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JULY 10, 2015

VOL. 7 NO. 175

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Aquino okays Php3.002Trillion proposed ‘16 budget

‘Favored’ contractors of Binays identified

It’s make or break for PH at The Hague

Two B.C. communities: emergency as wildfires burn

Indonesia plane crash death toll 141 as search ends

Egay hits Luzon, shuts down Metro

FLOOD PRINCESS

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

A boy ferries children on a makeshift raft to their destination along a flooded portion of Road 10 in Tondo, Manila, after heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Egay.

RAFFY LERMA / PDI

THE END:

Ottawa officially cancels Live-In Caregiver Program

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer ALMOST ALL private daycares in Ottawa are all fully booked and job ads looking for nannies and caregivers only yield slim-pickings.

Clients looking for a competent guardian for their loved ones are now having an even harder time finding a fit candidate after the local government of Ottawa officially put an end to the LiveIn Caregiver Program (LCP).

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MANILA — Some flights were canceled in Northern Luzon and all ships were ordered to remain in harbor as Tropical Storm hits the country on Monday.

Some schools in Metro Manila were also closed, according to disaster officials.

Egay hit north on Sunday and was spotted about 135 km southwest of Laoag City on Monday.

Atleast 14 areas were issued with storm warnings as Egay enters the Philippine Area of Responsibilty (PAR) with maximum wind gusts of 100 kilometers per hour.

Executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a statement that all sea activities were grounded.

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

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5,091 children child laborers no more — DOLE PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said there are now 53 certified child labor-free barangays in the country under the Cabinet Cluster convergence program, H.E.L.P. M.E., which provides interventions and monitors the government’s anti-child labor efforts.

H.E.L.P. M.E. is an acronym for Health, Education, Livelihood, and Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution; and Monitoring and Evaluation.

“There are 23 more barangays that have been declared as child labor-free as a result of intensified efforts to liberate barangays with high incidence of child labor and make them child labor-free by 2016,” said Baldoz, citing the report of Director Ahma Charisma Satumba of the DOLE’s Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns.

“This brings to 53 the number of child labor-free barangays under the program and the number of children who are no longer child laborers to 5,091,” she added.

Satumba, in her report, also said 231 barangays have been upgraded from “continuing” to “low-hanging fruits”, and 283 “new-frontier barangays have been upgraded to “continuing”.

Under the H.E.L.P. M.E. program, barangays evaluated as “new frontier” are those which have not yet received interventions on the prevention and elimination of child labor, while “continuing” barangays are those where there are initiatives, interventions, or services already being provided, but which need enhancements to achieve the goal. “Low hanging fruits” barangays are those where services and programs are already in place and have been mobilized, but these need to be sustained and continuously monitored.

Satumba also said in her report that 96 barangays under the H.E.L.P. M.E. program have now Barangay Child Protection Committees; six barangays have enacted anti-child labor ordinances; eight barangays have enacted anti-child labor resolutions; two towns have approved municipal anti-child labor resolutions; and one city, Quezon City, has issued an anti-child labor executive order. In Region 4-A and Region 7, the BWSC has initiated the formulation and adoption of Voluntary Codes of Conduct on the Elimination of Child Labor in the Sugar Industry.

The 23 new barangays declared as child labor-free are as follows: National Capital Region—Brgy. 155 (Bagong Barrio) and Brgy. 176 (Bagong Silang) in Caloocan; Brgy. Almanza Uno in Las Pinas; Brgys. 91, 107, 109, and 410 in Sampaloc and Brgy. 649 (Baseco) in Manila; Brgy. 201 in Villamor Airbase,

DUC DEN THUI / SHUTTERSTOCK

Pasay City; and Bgry. Pasong Putik Proper in Quezon City.

Cordillera Administrative Region— Brgys. Pide, Ague, Fidelisan, Banga-an, Tanulong, and Madongo in Sagada, Mt. Province.

Region 3—Brgy. Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan and Brgy. Pandacaqui in Mexico, Pampanga. Region 4-A—Brgy.

San Rafael, Rodriguez and Brgy. Sta. Ines, Tanay, Rizal; and Brgy. Sta. Maria, Calauag, Quezon. Region 4-B—Brgy. Libas, Buenavista, Marinduque.

Baldoz, who had visited most of these barangays during the last two years, said the DOLE, through its regional offices, has undertaken various initiatives that contributed greatly to the elimination of child labor in these barangays leading to their being declared child-labor free, among these, strengthening its partnerships with local government units, particularly at the barangay level; delivery of livelihood assistance to the parents of child laborers; provision of education materials and school supplies for the children; and conduct of job fairs.

The campaign for child labor-free barangays, launched in 2012, seeks to contribute to the vision of a Child LaborFree Philiipines and to influence change and obtain commitment and support from various stakeholders.

Relative to this, Baldoz issued on 15 December 2014 Administrative Order No. 657 the Guidelines on the Certification of Child Labor-Free Barangay, containing the criteria for the selection of child labor-free barangay, documentary requirements, certification process, incentives and benefits, and grounds for

de-certification, among others.

“This certification requires a tripartite validation process,” she said.

A barangay, to be certified a labor-

free, must meet the following criteria: (1) has a profile of children in the barangay, including child laborers, regularly maintained and updated; (2) parents of child laborers freed from child labor have expressed commitment not to engage their children in child labor; heads of schools to monitor school attendance of children; and barangay officials to support child labor campaign; (3) barangay has enacted and implements an ordinance or resolution against child labor and immediately acts upon reported child labor incidents; (4) child laborers have access to health and education and their parents to livelihood opportunities; (5) presence of a functional BCPC or Barangay Council for the Protection of Children; (6) inclusion of child labor protection agenda in the barangay development plan with a corresponding budget; (7) barangay has partnership with government and civil society organizations; (8) and barangay officials participate in child labor capacity-building activities.

“We will continuously exert efforts in efficiently and effectively delivering anti-child labor programs and interventions to identified barangays in accordance with the National Child Labor Program and through H.E.L.P. M.E. to achieve our goal of eliminating child labor in our midst,” Baldoz finally said. ■

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Philippine News

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

DOH: Second MERS-CoV case in PH from Middle East foreigner

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — According to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette Garin, the Philippines now has its second case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) from a foreigner from the Middle East.

The 36-year-old foreigner, whose identity has not been disclosed, has started showing the symptoms of MERS-CoV on July 2.

He has then been referred to the DOH on July 4 and has been tested on the same day.

After testing positive for MERS-CoV, the male foreigner has been confined at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.

He is now being treated for the deadly disease and is said to be recovering.

“Kasalukuyan siyang binabantayan, stable and very cooperative. Nakitang mababa ang viral load ng pasyente. Ibig sabihin, hindi ganoon kadami ang MERS coronavirus sa katawan niya at posibleng gumagaling na ito,” Garin said in a press conference.

(He’s currently under observation; [he’s] stable and very cooperative. It was

seen that the patient’s viral load was low.

Meaning, the [presence of the] MERS coronavirus in his body was not a lot and it’s possible for him to recover [soon.])

Aside from the patient, eight other persons have also been placed in isolation for having close contact with him.

The DOH, for its part, assures the public that there has been no recorded transmission of MERS-CoV. “We are reminding the public that there is no documented community transmission of MERS. Transmission usually happens inside the hospital and with the close contacts of the patient,” Garin explained.

The DOH is now tracing the 200 other passengers who were on the same plane with the MERS-CoV carrier who traveled from Saudi Arabia and passed by Dubai in the Middle East before entering the Philippines.

The DOH then reiterates the need to immediately report to the nearest hospital should any overseas Filipino worker (OFW) or foreigner recently from abroad show symptoms of the deadly disease such as fever and cough.

As of posting, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 1338 cases and 476 deaths of MERS-CoV. ■

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the cabinet member Budget Presentation meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace.

LAURO MONTILLANO / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Aquino okays Php3.002Trillion proposed ‘16 budget

BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Education, Public Works and Highways and the National Defense departments continue to have the biggest allocation in the proposed Php3.002 trillion 2016 national budget, which President Benigno Aquino III approved Monday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement, said the planned national budget for next year is 15.2 percent higher than this year’s Php2.606 trillion and accounts to about 19.5 percent of the country’s total output.

But while the Department of Education (DepEd) received the highest allocation, it is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Health (DOH) that were given big increases.

DepEd’s proposed budget for next year amounts to Php436.5 billion, or 18.9 percent higher than its Php367.1 billion budget this year.

Meanwhile, the proposed budget for DPWH and DOH jumped by 32 percent and 25.2 percent, respectively.

DPWH got a proposed budget amounting to Php401.14 billion from this year’s Php303.2 billion, while DOH’s budget for 2016 amounts to Php128.5 billion from Php103.9 billion this year.

Coloma attributed the hike in these two departments’ budget to “efforts to boost public infrastructure development and support economic expansion as well as to improve health care services especially to the poor and most vulnerable sectors of society.”

The bid to put in place necessary infrastructure were stressed by the President during the Cabinet meeting, he said after the Chief Executive “directed all Cabinet members to intensify efforts at completing the delivery of programs, especially

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those on public infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of “Yolanda”-affected and other calamity areas.”

Relatively, the proposed budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) next year amounts to Php172 billion, higher than this year’s Php144.5 billion; and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is Php156 billion from Php141.4 billion this year.

On the other hand, proposed budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for next year amounts to Php107.6 billion, slighlty lower than its Php108.2 billion budget this year.

Coloma, in a text message to PNA, said the adjustment in the department’s proposed 2016 budget “is not big or significant” since other agencies focused on the delivery of social services such as education, health and housing were proposed to have budget increases.

The planned 2016 national budget is scheduled to be submitted to Congress on July 28, 2015, a day after the President delivers his final State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Earlier, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said debt service under the proposed budget for next year accounts for 14 percent of the total budget at about Php419 billion.

Also, 85 percent of next year’s proposed borrowing program will be sourced on-shore while the balance of 15 percent will come from foreign creditors with the bias still on domestic borrowing to lessen foreign exchange risks.

Relatively, Abad said infrastructure spending for next year was placed at Php768 billion, which already includes those for local government units (LGUs).

The government has been increasing its infrastructure spending and targets this to account to about five percent of GDP by 2016 to ensure that necessary infrastructure would be in place to sustain the strong domestic growth. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

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Corruption a ‘7’ at BOC, says intelligence chief

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer ON A SCALE of 1 to 10—with 10 being the worst—the corruption problem at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) got a score of 7 from Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Jessie Dellosa.

In an interview with the INQUIRER, the former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff admitted that he was “not totally successful” in implementing the “No tara, No take” policy in the Intelligence Group (IG) and other customs units.

“Tara” is customs slang for grease money paid by smugglers and unscrupulous port operators to corrupt personnel of the Department of Finance (DOF)-attached agency.

But “a lot of things have changed in the Intelligence Group. We have somehow addressed the frontline units’ culture of dependency on the tara,” said Dellosa.

He said that “everything is a work in progress, but the numbers speak for themselves.”

“While the BOC-will always be measured by its revenue accomplishments, I would like to put an equal premium on its border protection mandate.

The number of apprehensions and seizures compared to the pre-reform era will show our progress,” he said.

Dellosa recalled that when he joined the bureau in late 2013, his marching orders from Malacañang were to “help in the BOC Reform Project,” which calls for curbing smuggling and instituting a culture change in the BOC, among other goals.

He noted that “in a reform program of this magnitude, we will surely have bumps along the way. We will be hiring people who may fail our expectations. Worse, some may even betray you.”

“But the important thing is not tolerating erring personnel and their actions. And this we were able to do by instituting checks and balances, counterintelligence and other measures to make our people cautious and accountable,” he said.

Dellosa confirmed talk that

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Jessie Dellosa and Zsae Carrie de Guzman of the Bureau of Customs’ Intellectual Property Rights Division (1st and 2nd from right, respectively) inspect counterfeit T-shirts seized from a shipment that arrived from China a few days ago at the Manila International Container Port.

BOC.GOV.PH

more than a dozen IG personnel had been dismissed in the past year and a half for “lack of trust and confidence,” if not involvement in tara collection

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and other corrupt practices.

An undisclosed number of erring staff were transferred to the Customs Policy Research Office, or CPRO, the so-called

“freezer” at DOF headquarters.

The IG team includes some customs old-timers “who know the practices that allowed smuggling activities to prosper,” according to Dellosa.

“But I always believe in giving everyone a second chance.

My approach was reformative, not punitive. I told them, ‘you all start with a clean slate.’ I did not look into their past. So I brought them on board in the reform advocacy.”

In Malacañang, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma confirmed that customs reforms were “still in the work-in-progress mode.”

“Port stakeholders are being consulted and are contributing ideas on improvements that will facilitate the movement of goods through better systems and procedures,” Coloma told the INQUIRER. Last month, Dellosa denied rumors he was quitting after the resignation of John Philip Sevilla as customs chief reportedly due to political pressure to make way for new appointments in the bureau. ■

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Philippine News

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Poe, Binay on MRT deal: Why was Abaya spared from graft charges?

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Although Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay are criticizing each other’s camp, both senators alike demand explanations on why Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya has been spared from the Ombudsman’s graft raps on the purported anomalous MRT3 contract.

According to Poe and Binay, Abaya is the one who signed the MRT-3 maintenance contract in 2012. The Ombudsman, however, has only indicted MRT general manager Al Vitangcol and five others namely Marlo Dela Cruz, Wilson de Vera, Manolo Marali, Federico Remo, and Arturo Soriano.

Based from the results of the investigations, Vitangcol has foregone bidding and favored Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation (Phil Trans) as the MRT-3’s maintenance contractor.

“While we respect the findings and recommendations of the Ombudsman in the indictment of Mr. Vitangcol and his cohorts, I would like to read the text

of the resolution in full to find out the reasons why DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was not included despite having allegedly signed the contract presumably with full knowledge of the facts and the applicable law surrounding such anomalous procurement of services,” Poe said in a statement, clarifying, however, that she is not condemning Abaya.

Poe also asks why Philippine National Police (PNP) former chief Alan Purisima has been dismissed from his post for his anomalous transaction with a courier company, while Abaya has been excluded in his deal with the MRT-3.

It can be recalled that the Ombudsman has investigated on the anomalous MRT-3 contract last year and later on filed graft complaints against Abaya and 20 others. But upon reaching a resolution this year, only Vitangcol and 5 others from the Phil Trans have been indicted.

Binay, on the other hand, is not surprised by the Ombudsman’s resolution as she reiterated the practice of ‘selective justice’ in President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s administration.

“It’s a puzzlement why Secretary Abaya, who signed the contract, was not

Sen. Grace Poe rides the MRT. MYRNALYN LAVAPIE / OFFICE OF SENATOR GRACE POE

included in the case. This is evidence of selective justice,” Binay said in a radio interview, mentioning that Abaya is a close ally of Aquino and is a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

Binay then asserts that there have been many instances when the Ombudsman has only been ‘looking at’ her family.

She cites the dismissal of Senate

President Franklin Drilon’s case in connection with the alleged anomalous construction of the Iloilo Convention Center; the revival of her mother former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay’s case involving the alleged overpriced hospital beds in Ospital ng Makati; and the recent six-month preventive suspension on her brother Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay. ■

Solon clarifies ‘Rizal turnaround’

BY NATHANIEL R. MELICAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

In a recent House hearing, Bagatsing had offered what he considered a winwin solution to the Torre de Manila controversy: Turn the national hero’s monFOLLOWING HIS own suggestion, a ument by 180 degrees so that it would no Manila congressman made an abrupt longer be “photobombed” by the 49-stoturnaround and claimed that he was not ry condominium project. the brains behind the proposal calling However, the Order of the Knights of for the Rizal MonuRizal (KOR), which ment to face the City has filed a petition of Manila instead of seeking the buildManila Bay. ing’s demolition for Rep. Amado BagaIt is also the right marring the monutsing said that he was time to revisit ment’s line of sight, just airing the sentiand ask why Rizal denied that this was ment of a University faces the sea and the reason why it facof Santo Tomas (UST) to rectify this. es the sea. professor who had ap“We respect the proached him about opinions of the honthe placement of Jose orable congressman.

Rizal’s monument.

This is not the first “This professor and historian of UST, time that such things have been suggestRobert Paul Jurado, wrote me to call my ed, but our opinion is that Rizal’s monuattention to this matter,” Bagatsing told ment should not be moved. The location reporters in a press conference Monday. and the orientation of the monument “He said that amid the Torre de Manila facing the sea is part of its historical issue, it is also the right time to revisit and cultural value,” Michael Charleston and ask why Rizal faces the sea and to “Xiao” Chua, a historian and the KOR rectify this.” spokesperson, told the INQUIRER. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

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‘Missile deal axed for helmets’ Murder complaints filed against owner and crew of capsized PH ferry that left 59 dead

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE COUNTRY’S top defense and military leaders have scuttled an Israeli weapons deal that was meant to be the Philippines’ primary defense against Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea, in favor of purchasing helmets, night goggles, body armor and radios to fight what they said was the more pressing threat of terrorism.

Documents obtained by the INQUIRER showed that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, outgoing Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and Army Commander Maj. Gen. Hernando Iriberri were responsible for removing the P6.5-billion shore-based missile system (SBMS) that was negotiated between the Israeli and Philippine governments in December 2014 from the list of military hardware to be purchased under the first phase of the revised Armed Forces modernization program.

Gazmin, Catapang and Iriberri obtained only last month the President’s approval in principle to realign the P6.5-billion budget for a new shopping list of military equipment, including 832 designated marksmen rifles worth P149.76 million (P180,000 each); two lots of chemicalbiological-radiological-nuclear (CBRN) protective gear worth P103.402 million (P51.701 million each), and 32 long-range sniper weapons systems worth P17.28 million.

The new items proposed by Gazmin, Catapang and Iriberri were said to overlap with at least three of the items already listed for purchase in the P85-billion AFP modernization project from 2013 to 2017.

These items were P1.116 billion for 4,464 units of night fighting systems, P433 million for 1,446 handheld radios and P144 million for 60 HF radio units.

A source familiar with the transactions, but who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, said the purchase of the antiaircraft missiles from Israel was only waiting for the President’s final approval when it was suddenly removed from of the military’s shopping list.

The Department of National

BY OLIVER TEVES The Associated Press

SHUTTERSTOCK

Defense and the Israeli Ministry of Defense spent years negotiating the contract, which was finalized on Dec. 18, 2014.

“They want to realign the funds because they want to earn a windfall from commissions. [The Israeli deal was] a government-to-government contract so there was zero commissions,” the source said.

The source said the lastminute change in the procurement process came just weeks before Catapang’s scheduled retirement on July 10 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Iriberri, who was among the chief of staff nominees interviewed recently by President Aquino, used to be Gazmin’s senior military adviser and spokesperson.

Documents showed that it was only last March that Gazmin had endorsed the acquisition of the missile system from Israel along with marksman and standard infantry rifles for the Philippine Navy as part of the revised AFP modernization program.

‘Review the deal’

The endorsement came after the President instructed Gazmin on Feb. 17 to review the SBMS deal with Israel to see if it complied with the Convention of Cluster Munitions.

Gazmin reportedly changed his tune after a meeting of military leaders in April in which Iriberri pushed to move the acquisition of the Isreali missiles to the second batch of acquisitions in the AFP modernization program, to be made by the next administration or from 2018 to 2022.

In a letter to Catapang, Iriberri said: “This is due to the rapid change in the internal security landscape brought about by the issues of the Bangsam-

oro Basic Law and the prevalent use of the IED (improvised explosive device) of the threat groups that inflicted significant casualties on our troops. The emerging security situation is further driven by the continuous military operations against the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and ASG (Abu Sayaff Group).”

Iriberri said that while the missiles were important to the country’s defense of the West Philippine Sea it was “more appropriate” to fill the “gaps” in the battlefield equipment of soldiers “in view of clear, present and continuing occurrences of terrorist acts.”

Iriberri’s recommendation prompted Catapang to fire off a May 18 letter asking Gazmin to remove the Israel missile system and replace it with Iriberri’s new shopping list. Gazmin approved the revision in a DND senior leaders meeting on June 10.

Gazmin, Catapang and Iriberri’s attempt to convince Mr. Aquino was successful as the realignment was approved in principle on June 15.

Three days later, Eal Ben Haim, acting president of Israel Military Industries, wrote President Aquino to remind him of the SBMS contract.

“We optimistically hope for the timely issuance of the notice of award and contract for your SBMS acquisition so that we may be honored to have the SBMS infrastructure realized delivered, and installed during your incumbency and just in time for the Apec (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting in the Philippines,” he said.

According to Haim, the Israeli government used the SBMS as “formidable defense and tested interceptor.”

The INQUIRER tried but failed to contact Catapang for comment. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Police in a central Philippine city said Saturday that they have filed murder complaints against the owner and the crew of a ferry that capsized shortly after pulling out of port, leaving more than 50 people dead.

The complaints were filed with the local prosecutor late Friday as the M/B Kim Nirvana was lifted from the water, said Ormoc City police Senior Inspector Rio Tan. The prosecutor will review the complaints to determine whether there is enough evidence to file charges.

At least 59 people died and 145 survived Thursday’s disaster, including all 18 crew members, said regional coast guard commander Capt. Pedro Tinampay.

Tinampay said a maritime casualty investigation that has begun will determine how many people actually were aboard the vessel. The 204 so far known to have been on board are more than the 189 initially reported, Tinampay said, adding that authorities will reconcile different figures for survivors and casualties.

The ferry overturned minutes after pulling out of the port on its voyage to one of the Camotes Islands, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) to the south.

Murder complaints were filed against ferry owner Joge Bung Zarco, boat captain Warren Oliverio and 17 other crew members, Tan said.

Some passengers reported that the boat suddenly swerved to the right, possibly causing its cargo, including 80 sacks of cement, to shift to one side of the ferry, Tinampay said.

“It capsized and its right outrigger broke,” he said. “The captain suddenly turned the boat to the right, and we have people

saying that.”

Oliverio denied he made a sudden turn, blaming the strong waves for flipping his boat. “It was the waves,” he told ABS-CBN television. He said that he could not have made any sudden turn because there was another vessel close to the ferry.

Lawrence Drake, a retired American firefighter who was among the survivors, disagreed with the complaints, saying that the crew members, especially the captain, did all they could to save the passengers.

“It’s wrong. It’s wrong. I feel bad,” he said by phone from Ormoc.

Drake said Oliverio stripped down to his underpants, jumped into the water to grab people drifting away, and then put them on one of the outriggers to cling to while waiting for rescue boats.

Drake also disputed accounts that the captain abruptly turned the boat, causing it to capsize.

“That is 100 per cent incorrect. I was 10 feet from the captain,” he said, recounting that he was in the front seat of the boat at the time.

Drake said the water was rough, with waves “flying over my head” as he revived a woman with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, one of two people the former upstate New York firefighter said he helped save that day.

