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MAY 15, 2015

VOL. 5 NO. 167

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P-Noy taps Poe for 2016

Poison milk-tea shop owner's son wanted

Immigration fraud scheme affects 600

Willie Revillame returns to TV with new show

After loss, Pacquiao eyes politics prize

President Aquino back with good news from Canada BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer

THANKS FOR VISITING TORONTO, CANADA — President Benigno S. Aquino III and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, acknowledge the cheers of the crowd during the reception in Honor of President Aquino and the Filipino Community at the Roy Thomson Hall as part of the President's State Visit to Canada. See more photos from the visit on pages 24-25. RYAN LIM / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

P-Noy: Philippines has option for stopping China BY TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer OTTAWA, CANADA — President Aquino last Friday said the Philippines was exploring an option to stop China’s land reclamation activities in the South Chi-

na Sea, even as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called for calm among the rival claimants to the disputed waters. The President said he would convene a meeting to discuss the “next avenue of

❱❱ PAGE 7 President Aquino

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❱❱ PAGE 28 ❱❱ PAGE 4 P-Noy: Philippines

PRESIDENT AQUINO arrived home early this week from a five-day trip to Canada and the United States with “good news”—pledges of more investments, a package of initiatives boosting trade and labor relations with Canada and expressions of goodwill from his foreign hosts. Mr. Aquino arrived in Manila on Philippine Airlines Flight PR001 at 3:04 a.m. Monday, Malacañang said. In his arrival statement at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, the President said the “positive fruits” of current and incoming Canadian and American investments in the

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Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

US plans military patrols to counter Beijing’s expansion in S. China Sea PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MOSCOW — The Pentagon is drafting plans to begin military patrols around China’s land reclamation projects in the Spratly Archipelago as the tension in the South China Sea became a lot more heated, according to a US official. China has been constructing artificial islands atop coral reefs in the Spratly Archipelago for months now. The inclusion of runways and other potential military installations have caused a panic among Pentagon officials, who fear that Beijing may be making a power play for the strategic waterway. In the now infamous example, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet even accused China of building a “great wall of sand.” China maintains that it has every right to build in its own territory, and that the islands will ultimately provide stations

for disaster mitigation, scientific research, and navigation safety. These assurances have done little to soothe Washington, and according to an anonymous Pentagon official speaking to the Wall Street Journal, the US may soon send military aircraft and naval vessels to enforce “freedom of navigation” around the disputed islands. “We are considering how to demonstrate freedom of navigation in an area that is critical to world trade,” the official said. “The US and its allies have a very different view than China over the rules of the road in the South China Sea.” The draft request comes directly from Defense Secretary Ash Carter, and seeks to review the Pentagon’s options for sending military vehicles within 12 nautical miles of Beijing’s artificial islands. Washington has steadily made moves to bolster its presence in the South China Sea. Admiral Harry Harris Jr. of the

US Pacific Fleet announced in March that the US Navy would be shifting 60 percent of its fleet into the Pacific by 2020, and would expand its cooperation with India. The US Navy has also admitted to flying its most advanced spy plane — the P-8A Poseidon — out of the Philippines earlier this year. Capable of both antisubmarine and anti-surface warfare, the plane has been regularly monitoring the South China Sea region. In March, the United States Senate also requested that the US adopt a formal strategy for dealing with Beijing’s growing influence in the region. It’s possible that the Pentagon’s considerations are in response to this appeal. A destroyer of the South China Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy fires a missile during a training exercise. Also throwing itself into the mix is Japan, another country with no territorial claim in the region. The Japanese Navy has been conducting military ex-

The guided-missile destroyers USS Sampson (DDG 102) and USS Pinkney (DDG 91) operate in the South China Sea in 2010. The US is drafting plans to begin military patrols around China's land reclamation projects in the South China sea, as tensions rise in the disputed waters. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ercises with Philippines, and Tokyo has indicated that it may partake in joint air patrols with the United States. There’s a lot at stake. While China claims nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea, there are disputed, overlapping

claims by Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia. All of these countries also claim various parts of the Spratly Archipelago. Nearly USD5 trillion in trade passes through the contested waterway each year. ■

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Philippine News

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

P-Noy: Philippines... approach,” which he itime territorial disputes, called ippines has pushed for a Code could not reveal just for respect for rules in the in- of Conduct to replace the DOC, yet, as soon as he re- ternational sea lanes. but China said the time was not turns to Manila from his three“What I would say is this, ripe. city swing through Canada. however, that there should not Mr. Aquino said any ruling by “Are there any other things be provocative and unilateral an international tribunal on the that we can do? Yes, but I am not actions in this regard. That all case that the Philippines has at liberty to tell you at this point parties should respect interna- brought before it questioning in time because I will probably tional responsibilities and any China’s claim over 90 percent be advertising to the other side international rulings on the of the South China Sea region how to counter the next move matter,” he said. should serve as a guide to all that we have, which I think is Harper said Mr. Aquino was parties. imprudent on our part,” Mr. handling the difficult issue “[The] Itlos (International Aquino said, speaking at a joint “very prudently and very re- Tribunal on the Law of the briefing with Harper at Parlia- sponsively.” Sea) decision will clarify the ment Hill. He said the President had situation and, therefore, once Satellite images have re- raised the matter with him in clarified, then everybody who vealed China’s says that they extensive land are conforming reclamation efto international forts around rule will have to seven reefs in the Are there any other things that we make their decidisputed Spratly can do? Yes, but I am not at liberty to sions and make chain of islands, tell you at this point in time . . . I will their activities an act that Philprobably be advertising to the other consistent with ippine officials side how to counter the next move. the findings of had said was dethis internationstroying acres of al tribunal,” he coral reefs, aside said. from impinging on the Philip- their meeting. Any clarification in the rulpines’ territorial claims. Mr. Aquino said the Philip- ing should become the basis The Philippines, Vietnam, pines had always abided by for interaction of all parties, he Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan the Declaration of Conduct of added. have overlapping claims to the Parties in the South China Sea “We are hoping that everyland and waters of the South (DOC) and “refrained from es- body’s entitlements and obChina Sea which China claims calating tensions” in the area. ligations are clarified so that almost in its entirety. ‘Time not ripe’ there is stability that is inThe South China Sea is home A 2002 nonaggression pact duced in the region, which is to strategically vital shipping between the Association of a necessary precondition for lanes and is believed to be rich Southeast Asian Nations (Ase- everybody’s prosperity which in oil and gas. an) and China, the DOC has I think all [claimants] in the Harper, who said that Canada failed to stop clashes in the in- area are aspiring for their peodoes not take positions on mar- ternational sea lanes. The Phil- ple,” he said. ■ ❰❰ 1

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Comelec disqualifies Smartmatic anew from bidding for new machines BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE Philippine Daily Inquirer THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) has again disqualified Smartmatic International and Total Information Management (TIM) Corp. from participating in the bidding for the lease of voting machines for next year’s elections. In a May 5 resolution, the Comelec’s bidding and awards committee (BAC) disqualified Smartmatic-TIM during the post-qualification evaluation stage of the bidding process for the lease of 23,000 Optical Mark Reader (OMR) units. The Comelec BAC cited Smartmatic-TIM’s failure to submit valid articles of incorporation as well as the failure of its demo unit to meet the Comelec’s technical requirements. The Comelec BAC requires the election system to have at least two storage devices and the capability to write in them all the data, audit logs, statistics and ballot images simultaneously. “Considering that this is the first competitive public bidding for the lease of the Election Management System (EMS) and precinct-based OMR or optical scan system, and there being no valid bid proposal tendered, the BAC resolves to declare a failure for this first competitive public bidding,” the Comelec BAC concluded. The Comelec BAC also decided to continue the suspension of the second bidding for the lease of the EMS and OMR subject to a mandatory review of the project.

Reacting to the disqualification, Smartmatic Asia-Pacific president Cesar Flores expressed surprise at the decision of the BAC. “ As far as we are concerned, we know that we have complied with all the requirements and are 100 percent certain that we have passed all the technical tests,” Flores said. He said a motion for reconsideration has been filed with the BAC to appeal SmartmaticTIM’s post-disqualification. “We are confident that it will eventually see that we are, in fact, post-qualified,” Flores said. Smartmatic-TIM was disqualified in February when it filed a “nonresponsive” bid where several items in its financial proposal had no price offers. It filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied by the Comelec BAC and which prompted the firm to file a protest with the commission. The Comelec lifted the firm’s disqualification and revived the first round of bidding on March 26 which paved the way for the post-qualification evaluation on Smartmatic-TIM’s bid as the lowest calculated bidder. Smartmatic supplied the 82,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used in recent elections and was awarded in January a P268million contract for the maintenance and repair of the units they had supplied. The Comelec plans to use the 82,000 PCOS machines, supplemented by 23,000 OMR and 410 Direct Recording Electronic units, in the May 2016 elections. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Palace set to battle K-12 critics in SC BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA AND AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG LAST week said it was ready to justify before the Supreme Court (SC) the controversial “K to 12” flagship education program of Aquino administration, which has been met with public criticism, particularly from teachers and lawmakers. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the education program was important in building a strong future for the country, even as the government was doing everything to facilitate the smooth implementation of the 12year program. He said the perceived disadvantages brought about by the program’s implementation were being addressed by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). Earlier, Coloma described the K to 12 program as one that would “enhance the competitiveness of the Filipino in the global community.” The program became national policy with the enactment of Republic Act No. 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which came into effect on June 8, 2013. Coloma said that since the effectivity of the law, the DepEd, CHEd and Tesda had conducted consultations with various stakeholders from both public and private schools to provide a clear understanding of the program and ensure its smooth transition from the current school program by school year 2016. For his part, President Aquino had said K to 12 would “advance the competencies of Filipino graduates to enable them to stand at par with global practices and be equipped with relevant skills and knowledge in their chosen professions.” “This program gives our youth steady, confident footing in pursuing a career and, thus, will empower them to become able and productive participants in our shared task of nation building,” he said. Strengthen education

The President said his administration was “committed to upholding the welfare and interests of our countrymen and central to our national agenda is the strengthening of the educational system.” Last week, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, along with Magdalo party-list Representatives Gary Alejano and Francis Acedillo urged the high court to declare as unconstitutional RA 10533. The petitioners said the law fails to comply with the Constitution because the program was implemented without

Cap. Senator Antonio Trillanes, 1V chairperson committee on national defense and security, deliver his message in support to the teachers, parents and students to suspend the K 12 program by the Department of Education (DepEd) during their rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila on May 9,2015. AVITO C.DALAN / PNA

consulting the people that would be affected by it. The government pushed for the program’s implementation based only on a “few isolated academic papers of private individuals” and in the “belief that it would be good for the country,” the petitioners said. They said many students from poor families who were “barely able to make both ends meet would be compelled to forego these additional years of schooling and just drop out of school.” Similar petitions against the K to 12 were filed by the various groups, among them, the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisang Progresibong Manggagawa, Federation of Free Workers and the National Confederation of Labor. But foreign business groups last week raised the need to address the nagging issues that could hamper the smooth implementation of the K to 12 curriculum. The local business community also made the call through a letter to President Aquino on May 8, as the groups sounded off anew on their unwavering support for K to 12. “We are writing in strong support of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (K to 12 Law) which aims to produce college and career-ready graduates that are globally competitive. Indeed, we applaud the administration’s resolve and commitment to the K to 12 reform and, thus, fully support its continued and proper implementation,” the groups’ letter read. “We also believe, however, that the labor issues that have been raised these past few months should be looked into and thus need to be addressed. We

therefore call on the government to address these issues with legitimate solutions,” the groups said. Signatories to the letter were the Philippine Business for Education, Makati Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Management Association of the Philippines, Informa-

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tion Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. ■

Philippine News

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

P-Noy taps Poe for 2016 For President or VP? Aquino won’t reveal yet BY TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer SPEAKING TO reporters last Friday during his flight from Ottawa to Toronto, the second stop of his three-day state visit to Canada, Mr. Aquino declined to say whether he had asked Poe to run for President or Vice President. “The best way to say it is we broached the idea of continuing the things that this administration has been trying to do. Now, in what capacity, that’s not yet finalized. And that can also include even campaigning,” Mr. Aquino said. The President is the titular head of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), whose presumptive presidential candidate, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, is unpopular with voters. To boost Roxas’ chances, administration allies in the House of Representatives have floated the idea of fielding Poe, who topped the 2013 senatorial election, as his vice presidential running mate. Many administration allies have realized, however, that Poe is not the solution to Roxas’ unpopularity because under the Philippine electoral system, the Vice President is separately elected: Poe could win her race, but Roxas, who lost

the vice presidential election in 2010, could lose his. The real solution is fielding Poe as the party’s presidential candidate, giving the Liberals a fighting chance to keep power after the election. But Mr. Aquino was not ready to say what he had discussed with Poe. “I am not at liberty at this point ... to discuss all of the details of [our talks]. But I have made commitments to her about when to announce it, what exactly to announce,” the President said. Poe confirmed the talks with the President. “The President and I met and he reiterated the importance of selecting a candidate who will continue the programs of reform in good governance. No mention of what particular position,” she said in a statement sent to the Inquirer last night. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, a Liberal Party stalwart, told the Inquirer in a text message that “what seems to be indicated in [the President’s] statement is that the talks with Senator Poe are in their exploratory stage.” “Without a doubt, a partnership with Poe will boost the administration coalition’s chances in 2016,” he said. But Roxas, he said, remains President Aquino’s anointed one.

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President Aquino, the titular head of the ruling Liberal Party, could look to tap the popular Senator Grace Poe as president for the presidential election in 2016, as the current presumptive presidential candidate, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, is unpopular with voters. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

As far as the “growing sentiment in the LP is concerned,” he said, Roxas is the party’s candidate for president in 2016. Poe, daughter of the late “King of Philippine movies” Fernando Poe Jr., has consistently ranked high in the polls, behind front-running Vice President Jejomar Binay. So far, however, she has kept her cards close to her chest. On the House Liberals’ idea that she run as Roxas’ Vice President, she said nobody from the party had talked to her about it. Closing in on Binay

In the March 20-23 Social Weather Stations poll on who should succeed Mr. Aquino, Poe posted 31 percent, closing in on Binay’s 36 percent. Roxas got 15 percent. Poe also emerged as the top choice for Vice President, scoring 26 percent in the same poll. And her response then was: “I am humbled by the results of the survey. I view it as a positive appreciation and validation by a good number of our countrymen of my work within and prior to the survey period.” Poe ran as an independent in the 2013 midterm elections but was adopted by the administration coalition. With less than a year before the next presidential vote, Mr. Aquino has not announced his choice of candidate for Malacañang, leaving Roxas, who gave way to him in 2010 to ensure an LP victory, little time to prepare for a campaign. In a radio interview last month, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Roxas had told members of the party that he was interested in running for President. There was no comment from Malacañang, which is keenly aware of Roxas’ poll standing. During his whirlwind working visit to Chicago on Wednesday, President Aquino exhorted Filipinos in the United States to chase the “Filipino dream” of a www.canadianinquirer.net

better Philippines by electing the right leader, but endorsed no one. Mr. Aquino indicated that he was trying to get a broad consensus from all members of the administration coalition on who will be their standardbearer to push their “reform agenda” beyond 2016. “Actually, it’s still [going on],” he said, referring to the selection process. “Our coalition, we think, is very, very broad. You have the nongovernmental organizations, the civil society organizations, various peoples’ organizations, established political parties who are part and parcel of this whole coalition that has been promoting the reform agenda. So, at the very least, I think we owe it to all partners to get their inputs in determining who should [ inherit] the mantle [ and lead] this country toward a goal,” he added. Looking beyond LP

In effect, the administration is casting a wider net, looking beyond the ruling party in its search for a presidential candidate. Is he open to an independent candidate? “Possible,” Mr. Aquino said. “I get everybody’s inputs, not just the established political parties but also, again, the NGOs ( nongovernment organizations), the civil society organizations, peoples’ organizations, other support.” Is Roxas still being considered among the possible administration candidates for President? Mr. Aquino replied: “The sense I get from our people is that I should listen to the voice of everyone in our organization, and that should be preserved.” He went on: “If we’re able to preserve that, the push for the chosen candidate will be stronger. So, the No. 1 challenge is: Keep it intact and keep everybody focused. After all, what’s the lowest common denominator? That there is a reform agenda and this reform agenda has resulted in so many results and we want to continue the same.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

President Aquino... Philippines “will be reaped for generations to come.” “Though we spent 37 hours in the air and 83 hours in the different time zones that we crossed, it’s really worth it,” Mr. Aquino said. “Though it is this early, we are wide awake and your government is reporting to you: Boss, anywhere in the world, we see Filipinos with their heads held high, ready to take any opportunity to realize the Filipino dream in a fair, prosperous and admired Philippines,” he said. Earlier, during the flight from Ottawa to Toronto, the President summed up for reporters the gains of his state visit to Canada. “We are thankful because in every meeting that we attended, we were warmly welcomed by our hosts,” he recalled, referring to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston, as well as an undisclosed number of business leaders. Mr. Aquino spoke about the strengthening of Philippine-Canadian trade and commerce and hailed the Canadian government for being the Philippines’ “partner in strengthening security cooperation and fighting crime and terrorism” in the Asia-Pacific region. Citing the series of business meetings he attended in Canada, he said the Philippines could expect more investments from Canada. In Vancouver alone, the last stop of his three-city swing in Canada, the Aquilini Investment Group committed to expand its investments and business activities in the Philippines, Mr. Aquino said. Aquilini, which has invested more than P1.3 billion in waste recycling and energy conversion in Cebu province, expressed interest in investing in the country’s tourism and agriculture sectors, he said. “I was surprised to learn that aside from corn, they’re also interested in growing blueberries and cranberries here,” Mr. Aquino sasid. That is “not wishful thinking,” he said. “They’re really planning to do it within the next year and a half.” “Makes we wonder,” he went on. “If we can plant strawberries in the provinces ❰❰ 1

Atty. Marlon Manuel (rostrum), National Coordinator of the Alternative Law Groups (ALG), discusses the introduction to "The Report of the Peace Council on the Bangsamoro Basic Law" on Thursday (May 7, 2015) at Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City. JOEY O. RAZON / PNA

Malacañang on postponement of House’s ad hoc committee voting on BBL: they know their time table BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippines News Agency MANILA — A Palace official is not worried about the postponement of the voting for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as he is confident that lawmakers know the importance of the said measure and its urgency. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in an interview over state-run DZRB Tuesday, said the proposed law is still in the committee level and it is important that all members of the committee will be able to input what they consider are necessary for the proposed measure. He explained that since the law provides the policies and programs of a government, it is important that lawmakers focus on the proposed bills. “Kaya nauunawaan natin na iyan ang isinasagawa nila at nais nilang tiyakin na lahat ng mga gustong imungkahi na amyenda ay maitatala (We understand that this is what they are doing and that they want to ensure that all the necessary amendments will be included),” he said. Coloma expressed hope that all the information that lawmakers gathered during their deliberations as well as during the dialogues and consultations with various sectors would be looked into in the assessment of the proposed BBL. He added that it is important that all the proposed amendments be included now so that it would be studied more once the bill reaches the plenary level. The House of Representatives’ 75-member ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) started Monday their supposed three-day vot-

ing process for the provisions of the proposed measure. However, the voting process was suspended after the first day to give the committee members more time to submit and consolidate the amendments. Coloma said he continues to believe that the lawmakers know the timetable for the proposed law. “Batid din nila iyong sense of urgency hinggil sa panukalang batas na ito at sila ay magpapasya ng naaayon sa pambansang interes hinggil dito (They also know the sense of urgency regarding this bill and they will decide according to national interest),” he added. The ad hoc panel was expected to vote section on section on all 244 sections of the proposed law during the voting process. The proposed BBL was submitted to Congress in September 2014 after representatives of the government’s peace panel and that of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in March of the same year. The proposed measure was put in question after a “misencounter” between members of the police’s elite force and MILF members on January 25, 2015 that led to the death of 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF). The “misencounter” transpired in the middle of the police’s operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao targeted to arrest wanted terrorists — Filipino bomb maker Abdulbasit Usman and Malasian Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, reportedly a leader of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya (JI). Marwan was killed during the said operation while Usman was killed by members of the MILF on May 3, 2015. ■

