Philippine Canadian Inquirer #163

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APRIL 17, 2015

VOL. 4 NO. 163

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4

12

23

27

40

Bill Gates' hacker nabbed

by PH law enforcers

Filipino maid facing death penalty in Indonesia

Baldoz allays fears of Filipino TFWs in Canada

Pokwang's love life predicted by 'Angel'

Before he was Pacquiao, he was 'Kid Kulafu'

Milk tea kills 2 in Manila in 3 minutes; police can’t say what happened GO TO JAIL Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda sentences alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles (in yellow polo shirt) to a jail term of up to 40 years after finding her guilty of illegally detaining her former employee, whistle-blower Benhur Luy, on Tuesday (April 14, 2015). Judge Alameda also ordered Napoles to pay Luy PhP50,000 as civil indemnity and PhP50,000 as moral damages. The court likewise ordered Napoles' transfer from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

Napoles gets 40 years imprisonment

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD T. CALIWAN Philippines News Agency MANILA — A Makati court on Tuesday sentenced suspected pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to reclusion

perpetua for illegally detaining whistleblower Benhur Luy. In his 26-page decision, Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda said based on the established facts and evidence, the

“TOO FAST, too quick and too fatal.”

And they only sipped milk tea.

Two people are dead after sipping milk tea with a powder flavoring called “Hokkaido” in a Manila eatery. A third victim is recovering and the police are investigating.

Dr. Benjamin Yson, head of the city health department of Manila, said the incident happened “too fast, too quick ❱❱ PAGE 10 Milk tea

m info@canadianinquirer.net A (888) 668-6059

Fil-Can in Focus: Maria Nieves Santos-Greaves

facebook.com/ PhilippineCanadianInquirer twitter: @PhilCanInquirer

❱❱ PAGE 24 ❱❱ PAGE 7 Napoles gets

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Philippine News

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Rescue of SAF troops losing hope recounted

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer IT WAS the first time information emerged about the condition of the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who were rescued from the site of the daylong clash that left 44 SAF troopers, 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and three civilians dead.

“They did not want to move anymore, like they were just waiting to die. They had dead and wounded they could not leave behind,” said 2nd Lt. Gabriel Bannoya Jr., executive officer of the 61st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) of the Philippine Army.

“We had to keep picking up after them,” said 2nd Lt. Jeymark Mateo, leader of the platoon that rescued or retrieved the eight dead, 11 wounded and 17 uninjured members of the 84th Special Action Company (SAC).

In their riveting account, Mateo and Bannoya recalled how they extricated the 84th SAC troopers before the joint com-

mittee investigating the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash at the House of Representatives yesterday.

The corpses were so heavy each one had to be carried by four Army soldiers, sometimes by just two, who had to drag the bodies during the dangerous trek through a cornfield and across a river.

It was on the evening of Jan. 25 when the Army soldiers finally reached the “battlestressed” commandos from 84th SAC in Pidsandawan village in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, several hours after the commandos had killed Zulkifli bin Hir, a Malaysianborn terrorist also known as Marwan.

They found the commandos exhausted, hungry and fast losing hope.

As they ran for their lives, the commandos were so disoriented they were dropping their weapons and equipment on the ground. The dead were being left behind. One of the commandos was found sleeping under a tree and had to be shaken awake.

Staff Sgt. Whilmer Jaranilla, team leader of the 61st DRC, said his unit spotted members of the 45th SAC resting “under the shade of banana trees” some 700 meters away from where the 55th SAC was engaged in a gun battle with enemy forces.

Bannoya corroborated the information, saying he also saw the 45th “just lying around.”

He recalled telling the 45th troopers to move to a better defensive position, and gave them food and water.

In the evening, the signal finally came to enter the area where the 84th SAC troopers were trapped.

A graphic showing the 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force that were killed in the Mamasapano Incident in January of this year.

‘Battle-stressed’

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The two Army officers’ story gave rise to new questions about Mamasapano: Were the parties honoring the ceasefire, which should already have been in place at that point?

What was the exit strategy of the SAF units executing “Oplan Exodus,” the covert operation to capture Marwan, Malaysian terrorist Amin Baco and their

Filipino associate Basit Usman?

Shortcomings of SAF unit

On the other hand, the testimony of the four Army officers at the House hearing also showed there might have been shortcomings on the part of the third SAF unit assigned to support the 84th and the 55th.

“The first thing they said to me was: ‘It’s good to see you, Sir. We thought this was where we would die,’” Bannoya said.

“I think our [arrival] lifted their spirits,” he said.

“They were battle-stressed.

[During the long time] they spent there, they had no food or water.

There were wounded among them, many dead,” Bannoya said. ❱❱ PAGE 47 Rescue of

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4

Philippine News

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Bulgarian ATM hacker nabbed Mar says no to Binay by law enforcers

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY PRIAM F. NEPOMUCENO AND C. LLOYD T. CALIWAN Philippines News Agency MANILA — A 31-year-old Bulgarian ATM hacker, who had once victimized American business magnate Bill Gates, was arrested by operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) during a sting operation in Quezon City Thursday evening.

PAOCC Executive Director Reginald D. Villasanta said Konstantin Simeonov Kavrakov was nabbed while in the Konstantin Simeonov Kavrakov (left), a notorious ATM hacker who once act of withdrawing money us- victimized billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, has been caught in Manila during ing different counterfeit bank a police sting operation in Manila last week.

GMANEWS.TV / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS cards at the ATM machine of the PS Bank branch along Quezon Ave., Quezon City at 9 p.m.

Kavrakov, according to Inter- ities as the “king of the hacklast Thursday. pol reports, is engaged in ATM/ ers” who had managed to steal According to Villasanta, the credit card fraud and cloning. thousands of dollars from the suspect was jailed in 2011 by In June 2011, the suspect was ar- accounts of Gates.

Paraguayan authorities for de- rested for banking/financial fraud, Seized from the suspects in frauding thousands of dollars high-tech crime, forgery and com- Paraguay were dozens of cloned from the account of the bil- mercial fraud in Paraguay. cards and almost USD90,000 in lionaire Microsoft founder Bill Believed to be a member of cash extracted from different Gates. the so-called “Super Hacker ATM machines in the country.

Villasanta said Kavrakov will Bulgarian Group” or SHBG There is still no report on be charged with violating Re- which is involved in interna- how Kavrakov managed to sepublic Act No. 8484 or the Ac- tional cybercrime cases, Ka- cure his release in Paraguay. cess Device Regulations Act. vrakov and his accomplices are Recovered from the BulgarThe Bulgarian’s arrest came long being tracked down by ian’s possession were nine piecin the wake of Special Project international authorities who es of PS Bank Quezon Avenue “Jugador,” a PAOCC-initiated have detected their illicit activi- ATM branch receipts, all dated project targeting groups of for- ties beginning from the United April 9; seven assorted credit eign nationals cards comprised engaged in cyber of the following: fraud and illegal a Citi Visa unonline gaming. der the name of Villasanta said Joanne Magno; the operation was Kolarov, now 32, was then tagged by a Standard Charlaunched by the international authorities as the “king tered MasterPAOCC and the of the hackers” who had managed to card under the CIDG headed by steal thousands of dollars from the name of Rommel Director Benjaaccounts of Gates.

Pamintuan; a Cimin B. Magalong tibank Masteramid information card under the from their foreign name of Rommel counterparts regarding the pres- States and Europe since 2004.

Pamintuan; a Citi Mastercard ence of European nationals enIn June 2011, members of the under the name of Fernando gaged in the production and use Paraguay Department of Com- Co; a Citibank Visa under the of counterfeit ATM cards and bating Economic Crimes and name of Jonathan Mallari; an other cybercrime activities in the Financial Police arrested Ka- Eastwest Bank Visa under the country and other parts of Asia. vrakov, then 28, along with fel- name of Catherine Tiamzon; The PAOCC and the CIDG low Bulgarians Aleksey Petrov a blank Gold blank card with are still checking the date Ka- Kolarov, Plamen Petrov Stoya- black magnetic strips; a movrakov arrived in the country nov, 34; and Marchel Penchev bile phone; and a shoulder bag and the places where he stayed. Dimov, 23, while attempting to containing PhP76,570 in differ“We’re also looking at other shop with cloned cards in Para- ent denominations which were possible companions of Kavra- guay. found to have been withdrawn kov when he arrived in Manila,” Kolarov, now 32, was then by the suspect from the bank’s Villasanta said. tagged by international author- ATM booth. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

INTERIOR SECRETARY Mar Roxas, presumptive presidential candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, last week rejected the idea of running as the vice president of his political archrival in next year’s national elections.

“I will never tread the crooked path. I will only take the straight path,” Roxas told reporters during his visit to Dagupan City, responding to reports that he is being considered as the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay in 2016.

The transcript of Roxas’ statement was released to the media by his office.

In his recent media interviews, Binay, who had publicly announced his plan to seek the presidency in 2016 as early as 2013, said he was “serious” in considering Roxas as his vice

president to end the political bickering in the country.

But Roxas said he would only join those “who are clean, who are not tainted with corruption in their service to the people.”

“That much I can say,” the Interior secretary said, adding that he would rather focus on his job as overseer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government units.

Binay, whose family has ruled Makati since 1986, and members of his family have been in the center of several corruption issues, including his alleged questionable ownership of a multibillion-peso agricultural estate in Batangas.

Meanwhile, Roxas said he was not aware of the supposed warning given to him by President Aquino, who allegedly told him to work on his unimpressive showing in the latest surveys of possible presidential candidates.

“I don’t have knowledge of that conversation,” he said. ■

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, presumptive presidential candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, last week rejected the idea of running as the vice president of his political archrival Jejomar "Jojo" Binay in next year’s national elections.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

5

Where do unclaimed bags go?

Naia finds them new homes

BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE Philippine Daily Inquirer SINCE JANUARY, airport officials have donated about a hundred boxes of clothes, footwear and other items to some 800 families rendered homeless by recent fires in Metro Manila.

Their source: The scores of bags and boxes left unclaimed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

The Naia’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID), which also serves as the airport’s lost-and-found office, keeps unclaimed bags or packages for six months to wait for their owners, after which these are deemed forfeited in favor of the government.

In January, the IID turned over 30 boxes of clothes, footwear, utensils, toiletries, and other household items, as well as 30 suitcases, to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The items were for distribution among families in Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City, where a fire destroyed 200 homes on New Year’s Day, according to IID manager Melchor de los Santos.

In February, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado sent over 50 boxes of donated goods to fire victims in Barangay 184 in Maribacan, Pasay City.

Last week, on Maundy Thursday, De los Santos handed over 20 boxes to the chair of Barangay BF Homes in Parañaque

City, where a March 28 fire displaced some 250 families in the Dela Rama Compound.

In 2014, MIAA donated a total of 115 boxes of goods, including folding tables and baby strollers, to Caritas Manila, fire victims in Tondo and the Rotary Club of Manila.

Meanwhile, a total of $5,500 (about P245,000) and some P100,000 in cash left behind by passengers remain unclaimed at the IID office. Of the total, $3,000 was found by a passenger at Naia Terminal 1 and turned over to the security office, while $2,500 was found by a maintenance worker at Terminal 2, De los Santos said.

Both were found last month.

The P100,000 was found at the Terminal 3 departure area, De los Santos said. ■

Bags and boxes left unclaimed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport eventually have their contents donated to needy families in Manila.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Ampatuan kin asks SC to probe judge for abuses

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer A MAGUINDANAO town mayor has asked the Supreme Court to investigate alleged abuses committed by a Cotabato City Regional Trial Court judge who ordered her and members of the influential Ampatuan political family arrested for the murder of their uncle in 2013.

In a five-page letter to Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez dated April 6, Datu Unsay town Mayor Bai Reshal Santiago Ampatuan accused Judge George Jabido of “meddling in political affairs” in the province and committing injustice and irregularities with regards to the case.

“This is also for the purpose of bringing to your attention the irregular acts of Judge Jabido and allowing his court to be desecrated and used for partisan political activity stretching down to the office of the prosecutor,” she said.

Ampatuan’s husband Andal Jr. is among the 200 suspects jailed and being tried for the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, wherein 58 people were killed, including 34 journalists who were accompanying the wife of

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

current Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu to file the

latter’s certificate of candidacy.

Ampatuan herself is included www.canadianinquirer.net

in the list of 50 new suspects in the massacre who had been summoned by the Department of Justice for a preliminary investigation.

Marquez told reporters he had read the letter and would check on Ampatuan’s claims.

“Yes [I have read the letter] and we are now verifying the status [of the case],” he said.

Ampatuan said she was forced to seek the help of Marquez “in desperation and frustration.”

According to the mayor, she and her vice mayor, her niece Bai Janine Julhaila Ampatuan Mamalapat, were charged by government prosecutors before the court, using allegedly false and inconsistent testimony, for the murder of their uncle Abdullah “Doro” Ampatuan.

The judge “did not study judiciously the records of the case; otherwise he could have found that there is no probable cause to issue the warrants of arrest,” she said.

The court issued the arrest warrants against her and her niece last February. They then filed for a motion for reconsideration which has remained unresolved up till now, Ampatuan recounted.

Ampatuan said she and her niece could not have been pres-

ent in her father-in-law’s house to plan the murder sometime in July 2013, as claimed by the witness. She said she and her niece were visiting their jailed relatives in Taguig City.

The mayor accused Mangudadatu’s camp of being behind the allegedly politically motivated charges against her and other members of the family.

She said this was in preparation for the 2016 elections. She added that if she and her vice mayor were arrested, a councilor belonging to Mangudadatu’s camp would become the acting mayor.

Ampatuan said this had happened in neighboring Shariff Aguak town, where the wife of her husband’s brother Zaldy, Zahara Upam Ampatuan, has remained in hiding after being ordered arrested by Judge Jabido last year for an allegedly false murder charge. As result, the vice mayor, a Mangudadatu ally, became the acting mayor.

Mangudadatu and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima both said it was the Ampatuans who were the ones conducting political offensive by claiming political persecution after more members of their family were included in the new batch of suspects in the massacre. ■

6

Philippine News

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Strongest US reaction vs China buildup in PH sea

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG LAST week said it was the Philippines’ peaceful approach to dealing with its maritime dispute with China that drew support from the international community, including from US President Barack Obama, who reacted strongly last Thursday to China’s massive land reclamation in the South China Sea. “Where we get concerned with China is where it is not necessarily abiding by international norms and rules, and is using its sheer size and muscle to force countries into subordinate positions,” Obama told a town hall event in Kingston, Jamaica, ahead of the Summit of the Americas in Panama.

“We think this can be solved diplomatically, but just because the Philippines or Vietnam are not as large as China doesn’t mean that they can just be elbowed aside,” Obama said.

It was the strongest US reaction so far to China’s land reclamation following publication of pictures that, according to analysts, showed how Beijing was trying to create “facts in the water” to strengthen its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs time disputes in the South China Sea. versity of the Philippines (UP) College (DFA) last week welcomed the stateAlso in March, Malaysian Defense Min- of Law said China’s land reclamation ments of support from Obama and other ister Hishammuddin Hussein said Ma- was “undoubtedly” Beijing’s response countries that recently criticized China laysia stood for the peaceful resolution of to Manila’s legal challenge filed in the for aggressively reclaiming land at con- the maritime disputes and would promote United Nations. tested reefs in the South China Sea, ap- peace and stability, maritime security, unIn February, Jay Batongbacal, director parently trying to alter natural rock for- impeded trade and freedom of navigation of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs mations in disputed waters, which could and overflight in the South China Sea. and Law of the Sea, wrote an analysis of affect territorial claims such as the case “These statements and those of other China’s land reclamation on the website brought by the Philof the Asia Maritime ippines in the United Transparency InitiaNations. tive ( Amti).

Speaking on gov“There is little ernment-run radio, Just because the Philippines or Vietnam are doubt that China’s deputy presidential not as large as China doesn’t mean that they reclamation acspokesperson Abigail can just be elbowed aside. tivities in the South Valte said the governChina Sea are among ment was committed its direct responses to a peaceful resoluto the legal chaltion of the Philippines’ territorial dis- nations reflect growing international lenge launched by Manila. While the pute with China in the West Philippine concern over these reclamations that legal status of the contested features as Sea, taking its case to international fo- are contrary to international law, espe- described and presented in the arbitrarums for discussions and to the United cially the 1982 United Nations Conven- tion case are not affected, their physical Nations for arbitration. tion on the Law of the Sea ( Unclos), and alteration effectively ‘ tampers with the China’s land reclamation in South China undermine our collective effort to build evidence,’” Batongbacal wrote.

Sea waters within the exclusive economic regional security and stability,” the DFA The Amti, under the Washingtonzones of its smaller neighbors, including said in a statement. based think tank Center for Strategic the Philippines and Vietnam, drew sharp and International Studies, has pubcriticism from Obama on Thursday.

PH protests lished the newest pictures of China’s In March, India assured the PhilipThe Philippines has lodged diplo- land reclamation on Panganiban Reef, pines that it had its support in the pro- matic protests with China over Beijing’s internationally known as Mischief Reef, motion of a peaceful settlement of mari- land reclamation at several reefs in the in the West Philippine Sea. West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea within Manila’s 370- kilome- Particularly disturbing ter exclusive economic zone. Beijing apChina’s work on Panganiban Reef is pears to be building artificial islands and particularly disturbing for the Philipaltering the maritime features, status pines, as the reef is just 41 kilometers and entitlements in the disputed waters. away from Ayungin Shoal (Second Beijing has dismissed the Philippine Thomas Shoal), where the Philippines protests, claiming “undisputed sovereign- maintains a small garrison aboard a ty” over the whole of the South China Sea. rusting hospital ship, the BRP Sierra China’s foreign ministry also dis- Madre, which it grounded there in 1999 missed Obama’s criticism, accusing the to mark its territory.

United States of hypocrisy.

China has steadily been reclaiming “I think everybody can see very clearly land in the West Philippine Sea, and in who in the world has the greatest size March, the INQUIRER reported that and muscle,” Chinese foreign ministry the Philippines had lost about 60 hectspokesperson Hua Chunying said on ares to China at four Philippine- claimed Friday. atolls and reefs in the contested waters.

The DFA said it would continue to “The existence of the new islands will work with members of the Association now cast doubt on whether the features of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for were originally mere low-tide elevations full implementation of the 2002 Ase- or rocks above water at high tide. This anChina Declaration on the Conduct of makes future agreement over their nature Parties in the South China Sea and the and effect on delimitations even more difearly adoption of a binding code of con- ficult to reach,” Batongbacal wrote. duct in the disputed waterway.

“The Philippines will continue to Chinese insecurity work with Asean and other responsible Batongbacal offered another point of members of the international commu- view: China is doing the massive reclanity to address unilateral aggressive ac- mation work to soothe its own insecurity. tions that directly challenge the rule of “For China, the artificial islands also law, create tensions and pose risks to the address its own perceptions of weakness peace and stability of the region,” the in the strategic situation at sea and apDFA said. pear to be attempts to guarantee itself Besides the Philippines and Vietnam, against an adverse ruling. It aims to reBrunei, Malaysia and Taiwan also claim capture the high ground and pressure parts of the South China Sea. littoral states in the region to recognize that Beijing’s claims cannot be easily Response to PH challenge dismissed nor its interests denied,” he A maritime law expert at the Uni- wrote. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

7

Napoles gets... penalty that may be imposed on the accused for the crime of serious illegal detention is reclusion perpetua, there being no aggravating or mitigating circumstance in the commission of the offense pursuant to Article 63 of the Revised Penal Code.

Napoles was found guilty as the complainant Luy suffered serious anxiety and fright as a result of his three-month detention.

“The court finds accused Janet Lim Napoles Guilty beyond reasonable doubt as principal of the crime of serious illegal detention defined and penalized under Article 267, paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code and her by sentence to her to suffer the penalty of Reclusion Perputua. She is also directed to pay Benhur Luy the amount of Php 50,000 as civil indemnity and Php 50,000 as moral damages. The case against accused Reynold “Jojo” Lim, who is at-large is ordered archived,” the court ordered said.

Napoles, wearing yellow polo with shades arrived at the Makati RTC around 1: 30 p.m. She and her escorts left by past 2 p.m after the escorting police officers literally did not give mediamen covering the event a chance to interview as they immediately left in the 14th floor office of the RTC, which is located at the Makati City Hall.

Atty. Diosfa Valencia, Makati Clerk of Court, said that Napoles would remain detained at the female dormitory of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City until the court issues commitment order.

Napoles was supposed to have been immediately transferred to Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Gertrudes Luy, Benhur’s mother, who was present during the promulgation of sentence, welcomed the court decision, saying that there was still justice in the country.

“God is good. may hustisya pala sa Pilipinas,” teary-eyed Gertrudes told the reporters.

For his part, Atty. Bruce Rivera, Napoles lawyer said they would file a motion for reconsideration on the decision.

“We can always appeal… at this point we are little bit of shock but we respect the decision of the court… pero kailangan namin i-draft ang susunod na hakbang but of course we are sad but that’s life,” Rivera said.

During the arraignment last Sept. 23, Napoles refused to enter a plea on the serious illegal detention charge against her.

Napoles and her brother, Reynald Lim, were accused of detaining Luy, their cousin and employee, for three months. ❰❰ 1

Luy was detained by Napoles after the businesswoman allegedly found out that the whistle-blower made a Php 5.5-million loan using her name without her knowledge.

The court found that Napoles detained Luy from December 2012 to March 2013 after they discovered that he was dabbling into the same business of Napoles.

Luy was later rescued by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

at the posh Pacific Plaza Towers in Taguig owned by Napoles.

Napoles and Lim were ordered arrested last Aug. 14. The two went into hiding.

Two weeks later, Napoles surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III, hours after he announced a Php 10-million reward for any information leading to her arrest.

After her surrender, Napoles was immediately turned over to the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP)

www.canadianinquirer.net

where she temporarily stayed in a secured room.

