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VOL. 3 NO. 157

MARCH 6, 2015

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Armed forces intensify attacks against rebels

Disasters in 2014 cost Asia Pacific $56.9B

'Spocking' $5 bill not illegal

What to do if you are charged with theft

Pacman, Mayweather start training this week

Binay says Berberabe could be his running mate

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANNY Pacquiao works the mitts with trainer-friend Buboy Fernandez. Pacquiao went to the US this week to begin serious training at the Wild Card

Gym in Hollywood for the upcoming mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2, 2015. His coach, Freddie Roach is currently in Macau to attend to another fighter, but will join Pacquiao back in the US next week.

JOAN BONDOC

Resistance to Bangsamoro Basic Law grows in Congress

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA AND GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer SEN. ANTONIO Trillanes IV on Monday said the peace process could wait until the next administration, vowing that the Senate would not create “that monster” critics feared might become of the Moro

Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) if the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) were passed in its present form.

Trillanes, a key ally of President Aquino, said in a radio interview that Malacañang should not insist on its own timeline, especially now that emotions were high following the killing of 44 police

Fil-Can in Focus: Ryan "The Lion" Diaz

VICE PRESIDENT Jejomar Binay yesterday said he was considering Pag-Ibig Fund president and chief executive officer Darlene Marie Berberabe, who has been dragged into the Senate inquiry into allegations of corruption against him, as a possible vice presidential running mate in 2016.

Binay made the statement to reporters after delivering a speech on the accomplishment report for 2014 of the Pag-Ibig Fund, or the Home Development Mutual Fund, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

But even before meeting with the reporters, Binay had already hinted at it in his speech, praising Berberabe and saying she could have a bigger future after her stint at the government housing agency.

Binay’s son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, earlier told a television program that Berberabe was one of those being considered as a possible running mate of his father.

❱❱ PAGE 24 ❱❱ PAGE 4 Resistance to

❱❱ PAGE 9 Binay says

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Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

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Armed Forces intensifies attacks against Abus, BIFF rebs

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE ARMED Forces chief of staff this week ordered troops to press the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to downgrade the two groups’ capability to inflict harm on civilians.

Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered field commanders in Sulu and Maguindanao provinces to pursue the two groups without letup but to avoid collateral damage involving civilians.

“I want to significantly lessen the bandits’ ability to carry out violent attacks against civilians before I retire in July 2015,” Catapang said.

He ordered an all-out campaign against the al-Qaidalinked terrorist group Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and the secessionist BIFF in Maguindanao last week.

The military launched simultaneous attacks, including artillery and air strikes, against the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of Patikul town, Sulu, and the BIFF in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, where thousands of people fled their homes in several villages to avoid getting caught in the cross fire.

The Abu Sayyaf, notorious for kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners and bomb attacks on civilians in the south, has lost 24 members in five days of fighting in Patikul.

Sahiron wounded

Radulan Sahiron, the onearmed leader of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, was reportedly wounded in fighting in Buhanginan village, Patikul, last Friday.

This week, the military confirmed the report from the Joint Task Force Group Sulu but provided no details.

Col. Restituto Padilla Jr., spokesperson for the AFP, also said the military was verifying another report that Abu Sayyaf subleader Hatib Sawadjaan was wounded in one of the clashes last week.

The military has lost two soldiers in fighting last Thursday.

Sahiron’s group was fleeing toward Minjay in Kabuntakas village on Saturday, ducking artillery and gunship fire and heading south, where the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team had set up a blockade to stop the bandits.

The military has thrown blockades on the eastern and western sides of the engagement area to prevent Sahiron’s group from getting out.

Padilla said the military campaign against the Abu Sayyaf was an ongoing law enforcement operation that began in November last year.

The campaign against the Abu Sayyaf is focused on Jolo, he said.

“The major skirmishes were last year so these operations are follow-ups on what we began last year. There will be no

the PNP the firearms taken by its fighters from slain SAF commandos and repositioned its fighters on the hills near Talayan town to clear the way for the military operation against the BIFF, which is believed to be harboring Usman.

Catapang said more troops were sent in yesterday to scour the Liguasan Marsh for Usman’s hideout.

No fighting was reported yesterday.

Two soldiers wounded

A Philippine Navy Special Forces soldier during a training exercise. General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered field commanders in Sulu and Maguindanao provinces to pursue the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in order to downgrade the two groups' capability to inflict harm on civilians.

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letup until the Abu Sayyaf group is decimated,” Padilla said.

Safety of civilians

But Catapang reminded his troops to carry out the campaign while ensuring the safety of civilians.

“We can protect the civilian populace by isolating them from armed groups, and we also need accurate information from the people themselves,” he said.

According to Padilla, the Abu Sayyaf has changed tactics, avoiding direct engagements with government forces and fragmenting into smaller groups.

But Padilla said the military was “looking for a decisive engagement” with the bandits.

“They changed their tactics, they are hiding now. They will engage then distance themselves and split up into small groups,” Padilla said.

The military, he said, has yet to encounter a sizeable force of the Abu Sayyaf, as the bandits tend to disengage when the military launches an offensive.

There were no reports of fighting with the bandits yesterday.

In Maguindanao, the 6th Infantry Division has cleared the Tacurong-Cotabato Highway of BIFF bandits after fighting in Datu Unsay town on Friday.

Three soldiers were wounded in the three-hour firefight.

Usman’s followers killed

The SAF commandos killed Marwan, but lost 44 companions in clashes with BIFF and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as they withdrew from the town.

The MILF, which has signed a peace agreement with the government, is investigating the clash. It has returned to

Earlier, the military said two soldiers were wounded in fighting with BIFF rebels.

But Abu Misri Mama, spokesperson for the BIFF, said 20 soldiers were killed.

The military denied Mama’s claim.

Catapang also directed line unit commanders yesterday to help in transporting evacuees back to their villages.

“We want the civilians to live peacefully in their communities. This is the reason why we are driving the BIFF away from their homes,” he added.

But more civilians are reportedly fleeing their homes in Mamasapano, Rajah Buayan, Shariff Saydona, Shariff Aguak and Datu Saudi Ampatuan towns, local ❱❱ PAGE 6 Armed Forces

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Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said three followers of bombmaker Basit Usman were killed in the assault of the 601st Brigade troops last week.

Government forces are going after Usman, who eluded arrest when Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) commandos raided Mamasapano on Jan. 25 to get him and his Malaysian leader, Jemaah Islamiyah bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan.”

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Philippine News

MARCH 6, 2015

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Resistance to... commandos by MILF rebels and other Moro fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, on Jan. 25.

Sen. Serge Osmeña III, another Aquino ally, urged the President to apologize for the fiasco, saying he had “lost the trust of majority of the Filipino people.”

“It would be better if he would say, ‘I am sorry,’ like what Gloria did,” he said over dzBB, recalling then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s own apology for phoning an election official in what later snowballed into the “Hello Garci” scandal.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also said the House of Representatives would not vote on the BBL unless the MILF surrendered its people responsible for the brutal killings of the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos. “That’s really the deal breaker, if they will not cooperate to achieve justice in our country,” he said.

Trillanes said the Senate should not be rushed into passing the BBL, which would create a new Bangsamoro territory in Mindanao.

The massacre of 44 SAF troopers has raised fears over the powers the MILF stands to get under the BBL. “We will make sure we will not create that monster that everyone is afraid of,” Trillanes said on dzBB, noting that the MILF should not be allowed to have its own security force “outside” of the Philippine National Police and the military.

Trillanes said he was consulting “privately” with the police and the military on how they felt about the BBL’s security provisions. ❰❰ 1

First look at BBL

The senator rejected the idea of the peace talks bogging down and hostilities erupting between the government and the MILF in case Congress did not pass a BBL version to the rebels’ liking.

“If they feel that the version coming out (of Congress) is not acceptable, it can be revised.

Both panels can go back to the drawing board. Then (the talks) may spill over into the next administration for as long as the ceasefire, the peace talks are still in place,” Trillanes said.

In his Edsa anniversary speech on Wednesday, the

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (left) said this week that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would pave the peace process between the current government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) could "wait until the next administration" in light of the recent deaths of 44 soldiers during the Mamasapano incident, while Senator Serge Osmeña III urged the president to apologize for the fiasco, saying that the president had "lost the trust of majority of the Filipino people". Both senators are key allies of president Aquino.

SENATE.GOV.PH

President was adamant on the Second, he said, the Presi- on who were at fault here and passage of the proposed BBL dent should had coursed in- unfortunately, you have to despite the Mamasapano fi- structions through the PNP’s prove that you’re innocent now asco, saying there may not be a chain of command, from the of- because you are already guilty similar opportunity later on. ficer in charge, Deputy Director as far as the Filipino people are “To tell you honestly, this is General Leonardo Espina, to concerned,” he said. the first time that both houses the SAF chief, Director Getulio of Congress will see [the BBL] Napeñas.

Demands for justice and we will be the ones to ap“No. 3 … how come (InteriRodriguez, chair of the House prove it,” Trillanes said, not- or) Secretary (Mar) Roxas and ad hoc committee on the BBL, ing that Congress was not con- Espina were bypassed? That’s said discussions on the prosulted while the draft was being what I cannot understand. You posed Bangsamoro charter prepared. don’t believe in them? They’re could resume, but the vote “This is our job. We cannot be not trusted by your chain of should only be made after the just rubber stamps here …. Last- command?” Osmeña said.

Department of Justice (DOJ) ing peace (in Mindanao) should He warned against a “white- had filed a case against the have no deadline. It should wash,” saying “the people MILF. be approached “The congresscautiously, caremen are really fully.” demanding that Osmeña said the wheels of calls for Mr. Lasting peace (in Mindanao) should justice should alAquino’s ouster have no deadline. It should be ready start. If the for mishandling approached cautiously, carefully.

MILF will not the Mamasasurrender their pano operation people, there is were “a very seria big possibility ous matter” bethat the BBL will cause “it means lose in the House they’ve had enough.” would be angry at the Senate” of Representatives,” he said.

But he rejected the idea of an in case the committee report “They (MILF) can see the ouster, saying “it’s better for us on the Mamasapano incident report and they can see the witto be patient and let democracy skipped Mr. Aquino’s own ac- nesses, the forensic evidence, work.” countability. the documentary evidence.

“Let’s see because they some- There is probable cause. It is Triple whammy how control the Senate so there their obligation if they want to The senator said Mr. Aquino might be a whitewash. We will continue with the BBL, to coopcommitted a “triple wham- [be on the] look out for that,” he erate with the DOJ,” Rodriguez my”—first, by allowing sus- said. “We have to be fair. There said. pended PNP Director General were many faults committed.”

He said that submitting its Alan Purisima to direct the Osmeña said the public would men to justice was the single operation to capture terrorists reject a whitewashed report on biggest confidence-building Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Mar- the Mamasapano incident. measure that the MILF could wan,” and Basit Usman.

“They have already decided do to bring the peace process www.canadianinquirer.net

out of limbo.

Last week, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal rejected calls for the MILF to give up its fighters, citing the ceasefire agreement with the government that the MILF should impose disciplinary action on members involved in any violation of the truce.

Little chance

But Rodriguez remained optimistic that the MILF Central Committee would eventually give in to the public’s demand for justice.

He noted that the MILF had also initially refused to return the SAF weapons and denied having any knowledge of the whereabouts of Filipino bomber Basit Usman.

“Then the next thing, they returned the firearms and Iqbal promised that MILF will help in getting Usman. They are saying they will not surrender (their men) but the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” Rodriguez said.

With the the DOJ expected to come out with its case on Mamasapano by April, Rodriguez said there was very little chance that the BBL could be passed in the House and the Senate

by June when Congress was scheduled to adjourn. Rodriguez suggested that President Aquino call a special session for Congress to meet and approve the BBL before the start of its third session in July.

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

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Bangsamoro Basic Law does not guarantee peace in Mindanao — Ferrer

BY BOBBY Q. LABALAN Philippines News Agency LEGAZPI CITY — Enacting the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) into law even in the form desired by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will not guarantee peace in Mindanao, the head of the government peace panel admitted in an interview with the Philippines News Agency at the sidelines of a journalism seminar in Anilao, Batangas, on Sunday.

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said passing the draft BBL into a law will not totally solve the conflict in Mindanao as there are still other armed groups that are sowing chaos in the region.

“BBL is not equal to peace, it’s too narrow a view,” she stressed.

Ferrer said there are still a lot of reforms that must be introduced and more armed groups that must

be dealt with before peace can even have hope in Mindanao.

But, the government panel head said, enacting the BBL would at least eliminate the MILF among the government’s concerns in Mindanao, and “it’s a big thing, because you know how difficult it is if they (armed groups) unite.”

Ferrer also said they are open to discussing the changes in the draft BBL that the Congress wants to introduce but they are waiting for the Office of the President to initiate the talk with the legislators.

“Maybe it’s just a matter of explaining the provisions being objected to by the legislators or changing some of the words in the BBL if they are causing confusion,” she said.

The chief negotiator also clarified the misconception on the provisions on the Shari’ah Court, saying the Supreme Court (SC) will still have juris-

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, head of the government peace panel, admitted on Sunday that enacting the Bangsamoro Basic Law into law, even in the form desired by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, will not totally solve the conflict in Mindinao as there are other armed groups that are sowing chaos in the region.

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diction over it.

Section 7 of Article X of the BBL states that “The decision of the Shari’ah Court shall be final and executory.”

Ferrer said it is just similar to

the quasi-judicial power of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) whose decisions are also final and executory but did not mean that the SC has lost jurisdiction over it.

She said they are doing everything to ensure that the draft law, once enacted by Congress, will pass the constitutionality test so it can be smoothly implemented.

Poe to consider Smart’s side on Senate’s request for SMS of Mamasapano players

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday said she will consider if the Smart Communications will request for audience from her regarding the Senate’s subpoena issued to the telecommunications companies to produce records of short message service (SMS) of the key personalities in the Mamasapano incident. ”We want to clarify that with them. They have corporate responsibilities and the privacy agreement with their customers. I don’t know if they have capability to reveal all the conversation, how extensive it is,” Poe said in Senate media interview.

Last Feb. 26, Senate President Franklin Drilon approved a subpoena issued by Poe, asking the Smart to submit to the Senate the transcription of SMS conversation “registered under the name of Mr. Alan

Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday said she will consider if Smart Communications will request audience from her regarding the Senate's subpoena issued to the telecom companies to produce the SMS records of the key personalities in the Masapano incident.

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Purisima” from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2015.

The subpoena was in pursuant to the request of Senator Loren Legarda to confirm the veracity of the documents submitted to the Senate committee

on public order and dangerous drugs, in relation to the investigation on the Mamasapano incident. ”We are asking just for the day itself, on the 25th of January because there was time gap www.canadianinquirer.net

from 10 a.m. to about 5:30 to 6p.m.,” Poe said.

Poe said the Senate panel wanted to know the whole conversation between then suspended PNP chief Purisima and President Benigno

Aquino III regarding the Mamasapano encounter that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) men dead. ”The President might have given him (Purisima) different briefing but, on the other hand, we just want to be sure so that we will not be accused of taking side here,” Poe said.

As per advise of Purisima, relieved SAF chief Police Director Getulio Napenas informed acting PNP chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas about the Oplan Exodus time on target.

The Oplan Exodus was designed to capture two highprofile terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman.

Marwan, one of the most wanted international terrorists listed by the United States, was killed in the operation but the SAF team encountered the combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

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Philippine News

MARCH 6, 2015

China defends its activities in South China Sea after US official calls them ‘aggressive’

FRIDAY

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. concerns about land reclamation activities that could fuel tensions between China and its neighbours.

BEIJING — China defended its activiClapper described China’s claim to ties in the South China Sea as restrained more than 80 per cent of the South Chiand responsible last Friday after the U.S. na Sea as “exorbitant.” intelligence chief called its expansion of Hong said China hopes the U.S. can be outposts in the region an “aggressive” more “circumspect” regarding the issue. effort to assert sovereignty.

“No other country has a right to make Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman unfounded accusations,” he said at a daiHong Lei said the country’s activities ly ministry briefing. on shoals and in surThe Center for rounding waters it Strategic and Interclaims are “reasonnational Studies said able, legitimate and last week that Vietlegal” and that its atnam, Malaysia and titude has been one Clapper Taiwan have over the of “restraint and redescribed years modified existsponsibility.”

China’s claim to ing land masses in China says it has more than 80 the South China Sea, historical claims to per cent of the and the Philippines is a huge swath of the South China Sea planning to upgrade South Sea China that as “exorbitant.” an airport and pier on overlaps the claims an island it occupies. of several neighbours But the think-tank including Vietnam, said China is unusual Malaysia, Taiwan in how it has been and the Philippines, “dramatically changand it objects to what it considers U.S. ing the size and structure of physical meddling. The U.S. says it has a national land features.” interest in the peaceful resolution of the China has had a troop and supply gardisputes in the region. rison at Gaven Reef since 2003, and beU.S. Director of National Intelligence gan significant construction there last James Clapper cited China’s expansion year, building a new artificial island of of its outposts, including for the station- more than 18 acres (7 hectares). The ing of ships and potential airfields, at a main building on the new island appears U.S. Senate hearing in Washington on to have an anti-aircraft tower, the centre Thursday. His comments underscored said.

A Chinese Navy vessel and helicopter at sea. The US has stated that Chinese activity in the South China Sea to press historical claims of ownership, including the stationing of ships for potential airfields, are "exorbitant". China countered that its activities in the region are "resonable, legitimate, and legal".

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Armed Force... officials said.

Rajah Buayan Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan said residents of Mamasapano had fled to his town, which is adjacent to the site of the military operation against the BIFF. Local officials said BIFF fighters had been sighted in the marshland of Datu Piang and Shariff Saydona.

evacuation center in Mamasapano and 255 families from the town fled to Rajah Buayan.

It said 2,119 families were displaced in Datu Salibo, while 49 families were evacuated to Datu Hoffer.

Rajah Buayan’s Ampatuan said residents of nearby Shariff Saydona and Mamasapano fled to his town, including MILF guerrillas who left the town to help clear the way for the Displaced families military operation The Humanitarian They changed against the BIFF. Emergency Action their tactics, “In my town, there Response Team of they are hiding is no military action. the Autonomous Renow. They That is why residents gion in Muslim Minwill engage from the nearby town danao reported that then distance came over,” Ampatu5,727 families were themselves and an said. in evacuation centers split up into But the military’s as of Saturday aftersmall groups.

1st Mechanized Innoon. fantry Brigade, seAt least seven vilcuring the Isulan-Colages were affected tabato City Highway in the town of Shariff and roads leading to Saydona Mustapha, with 1,691 families Datu Piang, Mamasapano and Shariff displaced, the team said.

Saydona, was ready to engage the BIFF. Four villages were affected in the “Our operation against the lawless Shariff Aguak, with 1,273 families flee- BIFF is continuing,” said Capt. Jo-ann ing their homes, it said.

Petinglay, spokesperson for the 6th InThe team said 165 families were in the fantry Division. ❰❰ 3

www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told the press that although the March deadline for the passage of the Bangasamoro Basic Law is unrealistic, the Palace remains confident that the bill will pass at some point.

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Palace sees passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law under Aquino administration

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Despite delay brought about by the Mamasapano incident, Malacanang remains confident to see the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) within the remaining 15 months of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III. “That’s correct,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda replied when asked during a media briefing in Malacanang if the Palace sees the BBL passage under the Aquino administration.

Lacierda, however, clarified that the Palace is aware that the original March deadline set by the Senate and the House of Representative is no longer realistic.

“I don’t know if there has been discussion with the peace panel but both sides are certainly aware of the reality that we won’t be able to pass it on the first quarter,” Lacierda told reporters.

“We hope to pass — we will pass it, but I don’t know at what point, that will be part of the discussions with the House and the Senate,” he added.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said recently the Senate is now targeting to finish the BBL before Congress’ sine die adjournment on June 11 this year.

“That’s why we have to really discuss the timetable. It has to be part of the discussions with the Legislative branch,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the Executive branch is ready to explain to the Senate and the House of Representatives the impor-

tance of passing the BBL. “The Executive branch is prepared to present to you all the details of the provisions of the law whether on a constitutional issue or whether on a issue on certain provisions. We are prepared to do that,” Lacierda said.

“We are there to present to Congress, senators or congressmen, the perspective of how this BBL was crafted. If they have issues on wealth sharing, if they have issues on power sharing, let’s not just go on the general statements. Let’s focus on the details. We can provide you the details,” he added.

The BBL was the result of the Comprehensive Agreement of Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The proposed law is needed for the creation of the Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Both the Senate and the House have suspended temporarily the BBL hearings to give way to the different investigations on the bloody Mamasapano encounter that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) men dead last Jan. 25 in Maguindanao.