Drake was heading with his Filipino wife and her mother, who both survived, to Camotes, where he lives.

Tinampay said eight bodies were recovered from the boat after it was hoisted out of the water. City rescue group head Ciriaco Tolibao said three more bodies were recovered from the sea early Saturday.

The boat remains belly up on the Ormoc wharf and will be turned upright to allow investigators to get a closer look, Tinampay said. ■

Philippine News

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JULY 10, 2015

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Vice President Jejomar Binay.

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‘Favored’ contractors of Binays identified

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE GENERAL services department of Makati City, which has a P1-billion budget for 2015 for trash, security and janitorial services, had been giving contracts to favored contractors of the Binay family on a monthly basis, according to a City Hall insider who said this was a violation of the procurement law.

“Contracts for security personnel, the janitorial services and garbage collection is on a monthly basis and were awarded to certain contractors without their participation of the bidding process,” said the insider privy to the bidding process.

The source added that each contract signed by suspended Mayor Junjun Binay amounted to not less than P5 million a month.

In a statement, Binay spokesperson Joey Salgado denied any irregularities in the services contracts.

“None,” he told the INQUIRER. He blamed a long-running Senate inquiry against the Binays for scaring away contractors who feared they would be tagged as Binay dummies.

The reported monthly contract arrangements under the son of Vice President Jejomar Binay came after several failed biddings because the city’s bids and awards committee did not receive any applicants, he said.

Under the law, negotiated procurement in case of two failed biddings is allowed only in case of imminent danger to life or property during a state of calamity, or when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities, or where immediate action is necessary to prevent damage to or loss

of life or property, or to restore vital public services.

The source explained that the only valid bid process was conducted in January, but bid processes after that were deemed failures.

Tailor-fit

The bid arrangements, he said, were “tailor-fit to be declared a failure to ensure that current contract holders remain the contractors.” There was “collusion between the two parties,” the source said.

The source explained that despite the ongoing investigation on the alleged overpriced Makati City parking building “the system of the awarding of contracts in the city government was not changed.”

“It was their normal way of doing things and they see nothing wrong about it,” he said.

The source further explained that the contract holders like Brighthouse and Tri-Force should have been asked to join the bidding and buy the bid documents.

“But because they were already assured they would get the contracts, even bid documents that cost around P50,000 and contract bond were not complied with,” the source added.

The source said the employees of Brighthouse, the city’s janitorial services provider, reportedly owned by socialite Nini Licaros, had stopped reporting for work since Thursday, a day after Mayor Binay stepped down.

Binay was suspended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with its investigation into the alleged overpriced Makati City Science High School building.

A Brighthouse official confirmed its employees had been ordered to stop re-

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porting for duty at Makati City Hall but did not give a reason.

Lapsed contract

Tri-Force security company, owned by a Jack Roxas, continued with its services despite its lapsed monthly contract.

According to his staff, acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. was meeting with the service providers to extend for another month their contract to give the new administration time to correct the irregularities and ensure proper bidding.

The source said that even the provider of equipment for dialysis treatment at Ospital ng Makati was also on a monthly basis.

Salgado said the original contracts for the services were awarded in open bidding.

“When the contracts expired and the services were opened for bidding, there were no bidders. The other potential bidders said they had yet to complete their bid requirements,” Salgado said.

He blamed the “Senate inquisition” for turning away other potential bidders, saying they “expressed apprehension that they will be tagged unfairly as dummy firms, to the detriment of services to residents.”

“The procurement law allows direct negotiations after second failure of bidding (in these cases, bidding failed at least four times). However, the city government did not negotiate with the present suppliers but opted instead to renew their contract on a monthly basis which is allowed by law,” Salgado said.

He said Mayor Binay continued to post bidding notices for these services “in the interest of transparency and precisely to show that we do not have favored suppliers.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

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Duterte: I’m not running, but if I were the president...

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer FOR SOMEONE who has maintained that he would not seek the presidency, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has a lot to say on how to run the country.

During the anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) yesterday, Duterte gave the audience in Camp Aguinaldo a briefing on what he would do if he were elected president, among them restore the death penalty and increase the pay of teachers and uniformed personnel.

His first-person points of view were only suggestions, the 70-yearold Duterte said.

In an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the VACC anniversary, the sharp-tongued mayor said he was speaking of “hypothetical scenarios.”

“I won’t run. But it does not prevent me from making suggestions just because I am not running, that I should keep my mouth shut. If there’s anything that I can suggest that would make it easier for the people to live, let alone exist, then do it,” Duterte said.

On fighting crime, he said he would restore the death penalty especially for drug related offenses, with 20 years jail time for drug possession and death by hanging for trafficking.

He said he would raise the salaries of teachers, policemen and soldiers, pointing to low wages as the main factor that leads to corruption.

He said he would also shut down Congress.

Duterte peppered his hour-long speech with cuss words and invectives.

If he had his way, Duterte said he would spare individuals earning P25,000 and below from paying taxes.

On industrialization, he said he would slow down on infrastructure and priori-

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

tize people, citing the constant breakdown of Metro Manila’s train system and the long queues of commuters on Edsa during train service disruptions.

“I try to close my eyes, I think to myself, my city is not like this, not this bad,” he said.

“Those are suggestions that you might want to adopt, those who will run,” he said.

Duterte described the presidency as an unforgiving job, with the public judging the president after only one month in office.

“You are not appreciated any more.

You get attacked every day,” he said.

The mayor said that if God had intended him to be president, it would have happened when he was in his 50s and not now that he is already 70.

“I don’t have the energy. In the mornings, I don’t want to get up anymore, I just want to sleep. Seventy years old is 70 years old,” he said, claiming that he works “30 hours a day” as mayor of Davao City.

He said he does not have plans to run for vice president either since Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said he is not fit for the position.

“Now I have an excuse, De Lima does not want it,” he said in jest.

He said he would not change his mind even if he tops the surveys.

Asked what qualities he thinks would make a good president, Duterte said he prefers an inexperienced candidate but someone who “would have the fire in the belly to do the job.”

“I only have a few candidates I can count on my fingers,” he said, refusing to name his bets.

He said his daughter, Sara, who was Davao City mayor from 2010 to 2013, may want another shot at his position.

“I will retire as mayor. I am already old, my body cannot take it anymore,” Duterte said. ■

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PH embassy to help OFWs in Greece, prepare for worst-case scenario

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — With Greece facing economic crisis, the Philippine Embassy in Athens vows to help Filipinos in need in the country.

Philippine presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte has earlier said that the embassy is ready to act whatever the outcome of the bailout reform proposals will be as Greece recently asked its residents whether they will accept or reject the proposals of their creditors.

“I think that’s tomorrow or Monday in Manila time na finally magdedesisyon po yata kung tatanggapin po yata ng Greece... or i-re-reject nila ‘yung mga bailout reform proposals ng mga creditors nila dahil nakapag-default nga po sila doon sa utang nila sa IMF (International Monetary Fund). So, so far, hinihintay po nila ‘yon because that will have an effect on whether nagkakaroon pa po ba ng limitations doon sa withdrawals from banks in Greece,” she said in a radio interview.

(I think that’s tomorrow or Monday in Manila time that Greece will finally decide if they will accept or reject the bailout reform proposals of their creditors because they have defaulted there in their debt in IMF. So, so far, they will wait for it because that will have an effect on whether there are limitations in withdrawals from banks in Greece.)

Valte has also noted that the embassy is prepared for a worst-case scenario but remains hopeful that the country will be able to rise up from debt.

“So, for the time being, nakaantabay po ‘yung ating mga opisyal ng embahada doon at nag-prepare naman po sila for a worst-case scenario kung sakaling hindi nga ho umayos ‘yung sitwasyon. Kasi may limitation, parang 60 euros lang

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po yata ang ipinapalabas po nila doon.

Umaasa po tayo na the referendum on Monday, Sunday in Greece, will normalize the situation para makapag-open na po ‘yung remittances kasi talagang ‘yan po rin ‘yung nagiging problema ng ating mga kababayan doon,” she added.

(So, for the time being, the embassy’s officials are waiting there and they have prepared for a worst-case scenario should the situation not get better. Because there’s limitation, it’s like they are only releasing 60 euros there. We are hoping that the referendum on Monday, Sunday in Greece, will normalize the situation so that remittances there could [accept transactions] because that’s really the problem of our countrymen there.)

Meanwhile, European Commission vice president Valdis Dombrovskis has said that their commission remain ready to provide assistance to Greece should it resume bailout negotiations with its creditors.

“The European Commission has always emphasized: The door to negotiations is open. But in order to reach solutions both sides need to engage constructively,” Dombrovskis said in an interview.

But ultimately, it is still up to Greece, with an overall debt around $350 billion, to decide if they will stay in the Eurozone. ■

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JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

DMCI sues NCCA over Torre de Manila damages

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — How the tables have turned.

DMCI Homes and DMCI Project Developers Inc. — the developers of the embattled Torre de Manila condominium — is now suing the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for P27 million in damages.

DMCI claims that the NCCA’s the cease and desist order (CDO) issued in January this year brought about the termination of construction of the 49-story building.

Part of the petition reads, “the issuance of the CDO is a wrongful act that caused undue injury to the said entities, both of whom are entitled to the completion of a lawful construction project that complies with all the requirements of the law.”

The 27-million-peso petition, including a temporary restrain-

ing order (TRO) on NCCA’s CDO was filed Monday at the Makati Regional Trial Court.

“They want to collect damages from us when in fact, they never stopped despite the CDO we issued. It’s ridiculous and we will definitely oppose it,” said Trixie Angeles in a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Angeles is NCCA’s legal counsel on all cases regarding DMCI and Torre de Manila.

“This case has already been dismissed by the Makati Regional Trial Court earlier this year, but for some reason, DMCI filed an appeal and the case was revived again. With the NCCA as a quasi-judicial body, the proper course should have been to file this in the Court of Appeals,” Angeles said about DMCI maintaining their claims that they followed all the procedures prior to construction.

As of posting, DMCI is yet to issue a response to the NCCA’s comments. ■

“A cease-and-desist order (CDO) has been served earlier today (Jan.13) to stop the construction of Torre de Manila. It's about time we take culture and heritage protection seriously. Kudos to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).”

CAPTION AND PHOTO COURTESY OF SEN. PIA CAYETANO'S FACEBOOK PAGE

Sen. Nancy Binay .

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Nancy Binay: DILG got P2.48-billion housing funds

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Defending her father Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, Senator Nancy Binay reiterated yesterday that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was allocated P2.48-billion for housing projects in 2014 and 2015.

Vice President Binay was earlier accused by Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad for amassing government budget supposedly intended for housing informal settlers by the DILG. Binay was the former chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council under President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s Cabinet.

Senator Binay then cited

records that showed around P2.48-billion from the national budget were given to the DILG for its housing initiatives in 2014 and 2015 although the department had not proven its competency in carrying such projects.

“I think Secretary Abad has forgotten that it was the DILG that got a total of P2.48-billion of housing funds in 2014 and this year 2015,” she said.

“If he (Abad) would just review the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2014 and 2015, I’m certain he would see that P1.24 billion every year was given to the DILG supposedly for the housing of informal settlers in Metro Manila,” she added, indicating that the funds were under the ‘special provisions’ of the GAA. Senator Binay even mentioned links of the Official Ga-

zette and DBM supporting her claims.

Furthermore, Senator Binay questioned the competency of the DILG for the housing projects.

“How many times have they (DILG officials) been questioned both in the Senate and House during budget deliberations when it comes to the competency of the DILG on housing matters yet they still continue receiving funds for housing programs,” she said.

“The DILG has no mandate to build houses and it doesn’t have the capability to do so,” she added.

After pointing out her claims, Senator Binay then urged the Department of Budget and Management to report to the public updates on the housing initiatives. She sought to know if the DILG properly spent the P2.48-billion funds. ■

Egay hits...

“We are grounding all sea travel and fishing operations in the north because we expect sea waves to go as high as 4 meters,” Pama said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also recorded more than 1,600 families affected by storm.

Several families were also evacuated due to flashfloods ❰❰ 1

and landslides.

In the Ilocos region, 1,603 families from the provinces of La Union, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur; 19 people in Benguet and Kalinga provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region were evacuated from their homes.

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said that the department had more than 100,000 in food packs ready for northern

Luzon towns.

Soliman said the goods were prepositioned in local government units as part of their preparedness measure.

“The prepositioning of relief supply at the provincial and municipal levels is a regular disaster preparedness measure that we undertake to ensure that assistance is not delayed,” Soliman said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Commuters and students mostly from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila walk the flooded area fronting Manila City Hall after heavy rains inundated Metro Manila and other provinces on Monday (July 6, 2015).

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

11

It’s make or break for PH at The Hague

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer NEXT WEEK’S oral arguments before the United Nations arbitral tribunal in The Hague will determine whether the Philippines’ challenge to China’s claim over almost the entire South China Sea should end or proceed to discussions that may lead to a peaceful settlement of the territorial dispute between the two countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday that the oral arguments, set for July 7 to 11, will tackle only the issue of whether the UN tribunal has jurisdiction over the case.

If the tribunal rules that it has no jurisdiction over the case then “that is the end,” Charles Jose, spokesperson for the DFA, told reporters. “They cannot proceed to the merits of the case,” Jose added.

If the tribunal decides that it is the proper forum to hear the case, then it can be expected to schedule oral arguments on the merits of the Philippines’ case, he said.

The Philippine legal team, led by Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, will argue that the UN tribunal has jurisdiction over the case.

Jose said the Philippines had prepared well for the oral arguments. Since the arbitration case was filed in January 2013, the Philippines had submitted written arguments consisting of voluminous documents and other evidence to bolster its challenge to China’s claim, he said.

Asked about the impact of the case on China’s island-building in the heavily disputed Spratly archipelago, Jose said the tribunal’s decision would be a “fundamental first step toward a peaceful and rules-based res-

tificial islands at seven Philippine-claimed reefs in the Spratlys—Kagitingan (international name: Fiery Cross), Calderon (Cuarteron), Burgos (Gaven), Mabini (Johnson South), Panganiban (Mischief ), Zamora (Subi) and McKeenan (Hughes).

‘Political provocation’

The Philippine delegation, with lawyers and advocates, before the start of Commencement of the 1st Round of Philippines Argument. The delegation will be presenting its case regarding the matter of jurisdiction before the Arbitral Tribunal PCDSPO FACEBOOK

olution of the issue.”

Top-level delegation

Aside from Hilbay, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario will also be part of the Philippine delegation to the oral arguments.

Joining them are high-ranking officials from the executive, legislative and judicial departments, Jose said without naming the officials.

Malacañang has not released the list of officials on the Philippine delegation, but the INQUIRER learned on Thursday that besides Hilbay and Del Rosario, the team would also include Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Undersecretary Abigail Valte and Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, executive director of the Cabinet cluster on security, justice and peace.

Supreme Court Justices Antonio Carpio and Francis Jardeleza and Sandiganbayan Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez are also joining the team that leaves for The Hague this weekend.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. are also members of the team.

Drilon is in San Francisco and reportedly won’t be able to join the group in time for the opening of the oral arguments.

Inquirer report confirmed

Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, confirmed the composition of the Philippine delegation as reported by the INQUIRER. She said Ochoa had already left for Amsterdam for a meeting with the Philippines’ lawyers.

According to Valte, the toplevel delegation showed a national effort in the Philippine defense of its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. She said President Aquino had instructed Ochoa to ensure that the Philippine case would be well presented before the UN tribunal.

Hilbay will argue the Philippine case. He will be assisted by an American lawyer retained by the Philippine government, Paul Reichler of Foley and Hoag

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LLP. Valte said most of the members of the Philippine delegation had something to contribute to the discussions in court.

“These people have been part of the discussions on the dispute involving the West Philippine Sea, and they would also like to see the progress of our complaint . . . before the tribunal,” she said.

China not taking part

China has refused to take part in the proceedings, claiming it has “undisputed sovereignty” over the South China Sea. The Philippines is protesting China’s seizure of Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a rich fishing ground off Zambales province, in 2012 and encroachment on reefs in the Spratly archipelago within the West Philippine Sea, South China Sea waters within Manila’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China has blockaded Panatag Shoal and is building ar-

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying has called the Philippine case a “political provocation.” Valte said Hua’s statement was expected. “It supports [China’s] position not to [take part in the arbitration],” she said. “[F] iling the case [in] the arbitral tribunal is in line with our commitment to resolve the dispute peacefully.”

Yesterday, China’s foreign ministry expressed anger at the latest US National Military Strategy that slammed Chinese islandbuilding in the Spratlys and said Beijing’s actions were “adding tension to the AsiaPacific region.”

“We express dissatisfaction and opposition toward the US side’s report’s irrational exaggerations of China’s threat,” Hua told reporters.

“We have already clearly explained our stance on the issue of construction on islands and reefs in the South China Sea several times,” she said.

‘Cold War’ mentality

“We believe that the US should abandon their Cold War mentality,” she added.

China claims 90 percent of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in shipborne trade passes every year and where islets, reefs and atolls are believed to be sitting atop vast oil and gas reserves.

Besides the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim parts of the South China Sea. ■

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FRIDAY

Top candidates for PNP chief were classmates

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE TOUTED contenders for the country’s top cop come from Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982.

Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino and Director Ricardo Marquez were summoned to Malacañang last month for interviews with President Aquino for the position of director general of the Philippine National Police left vacant by the resignation of

Alan Purisima.

Purisima resigned as PNP chief in the wake of public indignation over the massacre of 44 Special Action Force commandos in Mamasapano on Jan. 25, but did not give up his PNP post equivalent of a fourstar general.

Purisima and 10 other PNP officers were ordered dismissed last week by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales in connection with an alleged anomalous contract with an unregistered courier firm to deliver firearm licenses.

Constantino is currently the PNP’s chief of Directorial Staff, fourth in the PNP hierarchy, while Marquez is chief of the Directorate for Operations.

Casual meeting

Last month, Constantino admitted that he met “casually” with the President ahead of his classmate, Marquez, who was also summoned to Malacañang.

He however, declined to say if it was an “interview” for the post of PNP chief, asserting it was “just a casual conversation.”

Aside from Marquez and

Constantino, other PNP generals being eyed for the top PNP post are Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo of Operations and Director Benjamin Magalong of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Aquino’s rumored choice, Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, was among those ordered dismissed by Morales.

Mr. Aquino is expected to announce the new PNP chief before Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the PNP officer in charge, retires on July 19.

Constantino has held 39 positions in the PNP. He underwent training on urban patrol tactics, a general Federal Bureau of Investigation course in the United States and a police executive role in combating terrorism. He also completed an international strategic intelligence course in Australia.

Marquez has held 37 positions in the PNP and underwent training on intelligence and illegal drugs, among others. He has received numerous citations and awards for heroism. ■

PH defense, military favor armors over weapons to fight terrorism

CAAP: Chopper did not provide flight plan

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

MANILA — The Philippine defense and military officials favored the purchase of body armors including helmets, night-vision goggles and radios rather than weapons from an Israel deal as they prioritized fighting the threat of terrorism than the Chinese incursion in the Spratly Islands.

According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and Army Commander Maj. Gen. Hernando Iriberri opted to remove the shorebased missile system (SBMS) and the antiaircraft missile systems from the list of military hardware the country sought to purchase for the Armed Forces modernization program.

“This is due to the rapid change in the internal security landscape brought about by the issues of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the prevalent use of the IED (improvised explosive device) of the threat groups that inflicted significant casualties on our troops. The emerging security situation is further driven by the continuous military operations against the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and ASG (Abu Sayaff Group),” Iriberri said in a letter to Catapang, adding that it was ‘more appropriate’ to ‘fill the

MANILA — The Civil Aviation Authorities of the Philippines (CAAP) said the pilot of the helicopter that carried billionaire and hotel owner Archimedes “Archie” King did not provide a flight plan before taking off from Puerto Galera.

Capt. Felicisimo Taborlupa Jr. failed to inform authorities about their return trip to Manila.

“Regulations require pilots to provide the CAAP a flight plan so that it can monitor its movement. In cases of emergency, the CAAP will know where to look,” CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio yesterday said.

Apolonio said the flight plan should have allowed them to monitor the helicopter and advise them of the weather disturbances.

“If they had submitted a

Philippine Army soldiers.

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gaps’ in the battlefield equipments ‘in view of clear, present and continuing occurrences of terrorist acts.’

Gazmin, Catapang and Iriberri then realigned the P6.5-billion budget supposedly for the SBMS to the new list of military equipment including 832 marksmen rifles worth P149.76 million; two chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear (CBRN) protective gears worth P103.402 million; and 32 sniper weapons systems worth P17.28 million.

The new equipments will be included in the previous list of military items to be purchased which already incorporated 4,464 night fighting systems worth P1.116 billion, 1,446 handheld radios worth P433 million and 60 HF radios worth P144 million.

Although the change in the list of military hardware to be purchased was said to be intended to fight terrorism, an Inquirer source claimed that it was actually intended to gain commissions.

“They want to realign the funds because they want to earn a windfall from commissions. [The Israeli negotiation was] a government-to-government contract so there was zero commission,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Israel reminded the Philippines of the SBMS contract.

“We optimistically hope for the timely issuance of the notice of award and contract for your SBMS acquisition so that we may be honored to have the SBMS infrastructure realized, delivered, and installed during your incumbency and just in time for the Apec (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting in the Philippines,” Israel Military Industries president Eal Ben Haim said in a letter to President Benigno Aquino III, adding that the SBMS was a ‘formidable defense and tested interceptor.’

Aquino, for his part, ordered the review of the SBMS deal but later on approved the military items realignment. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

flight plan, the CAAP would have advised the pilot to abort the flight,” Apolonio said.

Taburlopa was flying the Augusta 109E with Registry No. RPC2726when it crashed in a forested area in Barangay (village) Pinagkaisahan in Cuenca town around 12:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Following the thick fog and the heavy rains, the helicopter nose-dived in the forested area killing Taborlupa and leaving King seriously injured.

King, who was seated beside the pilot when the accident happened, later died of evere wounds and fractures at a hospital in Cuenca.

The rest of the passengers, King’s wife, Angeles, Inquirer Lifestyle columnist Anton San Diego, bag designer Tina Maristela-Ocampo and her husband, Ricco Ocampo, and couple Christopher and Patricia Chilip, who were seated at the back, meanwhile, survived the accident. ■

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President orders swift probe of tragedy at sea

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO was in a meeting on Thursday when he was told of the boat tragedy off Ormoc City, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday.

Valte quoted Mr. Aquino as immediately ordering his aides: “Do whatever we can to send support to be able to augment the search and rescue.”

Mr. Aquino also ordered an investigation.

Valte said that even while search and rescue operations were ongoing, there should be investigators getting eyewitness accounts and checking documents, including the passenger manifest of the MB Nirvana.

Valte said the President wanted a swift investigation conducted, the reason the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately formed a maritime casualty investigation team.