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of Bukidnon, Quezon and [Benguet], can these places also be suitable for blueberries and cranberries?” Also in Vancouver, the President and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the employment of Filipinos in British Columbia, where there is a 136,000-strong Filipino community. An agreement signed by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Teresa Watt, British Columbia minister for international trade, would enforce existing regulations intended to protect workers. The agreement is geared toward the elimination of barriers to the certification, recognition and matching of skills and qualifications of Filipino migrant workers. During the state visit, the Philippines and Canada also signed a framework agreement on mutual accountability spelling out their commitment to reduce poverty in the Philippines, and a memorandum of understanding expanding collaboration in occupational health and safety to create safer workplaces here. President Aquino and Harper agreed to explore the possibility of forging a free trade agreement between the Philippines and Canada, whose bilateral trade is worth nearly $20 billion. In a roundtable hosted by the AsiaPacific Foundation of Canada in Toronto, TD Bank Group chair Franck McKenna said Canadian business was impressed with the Philippines’ ascent in global competitiveness because of transparency and good government policies. CEOs of other Canadian firms, upbeat about the Philippine economy, also expressed interest in investing in the country. In Chicago, where he made a one-day working visit before proceeding to Canada, President Aquino met with businessmen belonging to the US Chamber of Commerce, US-Asean Business Council and the National Center for Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). “Some of them expressed interest in expanding their business operations in our country,” Mr. Aquino said. ■

Philippine News

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

Judiciary lauds oldest Supreme Court ex-justice who turns 93 Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Editor Earl Von Tapia earl.tapia@canadianinquirer.net Correspondents Ching Dee Lei Fontamillas Frances Grace Quiddaoen Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Photographers Angelo Siglos Solon Licas Operations and Marketing Head Laarni Liwanag (604) 551-3360 Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net Fiona Wong fiona.wong@canadianinquirer.net Emy Rose Figueroa salesphilippines@canadianinquirer,net emy.figueroa@canadianinquirer.net Nelson Wu (1) 647-521-5155 salestoronto@canadianinquirer.net nelson.wu@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 400-13955 Bridgeport Rd., Richmond, BC V6V 1J6 Canada Tel. No.: 1-888-668-6059 or 778-8893518 | Email: info@canadianinquirer. net, inquirerinc@gmail.com, sales@ canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly every Friday. Copies are distributed free throughout Metro Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto. The views and opinions expressed in the articles (including opinions expressed in ads herein) are those of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editorial Team. PCI reserves the right to reject any advertising which it considers to contain false or misleading information or involves unfair or unethical practices. The advertiser agrees the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of error in any advertisement. Member

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE JUDICIARY marked this week the 93rd birthday of Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, the oldest living retired Supreme Court justice and chancellor emeritus of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA). “She is a role model in every way. She is an outstanding jurist. Justice Herrera nurtured and through teamwork and leadership caused PhilJA to become a leading judicial academy in Southeast Asia today,” PhilJA chancellor Adolfo Azcuna said in a statement. Created by the Supreme Court in 1996, PhilJA serves as the professional training school for justices, judges, court personnel, lawyers and aspirants to judicial posts. Herrera was named its first chancellor and served for 13 years until she retired in 2009. “As founding chancellor emeritus, Justice Herrera continues to guide PhilJA and is honored yearly through a trust funded program with a prestigious award in her name given to the most distinguished lecturer of the academy for the year,” Azcuna, Herrera’s successor, said. Herrera is the second woman Supreme Court justice, following Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, the first woman justice who retired in 1978. President Ferdinand Marcos appointed Herrera to the Supreme Court the following year. Reappointed by Cory

Retired Associate Justice Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera.

the Philippines (UP), graduating valedictorian and cum laude in 1947. She topped the bar that year, the third woman to do so. Her score of 93.85 percent is still the highest grade of all women bar toppers. After several years in private practice, Herrera in the 1960s was appointed a judge for trial courts in Quezon province and Manila. She was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1971. Herrera was married to the late Dr. Florentino Herrera Jr., chancellor of the

After the Edsa People Power revolution in February 1986, Herrera and the other Supreme Court justices, who were all appointed by Marcos, were asked by President Corazon Aquino to resign. Herrera, however, was reappointed to the high court by Aquino two months later. Justice Herrera nurtured and through In the Supreme teamwork and leadership caused PhilJA Court, Herrera to become a leading judicial academy in chaired the comSoutheast Asia today. puterization committee, the committee on the revision of the manual for University of the Philippines Manila. clerks of court and the committee on the They have three children, Florentino bar exams. She also served on the presi- III, Victoria Lourdes and Milagros Glodential committee on judicial reorgani- ria. zations. Herrera has received numerous honShe retired from the Supreme Court ors and awards through the years, one in 1992. of the more recent the 2013 Rule of Law Born on May 11, 1922, in Cabanatuan Award from the Chief Justice Claudio City, Nueva Ecija, Herrera is the daugh- Teehankee Center for the Rule of Law, ter of Jose Melencio, a career diplomat, which cited her “for her dignified obeand Carmen Aguinaldo, a teacher, suf- dience to universal concepts of justice, fragist and daughter of General Emilio pioneering spirit as the second woman Aguinaldo. appointed to the Supreme Court, her She took up law at the University of academic accomplishments.. and her www.canadianinquirer.net

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developing the academy into the institution it is today.” The center also lauded Herrera for “concretely further[ing] the cause of an independent bench and bar devoted to excellence and legal learning in the service of the greater good, all of which contribute toward a more stable and lasting rule of law.” Speaking at a PhilJA workshop in 2001, Herrera said “members of the judiciary must ceaselessly advocate the rule of law because we desire what the preamble of our Constitution holds forth to be the fruit of adherence to law: a regime of justice, peace and love.” Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has described Herrera as “a paragon of moral ascendancy and academic excellence.” “She deserves to be commended for all the patience and hard work she has put into serving the public in the legal arena. Her continuing dedication to the practice of law merits gratitude from the public sector and the Senate,” Santiago said in a Senate resolution she filed in 2008. A child welfare advocate, Herrera is currently cochair of the Manila-based Child Protection Network Foundation Inc. She is also chair emeritus of the UP Law Alumni Foundation. ■

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Quest to protect Cleopatra’s Needle in Palawan for indigenous communities stumbles on exciting findings BY JONAH VAN BEIJNEN Philippines News Agency PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The lush island province of Palawan (approximately 12,000 km2) is located in the southwest of the Philippines. Due to a relatively low population density, the island has been spared from major deforestation tragedies that are taking place in the rest of the Philippines, and approximately 40% of forest cover still remains in the province. Palawan has received international recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Biosphere Reserve and it contains two World Heritage sites. Despite such recognition, the island still remains relatively understudied and its forests are diminishing. Puerto Princesa, the capital city of Palawan, contains one national park (Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park - 22,000 hectares) but approximately 60,000 hectares of pristine forest neighboring the park remains unprotected. The center of this large forest is shaped by Cleopatra’s Needle (1,593 MASL), the highest peak of Puerto Princesa and surroundings. This area is a real biological gem, it is the last safe haven for countless endemic species, and it functions as an important corridor for species crossing the island. A large part of the area represents the ancestral lands of four communities of indigenous peoples, including Cuyunon, Tagbanua, and the last 150 members of the Batak. Their last refuge is the forests of Cleopatra’s Needle—these indigenous communities depend on the forest resources for their livelihood. To protect the cultural and traditional practices of these communities, it is critical that the area is preserved. The area serves furthermore as the largest watershed in the municipality and provides water for approximately 30% of the residents in the city. For these reasons, the Centre for Sustainability (CS) in collaboration with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and its other partners, work hand in hand with the indigenous communities of the area to preserve a large portion of the forests of Cleopatra’s Needle (35,000 hectares) through the creation of the Cleopatra’s Needle Forest Reserve as a “critical habitat” under PCSD Resolution No. 13-481 as an amendment to Section 50 of Administrative Order No. 12, Series of 2011. The project is supported by Rainfor-

est Trust, Global Wildlife conservation, Amphibian Survival Alliance, German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Otterfonds Foundation and Fauna and Flora International.

As part of this project, a biodiversity survey has been conducted. The Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) was executed by a team of scientists to assess the biodiversity of the different species

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groups present in the area. The program included a large group expedition held between December 1 ❱❱ PAGE 12 Quest to

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‘All evidence point to son of milk tea shop owner’ BY JOVIC YEE Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PIECES of circumstantial evidence gathered by investigators all point to the eldest son of the milk tea shop owner as the suspect in the death of his father and a customer, according to the Manila Police District (MPD). MPD legal officer Dennis Wagas told reporters last week that all the evidence pointed to 23-year-old Lloyd Abrigo. Wagas cited the testimony of witnesses, the footage taken by the shop’s closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) and the results of toxicology tests showing that the victims had ingested oxalic acid, a substance commonly used as a cleaning or bleaching agent. “Lloyd tampered with the crime scene. When his father was in the hospital, he went to the shop to clean up,” Wagas said, adding that Abrigo’s actions the day before and hours after the incident

A screenshot from surveillance footage showing Arnold Aydallah and Suzaine Dagohoy at the ErgoCha milk tea shop shortly before they collapsed after ingesting product from the shop. Suzaine later died, as well as the owner, William Abrigo, who tried some of the product. The owner's son Lloyd, is wanted as the suspect in the deaths. FACEBOOK PHOTO

showed that he “tried to hide something.” The MPD filed on Friday in the Manila Prosecutor’s Office two counts of murder against Abrigo for the deaths of his father William and customer Su-

zaine Dagohoy. The two died on April 9 after they ingested the Hokkaidoflavored milk tea prepared by William. Dagohoy’s boyfriend, Arnold Aydallah, who took a sip of the

drink, was hospitalized but survived. For this, Abrigo was also charged with frustrated murder. Among the witnesses against Abrigo were shop helper Joseph Garnacio, trainee Rose Ann Limpahan and Wendell Maitland, who lived near the milk tea shop in Sampaloc, Manila, and said he saw Abrigo return to the shop shortly after his father was poisoned. Wagas narrated that on the night of April 8, the CCTV footage showed Abrigo entering the shop wearing surgical gloves and holding a brown paper bag. He brought the bag to the far end of the shop, an area not covered by the CCTV camera. In a text message to the INQUIRER, Abrigo’s counsel, Benedicto Buenaventura, maintained that his client did not bring any chemical or harmful substances into the shop. He said they were currently “looking for evidence” which would show that “another per-

son was behind the crime.” According to Buenaventura, the bag brought by Abrigo into the shop on April 8 contained oolong tea leaves. Wagas said that they have yet to establish a motive for the incident and how the oxalic acid ended up in the milk tea ingested by the victims. The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, said that although it appeared that the victims had ingested oxalic acid, the cause of death could be determined only through an autopsy. “The cause of death can be known after the results of the histopathological examination which is part of the autopsy,” said Chief Supt. Theresa Ann Cid, PNP Crime Laboratory director. She added that the microscopic examination of the victims’ tissues would take a month to complete. According to Cid, the victims ingested an amount over the lethal dose of oxalic acid which is 9.5 to 10 micrograms per liter. ■

Typhoon ‘Dodong’ exits PAR, Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Typhoon “Dodong” has accelerated and is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical amd Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday. PAGASA said as of 4 a.m., typhoon “Dodong” was located at 830 km northeast of Basco, Batanes (26.6°N, 126.6°E) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph. Typhoon “Dodong” is moving 30 to 40 kph northeast. Public Storm Warning Signals elsewhere are now lifted. Meanwhile, the public will continue to experience warm and humid weather due to easterlies or warm air from the east as it continues to be the domi-

nant weather system affecting the eastern section of the country. For Tuesday forecast, PAGASA said partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will be experienced over the rest of the country including Metro Manila. The presence of easterlies will bring high temperatures and good weather conditions to the country in the coming days as he advised people to wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, and drink plenty of water. On Monday afternoon, Metro Manila has 34.7 degrees Celsius recorded around 3:45 p.m. and the reading was taken at the agency’s Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City. The temperature on Tuesday in Metro Manila will range 25-34 degrees Celsius while the heat index will be 29-40 degrees Celsius. The heat index is a human

discomfort index that gives the “apparent” temperature or what human perceive or feel as the temperature affecting the body. High air temperatures and high relative humidity will give high apparent temperatures or indices. Full exposure to sunshine can increase the heat index by 9°C. In its advisory, PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the southeast to east will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. On the other hand, PAGASA continues to monitor another tropical storm with an international name of “Dolphin” outside the PAR. PAGASA said the tropical storm is expected to enter the country by weekend and will be locally named “Egay”, the fifth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor on the Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of Typhoon Dodong (Noul) during peak intensity on May 10, 2015. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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No ulterior motive in killing of Usman, says MILF BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer THE MORO Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) did not kill terrorist bomber Basit Usman to appease the public after the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident or to ensure the smooth passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress, the group’s chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said last week. He said it was a “natural step” in the MILF’s agreement with the government to “isolate the guns and goons in Mindanao.” “[The MILF’s killing of Usman] was not directly related to the BBL. It was not to appease the government or the public. It was a natural step in the process,” Iqbal told a forum organized by Metro Manila congressmen. He said the MILF only took advantage of an opportunity to kill Usman, the second target in the ill-fated counterterrorism operation in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, which left more than 60 people dead, 44 of them elite police commandos and 17 MILF fighters. At least three civilians were also killed. The primary target of that operation was Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” who was gunned down by Special Action Force troopers before they ran into MILF fighters and other armed groups that led to their deaths. “There’s a standing order of the MILF that if there’s an opportunity [to kill Usman], to do it, under the terms of reference of the Adjag (Adhoc Joint Action Group) whose function is to isolate the guns and goons in Mindanao,” he said. “We got a chance to get Usman, and we got him,” Iqbal said. He acknowledged the grave consequences of the Mamasapano incident on the peace talks between the government

and the MILF as a result of the public outrage. The government and the MILF signed a comprehensive peace agreement last year. The deal is to be sealed with the passage of the BBL, but the Mamasapano incident has eroded congressional support for the draft law. “This (Mamasapano clash) was a very big incident. But in spite of that very serious challenge, we have come to this point,” Iqbal said. Respect Congress

Addressing fears that the BBL would be watered down due to distrust toward the MILF, he said the group would respect the wisdom of Congress to enact a good law. “We respect the primary power of Congress over legislation,” Iqbal said. Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo has asked each leader of the government and MILF peace panels how far they would go towards accepting an amended BBL, as many lawmakers want to clarify a number of “legal ambiguities” in the bill. The government’s peace panel chair, Miriam CoronelFerrer, said the apprehension of some lawmakers over some provisions was a result of “fear, or a lack of recognition and misconception.” Responding to concerns about why the BBL would have to create separate agencies for elections and audit, among others, she said the language of the BBL actually made it clear that these bodies were formed without prejudice to the powers of constitutional bodies like the Commissions on Elections (Comelec) and on Audit. In the case of the Comelec, Ferrer said there was a need to create a Bangsamoro version as only that region would require special elections. “Therefore, this Bangsamoro

According to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, they did not kill terrorist bomber Basit Usman (pictured) to appease the public after the January 25 Mamasapano incident or to ensure the smooth passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. According to them it was simply a "natural step" in the MILF's agreement with the government to "isolate the guns and goons in Mindanao."

Comelec will be special because it will have to administer regional elections unlike what is done in other regions,” she said. Iqbal said the MILF was prepared to accept an “improvement or refinement” of the BBL but would not qualify what that meant. Asked if this implied a “compromise,” he said he could not use that word, as that would

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itself compromise the MILF’s position. He maintained that the framers of the draft law submitted to both houses of Congress had made sure that no provision would go against the Constitution, in spite of pronouncements to the contrary by some lawmakers. Asked if the MILF would turn over its members who would be

indicted by the Department of Justice for the Mamasapano incident, Iqbal would not give a definite answer. “We respect the internal and legal processes but the government and the MILF signed certain agreements. We cannot say we will turn over [our men] or we won’t turn over. We will go through the process,” he said. ■

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The possibly new genus of stick insect found by Center for Sustainability researchers Paris Marler and Mélanie Ragon in Cleopatra's Needle in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. PARIS MARLER / PNA

Quest to... to 14, 2014, as well as a series of smaller research trips, which were conducted between December 2014 to February 2015. ❰❰ 9

Herpetofauna

Encountered during the research and study were 12 amphibian and 14 reptile species. Despite that, the sampling period was somewhat limited in scope; new data nonetheless provides an invaluable insight into a diverse and healthy herpetological community inhabiting Cleopatra’s Needle. Several highly significant discoveries resulted, including substantial new range extensions and geographical records. Under Professor Brown, the herpetofauna team observed the Palawan Toadlet (Pelophryne albotaeniata), which before our research program at Cleopatra’s Needle began, had only been observed once prior by scientists in the last 40+ years (2007, Mount Mantalingajan — Rizal, southern Palawan). This exciting observation redefines and widens the geographical range previously assigned to the Pelophryne albotaeniata. The Centre for Sustainability

is also very pleased to announce samples—further research is Six of these species are enthe finding of the Malatgan Riv- needed for this complex spe- demic to the province of Palaer Caecilian (Ichthyophis we- cies. wan — the Palawan Stink Badberi) for the first time in over ger (Mydaus marchei), the 50 years. Mammals Palawan Flying Squirrel (HyThis species was originally The CS is also pleased to lopetes nigripes), the Palawan discovered and described in share that during the biodiver- Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse (Chi1920 and prior to this biodiversity survey, majority of small ropodomys calamianensis), the sity assessment, known from 12 endemic mammals were ob- Palawan Spiny Rat (Maxomys specimens only. served in abundance, indicat- panglima), the Palawan Tree After its initial discovery the ing a highly diverse and intact Shrew (Tupaia palawanensis), species was never seen again, mammal community around and the Palawan Shrew (Crocand its taxonomic status was in Cleopatra’s Needle. idura palawanensis). doubt. Originally Two species deposited at the recorded have National Musebeen categorized um of the Philipunder the Interpines (NMP), the The unique forests of Cleopatra’s national Union holotype for this Needle represent one of for Conservaspecies was lost the largest intact remaining tion of Nature during the Secprimary forests of the Philippines. (IUCN) Red List ond World War as Vulnerable: when the musethe Asian Smallum was bombed. Clawed Otter During the (Aonyx cinerea), assessment, the team found Twelve mammal species be- and the Palawan Bearded Pig one specimen of the species longing to 10 families in 7 or- (Sus ahoenobarbus). thereby, officially confirming der taxa were recorded, using Indigenous hunters were its existence “a wonderful and a range of techniques. These also observed transporting live momentous herpetological dis- include pitfall traps, bated live two Palawan Bearded Pigs havcovery for Palawan.” cage trapping, mist net traps, ing captured them using snare Doctor Arvin Diesmos, in camera trapping, opportunistic traps. collaboration with Rafe Brown visual encounters, hand grabOther species also recorded will be publishing a separate bing, and other indigenous include the Common Shortresearch note on their findings. methods of capture employed nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus Several hard-to-identify tree by the local peoples who have brachyotis), Masked Palm Civet frogs of the genus Philautus inhabited the area since time (Paguma larvata), Long-tailed were collected, including DNA immemorial. Macaque (Macaca fascicularis www.canadianinquirer.net

ssp. philippensis), and the Palawan Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis heaneyi). Considering the number of endemic species to Palawan found on Cleopatra’s Needle during this brief assessment, our research program only further highlights the importance of this area as a safe haven for these unique species, and the clear need to protect it. Crustaceans and Aquatic Insects

Eighty seven taxa of 43 or more families, have been identified from the samples. Among the species with somewhat known ecological preferences, the following can be regarded as indicators for good habitat condition: Ancyronyx pseudopatrolus, A. montanus, Hydraena claudia, H. castanescens, H. jojoorculloi, Hydraena “sp. E” (this species is undescribed, but known to the investigators from a few other pristine collection sites), Aphelocheirus palawanensis, and Prosopistoma palawana. The following recorded taxa are undescribed species: Geosesarma sp. (currently under scientific description by Manuel-Santos, Ng and Freitag), Graphelmis sp., Limnebius sp. and Hydraena sp. E (currently

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FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

under scientific description by Gołębiewska and Freitag). Odonata

The biodiversity assessment was conducted in December 2014, a typically dry period with limited rain in the area. Odonata activity, however, is most dynamic during the rainy season such that relatively few species were encountered. While few, the CS is pleased to share that of these species a high number recorded at Cleopatra’s Needle were endemic and/or threatened species. Although some of the specimens are still being identified, two new species of dragonflies have already been confirmed and will be described later this year. Additionally, it is believed that at least four new species of damselfly will be described after the collected specimens have been compared to existing museum collections. Other notable observations include the presence of Neurobasis daviesi, one of the rarest and most beautiful damselflies endemic to Palawan. The species had not been observed since the 1960s. Also the first ever female of Stenagrion petermilleri was recorded. Lastly, the elusive Phaenandrogomphus treadawayi was recorded, listed under the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened, only known from one location, 200 kilometers north of Cleopatra’s Needle. These findings serve to further highlight the value and importance of preserving Cleopatra’s Needle. The descriptions of the newly found species will be published later this year. Birds

Sixty five different bird species were found during the survey. While some of the endemic species recorded are IUCN Red Listed, these were found in relatively high abundance, including the Palawan Hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei) - Vulnerable, Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis) - Vulnerable, Palawan Tit (Parusa mabilis) — no listing, and Palawan Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis lemprieri). Threatened, further strengthening the importance of protecting the area. The bird expert who joined the expedition, Rommel Cruz, is a Palawan native and has scouted the whole island for over 15 years. He reported that this was the first location in the

province, where he recorded all endemic bird species in one location, thus “demonstrating that Cleopatra’s Needle is indeed one of a kind, even for Palawan.” Conclusion

This Biodiversity Assessment is the first of its kind in Cleopatra’s Needle. Even with the relatively limited research conducted during this brief period, the high number of endemic and threatened species already recorded, as well as the significant number of new species discovered/re-discovered, demonstrate the uniqueness of the area in terms of biodiversity—Cleopatra’s Needle is indeed one of the Philippines’ top biodiversity hotspots! The launch of the Rapid Assessment Program has thus, laid down a basis and network from which local and international scientists can conduct greater and more in-depth biodiversity studies in Palawan, especially in the proposed Cleopatra’s Needle Forest Reserve. The practical significance of these studies is invaluable: for increasing scientific knowledge about Palawan and the Philippines in general, for educating both local and international audiences about the value and importance of this area, and for conservation purposes of this pristine forest which will also serve the local people for many generations to come. The unique forests of Cleopatra’s Needle represent one of the largest intact remaining primary forests of the Philippines — clearly then, government agencies from the local to national level, environmental and indigenous peoples NGOs, and the Philippine citizenry must work together to effectively protect this area in the name of Philippine biodiversity, of some of the country’s oldest indigenous peoples homelands, and of future generations of the Filipino people. Jonah van Beijnen, the contributor of the story, is the vicepresident and co-founder of the Centre for Sustainability. He studied Forest and Nature Conservation in the Netherlands and Sustainable Aquaculture in the United Kingdom. He has extensive experience from living and working as a biologist in the Philippines for more than eight years while working on sustainable development through livelihood and conservation projects. ■

Big spike in HIV cases ‘alarming’; DOH sets testing BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer

urged people at risk of contracting the deadly HIV infection to avail of the free testing offered by the government. DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy announced that the department was scheduling for the first time National HIV Testing Week from May 11 to 15 as a prelude to the observance of an AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 17.