She was later transferred to the Makati City Jail and was also transferred to Fort Sto. Domingo in Santa Rosa, Laguna due to threats on her life.

Apart from the serious illegal detention case, she is also facing plunder charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam, implicating some lawmakers and other government officials. ■

Philippine News

8

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

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Member

Clockwise from top left: Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and detained Bong Revilla Jr. are among those that may put their hats into the ring for potential presidential runs in 2016.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Senators in 2016: Who’s running for what

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer

with it remains to be seen. Revilla declared earlier that his incarceration will not stop his 2016 plans.

veys for the electorate’s preferred Vice President, and several possible team ups with her as Vice President have been broached.

THE SENATE has usually been fertile Grace Poe Earlier, there was speculation that ground for the country’s next crop of Neophyte Sen. Grace Poe has so far Poe might join forces with Sen. Francis executive leaders and several of its 24 been less than categorical about her Escudero, who has yet to disclose his members might just be major players in 2016 plans, but has been the subject of 2016 plans, if any. next year’s elections for the presidency calls for her to seek higher office, which Sen. Antonio Trillanes has said he and vice presidency. she said she would take into consider- wants to run for Vice President, but Half of those specwould rather wait for ulated to throw their his party’s decision hat into the politiif it would choose cal ring in 2016 ultito field him for this mately have nothing post. to lose, as they are in Political partnerships tend to be fluid. Parties Sen. Jose “Jingthe middle of their or individuals who are at each other’s throats goy” Estrada, also in terms and would reone moment could be linking arms the next. detention like Return to the Senate if villa, is reportedly the odds do not fall in among those being their favor. considered to be the Senators Alan Perunning mate of Vice ter Cayetano, Miriam President Jejomar Defensor-Santiago, Ferdinand Marcos ation.

Binay.

Jr. and detained Bong Revilla Jr. are Poe, who got most of the votes in the Of these possible candidates, Poe, among those considering the prospect 2013 senatorial race, has been floated Cayetano, Escudero and Trillanes are of running for President in 2016. But as a possible candidate for the presi- assured of keeping a government post whether or not they will push through dency. She has also topped recent sur- once elections are over, since they have www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

just come from securing their six-year Senate terms during the 2013 elections.

Graduating senators

Santiago, Revilla and Estrada are among the “graduating” senators, or those coming to the end of their two consecutive terms. They are no longer allowed to run for another term in the Senate next year.

Marcos is about to complete his first six-year term and is eligible for another one. He would have to choose between seeking an executive post and a legislative one when he runs next year.

There are also other factors that could affect which senators would actually go ahead and run for top executive posts, not least of which are their rankings in the surveys, especially those conducted close to the date of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Santiago is currently battling stage 4 lung cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Estrada and Revilla are both in jail and facing plunder charges.

The configurations of the teams for the top two executive posts are still up in the air. There are several possible major players outside the Senate who have yet to make their move.

Binay’s running mate, Mar

Binay, the current topnotcher in surveys for the presidency, is still mulling over who to pick as his running mate.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is the presumptive standardbearer of the ruling Liberal Party, though he has yet to categorically say if he would run in 2016.

Recently, a group of retired police and military officials called on former Sen. Panfilo Lacson Jr. to seek higher office, in tandem with Poe. Joseph Estrada, Duterte

There have also been reports that former President Joseph Estrada, who failed to complete his first term after being ousted in a mass revolt, might consider running for president. Estrada, the incumbent Manila mayor, had said he would consider running if neither Binay nor Poe, the daughter of his friend Fernando Poe Jr., would seek the presidency.

Several groups have been clamoring for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to join the race for Malacañang. His party, the PDP-Laban, is considering fielding him as its standard-bearer.

It also remains to be seen which political parties would coalesce or team up for the 2016 elections.

Political ties fluid

In the Philippines, political partnerships tend to be fluid. Parties or individuals who are at each other’s throats one moment could be linking arms the next.

Also, party affiliations do not always matter greatly, since many politicians could change their colors at the drop of a hat and suffer no lasting consequences.

Moreover, if a politician refuses to join one group or another, he or she can just establish his or her own party.

Admin coalition, opposition

At present, the administration’s Liberal Party is allied with the Nacionalista Party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, PDP-Laban and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

But this alliance could dissolve next year when the major players position their candidates for the next round of political games.

The opposition party is the United Nationalist Alliance of Binay.

The Senate also has other graduating members, who have so far not hinted at any plans to run for top executive posts next year. They are Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, who is also detained for plunder, Pia Cayetano and Manuel “Lito” Lapid.

Lapid is reported to be eyeing a local post in Pampanga.

His son, Mark, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority chief operations officer, is reportedly running for the Senate.

The Cayetanos are also planning to field Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano in next year’s senatorial race.

Several of the incumbent senators are also eligible to run for a second consecutive term next year.

They are Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, and Senators Vicente Sotto III, Sergio Osmeña III and Teofisto Guingona III. Senators Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Aquilino Pimentel III, Gregorio Honasan and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV are currently in the middle of their sixyear terms they won in 2013, and have so far not been rumored to have plans to seek higher office.

Since 1998, the country’s Presidents have all cut their teeth in the Senate before ascending to Malacañang.

Joseph Estrada, a popular actor and longtime San Juan mayor before he sought national office, became known as one of the members of the “Magnificent 12” senators who had voted to remove the US bases from the country.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo topped the 1995 senatorial elections and later successfully ran for Vice President. She eventually became President after Estrada’s ouster in a mass uprising and won another term in 2004.

President Aquino was on his first term as senator when he chose to run for chief executive following a wave of public sympathy generated by the death of his well-loved mother, former President Corazon Aquino. ■

9

Solon says Mamasapano incident ‘overdramatized’ to disrupt Philippines peace process, weaken PNoy endorsement PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

so muddled that even the heroic deeds of our fallen heroes are now being torpedoed to serve the political and personal MANILA — The Mamasapano incident interests of some political and oligarchic is simply a police operation gone wrong interests,” he added. due to poor planning and poor execuThe Visayan solon said that the Mation by the ground commander but be- masapano investigation is no longer a ing overdramatized by various political quest for truth and justice but a ploy to forces and special interest groups to maintain the status quo in Mindanao. disrupt the proposed creation of an auHe noted that the creation of the tonomous Bangsamoro sub-state and Bangsamoro juridical entity through the undermine President Benigno S. Aqui- proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) no’s accomplishments to weaken his is apparently seen as a threat to certain endorsement power business and oligarin 2016. chic interests in the This was pointed region because this out last Friday by Ilwould allow “new oilo City Congressplayers” to do busiman Jerry Trenas This ness in areas that as he lamented that Mamasapano they practically coneven the sacrifices issue has trol, economically and the heroism of become so and politically. the 44 Special Acmuddled that Trenas said it is tion Force (SAF) even the heroic also obvious that commandos is now deeds of our continuing attempts being questioned befallen heroes to drag President cause of the overlapare now being Aquino into the Maping and redundant torpedoed masapano mess is a probes on the Mamato serve the propaganda spin to sapano incident. political and override the many “It is very unforpersonal accomplishments of tunate that there are interests of his administration now issues coming some political and weaken his enout that tend to quesand oligarchic dorsement power in tion the sacrifices interests.

2016. made by our 44 fallen “I simply cannot SAF commandos. understand why peoThere are claims that some of the rebels ple keep on trying to blame the President were unarmed and were sleeping when for what happened in Mamasapano when they were killed by the SAF. There are his only role was to give the order for the now stories about SAF firing the first arrest and the neutralization of known shot towards the position of the MILF international terrorists? How can he be and therefore they should be blamed for faulted for a police operation that simply violating the ceasefire,” Trenas lament- went out of control obviously because the ed. man who was assigned to do job messed “This Mamasapano issue has become up?” Trenas pointed out. ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

10

Philippine News

APRIL 17, 2015

No trace of toxic substance found in milk tea samples — DOH

Milk tea... and too fatal” that the victims were not able to leave the premises of ErgoCha Milk Tea House on Bustillos Street in Sampaloc for the hospital right away.

Last Thursday, within three minutes of consuming the Hokkaido-flavored milk tea that he himself had prepared, shop owner William Abrigo collapsed on the floor of the eatery.

He later died at Ospital ng Sampaloc.

Earlier, before Abrigo collapsed, customer Suzaine Dagohoy and her boyfriend Arnold Aydalla had complained the milk tea that Abrigo had served them was foul-tasting.

This prompted the store owner to taste the drink.

Dagohoy died two hours after Abrigo had collapsed, according to the police. Aydalla was later described as in a stable condition. ❰❰ 1

Imported tea leaves

Milk tea was considered the biggest food or beverage trend in 2011 as tea shops have sprouted all over the Metro.

Most milk tea shops originated from China and Taiwan, where ingredients such as the tea leaves are shipped to give an authentic taste. A regular milk tea is made of tea powder or syrup, milk and pearls ( sago).

Asked yesterday if lack of sanitation at the place was a possible cause of the deaths, Yson said those who suffered from poor sanitation usually experienced diarrhea, vomiting and an upset stomach—circumstances that were absent in the cases.

“But until we have the results of the specimens sent to the BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs), we can’t really say what happened,” Yson told the INQUIRER in a phone interview.

According to SPO2 Jonathan Bautista, Dagohoy and Aydalla were Abrigo’s first customers that day in his 10-square-meter stall.

The police officer said Abrigo’s help, Joseph Garnacio, had been told to make the drinks but during the time of the incident, Garnacio was sent out by his employer so he could have lunch.

Garnacio returned three minutes after Dagohoy had collapsed.

Closed-circuit TV

Based on the closed-circuit

FRIDAY

BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippines News Agency

Department of Health Secretary Janette L. Garin (center) said in a press briefing on Monday (April 13, 2015) that the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and toxicologists from the UP-Philippine General Hospital are conducting further tests to arrive at an accurate result on the causes of the alleged milk tea poisoning that resulted in the death of two persons in Manila last week.

LEILANI S. JUNIO / PNA

television camera footage obtained by the authorities from the shop and shown to reporters yesterday, Dagohoy and Aydalla arrived at 10:42 a.m. and ordered an extra large glass of milk tea from Abrigo.

While preparing the drink, Abrigo was seen seemingly explaining to the couple the process of making the milk tea.

Minutes after the order had been placed, Abrigo gave the drink to Dagohoy, who then handed it to Aydalla.

Another drink

At 10:51 a.m., Aydalla took a sip of the milk tea and immediately spat it out. Dagohoy also spat out the drink after her boyfriend handed it to her.

Aminute later, Abrigo grabbed the plastic wares in which the ingredients of the drink had been kept and appeared to be explaining to the pair that the ingredients had been stored well.

Nonetheless, Abrigo prepared another drink for the pair while Aydalla left to buy candy, Bautista said.

Two minutes after taking a sip of the drink, Dagohoy had her hands on her forehead appearing to be disoriented. A minute later she was already on the floor.

Abrigo, on the other hand, continued to make the drink, apparently unaware of what happened to Dagohoy.

It was only at 10:57 a.m.,

when he brought the milk tea, to the couple when Abrigo saw that Dagohoy was already unconscious.

Police probe

The store owner then himself took a sip of the drink. By then, Aydalla appeared to be disoriented.

A minute later, Abrigo slumped to the floor, where he was seen by his help Garnacio.

Police said that Dagohoy died at 3:36 p.m., while Abrigo died at 5:40 p.m.

Yson said the police had already revoked the health and sanitary permit of the yearold establishment pending an investigation. He said the establishment just received its renewed sanitary permit on March 13.

Yson said the store, which stands beside a welding shop, appeared to have complied with the requirements, such as having potable water.

Bautista said the city health department expected to have the results of the BFAD examination next week to determine what it was that killed the victims so that appropriate charges could be filed.

Since Abrigo also died, Bautista said the families of Dagohoy and Aydalla could file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injury against Abrigo’s wife, Adela, who is the registered owner of the shop. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday that no trace of any toxic substance was found from the samples of the milk tea that allegedly caused the death of two persons and the hospitalization of another one in Manila last week.

In a press briefing held at the DOH Media Relations Unit (MRU) in Sta. Cruz, Manila, the department said the tests conducted by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on the milk tea samples taken from the Ergo Cha Milk Tea House on Bustillos St., Sampaloc, yielded “negative result.”

In view of this, the DOH said it is looking for other ways to determine what particular substance/s really caused the alleged poisoning that resulted to the death of the tea house owner, William Abrigo, and a customer, Suzaine Dagohoy, and hospitalization of the latter’s boyfriend, Arnold Aydalla, on April 9.

“We have expanded the tests to look for more accurate or substantive results,” said DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin.

She explained that the expanded tests will focus on biological samples such as blood, tissues and gastric contents from the victims as collected during the autopsy.

It may be recalled that last Thursday, Dagohoy and Aydalla, two regular customers of the tea house, complained to the owner about the foul taste of the Hokkaido-flavored milk tea which Abrigo himself prepared.

To prove that there was nothing wrong with the tea, Abrigo tasted it himself. However, a few minutes later, he collapsed on the floor of the store and was taken to the nearby Ospital ng Sampaloc where he died.

Meanwhile, Dagohoy and her boyfriend were earlier taken to the same hospital, where the former also died. Aydalla is still recuperating in the hospital.

“We are actually looking for

cyanides, nitrates, nitrites, organophosphate, oxalic acid, nitrobenzene and other poisonous substances. All the lead elements will be tested,” Secretary Garin said.

She added that they wanted to base the findings on the whole picture and not on the laboratory tests as she cited that such can be done through forensic autopsy.

According to Dr. Visitacion Antonio, toxicologist of the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, the testing will take some time and results cannot be immediately released, just like in other cases of poisoning in the past.

“The result of the laboratory tests on the milk tea, laboratory results on biological specimens like gastric aspirate, blood, urine will be gathered together and then we can come up with the conclusion,” Dr. Antonio explained.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Director General Ma. Lourdes Santiago said there is possibility that in the preliminary tests conducted, traces of the residues of the toxic substances were not detected from the samples due to the sipping of the milk through the bottom of the straw, wherein the toxic substances concentrated and was ingested faster by the victims.

“It is possible that the chemicals are not equally distributed and concentrated on the bottom,” the FDA official said.

She added that as of now, an autopsy, which will be conducted by forensic experts from the Philippine National Police (PNP), is the most conclusive method that they are eyeing in identifying the real cause of the suspected food poisoning.

Meanwhile, during the same press briefing, Secretary Garin urged the people to be aware of the initial signs and symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting-diarrhea, muscle weakness and impaired loss of consciousness.

She said that whether mild or severe, the patient should be immediately brought to the nearest hospital. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

11

‘Peace process’ blamed SAF commander to Army colonel: Man up, sir.

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SCHISM between police and military officials surfaced in all its rawness last week when the Special Action Force (SAF) accused the Philippine Army of holding back artillery fire, which could have saved the lives of police commandos during the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash, to save the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, SAF deputy director, and Supt.

Michael John Mangahis, the ground commanders for the SAF Mamasapano operation, accused Col. Gener del Rosario, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, and his boss, Maj. General Edmundo Pangilinan, the 6th Infantry Division chief, of using the peace process as justification for not providing ground and artillery support to the 55th and 84th SAF companies that were pinned down by Moro rebels during the clash.

Speaking at an investigation of the Mamasapano clash at the House of Representatives, Mangahis, his voice cracking and full of anger, challenged Del Rosario: “Man up, sir. Man up, sir.”

In his testimony, Mangahis claimed that he heard Del Rosario mention “peace process” while he was talking on the phone with Pangilinan around 7 a.m. on Jan. 25.

“I know they know the area very well. I don’t believe they have no assets. The real problem is their people. But I can’t say who he was talking to about the peace process,” Mangahis said.

Del Rosario did not deny he mentioned the peace process,

port, he (Del Rosario) was talking to General Pangilinan on the phone and asked if I could talk to him (Pangilinan declined). He (Del Rosario) told me later that his division commander (Pangilinan) refused because of the peace process and the presence of civilians in the area,” Taliño said.

Taliño disputed Del Rosario’s claim that he and Mangahis went to the 1st Mechanized Brigade’s Shariff Aguak office together. Taliño said they went separately, with Mangahis going earlier.

ACT-CIS Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, a former chief police investigator, moved that the four be compelled to undergo polygraph tests to determine who was telling the truth.

The committee deferred action on Pagdilao’s motion.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, a former AFP chief of staff, objected to making the police and the military officers undergo lie detector tests.

Lack of info A screenshot from video taken of a member of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force being killed by a rebel during the Mamasapano Incident this past January. The SAF is accusing the military of withholding support fire that could have saved the lives of their members during the incident.

but claimed he was talking to ( MILF), which has signed a mission planning and lack of several people on the phone peace agreement with the gov- coordination as the main reathat morning son why artillery and it was up fire had been to Mangahis to held back nearly identify the per12 hours after son to whom he We requested artillery support . . .

Taliño and Manspoke about the He (Del Rosario) told me later that gahis went to peace process. his division commander (Pangilinan) the mechanized refused because of the peace process brigade office in Flawed mission and the presence of civilians in the Shariff Aguak on planning area. that day.

Fo r t y- f o u r SAF commanIt’s the peace dos were killed process

by Moro rebels in that clash in ernment, and three civilians Taliño corroborated Mangahis’ Mamasapano, Maguindanao were also killed during the day- testimony that the peace process province. long gun battle. was the reason for the the Army’s Seventeen guerrillas from the Del Rosario and Pangilinan reluctance to help the SAF. Moro Islamic Liberation Front have blamed the SAF’s flawed “We requested artillery sup-

www.canadianinquirer.net

Del Rosario insisted that the reason why the Army could not grant the request for artillery fire was the failure of Taliño and Mangahis to give him the exact location of the pinned down SAF commandos.

Del Rosario had previously criticized the two SAF commanders for planning the exit plan on the fly and that they were using a map derived from Google.

The sacked SAF chief, Director Getulio Napeñas, denied the map was from Google, saying the tactical map was provided by the United States.

Pangilinan concurred with Del Rosario’s claim, pointing out that it was only in the afternoon of Jan. 25 that he learned there ❱❱ PAGE 12 ‘Peace process’

Philippine News

12

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Family of Filipino maid facing death for drug trafficking in Indonesia appeals for clemency THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Family members for Mary Jane Veloso (pictured), a Filipino maid in Indonesia who is on death row for drug trafficking, have launched a last minute appeal to the Indonesian government to have Veloso's life spared.

SAVE THE LIFE OF MARY JANE VELOSO FACEBOOK GROUP.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Family members of a Filipino maid facing the death penalty after being convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia made a last-minute appeal last Wednesday for clemency to the country’s president.

The parents, siblings and two young sons of Mary Jane Veloso delivered an open letter to President Joko Widodo to the Indonesian Embassy and appealed for “mercy and compassion” for the 30-year-old single mother.

The letter said Veloso was

Aid to Filipina in Indonesia’s death row continues — Palace

BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Malacanang last Friday maintained that the Philippine government continues to help Mary Jane Veloso, the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who is in the death row in Indonesia.

“The Philippine government continues to exhaust all possible avenues to appeal the decision in that particular case, and the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) has already mentioned that they will continue to pursue all possible avenues that are available to us to spare Ms. Veloso from the penalty that is supposed to be meted out,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a briefing.

The Palace has said that President Benigno Aquino III has written Indonesian President Joko Widodo about the case.

Valte said the issue has been discussed by the two Presidents although she said that she does not know what transpired during the discussion.

She stressed that the issue was not deliberately kept out from the public during Widodo’s state visit last February when it was not mentioned

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte has said that the government has pursued all legal avenues, including a written letter to Indonesian president Joko Widodo from President Aquino, in the case of Mary Jave Veloso, who is on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

during the Presidents’ speeches due to the sensitivity of the case.

She disclosed that the case was also discussed even with former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and that the DFA has made representations with the Foreign Minister of Indonesia.

“We have facilitated and covered the cost of the visit of the next of kin of Ms. Veloso to Yogyakarta where she is currently detained. There have also been contributions,” he said.

Valte said the DFA has also

contributed seed money for the education of Veloso’s children.

She also said that the Foreign Affairs department has facilitated the visit of personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to Yogyakarta “to secure information on the possible drug syndicate behind the transport of drugs found in her (Veloso’s) possession.” “ So we have been actively engaged in the case of Ms. Veloso, as well as subsequent needs that need to be attended to,” she added. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

tricked by a compatriot into carrying 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin in a luggage and says she was a victim of drug syndicates.

Indonesia’s highest court last month rejected a judicial review petition by Veloso, who is among 10 foreigner drug smugglers facing death by a firing squad.

“We are begging for mercy beloved President (Widodo), don’t impose the death penalty on my daughter, said Veloso’s mother, Celia Veloso.

Veloso’s sons, aged 6 and 12, held a placard that read “Mercy and compassion for Mary Jane and family.” About a dozen ac-

tivists from Migrante International held up a large picture of Veloso behind bars and a banner saying “Save the life of Mary Jane Veloso.”

Veloso travelled to Indonesia in 2010 where her godsister reportedly told her a job as domestic worker awaited her. Her godsister allegedly provided the suitcase where the drugs were discovered when Veloso arrived at an airport in Java, Indonesia.

Migrante International, which works to protect the rights of overseas workers from the Philippines, called on the Philippine government to arrest Veloso’s godsister, who remains at large. ■

‘Peace process...’ were actually two SAF companies on the run in Mamasapano and needing artillery support.

But Taliño insisted that he clearly explained the SAF position to Del Rosario during their first meeting.

“It’s not true that we could not answer his requests for more details on the number and location of the troops. This was a life-and-death situation we were talking about,” Taliño said.

Mangahis claimed that they gave the coordinates and situation of the commandos even before there were casualties among the troops.

He said the Army knew the area where the SAF troops were trapped like the back of its hand.

Taliño said it was not true that civilians were in the way because residents fled the area after hearing gunfire around 7 a.m.

