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MAY 8, 2015

VOL. 5 NO. 166

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Hero's welcome for Pacquiao despite loss

Pacquiao is a poor politician

NDP claim victory in Alberta

Sarah Geronimo Live in Vancouver

Is gluten-free over?

Sadness, disappointment after defeat of Pacquiao

BY OLIVER TEVES The Associated Press

WELCOME TO CANADA Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III during November of last year in China during a Canadian foreign trade mission. President Aquino is scheduled to visit Canada this coming weekend, stopping by Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver, to engage in talks with business leaders and meet with the Filipino-Canadian community. Read more on page 20.

PM.GC.CA

More Pinoys on death row in Malaysia, Saudi, China

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer MALAYSIA, SAUDI Arabia and China top the list of countries where there are Filipinos on death row with 34, 28 and 21 Philippine nationals, respectively, ac-

cording to Malacañang.

Citing a report by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Palace last week said there were also two Filipinos on death row in the United States and one each in Indonesia, Kuwait and Thailand, bring❱❱ PAGE 11 More Pinoys

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Sadness and disappointment gripped Filipinos after Manny Pacquiao’s defeat in his much-anticipated fight against American Floyd Mayweather Jr. but they still considered the boxing icon a national hero.

Gymnasiums and other public venues where the 12-round fight was shown for free on Sunday lunchtime local time were quickly vacated after it was announced Pacquiao lost by unanimous decision.

Herminio Coloma, a spokesman for President Benigno Aquino III, said “the country still holds its head high in ❱❱ PAGE 12 Sadness, disappointment

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

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FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

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Help Mary Jane by helping other Pinoys on death row, urges DFA

BY NIÑA CALLEJA AND NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer IN THE WAKE of the angry recriminations from the family of Mary Jane Veloso on the government’s handling of the convicted Filipino’s case, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called on the public to focus instead on helping the many Filipinos who remain on death row in foreign countries instead of resorting to fingerpointing.

“We believe that focusing on this most important objective will help Mary Jane more at this time,” the DFA said in a statement issued last Friday in reaction to the Veloso family’s attack against the government, which it accused of neglecting the case and letting their daughter languish in jail for five years and face a death sentence for drug crimes.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs had consistently been updating the public on the Phil-

ippine government’s efforts, But any jubilation over the had been seeking the governfrom providing legal assistance, stay in Veloso’s execution was ment’s help for five years and undertaking representations shortlived as Veloso’s mother, felt it had failed them for the at the highest levels of the In- Celia, upon her return from most part. donesian government to coor- Indonesia the other day, immeHe said there was no “malefidinating prison visits of Mary diately launched into a diatribe cent motivation” by the leftist Jane’s family, including cover- against President Aquino for groups who were behind Celia’s ing their cost of travel,” the DFA allegedly grabbing credit for se- statements against the Presisaid. curing the reprieve. dent and his administration.

Mary Jane, a 30-year-old Celia’s statements against the “A principled criticism of mother of two, remains in Yo- President and the government what our government does gyakarta prisor does not do on after being should not pregranted a lastvent them from minute reprieve doing what they that saved her should. We want from execution We are committed to pursuing the to cull lessons last week. complaints filed against Mary Jane’s from what went The governrecruiter as this was vital in securing wrong and how ment has promthe reprieve of Mary Jane. mistakes could ised to work on be rectified,” another clemenOlalia said. cy appeal while Olalia said that the investigation as the Velosos’ into the charges against her re- triggered indignation among lawyer, he was ready to coopcruiter is under way. netizens who called her an “in- erate with the government in “We are committed to pursu- grate.” ways that could best help his ing the complaints filed against Edre Olalia, the Velosos’ law- client.

Mary Jane’s recruiter as this yer, said in a phone interview was vital in securing the re- that the public should put into Fishing for thanks prieve of Mary Jane,” said DFA perspective Celia’s outburst.

He said Celia felt Mr. Aquispokesperson Charles Jose.

Olalia said the Veloso family no and other officials wanted

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her family to thank them for what they did at the last minute to get a reprieve for her daughter.

Moreover, Olalia said Celia felt slighted by Mr. Aquino’s statement earlier last week that Mary Jane was initially uncooperative with the Philippine diplomats who had been helping her after she was caught and convicted for bringing in 2.6 kilograms of heroin to Indonesia.

Mr. Aquino, in an interview with Filipino reporters in Langkawi, Malaysia, on Tuesday said that Veloso was uncooperative with Philippine officials at the start of her trial.

Malacañang stressed yesterday that it was the concerted efforts of all those who cared for Veloso that saved her life.

“Indeed, everyone did their part. The whole nation united in prayer and concern, together with people of goodwill from around the world, made possible this reprieve for Ms Veloso,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told government-run Radyo ng Bayan. ■

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Philippine News

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Angara book: FPJ steered clear of Erap in 2004 polls

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Don’t beat heat by bathing in Manila Bay: Department of Health

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) this week reminded residents in Manila against taking a dip in Manila Bay to cope with soaring temperatures common during the month of May. DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said that swimming in dirty and contaminated bodies of water like the polluted bay could pose serious health risks due to the risk of contracting infectious diseases.

He pointed out that tainted waters contain bacteria which might cause diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever and Hepatitis B, among other illnesses. It could also trigger skin allergies and respiratory ailments, he added.

“While they may be relieved of the summer heat by swimming in Manila Bay, they also face the threat of getting a wide range of diseases,” Lee Suy warned in an interview with reporters.

During long stretches of hot weather that occurs in May— the peak of summer in the country— many people frolic in Manila Bay to beat the heat, ignoring a warning from the local government and a 59-year-old ordinance prohibiting swimming in the bay.

Lee Suy suggested that if people want to cool off, they could go to public pools in Manila where they could swim for free. ■

CONCERNED ABOUT his public image, the late Fernando Poe Jr. wanted to steer clear of his friend Joseph “Erap” Estrada to take away the show-biz glare from his 2004 presidential campaign.

So says former Sen. Edgardo Angara in his new biography, “In the Grand Manner,” launched at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City last Wednesday.

Angara’s 232-page biography, written by University of the Philippines professor Jose Dalisay Jr., touches on significant events of his life, including the time when the opposition came together to choose a presidential candidate who would go up against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004.

It was in a meeting with Sen. Former Sen. Edgardo Angara.

DWDD.COM.PH Vicente Sotto, a friend of both Erap and FPJ, that FPJ’s name “In fact, [FPJ] didn’t want “[B]ecause he was known as came up but Angara says “the any entertainers to be included ‘Da King,’ and so he behaved only problem” was that FPJ did in our senatorial lineup,” he royally, disdaining to give internot want to run. says. views to the media and to talk to Sotto flew to California in mayors and politicians, which December 2003 to follow FPJ, ‘Crucial factor’ hampered his campaign,” he who was visiting relatives there Angara called up the IN- says. and convince him to run for QUIRER last night to add that President. they told FPJ that Estrada was ‘Bad experience’ “Finally, he gave an indica- a “crucial factor” in his candiFPJ became averse to media tion that he was open to the dacy and had convinced him to interviews, according to Angaidea,” Angara says. see the former President in his ra, citing FPJ’s “bad experience Hesays he met with TV reporter FPJ when the Sandra Aguinalactor returned do that almost home. He says singlehandedly FPJ was contorpedoed his cerned that he The late Fernando Poe Jr. wanted whole candidalacked the exto steer clear of his friend Joseph cy,” Angara says perience need“Erap” Estrada to take away the He was refered by a serious show-biz glare from his 2004 ring to an incipresidential presidential campaign. So says dent that hapcandidate and former Sen. Edgardo Angara. pened in April worried about 2004 when, durfinancing the ing a rally in Ilcampaign. oilo, FPJ got an“FPJ was actugry at Aguinaldo ally more concerned about his Tanay, Rizal, residence where after she stood up on the stage public image than Erap was. he was detained at that time, to to do a report while he was deErap was all out for FPJ, but seek his support. livering a speech.

FPJ privately preferred not to “He (FPJ) did not disown “It has been quite a strugbe associated with Erap if he Erap as a friend,” Angara said. gle to get this guy to run. And was going to run for President, In his book, Angara says FPJ when he was running, it was because he didn’t want the had a “clear idea of how a public also a struggle to get him to public to think again of the en- figure should look and behave” meet the press and other politertainer as a frivolous figure,” and admitted this became a Angara says. problem later. ❱❱ PAGE 9 Angara book www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

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Metro youths offer ‘doables’ in international urban planning tilt

BY JOVIC YEE Philippine Daily Inquirer A PROPOSAL to convert sewage in the city of Manila into potable water and provide additional power to the city won one of the top prizes in an urban planning competition recently held in Singapore.

Six students of the Singapore School of Manila (SSM) suggested building a self-sustaining machine to convert sewage into something useful for Manila’s almost 1.7 million residents.

The idea was just one of several submitted by the SSM group, led by Lance Basil Sy and composed of Kariann Tan, Jeremy Chan, Lanz Ling, Platinum Madrid and Andrea Gerada.

While their proposal would seem like a fantasy, an actual project along this line had been sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation “to help improve sanitation in poor countries.”

Bill Gates, on his website www.gatesnotes.com, said the Janicki Omniprocessor was a machine that would boil and treat human excrement to turn it into safe and potable drinking water.

“Through the ingenious use of a steam engine, it produces more than enough energy to burn the next batch of waste.

In other words, it powers itself, with electricity to spare,” Gates said of the machine designed and built by United Statesbased engineering firm Janicki Bioenergy.

Planting seeds in minds

The SSM team won the top prize in the junior category of the fourth International Town Planning competition, an annual initiative of the Singaporebased Activistar Advocacy. It aims to encourage the youth “to think about the future and how they can make it better for themselves.”

The other winners this year were Singapore schools Hwa Chong Institution (senior category A) and Temasek Polytechnic (senior category B).

Activistar founder Sylvia TayVan Remoortele said the program sought to help “transform the minds” of the youth.

“You have to start with the young people (so) when they

ings.

No need for politics

A proposal to convert sewage in the city of Manila into potable water and provide additional power to the city won one of the top prizes in an urban planning competition recently held in Singapore. Six students from the Singapore School of Manila suggested building a self-sustaining machine to convert sewage into something useful for Manila's almost 1.7 million residents.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

grow up and take positions in Another finalist, a group from pore, India, Malaysia and Qatar. the government or private com- Ateneo de Manila High School, panies, they already have this proposed the redevelopment of Saving Quiapo seed planted in their heads that, the Quiapo district. Perennially The Ateneo team proposed whatever you communal towndo, you have to houses in Quiapo be aware of suswith open spaces tainable develfor microfinance opment and the You have to start with the young ventures. environment,” people (so) when they grow up and “Informal setVan Remoortele take positions in the government or tlers in Quiapo said during the private companies, they already have continue to face awarding certhis seed planted in their heads that, the problem of emonies for the whatever you do, you have to be living in subhunine Philippine aware of sustainable development man conditions. teams that made and the environment Efforts to reloit to the finals. cate them fail The SSM because these group received residents seek a trophy, certifiopportunities to cate and cash prize of P100,000 congested, noisy and filthy, the get a sense of solidarity in their from Activistar. district seemed not very condu- community,” the group said in According to Sy, adopting a cive for businesses to grow and its proposal. technology similar to that pro- for communities to live harmoThe group, which included moted by Gates would help ad- niously.

Jericho Bascos, Daniel del Rio, dress the problems of shortage Group leader Luigi Anton Ryan Encarnacion, LA Ibarof resources and pollution in Alcañeses, 16, got the Future rientos and Cisco Ortega, said Manila.

Young Mayor award given to open spaces would provide “adTo make Manila more en- a participant who embodied ditional job opportunities” for vironment-friendly while ad- leadership and inspired his residents. dressing the perennial prob- fellow youth to become leadTo address the chaotic busilem of congestion, Sy said his ers. ness environment, the group group also proposed parking Alcañeses, who wants to be said startup and medium-scale buildings with vertical gardens a neurologist, bested over 200 enterprises should be reorgaand capable of blocking storm other students from 36 teams nized into business complexes surges. from the Philippines, Singa- housed in commercial buildwww.canadianinquirer.net

“This provides better opportunities for small-scale enterprises to do their business and allows residents and tourists to browse through the different foods and services Quiapo has to offer,” the group said.

As for the traffic problem, the group suggested, among others, the construction of car parks on top of buildings in the commercial strip and designating jeepney unloading and loading terminals.

The group also suggested green innovations, such as solar panels on the roof of communal townhouses and a rainwater collection system in the commercial center.

In spite of his award, Alcañeses said he was not considering working for the government.

“What I learned [from this competition] was that you didn’t have to be in politics to help the world. Each person has (his/her) own responsibility,” he said.

Doable ideas

In developing their proposals, he said, “Our motivation is the people (of Manila). . . we looked at (the problem) from a person’s perspective . . . We considered how they lived and [the] social acceptability [of the proposal],” Alcañeses said.

Van Remoortele said the local government should consider the simple yet doable ideas from the youth.

Since the program started in 2012, Van Remoortele said response from the cities, which were the subjects of case studies, had been positive.

“Most of the government agencies... look at this program very favorably and definitely have taken [the students’ proposals] into consideration in planning their cities,” she said.

On its first year, the program’s subject was Hanoi, Vietnam. It was followed by Iskandar Johor in Malaysia and Yangon, Myanmar.

In choosing Manila this year, Van Remoortele said “the city has so many aspects that can be improved, which can bring back vitality and tourism, and make it a livable city for its residents.”

This year’s top proposals were presented to the city government of Manila. ■

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Philippine News

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

No college degree, no freedom for Customs exec

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

after he wrote in his personal data sheet (PDS) that he graduated from the University of the East (UE) in 1969.

Cordero told the court a college degree was among the minimum requirements for the position that Vicencio held as Customs intelligence chief.

A FORMER intelligence chief of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Never a student has been sentenced to six years The prosecution presented in prison by the Sandiganbayan on the witness stand UE regis- Inadvertently filled in for falsely claiming that he had trar Erwin Bermillo who had In his defense, Vicencio a college degree. issued two certifications to the maintained the entry on his In a 20-page ruling, the an- Ombudsman showing that Vi- educational background tigraft court’s First Division cencio “was never a student or a was inadvertently filled in found Filomeno Vicencio Jr. graduate” of the university. by his son, Ramon Vicencio, guilty of falsification of a public Another prosecution witness, who was working for him as document under the Revised BOC human resource manage- his personal assistant and Penal Code. driver at the Besides the time. prison term, Vicencio the court also also presented to ordered the He intended to falsely state that he the court a memformer head had a bachelor’s degree from [UE] in ber of his personal of the BOC Inorder to qualify for the position. staff, Alfredo Latelligence and tumbo, who said Investigation he saw Ramon Service to pay a write the informaP1,000 fine. tion on Vicencio’s Vicencio, who was appointed ment staffer Teresa Cordero, personal data sheet.

by President Gloria Macapa- testified that Vicencio’s signaIn the April 20 decision writgalArroyo in May 2009, was ture appeared in the personal ten by Associate Justice Rafael charged with falsification by file which he submitted follow- Lagos, the court said the testimothe Office of the Ombudsman ing his appointment. nies of the younger Vicencio and

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conclusion that he intended to falsely state that he had a bachelor’s degree from [UE] in order to qualify for the position,” it added.

Highly improbable

Latumbo were “incredulous.”

The court noted the “inconsistencies and contradictions” in their statements which the prosecution had pointed out.

“That the accused had not, at any point in the trial or even during the preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman, disclosed where and when indeed he obtained his bachelor’s degree is suspect,” the court said. “[This] lends credence to the

The court said it was “highly improbable” that Ramon did not bother to ask his father where he obtained his college degree even after Vicencio was charged by the Ombudsman for faking his credentials.

“The fact that it was his son who filled in the personal data sheet cannot exculpate the accused,” it added.

“Consequently, even if it was [Ramon] who had written down the untruthful statement in his PDS, the fact remains he had assented to that untruthful statement by virtue of his signature on that document, appropriating the falsehood as his own and rendering him liable for falsification of an official document,” the court ruled. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

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Cardinal Quevedo optimistic Senate, House will pass BBL

BY EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ Philippines News Agency MANILA — One of the two cardinals in the country on Tuesday said he was optimistic both Houses of Congress will approve and pass the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBl) that will create new political entity in southern Philippines as a result of the government’s peace initiatives with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In fact, optimisms ran high among peace advocates after Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo met separately with President Benigno Aquino III, leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Quevedo, who convened the Friends of Peace, an umbrella organization of all peace advocates in Mindanao and the country, said President Aquino told him that the draft law will have “smooth journey” in both Houses of Congress.

Quevedo and the Friends of Peace (FFP) have been lobbying for the passage of the draft law subject to some changes that will not remove the essence of the proposal.

Quevedo and Peace Council member Christian Monsod both believe the draft law, once approved by Congress, will give more meaning to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

Both Monsod and Quevedo have said that the legislative process on the BBL is the last part of the government’s peace initiative in southern Philippines.

“Our lawmakers are peace advocates,” Monsod told Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and members of the Lower Chamber who will decide within the month to vote for or against the passage of the BBL once

Cotobato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo is optimistic that both Houses of congress will approve and pass the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law that will create a new political entity in the southern Philippines as a result of the government's peace initiatives with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro submits its committee report to the plenary.

“I remain optimistic at the end our honourable lawmakers will vote in favour of the bill with some revisions as recommended by the Citizens’ Peace Council,” he said after meeting Speaker Belmonte.

He said the roles of Friends of Peace was not only to lobby and push for the passage of the bill but “beyond.”

Earlier, Cardinal Quevedo said FFP will continue engaging with the primary political actors and key stakeholders to promote peace through dialogues and consultations in support of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the consolidation of peace in Bangsamoro and the wider Mindanao area.

"The many initiatives done in response to calls for truth and justice, for rebuilding of trust and confidence amongst our people, and many such peace activities are already contribu-

tions towards finding the road to peace once more," he said, explaining the essence of the group he convened.

But Quevedo, believing anyone can make a difference by working for peace and in the spirit of shared responsibility, said the “FFP’s vision goes beyond the implementation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and into the formation of a human ecology of harmony and peace among various ethnic groups and religious traditions.”

Speaking during the news conference with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) conference room, Cardinal Quevedo said all the efforts of the FFP are geared toward the attainment of peace in the island which will also benefit the people outside Mindanao.

“The bottom line is the fact that all wanted to see BBL passed. But what BBL? It should be a BBL that is good, just and fair to all in Mindanao

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and in the country,” Quevedo told foreign correspondents Tuesday.

Monsod said the report contained two important things: One is the Annex 2, which he said was very important guide to Congress members.

“It contained the recommendations of the Council on all provisions of the draft law that seem to be problematic,” Monsod said, adding it will make the proposal attuned to the 1987 Constitution.

He mentioned about major principles in the report that include the principle of subsidiarity, solidarity and devolution of powers.

“First, these principles should cover all other provisions, and second, the Constitution prevails; that any law must be within framework of the constitution,” Monsod said.

He said there were some provisions that are seem against the Constitution but they are actually not. He did not give details.

“I pray that wisdom and ra-

tionality will prevail over Mamasapano when the Senate and the House vote. I’m optimistic the Senate and the House will vote on the basis of BBL and not the Mamasapano incident,” Quevedo added.

The Mamasapano incident in Maguindanao on January 25 has left 67 persons killed, including 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and 17 MILF rebels, has threatened the passage of the BBL. Emotions ran high among legislators and relatives and loved ones of the victims but peace advocates, including the FFP, believed the BBL will hurdle all the “obstacles.”

Monsod said the Mamasapano incident, sadly, was among the obstacles in the final phase of the GPH-MILF peace process.

“There are always spoilers in peace process worldwide, Ireland for example had a lot of violence during the process until an agreement was forged. What they did was transcend this and gave reasons to proceed to avoid violence,” he explained.

He said the Mamasapano case happened during the duration of the peace process. There were many people who have died, many brutalities, Mamasapano was only one… all of these violation and brutalities are usually referred to transitional justice and reconciliation component of peace process…many of them take a long time to resolve.

“If a resolution of these incidents as a precondition, there will never be peace,” he said.

“Passing the BBL will prevent Mamasapano incidents in the future,” Quevedo said.

“At the outset,” Quevedo said, “the vocal against the BBL would want the draft to be improved and passed. Will it be passed? Yes it will be passed,” he said. ■

Philippine News

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MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

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Are you happy at work? 4% of our respondents say, ‘My boss is the devil!’

In Super’s Labor Day survey, 110 employees answer questions about their bosses, their coworkers, their jobs and the reasons they want (or don’t want) to quit their jobs

BY PAM PASTOR Philippine Daily Inquirer WE ASKED 110 people: Do you love your job? Forty-seven percent say yes; another 47 percent, sometimes; and six percent, no.

To celebrate Labor Day, Super surveyed Filipino employees (35 percent male, 65 percent female) between the ages of 21 and 55 to find out how happy they are at work.

They were asked to reveal the job they dreamt of as children. Only 10 percent say that their current work is their childhood dream job. (Twenty percent of the respondents say they wanted to be a doctor when they were a kid—but none of the 20 percent purued a medical career).

Sixty-nine percent say that their work is related to the course or major they took in college. Thirty-one percent have landed jobs that have nothing to do with their degrees.