The MILF combatants were among the group of armed men that also included members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who engaged in a firefight the SAF troopers who were in the area to arrest international terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and BIFF commander Basit Usman.

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MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

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The Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation have launched a campaign against child trafficking of Filipino children from 1 to 12 years of age. The victims are children from southern Mindanao who are portrayed in videos to cater to pedophiles abroad. A Dutch national living in the Philippines and his live-in Filipino partner are in government custody after being accused of producing these videos.

DOJ, NBI lead drive vs child traffickers

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES has launched a war against an international syndicate that uses Filipino children from 1 to 12 years old to serve the sexual needs of its clients in foreign countries.

At the helm of the campaign against the child traffickers are the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The victims are children from cities and towns in southern Mindanao who are portrayed on videos to cater to pedophiles in several foreign countries, including Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.

“We are waging war against these child traffickers,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told the INQUIRER. “With the cooperation of our international counterparts, we could track down the ‘secret society’ that financed the production of such videos.”

De Lima said that based on the information received by the NBI, some of the members of the so-called secret society had sent money to Dutch national Peter Gerald Scully and his former live-in Filipino partner identified by the NBI AntiHuman Trafficking Division (Ahtrad) simply as “Lovely.”

Now in government custody, they are accused of producing sex films for viewing by members of the “society” only.

Torturing included

The information about the production of child pornography films—which

include torturing of young girls—was obtained by Ahtrad executive officer Janet Francisco last year from the bureau’s foreign counterparts, according to NBI Director Virgilio Mendez.

Francisco attended an Interpol seminar on antihuman trafficking in Bermuda where she was given by Dutch authorities a case folder on the sex trafficking operation, Mendez said.

“They were able to trace the origin of the video because of the appearance of and the dialect used by the participants in the video,” Francisco said.

She said the case folder contained photos of the unidentified young victims as well as the window and interior of a house where the abuses and sexual assaults were supposedly committed.

‘So shocking’

“The cruelty is so shocking that other operatives fighting against child abuse and cruelty have come together,” said senior NBI agent Roy Zuñiga, a veteran investigator of human trafficking and the officer on case.

Despite the scant information, the Ahtrad team based in Manila, led by Cesar Nuqui, and the NBI Northern Mindanao team headed by Lito Magno “literally” combed the streets and schools of Cagayan de Oro City, found the victims, rescued them and brought them to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Zuñiga said a breakthrough in the case occurred when the operatives succeeded in tracing and talking to a victimturned-recruiter, who is now in jail.

“It was this witness who gave the

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names of the faces on the video, including the real name of Lovely,” the NBI official said.

Only 14

Lovely was apprehended at the airport while about to board a plane to Cagayan de Oro from Palawan province, where she had spent her honeymoon with her new husband, a French national.

The witness, who was 14 years old when she got involved with Scully and Lovely, said that after she served as a “model” on the videos, she recruited other girls to participate in sexual acts on the orders of the couple.

She told the INQUIRER that Scully and Lovely paid her P500 ($14 CDN) for every session that sometimes lasted for two hours.

Scully, who was arrested in a safe house in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon province last week, is now detained at the NBI jail.

Victim exhumed

Lovely, whose real name has not been disclosed, is now cooperating in the investigation, the NBI said.

Her statements led to the discovery of the remains of “Barbie,” one of the victims of the group, who was buried under a house in Villa Corito, Surigao City, that Scully previously rented.

The NBI said that based on Lovely’s statements, the 12year-old Barbie was also tortured and forced to perform sexual acts on video.

The NBI is set to file qualified trafficking and murder charges against Scully.

Both are nonbailable offenses.

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

DFA warns of fake caregiver jobs in Canada PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday warned of a possible scam targeting nurses and other healthcare professionals in the Philippines by offering them non-existent jobs in Canada.

A statement by DFA spokesman Charles Jose said a Philippine-based agency, Primera Human Resources Services, is offering fake caregiver positions to Filipino health workers at the Ian Anderson House, an in-resident cancer hospice in Oakville, Ontario.

Jose said the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto received a report that an invitation is being circulated through email for a two-day seminar on March 7 to 8 in the Philippines where invited participants are

asked to pay Php 3,800 in exchange for guaranteed employment at the hospice.

“Upon consultation with the representative of the Ian Anderson House, the consulate general has verified that the facility is not seeking employees or offering employment opportunities at this time and that it is not in any way connected with the purported seminar,” Jose said.

A quick check with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s website likewise revealed that Primera Human Resources Services “is a licensed agency,” but “does not have approved job orders from Canada.”

“In view of this, the public is strongly urged to exercise caution when responding to this invitation or similar offers of employment and to verify the same with POEA to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous individuals,” Jose said.

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Binay says...

Asked why he controversial, and reiterated the Filipina Women’s Network, would consider Ber- his oft-repeated claim that it he said. berabe, Binay cited was his political enemies who Meanwhile, the Binay camp the leadership she has shown at were trying to destroy him, and yesterday expressed alarm the helm of Pag-Ibig. now even Berberabe. over a report that the AntiMHe was asked why he would He said Filipinos were always oney Laundering Council had consider Berberabe when she quick to believe accusations asked the Court of Appeals for had become somewhat con- made against government of- authority to inspect Binay’s troversial when it emerged at ficials without waiting for an bank accounts as well as that the Senate corof his family and ruption hearings friends. that she was the “(It’s) really sister-in-law of alarming for it Binay’s chief of Binay was all praises for Berberabe would maliciousstaff and that the who he said has received much ly break bank Vice President recognition for her leadership of confidentiality had recommendPag-Ibig. without any leed her for the top gitimate basis to post at Pag-Ibig. do so,” said lawBerberabe was summoned to explanation. yer Rico Quicho, Binay’s political testify on allegations that the vice In his speech, Binay was all spokesperson, in a text message. president had sought deals for fa- praises for Berberabe who he Quicho said they will wait for vored contractors at Pag-Ibig. said has received much rec- the decision of the CA and would She defended Binay and de- ognition for her leadership of “act appropriately consistent nied he used his power to get a Pag-Ibig, such as being named with the protection of his rights Pag-Ibig contract for a security Female Executive of the Year by and that of his family”.’ agency, Omni Security Investi- the Stevie Awards for Women “The vice president has time gation, which Binay is alleged in Business. and again stated that he has to own through dummies.

Berberabe was also recog- nothing to hide and will fully Yesterday, Binay disagreed nized as one of the most influ- cooperate with the proper authat Berberabe had become ential women in the world by thorities,” he said. ❰❰ 1

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Philippine News

MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

Police officials in charge of Bong, Jinggoy sacked

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer POLICE OFFICIALS in charge of the senators detained in Camp Crame, the Philippine National Police headquarters in Quezon City, were relieved following the “side trip” of two senators to the birthday celebration of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile at the camp hospital on Feb. 14.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas slammed the police officials’ disregard for rules governing detainees as an insult to the memory of the 44 Special Action Force troopers who died as heroes in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province.

“The past weeks, we have been talking about bravery.

These recent events are a disrespect to their badge and their duty. Some of our policemen have sacrificed their lives, while these policemen are only tasked to guard detainees and yet they let them slip off to other places,” Roxas said.

Ordered relieved were Chief Supt. Alberto Supapo, head of the Headquarters Support Service (HSS), and his subordinate, Senior Insp. Celina Tapaoan.

Other junior officers are under investigation.

Supt. Elmer Beltejar will be the officer in charge of the HSS in the meantime.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Roxas said the policemen were relieved because of lapses allegedly committed during the “hospital visits” of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla to PNP General Hospital on Valentine’s Day. That day was the 91st birthday of Enrile, who is under hospital arrest due to his advanced age and medical condition. The three senators are facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

and the doctor was not there.

So, they looked for him in the specialty ward. But the doctor was there the whole time. Is that one who is sick? The ones liable for them now are their custodians,” he said.

Policy violation

Senator Bong Revilla (center) embracing Senators Juan Ponce Enrile (right) and Jinggoy Estrada after delivering a speech last year. Two senior police officials were recently sacked after "lapses" when the three senators were alleged to have met together at a hospital, where Enrile is under hospital arrest due to age and medical conditions. The three senators are facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Charges, perjury

The PNP officer in charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, said the relieved officials were being investigated for administrative and criminal charges, as well as perjury for suspicion of lying under oath about what really happened that day.

The HSS initially claimed that Revilla and Enrile “accidentally met” at the PNP hospital, in response to allegations and photographs showing Revilla at the gathering.

But there seemed to be a different version, according to the PNP health service, which said Revilla and Estrada never visited the emergency room for their ailments.

The PNP health service spokesperson, Chief Insp. Raymond Santos, said he was the doctor on duty at the emergency room on Feb. 14 during the two senators’ visit there.

Estrada was the first to visit

the hospital at 1:25 p.m. that day, complaining of hypertension. But instead of going to the emergency room, the senator allegedly crossed the parking lot and went straight to the specialty ward, which was in a different building and near Enrile’s gathering.

Normal BP

Santos said he conducted a medical examination on Estrada at the specialty ward and found that the senator’s blood pressure was within normal range.

Within 10 minutes, the senator was sent back to the PNP Custodial Center with no medication given to him.

In Revilla’s case, Revilla complained of headache and like Estrada, went straight to the specialty ward where the doctors found him at 4:25 p.m. Santos said he received a memorandum for him to conduct a checkup on the senator.

According to Santos, Revilla

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had a blood pressure of 130/90 and was given paracetamol for his headache, after which he was sent back to his detention cell at 4:55 p.m.

“I was at the emergency room the entire day and I did not see the senators there,” said the PNP health service spokesperson.

Roxas maintained that the senators’ custodians were responsible for their whereabouts and that they should be strictly enforcing the rules on detainees.

“The area where Senator Enrile was holding a gathering has nothing to do with the emergency room where the senators should be if they have a medical complaint,” said the interior secretary.

Roxas added that the two senators roaming in the hospital despite not feeling well was not the actuation of someone whowas ill.

“There are claims that they went to the emergency room

The interior secretary noted that the incident was a violation of PNP policies on detention and is a shame considering that policemen could not impose such simple rules.

He pointed out that if the policemen were pressured into allowing the senators to go on a side trip, the policemen should have stood their ground and said they had a duty to carry out and court orders to follow.

“They should be keeping an eye on the detainees. The ones being put at risk are the ordinary policemen whose careers are endangered,” Roxas said.

Probe by CIDG

Espina said the investigation would be spearheaded by the Major Crimes Investigation Unit under the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), to be supervised by the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.

“There will be criminal and administrative charges filed against all those culpable,” said the PNP officer in charge.

However, the PNP will still follow protocol for detainees who may complain of illnesses—which is bringing them to the emergency room for a checkup and not to other places in the hospital.

“We have to be very strict in terms of rules and regulations concerning detainees. We have to follow them to the letter because one mistake can be very critical, important. That’s why we stick to the rules. We have to follow all to the letter. That is their responsibility,” Espina said.

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

11

Biazon urges House to do part in peace process, pass Bangasamoro Basic Law that will work

BY CIELITO M. REGANIT Philippines News Agency MANILA — A lawmaker at the House of Representatives urged his colleagues on Monday to do their part in the peace process and continue deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in order to provide a legislated mechanism for peace in Mindanao.

In a privilege speech delivered in plenary, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said that the decades-old search for peace in the conflict-torn region is now before the august halls of Congress, where deliberations take the place of negotiations that have earlier been undertaken between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Every one of us wants peace. And the means to stop the bleeding in Mindanao is now before us — the proposed BBL,” he said.

The former soldier-turned-lawmaker said that Congress is expected to pass the BBL and now, more than ever, is the time to resolutely scrutinize the proposed law in order for it to really work.

“We have to do a lot of thinking. We have to pass a BBL that will not only pass constitutional scrutiny but also one that is accepted by all concerned for the law to work,” Biazon said.

He noted how, in the course of the hearings and consultations conducted by the House Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL, they have observed the oceans of interests of different sectors and stakeholders that needed to be reconciled.

“Christians, Lumads and Muslims offered different views. Many of these, which at times directly oppose each other, must be reconciled,” he said.

Likewise, the lawmaker said that they also have to take into consideration what happened with the final peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation front (MNLF) in 1997 that instead of leading to a final peace solution spawned the MILF. “The present peace process with the MILF spawned the problem of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and who knows what other sector that up to now may be silent,” he said.

Thus, the veteran lawmaker said, they also needed to ensure that that the BBL that they would pass will not spawn other problems in the future which may be more serious than the malady they are being asked to cure.

“The ball towards attaining peace in Mindanao is now in our court. Negotiations, being a function of the Executive department, are over. Together, let us find that formula for the future of Filipinos yet to be born, not only in Mindanao, but in the entire country,” Biazon said.

5 soldiers killed, 6 wounded in communist guerrilla ambush in northern Philippines THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Muntinlipa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon this week urged his colleagues to continue deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, in order to provide a legislated mechanism for peace in Mindinao.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Communist rebels have killed five Philippine army soldiers and wounded six others in an ambush in a northern province, the military said Friday.

The soldiers were travelling in a convoy with police late Thursday when they were fired on by New People’s Army guerrillas in Quirino township in Ilocos Sur province, said Capt. Mark Anthony Ruelos of the 7th Infantry Division.

He said government forces were pursuing the guerrillas.

Armed forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said the rebels used civilians as human shields, preventing the ambushed troops from making an effective counterattack.

He said the rebels also fired at medi-

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cal personnel trying to retrieve the bodies of the slain soldiers, but none was hurt. Padilla said both actions were violations of international humanitarian law.

The military estimates there are about 4,000 communist guerrillas operating mostly in small bands around the country, often conducting hit-andrun attacks against government forces or private security personnel to collect weapons.

Talks to end the 45-year-old insurgency, one of the longest-running in Asia, have been stalled since 2011 because of disagreements on the release of captured rebel leaders.

Rebels in the southern Philippines released two captured soldiers in December in a sign of goodwill to resume the talks, but there has been no word on when negotiations might be held.

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Philippine News

MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

Prince of Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Phl for a State Visit

Top security execs kept in dark on other operations vs Marwan

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO’S top security officials were apparently kept in the dark not just about the Jan. 25 operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, but also about previous attempts which sacked Special Action Force Director Getulio Napeñas claimed had all failed due to the lack of cooperation from the military.

This was revealed in an 11minute video of a briefing obtained by the INQUIRER from a well-placed source.

In the briefing, Napeñas told Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that there had been two previous attempts to get Marwan but which did not push through because of the lack of support from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which has jurisdiction over Central Mindanao.

This was mentioned by Napeñas when Gazmin grilled him about the apparent lack, or delayed coordination, of the SAF with the 6th ID. The botched Mamasapano operation that left 67 people dead— 44 SAF commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians, including an eight-yearold girl—also dealt a huge blow to the peace agreement between the government and the MILF. “From the time of 2013 March, plus those other two attempts, did you report to whoever it was? Up in the chain, to coordinate? In other words, if the SAF felt it was not receiving support, I don’t recall ever being called to a meeting with Sec Voltz or the President to talk about lack of support,” Roxas said.

First attempt

Napeñas replied: “Yes sir, the first attempt sometime in February or March, but the records [are] there, I did report to the Chief PNP, and I believe sir, it reached the higher [ups] about the non-support of the Mechanized Brigade during the first attempt, sir, in 2013.”

“Assuming that happened,

BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippines News Agency

Former head of the Special Action Forces Getulio Napeñas said that there had been previous attempts by the SAF to capture the terrorist Zulkifi bin Hir aka.

Marwan before January 25, but they did not push through because of lack of support from the army.

RAPPLER

there was never a meeting that was called to bring the various uniformed services together on this matter. What about the other two attempts? Likewise, there was no…” Roxas said, his voice trailing off.

Napeñas said: “It was all reported to the Chief PNP, sir, considering these operations were not sanctioned, not just the Chief PNP but including the higher authorities.”

By “chief PNP,” Napenas was referring to the now resigned PNP head, Director General Alan Purisima.

Napeñas of the SAF operation to neutralize Marwan.

The briefing took place at the 6th ID headquarters in Camp Siongco in Awang, Maguindanao, before noontime, when only 26 SAF commandos had been confirmed dead. The rest were still considered missing.

Most of what was discussed in the video was mentioned in the Senate hearings, including President Aquino’s meetings with Purisima and Napeñas and the SAF plan to inform the military about the Marwan operation “time on target,” among other things.

P-Noy admission

President Aquino has admitted discussing “Operation: Exodus,” the plan to take down Marwan, with Purisima even after the latter had been suspended following corruption allegations.

Roxas and Espina were also not aware of the Jan. 25 operation.

Neither were Gazmin, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) head Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero and 6th ID commander Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan.

Maguindanao, which is under Central Mindanao, is in the area of operations of the Westmincom and the 6th ID. It was only during the Jan. 26 briefing that all these officials learned first-hand from

‘What coordination?’

In the video, Gazmin was heard saying that by informing Pangilinan about the operation at 5:06 a.m. of Jan. 25, there was no “coordination” with the military.

Napeñas said he sent a text message to Pangilinan at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. of Jan. 25, but checking his mobile phone, Pangilinan showed the text message to Gazmin.

Gazmin cut off Napeñas and said: “You were already… you had already started the operation?”

Roxas said: “In fact, at 0500, they were already there [at target site].”

Gazmin told Napeñas in Filipino and English: “The operation has been completed. That’s not coordination. Do you call that coordination?” www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — The Prince and Grandmaster of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St.John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, is now in the Philippines for a State Visit.

In a statement Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said His Most Eminent Highness Fra’ Matthew Festing arrived in the country Sunday and will stay until March 7, 2015.

This is the second time the Prince of Sovereign Military Order of Malta came to the country, the first of which was in 1979 “when Fra’ Angelo de Mojana di Cologna visited the country to join the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the establishment of Christianity on our shores,” Lacierda said.

The Presidential Spokesperson said Fra’ Festing and President Benigno Aquino III “will discuss matters aimed at strengthening our bilateral engagement.”

He said the Sovereign Military Order of Malta will also give to Aquino a symbolic key to 700 houses for victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

“As a Roman Catholic lay religious organization, the Order is widely known for its humanitarian and charitable activities in various parts of the world,” he said Fra’ Festing is also scheduled to visit Tacloban, Leyte, as well as Basey, Samar to inspect the core shelter units donated by the Order.

Lacierda said Aquino will confer to Fra’ Festing the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Raja (Grand Collar) while the Order will confer to Aquino the order of merit Pro Merito Melitensi, which is primarily awarded to non-members of the Order.

“Whether in working towards forging a global strategy to address the adverse effects of climate change, in strengthening the foundations of building back better in our country, or in expanding the scope of government action towards the benefit of all our countrymen, the Aquino administration will continue to work hand in hand with our partners in the international community in realizing our shared objective of mutual prosperity, sustainable progress, and genuine inclusivity. The mantra of this Administration is reflected in all our undertakings: no one should be left behind,” he added.

President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing review the honor guards during the welcome ceremony at Malacañang Grounds for the latter's official visit to the Philippines on March 3, 2015.

PNA

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

13

Bong ‘distraught’ over son’s shooting

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. AND KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer

got bored with waiting and he decided to clean his government-issued gun in his room, Fortun said.

The gun, a .40-cal. Glock, is registered to the province of Cavite.

The young Revilla did not notice the bullet in the gun and “happened to” pull the trigger.

The bullet pierced the upper part of his chest, above the right nipple. The bullet exited through his right shoulder.

One of the vice governor’s siblings heard a gunshot and rushed to her brother’s room.

The vice governor and his sister rushed to their mother’s room “basically saying I was shot.”

The congresswoman rushed the Jolo to the hospital.

The family has chosen to keep the incident from the clan’s patriarch, former Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., whose health is precarious, Solis said.

“more than willing to cooperate” with the police, but he insisted the incident was “purely a domestic matter.” “[T]his is not something that should be a big issue to the police because no third party was involved,” the lawyer said.

DETAINED SEN. Bong Revilla was distraught about his son Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla suffering a gunshot wound to Coping the chest, talent manager and Mercado told the INQUIRfamily friend Lolit Solis said ER in a text message: “We are yesterday. coping as a family. God is our Solis said the senator, who is strength and refuge. We redetained on graft and plunder quest prayers for Jolo’s comcharges and who is the husband plete recovery.” of actress and Cavite Rep. Lani Solis recounted that Mercado Mercado, was inconsolable. “He kept vigil in the hospital until is distraught. He keeps blaming her son woke up. himself for what happened.”

