Philippine Canadian Inquirer #176

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JULY 17, 2015

VOL. 7 NO. 176

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CBCP concerned about drug trade issues in PH

‘Go around with Mar’

Pluto FlyBy

BC launches new entrepreneur program

Pacquiao ready to fight next year

Garbage from Canada buried; ‘case closed’

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang (left) turns over command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to the new military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri (right) in the presence of their Commander in Chief, during ceremonies held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Friday. Behind are Defense Secretary Voltaire Guzman and former President Fidel V. Ramos.

RAFFY LERMA / PDI

Grace, Chiz: No more 3 for the road; Mar silent

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN AND CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer SEN. GRACE Poe yesterday clarified in a phone interview with the INQUIRER that there were no “new proposals” or “concrete plans” for her to join Interior

Secretary Mar Roxas on a tour of the provinces.

Poe said President Aquino invited her to join Roxas on a tour way back in May, but the idea was not discussed during their meeting in Malacañang on Thursday.

FILIPINOS ARE dumping the garbage, after all. Case closed.

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said yesterday the issue of illegal shipment of household waste from Canada was over, with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) now focusing on preventing a similar incident from happening again.

This after 55 containers with waste from Canada, including adult diapers and household trash, that had been left at the Manila port since shipment two years ago were transported for dumping in a sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac province. ❱❱ PAGE 13 Garbage from

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❱❱ PAGE 25 ❱❱ PAGE 7 Grace, Chiz

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JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Pacquiao visits Indonesia, thanks Widodo for Veloso’s reprieve

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

loso… I will [also] visit her on Friday,” he added.

Travelling with his wife Jinkee, Pacquiao arrived on Semarang, Central Java on Wednesday, scheduled to shoot a television advertisement for a local herbal medicine. They have been scheduled to stay in the country for three days.

It can be recalled that Pac-

Even after his megafight with Mayweather, Pacquiao had already expressed intent to visit Widodo and Veloso.

FILIPINO BOXING icon Man“Gagawan natin ng paraan ny “Pacman” Pacquiao visited na pwede nating mabisita ang Indonesia for the first time and President ng Indonesia after the wanted to take it as an opportufight. But of course, kailangan nity to personally meet Presipa ring ipagpaalam sa Pangulo, dent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. kung anong tingin niya. KailanPacquiao wanted to thank gan ipaalam kasi he’s the auWidodo for thority… official granting Filipina ‘yung travel nadrug trafficking tin,” he said in an convict Mary earlier interview.

Jane Veloso temWe will make a way for us to visit the (We will make porary reprieve President of Indonesia after the fight. a way for us to an hour before But of course, we need to first ask the visit the Presiher scheduled permission of our President (Benigno dent of Indoneexecution by fir“Noynoy” Aquino III), on what he sia after the fight. ing squad earlier thinks.

But of course, we this year. need to first ask “[I want to] say the permission thank you… I’m of our President going to meet the President on quiao earlier made a plea to (Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Friday,” he told reporters.

Widodo to spare Veloso’s life III), on what he thinks. We need Pacquiao also wanted to visit as she was put to death row two to ask permission because he’s Veloso who has been kept im- months ago. The boxing champ the authority… our travel’s ofprisoned at the Wirogunan took time off from his train- ficial.) penitentiary in Yogyakarta. He ing for his then anticipated Filipina worker Veloso had already submitted an offi- megabout with American boxer was among the nine convicts cial request to visit.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. dubbed as the Bali 9, scheduled “I want to visit Mary Jane Ve- to send an appeal. for execution on April 29. She

Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinkee (right) pray for Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia’s death row. @MANNYPACQUIAO / INSTAGRAM

was arrested in 2010, caught hiding 2.6 kilograms of heroin in the lining of her luggage allegedly handed to her by her recruiters.

With Veloso’s alleged recruiters Maria Kristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao surfacing just hours before her scheduled execution, Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) decided to delay execution.

The Philippines has then held court hearings on Veloso’s human trafficking case against her recruiters.

As of posting, the National Bureau of Investigation AntiHuman Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD) recently filed charges of qualified human trafficking, illegal recruitment and estafa against Sergio and Lacanilao. ■

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Luy admits owning bank account with P1.3M deposit

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer PRINCIPAL WHISTLEBLOWER Benhur Luy yesterday admitted he had at least P1.3 million and $28,000 in bank deposits before he was ordered detained by suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in December 2012.