The top three factors to consider in looking for a job, according to the respondents, are: salary (90 percent), job description (69 percent) and the company’s reputation (63 percent).

“Perfect job + perfect company hasn’t happened for me,” says Jilly.

Other factors they consider when choosing a job are work hours (49 percent) and the commute (36 percent).

Some don’t mind the long commute if the job is good. Abigail says, “I live in one of the villages along Commonwealth Avenue in QC. My office is in Alabang.

If I didn’t love my job, I would’ve quit months ago. But I love my boss and my job too much to quit.”

Jeezel says she also considers security of tenure, while Joy says opportunity for growth is important to her.

Happy Panda says, “If there’s one thing I realized after almost nine years of working, it’s that it’s not always about the money. Choose an environment that makes you happy.”

Twenty percent of the respondents are currently holding their first job.

Twentyeight percent have had two jobs, 19 percent have had three, 14 percent have had four, and 19 percent have had over four jobs, including one respondent who has had 12 jobs and two who say they’ve had so many jobs that they’ve lost count.

Charanoid says, “It’s possible to move companies and not burn bridges. Always remain thankful to previous employers and at the same time remain humble in your current post.”

Asked why they quit their last job, 24 percent say they got a better offer, 16 percent say their salary was too low, 15 percent say their boss was horrible, 14 percent say they did not feel appreciated, 12 percent say their work hours were bad, nine percent say the commute was

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too long, seven percent say they did not like their coworkers, three percent say the work was too hard, and one percent say, “I didn’t quit, I was fired.” Thirty-six percent gave other reasons.

Jane says she quit because of her pregnancy. Grace says she resigned for her family. Anna says, “I underwent surgery and needed to rest.” “It wasn’t fulfilling,” says Joey. Chinx says, “There were times when all I needed to do was to clean my desk. The entire shift.”

“The environment wasn’t healthy, very political,” says Heeowa.

Hanzel simply says, “I didn’t like it anymore.”

Fired

Only nine percent of the respondents have experienced being fired. When asked why they were terminated, five percent say they broke the rules, two percent say their boss didn’t like them, one percent say they didn’t get along with their coworkers, and one percent say their company was downsizing.

Some don’t know why they were fired.

Kitty says, “It’s still a mystery.”

Nineteen percent have had their current job for less than a year, 27 percent have been working at their company for one to two years, 26 percent have held their position for three to five years, nine percent for six to eight years, six percent for nine to 10 years, while 13 percent have been working for the same

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

company for over 10 years.

Romer says, “Time flies when you’re having fun. I’ve been with the airline for almost 12 years now. We fly even on holidays, weekends, red-eye, and through bad weather. We’ve missed out on numerous get-togethers, birthdays, anniversaries, concerts, and Noche Buenas, but I was probably bitten by the flying bug, always ready to stand tall, smile and greet guests, ‘Hello! Welcome aboard!’”

Twenty-one percent say they want to quit their job, 51 percent say they sometimes want to quit their job, while 28 percent do not want to quit their current job.

Jesse says, “This survey couldn’t have arrived at the right time. I’m at a crossroads right now: Should I continue with this job? Or should I find a new one? It’s tiring to keep on saying that ‘I’m passionate’ about my job because I question that nowadays. Passion doesn’t pay the bills.”

JM C. says, “Do I still think of quitting? There are good and bad days... It’s a private joke of mine that I call this my ‘drug’—no matter how many times you tell yourself enough of this sh-t, you keep looking for the next hit. And then you crash so bad it’s worse than taking seven double shots of tequila and chasing it with vodka. But you remain hopeful, oddly enough. And jaded at the same time.”

Fifty-six percent would quit their job if they got a better offer from another company, 26 percent would quit if they won the lottery, 26 percent would quit if they get the chance to work abroad, 11 percent would quit their job if they find someone rich to marry.

Grace says she would quit if her family, especially her son, needs her. Venise echoes the same sentiment, saying, “I would quit if my child would require more of my time.”

Chloe says she will quit “if I got a better offer from another company, a better and more inspiring boss whom I can learn from, someone who is innovative and can serve as a mentor, someone who is a good leader...”

We asked the respondents about their superiors.

Fifty-three percent say they have a male boss, 47 percent have a female boss.

Fifty-two percent say they like their boss, 32 percent say they sometimes like their boss, 16 percent say they do not like their boss.

Asked to be more specific about just how much they like their boss, three percent of the respondents say they’re in love with their boss, 17 percent say they love their boss, 26 percent say they like their boss, 39 percent say their boss has good and bad days, 10 percent say they hate their boss and five percent say they want to kill their boss.

Chinx has a message for her boss: “Hi boss, I want to tell you that the entire department is waiting for you to take a leave. That would be the most-awaited vacation for all of us. Thanks.”

Devil boss

The respondents say they like that their boss is considerate (46 percent), supportive (41 percent), interested in their career growth (33 percent), fair (30 percent), funny (16 percent) and that their boss recognizes their hard work (32 percent) and respects them (36 percent). Twenty-six percent like that their boss is great at his or her job.

Twenty-seven percent say that they like that they learn a lot from their boss.

Marlboro says she likes her boss because “Saktong boss lang.”

Asked why they hate their boss, 18 percent say their boss has a temper, 16 percent say their boss has unrealistic expectations, 12 percent say their boss does not do his or her job, eight percent say their boss doesn’t have boundaries, and six percent say their boss takes credit for their work.

Others say their boss is inconsiderate (14 percent), unfair (13 percent), unreasonable (12 percent), and does not respect weekends (12 percent).

Five percent say their boss embarrasses them in front of coworkers. Four percent say their boss is the devil. Vina says, “My boss hits on me.” “My boss can be a pressure cooker on high heat,” says The Only Qix. “My boss is fickle and she nags,” says LittlemissC. Four percent of respondents say they don’t like their coworkers.

Dominique says, “I’ve been working for almost four years. In my experience, having awesome officemates means a lot. It makes work and going to work easier. With awesome officemates, even the boss from hell becomes tolerable, mostly because you get to talk about your boss after office hours. A bad boss makes great friendships. Officemates make you want to stay in your present job or make you want to resign immediately.”

When asked about what they love about their current job, 55 percent of the respondents say they are passionate about their work, 31 percent say it’s the extra perks, 27 percent say it’s the money, 21 percent say their coworkers are the best, 13 percent say their boss is awesome, 26 percent say it’s the health benefits, and 38 percent say they get to have a life outside of work.

Joey says, “Do not let your job define who you are.”

Asked how happy they are at work, only two percent of respondents say they can’t wait to go to work every day, 54 percent say they love their work but they love weekends, too, and 20 percent say they just work to make money.

A. says, “I hate working in a call center, but it pays the bills.”

Twenty-one percent say they want to quit sometimes, and five percent say, “I hate my life, I want to quit right now.”

But for some, it’s a matter of perspective. Browny says, “I recently read in the news that about 13 million Filipinos are unemployed. That bit of info made me appreciate my job more.” ■

9

Angara book... ❰❰ 4

ticians, other people,” Angara says.

It was at this point that he met with FPJ, together with restaurant owner, Melo Santiago, and explained to him “to change his attitude and to win [the media and the politicians] over.”

They recommended now Vice President Jejomar Binay, who became the general campaign manager and helped FPJ who eventually opened up.

Susan Roces’ role

“He had a script, and he was used to memorizing scripts, so things went more smoothly. [Sotto] had good writers at ‘Eat Bulaga’ who helped with the speeches. From then on, we were able to repair our relationship with politicians and the media,” Angara says.

Susan Roces, FPJ’s wife, “had a role in the background, which later became more prominent,” he says.

Roces’ group included Marichu Maceda and Armida Siguion-Reyna, according to Angara, who says he did not know what advice the women gave to Roces.

“But we had some differences with this group, in giving directions and guidance to FPJ,” he says.

Angara says he had no official designation in the campaign but he organized the opposition alliance and recalls that they moved from one venue to another because they suspected they were under surveillance.

FPJ eventually lost to Arroyo and months later, died after suffering a stroke.

Angara says he had hoped that under an FPJ administration, because of his popularity, the actor would be able to mobilize popular opinion to support massive public works and create jobs.

“And because of his popularity, he would have done it. Erap would have been the perfect person for that, but his ‘midnight Cabinet’ stopped him and refocused his attention on less than desirable activities. I think FPJ would have been a different President from Erap, because he was a straight shooter. Of course, he also had his women, but he wasn’t crony-orient-

www.canadianinquirer.net

ed,” Angara says.

Angara served as agriculture secretary and later executive secretary in Estrada’s shortlived administration.

Corona impeachment

Also in his biography, Angara belies Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s allegation that he and 19 other senators who voted to convict Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012 were allotted P50 million each as “incentive.”

“What Jinggoy Estrada subsequently said about the senators who voted to impeach Corona receiving P50 million each as a reward is rather unfair and reckless,” Angara says.

They did get the funds later for their development projects, he says.

“But no money or pork barrel fund was ever discussed before, during and after the trial. No one knew that those funds were coming,” he says.

Angara explains that the funds come from savings accumulated at the end of the year, mostly infrastructure money that reverts to the general fund if not used.

He says the chair of the finance committees in Congress would recommend to the Speaker or the Senate President that “some of these savings be allocated to lawmakers to support existing projects.”

He says he was not sure where the P50 million went as he was already retiring from the Senate, but it was likely the money went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Corona’s dollar account

Angara also explains that the senators would have voted to convict Corona had a vote been taken on the day the former chief justice admitted having a “sizeable dollar savings account, which he kept secret because of his understanding that banks that kept the deposit were prohibited from revealing it.”

“That’s true enough if you’re not a public servant and more so not under indictment. But he was both. As a lawyer, I could see that it was a specious argument. Had the vote been taken there and then, he would have been convicted unanimously,” Angara says. ■

10

Philippine News

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Veloso’s recruiter travels 2x monthly

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL, JULIE M. AURELIO AND JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SUSPECTED recruiter of Mary Jane Veloso, Maria Kristina Sergio, is a frequent traveler, according to state investigators.

Also known as Mary Christine Guilles Passadila, Sergio travels at least twice a month to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, the investigators, who obtained Sergio’s travel records, told the INQUIRER last week.

But Sergio’s airline and immigration records do not match, one of the investigators, who requested anonymity, said.

The source said Sergio, who has been traveling since 2009, traveled on certain dates seemingly without the knowledge of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

“The BI and the airline records did not match. There were dates Christine was supposed to have left the country based on airline records but her passport did not bear any stamp that she left,” the source said.

The airline records also showed that Sergio and Veloso left the Philippines together on April 21, 2010, bound for Malaysia.

Veloso’s recruiter

Veloso, in her statement to agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who interviewed her in Wirogunan Prison in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in March, said it was Sergio who took her to Malaysia in April 2010 to arrange a maid’s job for her there.

In Malaysia, while waiting for her prospective employer, she said Sergio planned a trip to Indonesia to meet someone.

Later, Sergio said she could not make the trip and asked her to go instead.

That was when she met Sergio’s live-in partner, Julius Lacanilao, and his friend, an African she identified only as Ike. Veloso said Ike gave her a bag in which to carry her clothes on her trip to Indonesia and Sergio gave her a number to call a person who would meet her at the airport.

But at the airport in Yogyakarta, authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden in the

Maria Kristina Sergio, the suspected recruiter of temporarily saved death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso, turned herself to authorities after the spotlight on Veloso's case caused Sergio to start receiving death threats from people based on accusations that Sergio was involved in setting up Veloso with drugs.

SCREENSHOT FROM ABC NEWS

bag. Veloso was arrested and tried on charges of drug trafficking. On Oct. 20, 2010, she was convicted and sentenced to death.

Granted reprieve

Her case and those of nine other drug convicts scheduled for execution by firing squad on April 29, drew international attention—and still unclear problems for Sergio, who turned herself in to authorities on Monday seeking protective custody from the Philippine National Police.

A last-ditch effort by President Aquino, boosted by the investigation of Sergio for suspected involvement with an international drug syndicate, won for Veloso a reprieve early on Wednesday.

She was taken out of the maximum-security island prison of Nusakambangan and returned to her cell in the Yogyakarta prison, where Philippine authorities may visit her soon to get her testimony against Sergio.

The National Bureau of Investigation has filed illegal recruitment, human trafficking and fraud charges against Sergio and Lacanilao in the Department of Justice, which has ordered them to appear for their preliminary investigation

on May 8 and 14.

Last Wednesday night, the PNP took the couple under protective custody, as they claimed they had received threats to their lives.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday that she had given orders to the NBI to look into reports that Sergio had two other victims.

West African syndicate

The PNP is looking into the possibility that the West African Drug Syndicate is the group involved in Veloso’s predicament.

Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias, the new spokesperson for the PNP, said yesterday that the syndicate was the only group that used “drug mules” or couriers to transport illegal drugs to other countries.

Tobias used to head the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF).

According to the task force, the syndicate lures Filipinos to transport drugs for a fee of $500 (P22,000), depending on the amount of the drugs to be transported.

Senior Supt. Leonardo Suan, task force chief of staff, said the fee could go as high as $5,000 (P220,000).

“The transactions are conwww.canadianinquirer.net

ducted outside the country but the recruitment is done here in the Philippines,” Suan said.

Veloso’s experience

Operating exactly as Veloso described her arrangement with Sergio, the syndicate’s local contacts entice mostly poor Filipinos with overseas job offers and the gullible ones are taken to another country where they are given suitcases in which drugs are hidden without their knowledge, Suan said.

Tobias declined to tell reporters where Sergio and Lacanilao were, saying disclosure of their whereabouts and activities could jeopardize the investigation.

“This is a life and death situation. We should be cautious so that’s why we cannot divulge other information,” Tobias said.

He said that since the West African Drug Syndicate might be involved, the security and crime situation not only in the Philippines but also in the entire Asia-Pacific region is involved.

“We shouldn’t be too simplistic about the cases of Veloso and Sergio,” he said.

He said, however, that family members and friends had visited Sergio.

No to int’l court

De Lima ruled out the el-

evation of Veloso’s case to an international tribunal, which University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque had proposed.

“Not yet. I mean let’s not talk about this first because the important thing here is that we have been emphasizing to the Indonesian authorities that we respect their laws and their legal processes,” De Lima said.

She said leaving Veloso’s case a matter between the Philippines and Indonesia would also show mutual trust between the two countries.

De Lima also clarified that Veloso was given just a reprieve and that her death sentence remained.

The reprieve is “a diplomatic and political act” by Indonesia, she said.

De Lima said she could not tell what happens to Veloso’s case if charges are brought against Sergio and Lacanilao.

“The case [of Veloso] has been decided by the Indonesian court with finality. That’s why her second appeal was rejected. On the legal and judicial [fronts], I really don’t know if there’s still an open avenue or remedy for the main case for which she was convicted and sentenced to death,” De Lima said.

“Mary Jane is claiming she is the victim. It would appear that there are elements of human trafficking and illegal recruitment. If this is verified, this can help her, I think,” she said.

De Lima, however, did not rule out Indonesian President Joko Widodo extending other forms of executive clemency to Veloso.

Supervening event

“It may not be total absolution, it can be a pardon or commutation, although we are not going there yet. Let’s prioritize [the preliminary investigation].

The Indonesian government allowed a reprieve because they respect our legal processes, that’s why we have to inform them about the NBI complaint. There was a supervening event—the surrender of the recruiter. And the Indonesians respect [the] pending process that might impact the current predicament of Mary Jane,” she said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

Palace on people saying PHL guilty of violating DOC: Prove it PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday declined to comment on a news report quoting China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying that the Philippines is guilty of violating the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. called on people throwing allegations against the Philippines to prove their statements.

“Kung sino man po ang nagsabi ‘non ‘di siya po ang magpatunay. (Whoever said that should prove it),” he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said the Philippines built an airport in the Spratlys Island (Zhongye Dao) before the signing of the DOC in 2002, and “illegally seized some of the maritime features of China’s Nansha Islands in the 1970s.”

The latter, she said, “constitutes the crux and root cause of the disputes be-

tween China and the Philippines over the South China Sea. Coloma, on the other hand, referred to Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to comment on the issue.

President Benigno Aquino III had raised the territorial issue in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) in several instances, recent of which is during the 26th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

Coloma said the Philippines remains firm on its stand that there should be rules-based and peaceful and diplomatic approach in addressing the territorial dispute.

He added that ASEAN leaders have supported the move for the establishment of a legally-binding and enforceable Code of Conduct for the DOC. The Philippines is among the few Asian countries that have territorial dispute with China. The others are Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. ■

More Pinoys... ❰❰ 1

ing to 88 the total number of Filipino facing the death penalty.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told the INQUIRER, however, that “no case is imminent for execution.”

“All death penalty cases are either already given a reprieve or are on appeal,” Coloma said in a text message.

“The death penalty with a two-year reprieve could be commuted to life imprisonment for good behavior,” said Coloma, quoting Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Charles Jose.

Assistance

According to Coloma, all Philippine embassies and consulates had been directed by Malacañang to extend all the help necessary to Filipinos on death row under the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals program, including legal assistance and appeals coursed through diplomatic channels.

“On the preventive side, extensive education and information are conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment and its attached agencies in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency and other government media organizations,” Coloma said.

Massive

Already, he said, a massive informa-

tion and education campaign against drug and human trafficking was being conducted in the country’s regions and provinces to educate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while they are still in the country.

He also raised the need to increase awareness on the perils posed by human and drug trafficking syndicates, particularly an intensified information drive on the issue among OFWs and other Philippine nationals based abroad.

It is necessary for OFWs to know and comply with the laws of their host countries, he said.

In China, trafficking in illegal drugs is punishable by a prison terms of at least 15 years, life imprisonment or death, the DFA said.

In most Muslim countries, the offense is punishable by death under Sharia law.

Coloma said the government was doing everything to protect the rights of Filipino citizens in trouble in the various parts of the world.

Citing the case of drug convict Mary Jane Veloso, he said a criminal syndicate had duped the Nueva Ecija native into “being an unwitting accomplice or courier in their human and drug trafficking activities.”

Last Wednesday, Veloso was given a last-minute reprieve after President Aquino brought up her case with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

11

12

Philippine News

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Sadness, disappointment... ❰❰ 1

the admirable fight of super Typhoon Haiyan that our National Fist.” killed more than 7,000 people a He said Aquino month after a killer earthquake thanked Pacquiao, who is also struck the same region. a congressman, for being “an Jose Luis Nepomuceno, a inspiration to every Filipino 62-year-old retired congreswho is struggling with life’s sional liaison officer, brought challenges to achieve a bright along his wife to watch the fight future.” at the San Andres Sports ComSome fans said Pacquiao plex, one of nine public venues should retire from boxing while the city government set up for others demanded a rematch. the public to watch the bout, For thousands at a plaza in partially funded by a popular Marikina city, part of metro- department store. politan Manila, the party mood “We may not be in Las Vewas dampened not just by his gas, but our hearts are there for loss but also a sudden down- him,” Nepomuceno said. pour.

Louis Tinsley, a 25-yearRoland Purificacion, a old tourist from Manchester, 45-year-old pedicab driver who England, and his fiancee, Jade watched the fight Broadhurst, on a huge televiwere among the sion screen outearly birds at San side the Quiapo Andres eager Church in cento support Pactral Manila, was quiao. disappointed but “In the eyes spoke for many of Filipinos he of his compais a role model triots when he In the eyes ... a very humble said Pacquiao “is of Filipinos man, which is still the people’s he is a role not usual for a champ. He is still model boxer. That’s his our hero.” ... a very most endearing Security guard humble quality,” Tinsley Melchor Yaba, man, which said.

48, said he lost is not usual At the Manila 5,000 pesos for a branch of the ($113), a half boxer. That’s country’s bigmonth’s salary, his most gest mall opbetting on Pacendearing erator, SM, the quiao. quality.

Pacquiao-May“I can’t accept weather fight that he lost. I was shown in six now regret it,” he of its 12 theatres. said, referring to Cinema manhis bet. “He canager Rico Ramos not retire yet. said ticket sales Let’s have a rewere three times match.” bigger this time In Pacquiao’s than Pacquiao’s hometown of previous big U.S. Kiamba, a fishing and farming fight against Juan Manuel Martown in southern Sarangani quez in December 2012. province, which he represents Hundreds of soldiers and ciin Congress, passenger mini- vilian employees and their fambuses brought villagers who ilies watched the fight at the have no television to watch the grandstand inside the armed fight in the town’s 2,500-seat forces headquarters.

The gymnasium. fight also was shown in camps Vice Mayor Bogi Martinez throughout the country as a said the municipal government morale-booster. roasted a calf and pig to be Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio served to the crowd.

Pio Catapang, congratulated Winning or losing, Pacquiao’s Pacquiao, a lieutenant colofights with the world’s top box- nel in the army reserve force, ers often lifts the spirit of Fili- despite his defeat because the pinos amid troubles brought by boxer “gave his best, and (that corruption scandals, a decades- is) what is important to us.” long separatist insurgency in “He gave us a good fight. Unthe south, and natural disasters fortunately his opponent kept such as the November 2013 on running around,” he said. ■

A group of children at the shoreline of Bacoor town in Cavite showing their moral support for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao during his 12-round fight against American Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, May 2. Pacquiao lost in a 12 round unanimous decision. Despite the loss, Pacquiao is expected to return home to a hero's welcome for representing Filipinos on the world stage.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

Despite loss, hero’s welcome awaits Pacquiao in GenSan, Sarangani homecoming PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Despite losing his epic fight on Sunday, world boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao will receive a hero’s welcome when he returns to this city and nearby Sarangani Province on May 8.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Monday the preparations are now underway for Pacquiao’s homecoming on Friday, five days after his “unexpected” loss to undefeated American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mayweather defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision to wrest the unified World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Council welterweight belt.