“Lani told me that Jolo’s girlThe vice governor was rushed friend, (actress) Jodi Sta. Mato Asian Hospital in Muntinria, also stayed in the hospital lupa City this past Saturday all night,” Solis related. “Jodi morning with a gunshot wound. made sure Jolo was OK. They The family claims that what are really in love. I am sure, happened was an accident. they are headed for the altar “I told Lani that life is full of as soon as her marriage annultwists and turns,” Solis told the ment is granted.”

INQUIRER in a phone inter- Police probe Sta. Maria is separated from view yesterday. “But through all The police on Sunday formed a Pampi Lacson, son of former these trials, it seems Lani is the team to investigate the incident.

Sen. Ping Lacson. strongest person in the clan. I The National Capital Re“Jodi was very concerned. She want to give her an award for all gion Police Office head, Direc- kept reminding Jolo that his son that she has been through. In tor Carmelo Valmoria, said the Gab needed him,” Solis said. the past, she remained quiet in composite team, including the Gab is the actor-politician’s spite of rumors son with former that her husband partner Grace was a playboy.

Adriano, daughThen her huster of actress band was deThe family was “more than willing to Rosanna Roces. tained because cooperate” with the police, but he “Lani followed of the pork barinsisted the incident was “purely my advice and rel scandal. Now a domestic matter.” made sure Gab her son is in the was among the hospital.” first people Jolo saw when he Family version Criminal Investigation and De- opened his eyes,” Solis related.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun, tection Group, crime lab and “Lani told me that she was liftthe Revilla family’s spokesper- the Muntinlupa police, would ing everything up to the Lord.” son, gave the family’s version be headed by Southern Police In two separate messages of what happened that morning District director Chief Supt. posted on Facebook, Mercado in their Ayala Alabang Village Henry Rañola. expressed her sentiments on house in Muntinlupa.

Valmoria said the team would the incident that left her third The young Revilla was wait- look into, among other things, child with a gunshot wound to ing for his mother to finish what really happened in the Re- his chest. dressing. They were supposed villa house and whether a third to go somewhere together. party was involved.

FB message The vice governor “probably” Fortun said the family was On Sunday morning, she

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Cavite Vice Go. Jolo Revilla, son of detained Senator Bong Revilla, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest last weekend.

YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT

wrote on Facebook this message in Filipino: “Lord, I am lifting up my entire family, especially Vice Gov. Jolo, to You. Thank You for the life You have given him. Please continue to guide and heal him. We offer his recovery to You. I am also thankful to all those who have been praying for Jolo and our entire family. Please surround us with love and strength dear Lord. We love You, Lord.”

A few hours later, Mercado posted a more frantic message on Facebook: “Please pray for VG Jolo. CT scan results show bleeding in his chest. A tube will be inserted to drain the blood.

His operation will be at 2 p.m.

We need your prayers.”

“Lani got worried because she was told that the bleeding was too heavy,” Solis said.

“Such internal bleeding is normal,” Fortun said in a text

message to the INQUIRER. Blood taken from lungs

At 5 p.m. yesterday, Fortun issued this medical update: “Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla is back in the ICU after a 2-1/2 hour operation where a chest tube was inserted. Doctors removed half a liter of blood from his lungs.

Due to his delicate condition, doctors requested that visitors be limited to family members.

The family is requesting the public for more prayers for Jolo’s speedy recovery.”

Fortun told the INQUIRER that the procedure was meant to “prevent Jolo suffering an infection.”

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Philippine News

MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

A shelter in the Philippines amongst the ruins from a disaster. In 2014 the cost of disasters to the Asia Pacific region was $56.9 billion. In the Philippines, the notable events were the typhoons 'Glenda' and 'Ruby'. Though the two typhoons still caused considerable damage and a few deaths, Philippine authorities were better prepared for them thanks to experience from dealing with Haiyan/Yolanda the year previous.

CHRIS WARHAM / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Disasters in ‘14 cost Asia Pacific $56.9B, says Escap In PH, notable events last year were typhoons ‘Glenda’, ‘Ruby’

BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer COUNTRIES IN Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines, sustained considerable economic losses from disasters in 2014, a year that was considered “atypical” and free of extreme catastrophes.

According to the Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and the Pacific (Escap), 119 disasters exacted a toll of $56.9 billion on the region last year—88 percent of which was attributed to floods and storms.

While there were no extreme disasters in 2014 like Supertyphoon “Haiyan” or “Yolanda” that ravaged the Philippines in 2013, last year’s toll was just about P3 billion less than the $62.9 billion recorded the previous year.

“The highest reported economic losses came from India and China, with India incur-

ring $27 billion (or 45 percent dead. dict the movement and intenof the region’s total losses) “While Hagupit was weak- sity of storms, but also in the while China reported losses er than the 2013 Superty- capacity to engage and mobilize of $23 billion (or 39 percent),” phoon Haiyan (responsible vulnerable communities in the the United Nations agency for 6,293 deaths), authorities disaster preparedness process,” said in a report released Feb. were also much more pre- it added.

25. pared, successfully evacuatAccording to Escap, an In “Disasters in Asia and the ing approximately 165,000 “unforgettable lesson” from Pacific: 2014 Hagupit was the Year in Review,” value of effecEscap said the tive, end-to-end most notable early warning events in the The success of… [preparations for] systems that— Philippines were Hagupit lies not only in the ability along with enTyphoons “Ramto precisely predict the movement hanced premasun” and and intensity of storms, but also in paredness, as “Hagupit"—lothe capacity to engage and mobilize well as timely cally known as vulnerable communities in the evacuation of “Glenda” and disaster preparedness process. communities at “Ruby,” respecrisk—ultimately tively. saved lives.

Escap data “The disasters show that Glenda laid waste people before Hagupit hit, also show, as the countr(y) to $170 million or P7.5 billion resulting in the much lower grows rapidly, their assets, worth of assets and left 94 peo- death toll of 18 people,” the and especially their critical inple killed. agency said. frastructure, are increasingly Ruby, on the other hand, ac“The success of… [prepara- exposed to disasters,” Escap counted for $74.7 million or tions for] Hagupit lies not only said. “Reducing exposure to P3.3 billion in damage and 18 in the ability to precisely pre- disasters should be given due www.canadianinquirer.net

consideration during both the planning and construction phases.”

Escap said building resilience remained a key priority in the region. For this, the agency noted four areas that needed urgent attention.

First is the need to strengthen regional cooperation when it comes to typhoon warnings with focus on under-served high-risk and low capacity countries.

Second is establishing regional cooperation mechanisms for transboundary floods and landslides.

Third is using innovative technologies such as satellite imaging for disaster assessment.

And fourth is communicating the risk of slow-onset disasters through scientific analyses, early warning and impact outlooks to highlight their lesspublicized impact across various sectors.

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Women warned vs toxic skin whitening cosmetics PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENY MANILA — As the country celebrates the National Women’s Month, a toxics watchdog warned that mercury-laden skin whitening cosmetics can pollute the household environment affecting users and non-users, including young children who are most vulnerable to toxic exposure.

As part of its continuing public information drive to inform consumers about the danger of using illegal mercury-containing cosmetics to lighten the skin tone, remove blotchy spots and even cure acne, the EcoWaste Coalition conducted yet another study on the amount of mercury that is released to the air with the use of such products.

The group’s latest investigation showed that dangerous levels of mercury vapor are emitted as soon as the jar containing the facial cream is opened, contaminating the air and exposing the user and her housemates to

mercury even before the cream is applied to the skin.

“The quest for fairer complexion using unregistered skin lightening products with mercury can be very dangerous not only for users who are mostly women, but also for small kids who are deprived of clean air and environment at a very critical stage of their development,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.

“Young children, particularly in congested homes with poor air circulation, are particularly at risk when they touch mercury-tainted bedding and clothes and breathe polluted air,” she pointed out.

Cases have shown that contaminated air and contact with adult cream user’s skin and stained household items contribute to children’s exposure to mercury via skin absorption, inhalation and hand-to-mouth behavior.

“We therefore appeal to women using dubious skin whitening products with mercury to stop this injurious habit, don't go with the fad and be

happy with our natural brown skin tone,” Lucero said.

Through the use of a Jerome J405 Mercury Vapor Analyzer, the EcoWaste Coalition, with assistance from Health Care Without Harm, measured mercury in ambient air that is discharged from tainted skin brightening cosmetics.

Out of 25 products analyzed, 25 were found to emit mercury vapor from 35 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 260 ug/m3, way above 1 ug/mg3, which is the “acceptable level for normal occupancy for most sensitive persons” based on the “Suggested Action Levels for Residential Setting” by the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

All the 25 samples released mercury vapor greater than 10 ug/m3, a level at which the recommended action by ATSDR is “isolation of contamination from residents or evacuation of residents.”

The ATSDR has further rec❱❱ PAGE 21 Women warned

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15

Indonesia nearly ready to execute 9 foreign drug smugglers, including a Filipino, as diplomatic tensions rise THE ASSOCIATED PRESS JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Indonesia is nearly ready to execute by firing squad nine foreigners condemned for drug smuggling as diplomatic squabbles persist over the executions.

Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said Tuesday the preparations at the execution site are complete. Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran and two other foreigner convicts will be transferred to Nusakambangan prison this week. Five

other foreigners and an Indonesian are already in the prison where all 10 will be executed simultaneously in pairs.

He gave no date for the executions. Bali Prosecutors Chief Momock Sumiarso said Chan and Sukumaran would be transferred Wednesday from their jail in Bali to the prison island off Indonesia’s main island of Java.

The inmates are from Australia, Brazil, France, Ghana, Nigeria and the Philippines. Indonesia has refused diplomatic appeals to spare them.

Opinion

16

MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

AS I SEE IT

Belmonte may run for president

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer SPEAKER FELICIANO Belmonte has started shaking hands with anyone within reach. Is that a sign that he may finally run for president?

Belmonte has been under intense pressure from some members of the ruling Liberal Party to run as the party’s standard-bearer next year. But Belmonte says he is committed to support Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the presumptive party candidate.

To be sure, Roxas’ ratings in the surveys are inching up and the ratings of Vice President Jejomar Binay are slowly going down. The LP members fear, however, that there may not be enough time for Roxas to overtake Binay’s lead by election time. So they are looking at Belmonte to be the LP candidate in 2016.

Belmonte would be a popular presidential candidate. Corruption would be the most important issue in next year’s presidential election.

The frontrunner, VP Binay, is up to his neck in corruption accusations, which he does not want to answer in the Senate hearings. Which leads people to believe that they must be true. And the people are fed up with corruption. It is the single biggest cause of widespread poverty in the Philippines. Funds that can be used

to generate jobs and provide assis- has bedeviled it for decades. to the pork barrel scam. tance to the poor are being routinely That is why the people and responHis supporters are confident that stolen by corrupt public officials. sible members of the ruling party are Belmonte will bring these qualities, The Sandiganbayan and the Office afraid of a Binay presidency. That is expertise and cleanliness to the presof the Ombudsman, set up primarily why they are looking at Speaker Bel- idency if he runs and wins. to combat corruption, are very slow. A monte as the candidate to pit against But there is one big stumbling block graft case in the Sandiganbayan takes VP Binay. Belmonte, like Roxas, is to his becoming a presidential candifrom five to eight years to resolve. seen as Mr. Clean. date: He does not want to be one, so That is not a deterrent to grafters.

For some strange reason, there far. Will public clamor persuade him to President Aquino is the first presi- seems to be some reluctance to- change his mind? dent to mount an honest-to-goodness ward Roxas. But there is none to*** campaign against corruption. Under ward Belmonte. And why not? In his The hope, nay dream, of plotters his administration, a to turn the rally to former president is mark the 29th anFor some strange reason, there seems to be some reluctance detained and is being niversary of People toward Roxas. But there is none toward Belmonte. And why not? In tried, a chief justice Power the other day his long public career, Belmonte, who started out as a newspaper rewas impeached and is into a People Power porter, has proven to be a good and honest administrator. now facing charges of 3 that would force tax evasion, a former President Aquino to Senate president and two other sena- long public career, Belmonte, who resign (in the same way People Powtors are detained and charged, other started out as a newspaper reporter, er 2 drove President Estrada out of lawmakers and public officials and their has proven to be a good and honest Malacañang) so they could take over, accomplices are being sued and arrest- administrator. As head of the Phil- fizzled out when the militants who ed—all for corruption allegations. ippine Airlines, he piloted it from a turned up at Edsa turned out to be What will happen to this anticor- money-losing airline to a profitable sparse in number. ruption campaign if VP Binay be- one. As head of the Government SerWhy should it be otherwise? The comes president? Very likely, the vice Insurance System, he increased plotters who want P-Noy to step down detained senators, his partners in the its income as well as the pensions and so a so-called National TransformaUnited Nationalist Alliance, would be other services to its members. tion Council can take over cannot released and the charges against them As mayor of Quezon City, he trans- even say who would compose it. At a dropped. With that as precedent, sim- formed it from a debt-ridden city to press forum last week, Norberto Gonilar corruption cases against other of- the richest city in the Philippines, zales, GMA’s national security adviser, ficials and their cohorts would also be with bank deposits that are the envy and his cohorts were asked to give the dropped. The nation would sink again of other local government units. As a names of those who would compose into the quagmire of corruption that congressman, he has not been linked the council, but they could not give

any. All they could say was that they would consult various organizations.

They were told: Why do you want P-Noy to step down now when you still don’t have anyone to replace him in running the government? You are putting the cart before the horse. Answer: Oh, aaaah, hmmmph. Why don’t you wait for the election which is only a year away and field your own candidates?

Answer: Because the automated voting machines cannot be trusted.

Shouldn’t you concentrate on those machines instead of wanting to replace the whole government? You want to burn the whole house down to get rid of a few mice.

Gonzales et al. kept repeating that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno would head the council, but she has already said she does not want to get involved in any power grab.

Indeed, what the Gonzales-Cojuangco bunch wants to do is grab power without going through an election. In fact, the people behind the Resign-P-Noy movement have all been defeated in previous elections and know that they cannot be elected even as barangay captain. The only way is to seize power illegally.

Do they realize that they are liable for criminal charges because they are plotting to seize power from those duly elected by the people? ■

BUSINESS MATTERS

The importance of hosting Apec

By Guillermo M. Luz Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES will serve as chair and host of the Apec (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Leaders Meeting this year. It will be the first time since 1996, under then President Fidel V. Ramos, that the country will host this important gathering. The timing can’t be better to showcase the Philippines’ economic progress.

Apec is composed of 21 membereconomies: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

It was originally formed in 1989 and today now represents 40 percent of global population, over 40 percent of world trade, and over 50 percent of global GDP. It has been holding its annual Leaders Meeting since 1993, when it first convened the summit on Blake Island off Seattle in the United States.

While Apec is best remembered for its summit, now referred to as the Annual Economic Leaders Meeting, in reality the Apec calendar of events is yearround. It typically starts in December (our chairmanship and hosting year

started on Dec. 8) with the so-called lectively enables it to punch above its is the role that the private sector plays Informal Senior Officials Meeting. weight in the global economy. As home within the Apec structure. It has been The rest of the year’s events and meet- to some of the world’s largest or fastest- a big role and one that is expanding. ings include four more Senior Officials growing economies, Apec contributes In 1996, when the Philippines last Meetings (SOM) with related commit- to global growth and development. This hosted Apec, we introduced some intee and technical working group meet- is basically done through work carried novations in terms of private-sector ings, and at least nine ministerial meet- out by committees and by individual interaction with government officials. ings and high-level policy dialogues membereconomies across a wide range The 1996 Apec CEO Summit (then before culminating in the Leaders of economic sectors and activities that called the Apec Business Forum) was Meeting in November. It is literally a range from the highlytechnical (think the first to feature a large number gathering of some 200 or so meetings “Regulatory Harmonization”) to policy of presidents as speakers. This was involving thousands of delegates and and paradigm (think “Free Trade Area achieved by making sure that the Apec participants. of the Asia and Pacific”).

Business Forum coincided with the Aside from the Leaders Summit; government meetin prior years these The gap between haves and have-nots has grown. Exings, there are also a were set one week large number of priapart, thus eliminatpect discussion across most Apec economies to come to this vate-sector meeting the opportunity theme when they discuss their deliverables. ings running within for scheduling keyor parallel with the government’s Hosting Apec will provide the Phil- note addresses by leaders. That year calendar of events. These range from ippines some opportunities. First, it also saw the first joint meeting among relatively small groups such as the will allow us to align our policies to CEOs and trade and foreign ministers, Automotive Dialogue, Chemicals global practice and, at the same time, as well as the first meeting of the Apec Dialogue, Policy Partnership on Food give us a chance to take a leadership Business Advisory Council (though Security, Life Sciences Innovation position in introducing, advocating, Abac was formally established the Forum, and others to larger group- or emphasizing new policy. In hosting year before). Most of these practices ings like the Apec Business Advisory Apec, an economy also takes a chair- have become regular fixtures of the Council (Abac) and the Apec CEO manship position in the major meet- Apec calendar since 1996. Over a dozSummit. ings (SOM, Ministerials, and Leaders). en leaders now speak at the Apec CEO The purpose of all these is to drive As chair, the Philippines can introduce Summit. Abac now meets four times regional economic integration. Apec new topics of discussion and action or, a year, and now also holds an annual member-economies are not only each at the very least, shift emphasis and fo- Dialogue with Leaders at their annual other’s largest trading and investment cus on a topic. More on this later. meeting. partners, the strength of Apec also colWhat may not be popularly known For Apec 2015—with the theme

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“Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World”—what can be expected? Research shows that while the global economy has grown over the years, so has inequality. The gap between haves and have-nots has grown. Expect discussion across most Apec economies to come to this theme when they discuss their deliverables. Whether one is talking about small and mediumscale enterprises, urbanization, services, food security, education and human capital development, or anything else in the broad agenda of Apec, expect discussion to circle back to this central theme of building inclusive growth.

Apec 2015 brings a different kind of opportunity to the Philippines.

Wisely, the government has chosen to hold the meetings in various parts of the country. While logistically difficult, the plus is that it spreads out opportunities to other areas. Thus, aside from Manila, Apec meetings have been scheduled in Clark, Subic, Legazpi, Tagaytay, Bataan, Boracay, Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu. Private businessmen and local governments will get the chance to showcase their communities and culture. Hopefully, this will provide a more wholistic view of the Philippines’ progress and potential. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

17

PUBLIC LIVES

The improbable task of negotiating peace

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer WHAT DOES it mean to talk peace with someone you’ve been fighting?

In the beginning, you review the reasons that brought about the conflict.

In the course of doing this, you start to allocate blame for what has happened. That is natural. Soon, you realize that, rather than be stuck in cycles of unproductive recrimination, it is better to move on by stressing the reasons that led you to the peace table. You forge a plan to eliminate the causes of conflict and to build an enduring partnership based on justice.

Doubts and suspicions are never completely stilled; they continually permeate such talks. Quite often, hardliners from either side take the center stage, and, as a result, the talks bog down prematurely—until, through back channels, they are picked up again. Various forms of confidencebuilding measures are then proposed to keep the talks going, and to move them from one level to another.

At a crucial point in the talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, for instance, President Aquino broke protocol by making an unscheduled trip to Japan just to meet the MILF head Ebrahim Murad. After this, the MILF dropped all remaining traces

of a secessionist vocabulary to make if the nice people you’ve been talk- dence of the MILF chair and of the orit easy for the Bangsamoro quest to ing to are not themselves the hapless ganization’s entire political leadership. be reconciled with the nonnegotiable victims of shrewd manipulators from That is due in large measure to the fact premise of Philippine sovereignty. their side. Indeed, you might begin that none of his MILF comrades spoke Such moves can be costly in politi- to wonder if your own principal still ill of him or ever questioned his fidelcal terms. P-Noy risked losing political trusts you, or still shares the original ity to the Bangsamoro cause. Not even capital when he agreed to meet with vision behind the mandate you ac- after he denounced in the strongest Murad in order to speed up the talks cepted as a peace negotiator. terms possible the manner in which with the MILF. To many observers, The recent Senate hearings on the many of the Special Action Force comthat brief meeting in Japan was the Mamasapano incident gave us a glimpse mandos were killed in that Mamasapaclearest sign that the Philippine gov- of the complex terrain that peace nego- no cornfield. I held my breath when he ernment was recognizing the MILF as tiators must navigate. At one point in said that the perpetrators of this brua “belligerent” power that is conferred the hearings, MILF chief negotiator tality were worse than terrorists. He rights under international law. On the Mohagher Iqbal was asked why it took knew that many were from the MILF. other hand, by exI can’t help conplicitly dropping the trasting this with Such moves can be costly in political terms. P-Noy quest for an indethe way some of risked losing political capital when he agreed to meet with pendent Moro state, our political leadMurad in order to speed up the talks with the MILF. the MILF risked losers have treated the ing the legitimacy it peace negotiators built over many years as the authentic so long for the ceasefire order to be on the government side. Like Iqbal, voice of the Bangsamoro. honored by the MILF combatants on presidential peace adviser TerePeace negotiations are always a the ground. He said that he could not sita Quintos-Deles and government touch-and-go affair. The negotiators provide a ready answer until his group peace panel chief Miriam Coronelhave to constantly draw on a reser- completed its own investigation. I heard Ferrer had to pick up the mess crevoir of patience, personal goodwill, him say: “These are military issues. My ated by a bloody encounter nobody and prudence to get the conversation responsibilities in the MILF have to do wanted. But, unlike their MILF moving. On one hand, you never really with political affairs.” It was a reason- counterpart, they have been pilloried know when the other party is just rid- able response. But, it failed to appease for refusing to join the chorus of righing on the talks to achieve short-term his interrogators, who kept asking him teous indignation that has formed in gains—to secure the release of prison- if the MILF leadership had any real con- the wake of the tragic deaths of the 44 ers, or to entrench a ceasefire arrange- trol over its armed elements.

