. He isn’t expected to rule until April at the earliest. Based on two earlier trial phases, he has already ruled that BP acted with “gross negligence” in the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig at BP’s Macondo well. BP is appealing that finding. Barbier also ruled recently that 3.19 million barrels of oil was discharged as a result of the disaster. The government wants a maximum penalty of $4,300 per barrel, or about $13.7 billion. Under the federal RESTORE Act, passed after the spill, 80 per cent of the Clean Water Act penalties would be set aside for environmental and economic restoration projects along the Gulf Coast. The remaining dollars will go into a federal trust fund to cover costs tied to any future oil spills. BP estimates it has already piled up $42 billion in costs related to the spill, including cleanup costs, criminal penalties and settlements with businesses affected by the spill. In addition to pushing for the hefty BP penalty, the government has suggested a $1 billion-plus penalty for Anadarko, a minority partner in the Macondo well. Anadarko is fighting that penalty, noting it was a non-operational partner in the well. ■

Meryl Streep... the best foreign film derby, the five who made it from a shortlist of nine are: “Ida” (Poland), “Leviathan” (Russia), “Tangerines” (Estonia), “Timbuktu” (Mauritania) and “Wild Tales” (Argentina). It’s the first nod for both Estonia and Mauritania. ❰❰ 32

Disney dream

A satellite image of an oil spill.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Don Hall, whose “Big Hero 6” was nominated for best animated feature along with “The Boxtrolls,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” “Song of the Sea” and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,” said on behalf of fellow director Chris Williams and producer Roy Conli: “As kids growing up in Canada and Iowa, Chris and I dreamt of becoming Disney animators. Never could we have imagined that, one day, we would get to make a film like ‘Big Hero 6,’ and that one day, the film and all of the talented artists who made it would be recognized by the Academy. Roy, Chris and I... thank everyone at Disney Animation who made this possible.” Colleen Atwood, the Meryl Streep in costume design, earned another nod, solidifying her status as the most nominated living designer with 12. Colleen created Meryl’s witch costumes in “Into the Woods,” the movie for which she is nominated. The legendary Edith Head, who passed away in 1981, had 35 nods.

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‘Champagne!’

Roger Deakins, the most-nominated living cinematographer, bagged his 12th (the late lensmen Charles B. Lang, Jr. and Leon Shamroy had 18 each). Roger thanked his “Unbroken” director, Angelina Jolie: “I’m glad to be representing ‘Unbroken’ but in the end, I’m just happy to... work on the films that I do and to work with such inspiring directors as Angie.” “Champagne! Twice!” exclaimed Paris native Alexandre Desplat in reaction to his two nods. “What an incredible honor to be recognized this year for two of my scores! Wes for ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and Morten for ‘The Imitation Game’ offered me wildly different great fields of inspiration.” While “Selma” made it as a best picture nominee, Ava’s exclusion in the best director race prompted an outcry from critics. The exclusion of the film’s David Oyelowo, who portrays Martin Luther King Jr., also surprised many. The all-white acting nominees further stirred criticism. The Oscars will be handed out on Sunday, Feb. 22 (Monday morning, Manila time) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are once again producing the show with Neil Patrick Harris as host. ■

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Travel

First time Havana visitor finds charm aplenty amid a complicated picture of life on the island BY BRADLEY KLAPPER The Associated Press HAVANA — Everyone warns you Old Havana is a facade, but it’s impossible not to be taken by its charms. In my hotel room, the soft sound of guitars enters from the balcony. In the cobblestone street below, I enjoy a cigar and watch a teenage girl introduce her boyfriend to her parents as they sit on a bench and pass a cigarette back and forth. Everyone moves in slow motion. The area is greener than I imagined, with trees sprouting sideways from oblong squares. Women stand guard in impossibly narrow doorways. Men play handball in the hollowed-out courtyard of one of the city’s countless crumbled edifices. Tapas bars fill in the cracks. For a foreigner who isn’t coming with predetermined notions of Cuba as global boogeyman or socialist paradise, each alley and avenue, each conversation with a Cuban, complicates the picture. I’m nowhere near the first Westerner, American or journalist to visit Havana — and I know it. But I want to make sense of the place. Many more like me could embark on this voyage soon. Although hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans make the trip each year and the intrepid traveller always finds a way in, the U.S. embargo has blocked countless more from visiting a country just 90 miles south of Florida. President Barack Obama’s decision last month to improve relations with Cuba and ease trade and travel rules to the island has changed all of that. The U.S. government insists only certain groups of Americans may visit Cuba, but the elimination of a pre-authorization process means just about anyone can come. Some of Cuba’s contradictions are immediately apparent.