Rivera said they were informed by the Pacquiao camp that he will be returning to area along with his family on Friday, May 8.

Pacquiao’s younger sister Liza Onding also confirmed the team’s homecoming on the www.canadianinquirer.net

same date.

As in his previous arrivals following his fights abroad, Pacquiao will be feted with a grand motorcade from the city airport to the downtown area and a brief stop at the city hall here.

Another motorcade will bring Pacquiao to the provincial capitol in Alabel town in Sarangani, where a grand celebration and press conference is usually held.

Rivera, who is a close political ally of Pacquiao, said the latter remains a champion for the city and deserves a hero’s welcome despite the result.

“I don’t know what the judges saw that they did not consider his efforts. Nevertheless, congressman Manny is still the champion for us,” the mayor said.

Although disappointed with the outcome, Rivera urged residents to accept it and just move on.

For Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian-Solon, who led the viewing of the fight at the provincial gymnasium, the “fighting congressman” gave an excellent fight and evened up with

Mayweather.

He said Pacquiao was the aggressor in the fight and gave strong hits compared to Mayweather’s counterpunches.

“The outcome, for me, was even so there should be a rematch so we will know who is really the better fighter,” he said.

Sarangani board member Virgilio Tobias Sr. called the fight’s result as “unfair and a hometown decision.”

“I thought Manny was ahead in points. But I know that he also needed to knock down Mayweather inorder to win this fight,” he said.

Local boxing trainer and analyst Arnel Antiporda, said the scores given by the three judges to Pacquiao reflected Mayweather’s influence in the Nevada boxing circles.

The three judges scored the fight 118-112, 118-112 and 118110 in favor of Mayweather, who remained undefeated in 48 fights.

“The scores were too degrading and clearly did not reflect what happened during the fight,” he said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

13

An overachiever in boxing ring, Pacquiao seen as underachiever in Philippine Congress

BY OLIVER TEVES The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Manny Pacquiao has been an inspiration for millions of Filipinos not just as a boxer, but as a philanthropist. As a politician, not so much.

The country’s biggest individual taxpayer in 2013, Pacquiao has often shared his wealth with the poor in his home province of Sarangani, where he has been elected and re-elected to Congress on waves of adoration. Win or lose in his May 2 megafight with Floyd Mayweather, Pacquiao is a lock to keep his seat for a third and final term, unless he decides to run for another office such as senator.

But some are disappointed with Pacquiao’s political record. After nearly six years in office, he has yet to get a single bill through committee. Last year, he was present in Congress for just four days.

While Pacquiao was absent mostly to train, public administration professor Prospero de Vera said he was denying his constituents representation.

Pacquiao “has a problem understanding what representation means,” said de Vera, who has served as consultant to other legislators. “What is worrisome is that he doesn’t seem to be bothered by it.”

Pacquiao’s financial help is often sought and given in Sarangani, one of the Philippines’ poorer provinces, with a poverty rate of over 45 per cent.

Rosario Mantua, a former councillor of Maasim township, said Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, the provincial vice governor, have donated fishing boats,

water buffalos to plow fields with, home lots and funds for college scholarships.

The high school dropout’s scholarships have helped hundreds of students who would never have gone to college without a financial sponsor, said Apolo Novicio, executive assistant to the Maasim mayor.

Pacquiao’s doling out of benefits, even from his own pocket, strikes some critics as too similar to how Filipino politicians typically operate, especially since he has few other political accomplishments.

“When you speak of the patronage system, it seems that he has strongly embraced it,” said political analyst Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reforms. He said Pacquiao keeps to the mould of the typical traditional politician, derisively called “trapo”, the Filipino word for rag.

Casiple said that lacking any political strategy or world view, Pacquiao could fall prey to “people around him who are not only ‘trapo’ but also opportunists, who will take advantage of his name and his money.”

Pacquiao has filed about a dozen bills as congressman but none has passed any of the committees they have been referred to, the first hurdle in the legislative mill. The bills include several pertaining to boxing and sports development and health, including one to build a provincial hospital.

Congressional records show that during his first term in 2010-2013, Pacquiao was “actually present” for 98 out of 168 session days, and only for four days last year. Congress is currently out of session, Pacquiao has been training for weeks and

Manny Pacquiao may be a world-class boxer, and perhaps even a decent basketball player-coach, but his track record as a politician is very poor.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

calls to his office rang unanswered.

Rep. Ben Evardone, a former provincial governor and member of the administration Liberal Party, defends Pacquiao’s absences in Congress, saying “being in Congress, making noise” is not as important as delivering public services.

“What is important is you bring home the bacon, as they say,” he said, referring to the number of school houses, irrigation canals and roads that people expect to be built in their district with their congressman’s help. “The fact that he is bringing glory to our country, he is able to unify, he is putting our country on the map, overshadows everything, his shortcomings.”

Pacquiao was praised for a 2010 speech supporting an anti-human trafficking law. But

during a heated debate months later over the reproductive health bill that backs artificial contraception, he fumbled. He raised questions that had been asked and answered, and challenged provisions that had already been removed or amended in previous sessions when he was absent.

His missteps have not discouraged some from thinking he has what it takes to achieve higher office one day — perhaps even president. Political scientist Amado Mendoza views him as a “more authentic propoor” public servant than other prominent politicians.

“He would not be an eighttime champion if he wasn’t wise,” Mendoza said. “War is war, it just takes on different forms. Politics is war, boxing is war. It is easy to shift ... from one form of warfare to another

form of warfare.”

Roulette de Leon, a former city planning staff member and consultant on community development and management, said he supported Pacquiao’s first and unsuccessful foray into politics in the 2007 congressional election in General Santos city, where Pacquiao began his boxing career.

He has since become frustrated over his performance in the House of Representatives and suggested that Pacquiao hold off any immediate plans to run for a national office like senator next year or president in 2022, when the 36-year-old boxing hero reaches the age required for the presidency.

Pacquiao should “first understand the job of a congressman before he understands the work of a senator, before he studies the responsibilities of a president,” de Leon said.

De Vera, the professor, said if Pacquiao intends to provide direct assistance to his constituents, he should run for a local government position such as mayor or governor because providing public service, though important, is not the main responsibility of a legislator.

Mayor Raul Martinez of Kiamba, who stood as wedding godfather for the Pacquiao couple, also thinks Pacquiao would be a good local executive. He has told the “fighting congressman” to make good on his commitment to develop Sarangani province and that the best way to do that is to serve as governor.

But he suggests that should wait until he retires from boxing. “‘You have to be a governor, full time,”’ Martinez said he told Pacquiao. “‘You cannot serve two masters.’ He just laughed.” ■

President Aquino praises Pacquiao despite loss to Mayweather PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Despite his unanimous decision loss to undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao still won the accolades of President Benigno

Aquino III for giving inspiration to the Filipinos who continue to fight amid struggles and difficulties in life. ”President Aquino thanked Manny for giving inspiration to every Filipino who continues to persevere and fight all the challenges of life to achieve

a fruitful future,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Sunday.

Coloma said the Philippines still salutes Pacquiao for his amazing journey as one of the best boxers in the world. www.canadianinquirer.net

”We will continue to be proud of his skills, gallantry and bravery. He represents the excellence and kindness of every Filipino who can be among the best of the best in different arenas and can bring home honors for the country,” Coloma said. ”We hope Manny can devote

more time for his family and stay healthy in other journey he wants to take in the future,” he added.

Pacquiao, a congressman of the lone district of Sarangani province, is reportedly being groomed to run for higher office in the 2016 elections. ■

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Philippine News

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

State of calamity declared in Kidapawan City PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY KIDAPAWAN CITY — The Kidapawan City Council has approved a resolution putting the city’s 40 villages under state of calamity due to dry spell.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista said the city government is set to release PHP3.3 million as calamity assistance to affected farmers whose rice and corn fields have dried up, and banana plantations turned yellow while and rubber trees slowed down production.

At least PHP100 million worth of crops, including high value crops have been damaged by the absence of rain fall since January.

Evangelista said occasionally light downpour hit Kidapawan City hinterlands but these were not enough to answer the water needs of agricultural crops.

He said about 35 percent of the city quick response fund or about PHP1 million would be used for cash-for-work projects and the construction of flood control and drainage system in low lying communities.

At least a dozen hogs have died due to heat stroke while Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) communities have complained of

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lack of drinking water and traditional foods.

Some tribes people have taken the dangerous wild yam, locally known as “Kayos” to replace regular rice or other agricultural products. The wild yam is dangerous because of its toxic content but could still be eaten when cleaned properly.

Informed of the IPs practice, Mayor Evangelista said the city government was not taking any chances after receiving reports four of the residents of Barangay Amas have been hospitalized for eating wild yam.

To prevent similar incident, Evangelista directed all village chairpersons to stop their respective constituents from eating the wild yam.

Engr. Eliseo Mangliwan, North Cotabato provincial agriculture officer, said

only regular rainfall could stop agricultural crops from damages.

The province is yet to experience heavy downpour that could “add life” to the dying crops. To date, the provincial agriculture office reported about PHP230 million worth of crops have been damaged in 17 municipalities and one city.

At least 17 forest fires were reported in the province due to dry spell since January. ■

Philippine military chief confirms wanted Filipino bomb maker with $1 million bounty killed THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine military chief confirmed Monday that wanted Filipino bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman, who has links to the Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network and is a suspect in deadly bomb attacks in the south, has been killed.

Washington has offered a $1 million award for Usman’s capture and prosecution.

Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said that infighting among Usman’s bodyguards led to a firefight Sunday in southern Maguindanao province, near a designated safe area for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim rebel group that signed a peace deal with the government last year. www.canadianinquirer.net

He said Usman and five others were killed in a shootout allegedly with fellow members of his group.

But circumstances of Usman’s death were still unclear, and Catapang said the military was investigating if he was already dead when Muslim rebels arrived to check the firefight. “What we are confirming is Basit Usman is dead,” he told reporters, saying the military has physical evidence, including people who saw Usman’s body being buried. A tussle for the bounty may have fueled the infighting, Catapang said, adding that Usman has become distrustful of his men after a series of clashes with the military.

Usman escaped a police commando operation in January that killed one of Southeast Asia’s most-wanted terror suspects, Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir or Marwan, also in Maguindanao. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

15

Journalist killings must come down, says US ambassador

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer US AMBASSADOR Philip Goldberg last week described the situation of violence and killings against journalists in the country as “a glass half full,” saying the government must continue to work to bring the number of incidents down to zero.

While press freedom in the Philippines has had a “positive development” over the past few years, the declining incidence of media killings did not reflect the reality, Goldberg told a forum on Wednesday hosted by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism to mark World Press Freedom Day. “We’ve seen some positive development with regards to press freedom in the Philippines over the last few years but it’s not there yet,” he said.

Goldberg cited data from human rights organizations showing that cases of extrajudicial killings, including those of journalists, had dropped from a high of more than 200 per year in the late 2000s to from 50 to 100 per year in recent years.

“I feel almost embarrassed saying that that’s a positive development because it’s not in reality... there is still a tragic number of deaths,” Goldberg said.

“But statistics show both a significant decline in extrajudicial killings as well as the seriousness of the problem in the Philippines. It’s a glass half full,” he said.

The International Committee to Protect Journalists has ranked the Philippines as the third most dangerous country for journalists next to Iraq and Syria, with at least 77 deaths.

In 2013, the World Press Freedom Index placed the Philippines in 147th place among 180 countries, and 149th in the succeeding year.

In front of the National Press Club building is this monument with names of the journalist victims of the Maguindanao Massacre, where 58 people were killed, including 32 journalists. The case is the worst incident of violence against journalists in the Philippines, and its slow processing is a large reason why the country ranked in 147th place among 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index.

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The Philippines, with the help of other governments,

institutions and civil society groups, must work “so that the

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number becomes zero” and legal action against perpetrators

will be facilitated in a speedy manner, Goldberg said.

Citing the slow pace of the trial of the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people, 32 of them journalists, the US ambassador urged the government to do more to address media violence and killings, like training the police in effective investigation techniques and training prosecutors to work with law enforcement agencies.

But he also noted that the government had taken some important steps, like deepening coordination between prosecutors and the police in pushing for extrajudicial-related cases.

“As a result of this collaboration, prosecutors can take a more proactive approach early in the investigative stage to ensure higher conviction rates of cases involving grave violations of human rights,” said Goldberg.

Terence Jones, the UN resident coordinator and United Nations Development Program resident representative, said that despite the restoration of democracy through the People Power revolution 29 years ago, the culture of impunity continued in the Philippines.

“The Philippines has ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media personnel... We should reflect upon why [this] trend is happening,” Jones told the forum.

“These extrajudicial killings don’t only pose a threat to a journalist’s right to life.

They also represent threats to freedom of speech, right to information and, ultimately, the right of a nation to call itself a democracy,” he said. ■

Opinion

16

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

PUBLIC LIVES

Lack of gratitude

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer GRATITUDE, THE kind that wells up in every Filipino’s heart when prayers are answered, gripped the nation like a fever when the news came that Mary Jane Veloso was spared from execution. It was as if Pacquiao had knocked out Mayweather. But if this was a blessing that touched the millions who did not know Mary Jane yet prayed for her, the last-minute reprieve seems to have moved her family in a perverse way. Instead of gratitude, antipathy toward President Aquino, who had gone out of his way to secure a stay of execution, dripped from every statement that Mary Jane’s relatives made to the press upon their return from Indonesia.

Here was her mother, Celia Veloso, speaking arrogantly in Filipino: “We’ve returned home for payback….

This is not about money. The government owes us because they tricked us.” Zeroing in on President Aquino, she continued: “He is telling the whole world that he helped save my daughter’s life. That is not true. Get ready: We are here to collect on your debts. We will fight you.”

Mary Jane’s sister, Marites, echoed these hostile sentiments, faulting the

government for not providing her sis- cause he was just trying to save his root in our communities. The town of ter a more competent interpreter dur- own political skin. Or, maybe they be- Betis, a small village of craftsmen and ing her trial. “Had the government not lieved that this was the government’s carpenters where I grew up, was one been remiss, my sister would not have duty anyway, and that the money to of the first communities to send conbeen in trouble,’ she declared. be spent comes from the welfare fund struction workers abroad. First it was As puzzling as they are, one can of overseas workers. Indeed, this is the young fathers who became swiftonly try to rationalize these angry the least the government could do for ly accustomed to being far away from words as remnants of scripted state- the families of thousands of Filipinos home for extended periods. They selments that were suddenly supersed- who are languishing on death row dom came home, but were not missed ed by events. Having been prepped in various prisons abroad. Even so, so long as they sent money regularly to participate in a post-execution watching the resentment of families to their families. ritual of necropolitical lamentation, like Mary Jane’s turn into righteous Then it was the mothers who were Mary Jane’s shell-shocked kin may entitlement is deeply unsettling. enticed to work abroad, mostly as dohave found themselves unable to sort When it is most needed, empa- mestic helpers, leaving their young out their emotions during the short thy has been eroded. From a focus children in the care of their parents plane ride back to Manila. on those issues of public policy that or siblings. The remittances douThe government bled, but the famhad facilitated their ily savings never inPublic pressure can only go so far in persuading foreign passage to Indonecreased. Only their governments to respect the rights of overseas Filipinos. sia to enable them needs multiplied. to see Mary Jane, Families became who was sentenced to die before a have made us a labor-exporting and addicted to a way of life where they firing squad following her conviction remittance-dependent country, pub- traded the intangible values of family for smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin lic attention has shifted to the private life for the nonessential acquisitions into Indonesia. If they could not find troubles of a personal milieu in which made possible by remittances. Those it in their hearts to acknowledge the overseas workers often find them- who stayed home usually stopped government’s assistance or Presi- selves. People begin to wonder what working, waiting for their own turn dent Aquino’s personal efforts, that is expectations Mary Jane faced in her to leave for abroad—as if it was the their call. But, if they were so minded, own family, or what kind of pressures only path laid out for them. the decent thing to do in the first in- she experienced at home, such that All past administrations—from stance would have been to reject the she seemed unable to stay put even af- Marcos to Aquino—must surely bear government’s offer to pay for their ter a previous traumatic stay abroad. responsibility for this state of affairs. travel to Indonesia.

I saw it for myself in the late 1980s But, we forget that no one is coerced Maybe they thought Mr. Aquino when I started studying the culture to work abroad. In our culture, to made the appeal for Mary Jane be- of migration that was rapidly taking work abroad is a decision that is ar-

rived at typically in consultation with one’s family. It is the family that either dissuades the individual from leaving or persuades him/her to go with the flow. It is also the whole family that usually raises the funds needed to pay the recruitment agency in expectation of future returns. Is the Veloso family blameless? Why is it taking the position of a creditor out to make the government pay for its perceived neglect of Mary Jane?

Whoever put that crazy idea into the heads of her family has done Mary Jane a great disservice. She is not off the hook yet. This is not the time for arrogance. Public pressure can only go so far in persuading foreign governments to respect the rights of overseas Filipinos. In the end, it is the diplomatic representations made by governments—and sometimes the discreet and courteous personal appeals made by leaders—on their citizens’ behalf that makes the difference.

What was the point in thanking everybody—Migrante, the National Union of People’s Lawyers, Manny Pacquiao, the media, the Church, the international groups, etc.—for their help and solidarity, while spitefully dismissing the significant effort made by President Aquino to reach out to the Indonesian president to spare Mary Jane? ■

AS I SEE IT

Pacquiao is a great boxer but…

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer THIS IS being written before the Pacquiao-Mayweather megafight but you will be reading it after the fight when Filipinos would either be ecstatically happy or very sad, depending on whether Manny wins or loses. This is because of the deadline requirements of newspapers. I don’t know yet who will win but you, dear reader, by the time you read this, already know who won.

Personally, I want Manny to win not only because I’m a Filipino but also because I am turned off by Floyd Mayweather Jr. He is so mayabang.

He probably got the trait from his father and namesake, Floyd Mayweather Sr., who is an even bigger braggart. I want Manny to knock some of the yabang out of Floyd Jr. But I am also afraid of what will happen to Manny if he wins. The victory may make him and his family, especially his Mom, even more mayabang than they already are now.

Only the other day, his promoter Bob Arum said Manny is preparing to run for president of the Philippines. Look at that: Pacquiao the president? The popularity has already gone into his head.

But Arum may be mistaken, or may be bragging himself. I hope so.

But what if it is true? Lucky for us Manny won’t be qualified for next year’s election. He would still be underage. But he would be qualified in the next presidential election six years thence. And there lies the danger.

Manny may be successful and popular as a boxer, but he knows next to nothing about governance. Because of his popularity, he ran for and won the congressional seat of Sarangani province. But he is a total bust as a congressman. He is the top absentee congressman. The hard-earned tax money taxpayers are paying him and his staff is being wasted.

He does not need the extra money because he is already a billionaire (although he still owes the Bureau of Internal Revenue back taxes), but we still pay him and his staff during the long periods when he is absent because he is training for his boxing bouts, for which he earns billions more. However, the policy for the ordinary clerk who can hardly afford to feed his family with the sparse salary he gets is “no work, no pay.” Where is justice and fairness there?

As a congressman, his duty is to pass sensible laws or to participate

in discussions to improve bills before they are passed. Pacquiao has not participated in any debate on any bill.

During his entire career as a congressman, I think he delivered only one ghost-written speech on an unimportant subject I cannot remember.

Now he wants to run for senator after which, according to Arum, he plans to run for president. What will happen to the Philippines then if he wins? It is bad enough that Jejomar Binay, with all the baggage he is carrying, is running for president in 2016. Then it will be exacerbated by Manny running for the Senate.

What will he do in the Senate, punch senators who oppose bills he wants passed? The Senate is not the House of Representatives where many other congressmen are also total busts. The Senate is composed of men and women who are more intelligent than congressmen. Even a politician with a very low IQ can be elected to the House of Representatives because only his constituents will judge his fitness for the position. A senator is judged by the whole nation.

Look what happened to former senator Lito Lapid. A popular action star in the movies, he was persuaded to run for senator and won. He was

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even reelected. But what did he do there? Nothing, except wear darkcolored barong. Have you ever heard his voice debating with other senators? Have you heard him ask questions during Senate investigations?

Have you seen him on television participating in Senate discussions?

He could not ride his horse and shoot bad guys in the Senate, so he did exactly nothing except sit silently in a corner. For that, we taxpayers paid his salary, allowances, travel bills and other perks. And we also paid the salaries of his staff members.

The same thing will happen, I am afraid, to a Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

He would be out of his league. More so as president. Kawawa naman ang Pilipinas(Pity the Philippines).

Don’t get me wrong. I admire, respect and cheer for Pacquiao—as a boxer. I think he is a great boxer, among the best in the world. But he should not squander his popularity and the love of his fans by being a public official. That’s a totally different arena. One does not fight there with his fists but with his brains.