Will gradually decline

“So we are expecting the numbers to increase one time, big time, but eventually we THE DEPARTMENT of Health hope the number of cases will (DOH) expects there to be 8,000 gradually decline,” Ubial said. new cases of human immunodeShe said next week’s activficiency virus (HIV) in the counity would also provide the DOH try in one year if the trend of 20 with a more realistic database new cases daily continues. on the prevalence of HIV in the Health Assistant Secretary Philippines. Paulyn Ubial said the rise in From January to February HIV cases was this year, the “alarming” at DOH recorded 20 percent ev1,182 new cases ery year, while of HIV-AIDS. In neighboring All the countries in Southeast Asia February alone, countries were are actually reversing the trend . . . 646 new cases turning the tide. It’s only the Philippines that has an were reported, “It is very increasing number of cases. the highest numalarming beber reported in cause all the a month “in the countries in history of HIV in Southeast Asia the country,” acare actually reversing the The weeklong activity aims to cording to the DOH. trend... they have fewer cases. push more people at risk—males It attributed the continuing It’s only the Philippines that having sex with males and in- rise of HIV cases in the county has an increasing number of jecting drug users—to get tested to the low testing rate among cases,” Ubial told reporters. so they would know their status key populations. The 2013 NaAt a press conference last and could benefit from the free tional Demographic Health Wednesday, health officials antiretroviral therapy offered Survey showed that only two said the DOH expected a 10- to in 19 treatment hubs across the percent of women aged 15 to 20percent spike in HIV cases country, said Lee Suy. 49 had been tested for HIV and on top of the current trend. It knew the results. ■

Worries grow for Rohingya, Bangladeshi migrants as Malaysia, Indonesia refuse to accept them BY CATHY YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA — Abandoned at sea, thousands of Bangladeshis and members of Myanmar’s long-persecuted Rohingya Muslim-minority appeared Wednesday to have no place to go after two Southeast Asian nations refused to offer refuge to boatloads of hungry men, women and children. Smugglers have fled wooden trawlers in recent days as fears grew of a massive regional crackdown on human trafficking syndicates, leaving the migrants to fend for themselves. The United Nations pleaded for countries in the region to www.canadianinquirer.net

keep their borders open and help rescue those stranded, while some parliamentarians slammed the “not-in my-backyard” attitude. “We won’t let any foreign boats come in,” Tan Kok Kwee, first admiral of Malaysia’s maritime enforcement agency, said Tuesday. Unless they’re not seaworthy and sinking, he added, the navy will provide “provisions and send them away.” Hours earlier, Indonesia pushed back a boat packed with hundreds of Rohingya and Bangladeshis, saying they were given food, water and directions to Malaysia — their original destination. Southeast Asia is in the grips

of a spiraling humanitarian crisis, with about 1,600 migrants landing on the shores of the two Muslim-majority countries that over the years have shown the most sympathy for the Rohingyas’ plight. With thousands more believed to be in the busy Malacca Strait and nearby waters — some stranded for more than two months — activists believe many more boats will try to make land in the coming days and weeks. Those aboard one boat several kilometres (miles) off Malaysia’s Langkawi Island said after four days without food or water that they needed to be rescued. ❱❱ PAGE 14 Worries grow

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Worries grow... They reported seeing a patrol boat with flashing lights approach late Tuesday, and then slowly pass them by. Chris Lewa, director of the non-profit Arakan Project, was on the phone with them when it happened, saying she heard their first hopeful cheers turn into sobs and screams. Labeled by the U.N. one of the world’s most persecuted minorities, the Rohingya have for decades suffered from state-sanctioned discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Denied citizenship by national law, the Muslims are effectively stateless. Access to education and adequate health care is limited and freedom of movement severely restricted. In the last three years, attacks on Rohingya have left 280 people dead and forced 140,000 others into crowded camps just outside Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where they live under abysmal, apartheid-like conditions, with little or no opportunities for work. That has sparked one of the biggest exoduses of boat people the region has seen since the Vietnam War, with an estimated 100,000 men, women and children boarding ships in search of better lives in other countries since June 2012, according to the U.N. refugee agency. The first stop, up until recently, was ❰❰ 13

Refugees on a boat as seen through night-vision goggles. As crackdowns on human trafficking are stepping up in the waters of Southeast Asia, individual countries are refusing to let stranded migrants into their countries, only offering food and assistance in case their boats are sinking. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Thailand, where migrants were held in jungle camps until their families could raise hefty ransoms so they could continue onward, usually to Malaysia. Recent crackdowns, however, have forced the smugglers to change tactics — instead holding people on small and large ships parked offshore until they collect-

chatr expands nationally to over 200 Canadian cities Goodbye calling cards: new prepaid international rates starting at 1 cent per minute included in $25+ monthly plans TORONTO — chatr mobile announced May 5th that it’s now available across Canada to bring more customers prepaid voice and text plans, incredible international talk rates and more data. Monthly plans of $25 and up now include international calling starting at 1 cent per minute to more than 200 countries, making it easier and faster to keep in touch with friends and family afar. “Customers can now call or text around the world without purchasing a calling card,” said Raj Doshi, chief chatr head, chatr mobile. “For many who are entering a new chapter in life, setting up a mobile phone is often the first step they take, and chatr gives them an easy experience so they can get started.” Previously sold in seven markets (Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Southwest Ontario, Toronto and Vancouver), chatr is now available nation-wide in 200 new cities offering easy and accessible prepaid mobile plans without a term contract or credit history. Customers can stop into more than 1,100 local stores and retailers

to get going with chatr, including Walmart, BestBuy, Wireless Wave, Tbooth wireless, Wireless etc, WOW! mobile boutique and more. New data buckets can be added to plans $35 and up, so customers can also connect online with their phones. Customers on the $35 and $40 prepaid plans can add 500 MB for $10, 1 GB for $15, or the new 2 GB add-on for $25. For further information, check out chatrmobile.com, Twitter and Facebook. Let’s get going! About chatr mobile chatr mobile is a Canadian pre-paid wireless brand that provides customers from coast-to-coast with worry-free mobile plans, devices and service on a trusted national network. With data packages and competitive international calling rates, no term contracts or credit checks, chatr mobile makes it easy for all customers to keep connected to friends and family near and far. For more information please visit chatrmobile.com.

ed about $2,000 per person. Struggling to put a positive face on its dismal human trafficking record, Thai authorities have discovered more than 70 former camps near the border with Malaysia, the biggest of which was found Tuesday. It appeared to be newly abandoned, well-constructed and able to house as many as 800 people, said Lt. Gen. Prakarn Chonlayuth, the southern regional army commander. Dozens of graves also have been excavated, the victims believed to be Rohingya or Bangladeshi. Spooked, agents and brokers have all but stopped bringing their human cargo to shore altogether. And in the last three or four days, captains and smugglers have fled their ships, some jumping into speedboats, leaving migrants with no fuel, food or drinking water, survivors told The Associated Press. In some cases, the Rohingya or Bangladeshis have succeeded in commandeering boats, bringing them as close to land as possible and then swimming the rest of the way. A group of Southeast Asian parliamentarians, meanwhile, released a statement calling the refusal to accept the refugees “inhumane.” “Towing migrants out to sea and declaring that they aren’t your problem anymore is not a solution to the wider regional crisis,” said Charles Santiago, a member of parliament in Malaysia. “Any solution must include securing binding commitments from Myanmar to end the persecution of Rohingya that is fueling their exodus.” He said that many of the Rohingya were asylum seekers fleeing persecution and “disastrous conditions in Myanmar.” “At the very least, they must be given access to a U.N. refugee screening pro-

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cess and dealt with accordingly,” he said. Several navies were called upon to carry out search and rescue operations. Capt. Chayut Navespootikorn of the Royal Thai Navy of Operation Fleet Area 3, said several boats and aircraft had been deployed to scour his country’s territorial waters, but nothing has turned up. He said his fleet was back out there looking Wednesday. Tan, of the Malaysia’s maritime enforcement agency, meanwhile said the Langkawi and surrounding waters would be patrolled 24 hours a day by eight ships — but the purpose was not to rescue migrants but to keep them at bay. More than 1,100 Rohingya and Bangladeshis have landed on the island since Sunday, the country’s Home Ministry said. Of those, 486 were Myanmar citizens and 682 Bangladeshis. They included 993 men, 104 women and 61 children. Survivors being held in temporary shelters on the island were tightly loaded into four police trucks Wednesday, some waving to reporters as they headed to a detention centre on Malaysia’s mainland. Hasana, a 15-year-old girl, early said she was orphan, having lost both her parents when she was young. She recalled telling her grandmother she didn’t see a life for herself in Myanmar, where it was a struggle just to get enough food to eat. The teen said she instead decided to join a group of friends who wanted to go to Malaysia. She paid $200 for what turned out to be a harrowing journey by boat, she said, describing how one man was savagely attacked just for asking for food. Looking around her at the chaos, she now worriedly asked: “Am I going to be sent back?” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Australian weather bureau confirms tropical Pacific now at El Nino levels PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY CANBERRA — Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirmed on Tuesday that El Nino thresholds have been reached in the tropical Pacific for the first time since March 2010. Assistant Director for Climate Information Services Neil Plummer said El Nino is often associated with below average rainfall across eastern Australia in the second half of the year, and warmer than average daytime temperatures over the southern half of the country. “The onset of El Nino in Australia in 2015 is a little earlier than usual. Typically El Nino events commence between June and November,” Plummer said. “Prolonged El Nino-

like conditions have meant that some areas are more vulnerable to the impact of warmer temperatures and drier conditions,” he said. Plummer said the failed northern wet season in 201213, compounded by poor wet seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15, have contributed to drought in parts of inland Queensland and northern New South Wales. Plummer noted that while the El Nino is forecast to strengthen during winter, the strength of an El Nino does not necessarily correspond with its impact on Australian rainfall. Australia experienced widespread drought during a weak El Nino in 2006-07, while stronger events such as the El Nino event in 1997-98 had only a modest impact on Australian rainfall.

“Recent significant rainfall and flooding along the east coast of Australia, associated with two almost back-to-back East Coast Lows, did not penetrate far into inland regions and therefore have done little to alleviate conditions in drought affected areas,” he said. While El Nino increases the risk of drought, it does not guarantee it. Of the 26 El Nino events since 1900, 17 have resulted in widespread drought. Despite El Nino increasing the likelihood of drier conditions later this year, BoM’s May to July Climate Outlook indicates much of Australia is likely to be wetter than average. This is being driven by warmer than average Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures, which are dominating this outlook. ■

The 1997 El Nino seen by TOPEX/Poseidon. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

3 more complainants step up vs recruiters BYJEROME ANING AND NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) last weekapproved the indictment of Mary Jane Veloso’s alleged recruiters, Ma. Kristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, for largescale illegal recruitment and recommended their continued detention without bail. Sergio and Lacanilao were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 for the illegal recruitment of three new complainants who like Veloso, were from Nueva Ecija. “The new complainants are united in saying that both re-

spondents recruited and promised them work abroad... [B]oth respondents are not licensed/ authorized to recruit workers for overseas employment,” inquest prosecutor Mark Roland Estepa said in an 18page resolution. Estepa also recommended the consolidation of the cases with the one filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on behalf of Veloso. The prosecutor also recommend that further preliminary investigation be conducted on the other charges against Sergio and Lacanilao such as human trafficking and estafa that were filed by Veloso’s family and 11 other complainants, many of whom failed to subscribe to their affidavits. Prosecutor General Claro

The Department of Justice (DOJ) begins the preliminary investigation on the charges of human trafficking and estafa by swindling filed against the alleged recruiters of Mary Jane Veloso at the DOJ office on May 8, 2015. AVITO C.DALAN / PNA

Arellano approved all of Estepa’s recommendations. The largescale illegal recruitment case against Sergio and Lacanilao is expected to be filed

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today in a regional trial court in Nueva Ecija. In the resolution, the prosecutor also cited an account by Sergio gathered by the NBI

through the police where she admitted being connected with an international drug syndicate. Sergio allegedly named contacts based in Quezon City, Hong Kong and Malaysia, including two Nigerians connected to the West African Drug Syndicate. “Our case against the suspects is solid, but we still would recommend to the DFA to make representations with the Indonesian government for Veloso to testify against her recruiters,” said lawyer Eric Nuqui, head of the NBI antihuman trafficking division. ■

Opinion

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

PUBLIC LIVES

The work of mothers By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer ANNA JARVIS, the American activist who started it all in 1908, became so incensed by the commercialization of “Mother’s Day” that she wanted this special day scrapped for the meaningless ritual it had become. This was supposed to be, she said, an occasion for warm thoughts and sentiments, and not for profitmaking. She, of course, did not succeed. With modernity, the market has penetrated nearly every aspect of our lives, offering commodities meant to express our fondest memories and deepest affections in the most effortless way. I personally do not recall celebrating Mother’s Day when my mother was alive. Yet, there was not a day, after she fell ill, that she was not in my thoughts. Long after she passed on, I would find myself visiting her grave on no particular day. I would stare at the dates of her birth and death, and reflect on the 78 years that constituted her life. It was a life completely spent for family. I often wondered on such occasions if she ever thought what her life might have been if she had not married my father and become a fulltime mother to 13 children. She was a bright woman who hitched to every purpose a steely determina-

tion. But she was also very emotional: were tasks that women like her could Who did she think she was? I fiery when angry, and almost inconsol- not do as well or even better than men. think, to use managerial parlance, able when hurt. Yet she never despaired. After she married my father, she she thought of herself as chief execuShe was always strong for her family. continued to keep an eye on her par- tive officer, chief operating officer, Her capacity to quickly pull herself to- ents’ household, mindful of her fa- chief financial officer, executive secgether and not wallow in resentment ther’s wish to spare her sickly mother retary, logistics and purchasing ofdeeply impressed me as I was growing. the rigors of keeping house. At the ficer, janitor and cook all rolled into She was a lesson in selflessness and in same time, she felt it was her duty one. She was our teacher, confidante what it means to assume responsibility to look after her husband’s parents and mediator. She was our doctor, in the Filipino family. because he, too, happened to be the guardian angel and protector. “All In retrospect, I now believe that eldest in their family. She managed to that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my what my mother, by her everyday ex- attend to all these duties while rais- angel mother,” wrote Abraham Linample, was passing on to all of us was ing her own family because of the me- coln. But even this effusive tribute a whole culture of taking responsibil- thodical way she budgeted her day. sounds like an understatement when ity under conditions of scarcity. I use My siblings and I came one after the I think of the role my mother played the word “culture” in more or less the other, often separated only by a year. in our lives. same sense the soWhat did she cial anthropologist think she was doing? With modernity, the market has penetrated nearly every Clifford Geertz unI think she thought aspect of our lives, offering commodities meant to express our derstood it. Culture, she was raising a Geertz wrote, tells nation—not as a fondest memories and deepest affections in the most effortless way. us who we are, what matter of duty but we think we are doing, and to what Except for me, who had the privilege as an instinct wired into her nervous purpose we do what we do. Guided by of being born in a maternity clinic run system. What she and my father conthese questions, I offer a portrait of by an obstetrician, my brothers and stantly talked to us about was how we my mother as Filipino. sisters were delivered by a comadrona must develop our gifts and talents so Her name was Bienvenida, the el- at home. I remember witnessing many we could be useful to our country and dest of nine children. From the stories of these natural deliveries, mesmer- to humanity, and thus be a source of she told us, it was clear that, from an ized by the cutting of the umbilical pride to our family. early age, she took charge of her par- cord that linked the newborn to the To what purpose did she think ents’ household. Everyone looked up mother’s womb. Still feeling weak from she was doing all these? I do not reto her for her superior ability to make the labor of heaving and pushing, my call that my mother ever once hinted decisions and find solutions to prob- mother would unfailingly break into a that the time and the effort she gave lems. She was entrepreneurial and welcoming smile, as though the infant to raising her children formed an inresourceful; she did not think there beside her were her first. vestment, whose returns she hoped

to reap in her old age. When the last of my sisters married and moved out of the ancestral home, my mother insisted on living alone in the house in which she raised all of us. Conscious of not being a burden to any of her children, she declined all attempts to get her to live with any of us. So she would be near all of us, she put her savings in a small town house that my brother built, and stayed there whenever she was in the city. But, the house in the province remained her true home. Only then did I realize what a fiercely free spirit she was. She did it all out of love, but also in fulfillment of a mission that fate had given her, which she gladly and willfully embraced. I vividly remember the last chat we had as I drove her back to her place in Quezon City. “It’s time for me to go,” she said calmly, wearily hinting that the regular dialysis she was undergoing was not giving her relief. She died shortly after, at age 78. A passage from Nietzsche’s “The gay science” made me understand later what that final conversation was about. “This is not the expression of weariness—rather of a certain autumnal sunniness and mildness that the work itself, the fact that the work has become ripe, always leaves behind in the author.” Happy Mother’s Day! ■

AS I SEE IT

John Hay contract rescinded, not voided By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer INVESTORS, LOCATORS, homeowners and sublessees in Camp John Hay are being threatened with eviction by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) under Arnel Casanova if they do not sign an unjust, unethical and illegal deed of assignment, or pay, again, for the properties they already own. They wrote to President Aquino and to Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, asking for help. The latter answered that they are right in not signing the deed of assignment and that thirdparty subleases in the former American camp are valid and should be respected, Here are excerpts from the letter to President Aquino: “Dear Mr. President: “We, the Residents and Investors to homes/condominiums/ businesses in Camp John Hay who have fully paid for our right to enjoy and stay in our properties in CJH until October 2046 and who have built houses there and whowere never involved in the dispute between the BCDA and the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJH DevCo) to develop the former US Army Camp as a tourist destination, are sorry to

trespass upon your valuable time to by any Arbitration Tribunal or Court. must now abandon. This notwithask for your personal intervention And yet, an office under your control standing our having dealt with the and kind help to find a mutually ac- and supervision (BCDA) has pub- government’s duly appointed develceptable way to resolve our problem licly demanded that we abandon our oper of Camp John Hay in good faith. with the BCDA, a government entity hard-earned investments in CJH and “The Arbitral Decision declares under the Office of the President. turn over our homes and properties that both BCDA and CJH DevCo (vio“Mr. President, we are not de- to them without regard to our invest- lated the contract). How is it then that manding anything but rather we are ments.” we, who dealt… with both in good faith asking for your help and for you to (The letter then narrated the long as investors in CJH are now left holdmeet with (CJH’s) 1,600+ investors dispute between the BCDA and CJH ing the bag as the penalized party?… and homeowners at Malacañang at DevCo culminating in the decision of “We thus seek your help, our beyour earliest convenience in the in- the arbitration tribunal ordering the loved President, in getting replies terest of Justice and Fairness. We are BCDA to refund to CJH DevCo the and in mediating between the BCDA innocent investors who responded to P1.4-billion rent that the latter had and us. Very simply, we only ask that the call of the govthe BCDA uncondiernment to invest tionally honor and Very simply, we only ask that the BCDA unconditionally honor in its PPP project in respect the terms and respect the terms under which we invested in Camp John Hay. Baguio and dealt in under which we all good faith with invested in Camp the BCDA’s appointed private devel- paid, and for the developer to return John Hay. We ask only that the BCDA oper. the camp to the BCDA.) allow us to enjoy the benefits of our “On April 25, 2015, many of us were “In meetings between the home- having answered the government’s mortified, embarrassed and shocked owners and the BCDA, the home- call for support of its premier PPP to read a full page ad (in a newspaper) owners asked many questions and project in Baguio. placed by BCDA, of a Notice to Vacate provided proof of ownership. In ad“And there is precedent for this in our fully paid homes without com- dition, some wrote letters asking Clark Air Base where the BCDA repensation which included our names (more) questions to the BCDA. We spected the vested rights of the priand addresses. We bought our homes regret to inform you that we did not vate investing public in Mimosa.” in good faith from the BCDA devel- receive the courtesy of a reply. In(The letter then revealed the unoper.... We are not a party to or instead we were collectively greeted fair terms of the deed of assignment volved in the dispute between BCDA with a paid advertisement announc- that the BCDA is forcing them to and its duly appointed developer…. ing that the government is not going sign. These were already discussed in We have, therefore, never been heard to honor our investments which we the previous column.)