“They are working with the Maritime Industry Authority to get to the bottom of the situation and the President wants to make sure the results of the investigation will be objective,” she said.

Valte said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development was providing grief counseling to the survivors.

cas were supposed to give every passenger a life vest from the point of boarding to disembarkation.

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Coast Guard to tighten its inspection of maritime vessels.

He said passengers were “sometimes only made to wear life vests just before reaching their destination just to show compliance with the Coast Guard.”

Sen. Francis Escudero reminded the Coast Guard of its promise of rigid safety

Condolences from Mar

Valte stressed that the company that owns the boat should be at the forefront of assisting the passengers and families of the victims.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas expressed his condolences to the families of those who died.

Roxas also announced that he ordered the Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police to help in the investigation.

“I’m saddened by this incident and I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the victims,” Roxas said in an interview after leading the distribution of PNP patrol jeeps in Camp Alagar.

He said the investigators had been tasked to determine if the crew followed the protocols in loading passengers and cargos.

Overloading looked into

Roxas said the probers should also look into the possibility that the vessel was overloaded.

“Where was the boat captain? It’s not acceptable that your life is being put in danger when you take public transportation, be it a passenger bus or boat,” he said.

A lawmaker said authorities should be made to answer why the passengers had not been provided with life vests upon boarding the boat.

Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo said operators of motorized commuter banwww.canadianinquirer.net

inspection of sea vessels to bring down the number of accidents.

Escudero, who chairs the Senate finance committee, said the PCG’s P5.6❱❱ PAGE 14 President orders

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JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Erap to carry opposition if Binay taps out 2016 race

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

other is my goddaughter. I will see who can help the greater majority,” Estrada said in an interview at the ABS-CBN News MANILA — In an impromptu Channel (ANC). interview with former presiPoe is the daughter of Esdent and now Manila Mayor trada’s close friend, the late Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada, Erap Fernando Poe Jr. Estrada even told members of the media that became the younger Poe’s godif Vice President Jejomar ‘Jojo’ father.

Binay taps out of the 2016 race, Meanwhile, Binay has been a “that is the only time that [he] long time friend and ally of Eswill be forced trada. In Estrato run for presida’s 2009 second dent.” attempt at presi“That’s a big dency, Binay possibility,” Erap was his running was quoted in One is my mate. There are a report by the kumpadre even reports of Philippine Star. and the Binay planning “Walang deother is my to take Estrada’s mocracy kung goddaughter. son, Sen. Jinggoy walang oppoI will see Estrada, as his sition (There who can help VP in 2016. would be no dethe greater Despite his mocracy without majority. absence at the the opposition).

UNA launch on We cannot allow Wednesday, Esthe opposition trada said he and to have no candiBinay are in good date,” he added. terms.

According to Estrada, who “I have already given UNA was not able to finish his term to him (Binay), so there is no when he was ousted from office problem with us in the PMP in 2001 after an aborted im- because we also have a party of peachment trial, he is actually our own,” Estrada said, referconflicted between supporting ring to his current political parBinay or Sen. Grace Poe in 2016. ty, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino “One is my kumpadre and the (PMP). ■

President orders... ❰❰ 13

billion 2015 budget had performance indicators.

Condolences from abroad

The PCG has committed to bring down maritime incidents five percent from 517 to 544, and slash marine pollution accidents from 35 percent to 32 percent.

Condolences poured in from abroad as the death toll rose in the sinking of the outrigger ferry.

Li Lingxiao, Chinese Embassy spokesperson, said it was saddened to learn of the tragedy.

“Our thoughts go to the families of those who have lost loved ones and our condolences go to

the Philippine people. We wish them strength and fortitude during this time of difficulty and pain. We hope the search and rescue efforts will be successful,” Li said.

Romain Nadal, French foreign ministry spokesperson, said France was shocked to learn of the tragedy.

“In these tragic circumstances, France extends its condolences to the victims’ families and expresses its solidarity with the authorities and the people of the Philippines,” Nadal said. ■ with Marlon Ramos, Leila B. Salaverria and Matthew ReysioCruz

Acting Makati Mayor Kid Pena during the ANC Headstart interview.

SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE VIDEO

Kid Peña moves fast to secure documents

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL AND KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer BIG BROTHER is watching.

Acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña yesterday set up office—a wooden table and an executive chair—at the lobby of Makati City Hall.

He says he wants to be seen by all and sundry, and he also can keep an eye on what’s going on in the building after Mayor Junjun Binay on Wednesday complied with a six-month suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman while it looks into corruption charges against the Binay family.

“The acting mayor just wants to ensure that everything is available for whatever legal purpose and nothing is missing when it’s needed,” said the source, who asked not to be identified for lack of authority to speak to reporters.

The source said there had been reported attempts to bring out documents from the city’s general services department that could be related to alleged corruption cases against the Binays.

“These reports prompted the order to guard all documents www.canadianinquirer.net

inside the City Hall building,” the source said.

The source also said that documents and vouchers for payments with complete staff work but were unsigned by Binay “would be scrutinized” by Peña.

“The mayor just wants that everything is aboveboard to avoid complications,” the source explained.

A semblance of normality prevailed yesterday in the premises, still secured by 100 officers from the Philippine National Police. On Tuesday, violence broke out after Binay followers brawled with policemen deployed to seal off the City Hall premises, causing minor injuries.

All departments are under tight guard and employees have been ordered not to take out any document, according to a source in Peña’s inner circle.

The source added that among the documents left unsigned by Binay were the renewals of the contracts of casual employees.

No major reorganization would be implemented in the next 30 days, but officers would be named to fill temporary vacancies caused by the Ombudsman’s suspensions of more than a dozen city officials, said the source.

Peña, a member of the Liber-

al Party, was sworn in on Tuesday after Binay yielded to the suspension order of the Ombudsman in connection with investigations into allegations of corruption.

In March, he also served as Makati’s acting mayor when Binay was first ordered suspended by the Ombudsman. He reverted to being vice mayor in April following a temporary restraining order secured by Binay’s camp from the appellate court.

A day after Binay left, Peña made the rounds of the different departments in the new City Hall building. He shook hands with elated employees, who greeted him, “Good morning po mayor!”

Peña said he had no plans of occupying the mayor’s office on the 21st floor while Binay remained suspended.

“I set up office here on the ground floor so people can see me, working and within reach,” he said.

At the departments, he told employees: “I would like you to know that I have no intention or desire to take revenge or show emotion that may hurt anybody. My purpose is to assume this post temporarily and continue to or even surpass the services we render.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

15

A thump, ‘Where’s Archie?’

‘We hit the trees before the crash’

BY THELMA SIOSON SAN JUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer IT WAS a routine chill out weekend on a yacht that ended in a tragedy that stunned the country’s business and lifestyle communities.

But nonetheless Anton San Diego, magazine editor and INQUIRER Lifestyle columnist, is grateful and happy for his second lease on life.

San Diego was one of the six passengers who survived the helicopter crash Sunday noon on Mount Maculot, Cuenca, Batangas province.

Killed in the crash were hotel magnate and philanthropist Archimedes “Archie” King and his pilot, Felicisimo Esteban Taborlupa Jr. The group had spent Saturday on King’s yacht that was docked off Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro province. From there on Sunday morning, the group took the helicopter back to Manila.

“It was only when I heard a sound, a thump, then I heard Lingling (Angeles, King’s wife) ask, ‘Where’s Archie,’ that I realized we had crashed on the mountain,” San Diego recalled during our talk on the phone yesterday.

“We hit the trees before the crash. It must have been the trees that softened our impact against the mountain,” San Diego added.

Engine turned off

He remembered how King had the presence of mind to turn off the engine at the point of impact and thus prevented the helicopter from bursting into flames.

San Diego, editor in chief of Philippine Tatler, was visited by friends and relatives yesterday

wife, Marvie del Rosario. (His other son, Ian, is married to TV celebrity Joey Mead.)

King, 62, was the scion of the family that built the most popular motel chain in the country, the Victoria Court. However, King, with his progressive management style, traded up the chain to boutique hotels, and more important, focused on humanitarian projects, from Gawad Kalinga to the granting of student scholarships.

Fitness buff

Humanitarian and businessman Archie King.

GAWAD KALINGA FACEBOOK

at St. Luke’s Medical Center in when the crash happened, ac- and helped pull King out of the Bonifacio Global City, where he cording to San Diego. wreckage. Apparently, King had and the rest of the passengers “Lingling’s really a strong been pinned down in the crash. were brought after the crash. woman and her first instinct “But he was still replying a Aside from an aching back, was to look for Archie,” San Di- little as we asked him if he was he didn’t seem to have suffered ego recalled the few seconds af- OK,” San Diego said. any injury, although he remains ter the crash.

He then helped Tina Ocampo under observawalk downhill to tion by doctors the roadside, as and awaits the the rest stayed results of medibehind with cal tests.

King.

The other He remembered how King had the “It must have passengers are presence of mind to turn off the been a good equally promiengine at the point of impact and 40-minute walk nent in the busithus prevented the helicopter from to the road,” he ness and lifestyle bursting into flames. said. scene—celebFrom the barity bag designer rangay around Tina MaristelaMt. Maculot, the Ocampo, her whole entourage husband, fashion retailer Ricco King sat in front, with the pi- was driven to the nearest hosOcampo, and Christopher and lot. pital, which, in San Diego’s estiPatricia Chilip. mate, must have taken an hour.

All sustained minor injuries Pinned down and were brought to the hospiAs Lingling tried to grope for Son’s birthday tal. her husband, the others ambled It was in the hospital where out of the wreckage.

King died shortly after the 10 minutes after takeoff In a few minutes, San Diego crash. It was, in a most painful It must have been only about said, people from the nearby irony, the birthday of Atticus, 10 minutes after the takeoff barangay rushed to the scene one of his two sons with his first

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He was also a fitness buff whose active lifestyle made him the envy of many men his age.

King and his wife Lingling had invited San Diego, the Ocampos and the Chilips to spend Saturday on his yacht.

It was on Sunday morning when the group decided to fly back to Manila before the storm hit land.

Tina Ocampo, whose Celestina bags found a global market and has landed in Vogue many times, suffered fractures, as did her husband Ricco. The couple opened the boutiques Myx and Black Shop.

Patricia Echauz Chilip, who works for the family-owned Standard Insurance, is up and about, according to friends. Her husband Christopher, the distributor of Dunlop tires in the country, needed minor surgery.

Aside from having a new lease on life, San Diego is also thankful that the barangay folk around the crash site not only came to the rescue, but also turned over their personal stuff to them intact.

That was a heartwarming gesture of kindness on a stormy weekend. ■

Opinion

16

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

LOOKING BACK

Japanese with a different face

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer If you walk around the shopping areas of Tokyo or Osaka these days, you will probably bump into Filipinos on tour.

It would seem that Japan has replaced Hong Kong as the new preferred destination for short getaways since the Japanese Embassy made it easier to get long-term, multiple-entry tourist visas. It also helps that the Japanese yen is down, making it easier to stretch the shopping budget a bit more. All firsttime visitors to Japan return with rave reviews about cleanliness, safety, and efficient public transport that seem to be disappearing in Manila.

When I ask Filipino travelers what they remember of Japan in our history, the two things that always come up are: The atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II (this includes the “comfort women”), and O Sei-san (or Usui Seiko in some textbooks), who was Rizal’s Japanese “girlfriend.” Younger people who can’t look too far back in history associate Japan with more contemporary culture: electronic gadgets and games, anime, cosplay, manga and ramen. Recently many Japanese companies have opened branches in

Manila, with Uniqlo being the most popular because of efficient marketing. Then there are Muji, Family Mart, and a growing number of food establishments like Yabu, Ginza Bairin and, soon, Maisen for tonkatsu (breaded pork), Ippudo for ramen, and Yoshinoya for gyudon (beef on rice bowl).

The country hated so much for what its soldiers did to our country and people during World War II is back, but with a different face. Even I cannot understand why such a civilized and cultured country could act so viciously during the war.

Aside from my current research on the relations between the Philippines and Japan in the 17th century, I am writing a book on the Kudan, or the residence of the Philippine ambassador in Tokyo that is probably the most beautiful and historical embassy we have. It happens to be the childhood home of Yoko Ono. The house and lot were acquired by the Laurel administration in 1944 and have been embassy property ever since.

During my research in the Mauro Garcia Collection in Sophia University, Tokyo, I came across some stray papers that came from our wartime embassy in that city. One of interest to me is a yellowed typescript, “Japanese who aided

the Filipinos in their struggles for independence,” on “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” stationery. I presume this was made sometime in 1944-1945 either by Salvador P. Lopez, who worked under Claro M. Recto, our wartime minister of foreign affairs, or by Leon Ma. Guerrero, who worked under Jorge Vargas, our ambassador in Tokyo.

There are 17 entries in this chronological list that gives the names of Japanese who participated in our struggles against the Spanish starting from the late 16th century to the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. No citations are given, making them mere leads to be followed sometime in the future. The names listed are: 1. DIONISIO FERNANDEZ (no Japanese name in Spanish sources).

Christian-Japanese resident of Manila who took part in Tondo conspiracy 1587-1588. Executed with Magat Salamat (son of Lakandula), Agustin de Legaspi (nephew of Lakandula and son-in-law of a Bornean datu).

“First Japanese to sacrifice his life for the cause of Philippine freedom.”

2. CAPT. JOAN GAYO (no Japanese name in Spanish sources). Japanese skipper who voyaged from Nagasaki to Manila. Contacted by Magat Salamat in 1587 through Dionisio Fernan-

dez to negotiate arms shipment to be used in uprising against Spain.

3. JOSE MORITARO TAGAWA. Japanese resident of Bocaue, Bulacan, married to Filipina, friend of Pio Valenzuela. Interpreter of KKK and Bonifacio with visiting Japanese naval officer and consul in May 1896.

4. SHU HIRAYAMA. Introduced Mariano Ponce to Takeshi Inukai, Japanese political leader.

5. TAKESHI INUKAI. Leader of Shimpo-to (Progressive party), introduced Ponce to journalists in Tokyo Club and Yaroku Nakamura.

6. DR. YAROKU NAKAMURA. Foremost Japanese advocate of Philippine independence, assisted Ponce in arms purchase, charter of ship to transport arms and recruit Japanese volunteers. Died in 1930.

7. KOSIN KAMIO 8. YASUMASA FUKUSHIMA. Helped Nakamura with several thousand rifles, five million rounds of ammunition, war booty of Sino-Japanese war (1894-95).

9. War Minister TARO KATSURA. 10. War Vice Minister YUJIRO NAKAMURA. Granted Yaroku Nakamura permission to purchase arms for Filipinos.

11. GEN. SOROKU KAWAKAMI. Chief of General Staff Japanese

Army, persuaded Minister of Foreign Affairs Shuzo Aoki to permit Nakamura to buy arms for Filipinos.

12. KIHATIRO OKURA. Trader of firearms, handled Ponce-Nakamura purchase amounting to Y125,000 for arms and fees. Ponce paid Nakamura Y155,000, balance of Y30,000 supplemented by sale of Nakamura’s timberland, Y18,000 to purchase the ship Nunobiki Maru to transport arms to the Philippines.

13. CAPT. TEI HARA. Leader of Japanese volunteers in Phil-American War, born 1864, graduated with honors from Imperial Military Academy. Fought in Sino-Japanese war, later artillery captain and imperial bodyguard, together with other Japanese officers who left Kobe on July 12, 1899. Reached Moji the following day, loaded arms and ammunition for Filipinos, but this shipment was lost in a shipwreck off the China coast on July 21, 1899.

14. CAPT. CHIZUNO IWAMOTO. Army officer, served as staff officer of Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine-American War. Returned to Japan after the fall of Malolos republic.

Finding out more about these men will definitely enrich the history of Philippines-Japan relations. ■

more prosperous, people are released direct line to major politicians at the enon. Appointed mayor of Makati by from the diffused roles they play in center has replaced the land-based President Cory Aquino in the period of traditional patronage systems. When traditional ruling elite. But, there transition that followed Edsa I, Binay this happens, the personal is demar- has hardly been any change in the pa- went on to be elected and reelected to cated from the institutional, and the tronage system itself. the same position until he hit the convarious function systems of society The second is the simultaneous stitutional three-term limit in 1998. become sharply differentiated from entry of members of the same fam- Instead of giving others a chance to one another. ily into the political system. Using serve, he made his wife run for the Instead of becoming a reality, this the same patronage network and po- same office, even as he groomed his vision has remained a pie in the sky litical machinery, the political fam- only son to be mayor someday by getfor most of our people. Instead of ily expands its clout by deploying its ting him elected as city councilor. advancing to a higher level of institu- members to multiple elective posiElenita Binay became mayor of tional complexity, Philippine society tions, in much the same way a corpo- Makati from 1998 to 2001, the same appears to be drowning in a series of ration uses a strong market presence period Jejomar Binay served as chair “de-differentiations.” The majesty to develop new businesses. This did of the Metropolitan Manila Develof the law is underopment Authormined when politiity. When his wife’s Instead of advancing to a higher level of institutional cians insist on determ was over, he complexity, Philippine society appears to be drowning in a series of ciding what is lawful promptly took over “de-differentiations.” and what is not. The again as Makati sanctity of public mayor, was reelectoffice itself is eroded when politi- not exist in the golden years of pre- ed twice, and stepped down only in cians stay too long in power, and pass martial-law politics, when a strong 2010, when, once again, he ran into on their offices to members of their feeling of delicadeza (restraint aris- the mandatory three-term limit. But, families as though they were part of ing from a deep sense of propriety) rather than relinquish the position, the heirloom. was enough to deter politicians, no he kept it within the family by fieldBut, there are two significant de- matter how popular they were, from ing his son Junjun Binay, who is curvelopments in the nation’s politics fielding their relatives to various po- rently on his second term as mayor. that are worth noting. The first is sitions at the same time.

After being mayor of Makati for that, instead of withering away, the What is remarkable is that this is 21 years, Binay thought 2010 was patronage system has flourished happening not only in the countryside, the right time to enter national polieverywhere, recruiting new players but also in the most urbanized cities of tics. He ran for vice president and into the game. A new political class the country. The family of Vice Presi- got elected, even as his presidential that controls a lot of cash, rides on dent Jejomar Binay is perhaps the candidate lost. In the meantime, his media popularity, and commands a most glaring example of this phenom- daughter Abigail was elected district

representative of Makati, in which position she is now on her third term.

As if to test the extent of his growing national clout, in 2013 he fielded another daughter, Nancy, who had worked as his personal secretary, for a senatorial seat. In a crowded field dominated by administration candidates and veteran politicians, Nancy won as part of the opposition slate, affirming the bankability of the Binay name at the national level.

Any politician who has garnered electoral successes of this magnitude, a record that indicates at the very least a tacit public approval of his dynastic ways, cannot be faulted for believing he will be the next president of the republic. But, more than that, it should not come as a surprise to anyone if the Vice President, who has lorded over the city’s affairs for more than three decades, has begun to imagine himself as the lawgiver of Makati.

Watching the Binay patriarch and Senator Nancy rush to the side of Mayor Junjun, not just to lend moral support but also to assail the legitimacy of an order from an independent office of the judicial branch, gives us a glimpse of what things could be like under a Binay presidency. The law would take a backseat to politics. The political would be reduced to the personal. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

Glimpses of a Binay presidency

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer IN MANY WAYS, the state of politics and governance in the city of Makati exemplifies everything that is dysfunctional in the nation’s political system. Law is put in a position of having to constantly assert and defend its autonomy against political power. The official is so tightly folded into the personal that it becomes impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins. Every attempt to audit official performance is regarded as a personal attack, or an assault on the whole family.

But our people appear to tolerate it, or even welcome it, unable perhaps to imagine any other way of governing a society. That is how entire clans are able to monopolize political power in many provinces of the country across generations.

These families manage to weave an elaborate tapestry of patronage that covers all the essential spheres of everyday existence. Access to this system is solely decided by one’s place in an intricate web of personal connections. Here, public services become the privileges of the connected, not the entitlements of citizens.

The modern hope is that as a society becomes urbanized and relatively

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Opinion

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

17

AS I SEE IT

MMDA’s P500,000 motorcycles

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer “WE cannot escort Apec delegates with scooters,” said Francis Tolentino, chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, to defend his decision to buy a number of motorcycles at P500,000 each. Imagine, P500,000 for just one motorcycle! How many houses will that build for our thousands of homeless citizens? Multiply the P500,000 by two dozen motorcycles and that would build a whole community for the homeless. Who is the lucky distributor who sold the motorcycles to the MMDA? How much was the commission for the agent who sold them?

It is now five years since Tolentino was appointed to head the MMDA and solve the traffic problems in the metropolis. But the traffic situation has not improved. On the contrary, it has gotten worse.

Lately, it has become much worse.

Why? Because nobody is minding the house. The MMDA chief is roaming the provinces courting votes for next year’s elections. He wants to be called “Senator Tolentino.”

There was a Senator Tolentino who was an outstanding lawmaker,

but his first name was Arturo. Judg- pick up passengers from the provincCavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga wants ing by his record as MMDA chair, es to be transported to the inner city? Manila Standard reporters Christine Francis Tolentino would be the opBut instead of banning provincial Herrera, Rey Requejo and Maricel posite of Arturo Tolentino. buses, the MMDA even provided Cruz cited for contempt for refusing Francis Tolentino has tried many them with loading and unloading to reveal their sources for stories on gimmicks to try to ease the daily stations. They have become colorum the alleged bribery of some members traffic gridlock, but none worked, al- vehicles plying city streets for which of the House of Representatives for though the ordinary commuters can they have no franchise. the swift passage of the Bangsamoro see what is wrong and what should be The MMDA gave buses the two Basic Law (BBL). Their reports quote done to help ease traffic congestion. rightmost lanes exclusively for them, sources as saying that some lawmakHe seems not to see them. but some buses swerve into the left- ers had received money to railroad For one thing, there are too many most lane. Why are the drivers not ar- the BBL through an ad hoc commitbuses on Edsa running half-empty rested? Because there are no law en- tee. It was passed in record time. even during rush hours. They not forcers. They disappear when it rains The money allegedly came from only congest the Chinese fugitive streets but also Wang Bo who supSome concerned members of Congress should see the wisdom waste precious fuel posedly provided of protecting press freedom rather than restricting it. and pollute the air amounts of money with their exhaust for the lawmakers without ferrying enough passengers. and during rush hours, when they are and for immigration officials so he Many of them are colorum buses. most needed. would not be deported to China.