Luy made the disclosure as he testified for the sixth time at Napoles’ bail hearing in the Sandiganbayan Third Division in connection with the alleged diversion of the pork barrel of detained Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to her bogus foundations.

Grilled by defense lawyer Dennis Buenaventura during his cross-examination, Luy, on the P10-billion fund scam, also revealed that an official of the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) branch in Taguig City had suggested to Napoles to use him as her dummy in creating the payroll accounts of JLN Corp. employees.

authorization letter allowing Napoles’ lawyer were immateLuy claimed his former em- Napoles’ lawyers to request rial and irrelevant. ployer, who was sentenced to up bank records of his UCPB acAsked by Presiding Justice to 40 years in prison for locking count.

Amparo Cabotaje-Tang if the him up prior to his decision to account was still active, Luy inispill the beans on the country’s Waiver tially said he had no knowledge biggest corruption scandal, did “Would you be willing to is- about it. not want her name to appear sue a waiver on this account But he later admitted that he on the documents pertaining to because you claim that this is learned the account was closed the salaries of her employees. not yours?” the defense lawyer in February 2013 when he made He said he used to deposit at asked Luy. a bank verification after he was least P500,000 rescued by Nabefore the 15th tional Bureau and 30th days of Investigation of the month operatives. in time for the “Why did release of their you have to ask salaries.

That is the mother account of our for verification “That is the payroll. It’s not mine. It was just when it’s not mother account registered under my name because I yours anyway?” of our payroll. was used as a dummy by Napoles.

Tang asked Luy. It’s not mine. It was just regisPayroll account tered under my To which the name because witness replied: I was used as a “I just wanted to dummy by Nacheck my own poles,” Luy replied when BueBefore Luy could answer payroll account. I didn’t know naventura asked him about the Buenaventura’s question, Dep- that the mother account was UCPB account. uty Special Prosecutor Corne- connected with my payroll acBuenaventura then chal- lio Sumido raised his objection, count.” lenged the witness to sign an saying the questions posed by Continuing his cross-examNapoles dummy

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ination, Buenaventura asked Luy if he also maintained accounts in Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Air Materiel Wings and Savings and Loan Association Inc. He admitted that he had P1 million in his Metrobank account and P300,000 in UCPB before he was illegally detained

by Napoles in one of her houses in Makati City. But the remaining P800,000 of his deposits in Metrobank was eventually transferred to Napoles’ account, he said.

He also confirmed that he had $12,767 in another Metrobank account and $15,000 in his BPI account.

Speaking with reporters after the hearing, Buenaventura said they pounced on Luy’s credibility as a prosecution witness by highlighting his bank accounts to show that he lied about his supposed role in the multibillion-peso fund mess and the commissions he received as a major player in the scam. ■

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JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

CBCP concerned about drug trade issues in PH

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines raised concerns on the proliferation of illegal drug trade in the country.

The bishops discussed the issue in a meeting on Sunday along with issues on K to 12 and the coming general elections.

“It’s not being reported but actually some bishops see that this is really a growing problem,” Mejia said.

He added that what triggered the issue was the conviction of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina maid who was spared from death by a firing squad and is waiting for final verdict on her drug trafficking case.

“What actually triggered is what happened to Veloso. She was accused basically of drug trafficking,” Mejia added.

Mejia also said that the bishops are concerned about the spread of drugs in many dioceses adding that they have requested Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who used to head the Senate Committee on Dangerous Drugs, to talk about the problem.

PH strategic location

In his speech during the 111th CBCP

bracket of 30-39.

“Moreover, for 2014, a total of 114 drug dens were dismantled, representing a 37.35% increase in the their number compared to the preceding year’s data,” Sotto said.

Use of minors

This year, a total of 181 minors were rescued in 161 anti-drug operations, according to Sotto. Fifty percent of them were arrested for the possession of illegal drugs and 37% were selling or dispensing illegal drugs.

Sotto said that because the the age of criminal responsibility in the country is at 18 years old and above, “legally-guided drug syndicates use below 18 youth as conduits, sellers and couriers.”

“Thus, our below 18 illegal-drugs offenders continue to inhabit our streets, sidewalks and center islands sniffing their favorite inhalants with their paraphernalia for all the motoring world to see.”