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“Mr. President, we are hopeful and pray that you will not allow this situation to worsen in the hands of an investor-belligerent BCDA.” *** By the way, I heard over the radio BCDA chief Arnel Casanova claiming that he and the BCDA “won” in the case decided by the arbitration tribunal. That is false. The tribunal declared the BCDA in breach of the contract and ordered it to refund the P1.4-billion rent that CJH DevCo had paid. In addition, the tribunal declared that the BCDA has no right to collect the P3 billion it was asking from the BCDA. Is that winning the case? On the contrary, he lost not only the case but also P4.4 billion that should have gone to the AFP Modernization Program. I also want to clarify that the lease contract was “rescinded,” not “voided” by the arbitration tribunal. To “void” means it took no legal effect from the very beginning. But to “rescind” means it was valid in the beginning, then cancelled in the end and everything in-between are valid. Hence buyers in good faith are protected by law. Had the contract been “voided,” acts in-between would also have been void. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

LOOKING BACK

Shakespeare and history By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN ASKED how or why I became a historian—and these are standard questions from interviewers and the plainly curious—Shakespeare comes to my mind. For it was not Shakespeare but through Shakespeare that I developed: my hunger for research, my appetite for useless information, and my craving for new and different ways to taste and serve stories that people thought they knew all along. In Shakespeare I learned to discern the flavors and aromas of the past, mixing ingredients in a cauldron following the recipe provided by the second witch in Macbeth: “Eye of newt, and toe of frog,/ Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,/Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,/ Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing,/For a charm of powerful trouble/Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.” We were required to study one Shakespeare play in each level of high school: “Merchant of Venice” in freshman year, “Romeo and Juliet” in sophomore year, “Macbeth” in junior year, and some other play that I cannot recall for senior year. Contrary to popular belief, not all historians have a memory for which elephants are widely known.

Memory is not one of my strong points, Tucked away in the reference section a book isn’t available online, it isn’t having discovered early—through was a thick creature bound in red, with important. The Internet overwhelms Shakespeare, of course—that I did not stamped gold letters that screamed: “A students with instant gratification. need to learn by heart all the names of Concordance to Shakespeare.” It was Unlike the physical search for books Andres Bonifacio’s Katipuneros in the a hefty tool that burrowed through in a library, the Internet delivers data 1896 battle of Pinaglabanan. That in- the 34,895 speeches spoken by the in seconds—more information than formation can be found in books, if you 1,223 characters in Shakespeare’s 43 we can handle. So the real challenge know where and how. works, all of 884,421 words arranged is not in the search, but in validating As a curious college student, I sat alphabetically, cross-referenced, and information, sorting, deleting and orin a graduate research class where made searchable by play, character, ganizing data into something useful. the professor asked: “In which play frequency, and even etymology. I reWe learned Shakespeare in high does Shakespeare use the word ‘love’ member that “love” is used 35 times in school using the Folger editions, where the most often?” Before anyone could “Antony and Cleopatra,” and 44 times Shakespeare’s numbered text was on hazard a guess, she the left pages of the declared it was not book, and the most Shakespeare is best experienced in a theater than force-fed “Romeo and Juerudite, most obthrough text in a classroom. liet” or “Antony and scure notes on the Cleopatra.” And then right pages. Dense she ordered everyone to the library, in “All’s Well That Ends Well.” I don’t text was livened up with spot illustrasaying they had an hour to return with know which Shakespeare play used tions, often from 16th-century woodan answer. Like sprinters jumping to “love” the most often, but if I need the cuts. Unlike my classmates who were the sound of the starting gun, the stu- answer, I know where to find it. Why dulled by the course, I unlocked Shakedents ran to the library and emptied waste time memorizing all the facts speare’s quaint English while relishing the shelves of Shakespeare faster than in the world stored in books that are these annotations. Being the only one locusts descending on a rice field. Des- never checked out of libraries? in class who enjoyed these notes, I reperation encouraged teamwork, and Having taught young people for the alized: first, that I was a nerd, and secbooks were piled on the large study past three decades, I see the difference ond, that the world had become a lesser tables arranged by play before each in their research methods from mine. place because people had lost their apstudent began flipping through pages, They search with a mouse, while I preciation for useless information. searching for love and counting the am of a generation that used the card Years after high school I discovways. As expected, everyone returned catalogue. They think physical books ered the Royal Shakespeare Comempty-handed and frustrated. are for old-fashioned scholars like pany, thanks to discounted tickets Then came the life-changing lesson. me, and some even presume that if given to postgrad students of the

University of London. One evening I turned up and expected to leave during the first intermission to catch a pint at the pub before returning home. “Twelfth Night” it was, and I was mesmerized by the music, the costumes, and the magic of drama. Shakespeare is best experienced in a theater than force-fed through text in a classroom. In Act 2, Scene 5, Malvolio picked up a letter in Olivia’s garden, lifted it to his eyes and exclaimed: “By my life, this is my lady’s hand, these be her very C’s, her U’s and her T’s and thus makes she her great P’s. It is, in contempt of question, her hand.” I burst out laughing and was hushed by the stares of those whose elevated cultural experience was ruined by my laugh; they glared as if I had let out a loud, smelly fart. Why was I the only one who laughed aloud? Did the performer adlib or was this a bawdy 16thcentury joke lost on 20th-century viewers? The next day, I picked up a copy of “Twelfth Night” at Dillons bookstore, and found Shakespeare’s vulgar side. I think it was then that my rude side was revealed, and I have honored the Bard’s example often by deploying the same in my writing. So it was that Shakespeare gave me the tools of my trade. ■

AT LARGE

The baby thrown out the window By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer YOU MAY have read the story that appeared in this paper around the time of Mother’s Day, which we celebrated last Sunday. The story tells of the extraordinary survival of an infant who was thrown out of a second-story window one early morning in a posh subdivision. Hearing the baby’s cries, a security guard and a passing jogger entered the yard and found the infant dangling from the branches of a nearby tree, its umbilical cord and bloody placenta still attached to the navel. After police and first-aid workers were called, the authorities knocked on the door of the residence and inquired if anyone had thrown a newborn out the window. Following bloody tracks, they found a house maid cowering in a bathroom, out of which window the baby was thrown. Accompanied by social workers to a hospital, the woman told them her story: She was married and had children who all stayed behind in Samar while she went to Manila as a domestic worker. Perhaps unwilling to reveal her secret to anybody, she decided to deliver the baby herself and to dispose of the “evidence.” No

one yet knows who is the father of the unfortunate baby. And yet, count the newborn extremely lucky. Save for a few scratches, the infant was found unharmed. Some rescuers claim that they found the baby holding on to a twig or vine, as if it was holding on for dear life. Even if the story turns out to have been born more out of fancy or imagination, the fact of the infant’s survival despite the horrifying circumstances of its birth still speaks of luck and fortune almost too good to be true. I can just imagine the sort of backstory the baby will tell come adulthood. *** STILL, compared to many other Filipino infants, the baby thrown out the window is very fortunate indeed. For starters, it survived the first critical hours after birth, the most vulnerable period in a baby’s life. Although child mortality has been declining in recent years here, there are still disturbing conclusions in the first annual report of the National Implementation Team (NIT) of the Department of Health, which is charged with seeing to the successful rollout of programs resulting from the passage of the Responsible Par-

enthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law. Though declining, child mortality is being slowed down by high neonatal (newborn) mortality, the report said. The main culprit, according to the report, is “limited access to essential newborn care” which results in “the high number of neonatal deaths.” The absence of a trained birth attendant (a doctor or midwife) is a fate shared by newborns with their mothers. The same NIT report notes that the persistent high rate of maternal mortality “result(s) from high levels of unmet need for various RPRH services such as modern family planning and safe delivery services for women and mothers.” As the fate of mothers go, so does the fate of our newborns. Which is why it is foolhardy to talk about or act on child survival in the Philippines without, at the same time, looking after and ensuring the health and survival of their mothers and of the women who will become mothers. Like the mother-and-child pair in that home in a Makati village, the fates of all mothers and of all children are intertwined, bound not just by the umbilical cord, but also by their shared subordinate status in society.

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*** ACCORDING the United Nations Development Program, over half of births in the country take place at home, with one-third assisted by traditional birth attendants or hilot, who have a lot of handed-down folk knowledge about and experience with childbirth, but are usually not equipped to deal with complications. Aside from relying on hilot, other factors contribute to our high maternal mortality rates. These include infections due to unclean surroundings or unhygienic practices, lack of transport to ferry the at-risk woman from her home to an accredited facility, the lack of a supply of blood and other essential drugs even in medical facilities, and the poor health status of the woman. This sorry state of affairs can be traced directly to poverty. The UNDP says that poor women are “greatly disadvantaged with around 75 percent of the poorest quintile (having) no access to skilled birth attendants compared to only 20 percent of the richest quintile.” The Philippines counts three million pregnancies occurring each year, half of which were unplanned, with one-third ending in abortions. Abortions, says the UNDP, “is one of the

leading causes of maternal deaths in the country.” A huge part of the problem is still lack of access to family planning commodities and reproductive health services. For one, the “unmet need” (the desire of women to limit their pregnancies but facing difficulty in accessing contraceptives) remains high. *** A DAY or so after reading the story of the baby thrown out the window, I had occasion to visit a mall for some errands on Mother’s Day. I was astonished. It was like Christmas, with all the restaurants full, with long queues winding outside them. Everywhere we went, there were families, many of them multi-generational. Many of the older women even carried bouquets. How touching, I thought (my own daughter in the States had a bouquet delivered). We Filipinos really do love our mothers. But maybe it’s only in the personal sphere. Because the fate of mothers in the Philippines in general is dismal at best, as exemplified perhaps by the housemaid who delivered her baby by her lonesome, more terrified of the consequences of being found out than of the risks to her own survival and that of her child. ■

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News

Canadian team cut off from base by latest Nepal quake, path cleared by DART team BY DIANA MEHTA The Canadian Press ALL CANADIAN Forces members deployed to earthquake-ravaged Nepal were safe and accounted for after another quake hit the country Tuesday, although one team was briefly cut off from its base after a landslide triggered by the temblor blocked its path. The latest quake to rattle the country struck midway between Kathmandu and Mount Everest, hitting an area of the Himalayan foothills the hardest, but was felt all over the Nepalese capital and surrounding region. Local authorities said at least 37 people were dead, though that number was expected to rise, and more than 1,100 were injured. The quake came barely three weeks after the country was devas-

A relief worker moves supplies out of a cargo plane to be given to survivors of the recent Nepal earthquake. The region was once again rocked by another quake, killing at least 37 and injuring another 1000. DFID - UK DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT / FLICKR

tated by its worst earthquake in decades, which killed more than 8,000.

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The Foreign Affairs Department said all Canadian government personnel in the country, including nearly 200 members of the Canadian Forces, were safe after Tuesday’s quake, and said it was working to reach out to Canadians in the country by all available means. Some members of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, however, were temporarily stranded while visiting remote villages after a landslide blocked their route back to their base, Camp Sumitra, located about 70 kilometres northeast of Kathmandu. “They were on a section of the highway that had been cut off by a landslide,” DART spokeswoman Lt.-Cmdr. Kelly Williamson told The Canadian Press in an interview from Nepal. “They were fine. We sent some heavy equipment that we have based at Camp Sumitra and they did clear the road.” The equipment used to dig away the rubble was a MPEV, or a multi-purpose engineering vehicle, which had been brought to Nepal from Canada, Williamson said. The quake was also felt at DART’s headquarters in Kathmandu, as well as at its other operations in a village 16 kilometres north of the capital. “Everyone is safe and accounted for,” Williamson said. “We all felt the quake probably to the same degree.” After the shaking had stopped, members of DART’s medical assistance team were asked by the Nepalese army to assist with casualties at a hospital that had been set up at the international airport in Kathmandu, Williamson said. DART’s

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DOCKET

MAY 08, 2015 FD-3105

urban search and rescue technicians were also put on standby. The country’s relief and emergency recovery effort are being run by the Nepalese government and army, with Canadian teams available to assist where they best can, said Williamson, noting that DART would spend the coming days reassessing where it would be the most useful. “We’ll conduct reconnaissance to some of the villages we’ve previously visited to reassess how this latest quake has impacted residents,” she said. The latest quake came just as the country was beginning to recover from the horrific effects of the massive earthquake that hit at the end of April. Kent Page, a Mississauga, Ont., resident currently working with UNICEF in Kathmandu, said Tuesday’s temblor would make what was already a difficult rebuilding effort a little bit harder. “Nobody needed a second earthquake,” he said. Page was with a team assessing the safety of schools in Kathmandu when Tuesday’s quake hit. He was inside a school building as it started shaking violently. “It hit very hard, very fast, very loud, and for a second or two you didn’t really know what was going on,” he said. “I thought the building was going to collapse on us.” The streets of the capital were filled with people who had rushed outdoors and were making calls to check on loved ones, Page said. A few minutes later, an aftershock hit. “That was also very scary,” said Page. “There were some very anxious moments.” The psychological impact of two significant quakes in such close succession with each other is now a key concern, Page said, while also noting the strength of the country’s residents. “The Nepali people are wonderful people, they’re very strong, they’re very resourceful, they’re very resilient and they’re going to pull through this,” he said. “But certainly they’ve been through a lot.” Canada has announced five million dollars in humanitarian assistance funding to Nepal. The federal government has also said it will match eligible contributions until May 25 made to registered Canadian charities for earthquake relief efforts in Nepal. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Report card on war with ISIL says Harper government ignoring key concerns BY MURRAY BREWSTER The Canadian Press OTTAWA — An independent report on Canada’s war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant says the extremist threat is real, but perhaps exaggerated, while the Harper government ignores other important political concerns. An analysis by the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute released Monday says the violence being meted out by extremists is just the latest expression of Sunni alienation in Iraq and is rooted in a philosophy to which few Canadians can relate. “The threat to homeland security, first, is real, but it should not be overstated,” said Thomas Juneau, an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. “According to the government, a few dozen Canadians have travelled to Iraq or Syria to fight or train with (the Islamic State) and other extremist groups. Some of them have been or will be killed, while a majority will return home without ill intentions. This leaves a handful who could attempt attacks.” Canada’s endorsement of airstrikes and the training of local security forces will not be enough to defeat the Islamic State, and a more long-term vision needs to be developed, he added. “Ottawa has not clearly articulated its views on a longterm strategy to defeat (Islamic State), though officials have made a number of statements suggesting that Canada broadly endorses the U.S. strategy,” the report said. “Canada has endorsed the premise that airstrikes will

A F/A-18 Super Hornet taking off from USS Carl Vinson before carrying out strikes on ISIL targets in Syria. An independent report by the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute says that Canada's endorsement of airstrikes and training of local security forces will not be enough to defeat the Islamic state, and will need a more long-term vision to accomplish that goal.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

not be sufficient to defeat (Islamic State), but are necessary as a first and critical phase to stop its expansion and weaken it.” The Harper government has not been clear about its policy towards reconciliation of the Shiite and Sunni Muslim sects in Iraq and has little influence in Baghdad without an embassy there, Juneau wrote. “Ottawa has certainly issued statements in this direction” towards reconciliation, said the report. “Yet its actions — notably its diplomatic absence from Baghdad and its relative disengagement from Syria, where it does not recognize the opposition — suggest a certain passivity towards the critical importance of achieving long-term political solutions, despite its

rhetorical support.” A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson said the report also noted that the combat mission is in Canada’s national interest and critics “often miss the mark.” “As a result of ISIS’s threats against Canada and Canadians, we have worked closely with our allies to help degrade and disrupt ISIS’s ability to inflict harm,” said Johanna Quinney. “While we have seen some success, as the report notes the threat remains. This is why we have expanded and extended our mission, because it is the right thing to do.” The report comes just over a week after Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a whirlwind visit to Iraq, where he met

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Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and delivered $167 million in humanitarian aid, stabilization funds and military equipment. There are funds for building resilience in communities and $1.2 million for investigating war crimes, but a substantial portion of the cash is for bricks and mortar and clearing away mines. The analysis warned of the perils of ignoring the root cause of the conflict, and how it could lead to the emergence of a new and potentially more threatening brand of Sunni extremism. “In the absence of a viable political process in both Iraq and Syria, the collapse of (Islamic State) would most likely lead to the emergence of a new expression of widespread Sunni alienation,” the report warned.

“Sunni alienation would inevitably see a resurgence under another form, possibly a more threatening one. To avoid this, a political solution is necessary.” Juneau conceded much of the overall war strategy is being guided by Washington, but noted the coalition’s full-throated support of the Kurds could backfire over the long term. “Canada and its allies want to see the emergence of a stable Iraq, yet a key pillar of their approach is to boost the military capabilities of the Kurdistan regional government, an autonomous sub-state actor,” he wrote. “As a result, the second pillar of the strategy may bring shortterm gains but at the longerterm cost of making the unity of Iraq more challenging.” ■

MAY 15, 2015

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FRIDAY

Canada News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Who’s got better benefits? Conservatives, Liberals exchange pre election barbs BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press

During a separate exchange during question period Tuesday, Poilievre took visible delight in pointing out that the Liberals had indeed made a subtle change in the way they are presenting their numbers. In defending their position, the Liberals said the Conservative child care benefit would be worth $7 billion, taking into account the foregone government revenue. The combined cost of the existing child tax benefit and national child benefit supplement was pegged at $11 billion. One of the charts in the printed Liberal material, however, showed the breakdown as $8 billion and $10 billion. A new, updated chart now only shows the combined cost of all those programs at $18 billion. The Liberals called the change a design decision that simplified the chart, insisting the $18-billion calculation for the programs remained consistent. Poilievre, however, begged to differ. “They have actually changed the bar graph in that plan only one week after introducing it,” he crowed, brandishing the relevant page of the Liberal document. “They are still billions of dollars short.” ■

OTTAWA — The federal election is still five months away, but the Liberals and the Conservatives are already exchanging blows over their duelling promises of family tax relief. Last week, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau introduced a family-friendly plan — part of the backbone of the party’s forthcoming campaign platform — that seeks to stake a claim squarely on the populist, low-tax territory coveted by the Tories. So the Conservatives are countering with an offensive designed to blow holes in the math behind the Liberal childbenefit proposal — a plan that abandons Stephen Harper’s universal child care benefit. The Tories have released updated government numbers that appear to indicate a $900-million shortfall in Liberal projections for next year — a result, the Conservatives say, of the Liberal failure Despite the election being months away, the Liberals and Conservatives have already started to account for the benefit’s taxable status. exchanging blows over duelling promises of family tax relief. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau (pictured) The Liberals insist any revenue lost as introduced the Liberal plan last week, which the Conservatives countered this week by showing that a result of ditching the universal child the Liberal plan was off. care benefit has been accounted for, and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS say they used publicly available figures ing a swipe at Trudeau’s arithmetic. to cost their family plan and to reach “Even after he takes all those things their inflation assumptions. away, his numbers still don’t add up.” In an email, Trudeau spokeswoman Harper also said the Liberals want to Kate Purchase said the Finance Depart- get rid of the programs like income splitment numbers “are underestimating” ting for seniors and tax-free savings acthe cost of an existing program that counts, neither of which is true, Trudeau would be replaced by the Liberal plan. said after question period. It’s an early pre“I think it’s obvious view of what are sure that the Conservato be countless rhetives are once again torical skirmishes making things up to over economic astry and throw mud sumptions, estimates and see what sticks.” and calculations that I think it’s Since the Liberal WITH BOW VALLEY COLLEGE will erupt on the preobvious plan was introduced campaign trail bethat the last week, the ConOur expanded IELTS program makes it tween now and the Conservatives servatives have critieasier for you. We now offer two testing fall election, schedare once again cized their rivals for days each month, and IELTS Preparation uled for Oct. 19. making things up announcing such a classes. Plus, we have a FREE online During question to try and throw big-ticket promise course to improve your English and help period Tuesday, mud and see without explaining you prepare for tests. Trudeau repeated what sticks. how they would pay the Liberal accusafor part of it. For more info on Alberta’s leading tion that the Harper Employment MinEnglish language learning centre, visit government’s famister Pierre Poilievre bowvalleycollege.ca/IELTS ily measures unfairly has called the gap the benefit the most “$2-billion hole.” wealthy Canadian The Liberals say families. their child benefit “Fairness means helping those who would cost the federal treasury $4 bilneed help the most, so why not cancel lion a year — paid for, in part, by ditching those tax breaks and benefits that go the Conservatives’ $2-billion incometo the wealthiest Canadians?” Trudeau splitting measure. As for the other $2 asked. billion, the Liberals say they’ll reveal the The Liberals would scrap important source of that money when they release programs, Harper retorted, before tak- their full campaign platform.