Any sensible person can see that one Then the MMDA gave motorcycles The three reporters were sumsolution is to lessen the number of one lane, but the motorcyclists do moned by the House committee on buses on Edsa, but the MMDA chair not use it. Instead, they squeeze be- good governance and accountability does not seem to see that. tween vehicles to be at the head of the to reveal their sources. They refused, Adding to the oversupply of city queue at the stoplight, and when the citing the Sotto Law which protects buses are the provincial buses that light turns green they zoom forward reporters from revealing the sources ply city roads. They are provin- as though they were in a race. of their stories. cial buses, so shouldn’t they stay in Emboldened, a group of bicycle ridJournalist groups, including the the provinces and not in the city? ers is now asking the MMDA to also Association of Philippine Journalists Shouldn’t there be bus terminals out- reserve one lane exclusively for them.

(Samahang Plaridel), protested the side city limits where city buses can *** bullying of reporters to force them to

violate the law.

“Journalism continues to be free in this country, primarily because of Republic Act No. 53 (the Sotto Law) which protects a journalist’s right to refuse to reveal the source of information that was obtained in confidence,” the Samahang Plaridel said, adding: “Should such freedom be curtailed or harassed, Filipino journalists would fail in their mission as watchdog of excesses in our society because confidential sources will lose trust in the media.

“Some concerned members of Congress should see the wisdom of protecting press freedom rather than restricting it.

“If Ms Herrera and company will continue to be harassed, they may emerge as the new symbol of integrity and dedication to the journalism profession.”

At yesterday’s hearing at the House of Representatives, Congressman Barzaga withdrew his motion to cite the three reporters for contempt.

The other journalist groups that protested the original motion are the National Union of Journalists and the National Press Club. ■

AT LARGE

The wonders of ‘malunggay’

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer IT HAS seven times the Vitamin C of an orange, four times the Vitamin A of carrots, 13 times the Vitamin A of spinach, and four times the Vitamin B of pork. Even more astonishing, it has 63 times the potassium of milk (three times that of bananas), 30 times the R-Amino Acid of brown rice and 50 times the Vitamin B2 of sardines.

What is this wonder food and why isn’t it a part of everyone’s regular diet? The wonder food is the seemingly ordinary plant we know as malunggay, known throughout the world as moringa. In my youth, I knew only of malunggay and corn soup, which was recommended for lactating mothers because it reportedly enriched one’s breast milk supply. But otherwise, it was considered an ordinary backyard plant, and hardy figure in the everyday diet of the ordinary Filipino.

But these days, moringa or malunggay is all the rage, judging from the number of products being marketed here, ranging from malunggay chips, malunggay powder, malunggay tea, malunggay capsules and even malunggay oil used to treat gout and acute rheumatism, prostate and bladder problems, and as a tonic and purgative. Extracts from

the seeds, say promotional materials, ternative treatments. This was when and using solar power to dry the leaves may even be used to “prolong sexual she discovered, through the Internet, so they could be transported. activity in women,” though I’m told studies that had been done on the *** even men can benefit from it for what efficacy of moringa, particularly in Apparently, fresh malunggay canone observer said was their “flag- lowering one’s blood sugar levels. not be transported because once raising ceremony.”

So she decided to give it a try, begin- bunched up they “heat themselves” Who knew that from such a humble ning with two spoonfuls of malunggay and become unusable. plant, whose leaves, flowers and pods powder twice a day, which she mixed The dried malunggay was then degrow on low-hanging branches of in juice and poured into a cup with a livered to small manufacturers who trees that are found most everywhere cover, “to disguise the smell of chlo- would process the leaves, stems, pods in tropical countries, would come rophyll,” she says. After some time, and seeds into many applications. what promises to be a cure-all for so after performing blood sugar tests on An example of an integrated operamany ailments? herself, she found her sugar levels sta- tion is JPM, which stands for “Japan*** Philippines MalungMaria Elena gay,” located in a farm In time, she established a malunggay-drying operation, “Bing” Primicias in Bae, Laguna, where buying malunggay leaves from community women and using solar van Tooren has several hectares of power to dry the leaves so they could be transported. been president of malunggay plants Moringaling Philiphave been planted, pines Foundation Inc. since last year. bilizing. “Now I don’t take any other and where the leaves and other parts of Moringaling is a grouping of Filipino medication,” she exults. the plant are dried and processed. malunggay enthusiasts across the Having moved to Pangasinan after How JPM came into being is a story supply chain, from growing, produc- her retirement (her late father was a in itself. Gina Matsuoka, a Filipino, tion, marketing and consuming. governor and congressman), Bing got was living in Japan when her JapaA classmate from high school, Bing involved in civic affairs ( joining the nese husband was diagnosed with cirdiscovered malunggay when she was provincial Namfrel and helping in the rhosis of the liver. Seeking alternative afflicted with diabetes some years family orientation sessions for benefi- forms of treatment, they heard about back. Prescribed the usual diabetes ciaries of the 4Ps program), and soon moringa and went to the Philippines medications, she found that instead of turned her eye on income generation after hearing that an abundant supply making her feel better, the medicines for the rural families. This was when could be found here. They established would make her feel nauseous a few she decided to wed her civic minded- their malunggay plantation on a hilly hours later. “My doctor kept assuring ness and advocacy for malunggay. stretch of land, far from roads and the me that I would get used to it,” she said.

In time, she established a malung- highway to avoid contamination from But soon tiring of the cycle, Bing gay-drying operation, buying malung- toxic smoke and other pollutants from decided to research on her own for al- gay leaves from community women vehicles. Malunggay plants should

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also not be planted near pig or poultry farms, says Ma. Cristina Gragasin, of the Department of Agriculture Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, since waste matter and other harmful elements could affect the plants’ efficacy.

Gragasin acted as a consultant for JPM, overseeing every step of the process from harvest, drying and processing, and testing batches of the products to ensure quality and safety. *** This year, Moringaling is at the helm of events designed to draw national and international attention to the benefits of moringa and its potential as a product in this healthconscious world.

There is the First International Symposium on Moringa on Nov. 15-18, in partnership with the International Society for Horticultural Science based in Belgium, and the AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center in Taiwan.

Another event is the sixth National Moringa Congress as part of the Natural Products Expo Manila on Nov. 10-11.

Both events are expected to draw even more attention to the promises and benefits of this “wonder food,” while building popular appreciation for this common and overlooked plant which could, indeed, save the world. ■

18

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News Two B.C. communities declare states of emergency as wildfires burn

BY LAURA KANE The Canadian Press PORT HARDY, B.C. — Dozens of wildfires burning across British Columbia are forcing residents from their homes, with two communities declaring states of emergency.

Port Hardy Mayor Hank Bood said a state of emergency was issued Saturday morning after a 16-hectare fire caused the evacuation of about 100 residences.

“We’re hopeful, but it’s still a very volatile situation,” he said.

Crews were responding to several new blazes on Saturday as close to 170 wildfires raged across the province. The Squamish Lillooet Regional District also issued a state of emergency due to a 500-hectare fire northwest of Pemberton.

The fire in Port Hardy is extremely unusual, said Bood, as it typically has a wet climate but has not had rain in two months.

He warned residents to obey air, creating a small spot fire in more.” a campfire ban issued by the the area about 1 hectare in size.

The Squamish Lillooet ReB.C. government for the entire She said retardant drops gional District issued its state province, apart from a two- completed by air tankers Friday of emergency on Saturday after kilometre strip on Vancouver night helped contain the main the Boulder Creek fire about 23 Island blaze. On Saturday, crews were kilometres northwest of Pem“People in the north island working on the edges of the fire berton grew to 500 hectares. need to understand that we and helicopters were dumping The district also ordered are in a very unusual place,” he large amounts of ocean water. the evacuation of two mines, said. “We’re not fooling around MacPherson said tempera- of which one was inactive, and anymore.” an independent Declaring a power project. state of emerMeanwhile gency will allow on Saturday, an the district to bill We’re asking anybody: If you see additional 40 the province for a tree, stop and think. Think about firefighters and expenses it inwhatever it is you’re doing that might support staff curs during the start a forest fire. We don’t need any were brought in blaze, he added. more. to battle a blaze The fire is bein the Okanalieved to be hugan, bringing the man-caused. It total number of began Friday night on the Tsul- tures are 12 to 18 degrees hot- crew members to more than 60. quate River, a heavily timbered ter than they normally are this The blaze prompted the evacarea about 1.5 kilometres west time of year. uation of 142 homes in the Joe of Port Hardy.

“We’re asking anybody: If you Rich area of Kelowna. Officials Donna MacPherson of the see a tree, stop and think,” she said on Saturday the fire was 50 B.C. Wildfire Service said when said. “Think about whatever it per cent contained and down to the fire started, strong winds is you’re doing that might start 55 hectares from 80. were blowing sparks into the a forest fire. We don’t need any Highway 33 was open to

single-lane alternating traffic through the fire zone but the speed limit was reduced. RCMP set up road blocks at Goudie Road and Cardinal Creek Road to prevent access to the evacuated area.

Crews responded to several new wildfires on Saturday, including one near Blueberry Creek, about one kilometre west of Castlegar. The blaze didn’t threaten any structures but was highly visible from the city and Highway 3.

The B.C. Wildfire Service also warned that smoke from two lightning-caused wildfires could drift into the communities of Bella Coola, Houston, Burns Lake, Southside and Francois Lake.

The Kapella River fire had burned about 600 to 1,000 hectares about 77 kilometres northwest of Bella Coola, while the Europa Lake fire had burned about 10 hectares about 86 kilometres southeast of Kitimat. ■

An increase of the Government of Canada’s Universal Child Care Benefit offers Canadian families: • $1,920 every year for each child under 6— an increase from $100 to $160 each month • $720 every year for each child 6 through 17— a new $60 per month!

It doesn’t matter how much you make. Every family with children under 18 qualifies. Payments start July 20 and are retroactive to January 1, 2015.

Find out if you need to apply at Canada.ca/TaxSavings

MORE MONE Y FOR E VERY FAMILY WITH CHILDREN 6066_ESDC_UCCB_Post_ENG03_CR.indd 1

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2015-06-22 1:04 PM

Canada News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

19

Another WestJet flight receives a bomb threat, lands in Saskatoon THE CANADIAN PRESS

Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

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‘Canadians will choose security over risk’ Harper targets Libs and NDP

BY BILL GRAVELAND The Canadian Press

if the facts don’t fit your ideology, just pretend the facts don’t exist. And, of course, both Mr. Mulcair and Mr. Trudeau have opposed the military mission, said they would withdraw our forces and our aircraft, in Justin Trudeau’s case saying so, as you will remember, in terms laced with contempt for the Canadian military,” Harper added.

“Friends, these guys just don’t get it. We’re living in a dangerous world.”

Harper also chastised Trudeau for confirming he

ily benefit we brought in. And their economic policies are remarkably similar,” Harper said.

“They will tax away, in whole CALGARY — Justin Trudeau or large part, the universal child is no longer alone in Stephen care benefit, income splitting, Harper’s crosshairs. and tax-free savings accounts.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is Friends, we’ve come too far to now there too. take risks with reckless poliThe prime minister launched cies. That’s why I’m confident a blistering attack on his two that this October Canadians main competitors in a speech will choose security over risk.” to party faithful at his annual Harper’s speech was a marked Calgary Stampede barbecue departure from last year where on Saturday in advance of this he focused almost exclusively fall’s federal election. on Trudeau and made scant Harper used mention of Mulmuch of his cair and the NDP. speech to outline Harper and his government’s Mulcair met on response to naThat’s the NDP approach: if the facts a more congetional security, don’t fit your ideology, just pretend nial stage Satsaying Canada the facts don’t exist. urday mornwas “brutally ing when they reminded” last shook hands at October it is not Calgary’s largest immune to the Stampede panthreat of “jihadist terrorism.” would take Canada out of the cake breakfast. Mulcair actuHe continued to refer to Mul- international coalition in the ally replaced Harper at the cair and Trudeau simply as the battle against the Islamic State flapjack station when the prime “other guys” who he said refuse and make strong diplomatic re- minister departed. to acknowledge that Canadians lations with Iran a priority.

Mulcair, who has surged in are at risk and wouldn’t have The prime minister said the the polls in recent weeks, told been willing to provide the economic policies of both the reporters on Friday that innecessary leadership to send Liberals and NDP are “remark- creased success usually does Canadian troops to take part in ably similar” and neither leader lead to negative attention. the international battle against appears to have even a working “I guess it’s the ultimate comterrorism. knowledge of budgeting and pliment in politics and it shows “Thomas Mulcair actually how job creation works. that you do have the status refused to admit the October “Friends, here is the bottom where you become the target attacks on Canadian soil were line: the Liberals and the NDP but you know what? You take terrorism,” Harper said. voted against every single tax it in stride and it’s par for the “That’s the NDP approach: break and every single fam- course,” Mulcair said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

SASKATOON — For the fourth time in less than a week, a Canadian passenger jet has had to make an emergency landing because of a threat made against it.

On Tuesday night, WestJet took once again to Twitter to say one of its planes had received a bomb threat.

“We’ve landed safely in Saskatoon,” tweeted passenger Jordan Stone of Vancouver, who posted pictures of passengers walking down a long stretch of runway away from the plane. “Authorities are well prepared. Everyone calm.”

Flight WS323 was travelling from Toronto to Saskatoon and while it managed to land at its destination safely, the 113 passengers and five crew members were forced to disembark on the tarmac.

This time was via stairs — when a WestJet flight en route from Edmonton to Toronto was forced to divert to Winnipeg on Monday night because of an unspecified threat, passengers had to jump down evacuation slides.

Six people sustained minor injuries.

Last Saturday morning, a WestJet flight from Edmonton to Halifax landed in Saskatoon after police said a call had been made claiming an explosive device was on board. And last Thursday, St. John’s International Airport was temporarily closed because a note was found in the washroom of an Air Canada flight that authorities considered a potential

bomb threat.

In the last three cases, searches of the aircraft unearthed nothing suspicious. So far, police have not made any arrests in any of the cases.

In Saskatoon on Tuesday, passengers were taken on buses to the air terminal at John Diefenbaker airport to be questioned by police — a procedure that has become standard with each new incident.

The aircraft itself was being kept away from the terminal as a precautionary measure.

Saskatoon police said they were notified about an “alleged explosive device” on the aircraft.

Manitoba RCMP are also continuing their investigation.

On Tuesday morning, Sgt. Bert Paquet wouldn’t specify the nature of the threat against Flight WS422 but said it “came from outside the plane or the flight itself and we are looking to establish the origin of the call and the person responsible for it.”

RCMP were working with other police agencies to determine if the incidents are related, Paquet said.

WestJet officials have said little about the string of incidents, including whether there are frustrations or fears about any potential impact on business or customers.

“We’re going to deal with the response,” Robert Palmer, public relations spokesman for the airline, said in an email Tuesday night. “Not going to venture anywhere else. Focus is on caring for our guests and crew members (again).” ■

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Canada News

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Mulcair and Trudeau ‘just not ready’ to retaliate to negative Conservative ads

BY BILL GRAVELAND The Canadian Press CALGARY — Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says he will not respond in kind to a Conservative party ad campaign that attacks his foreign policies and warns that “he’s just not ready.”

One ad attacks Trudeau’s foreign policy position on ISIS and Iraq where he said he would end the ISIS combat mission and restore relations with Iran.

Another shows a multi-ethnic panel discussing Trudeau as if he were being evaluated for a job.

A woman says “I’m not saying no forever, but not now” before a voiceover adds “Justin Trudeau — he’s just not ready.”

“The idea of a major political party, let alone the party in government, using terrorism as a way to gain votes in an advertisement for political advantage is incredibly distasteful to put it mildly,” said Trudeau at a

Stampede event in Calgary.

Trudeau, NDP boss Tom Mulcair and Prime Minister Stephen Harper took turns flipping flapjacks at Calgary’s largest Stampede pancake breakfast Saturday morning.

He said it is unfortunate that there are plenty of pundits and political scientists out there that agree that negative advertising campaigns do work during an election campaign.

“Certainly there’s evidence to suggest you can scare people into voting one way or another or bring up negative feelings in that way. But I am extremely comfortable in saying there is a different way of doing that and I know there’s a certain risk involved in it because I am not putting a tool in our toolkit,” he added.

Trudeau said there are some in his party who would like to see Liberal ads exploit some of the Conservative government’s weaknesses after 10 years in office.

“I won’t be talking about

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau (left) and Tom Mulcair.

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beards or hair. I will be talking about different visions for this country and I think that’s something that Canadians both appreciate and get.”

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Despite a surge in popularity in recent polls, Mulcair has been exempt from being targeted in any Conservative ads.

“They’re going to use whatev-

er lines they want but I actually have a track record as a good, competent public administrator — it must be why they tried to recruit me back then,” Mulcair said with a chuckle Saturday.

“I guess it’s a bit hard for them that their only complaint against me is they tried to recruit me but I turned them down.”

Mulcair was once approached by the Conservative government to work as an environmental adviser to Harper.

He said even if new ads were to target the NDP he won’t be doing anything except engaging in a “robust campaign.”

“Even if it were to come I won’t respond in kind. That doesn’t mean I won’t have a robust debate,” Mulcair said.

“We can compare policies and compare track records. I’m not the type to have ever wanted to get involved in that sort of negative approach,” he said.

“The personal stuff that’s just not my cup of tea. I don’t go down that street.” ■

Canada News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

21

Trudeau to roll out plan to bolster funding for aboriginal education

BY ROB DRINKWATER The Canadian Press OTTAWA — NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will deliver back-to-back speeches in Montreal this afternoon as both parties try to make their pitches to aboriginal leaders gathered for an annual meeting of the Assembly of First Nations.

Mulcair plans to offer a “new era” of nation-to-nation relations with indigenous communities if he becomes prime minister after this fall’s federal election. The NDP plans to commit to a “governmentwide” approach to address aboriginal affairs.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau is scheduled to speak immediately after the NDP leader. He plans to unroll

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a series of campaign-style commitments, including a promise to bolster funding for aborigi-

nal education.

Trudeau also plans to address the need to overhaul the relationship between First Nations and the federal government, such as targeting the growing socio-economic gap that exists between aboriginal and nonaboriginal Canadians in areas including employment.

The Liberals have already tapped AFN regional chief Jody Wilson-Raybould to run as the Grit candidate in the new B.C. riding of Vancouver-Granville.

The government’s relationship with aboriginal people has been under the microscope in recent weeks following the release of a scathing report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which described

Canada’s residential school system as “cultural genocide.”

The commission’s summary report said the current relationship with the federal government and aboriginal peoples is “deteriorating” due to ongoing conflicts over education, child welfare, and justice.

Aboriginal education has been a particularly thorny issue for both the government as well as the AFN. In February 2014, federal Conservatives thought they had the support of the AFN’s thennational chief Shawn Atleo and other indigenous leaders when they announced $1.9 billion in federal money for a First Na❱❱ PAGE 28 Trudeau to

Saskatchewan to get military help battling fires in northern part of province

BY ROB DRINKWATER The Canadian Press

around 10 times what’s normal.

Steve Roberts with the wildfire management branch of the environment ministry said over the last five years, 30,000 hectares burn annually in highpriority zones.

He said 300,000 hectares are burning in those zones this year.

The military’s help was already anticipated from the Canadian Forces base in Cold Lake, Alta., when the province announced Saturday that evacuees from La Ronge would head to centres in the neighbouring province.

Premier Brad Wall said Saturday that he’d spoken on the

ficially made.

McKay said municipal fire services in Saskatchewan were also sending equipment and REGINA — Close to 1,000 milifirefighters to help. tary personnel are on their way The Alberta government said to help fight wildfires in Sasit was preparing to receive up to katchewan.

5,000 people from the La Ronge Duane McKay, commissionevacuation. Saskatchewan offier of emergency management cials said 1,136 had registered in with the province, says some La Ronge and were transported of the military are expected to to Cold Lake on Saturday night, begin deploying as early as Sunwhile thousands of others were day. travelling out of the community Others may take longer to aron their own and would likely rive, as McKay notes that being stay with friends or family. a soldier is different from beLocal officials made the call ing a firefighter, so additional to evacuate La Ronge, as well training may be required. as the neighbouring commu“They will be completely selfnity of Air Ronge and the Lac contained and La Ronge Indian they will augBand, when the ment wildfire flames crossed a operations and safety threshold, so we’ll see them Provincial officials say the amount of McKay said. On on the fire line,” land that’s burning in Saskatchewan Sunday, he said McKay said. this year is around 10 times what’s the fire burned “Hopefully that normal. on the edge of will bolster our the airport about ability to do two five kilometres things — to fight north of the the fires as well as maintain our phone earlier in the day with town. fire operations over the next 10 Prime Minister Stephen Harp“There’s a large number of to 14 days.” er about the possible need for folks that are still up there Provincial officials say the military help, and that Harper supporting the ongoing operaamount of land that’s burning had been “accommodating” to tions,” McKay said. in Saskatchewan this year is such a request when it was ofKarri Kempf with Saskatchwww.canadianinquirer.net

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ewan’s social services ministry said the decision to send the La Ronge evacuees to Alberta was made to ensure there would still be some room left in the Saskatchewan centres where earlier evacuees from other fires are being housed.

“We’re noticing now a lot of people moving on their own into our system who had started out with friends and family and some of those places have been exhausted and they’re coming back in and receiving service now,” Kempf said.

“We’re receiving people at

our reception centres and shelters who are returning from vacations,” she continued, noting there were other communities where there may be more evacuations.

“We need to maintain some capacity because our numbers will fluctuate within the province.”

Roberts said arson is suspected in six fires that started Saturday afternoon west of La Ronge near the community of Hall Lake. He said RCMP and conservation officers are investigating the incidents. ■

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World News

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

US, wooing Vietnam, readies red carpet for communist chief

BY NINIEK KARMINK The Associated Press HANOI, VIETNAM — Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong doesn’t hold an official government post, but it’s not surprising that he’ll meet with President Barack Obama on his visit to the United States this week. He is the defacto top leader of his country.

More telling is one of Trong’s other engagements — a dinner reception hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, bastion of American free enterprise.

Economic imperatives drove the U.S. and Vietnam to normalize postwar relations 20 years ago, and they remain a major incentive to boost ties.

President Bill Clinton announced the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Vietnam on July 11, 1995, following up on the lifting of punitive economic sanctions imposed after the Vietnam War ended in 1975 with a communist victory.

The bitterness on both sides gave way to pragmatism. Vietnam’s socialist planners were running the economy of the newly unified nation into the ground, and needed a helping hand. American businesses saw opportunities that might otherwise be seized by Asian and Euro-

pean competitors.

Trong called his trip on Tuesday “a historic visit.” He said he expects Obama to make his first visit to Vietnam later this year, though the White House has not confirmed the trip.

U.S. officials are eager to take relations with Vietnam — currently friendly but hardly intimate — to a new level. Vietnam could be a linchpin in Obama’s “pivot” toward Asia, playing a strong geopolitical and economic role. As a front-line country nervous about Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea, Vietnam also would not mind the U.S. directing at least a little hard talk at Beijing.