The streets of Havana, Cuba.

In the Plaza Vieja, a Paul & Shark boutique sells sweaters for as much as a doctor here makes in months. The city offers new bars and restaurants. Some of the best, I’m told, belong to people with connections to the communist government or access to expatriate cash, or both. Propaganda is pervasive, though tame. The murals are worn and sometimes entirely rubbed out, leaving tones of delicate ochre across building walls where more of Fidel Castro’s citations and Che Guevara’s portraits once stood. In the 16th century Plaza de Armas, an elderly man offers me Associated Press Wirephoto prints from the 1950s along with other relics of Fulgencio Batista’s period in power, along with the usual knick-knacks of the revolution. A minute later, a young man approaches and tells me has “nice girls” for sale.

PIXABAY

Uneven signs of modernization are everywhere. The main thoroughfares are well paved. State-of-the-art pedestrian signals are installed, providing second-by-second countdowns. They cut through neighbourhoods ranging from ramshackle glory to the plain shabby, where buildings strain to stand. At Havana’s old port, the halls lie bare and ghostly, a heaping mass of decrepit iron. Iconic yesteryear Fords, Dodges and Chevys parade the boulevards, along with humbler Russian-made cars of the postrevolution era. There are plenty of new cars, too, though you have to wonder where they all come from. The official price of a Peugeot can reach $250,000. Driving around, you see the magical and the mundane of Cuba’s capital. Along with the grand hotels once frequented by Frank Sinatra and Ernest Hemingway, there are schools,

athletic centres and countless public places where people gather. If my French sounds like a Spanish cow, I speak Spanish like a French donkey — that is to say, enough to get by but hardly enough to impress. My driver only speaks Spanish. He guides me to the right word when I dip into French or Italian. Many younger folks speak English. Everyone speaks of family in Florida and New York, or even Oregon. There is no sense of “us” and “them.” My driver’s daughter and granddaughter live in Miami. At Santy’s, a swanky fish joint, an ascot-wearing guitarist talks of his son who reached the United States by raft. He says his son is Ojani Noa, the first husband of American singer Jennifer Lopez. The U.S. government often hails the entrepreneurial spirit

of Cubans. It doesn’t come naturally to all of them. A taxi driver takes me to the upscale Vedado neighbourhood one evening and can’t break the equivalent of a $20 bill. In fact, he has no money on him whatsoever. The customer, he says, should have exact change. If you ask about politics, the response often starts with a deep breath or shrug. Cubans are mostly interested in economic improvement, one invariably hears, and an intangible “normal” in their lives. Along the seaside promenade, the Malecon, groups of teenagers enjoy the evening air. Lovers embrace. The police are everywhere. ■ EDITOR’S NOTE: Bradley Klapper, who covered this week’s U.S.Cuba talks on re-establishing diplomatic relations, offers a first-person perspective about visiting Havana for the first time.