SAF commandos. Their call for sobriment with no commitment to forge a Even so, Iqbal came out as a credible ety and prudence has been portrayed just and enduring peace accord. At figure in these hearings. He spoke as as a lack of empathy for the fallen times, you may find yourself asking someone who enjoyed the full confi- police officers. For failing to echo the

outrage that has engulfed the media and the streets, and for suggesting that the government might have violated the existing agreements when it did not coordinate the operation against Marwan with those charged with overseeing the ceasefire, their patriotism has been put in question.

But, do we know what their exchanges with their MILF counterparts are like when they are among themselves, particularly since Mamasapano? Do we know exactly what they feel deep inside? Do we know how they felt after seeing that their own principal failed to inform them of a top-secret police operation that put at risk the very project they were assigned to work on? I would have understood it if, at that point, they resigned in disgust.

What I cannot understand is why the President’s supposed allies are demanding that he fire his peace negotiators. If they mean what they say, shouldn’t they ask him instead to cancel all standing agreements with the MILF, withdraw the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and stop talking to the MILF until the latter admits its culpability for Mamasapano and surrenders the combatants who figured in that encounter? Isn’t that what the call for the ouster of Deles and Ferrer amounts to?” ■

KRIS-CROSSING MINDANAO

Why Alphaland should be grateful to Binay

By Dr. Antonio J. Montalvan II Philippine Daily Inquirer IF YOU are against the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), are you an enemy of peace? The question begs to be asked after President Aquino said during the Edsa People Power 1 anniversary that yes, one is.

It is a question that, however, begs for answers, and not as a method of public conditioning that Mr. Aquino wants it to be. The silver lining to the Mamasapano tragedy seems to be the heightened public awareness of the Mindanao peace process, fueled no less by a lying President. The open debate in social media may even continue well beyond 2016 when it will not be remote to see Mr. Aquino wheelchair-bound.

Because it is a politically charged issue, there appears to be a wide range of intentions that drive the multiplicity of opinions. Where are these opinions coming from? The chaff must be sifted from the grain.

For instance, a hundred years have passed but the colonial residue of mistrust and hatred against the Moro by many non-Moro Filipinos still remains. Here the viewpoints range from the most gullible to the most unreasonable—e.g., Mindanao will become a part of the Islamic State of

Iraq and Syria once the Bangsamoro cal theory, it is often identified with MILF, sincerity should not be difficult substate comes into being, without federalism. The concept of the Euro- to demonstrate. any semblance of study on what pro- pean Union and its individual memTo be sure, there are sections in pels Islamic fundamentalism in oth- ber states is most akin to subsidiarity. the BBL that call for clarifications. It er countries. Philippine Moro society Dismemberment is nowhere related is nebulous, for instance, on what to has had no tradition and tolerance to these principles. do with traditional Moro aristocracy. for radical Islamic clerics.

The Bangsamoro will not even To simply abolish it would constitute A very common misconception have its own army. Its army will be a break from its “symbolic claims to about the BBL is that it prescribes the Armed Forces of the Philippines, continuity with past anti-colonial for the “dismemberment of the re- which may organize a Bangsamoro struggles.” That would also confirm public.” It is easy to see that those command. The Bangsamoro police the often misplaced view of the nonadvancing this idea have not read will be part of the Philippine Nation- Moro people that the datu system the law itself, particularly Article al Police. In Article IV, the proposed was the “single cause of Muslim unIII on Territory: “The Bangsamoro BBL “renounces war as an instru- derdevelopment,” however monoterritory shall recausal that arguAfter the Mamasapano incident, those who cast “serimain a part of the ment sounds. ous doubts on the sincerity of the MILF” stand on valid Philippines.”

All There are other arguments to the cultural gray areas. grounds. It should not hurt the Moro Islamic Liberation Front contrary must end The very prevalent a bit if it addresses these doubts. there. social problem of Some get carried away by po- ment of national policy.” It is not fair bearing arms that anthropologists litical theoretical jargons such as to oppose the BBL from a position of have identified as a form of status “self-determination” and “selfgover- ignorance. fetishism motivated by status pride nance,” and equate these terms with Certainly, however, there are voices begs to be asked. This is also a source dismemberment. These terms are of dissent that operate from legitimate of war where often the MILF and compatible with another jargon, that constructs. After the Mamasapano in- the Army act as proxies. One Moro of subsidiarity. In fact, subsidiarity cident, those who cast “serious doubts informer said that is a peculiar probis a social organization concept that on the sincerity of the MILF” stand on lem that precisely will be addressed evolved from the Roman Catholic valid grounds. It should not hurt the by the Bangsamoro police. But that Church. It is identical to decentral- Moro Islamic Liberation Front a bit remains to be seen. ization. It holds that social problems if it addresses these doubts. For startThe BBL states that “A free and should be addressed at the local level ers, one must admire the statesman- open regional party system shall be because that is the level that knows ship and tact of its chief negotiator allowed to evolve according to the the context of the solution. In politi- Mohagher Iqbal. If he is the face of the free choice of the people.” Yet I do

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not see a system shielded from Manila’s traditional politics. In the past, the preference for political leaders from the Moro elite created political monsters in the mold of those that Manila produced, to the detriment of the Moro masses. That was indeed a cause of Moro underdevelopment.

That will be a tricky proposition.

To go back to the question: If you are against the Bangsamoro Basic Law, are you an enemy of peace? If we go by history, the passage of the law must never be hinged on political capital. Manila has played long enough with Mindanao. In 1977, because of divergent interpretations, Ferdinand Marcos proceeded to “implement” the Tripoli Agreement on his own terms. His sincerity was deemed doubtful, to say the least.

Now, Mr. Aquino wants to have the BBL railroaded while a nation is still asking for clarifications, to say the least. Like Marcos, that is not a position of sincerity.

A tried and tested barometer for Mindanao peace is Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI, of Cotabato. This is what he says in his social media post: “We really are not learning from history... thus we are condemned to repeat it!”

Who are the enemies of peace?

That should not be hard to answer. ■

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FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Canada News

John Nuttall (left) and Amanda Korody were planning to build bombs out of pressure cookers and detonate them outside of the legislature in Victoria in 2013.

TWITTER PHOTO

B.C. terror suspects build bombs ahead of alleged Canada Day plot: trial

BY TAMSYN BURGMANN The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Just days ahead of an alleged bomb plot, a British Columbia man grew fearful that he and his wife would be forced to “take the fall” if they became a liability to an Arab businessman they believed was helping them carry out their planned Canada Day attack, their trial has heard.

In a video played at the couple’s terrorism trial Monday, John Nuttall confides in his wife, Amanda Korody, that he believe they could be killed by shadowy figures up the chain of command. By the time the video was recorded on June 28, 2013, Nuttall and Korody had spent months interacting with the businessman, who was actually an undercover RCMP officer.

“His third contingency plan is ditch us, we’re expendable, save himself,” Nuttall tells his wife as they are holed up in a motel near Vancouver to build bombs out of pressure-cookers.

“If we don’t have these done,

there’s a good chance we will be gets to attack, praying on their finished by morning to be ready killed or set up. Do you under- knees for strength and assem- to meet another associate who stand? ... Someone’s gotta take bling the bombs. would provide explosives. the fall. It’s not gonna be him, They banter back and forth Nuttall suggests the underOK?” about their motivations — jihad cover officers will simply point Nuttall and Korody, recent or justice — provide each other the finger at him if the plan falls converts to radical Islam, had encouragement and excitedly apart. no idea they were being vid- discuss painting their faces red “They can say, ‘Well, it was eotaped by police in the weeks and white to disguise them- Yahya who did it, he did it on his leading up to their arrest in July selves on Canada Day. own’” Nuttall says, referring to 2013. They are each charged But Nuttall grows agitated himself by his self-proclaimed with four terrorArabic name. “I ism-related ofjust figured this fences. out, OK? Just toThe Crown’s day.” theory is that the Nuttall grows agitated as he In converpair planned to messes about with glue, an electric sation that is detonate bombs drill, scissors and various parts rambling and outside the legisof three pressure- cookers over often confuses lature in Victoria a large table. Hours earlier, the the meaning of as vengeance for officer told Nuttall he needed the words, Nuttall what they perbombs finished by morning to be tells Korody he ceived to be the ready to meet another associate believes they are mistreatment of who would provide explosives. part of a wide Muslims overnetwork whose seas. tentacles stretch Their defence to the terror lawyers have group al-Qaida. asked the jury to pay close at- as he messes about with glue, He informs her that he betention to the role the RCMP an electric drill, scissors and lieves they are only privy to the played in the alleged plot. various parts of three pres- nearest contact in the chain.

During the six-hour video sure-cookers over a large table. His theory is that if their plot recording, the couple is seen Hours earlier, the officer told is discovered and authorities brainstorming about which tar- Nuttall he needed the bombs move in to torture them, each

of them can only give up one or two names.

Nuttall asserts that for protection Korody must always keep two items on her at all times: $40 and a knife. There are audible sounds of retching from off-screen by Korody, who is believed to be vomiting. The trial has heard she suffered from severe stomach problems.

“Soldier, on your feet,” Nuttall calls to his wife. “I need you now. I hope you’re not just sitting on the edge of the toilet or something.”

Later in the video, Nuttall paces the room while speaking into a cell phone and addressing his main undercover contact.

The call goes dead and he tells his wife that the next day they will meet the businessman’s associate, who is apparently coming from Alberta.

The Crown has told the jury the man was actually another undercover officer and that the RCMP ensured the bombs were inert.

Nuttall and Korody both pleaded not guilty.

Canada News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

19

Colder than normal Suspensions lifted for men in weather to continue Dalhousie dentistry Facebook page through March: Weather Network forecast

BY MICHAEL TUTTON The Canadian Press

BY MICHELLE MCQUIGGE The Canadian Press TORONTO — Looking to break out of winter’s icy clutches? The Weather Network has some bad news — you’re stuck in a frigid embrace for a while longer.

The network says bitter cold and record snowfalls that have made this a tough winter across most of the country means spring weather will be a while in coming.

Chief meteorologist Chris Scott says the network’s spring outlook is calling for a colderthan-normal month of March from Alberta and all points east.

He says heavy snowpacks in parts of the country plus heavy ice cover across the Great Lakes will help keep temperatures below seasonal averages.

Scott says British Columbia is expected to be the only province to buck the trend, with an unusually mild winter giving way to an early spring in that province.

He says occasional bursts of warm air from the U.S. will inject some variety into the overall weather trends, but he’s more than usually certain of this season’s long-range forecast.

The wintry conditions that prevailed across most of Canada have taken a lot of the guesswork out of this year’s projections, he said, adding unseasonably low temperatures and high precipitation levels have taken hold virtually everywhere east of the Rockies.

Most notably, he said, Ontario and Quebec have had to contend

with record-breaking cold while Atlantic Canada has been buried under unprecedented snowfalls, particularly in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

These conditions have ensured that the Great Lakes are more than 80 per cent covered in ice, Scott said, adding that figure is still growing and is on pace to rival the all-time record of 95 per cent.

“That ice is going to take a while to melt, and even after it melts the water will be quite cool,” Scott said in a telephone interview. “Those factors lead us to a little more confidence in this below normal temperature forecast as we head to spring, especially the first part of it.”

Scott said the occasional shots of warm air moving up from the south will cause some short-term temperature spikes, which he predicted could increase the risk of flooding in some parts of the country.

He hopes the overall trend towards cold will regulate melting speed for the heavy snowpack in Eastern Canada, but warned that any prolonged cycle of thawing and freezing could cause problems.

“If we get that perfect recipe of warm temperatures with rain, flooding could be a possibility. That’s something we will be watching for the next six weeks.”

Scott’s forecast is calling for temperatures to start reaching normal levels by mid April, though Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada are projected to still hover below seasonal norms.

A snow plow in Toronto. According to The Weather Network, heavy snowpacks and heavy ice cover across The Great Lakes will keep the temperatures below seasonal averages across Canada, except in BC where an unusually mild winter is giving way to an early spring.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

HALIFAX — Dalhousie University in Halifax has decided to allow 12 male dentistry students to return to clinical practice less than two months after they were suspended for allegedly participating in a Facebook page that contained sexually violent content about female classmates.

In a statement released late Monday, university president Richard Florizone said the school’s academic standards class committee made the decision after reviewing the online posts, meeting each of the students and receiving reports and legal submissions.

Florizone said the students must adhere to several conditions, including close supervision, ongoing participation in a restorative justice program and participation in classes on communication and professionalism.

“The (committee) has carefully considered whether a conditional return to clinic for the 12 men ... would create any risk to students, staff and the public,” Florizone said in the statement posted on the university’s website.

“Safety remains our priority. Before making this decision, every woman in the class was individually consulted by an assistant dean in the faculty of dentistry. Each woman supported the conditional return to clinic. Additionally, no member of the public will receive treatment from any of the men if they choose not to.”

The statement goes on to say the committee will now assess whether the men will be able to meet the professional standards of their program.

“We do know, at this point, that due to missed clinic time some of the men will not graduate this spring,” the statement says. “No one will graduate until the (committee) determines that they have met the high professional and academic standards we set for our dentistry graduates.”

Earlier in the day, the 12 students expressed remorse in an open letter to the community. www.canadianinquirer.net

The university posted a joint statement dated Sunday by 29 members of the fourth-year dentistry class on its website, with the unidentified students who wrote what is described as an open letter saying they wanted to comment before an academic standards committee rules on what discipline will be applied.

The members of the class who agreed to the statement are participating in a restorative justice process the university started after the Facebook site’s contents became public.

The letter says 12 male students believe their actions were “hurtful, painful and wrong,” and that they harmed their classmates, patients, the university, their profession and the public.

“Through the restorative justice process we are doing the work required to be sorry — to confront the harms we have caused, to accept our responsibility, to figure out what is needed of us to make things right, and to gain the knowledge, skills and capacities to be trusted health-care professionals,” the men say in the letter.

“The need for change in ourselves became very clear through deep reflection on our failures and harmful actions.”

According to the CBC, members of the Facebook group voted on which woman they’d like to have “hate” sex with and joked about using chloroform on women. The CBC said in another post, a woman is shown in a bikini with a caption that says, “Bang until stress is relieved or unconscious (girl).”

There are three parts to the letter posted on the university website. One is written by the men in the class, a second section by the women and a third written by all the participants in the restorative justice process.

The response from six women who were the target of the posts on Facebook says what was said was harmful and reflected “a broader culture” within the university and society.

But the six women say they don’t agree with a university decision to segregate the men from their classmates and keep them out of clinical practice.

That decision fragmented and alienated the class at a time when they were particularly in need of support from their classmates, the women say, adding that they feel safe with the 12 members of the Facebook group.

“Many have asserted that all women feel unsafe, but this is not the case for us — we feel safe with the members of the Facebook group involved in this restorative process,” the women say in the letter.

They describe themselves as strong and professional women who are capable of speaking for themselves in the case.

“The restorative process has provided a very important space for us to engage safely and respectfully with our colleagues and others to convey our perspectives and needs.”

The men say they have participated in a series of workshops to consider what they wrote and how to repair the damage since the restorative justice process started in December.

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Canada News

MARCH 6, 2015

FRIDAY

Boldly go ahead, doodlers: bank says ‘Spocking’ Laurier on $5 not illegal

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — It turns out there’s not a lot of logic in the belief that it’s against the law to Vulcanize Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s likeness on the $5 bill.

The death of Leonard Nimoy last week inspired people to post photos on social media of marked-up banknotes that show Canada’s seventh prime minister transformed to resemble Spock, Nimoy’s famous “Star Trek” character.

For years, Canadians have doodled Spock’s pointy Vulcan ears, sharp eyebrows and signature bowl haircut on the fiver’s image of Laurier, the first francophone PM. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not illegal to deface or even mutilate banknotes, the Bank of Canada said Monday — although the publication of a banknote’s likeness is still prohibited, except under certain conditions.

There are good reasons to resist the urge to scribble on bills, said bank spokeswoman Josianne Menard.

“The Bank of Canada feels that writing and markings on banknotes are inappropriate as they are a symbol of our country and a source of national pride,” Menard wrote in an email.

Long life and prosperity might also take a hit: Menard said disfigured bills risk being yanked from circulation and rejected by retailers.

Following Nimoy’s death Friday, social media users posted their own versions of Laurier’s Vulcan makeover to honour the actor.

“Spock your $5 bills for Leonard Nimoy,” a group called the Canadian Design Resource tweeted alongside its depiction.

The death of Leonard Nimoy, famous for playing the character Spock (left) in the iconic "Star Trek" TV series, has inspired people across Canada to modify the old Canadian $5 banknote to look like him. Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal in Canada to deface or even mutilate banknotes.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / TWITTER PHOTO

Images of the altered bills circulated widely online and attracted international media attention to something many Canadians had never seen before — although for others, it was hardly a new frontier.

Calgary artist Tom Bagley, who posted his own Spock-Laurier hybrid on Facebook and Flickr after Nimoy’s death, described it as an old bar trick to impress the waitress.

He compared the sketches to folding the $20 bill along the Queen’s face to make her smile or frown.

Bagley said he had no concerns about any potential legal issues with defacing the banknote. Besides, he said, his sketch was erasable.

“I don’t know anyone that’s gone to jail for it,” he said in an interview.

“I always thought it was OK as long as the numbers were intact — it still counted as money.

That’s what I heard. Because stuff happens, like say you spill spaghetti sauce all over it or something like that.”

The Mounties said Monday they’re aware of the sudden Spockification frenzy, but could cite no police investigation of the defaced notes or the images posted online. An RCMP spokesman referred questions to the Bank of Canada.

Interestingly, the central bank’s boss might not have objected.

Stephen Poloz has called Star

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Trek his favourite TV series, and even referenced the show in a December speech before the Economic Club of New York. That address was titled, “Speculating on the Future of Finance.”

“Does anybody besides me wonder what the banking system looks like in the background of Star Trek?” Poloz said in the prepared remarks of his Dec. 11 speech.

The flip side of the latest $5 bill, which bears Poloz’s own signature, features images representing Canada’s contribution to space exploration, including a picture of an astronaut.

So, will all those Spocked bills be allowed to continue on their

mission? Not once they reach a bank, said Menard. Financial institutions would likely return them to the Bank of Canada to be pulled from circulation.

The bank would prefer that people and media outlets stop distributing and publishing images of the defaced bills, she added. The Canadian Press distributed an image of the bill in order to provide a more accurate and complete account.

Interestingly, when it comes to protecting cash in Canada, the law treats coins and banknotes differently.

The Royal Canadian Mint’s website says it’s illegal to melt down, break up or use any coin that is legal tender in Canada as anything other than currency.

Canada News

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

21

Men who built Toronto mystery tunnel wanted place to ‘hang out,’ police say

BY PAOLA LORIGGIO The Canadian Press

where the tunnel was found, or the Pan Am Games.

Toronto police announced the discovery of the tunnel on Feb. 24 and released TORONTO — A mystery tunnel dis- photos of the site, prompting media covcovered near a Pan Am Games venue in erage across Canada and abroad. north Toronto was built by two men who The bunker, discovered in January wanted a place to “hang out,” police said by a conservation officer in a densely Monday. wooded area, is located 25 metres from The pair, who were tracked down the fence of the Rexall Centre, which is thanks to tips from the public, told in- to host tennis events for the summer’s vestigators they built the tunnel for Pan Am Games. “personal reasons” and their explanaInside, police say they found plywood tion has been verified, Const. Victor wall supports, a generator and a sump Kwong said. pump, as well as a rosary with a RememKwong said police brance Day poppy have determined nailed to a wall. there was never any Police said the criminal intent or chamber was almost danger to public safetwo metres high, 86 ty, and no charges centimetres wide and will be laid.