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

CBCPWEBSITE.COM

Plenary Assembly, a copy of which is published in a press release, Sotto noted how the country is vulnerable to illegal drug trafficking.

In terms of geographical location, Sotto said that the country is at “the cross road between the Asian drug-producing and exporting countries and the Pacific drug-dependent countries.”

“It is therefore strategically located making it vulnerable to transnational criminal corporations primarily as a transit point and at the same time a market for drugs.”

He added that the Philippines’ archipelagic condition consisting of many scattered islands and islets makes its coastlines very “expensive to effectively patrol,” rendering it “virtually unguarded” and “making it vulnerable to drug trafficking and smuggling.” provide effective measure to further ensure the integrity of seized illegal drugs and thereby reducing the incidents of dismissal of drug cases due to technicalities.

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By the numbers

Citing the 2014 Annual Report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Sotto said that shabu and marijuana remain the most abused illegal drugs in the Philippines.

“89% of the year’s arrests are shaburelated; -8.86% covered the confiscation of marijuana; -cocaine, ecstasy, ephedrine, “fly-high” and others constitute the 2.36% of the drug-related arrests.”

He added that in terms of drug trafficking trends, males dominate the number of arrested drug personalities with 11,950 or 87% out of the 13,792 drug personalities.

Of the said total, 60% were arrested for selling or distributing illegal drugs and most of them are within the age

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‘Seal cheap, get more buyers’

Sotto noted that the informal settlers have been the common target of drug dealers and their haven are in the settlers’ clusters. This is because of the “difficulty of navigating their alleys.”

“The illegal drugs trade in the Philippines had followed the laws of economics. Sell cheaper and you get more buyers.”

Of the 42,065 barangays in the country, 20.52% are considered drug-affected (mostly in urban areas).

The National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest rate of affectation with 92.10% of the region’s barangays affected, followed by Region 4A or CALABARZON at 33.78%.

Proposed solutions

“But this does not mean that we will give in and just rest our cases,” Sotto said.

To address the alarming issue, the senator is proposing to have a Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council.

“My thesis, there is a barangay in every island, therefore, a watchdog in each.”

Sotto also cited the recently passed law amending the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly the provision relative to the Custody and Disposition of Confiscated, Seized and/or Surrendered Dangerous Drugs, Plant Sources of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals, Instruments/Paraphernalia and/or Laboratory Equipment.

He said that the law aims to “provide effective measure to further ensure the integrity of seized illegal drugs and thereby reducing the incidents of dismissal of drug cases due to technicalities.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

Grace, Chiz...

“That was discussed the first time I met with the President in May to discuss 2016.

This was not brought up in my last meeting with the President,” Poe said.

“There has been no concrete agreement and planning since then. I think it is safe to say that it will not push through,” she said.

Poe told the INQUIRER on the phone on Saturday that Mr. Aquino had asked her to go around the country with Roxas and that she had said yes.

But she said she asked Mr. Aquino to allow Sen. Chiz Escudero to join the tour and the President agreed.

She did not say when Mr. Aquino asked her to go around the country with Roxas, but a source told the INQUIRER it was before the meeting among the President, Poe and Escudero in Malacañang on Thursday. ❰❰ 1

No word from P-Noy

Escudero yesterday said it was possible President Aquino or Roxas was no longer considering the tour.

In a text message to the INQUIRER, Escudero said Mr. Aquino did not mention the tour to him during their meeting in the Palace on Thursday.

He said Poe had mentioned it to him, but she did not ask him to go. Neither did the President.

Asked whether he would join the tour, Escudero said: “Given that no such request was made other than a mere mention of the conversation between the President and Senator Grace, there is nothing really for me to say yes or no to.”

Escudero said he was not and did not want to be presumptuous.

“Besides, the President didn’t say anything about that when we met so it might not even be a consideration for him or for Secretary Roxas anymore,” Escudero said.

Repeated calls to Roxas requesting comment went unanswered.

LP likes the idea

The report about Poe joining Roxas on a national tour—even with Escudero as “chaperon”— caused excitement in the ruling Liberal Party yesterday.

Roxas is the party’s presumptive presidential candidate in next year’s elections, and it is believed that President Aquino, titular head of the party, is trying to convince Poe, the new front-runner in the presidential polls, to run as Roxas’ Vice President.