IELTS SUCCESS

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World News

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

The Harper Government extends Universal Child Care Benefit application deadline Harper Government is looking for hundreds of thousands of families not currently registered for the enhanced child care benefit THE HARPER Government is extending the application deadline to receive the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) until May 15 so that more families can receive their UCCB cheque in July. At the London Sports and Activity Expo, the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, highlighted the extension today and asked for help from the media and the public to encourage families to apply for the benefit. A new video, "The Enhanced UCCB - Your Kids Your Way <https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vVUYl9Ry4X4>", was also launched today to help inform Canadian families about the benefits available. The majority of families with children, approximately 3.8 million, are known and will automatically receive the enhanced UCCB or be contacted by the Government to confirm their information. However, an

estimated 200,000 eligible families are not currently captured by the Government's UCCB system and may miss out on receiving money that is owed to them unless they apply. It is estimated that about 69,000 families with children in Ontario including about 2,500 families with children in London are not currently registered. In 2015 alone, this represents potentially millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits. Under the proposed enhancements to the UCCB, families would receive almost $2,000 per year for each child under 6 and $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The new benefit amounts would be retroactive to January 1, 2015 and be reflected in monthly payments to families in July 2015. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB are expected to more than double the number of families that benefit from 1.6 million to more than 4 million.

If your family is not currently receiving the UCCB, has never received the UCCB, or has never applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and you still have children under 18 in your care, please go towww.canada. ca/taxsavings<www.canada.ca/ taxsavings%20> to find out how you can apply. Quick Facts

* Families that need to submit an application will need to do so by May 15, 2015, in order to receive the enhanced UCCB payment in July 2015. * All families with children will benefit from the new Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan, which includes the Family Tax Cut, and enhancements to the UCCB, Child Care Expenses Deduction and Children's Fitness Tax Credit. * Combined with tax relief introduced by the Government of Canada since 2006, a typical family of four can receive up

to $6,600 in tax relief and enhanced benefits in 2015. * Low- and middle-income families will receive two-thirds of the overall benefits provided by the Government of Canada's new family measures.

* The Family Tax Cut will eliminate or significantly reduce the difference in the federal tax payable by a one-earner couple relative to a two-earner couple with a similar family income. â&#x2013;

Governments of Canada and Ontario recognize Canada Job Grant recipient in Ontario THE HONOURABLE Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London, today announced that 15,600 workers in Ontario are receiving training thanks to funding provided through the Canada Job Grant. Approximately 2,200 employers have been approved for funding under the Canada Job Grant in Ontario. The announcement took place at BOS Innovations, an engineering company with 45 employees in Dorchester. The company is a successful recipient of Canada Job Grant funding that will provide 12 employees with comprehensive training to fully implement new software, giving BOS Innovations greater ability to control its business operation from initial customer contact

Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

to final shipping and billing. The funding will also provide an additional four employees with training in robotics software to increase the company's

efficiency and competitiveness. As a result of the training, three new employees have been hired and three current employees will receive promotions. www.canadianinquirer.net

The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. By requiring employers to invest in training costs, the Canada Job Grant will result in skills training that leads to guaranteed jobs. Under the Canada Job Grant in Ontario, the federal government provides two-thirds of total eligible training costs, up to $10,000, for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and student fees, and the Ontario government delivers the program. Employers are required to contribute the remaining onethird of these training costs, while small businesses have additional flexibility to make an in-kind contribution towards their share of the cost through wages paid to the training participant.

Quick Facts

* BOS Innovations Inc. will receive $52,725 to train 16 employees, three of which will be new hires. The company will invest an additional $13,181 in this training, plus an in-kind contribution of $13,181 through employee wages. * On average, private-sector forecasters expect employment in Ontario to grow by 1.3 percent per year by 2017. Over the past three years, employment has increased by an annual average of 1.1 percent in Ontario. * By 2017-18, over $115 million per year will be available for the Canada Job Grant in Ontario. * Ontario is currently accepting employer applications for the Canada Job Grant. Employers are encouraged to apply at www.ontario.ca/ employeetraining<http://www. ontario.ca/employeetraining>. â&#x2013;

Community News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Immigrant youths hold exhibit

President Aquino delivered a SONA (state-of –the-nation) -like speech apprising the community of economic accomplishments, reforms and successes under his Straight Path (Daang Matuwid) program of government. Photo taken at the Vancouver Convention Centre where he was given a rousing welcome by over 1,200 Filcom members during the final leg of his state visit to Canada.

Aquino receives rousing welcome from Fil-Can community in Vanvouver BY MARY ANN R. MANDAP PRESIDENT AQUINO visited Vancouver over the weekend amid the raucous cheers of over 1,200 countrymen and women who welcomed him at a community meeting at jampacked Vancouver Convention Centre. Speaking in pure Filipino, the President delivered a SONA (state-of –the-nation) -like speech apprising the community of economic accomplishments, reforms and successes under his Straight Path (Daang Matuwid) program of government. Mixing Pinoy humor with economic statistics, the President described what he proclaimed as Philippine transformation from a corrupt country to a rapidly growing economy steered by good governance. “Aminin ko ho, maski ako, pagkaupo bilang Pangulo, naisip ko ring parang imposibleng solusyunan ang mga problemang minana natin. Para po kasing kada araw, panibagong anomalya at dagdag na problema ang ating nadidiskubre. Pero hindi po tayo sumuko. Sa

abot ng ating makakaya, tinutupad natin ang ating panata: Ipamana ang Pilipinas na di hamak na mas maunlad, kaysa ating dinatnan,” the President said. He also highlighted reforms in the economy, infrastructure development, justice system, technical education and skills development, trade, weather forecasting system, and Armed Forces modernization. Part of the presidential entourage were Secretaries Cesar Purisima of Finance, Rosalinda Baldoz of Labor, Gregory Domingo of Trade, Arsenio Balisacan of Economic Planning, Herminio Coloma Jr. of Presidential Communications Operations, Julia Abad of Presidential Management Staff, Jose Almendras of the Cabinet and Undersecretary Laura del Rosario of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia and Philippine Consul General to Vancouver Neil Frank Ferrer. Canadian officials who took part were Minister of Defense and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney, Minister of International Trade Edward Fast, British Columbia Premier Christy

Clark, Ambassador Neil Reeder and key federal, provincial and municipal officials. In his speech, President Aquino thanked the Canadian government for the hospitality and economic opportunities extended to the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos living and working in Canada. He also described Premier Clark as a “partner” of the Filipino people and cited the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Cooperation in Human Resources Deployment and Development, which the Philippines signed with the Province of British Columbia earlier in the day. Premier Clark meanwhile, commended the Filipinos for being strivers. “People with a sense of adventure, people who are brave, people who are loyal and patriotic, people with resilience and a capacity for hard work and, most of all, the thing that we know the Filipino community best: strivers,” she said. She also announced the opening of “a million new jobs” in the province in the next seven years and referred to temporary migrant work❱❱ PAGE 47 Aquino receives

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APPROXIMATELY 150 pieces of artwork produced by children and teenagers will be on display, with many available for sale to the public at Burgeon, an upcoming art exhibit. Artistically talented newcomer youth approached MOSAIC Settlement Services last fall to assist in organizing a fundraising art exhibit, which has resulted in a gallery taking place May 22-24 at Emily Carr University of Arts & Design on Granville Island. The immigrant serving organization connected the group, Young Artists in Action, with the David Suzuki Foundation, which will be the recipient of funds raised during the threeday event. Leon Luo, one of the founders of Young Artists in Action said “We believe our action, by donating our artwork to fundraise for the (David Suzuki) Foundation is the best way to express how much young

people in our generation care about our environment.” The group have previously displayed work in an exhibition which raised funds for seniors’ programs in Kitsilano. The upcoming show is themed around sustainability and will include painting, sculpture, photography and other forms of art. Burgeon takes place May 22 to 24, at Emily Carr University’s Concourse Gallery, North Building and admission is free. The David Suzuki Foundation is a national, bilingual organization. In addition to the Vancouver head office, it has offices in Montreal and Toronto as well as staff in Ottawa. It collaborates with Canadians from all walks of life, including government and business, to conserve our environment and find solutions that will create a sustainable Canada through science-based research, education and policy work. ■

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

President Aquino visits Canada

OTTAWA, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Philippine and Canadian officials upon arrival at the Canada Reception Centre (Hangar 11) for his State Visit to Canada. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

OTTAWA, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a warm welcome from the Filipino-Canadians during the welcome ceremony at Rideau Hall for his State Visit to Canada. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

OTTAWA, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III throws a spade full of earth on the base of the red spruce tree located beside the red maple tree planted by his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino, at the Main Drive of the Rideau Hall for the ceremonial tree planting during his State Visit to Canada. Also in photo are Governor General of Canada David Johnston, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

TORONTO, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto upon arrival at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel during his State Visit to Canada. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

OTTAWA, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada upon arrival at the Peace Tower Entrance, Centre Block of the Parliament Hill during the welcoming ceremony for his State Visit to Canada. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

OTTAWA, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, tours the Library of Parliament at the Centre Block of the Parliament Hill during his State Visit to Canada. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

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Presidential visit

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

A fisheye panorama of the crowd listening to President Benigno S. Aquino III deliverin his speech during the reception hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in honor of President Aquino and the Filipino community at the Roy Thomson Hall as part of the President's State Visit to Canada. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

VANCOUVER, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Philippine and Canadian officials upon arrival at the Vancouver International Airport during his state visit to Canada. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

VANCOUVER, Canada — members of the Filipino community wave miniature Philippine flags during the President Aquino's meeting with them at the West English Bay Ballroom of the Vancouver Convention Center, as part of his state visit to Canada. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

VANCOUVER, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the meeting with the Filipino community at the West English Bay Ballroom of the Vancouver Convention Center, as part of his statfob isit to Canada. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

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VANCOUVER, Canada — President Benigno S. Aquino III signs the Distinguished Visitors Book during the meeting at the Pacific Rim of the Pan Pacific Hotel, as part of his state visit to Canada. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

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2015-04-27 1:49 PM

Immigration

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

More than 600 victims in alleged immigration fraud scheme run by Toronto woman THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — More than 600 people around the world fell victim to an alleged immigration fraud scheme run by a Toronto woman, who now faces 73 charges in an expanding investigation. Toronto police announced fresh charges against Imelda “Mel” Fronda Saluma on Tuesday, saying her victims have allegedly been defrauded out of over $2.3 million. “She did prey on people’s hopes to get them over here, because everybody wants to get to a better place,” said Det.-Const. Erwin Mendoza who has been working on the investigation since last fall. The probe into Saluma’s activities began in October, after

police were contacted with allegations that a large number of people had been defrauded by a Toronto-based recruiting agency dealing primarily with immigrant workers. It was alleged that individuals, their family members and friends from other countries were recruited for jobs in Canada by the agency, identified as GoWest Jobs International. Payment was allegedly requested so that positive documents, references and employment contracts could be provided to applicants, but police said those documents were fake. An application would then allegedly be submitted to government agencies in the foreign countries on the victims behalf. The applicants would sub-

sequently be denied entry to Canada due to the fraudulent

documents submitted on their behalf, and the applicant would

be banned from reapplying for two years, police said. Saluma’s alleged victims were based in Canada and six other countries, including the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Most of the victims were of Filipino descent. “It’s pretty tough for all of the foreign applicants to come up with the applicant fees that this company was looking,” said Mendoza, adding that Saluma’s agency allegedly asked for between $1,500 to $5,000 from its victims. Saluma, 46, is currently in custody as her case works its way through the legal system. Police believe there may be other victims. Anyone who thinks they may be a victim or know a victim is being asked to contact authorities. ■

Harper decries permanent underclass, and predicts more Filipino immigrants BY MIKE BLANCHFIELD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday he doesn’t want to create a permanent underclass in Canada because of problems with the temporary foreign worker program. Harper made the comment as he hosted Philippines President Benigno Aquino, on the second day of his Canadian visit. Harper touted the Philippines as a great source of immigration to Canada and he expects those levels to grow. “This is a pro-immigration government,” he said.

But Filipinos are among the many communities in Canada affected by changes to the temporary foreign worker program. With a federal election in the offing this fall and with 700,000 Canadians of Filipino descent making up one of the country’s larger diaspora communities, Harper played down the effect of those changes. The Conservative government set an April 1 deadline for temporary foreign workers in low-skilled jobs to either become permanent residents or return home. “We’re making sure, first of all, obviously that immigrants are not filling jobs for which Canadians could be hired,” Harp-

er said in response to Filipino journalist’s question. “This country is not going to have a policy, as long as I’m prime minister, where we will have a permanent underclass of temporary people ... here forever with no rights of citizenship and no rights of mobility.” Harper said the government wants to ensure that when people come to Canada they have a pathway towards becoming citizens. For his part, Aquino didn’t appear troubled by the implications of the temporary foreign worker program, as the two leaders appeared happy and at ease with each other. “The briefing I got today talks

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about a distinction between skilled and unskilled workers,” said Aquino. “And since most of our countrymen who are here are of the skilled variety, then that provision that you cited seems to not be applicable.” Peter Sutherland, a former Canadian ambassador to the Philippines, said there are a number of Filipinos in Canada who would fall into the unskilled category, and the government’s policy change would clearly have implications for them. “To the extent that a certain number of Philippines workers here have been unskilled, I think they’d be affected by the new changes, and that would

be something they wouldn’t be terribly happy about.” Harper wants to boost the $2 billion annual trade between the two countries and make inroads into the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which the Philippines helped to create. The two countries agreed Friday to launch exploratory discussions towards a possible bilateral trade agreement. Harper also announced that International Trade Minister Fast will lead a trade delegation to the Philippines later this month, following a similar mission last year to Laos and Myanmar, two other ASEAN countries. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Booze, jokes, politics: gallery dinner making news since Parliament’s early days BY JENNIFER DITCHBURN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Alcohol, politics, risque jokes and sometimes even real news _it’s all been on the menu for the parliamentary press gallery dinner since at least the 1870s. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May finds herself in interesting company as one of the revellers over the years whose remarks have grabbed headlines. May apologized for her remarks at Saturday’s dinner, which closed with her saying that convicted terrorist Omar Khadr had “more class than the whole f--ing cabinet.” A stunned crowd watched as a shoeless Transport Minister Lisa Raitt coaxed May offstage. But as far as major news goes, May pales in comparison to other incidents in the gallery annals. A few events at gallery dinners marked watersheds in Canadian politics. The origins of the dinner date back at least to the early 1870s, with references in some newspapers to Sir John A. Macdonald attending. A Toronto Evening Star recounts how in the 1880s the former mayor of Ottawa Charles Mackintosh, once the gallery president, showed up in full regalia including a ceremonial ball and chain. “The dinner committee held a hurried consultation and decided that the ball and chain was too reminiscent of slavedriving,” reads the article. “So Mr. Mackintosh was gently, but firmly, escorted outside.” The all-male crowd back then sang and played music, recited poetry and drank of course. Sir Wilfrid Laurier is said to have attended starting in 1886, along with contemporaries such as Robert Borden, John Thompson and Mackenzie Bowell. “As he sat down, he said, ‘With great pleasure I drink the health of the Canadian Parliament as revised and improved by the press gallery’,” former gallery member M.O. Hammond wrote of Laurier’s speech in 1906. Charles Lynch, the late political columnist, recalled in his autobiography the dinner of 1948, when then-prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King made a startling announcement in the presence of then-governor general Viscount Alexander and the full gallery. “Willie rose to his feet — and announced his retirement, to the great consternation of his listeners, all of whom were deeply into the sauce and unprepared for a news development of

these proportions late on a Saturday night and at an off-the-record dinner,” Lynch wrote. The 1963 dinner was held two nights before the government of John Diefenbaker was defeated. A major controversy was swirling over Diefenbaker’s refusal to accept U.S. nuclear weapons on Canadian soil and the gallery staged a withering skit about the PM and his cabinet. Lynch recounts that then-defence minister Doug Harkness decided that night to resign from cabinet the next day, “sealing the fate of the government.” “Never again will I attend your dinner!” Diefenbaker thundered, according to former Toronto Telegram reporter Peter Dempson. Four years later, Diefenbaker would tell a special gallery dinner held in his honour that he was leaving politics. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau attended the dinners with little joy and began snubbing them in 1981. In 1984, he claimed in the Commons to have been misquoted in a story, and said “it’s another reason I don’t want to go to the God damn press gallery dinner.” A major part of the angst for leaders and governors general is that they are expected to deliver a speech with a tricky alchemy of humour that is at once self-deprecating, au courant and ribald. The dinners went on the record about 20 years ago, making the task even tougher. The late gallery reporter and political aide Tom Van Dusen wrote that former governor general Jeanne Sauve, “did an imitation of the Queen, little girl voice and all, which some found inappropriate.” Former Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe stopped attending the dinners after reporters threw buns at him during his flat, overly political speeches. Former governor general Michaelle Jean also gave the dinners a pass after a tongue-in-cheek speech in 2005 created an uproar in Quebec. She joked about then-Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair’s former cocaine use, saying “he always follows the party line.” Gov. Gen. David Johnston, bucking tradition, has never attended the dinner. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has boycotted the event since his party formed government in 2006, but was more game as opposition leader. He once appeared on stage wearing a Darth Vader helmet and doing a decent impression of the renegade jedi. “The stories about what happens before, during and after gallery dinners have become legion,” Dempson wrote. “Most of them are true.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Immigration

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

So, What Is Informational Interviewing? BY BOLET AREVALO

“INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING” may give you your first lessons in the ABCs of the new work environment and culture you are facing. There are two root words in this term: information and interview. The simple explanation is that you get information by asking another person. As a technical term, “informational interviewing” is attributed to the renowned bestselling author of the classic career guidebook, What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles. He invented the term, so to speak. The point of the information being gathered is still whether or not the interviewee qualifies for a job. But the information is gathered in such a way that the interviewer dances around the topic by asking questions from the point of view of someone considered an authority on the job as a resource. But knowing about a job or a certain job description is not the only important objective going into an informational interview.

Informational interviewing is also a networking technique. Whether or not you have been referred by anybody, there is nothing stopping you in your be-

ing able to browse those company websites’ directories and look for somebody to talk to or to be referred to someone who can talk to you. As such, it adds to your list of contacts in every industry you might be interested in, especially if an interview goes well. For college students or new graduates, it is very important for them to get into informational interviewing before setting out for the working world. This process opens up to them the realities, prospects, and possibilities of certain jobs and industries. I would say new immigrants are like these new graduates in a sense. Having landed in a country that may be entirely strange, the informational interview is a procedure that will enable new immigrants to be oriented and informed of the new work environment and culture. Personally, I must admit that having been highly educated and having lived a relatively successful professional life back from I came from, I had the proud notion that I had very little need to adjust to on this side of the world. I thought I knew so much. Yes, why not? But not enough. Who would not hate being required to have local experience when you have just landed? How and where can you buy that local experience to shorten this agony? I wish I knew where I could get that. But as soon as my feet started to settle to the ground, and I got myself little volunteer and paid jobs, I came to realize that it makes all sense in the world to have that local experience. As to why, I have devoted an entire discussion on it somewhere in this book.