Telltale signs of stand down Going by the findings of the PNP board of inquiry, several lawmakers tried to poke holes into the military’s version of the event.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the police report was “littered with telltale signs of a stand down” order, citing Pangilinan’s order to hold artillery support due to lack of information on the position of troops, civilians and armed groups; the detailed map of the SAF and that ❰❰ 11

grid coordinates were available in the early morning of Jan. 25; Pangilinan fired white phosphorus at 6 p. m. even though the position of the SAF and the enemies were not yet determined; helicopters were available but were not allowed to fly either for reinforcement or rescue; and the Division Reconaissance Company ( DRC) was already a few hundred meters away from the pinned down SAF in the morning but were suddenly withdrawn.

P-Noy accountable

Colmenares said the President should be made to account for the apparent stand down order from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., as he was in control of the operations.

Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, a former police official, accused Del Rosario of being “less than candid” with the House investigators as it was clearly stated in the police board of inquiry report that all details necessary to fire artillery at 11 a.m. were necessary even if it was just for white phosphorus.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, a former Marine captain, took up the cudgels for the military, criticizing the SAF for its poor planning, lack of exit strategies, and missing several opportunities to abort the mission after losing the element of surprise when the commandos arrived late at the target site. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

13

4Ps first batch of high school graduates on way to dreams of breaking chains of poverty

BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Children benefiting under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who graduated in high school this year have proven that poverty is truly not a hindrance to success and there is indeed a way to reach for their dreams.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon J. Soliman said these high school graduates are proof that the poor, when given a chance, can make it.

Soliman noted that several children who benefited from the program had graduated with honors, excelled in different subjects and received various special recognitions in their studies.

“I am pleased to know that Pantawid Pamilya childrenbeneficiaries have excelled in their academic endeavors. This proves that with a little help from the government, the poor can become instrumental in their own success,” said Soliman.

Some 9,000 4Ps children that benefited from the poverty alleviation program of the government became the first batch of high school graduates of the program who are now on their way to defeat poverty through a promising future.

Praising children of poor families who showed determination and beat the obstacles, Soliman cited the accomplishment of Shaira Perez, a 16-year-old beneficiary from Barangay Laiya in San Juan, Batangas.

She said Shaira’s accomplishment as a valedictorian in her class is proof that a poor man’s dream will not remain a dream "if you work hard for it."

Shaira topped her high school batch of 287 graduates of the Laiya National High School.

With the feat, Shaira is positive that she is a step closer towards her dream of lifting their family from poverty.

4Ps is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor households, primarily those with children aged 0-18.

The program provides cash

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon J. Soliman (3rd from left) leads the celebration of the first graduation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) high school beneficiaries on Thursday (April 9, 2015) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Banquet Room II in Pasay City. During the event, Soliman said 333,673 student beneficiaries nationwide graduated from high school this year. Of this number, 153,470 graduates are from Luzon, 74,182 from the Visayas, and 106,021 from Mindanao. There is a total of 21,844 graduates in the National Capital Region.

JESS M. ESCAROS JR. / PNA

grants to partner-beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

In 2013, the DSWD expanded the coverage of Pantawid Pamilya to include the 15-18 age bracket to ensure that the children-beneficiaries will graduate from high school and have a higher rate of being employed.

To ensure enrollment in college, Shaira is already busy completing her documents for possible scholarships, even one day after her graduation.

She hopes to enroll at the University of the Philippines after passing its entrance examination.

Shaira shared that motivation to go to college is fueled by her family’s current living con-

dition.

She recalled how difficult life is as a poor child whose parents are not earning enough to meet the needs of their three children.

"Life for our family is difficult as we are often financially-challenged. Even with a scholarship, there is no guarantee that I will be able to finish college,” Shaira shared.

Her parents are both working as helpers in a beach resort in Laiya and their earnings are not enough to provide for the needs of her other sister who has cerebral palsy which takes a lot of the family’s earnings to keep up with her medical needs.

Shaira’s mother, Rowena, 38, said becoming a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya in 2010 is a big blessing.

For a family who barely earns enough income during summer season, and who has a mentally-challenged child to attend www.canadianinquirer.net

to, the cash grants became a big help especially in ensuring that Shaira’s needs in school are provided for.

With the inclusion of her mother as beneficiary of the program in 2013, Shaira was able to join school contests and paid other school needs.

Shaira witnessed her parents borrow money from neighbors whenever she needed to join activities in school.

Able to freely join most school activities opened opportunities for Shaira to excel in class.

As she became more inspired with the assistance from the government's poverty alleviation program, Shaira became more determined to free her family from their poor living condition. She learned to balance her academic and extracurricular performance, which produced good results in the end.

Shaira now wants to pursue a course on Accounting or Engineering.

During her graduation ceremony last March, Shaira shared her success with her fellow graduates and urged them to continue pursuing their dreams, work hard for it, emphasizing that poverty should never be a hindrance but a challenge.

She was thankful that there is a program like 4Ps which help “poor children” like her to see and prove that there is a “bridge” that will connect them to a better future.

She hopes that other graduates of the program can also help their respective families by getting jobs and pursuing other government trainings available towards becoming “productive members of society” as the government invested in them to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty. ■

14

Philippine News

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

No one gets left behind in Yemen, says DFA chief THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MANILA — Despite challenges in evacuating Filipinos from strife-torn Yemen, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Wednesday said no one will be left behind.

Del Rosario admitted that he once contemplated imposing a deadline on the government’s evacuation operation in Yemen, but said as a national policy, all Filipinos in conflict areas must be moved to safety. In the case of Yemen, dozens of Filipinos still opted to stay amid security risks.

“I want to put a deadline but our policy is we leave no one behind,” Del Rosario told ANC news channel. “When they’re ready to come home we will be there for them.”

Since Manila imposed mandatory repatriation of its workers last month, over 450 have left Yemen, but less than 300 have remained, he said.

Del Rosario said those still staying in Yemen should consider leaving immediately while all evacuation routes remain passable, adding that the gov-

ernment can not afford to risk their safety and the security of Philippine embassy team leading them out of danger zones.

"We are saying to them that the situation has become dangerous and that they are vulnerable. This may be your last chance and we may not get the chance to get you because it’s already too late,” he said.

Del Rosario said the government find it hard to convince many Filipinos to leave since a lot of them have settled in Yemen for a long time and fear that they will not find a job back home.

But the biggest challenge, he said, is trying to convince those who prefer to wait out to leave. Normally, many Filipinos would decide to evacuate at the last minute if situation turns worse.

Despite this, he said the government is committed to ensuring their safety.

“I’m saying we’ll come and get you when we could come and get you because you have lingered to take your time and now it may be too late but we will come and get you when it’s safe,” Del Rosario said.

Ninety overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) evacuated by the Philippine government from the conflict-torn Yemen arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City at 3:40 p.m. on Thursday (April 9, 2015).

AVITO C. DALAN. / PNA

After Obama criticism, China says it is a ‘robust force’ for peace in South China Sea THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING — China said last Friday it only seeks peace in the South China Sea, rejecting comments by President Barack Obama that Beijing is using its muscle to intimidate neighbours in a region where U.S. officials say China also is aggressively creating artificial land to bolster its position.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China advocated talks to resolve tensions between rival claimants to the strategic waters and island groups that sit astride some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds and potentially huge mineral reserves.

“I think you will agree with me that China has been a robust force for the preservation and

promotion of peace and stabil- the U.S., Hua said: “I think ev- the region, projects documentity in the South China Sea,” Hua erybody can clearly see who ed by aerial photos and eyesaid. has the biggest size and muscle witness accounts. U.S. military Obama said last Thursday in the world.” She added that, officials have said they could that the U.S. is concerned that “We hope the U.S. can ... genu- be aimed at hosting military China is not abiding by inter- inely play a positive, construc- facilities as part of an “aggresnational norms and is using its tive and responsible role in sive” effort to exert sovereignty “sheer size and muscle” to bully promoting peace and stability there. smaller claimHua said ants such as the that such work Philippines and was mainly for Vietnam. peaceful civilian “We think this China has been a robust force for the purposes such can be solved preservation and promotion of peace as aiding fisherdiplomatically, and stability in the South China Sea. men, but also but just because served to “meet the Philippines necessary deor Vietnam are mands” for denot as large as fence. She also China doesn’t reiterated Chimean that they can just be el- in the South China Sea and the na’s stance that its sovereignty bowed aside,” Obama told re- region.” over the area gives it the right porters while on a visit to JaThe U.S. has increasingly to carry out whatever work it maica. Malaysia, Taiwan and expressed concern about con- deems worthy, but that such acBrunei also claim all or parts of tinuing Chinese construction tivities are not directed at any the South China Sea. that artificially adds land to the third parties.

In an apparent reference to reefs and islands it controls in China says it wants a code of www.canadianinquirer.net

conduct between the parties to avoid conflicts in the South China Sea, but says the U.S. and other countries without direct claims in the region should stay on the sidelines.

While the U.S. says it takes no position on sovereignty issues, its mutual-defence treaty with the Philippines could draw it into a confrontation with China in the event of a military crisis.

Washington also strongly insists on freedom of navigation through the South China Sea and the presence of the U.S. Navy in the area is a source of constant frustration for Beijing.

On a visit to Tokyo Wednesday, U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter said the U.S. advocated that “no changes in the status quo are made coercively and that territorial disputes, which are long-standing, are not militarized.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

Chinese reclamation causing irreversible and widespread damage to West Philippine Sea

BY MICHAELA DEL CALLAR Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Philippines on Monday said China’s massive reclamation activities in disputed features in the South China Sea are causing “irreversible and widespread” damage to the resourcerich waters’ biodiversity and ecological balance.

“We cannot accept China’s claim that its activities has not caused damage to the ecological environment of the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement as he warned that coastal states like the Philippines face $ 100 million worth of economic losses because of the reclamation.

A United Nations Environment Program study, according to the DFA, revealed that around 300 acres of coral reef systems were damaged as a result of the reclamation activities and that nations that depend on the sea’s resources is estimated to suffer losses valued at $ 100 million a year.

Jose accused China of “disregarding peoples in the surrounding states who have depended on the sea for their livelihood for generations” by pursuing said activities unilaterally.

Manila also pointed out China’s damaging fishing practices in the Philippineclaimed Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc near Zambales province.

China, Jose said, “tolerated environmentally harmful fishing practices by its nationals” at the shoal, which in effect “breaches its obligations under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

(CITES).”

The Philippines, Jose said, is especially concerned by a recent Chinese Foreign Ministry statement that once their reclamation work on seven areas are completed, these would provide “comprehensive services to meet civilian demands and satisfy the need of necessary military defense.”

“Such statements by China only serve to raise the spectre of increasing militarization and threaten peace and stability in the region,” Jose said, adding Beijing seeks to distract the world from its massive and illegal expansion in the area.

China insists all its activities in the resource-rich South China Sea are within its legal and territorial jurisdiction as it dismissed protests from other claimants like the Philippines and Vietnam. Other claimants are Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Beijing maintains “indisputable” and “historical” sovereignty over nearly the entire waters through it’s so-called ninedash line, an assertion that Manila calls “excessive” and “illegitimate.”

“We call on China to stop the reclamation activities and to be mindful of its responsibilities as a claimant state and an important member of the international community,” Jose said.

China, he said, must respect the letter and spirit of a non-binding and nonaggression pact it signed with Association of South East Asian Nations on the South China Sea in 2002.

Manila also called on China to cooperate in discussing constructive long-term solutions to the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.

The Philippines brought its case against China to an arbitration tribunal in 2013, but Beijing rejected Manila’s complaint, saying it has no legal basis. ■

KEY LOCATIONS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. The Philippines on

Monday said China’s massive reclamation activities in disputed features in the South China Sea are causing “irreversible and widespread” damage to the resource-rich waters’ biodiversity and ecological balance.

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15

Opinion

16

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

LOOKING BACK

Blood and bones

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer LAST GOOD Friday, I looked back on childhood summers spent with my cousins in Pampanga, where I first saw men dressed like the Nazareno de Quiapo, walking barefoot in the hot streets toting oversized crosses.

Then there were the magdarame, who repeatedly hit their soon-bloodied backs with makeshift whips in an effort to share in Christ’s sufferings and atone for their sins that year.

Pasyon chants could be heard all around town 24/7, and my only regret is that I was never brought to see an actual crucifixion.

Later in life, I took college theology courses that provided me an intellectual take on scripture and tradition but didn’t make me devout.

A number of years in a Benedictine monastery gave me the opportunity to go through all the Holy Week rituals that I never experienced as a child because my family was often at the beach from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday.

I don’t know why I remembered the late Asuncion “Sony” Lopez Bantug last Holy Week. Was it because, when she was of school age, Sony kept her ancestry from her class-

mates and teachers as if it were a dark lections came flooding back, I would the polite reply she got was that her scandalous secret? She was, after all, jot them down, trying to catch ev- notebooks were useless because they the granddaughter of Narcisa Rizal erything before they vanished again were filled with writing: “Walang and, by extension, the grandniece of from where they came. silbi na po, señora, puno na po ng sulat Jose Rizal. Sony recounted her childIt was not until later that I dis- lahat nang notebook nyo!” hood fear of being discovered: Being covered that she had kept diaries for If you think that’s bad enough, related to the national hero, she felt over half a century. Neatly written here’s another. Preserved in the Lothat she had to live up to everyone’s in her own hand, on ruled grade- pez Museum is a piña handkerchief expectations and be outstanding in school notebooks, they were a pri- that was allegedly given by Rizal to school. She just wanted to play and mary source for the historian. I knew one of his sisters on his way to execuenjoy her childhood. While nobody which bedside cabinet she kept them tion in Bagumbayan on the morning expected her to be shot at the Luneta in but I was never allowed to read of Dec. 30, 1896. It is not the handlike her granduncle, she wanted to them. “One day,” she promised me, kerchief I am looking for, because have a life. there is a story In time, however, about one of Rizal’s So if the urban legend is true, then the last traces of Rizal’s Sony became the eight sisters going blood, perfect for cloning and DNA testing, literally went down family storyteller to the spot where the drain with detergent and bleach. and historian. Her he fell and reverbiography of Rizal ently soaking what won special mention in the prewar “one day I will let you see them, but remained of the hero’s blood onto Rizal biography contest. Her manu- not just yet.” piña handkerchiefs (distributed to script was bested by those of Rafael That day never came. Once, dur- each member of the family) as a grim Palma and Carlos Quirino, and saw ing one of her long annual trips to the reminder of their brother’s sacrifice. print only in 1982. When I met her in United States to visit her grandchilNone of these blood-stained hand1990, she advised me to write about dren, one of the maids took the initia- kerchiefs seem to be extant, but I was “Lolo Jose” with affection rather tive to surprise the señora by giving told by one Rizal relative that the than with textbook reverence. As fa- her musty bedroom a much-needed family had one that fit the descripther of the nation, after all, Rizal is spring-cleaning and makeover. Ev- tion. When I asked to see it, an old our Lolo Jose. erything was cleared out, and the servant of the family came triumOver a series of visits, lunches and first to go into the basura, of course, phantly carrying a freshly laundered, meriendas, Sony would reminisce so were Sony’s notebooks. She returned starched and pressed handkerchief. far back that she sometimes broke home to find the bedroom spic-and- She proudly declared that she had down and tearfully recited poems span, her prized notebooks forever meticulously washed off the stain memorized as a child. As her recol- gone. When she confronted the maid, and laid the handkerchief to bleach

under the sun: “Matindi po ang mantsa nyan. Pinagtiyagaan ko po kahapon, ikinula ko pa.”

So if the urban legend is true, then the last traces of Rizal’s blood, perfect for cloning and DNA testing, literally went down the drain with detergent and bleach.

History records a similar hunt for relics of Christ’s passion and death: There are splinters from the cross, spines from the crown of thorns, nails, and even traces of blood. As a historian who has spent a lifetime tracing Rizal’s footsteps, the bloodstained handkerchiefs of urban legend mark my own search for a different Holy Grail. Fortunately, we know that Rizal’s remains are buried under his monument at the Luneta and a piece from his backbone is displayed in Fort Santiago. This relic has been so treated and bleached that it resembles a pebble or a piece of dead coral that you would ignore if you saw it on the ground. Yet if you examine it closely, you will notice that it is chipped on the side where the bullet struck and snuffed out his life.

Someday this morbid relic should be interred with the rest of Rizal’s remains under his monument. We should allow this piece of Rizal, forgive the pun, to rest in peace. ■

AS I SEE IT

TROs for sale

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer PUERTO PRINCESA Mayor Lucilo Bayron will have to go through the wringer of a recall election on May 8, but Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino SyAlvarado is off the hook—partly. This was announced at a press forum last Saturday by Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez.

Jimenez said the Comelec had finally set the recall election in Puerto Princesa for May 8, the last day that recall elections can be held this year.

The law prohibits the holding of recall elections less than a year before a regular election.

In the Bulacan case, however, the signatures were insufficient, the Comelec said. Alvarado is not completely off the hook, though. Bulacan Rep. Joselito Andrew Mendoza, the petitioner for the recall election, is demanding an explanation from the provincial government as to why it purchased last year medicines and construction materials worth P1.7 billion without public bidding.

The Commission on on Audit (COA) has found “red flags” or suspects irregularities in the deal. The Bulacan provincial government had

split the contracts to favor selected only for the notoriously slow admin- sion requirements for law students contractors and avoid a public bid- istration of justice but also for al- and their respective curricula to deding, it said. leged corruption and unethical prac- fine the kind of Filipino lawyer the “Government purchases amount- tices. Recently, no less than the Court legal profession must produce. She is ing to P500,000 or more should be of- of Appeals has been accused of brib- particularly concerned about the low fered to registered suppliers through ery after it issued a writ of injunction passing rate in the bar examinations. a competitive public bidding,” said against the order of the Ombudsman This is a good time for the schools Mendoza, a former governor of suspending for six months Makati to address the Chief Justice’s conBulacan. Alvarado should explain Mayor Junjun Binay. There are also cerns because of the kind of lawyers the “red flags” that the COA found accusations that TROs (temporary being produced. in connection with the purchase. restraining orders) are “for sale” in It is the talk in legal circles how to“Our constituents are always asking the judiciary. Indeed, with judges is- day’s new lawyers go to great lengths us (Bulacan government officials) suing TROs left and right, that is the just to serve their clients, even going where these medicines and construc- impression on the public mind. the illegal and unethical routes. An tion materials are…. So a clear explaToday, Sen. Antonio Trillanes will example is the legal battle between a nation is needed from the provincial file a resolution in the Senate urg- reputable businessman and an undergovernment,” Mencapitalized service doza said. provider over the The judiciary and the legal profession are again being Last January, control of a major incriticized not only for the notoriously slow administration of Councilor Jocylina frastructure facility.

Casimiro of NorzaIn that case, the justice but also for alleged corruption and unethical practices. garay, Bulacan, acyoung lawyers allegcused Alvarado and 21 other provin- ing an investigation into the Court edly faked documents just to support cial officials and private individuals of Appeals’ issuances of a TRO and their client’s claim to the facility. For of violating Republic Act No. 3019 writ of injunction against the Om- this, they reportedly hired a waiter to (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices budsman’s order suspending Mayor be the firm’s corporate secretary and Act) and RA 9184 (Government Pro- Binay. Trillanes said he will produce paid him to sign the fake documents. curement Act) in the allegedly illegal the alleged emissary who delivered Of course the scheme was discovered purchases. Casimiro cited the COA the money in the deal. Chief Justice just in time when their fake corporeport on the transactions as the ba- Maria Lourdes Sereno, after the issu- rate secretary spilled the beans. sis of her complaint. ance of the list of recent bar passers, When they could not get a favorThe judiciary and the legal profes- was quoted as saying that she wanted able decision from a Manila court, sion are again being criticized not law schools to review their admis- they filed another case in another,

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friendlier court. The friendly judge ruled in favor of the service provider, virtually giving the ownership of the multibillion-peso facility to the undercapitalized company. But the judge does not even have jurisdiction over the case since the disputed facility is located in Manila, while his court is located east of Metro Manila.

Take note that the real owner of the facility built it, developed and nurtured it over the years with blood, sweat and tears; and the facility has been dubbed as among the most successful enterprises in the country today.

The Court of Appeals has issued a writ of injunction against the judge and his questionable order. Rumors say that the lawyers then dangled a P25-million bribe for the magistrates to decide in their favor, but it was politely turned down. The Court of Appeals stopped them from taking over the facility.

The lawyers then asked for the justices’ inhibition from the case but were also turned down. They then engaged in character assassination to put the magistrates in a bad light.

They allegedly engaged the services of PR practitioners to besmirch the reputation of the justices to pressure them into deciding in the service provider’s favor. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

17

ANALYSIS

Agent of dismemberment

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO’S satisfaction rating in the first quarter of this year fell to its lowest level since he took office in 2010 as a result of the Jan. 25 Mamasapano massacre, according to Social Weather Stations. The SWS survey, conducted on March 20-23, showed that 47 percent of respondents nationwide were satisfied with the President’s performance, while 36 percent were dissatisfied, resulting in a “moderate” net satisfaction rating of 11, down 28 points from last December’s “good” 39 (63 percent satisfied minus 24 percent dissatisfied).

The President’s previous record low was a “moderate” 25 in June last year, and his highest rating was “a very good” 67 posted in August 2012.

Since June 2014 the net rating had been plunging; it took a sharp decline after the Mamasapano encounter, in which 44 commandos of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force perished at the hands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas and their cohorts who were given sanctuary in MILF-controlled areas in Maguindanao.