But I know why he is doing it: He wants social status. So he bought a mansion in Forbes Park, the enclave of the rich. But his uppity neighbors

snubbed him. So he sold his Forbes Park mansion and bought another one in Beverly Hills, California, an enclave of movie stars. We have not seen yet how his neighbors there will treat him and his family.

He bought the most expensive automobiles. He built several mansions in Sarangani for his family and his mother, plus a supermarket for her.

It is said that he also has a helicopter and a yacht. These are all intended to give him social status. But he doesn’t have to do all those foolish things. He already has status. He is mistaken if he thinks conspicuous consumption and displaying one’s wealth will give him social status and he would be accepted in the snobbish social circles.

None of those snobs he is trying to ape can match his status in the field of sports. None of them has appeared in magazine covers as many times as Manny. No name has been on everybody’s lips as Manny. So what more does he want? He can’t have it all. To each his own.

President Aquino’s advice is right.

Manny should retire, take it easy, and enjoy life before he ends up punchdrunk as so many other fighters before him. He does not have to prove anything anymore. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

17

LOOKING BACK

The return of a classic

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer NICK JOAQUIN’S “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” is seldom read today, except by Literature majors.

But it has taken on a life of its own in live performances for the past half century. Perhaps the play is better known and appreciated in its Filipino translation, “Larawan,” than in its original English version. When I did a quick Internet search on Joaquin’s play I found both the text and commentaries, in addition to many reviews on its varied performances over the years.

One version that stood out was on two men playing the roles of the iconic spinster-sisters Candida and Paula, who were turned into Candido and Pablito played by Behn Cervantes and Anton Juan. Of course, I checked out the classic film version

by Lamberto V. Avellana, which is available in seven parts on YouTube.

One would think that both the play and the film are best left to academic research, but thanks to the persistence of the reclusive film director Mike de Leon, the Avellana film was taken from the dustbin of history and recently restored by an Italian

company from two prints sourced plied: “When the film was first shown 1952. Would a glossy fashion or socifrom film archives in Singapore and in 1965 some people complained that ety magazine today allocate the same Germany. After viewing the restored there was too much dialogue in it.” I space reserved to Hermes and Louis version in a premiere at the Cultural laughed and added, “Hanggang ngay- Vuitton for Philippine literature?

Center of the Philippines last week- on Tita Naty, puro dialogue pa rin!” The past is a foreign country indeed end, I can say that the restored ver- (Until now Tita Naty, [the film] is still because people then were different. sion is not just good as new, its pic- full of dialogue.) Having said that, I In a preface to the complete play ture quality and sound are probably thought of a new generation, more published in 1966, Lamberto Avelbetter than the original. attuned to the “Avengers” and “Fast lana, by way of a foreword, narrated Naty Crame-Rogers, venerable at and Furious.” The members of this how he and his wife Daisy came 93 years, is the only surviving mem- generation would probably find the across “Portrait” in 1952, and after ber of the cast of a film that was the black-and-white film quaint as Nick reading it in Women’s Weekly Magacollaboration of three individuals Joaquin’s English. They may also zine sought the permission of the auwho have since thor to shorten the been proclaimed four-hour play for Would a glossy fashion or society magazine today allocate as National Artists a reading on a radio the same space reserved to Hermes and Louis Vuitton for of the Philippines: block-time limited Philippine literature?

Lamberto V. Avelto 30 minutes. Then lana (1915-1991) they got permission for Film, Nick Joaquin (19172004) find the acting, borne out of the stage, to trim the play yet again into two for Literature, and Daisy H. Avel- old-fashioned, What else will young hours, to be staged by their Baranlana (1917-2013) for Drama and viewers of 2015 make of a film from gay Theater Guild with a premiere Film. Rogers was seated in the VIP 1965? Judging from the applause and in the Aurora Gardens in Intramuros row behind me, the same row as Na- outbursts of knowing laughter during in 1955. “Portrait” became a staple tional Artist Bienvenido Lumbera the premiere, it seems the film can of the Barangay Theater Guild that and former Cultural Center of the still hold its own after half a century. performed this before different auPhilippines artistic director NicaAs a historian, I see the film as an diences and in different settings. Finor G. Tiongson, so I stood up to opening or a time warp where the nally Avellana set the play into film greet her before screening, and she present peeks into the past and dis- and cut the play into a screen time said she was curious to see what the covers a world that is different and of one hour and 40 minutes. It may restored film would be like. After yet similar to our own. have been a critical success, having the screening, I asked her what she “Portrait” was originally published been screened in the Frankfurt Film thought about the film and she re- in Women’s Weekly Magazine in Festival in 1967, but it did not do very

well in the box office. Avellana does not brag when he declared his baby part of Philippine movie history and in acknowledgements that came with a printed version of “Portrait,” he wrote: “If Nick Joaquin never writes another play—he can be happy with the knowledge—Portrait has lit a spark.

“If Manuel de Leon (father of Mike de Leon), incorrigible patron of Filipino art, who made it possible, never produces another motion picture— with Portrait, he has made the fire grow!

“As for us, the kibitzers, having been part of this artistic experience in its many forms is reward enough.

“Between the covers of this book is the original play: full blown, uncut, free from the dictates of half hours of radio, the two hours of stage, and the one-and-a-half hours of screen. This is your invitation to enjoy Portrait, as a reader.”

Let’s hope the restored version will be commercially available, if only to encourage people to return to the text. Having enjoyed “Portrait” in film and on stage, it is high time I spent an afternoon reading the original Joaquin version to fill in the gaps left out by the other versions. ■

AT LARGE

Saved by the circus

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer “I’M RUNNING away to join the circus!” is what many a cartoon character says, usually a young boy with a stick slung over one shoulder on which a bag of clothes and food hangs.

While in the Philippines the circus performing trade is usually handed down from parent to child, with schooling done at home between performances, it doesn’t take much to imagine how “joining the circus” would appeal to an aggrieved child dreaming of starting over. There is something about the glamour, the daring, the public adulation granted the circus performer that appeals to the dreamer.

For a group of girls in Iloilo, however, the circus, or rather the skills and artistry of circus performance, provides not just an escape from the humdrum and prosaic. Taking part in a circus also offers them a new way of life, an escape from their otherwise dreadful existence.

In the past six years, members of the ENACR (Ecole Nationale des Arts du Cirque de Rosny-sousBois, or the French National School of Circus), including professionals and students, have been coming to the Philippines

as volunteer teachers working with Cameleon Association. Cameleon, founded in Iloilo by then visiting Frenchwoman Noelle Couget, provides shelter, therapy, counseling and training to girl-survivors of sexual abuse. With the ENACR team working with them and honing their skills, two of the Cameleon scholars have already become professional trainors. But the more important result of the collaboration has been the use of circus practice as “a tool of therapy and professional integration.” Beyond being able to soar through the air, juggle implements, or dance, sing and mime, the training provides not just escape but also a sense of accomplishment, autonomy and newfound confidence that was stripped from them after years of abuse. *** ESTABLISHED 30 years ago, the French National Circus School has evolved into “the best French higher education institution based on a multi-disciplinary circus practice.”

The school provides professional training for three to four years, with students graduating as circus artists. Renowned internationally, the school “trains the circus artists of tomorrow through circus techniques, dance, theater, music and fine arts.”

The school also offers training and internships for nonprofessionals, aiming, according to its information materials, to become a “school of life” by “developing values such as sharing, solidarity and responsibility” and “provid[ing] them with potentially useful skills in their daily life.”

Their “key to success,” says the school, “is the pleasure coming from creativity, games, intensive and physical training, and mutual exchange, allowing participants to become good listeners with better observation and concentration abilities.”

This quality and scope of training are what the ENACR team provides the young women sheltered by Cameleon. Indeed, it seems the training in circus performances provides the girls training not just for a career and life in the circus but for life itself, for coping with the dayto-day demands of life outside the loving embrace of the association, after their recovery from the trauma they had endured at the hands of strangers or, even worse, adults they had trusted, including their own family members. *** ON May 14, Thursday, at 8 p.m., you will have a chance to see for yourselves both the ENACR volunteers and the girls of Cameleon perform

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in a show they have dubbed “Lukso (Leap)! Cirque de la Vie: French Healing Circus for Girl Survivors of Sexual Abuse.”

The show, to be staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World, will feature 14 circus performers from France, composed of two teachers and 12 students, French actress Sabrina Ouazani, and Italian singer Mikelangelo Loconte.

They will be joined by two girls from Cameleon. The members of the audience will, I am sure, be treated to a breathtaking show, as many ENACR alumni have made names for themselves with world-famous troupes.

Indeed, the two ENACR teachers— Luc Richard and Patrick Mattioni— are internationally renowned circus trainors, involved in the artistic direction of numerous events including the Asian Games in Qatar and the Festival of Cirque de Demain. They have also worked with Cirque du Soleil.

Aside from being treated to a world-class show, ticket holders will be contributing to a good cause, helping raise funds to sustain the programs of Cameleon. *** AFTER the May 14 show, the entire ENACR team will fly to Iloilo to provide 60 beneficiaries of Cameleon

and 300 young people from the surrounding communities with circus training and an intensive professional program for the young teachers with Cameleon. Included in the training program are skills such as aerial silk, fixed trapeze, cloud swing, aerial straps, Chinese pole, acrobatics, balancing, hand-to-hand, juggling and “cyr wheel.”

Being planned is a series of six shows, involving the visitors from France and the whole company of “Cirquera de Cameleon,” to be composed of 20 girls, to be held in Roxas, Passi and Iloilo.

Apart from raising funds for the continued operations of Cameleon, allowing it to help more girls in crisis, the collaboration between ENACR and Cameleon aims to demonstrate the use of circus training as a therapeutic tool; exchange skills and experiences between the ENACR students and Cameleon girls; professionalize a circus career in the Philippines; and, of course, increase the visibility of Cameleon on the national level.

Tickets are available at TicketWorld, with prices ranging from P5,000 for VIP seats to P1,000 for De Luxe seats. Corporate sponsors are encouraged to get in touch with Cameleon directly. ■

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MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News

‘Change has finally come:’ NDP’s Notley promises Albertans new ideas

BY DEAN BENNETT The Canadian Press EDMONTON — The NDP has won its first majority government in Alberta by toppling the Progressive Conservative colossus that has dominated the province for decades and driving leader Jim Prentice from public life.

The New Democrats, under leader Rachel Notley, swept all 19 constituencies in Edmonton on Tuesday and made significant inroads in previously barren NDP territory in Calgary, Lethbridge and rural Alberta.

“Friends, I believe that change has finally come to Alberta,” Notley, told cheering supporters who changed “Rachel! Rachel! Rachel!”

“New people, new ideas and a fresh start for our great province.”

The Wildrose party took second place and will form the official Opposition, while Prentice and his battered PCs had to settle for third.

It was a crushing defeat for the Tories, who had steered the ship of state since 1971 — longer than any party anywhere in the country.

Prentice told subdued supporters in Calgary that he was stepping down as leader effective immediately and would also leave the Calgary Foothills seat he just recaptured.

“As leader of the party, I accept responsibility for tonight’s outcome. I also accept responsibility for the decisions that led up to this evening,” he said.

“Clearly ... my contribution to public life is at an end. It is time for me to dedicate my time to other responsibilities I have as a husband, and as a father and a grandfather.”

Prentice called the election on a budget to reform the way Alberta taxes, spends and saves.

“Albertans needed to make those choices, those decisions, and they have now done so and

The NDP, under leader Rachel Notley, swept all 19 constituencies in Edmonton on Tuesday and made significant inroads in Calgary, Lethbridge, and rural Alberta, en route to its first majority government in Alberta and toppling the Progressive Conservative party that dominated the province's politics for decades.

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chosen our collective future,” found Alberta’s NDP and kept several portfolios under Conhe said. the movement alive as the sole servative Prime Minister Ste“And while I’m personally NDP member of the legislature phen Harper. saddened by the decision, the in the 1970s.

Prentice, the fifth Tory prevoters are always right in our He died in a plane crash in mier since the popular Ralph democracy. northern Alberta in 1984, two Klein retired in 2006, is the latest “I congratulate Rachel Not- years before his party made its version of Harry Strom, who was ley and the NDP party on their first big breakthrough in 1986 premier when the Tories under success this evening. Rachel and became official Opposi- Peter Lougheed ousted the Soobviously ran an excellent cam- tion. cial Credit in 1971. The party had paign and clearly has the confiThe NDP had never come held power for 36 years. dence of Albertans.” close to power in Alberta. Its The Tories were gunning for Wildrose a 13th consecuLeader Brian tive majority Jean, Liberal when Prentice Leader David dropped the writ Swann and the Friends, I believe that change has on April 7. The Alberta Party’s finally come to Alberta . . .New election came a Greg Clark were people, new ideas and a fresh start year earlier than also elected. for our great province. necessary under The NDP win Alberta law, but is a tectonic Prentice said it shift in Alberta was necessary to politics, which has seen govern- previous high-water mark was gain a mandate to implement ment change hands only four 16 seats and almost 30 per cent his tough budget that proposed times since the Liberals won of the popular vote in 1986. sweeping increases in taxes and the first election when Alberta It’s the second defeat for user fees and cuts in governbecame a province in 1905.

Prentice at the hands of the ment spending.

Notley had momentum since NDP. He lost to the party in CalHe said his goal was to stop the leaders debate that most gary Mountain View when he Alberta’s heavy reliance on pundits said she won and the ran for the PCs under premier fluctuating oil prices for its revvictory is a vindication of the Don Getty in 1986 before going enue. pioneering efforts of her fa- on to a federal career. He would The campaign was supposed ther, Grant Notley. He helped serve as a cabinet minister in to be a victory lap for Prentice, www.canadianinquirer.net

whose party held 70 of 87 seats at dissolution. The Wildrose and the Liberals were both coming off leadership changes and Notley had only held her job since October.

The campaign didn’t work out that way.

The Opposition Wildrose criticized Prentice for not going far enough with spending cuts and said it would not raise any taxes.

Notley criticized Prentice for going too far with cuts, while sparing corporations from tax increases. Notley said she could balance the books by 2018 through increased taxes on corporations and the wealthy, while still spending more on health and education.

While Prentice urged Albertans to be resilient to weather the storm of low oil prices and job layoffs, Notley was relentlessly upbeat and optimistic during her campaign. She urged Albertans to embrace uncertainty, accept it as a challenge and focus on making life better for families.

It provided a stark choice for voters. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

19

Trudeau: Hike taxes on rich, cut taxes, boost child benefits for middle class

BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau is attempting to steal electoral ground from the left and the right with an economic agenda that promises to take more from the rich to give to the middle class.

The Liberal leader unveiled Monday his alternative to the Harper government’s economic plan: hike taxes on the wealthiest one per cent to pay for more generous child benefits and an across-the-board income tax cut for middle-income earners.

His promise to impose a new 33 per cent tax rate on Canadians who earn more than $200,000 per year took aim at the NDP, which has traditionally championed efforts to reduce income inequality.

At the same time, his pledge to provide broad-based tax relief and enriched child benefits for middle-income earners attempts to mow what has traditionally been Conservative turf.

The proposals will form a central pillar of the eventual Liberal platform for the federal election in the fall. But Canadians got a taste Monday of the debate that will ensue as all three main parties compete for the support of middle-class Canadians.

Conservatives cast Trudeau’s plan as a tax hike in disguise.

New Democrats argued that Liberals created the income gap between rich and poor and can’t now be trusted to narrow it.

Under Trudeau’s proposals: _ The 22-per-cent tax rate for anyone with a taxable annual income between $44,701 and $89,401 would be cut to 20.5 per cent. _ A new tax bracket of 33 per cent would be imposed on those with taxable incomes over $200,000 a year. The current top bracket of 29 per cent would continue to apply to those earning between $138,586 and $200,000. _ Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s newly enriched universal child care benefit would be scrapped and two other existing child benefits would be rolled into a single, more generous, monthly, tax-free “Canada

child benefit.”

“We can do more for the people who need it, by doing less for the people who don’t,” Trudeau said at a campaign-style event at a family restaurant in nearby Aylmer, Que. “ According to the Liberals, all families with kids under 18 and an annual income below $150,000, or 90 per cent of families, would receive more under Trudeau’s plan than they do under Harper’s.

Monday’s announcement was a reply to last month’s Conservative pre-election budget, which pivots around twin measures to allow parents with children under 18 to split their income for tax purposes and to expand and enrich the universal child care benefit.

Trudeau has previously promised to scrap the $2 billion parental income-splitting scheme, which numerous economists and think tanks have said will benefit less than 15 per cent of Canadian families, primarily the wealthiest.

He is now promising to replace the Tory-introduced universal child care benefit as well, contending that it makes no sense to dole out equal benefits to rich and poor families alike.

“Families like mine that get thousands of dollars from Mr. Harper’s child benefit system shouldn’t,” Trudeau said.

The Conservative government has just boosted that benefit to $160 from $100 a month for each child under the age of six. And it has expanded the program to give families $60 a month for every child between six and 17.

Trudeau proposes to scrap that and roll together and enrich two other existing benefits that are geared to income — the Canada child tax benefit and the national child benefit supplement — into a single, more generous benefit that would give families up to $6,400 annually for every child under six and up to $5,400 for children aged six to 17.

The benefit level would be tied to family income and would gradually disappear at higher income levels.

Trudeau has promised that the eventual Liberal platform will be fully costed and de-

signed within the framework of a balanced federal budget.

A tax cut of $3 billion a year for the middle class would be counterbalanced by an additional $3 billion in taxes on the wealthy, the Liberals said.

Trudeau’s proposed new child benefit would cost the federal treasury an additional $4 billion a year. That would be paid for, in part, by scrapping the Harper government’s $2-billion parental incomesplitting scheme.

Trudeau has also promised to reverse the recently announced plan to almost double the amount people can sock away annually in tax-free savings accounts — another measure Trudeau maintains will primarily benefit the wealthy.

That would give him another $1 billion immediately _and potentially billions more over the longer term — to finance his own program.

Trudeau indicated the remainder could be paid for by cutting things like government advertising and consultants.

But he also said there are more promises to come on education, child care and the working poor which will have to accounted for.

Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre cast the entire an-

Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau on Monday unveiled his alternative to the Harper government's economic plan. Trudeau's plan would hike taxes on the wealthiest one per cent to pay for more generous child benefits and an acrossthe-board income tax cut for middle-income earners.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

nouncement as “the Trudeau tax.”

“The Liberals ... would replace the family tax cut with a Liberal family tax hike,” Poilievre said.

Liberal calculations showing most families would get more under Trudeau’s plan than they get currently don’t take into account the benefits of income splitting, which Trudeau would cancel, Poilievre argued.

Nor do they take into account his vow to reverse the doubling of TFSAs, which Poilievre con-

No Credit?

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tended would amount to a tax hike on those earning less than $60,000 a year.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who has ruled out increasing personal income taxes for anyone, including the wealthy, blamed income inequality on past Liberal governments which slashed the corporate tax rate.

“The only Canadians not paying their fair share are the large Canadian corporations,” he said, reiterating that only the NDP would hike corporate taxes. ■

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MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to visit Canada this weekend PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will be visiting Canada this weekend to hold bilateral talks and meet with business leaders and Filipino communities in Canada, as well as to boost support for the Conservative party among FilipinoCanadians ahead of this year’s expected federal elections.

“Canada and the Philippines enjoy a close friendship based on shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties. I look forward to meeting with President Aquino to further strengthen the bonds between our two countries, including in the areas of trade, investment, development and security, benefitting the citizens of both nations” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a press release announcing the visit late last month.

President Aquino will fly out of Manila on Wednesday, joined by several of his Cabinet mem-

bers. The President will arrive Wednesday evening in Chicago, USA for an overnight stay, meeting with leaders of the Filipino community there. From there, he flies to Ottawa on Thursday to meet with Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall to engage in talks and to be hosted with a state dinner.

On Friday, after being welcomed to Parliament Hill by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other government officials and taking part in a working lunch, President Aquino will fly to Toronto in the evening to meet with business leaders.

On Saturday, the President and his delegation will fly to Vancouver to meet with BC Premier Christy Clark, business leaders, and members of the Filipino community, before flying back to Manila on Saturday evening.

The visit is meant to explore free-trade talks, discuss global security issues, and strengthen

bilateral relations between Canada and the Philippines. President Aquino will also be speaking with Prime Minister Harper about the tensions in the South China Sea. Lastly, President Aquino will also try and gather support from business leaders in Canada for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) which the Philippines is hosting this year.

A CTV report said that officials behind the scenes “aggressively” pushed for this visit to happen as soon as possible.

“It’s obvious we’re going to have an election in six months, and there are significant groups in this country, ethnic groups and others that are being courted” said Marc Garneau, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic, in the CTV report.

The Philippines has been identified by Canada as a “priority country” in trade terms, and the Philippines is now the third largest source of immi-

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President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a bilateral meeting at the St. Regis Hotel on Monday, November 10, 2014 at the sidelines of the 22nd APEC Leaders' Meeting. At the core of Philippine-Canada relations is the human dimension the presence of more than 700,000 Filipinos in Canada, as they now comprise the 3rd largest immigrant community there.