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The point being driven home is that an informational interview should be able to orient you on some local employment terms and practices even if you have not yet obtained the local experience needed because no one has given you the chance. The interview can very well give you your first lessons or the ABCs of working for a local company or within a new work environment. The informational interview then becomes your eye-opener. It can be your acid test as to whether or not you are really ready to work in this environment. It is such a fallacy to think that workreadiness is limited to one’s academic excellence or set of transferrable skills. In reality, it takes a lot of emotional and social intelligence to be able to make your way through successfully. Many times you do not understand why you are asked for your local experience. Informational interviewing will give you an explanation. Getting ready for the new work environment and culture is not simple work-readiness from the academic and professional points of view. It takes a lot of emotional and social preparedness.When you obviously cannot buy that local experience, you might as well be ready to face job interviews. Informational interviews are your practice sessions before the real ones. ■ 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.

FRIDAY MAY 15, 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.

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MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment

Rhian Ramos headlines “The Rich Man’s Daughter” THIS MAY, GMA Network presents the groundbreaking drama series, The Rich Man’s Daughter. The show premieres on May 11 on GMA Pinoy TV. And in an effort to reach a wider audience, GMA’s flagship international channel will air the series with English subtitles. This is a story about how a rich man, Oscar (Al Tantay), finds out that his daughter, Jade (Rhian Ramos), is a lesbian, how it propels him to offer five million pesos to the man who will marry her, and how it hurls the whole family into a series of discoveries. And as Jade discovers something about herself, will she still be able to experience unconditional love from her family and friends? Will she be able to hold on to her personal truths and fight for her love even if it will destroy her family? The drama project showcases Rhian Ramos’ versatility as an actress, as she breathes life to the character of Jade Tanchingco, her most challenging role to date. The youngest and only daughter, Jade is the family’s jewel. And when she meets Althea, everyone’s perspective of her life and persona changes. Making the drama series even more stellar are versatile actors and actresses. Glaiza de Castro is Althea Guevarra, a smart, independent and driven woman, who is sexy, classy and a proud lesbian: a femme. Luis Alandy is David Limjoco, Jade’s long-time boyfriend. He is educated, proud of his humble beginnings, and is very responsible. He longed to marry

Jade one day and is challenged when Jade falls for someone else. Katrina Halili is Wila Mateo, a femme lesbian and Althea’s ex-girlfriend. She vows to hate the person who Althea falls for. Mike Tan is Paul Tanchingco, Jade’s older brother. He is a quiet and private person. He is also protective of Jade. Paul is a discreet gay. Chynna Ortaleza is Batchi Luna, also a proud lesbian – a butch. She acts and dresses up like a man. Sheena Halili as Sally LimApolinario, Jade’s kikay and dependable bestfriend. And Ms. Gloria Romero as Ama/Cecilia Tanchingco, the heart of the family. She spoils

all her grand children especially Jade. She doesn’t really meddle when it comes to their businesses. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, her life and her family’s lives become more intertwined. Making the story more interesting are characters portrayed by multi-talented actors and actresses: Pauleen Luna as Pearl Sy-Tanchingco, Jade’s sister-in-law, married to Jade’s brother Gabriel. She is secretly jealous of her in-laws’ attention for Jade. Paolo Contis as Anton Maceda, a guy who comes from an old rich family. He will become Jade’s fake suitor/boyfriend since he is just after the riches of the Tanchingcos; TJ

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Trinidad as Gabriel Tanchingco, the eldest son of Oscar and Amanda, the brother of Paul and Jade. He is being groomed and trained to lead their businesses. Gabriel will do anything for the family; Charee Pineda as Angeline San Jose, Gabriel’s real love. Gabriel left her for Pearl but she remains in love with him; Stephanie Sol as Abby Luna, Batchi’s femme live-in partner. Completing the star-studded cast are respected TV and movie actors and actresses: Al Tantay as Oscar Tanchingco, the father of Gabriel, Paul and Jade. He is the CEO and president of their family businesses. He treats Jade like a princess; Glydel Mercado as Amanda

Tanchingco, the wife of Oscar. Oscar’s family didn’t approve of their relationship but when she gave birth to Jade, she is finally accepted and is treated as part of the family and she will do anything to keep it that way; Tony Mabesa as Angkong/ John Tanchingco, the patriarch of the family. His favorite grand child is Jade and he will do everything for her. The Rich Man’s Daughter is under the helm of the highly acclaimed director of Temptation of Wife and My Husband’s Lover, Dominic Zapata. Don’t miss the much-awaited premiere of The Rich Man’s Daughter beginning May 11, Monday to Friday on GMA Pinoy TV. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Rachelle Ann Go to star in Les Miserables revival BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer SINGER AND now theatre actress Rachelle Ann Go has been chosen to portray Fantine in the upcoming Les Miserables musical that will be revived by London’s West End production.

West End and Go both shared the good news in their official Twitter accounts. “I guess it’s official! I will be FANTINE!!!! Aaaaaaaahhhhh!,” said Go, who will be joining the whole cast on June 15. Go previously played the role of Gigi in West End’s Miss Saigon. She won Best Supporting

Actress from the Whatsonstage Award and Best Featured Actress from the BroadwayWorld West End awards for her portrayal of the role. International singer Lea Salonga once played the role of Miss Saigon’s Kim in 1989 and Les Miserables’ Eponine in 1993. ■

Mom Judy Ann, ‘a better person’ BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

on the last “Enteng Kabisote” movie. She felt homesick after being gone for only four days, she said. “And I wasn’t even out of the country then,” she added. “I feel guilty when I’m away and one of my children is sick. I’m just lucky because I have a very supportive and responsible partner.” Judy Ann is wife to TV host Ryan Agoncillo. Judy Ann paid tribute to moms yesterday via the MMK episode about a mother who was separated from her four children. She said she had missed

having brunch at Sofitel Manila. Her cookbook published by Anvil, “Judy Ann’s Kitchen,” will be launched there this month.

ACTRESS-TV HOST Judy Ann Santos said motherhood has Dirty breakfast taught her patience and comThe actress, who will celpassion. ebrate her birth anniversary “No matter how tired and tomorrow, has been posting on sleepy I am, I tend to my kids. her Instagram account photos When you’re doing something of what she calls “dirty breakfor your children, you have that fast” meals. extra energy,” she told reporters She recounted, “It started one during a press conference that morning when Ryan rode his announced her return to the bike without eating breakfast drama anthology “Maalaala Mo first. He took a photo of his bike Kaya (MMK)” on the trail and after seven years. labeled it ‘#dirtyHer latest perforbreakfast.’ Anothmance aired on er time, I served Sunday. I tend to my kids. When you’re doing him and our “I also feel that something for your children, you have friends breakfast being a mom enthat extra energy. and we started hanced my sense calling it that. of humor. My kids I baked whole(daughter Yowheat pancakes hann and son Lucho) both speak acting, after hosting reality and biscuits. It’s actually an afterEnglish well and it’s hard for me shows like “Masterchef Pinoy workout meal. It simply means to catch up sometimes. Dinadaan Edition,” “Bet on Your Baby” that you can eat this even if ko na lang sa wit ang pagiging and “I Do” for the past two years. you’re still dirty and haven’t had nanay,” Judy Ann quipped. “I enjoyed [hosting] so much a shower. It’s that delicious.” The 36-year-old actress said that I almost forgot about actAs to how she comes up with being a mom has also made ing. When I read the script for dirty breakfast meals, Judy Ann her a better person. “I have a this one, I couldn’t sleep for two said she would often “use leftdaughter so I try to teach her days. I kept thinking of how I overs from the night before or by example. I want to show her should tackle the character. I re- any ingredients I have at home. how a lady behaves in public. I alized that I had to do it to be an I combine them and make a also teach her basic hygiene, inspiration to other mothers.” new meal.” and try to discuss with her isShe said Ryan, who is cursues concerning boys.” Juggling time rently taking up culinary arts, Asked what she considered would often challenge her in Responsible partner the toughest challenge as a mom the kitchen. “He has developed She said she would often wor- so far, Judy Ann said: “I guess a fine palette. The challenge for ry about her kids. “I never leave what’s hard is juggling your time me is to make a meal that he home without preparing their for work, kids and husband. can analyze. He likes identifyfood. I make sure that, although Motherhood has really changed ing the ingredients used. They I’m not with them, they know it me. I don’t consider situations are made up mostly of organic was their mom who prepared at home difficult. When I’m with ingredients.” everything for them,” she told my family, I’m happy.” She added: “According to the INQUIRER. Judy Ann said she would research, it is better to feed The longest Judy Ann was spend Mother’s Day (today) the body organic food during away was when she worked with her mom and in-laws by breakfast.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Rachelle Ann Go.

FACEBOOK PHOTO

Willie Revillame returns to television with new game show BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA – Host Willie Revillame returns to television with his new game show Wowowin in GMA-7. After Revillame’s contract with TV-5 ended, he has not been seen in television for a year as he has not been offered any new project or show. But just last Sunday, Revillame has launched

Wowowin’s pilot episode where he continues to help and entertain people. The show even had no commercial break. By the start of the program, he has given away jackets to all the studio audiences. And before the show ended, he then gave away mobile phones to all. Revillame has also shown a music video featuring him helping people. His song was written by Vehnee Saturno. ■

Entertainment

MAY 15, 2015

‘American Idol’ to run its 15th and final season next year BY DAVID BAUDER The Associated Press NEW YORK — Fox is lowering the curtain on “American Idol,” ending a series that dominated television throughout the 2000s and made stars of the likes of Simon Cowell, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. The network announced Monday that “American Idol” will go off the air after its 15th and final season next spring. The cast from the past few seasons, with Ryan Seacrest as host and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. as judges, will return for a seasonlong celebration of the show’s history. “It was not an easy decision.’ American Idol’ has been such a vital part of Fox for its run,” said Gary Newman, Fox Television Group co-chairman and CEO. He promised a season-long celebration that matches the show’s significance, with the suggestion that its big-name

American Idol, the hit and iconic show that launched the careers of many singers and talen judges alike, will be playing its 15th and final season next year.

contestants and past judges a way that was special and cel- solid performer on the country may be involved. ebratory.” charts. Personalities like Adam “American Idol” faded over “Idol” was a quick hit, with Lambert and Clay Aiken also the past few years, eclipsed in fans following contestants who became household names after the music competition genre sought the prized “yellow tick- competing on “Idol.” it pioneered by NBC’s “The et” to Hollywood and a chance “‘American Idol’ has been a Voice.” Personnel changes at stardom. In the early years, big part of my life for so long, it’s didn’t help, and neither did tin- “American Idol” also showed frankly hard to imagine it withkering with the format, as the many of the cringe-worthy au- out it,” said Seacrest, who was show fell victim to what usually ditions of contestants with no co-host of the show with Brian kills off most television series hope of winning, but has gener- Dunkleman on the first season, — old age. Still, and solo host for it was a solid all the others. performer for a “It’s been a reFox network that markable jourstruggles in the ney, and I feel ratings. It was not an easy decision.’ American very fortunate to Dana Walden, Idol’ has been such a vital part of Fox have been part of co-chairman for its run. a show that made and CEO of the television hisFox Television tory in countless Group, described ways. It’s a show it as a “pretty about chasing emotional decision” to end ally resisted those recently. and fulfilling dreams and, truth “American Idol.” Simon Cowell, the Brit with a be told, it helped some of my Fox and the show’s producers tart tongue and honest assess- own dreams come true, too.” were discussing how the series ments, became a star as judge, Walden said there are no spewould continue, but ultimately along with his fellow originals, cific plans yet, but that several “we all arrived at the conclu- Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. former contestants and judges sion that it was time to bring The big-voiced Clarkson be- have already expressed “a lot of the show to an end,” said New- came a major pop star after win- enthusiasm” for coming back man. “But we wanted to do it in ning “Idol,” and Underwood is a and celebrating the show’s legwww.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

FRIKITIKI / FLICKR

acy in its final year. “We’re going to deliver a really special season next year,” Newman said. The series averaged 12.69 million viewers during its initial run in 2002, but exploded quickly thereafter, reaching a peak average of more than 30 million viewers each episode in 2006, according to the Nielsen company. It continued averaging more than 20 million viewers an episode through the 2011 season, when its deteriorating popularity accelerated. Its star at Fox was eclipsed this season by the music-based soap opera “Empire,” which will launch its second season in the fall. So far this year, “American Idol” is averaging 9.15 million viewers per episode, Nielsen said. The show will run in a similar format next season as it has this year, airing Wednesday and Thursday nights starting in January for the beginning stages, then once a week on Thursday for the second part of the season, Fox said. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

For marketers, e-sports such as ‘League of Legends’ an enticing way to reach millennials BY DERRIK J. LANG The Associated Press RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIF. — The latest ally in competitive gaming’s fight for mainstream awareness just might be marketers. At an intimate, invite-only gathering this week at a seaside resort, executives from corporations such as AT&T, State Farm and McDonald’s were looking to electronic sports to potentially capture new consumers. While e-sports now regularly draws tens of millions of spectators both online and in person, the genre continues to battle for broader recognition in North America. “There is definitely an awareness issue across mainstream elements,” said Dustin Beck, vice-president of e-sports and merchandising at “League of Legends” publisher Riot Games. “We want this to be a successful ecosystem for decades to come, and that will be buoyed by having larger brands, like those here, who become aware of e-sports and get involved in e-sports.” Beck was among the attendees Wednesday at the sixth annual PTTOW summit, an

exclusive get-together of execs interested in reaching young consumers. Other subjects discussed at PTTOW — which stands for “Plan To Take On the World” — included virtual reality, globalization and predictive marketing, with e-sports among the summit’s most popular topics. “Our job is to tell people what they don’t know,” said Roman Tsunder, co-founder and CEO of PTTOW. “Who wants to talk about something everyone knows about? Everyone here is the best in the world at what they do, and e-sports was important to include because enough people mentioned it. That’s notable because there’s $68 million of media investment in this room.” Over the past 10 years, the popularity of e-sports has amplified as technology has evolved, Internet speeds have become more reliable and a generation of gamers has grown up watching competitive bouts on streaming video sites like Twitch and YouTube. Earlier this year, a report released by research firm Newzoo said 205 million people watched esports in 2014. However, a divide continues to loom over the medium. The

The rise of e-sports is providing companies with a way to market to the video game generation. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

broadcast of a collegiate tournament for Blizzard’s upcoming game “Heroes of the Storm” drew only about 100,000 viewers when it aired last month on ESPN2. It also inspired ire. ESPN Radio host Colin Cowherd later remarked that he would retire if he was “ever forced to cover guys playing video games.” Several major companies don’t share that sentiment. Intel, Red Bull, Nissan, Co-

ca-Cola and others have been regularly sponsoring e-sports athletes and organizations in an attempt to reach those elusive millennials who have cut the cord, streaming “Dota 2” matchups on smartphones instead of watching Major League Baseball games on televisions. For many marketers, it’s about more than simply advertising products. “I have a very clear job,” said Matt Wolf, global head of gam-

ing for Coca-Cola. “My job is to sell more Coca-Cola. But I also love the gaming industry. I grew up in the gaming industry, so why can’t I grow our brands with the power of games and, at the same time, shine a positive light on the gaming community and remove stereotypes? It’s an incredibly powerful medium.” Coca-Cola kicked off a partnership with Riot Games last year by sponsoring a “League of Legends” amateur league for players to compete for a spot in the professional one. The beverage company expanded its relationship with the game publisher this year with plans to broadcast the May 10 midseason invitational in 15 movie theatres across the United States. Despite the popularity and Coke partnership, competition alone has yet to prove profitable for Riot Games. “It’s something our fans love, so we’re going to continue to do it,” said Beck. “We’re in it for the long haul. Is it profitable now? No, but we have the luxury of not rushing to monetize it, so we can keep it a genuine and authentic experience. It’d be great if we could have more partners come on board to add value, not just monetarily, but also for the fan experience.” ■

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

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

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

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

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

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

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

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

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

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

Lifestyle

New blood tests may transform cancer care; more people get liquid biopsies to guide treatment BY MARILYNN MARCHIONE The Associated Press A NEW type of blood test is starting to transform cancer treatment, sparing some patients the surgical and needle biopsies long needed to guide their care. The tests, called liquid biopsies, capture cancer cells or DNA that tumors shed into the blood, instead of taking tissue from the tumour itself. A lot is still unknown about the value of these tests, but many doctors think they are a big advance that could make personalized medicine possible for far more people. They give the first noninvasive way to repeatedly sample a cancer so doctors can profile its genes, target drugs to mutations, tell quickly whether treatment is working, and adjust it as the cancer evolves. Two years ago, these tests were rarely used except in research. Now, several are sold, more than a dozen are in development, and some doctors are using them in routine care. Gurpaul Bedi had one for colon cancer that spread to his lungs. About 10 per cent of patients with metastatic colon cancer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center now get liquid biopsies. “I think it’s wonderful,” said Bedi, who lives in Atlanta and goes to Houston for his care. “A lung biopsy, many doctors told me, is not easy.” In Philadelphia, a liquid biopsy detected Carole Linderman’s breast cancer recurrence months before it normally would have been found. “Had this test not been available, we may not have known I had cancer on my spine until symptoms showed up,” which may have been too late for good treatment, she said. The huge potential for these tests is clear. The problem: There are no big, defini-

the future,” said Dr. Charles Baum, a former Pfizer cancer drug chief who now heads Mirati Therapeutics, a San Diego biotech company developing gene-targeting drugs Do they work?