“We believe that as one of the world’s leading major powers and a member of the (U.N. Security Council), the U.S. has a great interest and responsibility in maintaining peace and stability in the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific,” Trong said Friday in a written response to questions submitted by The Associated Press.

In careful diplomatic language, he said he hoped “that the U.S. will continue to have appropriate voice and actions to contribute to peaceful settlement of disputes in the (South China Sea) in accordance with international law in order to ensure peace and stability in the AsiaPacific and the world.”

President Barack Obama and Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, talk while waiting for the press to enter prior to delivering statements following their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

PETE SOUZA / OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTP

U.S. ambitions to remain a Pacific power hinge in large part on projecting its power by drawing a line with China.

Popular sentiment in Vietnam is generally hostile toward China’s assertive maritime territorial claims, but the country’s leaders are loath to antagonize their much bigger neighbor. The practical perils of proximity are one matter, but more doctrinaire communists such as Trong are uneasy about casting their lot with the democratic West instead of their old communist kin in Beijing.

In Washington’s view, however, wooing a hard-line skeptic such as the 71-year-old Trong is key to achieving the two countries’ goals.

While Trong’s trip is a sign of how far the U.S.-Vietnam relationship has come in the 40 years since the end of the war, that doesn’t mean an alliance is in the works, said Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

“They want to have eggs in the American basket to balance off what they’ve got in the Chinese basket, all in the service of Vietnam’s interest and strategic vision,” he said.

Trong emphasized the importance of Vietnam’s relationship with the U.S. “Vietnam would like to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the world,” he wrote in his response. “In this effort, we attach great importance to the relations with the U.S. as one of the most important partners in our foreign policy.”

What Washington has to offer Hanoi are economic benefits, particularly under the yet-to-be finalized multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership. It can point to a solid track record: Since 1995, annual U.S.-Vietnam trade has increased from less than $500 million to $35 billion last year. Vietnam has now surpassed Malaysia and Thailand as Southeast Asia’s top exporter of merchandise to the U.S. .

Trong’s visit “is part of the discussion in Hanoi about the nation’s future … how to balance the economic and political links with China against the lure of U.S. markets and security assurances,” said Frank Jannuzi, a former Senate Foreign

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Relations Committee staffer who now works at the Washington-based Mansfield Foundation, which aims to promote U.S.-Asia relations.

Jannuzi pondered whether the trade pact’s economic benefits and U.S. guarantees on South China Sea security would carry the day, or if Vietnam’s communist government would stick to the model of their Chinese comrades “and follow the path of resilient authoritarianism, with state control of key sectors of economy and strict controls on power-sharing.”

Human rights remains a sticky issue, with Vietnam’s repression of dissidents undercutting political support in the U.S. Congress for sweetening any deals with Vietnam, such as acceding to Hanoi’s desire to be allowed to purchase lethal weaponry.

The Obama administration “deserves credit for continuing to pressure Vietnam on political prisoners, labor rights and religious liberty. The problem is, it’s not working,” said John Sifton, Human Rights Watch’s Asia advocacy director in Washington.

The U.S. says prosecution of dissidents has decreased and the number of political prisoners has dropped from more than 160 two years ago to around 110 — progress it attributes to Hanoi’s desire to join a U.S.-backed trade pact of Pacific Rim nations. But Sifton said the reduction was due to people serving out their terms, not early releases. Human Rights Watch estimates there are still about 150 political prisoners being held.

Trong acknowledged differences with the U.S. on issues of democracy, human rights and trade. But he added: “We should maintain dialogues in an open, candid and constructive manner to increase mutual understanding, narrow differences and make best use of our cooperation potentials. We should work to make sure such differences do not hinder bilateral relations.” ■ Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

World News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

23

Indonesia plane crash death toll 141 as search ends

BY NINIEK KARMINK The Associated Press MEDAN, INDONESIA — Indonesia’s air force promised Wednesday to investigate whether the aging transport plane that crashed into a city neighborhood, killing 141 people, was violating rules by carrying non-military passengers who paid for their flights. A local military commander said the search for bodies has ended.

The dead included all 122 on the plane, including military personnel and family members, and people in a residential area of Medan city where the C-130 Hercules crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday, North Sumatra police Maj. A. Tarigan told TVOne station.

The final death toll may not be determined for some time. Body parts were also retrieved from the rubble and transported to a hospital in two body bags.

The cause of the accident is not yet known but the pilot was trying to return to the airport because of an engine problem. At Adam Malik Hospital where bodies were taken, regional military commander Edy Rahmayadai told reporters that the rescue operation involving hundreds of soldiers and police had finished.

The C-130 was carrying many more passengers than the military first reported. Initially, the air force said there were 12 crew members on the 51-yearold plane and did not mention passengers. It then repeatedly raised the number of people on board, indicating confusion about how many people had boarded and alighted during a journey covering several cities.

Relatives and friends of some victims said they had paid for their flights. Hitching rides on military planes to reach remote destinations is common in Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago that spans three time zones. The military has previously promised to crack down on the practice.

The plane had traveled from the capital, Jakarta, and landed at two locations before stopping over at Medan on Sumatra, one of Indonesia’s main islands. On the doomed leg of the journey, its final destination was the remote Natuna island chain.

Interviewed at Adam Malik Hospital, Indra Bakara said his cousin was one of the civilians on the flight and paid about 1 million rupiah ($75) to go to Natuna.

As he spoke, the dead woman’s mother, Nacita Batubara, wept and shouted her daughter’s name, wailing that she had driven her to catch the plane.

“Lack of transportation to Natuna has forced us to go there by military flight, no choice,” Bakara said. “But now we realize we cannot expect any compensation or insurance or even an apology from the military over this accident.” He said he was unaware of regulations prohibiting most civilians on military flights.

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Riski Ananda, a 20-year-old university student, said his friend Musyawir paid a small administrative fee to board the flight at Pekanbaru in Sumatra along with other university students heading to Natuna. Students in Pekanbaru often use military flights to visit families who may be military or civil servants on the islands.

Air force chief Air Marshal Agus Supriatna told reporters the C-130 was only authorized to carry military personnel and their families. He said he would investigate allegations of paying passengers.

A copy of the manifest seen by The Associated Press shows 32 passengers with no designation. The rest are described as either military or military family members. In some circumstances, civilians such as government officials or researchers can get authorization to fly on military planes, according to Supriatna.

Dozens of family members gathered at Adam Malik Hospital on Wednesday.

Outside its mortuary, more than 100 wood coffins were arranged in rows and women cried and screamed the names of loved ones killed in the disaster.

A group of students from a Catholic high school in the city screamed hysterically as a body bag was opened, revealing the badly bruised corpse of classmate Esther Lina Josephine, 17, clasping her 14-year-old sister.

“She looks like she wanted to protect her younger sister,” said the school’s principal, Tarcisia Hermas. “We’ve lost kind and smart students who had so many creative ideas.”

Hermas said the sisters were traveling during school vacation to see their parents in Natuna, where the father of the teenagers is stationed with the army.

Adam Malik Hospital spokeswoman Sairi M. Saragih said more than 60 bodies have been identified.

Indonesia has a patchy civil aviation safety record and its cash-strapped air force has suffered a series of accidents.

Between 2007 and 2009, the European Union barred Indonesian airlines from flying to Europe because of safety worries.

The country’s most recent civilian airline disaster was in December, when

an AirAsia jet with 162 people on board crashed into the Java Sea en route from Surabaya to Singapore. There have been five fatal crashes involving air force planes since 2008, according to the Aviation Safety Network, which tracks aviation disasters.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said has ordered a “fundamental overhaul” of military weaponry.

“We have to be involved from the beginning in design, production, operations, training, maintenance and elimination of aged weapons,” he told

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reporters in Depok, West Java.

Indonesia’s military has a longstanding reputation for corruption and has never totally accepted its reduced status after the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998 forced soldiers out of politics. It is engaged in a recurrent turf war with police over internal security roles and illicit money-making opportunities. Low wages also foster corruption among officers and the rank and file.

At the crash site, a backhoe has been digging at the pile of smoldering concrete where the plane hit. The impact shattered a large building that local media said contained shops and homes, and set vehicles alight.

The crash of the aircraft occurred only two minutes after it took off from Soewondo air force base.

Witnesses said the plane was flying low and flames and smoke streamed from it before crashing. Supriatna, the air force chief, has said the pilot told the control tower that he needed to turn back because of engine trouble and the plane crashed while turning right to return to the airport. ■ Associated Press writers Stephen Wright and Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this story.

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JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Summer

Maximize summer by dodging its pests: Fight the bite, avoid burns and poison ivy

BY HELEN BRANSWELL The Canadian Press TORONTO — For many sunstarved Canadians, summer is a favourite time of the year.

Days are long, windows are open, water is inviting and the world is green and blue. Downfilled jackets and scratchy woollen wear gets shoved to the back of the closet — for a few months, at any rate.

As glorious as it is, summer poses a few health perils. Here are some things you’ll want to avoid and what to do about them if the season throws them in your path: West Nile virus

Certain species of mosquitoes pick up this virus from infected birds and pass it on to humans. Depending on where you live in Canada those species are Culex tarsalis, Culex restuans and Culex pipiens.

Most years human cases of West Nile start to be diagnosed in late July and infections can continue to occur until frosts kill mosquitoes in the fall.

Some years there isn’t much West Nile activity. Last year, there were only 21 cases reported in Canada. But in 2007 — the worst year on record — there were 2,215.

What’s critical here is how much hot weather there is early in the summer, when virus levels start to build up in birds and bugs.

“It’s too early to tell how intense the West Nile season will be. It will depend on basically temperatures that we get from now on in, the numbers of ...

Culex tarsalis mosquitoes we get and virus levels in birds, “ says Phil Curry, an entomologist with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health.

The illness can be mild and almost flu-like. But some people develop encephalitis or meningitis — swelling of the brain or the membranes surrounding the brain — and some people die.

The best way to avoid West Nile is to avoid being bitten. That means wearing long sleeves and trousers, dressing in light colours and using DEET-based insect repellents to protect against the dusk-tilldawn biting mosquitoes that carry the virus. It also means getting rid of standing water on your property because mosquitoes need water to breed.

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac

You don’t want to run into — or brush up against — these rash-inducing forms of flora.

But you need to know what you should be avoiding in order to successfully do so. A little time on the Internet ought to help you identify foliage to avoid.

According to the federal government’s HealthyCanadians. gc.ca website, Newfoundland is the only Canadian province where poison ivy is not found.

On the other hand, poison oak is only found in southern British Columbia.

Words of warning: Poison ivy is pesky. If you get the sap on clothing, it can trigger rashes long afterward if it isn’t washed off.

And if you are trying to rid a property of poison ivy, don’t burn the plants. That can release the urushiol — the component that causes rashes — into the air. Breathing in that smoke can trigger severe and even potentially fatal breathing problems.

If your skin comes in contact with any of these plants, wash the exposed skin with soap and cold water. If there is no soap at hand, vinegar and water (30 millilitres/ two tablespoons in 250 ml/one cup of water) or alcohol and water (half and half) can help.

Ticks

We’re talking blacklegged ticks here, the kind that can transmit Borrelia burgdorferi.

That’s the bacterium that cases Lyme disease.

It wasn’t that long ago that infected ticks were only found in a few spots in the southernmost

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part of Canada, near Windsor, Ont. But the Public Health Agency of Canada says blacklegged ticks can now be found in a number of provinces. It has posted a map detailing highrisk areas at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/diseases-conditions-maladies-affection .

Ticks latch on to people (or animals) and take a blood meal.

The bacteria only transfers when the tick has been feeding for quite awhile, around 36 to 48 hours.

Ticks — especially the juvenile ones — can be hard to spot.

But doing a tick check after being outdoors as well as taking a shower and laundering your clothing should help you avoid being the source of a prolonged meal.

Dr. Doug Sider of Public Health Ontario says these ticks like areas with brush and high grasses. “You’re not going to get Lyme disease risks in manicured lawns and sports fields.... That’s not where the tick hangs out.”

If you find a tick a few hours after walking in the woods, Sider says the advice would be to remove it carefully — pull it straight out with tweezers — and not to worry about it.

If, however, you find a tick a couple of days after your last trek through the woods, the second part of the recommendation might change.

If you are living in an area www.canadianinquirer.net

known to have infected ticks, your doctor or hospital may give you a dose of an antibiotic that kills the bacterium, says Sider, the agency’s medical director for communicable disease prevention and control.

We’re talking about jellyfish and leeches here. The former are found in salt water and the latter in fresh.

Jellyfish stings can vary in severity, according to information on them posted on the Mayo Clinic’s website. Most just cause pain and redness, though some will trigger a whole-body response, including nausea and difficulty breathing. If you have the latter type of response, you need to seek medical help.

For regular jellyfish stings, the Mayo site suggests making sure none of the stingers are left on your skin by rinsing the area with salt (not fresh) water.

You can also rinse with vinegar and a paste made of baking soda and salt water.

As for leeches or bloodsuckers, don’t try to pull them off.

Pouring salt or vinegar on them will make them release their grasp on your skin and drop off.

Stings

Hornets, wasps, bees: They play a vital role in nature, but they sure can take the fun out of a summer picnic or meal on a patio.

For most people the pain of an insect sting is short-lived.

If you are one of these people, remove the stinger, apply a cool compress or use something like hydrocortisone, lidocaine or calamine lotion, the Mayo Clinic’s website suggests.

However, some people are allergic to insect stings and can have severe, even fatal, reactions if they are stung. If you are with a person who develops trouble breathing, dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, nausea or vomiting after an insect sting, this is a situation to take seriously.

HealthyCanadians.gc.ca suggests seeing a doctor right away.

Ask if the person is carrying an epinephrine autoinjector — an EpiPen — and if yes, whether he or she needs help to use it. If the person stops breathing, begin cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Stinging and blood-suckling water creatures

Sunburn

Summer sun feels great on the skin. But too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can prematurely age and permanently damage skin. It can also lead to melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.

Do your future self a favour: Avoid excessive tanning and sunburns. Limit the amount of time you spend in the sun when its power is at its peak, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Use sunscreen. The Canadian Dermatology Association recommends choosing a product with an SPF — sun protection factor — of 30 or higher. It should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming or sweating a lot.

Wear a hat. Protect your eyes from the sun too — UV light may contribute to the development of cataracts. Be especially vigilant protecting children from the sun.

And if you do get a burn?

Soothe sunburned skin with a cool compress, a moisturizer, gel or lotion containing aloe vera, or hydrocortisone cream. ■

Summer

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Nearly half of Canadians expect to blow their budgets on summer fun: Poll

BY ALEXANDRA POSADZKI The Canadian Press TORONTO — A new poll from CIBC says nearly half of Canadians will need to dip into their savings or take on debt in the coming months as they look to make the most of the warm summer weather.

Of those surveyed, 40 per cent said summer is the most expensive season, while 36 per cent said they spend the most in winter.

Another 17 per cent singled out spring as the costliest season, while only six per cent said their household spending spikes in autumn.

The poll says the average amount that Canadians plan to spend on summer fun — which includes everything from travel and recreational activities to goods such as sporting equipment and barbecues — is $1,766.

Households in Atlantic Canada say they plan to spend the

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most on average — $2,694 — while Quebec households were the most frugal, planning to spend an average of only $1,288.

The online survey of 1,503 Canadians was conducted by Angus Reid between June 17

and 18. The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

Fashion Under The Sun

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer NEVER FAIL to look like a million bucks under the blistering summer heat by following these almost-too-easy tips.

Break out those shorts from the closet and show off those legs. A good pair of shorts will keep you cool and comfy during your summer work out sessions or a night out with the girls.

The Face

The Outfit

Summer is all about fun and comfort, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have to look your best.

It’s the time of the year that you get to show off your skin!

Cropped tops are in so you can show off that beach body you’ve been working on all Spring without being too revealing.

Maxi dresses are also perfect for summer! Play with prints and patterns and even your accessories to create your own outfit for your morning workout, a late lunch with friends, or a special date night with your special someone.

Don’t be afraid to play with bright and happy colors. The sunshine will make the colors pop.

Since most of the time you’ll be breaking up a sweat because of the summer heat, it’s important to make sure that your make-up is smudge-proof. Toning down the face paint to the bare minimum would also give you a cleaner, more laidback look. After all, summer is about being more carefree.

Keep your face protected by using a moisturizer or make-up base with SPF. Brightly colored lips can go a long way. Sometimes, it’s all you need! Make sure you’re also using lippies with SPF to keep your lips moist and kissable even under the hot summer sun.

Don’t overdo your eye makeup. No one ever goes to the beach with smoky eyes. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

The poll says nearly half — 45 per cent — of respondents have tried to save for summer festivities but expect they’ll have to put extra costs on their credit cards.

Another 29 per cent said

they tend to stick to their budgets over the summer, while seven per cent said their budgets go out the window during the warm weather months and 19 per cent said they have no household budget.

Christina Kramer, executive vice-president of retail and business banking at CIBC, says many Canadians tend to underestimate how much they will spend on holidays and other seasonal events.

“Expense creep,” which occurs when you spend a little more than planned over a period of time, can leave consumers with massive credit card bills at the end of the summer, says Kramer.

“Having a budget and sticking to it is the best way to enjoy the holidays worry free,” Kramer said in a statement.

“Canadians should treat these expenses the same as all others and make them part of your overall annual financial plan.” ■

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Immigration

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

The End...

In a report by Claire Bronwell of the Financial Post, the Association of Caregiver and Nanny Agencies Canada noted that on average the government approves only between three to 63 foreign caregiver applications every month since December 2014 — that’s only about 9% of the applications under the previous policy.

In the same report, Bronwell wrote, “[the] documents seen by the Financial Post demonstrate the rules are being inconsistently applied,” basing the approval on various factors like the hiring family’s willingness to provide “room and board” for the caregiver applicant.

In 2014, back when he was still employment minister, Defence Minister Jason Kenney made remarks about the caregiver program going “out of control” because of permanent residents taking advantage of the LCP to bring family members and friends into Canada.

That same year, during a National Post editorial board conference, Kenney shared his account of visiting a caregiver training facility in Philippines where a lot of foreign workers originate.

“I was in Manila a few years ago to give a seminar on nannies’ rights,” Kenney started.

“I was there with 70 caregivers who were coming to Canada. None had questions about rights. All 70 of them were going to work for relatives in Canada and all they wanted to know was: What was the penalty for working outside the home illegally, and how long it would ❰❰ 1

take them to sponsor family members,” he noted.

After the new program policy was enforced in December — including a cap on the number of foreign caregivers -- the cost of hiring caregivers and nannies skyrocketed due to the lack of supply. Legitimate caregiver agencies even closed down only to be replaced by nannies from an alleged “black market.”

Aside from the increase in fees under the new law, those families who have been approved to hire a live-in foreign caregiver “[are] no longer allowed to deduct room and board from their pay, increasing the monthly cost for families by about $600,” Bronwell wrote.

With all forces joining together to block the entry of foreign live-in caregivers to Canada, more and more families are making the difficult choice of being a single-income household so one parent can stay at home, instead of paying exorbitant fees to hire a competent nanny.

Brownell interviewed Michelle Ketchabaw, a 36-yearold high school teacher from Northern Ontario, who is currently in the process of her third application for a foreign caregiver. The application alone costs $1,000 — up by almost 300% from $275 in the previous year.

“They’re putting up road block after road block after road block,” Ketchabaw said in the Financial Post interview, referring to the federal government, adding that her husband had to file a year-long leave from work to attend to their kids.

In Bronwell’s report, economist Mike Moffat from the University of Western Ontario pointed out that perhaps the Ottawa government’s reason behind the cancellation of the LCP is to eventually “make embarrassing statistics look better.”

“One of the things they have done (in Ottawa) is make it nearly impossible to bring in a live-in caregiver,” said Moffat.

“People were asking, why are there so many temporary foreign workers in places where people are hurting for jobs? I think the government wanted to act on that.”

In a May 2015 report from the Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Association of Caregiver and Nanny Agencies president Manuela Gruber Hersch said, “Canada has had a foreign caregiver program for decades, and suddenly the government feels that we no longer need them.

What has changed?”

Hersch also asked, “Are unemployed Canadian nannies complaining that they being passed over by overseas nannies?”

“It’s hurting Canadian families. It is hurting professional couples. All they want is consistent and reliable care for their children so they can cover their bases and go to work,” Hersch added.

“More people need to know about this. I think a lot of people are feeling these frustrations and a sense that what the government is doing is unfair and unjust,” said Ketchabaw. ■ With files from Claire Brownell of The Financial Post

HARD TO FIND. Caregivers and nannies are becoming a rare resource in the Canadian labo force after changes in the

temporary foreign worker and live-in caregiver policies.

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www.canadianinquirer.net

Quebec Labour Minister Sam Hamad.

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Ottawa denies claims from Quebec it will modify Temporary Foreign Worker Program THE CANADIAN PRESS QUEBEC — The federal government quickly closed the door on Monday to claims from Quebec it was open to modifying the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to address the province’s concerns.

Quebec Labour Minister Sam Hamad said Monday his federal counterpart agreed to talks aimed at easing frustration from some businesses that the program was excessively burdensome.

The program has been a source of tension between Quebec and Ottawa since the federal government changed the rules in 2014 to make it harder to hire foreign workers after reports businesses were abusing the system.

Hamad said federal Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre was "very open" to changing the rules.

He added Quebec’s immigration minister is to meet Tuesday with Poilievre to "discuss and to understand ... to take into account the particularities of Quebec."

But Poilievre, who was also in Quebec City on Monday, denied the federal government had any

intention of changing the program.

He said 140 000 people benefited from employment insurance in Quebec in 2013 and businesses need to hire local workers before they look to recruit foreigners.

"Quebecers are totally in agreement with our approach," Poilievre said. "Employers are looking for 8,000 temporary foreign workers. I say: ‘Hire Quebecers first.’"

Ottawa tightened access to temporary foreign workers in 2014 after news reports revealed businesses across the country were replacing local workers with foreigners and paying them less.

The new rules force companies to prove they tried to look for local workers before seeking permission to hire foreign nationals.

The changes also forbid businesses in certain industries from hiring temporary foreign workers if they operate in regions with an unemployment rate under six per cent.

Quebec says the changes penalize certain regions in the province and make it excessively complicated for businesses with worker shortages to hire talent. ■

Community News

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

27

North York FilCan wins Miss Philippines PIDC 2015

BY TONY A. SAN JUAN “IT IS important for me to help promote our unique and enviable heritage, culture and values.” With this convincing and confident answer to the question, “If you win the beauty title what would you do during your reign?” contestant No. 9 has clearly proven to the beauty pageant’s board of judges that she deserves to be adjudged the complete winner.

Unanimously picked, Conida Marie Halley, a 15-year-old James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School Grade 9 student from North York was crowned Miss Philippines PIDC 2015 among eight other beautiful contenders. Raina Resplandor , Miss Philippines PIDC 2014, after a short video showing of her 2014 reign, donned the royal headdress to Conida Marie, her highly-elated successor.