But Roxas is unpopular with voters, placing third in the polls, behind Vice President Jejomar Binay and Poe, or even fourth— behind Rodrigo Duterte, the tough-talking mayor of Davao City.

It could be the thinking in the administration that Roxas’ unacceptability to voters may be eased if he is seen around with the highly popular Poe, whose independence and fearless stance in legislative inquiries involving President Aquino’s allies have catapulted her to the front line in the 2016 race for Malacañang.

Poe, however, has not decided whether to run for higher office. And she has said that if she will run, she prefers to team up with Escudero because she is

“more comfortable” with him.

‘Quality time’

But Representatives Edgar Erice of Caloocan City and Jerry Treñas of Iloilo, both LP stalwarts, believe it is a good idea to make Roxas spend “quality time” with Poe, who just may see Roxas’ leadership qualities and agree to run with him.

“The LP fully supports this type of bonding,” Erice told the INQUIRER on the phone yesterday. “The President knows that the more time Poe spend[s] with Roxas, the more likely she will be convinced to be his running mate.”

“We certainly encourage Senator Poe to join Secretary [Roxas] to go around the country. Secretary [Roxas] has … legislative, executive and, most especially, policy experience and knowledge that he can impart to Senator Poe,” Treñas said in a telephone interview.

Treñas said he found nothing wrong in Poe’s asking the President to allow Escudero to join the tour with Roxas.

“When you’re courting somebody, is it wrong to go out on a date with a chaperon?” Treñas said.

2010 spoiler

Roxas gave way to Mr. Aquino in 2010 and ran for Vice President, but got trounced at the polls by Binay, who was endorsed by Escudero.

Escudero has refused to take credit for Binay’s victory. He, too, has said he has not decided whether to run for higher office next year. But if he will run, he has said, it will be for Vice President. ■

Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero attends the senate hearing for the Mamasapano clash. Also in the picture, Senator Grace Poe. FACEBOOK

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Nirvana was not overloaded–Marina

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer

life jackets and the number of seats. If we go only by weight, it was not overloaded in terms of weight.”

IT WAS NOT A CASE of over“Even if 178 carabaos were on loading but incorrect loading of board, the boat would not have passengers and cargo that led to sunk. What we are considerthe terrible fate of MB Nirvana, ing is passenger comfort, and if which capsized off Ormoc last they have life jackets,” he said. week, according to the Mari(Assuming that a male caratime Industry Authority (Ma- bao weighs 500 kilos, the comrina). bined weight would amount to Marina administrator Maxi- about 98 tons, within Nirvana’s mo Mejia Jr. told the transpor- 100-ton limit.) tation committee of the House Mejia was also grilled about of Representatives that Nirva- the implementation of a 2003 na had actually complied with circular that was supposed to weight restrictions for vessels have provided for the gradual of its type. phase-out of wooden-hulled “There was no overloading as boats like Nirvana. such in terms of weight. There He said the implementation was a ‘misloading’ on the part of Memorandum Circular No. of the owner or operator,” he 190 had actually been deferred said, noting that some cargos by the Marina board, which had such as sacks of cement were been chaired by the transportaplaced on the upper deck of the tion secretary at the time, the boat and not on the cargo hold. late Leandro Mendoza.

The sea mishap occurred on “From the testimony of my July 2, leaving colleagues, there more than 60 was a determinapeople dead and tion from higher prompting a conauthorities that gressional inquithe phase-out ry by the panel You should would be unecochaired by Catreexamine nomical and disanduanes Rep. this. I cannot ruptive,” he said.

Cesar Sarmiento. accept a boat Pressed by AnBased on Madesigned tipolo Rep. Rorina’s computafor 170, you meo Acop, Mejia tion, the load of would load agreed that the Nirvana weighed more than 200 circular had not no more than 50 plus cargo. I been enforced tons, well below cannot accept “because of ecothe 100-ton cathat. nomic reasons, pacity of the vesnot safety reasel. sons.”

Lawmakers But he said noted that the he would rather ship had carried 204 passen- that the phase-out of woodengers, above the maximum ca- hulled vessels be made accordpacity of 178. ing to “a systematic study, and But Mejia said his agency had not in immediate reaction” to already taken the excess pas- the Nirvana incident. sengers into account, and the The Philippine Coast Guard added weight still would not commanding officer, Admiral have mattered.