A new type of blood test called liquid biopsy, give the first non-invasive way to repeatedly sample a cancer so that doctors can profile its genes, target drugs to mutations, and tell quickly whether treatment is working.

tive studies to show they help patients, how accurate they are, which type is best or who should get them and when. Still, patients do better when drugs are matched to their tumors, and liquid biopsies may give a practical way to do that more often. “I’m really excited about all of this,” said Dr. Razelle Kurzrock, a University of California, San Diego cancer specialist. “I spent most of my life giving drugs that were useless to people” because there was no good way to tell who would benefit or quickly tell when one wasn’t working, she said. “This is so much better.” Who gets tested now

The tests are mostly used when a tissue biopsy can’t easily be done, when the cancer’s original site isn’t known, or when drugs have stopped working and doctors are unsure what to try next, said Dr. Scott Kopetz, a colon cancer specialist at MD Anderson. The tests are catching on “faster than I anticipated,” he said. At Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson University, Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli has used them on about 120 breast can-

cer patients, including two dozen like Linderman with a high risk of recurrence. A tissue biopsy typically samples one section of a tumour, and tumors can vary widely, with different genes and hormones active in different parts, he said. Also, cancer that has spread often differs from the original site, and tumors change rapidly in response to treatment. With a tissue biopsy, “our treatments lag behind and they’re still based on limited information,” Cristofanilli said. With a liquid biopsy, “the power of this test has been to really find out how the disease changes, even in a short period of time.” How they work

Early versions looked for whole tumour cells in blood. Newer ones look for free-floating cancer DNA, enabling gene profiling to see what mutations drive the cancer. Kopetz and Cristofanilli use one from Guardant Health Inc. of Redwood City, California, that has been sold in the U.S. since June 2014 and in parts of Europe and Asia. Many companies are working on similar tests including www.canadianinquirer.net

Sequenom, a San Diego biotech that already sells one for prenatal screening, using fetal DNA in maternal blood. Many companies tried prenatal screening with fetal cells but it didn’t work, said chief science officer Dirk van den Boom. “Cell-free DNA really was the breakthrough” that enabled wide use, and the same could happen with these cancer tests, he said. The cost

Whether liquid biopsies will be cost-effective is unknown. Guardant’s test costs $5,400; some insurers cover it for certain types of patients. Gene profiling from a tissue biopsy costs about the same. The promise of liquid biopsies is that they can be done periodically to monitor care, but more tests means more cost. They may save other costs, though. A traditional lung biopsy is thousands of dollars. Money could be saved by skipping cancer drugs that ultimately don’t work; many cost $10,000 to $15,000 a month. With cell-free DNA tests, even doctors in rural areas can offer precision medicine because they can ship a blood sample to a lab. “We think that’s

Many studies suggest that liquid biopsy results largely mirror those from tissue ones, and sometimes find more mutations. A study Kopetz presented in April at an American Association for Cancer Research meeting found the blood tests detected cancer mutations in the vast majority of 105 colorectal cancer patients. For 37 per cent of them, doctors thought a drug could target a mutation that was found. Still, no big studies show that liquid biopsies give better care or extend lives. Without that proof, how much they will be used by doctors and covered by insurers remains to be seen. The future

A San Diego company, Trovagene, is working on an even faster, easier liquid biopsy — a test to detect tumour DNA in urine. One scenario: a patient collects a urine sample every day for a week after starting a new drug and ships them to a lab. “In as little as three to five days, you can observe dramatic changes” that suggest a response to treatment, said Trovagene’s chief executive, Antonius Schuh. Work on this test is still very early. Ultimately, liquid biopsies might offer a way to screen for cancer besides the mammograms, colonoscopies and other methods used now. That raises even more questions, including when to call something “cancer” and whether it needs treatment if there are only abnormal cells in the blood. “Why does there have to be a tumour? The tumour is the symptom. The disease is the DNA,” Schuh said. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Potato salad: A favourite side dish with summer barbecues and picnics BY SUSAN GREER The Canadian Press LONDON, ONT. — If the Victoria Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, it must also be the unofficial start of potato salad season. “I think potato salad is still as popular as ever, especially in the summer,” says chef Jo Lusted. “For picnics and barbecues, potato salad is the quintessential summer favourite.” Europeans were introduced to potatoes in the 16th century by explorers who took them home from the New World, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that the idea of potato salad-type recipes began to gain popularity back in the Americas, thanks to incoming European settlers. In general, food historians suggest cold potato salads evolved from British and French recipes while warm potato salads were more likely to be German in origin. Regional variations developed here depending on available ingredients, and although strong loyalties remain to cer-

tain traditions, the range of flavours that can be adapted to the salads are “limitless,” says Lusted, also a cookbook author and TV host. “While the traditional will always be a favourite, people are really getting into different things, different types of potatoes even, using fingerling potatoes or different coloured potatoes. Purple potato salad — how pretty is that?” Lusted’s favourite is “pretty traditional with egg and dill — the way my mom made it,” although she has lightened it up by replacing her mom’s Miracle Whip with an apple cider vinegar and Greek yogurt-based dressing. “But I love a really good German potato salad with the vinegar and some green onions and herbs. I love having it with maybe a Mexican flair or some Asian flavours.” It’s not known when mayonnaise became the potato salad dressing of choice for many North Americans. The sauce itself was developed in France, but the first potato salad recipes of French origin that seemed to

catch on here favoured oil and vinegar dressing. The mayo versus vinaigrette debate is one that absorbs potato salad stalwarts, as is the question of mashed versus chunked potatoes. On either topic, it’s just a matter of preference. But loyalties run deep. Annette Owens of Cochrane, Alta., says she and her sister wouldn’t think of making potato salad with anything except their mother’s homemade dressing recipe. Using commercial salad dressing “would be sacrilegious in my family.” There’s no telling how many potato salads their mother, Doris Newell of Mansfield, Ont., has made in her 80-something years but, suffice to say, a lot. The recipe for the cooked dressing came from an older woman in the small community and Newell continued to use it exclusively long after most cooks had stopped making their own salad dressing. One reason, she says, is she liked the tanginess of the recipe, which calls for equal parts milk and vinegar as its base. Her husband Russell was the

taste-tester and if he thought the finished salad wasn’t zippy enough, she stirred in a little more vinegar and some brown sugar to liven it up. Another reason is that the homemade dressing has stood the test of time better than commercial dressings. There is no oil in her recipe to separate from the other ingredients and

the eggs are cooked, eliminating concerns about raw eggs or egg yolks used in some salad dressing recipes. Ideally, make the salad the day before you want it so the flavours can meld as it sits in the refrigerator overnight. As long as it’s properly refrigerated, it will stay nice for four or five days, Newell says. ■

More kids, youth visiting hospital ERs for mental health issues: report BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — A growing number of Canadian children and youth are seeking help for mental health disorders at hospital emergency rooms and more are ending up being admitted for treatment, researchers say, suggesting that young people may be having difficulties accessing community-based services. In a report released Thursday, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows ER visits for mental health issues among Canadians aged five to 24 jumped 45 per cent between 2006_2007 and 2013_2014. Over the same seven-year period, rates of in-patient hospitalizations that involved at

least one overnight stay rose 37 per cent for this age group. The study found that the highest use of hospital services was among youth aged 15 to 17, with ER visits rising by 53 per cent and in-patient hospitalizations up by 74 per cent. Ten- to 14-year-olds also experienced a major increase in hospital services use, with ER visits jumping by 68 per cent and hospital admissions growing by 64 per cent. “We know that people with mental disorders typically come more often and they stay longer in hospital,” said Kathleen Morris, CIHI’s director of health system analysis and emerging issues. “And because of that, on any given day, half of the hospital beds that are being used by children and youth are actually

filled with a patient being treated for a mental disorder.” In fact, CIHI found that hospital admissions for all other conditions affecting children, teens and young adults dropped www.canadianinquirer.net

by 13 per cent during the study period. Morris said more young people may be showing up at hospitals because the stigma around mental health disorders is di-

minishing, making them feel more comfortable admitting to a problem and seeking help for it, which she calls a positive ❱❱ PAGE 46 More kids

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

Consumers delivering wake up call to retailers as they head online BY DAVID FRIEND The Canadian Press TORONTO — If the Canadian retail industry is looking for a new sales motto, they might want to consider, “Ship It, or Lose It.” After years of dabbling in online shopping, eager consumers looking to spend their money on e-commerce are delivering a wake-up call to retailers. New data from Canada Post to be presented Tuesday found that about 76 per cent of Canadian households shopped online last year. Of that percentage, about a quarter of Canadians have become “frequent” shoppers, which means they’re buying on the Internet four to 10 times per year, the data says. “Consumers are dipping their toe into e-commerce, testing the waters, and becoming very quickly converted,” said Danielle Doiron, director of parcels and e-commerce market development at Canada Post. “And the type of products they’re purchasing online has expanded.” The postal service conducted the study by tapping into data compiled from some retailers who ship packages through the mail and the customers who receive those packages. Canada Post also found that shoppers will buy products online they wouldn’t have just a few years ago, including toys and games, which saw ship-

ments rise by 37 per cent in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same time a year earlier. One of the biggest hurdles for retailers has been how larger products are shipped to the homes of customers who want their purchases fast, but don’t necessarily want to pay the elevated fees associated with expedited parcels. Some retailers have tried to alleviate those concerns by giving e-commerce customers more options, such as picking up items in parcel lockers inside their stores or through depots that expedite the process. Best Buy is taking an extra step when it launches its ship-from-store option on the BestBuy.ca website later this month. The feature is intended to breathe new life into its 192 New data from Canada Post found that about 76 percent of Canadian households shopped online last year, and of those stores across the country by shoppers, a quarter of them are "frequent" shoppers four to ten times per year. making them tiny distribution centres. When a customer He also said that Best Buy’s items they purchased online Best Buy locations. can’t find the item they want recently-announced Market- from third-party vendors. Hay-Sabourin emphasized in the Best Buy website inven- place e-commerce platform It’s one of the competitive the importance of bricks and tory, they will advantages Best mortar stores to meeting constill have the opBuy has against sumer expectations. tion of getting it Amazon and Best Buy learned a lesson shipped from a eBay, who oper- about online shopping when it store. ate similar mar- closed a big box store in a B.C. “We will make Consumers are dipping their toe into ketplace forums. neighbourhood, and found that any product e-commerce, testing the waters, and “ C u s t o m e r s shoppers migrated away from available to any becoming very quickly converted. want the abil- the Best Buy-branded website customer at any ity to buy online and onto the Future Shop webtime,” Thierry and return in the site, he said. Hay- Sabourin, store,” Hay-SabHay-Sabourin said the retailvice-president ourin said. er’s internal research estimates of e-commerce for Best Buy will begin operating before the Best Buy closed all of its Fu- about 25 per cent of online Canada, told an industry audi- holiday shopping season. Each ture Shop stores across Canada sales at Best Buy are motivated ence at the Etail conference on Best Buy store would allow cus- in March, and is in the middle by the company having a store Monday. tomers to return or exchange of converting 65 locations into in the surrounding area. ■

EXCHANGE RATES

As of May 13, 2015 from ca.finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CDN/USD

1.1974

-0.0032

-0.2661%

CDN/PHP

37.3235

+0.0193

+0.0519%

CDN/EUR

1.3439

-0.0029

-0.2181%

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Business

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Despite signs of progress, Greek deal with creditors doesn’t look imminent as money runs dry BY LORNE COOK AND PAN PYLAS The Associated Press BRUSSELS — Greece appears to have made some progress in bailout talks with its European creditors but the chances of a deal on Monday look slim, finance ministers said ahead of another round of negotiations over the future of the country. Greece, which is facing a cash crunch that could see it go bankrupt within weeks and possibly leave the euro currency, has to secure a deal on economic reforms and budget measures with creditors to get a bailout loan — worth 7.2 billion euro ($8 billion) — that will help it pay upcoming debts. As they arrived for a meeting in Brussels, finance ministers from the 19-country eurozone said progress has been made since their last such gathering in April ended in acrimony. Germany’s Wolfgang Schaeuble even indicated he would not oppose Greece holding a referendum on the reforms proposed in an eventual deal. Greece’s Yanis Varoufakis laid out the hope that a deal could be secured “within days” though his partners in the eurozone appeared more skeptical. Most observers think the Greek government will make a 770 million euro payment due Tuesday to the International Monetary Fund, one of its main creditors, after it scraped together reserves from local governments and state entities like hospitals. But Greece will increasingly struggle to meet other debt obligations and pay state wages and pensions as its economy is headed for another recession and it cannot borrow on international bond markets at affordable rates. Without the bailout money, which has been withheld for months pending the discussions, Greece faces the prospect of defaulting on its debts, introducing controls on the free flow of capital and an exit from the euro. Despite three months of talks, Greece and its creditors

Philippines sees more economic opportunities for workers in mutual accountability framework with Canada PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

have failed to agree on further reforms and savings Athens needs to qualify for the loan installment. Greece hasn’t had any bailout money since last August and has relied on its own resources. Ahead of the meeting, which will include representatives from the European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF, Varoufakis spoke with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of the toughest negotiators in the talks. Several officials noted progress was being made, but also that time was pressing for a deal to be finalized. “The time frame given to them was until the end of June,” Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said, referring to the date when Greece’s European bailout program expires. “The difficulty now is that people are getting concerned, including myself, about the liquidity situation in Greece and I hope that can be resolved.” A lot more will remain to be done after Monday’s meeting and “time is passing,” he added. Whether Greece will default on its debts and leave the euro is one of the biggest uncertainties surrounding the global

economy. Most stock markets in Europe were trading lower Monday, with Athens’ main index down 2.5 per cent. Greece’s left-led government was elected in January on a mandate to end crippling austerity policies, blaming them for the parlous state of the economy. The budget cuts required in return for 240 billion euros worth of rescue loans contributed to a massive shrinkage in the Greek economy and the sky-rocketing of unemployment and poverty. The Greek government has indicated it will reject any deal that doesn’t guarantee a credible prospect of ending its economic crisis. It has hinted at a possible referendum on any deal that runs counter to its electoral mandate. Germany’s Schaeuble said a referendum “could be perhaps a correct step to let the Greek people decide.” Back in 2011, Greece’s then prime minister, George Papandreou, floated the idea of a referendum on Greece’s bailout but was rebuked by his counterparts in Europe. “The decision lies with Greece,” Schaeuble said. “We just want to help Greece, but Greece must do its part as well.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines expects greater economic opportunities for Filipino workers and marginalized groups crucial for poverty reduction and achievement of broad-based growth, with the signing of Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF) between the governments of the Philippines and Canada. “Linking development priorities and goals between the Philippine and Canadian governments will help ensure sustainability of strategies under the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, which have already produced significant results for the Philippine economy,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan. Balisacan, also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General, signed the MAF with Canada in behalf of the Philippine government during President Benigno S. Aquino III’s recent state visit in Canada. This is the first MAF that Canada signed with an Asian country and the third MAF that Canada has signed with another government. The other two

MAFs were with Senegal and Ghana. The Philippines-Canada MAF aims to establish the shared desire between the Philippine and Canadian governments to support broad-based and sustainable economic growth. The two countries will design programs, projects and activities that will provide economic opportunities for low-skilled workers, micro-entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers, and especially on youth, women and marginalized groups. The framework seeks to program an annual indicative amount for Canada’s bilateral development assistance to the Philippines worth CAD$ 12 million for fiscal year (FY) 2015-2016, CAD$ 15 million in FY 2016-2017, CAD$ 17 million in 2017-2018, and CAD$ 20 million annually in FY 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. “The continuing support of Canada is very important in our effort to make growth inclusive and disaster-resilient and to deepen good governance reforms,” Balisacan said. Moreover, the MAF is expected to contribute to a more disaster-resilient and genderresponsive enabling environment at national and sub-national levels of government. ■

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

Travel

Village buildings nestled in the hills of the Dades Valley in Morocco.

Surprise snowfall makes for a memorable journey in the Moroccan desert BY LAUREN KRUGEL The Canadian Press MARRAKECH, MOROCCO — “So, I have a funny story for you,” I said, peering out our hotel room window, trying to rub some feeling back into my hands. “What?” came the muffled retort from a cocoon of blankets — arranged in a warmthmaximizing configuration we’d dubbed a “bed burrito.” “Well,” I told my friend, “we’re in Morocco and it’s snowing.” We knew there was a reason it was cheap to travel there in February. We were well aware it would be chilly. Big deal if we needed a tuque and mitts at night. At least we wouldn’t need to pack Sorels and parkas. We probably should have packed Sorels and parkas. Snow is to be expected in the Imlil area of the High Atlas Mountains, where we had just spent three wonderful days trekking under bluebird skies.

Not so much in the Dades Valley, where we started the day, or in the Sahara Desert, where we were heading. At first it was a light dusting. Then it started sticking. Then it was a full-on blizzard. Soon, the Mars-red landscape transformed into what might as well have been the Saskatchewan prairie in winter. Date palms and pale pink almond blossoms were encrusted in white. Depending on which local you asked, it was either the first time in 15 years or the first time in history that it had snowed like this in these parts. We never did get a straight answer, but suffice it to say that snow is a rarity. Classes were cancelled and snowball fights broke out in schoolyards. The whole scene was rather magical. What a pair of Canucks see as a banal nuisance was a treat for these kids. The plan for the day involved seeing the Todra and Dades Gorges — which we did, albeit

briefly. The low clouds made for some dramatic photos of the gorges’ imposing walls. But the bone-penetrating cold and damp made it miserable otherwise. All we wanted was a steaming pot of sugary Moroccan mint tea. Later that afternoon, we were to ride camels to a camp in the desert near Merzouga. But en route, our guide Hassan got word that activity was off because of the nasty weather. We drove to Merzouga anyway. Instead of the desert camp, we stayed in a virtually empty hotel, where we were served a bubbling tajine of fall-off-thebone chicken, lemon and olives — just the thing to warm us up. The next morning, it was still grey, raw and cold, but we made the best of it. We visited the camels in their pens and then played around in damp sand dunes at the edge of the highway for a while. We figured: Who knows when we’ll be able to set foot in the Sahara Desert again, so why not? Haswww.canadianinquirer.net

san taught us how to tie scarves around our faces in the local style so that we wouldn’t inhale sand. The drive to Marrakech was rough, to say the least. We had to travel several hours out of our way to avoid roads that had been washed out by the melted snow. By dark, we’d reached Tizi n’Tichka, a mountain pass with harrowing hairpin curves though the High Atlas that climbs as high as 2,260 metres. At the top, it was snowing again and our affable driver, Omar, was driving a little faster than we’d have liked on roads where tailgating is the norm and winter tires aren’t. As we descended, the snow turned to thick soupy fog. We couldn’t see ahead more than a metre or two. There was a near miss with a stray dog, which Omar found hilarious. Then Omar, bless his heart, started talking on his cellphone while driving. My friend, sitting up front,

reached back and squeezed my hand. Around 9 p.m., we made it to Marrakech. Omar dropped us off and we wandered through streets barely wide enough for the two of us walking side-byside with our packs on. The doors all looked the same. We had no idea where our hotel was. Finally, the hotel’s proprietor waved us down and led us to a door we must have passed two or three times. Beyond the nondescript exterior was — at least in our exhausted minds — heaven. There was a serene courtyard with a fountain in the middle. Our hosts had cookies and wine waiting for us before a roaring fire. The showers were hot — not lukewarm passed off as “hot” as we’d experienced in the mountains and in the desert — but honest-to-goodness hot. “Morocco’s all right,” I said to my friend. I don’t think either of us had ever slept so soundly. ■

Travel

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Feel the thrill this summer in Samar’s Ulot River BY ROEL T. AMAZONA Philippines News Agency PARANAS, SAMAR – Ulot River is not just Samar’s longest, but it is also provides one of the most thrilling adventures this summer. This town’s Ulot River offers an extreme downstream and upstream river boating adventure. It’s deep, green and cold water is truly refreshing. Included in the “Tandaya Trail” tourism loop, promoted by the Samar provincial government and the Department of Tourism under their slogan “Spark Summer,” Paranas is one of the three towns in the province identified as tourismready. This farming town is about half-an-hour travel away from Catbalogan City, the capital of Samar province and one-andhalf hour drive away from Tacloban City. The river is within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), the remaining lowland forest in the country that covers high significance for global biodiversity, harboring within some 38 species of mammals (50 percent endemic), 215 species of birds (55 percent endemic), 51

The Ulot River in Samar Island Natural Park provides all sorts of water-based thrills as well as an abundance of wildlife. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

species of reptiles (69 percent endemic), 26 species of amphibians (52 percent endemic) and more than 1,000 species of plants (53 percent endemic).