GIL NARTEA / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

grants to Canada behind China and India. Between 700,000 and 800,000 people in Canada can claim to have Filipino heritage, with around half that number situated in the Toronto area of Canada. The Philippines is the 21st-largest trading part-

ner to Canada, and the sixthlargest source of foreign tourists to the country.

In 1989, President Aquino’s mother, President Corazon Aquino, was the first Filipino President to make a state visit to Canada. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

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Emergency supplies land in Nepal to help the recovery efforts after a massive earthquake last month left 7300 dead and thousands displaced in the country. Despite the outpouring of help from across the world, relief efforts are expected to take a lot of time and require a lot of effort by a lot of people.

UK DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT / FLICKR

Rebuilding Nepal: Canada’s disaster relief team sets up operations

BY MIKE BLANCHFIELD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Canada’s disasterrelief team is now setting up operations in earnest in Nepal, but aid agencies and the Nepalese government warned Monday that a long road of rebuilding after the devastating earthquake lies ahead.

“It’s far away; it’s on the other side of the world. It’s going to be easy for people to forget,” said David Morley, president of UNICEF Canada.

“People have really stepped up,” said Michael Messenger, World Vision Canada’s incoming president, but he added: “We are still in the early stage . . . We are looking for more resources.”

The assessment came as Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team took additional steps to ramp up its relief operations in earthquake-ravaged Nepal, where the death toll stands at 7,300.

A third Canadian Forces C-17

transport plane landed in Kath- be overcome to reach isolated Morley. mandu early Monday carrying populations.

People are living out of doors DART engineering equipment, The focus of his organization and are either afraid to — or support vehicles and 18 Canadi- is now on helping survivors find simply can’t — go home, he an Forces personnel, said Maj.- shelter, clean water and tending said.

Gen. Charles Lamarre, deputy to traumatized children, he said.

“So monsoons come and you commander of the Forces joint Bad weather, in the form risk living in water and living in operations branch. of a pending monsoon sea- filth because where’s the black A fourth C-17 carrying 30 per- son, along with an unforgiving water going to go, where’s the sonnel, four all-terrain vehicles, mountainous geography and wastewater going to go?” an excavator and Morley said supplies was airit is essential to borne to the Indikeep public inan capital of New terest from wanDelhi late MonAid is getting through, but it’s going ing because last day afternoon, he far more slowly than we would like week’s quake is added. . . . You can’t fly a helicopter in the the worst since After its initial mountains, in the fog. the terrible assessments, the Haiti tremor of DART has de2010. cided to set up a Morley said he camp northeast is happy that half of Kathmandu in Sindhupal- massive damage is also hinder- of UNICEF’s $50-million emerchok region. ing access, said Messenger. gency appeal has been met, The camp will provide medi“Aid is getting through, but but much more will have to be cal services to locals, and will it’s going far more slowly than raised in the months ahead. co-ordinate a deeper push into we would like,” he said.

Despite an international outNepal’s Charikot region, La“You can’t fly a helicopter in pouring of support, the Nepalmarre said. the mountains, in the fog.” ese government warned MonMessenger, who just returned In addition to the geographic day that there’s a huge funding from five days in Nepal, said se- hurdle, there is a growing risk gap that needs to be addressed rious logistical challenges must of water-borne disease, said in the interest of its long-term www.canadianinquirer.net

recovery.

Those suffering most right now are children, who are severely traumatized, say Messenger and Morley.

Morley said some schools appear to have withstood the earthquake and are still standing, which bodes well for getting children back to class in a few weeks and working towards re-establishing some sense of normalcy.

Messenger said child-friendly spaces are being established, and he saw some children filter in to talk to counsellors, and try to express themselves using music or art.

But some children are clearly bearing new emotional scars from the last week’s carnage.

Messenger spoke to one 13-year-old boy who had “this deep fear and loss in his eyes,” and told him he dreaded returning to school.

When Messenger asked him why, he replied: “I don’t want to see which of my classmates are still missing.” ■

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World News

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Britain gets a new princess as Prince William’s wife, Kate, gives birth to a baby girl

BY SYLVIA HUI AND DANICA KIRKA The Associated Press LONDON — From Prince Charles to the bettors at the corner store, everyone in Britain was hoping for a girl.

The Duchess of Cambridge delighted her nation and royal enthusiasts around the world Saturday by delivering one such princess. The royal birth was greeted with cheers and elated cries of “Hip, hip, hooray!” outside St. Mary’s Hospital in central London, where fans and the world’s media have waited for days.

The baby — Prince William and Kate’s second child — was born Saturday morning and weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces (3.7 kilograms), officials said. She is fourth in line to the throne, and the fifth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II, 89.

On Monday, the parents announced Charlotte Elizabeth Diana as the name they picked for the newborn princess, a choice seen as a tribute to both Prince William’s parents and grandmother, the Queen, as well as a link to Kate’s family.

When Prince George, her older brother, was born in 2013, royal officials waited two days before announcing his name.

Britain hasn’t welcomed a princess born this high up the line of succession for decades.

Anticipation had been building for weeks after Kate, 33, told a well-wisher she was due around late April. Still, journalists were caught slightly off guard when she delivered barely three hours after checking into the hospital at dawn Saturday. William, 32, was present at the birth.

The couple later emerged on the hospital steps with the

Prince William and his wife, Kate, gave birth to their second child, a girl, last Saturday. The child was given the name Charlotte Elizabeth Diana on Monday.

TWITTER PHOTO

infant to briefly pose for photographers before leaving for their home at nearby Kensington Palace. Kate, who wore a yellow-and-white floral shift dress, held the sleeping baby wrapped in a white blanket.

The couple didn’t answer any questions, though William earlier told reporters he was “very happy” as he brought young George to the hospital to meet his baby sister Saturday afternoon.

George, looking slightly alarmed by all the cameras, waved dutifully at the adoring crowds.

The queen and senior royals were “delighted with the news,” officials said. The queen marked the occasion by wearing a pink ensemble while carrying out an official engagement in North Yorkshire, 250 miles (400 kilometres) north of London.

Cheers and chants of “Princess! Princess!” rang out from the hundreds of well-wishers and tourists gathered outside the palace and the hospital as soon as the news was announced. One fan who had camped out outside the hospital for days danced with joy.

“I’m top of the world,” said royal camper Terry Hutt, 80, decked out in patriotic Union Jack gear. He did not expect the birth to happen as soon as it did, but said: “Babies come when they’re ready.”

“If Diana was here, she’d be very, very proud,” he added, referring to the late Princess Diana, William’s mother.

The news was announced on social media sites like Twitter as well as by a traditional bulletin on a gilded easel in front of Buckingham Palace — a prac-

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tice that dates to 1837.

A town crier in an elaborate costume — with no official connection to the royal family — shouted out the news at the hospital’s door, clanging his bell to welcome the new royal.

“May our princess be longlived, happy and glorious,” said Tony Appleton, reading from a scroll in a booming voice.

Britain’s political leaders — facing a hard-fought general election in just five days — rushed to congratulate the couple on the baby. Well wishes also poured in from the rest of the world, especially from Commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia.

At 21 months, George is third in line to the throne, after his grandfather Prince Charles and his dad William. The newborn princess becomes the fourth in

line, bumping Uncle Harry to fifth.

The last princess born so close to the throne was Princess Anne, the queen’s second child, in 1950. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, were fifth and sixth in line at the time of their birth.

Thanks to a recent change in the law, the new princess will hold her place in the line of succession that for centuries had put boys ahead of their sisters.

That means no younger brother will be able to overtake the new princess in the order of preference to inherit the throne.

Nonetheless, the princess probably doesn’t have to worry about one day becoming queen.

Royal succession rules dictate that the throne always passes to the eldest child. Younger siblings only get to step up to the job in rare circumstances — in case of an illness, death, or abdication.

The birth of their second child marks a new phase for William and Kate, who wed in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.

The royal couple is expected to spend more time in their country digs, a 10-room brickfaced mansion known as Anmer Hall on the queen’s estate in Sandringham, 120 miles (190 kilometres) north of London.

Their apartment at Kensington Palace in central London, where much of their staff is based, will still remain their official home, officials say.

Anmer Hall is also better located for William’s new role as a pilot for Bond Air Services, a helicopter operator that works with the East Anglian Air Ambulance service. He will work with doctors responding to emergencies ranging from road accidents to heart attacks. ■

Community News

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

23

Labor groups weigh in on Canada’s garbage shipment ON THE eve of his departure to Canada for a state visit on May 7 to 9, the country’s major labor groups urged President Benigno S. Aquino III to press Prime Minister Stephen Harper to order the immediate return of some 50 container vans of mixed Canadian garbage lying at Manila and Subic ports.

Zero waste groups led by the EcoWaste Coalition had earlier branded the garbage dumping as “a blatant case of environmental injustice” violating global and national laws meant to combat illegal trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and other wastes.

“The speedy repatriation of Canada’s garbage shipment for

environmentally-sound disposal in their country is a matter of serious concern for all Filipinos, including the working class, and should be a priority objective for Aquino’s state visit,” Josua Mata, secretary-general of Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Mangggagawa said in a statement.

“In his meeting with Prime Minister Harper, we expect President Aquino to make a strong and unequivocal plea for Canada to simply take back its trash and refute the misguided proposition coming from some bureaucrats to dispose of the garbage locally,” said Allan Tanjusay, spokesman and Policy Advocacy officer of the Asso-

ciated Labor Unions – Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

“Our government should not cave in to such a preposterous non-solution that constitutes an open invitation to garbage smugglers to continue with their illegal trade because they can easily get away with it,” noted Gie Relova, secretary-general, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino – National Capital Region.

"Our waste and sanitation workers have more than enough domestic trash to manage. The imported garbage from Canada puts a heavy burden on our workers and environment and should be sent back at once," said Wilson For-

taleza, spokesperson, Partido ng Manggagawa.

The labor groups emphasized that returning the garbage shipment to Canada for treatment in appropriate facilities fully equipped with functional pollution prevention and control features will protect Filipino workers at local ports and waste disposal plants against occupational exposure to biological, chemical and physical hazards from the reeking rubbish.

Environmental groups were quick to commend the labor groups for throwing their weight behind the vocal movement for environmental justice against waste dumping.

“We laud our labor leaders

and the mass of workers they represent for magnifying our call for environmental justice and for asserting that our country is not a cheap dumping ground for wastes and toxics from overseas,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.

The EcoWaste Coalition, Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy, Ang NARS Party List and many other groups and individuals, including the over 25,000 signatories to an online petition on change.org, have asked the Canadian government to take back their trash, a plea that remains unheeded to date. ■

Tzu Chi Canada sets up relief fund for Nepal victims

Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau participates in a FilCan parade in Toronto.

Trudeau reflects on AsianCanadian contributions during Asian Heritage Month OTTAWA – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, recently issued the following statement on Asian Heritage Month: “May marks Asian Heritage Month, a time for Canadians to reflect on the important contributions of Asian-Canadians to our national fabric. This month provides us all an opportunity to learn more about the history

of Asian–Canadians, and to recognize their crucial role in the development and continued prosperity of this country.

“Canada’s success is rooted in its unique approach to liberty through inclusive diversity.

Our country is founded on multiculturalism, and every day, we demonstrate that a nation can be built on shared values. Canada is strong not in spite of its

diversity, but precisely because of it.

“On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, I extend my best wishes to all those celebrating Asian Heritage Month, and encourage Canadians to learn more about the significant impact of Asian-Canadian communities on our shared history.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

NEPAL IS the birthplace of the founder of Buddhist.

In the afternoon of Apr. 25, a major earthquake, magnitude 7.8, struck the remote village near the capital, Kathmandu.

The disaster immediately caused widespread devastation.

Latest figures put the death toll at 6,250 and more than 14,000 injured.

Thousands more are still missing.

T h e United Nations also estimated that 600,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged; eight million of Nepal’s 28 million people were affected, with at least two million needing tents, water, food and medicines over the next three months.

The headquarter s of Tzu Chi Foundation in Taiwan opened the relief coordination center right after the quake. The first medic and disaster estimation team which has 10 doctors and five professionals were deployed immediately from Taiwan and four other countries.

They also brought medical supplies with them. This team has

arrived at Kathmandu on Apr. 29. They have been granted permission to provide the free clinic service.

To provide relief to affected Nepalis, Tzu Chi Foundation, Canada has decided to launch the funds raising campaign immediately. The public can log on the website (http://www.tzuchi. ca) to do the online donation, or they can mail or drop off check/cash donation to the national head office of Tzu Chi Canada at 8850 Osler ST., Vancouver.

Also, up to May 9, Tzu Chi volunteers will be at 17 T&T branch stores across Canada to accept the public’s donation.

Tzu Chi Foundation, Canada has opened an account for the Nepal Relief Fund, and the detailed information will be released soon. ■ For any information about the Nepal Relief Fund, please contact Tom Torng, Director of PR for Tzu Chi Foundation, Canada at 778-866-1266 or email: pr@tzuchi.ca.

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MAY 8, 2015

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FRIDAY

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FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

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MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:

Amphy Calma

Founder, ATA Pain Rehabilitation Laser Therapy Center and finalist for RBC's Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards for 2015

BY EARL VON TAPIA Philippine Canadian Inquirer “A LOT of my friends know that I’m a very private person, so that’s why when I got nominated, I just really don’t want it, I don’t want any recognition,” said Amphy Calma, founder of ATA Pain Rehabilitation Laser Therapy Center and a top 75 finalist for the 7th annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.

“But a certain friend of mine who used to be a patient at my clinic, I’ve known her for many years now, and she said ‘No. You inspire people’ . . . I know it can inspire a lot of our immigrants, especially in our Filipino community, that’s why I’m doing it,”

she said. opened a Sari-sari store (con- she met her future husband, Indeed, Amphy’s story of venience store). When Amphy Gerry, who had been in Canada coming to Canada as an immi- was ready for post-secondary since 1989. grant and working her way up schooling, she went to Baguio Things moved fast from from nothing is a there. After Amfamiliar one with phy and Gerry immigrants. But got married in what sets her the Philippines story apart is her My mom and dad always said, no in 1999, she dedrive and her atmatter what you do, you have to love cided to cancel titude, no matter it, and you will go further after that . . her application her circumstanc. don’t hate your job, because if to the US, and es. you’re hating it, you’re going to be instead decided Amphy’s story miserable,” to come here to starts in Manila Canada in June back in 1974, 1999. Shortly afwhere she was ter arriving, she born to parents Rogelio and City to study physiotherapy. got pregnant with their first Guadalupe as the youngest of After finishing school, Am- and only child, Mikaela, who four children. Rogelio worked phy had plans to go to the US to was born in April 2000. overseas, while Guadalupe ran practice her Physiotherapy. But Life was difficult back then a cafeteria. when Rogelio came plans changed. When visiting for Amphy, as her credentials home after 10 years, the family Canada in 1998 to see her sister, as a certified physical therapist

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were not recognized in Canada.

After the family moved to Calgary, Amphy started looking for work, and eventually found a job in a chicken processing plant.

“Throughout the months that I worked there, I put in my mind that ‘hey, I can do better than this’. Nothing wrong working in a processing plant, but you want to achieve a little bit more,” she said.

Amphy’s hard work got her a promotion, but she always wanted to keep pushing herself to look for something better for herself and her family. She worked at Tim Hortons for a while. She also did some cleaning. Then she worked at a nursing home, helping to take care of the folks there.

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FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

Some good fortune finally came her way when she landed a job as an aide at a laser therapy clinic. Amphy greatly enjoyed the environment of working in a medical facility, but unfortunately she was laid off from that job. However, her experience there helped pave the way for what would eventually become Amphy’s calling of opening her own clinic.

“That laser therapy clinic that hired me, I practised laser therapy, like fixing a lot of people in pain, helping people in the rehabilitation of their injury. I worked there and I said, ‘I will have my own clinic.’“ she said.

So in 2007, Amphy borrowed some money from a relative to go to school for massage therapy, specialising in soft tissue manipulation, to increase her knowledge, and in 2008, she opened her own clinic, ATA Pain Rehabilitation Laser Therapy Center. Named after Amphy and her two sisters Tita and Alma (hence the ATA), the clinic is still running today. To date, the clinic has had 10,000 patients go through its doors, and according to Amphy the success rate of her therapy sessions is about 95%. More importantly, her clients are all happy with the service they received from ATA. “It’s very rewarding for me when I see people who used to be patients at the mall, and I come and greet them, and they say ‘Wow! I’m doing this now because you had fixed me, your clinic fixed me,’ and that is priceless when people say that,” she said.

“I am thankful for people who surround me and people who work with me, and I won’t have the success at the clinic if it wasn’t for the staff and the people and my friends,” she added.

Amphy also became involved with the Peace for Paul Foundation, where she sat as a director on the board until just recently. Peace for Paul Foundation is a charity that operates children’s homes in Uganda. Amphy became involved with the program after going

on a trip to Uganda shortly after opening her clinic. She was donating to charities there, and she wanted to see where her money was going. It was there she met a boy named Luke, living in the slums. Despite the fact that Luke was too young to be in the PFP, Amphy arranged everything so Luke could get in there.

“That inspired me. Like, hey I cannot complain about what I’m going through, because look at these kids,” she said.

On a personal level, Amphy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. Despite the illness, she refuses to let it affect her outlook on life or the level of care and attention she gives to her clients.

“Unless you know me, you will not know what I am going through. But I don’t show it to the people because they have more things that they are going through,” she said.

“But again it will not stop me from coming to work because I love seeing my patients, I love making people better, and on top of that, I go home and rest and deal with my own problems,” she added.

In the end, Amphy has some advice for immigrants who have dreams of finding something they truly love doing.

“My mom and dad always said, no matter what you do, you have to love it, and you will go further after that, which is true.

Even if you’re killing chickens, don’t hate your job, because if you’re hating it, you’re going to be miserable,” she said.

“Always be positive, just dream big. Dreaming big, it’s not a bad thing, as long as you don’t step on someone else. You have your love and passion, to do what you do, that’s the important thing, and that will give you happiness,” she added. ■

Millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits Harper Government looking for hundreds of thousands of families not currently registered for the enhanced child care benefit AN ESTIMATED 560 families under 6 and $720 per year UCCB, Child Care Expense Dewith children in Peterborough for each child aged 6 through duction and the Children’s Fitare eligible to receive money 17. The new benefit amounts ness Tax Credit. under the Harper Govern- would be retroactive to Janu• Combined with tax relief ment’s proposed enhanced ary 1, 2015 and be reflected in introduced by the Government Universal Child Care Benefit monthly payments to families of Canada since 2006, a typical (UCCB), but are at risk of not in July 2015. The proposed en- family of four can receive up receiving the benefit unless hancements to the UCCB are to $6,600 in tax relief and enthey apply. The Honourable expected to more than double hanced benefits in 2015.

Pierre Poilievre, Minister of the number of families that • Low- and middle-income Employment and Social Devel- benefit from 1.6 million to families will receive two-thirds opment, today asked for help more than 4 million. of the overall benefits provided from the media and the pubIf your family is not currently by the Government of Canada’s lic to encourage new family meafamilies to apply sures. for the benefit.

• The FamThe majorily Tax Cut will ity of families Many eligible families are eliminate or sigwith children, not currently captured by the nificantly reduce approximately Government’s UCCB system and may the difference in 3.8 million, are miss out on receiving money that is the federal tax known and will owed to them unless they apply. payable by a oneautomatically earner couple receive the enrelative to a twohanced UCCB earner couple or be contacted with a similar by the Government to con- receiving the UCCB, has never family income. ■ firm their information. How- received the UCCB, or has nevever, many eligible families are er applied for the Canada Child “We want to ensure that every not currently captured by the Tax Benefit and you still have family with children receives Government’s UCCB system children under 18 in your care, the enhanced Universal Child and may miss out on receiving please go to www.canada.ca/ Care Benefit. If you've got kids money that is owed to them un- taxsavings in order to find out under 18, you qualify. It doesn’t less they apply. In 2015 alone, how you can apply. matter how much you make or this represents potentially milthe type of child care you choose. lions of dollars in unclaimed Quick Facts Apply now so you can receive the benefits.

• All families with children money that is owed to you.”

Under the proposed en- will benefit from the new Famhancements to the UCCB, ily Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan, – The Honourable Pierre families would receive almost which includes the Family Tax Poilievre, Minister of Employ$2,000 per year for each child Cut, and enhancements to the ment and Social Development

Amphy Calma is a finalist for the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards for 2015. You can check out Amphy's bio and vote for her and other candidates at canadianimmigrant.ca/ 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.

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

www.canadianinquirer.net

Immigration

28

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

So, What Is Cold Calling Again?

BY BOLET AREVALO

COLD CALLING IS UNINVITED JOB HUNTING. LIKE AN OUTBOUND TELEMARKETER, YOU ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL YOUR QUALIFICATIONS. So, what is cold calling? Cold calling is a selling technique. It probably originated as a salesman’s way of penetrating a new market or new customers. Realistically, salesmen cold call only to get the name of the right person whom they can then contact to make a sales presentation or proposal, not to make an on-the-spot sale. Initially, after getting the contact name, the salesman writes a sales letter to introduce the product and offers himself to come and make the presentation.

In today’s lingo, the salesman who does that can be called a telemarketer. The telemarketer makes an outbound call to a prospective client whose name may be in a database provided to him. The telemarketer may or may not aim to make a sale.