Rodolfo Isorena, also told the Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Bi- body weather had not been a azon said the explanation was factor in the sinking of the boat. unacceptable. “You should reBiazon, upon hearing the examine this. I cannot accept explanations, said it appeared a boat designed for 170, you that the main factor that led to would load more than 200 plus the accident was the load. cargo. I cannot accept that,” he “When you load the cargo said. topside, the center of gravTo which Mejia replied: “We ity goes up. When the center of conducted calculations as far gravity goes up, the stability of as sheer weight is concerned, boat is affected. It was the disas well as space limitations, tribution of load,” he said. ■

Philippine News

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JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

‘Go around with Mar’ Grace OKs P-Noy request but on one condition Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Correspondents Lei Fontamillas Jane Moraleda Frances Grace Quiddaoen Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Online Media Head Ching Dee ching.dee@canadianinquirer.net Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Photographers Angelo Siglos Solon Licas Operations and Marketing Head Laarni Liwanag (604) 551-3360 Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net Fiona Wong fiona.wong@canadianinquirer.net Emy Rose Figueroa salesphilippines@canadianinquirer,net emy.figueroa@canadianinquirer.net Nelson Wu (1) 647-521-5155 salestoronto@canadianinquirer.net nelson.wu@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 400-13955 Bridgeport Rd., Richmond, BC V6V 1J6 Canada Tel. No.: 1-888-668-6059 or 778-8893518 | Email: info@canadianinquirer. net, inquirerinc@gmail.com, sales@ canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly every Friday.

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BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL AND LEILA SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO asked Sen. Grace Poe to go around the country with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. She agreed, the INQUIRER learned yesterday, on one condition.

Poe requested the President to allow Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero to come, too.

Poe confirmed the information to the INQUIRER yesterday.

“The President asked that I go around with Mar. I said yes but three of us would go, including Chiz. The President said yes,” Poe told the INQUIRER in a telephone interview.

She did not say when Mr. Aquino asked her to tour the country with Roxas, but the INQUIRER’s source said it was before the meeting among Poe, Escudero and the President in Malacañang on Thursday. “[Senator] Poe has always been saying she’s more comfortable with [Senator] Escudero [as a running mate] because of their long history,” the source, who requested not to be identified, said.

“That’s why when the President asked her to go around with Mar, she politely Interior Sec. Mar Roxas with Pres. Benigno Aquino III. FACEBOOK requested the President that Chiz be allowed to go, too, and the President said President Aquino is believed to be But that, too, may be difficult, as yes,” the source said. committed to endorse the presidential parties in the coalition are looking to President Aquino is believed to be try- candidacy of Roxas, who gave way to survive the end of the LP’s rule by suping to get Poe to agree to run as Roxas’ him in 2010, and is trying to bolster his porting the potential winner of the presVice President in next year’s presiden- chances by getting Poe to agree to be his idential election. tial election. vice presidential running mate.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition But Poe, the new front-runner in Mr. Aquino has met twice with Poe (NPC) was one of the parties that teamed the presidential race, has not decided but has not asked her to run with Roxas. up with the LP to field an administration whether to run for higher office.

After Thursday’s meeting in the Pal- senatorial slate in 2013, but this time it She has consistently said, however, that ace, Escudero said he believed Mr. Aqui- would decide on its own who to support if she is running, she prefers to run with no had not yet chosen a presidential in the presidential and vice-presidential Escudero because races, according to she is “more comfortSen. Vicente Sotto able” with him.

III. Poe has said she The NPC will suphas nothing against President Aquino is believed to be committed port the President’s Roxas, as it was he to endorse the presidential candidacy of Roxas, candidates only if who brought her into who gave way to him in 2010, and is trying to they are the same as the administration bolster his chances by getting Poe to agree to the party’s choices, coalition in 2013, be his vice presidential running mate.

Sotto, a senior NPC when she topped the member, said in a senatorial election. telephone interview.