Since the massacre, which has become the nemesis of the administra-

tion-initiated peace process in collab- whether the BBL that emerges from dismantling national resources in a oration with the MILF, the President’s the legislative process would reflect policy of appeasement to the MILF. satisfaction rating has taken what the MILF’s version of the proposed In the effort to ram the peace proappears to be an irreversible slide. It Bangsamoro autonomous region as a cess through, the government’s chief has raised questions over whether the rump substate beyond the control of negotiator, Miriam Coronel Ferrer, plunge has reached a point of no re- the central government and the con- warned in a press conference that turn—an erosion that has cast doubts stitutional system. the failure of the peace process would on the capacity of the President to The peace process has come un- lead to a “very, very bloody war.” She save the peace process from collapse. der attack as a conspiracy with the echoed a warning by the President, In the immediate aftermath of MILF to set up a system that not only that the failure of the peace process the Mamasapano debacle and the leads to the dismemberment of the could mean “more body bags,” which erosion of Mr. Aquino’s satisfaction republic but, more so, the diminu- he issued during a speech on the first rating, questions have been raised tion of size of the national territory. anniversary of the signing of the comas to whether he has lost too much It is seen to result in the ceding to prehensive peace agreement between political capital to be able to mus- the MILF huge portions of produc- the government and the MILF and ter enough votes after the police misamong administrasion to capture three Since the massacre, which has become the nemesis of the tion allies in Conterrorists ended in administration-initiated peace process in collaboration with the gress for the passage a bloodbath blamed MILF, the President’s satisfaction rating has taken what appears of the Bangsamoro on the failure by the to be an irreversible slide.

Basic Law. The BBL SAF to coordinate will govern the prothe law enforcement posed autonomous Bangsamoro re- tive resources in Mindanao, and the operation with the MILF. gion in Mindanao within the frame- awarding to the proposed BangsamFerrer said that although the MILF work of the comprehensive peace oro entity entitlements and key func- had promised to “stay the course of agreement signed between the gov- tions exercised by the national gov- peace,” there would be a “problem” if ernment and the MILF last year. ernment, such as control over police the MILF leadership would not have The question of whether the force, huge revenues and financial al- a hold on all its members. This issue Aquino administration has been locations, and economically produc- was in reference to earlier statements reduced to a lame duck incapable tive local resources. of MILF leaders that it had problems of influencing the fate of the BBL, President Aquino is determined to with breakaway groups who joined whose passage in Congress appears push the BBL as his legacy before he the attack on the SAF commandos increasingly uncertain, has been steps down in 2016 by ceding conces- who entered Mamasapano on Jan. 25 overshadowed by another question: sions to the MILF at the expense of to arrest the wanted terrorists.

A Senate report on the Mamasapano massacre was less sanguine about the peace panels’ cooperation in the peace process. It said that while MILF rep resentatives were present at the hearings, “they have been less than forthright” and that almost two months after Mamasapano, the Senate committees had yet to be furnished copies of the results of the MILF investigation of the massacre. In fact, the Senate report said, the MILF had categorically refused to furnish the government a copy of its report. “They refused to cooperate when they denied the request of the Department of Justice for an interview to present its findings on the incident,” the Senate report said.

The MILF, which has warned it would not accept a watered-down version of the BBL, furnished Malaysia, a facilitator of the peace process, a copy of its report, before doing the same to the Philippine government.

In their report, the Senate committees said the government peace panel “should stand for the government and not for the MILF.” In the determination of the Aquino administration to leave the peace process as its legacy, it is turning itself into an agent of dismemberment of the territorial integrity of the republic. ■

AT LARGE

Still on that ‘yaya meal’

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer THIS may, in the light of current events, matter little. But the story of the “yaya meals” in exclusive Balesin Resort has gotten more than a few people all riled up.

The reply of Balesin management may have only added fuel to the fire, but the head honchos do have a point when they said the so-called “yaya meal,” or meal for nannies, was conceived only upon the request of their member-guests. The guests, they said in a statement, are perfectly free to order any of the items on the menu for their yayas, drivers, aides or other members of their party. After all, everything they serve, including the budget meals, are prepared by their kitchen staff. It seems that the meals for the help were offered only on the request of some members who wanted to cut costs.

This is puzzling because, if you can afford a membership in the club, or know someone to invite you to stay there, I presume you can very well afford to pay for a meal or two, or a few, for people who are in your party to serve your needs. What’s a few hundred or thousand pesos for your extra

convenience? ushered into the kitchen come lunch- BUT let’s go back to yayas.

But it seems the rich or aspiring time and served a meal of daing na Over the years, my husband and rich (or trying to seem rich) in this bangus and a scoop of rice. Obviously, I would frequently catch glimpses country resent having to shell out the homeowners were enjoying a far of other family groups gathered in cash for the help, who they perhaps more generous and sumptuous re- restaurants or fast-food joints. Infeel don’t deserve to literally “sit at past, one they deemed unworthy of variably, the nanny would be left to the table” with them, enjoying the the staff. A report in this newspaper supervise her young wards while same food they are served, luxuriat- tells of a press conference held at the parents and the rest of the party ing in the same pools, getting mas- the opening of a hotel in the Ortigas enjoyed their meal. And incredibly, sages at the spa, etc. area. As lunchtime approached, the the nanny would not even be given And so the evolution of the “yaya members of the press were ushered the chance to order her own meal, meal,” which is not really all that ex- out of the ballroom and into a func- although at times—and I don’t know clusive to Balesin, if this is worse—she even if it was first would be “ordered” exposed online to eat her ward’s It seems the rich or aspiring rich (or trying to seem rich) in by former beauty leftovers. this country resent having to shell out cash for the help, who they queen Maggie WilIn other homes, perhaps feel don’t deserve to literally “sit at the table” with them. son-Consunji, who I’ve heard, the cook said she was “shocked” when Balesin tion room where they were asked to prepares two separate meals for the wait staff said her son’s nanny could partake of a simple buffet. This would homeowners and family, and another have the rice-and- adobo combo re- not have been so bad if, on the way for the help, presumably of cheaper served for “less deserving” guests. out, the media people had not caught ingredients and smaller portions. In *** a glimpse of the glitzy spread for the my own family, my mother sternly THE “yaya meal,” alas, has existed for rest of the guests. reminded me before I decamped the almost as long as upper- and middleAs a media professional, I resolved, family home to join my husband, that class families have had nannies or upon reading the report (by a reliable “the help deserve to eat the same food caregivers or house help. But some- reporter), never to patronize that that you do.” Besides I have a hard times, it’s not even the household particular hotel, much less to write enough time planning a menu for my staff who get, uh, shafted. about it. If the hotel so disrespected family without worrying about what A photographer I know walked out my profession, then I would make the kasambahay would eat as well. of a photo shoot in the home of an sure never to send any free publicity I’m glad the term “kasambahay”— upper-crust mogul when he, together its way. loosely, home companions—has enwith other staff at the shoot, were *** tered common usage in these parts.

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It’s not just a matter of political correctness, but also acknowledgement of their true role in the family home.

They share the home with us, working to keep it as clean, sanitary, efficient and safe as all of us expect it to be, and I think they should be given all the respect, fair pay, fair treatment and recognition that they deserve.

SO the next time you find yourself in Balesin or eating in an uppity establishment with your kasambahay, remember that if you bring her along with you to make your life easier or more convenient, you should be willing to pay the price for her presence.

And this means ensuring that she is treated in much the same manner as you are, including eating the same kind of food and equally enjoying the same amenities.

The way you treat your yaya or nanny, your secretary, your driver, even the waiter who hovers over your table, says more about you and your upbringing and values than it does about the gulf in your social status.

You may have more money, dress better, or speak in a more posh accent, but your inhumanity speaks much more about the kind of person you are, and the kind of people your children will be. ■

18

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News

Mike Duffy had family pictures framed at Senate expense, trial told

BY JENNIFER DITCHBURN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Sen. Mike Duffy apparently billed the taxpayer to print and mount photos of his family, Barbara Bush and Bill Clinton as part of a contracting agreement he set up outside the scrutiny of Senate officials, court heard Monday.

Crown prosecutors began the second week of the Duffy trial laying out their case on a particular set of charges against the suspended senator involving contracts awarded to his friend Gerald Donohue for research and consulting work.

Duffy faces 31 charges in total, of fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Donohue allegedly received $65,000 in contracts, with some of that money in turn filtering out to other service providers.

The photographs are a case in point.

Documents filed in court show that Donohue’s two companies, Maple Ridge Media and ICF Ottawa, sent $1,578 to a photo developing company for work Duffy appeared to request.

“5 x 7 enlargement — (Miranda/Colin) (3 in original order + 5.25, 4 more 5 x 7 ordered Jun 13/11 by phone,” reads one line item. Miranda is Duffy’s daughter, and Colin is his grandson.

“8 x 10 Medite Mounted — Barbara Bush + 1 11 x 14 Medite Mount — same,” reads another item, a reference to the wife of former U.S. president George Bush.

Duffy’s daily diaries, filed in court last week, also include a reference to sending photos to Barbara Bush.

Several newspaper articles were also mounted. In a few instances, there appeared to be items that were specifically ordered for Duffy’s wife Heather.

Crown prosecutor Jason Neubauer took Senate human resource officer Sonia Makhlouf through some of the

The chamber of the Senate in Canada. Revelations from Mike Duffy’s fraud trial and a looming audit report on the expense excesses of his fellow senators will doubtless fuel demands for an overhaul or outright abolition of Canada’s reviled Senate.

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procedures she would have office budget in order to pay the the aging Canadian population, gone through as she evaluated maximum amount possible to a but had held off giving them the contracts submitted by sena- friend doing contract work. assignment because under the tors.

In 2009-2010, Duffy repeat- impression that I was out of He asked her whether she edly adjusted the amount that funds for the fiscal year,” Duffy would have approved of a re- he would pay to Donohue for wrote to the Senate human request for a “phosources departtographic servicment. es” contract.

“As it turns “I will not out, we have a proceed with it The Senate’s rules on everything from small surplus and probably I residency to what constitutes official that can be will bring it to business are vague. “In layman’s used.” a higher level,” terms, you hire who you want to do The same thing Makhlouf said. the work you want done.” happened the It is not clear following year, what Duffy was in 2010-11. Duffy doing with the at first asked for photographs. Senators and MPs “consulting and editorial ser- Donohue to be back-paid for often decorate their offices with vices” after hearing how much work beginning at the beginning photographs of themselves and was left in the budget. Ulti- of the fiscal year, but then setother politicians, as well as fa- mately, Donohue was paid an tled for paying Donohue $13,560 vourable newspaper articles. extra $14,000 at the very end of at the end of 2010 after getting The Crown also suggested the fiscal year. an accounting of what was left in Duffy carefully juggled and “I have been waiting for them his office budget. squeezed his upper chamber to assist me with a project on Makhlouf also testified that www.canadianinquirer.net

while she reviewed the amount of contracts and their timing, she did not investigate a contractor’s qualifications or check if the work had been completed.

“I don’t validate this information,” she said. “It’s at the discretion of the senator.”

That matches testimony given last week by former Senate law clerk Mark Audcent, who bolstered the defence case that the Senate’s rules on everything from residency to what constitutes official business are vague.

“In layman’s terms, you hire who you want to do the work you want done,” defence lawyer Donald Bayne asked him Friday. “Yes,” Audcent replied.

Bayne said during his opening statement last week that if the senator is guilty of anything, it is administrative errors, and not criminal behaviour. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

19

Outrage spurs calls for reform, abolition of Senate but easier said than done

BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Revelations from Mike Duffy’s fraud trial and a looming audit report on the expense excesses of his fellow senators will doubtless fuel demands for an overhaul or outright abolition of Canada’s reviled Senate.

But before Canadians get carried away on a wave of outrage, it’s worth remembering just what changing or getting rid of the Senate altogether would entail — and to consider whether the cure might be worse than the disease.

Q. What would it take to reform the Senate?

A. In a landmark decision last April, the Supreme Court of Canada advised that even modest reforms proposed by the Harper government — term limits and a non-binding, “consultative” election process for choosing senators — would require constitutional amendments approved by both houses of Parliament and at least seven provinces representing 50 per cent of the country’s population (the 7/50 amending formula).

Q. What would it take to abolish the Senate?

A. The top court set that bar even higher: a constitutional amendment approved by Parliament and all 10 provinces.

Q. So why not amend the Constitution?

A. Easier said than done.

There is no consensus among the provinces about reforming or abolishing the Senate. Even if there were, it’s unlikely constitutional negotiations could be confined strictly to the Senate.

The Quebec government has said that any talks about the Senate would have to be broad-

The trial of Senator Mike Duffy has entered into its second week of deliberations. Crown prosecutors contend that Duffy used his Senate expense account to pay for things unrelated to his Senate work, such as for printing and mounting photographs, and that Duffy juggled his Senate expense account to pay off a friend for some contract work.

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ened to deal with that province’s “historical requests,” such as recognition of its distinctiveness and demands for more powers — the same divisive issues on which the last two constitutional ventures, the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords, foundered. First Nations leaders would likely insist that aboriginal issues be part of the mix as well.

Despite the hurdles, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is willing to give constitutional negotiations a shot in order to achieve his party’s long-sought goal of abolishing the Senate.

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau want nothing to do with wading back into a constitutional quagmire from which the country barely emerged intact last time.

Q. Could the prime minister indirectly kill off the Senate by refusing to fill vacancies or choking off its funding?

A. That may have crossed Harper’s mind. He has not appointed a senator since March 2013, when the Senate expense scandal was heating up. There are now 18 vacancies.

However, in its historic rul-

www.canadianinquirer.net

ing, the Supreme Court made it clear that the Senate can’t be abolished by stealth.

Section 42 of the Constitution specifies that the powers of the Senate and the number of senators for each province are among those things that can be changed only with a 7/50 amendment.

That section “presupposes the continuing existence of a Senate and makes no room for an indirect abolition of the Senate,” the court said. “It is outside the scope of s. 42 to altogether strip the Senate of its powers and reduce the number

of senators to zero.”

Whatever his inclination, Harper appears to have accepted that he’ll have to start appointing senators again at some point. His government leader in the Senate, Claude Carignan, last month told senators: “I firmly believe that the prime minister will adhere to the existing constitutional process for appointments and make wise choices at a time he deems suitable, or in other words, from time to time, as the Constitution stipulates.”

Vancouver lawyer Aniz Alani is hoping to make that time sooner rather than later. He’s asking the Federal Court to declare that Senate vacancies must be filled within a reasonable time.

Q. So, can nothing be done about the Senate without reopening the Constitution?

A. Practical things can be done to change the way the Senate operates. Trudeau demonstrated that last year by turfing all senators from the Liberal caucus in a bid to return the Senate to its intended purpose as an independent chamber of sober second thought. Should he become prime minister, he has promised to create a blue chip advisory panel to recommend non-partisan appointments to the Senate.

Senators themselves have tightened spending rules and are voluntarily being more open about their expenses.

They’ve set a precedent by inviting the auditor general to audit their expenses and, once he reports in June, they’ll likely tighten rules further.

Other things could be done, such as televising proceedings in the chamber, but nothing as dramatic as the wholesale reform or outright abolition many Canadians tell pollsters they want. ■

20

Canada News

APRIL 17, 2015

Harper meets Castro, says engaging with Cuba better than continued isolation

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press

The prime minister, who also noted how Canada helped facilitate the December deal between the U.S. and Cuba to work toward normalizing their diplomatic relations, gave little additional information about his own chat with Castro or how long it lasted.

“We had a good and long discussion with the president,” said Harper, who had never met Castro.

The Castro-Harper discussion was overshadowed by the Cuban leader’s meeting earlier in the day with U.S. President Barack Obama. It was the first formal, face-to-face talks between American and Cuban leaders in more than half a century.

Obama and Castro sat side by side in a conference room in a bid to inject fresh momentum into their effort to restore diplomatic ties.

Castro told Obama he was ready discuss sensitive issues

the U.S. and Cuba by providing venues for their high-level talks.

“We also are pleased that PANAMA CITY — Stephen all the countries of the hemiHarper emerged from a meetsphere are represented here,” ing with Cuba’s Raul Castro Harper said in his five-minute with a call for more engagement address to the summit. with the island nation, signalThe remarks mark a shift for ling a change of heart for the Harper, a man who has railed prime minister when it comes against communism. to the communist regime.

Last year, Harper called comThe leaders’ conversation munism a “poisonous ideolSaturday at the Summit of the ogy” with “ruthless practices Americas in Panama followed a that slowly bled into countries brief greeting and handshake at around the world, on almost eva photo-op. ery continent.”

“I have become convinced He made the comments in a that a different approach is apspeech at a Toronto fundraiser propriate at this point in time,” for a controversial victims of Harper told reporters in Panacommunism memorial that will ma City shortly after meeting be erected in Ottawa.

Castro.

On Saturday, Harper’s ad“We’re at a point where an dress was mostly dedicated engagement is more likely to to outlining his government’s lead us to where want to go than goals for the hemisphere, incontinued isolation.” cluding the promotion of huIt’s a different approach than man rights, security and prosthe one Harper has taken with perity.

Cuba in the past.

The prime Harper, who minister told felhas had strong low political leadwords about the ers that democcommunist reWe’re at a point where an racy is growing in gime, initially engagement is more likely to lead us the Americas as opposed invitto where want to go than continued never before. ing Cuba to this isolation.

Harper insistyear’s summit ed, however, that because it was more effort was not a democracy. needed to build He has also been on the progress. a vocal critic of communism. including human rights and He also used the summit to He revealed that his views freedom of the press, saying, build bridges — or mend fences changed, at least in part, after “everything can be on the ta- — with regional leaders in onethe United States began con- ble.” But he also cautioned that on-one talks. templating a different approach the two countries have “agreed On Saturday, Harper met to its relationship with Cuba. to disagree.” with Obama, who has a strained Harper, however, was careful For years, the Cuba issue relationship with Ottawa folSaturday to point out that more overtook discussions at the lowing his opposition to the work is necessary on the Carib- Summit of the Americas, which Keystone XL pipeline. Canada bean island. it had never been invited to has also had a chillier friend“We are not by any means since the gatherings first start- ship with Mexico ever since it unconcerned about the lack of ed in 1994. They are held every tightened visa requirements for democratic space and human- three years.

Mexican visitors. rights abuses in Cuba,” he told In 2012, Canada and the U.S. A spokeswoman for the reporters. were the only two member Prime Minister’s Office said “We’ve always been clear on countries to oppose Cuba’s in- Harper and Obama discussed that and we will continue to be vitation to this year’s summit. the Trans-Pacific Partnership, clear on that.”

They faced criticism from other climate change and security, During the their conversa- hemispheric leaders for leaving among other issues. tion, Harper said he and Castro the Cubans out.

Harper hosted a reception discussed the long-running reOn Saturday, Harper remind- Saturday night to promote this lationship between their coun- ed his counterparts in a speech summer’s Pan Am and Parapan tries — on political, tourism and how Canada’s played a role fa- Am Game, which will be held in commercial levels. cilitating negotiations between the Toronto area. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Union livid as Fort McMurray airport contracts out custodial jobs THE CANADIAN PRESS FORT MCMURRAY, ALTA. — The Fort McMurray airport is contracting out its custodial work to cut costs, meaning about two dozen employees will soon be out of a job.

Those workers belong to the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which says it plans to picket the airport in protest.

The changes are to take effect June 1.

CUPE Alberta president Marle Roberts said she hasn’t been able to get a straight answer about whether the positions will be filled by temporary foreign workers.

“This is a red flag,” she said.

“It’s the silence that is making us concerned.”

The union is also concerned that with the privatization, the wages won’t be high enough for the workers to make ends meet in the oilsands-centred city in northeastern Alberta.

The contract to clean the new airport terminal, which opened last June, was awarded to a local company called Bill’s General Cleaning Services. Bill’s had been servicing the city’s

old airport terminal, which now mainly handles workforce charters, cargo and private aircraft.

Bill Asefa runs the cleaning company, which has 40 employees and offices in Edmonton and Fort McMurray. He said he employs both Canadians and temporary foreign workers, but that he doesn’t intend to recruit outside Canada for the new airport contract.

“Especially now, there are so many Canadians out of jobs,” he said. “So that is the path I’m going to be looking at.”

Scott Clements, president and CEO of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority, says the downturn in oil prices has meant a 25 per cent decrease in workforce charter flights.

Contracting out the cleaning staff was always part of the plan, but the economic environment has made cost-cutting all the more important.

“Our wage rates are way, way over market. Anything that’s over market is vulnerable, let’s face it,” said Clements.

“We’re under such pressure with US$50 oil, I just simply have to keep operating the business as an efficient one.” ■

The airport tower at Fort McMurray International Airport. The airport is contracting out its custodial work starting June 1, putting around two dozen current employees, all members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, out of work.

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Canada News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

21

Canadian woman’s British visa hinges on level of affection in her 45 year marriage

BY MICHELLE MCQUIGGE The Canadian Press A CANADIAN woman hoping to spend her retirement years with her husband in England is on the verge of being kicked out of the country because officials are questioning the affection level in her 45-year marriage.

Maria Summers had her application for a visa formally declined in 2014 on the grounds that she and her husband David had not provided enough evidence to prove that their relationship was both ongoing and emotionally supportive.

The retired optician has appealed the unusual decision, but says the stakes are high if it’s declined.

The couple faces the prospect of selling their home in Hereford, England, consigning David’s cancer-stricken mother to long-term care and relinquishing their long-held retirement plans if the U.K. border agency doesn’t reverse its decision.

“If I can’t stay, then we will have to sell. We will have to move back to Canada,” Maria Summers said in a telephone interview. “That’s not horrible, either. We’ve been in Canada for a long time, but it wasn’t the plan when we retired.”

Summers’ troubles with British authorities began in 2013 when she and her husband sold their Ottawa home and moved to Hereford to care for his mother. Customs officials informed her at the time that she was welcome to remain in the country for six months, but

Maria Summers (left) is on the verge of being kicked out of England after government officials there did not believe that she and David Summers, her husband of 45 years, had a relationship that "was both ongoing and emotionally supportive".

DAVID SUMMERS MEDIA HANDOUT

would then have to depart for at least 24 hours in order to open a new six-month window.

The couple took a one-week vacation in Malta in order to comply with this request, but found themselves under scrutiny when they returned.

Summers says customs officials detained her for five hours, during which time she was questioned, photographed and fingerprinted.