Being the audience darling, Conida Marie Halley was awarded a tiara, sash, cash award and returned airfare by Korean Air to the Philippines as well as doubly honoured with three distinctions, the “Miss Photogenic”; “Miss Maria Clara”; and “Miss Intellectual”.

Other winners recognized with tiara, sash and cash prizes were: Marina Saleeb, 1st Runner-up and Janelle Apresto, 2nd Runner-up. Marina also received the “Miss Charity” and “Miss Online Sensation” trophies while Janelle was named “Miss Popularity”.

The strong bevy of winning beauties with trophies and sashes, included: Maygen Hinchliffe who was accorded four awards, as “Best in National Attire”, “Poise and Beauty”, “Spirit” and “Casual Wear”; Joie Ann Merana, garnered “Miss Freedom” and “Best in Talent”; Lara Denise Capistrano, won

Miss Philippines PIDC 2015 winners.

“Miss Congeniality”; Georelle Mendoza, as “Miss Heritage”; Lovely Valentine Valenzuela, the “Miss Pearl of the Orient “ winner; and Leah Villanueva, named “Miss Tourism”.

The popular and prestigious beauty and talent event, organized and sponsored by the 16- year old Philippine Independence Day Council ( PIDC), is a major part of the annual celebration of the 117th Araw ng Kalayaan anniversary of the Philippines in Toronto, Canada. PIDC is an umbrella organization of more than 15 Filipino Canadian community associations in Ontario.

Led by Norma Carpio, PIDC president, the members of the pageant’s organizing committee is composed of overall pageant chair Gene PardoElamparo, “Miss Philippines” chief Aurora Ticzon Elefano and ”Little Miss Philippines”

head Helen Pico-Lao. Karen Pascual-Binaday served as floor manager, Aris Elefano as stage manager, Karen Amador- Lopez and Daniela Pozo acted as choreographers and as well, Click Frame Creative were the photographers.

Other event coordinators and staff included Luz Aguila , Peter Eli-Gonzales, Karen Liguidliguid, Melanie Marasigan, Lester Millado. Among the PIDC officers and volunteers who provided assistance and guidance were Mel Alphonso, Randy Bucao, Verth Bugtong, Rose Calvo, Pedro Carpio, Ben and Paulina Corpuz, Ding Cruz, Rose Cruz, Aris Elefano, Mercy Lagumbay, Jess & Susan SJ Llanera, Cesar Manebo, Aimee Maravilla, Minda Neri, Alma and Jesse Pacetes, Cheryll Samson- Ronquillo, Roy Start, Vilma Tahsin, Tom Tan, Roger Tarca, Nanding and Nene Tic-

www.canadianinquirer.net

zon, Al Tupe, Jun Villaruz and Zeny Zagala.

Tasked to pick this year’s winners were notable GTA personalities: George Dela Rosa of Luminus Financial, Lauren Fernandez of Socialite Beauty Bar, dental practitioner Dr. Christina L. Gamo, Sa-Kyeom Kang of Korean Air, Agnes Miranda of World Financial Group, Rafael Nebres of Action Honda, Rafael Policarpio of LBC Mundial Cargo Corporation, and Rose Ty of Coldwell Banker Elite. Members of the Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants who tabulated the results include: Imelda Bautista, Renz Gonzales, JP Lunaria, MaryAnn Mallari, and Estrellita Ortiz.

The lively and well-applauded four-hour program also showcased talented musical performers such as former Little Misses Elle Delizo (2008),

Britney Waito (2013), Hailey Chyrel Malanum (2012) and Raina Resplandor (Miss Philippines PIDC 2014).

Hosted jointly by actormodel Scott Dion Brown, Ms. Philippines PIDC 2012 2nd runner-up Janice Hernane and PIDC Miss Philippines 2014 contestant Bettina Carlos, the evening’s show was attended by over 500 guests and fans and held at the Korean Cultural Centre in North York on June 20, 2015.

PIDC president Norma Carpio in her apt message graciously welcomed and thanked those present as well as the major sponsors, donors, media partners,guests, judges, parents, volunteers and the entire PIDC family for their continued support and co-operation, declaring the pageant a memorable milestone in the community. ■

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Community News

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Classical Filipino music, poetry come back to life at grand cultural night held at PH Consulate PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER IN AN unforgettable evening of nostalgic music and elegant poetry, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in B.C. (UPAABC), in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver (PCG), staged last July 3, “Harana, Tula, Kundiman at Balagtasan: A Tribute to Filipino Songs and Verses.”

The event, held at the Consulate premises in downtown Vancouver, elicited surprising performances from alumni of UP and its long-time academic rival Ateneo, Consulate personnel and community leaders.

It also drew lusty cheers from an appreciative crowd who seemed to have been brought together by a common love and longing for these distinctly Filipino art forms.

Balagtasan, the evening’s highlight, was a throwback to this cherished Tagalog tradition started in the 1920s, where bards debated a topic and argued in elegant verse. Aprodicio “Prod” Laquian, professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia (UBC), UP alumnus and balagtasan aficionado since his student days, was the principal moving force behind the revival of this poetic joust.

Prof. Laquian single-handedly wrote the script, includ-

Participants and guests during the recent tribute to Filipino songs and verses held at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver.

ing the lines delivered by protagonists Art Fabian of UP and Alya Manansala of Ateneo, who argued on the topic “Dapat ba o hindi dapat mag-dual citizen ang isang Filipino Canadian?”

Laquian also played the role of lakandiwa, arbiter and annotator for the debate.

Another much-applauded segment was the Harana, where UP crooners Anton Mandap, Del Gatchalian, Arthur Fabian and Tony Aytona accompanied

by Alex Anaya on guitar, gave a hilarious impression of Filipino serenaders in the tradition of Dolphy and Panchito and the ubiquitous Minyong, the bald but exceptionally gifted guitarist of yore.

Meanwhile, elegant and passionate Tagalog flowed in copious amounts in the Tula portion as poets took turns reciting lines from classic Tagalog poems as well as some contemporary works. Ateneo’s Mike Calingo got the ball rolling with Bonifacio’s Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, followed

by UP’s Eric Inigo who dramatized Rizal’s lament in “Huling Paalam.” Tess Zamora Sumagui, also of UP, did a passionate rendition of “Awit ni Maria Clara.”

Renowned bilingual poet Anita Aguirre, meanwhile, recited her own work, “Ang Wikang Pilipino,” which was followed

by Tony Aytona’s “Pumanaw

na Kaibigan” and Nestor Navasero’s “Isang Daang Taong Pananaliksik sa UPLB.” A medley of classic kundiman songs by Pilita Corrales and Sylvia La Torre was performed

by UPAA ladies Fremma Esquejo, Charen Cusi, Elizabeth Fabian and Mary Ann Mandap. This was followed by the heartfelt rendition by UPAA President Charen Cusi of the melancholic kundiman love song, “Minamahal Kita”.

Renowned Soprano Kay Balajadia-Liggayu and Tenor Nazer Degayo Salcedo enthralled the audience with a regional medley of Kundiman songs and timeless ballads such as, Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Bato sa Bu-

hangin and Hindi Kita Malimot.

The tribute to Filipino songs and verses was made more successful by the lively hosting of emcees Consul Rogelio Villanueva and Atty. Monette Ledesma, who gamely tried to speak in fluent and archaic Tagalog throughout the program.

Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer lauded the organizers for putting the event together.

He said the Consulate is grateful for relevant undertakings that promote Philippine language and culture. “Ngayon lang po ako nakarinig ng ganito kalalim na tagalog,” he joked. – Mary Ann R. Mandap

Valcourt’s office has con- dressing section 35 rights.” and murdered aboriginal womfirmed he is not attending the Saskatchewan’s Perry Bel- en in Canada. assembly’s annual gathering. legarde, who became AFN naBellegarde wants to see a na“Minister Valtional public incourt is attendquiry to address ing important the crisis. This events for the call has also been people of MadaThe commission’s summary report supported by opwaska-Restisaid the current relationship with the position parties, gouche, in New federal government and aboriginal provincial and Brunswick,” said peoples is “deteriorating” due to territorial prepress secretary ongoing conflicts over education, miers and UnitEmily Hillstrom. child welfare, and justice. ed Nations’ spe“He remains cial rapporteur committed to on the rights of working with all indigenous peowilling First Nation partners tional chief in December 2014, ples James Anaya. on shared priorities such as has continued to call on the The Conservatives continue economic development, skills government to address another to reject the idea of an inquiry training, education and ad- issue — the number of missing and argue more study is not

needed.

Last March, Valcourt drew the ire of some First Nations after he said 70 per cent of murdered aboriginal women were killed by aboriginal men. They felt the minister was placing blame on indigenous people.

But the minister’s comments have since been supported by new RCMP statistics which indicate aboriginal women continue to be most frequently killed by men they know.

The RCMP data, released in June, showed female victims, regardless of their ethnicity, continue to be targeted most often by men within their own homes and communities. ■

Trudeau to... tions education act.

But some indigenous leaders were opposed to the legislation because they felt it gave the federal government too much control.

The deal subsequently dissolved and led to Atleo’s departure as head of the AFN that May. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt continues to defend the government’s legislation and says it met the conditions outlined by the AFN and aboriginal leaders.

But there has been no sign of any meeting of the minds that would allow an education deal to progress. ❰❰ 21

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FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

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30

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment

‘Kinikilig pa rin ako’ — Jolina on working with Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Jolina Magdangal is beyond excited with her upcoming Kapamilya teleserye with co-stars Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, and Toni Gonzaga.

“Talagang masayang-masaya po ako na napasama po ako sa project na ito (I’m really happy that I’m included in this project),” Jolina said, pointing out that this is her first project with Dreamscape and her co-stars.

Jolina believes the newfound energy of her career — thanks to ABS-CBN’s ‘ Flordeliza’ and ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar’ — has something to do with the right timing.

“Siguro timing nga rin lahat e, na nanganak na ako, ‘tapos naka-recover na ako, puwede na akong mag-workout, yung mga ganun (Maybe timing is everything. I gave birth, then I finally recovered, so I can finally work out. Things like that),” Jolina said in an interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph).

She also said that having former loveteam partner Marvin Agustin as her co-star in her first Kapamilya soap opera (‘Flordeliza’) helped ease the transition from family life to the busy world of showbiz.

With the tremendous success of her first two projects on ABS-CBN, Jolina can’t help but be overwhelmed.

“Sobrang thankful ako talaga and patuloy pa akong magiging thankful sa lahat ng pagmamahal na ibinibigay sa akin ng ABS ngayon (I am so thankful and I will continue to be thankful for all the love that ABS-CBN is giving me right now),” she said.

Jolina spent 12 years with GMA Network.

“Pagbalik ko sobrang sarap ng feeling (When I came back, it felt so good),” she said.

“Akala ko lang yung feeling ng

Sarah on Matteo: No one’s ‘stealing’ me from him, I won’t let it

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Jolina Magdangal.

pagbalik masayang-masaya na ako noon e, pero yung ibinibigay pa nila more pa… And happy ako na itong susunod kong soap, sila yung katrabaho ko, na hindi ko akalain na makakatrabaho ko (I thought just coming back [to ABS-CBN] already feels so good, but they gave me so much more… I’m happy that with this new soap [opera], I’m working with them. I never thought I’d get to work with them),” she added.

When asked about her thoughts on working with Kapamilya superstars Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby, Jolina can’t help but share her “kilig.”

“Alam n’yo kahit siguro ang tagal ko na rin sa industriya ‘tapos kapag nakakapagtrabaho ako sa mga poging katulad nila, siyempre kinikilig pa rin ako,” she said. “Pero ang nakakatuwa roon, kilala na namin sila, at alam namin na magagaling silang mga aktor.

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Pero nakakatuwa na ang popogi nila.”

(You know what, even though I’ve been in this industry for so long, when you work with good-looking actors like them, of course I still feel giddy. But what’s so pleasing about it is that we know them and we know they’re good actors. But it’s great that they’re also good looking.)

Jolina was also all-praises for her co-star Toni, whose movies she said she loves.

“Ako sobrang nagagalingan ako kay Toni,” Jolina said. “Napapanood ko yung mga movies niya. Nagagalingan ako sa kanyang mag-host, kumanta, at saka umarte kahit drama ha, drama-comedy, kasi natural.”

(For me, Toni is a really good actress. I watch her movies and I find her to be a really talented host, singer, and actress. Even with drama — drama-comedy.

She’s a natural.) ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Singer-actress Sarah Geronimo admitted remaining ‘super in love’ with boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli although going through trials in their relationship.

“Hindi naman maiiwasan ‘yung mga trials pero okay kami (Trials are inevitable but we’re okay),” Sarah said during her guest appearance in late-night talk show “Gandang Gabi Vice.”

Also appearing in the talk show, Matteo sang One Direction’s “Steal My Girl” and when asked if there were indeed guys who tried to ‘steal his girl,’ Matteo answered: “Yes, but no one can.”

Commenting on Matteo’s statement, Sarah noted that she would not allow anyone to ‘steal’ her from him anyway.

“Wala naman kasi (na nagstesteal). Syempre, di ako magpapa-steal (There’s no one stealing me. Of course, I won’t let anyone steal me),” she said.

When host Vice Ganda asked how she was with her former lovers Rayver Cruz and Gerald Anderson, Sarah answered that they were all ‘okay’ now.

Kapamilya star Sarah Geronimo.

“Okay na kami ni, Ge. Okay na kami (Ge and I are okay. We’re okay now),” she said, adding that she has also already forgiven Rayver and that the two of them were also okay now.

‘Acceptance’ in their relationship

Sarah earlier said in a press conference that she wished for ‘acceptance’ in her relationship with Matteo.

“Syempre sa lahat naman po ng relationship, gusto natin na maging smooth yung takbo, yung flow ng relationship, magoverflow yung understanding, pagmamahal at acceptance sa bawat isa,” she said.

(Of course in every relationship, we want it to go smoothly, the flow of the relationship, that the understanding, love and acceptance towards each other overflow.)

“Kasi hindi ka magiging masaya completely kung ikaw lang and yung taong yun, so importante na the people around me are also happy for me and sa side rin niya,” she added.

(Because you will not be completely happy if it were only you and the other person, so it’s important that the people around me are also happy for me and also in his side.) ■

@ITSJUSTSARAHG / INSTAGRAM

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ABS-CBN shuts down PBB live streaming

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The ABS-CBN Cop. decided to shut down the livestreaming of the reality program, “Pinoy Big Brother 737” (PBB).

This is amid rumors of blooming romance between two male housemates.

ABS-CBN corporate communications head Kane Errol Choa said in a press statement on Friday that the network denounced social media posts linking 18-year-old Karlo Lo-

renzo “Kenzo” Gutierrez and 12-year-old Bailey Thomas May. He added that the viral photos of the housemates showing them hugging and holding hands “put the housemates in a bad light.”

“These posts are made by irresponsible netizens who maliciously take screenshots from the program’s livestream and weave a narrative that is not only far from truth, but also attempts to put the housemates in a bad light,” Choa said.

“They mislead the public by manipulating the images to put

malice to otherwise innocent acts,” he said. “ABS-CBN vehemently condemns these irresponsible social media posts that malign the reputation of the housemates … We will not allow them to be subjected to cyberbullying.”

Because of this, Choa said the network has decided to cancel its 24/7 free livestreaming of PBB on cable television and online starting Friday night.

“We appeal to the public to stop perpetuating abuse and use social media responsibly,” he added. ■

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Service crew complains about getting fired because of Coleen Garcia’s family

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

L-R: Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Lav Diaz, and Paul Soriano on set for "Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis" (@PAULSORIANO1017 / INSTAGRAM

Kapamilya heartthrobs work together with award-winning director Lav Diaz

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Director-Producer Paul Soriano took to Instagram to announce his latest project: A movie with no other than the award-winning director Lav Diaz.

Kapamilya heartthrobs Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz are starring in the movie “Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis.”

In a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Soriano

said Cruz and Pascual “felt strongly about being part of this film” and it has been “a longtime dream project that Diaz has been working on for years.”

Veteran and award-winning actors Cherie Gil, Alessandra de Rossi, Sid Lucero, Bernardo Bernardo, and Angel Aquino are also reportedly part of the powerhouse cast.

The cast and crew started shooting Saturday in Sorsogon.

“Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis” is produced by Soriano’s TEN17P Productions. ■

ako. Which is not true. Kahit kelan di ako nagiging rude sa loob ng 9 months ko sa ____. Never ako nagkaroon ng complain.”

MANILA — A service crew of (I am not blaming them but a Japanese restaurant comthey were complaining that I plained about allegedly getting was rude, which is not true. I fired because of Coleen Garcia was never rude in my 9 months and her grandmother. of stay in _____. I never had that Through a comment on Garkind of complaint.) cia’s Instagram post, @jeje“Sila ang nagsabi sa manromemalvar said: agement na rude ako. Anong “To ms @coleengarcia, ako magagawa ko? Celebrity sila servpo yung server n’yo nung kuer lang ako. Kahit nagpaliwanag main kayo sa na ako wala na __________. Sana akong magagawa po masaya na kahit hindi totoo kayo sa nangyari. paratang nila saWala akong giI am the only one helping my family kin, pero sa comnawang masama with their daily needs. I am the only lain na hindi ko at, unang-una sa one they rely on. ginagawa natanglahat, hindi ako gal ako sa work.”

RUDE katulad po (They told the ng sinabi ng lola management n’yo sa ‘kin. Ni minsan hindi ako lahat yun at dahil po sa com- that I was rude. What else can nagiging rude sa mga guest ko. plain ng lola n’yo sa ‘kin na rude I do? They are celebrities, I am (To Ms. Coleen Garcia, I was ako, kahit hindi ko ginawa, na- just a service crew. Even if I the service crew when you tanggal ako sa trabaho. Kung explain, I can do nothing anyate at ____. I hope that you are mabasa n’yo man ‘to, sana po more. Even though what they happy with what happened. I masaya na kayo sa nangyari.” were complaining about is not wasn’t doing anything wrong.

(But with what you did, every- true. I was fired by a complaint First of all, I am not rude like thing is gone and because of your that I never really did.) what your lola told me. I was lola’s complain saying that I was “Alam mo siguro and oblinever rude with my guests.) rude, though I wasn’t, I was re- gasyon mo bilang breadwinner “Unang-una sa lahat, tinang- moved from my job. If you can ng family at feeling matatanggal gap ko yung card ng lola n’yo, ang read this, I hope that you’re already ka sa work na hindi mo ginawa.” pagkakamali ko lang eh sinunod happy with what happened.)

(You must know the feeling ko ang utos ng manager ko about In another post, he continued of being a breadwinner in the sa promo nung Father’s Day.” saying: family and being removed from (First of all, I accepted your “Di ko sila bineblame pero work over something you didn’t Lola’s card. My only mistake is yung complain nila sakin rude actually do.) ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

that I followed my Manager’s mandate about the Father’s Day promo.)

The crew added that he is the bread winner in the family and his job was their only source of income.

“Ako lang ang tumutulong sa pamilya ko sa panggastos namin sa araw-araw at ako lang ang inaasahan nila.”

(I am the only one helping my family with their daily needs. I am the only one they rely on.)

“Pero sa ginawa n’yo, nawala

32

Entertainment

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Lawyers: Cosby’s drugs-sex admission could aid women’s cases

BY MARYCLAIRE DALE The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Bill Cosby’s admission that he obtained quaaludes to give young women before sex could bolster criminal and civil claims being pursued by his accusers, their lawyers said after The Associated Press reported on newly released court documents.

Cosby in sworn testimony unsealed Monday admitted that he gave the now-banned sedative to a 19-year-old woman before they had sex in Las Vegas in the 1970s. He also admitted giving the powerful drug to unnamed others.

His lawyer interfered before he could answer deposition questions in 2005 about how many women were given drugs and whether they knew about it.

“So this confirms the suspicions, and also the allegations, of many other women who allege that they are victims of Bill Cosby, and who have suspected that he used a drug - quaaludes or perhaps some other drug - in order to take advantage of them,” said lawyer Gloria Allred, commenting on her understanding of the court documents.

She represents several Cosby accusers, including a woman who said Cosby molested her at the Playboy Mansion when she was 15.

Allred has been pursuing potential criminal charges in California on that woman’s behalf, while Cosby’s lawyers have been fighting the effort, she said.

The AP had gone to court to compel the release of a deposition in a 2005 sexual abuse lawsuit filed by former Temple University basketball team employee Andrea Constand - the first of a cascade of lawsuits against Cosby that have severely damaged his image as doting TV dad Dr. Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.”

His lawyers objected to the release of the material, arguing it would embarrass him.

Ultimately, a judge seized on Cosby’s public moralizing as he unsealed portions of the deposition.

“The stark contrast between

Bill Cosby, the public moralist and Bill Cosby, the subject of serious allegations concerning improper (and perhaps criminal) conduct, is a matter as to which the AP - and by extension the public - has a significant interest,” U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno wrote.

Cosby, 77, has been accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct dating back more than four decades.

He has never been charged with a crime, and the statute of limitations on most of the accusations has expired.

Cosby’s lawyers in the Philadelphia case haven’t returned messages seeking comment.

The Bounce TV network, which is geared toward black viewers, said Tuesday that it was pulling its reruns of the 1990s-era CBS sitcom “Cosby” from the air immediately.

On ABC’s “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg said Tuesday that Comedian Bill Cosby . she was still reserving judgment on Cosby, reiterating the tions,” said lawyer Joe Camma- yer Dolores M. Troiani asked. stance she’s held since the alle- rata, who represents Therese “Yes,” Cosby answered. gations against him resurfaced Serignese, who met Cosby in “Did you ever give any of last winter.

Las Vegas and said she was sex- these young women the quaalu“You are still innocent until ually assaulted backstage. She des without their knowledge?” proven guilty,” Goldberg said. is one of three women now suCosby’s lawyer again objectCosby, she said, “has not been ing him for defamation. ed, leading Troiani to petition proven a rapist.”

Cosby, giving sworn testimo- the federal judge to force Cosby “The View” co-host Raven- ny in the lawsuit accusing him to cooperate.

Symone, who starred on Cos- of sexually assaulting Constand Cosby later said he gave Conby’s 1980s sitcom as a child, at his home near Philadelphia stand, who was about 30 and said she doesn’t like talking in 2004, said he had obtained had gone to Cosby for career adabout the allegavice, three halftions because he pills of Benadryl, helped launch though Troiani her career. in the documents “You need the Cosby, 77, has been accused by voices doubt that proof and then more than two dozen women of was the drug I’ll be able to give sexual misconduct dating back more involved. Conmy judgment than four decades. He has never stand thought here or there,” been charged with a crime, and the he was giving her she said. statute of limitations on most of the an herbal remCosby’s lawaccusations has expired. edy for stress, yers insisted she said in her during the depolawsuit.