“Secretary Mar is a In an earlier internice person. It was he view, Sotto said there who convinced me to run for the Senate candidate, as indicated by his talking to were NPC members who looked favorand helped me,” Poe said. nonmembers of the LP. ably on a Poe-Escudero ticket. Among Roxas is the presumptive presidential Mr. Aquino has said that he will an- those who spoke about possible support candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, but nounce his choice after his last address for Poe and Escudero was Isabela Rep. he is unpopular with voters. to a joint session of Congress on July 27. Giorgidi Aggabao, the party president, The latest voter preference polls for A source said the President was also he said. the presidency show Roxas running working to preserve the 2013 coalition But yesterday, Sotto noted that there third, behind Vice President Jejomar Bi- that carried the administration in that were also NPC members supportive nay and Poe, or even fourth—behind Ro- year’s elections and wanted the alliance of Binay, including former Pangasinan drigo Duterte, the tough-talking mayor to support his chosen presidential can- Rep. Mark Cojuangco—the son of NPC’s of Davao City. didate. founder—and the Gatchalians. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

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UP scientist: ‘Fabricated’ rice may be better than ordinary rice

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquire MANILA — According to University of the Philippines food scientist and professor Ma. Concepcion Lizada, the controversial ‘synthetic’ rice may actually be good for consumption and may even be better alternative to ordinary rice.

“I would rather call it fabricated rice. It’s giving fabricated rice a very bad reputation,” Lizada said during the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) open forum.

“We actually have a commercial product now that is available widely in the market. They call it corned rice. In fact, there was a media blitz about the corned rice. It’s good. I tasted it myself,” she added.

Lizada disclosed that there were even claims that fabricated or corned rice was better than ordinary rice for its low glucose content. She also explained how it was made through food extrusion technology.

“Remember exclusion technology involves gelatinization and therefore, if you gelatinize

your amilose to a high extent, it becomes more available and therefore the glycaemic index must have been modified somehow,” Lizada said.

“But it’s available. It’s a good technology. The issue is just, why go through the backdoor rather than it being sold as grains rather than rice, grains made from different starch sources,” she added.

Meanwhile, new reports claimed that synthetic noodles were recently sold in Calinan Public Market, Davao City. Like the fake rice, the fake noodles were odorless and did not spoil. ■

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Chavit sees the light with ‘solar lolas’

BY MARICAR B. BRIZUELA Philippine Daily Inquirer IT TOOK an INQUIRER story on solar energy for Ilocos Sur province’s most powerful political leader to see the light.

After reading about “Solar Lolas,” four Aeta grandmothers needing P2.6-million funding to install and maintain solar lighting equipment in two communities where they belong, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson readily wrote a check covering the entire amount.

The charity project Singson decided to share his wealth with is Tanging Tanglaw, which has trained four Aeta women in India to be solar engineers and replicate solar technology in their communities. One hundred households from each community will benefit from the solar electricity project.

In a phone interview, Singson said that for the past months, he had been searching for communities to extend financial assistance to but he had difficulty verifying the nature of some of these projects.

“When I read the story (‘Solar lolas need P2.6-M funding,’ INQUIRER, June 29), I thought that I could help them since I have been extending help to other similar people during my visit to other communities in the country,” Singson said.

Last week, he wrote a check to the project proponent Diwa-

India’s Barefoot College

She explained that those involved in the project would meet in the coming weeks to talk about purchasing materials from Barefoot College in India. The target for the project’s completion is before yearend.

Ruiz said they would buy materials to provide each household in the identified communities with a 40-watt solar panel, wall-mounted charge controller, waterproof battery box with battery, three LED very strong wall lights, one mobile phone charger, one large solar portable lantern and workshop tools, supplies and spare parts.

‘Solar lolas’ trained

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taWomen in Resource Development Inc. (Diwata), which headed the Tanging Tanglaw initiative along with the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association and the Land Rover Club of the Philippines.

No politics

But Singson was quick to clarify that he is not donating to charity in pursuit of a national post in next year’s elections.

“I do not intend to run next year. I am just doing this because I like to extend help to

those in need,” Singson said, noting that he also funds the studies of a number of scholars in the country.

He said he would like to visit the communities once the project starts implementation and maybe duplicate it in other parts of the country if the project becomes a success.

Marionne Ruiz, Diwata executive director, told the INQUIRER that the group received the money last week and acknowledged that this would be a big help to the project. www.canadianinquirer.net

Earlier, Diwata president Patricia Bunye said the program was already able to send four Aeta grandmothers—Evelyn Clemente and Sharon Flores from Gala, Zambales province, and Cita Diaz and Magda Salvador from Bamban, Tarlac province—to undergo a six-month, live-in training at Barefoot College.