It was at this point that she decided to apply for an extend-

ed visa that would grant her the same travel permissions as David, who holds a British passport.

That application included a copy of her marriage license dated 1970 and a change of name deed from 1985. Summers said the entire family changed surnames at that time for personal reasons.

That second document caused problems for British authorities, who cited it as evidence that the Summers’ mar-

riage was not all they claimed.

“It is reasonable to expect that in a genuine subsisting, supportive and affectionate relationship, there would be evidence of regular contact, signs of companionship, emotional support, affection, and abiding interest in each other’s welfare and well-being throughout the entire duration of your relationship,” the rejection letter states. “...I am therefore not satisfied that your relationship is

genuine and subsisting or that you intend to live together permanently in the U.K.” The British Home Office, which oversees the border agency, declined to comment on the rationale behind the decision while an appeal was still pending.

The ruling left the couple in the unusual position of trying to prove the strength of their emotional bond, Summers said, adding the paperwork for her appeal includes numerous photographs chronicling their decades as both partners and parents to a now 42-year-old son.

But Summers wonders if images can capture the nuances of a long-term relationship, let alone communicate them.

“How am I going to show them that we have a loving relationship? We’ve been married for 45 years, we’ve known each other for 50 years,” she said.

“We’ve been together for a long time. It’s not like I’m a young bride and wanted citizenship somewhere.”

Summers reluctantly returned to Ottawa last April, leaving David behind to care for his mother.

“This Christmas was the first Christmas we’ve been apart in almost 50 years,” she said.

“That was tough.”

Determined not to miss another big day, Summers returned to Hereford last month in order to join David in time for his 70th birthday.

She will remain there until the U.K. border agency hands down its ruling on her appeal, which is expected in late May. ■

Toronto man faces 88 immigration and criminal charges after border agency probe THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — The Canada Border Services Agency says it has laid 88 charges against a Toronto man for misrepresentation and forgery.

The border agency alleges Nageshwar Rao Yendamuri submitted multiple immigrawww.canadianinquirer.net

tion applications on behalf of religious workers for temporary resident visas and visitor extensions that were supported by forged employment verification letters.

It says Yendamuri works as a consultant with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.

The CBSA says he is facing 44

charges under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for counsel misrepresentation and 44 charges under the Criminal Code for forgery and use of forged documents.

The agency says he was arrested on April 2 and is out on $100,000 bail.

The allegations have not been proven in court. ■

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World News

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Hillary Rodham Clintonhas announced that she will be taking yet another run at the US presidency, officially launching her 2016 campaign last Sunday. The former secretary of state, senator and first lady begins her second presidential race the way she began the first one — in the pole position as the presumed frontrunner.

BRETT WEINSTEIN / FLICKR

Hillary Clinton makes it official: She’s taking one more shot at the presidency

BY ALEXANDER PANETTA The Canadian Press WASHINGTON — The worstkept secret in the recent history of American politics is now officially out: Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced that she will be taking yet another run at the presidency, officially launching her 2016 campaign Sunday.

The former secretary of state, senator and first lady begins her second presidential race the way she began the first one — in the pole position as the presumed frontrunner.

But this time she’ll be running against history, in a country where the same political party rarely wins three straight terms and it’s only happened once since the 1940s.

Another historical dimension to her candidacy will get discussed more often than it did the last time, supporters say. In 2008, she marketed herself as a battle-hardened Washington veteran and barely alluded to the fact that she could become the first woman to win the White House.

Clinton announced her longanticipated second attempt in a video that outlined some of her expected campaign themes.

She didn’t appear in it until the very end, after it had already shown a succession of workingclass Americans expressing their hopes for the coming year — including renovating a house, moving to a neighbourhood with better schools, or returning to the workforce after maternal leave.

Clinton eventually appeared and declared: “I’m getting ready to do something too — I’m running for president.”

She said the country has already fought back from difficult economic times, but the deck remains stacked in favour of those at the top. She said working-class Americans need a champion, said she wants to be that champion, and said she’ll be hitting the road to earn votes.

The video addressed themes that aides have said will be a focus of her campaign: • Winning back middle-class voters. Democrats were pummelled in the latest midterm

elections, with the working class abandoning the party.

• Avoiding the feel of arrogance. Clinton holds a massive lead in fundraising and namerecognition over any other potential Democratic rival, but she also held a lead in 2008 until upstart candidate Barack Obama zoomed past her.

• Keeping progressive Democrats onside, and energized for the general election. Beyond its middle-class message, the video included snippets aimed at different parts of the Obama coalition.

It included a bit of Spanish.

It also featured two same-sex couples. One scene showed a man saying, “I’m getting married this summer, to someone I really care about,” and in the next shot he was holding hands with his future husband.

That scene illustrated a dramatic shift from a decade ago — when Clinton opposed samesex marriage, as did most of the country back then, and the issue was used in Republican attacks, not in Democratic promotional videos. www.canadianinquirer.net

Clinton, 67, begins the race as the odds-on favourite not only to win the Democratic nomination but also the presidency, according to current polls and online oddsmakers.

But her numbers have dipped lately. And there were signs of her vulnerability on Day 1.

The progressive mayor of New York City said he wasn’t yet ready to endorse her. Bill De Blasio once ran her Senate campaign — yet when asked on “Meet the Press,” he said he wanted to hear what she stands for before making an endorsement.

She got a taste of attacks to come.

In reference to the scandal involving her bypassing the State Department’s email system and setting up her own server at home, the campaign website of Republican Sen. Rand Paul began raising money by mocking her.

The Republican’s site offered — for $99.95 — a computer hard drive with her face on it and the sales slogan: “Hillary’s Hard Drive. 100% genuine erased clean email server.”

Paul offered a more serious criticism in an interview.

He questioned her family’s financial ties, with its charitable foundation that raised money from individuals and foreign entities that had business before the U.S. government.

The benefactors included Saudi royalty. Paul called it hypocritical for her to talk about women’s rights, while taking money from a country renowned for human-rights abuses against women.

“I would expect Hillary Clinton if she believes in women’s rights, she should be calling for a boycott of Saudi Arabia,” Paul said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“Instead, she’s accepting tens of millions of dollars. And I think it looks unseemly. There’s going to have to be some explaining.”

Republicans have 19 months to make those attacks stick.

If any Democrat hopes to mount a primary challenge — and it’s not yet clear she’ll face a serious primary challenge — they’d have even less time: the Iowa caucuses are in 10 months. ■

Community News

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

23

Baldoz allays fears of Filipino TFWs in Canada LABOR AND Employment Secretary Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz recently sought to allay the fears of Filipino temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada, particularly in Alberta, and their families in the Philippines by saying there is no immediate repatriation of them to the Philippines once their fouryear stay in that country comes to an end.

“There is no such thing as ‘mass deportation’ contrary to some news reports about it,” said Baldoz. Baldoz said she received a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Toronto taking note of the reports and saying that some workers will be exempt from the rule that TFWs will have to leave Canada at the end of their four-year stay.

Introduced on Apr. 1, 2011, the TFW program allowed lowwage foreign workers to stay in Canada for as long as four years, and once this four-year period ends, the TFW will no longer be eligible to work in Canada under a temporary foreign worker permit for an additional four years.

Baldoz said Labor Attache

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Leonida Romulo reported that not included in the cumulative four-year limit are any periods of more than one month spent overseas, or an authorized work break, such as parental leave and extended unpaid leave.

“Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will exempt

some workers from the cumulative duration regulation,” Baldoz said, quoting further the report. Labatt Romulo said TFWs in managerial or professional occupation are exempted. So are TFWs who have applied for permanent residence and have received a CSQ (Certificat de

selection du Quebec) if applying as a Quebec skilled worker; a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) certificate, if applying as a provincial nominee; an approval in principle, if applying under the Live-in Caregiver Class; a positive selection decision, if apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Class; or a positive selection decision, if applying under the Canadian Experience Class.

Also exempted are TFWs employed under an international agreement, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Seasonal Agricultural Program, or another agreement. Further excluded are those who are exempt from the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) process, including spouses and commonlaw partners of international graduates participating in the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program and highly-skilled TFWs; charity or religious workers; entrepreneurs, intracompany transferees, researchers, and academics; and others for purposes of self-support, such as refugee claimants, or humanitarian reasons (desti-

tute students, and holders of Temporary Resident Permits valid for at least six months.

Baldoz further said this reprieve, announced by the Canadian federal government, will allow employers to apply for renewed Labour Market Impact Assessments because their affected TFWs are waiting in a queue for their permanent residence applications to be processed. In addition, the CIC is providing a one-year bridging work permit to TFWs who are subject to the four-year cumulative duration limit.

Romulo said that although Labor Minister Jason Kenney was quick not to call the measures as exemptions, he, however, said these are intended to “assist people who re in most cases going to get their permanent residency anyway” by allowing them “to stay in Canada until that decision is made.”

Baldoz had instructed Romulo and Labor Attache Jaime P. Gimenez to monitor developments, gather more information to assess the impact, and ascertain the number of Filipino TFWs to be affected, just in case. ■

Scholarships encourage newcomers and youth to engage in the community CANADIAN FUJIANESE Friendship Association (CFFA) worked with S.U.C.C.E.S.S. to enhance their scholarship program, the 10-Year Fund for Educational Awards and Scholarship for International Students. The award ceremony was held on Apr. 11, at the Marine Drive Golf Club.

This year, the CFFA has received around 200 applications, out of which 93 students will be awarded for their academic excellence and community involvements. The amount of scholarships range from $250 to $1500.

Grant Lin, president of CFFA, stated, “through partnership with S.U.C.C.E.S.S., we hope to open up opportunities for youth to gain social experience by volunteering, and to inspire them to strive for academic excellence as well as getting involved in the community.

As an immigrant entrepreneur,

Scholarship recipients.

I want to give back to the community and help the next generation of our future in whatever ways we can.”

The eligible applicants of CFFA’s10-Year Fund for Educational Awards are those persons and their children who have studied, worked and lived

in Fujian and immigrants from China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan with Fujian origin. The scholarships will be awarded annually. Around 200 university and college students have received the award since it was established.

In 2013, the Scholarship for Inwww.canadianinquirer.net

ternational Students was set up for the first time with sponsorship by Yuanheng Holdings Ltd., a private company owned by Lin. Over the last two years, 124 winners from 15 different countries have received the award.

Since 2014, CFFA has partnered with S.U.C.C.E.S.S. to

enhance these scholarship programs by stipulating that applicants with volunteer experience at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will be given priority for the scholarships.

Queenie Choo, CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S., said, “S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has a good volunteer recruitment and training system. Volunteer programs will not only encourage people to actively participate in community activities, promote the spirit of helping others, but also help new immigrants improve their personal skills and knowledge about Canada and integrate into the community.

Currently S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has around 3,500 active volunteers, who are not only active in S.U.C.C.E.S.S., but also provide services for other organizations such as schools, hospitals, community centres and government agencies. ■

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APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:

Maria Nieves Santos-Greaves

Founder, Surrey Hearing Care Inc. and finalist for RBC's Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards for 2015

BY EARL VON TAPIA Philippine Canadian Inquirer RUNNING AND expanding a business while at the same time raising a 14-year-old son as a single parent is a daunting task, but for Maria Nieves Santos Grieves, it’s nothing that she can’t handle.

“Having your own business is not easy, but when you love what you do it becomes second nature. It does not feel like work. There are no days that I am not upbeat about going to work. Early mornings, I report to the clinic and make sure through the work week to cover all three branches,” she stated on her bio at canadianimmigrant.ca Born and raised in Pasig City, the third oldest out of four siblings, Maria lived a normal life in the Philippines. She went to university and received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, which got her a job out of university at a hearing clinic. She worked there for eight years.

But one day she made a pretty big decision. Her sister had immigrated to Canada earlier on, and was now pregnant. Maria’s parents wanted to visit her sister, and Maria decided to join them.

“I was really busy and stressed, so I said maybe I’ll check it out. So I took about two months vacation. My boss was actually worried that I wasn’t going to come back. I said I’ll come back for sure. Until I met my husband,” she said.

So in 1999 Maria joined her parents when they went to Canada, and Maria ended up staying.

Maria’s story played out like so many immigrant stories do.

She started out working in all

The Mobile Hearing Truck on its way to Pinoy Fiesta 2014.

Maria Nieves Santos-Greaves.

sorts of jobs, like working at a dollar store, selling Registered Education Savings Plans, and working at a call centre. Maria wanted to work in the hearing industry, but she had to swallow her pride in order to help make ends meet.

“It’s kind of degrading for me,

The Surrey Hearing Care Inc. clinic at Guildford in Surrey.

feeling that way, but I understand I’m in a different country, different people, different culture, so I know I have to start from the bottom,” she said.

But Maria, who now had a growing son, got her break into the hearing industry one day thanks to a routine checkup.

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“My son had a stutter, so I had to bring him to speech therapy, and then at the clinic they tested his hearing, and I found out I could apply for a job there”, she said.

Unfortunately Maria did not have a drivers license, which was required for that job as

an Audiometric technician, as she would have to be driving around to various sites to do hearing tests for kids at different schools.

But shortly afterwards Maria found herself at another hearing clinic, this time as a receptionist. She worked there for

25

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

Maria in hearing van with Senator Tobias C. Enverga, Jr. and Mrs. Enverga.

three years. After that stint, she moved hearing van that can do on-site testing at to another hearing clinic, but shortly schools and industrial sites. The mobile after that move she decided to make yet hearing van is also used so Surrey Hearanother big move and open up her own ing Care Inc. can provide free hearing clinic. tests to various communities at events.

“I realized that when I was in the hearIn recognition of the growing success ing clinic for three years my boss really of Surrey Hearing Care Inc., Maria was trusted me, so I can really kind of decide a finalist in the Surrey Board of Trade’s things on my own. And when I went to sixth Annual Surrey Women in Business the second clinic I was being controlled Awards this year. more. I wanted to do At the end of the a lot for the client, day, Maria recognizbut I couldn’t do it. es the struggle that So that’s when I deimmigrants in Canacided that if I have da face, having gone my own clinic, then I through the process can do a lot better for That’s when I herself. the client. I can offer decided that if “I know what it more service to them.

I have my own means to toil and I’m not controlled by clinic, then I work and have a famanybody,” she said. can do a lot ily. I am a single mom So in 2009, Maria better for the to a 14-year-old boy and a partner opened client. I can offer and balancing lifeup Surrey Hearing more service to style and business is Care Inc. The partthem. I’m not not easy. That is why I ner owned the comcontrolled by believe it is critical we pany that provided anybody. as immigrants help the audiometer used and support each othfor evaluating hearer so that we will not ing loss, while Maria be afraid to take risks provided the testing. and succeed in doing “If you have a what we were trained booth, a machine, for, attaining our and the knowledge, dreams for ourselves then you can start,” she said. and our children,” she said. ■ After six months of operating Surrey Hearing Care Inc., Maria bought out her Maria Nieves Santos-Greaves is a finalpartner. ist for the RBC Top 25 Canadian ImmiIn 2012, Maria opened up a second grant Awards for 2015. You can check clinic, also in Surrey. In 2014, she opened out Maria’s bio and vote for her and other up a third. And in addition to these clin- candidates at canadianimmigrant.ca/ ics, her company also operates a mobile canadas-top-25-immigrants/vote Each year the Royal Bank of Canada awards 25 inspiring and deserving Canadian immigrants with the title of “Top 25 Canadian Immigrant of the Year.”

This year, out of 75 finalists vying for one of the top 25 spots, three of them are Filipino-Canadians. The Philippine Canadian Inquirer will be profiling these three finalists in upcoming issues. www.canadianinquirer.net

26

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment Carmina won’t allow kids to watch “Bridges of Love”

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Angel Locsin.

FACEBOOK PHOTO

Angel Locsin to team up with Coco Martin in a tribute for the Fallen 44

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Actress Angel Locsin will be working with Coco Martin for a “Maala-ala Mo Kaya” episode that pays tribute to the 44 SAF commandos who died in the January 25 Mamasapano clash.

“Ito ay tribute sa mga kasama natin na hindi pinalad. Sila ang nagtatanggol sa atin sa arawaraw pero hindi natin nare-realize kung gaano kahirap ang personal na pinagdadaanan nila na every time na mayroon silang operation eh. Tanggap nila na baka di sila makalagpas doon,”

Locsin said.

(This is a tribute for our fallen (SAF commandos). They are the ones who protect us every day but we don’t realize how hard it is for them every time they are on a mission.

They accept that they might not be able to surpass the mission.)

Locsin will be playing the role of Suzette Tucay, the fiancée of one of the Fallen 44, SAF operative Gary Erana.

“Nakakalimutan natin na itong mga taong ito, malaki ang sinasakripisyo nila sa personal na buhay nila. Dito bibigyan natin sila ng pagkatao dito. Ipapakita natin

ang sacrifices nila sa relationship, sa pamilya, yung everyday struggle nila na tanggap nila na anytime pwede silang mawala,” she said.

(We seem to have forgotten these people who sacrificed a lot of their personal lives. In this (episode) we will give life to their personalities. We will show their sacrifices in their relationships, their family, their every day struggle of accepting how everything can be lost anytime.)

“Magandang bagay din na ginagawa ito para ‘di tayo makalimot,” she added.

(It’s good to be doing this so we won’t forget.) ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Actress Carmina Villaroel said she won’t allow her kids to watch the TV drama series, “Bridges of Love” because of its sensitive and mature theme.

Villaroel is playing the role of Alexa Meyers, who is attracted to a younger man, Carlos, played by actor Paulo Avelino.

The actress said that she is not allowing her twins, Cassandra and Maverick to watch the series because of her intimate scenes with Paulo and because of the role of Mia, another lead character in the series.

“She’s a star dancer in a club,” Carmina said explaining the role of Mia played by Maja Salvador.

“I wouldn’t know how to explain what women like Mia do and why,” she added.

Villaroel also said that while she respects these kind of

women, she is not sure whether it is a good idea for her children to watch the series.

“This happens in real life.

But should I expose the children to it this early? I have not discussed that with Zoren (Legaspi, her husband). If ever, we’d like the kids to hear the details from us first,” she said.

“The characters are very human and relatable. They do things only because they are reacting to situations— much like the way we handle situations in life,” she added. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

27

Ai-ai moves to GMA 7 — report

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Comedienne Ai-ai delas Alas was reported to have moved to GMA 7, her first home channel.

Showbiz writer and host Ricky Lo reported on Thursday that delas Alas have signed an exclusive contract with GMA 7.

The signing was following the expiration of her contract with ABS-CBN where she stayed for 16 years.

Lo said that according to a source, delas Alas will be doing several shows including a daily talkshow.

He added that the comedienne will also have a sitcom with Vic Sotto, a soap opera and a Sunday show.

Delas Alas is yet to make an

official confirmation of her reported transfer to GMA network.

She, however, said on her Instagram account that she is leaving her plans to God. “Lord, I know Your plan is always the best. Sometimes the process is painful & hard. But I know that when You are silent, You are doing something for me. Amen!” she posted on Thursday. ■

Pokwang’s lovelife predicted by ‘Angel’

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Actress and comedienne Pokwang recalled how a girl named Angel correctly predicted her current romance with American actor Lee O’Brien.

In an interview with ABSCBN’s “Aquino & Abunda Tonight,” Pokwang narrated how Angel, approached her during her visit at The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Pangasinan in March last year.

She was with TV host Kris Aquino when the girl told her that she will work with a blue-eyed foreigner whom she will eventually fall in love with.

O’Brien is Pokwang ’s leading man in the film “EDSA Woolworth” produced by The Filipino Connection.

The film was released in the country earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Pokwang is now working on an inspirational series about an angel who descends to earth on a

mission, titled “Nathaniel.”

She will be working with various Kapamilya stars including Gerald Anderson, Shaina Magdayao, Coney Reyes, Benjie Paras, Isabelle Daza, Sharlene San Pedro and Jairus Aquino in the project. ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

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28

Entertainment

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

‘Frozen’ credited with ushering in more female focused animated features

BY CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI The Canadian Press TORONTO — In tackling a big screen adaptation of the literary classic “The Little Prince,” director Mark Osborne decided one thing early on — the hero of his animated film would be female.

Of course, the Little Prince is male, but in recreating the delicate beauty of Antoine de SaintExupery’s famed fable, Osborne says he wanted to place the tale within a larger story.

And why not make that story be about a little girl?

“In animation, it always had to be boy-centric,” Osborne says of most North American kid tales.

“Right now there seems to be a changing of the tide but these things don’t happen overnight.

These movies take years to make, so back when I was first pushing to make the little girl the main character it was seen as quite revolutionary.”

Osborne hopes his film, expected this Christmas, helps remedy a gender imbalance he was alerted to by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

The think tank included his 2008 comedy “Kung Fu Panda” in a 2010 study that found male speaking parts significantly outnumbered female parts in 122 live and animated family films released between 2006 and 2009.

A scan of the big animated titles bound for the multiplex suggests that could be changing — several boast female leads or very prominent female characters.

That includes the recently released “Home,” about an alien who befriends a pre-teen girl; the upcoming “Inside Out,” about the tumultuous emotions of a moody adolescent; this summer’s “Minions,” with Sandra Bullock as a female supervillain; and next year’s “Finding Dory,” the “Finding Nemo” sequel centred on the forgetful female blue tang fish.

Just as “Twilight’”s juggernaut success ushered in female-driven live-action forays — “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” franchises among them — some industry observ-

Industry observers say that movies such as Disney's "Frozen" featuring strong female lead characters like Anna and Elsa (pictured) are helping to correct an imbalance in the movie industry that sees the vast majority of movies with males in lead roles.

ers say 2013’s “Frozen” is thawing out notions that young boys won’t cheer for a female lead.

“Clearly you look at a movie like ‘Frozen’ and you can see how powerful having a strong female character at the centre can be,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with the box office firm Rentrak.

But any apparent shift could have more to do with commercial interests rather than any attempt at redress, he suggests.

Animated fare in particular offers lucrative merchandising and spinoff opportunities far beyond the box office, even decades after release.