A telemarketer’s function may also be limited to simply making the initial call and getting indication that the prospective customer wants to know more about the product, and then passing this information on to the company foot salesman. This salesman may make the second call, ask for an appointment to see the person, and make the sales presentation. Another telemarketer may have a specific function to sell.

Cold calling has evolved into a technique for discovering hidden jobs and selling oneself to get the job. It is also referred to as an “uninvited job hunting” technique. Cold calling implies that the caller does not know anybody from the company he is calling and is simply taking his best chances. There is also warm calling where the call is expected.

To avoid the frustration of a rejected salesman, the point is to focus your effort with a minimum objective in mind the first time you make the call.

The minimum objective may addressing those needs. When be able to get through to five be to get the name and contact you get unexpectedly connect- of them. Out of the five, you details of the person whom you ed to the hiring manager, the may be able to get at least two can write a customized letter of minimum objective is to get an accurate contact names. Out application. That person is not appointment to get a job inter- of these two, you may be able the HR manager. They are the view or an informational inter- to get one appointment for an hiring manager, or the person view at the very least. interview—a job interview or a in charge of the department Preparedness also implies mere informational interview. you wish to join or apply for. that you have decided on a Note that cold calling is a Do not underestimate the list of companies you want to selling technique that even the role of the gatekeeper (that is, focus your calls to. These are most experienced salesmen the secretarycan be scared of receptionist at or get frustrated the other end of by. As such, it the line). Treat takes a person him or her with Only the persistent person can always with the right atrespect, and as get ahead and only the humble tributes to make an equal rather person can cope with rejection over a successful cold than as a mere and over again. If you put these two call. That person telephone opattributes together, you will be on must be focused, erator. Consider your way to success. organized, pahim as someone tient, persistent, who could help smart and humyou get through. ble.

Thus, it is appropriate to open companies you are interestAmong these attributes, the with the statement, “Hi, I need ed in working for and whose most important are persisyour help.” background you can look up tence and humility. Only the Whether you are still with and study. Simple math im- persistent person can always the receptionist or unexpect- plies that the more companies get ahead and only the humble edly connected to your target, you list down, the more cold person can cope with rejection you must be prepared to carry calls you can successfully get over and over again. If you put on the conversation by know- through. There is a very con- these two attributes together, ing something about the com- servative theoretical formula you will be on your way to sucpany and its current needs, and of 10=5=2=1. Out of ten com- cessfully using cold calling as how your skills can be useful in panies in your list, you may a technique in finding a job in www.canadianinquirer.net

the hidden market and selling yourself to get this job in the end.

Cold calling is an age-old salesman’s technique. It is now an instrument in discovering jobs in the hidden market. Do not underestimate the role of the gatekeepers, the secretaries or receptionists, in putting your call through. Treat them respectfully and as your equals.

Persistence and humility are the most important of the attributes you will need to possess to be able to use cold calling successfully. ■ 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. The book is available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, the Reading Room and other online bookshops worldwide, and in National Book Store and Power Books in the Philippines. Please check out https://www.amazon. com/author/boletarevalo

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 8, 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

29

30

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT, CANADA!

Perfect 10 Sarah Geronimo Live in Vancouver BC

BY SOCORROBABES NEWLAND

LAST WEEKEND’S first leg of Canadian tour concert at the 1260-seater Massey Theatre yielded a great turnout. It was packed to the brim. But many who came to secure tickets at the last minute went home shattered. It was a sold-out event days before actual show date.

After all, it was the return to Vancouver of pop star princess and certified box office royalty Sarah Geronimo or Sarah G as she’s now endearingly referred to.

Together with premier impersonator/comedian Jon Santos and Lyka Gairanod, Sarah G did not disappoint her fans in British Columbia.

Her last musical stint here was around 5 years ago. Now she’s back equipped with new beats and fresh rhythms. I’m giving her two thumbs up for evolving and maximizing her limits.

The night was all about Sarah G transforming and delving into the unexpected. Exuding confidence with more candid ad-libs, the pop star royalty ventured “unpredictability” like second skin. She was totally stunning.

Alluring. Exacting.

Her repertoire included songs from her past to the most recent albums that showcased her vocal range and versatility. She performed songs from her 11th studio album under Viva Records & XOXO Entertainment Corp, Perfectly Imperfect. The collaboration was done last year with Vancouver

(L-R): Laarni Liwanag, Miss B, Lyka, Sarah and Jon.

BC’s own hit-maker, Adam Hurstfield as co-producer/ writer. Adam H. with FilipinoCanadian pop sensation Elise Estrada penned album song title Perfectly Imperfect, Bulletproof and Last Night of Our Lives (ft. CELEB). Sarah also sang the album’s carrier single, Kilometro (Kilometer) a midtempo electro-house dancepop ditty written/composed by celebrated Filipino songwriters/performers Thyro Alfaro and his partner Yumi Lacsamana. Sarah put to life ditties from her album Expressions like the popular upbeat tempo, Tayo (co-written by Thyro and Pow Chavez). Her two backing up dancers G-Force truly did justice not only to their name but to the overall spectacle of Sarah G’s dance routines.

Audrey Rose.

Potentially the best part of the show was Sarah’s duet with The Voice of the Philippines Kids Season 1 grand champion, Lyka Gairanod. Their rendition of Willy Cruz’ Bituing Walang Ningning was flawless. Lyka’s stunning vocal delivery is beyond

www.canadianinquirer.net

Lucky Aces.

her true young age. It would be safe to predict that Lyka will follow suit to the steps of her vocal coach/mentor, her Ate Sarah G. Homegrown celebrity performers Hip-Hop dancers—The Lucky Aces and Powerhouse Station Entertainment-Element East Music

singer/composer—Audrey Rose, provided equally well-presented opening numbers.

Overall, and just like the title of her concert, Sarah G has scored a whooping Perfect 10! ■ babescastronewland@gmail.com

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

31

Rico J. Puno recovers after 7-hour heart surgery

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Rico J. Puno.

FACEBOOK PHOTO

OPM SINGER and Kapamilya actor Rico J. Puno has been recuperating after undergoing and surviving more than seven hours of triple heart bypass surgery last Sunday at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

“Amen! God is great! I am so grateful to you my dear God! After more than seven hours in the operating room, our Dear Rico J survived the operation,” said Puno’s good friend, jazz singer Richard Merck.

“Let’s celebrate Rico J’s new gift of life!! We love you Rico!

I guess you made God laugh in

some of your shows! He loves you so much Pre! Stay happy and healthy! Amen to what God gave you today,” Merck added.

Puno’s partner, Queenie, also shared the good news via Facebook.

“Good morning! Jesus, I am humbled by the gift of life. Received good news from Doctor Garcia,” wrote Queenie in her post.

“I’m so glad! Please include Rico in your morning prayer and thank Jesus for a successful operation. Rico J Puno, I love you dags! Can’t wait for us to be transferred to the private room.

Today was worth sleeping in the lobby!,” she added.

Puno first felt difficulties in his breathing last week. When

shooting for ABS-CBN’s sitcom “Home Sweetie Home,” he struggled ascending the stairs towards the studio.

Soon afterwards, Puno was brought to the clinic and sent back home to rest. Queenie then persuaded him to undergo a check-up at the Makati Medical Center.

The 62-year-old singer-actor was placed under the intensive care unit and had an angiogram.

It was then found out that he had a clogged aorta.

This was not the first time Puno experienced chest pains.

In a concert with Sison and Hajji Alejandro in 2012, Puno almost suffered a heart attack as his blood pressure went up to 220/180 after his performance. ■

Maja Salvador talks about break- Erich Gonzales and up on Alex Gonzaga’s concert Daniel Matsunaga

spend quality time in Hong Kong

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Following her silence after the announcement of her break-up with actor Gerald Anderson, Maja Salvador willingly talked about the issue for comedy during the concert of Alex Gonzaga on Saturday.

Alex poked fun of Maja’s recent breakup with Gerald during the “AG From The East: The Unexpected Concert” “Hindi ko naman alam na napapanahon ito, hindi ko nasama ang kantang ito,” Alex told Maja, referring to the “Single Ladies” of Beyonce.

(I didn’t know that this song would be timely, I forgot to include this.)

“E kasi naman, hindi mo nabalitaan agad,” Maja replied.

“Hindi na-announced kaagad.”

(Because you didn’t know of it right away. It wasn’t announced right away.)

“At least nung na-announce, hindi na nailagay,” Alex said.

(At least they didn’t include it when it was announced.)

Alex also jokingly asked Maja if she has read her book “Dear Alex, Break Na Kami. Paano?!

Love, Catherine.

Maja, however, replied that she hasn’t read the book yet.

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Maja Salvador.

“May balak ka bang basahin ngayon?” Alex asked.

(Do you have plans on reading it now?)

“Hindi rin. Kasi kahit naman basahin ko hindi rin naman ako magkaka-boyfriend kasi hindi ka naman nagka-boyfriend kahit sinulat mo ‘yun,” Maja jok-

@ IAMMAJASALVADOR / INSTAGRAM

ingly replied.

(None at all. Cause even if I read that book, I still won’t have a boyfriend because you also haven’t had one when you wrote it.)

“Alam mo Maja, you’ve never been this happier, beautiful and single,” Alex said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

The Portuguese phrase ‘minha linda’ loosely translates to ‘my beautiful.’

Gonzales had also posted a KAPAMILYA ACTRESS Erich photo of them together. For Gonzales and actor Daniel Mat- the caption, she wrote the Porsunaga had not yet released any tuguese sentence ‘Vou sentir statement rea sua falta se garding the real cuida meu amor,’ status of their which translates relationship. to ‘I will miss However, their Gonzales and you. Take care, sweet photos and Matsunaga my love.’ posts in social have yet to She had also media seemed to confirm if they shared a collage confirm specureally are in a of them with a lations that the relationship. photo of their two are indeed hands forming lovers. a heart shape.

Just last weekIn here she capend, Gonzales tioned it with and Matsunaga spent time to- ‘You make me laugh like no one gether in Hong Kong. Both of can’ and with a hashtag ‘TGIFY’ them shared photos with sweet (Thank God I Found You). captions in Instagram.

Despite the subtle hints, Matsunaga was the first to Gonzales and Matsunaga have post about their trip. In his yet to confirm if they really are photo, he captioned ‘Happy. in a relationship. #Godisgood.’

Gonzales, who had a fourHe shared another photo, year relationship with a nonthis time a collage of them dur- showbiz businessman, coning their getaway. In the cap- firmed last week that she had tion, he said ‘Me and minha already decided to end their linda :) just happy #Godisgood.’ relationship. ■

Entertainment

32

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Derek Ramsay has no problem being second choice

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — With certified box office hits like No Other Woman and Praybeyt Benjamin and a best actor award from his performance in English Only, Please, TV5 actor Derek Ramsay could expect more projects on his way.

In an interview during his contract signing with TV5 last Tuesday, Ramsay revealed that he indeed has movie projects lined up this year, one of which is with ABS-CBN actress Coleen Garcia in their upcoming film “Friends with Benefits.”

“Starting this new project with Coleen is exciting,” he shared.

When asked, he admitted that the role was originally meant for Sam Milby. It can be recalled that his role in English Only, Please was also intended for Milby.

“You know, I’m sure Sam has reasons for maybe not doing a project. I don’t know why but to be second choice, it’s fine with me. Be happy, right?,” he said.

“You [should] be happy that the project came to you. That’s where you put in your talent and you bring that character into life,” he added.

Being the second choice for both roles, Ramsay did not seem to mind at all.

“I’ll stay in front of the camera and do what I do until people still appreciate what I do. Alam mo naman, hindi habambuhay ang buhay ng isang artista. (As you know, an actor’s career doesn’t last forever.) That’s why you have to be constantly changing and learning so that you have more to give,” he said.

“I always review the projects given to me. But am I going to be picky? No. I’m going to stick to how I’ve done things,” he said in an earlier interview. “Since I’m second choice, I’m still going to give my 200 percent.”

Ramsay also clarified that he was a team player and wanted to work with so many good actresses, hoping for success in each of his movies. ■

Despite heavy competition from the Kentucky Derby and the Mayweather/Pacquiao mega-fight, Avengers: Age of Ultron posted the second-largest US opening of all time, second only to the record set by the first Avengers movie back in 2012.

‘Avengers’ sequel is the second biggest US opener of all time, misses record set by first film

BY LINDSEY BAHR The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The Avengers are mighty, but not enough to beat themselves. The Marvel and Disney sequel earned a staggering $187.7 million in its debut weekend, making it the second biggest U.S. opening of all time according to Rentrak estimates Sunday.

But “Avengers: Age of Ultron” failed to top the all-time record of the first film’s $207.4 million debut in 2012.

Although “Ultron” was the only new film in wide release this weekend, it had some significant small screen competition: The Kentucky Derby, the NBA playoffs, and the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight.

It seems the robust counterprogramming may have blockaded another record for Marvel and Disney.

Still, for Disney’s head of distribution Dave Hollis, the weekend was a “spectacular result” for the film, which cost a reported $250 million to produce. www.canadianinquirer.net

Playing on 4,276 screens, the audiences for “Ultron’s” debut were 59 per cent male and 41 per cent under the age of 25.

“We’re in rare air here,” said Hollis. “Having the second biggest opening weekend in the history of the movie business is always going to be something you walk away overwhelmingly happy with. The momentum of the brand for Marvel at this point is really something to take a step back and admire.”

Marvel and Disney now boast the top three opening weekends of all time with “Avengers” and its sequel taking the top two slots and “Iron Man 3” in third place.

Hollis said this is “confirmation” that these films are “bringing a completely different kind of filmmaking to cinema. They’re creating events and characters and building worlds in a way that is drawing the attention of huge crowds.”

Rentrak’s Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian agreed that the failure to top the first film is “in no way” a disappointment.

“You have to put this into perspective. Considering the level

of competition this weekend in the sporting world, it shows that movie going holds its own against all other options,” he said.

Also, while the first film’s $207.4 million haul might just seem like a new benchmark to hit, Dergarabedian was quick to point out that opening above $200 million was “literally like breaking the box office sound barrier.”

Instead of a new industry standard, a $200 million opening might continue to be an industry rarity.

“Ultron’s” future success is not in doubt either.

“These other options were single events. ‘Avengers’ has a very long playing time. This is a journey to $1 billion and beyond,” he said.

With $168 million in international sales this weekend, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” has grossed $627 million globally in just 12 days. The film has yet to open in China and Japan.

The rest of the top five was populated with holdovers, “The Age of Adaline,” “Furious 7,” “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” and the animated “Home.” ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

33

Singer Chris Brown accused of battery in Las Vegas; has not responded to police

BY SALLY HO The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Singer Chris Brown faces another battery accusation just days after he performed at an after-party to the weekend’s much hyped boxing match, which was also billed as the kickoff to his residency at the Drai’s nightclub.

Las Vegas police said Brown, 25, is suspected of beating a man who was found at the Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center at 3:42 a.m. Monday.

The man said he was playing basketball at the Palms Casino Resort when he got into a verbal argument on the court with singer. He claimed Brown punched him and, as he was preparing to defend himself, another person with the singer also hit him.

The man took himself to the hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.

Las Vegas police said they went to the hotel after they were called to the hospital but didn’t locate Brown.

Authorities say they have given Brown the option to sign off on a misdemeanour battery citation or have the case turned

Singer Chris Brown faces an accusation of battery after an altercation in Las Vegas this past weekend. Brown was in town to do a private performance. Police tried to track down Brown, but were unable to find him.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

over to the Clark County District Attorney’s office. As of 2 p.m., police said Brown has not responded to the offer.

Officer Larry Hadfield said signing off on the citation is not an admission of guilt but

an acknowledgement of the accusation. Similar to accepting a traffic ticket, the accused would be given a court date in Clark County Justice Court scheduled for months from now.

Police said the investigation

continues but declined to address the other person with Brown who also allegedly hit the man.

“We haven’t cited anybody.

We have not had the opportunity,” Hatfield said.

The troubled R&B singer was freed from probation just six weeks ago. In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to a brutal attack on his then-girlfriend, the singer Rihanna, hours before the Grammy Awards.

On Saturday, Brown performed a sold-out show at Drai’s nightclub atop the Cromwell Hotel as after-party entertainment to the much anticipated boxing between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Brown reportedly commanded $100 and $200 cover charges with table reservations with bottle-service ranging in price from a $2,000 minimum for a small four-seater as far away from the stage as it can go, to at least $20,000 for a table in the middle of the action.

The full-length concert was also billed as the launch to Brown’s new residency at Drai’s. His next show in the series of concerts is scheduled for July 4, according to an announcement.

The statement sent Sunday also said Brown is also expected to celebrate his birthday at the venue’s night time pool party on Tuesday.

Brown’s attorney and publicist could not immediately be reached for comment. ■

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

Learn to accept that you cannot

This week, your temper may not do

Becoming a very good follower,

Tomorrow, you will be crowned for

live with that feeling of anger

you any good, so hold it in. Keep

will help you get one step closer to

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

being courageous in your journey.

forever, so let it go, and give yourself a chance to feel

in mind that every action does not necessarily have to

leading the group and the path of life you are taking. You

Stop worrying because you are now beginning to

better. “Forgiveness” is the only way.

go with an equal reaction. Stay calm and be patient.

may not be able to lead the group you are in for now,

realize that life is not always the way you want it to

but bear in mind that you will, if you learn how to follow.

be.

TAURUS

LEO

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

You have been avoiding interacting

A rare chance of turning the

This week, you will realize the

You have gone a very long way

with friends lately. But today, you’ll

tables will come this week.

importance of unity. You will learn

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

and the tiresome journey has

find that somewhere in your life, you need others to

You will get that once in a lifetime opportunity

that you are not working alone, but with those who

added a lot in your bag of experiences. But the stars

help you and guide you in your work.

to improve your financial status. Do not let this

believe in you and your abilities. You might learn this

have conspired to help you make this day better than

opportunity pass, Leo.

hard way this week so be careful.

any other days in your life so think positive!

GEMINI

VIRGO

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

Never let criticisms bring you

Do not let others decide for you,

A person will come to you today

You will need to build an extra

down. Use negative words as a

Virgo. Your career should only

and will make you realize that

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

room for confidence, Pisces.

challenge to better improve your work. Remember

depend on what you believe you wanted. Live

seeing is not always the way to believe. Brace yourself

Yesterday may have been a troublesome experience

that every day is a day of making mistakes and of

with freedom from peer pressure and believe in

because that person will also make you believe in

but you will be able to face this day by believing in

learning from those mistakes.

yourself.

something you’ve always doubted.

yourself.

www.canadianinquirer.net

34

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Lifestyle

First comes love, then comes Has the gluten-free living together, then comes food trend peaked? marriage years later NPD says sales declined in 2014

BY SOLVEJ SCHOU The Canadian Press

“FIRST COMES love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.” So the old playground rhyme goes.

These days, however, many couples are taking a long time getting from step 1 to step 2.

They’re waiting until they’re in their 30s or 40s to wed, with or without kids, after five, six, seven, eight or more years being in a relationship and living together.

The trend of long cohabitation before marriage is becoming part of the norm, according to family expert Arielle Kuperberg, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Jun Yanagimachi and David Semien, both 38, of Pasadena, California, got married in 2010, 12 years after they started dating and seven years after they moved in together. When they were in their 20s, none of their friends were married, and they also didn’t feel pressured by their parents.

“We were happy then, and we’re happy now. Marriage is like agreeing to be more responsible. You kind of have to reach a certain age first,” said Semien, a composer.

Yanagimachi, a business research specialist, agreed: “I think that’s kind of how we felt. We didn’t feel mature enough to get married earlier.” Soon after they married, they had two children.

Kuperberg found that from 2009 to 2013, 17.6 per cent of women polled by the National Survey of Family Growth had lived with their partner for more than five years before tying the knot; 5.4 per cent had cohabited more than eight years; and almost 3 per cent more than 10 years. Just 20 years earlier, from 1989 to 1993, an NSFG survey found that

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press

The trend of long cohabitation before marriage is becoming part of the norm, with some couples living together for over five or more years before deciding to formalize the arrangement with a marriage.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

those numbers were 7.8 per cent that had lived together for five years before marrying their partner; 1.9 per cent more than eight years; and 0.7 per cent more than 10 years.

“Is it culture or cost of living that keeps people from getting married?” mused Kuperberg.

“Cohabitation is much more socially acceptable now. We also find that financial instability makes people put off marriage. Part of maturity is emotional maturity, but also financial maturity.”

The recent recession has had an impact on many couples, Kuperberg said.

And very religious people are still much less likely to cohabit before marriage, added D’Vera Cohn, a senior writer at the Pew Research Center.

In places where gay marriage has recently become legal, longtime same-sex couples can now decide too whether they want to tie the knot.

As for Yanagimachi and Semien, when they finally wed, they did so with friends and family at a Japanese Buddhist temple they had visited

for years in the Little Tokyo neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Yanagimachi wore a white kimono that her mother had received as a gift when she married. Semien, raised Catholic, wore a suit.

“We wanted it to have meaning for us, and make sense for us, and be personal,” Yanagimachi said.

Jen Tunac Camarena, a 42-year-old architect in Fullerton, California, eloped to Las Vegas in 2008 with her chef boyfriend, Armando Camarena, after eight years of living together. He wanted to marry sooner, she said. She wanted to elope to avoid the potential stress of a wedding, and social pressure from her large family.