It literally was 10 metres long.

“It literally was these two guys Even though the these two guys who who had an idea bunker “looked imhad an idea to create to create a place pressive,” the men a place to themselves to themselves to have no formal trainto hang out in,” he hang out in. ing in construction, said.

Kwong said.

“You think about Deputy police a kid making a fort, Chief Mark Saunders digging a hole — add had said there was no 15 years to that,” he evidence to suggest said. any criminal intent in the tunnel’s conKwong said the men are not believed struction, adding “there’s no criminal to be survivalists, adding they just offence for digging a hole.” “wanted to dig a tunnel.”

But he asked for the public’s help The men had “no idea” they weren’t in solving the mystery and said police allowed to dig in a public park and were would continue to investigate until they apologetic during their interview with discovered who built it, and that other police, he said. authorities — including national and Toronto bylaw enforcement said dig- international security agencies — were ging on city land would be considered notified. trespassing, which is enforced by police.

The discovery of what has become Police are not releasing the men’s known as the “mystery tunnel” made innames, or any further details since the ternational headlines, while social mecase is not a criminal investigation, but dia bubbled with theories that ranged Kwong said there is no connection to from zombie hideouts to affordable York University, which is near the site housing.

TWITTER PHOTO

Women warned... ommended 3-6 ug/m3 as the “acceptable level to allow personal belongings to remain in owner’s possession.” This means that the sampled facial creams, which are “personal belongings,” should be discarded for exceeding such level, the EcoWaste Coalition noted.

Mercury in the ambient air was measured at 0 ug/m3 before the first sample was opened and analyzed with Jerome.

Among the top 12 products that showed high mercury vapor emissions are: 1. BG Sea Pearl & Papaya Natural Essence 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream, 260 ug/m3 2. JJJ Magic Spots Removing Cream, 157 ug/m3 3. Feique Cucumber Anti-Wrinkle Whitening Set, 154 ug/m3 4. Feique Herbal Extract Chinese Formula Whitening Anti-Freckle Set, 137 ug/m3 5. Yu Dan Tang Gingseng and Green Cucumber 10 Days Whitening Speckles Removed Essence, 135 ug/m3 6. Beauty Excellent Lamb Placenta Whitening and Anti-Aging, 131 ug/m3 7. Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream, 123 ug/m3, 8. Jiaoli 7 Days Miracle Package for Spots Refining, 115 ug/m3 9. Zi Xin Mei Face Beauty Vegetable ❰❰ 15

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Red in White Series (pink and white box), 108 ug/m3 10. Feique Rose Refining Nourishing Set, 99 ug/m3 11. Zi Xin Mei Face Beauty Vegetable Red in White Series (purple and gold box), 95 ug/m3 12. Beauty Girl Egg White and Tomato 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Cream, 93 ug/m3 According to the ATSDR, “exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus.

Effects on brain functioning may result in irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems.”

Last month, the group organized a mock “Miss Poison Cosmetics” beauty pageant to expose the unhindered trade of contraband skin whitening products in 50 cities all over the Philippines.

As revealed in the report “Beauty and the Risk,” a study published by the EcoWaste Coalition with support from the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), 316 of the 355 samples of skin whitening facial creams were found contaminated with mercury up to 96,100 parts per million (ppm), way beyond the allowable limit of 1 ppm under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.

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Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

MARCH 6, 2015

FRIDAY

KABABAYANG PILIPINO The 2015 season for the main company of Kababayang Pilipino begins this Sunday. They are now back in studio and excited to show you what they are working on.

JUAN RADIO & PCI GET TOGETHER

RICHMOND MULTICULTURAL

Alan Yong, publisher and CEO of Philippine Canadian Inquirer and Juan Radio 96.1FM, hosted a special gathering for staff members and their families at his home on Feb. 28 (Photos by Freddie Bagunu).

Amazing talent on display at the Lunar New Year party of the Richmond Multicultural Community Services.

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

Seen & Scenes

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISERS University of the Philippines and Ateneo Alumni Associations in BC hold various fundraiser events in support of their scholarship programs.

www.canadianinquirer.net

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24

MARCH 6, 2015

FRIDAY

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:

Ryan Diaz

Mixed Martial Artist, Founder of DCS Fitness Martial Arts

BY EARL VON TAPIA Philippine Canadian Inquirer FOR RYAN Diaz, his interest and eventual career in mixed martial arts started with the movies that he and his brother and his friends would watch when they were young.

“We used to watch a lot of kung-fu movies, old Bruce Lee movies, Bloodsport, Kickboxer.

It made you want to do martial arts. That’s how it all started,” he said.

It’s been an interesting journey for Ryan through the world of mixed martial arts. From those initial boyhood dreams, Ryan went on to become quite accomplished at the sport, travelling the world and winning awards. Nowadays though, he has come full circle to his hometown of Vancouver BC to open up his own gym, to spread the love of the sport to the next generation of fighters and enthusiasts.

Ryan was born in Saskatchewan in 1979, but his mother moved to Vancouver when he was just a month old, and so he considers Vancouver his hometown. He has one younger brother, Ronald. His parents both came to Canada from the Philippines. His mother, Josie, came when she was just 19, for work. She ended up raising both Ryan and Ronald on her own.

“I attribute everything I have, everything I am, to my mom.

She raised me and my brother by herself,” he said.

After watching martial arts movies and getting interested in the sport, Ryan started martial arts training at 13, mostly in the traditional arts like karate and Tae Kwon Do. He also started entering into semi-contact martial arts tournaments. At

16, he started ringfighting and wanted to feel like I was one of “I remember waking up every competing in Muay Thai com- the best, if not the best, in the morning, taking a shower, and petitions. By 19, he turned pro, world at something. So that was telling myself ‘I want to be a and has been a world champion, pro ever since.

I’m going to be a It was his deworld champion sire to become a one day,’“ he world champion added. and to be the And so Ryan best at someI remember waking up every became a pro thing that helped morning, taking a shower, and mixed martial drive him as a telling myself 'I want to be a world arts fighter, on pro mixed marchampion, I'm going to be a world his way to try tial arts fighter. champion one day and become the “When I was world champion. in highschool, I His journey saw remember, one him travel the thing I always world to train wanted, one and fight in thing that always drove me so the one thing that drove me, places like Thailand, the Philhard, is I wanted to become a and still drives me today, to be ippines, and USA. Eventually, world champion someday. I the best,” he said.

Ryan would succeed in attain-

ing the title of “World Champion”. Twice, in fact. He has two World Champion titles: King of the Cage 135 lbs. World Champion, and the AFC 135 lbs.

World Champion. He also won a slew of other awards, including the King of the Cage 145 lbs.

Canadian Champion, Pacific Northwest Champion, and Canadian Muay Thai Champion.

Along the way, he picked up a lot of memories, both high and low. He admits that there are “too many” memorable moments to pick just one that stands out, but among the ones he listed included his winning of his World Champion titles, fighting in front of a crowd of 11,000 people, fighting in front of friends and family, and tak-

Y. NOW ONLINE, DAIL

S IP T R E G IN F R U O NEWS AT hiYlippineCanadianInquirer @PhilCanInquirer • F/P

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25

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

ing on challengers three weight classes above him.

Predictably, some of his lowest points involved his toughest defeats.

“This one fight, I was winning the whole fight . . . it was my own fault. I walked into a punch, and I got knocked out, three seconds left in a fight.

That was very hard to take,” he said. He also listed a few other fights where he would lose to technicalities, or through judge errors.

Despite the lows, the mixed martial artist lifestyle seemed to be a good one. Ryan spent a lot of time training in Asia.

He spent enough time training in Thailand that he eventually learned to speak Thai pretty well. In the Philippines, he helped open up a gym with Erwin Tagle, one of the wellknown Filipino mixed martial artists over there. In North America, he split time between Vancouver and Arizona, where he was one of the head Muay Thai instructors at Arizona Combat Sports, a well-respected gym.

Diaz Combat Sports

Something that had always been in the back of Ryan’s mind, ever since he was a little kid, was opening up a gym of his own. He had seen what worldclass gyms around the world were like. He had even helped set up a few over in Asia, and he worked at one in Arizona.

“It first started in my basement. Even the mats that come here, they were from my garage basement,” he said.

Ryan said that whenever he was back in Vancouver, around six or seven years ago, he would have a crew of guys including his brother, his cousin, and a bunch of close friends, who wanted to do mixed martial arts training. And so they would spar and train in his garage.

“That’s how we started the whole DCS [Diaz Combat Sports] thing, that’s how it really started, was in the garage,” he said.

Every time Ryan came back home, his friends and training partners would tell him that he should come back and open a school to teach. Ryan was on the fence. But at the age of 36,

he can be considered part of the “older guard” of the sport, and he hadn’t fought since 2013.

He still wanted to be involved in the sport. Eventually, he decided it was time for Vancouver to have a world-class gym of its own.

“I was still iffy about it. I knew one day I would want to open a gym. The thing that really got me was I’d come back home, I would go and see the martial artists around here, the fighters around here. And they’re tough guys, and they’re good.

But the thing is, to me, the gyms around here are just not technically up to the rest of the world.

And I know that because I’ve travelled the world. I wanted to come back to Vancouver to offer the most complete and most real and most qualified system out there,” he said.

And so, Ryan set about with opening a gym. He found a suitable space in Vancouver’s Chinatown. He brought the mats out of his garage and onto the new gym’s floor. He took a halfcage from Arizona Combat Sports and drove it all the way up to Vancouver, where it now

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stands ready for people to use it while training.

The gym, called DCS Fitness Martial Arts, had its open house party the last week of February this year. There’s still some cosmetic work to be done. Some cables need to be hooked up here and there, a splash of paint in a few spots.

But the gym itself is open for business. There are two head trainers, Ryan and his friend Ben Harris, and few other parttime trainers.

Although Ryan will be bringing world-class experience and standards to the gym, one thing that he wants is for it to be open and accessible to everyday, normal people, as some gyms can get a reputation as just a “fighter’s” gym or a muscle gym.

“The number one thing is I don’t want people to think this is just a fighting gym. Many people come up to me and say they want to train martial arts for fun, and they don’t want to spar or fight. That’s what I want. I want this to be for everyone, not just the fighters,” he said.

There is a strong ‘family and

friends’ atmosphere in the gym.

Ron, his childhood friend, is the day-to-day manager of the gym.

One of his corner mates from the US helped him renovate the space. Another friend has become a trainer. And even his brother, who has his own career as a film maker, is considering joining to teach classes on a part-time basis.

“That’s what I want here. I want that atmosphere. There’s no egos around, there’s no intimidation. Really, we’re just trying to push each other to be better people,” he said.

For now, Ryan just wants to focus on getting the gym up and running properly. He dreams of making it grow and getting a larger facility in the future, like a 5,000 or even 10,000 foot facility. And if the gym becomes a success, he may even start fighting again.

“I want to plan this gym to get as big as possible. I’d like to get a big facility . . . If things go good, mabe I fight again too. We’ll see.

Right now we take it day by day and step by step. Right now, it’s just putting this gym together,” he said.

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MARCH 6, 2015

FRIDAY

TANONG MO KAY KUYA BOY

What to do if you are charged with theft KUYA BOY, I was falsely accused of shoplifting and I cannot afford a lawyer, how can I defend myself ?

- Tony from Winnipeg, MB TONY, I want to refer you to a guide published by the Legal Services Society, “Defending Yourself – Theft under $5,000”.

This guide is being reprinted with their permission. This guide is for people who want to plead not guilty to a charge of theft under $5,000. Use this guide if you don’t qualify for legal aid, you can’t afford a lawyer, and you plan to represent yourself (be your own lawyer) in court. You should represent yourself only if you don’t qualify for legal aid and you can’t afford a lawyer. If you choose to do this, be sure to talk to a lawyer before your trial for advice.

Some legal help is better than none.

How to defend yourself when you’re charged with theft under $5,000 What is theft under $5,000?

Generally, theft is taking, or

trying to take, property that belongs to someone else, without the owner’s consent and with the intention of stealing.

The theft begins as soon as the property is picked up or moved.

The property can be anything from food in a grocery store to a neighbor’s dog.

Shoplifting is a common example of theft under $5,000. If you take, or try to take, something from a store and you don’t intend to pay for it, that is theft.

You can be charged even if you didn’t leave the store.

Could I go to jail?

Depending on the details of what happened, the prosecutor (the lawyer who presents the case against you) can choose to charge you with either a summary or indictable offence. You could get a jail sentence for either type of offence.

A summary offence is a less serious crime. If the prosecutor proceeds “summarily,” the maximum sentence a judge could give you is six months in jail. But the judge could give you a shorter sentence or a sentence that doesn’t include jail at

all, especially if you don’t have a criminal record.

An indictable offence is a more serious crime. If the prosecutor proceeds “by indictment,” the judge could give you a longer jail sentence of up to two years.

The first time you are in court, ask the prosecutor if he or she is proceeding “summarily” or “by indictment.” The prosecutor may also say whether he or she is asking for a jail sentence.

your case.

You can ask the court to appoint a government-funded lawyer to your case (a Rowbotham application) if: (a) you can’t afford a lawyer and were denied legal aid, or (b) the prosecutor says that he or she will seek a jail sentence if you’re convicted, or will seek any other type of sentence that will have serious consequences for you, and (c) you feel that your case is too complicated for you to handle.

What to do if your sentence could be strict

Before the trial - Preparing your defence

If the prosecutor says he or she will: (a) proceed “by indictment,” or (b) ask for a sentence that includes jail, or (c) ask for a sentence that will have other serious consequences for you, immediately ask the judge to adjourn (delay) your case so you can get legal help.

If the prosecutor proceeds “by indictment,” you’ll usually have a better chance of getting legal aid — so be sure you understand how the prosecutor will proceed. Legal Aid may change its decision to not cover www.canadianinquirer.net

When you prepare your defence, think about what evidence (information about the crime) you can use. Evidence includes documents, witnesses, or your own personal testimony (telling your story).

Make sure the prosecutor has given you all the evidence that he or she will use (called the disclosure), such as security videotapes or witness statements. The prosecutor should also tell you who he or she will call as a witness.

Use any kind of evidence

only if it helps you more than it could hurt you. It can hurt you because once you offer something as evidence, the prosecutor can use it against you to help fill in weak spots in the Crown’s case.

A common way to defend yourself against a charge of theft under $5,000 is to show that you didn’t intend to take the property from the property owner.

You may be able to argue one (or more) of the following five points: (1) “I paid for the property.”

You could explain that you bought the property, and show the judge your receipt.

(2) “I honestly believed that the property was mine or that I had a right to it.” You could argue that you had colour of right (an honest claim to the property). With this argument, you would explain why you believed the property was yours.

For example, maybe you saw a bicycle on someone’s porch and it looked exactly like the one you had lost the day before. You took it because you believed it was yours.

Immigration

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

(3) “I forgot I had the property.” You could argue that you didn’t intend to steal the property — you simply forgot to pay for it. For example, maybe you were in a drugstore and you picked up some razor blades.

You were so worried about an upcoming doctor’s appointment that you slipped the razor blades into your pocket without thinking. You can explain your state of mind when the crime happened. For example, you may have been drinking. You might get a witness to testify about your personal circumstances.

(4) “I got the property another way.” You could argue that you got the property some other way. For example, maybe someone gave you the property as a present or asked you to keep it for a while.

(5) “My Charter rights were violated.” If the police got evidence by violating your rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the judge might not let the prosecutor use that evidence. And if that happens, you can ask the judge to dismiss the charge against you.

Under the Charter, the police must do the following when they arrest you: (a) tell you immediately what they’ve arrested you for, (b) tell you immediately that you can talk to a lawyer, and let you do so in private before questioning you, (c) give you access to a phone, and (d) tell you that you can get legal help for free.

(Legal Aid has lawyers available 24 hours a day to talk over the phone for free to people in police custody.)

If the police didn’t do all of these things, you can argue that they violated your rights. You would then argue that the prosecutor shouldn’t be able to use any statements you made or other evidence that the police got by violating your rights.

However, the judge won’t automatically throw out the evidence in question. You must also show that accepting the evidence will reflect badly on how justice is carried out in Canadian courts.

If you plan to argue that your Charter rights were violated, talk to a lawyer before your trial. Judges expect you to tell the prosecutor in advance if you plan to use this type of argument.

At the trial - What must the prosecutor prove?

At the trial, before you can

present your defence, the pros- owner of the bike didn’t say that containing information that ecutor will present the Crown’s you could take it. a person swears (promises) is case against you. The prosecutrue. If the prosecutor plans to tor must prove beyond a reaTo prove that you meant to use an affidavit, you’ll get a copy sonable doubt that you’re guilty commit the crime, the prosecu- of this document before the triof all the parts that make up the tor will usually call witnesses to al. If you disagree with it, or if crime of theft under $5,000. testify. For example, store secu- you think it should include othTo do this, the prosecutor will rity guards might tell the court er information, ask the court present evidence to the court, that they saw you pick up an to make the person who swore using witnesses or documents. item and take it out of the store the affidavit come to your trial.

You can cross-examine without paying for it. Guards Then you can question that (question) the prosecutor’s might also say that they then person about the information witnesses. But you’ll normally stopped you and got the stolen that he or she swears is true. do so only if you disagree with item from you. If the guards their information. stopped you before you left the Presenting your case For a judge to find you guilty store, you can still be convicted After the prosecutor finishes of theft under $5,000, the pros- if the prosecutor can show that presenting the Crown’s case, it’s ecutor must prove the follow- you were going to take the item your turn. Remember that the ing: without paying for it. The in- prosecutor needed to prove all (1) Identity - The prosecutor vestigating police officers can the parts of the crime of theft must prove that you’re the per- testify that, when they arrived, under $5,000. If you think the son who committed the crime. the security guard had detained prosecutor didn’t prove all the To do this, the prosecutor will you. necessary parts of the crime, call witnesses, including the If you admit to anyone (such tell the judge you want to make investigating police officer, to as the property owner or the a no-evidence motion. Tell the give evidence. The witnesses police officer) that you took the judge what parts the prosecuwill probably describe the per- property without planning to tor didn’t prove. son they saw committing the pay for it, that person can tell If the judge agrees with you, crime. Then the prosecutor will the court what you said. The you’ll be found not guilty and ask the witnesses to say if that prosecutor can use anything the trial will end. If the judge person is in the courtroom. The you voluntarily said (or wrote) doesn’t agree with your no-evevidence, either from the wit- to show you intended to steal idence motion (or if you don’t nesses or from other sources the property. make one), the trial will con(such as fingertinue. These moprints or vidtions often don’t eotapes), must work because show that you’re the prosecuthe person who The judge will give you a chance tor usually has committed the to explain why you committed the some evidence crime. crime, whether you’ll do it again, for each part of (2) Jurisdicand whether you need help for any the crime — so be tion - The prosproblems you may have that were ready to defend ecutor must connected to the crime. Speaking yourself. prove: • that the to sentence is important because it You’ll now crime happened gives you a chance to explain your have your in BC, • the date situation to the judge. chance to argue of the crime, and the points you’ve • the specific prepared to use location where as your defence. it happened. These details are If the prosecutor proves that You can use documents, call included on the Information you had property that was re- witnesses, and, if you like, give (the official court form listing cently stolen, the judge can de- your own personal testimony. the date, place, and type of of- cide that you must have stolen fence). The prosecutor will give it. He or she will find you guilty Closing your case this to you before the trial. Usu- of theft unless you can explain After you’ve finished presentally the prosecutor will call a how you got the property. ing your defence, you’ll close witness to give evidence about (4) The property belongs to your case. Tell the judge why the date and place of the crime. someone else - The prosecutor you think the prosecutor didn’t This witness will likely be the must prove that the property prove that you’re guilty beyond investigating police officer or belongs to someone else and a reasonable doubt. Mention if the property owner. not to you. The prosecutor may you think the prosecutor’s case (3) You intended to take ask the property owner to be was weak or inconsistent in any something from the property a witness. The owner will tes- area. This summary is called owner without his or her con- tify that the property belongs your submission. sent, and did so (or tried to do to him or her. The owner will so) - Usually, the prosecutor also identify the property as the What if the judge finds me must prove that you intended stolen property. In the case of guilty? to take something from the shoplifting, the store security Once you and the prosecuproperty owner, even if only guard will identify the property. tor have finished speaking, for a short time. A clear examthe judge will decide if you’re ple is shoplifting: you took the Affidavit evidence guilty or not. If the judge finds steak from the supermarket Sometimes the prosecutor you guilty, you’ll receive a senand you didn’t intend to pay uses an affidavit to prove some tence. The sentence you get will for it. Or you stole a bike from of the points in the Crown’s depend on the details of the ofsomebody’s front porch and the case. An affidavit is a document fence and your criminal record. www.canadianinquirer.net

27 It could be any of the following: • an absolute discharge (your record won’t show a conviction) • a conditional discharge (your record won’t show a conviction if you meet conditions that the judge sets) • probation (including, for example, community service) • a restitution order (you must pay money to the victim) • a fine • a conditional sentence (most often means house arrest, which is like a jail term, but you serve it in the community) • a jail term (up to six months for a summary offence; up to two years for an indictable offence) If you’re found guilty of stealing from your employer and you were in a position of trust (for example, if you were a bookkeeper or a cashier), the judge will treat the matter very seriously. You may get a jail term even if you stole only a small amount and have no criminal record.