Travel

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Passport photo tips: Dial down glare, wear colour, avoid big baubles and relax BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press TORONTO — Of all of the snapshots required for governmentissued ID, the passport photo can prove to be the most problematic. There are strict requirements related to backdrop, lighting, head positioning and facial expressions to ensure the image is usable, resulting in a photo some may find less than flattering — and one that they’re stuck with for up to 10 years. No need to settle for a subpar shot, here are some expert tips for putting your best face forward: Ensure the photo studio is wellequipped

“If they’re using a little pointand-shoot camera, I’d probably say it’s not the right place because it’s not going to give you that great picture that someone who uses a professional digital camera would be able to produce for you,” said Steve Lim of CanadianPassportPhotos.ca. “Take a look at the print quality. If you can, even ask for an example, that would be even better. But the better equip-

ment they have, it’s a better features, and an ID photo is all “Ninety-nine per cent of the sign that they take the passport about the facial features, identi- time that works perfect,” he said. photo-taking a lot more serious fying them distinctly, quickly.” Lim said they always try to than some other places.” Efford said they recommend take photos with people wearLim is also manager of Rapid people opt for medium-tone ing their glasses, but there are Photo in Toronto, which uses a grey or light blue hues which some instances where they calibrated LED panel as a back- are more complementary. can’t prevent glare. In those drop offering bright white light “They’re more neutral and cases, they recommend that without the shadows. they photograph that way,” people take the photo without Mark Efford, store manager he said. “They don’t detract. them to save time and ensure of Lens & Shutter in Vancouver, They’re actually putting the the photo isn’t rejected. said they use a direct flash on emphasis on the face.” But it’s not just glare from the front of the camera to avoid Lim said any dangling ear- glasses that can prove probhighlights on the eyes. rings or big baubles should be lematic — shiny skin is also a “If you use an passport photo umbrella or soft no-go. box, it would be a “Any halfbig, giant reflecdecent passIf we ask people to give us a neutral tion in the eye port photo stuexpression or a pleasant expression, which detracts dio would have you can actually get a half-decent from the ID assomething called picture out of that. pect of the photo.” rice paper which is an absorbing Choose clothing paper and they and accessories wisely removed as they can prove dis- will provide it for you. Use it to Both Efford and Lim advise tracting. dab skin for excess oil,” said Lim. against wearing white to avoid blending into the photo back- Reduce glare from glasses — or Keep makeup neutral drop. ditch them After receiving compliments Also steer clear of patterns or Efford said glasses should be on her passport photo shared advertisements on shirts, which pushed up right up against the on Instagram, Arianne Velascan prove distracting, noted Ef- face. The photo subject should quez decided to share her beauford. Ditto for fluorescents. then lean forward and tilt their ty tips and tricks on her blog, “Neon colours don’t repro- face down just slightly to allow Glitter Geek. duce correctly and they’re ex- the light to go through the top While she usually wears tremely bright,” said Efford. part of the glass to create little more makeup for ID photos, “They take away from the facial to no glare in the lens. she opted for a more minimal-

WEATHER FORECAST VANCOUVER

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ist approach. “Contouring was definitely a big thing, for sure,” said the Toronto makeup artist. “Contouring on the cheeks and maybe even down the nose and the eyelids just to make all the shadows kind of more pronounced.” Velasquez opted for matte makeup, kept natural tones for the eyes, and wore neutral lipstick. “You basically want to do something that you would do for a job interview,” she said. “You still want to look like yourself. Obviously, if your everyday look is a red lipstick then go for it; but I wouldn’t do party makeup for an ID photo.” Relax

“We’ll always tell people to relax, because when you’re kind of in that stiff mode you look very nervous,” said Lim. “If we ask people to give us a neutral expression or a pleasant expression, you can actually get a half-decent picture out of that. There is no need to give that stern, angry look. “Even if it’s a half-pleasant smirk, that is usually very effective, and it makes the picture look so much better on paper.” ■

Long term forecast taken from: www.weathernetwork.com

CALGARY

EDMONTON

WINNIPEG

TORONTO

9°C

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-32°C

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FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Sports

Former Seahawk Browner tells Patriots to hit Sherman, Thomas where it hurts during Super Bowl THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

fashion just as much as they are going to go after us.”