“Our marriage felt like a natural step,” she said. “I wanted to leave Armando what little I have, should anything happen to me. It does feel different, for some reason. It feels like you are legitimately tied to someone else, and I felt a greater sense of responsibility to him as my husband rather than my boyfriend.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

TORONTO — Canadians may be losing their taste for glutenfree foods.

After nearly five years of consistent growth and a tripling of sales since 2009, the glutenfree food category declined last year, according to research firm NPD Group.

The Canadian Celiac Association estimates that one in 133 Canadians is affected by celiac disease and suffers after consuming gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye that gives bread elasticity.

But many other Canadians have bought into suggestions that a gluten-free lifestyle can offer anyone health benefits, including weight loss.

The market responded with a glut of specialty products in supermarkets, but consumers may be tiring of the extra effort

and cost that’s required to go gluten-free, says Robert Carter, executive director of food service at NPD Group.

“When we look at the trends that drive consumer behaviour it always comes down to convenience,” says Carter, who noted females and younger consumers under 35 tended to be big buyers of gluten-free foods.

“As people started to understand the amount of work it requires to actually be truly gluten-free, I think the benefit started to wane a little bit.”

For those with celiac disease, a wheat allergy or what some people call non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten-free products have been a much-welcomed godsend. Those people cannot choose to eat wheat and must seek alternatives, says Cara Rosenbloom, a registered dietitian in Toronto “For those people, gluten❱❱ PAGE 46 Has the

Several sources of gluten. After five years of growth, the gluten-free food category declined in sales last year.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lifestyle

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

35

Most Canadians expect semi-retirement or never stop working: poll THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — A new survey suggests more than half of Canadians either plan to ease into retirement by working reduced hours before hanging it up for good or have no plans to ever quit.

The report by HSBC found that 45 per cent of working-age Canadians expect some period of semi-retirement before fully packing it in, while another 15 per cent expect to never be able to fully retire.

That’s compared with 17 per cent of current retirees surveyed who said they semi-retired before fully retiring.

Betty Miao, HSBC Bank Canada’s head of retail banking and wealth management, says while under-employment chal-

lenges facing young Canadians are well-known, the report suggests older Canadians are also feeling the pinch.

The survey results come as Canadians balance saving for retirement while grappling with record debt levels.

Statistics Canada said last month that the ratio of household debt to disposable income hit a new high in the fourth quarter of last year, with households owing about $1.63 in consumer credit, mortgage, and non-mortgage loans for every dollar of disposable income.

The record level of debt has been driven in part by a prolonged period of low interest rates that have made borrowing more attractive and helped drive up home prices.

The online survey by HSBC was part of a global review of

some 16,000 working and retired people in 15 countries and territories, including 1,000 Canadians.

Compared with Canada’s 45 per cent, an average 26 per cent of working-age people globally planned to semi-retire.

According to the survey, 57 per cent of those working-age Canadians planning to semi-retire want to stay in the same job, but work fewer hours, while 35 per cent plan a career change as well as reduced hours.

The HSBC report found that for the Canadians surveyed who did opt for semi-retirement, the decision was a positive one, with 38 per cent choosing to go that route because they didn’t want to fully retire immediately.

Another 37 per cent said they continued to work to help

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

keep themselves physically and mentally active.

However, 12 per cent said they could not immediately afford to retire full time, while 18 per cent cited health reasons or physical demands.

The polling industry’s pro-

fessional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error as they are not a random sample and therefore are not necessarily representative of the whole population. ■

Building a Secondary Suite in Your Home

BY JOANN ZULUETA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

amples. The suite should have its own separate entrance/ exit.

Another requirement is that the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is a separate system from the main dwelling.

ARE YOU thinking of converting your basement or garage into a rental unit? Then you are looking at building a secondary suite in your home.

What is a secondary suite?

A secondary suite occurs when there is another dwelling unit on the same property aside from the primary dwelling. The primary dwelling, the main living space, is occupied by the homeowner. The other dwelling unit is usually occupied by a tenant. The secondary suite is treated as a separate dwelling unit and is self-contained.

It should have its own kitchen, washroom and bedrooms.

Here are some factors to consider for your secondary suite:

Size

There is a maximum area that you will be allowed to build.

This depends on the size of your lot and the zoning. Typically for rentals, you should plan an area of 700 to 800 square feet.

This square footage can provide a kitchen, one or two bedrooms, a washroom, and a general living space.

Types of Suite

Zoning

Check that your jurisdiction allows you to have a secondary suite in your lot. Zoning policies typically require that parking be provided for a secondary suite. Also, check your community. Even if you are allowed to have a suite in your home, it is possible that your neighbours might be opposed to it, as there

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

is a perception that rental properties in a residential neighborhood will decrease property values.

Building Code

Building code requirements

are actually intensive when it comes to secondary suites.

The basic tenet of the code is to protect public safety. There are minimum requirements in the provincial code that should be met. The following are exwww.canadianinquirer.net

A detached suite is separate from your main house but still within the same property. This can be a detached garage and it can have a loft as long as you don’t exceed allowable height.

The basement suite is the basement in the main house. The basement suite is a popular choice for most homeowners.

Cost

Building a suite is not cheap.

You need to ensure that you have budgeted properly for the construction. For a basement,

it is easier if all the utilities are already roughed in. The types of finishes contribute to the cost. Typical finishes for living spaces are good quality carpet and painted walls. The kitchen counter can be plastic laminate with the kitchen flooring as vinyl. Detached suites are more costly. Think of it as a separate small house that you need to provide the utilities for and still finish off the space.

The revenue of your suite is dependent on location, size and the facilities. A one bedroom suite can rent out for around $800 a month and a two bedroom suite around $1,100. This revenue should eventually pay off for your construction. Once your construction cost is paid off, the secondary suite can generate its own income and be sustainable. You can now put your feet up, call yourself a landlord and count the money that will roll in! ■ Joanna Zulueta is the Principal Architect of Zulueta Architecture based in Calgary, Alberta.

She is a registered architect and LEED accredited professional specializing in industrial and commercial projects.

36

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

Many watched big fight for free on small screens, but that may not signal cable exodus yet

BY TALI ARBEL The Associated Press NEW YORK — It should have been a proud moment for TV: A much-hyped sports event drawing in millions of paying viewers and showcasing the clout still held by traditional media heavyweights.

Instead, the broadcast of Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas was marred by technical snafus and got sucker punched by Internet streamers, exposing the industry’s vulnerabilities.

An estimated 3 million households were expected to buy pay-per-view access to the fight at nearly $100 a pop Saturday night. But the heavy demand created problems for some cable and satellite TV subscribers who tried to order it at the last minute, delaying the start of the fight.

And it popped up, unauthorized, on new services like Twitter’s Periscope and Meerkat, where people used the video function on their smartphones to relay the broadcast directly to the Internet.

It’s a sign of how comfortable people are getting watching video on small screens from new types of platforms and providers, whether it’s Periscope, Snapchat or Netflix. It also shows how common piracy is in the entertainment industry and how difficult it is to contain.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s going to be a mass

The mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on May 2 was supposed to be the Pay-Per-View event of our times, but was instead plagued with technical problems that caused some people to turn to internet streams to catch the fight.

BEN BRIONES / PNA

exodus from cable, right now, or that millions wouldn’t pay up to watch another big event.

“There’s lots of reasons why people cut the cord. I don’t think Periscope is going to be one of them,” said Chris Sprigman, a law professor at New York University and expert on copyright and intellectual property.

Experts said it isn’t likely that someone willing to pay for the fight would instead settle for a lower-quality stream that might get shut down at any time. Given that, the companies behind the event’s telecast may

not have lost much money to the streamers, they said.

HBO and Showtime have not yet said how many people paid to watch Saturday night’s fight.

They were obviously concerned in advance about other outlets showing the fight. CBS, the owner of Showtime, and Time Warner-owned HBO had already gone to court to block websites BoxingHD.net and SportShip.org from airing it. HBO has previously criticized Periscope over “Game of Thrones” streaming.

HBO referred requests for comment to Showtime, which

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declined to comment Monday.

Streaming an event without permission could get you in trouble, said Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University School of Law and director of the school’s High Tech Law Institute.

But the viewers of those streams? “That’s a much harder legal argument,” he said. According to him, a case a few years ago called Flava Works v.

Gunter suggests that viewers watching a stream are not legally infringing.

Dan Taylor, a 24-year-old who works in digital marketing in England, said Monday that he isn’t worried about legal ramifications. He said he wasn’t willing to pay to watch the fight to begin with, but was listening to it on the radio before he stumbled on a Periscope stream with thousands of watchers.

As for Periscope and Meerkat themselves, if they comply with a law called the Digital Millenium Copyright Act and take down the content that copyright holders request, they’re not liable, Sprigman said.

“Members of the Periscope team were on staff Saturday night working to disable streams of the fight. We were able to respond to takedown requests within minutes,” said spokeswoman Lauren Jones in an email. “We received 66 reports from right holders. We took action on 30, the remaining streams had already ended or were no longer available.”

She said the company was

working to make sure it had the tools to react quickly to people uploading prohibited content.

But a tweet from Twitter CEO Dick Costolo could be seen as a taunt.

“And the winner is ... bperiscopeco,” he posted Sunday, without directly referring to the fight.

Ben Rubin, the CEO of the company behind Meerkat, in an email declined to comment beyond his Twitter account, which included a post Sunday saying that it had been “fun working” with CBS. Todd duBoef, the president of Top Rank Boxing, the copromoter of the fight, said that the company would work with a piracy-investigation agency, HBO and Showtime to look into piracy of the event.

“The people that did this and were complicit will be held accountable,” he said.

Some argued that fighting streams of live sports is wrongheaded from a business perspective.

“People are going to have to realize that user-generated content is really amplifying the excitement and hype around the event,” said Joel Espelien, an analyst at research firm The Diffusion Group. “A zillion people at a soccer match tweeting, posting photos on Instagram, it’s good for the match.”

And live video through phone apps isn’t that different, he said. “Video will play a larger role in how people personally share user-generated content at events.” ■

As of May 6, 2015 from ca.finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CDN/USD

1.2037

-0.0031

-0.2544%

CDN/PHP

36.9837

+0.0070

+0.0188%

CDN/EUR

1.3518

+0.0018

+0.1366%

www.canadianinquirer.net

Business

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

37

The fancy fast food burger market in Canada keeps growing: analyst

Traders still reeling from port problems

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer

TORONTO — The fast-food burger keeps getting more upmarket and expensive, and an analyst says that trend isn’t going away.

Last year, Canadians bought nearly 15 million burgers at an average price of $6.05, says Robert Carter of NPD Group, which represented a four per cent price increase compared to 2013.

He notes growth in the burger business over the last five years has been dramatic, with “a lot of focus on the premium, high-end burgers with a lot of dialogue around the local and hormonefree and what I’ll call the ‘betterfor-you-style’ burger.”

“Almost every restaurant now talks about hormone-free, or Canadian farmers, or antibioticfree, or organic,” Carter says.

“It’s catering to the consumer demand to understand more about the foods that they’re eating, and that also leads into the perception of health and wellness.”

Bareburger, an American chain of organic burger restaurants, opened its 23rd location — and first outside the U.S. — in Toronto in January.

Euripides Pelekanos started grilling organic burgers at his nightclub in Brooklyn, N.Y., before opening the first Bareburger in 2009.

The menu caters not only to lovers of meat, but also vegans and vegetarians, and those on gluten-free, paleo and low-carb diets.

The full-service licensed restaurant offers burgers made of beef, bison, wild boar, elk, duck and turkey, with toppings ranging from pineapple relish and tomato fig jam to wild mushrooms and smoke sauce.

Vegetarian patties include quinoa, black bean, or sweet potato with wild rice, and can be wrapped in collard greens or served on a brioche, sprout or hemp milk bun.

“There’s something to be said about knowing where your food comes from, knowing that animals were raised right, the right way nature intended them to be raised, from pastures to being

LOCAL METAL exporters have put their respective expansion plans on hold as they continue to reel from the adverse impact of the port congestion on their businesses, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederations Inc. (Philexport).

Philexport metals sector trustee Jimmy Chan was quoted in a statement as saying that losses had been “tremendous” for many metals exporters as the port congestion had resulted in delays in production, decline in sales, and tighter cash flows.

“There was the increase of 20 percent in the cost of doing business in the Philippines. Business expansions (are) on hold. Labor demand and job opportunities (are) lost,” Chan said.

“Bank credit line becomes overutilized due to longer process cycle. Interest payments also increased 25 percent due to the three-month cycle. At an interest rate of four percent, an additional one percent is needed to address the congestion problem,” he further explained.

Add to that is the fact that the productivity of many exporting firms have suffered due to delays in production.

“Broken production batches occur due to unavailability of raw materials, components or parts,” he added.

Chan revealed that his company alone suffered a 20-percent drop in sales, prompting it to put up 20 percent more capital to increase its inventory of raw materials.

It was estimated that the Philippines could have lost as much as P25 billion worth of

The burger business has seen dramatic growth in Canada over the past five years, mostly in the high-end premium burger offerings.

AVLXYZ / FLICKR

grass-fed to being free-range,” Pelekanos said during a visit to Toronto.

Bareburger plans to open 18 more stores worldwide by the end of 2015, including several more Canadian locations.

Other U.S. burger businesses have similarly sensed an opportunity in Canada, including Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Wahlburgers and Carl’s Jr. But that’s not to say homegrown upscale burger shops aren’t doing well.

Shant Mardirosian, who launched a tiny Burger’s Priest location in 2010, now has six in Toronto, one in Guelph, Ont., and one in Edmonton.

Mardirosian, who attended seminary school and uses aspects of his Christian faith as a marketing tool, says simplicity and freshness are the hallmarks of his classic American-style cheeseburgers, with premium beef patties on a soft white bun.

“We grind our beef on site and that beef is never used the next day,” he says.

“If we run out of meat, we close the doors and sell out. If we have beef left over, we fry it up and make chili out of it for our chili cheese fries.”

Business is booming and

Mardirosian is opening five more shops, including one at Toronto’s Union Station and others in Ottawa and Calgary.

Carter says many Canadians will shell out extra for a burger they believe to be of high quality. In fact, if it costs too little, more discerning consumers may think it’s inferior and won’t purchase it.

At Bareburger, a basic burger, fries and a bottled water will set you back around $17 after tax. Indulge in all the fancy stuff — say a bison burger with cheese, brisket and guacamole — and a combo rings in at about $28 after tax.

“These are extremely delicate, high-quality (burgers).

There’s been a lot of work sourcing these ingredients and there’s unfortunately a price that comes along with that,” says Pelekanos.

When The Burger’s Priest opened five years ago, Mardirosian’s cheeseburger was $4.99.

Now it’s $5.79.

“You can get away with a cheeseburger combo for about $12. Considering we use four ounces of premium beef, compared to some of the fast-food joints where they’re charging $9, for an extra $3 I think it’s quite a bargain.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

investments in expansion projects last year, as the congestion problems at the Port of Manila might have dissuaded existing investors from pursuing these plans until the problems were solved.

Elmer H. San Pascual, group manager of the promotions and public relations group of Peza, earlier said that about half of the P25 billion in foregone investments could still be recovered or wooed back if the Philippines could show that it could cope with the additional cargo volumes expected during the peak season.

But government officials have already expressed optimism that the country can now handle bigger cargo volumes given the measures that have been put in place, apart from making available the ports in Batangas and Subic.

Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo earlier remarked that it would “take a higher level of congestion for us to suffer the same fate” as that felt last year.

“We have learned a lot from what happened last year so our throughput this year, in terms of capacity, should be higher and, therefore, we’d be able to cope better with this issue. There had been many improvements in our system. For instance, our ability to process more containers in a single day is higher now than what it was before,” Domingo explained.

He added that trucking companies and shipping lines should also be able to revert their charges back to their pre-truck ban levels of February 2014, not only because the port congestion had been resolved, but also global oil prices had significantly dropped compared to the figures of last year. ■

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

38

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Travel

Serenity Now: Hike down canyon to turquoise waterfalls brings screaming muscles, inner peace

BY GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO The Associated Press SUPAI, ARIZ. — Framed by pitch-black canyon walls rising monumentally on either side of the rushing, rain-swollen Havasu Creek, the night sky burst with snow-white stars and Milky Way swirls.

It was the last night of a grueling three-day Havasupai Trail round trip to the waterfalls in northern Arizona’s Havasu Canyon, an offshoot of the Grand Canyon.

The hike offers bliss by way of blisters, far from the crowds.

I’d promised myself that I would complete the hike ever since a dangerously underplanned attempt 13 years earlier ended barely 2 miles in. On horseback, a member of the Havasupai tribe, which administers the area, spotted my vermillion face and half-bottle of water on a torrid summer afternoon, and ordered me to go back.

On my second attempt, I left the planning to six tireless students from Northern Arizona University’s Outdoor Adventures. All I had to do was show up at the crack of dawn with my backpack on the pine-scented Flagstaff campus. (Many universities around the country offer trips to a variety of outdoors destinations, open to the public at a steal: My $360 fee covered pricey permits, exceptionally caring guides, most gear, all food including luxuries like cookies baked on the spot and fresh avocados and sprouts, and the eight-hour round-trip drive to the trailhead.)

Even though the mesa-top Hualapai trailhead is less than 30 miles (48 kilometres) as the eagle flies from touristthronged Grand Canyon Village inside the national park, it is 191 miles (307 kilometres) away by car, most on deserted roads.

Tribal members heading home and hikers, not day-trippers spilling out of buses, embark on this trail.

A tree grows between two sides of a canyon on the Havasupai Trail in Northern Arizona's Havasu Canyon, an offshoot of the Grand Canyon.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The vistas into the red and white infinity of rock formations, punctuated by unexpectedly green desert brush, are breathtaking. The first couple of miles of switchbacks, dropping 2,000 feet (610 metres) to a wash at the canyon floor, take away what little breath you might have left.

Mercifully flat, the next 7 miles (11 kilometres) snake through gauntlets of orangeto-salmon smooth ledges, along a cottonwood-lined stream, through tiny Supai village and its corrals of pack mules and horses - for the hikers who prefer not to stagger under a 30-plus-pound back-

pack.

About 2 miles (3 kilometres) after the village, I dumped my pack with a yelp, tore off the steaming boots midstride, and waded into cooling waters right below Upper Navajo Falls, the first of multiple waterfalls cascading from red rocks into layered turquoise pools toward the Colorado River a few miles away.

Woken up the next day before dawn by a ranger warning of flash floods, but undeterred by rain, we splashed in the pools below Havasu and Mooney Falls, which bookend the long canyon campground.

A student leader talked me www.canadianinquirer.net

down nearly 200 vertical feet (61 metres) through slick rockhewn tunnels and steps to the Mooney pool. The swim under the powerful spray was worth the limb-shaking panic, followed by my first afternoon nap in years.

On the last day, it was out by the same trail, from the shady creek-side paths to the unforgiving, and awe-inspiring, climb up the canyon walls back to the trailhead.

There, screaming calf muscles prevented me from standing upright - but not from marveling one more time at the kaleidoscope of shades and colours unfolding in all directions, now

under a full-blast sun. ■ If You Go...

HAVASUPAI TRAIL: http://www.nps.gov/grca/ planyourvisit/havasupai.htm . Located in northern Arizona.

The trailhead for the hike to Supai is four hours by car from Grand Canyon Village (South Rim). Supai village can only be reached by helicopter, on horseback or on foot. If walking, it is not a day trip; stay at the campground by the falls or village lodge. Area prone to flash floods. Permits required from Havasupai Indian Reservation, http://www.havasupainsn.gov/

Travel

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

39

Pondering Airbnb-ing your DOT chief says home? Experts urge caution Manny Pacquiao after Calgary ordeal contributes to tourism

BY MICHELLE MCQUIGGE The Associated Press TORONTO — Airbnb may seem like a fast route to a quick buck for Canadians who own properties in popular travel destinations, but renting out a home to strangers can be perilous.

A Calgary family learned that lesson the hard way last weekend, when their home was trashed amid a “drug-induced orgy” by hard-partying renters and deemed unlikely to be habitable for months due to biohazard concerns. Property damage was assessed at around $75,000.

While the U.S.-based company is covering the costs, insurance companies are urging those who are pondering going the Airbnb route this summer, especially in cities like Toronto where an influx of visitors is expected for the Pan Am Games, to slow down and get informed.

A reality check is particularly important since the vast majority of property insurance poli-

cies don’t bank on people handing over the keys to their homes to complete strangers, Steve Kee of the Insurance Bureau of Canada said in a telephone interview.

“You really need to check with your insurance representative to find out what you’re covered for and what some of the risks may be,” he said. “Each company may have slightly different ways that they would apply this.”

The occupants of a home, Kee added, have to level with their insurance companies about their plans.

There are usually specific coverage options for properties that are known to be available for rent, he said. The policies typically protecting a person’s primary residence, however, are based on a vastly different set of assumptions.

“If you have a home policy, you are covered for the fact that you are living there, and from time to time friends and family may come and stay with you,” Kee said, adding that coverage

rules can cease to apply the moment the homeowner vacates the premises and leaves it in the hands of others.