Speaking to the judge before you are sentenced

You get a chance to speak to the judge before he or she decides your sentence. (This is called speaking to sentence.)

The judge will give you a chance to explain why you committed the crime, whether you’ll do it again, and whether you need help for any problems you may have that were connected to the crime. Speaking to sentence is important because it gives you a chance to explain your situation to the judge.

Paying a fine

The maximum fine for a summary offence is $5,000. If the judge fines you, you can ask for time to pay. Tell the judge how much you can pay each month.

You’ll also have to pay a victim surcharge fine. The amount of the surcharge is based on a percentage of your fine. If you didn’t get a court fine as part of your sentence, you’ll still have to pay a set amount for the surcharge. Ask the judge if there’s any way you can avoid paying the victim surcharge.

We invite you to tune in to our weekly legal advice program “Tanong Mo Kay Kuya Boy” every Saturday from 130 pm on JUAN RADIO 96.1 FM. Every week, we will feature various professional lawyers who will discuss and give advice about different legal topics. If you have any legal questions, send an email to kuyaboycanada@ gmail.com

28

Community News

MARCH 6, 2015

FRIDAY

New tourism head meets businessmen, media in Vancouver NEWLY ASSIGNED Tourism Director for San Francisco, Northwest US and Western/ Central Canada Purificacion S. Molintas went on a four- day visit to Vancouver from Feb. 21 to 25, to coordinate with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver and Philippine Airlines on upcoming tourism promotion events. During her brief visit, she likewise met with Filipino-Canadian media.

Molintas replaced Rene delos Santos who ended his tour of duty last year.

Prior to her assumption as DOT representative in the region, Molintas served as DOT regional director of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) based in Baguio City.

During her visit, Molintas met with PAL Country Manager Allan Coo to discuss prepara-

tions for the inaugural flight of Philippine Airlines from Vancouver to New York on Mar. 15, and the reception to be co-hosted by DOT and PAL to be held on Mar. 11, at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver to present upcoming DOT projects and products to various stakeholders.

She also met with various travel agencies like Jade Tours, Goway Travel, Silkway Travel and the Royal Scenic Holidays hoping to come up with more attractive packages that would appeal not only to former Filipinos here in Canada but to other Asian immigrants as well.

A meet and greet was held at the Flamingo Restaurant to introduce Molintas to the Filipino Canadian media.

Press release from PCG Vancouver

Richmond youth dance company challenges seven deadly sins THE RICHMOND Youth Dance Company returns to the Richmond Cultural Centre for the fifth year in a row with three shows of Seven from Mar. 6 to 8.

Seven highlights the roles of the seven deadly sins in the quest for success. In this performance, the Richmond Youth Dance Company portrays 23 professional dancers struggling against the pressures of dancing as they each fight for the spotlight.

With choreography by Miyouki Jego and Troy McLaughlin, this dynamic challenge is brought to the stage through a mix of ballet and jazz dance styles accompanied by live music from featured guests, the Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Der with original music composed

by Stephen Robb.

The performances showcase 23 dancers of the Richmond Youth Dance Company, all of whom had to audition for this company. The Richmond Youth Dance Company has been a significant component of the Richmond Arts Centre’s dance program since it was established in 2010. Through its performance based curriculum it continually provides opportunities for youth engagement and promotes dance and the arts as key elements to the vibrancy of Richmond.

The performances take place on Mar. 6 at 7 p.m., Mar. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Mar. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Richmond Cultural Centre located at 7700 Minoru Gate.

Tickets cost $7 and are available in advance at the Cultural Centre or by calling 604 2478300.

Filipinos in Toronto warned against possible employment scam THE PHILIPPINE Consulate General in Toronto informed the public of a possible scam targeting nurses and others in health-oriented professions in the Philippines by offering them non-existent jobs in Canada, particularly as caregivers at Ian Anderson House, an in-resident cancer hospice located in Oakville, Ont. The consulate general received a report that an invitation is being circulated through e-mail for a two-day seminar, currently scheduled for Mar. 7 to 8, in the Philip-

pines where invited participants are asked to pay a Php 3,800 seminar fee in exchange for guaranteed employment at the aforementioned facility. The invitation allegedly comes from Primera Human Resource Services.

Upon consultation with a representative of Ian Anderson House, the consulate general has verified that the facility is not seeking employees or offering employment opportunities at this time, and that it is not, in any way, connected with the purported seminar. Likewise, a check with the website of the

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reveals that while Primera Human Resource Services is a licensed agency, it does not have approved job orders for Canada.

In view of the above, the public is strongly urged to exercise caution when responding to the abovementioned or similar offers of employment, and to verify the same with the POEA to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous individuals.

Press statement by the Department of Foreign Affairs

TOMAS “TATAY Tom” Avendano was one of the guest speakers at the first-ever TFW Search and Tribute of the Year Award 2015, sponsored by Diaryo Filipino, held Feb. 21, in Calgary. www.canadianinquirer.net

29

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS Every week, the Philippine Canadian Inquirer celebrates the unwavering Filipino spirit through a feature called “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.”

The feature recognizes the achievements of Filipinos living in Canada who have shown concern for the community, success in spite of trials, and the uniquely Pinoy practice of “bayanihan.”

This year, we are welcoming nominations for the next subject of “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.”

MECHANICS: - All nominees must have (a) Filipino heritage/ancestry - All nominees must be residing in Canada at the time of nomination - Nominees from all industries are welcome (e.g. medical/health, politics, community service, business, entertainment, charity institutions, etc.)

- Who can nominate? Anybody.

Fill up the nomination form by scanning the code with your smartphone or by visiting InFocus.canadianinquirer.net.

www.canadianinquirer.net

30

MARCH 6, 2015

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

31

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Entertainment MISS B’S ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS

The Voice Season 2’s Timmy Pavino: Giving a formidable fight

BY BABES NEWLAND

WHILE FAILING to make it to the final leg of The Voice of The Philippines 2, top 8 contender Timothy Pavino has given it nothing but a good fight. He inspired everyone including his coach (Lea Salonga) and fellow contestants with his positive spirit and gift of singing. This author had the privilege of interviewing Timmy over the phone after the grand finals where another crowd favorite, Jason Dy, snagged the title: 1. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE IN JOINING TVOP AND WHY? -The most unforgettable moment, I believe, was when I made it passed the battle rounds. For me, watching the show, even in other countries, it is the hardest part because you are only facing one other person head to head.

2. YOU WERE CLEARLY THE VOTERS’ CHOICE BY MAKING IT TO THE TOP 8. BUT YOUR COACH (LEA SALONGA) TIPPED THE RESULTS OVER FAVORING LEAH PATRICIO TO STAY UNTO THE MAGIC 4 FINALISTS. HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU? -After the results came out, I wasn't surprised, because personally I gave the best I could for

both nights. And even the results on the first night were about 50/50. Leah Patricio is a beast at singing, so for her to get the better score didn't affect me. I was actually happy for her. Of course I won't lie, I cried, but that's the nature of the show. Someone has to go home, and someone will do better one night than the other. Everyone was amazing.

3. YOU'VE BEEN A BALIKBAYAN IN THE PHILIPPINES FROM SEATTLE WA FOR MANY YEARS NOW. APART FROM YOUR YOUR LOLA ROSIE, WHAT'S CONTINUALLY MOTIVATING YOU TO STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES? -I've been living in Manila for almost 4 years now. I find that the lifestyle here is more fast paced.

People like to live in the moment.

Living each day as your last. It's also really family oriented. I guess what keeps me going is that each day I'm here beside my Lola, I live a life of music. That's who I am, and it's where I am most alive.

4. IT'S BEEN TOUGH LIVING AWAY FROM YOUR MOM WHO RESIDES PERMANENTLY IN WASHINGTON. SHE CALLS YOU HER "BEST-FRIEND" ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. WHAT IS IN THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT MAKES IT SPECIAL? -My mother and I, like any parent and child relationship, goes through many struggles.

Your parents raise you in a way they want you to be; only to find you want to do other things be-

yond their own plans. But when you get passed that time in your life, you actually enlighten each other. You open each other's minds to say, "Mom, this is what I believe in. I'll be okay."

That kind of trust is what bonds me and my mom together.

5. IF YOU MADE IT AS AMONGST THE TOP 4 FINALISTS, WHAT SONG WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO PERFORM AND WHY? -Well more specifically, I would have sang "How Did You Know" written by my aunt Ms. Cecile Azarzon - Inocentes. It would have been a moment that tied my whole life together throughout the competition because of how close my family is to that song.

6. AND IF YOU WERE TO AUDITION TVOP ALL OVER AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING DIFFERENTLY AND WHY? -If I were to do it all again, I really wouldn't have changed a thing. The relationships that I have built, the lessons I've learned, and also the integrity and dignity I gained... I couldn't have planned a better journey myself. It was God’s Perfect Plan which I lived and appreciated.

7. NAME 4 PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER IN MUSIC/PERFORMING AND WHY. -Cecile Azarzon-Inocentes because she gave me voice lessons as well as life lessons. My Auntie Lita, because when my

mom was busy after my dad passed away, she taught me to stand on stage and sing with minus ones. My Lola Nena, because she used to be a dramatic soprano, so she knows a lot on how to throw your voice out there correctly. Lastly, my Tito Arnold, because he taught me to be myself and to be honest in my singing, as well as to have courage to make myself vulnerable so people can feel your heart.

8. IF YOU WERE TO COMPETE AT "THE VOICE" (U.S.A.), WHO WOULD YOU WISH TO TURN HIS/HER CHAIR AROUND AS YOUR COACH AND WHY? -You'd be surprised, but I'd choose Blake, because I believe he knows what he wants out of an artist. It's either you see it or you don't in someone, but he'll be taking time to make sure you've got what it takes.

9. WHAT'S THE NEXT BIG THING FOR TIMMY PAVINO AFTER TVOP? -Well this I cannot answer for now, but I do have many musical secrets ahead! So please stay tuned!

10. YOUR DAD SUCCUMBED TO CANCER WHEN YOU WERE JUST A TODDLER. IF

HE WAS STILL ALIVE AND YOU CAN SPEAK WITH HIM NOW, WHAT WOULD THE CONVERSATION BE? -I lost him when I was 3 years old to lung cancer. Probably, if I were to talk to him now, I would ask if he's proud of the son; the person that I have become.

11. NAME ONE SONG TITLE, AN ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC (OPM), THAT WOULD BEST DEPICT AS YOUR ALLTIME FAVORITE AND WHY. -“Sometimes, Somewhere”

by Ryan Cayabyab. The song is really me, ballad, strings, OPM, and all about being a hopeless romantic!

12. LASTLY, WHAT HAS BEEN TIMMY PAVINO'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT TO-DATE & WHY? -My greatest achievement to date would have to be the behind the scenes footages that no one sees of my life. I've encountered different people in the music scene, and one thing I can say is that I'm glad that I've unknowingly touched the lives of staff, crew, fellow musicians and artists. I think that's a gift from God to gain respect.

No one can take that away from you. (Email: babescastronewland@gmail.com)

32

Entertainment

MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

Aiko Melendez wins Best New teleserye Actress in London World stars Maja, in ‘bravest’, most Cinema Filmfest daring role yet

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MAJA SALVADOR has her fans eagerly awaiting ABSCBN’s upcoming series, “Bridges of Love,” in which the 26-year-old actress-singer takes on a more gutsy and daring role.

Although the trailer of the soon-to-be-aired soap depicts Maja dancing in a sexy two-piece bikini, she says that she is not out to establish herself as a sexy actress.

“Hindi ko naman ginawa ’yon dahil nagpapa-sexy ako (I didn’t do that to just for the sake of being sexy),” she maintained. “Ano siya, para siyang art na may konting twist, konting spice (It’s like an art, with a bit of twist and a bit of spice),” Maja said.

Admitted-

ly her “bravest” role so far, Maja emphasizes that the soap – which also stars Jericho Rosales and Paulo Avelino – really focuses on the theme of brotherhood.

“Mas kuwento ito ng magkapatid. Si Jericho and Paulo ay pinaghiwalay. May kwento siya, may puso, (It focuses more on brotherhood. Jericho and Paulo were separated. It has meaning; heart.)” she shared.

In reaction to questions on whether or not Maja’s boyfriend, Gerald Anderson, was okay with her bolder role, she said: “Alam naman niya ’yon.

Sa amin namang dalawa, work is work. Bubusina ka lang, konting respeto. Dapat siya ang nakaaalam bago ang lahat (He knows. Between us two, work is work. He should know first before anything else).”

MANILA — Actress Aiko Melendez won the Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film for Louie Ignacio’s “Asintado” during the 7th International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in London.

Melendez, however, was not present during the February 27 awards night so Ignacio and the film’s producer, Ferdinand Lapuz recieved the trophy on her behalf.

Other contenders for the best actress award includes Charlotte Munck (Denmark) for Meeres Stille, Marianna Panagidou (United Kingdom) for Butterfly, Sveva Alviti (Italy) for Borderline, Jung Ho forDiary (Taiwan), Anqi Liu (China) for Belief, Shahana Chatterjee (India) for Picnic, Lala Forte for Distanza, and Vilhena Paulo for (Des)Encontros.

Aiko Melendez.

“Asintado” was an entry in the Directors Showcase section for the Directors Showcase section of the 2014 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Melendez plays the role of a morally-challenge mother of an autistic boy (Miggs Cuaderno)

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whose skills were exploited by her elder son (Jake Vargas), a courier of a ruthless drug dealer (Gabby Eigenmann).

Including Aiko’s Best Actress win, the film gained a total of seven nominations including Best Picture in London.

Sam Concepcion speaks up on cancelled concert

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA – Heartthrob singeractor Sam Concepcion said that a producer’s “failure to fulfill contractual obligations” led to the cancellation of his February 26 concert, which was supposed to have been held at a school in San Miguel, Bulacan.

“I would like to inform the public that my show in Bulacan, which was scheduled last February 26, 2015, did not push through due to the event producer’s failure to fulfill his contractual obligations,” Concepcion said, in a statement sent to “The Buzz.”

“I regret the inconvenience the cancellation may have caused the public in general and my student fans in particular,” he added in the statement.

According to an investigation conducted by “The Buzz,” the www.canadianinquirer.net

Sam Concepcion.

show’s producer, a certain Stanley Delos Santos, told the people in Bulacan that he worked for TV network ABS-CBN. As it turns out, however, the network has no such employee.

“The Buzz” also discovered that not only did Delos Santos fail to coordinate with the authorities in charge of the concert venue; he likewise failed to secure the necessary permits

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for the event.

Furthermore, the same producer had slated a concert of “The Voice Kids” finalist Darren Espanto, which was supposed to take place before Concepcion’s concert, but this did not push through, either.

“The Buzz” made efforts to obtain Delos Santos’ side regarding the cancellation of the concerts, but was unable to do so.

Entertainment

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

33

Rayver and Julia, ‘just good friends’

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Julia Barretto.

MANILA – Amidst a flurry of rumours that he is romantically linked with teen star Julia Barretto, actor-dancer Rayver Cruz said that he and Barretto are just good friends.

“Walang real score. Kapag napag-uusapan namin ni Julia, natatawa lang kami kasi super close ako sa family niya. After ng London Barrio Fiesta naging close ako sa kanya at sa mama (Marjorie) niya. Tapos pagbalik namin ay naging close ako sa buong family niya (There is no real score. When Julia and I talk, we laugh it off because I am very close to her family. After the London Barrio Fiesta, I got closer to her and to her mom.

When we got back, I became closer to her family),” Cruz told

reporters during a press conference for the successful TV series, “Two Wives.”

“Natutuwa ako na nagkaroon ako ng second family kasama sila. Hindi ko in-expect ‘yon kasi mga Barrettos, pero sobrang saya nila kasama. Natatawa na lang kami kasi parang kailan lang may nag-tweet sa akin ‘dating daw’ eh ‘yung picture na ‘yun kinunan kaming dalawa lang pero kasama namin ‘yung buong family (I am happy because I now have a second family when I’m with them. I didn’t expect that because they are Barrettos, but they are really fun to be with. It was funny because someone recently tweeted that the photo taken of us seemed like it was just us two when it was us with the entire family),” the actor added.

Cruz admitted to finding Barretto “very attractive”, but

called on the public to stop haranguing the young actress about the matter.

“I find her very attractive. Sinasabi ko naman sa kanya sa harapan niya, sino ba namang tao ang hindi magkakagusto sa kanya magkaka-crush pero at this point in time parang ang dami pa niyang pwedeng gawin (I tell her face to face. Who wouldn’t have a crush but at this point in time, she could still do so much),” he said.

“Sa ngayon tigilan niyo na si Julia. Hindi kami exclusively dating. Parang nakakatawa lang kasi sobrang close ako sa kanila, nakakahiya naman sa kanila huwag na nating ipilit (For now, stop bothering Julia.

We are not exclusively dating.

It’s funny because I’m really close to them and it’s embarrassing so let us not force it),” Cruz appealed.

Erich Gonzales admits to receiving death threats for role on ‘Two Wives’

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

private na kasi nakaka-receive ako ng death threats. Minumura ako. Hindi na si Janine ang tinatawag nila kung hindi si Erich MANILA – Star of ABS-CBN’s na.” successful series “Two Wives,” (It reached the point that the actress Erich viewers were so Gonzales, disaffected by the closed that she impact of Janine received death on their lives. threats when she Maybe many started playing It reached the people can rethe role of Japoint that I late and were nine on the hit had to set on the receivshow. my Instagram ing end of peoDuring a press to private ple like Janine. conference held because I was It reached the on Wednesday receiving point that I had for the show’s death threats. to set my Instafinale Gonzales gram to private said: because I was “Dumating sa receiving deathpunto na ‘yung tgreats. I was mga manonood being cursed. It sobra silang affected sa impact was no longer Janine that they ni Janine sa buhay nila. Siguro were venting about it became maraming na-Janine sa real Erich.) life, maraming nakaka-relate.

“Although I understand na Dumating ako sa point na ‘yung Instagram ko ngayon ay naka❱❱ PAGE 34 Erich Gonzales

Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano.

TONI GONZAGA (@ CELESTINEGONZAGA) / INSTAGRAM

Toni reveals wedding details

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Actress and singer Toni Gonzaga revealed some details of her wedding with director Paul Soriano set to happen this year.

Following the announcement of their engagement, Gonzaga said in separate interviews with Pep.PH that she is eyeing for a traditional church wedding.

She said she prefers to have it in her hometown in Taytay, www.canadianinquirer.net

Rizal, with a simple theme.

“I just wanted it to be traditional, clean and white, and simple,” Gonzaga said.

Gonzaga also revealed that she already fitted her wedding dress made by her dream designer.

“I already have a wedding dress. Hindi ko pa masabi kung ano yung wedding dress. Siguro kapag malapit na, para ‘di maudlot. (I might reveal more details when the wedding is near.)” she said.

She also added that this time, she will be the one in

charge of her wedding preparations.

“A, siyempre, kung ako ang masusunod… at ako naman talaga ang masusunod, ‘no! Kasi baka si Mommy Pinty [Gonzaga] pa ang masunod, ‘di ba? Buong buhay ko, siya na ang nasusunod, e. Sana naman, sa araw na ‘to, ako ang masunod talaga!”

Gonzaga said.

(I am the one in charge [of wedding preparations]. All my life, my Mommy Pinty has always been the one in charge. I hope on our wedding day, I can take charge.]

Entertainment

34

MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

Justin Bieber begging fellow Canuck Seth Rogen to roast him at upcoming special

Erich Gonzales... nadadala ang mga tao sa kwento, akala nila totoo na o totoong buhay na ‘yon. Pero I find it disturbing na may mga threats o pagmumura na. Siyempre artista ka, hindi nila maintindihan na ginagampanan ‘yung role, parang hindi nila ma-separate siguro. Sana maintindihan nila na ako mismo, sa sarili ko, hindi ko gusto ang script, ang lines na ginagawa ni Janine. Pero siyempre it’s my job na maging makatotohanan yung role ko,” ❰❰ 33

THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — With his celebrity roast approaching, Justin Bieber has turned up the heat on one of his preferred roasters: fellow Canadian Seth Rogen.