BRANDON BROWNER is telling his New England teammates not to hold back against Seattle’s Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas. In an interview with ESPN, Browner talked about the toughness both Sherman and Thomas showed in the NFC championship game playing with injuries. Sherman suffered a sprained elbow, while Thomas suffered a separated shoulder. But Browner said he would also target those injuries. “I’m going to tell my teammates go hit that elbow, or go hit that shoulder,” Browner said in the interview. Asked if he would tell his teammates that, Browner said, “Most definitely.” “Try and break it if you can. You’re going to be my best friend after the game, but at the end of the day I know you want the Super Bowl as bad as I do,” Browner said. Asked about Browner’s comments, Seattle players didn’t seem to take offence. “I would expect nothing less. This is the Super Bowl. What do you expect?” Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. “I understand the fans want it to be classy, said publicly, and everything to be said politically correct, but that is the truth of the matter. We want this game just as much as they do and they want this game just as much as we do. I expect nothing less from Brandon Browner. We go after them in an aggressive

Belichick deflects praise

Bill Belichick wouldn’t answer any more questions about deflated footballs, but he was in a joking mood by the end of his 15-minute news conference. After former NFL tight end Johnny Mitchell, who now works for ESPN Brazil, softened the coach with endearing praise before asking him how he’d like to be remembered, Belichick replied: “If we have an opening on our staff, if you’d like it, we’ll put you out in front there.” The dour Belichick even cracked a big smile and everyone laughed out loud. “I appreciate the compliments, but again, it’s really not about that right now for me,” he said, regarding his legacy. “What it’s about for me is this week and our matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. “What did or didn’t happen in any of other five, six Super Bowls I coached, five Super Bowls as a head coach, three that I was involved in as an assistant, this now being the ninth one, this is the one that is really important.” Lighting the way

In a season during which the NFL has seen more controversy than it could ever anticipate, it would not surprise anyone if the Super Bowl were decided by a replay challenge being upheld or overturned. So the NFL is making sure it has the best possible technol-

“As a result they will be able to zoom in tighter on replays and super slow motion without the flicker-effect or blurriness that is often associated with zooming in. This should help replay officials have the best possible pictures to make the right call. “When we went into the sports LED lighting business we wanted to focus on three attributes,” Casper added. “We wanted to improve player performance, give the fans at home and at the game a better experience, and reduce energy usage. The ability to help referees make the right call is an added benefit that may help change the outcome of a game for the better one day.” New hats

ogy for those replays. This season, University of Phoenix Stadium became the first NFL venue illuminated with high output LED Lighting. Not only does such lighting dramatically reduce energy usage by more than 75 per cent, but the Ephesus LED system provides much more light evenly distributed throughout the playing surface than ever be-

fore. For the Super Bowl, Ephesus Lighting engineers expect to provide nearly 20 per cent more light than ever for an NFL game. “The way we are lighting the field for Super Bowl 49 will allow NBC cameras to get more clarity and a greater depth of focus,” said Joe Casper, founder of Ephesus Lighting.

The first thing Seahawks and Patriots players received as gifts when they reached Phoenix were new hats. As they got off their charters at Sky Harbor Airport, they were handed special New Era hats that feature reflective material both on the top of the cap’s visor and the underbrim. When exposed to a camera flash, even from a phone, it emboldens the Super Bowl logo and the date and location of the game. Even Patriots owner Robert Kraft readily accepted one, and tight end Rob Gronkowski reached back to get an extra souvenir. ■ Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Sports

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Fiba to inspect PH facilities for 2019 World Cup

Paying failed...

Other contenders for the hosting gig include China, Turkey, Qatar, and a joint bid by Germany and France. The Philippines last hosted the Fiba Asia Championship in

decreases with each additional appeal made, it was expected that more failed refugee claimants would choose to leave instead of filing an appeal,” the evaluation report said. “The assistance paid so far shows this was not the case as more participants made two appeals in 2013-2014 than in 2012-2013.” Those making claims from so-called safe countries, known as DCOs, were offered $500 and those from elsewhere were eligible for up to $2,000. That didn’t work as planned either. “The Immigration and Refugee Board databases did not initially include a marker to indicate which failed refugee claimants were from a DCO,” the report said. As a result,142 pilot program participants received about $234,000 they weren’t actually entitled to. About a third of the people in the program eventually withdrew. That, along with the fact the government wasn’t able ❰❰ 22