At least one Canadian province has begun mulling the idea of regulating an industry that has up until now been something of a Wild West. The lack of regulations governing the evolving shared rental economy has landed on Quebec’s political radar.

Earlier this week, Tourism Minister Dominique Vien said the province wants to make people pay taxes if they rent out their homes or rooms for profit, and subject them to the same regulations as registered hoteliers.

Some industry-watchers believe the time is right to start drafting guidelines for a business model that, despite the odd bout of bad press, shows no signs of flagging.

Gabor Forgacs, associate professor with Ryerson University’s School of Hospitality and ❱❱ PAGE 46 Pondering Airbnb-ing

more than we think PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — A thriving tourism industry relies on its worldclass destinations and international events to boost tourist arrivals, receipts and even jobs.

That said, where does Filipino boxer and congressman Manny Pacquiao come in?

“Manny Pacquiao is a very big part of our global image,” Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. told reporters in an interview.

The DOT chief cited how Pacquiao has done so much as to “complete a personality” showing the side of Filipinos—specifically Filipino athletes—being disciplined, skilled, talented and humble.

“Boxing is a global sport and now a global event and we have one of the most famous boxers in history. (So) has it helped tourism? I will answer that

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question with another question: Does Memphis benefit from the fact that Elvis Presley was born there?” Jimenez said.

“Famous people build tourism because there’s a natural curiosity about the person just as there are people who actually go to Liverpool just to see the (Beatles-related spots),” he added.

Jimenez admitted that although tourists may not have reportedly gone as far as visit the country to see, say, Pacquiao’s house in General Santos, there lies the possibility it could happen in the future.

“Right now, there are (already) some tourists who, when they go to GenSan have asked where Manny Pacquiao’s house is,” he said.

Whether or not Pacquiao’s house in GenSan will become a tourist destination, Jimenez said, as he has said in the past, that famous or not famous, the Philippines’ best asset was definitely its people. ■

Long term forecast from www.theweathernetwork.com CALGARY

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40

MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER FIGHT SEEN LIVE AT PLAZA MIRANDA IN QUIAPO, MANILA. Thousand of fans of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao watch his blockbuster welterweight showdown with American

Floyd Mayweather Jr. through a giant screen which was set up at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila on Sunday May 3, 2015, Manila time. Pacquiao lost to Mayweather by unanimous decision over 12 rounds of boxing.

GIL S. CALINGA / PNA

Mayweather wins unanimous decision over Pacquiao in the richest fight ever

BY TIM DAHLBERG The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — The pressure of a $180 million payday never got to Floyd Mayweather Jr., even if the richest fight ever wasn’t the best.

Using his reach and his jab this past Saturday night, Mayweather frustrated Manny Pacquiao, piling up enough points to win a unanimous decision in their welterweight title bout.

Mayweather remained unbeaten in 48 fights, cementing his legacy as the best of his generation.

After the fight, it was disclosed that Pacquiao injured his right shoulder in training

and that Nevada boxing com“I take my hat off to Manny long periods where both men missioners denied his request Pacquiao. I see now why he is fought cautiously. to take an anti-inflammatory at the pinnacle of boxing,” MayPacquiao threw far fewer shot in his dressing room be- weather said. “I knew he was punches than he normally does fore the fight. in a fight, with Pacquiao Mayweather acchased Maytually throwing weather around more. the ring most of I take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao.

That was the fight. But he I see now why he is at the pinnacle largely because was never able of boxing . . . I knew he was going to Pacquiao didn’t to land a suspush me, win some rounds. throw his right tained volume of hand often. Propunches, as Maymoter Bob Arum weather worked said Pacquiao inhis defensive jured his shoulwizardry again. going to push me, win some der sometime after March 11.

Two ringside judges scored rounds. I wasn’t being hit with a Arum said Pacquiao’s camp the fight 116-112, while the third lot of shots until I sit in a pocket thought he would be allowed had it 118-110. The Associated and he landed a lot of shots.” the anti-inflammatory shot bePress had Mayweather ahead The bout wasn’t an artistic cause he had gotten them dur115-113. triumph for either fighter, with ing training and they had been www.canadianinquirer.net

approved by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. But he said paperwork filed with the commission didn’t check the injury box, and the Nevada commission ruled against the request for a shot.

“The ruling made tonight affected the outcome of the fight,” Arum said.

Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar said Pacquiao’s camp wanted shots that included lidocaine, a drug that numbs the affected area. But he said Pacquiao’s representatives didn’t check the injury box after the weighin Friday, and the commission had no way of knowing how serious the injury was or what it ❱❱ PAGE 46 Mayweather wins

Sports

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2015

41

Mayweather gets down payment check of $100 million after richest fight ever, but not the best

BY TIM DAHLBERG The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — The check was for $100 million, a payday so mind boggling that Floyd Mayweather Jr. couldn’t help but show it to a few reporters when the night was done.

“No pictures, though,” Mayweather said, sliding the check out of an envelope. “Don’t want any pictures of it.”

The check will soon be cashed, adding to the millions Mayweather already has stashed in his bank accounts.

It was actually just a down payment for his night’s work, which could total more than $200 million by the time pay-per-view sales are tallied up.

The richest fight ever wasn’t the best fight ever, but that wasn’t entirely Mayweather’s fault. He did what he usually does Saturday night against Manny Pacquiao in a win that cemented his legacy as the best of his generation, even if he didn’t win any new fans doing it.

Still, the fight will be a tough act to follow if only because of the staggering money it brought in. Hard to imagine Mayweather fighting for a paltry $30 million or $40 million after a night he made history with the richest single payday any athlete of any sport has made.

He says he’ll fight once more in September, then hang up the gloves. Mayweather says it’s time to enjoy the fruits of his labour from a sport that has consumed his life since he was a kid throwing punches in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“I don’t really think I’ll miss the sport,” Mayweather said.

“I don’t even watch boxing. At one particular time I loved the sport of boxing. I wanted to

Floyd Mayweather Jr. greets Manny Pacquiao with a hug while Top Rank honcho Bob Arum (right) stresses a point and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach listens during the post-fight press conference on Saturday at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

REM ZAMORA / PDI

go to every fight and wanted to be at every boxing event.

But I just lost the love for the sport.”

Before a well-heeled crowd of 16,507 that cheered every time Pacquiao threw a punch, Mayweather dominated late once again to pull out a decision win that seemed closer in the ring than it did on the scorecards.

Pacquiao even thought he won, though punch stats showed Mayweather landing far more punches and even throwing more than the usually frenetic Filipino.

Pacquiao would blame a shoulder injury suffered in training last month for not being able to throw more right hands. His handlers would blame Nevada boxing officials for not allowing him a shot to

numb the shoulder just before the fight, though the excuse rang hollow.

“I cannot use a lot of my right hand but the fight was still good,” Pacquiao said. “What we wanted to do we couldn’t do because of my shoulder.

But he’s fast, he’s a good boxer.

Give the credit to him. He won tonight.”

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said his fighter would like a rematch, but there is little chance of that. Not with Pacquiao’s shoulder injury, and certainly not after the perfect financial storm of a fight that cannot be replicated.

Pacquiao likely made $100 million himself for the fight that packed the MGM Grand arena with celebrities, sports stars and people paying as much as

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$40,000 for ringside seats. The bout was delayed for about a half hour because pay-per-view sales were overwhelming cable and satellite systems, a good omen for the paydays of both fighters.

But while Pacquiao was the crowd favourite, Mayweather was the masterful boxer. He may not have ended the career of the remarkable career of the Filipino who once sold doughnuts on the streets to survive, but it’s doubtful Pacquiao can continue as a big pay-per-view much longer.

“I did my best, but my best wasn’t good enough,” Pacquiao said. “I fought a good fight.”

Mayweather fought a good fight, too, even if it wasn’t the crowd pleasing affair fans wanted. He used his reach advantage

to land jab after jab, and was so elusive that Pacquiao was only able to land one of every five punches he threw, including only 18 of 193 right jabs.

It was another great defensive performance from a fighter who knows just what he has to do to win. Mayweather remained unbeaten in 48 fights in a career that has now stretched 19 years.

“I knew I had him from round one,” Mayweather said. “I went out there and felt him out. I wanted to see certain moves.

Everything is a calculated move. I’m 10 steps ahead of any other fighter.”

If Mayweather is serious about hanging up the gloves after one more fight, he’ll go into the history books as the best of his generation — and certainly the richest. Because he doesn’t take chances and turns fights into chess matches, though, he’s not going to be mentioned on any short list of all-time greats even while he insists he’s the best ever.

Mayweather says he plans to give up all three welterweight titles he holds so other fighters have a chance at them. That will also make it easier for him to choose an opponent for a September fight that he says will be his last.

But there will be pressure to continue. Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0 could be broken with two more fights, and the MGM is building an arena on the Las Vegas Strip that Mayweather could open next spring if he keeps fighting.

“I’m only human, I contradict myself,” Mayweather said, leaving open the possibility of more fights. “I’m not perfect.”

He wasn’t against Pacquiao.

But he was good enough to pocket his $100 million check in boxing’s richest fight. ■

Events

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New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

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

MAY 8, 2015

Klownz the Canadian Tour

By Comedies Primetime Divas WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., May 24, Ryerson Theatre 43 Gerrar St., East, Toronto MORE INFO: Featuring Allan K, Ate Gay and Boobay

First Asian Film Festival Asian Heritage Tagalog Class Month

By FCT

By Philippine Embassy in Ottawa WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every WHEN/WHERE: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto May 30, Ben Franklin Chamber, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa Homework/Tutorial Class MORE INFO: Call Philippine Embassy –

By FCT 613-233-1121. Screening of “Ang Babae YUKON WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every sa Likod ng Mambabatok,” a documentary Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto film on the art and memories of a living MORE INFO: For registrations, NORTHWEST call 416-928legend, NUNAVUT Fang Od, a 95-year-old woman 9355. The office, at 597 Parliament TERRITORIES St., Suite known as the ‘last traditional tattoo artist of 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Kalinga.”

Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

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Question & Answer Session with Citizenship Judge Trang Nguyen

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m, to 12 nn, May 11 Mosaic Vancouver, 2nd Flr., 1720 Grant St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-254-9626 Free Facilitation Training

By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: up 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 @ 604-395-8000 ext.

1706 liza.delarosa@issbc.org Tzu Chi Canada Volunteers

By Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation WHEN/WHERE: Volunteer registration ongoing at 8850 Osler St., Vancouver B.C. or contact www.tzuchi.ca Pinoy Connect sa Mosaic

By Mosaic English Conversation Circle WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 4 p.m., Sundays starting Apr. 12 Employment Law Clinic

By Appointment Only MORE INFO: for live-in caregivers, temporary foreign workers and newcomers who need advice. Call Mika 604-254-9626 ext 484 or email at mtorres@mosaicbc. com

Mother’s Day Dinner & Dance Hosted by Style Cuts WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. to 12 mn, May 9, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 2881 Main St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: 604-780-9502 Miss World and Mr. World Canada Gala Coronation Hosted by Treenee Lopez WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., May 16 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 Hamilton St., Vancouver, B.C. Musika ng Lahi

By Asian Heroes Canada Foundation and Philippines Historama WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., to 1 a.m., May 16, at St. Monica’s Parish Hall, 12011 Woodhead Rd., Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: Featuring Historama Cast with Kay Liggayu, Noel Ascona and Molinder Cadiz Call Lita Tapia – 604-551-4883; or Cliff Belgica – 604614-8356 Jazz 4 Fun With Papa Bear & Friends WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., May 16, at R’s Bar 12411 King George Blvd., Surrey, BC MORE INFO: For tickets – 604-720-9882; 778-829-7482.

Broadway on Davie A Musical Journey

By Pinoy Pride Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., May 21, at The Junction, Vancouver MORE INFO: Featuring Kay Balajadia-Liggayu, Noel www.canadianinquirer.net

Azcona and Molinder Cadiz. Tickets at $35-VIP; $10 General Admission.

Klowns The Canadian Tour

By Comedies Primetime Divas WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., May 29 at River Rock Show Theatre.

MORE INFO: Featuring Allan K, Ate Gay and Boobay.

Tickets: $48/ $68 Kapusong Pinoy Vancouver

By GMA Pinoy TV WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., May 29 at the Orpheum Theatre Vancouver, Canada MORE INFO: Guest performers include Ai Ai de las Alas, Alden Richards, Christian Bautista and more.

English as Second Language Book Club for Adults

By Richmond Public Library WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 2:30 p.m, up 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.

Maple 2.0 Mentorship

By ISS of BC MORE INFO: Maple 2.0 provides 4 to 12-week placement opportunities for internationally-trained professionals to gain Canadian work experience and start working in their field. For more information, please go to http://issbc.org/prim-nav/programs/ career-services/maple-20

Seen & Scenes: Toronto

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AGIN COURT ASSOCIATION Photo shows Mario Lacdao, a native of Lipa City, Batangas, together with Romy Zetazate, a member of the board of directors of Philippine Press Club - Ontario (PPCO) and a former president of Oriental Mindoro Association of Ontario, forming the Pinoy Association Sa Agincourt (PASA) located on Sheppard Ave. East, Toronto, On. (St. Jamestown News Service, Dindo Orbeso)

FRIENDS OF JESUS CHRIST CHURCH Photo taken at the Friends of Jesus Christ Church in Scarborough where government officials led

by Defense Minister Jason Kenney and Finance Minister Joe Oliver with Senator Enverga announced the Enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) for 2015. Under the program, families with kids under six will receive $1,920 per child per year while families with kids aged six to17 will receive $720 per child per year (Photos by Amelia Insigne)

LITTLE MISS PHILIPPINES CANADA Presenting the 10 candidates of Little Miss Philippines Canada with their supportive parents onstage. Other photo shows Pageant Director Rosemer Enverga (centre) with co-chairs Gloria Rafanan, Fe Taduran and June Javier; with choreographer Manna Pernito-Ortiz. (Photos by Ariel Ramos)

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Seen and Scenes

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MAY 8, 2015

FRIDAY

FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

At the UP Frat House taking a break from their food industry tour were Deputy Consul General Anton Mandap (L), Agriculture Attache Josyline Javelosa (3rd from R) and agriculture delegates from Manila who came over to promote Philippine products in Asian and Filipino stores in Metro Vancouver. (Photo by Charen Cusi).

Filipinos and friends packed gymnasiums, homes of relatives, pubs and restaurants in Metro Vancouver to witness the megabout fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Here are some scenes from the UP Frat House in Richmond, B.C. (Photos by Charen Cusi and Del Gachallan).

Full-house at the Polish Community Centre where the Conservative Party of Canada held a free Conservative Party Boxing Night (Photo by Mike Calingo).

PERFECT 10 Sarah Geronimo, Jon Santos and Lyka met FilCan media during the recent press conference for Sarah G’s Perfect 10 Concert (Photos by Larawan Photography).

At the Bite at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver watching PacquiaoMayweather fight of the century – were former Consul General Jose Ampeso (centre), Lita Nuguid (4th from R) and friends.

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

MAY 8, 2015

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FRIDAY

Mayweather has... ❰❰ 40

could be treated with.

“I have no proof an injury actually exists and I can’t make a ruling based on what they’re telling me,” Aguilar said.

Still, Pacquiao thought he had won the bout, largely on the basis of a few left hands that seemed to shake Mayweather.

“I thought I won the fight. He didn’t do nothing except move outside,” Pacquiao said. “I got him many times.”

There were no knockdowns, and neither fighter seemed terribly hurt at any time. Pacquiao landed probably the biggest punch in the fight in the fourth round — a left hand that sent Mayweather into the ropes — but he wasn’t able to consistently land against the elusive champion.

The fight was a chess match, with Mayweather using his jab to keep Pacquiao away most of the fight. Pacquiao tried to force the action, but Mayweather was often out of his reach by the time he found his way inside.

“He’s a very awkward fighter, so I had to take my time and watch him close,” Mayweather

said.

Mayweather fought confidently in the late rounds, winning the last two rounds on all three scorecards. In the final seconds of the fight he raised his right hand in victory and after the bell rang stood on the ropes, pounding his heart with his gloves.

“You’re tough,” he said to Pacquiao, hugging him in the ring.

It was vintage Mayweather, even if it didn’t please the crowd of 16,507. They cheered every time Pacquiao threw a punch, hoping that he would land a big shot and become the first fighter to beat Mayweather.

But a good percentage of what he threw never landed.

Mayweather often came back with straight right hands, then moved away before Pacquiao could respond.

“I thought we pulled it out,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. “I asked my man to throw more combinations between rounds. I thought he fought flat-footed too many times.”

Ringside punch stats showed Mayweather landing 148

Has the... ❰❰ 34

free is not a joke. It’s a true diet that they will require for life, and for those people they benefit from the influx of all these gluten-free products,” says Rosenbloom.

“However, what happened on the other side is that other people didn’t understand that gluten-free was a clinical diet.

They thought it was a weightloss diet and they started buying gluten-free, the same way we bought fat-free or sugarfree. They figured if it was ‘free’ of something, then it must make it healthy.”

There have been contentions of “amazing benefits” associated with gluten-free diets.

Most famously, cardiologist William Davis touted in his bestseller “Wheat Belly” that autoimmune, gastrointestinal and mental issues could be improved or reversed by going gluten-free. He blamed “genetically altered Frankenwheat imposed on the public by agricultural geneticists and agribusiness” for many health woes.

punches of 435, while Pacquiao landed 81 of 429. The volume for Pacquiao was a lot lower than the 700 or more he usually throws.

Five years in the making, the fight unfolded before a glittering crowd of celebrities, high rollers and people who had enough money to pay for ringside seats going for $40,000 and up. Before it did, though, it was delayed about a half hour because cable and satellite systems were having trouble keeping up with the pay-per-view demand.

They paid big money to watch two superstars fight for their legacies — and in Pacquiao’s case his country — in addition to the staggering paydays for both.

Pacquiao had vowed to take the fight to Mayweather and force him into a war. His camp thought Mayweather’s 38-yearold legs weren’t what they once were.

“He is moving around, not easy to throw punches when people moving around,” Pacquiao said. “When he stayed, I threw a lot of punches. That’s a

fight.”

But Mayweather moved well.

His only real moment of trouble came in the fourth round when Pacquiao landed his left hand and then flurried to Mayweather’s head on the ropes, but he escaped and shook his head at Pacquiao as if to say he wasn’t hurt.

In the corner, Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr. kept yelling at his son to do more. But Mayweather was content to stick with what was working and not take a risk that could cost him the fight.

“I’m a calculated fighter, he is a tough competitor,” Mayweather said. “My dad wanted me to do more but Pacquiao is an awkward fighter.”

Mayweather said that his fight in September against a yet-to-be-determined opponent would be his last.

“I’m almost 40 years old now.

I’ve been in the sport 19 years and have been a champion for 18 years. I’m truly blessed.”

Mayweather is also very rich, getting 60 per cent of the approximately $300 million purse, depending on pay-per-

view sales. The live gate alone was more than $70 million, and the bout was expected to easily smash the pay-per-view record of 2.48 million buys set in 2007 when Mayweather fought Oscar De La Hoya.

But while the frenzy over the fight pushed up tickets to 3-4 times their retail price the week of the fight, prices dropped dramatically as the fight neared and some tickets were being resold for less than face value.

Boxing fans called for the fight to be made five years ago, when both men were in their undisputed prime. But squabbles over promoters, drug testing and a variety of other issues sidelined it until Pacquiao beat Chris Algieri in November and immediately launched a campaign to get the fight made.

When they finally got it, it wasn’t the fight it might have been five years ago. But it was enough to settle the question that boxing fans had asked for years — who would win the big welterweight matchup of the best fighters of their time. ■

Pondering Airbnb-ing...

But some researchers who study the science behind gluten and the genetic components of wheat are debunking those claims.

Ravindra Chibbar, a professor in the department of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, and his team have found little difference in wheat protein concentrations and quality in grain grown over the past 85 years.

And Julie Miller Jones of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn., has published a paper suggesting many of Davis’s claims are anecdotal, not based on research.

Rosenbloom says there’s not one food that consumers can point to as the root cause of obesity or weight gain.

“It’s too much processed food, it’s our lifestyle, it’s inactivity, it’s our foods in general, it’s our environment, it’s what we’re exposed to, it’s socio-economic status. There’s so many factors that play into obesity that saying that gluten is the cause is just not true at all,” she says. ■

❰❰ 39

Tourism, said companies like Airbnb are founded on a universally appealing principle -- the desire to either make or save money.

People renting their property stand to turn a tidy profit, while consumers taking advantage of their offers often wind up paying far less than they would through a more traditional arrangement.

“I don’t expect any major changes in the business model,” Forgacs said. “As long as the economic reasons are there, these business models are sensible to a growing number of people.”

Airbnb itself said it welcomed a chance to put guidelines in place for renters and consumers alike.

“These rules should be straightforward and clear for regular people to follow, and recognize that the vast majority of Airbnb hosts only rent the homes they live in to visitors on an occasional basis,” the company said in a statement.

The insurance bureau, meanwww.canadianinquirer.net

time, has not tracked the number of complaints filed as a result of arrangements made through Airbnb or similar services.

While Kee was unaware of any existing policies designed to cover such agreements, he

added change may be in the offing given the growing popularity of Airbnb.

“The industry is looking at these things with great interest, and with a competitive marketplace, I guess anything’s possible in the future.” ■

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