In a series of tweets, Bieber pleaded with the “Pineapple Express” star to participate in “The Roast of Justin Bieber,” which airs March 30 on the Comedy Network.

Bieber, who just turned 21, asked Rogen to check his voicemail and created the hashtag “#WeWantSeth.”

Bieber and Rogen have history, dating back to January 2014 when Rogen declared on Twitter that Bieber was a piece of excrement.

Rogen clarified later that Bieber had requested to meet him backstage at a German talk show, then subsequently acted “non-chalant” about the introduction.

Bieber later replied via Twitter and apologized that he didn’t

Justin Bieber.

she added.

(Although I understand that people get carried away by the story, they end up thinking it is real life. But I find it disturbing that there are threats and curses. Of course, they do not understand that as actors, we are playing a role, they probably cannot separate this. I hope they understand me, as myself, I do not like the script the lines that Janine says. But of course, it is my job to make the role believable.)

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

“bow down” to Rogen. He added that he felt a “bit shy” because he loved Rogen’s movies.

With his tweets Monday, Bieber referenced their past.

“Come on man. Check your voicemail. I took it like a man as you blasted a nervous kid fan of yours (me). Now I’m a man.

Roast me!” tweeted Bieber directly at Rogen.

“I’m still your biggest fan.

Even after ‘The Interview,’” he added. “That’s dedication.

Roast me!”

Bieber signed the missive by referencing Rogen’s off-colour slur, followed by a winking emoticon.

Kevin Hart will host the Comedy Central roast, which has already confirmed appearances from comedians Hannibal Buress and Jeff Ross.

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HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

It’s time to open up, Aries.

Sometimes the only reason why you can’t seem to find what you are looking for is that your eyes are closed. Try opening it up widely this week, and you’ll see just how blessed you are.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

You may have been extending your patience already in the weeks that have passed, but the stars are asking you to extend your patience a little more. Things might not come in your favour if you don’t keep your temper on hold. Just take a deep breath and say, “all shall be well, all shall be well.”

Friendly ties may be more of a burden today. They will be prying into some aspects in your private life, as close friends often does. Don’t let your closeness be their key to digging up the most personal secrets you keep.

SCORPIO

LEO

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 21) There are important things and persons in your personal life or in your career that you may have taken for granted.

Try reviewing your actions today and you might just realize that you have been giving a little attention to something or someone very important.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22) You will be feeling so much energy this week. Yes, there will be a lot of the adrenaline bursting into your system today. Make sure to not just feel the rush but use it productively. You will never be this motivated in the next weeks, so use your energy wisely.

You might have been doing a lot of the unneeded activities recently. The stars are telling you that now, is the best time to start. Focus on the things that you really need and let go of those you don’t.

It’s normal to feel exhausted at times especially when you keep investing too much emotion. Just a little reminder Capricorn, don’t ever let that tiresome experience put you away from the things and the people you love.

A critical mind may be helpful this week as you go into the process of questioning the truth about things. Whether you like it or not, there will be instances that will shake your beliefs. Just don’t let them fall. Hold on to that belief and you will realize it’s really best that way.

VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

Life can really be exciting if you don’t expect too much.

Sometimes all you need is acceptance. You can’t always get the great things, but at least you can get the good ones.

Today is the best time to say “no.”

The past days may have been very stressful for you, physically, emotionally and maybe financially as well. Now is the best time to say “no” to spending unnecessary time, effort and money.

www.canadianinquirer.net

You will be looking for that loving atmosphere to comfort the coming stressful days this week. You don’t need to look that far because the heavens have blessed you with the most loving people on earth. You just have to be open to that love.

PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20) This week, try to do the “thinking stuff” ahead of your deadlines so you’ll have more time to prepare. Remember that planning and thinking of preventive measures before doing an action is still the best way to ensure a hundred-percent success.

35

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Lifestyle

5 vaccine jabs at once? Kids’ parents increasingly seek delays and doctors sometimes agree

BY LINDSEY TANNER The Associated Press

Vaccine recommendations

PARENTS HAVE increasingly pressured doctors to delay vaccines for young children, making their kids and others vulnerable to preventable diseases, a study suggests.

The findings are in an American survey of pediatricians and family doctors asked about parents wanting to postpone some of the many shots recommended for children younger than age 2. Nearly all doctors said that at least some parents had requested vaccine delays in a typical month; and 1 in 4 said those numbers had increased since the previous year.

The study

The researchers surveyed 534 doctors by email or regular mail in 2012. Participants were doctors who are members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians — the two leading groups of doctors who treat young children. One in 5 doctors said at least 10 per cent of parents had requested vaccine delays by spreading them out over more months than is recommended.

Most doctors said the practice puts kids at risk for getting vaccine-preventable diseases and might lead to disease outbreaks, but most also said they at least sometimes agreed to the delays. Only 3 per cent said they often or always tell par-

Parents are increasingly pressuring doctors to delay vaccines for young children, to spare their kids from getting jabbed with a needle many times in one sitting, and worries of possible long-term complications and other risks from vaccines.

Medical experts say the latter reason is unfounded, and that delaying vaccination makes it more likely that children will never get vaccinated because of busy schedules or forgetfulness.

ents who insist on vaccine delays to seek care from another doctor.

cine advisory committee. More than 150 people in several states have been infected with

at Disneyland in California, which likely began with a traveller who brought it in, as has been the case The concerns in other U.S. The potential outbreaks. The repercussions exact source of are worrisome These diseases are all there, they’re the Disneylandand are happennot gone. They’re just being kept linked cases is ing “right now at bay right now. If people stop not known. with the measles vaccinating, they come right back.

Doctors are outbreak,” said concerned Dr. Allison Kemabout unvacpe, a University cinated or unof Colorado reder-vaccinated searcher and a member of the measles, including infants too children becoming ill and federal Centers for Disease young to be vaccinated. Most spreading disease to others.

Control and Prevention’s vac- cases are tied to an outbreak

Vaccinations against 14 diseases are recommended for children younger than 2, starting at birth and given every few months. Some shots combine vaccines against more than one disease; the measles shot also protects against mumps and German measles. Even so, young children may get five shots at once under the recommended vaccine schedule.

Some parents want to delay shots by spacing them out, partly to spare their kids from getting jabbed so many times at one sitting. Doctors surveyed said other reasons include worries about possible long-term complications and other risks from vaccines, which medical experts say are unfounded. The study didn’t ask doctors which vaccines parents asked to delay.

The recommended vaccine schedules are based on research on timing shots to be most effective at preventing disease.

Delaying shots meant to be given at a certain age means they may be less effective. It also makes it more likely that children will never get vaccinated, because parents get too busy or forget to schedule another doctor’s visit, said Dr. Robert Frenck, an infectious diseases specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

He was not involved in the new study.

“People just don’t understand that these diseases are all there, they’re not gone. They’re just being kept at bay right now.

If people stop vaccinating, they come right back,” Frenck said.

36

Lifestyle

MARCH 6, 2015 FRIDAY

Eye of the beholder: In rare photo, some see dress as black and blue, others as gold and white

BY LINDSEY TANNER The Associated Press IT’S THE dress that’s beating the Internet black and blue. Or should that be gold and white?

Friends and co-workers worldwide are debating the true hues of a royal blue dress with black lace that, to many an eye, transforms in one photograph into gold and white.

Experts are calling the photo a one-in-a-million shot that perfectly captures how people’s brains perceive colour and process contrast in dramatically different ways.

“This photo provides the best test I’ve ever seen for how the process of colour correction works in the brain,”‘ said Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, the clinical adviser to Britain’s College of Optometrists. “I’ve never seen a photo like before where so many people look at the same photo and see two sets of such dramatically different colours.”

The photo, taken earlier this month before a wedding on the remote Scottish island of Colonsay, also illustrates the dynamics of a perfect socialmedia storm. Guests at the wedding could not understand why, in one photo of the dress being worn by the mother of the bride, the clearly blue and black-striped garment transformed into gold and white.

But only in that single photo, and only for around half of the viewers.

The debate spread from the wedding to the Internet, initially from friend to perplexed friend on Facebook.

One such wedding guest, musician and singer Caitlin McNeill, posted the photo Thursday night to her Tumblr account with the question: “Guys please help me. Is this dress white and gold, or blue and black? Me and my friends can’t agree and we are freaking the (expletive) out.” She’s consistently seen gold.

One of her friends, Alana MacInnes, saw gold and white for the first hour, then black and blue.

Buzzfeed sensed clickbait heaven and, amid its own newsroom argument, was among the

The dress that is dividing the internet. Depending on how your brain chooses to see the colors of the dress versus the colors of the surrounding light, you might see the colors as either blue and black, or gold and white.

TWITTER PHOTO

first to call McNeill. It posted dashian, never one to miss a The answer, says Hardimanmore than a half-dozen stories trending topic, reported she McCartney, is that every viewer on the image and the tsunami of was seeing gold but to hus- seeing either set of colours is reaction. right.

On Twitter, He says the #TheDress and exceptional barvariants surged code style of to the top of There’s no correct way to perceive the dress, comtrending lists this photograph. It sits right on the bined with the globally within cusp, or balance, of how we perceive strongly yellowhours. the colour of a subject versus the toned backThe entertainsurrounding area. lighting in the ment elite then one photo, prochimed in. vides the brain Taylor Swift a rare chance to saw the dress “choose” which was “obviously” blue and black. band Kanye West, it was solidly of the dress’ two primary co“What’s the matter with u guys, black and blue. “Who is colour lours should be seen in detail. it’s white and gold,” countered blind?” Kardashian asked the Those who subconsciously Julianne Moore. Kim Kar- twitterati. seek detail in the many horiwww.canadianinquirer.net

zontal black lines convert them to a golden hue, so the blue disappears into a blown-out white, he said.

Others whose brains focus on the blue part of the dress see the photo as the black-and-blue reality.

“There’s no correct way to perceive this photograph. It sits right on the cusp, or balance, of how we perceive the colour of a subject versus the surrounding area,” he said. “And this colour consistency illusion that we’re experiencing doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your eyes. It just shows how your brain chooses to see the image, to process this luminescence confusion.”

The photo produced a deluge of media calls Friday to the Tumblr reporter, 21-year-old McNeill, who calls the seemingly endless phone calls “more than I’ve received in the entirety of the rest of my life combined.” She says the photographer, who is also the mother of the bride, never wanted the publicity.

There’s one clear winner: English dress retailer Roman Originals, which has reported a million hits on its sales site in the first 18 hours following the photo’s worldwide distribution.

“I can officially say that this dress is royal blue with black lace trimming,” said Michele Bastock, design director at Roman Originals.

She said staff members had no idea that the dress, when shot in that singularly peculiar light, might be perceived in a totally different colour scheme.

Not until Friday anyway, when they arrived at work to field hundreds of emails, calls and social media posts. They, too, split almost 50-50 on the photo’s true colours.

All agreed, however, the dress for the Birmingham, Englandbased retailer was likely to become their greatest-ever seller.

The chain’s website Friday headlined its product as “#TheDress now back in stock — debate now.”

“Straightaway we went to the computers and had a look. And some members of the team saw ivory and gold. I see a royal blue all the time,” she said. “It’s an enigma ... but we are grateful.”

Lifestyle

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

37

Peanuts may reduce risk of heart disease death: study PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY WASHINGTON — Eating peanuts may lower your risk of dying from a heart attack, U.S. and Chinese researchers said Monday.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University and the Shanghai Cancer Institute examined the association of nut consumption with mortality among low-income and racially diverse populations and found that intake of peanuts was associated with fewer deaths, especially from heart disease.

While research has previously linked nut consumption with lower mortality, those studies focused mainly on higher-income, white populations.

This study, published in the U.S. journal JAMA Internal Medicine, was the first to discover that all races — blacks, whites and Asians alike — could potentially increase heart health by eating nuts and peanuts.

"Peanuts are not nuts but legumes," senior author XiaoOu Shu, associate director for

Global Health at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and professor of Medicine in the Department of Epidemiology, told Xinhua.

"However, peanuts contain many nutrients and phytochemicals that are similar to nuts. For individuals who can't afford tree nuts, peanuts may serve as a substitute," Shu said.

The results were based on three large ongoing cohort studies. Participants included more than 70,000 Americans of African and European descent from the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS), who were mostly low-income, and more than 130,000 Chinese from the Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS) and the Shanghai Men's Health Study (SMHS).

For participants in the SCCS, deaths were determined by linking with the National Death Index and Social Security Administration mortality files, and for participants in the SWHS and SMHS, by linking with the Shanghai Vital Statistics Registry and by conducting home visits. In total, more than

14,000 deaths were identified, with a median follow-up of 5.4 years in the SCCS, 6.5 years in the SMHS, and 12.2 years in the SWHS. They found a 17-21 percent reduction in total mortality and a 23-38 percent reduction in cardiovascular mortality for individuals who ate the most nuts or peanuts compared to those who ate the least nuts or

www.canadianinquirer.net

peanuts.

"We cannot conclude that peanuts per se were responsible for the reduced mortality observed despite that we have very carefully adjusted for possible confounders. Randomized clinical trials are needed to establish a causal connection," Shu said.

However, the data from this new study reinforced earlier re-

search suggesting health benefits from eating peanuts and nuts, she noted.

Because peanuts are much less expensive than tree nuts, as well as more widely available to people of all races and all socioeconomic backgrounds, Shu said that increasing peanut consumption may provide a potentially cost-efficient approach to improving cardiovascular health.

In a related Editor's Note, Mitchell Katz, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and a deputy editor of JAMA Internal Medicine, wrote: "Of course, peanuts are not really nuts (they are legumes since they grow in bushes, unlike tree nuts), but who cares if they help us to live longer at an affordable price."

Currently, the American Heart Association recommends eating four 43-gram servings of unsalted, unoiled nuts a week. However, nutrient-rich nuts are also high in calories, so don't eat too many if you're watching your weight, the researchers said.

38

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Business

Economy slows to 2.4% amid late 2014 oil plunge, but still better than expected THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The Canadian economy slowed to a 2.4 per cent annual growth rate in the last three months of 2014 — but still performed better than economists had expected.

The stronger than anticipated reading released Tuesday for the autumn period of falling oil prices was yet another sign the Bank of Canada could abstain from cutting its key interest rate at this week’s announcement.

The annualized rate for the fourth quarter of 2014 was close to the Bank of Canada’s 2.5 per cent prediction, but beat economists’ call of 2.0 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters.

Led by gains in manufacturing, the gross domestic product moved upward in December by 0.3 per cent compared to the previous month to beat economist expectations of 0.2 per cent, the Statistics Canada report found.

Statistics Canada found the oil and gas extraction sector was among the primary contributors to growth in the last three months of 2014, although it dropped off in the last two months of the year.

In a speech last week, Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz said January’s surprise rate cut bought the bank more time to assess how the plunge in oil prices might affect the economy, leading economists to dump cold water on the expectations of many that he

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

would cut rates again this week. ening expectations of another said Tuesday.

The central bank stunned cut.

It recorded decreases in ecomarkets in January when it However, the economy still nomic activity in areas such as dropped its key rate by a quar- cooled in the final months of machinery and equipment inter of a percentvestment, comage point to 0.75 munications and per cent. At the exports. time, Poloz said In addition, the cut would Statistics Canada found the oil and signs of the negabuy insurance gas extraction sector was among the tive impacts of amid low crude primary contributors to growth in the cheaper crude prices that were last three months of 2014, although began to emerge ``unambiguously it dropped off in the last two months in the last two negative’’ for the of the year. months of 2014. economy.

The oil and gas The latest Staextraction sector tistics Canada was down 0.8 per inflation data, cent in Novemalso released last week, was 2014 compared to the 3.2 per ber and 1.4 per cent in Decemhigher than Bank of Canada cent result for the third quar- ber. had predicted — further damp- ter, the Statistics Canada report Looking back at 2014, Can-

EXCHANGE RATES

ada’s gross domestic product increased by 2.5 per cent — slightly stronger than the Bank of Canada’s prediction of 2.4 per cent for the year. The country’s GDP rose by 2.0 per cent in 2013.

Statistics Canada also released revisions for the GDP readings of the first three quarters of 2014, which revealed the economy was stronger than earlier figures for the second and third quarters.

The second quarter had a revised reading of 3.8 per cent, compared to the previous figure of 3.6, while the third quarter was bumped upwards in the revision to 3.2 per cent from 2.8.

As of March 4, 2015, from finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CND / USD

1.2496

+0.0006

+0.0480%

CND / PHP

35.2975

-0.0058

-0.0163%

CND / EUR

1.3953

-0.0011

-0.0815%

Business

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

39

Floriculture still a growing industry in Davao

BY DIGNA D. BANZON Philippines News Agency

‘Principle of singularity’ needed to transform ASEAN into a single market — MVP

BY LILYBETH G. ISON Philippines News Agency MANILA — The transformation of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) into a single market needs “principle of singularity” applied across the region, said First Pacific Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan in a keynote speech over the weekend.

“We all know great concepts are attractively elegant,” said Pangilinan in his keynote speech during the 12th General Assembly of the ASEAN Law Association (ALA).

Pangilinan, who chairs the local ASEAN Business Advisory Council, cited the elimination eventually of non-tariff barriers to trade in goods and services; labor mobility; harmonization of standards, laws and regulations to encourage fair pricing across countries; common taxation regimes to ensure similarities in the cost of doing business; free flow of capital by removing discriminatory regulations such as foreign equity caps or outright investment

prohibition; and a common currency to eliminate foreign exchange differentials which could cause pricing and pricing power distortions, as some principles that needs to be implemented to make the ASEAN single market work.

“These conditions are tough to meet, will take time to effect, and require robust political will, especially on the matter of sovereignty,” he stressed.

Pangilinan noted countries “will have to agree to forego policy and its national currency and, to a degree, its national laws.”

“Disparities exist in economic structures, financial systems, legal and regulatory environments — as well as the different levels of maturity in the ASEAN Region,” he said.

Thus, Pangilinan said, “we should not be seduced by the conceptual elegance of integration.”

“Its advocates may sell the concept as if it were snake oil or silver bullets — promising an economic miracle quickly. It simply is neither,” he added.

As such, Pangilinan said ASEAN member-countries

could influence the global market for agribusiness, aquaculture, tourism, and infrastructure.

“Between and amongst ourselves, we are in a position to influence global markets for these commodities, not to mention the supply needs of China and India. We must expand beyond this to create regional production and supply chains for export to the rest of the world,” he said.

Pangilinan also challenged ALA members to “craft coherent and converging laws, facilitating an ASEAN without borders in the flow of goods, services, money and people.”

“The underlying realities do not necessarily agree with the beauty of the theory (of having an ASEAN single market).

Thus, we should not be seduced by the conceptual elegance of integration. In travelling that road, everyone in this hall are necessary companions. As lawyers, your challenge is precisely to craft coherent and converging laws, facilitating an ASEAN without borders in the flow of goods, services, money and people,” he said. www.canadianinquirer.net

DAVAO CITY — Davao City’s flowering and ornamental plants are not only a passion for Dabawenyos but also livelihood provider to garden makers or landscapers nationwide.

It remains a thriving business in Davao.

“Growing plants has become a passion not only to a few but to women in the villages and in remote communities where they plant those sought after varieties by landscaper,” said Vicky Jimenez, immediate past president of the Floriculture Industry of Davao, Inc. (FIDI) during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday at SM Annex.

“Plant growers like us need several thousands of plant materials and we source our supply from these women,” she said.

She said Davao has become the source of supply by other garden installers in the country.

While we do our local projects in Davao, she said, they also established network with their counterparts in other parts of the country, especially in the Visayas region where volumes of planting materials are transported.

Those engaged in this business, like those in Cebu and Bohol, would source their materials from here because they can get by volume, she said.

FIDI, according to Jimenez, has a hundred members that tap women in the communities to propagate flowering plants

and other ornamental plants.

She said this is their way of helping the women and mothers aside from being part of the organizing group of the annual Agri-Trade Fair during Araw ng Dabaw and the Kadayawan sa Dabaw.

Jimenez said they are also advocating green environment and promote organic practices instead of using pesticides.

“This can be done easily and we had been teaching the women and mothers to practice in their gardens,” she said. “But there is still lot of work to do to change the attitude of people on becoming more environment friendly,” she added.