The first recorded sighting of Philippine Eagle in 1896 was also recorded in this town. Ulot River, the longest river systems in Samar has its sourc-

es in upland San Jose de Buan town and drains in the coastal town of Taft in Eastern Samar. In early times, this almost 100-kilometer Ulot River was

WEATHER UPDATE VANCOUVER

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the nautical highway of locals from Eastern Samar, transporting their goods to Samar. This river was also used by timber poachers in transporting their illegally cut logs within the SINP area. The problem on timber poachers has prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with help of the Department of Tourism to come-up with an activity that will divert source of livelihood of people living within areas covered on SINP in Paranas town by using Ulot River. This activity is called Torpedo boat ride which is an acronym of the association name - Tenani Boat Operators for River Protection and Environmental Development Organization (Torpedo). The boat used in the activity is also called torpedo. Since this is a extreme water adventure activity, getting wet is inevitable as they would bump into rapids after rapids and swim upon reaching the final destination of the boat ride. Torpedo Boat ride starts from Sitio Camp Uno in Barangay Tenani, Paranas and ends at Deni Point, 10.5 kilometers from the jump-off point. ❱❱ PAGE 47 Feel the

Long term forecast from www.theweathernetwork.com CALGARY

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MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

After losing his biggest fight, Pacquiao can eye a bigger prize in politics BY OLIVER TEVES The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Manny Pacquiao lost his biggest fight in the ring, but that won’t stop him from plotting a bigger comeback — in the political arena that is. In a country where elections are also entertainment and political programs secondary, candidates often win because of star power and money. Pacquaio, who earned more than $100 million despite losing the Fight of the Century against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last weekend, certainly has that working for him. But can he overcome his poor record as an incumbent congressman, his humble origins and lack of political savvy to win a Senate seat, or even higher office? Having established himself as a local politician, the natural path for the 36-year-old Pacquiao would be the 24-seat Senate, a national position, which has been used as a springboard for vice-president or president. His most ardent supporters say he can be a future president. The Bible-quoting boxer, who by law cannot run for president before turning 40, has said his “thoughts on the presidency ... are merely aspirational.” His first presidential race would be in 2022. That could be harder than defeating Mayweather., but he can take comfort in the thought that Filipinos love the underdog. His rags-to-riches story — rising from extreme poverty to becoming the wealthiest Philippine congressman — has captured the imagination of the millions in his Southeast Asian nation. Pacquiao the underdog played well at home after it was disclosed that even with his shoulder injured he still fought aggressively against Mayweather, said political analyst and public administration pro-

A subdued Manny Pacquiao greets press at his home in the US after recovering from shoulder surgery after his megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2, 2015. REM ZAMORA / PDI

fessor Prospero de Vera. He said the way Pacquiao lost the fight “actually enhances his political viability” and could help him win as senator in elections next year. But the higher the office Pacquiao seeks, the fiercer the competition and the closer the public scrutiny he will face. Two popular athletes have been elected to the Senate in the last 30 years. One had first served as a city councillor, the other was a businessman and sportsman before running for the upper house. Both worked full time as legislators, unlike Pacquiao. But, winning an election “most of the time is not connected with being prepared for the job,” de Vera said. So far, Pacquiao doesn’t have much to show as one of 292 rep-

resentatives in the lower house — he hasn’t successfully sponsored a single bill and is a top absentee in the chamber over the past five years. Many Filipinos see Pacquiao’s loss as his cue to retire from boxing. For them, Pacquiao has already sealed his legacy not just as one of the world’s greatest boxers but also as a source of national pride. Others want him to also withdraw from politics and enjoy the fruits of his 20-year boxing career. Yet others don’t believe he will retire anytime soon from boxing or politics. For one thing, his fight winnings are too big to ignore. Pacquiao, who according to Forbes was worth $82 million before the latest fight, is often approached for financial support by individual constituwww.canadianinquirer.net

ents or even entire villages for anything from a community basketball court to funding for fiestas and scholarships. He also shoulders the expenses of his large entourage of relatives, friends and an assortment of hangers-on. “I think he is not yet ready to retire,” said Raul Martinez, mayor of Pacquiao’s hometown of Kiamba and his wedding godfather. “Not everything is in place yet. He has so many commitments that if you sum up (his money), it won’t be enough.” Doling out benefits and building a patronage network is a Filipino politician’s staple. Pacquiao gives at least 50,000 pesos ($1,125) to each of the 144 villages in his impoverished southern Sarangani province and over 500,000 pesos

($11,285) to each of its seven municipalities every year just for fiestas — like celebrations of local patron saints. He also pays professional fees for show-biz personalities he invites to appear at the parties, Martinez said. Martinez said he will try to persuade Pacquiao to run in next year’s election for governor instead of senator for practical reasons — he will most likely be unopposed and he can save a lot more money on a local election compared to a national campaign for a Senate seat, where he is also expected to contribute to the campaigns of provincial governors and thousands of municipal officials whose support he will seek to win votes. Some fans still want a rematch because they felt cheated by the lacklustre PacquiaoMayweather bout, which boxing analyst Ed Tolentino calls the “Fiasco of the Century.” Tolentino said that pending investigations by Nevada authorities into whether there was fraud or “other shenanigans” in the bout, “the rematch is as good as dead.” Pacquiao lost by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. He said he thought he won despite his injured right shoulder. He is facing several damage suits in the United States for alleged fraud in connection with the injury from people who spent money to watch or bet on the fight. “When the injury had not yet been disclosed, people were blaming Floyd Mayweather for the lacklustre fight because he resorted to hit-and-run tactics, but now people are blaming Manny Pacquiao for robbing them of the ‘fight of the century,”’ Tolentino said. He said, however, that Pacquiao can still retire without soiling his record as a champion. “I do not believe that his legacy will be defined by the performance in the Mayweather fight,” he said. ■

Sports

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

The verdict: Brady suspended 4 games, Patriots lose picks for deflating footballs BY OLIVER TEVES The Associated Press FOXBOROUGH, MASS. — Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are preparing for a fight. The reigning Super Bowl MVP will appeal his four-game suspension, his agent said, and the team threw its “unconditional” support behind its quarterback after the NFL came down hard on its biggest star in the “Deflategate” scandal. “Tom Brady has our unconditional support,” Patriots owner Bob Kraft said in a statement issued on Monday night. “Our belief in him has not wavered.” Five days after an NFL investigator reported that it was “more probable than not” that the Patriots broke the rules, the league handed down its punishment: Brady was banished for four games, and the Patriots were penalized $1 million — matching the largest fine in league history — and docked two draft picks for using improperly inflated footballs in the AFC Championship game. NFL executive vice-president of football operations Troy Vincent also indefinitely suspended the two equipment staffers who carried out the plan, including the one who referred to himself in text messages obtained by the league as “The Deflator.” In letters to the team and Brady, Vincent wrote that the league’s investigation found “substantial and credible evidence” that the quarterback knew the employees were deflating footballs. It also said he failed to co-operate with investigators. The investigation by attorney Ted Wells found that Brady “was at least generally aware” of plans by two Patriots employees to prepare the balls to

his liking, below the leaguemandated minimum of 12.5 pounds per square inch. “Each player, no matter how accomplished and otherwise respected, has an obligation to comply with the rules,” Vincent wrote, “and must be held accountable for his actions when those rules are violated and the public’s confidence in the game is called into question.” Unless the suspension is overturned on appeal, Brady would miss the first four games of the season — including the league’s marquee Sept. 10 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at which the Super Bowl championship banner would be traditionally raised. He would also miss games against Buffalo in Week 2, a home game against Jacksonville and a game at Dallas. Brady would return the week of a Patriots-Colts AFC championship rematch in Indianapolis. Backup Jimmy Garoppolo, a 2014 second-round selection from Eastern Illinois who won the Walter Payton award as the best player in the FCS, has thrown 27 NFL passes, including one touchdown. Brady has three days to appeal the suspension to Commissioner Roger Goodell or his designee. “The discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis,” Brady’s agent, Don Yee, said in a statement that questioned the NFL’s integrity and opened the still-raw wound of the league’s botched investigation of the Ray Rice domestic abuse case. “The NFL has a well-documented history of making poor disciplinary decisions that often are overturned when truly independent and neutral judges or arbitrators preside,” Yee said. “Sadly, today’s decision diminishes the NFL as it tells its fans, players and coaches that

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, has been suspended for the first four games in the next NFL season for his role in the "Deflategate" scandal. The team was also find $1 million and forfeited a couple of future draft picks. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

the games on the field don’t count as much as the games played on Park Avenue.” The Patriots would lose next year’s first-round pick and a fourth-round choice in 2017. Kraft, who said after the Wells Report was released that he would abide by the league’s decision, reversed himself on Monday, saying in his statement that said the punishment “far exceeded any reasonable expectation.” It’s the second time in eight years the Patriots have been punished for violating league rules. In 2007, the team was fined $500,000 and docked a first-round draft pick, and coach Bill Belichick was fined $250,000 for videotaping opposing coaches as a way to decipher their play signals. In his 243-page report released by the league last week, Wells found that the team broke the rules again, this time by deflating the game footballs after they had been checked by officials. Although the report did not

www.canadianinquirer.net

conclusively link Brady to the illegal activity, text messages between the equipment staffers indicated that the quarterback “was at least generally aware” of it. Investigators said Brady’s explanation for the messages was implausible. “It is unlikely that an equipment assistant and a locker room attendant would deflate game balls without Brady’s knowledge and approval,” the report said. The NFL allows each team to provide the footballs used by its offence — a procedure Brady played a role in creating — but it requires them to be inflated in that range of 12.5-13.5 pounds per square inch. Footballs with less pressure can be easier to grip and catch, and Brady has expressed a preference for the lower end of the range. The league owners will discuss the pregame handling of footballs next week at their meetings in San Francisco. Vincent told the Patriots that

it did not matter whether the flatter footballs affected the outcome of the 45-7 win over the Colts. He said it was likely that was not the first time the footballs had been improperly inflated, citing evidence referring to games before the start of the 2014 season. “It is impossible to determine whether this activity had an effect on the outcome of games or what that effect was,” Vincent said. The Patriots went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl 28-24 — their fourth NFL title since the 2001 season. In his only public comments since the release of the Wells Report, Brady said that the scandal hasn’t taken away from the team’s accomplishments. “Absolutely not,” he said at a previously planned appearance in Salem, Massachusetts, Thursday night. “We earned everything we got and achieved as a team, and I am proud of that and so are our fans.” Fans chanted “Brady” and “MVP,” then gave him a standing ovation as he entered the arena in the town made famous by the colonial witch trials. Since the airing of the scandal in the hours after the Colts game, New England fans have been unwavering in their support for the team, blaming the investigation on grudges by opponents jealous of the team’s success. But the odds for the Patriots winning another championship dropped from 7-1 to 10-1, according to the Glantz-Culver line. In Oakland to play the Athletics, Red Sox manager John Farrell said he thought the punishment for his football counterparts was severe. Fortunately, he said, it wasn’t something he has to worry about. “Baseballs are solid,” he said. ■

Events

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, Ont. MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355 Tagalog Class By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto

YUKON

MAY 15, 2015

Homework/Tutorial Class By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-9289355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. 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

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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 604254-9626 ext 484 or email at mtorres@mosaicbc.com Miss World and Mr. World Canada Gala Coronation Hosted by Treenee Lopez WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., May 16 at 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

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First Asian Film Festival Asian Heritage Month By Philippine Embassy in Ottawa WHEN/WHERE: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., May 30, Ben Franklin Chamber, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Ottawa MORE INFO: Call Philippine Embassy – 613-233-1121. Screening of “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok,” a documentary film on the art and memories of a living legend, Fang Od, a 95-year-old woman known as the ‘last traditional tattoo artist of Kalinga.”

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Consular Outreach Mission By Philippine Embassy in Ottawa NEWFOUNDLAND WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 7 p.m. – May 15; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 16 at 4708 Van Horne Ave., Montreal, Quebec QUEBECMORE INFO: Call 1-514-341-7477

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; 778-8297482. 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 Azcona and Molinder Cadiz. Tickets at $35-VIP; $10 General Admission. Canadian Citizenship Preparation By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., May 25 & 26, at Tommy Douglas Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: 604 254 9626 ext 104 or email Eric Lam at elam@mosaicbc.com 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. www.canadianinquirer.net

Maple 2.0 Mentorship By ISS of BCNOVA MORE INFO: SCOTIA 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. Go to http://issbc.org/ prim-nav/programs/career-services/maple-20 Kundiman ATBP WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., May 29, Auditorium at the Oasis, Elim Village 160th St., Surrey, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-339-7568 (Cliff); 778-881-5815 (Dante) Tickets: VIP - $50; Gen. Admission - $20 Come What May Dinner & Dance WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., May 30, at the Our Lady of Mercy School Gym, 7481 -10th Ave., Burnaby, B.C. MORE INFO: Ticket- $20; DJ Music by Russell S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Funds for Nepal Earthquake By SUCCESS and Canadian Red Cross WHEN/WHERE: Apr. 29 to May 25 at the following service locations: S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Social Service Centre 28 West Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. (telephone: 604-684-1628) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Richmond Service Centre 220 – 7000 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, B.C. (telephone: 604-279-7180) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Tri-City Service Centre #2058 – 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, B.C. (telephone: 604-4686000) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Burnaby Settlement Service Centre #200 – 5172 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C. (telephone: 604430-1899) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Surrey-Delta Service Centre #206 – 10090 152nd Street, Surrey, B.C. (telephone: 604-588-6869) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Fort St. John Service Centre Suite 209-10142 101 Ave. Fort St. John, B.C. (telephone 250-785-5323)

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Here are some scenes during the reception before President Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting with the Filcom at the Vancouver Convention Centre on May 9. The president was warmly welcomed by the crowd estimated to be over 1,200. The only downside was, he had no time after the event to mingle with the community, many of whom were looking forward to snapping selfies with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader (Photos by Angelo Siglos).

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

Seen and Scenes: Toronto

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH In celebration of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, the Canadian Multicultural Council - Asians in Ontario honoured Filipino Tony A. San Juan as a Local Asian Canadian Hero for Education in 2015 . San Juan, upon nomination by the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), was aptly recognized by his peers and fellow Asian leaders for his outstanding service and exemplary contribution to education as a teacher, volunteer and community leader in the Asian community.

FILCOM-TORONTO President Aquino with the Filipino community in Toronto (Photo from Noynoy Aquinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (P-noy) Fb).

TALAKAYAN Toronto's "The Muso Project" popular vocalist & song-writing duo of Rachene Regozo and Edward Monzon, (5th & 6th from L), posed with Talakayan RadyoFilipino AM1430 broadcasting crew composed of (from L): Bobby Achacon, Tony A. San Juan, producer Jess Cabrias, Karen Tan, Nelson Galvez and Joe Damasco after an interviewbroadcast on Mother's Day. Not shown are co-anchors May Cabrias and Karen Pascual-Binaday (Photo by Nelson Galvez).

PRESS CLUB Photos taken during the Philippine Press Club of Ontario Speaker Series 2015, held at Casa Manila on May 6. Atty. Michael Alexander, author of the book, "Competing Against America" was guest speaker. Other guests include Amb. Junever Mahilum-West, Jeff Rustia, Marissa Corpuz of Mega World and officers and members of the press. (Photos by Amelia Insigne). www.canadianinquirer.net

MAY 15, 2015

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Sports

MAY 15, 2015

FRIDAY

More kids... sign. well.” But the reason for The report found children the increase could and youth using hospital seralso reflect a negative — a lack vices for mental health disorof access to community-based ders were much more likely programs. than those using them for other “What we don’t know is reasons to have repeat ER visits whether the increase in hospi- and repeat hospitalizations: tal services is due to kids and _ 39 per cent who visited the youth having trouble getting ER for a mental disorder had the right services in the com- three or more emergency demunity setting,” she said. partment visits, compared to 15 “We just don’t have eyes on per cent of patients who visited how the community setting is for other medical conditions. really being used. _ 11 per cent with a mental “The ideal system would disorder had three or more have most services provided in-patient hospital stays comin the commupared to four per nity by nurses, cent admitted family doctors for other reaand social worksons. ers, and have the Young people hospitals proWhat we are also turnvide short-term don’t know ing to phone and care for the most is whether online counselcomplex pathe increase ling services in tients.” in hospital greater numbers. Kim Moran, services is For instance, president and due to kids Kids Help Phone CEO of Chiland youth reported a 29 dren’s Mental having trouble per cent jump Health Ontario getting in counselling (CMHO), said the right for youth with about 6,000 chilservices in the mental and emodren and youth community tional health in the province setting. concerns and a are on a wait22 per cent hike ing list for comin counselling munity-based for youth with mental health thoughts of suiservices, with an average delay cide between 2010 and 2013. of about one year. That list is A previous CIHI report expected to double to 12,000 in found the number of ER vis2016. its for intentional self-harm “I think what kids and fami- among 10- to 17-year-olds rose lies really need is an integrated 45 per cent from 2009_2010 to system of care,” said Moran. 2013_2014. “They need primary care, The number of hospital adhospitals, the community sec- missions for self-harm among tor and at the same time the this age group increased by a education sector, all to work staggering 85 per cent. seamlessly together in an inteIn addition, that report grated way. showed almost five times as “When I see those (CIHI) many girls as boys age 14 to 17 figures where we’re seeing ris- visited an emergency departing hospitalizations — and also ment for self-harm behaviours, re-admissions — what that says and more than four times as to me is that the integrated sys- many girls as boys were admittem of care is not working very ted to hospital. ■ ❰❰ 35

Floyd Mayweather Jr. said he will not entertain the thought of a rematch with Manny Pacquiao because Pacquiao is a "sore loser" and "coward". WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Mayweather to Showtime: No to rematch because Pacquiao a ‘sore loser’ and ‘coward’ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Floyd Mayweather said in an upcoming interview with Showtime that at this moment he’s not interested in a rematch with Manny Pacquiao “because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward.” The interview was recorded late Tuesday night and will air Saturday night after the network’s replay of boxing’s richest fight, which Mayweather won by decision last weekend in Las Vegas to stay undefeat-

ed. Asked if he thought Pacquiao was hampered by the right shoulder injury that later required surgery, Mayweather tells Jim Gray, “Absolutely not.” “Excuses, excuses, excuses,” he said later. “He was fast,” Mayweather insists in quotes released Thursday. “His left hand was fast. His right hand was fast and he was throwing them both fast and strong.” Using an expletive for emphasis, Mayweather adds that “I’m not going to buy into” it,

“and I don’t want the public to buy into” it. “He lost,” Mayweather said. “He knows he lost. I lost a lot of respect for him after all of this.” Mayweather acknowledges that he earlier texted ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith to say he welcomed a rematch. “Yeah, but I change my mind,” Mayweather said. “At this particular time, no, because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward. . If you lost, accept the loss and say, ‘Mayweather, you were the better fighter.’” ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY MAY 15, 2015

Feel the... Downstream travel using Going back to the jump-off point takes ter and guide) earns PHP1, 800 for a torpedo boat would take about an hour and half, and more difficult as group of five people per boat. A share of an hour canoeing, using the there are shallow parts of the Ulot River PHP250 from the payment is given to torpedo boat powered by motor engine. that requires for tourist to walk so boat him after the tour. While on their way to Deni Point, could cross the rapids. The fee is inclusive of the SINP entourist will be treated with beautiful Since Extreme Torpedo Boat Ride trance fee, boat rental, tour guiding fee, scenery surrounding Ulot River that started its operation in 2008, it help safety gears rental and community deincludes water cascades, thick forest, residents of Barangay Tenani of hav- velopment fee. water rapids and various birds that can ing alternative source of livelihood by Since its opening to public, this exonly be seen inside treme tourist desthe SINP and some tination in Paranas rock formations. town had attracted At Deni Point, visinot only domestic, tor may do picnic and We don’t earn a lot, but being with my family is local and foreign swim, but the best more important than having bigger income in tourist which makes experience in Deni other place. the provincial govPoint is conquering ernment to decide in your fear by jumping providing aide to lodown to the rapids. cal operators. First timers may Just recently, bejump at the boulders close to the rapid offering tour guiding and transporta- fore the launching of “Summer sa Sabut for those who are adventure seekers tion for tourist who wants to experi- mar” tourism campaign of Samar provmay do it at the biggest boulders at Deni ence the extreme boat ride. It also ince, four additional torpedo boat were Point. gradually address problem on timber donated by Governor Sharee Ann Tan“It’s exciting,” said Gio Niccolo Tiopes, poachers. de los Santos to the TORPEDO associa6, who had jumped at Deni Point for four For five years now Epifanio Obidos, tion. times in his recent trip at Torpedo Boat has been offering tour guiding job for Since transportation is also a problem ride. visitors of Ulot River. Before touring from Brgy Tenani to Buray junction, Those who will jump at Deni Point the river, Obidos job is to brief them on for tourist who does not have vehicle of should take precautionary measure by the safety tips and back ground of the their own, Governor Tan also donated ensuring to wear protective gear such as river. two multicabs that will ferry tourist life protective vest and helmet to ensure Obidos used to be a construction from the junction of Brgy Buray to Brgy safety as there is possibility that one worker and welder in Metro Manila, but Tenani and back to Buray. may bump or hit its body against rocks when he got married and tour guiding while being carried by rapids. job was offered to residents of Tenani, Protective gears are provided by the he tried his luck and immediately enjoys people’s organization managing the tor- his new found job. pedo boat ride. “We don’t earn a lot, but being with The exciting part of visiting Ulot River my family is more important than havis when going back to the jump-off point ing bigger income in other place,” said as boat will now go against water flow Obidos. that creates big splash they call “salmon Torpedo boat operators that is comrun” when boat bumps into rapids. pose of three people (boatman, spot❰❰ 39

Officials of Samar Island Natural Park are also asking support from the provincial government through a resolution forwarded the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Samar asking telecommunication companies operating in Samar province to expand their cellular site coverage in Paranas area aid Irish Mate of SINP. The recent typhoons had resulted for limited signal in the area that affected flow of communication. As solution to this problem while waiting for response from telecommunication companies torpedo boat operators will be trained in using two-way handheld radio, which is necessary during emergency cases. Donations of two multicabs from the provincial government was decided after a series of meeting with various tourism stakeholders of Samar province on the needs for improvement for Ulot River Torpedo Boat Ride. A view deck at Sitio Camp Uno is also planned by the provincial government to construct added Mate. With this assistance coming from the provincial government, Mate hopes to improve the services provided by the tour operators in Ulot so tourist will keep coming and experience a unique adventure not just this summer. ■

Aquino receives... ers as “potential new Canadians.” Canada is home to about 700,000 Filipinos, with nearly 140, 000 Filipinos residing in British Columbia. Her remark resonated with the appreciative crowd that included community leaders from BC, Alberta, and as far away as the Northern Territories and Yukon. For his part, Minister Kenney, also welcomed the growing population of Filipinos in Canada under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and thanked them for their contributions to Canada's economic growth and cultural development. He said that Canada will continue to work closely with Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, whom he and Clark lauded for efforts to protect the rights of migrant workers in Canada. Kenney said the Philippines will be the top country for Canadian humanitarian development assistance and a pri❰❰ 23

ority country for investment and trade. He also disclosed ongoing discussions on the possibility of forging a free trade agreement between the Philippines and Canada. “One of the decisions we have taken is to support the Filipino communities who are working hard to send remittances back home for their families, and so we decided to set up a framework for accountability, for remittance companies to put forth greater transparency, to encourage them to lower their remittance fees so people can send more of their support back to their families,” he said. President Aquino also thanked the Canadian government for making the Philippines their “Country of Focus” to receive bilateral assistance from Canada Vancouver was the final leg of President Aquino’s three-day state visit in Canada. He also visited Ottawa and Toronto. ■

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