Such is the fate of “Frozen.”

“Frozen’s just going to go on forever,” Dergarabedian says.

Nevertheless, the lesson here is that young boys will watch if the film is good, says Elizabeth Muskala, director of the TIFF Kids International Film Festival.

Her festival asked youngsters to review their favourite film if they wanted to win a spot on a festival jury.

“There were probably more entries from young boys about ‘Frozen’ than young girls,” says Muskala, whose festival runs

until April 19.

“Boys are certainly comfortable with (heroines) up until the age of eight or nine. And then I think things start to change.”

Female-led films at this year’s fest include Australia/Germany’s “Maya the Bee Movie” (for ages 3 to 7), France’s “Mune” (for ages 8 to 13) and Japan’s “When Marnie Was There” (for ages 10 to 13).

For Oscar-winning director Pete Docter, his female-focused followup to “Up” is simply “a personal story about my daughter.”

He says “Inside Out,” due for release in June, was inspired by witnessing the emotional turmoil of his own daughter, Elie.

The film centres on the similarly moody character Riley — an exuberant and joyful child who becomes sullen and withdrawn as her teen years approach.

Producer Jonas Rivera says their main concern was crafting a story that connects with the audience, boys and girls.

“As a proud father of daughters, (depicting) the joy and sadness that’s within Riley, we are proud of that. That’s the world, and I think it is good for www.canadianinquirer.net

our daughters and sons.”

Osborne, too, is inspired by his daughter, Maddie.

“While she was growing up, I was always excited by movies like ‘Mulan,’ that had a strong female central character. I think I was really focused on that when we were making ‘Kung Fu Panda’ and very happy that we were creating strong female characters with Tigress and (Viper).”

Since then, he’s realized he can do more.

“The example I give is Miyazaki — every single Miyazaki film has a little girl or a woman as a main character,” he says of celebrated Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki.

“I’m like, if Miyazaki can do it over and over, why shouldn’t we be able to do it?”

It helps that more women seem to be entering the industry, adds Muskala, who points to “many more female animators” both here and abroad.

“And certainly over the 10plus years that I’ve been here I’ve seen increasingly more animation films being submitted to the festival with a female director.”

This year, women will take

centre stage at the prestigious Annecy International Animated Film Festival, set for June 15 to 20.

The long-running fest will highlight female filmmakers, figureheads, and emerging artists with an all-female jury, programs of films by women directors, and a tribute to female animation pioneers.

Such a spotlight could encourage more girls to enter the field, further changing the way females are portrayed onscreen.

A recent poster on Tumblr criticized the way recent Disney and Pixar animators drew female characters, suggesting they all looked the same — with round or heart-shaped faces and a button nose.

Docter says the poster was “a little bit selective in which females she was selecting,” pointing to the variety of female looks on “The Incredibles.”

Nevertheless, he admits it’s easy to “fall into a rut.”

“It’s a challenge for sure,” he says.

“We really need to push and (say): ‘How can we do something that’s not been done before? How can we push this?’” ■

29

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 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 online by scanning the code with your smartphone or by visiting InFocus.canadianinquirer.net.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Entertainment

30

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Grammy nominee Alex Cuba on why he stopped worrying about Canadian tastes

BY NICK PATCH The Canadian Press TORONTO — When Alex Cuba was new to Canada and still assessing the local sensibilities, someone gave him a piece of advice he — unfortunately — remembered.

He was told Canadians balked at the earnest sentimentality inherent to some of his favourite Cuban music.

And until “Contigo,” a tune on his recently released new album “Healer,” the Victoria songwriter mostly heeded that input.

“The song is very sweet ... and I’ve been careful of not recording songs like that in Canada,” Cuba said in a recent telephone interview.

“It’s thinking that maybe Canadians are not that romantic ... they don’t want to hear music that sweet.... From the beginning, somebody said to me: this is the way it is in Canada, and that’s it. It took me for a ride there, for sure.”

More than 15 years since immigrating here from Cuba, the

singer — a two-time Juno winner, a Grammy nominee and a Latin Grammy winner — no longer feels the need to cater to anyone.

“I feel more Canadian, to the point where I don’t need to guess anymore what people expect from me,” he said.

“As an immigrant artist, that happens in your mind, whether you want it to or not, whether you’re a strong person or not.

“Now,” he added, “I feel I can be myself.”

CP: The record is bilingual, with translations in the lyric sheet and collaborations with English-speaking artists David Myles and Ron Sexsmith. What drew you to working with Sexsmith again?

Cuba: Having Ron Sexsmith on your record is quite the honour.

I think when Ron sings my melodies ... his voice becomes sweeter, because my melodies are sweeter. I had this song already written in Spanish. I translated it for him to understand, sent it to him, and he rewrote it in less than 24 hours and sent it back to me.

I thought it was time to have a song for her, although she’s been the inspiration behind every song I’ve written, pretty much. We are on our 20th year of marriage.

Sarah’s been my partner in crime, man. Forget it. She’s like somebody who has supported me 100 per cent. Even when I had a manager, she was doing more than the manager.

Because she knows me. She doesn’t have to spend any time guessing my mind.

Alex Cuba.

ALEXCUBA.COM

I just couldn’t believe it. I had to get on the phone and say, “Dude, what kind of genius are you? What is happening in your mind?”

CP: “Sarah” is about your wife. What role has she played in your career?

Cuba: Sarah (Goodacre-Puentes) has really been my partner from the beginning: my business partner, my creative partner, my vision partner. I’ve been on stage and she’s been in the office, doing this whole thing. There have been good times and bad times.

CP: You really pulled back on the horns on this record. Why? Cuba: I was dragging the horns along on every album just because I was thinking that it had something to do with my sound.

But the truth is from the beginning, it wasn’t my idea to start recording horns on my music. It was the idea of a producer I worked with on my first album.

Then it stayed there for some reason — maybe comfort. ■ Answers have been edited and condensed.

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

It is never too late to start

They will be prying into some aspects

You may have been extending your

You don’t need to look that far

something new, Aries. Do not

in your private life, as close friends

patience already in the weeks that

because the heavens have blessed

think that you have nowhere to go just because you

often does. Don’t let your closeness be their key to digging

have passed, but the stars are asking you to extend

you with the most loving people on earth. You just

feel like you are stranded in a place you no longer

up the most personal secrets you keep. Learn to keep a little

your patience a little more. Things might not come

have to be open to that love. Sometimes the only

want to be. Have the courage to change things when

distance and maintain it. You might need it a lot this week.

in your favour if you don’t keep your temper on hold.

reason why you can’t seem to find what you are

Just take a deep breath and say, “all shall be well, all

looking for is that your eyes are closed.

needed. Only then can you achieve the real meaning

LEO

of happiness.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

shall be well, all shall be well..”

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

AQUARIUS

SCORPIO

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

The past days have been causing you a lot of frustration partly

Try to do the thinking stuff ahead

You will be surprised about

because your standards are really high. Learn to be

Try reviewing your actions today

how things will be happening

objective and appreciate the little things. Life can really

and you might just realize that you

of your deadlines so you’ll have more time to prepare. Remember that planning and

spontaneously in the coming days. You might be

be exciting if you don’t expect too much. Sometimes all

have been giving a little attention to something or

thinking of preventive measures before doing an

someone who always wants things organized and

you need is acceptance. You can’t always get the great

someone very important. Dig dipper and you might

action is still the best way to ensure a hundred-percent

flowing according to plan, but this week, you will need

things, but at least you can get the good ones.

just see how that person or thing is at the edge of

success.

an open mind to adapt to rapidly changing situations.

GEMINI

breaking and you are nearly losing because of your

VIRGO

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

You will feel the burden of loving friends that will help you recalibrate

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

SAGITTARIUS

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21) It’s to rekindle moments with

PISCES

passive actions.

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

A critical mind may be helpful

not just your better half but your

this week as you go into the

work, your career and your passions too. It’s normal

One thing that you need to

process of questioning the truth about things.

work on this week is your self-

Whether you like it or not, there will be instances

your goals. Though you will be the master of your own

to feel exhausted at times especially when you keep

decisions, hearing your friends’ advice will help you

investing too much emotion. Just a little reminder

confidence. It is very easy to ace that presentation. All

that will shake your beliefs. Just don’t let them fall.

assess and choose the best option.

Virgo, don’t ever let that tiresome experience put you

you need to do is to believe in yourself and make it

Hold on to that belief and you will realize it’s really

away from the things and the people you love.

your everyday mantra.

best that way.

www.canadianinquirer.net

31

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

Immigration PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

So, Do You Know What to Say During a Cold Call?

BY BOLET AREVALO

WHAT YOU SAY IS AS IMPORTANT AS HOW YOU SAY IT. AS SOON AS SOMEONE PICKS UP THE PHONE, THE MOOD SHOULD BE UPBEAT AND FRIENDLY. In any company, the first line of defence, if we may call it that, is the person who mans the entrance desk and or who holds the switchboard. That is, of course, the secretaryreceptionist or the telephone operator. Some call them the gatekeepers.

When I thought that I was going to get a job as an office receptionist in Vancouver, I started to evaluate and internalize the “job description,” trying very hard to call to mind what our frontliner at my previous office was doing or what we expected her to do for our company executives.

Among all other “related duties that may be assigned from time to time”, the office receptionist or secretary is expected to screen calls and visits for the bosses. She must therefore be perceptive and smart enough to deliver her standard lines and make up credible excuses on behalf of the boss so that the latter may do his job without much interruption from people who can be saved for later attention or warrant none at all.

So it takes a smarter person to outsmart the smart secretary or receptionist. What you say is, therefore, important.

Perhaps it is significant at this point to mention that cold calling is actually an age-old selling technique, like door-todoor is. It’s a salesman’s tool.

We all agree, of course, that the good salesman certainly has a way with words and convincing people.

But did you know that even salesmen dread cold calling?

There is something about cold calling that scares them, prob-

ably because cold calling is so much a leap into the unknown.

Or maybe it’s the fear of rejection or embarrassment.

Today, you may want to refer to cold calling as outbound telemarketing. Outbound telemarketing is tough. Even the best call center agents dread this job description. And for those who have no choice but to do it, the pay is better and a lot higher because of the nature of the function, which is most of the time sales. Since most of us are on the other side of the fence, the ones being called by telemarketers, we know how difficult it is to be talking to by somebody uninvited trying to sell us something. In fact, some actually refer to cold calling as the uninvited job hunting technique.

This fear is aggravated perhaps by the overstated objective of cold calling—to sell. It is quite ambitious to aim to close a sale from one cold call. But you could be lucky. I remember when an accident insurance telemarketer made a cold call to my home phone number, he hit the jackpot because I signed up for a plan with that call. Why? Just a day before I was involved in a car accident. Yet, how many times could you have such a coincidence?

Realistically, for a salesman, cold calling must simply aim for getting an appointment; and for a job hunter, to simply get the name of a contact who has relevant information on a job opening. As such, the opening statements must address those objectives.

Furthermore, as recognized earlier on how important the gatekeepers are, it is inevitable that we properly address their role in the exercise. Look at them as those that can help you, not as those that will hinder you from getting through.

“Hi, I wonder if you could help me . . .” could be a better opening greeting than saying, “Hi, my name is ____”. After all, if he does not recognize the name, his first reaction will be

to wrinkle his forehead, raise his eyebrows and dig deeper down into his brain trying to recall if he had met anybody by that name. In other words, the first reaction could be negative because you are unduly stressing them. But if you open by acknowledging that they could be of help to you, that should be flattering, right?

Have you realized that most of the time when you call a company, the opening greeting is “ABC company, how may I help you?” Thus, whether they mean it or not, the original intention is to be of help. So, to that greeting, you may respond by saying, “Hi, I need your help” or “Oh, yes, I need your help.” If the other line’s greeting is only, “ABC company, good morning”, then say “Hi, I wonder if you could help me” or “Good morning, I need your help.”

What you say next is even more important. Focus on the objective of your call. If this is your first call, target only being able to get a contact name, his exact designation, department name, and complete address.

The contact name should be the name of the person in the company who can get you hired because he will find value in what you can offer. This is not the HR officer, but the head or assistant head of the department where you intend to be assigned when you work for the company.

But before you can ask for that, you should be able to say something relevant and convincing to be able to persuade the other person on the line to give you that information. This presumes that you have researched the company that you are calling. So after the greeting, you can say for example, “I have followed recent developments in your company, including your plans to tap the Asian market in Vancouver. I would like to submit a “proposal”” (I put proposal in quotes because you actually intend to propose that they give you a job or consider your skills to expand the company’s business among www.canadianinquirer.net

Asians in Vancouver). Then say, “I need the name, position title and contact details of whoever heads the department that is in charge in market expansion or new market development.”

In summary, the opening conversation could go like “ABC Company, good morning. Pam speaking, how may I help you?”

“Oh, hi Pam. I need your help.

I have followed recent developments in your company, including your plans to tap the Asian market in Vancouver. I would like to submit a proposal.

I need the name, position title and contact details of whoever heads the department that is in charge in market expansion or new market development.”

The conversation could go anywhere from there, so you will need to envision the different scenarios that might take place after that introduction statements. In scenario one, Pam may ask for your name and other details. In scenario two she may be convinced and give the information you need. In scenario three, she may reject the idea of giving out names to a stranger. At this point, you should be able to try and draw some connection between you and ABC Company—you may be an existing client, you may be part of that Asian market, you may know somebody in that company, you may be very knowledgeable of the Asian market and can help them, etc.

But try very hard to withhold the fact that you are applying for a job. That is not lying, just postponing telling your real agenda.

Remember that your shortterm objective is to get the name of the person who can offer you a job. If you did your opening intros well, you might be able to get that. But the conversation can also cause the gatekeeper to be too accommodating and ask you if you want to speak to this person and go ahead to connect you. Don’t panic. If you have prepared, then this is the moment of truth for this cold call.

What do you say?

At this point you might need to introduce yourself and speak about how much you have read, for example, about the need of the company to explore and expand its operations towards the Asian market. Talk about your connections and experience with this market, including your eagerness to apply these to any possible chance to work with this company. Ask for an appointment to meet up with him so you can explore together how you can help them in this regard.

Then how do you end the call?

End your call with the beginning in mind. Get a contact name so you can write a customized letter addressed to this person, or a date for an appointment for a job interview or possibly a mere exploratory talk.

Close with the most standard statement and yet, something you should never, never forget—thank you. Always thank the person for giving you time or help, like “Pam, thank you so much for your help. And have a nice day ahead of you.”

On a first call, stick to a minimum objective: Get the name and contact details of the hiring manager, not the HR manager.

The hiring manager is the head of the department you might wish to join. The next step after a successful cold call is to be able to write a more customized letter introducing your skills and how you can help the unit achieve its business goals or expand operations, as the case may be. Always end your call noting attainment of the minimum objective you have, and with a sincere thank you for the help of the other person on the line.

Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion.

She is author-publisher of the book: The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts.

32

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Lifestyle

Medications past best before date may lose potency, but how soon?

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — The recall earlier this week of a batch of Alesse birth control pills sold past their expiry date has raised questions about whether it’s safe to take over-the-counter and prescription medications beyond their best-before marker — and just how long past?

“I think it would alarm a lot of Canadians if they knew that there isn’t a lot of study on this,” said Phil Emberley, director of pharmacy innovation at the Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Drug manufacturers must provide evidence on the potency and safety of products related to exposure to light, heat and humidity in order to get market approval from Health Canada, using what are known as stability studies.

“The purpose of the stability study is to establish, based on testing a minimum of three batches of the drug product, a shelf life and label storage instructions applicable to all future batches of the drug product manufactured and packaged under similar circumstances,” Health Canada says.

These tests include studies in which pilot batches of medications are stored at a temperature of about 25 C, with about 60 per cent relative humidity, for a minimum of 12 months, the federal department says on its website.

The expiration date is the final date that a manufacturer will guarantee 100 per cent potency and safety of a medication, based on stability testing under Health Canada’s good manufacturing practices, or GMP. But that best-before date is based on an unopened container. Once a dispensing pharmacist or patient has opened a bottle or package, exposing the contents to the elements, manufacturers no longer consider

A recent case of birth control pills sold after their expiry date has raised questions about whether it’s safe to take overthe-counter and prescription medications beyond their best-before marker.

original expiry dates in force, expires and people need to re- able. After assessing more than Emberley said. plenish what they have.”

100 drugs, the FDA found that “So if you have a bottle that, However, the few long-term almost 90 per cent were still say, expires in five years, as soon studies that have been done on effective well after their expias it’s opened, technically it ex- the long-term viability of medi- ration dates, some as long as 15 pires in less than five years,” cations suggest the shelf life of years later. he said. “A lot of Still, Emberley people keep their said best-before medications in dates shouldn’t their bathrooms be taken lightly. where they’re I think it would alarm a lot of In the case of exposed to heat Canadians if they knew that there Alesse 21, the and humidity, isn’t a lot of study on this. pills were sold and there is eviin western Candence to suggest ada in March that it speeds up and April, but the degradation carried an exprocess.” some drugs may be much lon- piry date of last September.

He said it’s in manufacturers’ ger than their use-by dates in- It’s not known if women who best interest to be somewhat dicate. took these oral contraceptives conservative in choosing bestOne study by the Food and received a fully potent dose or before dates “because they Drug Administration was con- whether they are at risk for uncould face legal liability if it’s ducted at the behest of the U.S. wanted pregnancy. shown that these products ex- military, which wanted to deOther prescription drugs pire sooner than later.” termine if its large and costly could also lack effectiveness if “And also it allows them to stockpile of OTC and prescrip- the expiration date has gone sell more product as product tion medications were still us- by, and some could be potenwww.canadianinquirer.net

tially harmful. For example, taking out-of-date nitroglycerin, used to treat angina, could have severe repercussions if potency has waned, Emberley said.

Insulin for diabetes and autoinjected epinephrine for anaphylactic shock are another two drugs known to lose their potency beyond their expiration dates.

Suggesting it’s better to be safe than sorry, Emberley advises consumers to cull any outof-date drugs from their medicine cabinets and take them to a pharmacy to be destroyed.

Dr. David Juurlink, head of clinical pharmacology and toxicology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, said concerns about diminished potency depends on the drug and how much time has elapsed since the best-before date.

“For most drugs, the passage of a short amount of time after the expiry date is really of little clinical consequence,” he said.

“In general, something that’s six to 12 months past the expiry date, with rare exceptions, is not going to be a problem at all.

They’re not going to be dangerous.”

A 2012 study of a small number of drugs — some of them bottled or packaged 40 years earlier — found that active ingredients did degrade over time, but some more than others. For instance, researchers found ASA pills dropped in strength from 200 milligrams to two milligrams, while codeine barely lost any of its chemical constituents.

“It’s not like milk, and it’s not as though something magical happened on the expiry date and the drug loses all of its potency,” Juurlink said. “With most, but not all, it’s probably safe to take drugs that have expired recently. But the more time that has elapsed from the expiry date, the less advisable it becomes.” ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

33

Don’t give dental checkups complete brush off, but ask how often really needed

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — Checkups. Cleanings. X-rays. Just how often should Canadians be seen by a dentist to keep their teeth and gums in optimal health?

In part, that depends on a dentist’s philosophy. But it’s the assessment of the patient’s mouth and their risk for future cavities, gum disease or oral cancer that ultimately decide the interval between visits, says Dr. Euan Swan, manager of dental programs at the Canadian Dental Association in Ottawa.

“Those that have active disease or are at the highest risk of developing disease should be seen more frequently than those who do not have disease or are at very low risk,” explains Swan.

That could mean coming back in six or 12 months for a checkup, although cleanings can be scheduled more often: some dental offices want to see adults to polish their pearlies every four months.

Cleaning is not just for esthetics, but to remove built-up gunk between teeth and below the gum line.

“If dental plaque, which is a biofilm that adheres to the tooth, accumulates over time, it can harden and become calculus or tartar,” says Swan. “If that builds up on the tooth surface and the root surface, it can cause irritation to the gums and contribute to periodontal disease.”

At the six-month mark, that accumulation is relatively easy to clean off. But going 12 to 18 months between cleanings can make removal more arduous — and that can mean more time in the dental chair.

“But it does depend on the risk of the individual,” he says.

For instance, adults with gum disease who have been treated by a specialist like a periodontist typically are seen three or four times a year for a deep cleaning aimed at keeping the disease in check.

When it comes to kids, the CDA advises that a child’s first dental visit should be scheduled at one year of age or within

Dentist visits may not be fun, but ultimately it’s the assessment of the patient’s mouth and their risk for future cavities, gum disease or oral cancer that ultimately decide the interval between visits.

six months of their first tooth erupting.

“In most cases, a dental exam every six months will let your child’s dentist catch small problems early,” the CDA says on its website.

Some dentists, Swan says, prefer to see a child when he or she has all their primary — or baby — teeth, which typically happens by age three.

“But the concern is if a child is at high risk of developing tooth decay, if somebody doesn’t look at their teeth in the first three years, by (then) they may have tooth decay such that they need to be taken to an operating room and have a general anesthetic to be treated.”

A 2013 study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information showed that about 19,000 children aged one to five require surgical treatment each year because of severe tooth decay. In fact, one-third of all day surgeries for preschoolers — who still have their baby teeth — are to perform substantial dental work.

“The feeling is if they can get to the dentist early on ... even if they just have one or two teeth erupted, it’s also an opportu-

nity to talk to the parents or the caregiver and give them some guidance regarding nutrition and cleaning techniques,” he says.

That advice includes limiting sugar intake, the major cause of cavities.

Once kids start losing baby teeth and their six-year molars are coming in — a period known as mixed dentition — Swan says they should probably have a checkup once a year. And when spaces begin showing between the teeth, it’s time to start daily flossing.

How often patients should have dental X-rays is another issue.

For young children, if one or more teeth are not erupting or there’s a mass in the mouth, Xrays can show whether teeth are developing properly, says Dr. Ernest Lam, head of oral and maxillofacial radiology at the University of Toronto.