Meanwhile, Jimenez said their members were now legitimate business operators after they had their businesses registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

She said they wanted to professionalize their operation after BIR Commissioner Kim Henares and during the BIR’s tax mapping operation that vendors were found out not issuing receipts. The BIR Davao and FIDI had fixed the issue and had their businesses registered.

She said if they operate legally, they can market anywhere and also make partnership in other cities and provinces.

Jimenez said they also undergo continuing education on the marketing aspect an important component in the business.

“We don’t just grow plants, we need to market them in order for us to earn,” she said.

Floriculture in Davao city has become the source of supply for flowers for garden installers all across the Philippines.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

40

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Travel

Taj Mahal endures but its little known birthplace, in town off tourist map, crumbles slowly

BY VIJAY JOSHI The Associated Press BURHANPUR, INDIA—It is no secret that the Taj Mahal is a monument of love, built by a Mogul emperor as the final resting place for his beloved queen who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631.

What’s less known is that the white-marbled tomb was not her first resting place after death.

Queen Mumtaz Mahal in fact died some 900 kilometres (555 miles) away in central India’s Burhanpur town and was buried there, in a rose-tinted sandstone pavilion in her favourite deer park. The once opulent and richly decorated pavilion is now a sad, crumbling ruin, thanks to neglect and apathy by authorities and Burhanpur’s own 200,000 residents.

And it’s not the only gem in the treasure chest of this town, which even most Indians could not identify on a map.

Behind its dirty, unpaved streets and open garbage dumps, Burhanpur hides an abundance of magnificent Islamic monuments dating back to 15th century. Once an important trading and military outpost, Burhanpur slipped into margins of history in less than two centuries and is now nowhere to be found in any tourist advertisement.

On a recent trip, we found in Burhanpur the ruins of a riverside palace; airy pavilions with intricately carved pillars; grand stone mausoleums with latticed windows that throw filtered beams of dusty light on the graves inside; a royal bath house with cheerful paintings of birds and flowers; austere and imposing mosques with incredibly fine calligraphy, and a fort on a cliff with a mindboggling view of the undulating plains below.

Each one of the town’s treasures is a reminder of India’s rich multicultural history and

Dargah-e-Hakimi garden in Burhanpur, India. The central Indian town of Burhanpur, which even most Indians could not identify on a map, hides an abundance of hidden tourist gems to explore.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

the contribution that about 800 years of Muslim rule made to the predominantly Hindu country’s heritage.

Many of the monuments in the town are in utter neglect.

Infrastructure as basic as toilets and roads to the sites is missing. Open drains run along some important tombs, which are ravaged by overgrown shrubs. Mountains of garbage greet visitors.

“Every monument here tells a story. Every stone here says ‘come to me and listen to what I have to say’ but there is nobody to listen or to take care of them,” lamented Hoshang Havaldar, 60, who has lived all his life in Burhanpur, and runs one of only two decent hotels in the town.

Burhanpur was ruled by the founding Faruqi dynasty from 1400 to 1599 and by the fabled Moguls from 1600, when Emperor Akbar conquered it. His grandson, Emperor Shah Ja-

han, ran his military campaigns against southern kingdoms from Burhanpur, accompanied by his wife Mumtaz.

She died while giving birth to their 14th child and was buried in a pavilion facing a small palace in a deer park.

Today, the Ahukhana, as the park was called, and its two buildings are one of the most dilapidated among Burhanpur’s treasures.

The sprawling park is locked up with no caretaker. Its rusty metal gates are tied by a chain loose enough to leave enough space for humans or animals to slip through. The grounds are overgrown with shrubs and weeds. Wild goats and cows roam freely. All that remain of the one-story pavilion are pillars and walls, some art work on them still visible. Its ceiling is no more.

For about six months, Mumtaz’s body remained in the pavilion while Shah Jahan made

plans to build the Taj Mahal on the banks of the nearby River Tapti.

But unfortunately Burhanpur’s geography, geology and hydrology conspired against his plans.

According to historians, Shah Jahan wanted the monument to be of white marble, which was only available in the faraway Markana, making transportation difficult. River Tapti’s breadth was a little narrow where he envisaged the mausoleum—meaning it would not be reflected fully in the water on moonlit nights. Finally, the rockbed just wasn’t right to hold up a building of that mass. As it turned out, Agra on the banks of majestically wide River Yamuna and not too far from Markana, was the perfect choice.

Mumtaz’s body was disinterred and taken to Agra, then the imperial capital of the Mogul empire that ruled India from 15th to 19th centuries.

And so Burhanpur faded away.

One of the most beautiful monuments in Burhanpur is the tomb of Bilquis Jahan, the wife of Shah Jahan’s son. It is known as the Kharboozi Gumbaz, or Melon Dome, because of its distinctive dome and bulging walls that look like the fruit. An unimposing structure, it nevertheless stands out because of its shape and stunning interior—every corner of its walls and roof is decorated with murals in floral pattern, its colours as fresh as they were centuries ago.

But to get there we had to walk through a graveyard, where a horse lay dying in a ditch while little boys played nearby.

Burhanpur, located in Madhya Pradesh state, was the reason for our trip, but not the destination. Our 10-day trip cut an arc through the vast state, stopping at four other places of Islamic and Hindu culture that carried in their stone monuments stories of love, valour, devotion and sex.

The last stop was the 1011th century Khajuraho group of Hindu and Jain temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Their distinctive steeple domes are made of interlocking blocks of finely carved stone, and the outer walls of temples dense with sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, scenes of court life, and a profusion of graphic erotic sculptures inspired by the Kama Sutra, depicting all kinds of sexual acts.

But we will save that story for another day.

If You Go...

BURHANPUR: Located in Madhya Pradesh state, about 180 kilometres (110 miles) from Indore, the city with the nearest airport. The drive from Indore takes about four hours.

Madhya Pradesh State Tourism runs a hotel, Tapti Retreat, for $30-$40 a night: http://www. mptourism.com/web/Burhanpur/Burhanpur.asp

Travel

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

41

Tourism on the rise in Malaysia in 2014 despite aura of tragedy from double plane disasters

BY EILEEN NG The Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA—Two airplane catastrophes put Malaysia on the map in a bad way in 2014. But they didn’t hurt the country’s tourism, and the higher visibility may even have helped: visitor numbers had their strongest growth in years.

For the past decade, Malaysia has run an elaborate campaign to market itself abroad as an ideal Asian destination, touting a multiethnic culture, lush rainforests and pristine beaches. Despite the effort to internationalize, its tourism industry still relies heavily on tightly-packed neighbouring Singapore and in a renewed push the government had designated 2014 as “Visit Malaysia Year.”

So when Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, it put the global spotlight on Malaysia and seemingly dealt a blow to its tourism strategy. A double whammy came four months later when a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over rebel-

The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Despite a disastrous year that saw two separate but devastating airplane crashes, tourism in Malaysia is up 10% from a year earlier.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

held eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

Tourism, however, grew at its fastest pace since 2008.

Figures for all of 2014 haven’t been released yet but the January-October data shows 22.9 million visitors, a jump of nearly 10 per cent from a year earlier. That far outpaced 2.5 per

cent growth for the same period in 2013 and a 0.7 per cent rise in 2012. The full year growth rates for those two years are close to the 10-month figures.

“The bad publicity has made Malaysia more well known to the world,” said Jaya Kumar Sannadurai, vice-president at Dayangti Transport and Tours.

The overall effect on visitor numbers is probably marginal but being the centre of attention “is an advantage to us in some ways,” he said.

The strong growth in tourism came despite a sharp drop in visitors from China, which had 153 nationals on Flight 370.

Many in China were angered by

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The Malaysian government says satellite data showed the jet crashed into the southern Indian Ocean, but no wreckage has been found despite an exhaustive multi-nation search. ❱❱ PAGE 44 Tourism on

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FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

Sports

Pacman, Mayweather hit US gyms this week

BY ROY LUARCA Philippine Daily Inquirer BOTH MANNY Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. officially started training this week for their welterweight Super Fight on May 2 at MGMGrand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles Saturday night and rested the whole day Sunday for the tough eight-week grind ahead.

Waiting for Pacquiao at chief trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood is strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, who’ll be in charge of preparations with assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez while Roach is away.

Roach is still in Macau to attend to Chinese superstar Zhou Shiming, who will be gunning for the International Box-

ing Federation flyweight title against Thai Amnat Ruenroeng on March 7.

The seven-time trainer of the year will take charge of training camp starting on March 9 up to Team Pacquiao’s transfer to Las Vegas on fight week.

Accompanied by adviser Michael Koncz and younger brother Bobby, Pacquiao took the late flight bound for Los Angeles Saturday. Fernandez, fellow assistant trainer Nonoy Neri and five other Team Pacquiao members went on a separate flight that would entail a stopover in Vancouver, Canada, before heading for LA. Pacquiao evaded the media and headed directly to his Hancock Park home in LA, only to be met by an ABS-CBN crew.

“I’m ready mentally and spiritually for May 2,” said Pacquiao, who earlier said eight weeks

Both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. start training this week for their upcoming mega fight on May 2nd.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

will be enough for him to reach tiptop shape for the megabuck bout projected to gross over

$300 million and shatter all other boxing revenue records.

Like Pacquiao, the unbeaten

Mayweather (47-0), a 2 1/2 to 1 favorite, will step up training and hit the gym this week.

Key figures in Mayweather’s training team are his father, Floyd Sr., uncle Roger Mayweather, venerable cutman Rafael Garcia and strength and conditioning adviser Alex Ariza, a former member of Team Pacquiao before his falling out with Roach in 2012.

“I’m not worried about when Mayweather would start training. It’s Manny whom I’m concerned with,” Koncz told sportswriters after the PBA Commissioner’s Cup game between KIA, where Pacquiao sits as playing coach, and Blackwater won by the Elite at The Arena in San Juan. “What’s important is Manny has been going to the gym a lot the past few days because he’s playing a lot of basketball lately.”

Seen and Scenes

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

WELCOME TO CANADA Glenda Rosal and Aurelio Quebral’s families of New Brunswick took their oaths of citizenship as Canadians.

ACOUSTIC NIGHT IN CALGARY Carmen Baladad of I-remit is shown with performers Dj Myke, Jimmy Bondoc, Luke Mijares, Paolo Santos and Jinky Vidal during the Acoustic Night with the Soloistas Concert at Century Casino in Calgary.

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

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MARCH 6, 2015

FRIDAY

Tourism on...

Authorities believe the plane was flown deliberately off course, but are still investigating the cause of the disappearance.

Kidnappings since April of foreigners including a Chinese fish breeder and a Chinese female tourist from a resort in Malaysia’s Sabah state in Borneo by Philippine gangs also put off tourists. All were released after ransom was paid.

Sabah, a popular destination for scuba-diving and nature trails, is a short boat ride from southern Philippines, home to Muslim militants and kidnap gangs.

For January-October, Chinese tourists to Malaysia dropped by 11 per cent or some 175,000 people. It remained Malaysia’s third biggest source of visitors.

The aim of the Visit Malaysia campaign, with the endangered pot-bellied proboscis monkey as its mascot, was to lure 28 ❰❰ 41

million visitors and 76 billion Arrivals from India, which China market,” said Hamzah ringgit ($21.1 billion) in spend- is the 6th biggest source of Rahmat, president of the Maing. Tourism is already Malay- visitors for Malaysia, were up laysian Tour and Travel Assosia’s second biggest earner of 21 per cent and the number ciations. foreign exchange after manu- of South Koreans visiting inOther tour and travel agents factured goods. creased by 43 per cent. There said the industry also benThe country might fall a lit- was also strong growth from efited from a weaker currency tle short of the 28 million vis- Western nations such as the in the last quarter of the year, itors goal for 2014 but a high United Kingdom, U.S., Austra- making Malaysia more attraclevel of fully paid advance lia and Germany. tive to foreigners. Malaysia’s tour bookings and a quick But it was Singapore along ringgit depreciated by 10 per change in marcent against the keting strategy dollar in the last by tourism offour months. ficials helped C h e a p e r keep the indusThe bad publicity has made Malaysia air travel and try on a growth more well known to the world. more numerous path overall. flights, primarily Tourism Madue to the expanlaysia cut prosion of low-cost motions in Chicarriers in the na and focused efforts on India with Indonesia and Thailand region, also helped drive tourand other markets after Flight that provided the mass market ism.

370’s disappearance, said its numbers, together accounting Since its two jet tragedies, deputy director-general Azi- for about two thirds of total Malaysia Airlines has lowered zan Noordin. This helped to visitors. fares to help fill seats. boost growth in all markets for “Our Southeast Asian neighMalaysia has extended its the first 10 months of last year, bours helped to keep the tour- tourism campaign, designatexcept China and Taiwan, he ist numbers up. We could have ing 2015 as “Year of Festivals” said. done better if it wasn’t for the with a goal to attract 29.4 mil-

lion tourists and 89 billion ringgit ($24.7 billion) in total receipts.

Azizan, the tourism officials, said Tourism Malaysia is working closely with China to mount more scheduled chartered flights flying direct to the country from China’s second and third-tier cities such as Wuhan and Chengdu. He said Tourism Malaysia is confident of higher Chinese arrivals this year.

Last month, the government waived visa fees for Chinese tourists. Tour agents however, urged the government to allow two week visa-free travel for Chinese visitors to help the market recover faster.

“Regional travel is on the rise,” said Joseph Francis Mariasosay Xavier from World Discovery Travel. “I don’t think Flight 370 is a factor. People need and want to travel. It’s more important to have the right infrastructure and pricing in place.”

‘Delivery’ of stories short and sweet

The sequel to 2003’s ‘Fast food Fiction’ is a veritable buffet of very short stories from Philippine fiction’s finest

BY RUEL S. DE VERA Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN “FAST Food Fiction: Short Short Stories” first came out in 2003, the idea of flash fiction—extremely short short stories—were still a relatively radical concept. Edited by fictionist Noelle Q. de Jesus, “Fast Food Fiction” featured a formidable line-up of Filipino writers providing bracingly short pieces of fiction in English, showcasing a remarkable range of styles and subjects. It was a wonderful gateway drug to the many smashing dimensions of Philippine fiction.

Fast forward 12 years later, and the sequel, “Fast Food Fiction Delivery: Short Short Stories To Go,” edited by de Jesus and poet Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta (Anvil Publishing, Inc., Mandaluyong City, 2015, 129 pages). “The 500word short story is no longer the rare thing it once was,” De Jesus says in the new book’s preface. “Reading habits may have changed a great deal… We all still love a good story. Re-

gardless of the genre, in this quick deft form, there resides magic.”

“Delivery” presents that magic in an even wider array of possibilities. “Fast Food Fiction” featured 60 stories by 55 authors; “Delivery” features 68 stories by 68 authors. While some of the stories in the original book ranged far beyond 500 words, “Delivery’s” offerings almost all stick to the 500-word limit; the shortest at 92 words and the longest at 622. That’s a much more concentrated form of magic.

“These stories accomplish much with the little they’re given,” Lacuesta writes in her introduction. “Some have called flash fiction a modern form, but it’s as old as poetry. One expects flash fiction to run like modern life— the flash and hurry of it. One does not expect details. Flash fiction tells us all we have are details.”

Every anthology is only ever as good as its contributors, and “Delivery” boasts an even greater diversity of authors, from preeminent, established writers to emerging, up-andcoming writers and even several new, young ones.

One will find Gémino H. Abad, Cyan Abad-Jugo, Rofel G. Brion, Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Susan S. Lara, Danton Remoto, A.R. Samson, Menchu Aquino Sarmiento, Ramón C. Sunico and Marianne Villanueva.

Accompanying them are Exie Abola, Dean Alfar, Nikki Alfar, Ian Rosales Casocot, Luis Katigbak, Angelo R. Lacuesta, Clinton Palanca, Michelangelo Samson, Budjette Tan and Eliza Victoria, along with Marguerite Alcazaren de Leon, Daryll Delgado, Carlomar Arcangel Daoana, Andrew Drilon, Rebecca Khan, Timi Siytangco and Justine C. Tajonera, among so many talented others.

“Delivery” presents authors with fascinating connections, including two sets of fatherandchildren, three sets of husbandsand-wives; it features two foreign-born authors with deep Filipino connections. There are writers based in the Philippines and those based abroad, most notably Singapore, where de Jesus is also based. There are those writing in the genre they’re most known for, and those who are trying out somewww.canadianinquirer.net

thing different. There are those were already part of “Fast Food Fiction”—17 authors return for “Delivery”—and those who are here for the first time.

These short short stories attack quick and sometimes deep, triggering grief, wonderment, lust and remembrance in one swift strike. They drip with regret and redemption; some hint at other worlds, others are realistic and raw. They are, indeed, possessed of that most important quality for creation: selfevidence. It is as Jugo writes in “Earth-bound”: “It is beautiful in itself.”

Through its celebration of flash fiction, “Delivery” allows for this extraordinary gather-

ing of fictionists in a single title.

Readers familiar and fresh to Philippine fiction in English will find it equally accessible.

You can read the stories in any order, all at once or one at a time— the stories themselves are arranged alphabetically by the authors’ surnames. Most of all, “Fast Food Fiction Delivery” presents a veritable buffet of fine writing from Philippine fiction’s very best. It’s a literary feast that fills, an anthology demanding to be read. It reaches out to you like Alfar writes in “Float”: “I hope that your trajectory finds me, I know you know who I am. You’ve called me by name.”

Events

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

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Lea Salonga with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m. Mar. 21, at Club Regent Casino, 1425 Regent Ave. W. Winnipeg, MB OPM Legends & the Jukebox Queen With Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison & Eva Eugenio

By RJP Entertainment Productions WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., Mar. 14,Club Regent, 1425 Regent Ave. West, Winnipeg MORE INFO: Call Dennis – 1-204-9637868; Ernesto 204-801-6051

CANADA EVENTS

Parokya ni Edgar Bente+ YUKON North America Tour WHEN/WHERE: Mar 27, TCU Place Centennial Hall, 35-22ndNORTHWEST St., E. Saskatoon, SK TERRITORIES MORE INFO: Call 306-716-9906; 306380-0818

NEWFOUNDLAND

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

The Music and Laughter of Rico J. Puno with special guest Marco Sison WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Mar. 8, at L’ Olympia Theatre, 1004 Rue Sainte-Catherine Est., Montreal, QC MORE INFO: Musical Director – Gerry Matias

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BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

ONTARIO

QUEBEC NEW BRUNSWICK

Toronto Sushi Festival WHEN/WHERE: 5 to 9 p.m., Mar. 5 & 6, at the Japanese Canadian Centre, 6 Garamond Court, Toronto, Ont. OPM Legends & the Jukebox Queen

By WW Entertainment Productions and RJP Entertainment Productions WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., Mar. 7, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 190 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto, On. MORE INFO: Call Cecille – 647-300-3764 or Ruth 416-720-2602

How to Do Business with WorkSafeBC

By Success BC WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 12 nn, Mar. 6, at Success Settlement and Business Centre #570-1333 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Information and Registration: 604.558.4909| businessinfo@success.bc.ca | www. successbiis.ca Parokya ni Edgar Bente+ North AmericaTour WHEN/WHERE: Mar. 13, Fortune Sound Club, 147 E. Pender, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Special guests: Mara, Dramamo, Octovibes. Tickets $55 advance; $60 at door.

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, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Liza at 604-395-8000 ext.

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, Ont. MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355 Tagalog Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto

1706 or email: liza.delarosa@issbc.org Drop-in Conversation Circles for Work Permit Holders (Burnaby)

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: Saturdays, 1 to 3 p.m., till Mar. 21, at Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Rosser Ave., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-292-3907 for details.

Burnaby Seniors’ Club Free Activities for Immigrant Seniors

By Mosaic Settlement Services WHEN/WHERE: (Burnaby North) Taichi – Till Mar. 27, Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

English Conversation Circle – Till Mar. 27, Fridays, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Rosser Ave., Burnaby B.C. (Burnaby South) Upper Beginners’ English Practice – Till Mar. 23, www.canadianinquirer.net

Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-9289355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

Congen West Party

By Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. to 12 mn, Mar. 21, St. Ohrid Clement Macedonian Banquet Hall, 76 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ont.

Mondays, 9:30 to 11:30 Beginners’ English Practice – till Mar. 27, Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Knitting Club – till Mar. 27, Tuesdays, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Taxation System in Canada

By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 3 p.m., Mar. 8, at Seminar Room School Gym, St. Mary’s Parish, 5239 Joyce St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: To register contact Lenn Castro – stmarysmigrant@gmail.com or Resochita Arma at resochita.arma@issbc.org. Or call – 604-684-7498 ext. 1666 Jose Mari Chan Vancouver Show: A Love to Last a Lifetime WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Mar. 28, Massey Theatre, 735 8th Ave., New Westminster, B.C.

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

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