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) will be visiting the country next week to inspect existing facilities for the Philippines’ bid to host the prestigious 2019 Fiba World Cup, said businessman Manny Pangilinan. “Fiba Evaluation Commission — Inspection Team — coming next week to Manila. Good luck to us!” said Pangilinan on his official Twitter account. Fiba Evaluation Commission, who is headed by Fiba secretary general Patrick Baumann, will look at the existing sports facilities that can be used for 2019 Fiba World Cup. This includes the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulanace, Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

2013, where the country won a silver medal after surrendering to Iran. But the Philippines last hosted the Fiba World Cup way back in 1978. ■

to recoup the cost of airfare as planned, increased the operating costs. Those who did leave, however, stayed away and the evaluation also found the program was most successful when people registered on their own, rather than after being contacted by border officials. A copy of the report was posted online by the government last week. The pilot program started in Toronto in 2012 with a $31.9 million budget and was to run until this March of this year. “Since the comprehensive reforms to Canada’s asylum system took effect, the number of new asylum claims has decreased to historic lows, suggesting that the reforms are successfully deterring unfounded claims,” Wendy Atkin, a spokesperson for the CBSA, said in an e-mail. “The CBSA is committed to finding new ways of delivering its removals program in a cost-effective manner while optimizing enforcement outcomes.” ■

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Seen and Scenes

JANUARY 30, 2015

FRIDAY

SINULOG FEST Filipino Canadians in Victoria, B.C. recently celebrated the Sinulog Festival in honor of the miraculous image of the Sto. Nino, marking the link between the country’s pagan past and its Christian present (Photos by Mary Lee Jetko).

TREE PLANTING Miss Philippines Canada 2014 of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation Krisgelle Maramot, did her share to address the problem on environment, climate change, hunger and malnutrition for Lal-lloqueños in the province of Cagayan, during her visit to the Philippines as part of her prizes. Krisgelle planted a lubeg tree or Philippine cherry, a fruit that grows only on the western side of the Philippine island of Luzon and is abundant in the municipality of Lal-lo. The lubeg fruit is used in making wine, candies, jam and other products which is now one of the booming livelihoods of the organized women’s group in the area.

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

Events

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

Calgary Travel Expo 2015 By Flight Centre and Cruiseabout WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m., Feb. 7 at North Building, Hall C Calgary TELUS Convention Centre 136 - 8 Avenue SE Calgary, AB Lav-2-Laff in Edmonton By GSP Promotions WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Feb. 8, at Fantasyland Hotel Banquet Hall MORE INFO: a pre-Valentine show featuring Daniel Matsunaga, Aldred Gatchalian, Ate Gay, Cacai and Renzo. Call Bethel at 780-710-1249; Arlene at 780-267-5630.

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New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, On. MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355

CANADA

Acoustic Night with the Soloistas – Canada Tour WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., Feb. 27, at John Bassett Theatre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Bldg., 255 Front St. West, Toronto, On. 7:30 p.m., Feb. 28, at Century Casino, NUNAVUT 1010 42 Ave. SE, Calgary, AB MORE INFO: Featuring DJ Mike (formerly of Akafellas), Jimmy Bondoc, Luke Mijares, Paolo Santos and Jinky Vidal

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2nd Winter Escapade By the Department of Tourism, Philippine Embassy and the Consulates of Toronto and Vancouver NEWFOUNDLAND WHEN/WHERE: Jan. 30 to Feb. 6, Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguete MORE INFO: Go online www.winterescapadeph.com for details.