“Really the next time you need anything much more comprehensive is in their teen years, if you have to make an assessment about whether they’re developing wisdom teeth,” he says. “But in between, it’s based on clinical findings www.canadianinquirer.net

during the checkup.

“So if a child is completely asymptomatic and there’s no lumps or bumps and there’s no complaint of pain, then there’s really no reason to.”

Lam says there are no strict guidelines about how often an adult should have a panoramic X-ray or a full set of bitewing Xrays, the most common types of dental imaging.

“If you live in a fluoridated community and have no fillings or cavities, the interval time for bitewing X-rays is every two to three years.”

But for patients with lots of fillings, a high risk for cavities and complaints of pain, the interval between X-rays can be much less, “maybe six months to a year,” says Lam, noting that spot imaging can help reveal what’s happening with a tooth, its anchoring jawbone and surrounding connective tissues.

Radiation needs to be used responsibly because there can be a risk to health, he says.

“The risk is very low, but it’s not zero.”

A 2008 study published in the Journal of American Dental Association that calculated the risk of developing a cancer from

dental X-rays estimated there is one fatal malignancy per one million panoramic X-rays taken and a similar rate for a full-mouth series of bitewings, which typically involves 19 to 21 X-rays.

Other studies have looked for a potential link between dental imaging and thyroid cancer and meningioma (cancer of the lining of the brain), but showing cause and effect is devilishly difficult, as X-rays aren’t the only source of radiation exposure.

Swan says patients should ask their dentist how often they need to be seen for checkups and cleanings — and why — and the same advice goes for X-rays, adds Lam. “If you don’t understand why you are receiving X-rays, whether it’s at your physician’s request or your dentist’s request, you need to ask why,” he says. “Because at the end of the day, X-rays are a clinical test and that test should somehow impact positively on how you are treated.

“So if the test has zero impact on what the dentist is going to do to you, then why are you doing it?” ■

34

Lifestyle

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

A new study suggests giving boys the HPV vaccine could cut health-care costs over the long run by millions of dollars by averting oropharyngeal cancers down the road in that group.

Should boys be vaccinated against HPV? Study suggests would be cost saving

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — A new study suggests giving boys the HPV vaccine could cut health-care costs over the long run.

The researchers used mathematical modelling to estimate the effect of giving HPV vaccine to 12-year-old boys to prevent cancers of the mouth and throat.

The work suggests if all the 12-year-old boys in Canada had been vaccinated in 2012, between $8 million and $28 million might have been saved because of oropharyngeal cancers averted in that group.

The types of human papillomaviruses that cause cervical cancer are also responsible for some oropharyngeal cancers, a form of cancer that is on the rise.

But a senior vaccine researcher questions the finding,

saying the study design chosen population of having a signifi- fewer of these viruses will cirwasn’t the right one for testing cant portion of people vacci- culate so many males will get this kind of question. nated against a given pathogen. indirect protection. That group Currently Prince Edward IsIn this case that means the protection may not be as proland and Alberta offer HPV vac- researchers did not factor into nounced for the community of cine to boys as well as girls; on their calculations how vacci- males who have sex with other Friday, Nova Scotia announced nating girls would affect the males. it will follow suit in the fall.

HPV risk faced by boys. Already It’s not possible to accurately “Gradually bit by bit, per- research elsewhere has shown assess the cost-effectiveness of haps, people are thinking rates of genital warts and some vaccinating boys without facthat it is a good toring in the imthing to do. Bepact of the procause there’s no gram for girls, reason why we says Dr. Natasha shouldn’t proGradually bit by bit, perhaps, people Crowcroft, a vactect the men are thinking that it is a good thing to cine expert at also,” says Dr. do. Because there’s no reason why we Public Health Lillian Siu, a shouldn’t protect the men also.

Ontario who was medical oncolonot involved in gist at Toronto’s this study.

Princess Marga“The herd efret Cancer Cenfect is so overter. Siu is one of the senior au- HPV-related cancers in men whelmingly important you thors of the study. are dropping in the wake of in- can’t leave it out of any analyThe authors admit the math- troduction of public programs sis,” says Crowcroft, who is ematical model they used did to vaccinate girls. chief of applied immunization not take into effect what’s The belief is that as the num- research for the agency. known as herd immunity — the ber of girls and women who are “When you’ve got 50 per protective effect on the entire protected against HPV rises, cent uptake (in girls), it makes www.canadianinquirer.net

more sense to immunize the boys because then you increase your chances of getting herd immunity. Now we’re getting 80 per cent uptake in (Ontario) girls. It makes less sense to add the boys in, to me,” Crowcroft says, though she acknowledges there is still the question of how to protect males who are gay.

She insists her critique of the study doesn’t mean she opposes giving the vaccine to boys, noting her son was vaccinated.

But costs and benefits need to be weighed. “If we’re using public funds, then we have to make careful choices. Because ... we’re always taking money away from something else we could be doing.”

The study, which was published in the journal Cancer, as written by scientists at Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Cancer Care Ontario, and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, all in Toronto. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

35

Nearly 40 per cent of anglophone Canadians use Netflix: poll

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — Nearly 40 per cent of anglophone Canadians were using Netflix this past fall, according to a new report.

The Media Technology Monitor surveyed 4,002 Englishspeaking consumers by phone between Oct. 8 and Dec. 12 and found 39 per cent said they were Netflix subscribers, up from 26 per cent when a similar poll was conducted in the fall of 2013.

A majority of the respon-

dents polled this fall said they had been using Netflix for at least a year. About 38 per cent said they had been streaming content on Netflix for at least two years and 31 per cent said they had been subscribing for a year or two.

Most Netflix subscribers said they were frequent users of the online service.

About 82 per cent said they typically streamed something on Netflix weekly and, on average, estimated they spent about six hours a week logged in.

Most said they typically only watched Netflix on one screen

(about 44 per cent), while 25 per cent said they used more than one device, 20 per cent said they used three and 10 per cent answered four.

TVs were most often cited as the preferred screen to stream on (about 42 per cent), but computers were not far behind at 33 per cent, and tablets and smartphones were each chosen by 12 per cent of the respondents.

Results of the survey, conducted by Forum Research Inc., are considered accurate within 1.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20. ■

A new report shows that nearly 40% of anglophone Canadians this past fall were using Netflix. That's up from 26% the previous year in the same time period.

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Senior moment? It’s pretty normal for an aging brain, says study that urges ways to stay sharp

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD The Associated Press THOSE LOST car keys that were an annoyance in your 30s can spark major anxiety in your 60s. Turns out it’s pretty normal: The brain ages just like the rest of your body, says a new report that urges Americans to take steps to keep sharp in their senior years.

The prestigious Institute of Medicine examined what scientists know about “cognitive aging,” changes in mental functioning as we get older.

This isn’t a disease like Alzheimer’s but a natural process — and it’s not always bad. Wisdom can indeed increase with age, and years of experience can prove invaluable, stressed Dr. Dan Blazer, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Duke University who chaired the IOM committee.

“The brain ages in all of us.

But there’s wide variability in the way the brain ages,” Blazer said.

Staying cognitively sharp is one of the biggest concerns of seniors, with good reason.

Tuesday’s report warns that even subtle slowdowns can affect daily life, making seniors more vulnerable to financial scams, driving problems or other difficulties in a technology-

driven world.

Indeed, while some people will experience little if any cognitive change, many older adults process information more slowly, and have more difficulty multitasking than when they were younger, the report found. What’s called working memory — the brain’s shortterm storag — often declines with age but typically long-term memory remains intact even if it takes longer to recall someone’s name.

That kind of change may not be obvious until, say, someone is faced with a complex financial decision or forced to make a transaction quickly and has trouble, Blazer said. Older adults are losing nearly $3 billion a year, directly and indirectly, to financial fraud, the report noted.

What’s the difference between normal aging and cognitive decline?

“There’s no clear line that we can draw here,” Blazer cauwww.canadianinquirer.net

tioned.

Someone experiencing memory difficulty needs to be checked by a doctor, said IOM panelist Dr. Jason Karlawish of the University of Pennsylvania.

With Alzheimer’s, nerve cells in the brain die. With normal cognitive aging, neurons don’t die — they just don’t work as well, he explained.

The best advice for staying sharp as you get older: Be physically active. The sooner you start the better, but it’s never

too late, Blazer said.

The IOM also recommended: — Control high blood pressure and diabetes, and don’t smoke. Those are key risks for heart disease, and what’s bad for your heart is bad for your brain.

— Some medications commonly taken by seniors — including certain anxiety or sleep drugs, antihistamines, bladder drugs and older antidepressants — can fog the brain, so ask about yours.

— Keep socially and intellectually active.

— Get enough sleep.

— Be careful of products that claim to improve cognitive functioning.

— There’s no evidence that vitamins and dietary supplements like ginkgo biloba help, Blazer said. And the jury’s still out on whether computerbased brain-training games do any good, he said.

The IOM also urged more research into normal cognitive aging, which has been left somewhat behind the study of diseases like Alzheimer’s, and more education of doctors about their patients’ risks. For example, hospitalized seniors are at increased risk for delirium — sudden confusion and agitation — that can cause lingering cognitive decline after they go home, but there are ways to prevent it.

36

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

It’s not so simple: Your guide to trying on, ordering Apple Watch

BY ANICK JESDANUN The Associated Press NEW YORK — Buying an Apple Watch won’t be as simple as walking into an Apple store and handing over your credit card.

The smartwatch is Apple’s first new product category in five years and comes in 54 configurations — more than any other Apple gadget. So starting last Friday, Apple stores will have staff trained to help you choose. You’ll then have to place your order for shipping starting April 24. Even after that date, there’s no walking in and walking out with a watch.

Of course, you can bypass all this by ordering online.

No smartwatch has gotten as much attention as the Apple Watch, given Apple’s devoted fan base and the company’s knack for designing products consumers can’t live without. By insisting on customers ordering ahead of time, Apple says it can “provide the best experience and selection to as many customers as we can.”

Prices range from $349 to $17,000 depending on the watch case, band and size. A standard model with the cheapest band costs $549 for the 38-millimeter model and $599 for the 42-millimeter version, as measured on the watch face from top to bottom.

Here’s what you need to know about buying one.

Best Buy or your wireless carrier. Apple will handle most of the sales directly. However, the watch will be available to try on at Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Isetan in Tokyo, Selfridges in London and some Apple resellers in China and Japan starting Friday. Once the watch goes on sale on April 24, it will be available in additional retail outlets, such as select department stores and boutiques, including Maxfield in Los Angeles. It’s not known whether those stores will have similar requirements to order ahead of time.

Getting your watch

Ordering online

If you know the specific configuration you want, you’re best off ordering it online. They will start to ship on April 24.

Popular models might not be available right away if you’re not among the first to order.

Your watch will get shipped to you. There won’t be an in-store pick-up option.

Besides the United States, the watch is available to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Visiting a store

Starting last week, Apple

Store staff will be able to help you choose from the array of options. Apple recommends that you make a reservation to see a sales representative. Apple will start taking reservations through its website at 12:01 a.m.

PDT Friday as well. Appointments will be in 15-minute increments, though you can take more time at the store if needed.

You might be able to walk in and try one out, but initially there will likely be a long wait.

Once you choose, you’ll still need to place the order online, though you can do that at a Web terminal inside the store.

Again, your only option is to

EXCHANGE RATES

have the watch shipped, at least for the foreseeable future.

Luxury models

Only some stores will carry the 18-karat gold luxury models known as Edition. When you make the try-on reservation, you’ll have to specify whether you’re looking for these models or the cheaper ones. Specialists will handle these luxury appointments. If you’re just interested in seeing them, all stores will have them available for viewing in glass cases.

Beyond Apple Stores

You won’t be able to visit

If you need help, you can come back to the store for staff to walk you through the setup and answer any other questions. Assistance will also be offered online. You’ll need an iPhone 5 or later with at least iOS 8.2, which was released in March. The latest, iOS 8.3, is recommended.

The watch will come with a standard one-year warranty for hardware and 90 days of free telephone support. Extended coverage is available through AppleCare, but prices haven’t been announced.

Change your mind?

The general 14-day return policy is expected to apply, but expect some restrictions on the luxury models. Until you know for sure, don’t count on “borrowing” a $17,000 watch for a weekend party and expecting a full refund. ■

As of April 15, 2015 from ca.finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CDN/USD

1.2530

+0.0040

+0.3239%

CDN/PHP

35.5170

-0.1950

-0.5460%

CDN/EUR

1.3264

-0.0043

-0.3204%

www.canadianinquirer.net

Business

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

37

Tough times in oilpatch mean busier civil enforcement agencies, auction houses

BY LAUREN KRUGEL The Canadian Press

Ayala Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (2nd left) says the conglomerate earmarked Php185 billion in capital spending this year to support aggressive expansion plans in real estate, telecommunications, power and infrastructure in a press briefing during their annual stockholders meeting at the Fairmont Makati in Makati City on Friday (April 10, 2015). Others in photo (from left) are Head of Corporate Strategy and Development Paolo F. Borromeo; Ayala Corporation president and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala; and Chief Financial Officer Delfin Gonzalez Jr. BEN BRIONES / PNA

Ayala Group boosting energy, infrastructure projects

BY LESLIE D. VENZON Philippines News Agency MANILA — Conglomerate Ayala Corp. is boosting its new portfolio of businesses in power generation and transport infrastructure as it targets ramping up profit to Php20 billion at least in the next two years.

John Eric Francia, head of Energy and Infrastructure Group at Ayala Corp., said the demand is there as the Philippine economy grows strongly. “(The Philippines is) the fastest growth in this part of the world in Southeast. We need infrastructure to support such a growth that’s at high level, that’s what driving us to really participate in both in infrastructure and energy,” he said in an interview after the conglomerate stockholders’ meeting Friday.

Francia said the conglomerate is embarking on four power plants –the South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp.’s Calaca thermal power plant, the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp.’s 81-megawatt (MW) wind energy power plant in Ilocos Norte, the 18-MW expansion of Northwind project and GNPower Ltd. Co.’s coal-fired power plant.

“We have reached financial

close and will be starting the construction soon of the GNPower Mindanao project. The biggest in our pipeline is another power plant in Bataan –that’s 2 x 600 MW (coal-fired) power plant,” he added.

With these projects, Francia said Ayala is on track at hitting a total of installed capacity of 1,000 megawatts by 2016.

He said the completion of more power projects in the pipeline will provide the conglomerate an additional 500 megawatts capacity.

“Across the country, we probably need around 600 to 700 megawatts of additional capacity every year… So we are hopeful that we always want to contribute meaningfully in terms of that overall development,” he said.

On boosting its transport infrastructure business, Francia further said the conglomerate is participating in the bidding for various public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

He said Ayala Corp. is bidding on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 Operation and Maintenance Project, Manila Water Co. Inc. on the Bulacan Bulk Water project, Ayala Land Inc. on Laguna Lakeshore Expressway-Dike Project and Southwest Terminal of the Integrated

Transport System (ITS) project.

“We are keen on rail projects.

(Once) PNR (Philippine National Railways) bids out (these projects), we will take a serious look at that,” he added.

Francia said these power and transport infrastructure projects are expected to contribute to the conglomerate’s overall net income starting this year. “ I think next year would be obviously supposedly a better year as these plants get into more steady state… Of these four plants, steady state would hopefully be achieved by 2017 (which is) also the expected commissioning of the GN Mindanao plant,” he said.

“So hopefully by 2018, these will contribute as well. As more projects reach financial close and start construction, hopefully that will paint a growth picture all the way to 2020,” he added.

Ayala chairman and chief executive officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said the conglomerate earmarked Php185 billion in capital spending this year mainly to support the aggressive expansion plans of its real estate and telecommunications units as well as continued investments in power and infrastructure initiatives. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

repossessions he’s working on are under the Personal Property Security Act, or PPSA, process. That means a bank, for exCALGARY — As Alberta’s oil- ample, could repossess a truck patch slows down, John Short- if payments aren’t being made, ridge is bracing for an onslaught without having to go to court. of work.

According to the Alberta He runs Allied Shortridge Sheriff’s Office, which now Civil Enforcement, one of eight oversees the civil enforcement agencies in Alberta that work industry, there were 14,273 with bailiffs to carry out court PPSA files opened between orders and seize property, April 2014 and February of this among other things. year. For the entire 2013-2014 Shortridge has been in the fiscal year, there were a total of business for more than three 12,584 PPSA files opened. decades — first with the Alberta Kastner Auctions in EdmonSheriff’s Office and then on his ton has been hiring more staff own after those functions were to keep pace with the surge in privatized in 1996. So, he’s seen work that’s expected, said CEO enough booms and busts to Dave McLachlan. know what’s coming.

Lately, the auction house has “What we’re probably going been working with bankruptcy to have by Septrustees and tember is there bailiffs to sell a won’t be enough lot of sporting bailiffs in the equipment and province to get Later on in RVs from retail all the work a downturn outlets that have done,” he said. cycle, you’ll fallen on hard “The work will start to see times. get done, but numbers “I’m predicteverybody will increase ing, in about be working like in the three months a dog. You’ll be evictions, from now, we’re able to work sevsome of the going to find that en days a week.” other types the prices are goSteven Low, of seizures, ing to drop but chief operating whether our inventory officer at Conit’s the sale is going to exsolidated Civil of land plode,” he said.

Enforcement, or bigger Bruce Maclensaid vehicle reassets. nan, president of possessions Century Services are keeping his Inc., said appraisagency the busials of machinery est these days. and equipment Car payments are usually the have been in higher demand as first to be missed in an econom- companies run into debt trouble. ic downturn, he said.

“I would say we’re substan“Later on in a downturn cy- tially more busy than we were cle, you’ll start to see numbers at this time last year,” he said. increase in the evictions, some “Oil and gas service companies of the other types of seizures, seem to be right now particuwhether it’s the sale of land or larly challenged.” bigger assets,” he said.

Maclennan said compared Based on his workload, Low with 2008 and 2009, the cursaid he can get a sense of the rent crude downturn appears to unemployment picture before be more painful and prolonged.

Statistics Canada comes out “Our own view is that we’re with its official numbers. still on a downhill trajectory, Low said most of the vehicle sadly.” ■

38

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Travel

France unveils new tourist attraction: Prehistoric paintings recreated from disputed cave

BY YVES-MICHEL DUMOND The Associated Press PRIVAS, FRANCE — JeanMarie Chauvet noticed air whistling out from a crack on a plateau in southern France, so he and fellow cave enthusiasts went to investigate. What they found that Sunday in 1994 still fills Chauvet’s voice with wonder: an immense cave covered with prehistoric paintings of horses, mammoths and rhinos — paintings so vivid, he says, it felt like the Stone Age artists had just moments ago put down their ochre and walked away.

The discovery of the longhidden artwork created a sensation, but the site was quickly closed to the public. Just by breathing, tourists could erode the images.

Since most modern humans will never get to see the masterpieces in what is widely known as the Chauvet Cave, scientists, artists and the French government have spent 56 million euros (about $60 million) and several years creating the next best thing: a near-exact replica of the cave about two kilometres (1.2 miles) away, including more than 400 paintings of horses, bears, rhinoceros and mammoths, hand prints and carvings. Experts even recreated stalactites and stalagmites from the original site, as well as the cool temperatures and thick smell of humidity.

French President Francois Hollande unveiled the site last Friday, and it opens to the public later this month.

In a rare interview, Chauvet described digging through narrow passageways and guiding a flashlight in the blackness until one of his fellow spelunkers came across “the two lines of red ochre. That’s when it started.”

“What impressed us,” Chauvet said, “was the freshness. ... The paintings are as if

Cave drawings from the Chauvet cave in southern France. The cave contains the earliest known and best preserved cave drawings so far discovered in the world. Scientists, artists and the French government have spent 56 million euros (about $60 million) and several years creating an exact replica of the cave a few kilometers away so that tourists can come see it, so as to preserve the original cave from any potential damage.

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they had just left, these men, thenticity. exact date of the paintings, now these women” who painted “This cave wasn’t exposed to widely believed to be between them. “And the deeper you go, gusts of violent air,” Chauvet 30,000 and 37,000 years old. the more grandiThat means they ose. It’s really an were the oldart gallery.” est human cave It turned out drawings known they had been We understood that we had to at the time of the remarkably quickly protect it, and ensure that it discovery. Since well-preserved was never opened to the public” to then, scientists thanks to a rock protect it from “carbonic gases” from have determined fall about 23,000 visitors. that cave drawyears ago that ings in El Castilconcealed the lo in Spain were site. The conpainted at least ditions kept the drawings in said. “It was preserved, like in 40,000 years ago. such a pristine state that some a jar.”

Chauvet fought years of leresearchers doubted their auQuestions surrounded the gal battles against the French www.canadianinquirer.net

government over rights to the discovery, and is still seeking royalties. Officials with the Culture Ministry were convicted of falsifying documents to make it look like he was on official duty when he found it; he insists he was on holiday at the time.

Today the site is officially managed by regional and national government authorities, and it doesn’t officially bear the discoverers’ names, to Chauvet’s dismay.

Authorities say they are putting the public’s interest first.

Pascal Terrasse, a legislator in charge of the replica project, described being the first government official to enter the original cave soon after the discovery: “We understood that we had to quickly protect it, and ensure that it was never opened to the public” to protect it from “carbonic gases” from visitors, he told AP. Experts have recorded more than 1,000 images from the walls of the cave, inscribed last year on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. German filmmaker Werner Herzog brought the original cave alive in a 3-D film, “Cave of Forgotten Dreams.”

The replica tries to reproduce as much of that as possible. Millimeter by millimeter, scientists and artists used the same tools and techniques believed to have been used in the Stone Age. It feels strange at first, a bit like an amusement park.

But a similar replica — of the 18,000-year-old cave drawings in the Lascaux caves in southwest France — draws about 300,000 visitors yearly.

Organizers are hoping for similar crowds at the Pont d’Arc Cavern opening this month, despite the remote locale in this striking but little-travelled corner of southeast France.