She sition that two recalls having of his accusers him touch her knew they were taking quaalu- seven quaalude prescriptions breasts and put her hand on his des from him, according to the in the 1970s. Constand’s lawyer penis, and woke up to find her documents. asked if he had kept the seda- clothes askew, according to her Nevertheless, attorneys for tives through the 1990s - after lawsuit. Cosby called any sexual some of the women suing Cos- they were banned - but was contact consensual, according by seized on the testimony as frustrated by objections from to Troiani’s summary of his depowerful corroboration of their Cosby’s attorney. position testimony. accusations.

“When you got the quaaluCosby had fought the AP’s ef“The women have been say- des, was it in your mind that you forts to unseal the testimony, ing they’ve been drugged and were going to use these quaalu- with his lawyer arguing that the abused, and these documents des for young women that you deposition could reveal details appear to support the allega- wanted to have sex with?” law- of Cosby’s marriage, sex life and www.canadianinquirer.net

EUGENE PARCIASEPE / SHUTTERSTOCK

prescription drug use.

“It would be terribly embarrassing for this material to come out,” lawyer George M. Gowen III argued in June. He also said the material would “prejudice him in eyes of the jury pool in Massachusetts,” where Cosby is trying to have the defamation lawsuit dismissed.

The judge asked last month why Cosby was fighting the release of his sworn testimony, given that the accusations in the Constand lawsuit already were public. “Why would he be embarrassed by his own version of the facts?” Robreno said.

Lawyer Gayle Sproul, representing the AP, in court last month called Cosby “an icon” who “held himself out as someone who would guide the public in ways of morality.”

Troiani, summarizing her evidence, painted a starkly different picture.

Cosby “has evidenced a predilection for sexual contact with women who are unconscious or drugged. His victims are young, ‘star struck’ and totally trusting of his public persona,” Troiani argued.

Associated Press writers David Bauder in New York and Allen G. Breed in Durham, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

33

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

Lifestyle

Selfie Sticks: Tourist convenience or purely narcissi-stick?

BY BETH J. HARPAZ The Associated Press NEW YORK — Selfies at tourist attractions are nothing new.

But until recently, if you wanted a perfectly composed picture of yourself with Times Square or the Colosseum in the background, you might have asked a passer-by to take the photo.

Now, though, relatively new gadgets called selfie sticks make it easy to take your own wide-angled self-portraits or group shots. Fans say the expandable rods, which allow users to hold their cellphones a few feet away, are the ultimate convenience: no more bothering passers-by to take pictures, no more fretting about strangers taking lousy shots or running off with a pricey iPhone.

But some travelers bemoan the loss of that small interaction that came with politely asking a local to help preserve a memory. And critics express outright hatred of selfie sticks as obnoxious symbols of selfabsorption. They even have a

derisive name for them, playing on the narcissistic behavior they think the sticks encourage: narcissi-stick.

Sarah Kinling of Baltimore said she was approached “17 times” by vendors selling selfie sticks at the Colosseum in Rome. “They’re the new fanny pack — the quickest way to spot a tourist,” she said. “The more I saw them in use, the more I saw how much focus people were putting on selfies, and not turning around to see what they were there to see.”

When Kinling wanted a photo of herself with her sister and sister-in-law, she asked strangers to take the shot. “Even when the other person didn’t speak English, you hold your camera up and make the motion and they understand,” she said.

But some travelers say it’s better to stage your own vacation photos. Andrea Garcia asked a passer-by to take her photo in Egypt and later realized he’d zoomed in on her face, cutting out the pyramids behind her. “I couldn’t really

be mad at him — he wasn’t my photographer, I didn’t pay him,” she said. The experience made her appreciate the selfie sticks she sees tourists using at 1 World Trade near her office in Lower Manhattan. “Take control of your image!” she says.

Selfie sticks are just starting to show up at attractions in the U.S., but they’re ubiquitous in many destinations overseas, from Dubai’s skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A soccer stadium in London, White Hart Lane, has even banned them because they obstruct other fans’ views.

The Four Seasons Hotel in Houston started making them available to guests last week, “similar to the way many hotels provide umbrellas,” said hotel spokeswoman Laura Pettitt.

The sticks range in price from $5 to $50. Simpler models merely grip the phone, so users must trigger the shot with a self-timer on the camera. More sophisticated versions either use Bluetooth technology or connect the phone to the stick with a cord, with a button on www.canadianinquirer.net

the grip triggering the shot.

Jasmine Brett Stringer of Minneapolis writes a lifestyles blog called “Carpe Diem with Jasmine” and uses selfie sticks to record her videos. “A friend brought one back from Dubai and I said, ‘I’ve got to get one,’” she said. Now she doesn’t have to rely on others to help shoot her work. The sticks are also an improvement over handheld selfies because they let you shoot “at better angles, avoid the awkward arm reach and the dreadful half-face shot.”

Megan Marrs of Boston, who writes a travel blog called Vanishing Balloons, thought the

sticks were ridiculous when she saw them on a trip to South Korea last fall. “It seemed so vain and silly,” said Marrs. But she bought one to bring home as a gift, ended up trying it herself and became a fan.

“I don’t love intruding on other people’s experience, asking them to take my picture — they’re there to enjoy their time, too,” she said. “Sometimes I feel silly — one more tourist taking a selfie in front of the Colosseum — but I’m more comfortable doing it myself than asking someone else.”

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34

Lifestyle

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Big diabetes study tests whether insulin in pills could prevent the disease

BY LINDSEY TANNER The Associated Press CHICAGO — For nearly a century, insulin has been a lifesaving diabetes treatment. Now scientists are testing a tantalizing question: What if pills containing the same medicine patients inject every day could also prevent the disease?

Thirteen-year-old Hayden Murphy of Plainfield, Illinois, is helping researchers determine if the strategy works for Type 1 diabetes, the kind that is usually diagnosed in childhood. If it does, he might be able to avoid the lifetime burdens facing his 5-year-old brother, Weston.

They includes countless finger pricks and blood sugar checks, and avoiding playing too hard or eating too little, which both can cause dangerous blood sugar fluctuations.

Hayden Murphy is among more than 400 children and adults participating in U.S. government-funded international research investigating whether experimental insulin capsules can prevent or at least delay Type 1 diabetes. Hospitals in the United States and eight other countries are involved and recruitment is ongoing. To enrol, participants must first get bad news: results of a blood test showing their chances for developing the disease are high.

“When I got the news, I was devastated,” Hayden said. He knows it means his life could change in an instant.

“He has the daily reminders.

He sees what his brother goes through,” said the boys’ mom,

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Myra Murphy.

So now Hayden Murphy swallows a small white capsule daily and has his blood checked periodically for signs of diabetes.

“I hope it doesn’t come to me, and I really didn’t want it to come to him,” Hayden said.

A small, preliminary study by different researchers, published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests the approach might work. Children who took insulin pills showed immune system changes that the researchers said might help prevent diabetes. The study was

too small and didn’t last long enough to know for sure.

The ongoing larger study is more rigorous, randomly assigning participants to get experimental insulin capsules or dummy pills, and should provide a clearer answer.

“Does it prevent indefinitely?

Does it slow it down, does it delay diabetes? That also would be a pretty big win,” said Dr. Louis Philipson, a University of Chicago diabetes specialist involved in the study.

About 1.25 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 disease is more common, affecting nearly 30 million na-

tionwide and most of the more than 300 million worldwide with diabetes. Besides shortterm complications from poorly controlled blood sugar, both types raise long-term risks for damage to the kidneys, heart and eyes.

Both types are increasing and for Type 2, experts think that’s because of rising obesity and inactivity. But the upward trend in Type 1 diabetes, increasing worldwide by at least 3 per cent each year, is more perplexing.

“We know so very little about the exact mechanisms that cause Type 1 diabetes,” which complicates efforts to prevent it, said Dr. Desmond Schatz, the study’s chair and medical director of the University of Florida Diabetes Center.

“For the most part, it’s really shooting an arrow into a field and hoping one of the arrows hits a target,” Schatz said.

In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin, a blood sugar-regulating hormone that helps the body convert sugar in food into energy.

Treatment is lifetime replacement insulin, usually via injections or a small pump. In Type 2, the body can’t make proper use of insulin. It can sometimes be treated with a healthy diet and exercise.

Genes are thought to increase risks for Type 1 diabetes.

Viruses and other infections are among factors suggested as possible triggers the disease, which causes the body’s immune system to attack insulinproducing cells.

Dr. Wendy Brickman, a diabetes specialist at Chicago’s

Lurie Children’s Hospital who’s involved in the study, explained that researchers think taking insulin by mouth so that it’s digested like food might somehow trick the faulty immune system into not attacking insulin-making cells.

Insulin pills also are being studied as a diabetes treatment, but the challenge has been finding a way to get the drug to reach the bloodstream without being degraded as it is digested.

A branch of the National Institutes of Health is funding the prevention research, including two other studies: one involves infusions of the drug Orencia, approved for rheumatoid arthritis, another autoimmune disease; the other involves infusions of an experimental drug called teplizumab.

If prevention pills work, they’d likely be less expensive than having a lifetime of diabetes, said Lisa Spain, an institute scientist and program director.

Results from the insulin pill prevention study are expected in 2017, she said, adding that it’s too soon to predict an outcome.

Hayden Murphy and his family are cautiously optimistic; after three years in the study, he’s shown no signs of diabetes.

Still, his mom says she worries every time he seems thirstier than usual — among symptoms her youngest boy had before his diagnosis three years ago.

There’s a middle son, too — 9-year-old Daxton, who faces an increased diabetes risk because his little brother has it.

“It definitely is a life-changing diagnosis,” Myra Murphy said.

Burt Shavitz, the Burt behind natural cosmetics maker Burt’s Bees, dies at 80 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PARKMAN, MAINE — Burt Shavitz, the Burt behind Burt’s Bees who co-founded the natural cosmetics company before it sold to Clorox, has died. He was 80.

A spokeswoman for Burt’s Bees says Shavtiz died Sunday

at his home in rural Maine, surrounded by family and friends.

Shavitz was a hippie making a living by selling honey when his life was altered by a chance encounter with a hitchhiking Roxanne Quimby. She was a single mother and a back-to-the-lander who impressed Shavitz with her ingenuity.

In the 1980s she began making products from his beeswax, and they became partners. An image of Burt’s face — and his untamed beard — was featured on labels.

Their business partnership ended after the business moved in 1994 to North Carolina. In 2007, Clorox purchased Burt’s Bees for $925 million www.canadianinquirer.net

BURT’S BEES FACEBOOK PAGE

Food

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

35

Oreo introducing slimmer version, but beware: They're not meant for the twist and dunk

BY CANDICE CHOI The Associated Press

RECIPES

Grilled vegetables with tahini sauce and spicy panko

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press I LOVE grilling vegetables because doing so concentrates their natural sugars and amps up their flavour. During the summer, the usual suspects are zucchini, eggplant, onions, peppers and corn. They’re all delicious this way and — Bonus! — they all become tender in an agreeably short amount of time.

But it recently occurred to me that a number of the veggies I love roasting in the oven — broccoli, cauliflower and carrots — might also shine if cooked on the grill. Turns out, they do!

The first problem was to figure out how to cut these vegetables so they wouldn’t fall through the slats of the grill grates.

The solution was to keep them in big pieces; I cut the carrots in half lengthwise, left the broccoli attached at the stalk, and sliced the cauliflower head straight down into half-inch cutlets (or “steaks”).

These precautions kept the vegetables from falling into the flames, which allowed me to discover that it took forever for them to become tender. To speed up the process, I started by blanching them.

After this quick bath in boiling water, I popped the vegetables in ice water to stop the cooking, then made sure they were dry before oiling, seasoning and grilling.

Suddenly, these guys took no time at all to get tender. And they browned nicely along the way. Yay! Also, sure enough, their flavour became concentrated, just as it does when roasted. Indeed, it was assertive enough to pair up with a tahini sauce and spicy panko crumbs. When the vegetables are this robust, you may even decide you don’t need the grilled steak.

GRILLED VEGETABLES WITH TAHINI SAUCE AND SPICY PANKO Start to finish: 1 hour Servings: 8 • 1/4 cup tahini, well stirred • 2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• 2 tablespoons water • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 1 teaspoon minced garlic • Kosher salt • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes • 1 head broccoli, quartered down the centre • 1 small head cauliflower, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick “steaks” • 6 large carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise • Vegetable or canola oil, for brushing the vegetables • Ground black pepper In a medium bowl, stir together the tahini, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the water, lemon juice, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add additional water if necessary to achieve a pourable consistency. Set aside.

In a large skillet over medium, heat the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the red pepper flakes and a hefty pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until the breadcrumbs turn golden, about 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Heat a grill to medium.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Set up a bowl of ice and water and place it next to the pot. Add the broccoli and cook for 2 minutes. Use tongs to remove the broccoli from the water and place in the ice water. Cool completely, then pat dry with paper towels. Repeat this process with the cauliflower and carrots, cooking the cauliflower for 2 minutes and the carrots for 3 minutes.

Brush all of the vegetables well on both sides with vegetable oil. Season with salt and pepper and, working in batches if necessary, grill them on direct medium heat, with the grill covered, until they have distinct grill marks on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn them over and grill on the second side until they have distinct grill marks on the second side and are tender, about another 5 minutes.

Arrange the vegetables on a platter, drizzle with the tahini sauce and sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top.

ies aren’t meant to be a diet snack. Still, the “Thins” name could be a stealth way to appeal to people who want to watch their weight, without the stigma of being NEW YORK — Oreos are getting a skin- seen as a diet food. ny new look, and its maker says the new Although the original Oreos started cookie is a “sophisticated” snack for in the U.S. in 1912, Americans won’t be grown-ups that isn’t meant to be twisted the first to taste the Thins. The slimmer or dunked. cookies were rolled out last year in ChiMondelez International Inc. says it na to address the company’s tumbling will add “Oreo Thins” to its permanent cookie sales in the country. lineup in the U.S. starting next week. The Lukin said the slimmer cookies helped cookies look like regular Oreos and have win back “lapsed users” in China, or a similar cookie-toyounger women who filling ratio, except wanted something that they’re slimmer. that wasn’t quite as That means four of rich. In the first eight the cookies contain In explaining months, she said Oreo 140 calories, comwhat exactly Thins generated $40 pared with 160 calomade them million in sales. ries for three regular more grownDuring a conferOreos. up, she said ence call in April, And since they’re that if regular Mondelez CEO Irene for adults, Oreo says Oreos are like Rosenfeld had noted they weren’t depancakes, then the success of the signed to be twisted Oreo Thins Thins in China and open or dunked. would be like said the company That’s even though crepes. would make them about half of customavailable “around the ers pull apart regular world.”

Oreos before eating The Thins could them, according to help the company’s the company.

North American cookie business, which “If people want to do that, it’s clearly declined in the first three months of up to them,” said Janda Lukin, senior di- this year. Mondelez said the Thins will rector of Oreo for North America at par- be available starting July 13, and that ent company Mondelez International. they’ll cost the same as regular Oreos.

In explaining what exactly made them Lukin noted that it took months for more grown-up, she said that if regu- the company to perfect manufacturing lar Oreos are like pancakes, then Oreo for the Thins. Early on, she said 60 per Thins would be like crepes. cent of the cookies were breaking, but Despite having fewer calories per that the rate eventually came down to 3 serving, Mondelez says the new cook- per cent.

www.canadianinquirer.net

36

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

PH gets good grades in IMF fiscal transparency report ‘Advanced’ or ‘good’ in 23 out of 36 categories tracked

BY PAOLO G. MONTECILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH ranks 68 in financial literacy index

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The Philippines was listed in the 68th spot in terms of financial literacy in a global study made by Asian Development Bank (ABD).

The country was behind Malaysia, Thailand, Hongkong, Singapore and Taiwan as cited in a survey undertaken by MasterCard.

The study revealed that majority of Asian countries lack national strategy for financial education and literacy compared to other regions.

Unlike Indonesia and India, the Philippines have not included financial education in

its national strategy.

Among the agencies in the country, only the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has created a public awareness campaign on economic issues.

Other agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Credit Council and Insurance Commission have limited initiatives in raising financial literacy.

“The main focus is the economic and financial learning program to promote awareness of economic financial issues.

The program targets specific audiences like schoolchildren, secondary and tertiary students, overseas Filipino workers, microfinance clients, and others,” the ADB said.

THE GOVERNMENT should take a longer view on planning its finances to promote transparency and assure investors of the continuity of projects, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said.

In a new report, the IMF also urged Congress to push for vital reforms that would, among others, provide clearer rules in the state’s budgeting process, particularly in the use of politicized, lumped slush funds.

“Planning and costing of projects hasn’t been strong, especially for multi-year projects.

Clearly the planning and costing could be improved,” IMF Resident Representative for the Philippines Shanaka Jayaneth Peiris said yesterday.

He said that for the most part, the Philippines had made significant strides in the last four years in improving its budgeting process, which was now more transparent as it had ever been in history.

The IMF’s first ever Fiscal Transparency report on the Philippines showed the government was classified as either “advanced” or “good” in 23 out of 36 categories tracked by the multilateral lender. The Philippines earned a grade of “basic” (met minimum requirements) in eight categories, but failed in four. Among the country’s

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strongest areas were in the frequency of reports on disbursements and collections during the year, public participation, and environmental risks.

The government failed in its analysis of long-term fiscal sustainability. This refers to government projections on how much debt it will have to accrue to meet spending plans over the long term.

Peiris said this weakness was a result of weaknesses in the government procurement process. Many agencies remain ill-equipped to bid out projects in line with best practices. This also makes planning for projects—larger ones in particular—more difficult.

The government’s assessment of risks linked to guar-

antees was also found lacking.

Under the law, all public debt is guaranteed by the government.

It’s unclear, however, whether implicit guarantees such as unforeseen costs in public-private partnership (PPP) project are also backed by the state.

He said addressing this issue should be made a priority, given the expected role that PPPs would play in the future of the country’s infrastructure development.

The official said the government also needed clearer rules on the reallocation of funds. In the past, large portions of the government’s annual budget were usually tagged as un-programmed cash. These lumpsum amounts, covered by few rules, are spent at the behest of officials.

As of July 8, 2015 from ca.finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

1.2723 35.5741 1.4053 1.5399 1.1045 0.7412 121.6435

+0.0006 -0.0421 +0.0074 -0.0060 +0.0052 -0.0031 -0.8215

+0.0495% -0.1181% +0.5282% -0.3859% +0.4753% -0.4118% -0.6708%

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Business

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

37

Finance minister resigns after decisive ‘no’ bailout vote

BY ELENA BECATOROS AND DEMETRIS NELLAS The Associated Press ATHENS, GREECE — Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis resigned Monday, saying he was told shortly after Greece’s decisive referendum result that some other eurozone finance ministers and the country’s other creditors would appreciate his not attending the ministers’ meetings.

Varoufakis said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had judged that his resignation “might help achieve a deal” and that he was leaving the finance ministry for that reason.

“I shall wear the creditors’ loathing with pride,” Varoufakis said in his announcement.

Greeks voted overwhelmingly to reject creditors’ proposal of more austerity measures in return for rescue loans, in the country’s first referendum in 41 years Sunday.

The referendum “will stay in history as a unique moment when a small European nation rose up against debt-bondage,” Varoufakis said.

With his brash style and fondness for frequent media appearances at the start of his tenure at the ministry when the new government was formed in January, Varoufakis had visibly annoyed many of the eurozone’s finance ministers during Greece’s debt negotiations.

There was no immediate announcement of his replacement.

Tsipras was elected on promises to repeal the austerity demanded in return for a bailout from other eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund, and negotiations broke down late last month after dragging on unsuccessfully for five months.

With his high-stakes gamble to call a referendum on creditor proposals with just a week’s notice, Tsipras aimed to show creditors that Greeks, whose economy has been shattered and who face spiralling unemployment and poverty, have had enough and that the austerity prescribed isn’t working.

But everything will hinge on the reaction by his European partners. A eurozone summit was hastily called for Tuesday afternoon to discuss the situation.

The new finance minister of Greece Euclid Tsakalotos (L) and the Former Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis.

Greeks awoke Monday to the starved of cash that it could be pressed on TV and on his Twitstark reality of the country’s forced to start issuing its own ter account, that Greece’s “imaccelerating crisis – shuttered currency and become the first mediate priority is to restore banks and ATMs with little country to leave the 19-member our banking system’s functioncash. eurozone, established in 1999. ing & economic stability” or for The referendum results – 61 Asian markets mostly fell banks to re-open Tuesday, as percent voted “no” and 39 per- Monday, as economists said scheduled. cent “yes” – left the bankrupt the markets were not expecting Negotiations on a financial country’s future in the Europe- such a decisive “no” vote. rescue package broke off with an Union and its euro currency The European Central Bank’s Greece’s creditors after Tsipuncertain. governing council was not ex- ras called for the referendum.

The margin of victory for pected to provide more liquid- It is unclear when they could “no” was far widrestart, but the er than expected. government has But as celebrasaid it believes a tions died down deal with crediearly Monday, With his high-stakes gamble to call tors could be Greece entered a referendum on creditor proposals reached within a second week of with just a week’s notice, Tsipras 48 hours of the severe restricaimed to show creditors that vote. tions on finanGreeks, whose economy has been Leaders of six cial transactions shattered and who face spiralling of the seven parand faced even unemployment and poverty, have ties represented limited amounts had enough and that the austerity in Parliament of cash dryprescribed isn’t working. were meeting ing out, with no Monday mornprospect of an ing in the presiimmediate infudential palace. sion. Greece imposed the re- ity assistance to Greek banks Tsipras requested the meeting strictions to stem a bank run Monday. The assistance, now at to share his negotiating stratafter the vote was called and its about 90 billion euros, has been egy and call for support. bailout program expired. maintained but not increased The main opposition party, Besieged by a prolonged re- in past days, leaving the coun- New Democracy, was sending cession, high unemployment try’s financial system in a stran- an interim chief, after its leader and banks dangerously low on glehold. Without an increase, – former Prime Minister Antocapital, Greece defaulted on Greeks might not be able to nis Samaras – resigned Sunday an IMF loan repayment last withdraw even the meager 60 as “no” votes poured in. week, becoming the first devel- euros ($67) allocated per day.

German Chancellor Angela oped nation to do so. Now some That will make it difficult for Merkel and French President analysts wonder if Greece is so Tsipras to keep his pledge, ex- Francois Hollande spoke to www.canadianinquirer.net

VERVERIDIS VASILIS / SHUTTERSTOCK

each other Sunday night and agreed “that the vote of the Greek people must be respected,” Merkel’s office said.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Eurogroup head, said Sunday’s referendum result was “very regrettable for the future of Greece.”

The Dutch finance minister had been a steadfast opponent of Greece as it sought better conditions during five months of bailout negotiations. “For recovery of the Greek economy, difficult measures and reforms are inevitable,” he said. “We will now wait for the initiatives of the Greek authorities.”

Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s vice chancellor and economic minister, told a German newspaper the Greek government was leading its people “onto a path of bitter austerity and hopelessness.”

Belgian Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt was somewhat softer in his approach, saying a “no” result “complicates matters,” but that the door remained open to resume talks immediately.

“What we certainly don’t want to do is to take decisions that will threaten the monetary union,” he told Belgium’s VRT. “Within that framework we can start talks again with the Greek government, literally, within hours.”

38

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

Messi fails again when Argentina needs him the most, can’t win title with national team

BY VICENTE L. PANETTA The Canadian Press SANTIAGO, CHILE — Lionel Messi has come up short again in his attempt to succeed with Argentina’s national team.

Messi looked nothing like the star that he is with Barcelona on Saturday, and Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile 4-1 on penalties, extending its 22-year title drought.

The four-time world player of the year scored his team’s lone goal in the penalty shootout, but had a lacklustre performance in regulation and extra time, failing to spark his teammates to victory.

Saturday’s disappointment comes less than a year since he also failed to lead Argentina to victory in the World Cup final, and will ignite even more criticism by those who say Messi doesn’t play as well with the national team as he does with his club.

Messi helped Argentina win the Under-20 World Cup in 2005, as well as the gold medal in the Beijing Games in 2008, but is yet to lead the senior team to a title.

Before the runner-up finish at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, Messi hadn’t been able to lead Argentina past the quarterfinals of football’s showcase event, with early eliminations in 2006 and 2010. He also was in the Copa America team that lost the 2007 final to Brazil,

The Champ keeping it simple and humble.

FACEBOOK

Pacquiao stays simple Lionel Messi.

and was eliminated by eventual champion Uruguay in the quarterfinals of the tournament at home in 2011.

“A result, or even a loss in a final, will not change what Messi represents to the rest of the world,” said Chile’s Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli, adding that it was key to stop Messi and his teammates in Saturday’s final.

“If Argentina had been able to take control of the match at some point, Messi was going to make sure that we noticed why he is the best player in the world,” Sampaoli said.

Messi didn’t play well in the start of the Copa America but was improving match after match. He was coming off a remarkable performance in the

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer NATURSPORTS / SHUTTERSTOCK

6-1 rout of Paraguay in the semifinals, when he didn’t score but helped set up five goals.

On Saturday, he made passing mistakes and several times was easily disarmed by defenders, failing to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. In the one time he made a decent run past the defence, Argentina nearly broke the deadlock just before the final whistle in regulation, but Gonzalo Higuain was not able capitalize on a dangerous cross into the area.

The next chance Messi will have to win a title with Argentina is in next year’s centennial Copa America in the United States. Before that, the 31-yearold playmaker will help his nation in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Congressman Manny Pacquiao, who is also the world’s second highest-paid athlete, shares a photo of himself eating a simple Filipino meal in a small room.

Pacquiao captions his Instagram photo: ‘Kain lang pag may time.’ (Just eat when there’s time.) His post immediately goes viral online, with netizens lauding him for staying humble despite all his success and glory.

Kit Mercado, Pacquiao’s chief of staff, states that the room in the photo belonged to the congressman.

“Sa kanya yung room na ‘yun.

Maliit lang talaga ‘yun…. Pagpasok mo kama na saka maliit na mesa at TV. Pero dun nga siya mas madalas magpahinga,” Mercado said in a report by

Spin.ph.

(He owns the room. It’s just really small. When you enter it, you’d see a bed immediately and a small table with a TV. But he often rests there.)

“Ganun talaga si congressman. Mas at ease siya sa mga ganung bagay; hindi kasi nagbago ang pananaw niya sa pamumuhay maski ‘yung kanyang preference sa food,” she added.

(Congressman’s really like that. He’s more at ease with those kinds of things, because his view and his lifestyle didn’t change even his preference on food.)

Pacquiao’s recent photo and other posts have been noticed to be contrary to fellow boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s extravagant photos showing his luxurious possessions.

As of posting, Pacquiao’s photo garners more than 98,000 likes and 2,300 comments.

Sports

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

39

Advantage Serena: Serena Williams beats Venus 6-4, 6-3 to reach Wimbledon quarterfinals

BY STEPHEN WILSON The Associated Press LONDON — Serena Williams extended her mastery over big sister Venus, and kept alive her bid for Grand Slam history.

In the 26th career meeting between the siblings, Serena dominated with her steady serve and big hitting from the back of the court to win 6-4, 6-3 on Centre Court in 1 hour, 8 minutes, extending her Grand Slam winning streak to 25 matches.

The win sent the top-ranked Serena into the Wimbledon quarterfinals as she bids for a fourth straight Grand Slam title, a feat last accomplished by the younger Williams in 2003.

If Serena can triumph again, only the U.S. Open would stand in her way of becoming the first player to complete a calendaryear Grand Slam — a sweep of all four majors in the same season — since Steffi Graf in 1988.

When Venus hit a backhand long on break point to end the

Serena Williams.

match, Serena showed no emotion and did not celebrate. She walked slowly to the net, where the two sisters hugged. They walked off the court together.

“It’s hard to feel excited about (beating) someone you root for all the time no matter what and who you love so much and she’s your best friend in the world,” Serena said. “It’s never easy but

LEV RADIN / SHUTTERSTOCK

you just play for the competition and enjoy the moment.”

Both sisters have won Wimbledon five times, but Serena also has a total of 20 Grand Slam titles. Another Wimbledon title will put her just one behind Graf, who holds the Open era record with 22.

“It was really good for me to get it done in straight sets, and

www.canadianinquirer.net

just put this behind me and just move forward,” Serena said.

Monday’s victory improved her career record against Venus to 15-11, including 8-5 in Grand Slams and 4-2 at Wimbledon.

This was the sisters’ first meeting at a major since the 2009 Wimbledon final, which was won by Serena.

Serena broke twice in each set

and lost serve just once. She had 10 aces, as well as a total of 26 winners and 13 unforced errors.

“I think I served well today,” she said. “I didn’t hit huge serves, I hit one big serve, but other than that I think I just was really consistent with my serve. She was playing really well, so at the end I was able to come through.”

Veus Williams was playing in her 18th Wimbledon. She was the oldest remaining woman in the draw at 35.

“It definitely doesn’t get easier,” Serena said. “But today I was out there and I just thought, ‘Wow, I’m 33, and she just turned 35, I don’t know how many more moments like this we’ll have.’ I plan on playing for years but you never know if we’ll have the opportunity to face each other. I just took the moment in and I thought, ‘We’re at Wimbledon.’

I remember when I was 8 years old, we dreamed of this moment and it was kind of surreal for a minute there.”

40

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

Travel

‘Slipstream.’

YOUR.HEATHROW.COM

Heathrow airport’s scenic route shows off giant ‘metaphor for travel’

BY MIKE FUHRMANN The Canadian Press LONDON — It’s normally not a decision that matters very much. At an airport, do you take the elevator or escalator?

But at London Heathrow’s newest terminal it matters a great deal if you want to see Richard Wilson’s extraordinary, 78-metre-long aluminum sculpture “Slipstream” in all its silvery glory.

Arrive at Terminal 2 on the Underground or Heathrow Express train and you’re faced with a choice: the elevator or a series of escalators to get to departures.

It’s seemingly a no-brainer.

The elevator will get you up in precisely 58 seconds, according to a sign that urges people to “use the lifts.” The escalators take three minutes — an eternity, by comparison, for travellers in pre-check-in panic mode.

The elevator is also safer if

you have heavy luggage. leagues, the general feeling is inspect the rivets, marvel at the But here’s what you also need either you like it or loathe it,” curves and wonder what the to know: only the escalators said Michela Gherardi, an Air whole humongous thing is supgive you the full “Slipstream” Canada customer service rep- posed to represent. experience. resentative assisting travellers With the roar of aircraft from Suspended 18 metres above in the departures hall. The air- a nearby runway filling the cavground on four support col- line moved its operations into ernous space, it all makes for umns, the sculpan absorbing ture swoops and encounter with soars and shima sculpture the mers inside the size of a jumbo terminal’s hanSuspended 18 metres above jet. As a bonus, gar-sized openground on four support columns, you can pause at air atrium. the sculpture swoops and soars the two escalator When it was and shimmers inside the terminal’s transfer points unveiled in 2014 hangar-sized open-air atrium. to contemplate a critic for the “Slipstream” London Guardmore deeply, ian called it a if you have the “sinuous metal time. serpent” that resembles “a Terminal 2 in June 2014 soon Wilson has called the work “a wayward chunk ripped from a after the hub opened. metaphor for travel,” its shiftFrank Gehry building.” Others “For a lot of people, it looks ing shapes capturing the flight were less kind. A writer in the too modern,” she added. “But I path of an imaginary stunt London Evening Standard said think it’s awesome.” plane. The renowned British it “suggests mangled planeThe escalators glide along- artist took more than two years crash wreckage.” side the work — the longest to make it.

A year later, the work contin- permanent sculpture in Europe Terminal 2 is set for expanues to evoke strong feelings.

— providing an ideal moving sion under a contentious pro“Among my airport col- platform from which you can posal by Heathrow to add a www.canadianinquirer.net

third runway. With the terminal already receiving 20 million passengers a year, Heathrow has billed “Slipstream” as one of Britain’s most viewed public sculptures.

That may well be true, but on a day in May it seemed strangely invisible to throngs of travellers emerging from elevators and hurrying across an atrium platform to check-in counters, with few casting even a sideways glance in its direction.

The priority for passengers is to “get to their flight safely and on time,” Heathrow’s media relations department said in an email, adding that for those not in a rush the escalators offer an alternative “scenic route.”

So here’s a suggestion: get to the airport early. If you have a heavy bag, zoom up in the elevator and check it in. Then take the elevator back down, cross over to the escalator and enjoy the three-minute ride.

The pace may be glacial, but the view is amazing.

Travel

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

41

Wild Walk elevated boardwalk gives museum visitors a treetop view of New York forest

BY MARY ESCH The Associated Press TUPPER LAKE, N.Y. — While most boardwalks skirt beaches or traverse bogs and marshlands, a new wooden walkway in the Adirondacks takes nature lovers on a tour of the treetops to let them experience the forest from the perspective of the birds and beasts that live there.

The just-opened $5.5 million Wild Walk is set on 80 wooded acres at the Wild Center, an interactive natural history museum beside a twisty oxbow of the Raquette River in Tupper Lake, 115 miles north of Albany.

Supported by tall, teepee-like clusters of poles whose pointed shape reflects the surrounding pine forest, the elevated trail has a series of winding bridges and platforms suspended 40 feet above the ground, with strategically placed observation points that offer a critter’seye view of the forest canopy.

“What we care about is connecting people with nature.

It embodies who we are,” said Stephanie Ratcliffe, executive director of the 10-year-old

Wild Center. “Our exhibit techniques, the way we designed our building and the Wild Walk — it’s all intended to connect people with nature and really have this new perspective on the world around them.”

Inside the museum, designed to resemble a traditional North Woods “great camp,” visitors peer through glass walls for an underwater view of trout, turtles and playful otters in a variety of Adirondack habitats. When you go outside to the Wild Walk, you start out in Feeder Alley, a gently sloping ramp walled with wood slats through which you can peer at goldfinches, blue jays and dozens of other birds flocking to many surrounding birdfeeders.

The gradual incline on the walkway makes the structure accessible to people of all abilities, Ratcliffe said.

There are family friendly features such as an oversized eagle’s nest of woven branches that offers an exhilarating view of Adirondack peaks, a 30-footwide bouncy orb spider’s web 30 feet above the ground, and a four-story realistic reproduction of a hollow pine that can be

Wild Walk NYC.

@WILDCENTER / INSTAGRAM

explored from the perspective of a burrowing squirrel or owl via a spiral staircase.

“My favourite was going in the spider’s web,” said 4-yearold Beckett Lasher, of Warrentown, Virginia.

“I love the construction of the tree. It looks very real,” said parent Joe Short, of Concord, New Hampshire. “As a kid

I read a book, ‘My Side of the Mountain,’ where a kid runs away and lives in a hollow tree.

It captures that feeling perfectly.”

On one platform, children hop from square to square on a board game that lets them play the role of a bird and experience avian challenges like seed shortages, snowstorms, migra-

WEATHER UPDATE VANCOUVER

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tion and predation.

“I got eaten by a snake,” said Short’s 7-year-old daughter, Madeleine.

Signs and naturalists tell the stories of surrounding trees, many of them close enough to touch, and how they feed and shelter the birds and scampering red squirrels that are abundant.

The grounds of the museum also feature trails meandering through fragrant evergreen forests to a boardwalk and viewing platforms along a wild, placid stretch of the Raquette River, where guided canoe tours are scheduled in summer.

“What I love about the Wild Walk is the way it nestles perfectly in the forest,” Ratcliffe said. “You’re walking on a very artistic structure, a giant sculpture in the woods.”

The museum typically has about 70,000 visitors a year, but the Wild Walk is expected to expand that to more than 100,000, Ratcliffe said.

“It’s very well done, said Carey Lasher, Beckett’s mother. “I was thoroughly impressed. Everyone in the family can enjoy it.”

Long term forecast from www.theweathernetwork.com CALGARY

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www.canadianinquirer.net

Events

42

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

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

JULY 10, 2015

every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-928-9355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

CANADA EVENTS

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

Consular Outreach By the Philippine Consulate General-Toronto WHEN/WHERE: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., July 10 to 14, at the Holiday Inn Winnipeg Airport Polo Park, NUNAVUT Kind Edward Rm., 1740 Ellice NORTHWEST Homework/Tutorial Class Ave.,Winnipeg, MB. TERRITORIES

By FCT MORE INFO: Call Ronald Opina WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, or Debbie at (204)414-9281.

Tagalog Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, YUKON Filipino Centre Toronto

NEWFOUNDLAND

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

ONTARIO

QUEBEC

NOVA SCOTIA

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 @ 604-3958000 ext. 1706 liza.delarosa@issbc.org Seniors Club Burnaby South Walking Club

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: July to August, Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Jennifer 604-438-8214 Drop-In Taichi for Seniors

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., up to Aug. 28, at Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Rosser Ave, Burnaby, B.C. MORE INFO: Call - Jennifer 604-292-3907 Free Drop-In English Conversation Circle

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., July 6 to Sept.

21, Vancouver Community Rm, 1720 Grand St., Grd. Flr. MORE INFO: Call Pia at 604-254-9626 ext 487

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

Consular Outreach By the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 9a.m to 6 p.m., July 28 to 31, at ATB Financial, Calgary Chinook Centre, 2646455 Macleod Trail, SW, Calgary, AB

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

FRIDAY

Photo Easy Class for Seniors

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 nn, Fridays, July 10–31, at MOSAIC Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Gerardo at 604-254-9626 ext 227 National Day Reception By the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., July 13, Coast Coal Harbor, Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Mini exhibit of acclaimed Filipino painter Manny Baldemor Images of the Homeland, an exhibit by Manny Baldemor By the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: July 13 to 17, Richmond City Hall Annual Summer Picnic By the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in B.C. WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m., July 18 at Cates Park in North Vancouver MORE INFO: Email Lerie Canlas at eriecanlas@ shaw.ca; Mercie Bautista at mdjbautista@gmail. com; or Charen Cusi at charencusi@yahoo.ca.

Annual Iced-Tea Off

By Tea Sparrow www.canadianinquirer.net

Consular Outrech Mission in Montreal

By Philippine Embassy WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 7 p.m., July 24; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 25 at Jesus is Lord Church, 5180 Queen Mary Suite 200, Montreal, Quebec MORE INFO: Call Pastor Mercy Galera at 514-731-8307

WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., July 19, Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Tickets are two for $10 for adults in advance or $10 at the door. Free for children 12 and under.

2015 Asean Golf Tournament By the Association of Southeast Asian Nations WHEN/WHERE: Registration - 11 a.m.; Shotgun Tee-off – 1 p.m., July 24. Registration deadline: July 10. Swaneset Resort and Country Club, 16651 Rannie Road, Pitt Meadows, B.C. MORE INFO: Email aseangolf2015@vancouverpcg. org Grand Canao 2015 Gala By the Vancouver Island Cordillera Association WHEN/WHERE: 5 p.m. to 12 mn July 25, at the Eagle Polish Hall, 90 Dock St., Victoria B.C. MORE INFO: Grand Canao Picnic at Beaver Lake Victoria B.C., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 26. Contact Marcos Ogen 250-589-5876.

Summer Encore Concert: Featuring Kay BalajadiaLiggayu, Ruben Federizon and Nazer Salcedo WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., St. Faith’s Anglican Church, 7284 Cypress St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: For tickets call: 604-483-3844; 604339-7568 or 604-341-7058

JULY 10, 2015

43

CANADA

"The Travel Partner You Can Trust!"

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905-747-0909 CALL US NOW for SPECIAL AIRFARES to the Philippines!

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Tel: (1) 647-521-5155

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JULY 10, 2015

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

TRIBUTE TO SONGS & VERSES

Charen (leftmost) and Congen Neil (3rd from L) with poetry participants (from L) Anita Aguirre, Mike Calingo, Tony Aytona, Tess Sumagui and Eric Inigo

Balagtasan participants (From L) Art Fabian, Alya Manansala and Prof. Prod Laquian

Kundiman singers (from L) Charen Cusi, Fremma Esquejo, Mary Ann Mandap and Elizabeth Fabian

Comic Alex Anayas (centre) with UPAA President Charen Cusi and Consul General Neil Ferrer

Professor Laquian receives the laurel wreath from event organizers Charen and Deputy Consul General Anton Mandap

Harana quintet Del Gachallan, Tony Aytona, Art Fabian, Deputy Consul General Anton Mandap with Alex Anayas on guitar

Kay Balajadia-Liggayu and Nazer DegayoSalcedo

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Emcees Atty. Monette Ledesma and Consul Bong Villanueva

45

46

Seen and Scenes

JULY 10, 2015

FRIDAY

MISS PHILIPPINES Miss Philippines PIDc 2015 was held on June 20, at Korean Cultural Centre. From left to right: Joie Ann Merana, Leah Villanueva, Goenelle Mendoza, Janelle Apresto (2rd runner-up), Conida Marie Halley (crowned Miss Philippines PIDC 2015), Marina Saleeb (1st runner-up), Lara Denise Capistrano, Lovely Valentine Valenzuela, Maygen Hinchliffe (Photo by Ariel Ramos).

ONTARIO FILIPINO WOMEN Ontario Filipino Women’s Club (OFWC) held their Induction of new officers at the Palace Restaurant on June 16 with Rebecca Reyes as the new president (Photo by Ariel Ramos).

MISS CAREGIVER Pictures from the 2015 Miss Caregiver Pageant held July 4 at St. Michael College of Centre for the Arts Theatre, organized by Fil-Core Support Group led by Judith Gonzales.

Special guests included Labor Attache Nida Romulo, MP Mark Adler, PPCO President Rose Tijam, Manny Yangga, and Western Union Country Development Manager Chito Gonzalez.

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

Travel

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

47

National WWII Museum opens new exhibit about racism at home and at war

BY MARY ESCH The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — About to be overrun

by Germans, a young black lieutenant called in an artillery barrage on his own position, knowing he’d be killed. It was the only way to hold off the enemy.

The sacrifice by 1st Lt. John Fox is one of many endured by the 100,000 African-American service members during World War II and is now the focus of an exhibit at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Titled “Fighting for the Right to Fight: The African American Experience in WWII,” the exhibit runs from July 4 through May 30, 2016. It describes discrimination before and after the war as well as in the military during World War II. The exhibit also includes an original 8 1/2 -minute video about the famed Tuskegee Airmen — the first group of African-American pilots to serve in the U.S. military _and video interviews with 10 veterans, including Rothacker Smith of Huntsville, Alabama who served in the 366th Infantry Regiment.

Day for a barrage on German artillery, A Seventh-Day Adventist and con- he was told, “We can’t fire until tomorscientious objector to combat, Smith row morning because we used up our 16 — serving in the same segregated 92nd rounds for today.”

Infantry Division to which Fox also beThe morning of Dec. 26, 1944, a Gerlonged — was drafted man mortar shell hit and became a medic. the window of the Often Smith was the stone house where only African-Amerthe machine-gunican on the bus back After helping ners and Smith were from town to Camp to defeat the holed up. Smith was Stewart, Georgia, tyranny of Nazi hit in several places, on Saturday nights.

Germany and including his right He remembers beits allies, black hip, elbow, upper ing made to sit in soldiers returned back and cheek. He the baggage comhome, expecting used his teeth and partment behind the a more tolerant left hand to bandage back seats. nation. Most his sergeant, who Smith was stawere deeply was more severely tioned in southern disappointed. injured.

Italy, where his unit Later in the day, as guarded airfields, one the Germans pressed of many noncombat their attack toward jobs to which black Fox, he made the ultitroops were relegated. But the war’s mate sacrifice: he called in artillery fire heavy death toll eventually sent more right on his own position.

African-American troops into combat.

Smith knew, from their location, that Smith was assigned to a machine-gun the guns were American. nest in Sommocolonia, Italy, where Fox “But I didn’t know the significance of was a forward observer directing fire for it until 50 years later,” he said. one of the 366th’s artillery units.

Smith was captured and taken prisBy that time, ammunition was run- oner by the Germans until his release ning so short in Italy that it was rationed, on April 29, 1945. Unlike many POWs, he said John H. Morrow, a University of said, he was able to keep all his clothes Georgia history professor and co-chair because they were bloodstained and of the national advisory committee that full of holes. He has donated his longdrew up plans for the exhibit. Smith said sleeved, blood-soaked undershirt to the that when the sergeant in charge of the museum. machine-gun crew called on Christmas After helping to defeat the tyranny of

NNWWIIM.ORG

Nazi Germany and its allies, black soldiers returned home, expecting a more tolerant nation. Most were deeply disappointed.

“Segregation was still the law of the land, and racism was alive and well,” the museum’s website says. “For many African American veterans, that disappointment became determination to create change. They fought against segregation and discrimination with the same sense of purpose that had defeated the Axis.”

It is no coincidence, the exhibit points out, that many leading figures of the civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s were veterans, including Medgar Evers, who became one of Mississippi’s most active civil rights leaders and was buried with full military honours at Ar-

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lington National Cemetary after he was assassinated by a white supremacist in 1963.

In 1995, Smith returned to Sommocolonia with his sons. They saw a memory garden listing the names of Italians killed on the day he was wounded and one American name: Lt. John Fox. Fox was among seven African Americans awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997 for service during World War II, after President Bill Clinton ordered an investigation of why blacks had not been receiving the medal. Five of those medals were loaned to the exhibit, curator Eric Rivet said.

“It’s the first time they’ve been together since they were awarded in 1997,” Rivet said.

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JULY 10, 2015

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FRIDAY