NEW BRUNSWICK Maharlika Awards 2014 By Reyfort Media Group WHEN/WHERE: Jan. 31, at Hilton Vancouver Metrotown (6083 Mckay Ave., Burnaby) MORE INFO: Call 604-436-2103/ 604-588-6397 Winter-Spring Training 2015 By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 14 Saturdays till Apr. 18, at the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., Royal City Centre – Rm. 280 610 – 6th St., New Westminster MORE INFO: Contact Liza at 604395-8000 ext. 1706 or email: liza. delarosa@issbc.org Interwoven Stories: Textiles, Costumes, Cultures – A Multicultural Fest By the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: Exhibit runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday till Feb. 15, at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver at 555 Columbia Street, Vancouver, B.C. Drop-in Conversation Circles for Work Permit Holders (Burnaby) By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 3 p.m., till Mar. 21 Saturdays at Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Rosser Ave., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-292-3907 for details.

Sinulog 2015 By Bisdak Christian Society of Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Feb. 7, St. Patrick Church Gymnasium, 2881 Main St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Tickets: Adult - $15; Children - $5 Masquerade Gala Dinner Dance Fundraiser By the Holy Cross Mission Team WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 11:30 p.m., Feb. 8, at IC Delta Parish 8842-119 St. Delta, B.C.

English Corner By Richmond Public Library WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 12 nn Fridays, up to to Feb. 27, and on Sundays, Jan. 11 to Mar. 1 at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, 2nd floor Community Place Rm., 7700 Minoru Gate. MORE INFO: To register, visit any branch of Richmond public Library, register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/ events or call 604-231-6413

Burnaby Seniors’ Club Free Activities for Immigrant Seniors By Mosaic Settlement Services WHEN/WHERE: (Burnaby North) Valentine Dinner and Dance Beginners’ English Practice – Jan. By the Victoria Filipino Canadian Car21 to Mar. 5, Wed., 9:30 to 11:30 egivers Association and Western Union a.m WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Feb. 8 at Taichi – Jan. 23 to Mar. 27, Fri., Cedar Hill Recreation Centre 3220 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Cedar Hill Road, Victoria, B.C. English Conversation Circle – Jan. 23 MORE INFO: Tickets - $22/pax to Mar. 27, Fri., 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Brentwood Community Resource Ms. Valentine 2014 Centre, 2055 Rosser Ave., Burnaby By Filipino Canadian New Era SocieB.C. (Burnaby South) ty of BC Upper Beginners’ English Practice WHEN/WHERE: 12:30 to 6 p.m., – Jan. 12 to Mar. 23, Mon., 9:30 to Feb. 16, at 3925 Capri Hall, Fraser 11:30 St., Vancouver, B.C. Beginners’ English Practice – Jan. 23 to Mar. 27, Fri., 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. My Tween & Me Multicultural Knitting Club – Jan. 20 to Mar. 27, Mom’s Support Group Tues., 2 to 3:30 p.m. By Mosaic Seniors’ Conversation Circle – Jan. WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 8 to Feb. 12, Thur., 10 a.m. to 12 Thursdays, Dunbar Hts. Church, p.m. 3320 Crown St., Vancouver Mosaic Burnaby Centre for ImmiMORE INFO: call Daisy 604-254grants, 5902 Kingsway St., Vancou9626 ext. 273 ver, B.C. www.canadianinquirer.net

Textile Art Symposium By Chinese Cultural Centre WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan 31 at the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, 555 Columbia St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Symposium speakers: Jean Kares, Dr. Angela Clark, Liza Wajong, Trish Graham Dinner and Dance By Dream Hoops Academy WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 p.m., Jan. 31 Renfrew Park Community Centre at 2929 E. 22nd Ave., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Eden Obuyes 604-825-9313 or email nedesobuyes@hotmail.com Ticket - $20. Valentine Dinner Dance for a Cause By Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association of British Columbia WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Feb. 8, Riverside Banquet Hall, 14500 River Road, Richmond, B.C. Family Sunday By Richmond Art Gallery WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 4 p.m., Feb. 22, Mar. 22, Apr. 26 and May 24 at Richmond Art Gallery, 7700 Minoru Gate Richmond, B.C.

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FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015

CANADA

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