The next step, Terrasse said, could be “a virtual version, 3D, something that could move around” — and bring prehistory to generations looking to the future. ■

Travel

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

39

Philippines featured in young London filmmaker’s newest short film

BY DAVID KOENIG The Associated Press

Travelling blues: More flights are late, customer complaints are up

BY DAVID KOENIG The Associated Press DALLAS — Think flying is getting worse? A pair of university researchers who track the airline business say it’s a fact.

More flights are late, more bags are getting lost, and customers are lodging more complaints about airlines, US government data shows. Dean

Headley, a marketing professor at Wichita State and one of the co-authors of the annual report being released Monday, said passengers already know that air travel is getting worse. “We just got the numbers to prove it.”

Among the findings in the report: LATENESS: The percentage of flights that arrived on time ❱❱ PAGE 47 Travelling blues

filmmaker from London, Joshua Cowan who visited the country with his friend, Jack Harries (one half of the inimitable JacksGap twins), and a new friend, his high-flying drone cam.

“This short film is one of our 8-part Reel Philippines series, which sent four highly-talented young filmmakers to the Phil-

he said.

Cowan described how the view atop the Pampanga’s Crate Lake had was “incredible” and MANILA — A young filmmaker that it was “rewarding to see it.” has featured the Philippines in a He also spoke highly of the loshort film which can be viewed cals and how friendly and how on video-sharing website, Youthey would be amazed to see the Tube, the Department of Tourism drone they brought with them.

(DOT) announced on Monday.

Despite not being allowed to The 8-part seclimb the counries, “Reel Philiptry’s second pines” is produced most-active volunder Zurich and cano, Mt. Mayon London-based I did not expect so much culture, so for safety reatravel company much beauty in one place. sons, Cowan said STA travel which that he and Harclaims to be the ries still manworld’s largest aged to see a lot travel company of other features for students and young people. ippines to produce four breath- it had.

“Volcanoes and National taking sets of films on a given “Philippines is just an incredParks in the Philippines” is the travel subject,” the movie de- ible place. It’s not like anywhere first part of the series. The rest scription read.

I’ve been before and I really of the films will be released In the director’s commentary recommend it,” Cowan said. throughout the month. version of the same film, Cowan “I did not expect so much Scenes from the film were talked about his experience culture, so much beauty in shot from some of the best tour- filming the adventure. one place. The people were so ist destinations in the island of "Basically the film is about his friendly and so welcoming and Luzon including Angeles, Pam- (Harries’) adventure through I’m just really happy I went panga, Ifugao and Legazpi, Albay. the Philippines. You get to see there, it’s such a good experiIt is produced by 21-year-old the country through his eyes,” ence,” he added. ■

WEATHER UPDATE VANCOUVER

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Long term forecast from www.theweathernetwork.com CALGARY

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40

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

Ahead of Mayweather fight, film depicts Pacquiao’s crushing poverty before global fame

BY OLIVER TEVES The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — As a dirt-poor rookie boxer in the southern Philippines, Manny Pacquiao started his phenomenal rise to global fame not as the Pacman, as he is sometimes called, but as “Kid Kulafu.”

That moniker — the title of a new local film about Pacquiao’s childhood — was taken from the label of a cheap wine whose empty bottles he returned for recycling to earn money to help his family.

“Kid Kulafu” opened Wednesday in more than 70 theatres across the Philippines starting ahead of Pacquiao’s May 2 megafight with Floyd Mayweather. It will be shown in some U.S. and Canadian theatres beginning April 24.

Produced with advice and other assistance from Pacquiao, the film depicts the impoverished world he grew up in well before he became the world’s only eight-division boxing champion, one of its highestpaid athletes and the wealthiest member of the Philippine House of Representatives.

“He had every excuse in the book to fail — broken family, no food, no home, nowhere to go, no money, but he still persevered, and that’s what I want the people to see — that he is where he is today because of hard work,” filmmaker Paul Soriano told The Associated Press.

The 36-year-old boxer was born in a thatch-roofed house

with a dirt floor in the mountains of southern Bukidnon province at a time when anticommunist militiamen were battling insurgents. One brutal clash near the Pacquiao home forced the family to move to General Santos city, into a shack owned by his uncle, Sardo Mejia.

There often was not enough food for the family; sometimes they ate boiled rice paired with fish entrails or corn on the cob.

In the movie, militiamen compel Pacquiao’s mother to hand over two small fried fish she had prepared for her family.

Pacquiao’s father later abandoned the family, leaving Manny, the eldest of three brothers, to find a livelihood like most young boys in the country’s rural areas. He sold fried peanuts, bread and doughnuts made by his mother, and earned a little money of his own by gathering and selling tiny native lemons called calamansi.

He also worked as a store assistant for Mejia, and collected sacks of empty bottles of Vino Kulafu, which he returned to the distributors to cash in the deposits. Kulafu was originally a Tarzan-like Filipino comicbook hero.

Pacquiao became drawn to boxing after he started watching Betamax tapes of world heavyweight fights with his uncle. Mejia encouraged Pacquiao to box and later trained him, though his mother hated the sport. She wanted her son to be a priest, but was too poor to enter him into a seminary. Still, she ingrained deep spirituality

and religious faith in him.

Ironically, Pacquiao’s road to boxing was partially paved by his mother when she was struck by a heart attack, Soriano said.

The movie depicts the boy entering a fight to win 100 pesos (about $2) needed to buy her medicine.

With training by his uncle and a friend’s father, Pacquiao soon became the amateur boxing derby champion in General Santos, fighting in the open-air ring in the town plaza as Kid Kulafu, a name Mejia came up with. Without telling his mother, he left General Santos to train in a dingy boxing gym in Manila.

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“‘Kid Kulafu’ is really a movie about a young boy who grew up with nothing,” Soriano said.

“All he really had was a dream and he fought and fought and fought until he made those dreams come true.”

The movie, with most scenes shot on location, was produced

by Ten17P, an independent film company owned by Soriano, a director and producer who also has directed many of Pacquiao’s local television ads.

The 110-minute film was three years in the making, including two years of research and emotional interviews with Pacquiao, members of his family, friends and former trainers,

Soriano said.

“It is a fairy-tale story, but it’s true,” producer Marie Pineda said.

The “rags” part of Pacquiao’s rags-to-riches story is all too familiar in the Philippines. Many Filipinos are born into poverty and forced to leave home to find work in Manila or even other countries to support their families. About 10 million Filipinos, a tenth of the population, work abroad and send money back home that helps shore up the economy.

The 17-year-old actor playing Pacquiao, Buboy Villar, also grew up poor with separated parents; he had to scavenge garbage heaps to earn money before becoming a child star in Philippine TV and movies.

While Villar shares Pacquiao’s humble beginnings, the boxing skills took more work: He spent weeks building up muscles and learning to move as a southpaw like the champion.

Soriano said the film takes some creative license to compress Pacquiao’s first 15 years, but is true to the boxer’s life.

Pacquiao did not produce or invest in the film but helped in making it, facilitating interviews with key characters and going over the script while but giving Soriano creative freedom, the filmmaker said.

“I think, honestly, what he gave me — his time, his story — I think that was even much more important than any money,” Soriano said. “The access he gave me, the friendship that he has given me — that’s priceless.” ■

Sports

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

41

Paris council votes in favour of bid for 2024 Olympics

BY SAMUEL PETREQUIN The Associated Press PARIS TOOK a decisive step toward a bid for the 2024 Olympics on Monday when the city council approved a resolution in favour of bringing the games back to the French capital for the first time in 100 years.

The bid, which is expected to receive the final go-ahead from the national government by the end of June, is supported by French President Francois Hollande, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the Paris region.

“This is an historical vote which marks an important moment of our collective life,” said Hidalgo, who was first skeptical but embraced the project after a feasibility study was released in February. “We are now committed to the Olympic adventure.”

The mayor’s resolution was adopted by a show of hands and followed by a round of applause, despite opposition from the Green Party members.

Bernard Lapasset, who heads the French Committee for International Sport and is expect-

ed to lead the Paris bid, told The Associated Press that Hollande will meet with IOC president Thomas Bach on Thursday during his state visit to Switzerland.

Hollande will be accompanied

by French IOC members Tony Estanguet and Guy Drut.

“This is another good signal after the decision of the Paris council, which was actually more a massive approval than a vote,” Lapasset said in a telephone interview. “But we need to keep a cool head and keep working hard.”

The resolution stipulates that the city will join the national Olympic committee, the state and the region in an association aimed at finalizing the bid project. It says the bid should be led by athletes and would benefit the country’s struggling economy. The association, which has a budget of 2 million euros ($2.1 million), will meet for the first time on Wednesday.

“The chances for an official Paris bid have been strengthened by this association,” said Jean-Paul Huchon, the region president. “Now we need to make sure the bid brings eco-

SHUTTERSTOCK

nomic and cultural benefits to the whole people of the region and France.”

Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924 and mounted unsuccessful bids for the 1992, 2008 and 2012 Games. The city has until Sept. 15 to submit its candidacy to the International Olympic Committee.

Boston, Rome and Hamburg, Germany, are the declared 2024 candidates so far.

Other potential contenders include Budapest, Hungary; Baku, Azerbaijan; Istanbul, Turkey; and Doha, Qatar. The IOC will choose the host city in 2017.

Hildalgo said hosting the

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games in Paris would also help make the northern suburbs of the Seine Saint-Denis region more accessible.

The infrastructure budget has been estimated at 3 billion euros ($4.5 billion), with operational costs of 3.2 billion euros ($4.8 billion). Hidalgo’s deputy for sport, Jean-Francois Martins, said the cost of bidding would reach 60 million euros ($63 million), with part of the budget likely to be obtained through crowd funding.

“Sport has given Paris its shape, and it should keep doing so,” Martins said.

The Green Party is opposed

to the bid mainly for financial reasons. David Belliard, the group’s president in the Paris Council, said the budget for the 2012 London Olympics was double the initial forecast of 5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) while vice-president Anne Sourys called the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi an “environmental disaster in the midst of the Ukrainian crisis.”

Estanguet, who attended Monday’s vote, earlier said existing infrastructure would be at the heart of the project. The Stade de France, a new cycling track on the outskirts of Paris, the Roland Garros tennis stadium and many Parisian landmarks including the Grand Palais and Champ de Mars are likely to be used.

The main construction requirements for the bid include an aquatics centre, Olympic village and media centre.

France decided not to bid for the 2020 Olympics after Annecy was humiliated in the race for the 2018 Winter Games, receiving only seven votes in an election won by Pyeongchang, South Korea. ■

Events

42

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

APRIL 17, 2015

Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-928-9355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

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Consular Outreach Mission in Montreal

By Philippine Embassy in Ottawa WHEN/WHERE: Apr. 24 2 to 7 p.m.; Apr. 25 9 to 5 p.m. 5180 Queen Mary Suite 200 Montreal, Quebec MORE INFO: Call Pastor Mercy Galera at 514-731-8307

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

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David Pomeranz World Tour 2015

By GMA Pinoy TV WHEN/WHERE: Apr. 19, Bella Rose Arts Centre, NEWFOUNDLAND Halifax, NS MORE INFO: Call Helen-902-832-1673; Jomar-902-817-1434; Nina- 902-802-8154

NOVA SCOTIA Free Facilitation Training

By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: Apr. 25 to July 25 at the ISS of BC Cottonwood Office, # 200-504 Cottonwood Ave., Coquitlam, BC MORE INFO: Bus tickets available. Priority given to residents of the Tri-Cities.

Call: Ana Maria at 604-684-7498 ext. 1267 anamaria.bustamante@issbc.org or Lisa @ 604-3958000 ext. 1706 liza.delarosa@issbc.org

8850 Osler St., Vancouver B.C. or contact www. tzuchi.ca

Free Multilingual Tax Clinics for Low-income Individuals & Families Filing Basic 2014 Tax Returns

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: Wednesdays and Thursdays of April, 10 to 4 p.m.Visit www.mosaicbc.com/ settlement-services Burnaby (Permanent residents only) 778-321-5406; Vancouver (Permanent residents, naturalized citizens and work permit holders) 604-254-9626

2015 The Star Experience Songwriting Competition for BC Teens

By Everiathing WHEN/WHERE: Live auditions 12 to 3 p.m., Apr. 18, at Joe’s Atlantic Grill 2410 St. John’s St., Port Moody.

MORE INFO: Call 604-936-8883

Richmond Earth Day Youth Summit

By City of Richmond WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Apr. 18, at Hugh Boyd Secondary School 9200 No. 1 Road, Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: Now in its fourth year, the REaDY Summit is a free youth-led conference promoting environmental awareness and action through motivational speakers and inspiring workshops.

Tzu Chi Canada Volunteers

By Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation WHEN/WHERE: Volunteer registration ongoing at

Ultimate Party Night

By PBJ Band and 7th Route WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m, Apr. 17 at Hippos Bar. MORE INFO: Tickets at $15. Featuring Ethan David and Raffy “Swap One”. Proceeds will go to assisting Ethan’s competition to the World Championships in Hollywood.

Street, Vancouver) Tel: 604-408-7260 Service dates: up to Apr. 23 10 am – 4 pm Every Tuesday and Thursday (NO services on April 14) Richmond Service Centre (220 - 7000 Minoru Blvd, Richmond) Tel: 604-279-7180 Service dates: up to Apr. 22 5:30 pm – 8 pm Every Monday and Wednesday (NO services on Mar 30, Apr 1, Apr 6 and Apr 15) Richmond Johnson Centre (250 - 8191 Westminister Hwy, Richmond) Tel: 604-408-7260 Service dates: Apr. 18 & 25 10 am – 3 pm (Saturday) Surrey-Delta Service Centre (206-10090 152nd Street, Surrey) Tel: 604-588-6869 Service dates: Apr. 11 10 am – 3 pm (Saturday) Tri-City Service Centre (2058 -1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) Tel: 604-468-6000 Service dates: Apr. 15 (Wednesday) 5pm – 8 pm

Kapusong Pinoy Vancouver

By GMA Pinoy TV WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Apr. 24 at the Orpheum Theatre Vancouver, Canada MORE INFO: Guest performers include Marian Rivera, Alden Richards, Christian Bautista and more.

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.

1706 or email: liza.delarosa@issbc.org

Free Income Tax Clinic for Low Income SUCCESS Member

By SUCCESS WHEN/WHERE: up to Apr. 26, Burnaby Settlement Service Centre (200-5172 Kingsway, Burnaby) Tel: 604-430-1899 Service dates: Apr. 11, 18 & 25 10 am – 3 pm (Saturday) Pender Social Service Centre (28 West Pender

English as Second Language Book Club for Adults

By Richmond Public Library WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 2:30 p.m, Apr. 13 to May 4, at Brighouse Branch, Special Collection Room, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: Register at www.yourlibrary.ca/events or call 604-231-6413.

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Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

43

GOLDIE'S BIRTHDAY CONCERT FOR A CAUSE The Negrenses Association of BC led by Cris Sotana produced Goldie’s Birthday Concert for a Cause at the Columbia Theatre in New Westminster on Apr. 12.

Special guests included Russel Figueroa, JP Nilo, Chito Guzman, Berly Faith, Raffy Ramiro and La Riva dancers.

COQUITLAM CRUNCH UP Alumni Association of British Columbia’s Coquitlam Crunch challenge.

UP EXEC'S VISIT University of the Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero de Vera was in Vancouver last week to present two papers at the University of British Columbia during the “7th International Conference on Climate Change: Impact and Responses.” The Philippine delegation was composed of De Vera and Professors Nelson Cainghog and Kristoffer Berse. De Vera and company also found time to drop by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver and met with Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer and Deputy Consul General Anthony Mandap for an exchange of ideas on the internationalization of UP and linkages with Canadian universities. The UP Alumni Association in B.C. earlier also hosted a dinner for the visiting officials and De Vera’s wife, Charito. (Photos from Popoy de Vera’s FB).

SPEAKER SERIES The Philippines Canada Trade Council recently held a Networking and Speaker Series Night at the Acsenda School of Management with guests Dr. Lindsay Redpath, president of Acsenda; Gerome San Pablo, country manager of Ballard Philippines; and Tobi Reyes, CEO of Port Capital Group. www.canadianinquirer.net

Seen and Scenes

44

APRIL 17, 2015

FRIDAY

PAL IN NEW YORK Right: During the recent dinner reception celebrating the return of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to New York , PAL Chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan (L) and PAL President Jaime J. Bautista (R) gave honor to Rebecca Verzosa-Santos, PAL’s first international stewardess who flew on the first Manila to California flight in 1946. Santos now lives in New York. Also shown in photo is Mrs. Carmen K. Tan. Below: Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. leads the Filipino community in welcoming the return of Philippine Airlines to New York during a dinner reception at the New York Hilton Midtown to mark the inaugural New York-Manila flight. Shown seated during the formal dinner are, from left, Amb. Cuisia, PAL Chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan and Mrs. Carmen K. Tan.

GMA DEAL GMA Network brings the latest on-court action in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference to volleyball enthusiasts across the globe. The games will be shown internationally through GMA’s second international channel GMA Life TV beginning this April.

Some of the league’s star players present during the contract signing (from L) Pau Soriano, Aby Maraño, Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, Pauline Genido, Hezzymie Acuña, Jaja Santiago, Cha Soriano, Sue Roces, Sarah Jane Espelita, Nelet Clarete and Angeli Tabaquero.

RADIO SHOW FilCan professional dance teacher and show producer Christine De Leon (centre) poses with Talakayan Radyo 1430 AM co-anchor May Cabrias(R), special commentator Tony A. San Juan (L) and roving reporter Joe Damasco at Fairchild Radio Station during an interview in Thornhill Ontario on Apr. 11. (Photo by Nelson Galvez)

(From L) Sports Vision Management Group President Ricky Palou, GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon and Sports Vision Management Group Chairman Moying Martelino.

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

APRIL 17, 2015

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FRIDAY

47

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

Travelling blues... fell to 76.2 per cent last year from 78.4 per cent in 2013. Best: Hawaiian Airlines. Worst: Envoy Air, which operates most American Eagle flights.

LOST BAGS: The rate of lost, stolen or delayed bags rose 13 per cent in 2014. Best: Virgin America. Worst: Envoy. Airlines lose one bag for every 275 or so passengers, but at Envoy, the rate is one lost bag for every 110 passengers, according to government figures.

OVERBOOKING: The rate of passengers getting bumped from flights rose 3 per cent.

Best: Virgin America. Worst: a tie, between SkyWest and its ExpressJet subsidiary.

COMPLAINTS: Consumer complaints to the government jumped 22 per cent in 2014. Best: Alaska Airlines. Worst: Frontier.

Regional carriers, which operate flights under names like American Eagle, United Express and Delta Connection, tend to earn the worst marks.

They fly smaller planes, so when airlines are forced to cut flights due to bad weather, they ground the regionals first to inconvenience fewer passengers.

But the picture was bleak at the ❰❰ 39

Rescue of ... four biggest U.S. airlines too. Ontime performance fell and complaint rates rose at American, United, Delta and Southwest.

Headley said airlines performed better in the years after 2001, when travel demand fell and planes were less crowded. Airlines were also losing money. They returned to profitability when mergers reduced competition and the remaining airlines limited flights to keep fares up. The average plane is now more than 80 per cent full at most airlines, and many flights are oversold.

“They have put the same number of people in fewer airplanes,” Headley said in an interview. “Anytime the system ramps up, it goes haywire.”

Airlines are ordering new planes and making other investments that they promise will lead to better service. Many of the biggest improvements are targeted at the airlines’ most valued customers — those in first-class and business-class sections.

The annual report is now in its 25th year. Headley and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor Brent Bowen use information that the airlines submit to the U.S. Department of Transportation. ■

At first, he said, the most senior SAF officer could not even give an accurate count of the casualties.

“Some of those they counted dead were actually just wounded,” he said.

The final count was eight dead, 11 wounded, 17 uninjured, he said. ❰❰ 3

poured out of their huts and attacked the withdrawing commandos.

Later, fighting would also erupt between MILF rebels and commandos from the 55th SAC, the blocking force for the 84th, in nearby Tukanalipao village.

Most of the 44 dead on the SAF side belonged to the 55th.

Left in the lurch

Military ‘not remiss’

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, who presented Mateo, Jaranilla and two other Army officers to the investigative committee, said the accounts of the soldiers showed at least one thing: “The Armed Forces of the Philippines was not remiss in helping out the SAF. Otherwise, more than 44 of them would have died.”

The US-trained 84th SAC, also called Seaborne, was the strike force that infiltrated into Moro rebel-controlled Mamasapano early on Jan. 25 to get Marwan and the two other terrorists.

But the mission went wrong when an explosive device went off in Marwan’s hut in Pidsandawan, waking up armed groups in the community who

Supreme Meat Supplies Ltd.

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The sacked commander of the SAF, Director Getulio Napeñas, however, told the House panel that he stood by his assertion that the military left the commandos “hanging in the air.”

“There were no reinforcements that came to support the beleaguered SAF,” he said, citing his communications with AFP units on the ground to provide artillery support.

“Now, their tenor is they’re blaming us,” Napeñas said.

Military commanders in Mindanao earlier said they did not send reinforcements to help the pinned-down SAF commandos because they had no complete information about the operation.

Napeñas earlier admitted that he kept the operation se-

cret out of fear that it might be compromised.

Brig. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in Central Mindanao, defended himself from the charge that he ordered his men to hold artillery fire because of the peace process with the MILF. “I never said to hold artillery fire because of the peace process. I said to hold until we get the full details,” he said.

‘We trust each other’

The officer in charge of the Philippine National Police, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, dismissed suggestions of a rift between the police and the military.

“Whatever happened in Mamasapano was a matter of ground decisions not to share information with some AFP elements… This is not reflective of the relationship between the PNP and the AFP, which is very strong,” he said.

The AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., said: “We trust each other. It’s only Napeñas who does not trust the AFP.” ■

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APRIL 17, 2015

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FRIDAY