The women, called the “Solar Lolas,” started their training September last year and returned to the country in March with the skills to help about 100 households in their communities still without electricity.

Bunye said the Aeta women were trained on “solar engineering, specifically, fabricating, installing, repairing and

maintaining solar lighting equipment.” They also learned other livelihood activities like making mosquito nets and feminine napkins.

Upon their return to the country, Bunye said, the new goal for the solar grandmothers was to replicate the solar technology in their communities and help households from each community get electricity.

Diwata revealed that in Bamban, Tarlac, most residents use kerosene lamps for lighting. In Gala, Zambales, not all families have the means to pay for electricity.

Fund-raising campaigns

“The solar grandmothers will assume the responsibility for installing and maintaining the solar panels and lamps for a minimum of five years. By replicating solar technology in their communities, they will help change the perception of what is a ‘professional’ for rural villages, and challenge both age and gender barriers,” Bunye said.

Knowing that raising funds would be a challenge, Bunye said they thought of initiating campaigns like a fundraiser dinner with a P5,000 per ticket as well as soliciting pledges from sponsors.

She said there were also plans to conduct similar activities as well as visitations to various companies to present their project background. ■

10

Philippine News

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Sandiganbayan allows detained Senator Revilla to visit sick father

Iriberri succeeds Catapang as AFP chief

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquire

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquire

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan granted detained Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. a five-hour furlough to visit his ailing father, Ramon Revilla Sr. who was rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City last Saturday due to pneumonia and dehydration.

In a formal request sent last Monday, Revilla asked the court to allow him to visit and spend a few moments with his ailing and weak father.

“Senator Revilla feels distraught and concerned about this unfortunate development involving former senator Revilla Sr. especially because of his present detention. He feels it is his obligation to come to the aid of his father, who is very close to him, even by his mere presence, and cannot disregard a son’s natural urge and desire to visit and be with his ailing and weak father, and spend a few moments together, to provide former Senator Revilla Sr. the needed assurance and support,” Revilla said in his request.

Upon reaching a resolution on Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan permitted Revilla to visit his sick father either on July 14 or 15, from 3 pm to 8 pm.

“Accused Revilla shall be transported from his detention cell at Camp Crame not earlier than one hour before the appointed time on either of the above dates, to St. Luke’s Medical Center, and shall leave the hospital not later than 8 pm of the same day, to be brought

MANILA — Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri is the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, succeeding former chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. who retires from military service.

The change of command ceremony has been held on Friday morning at Camp Aguinaldo.

Iriberri is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1983, has served as Army spokesman in 200, and has been the Army Commanding General in 2014.

He has also commanded the 7th Infantry Division in Nueva Ecija and the 503rd Infantry Brigade in Abra.

In his more than 30 years

Sen. Bong Revilla visits father Ramon Revilla Sr. in Taguig hospital.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF SEN. RAMON REVILLA JR.)

back immediately to his detention cell at Camp Crame,” the anti-graft court said in its resolution.

During his five-hour furlough, Revilla would not be allowed to entertain reporters’ questions, and his mobile phone and other communication gadgets will be handed over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) security provided for him. He would also shoulder expenses to be incurred in the hospital visit.

Prior the Sandiganbayan’s ruling, the prosecution opposed Revilla’s request. They argued that Revilla Sr.’s hospitalization was not an ‘extraordinary’ situation.

The court, however, still granted Revilla’s furlough for ‘humanitarian reasons.’

Revilla Sr. remained confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Revilla’s lawyer, Atty. Raymond Fortun, earlier disclosed the patriarch’s condition.

“Nakakausap po siya ngayon, gising naman po. Kahapon medyo hindi makausap at matamlay na matamlay po talaga. Talagang medyo nag-alala po ang pamilya. After one day na nasa hospital, as expected, meron namang magandang pagbabago sa kanyang condition,” he said.

(He’s awake and talks [to people] today. Yesterday, he had difficulty talking and was very weak. The family’s really worried. After one day in the hospital, as expected, his condition improved.)

Revilla Jr., on the other hand, remained detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame in connection with his alleged involvement with Janet Lim-Napoles’ multibillion pork barrel scam. ■

of service, Iriberri has been awarded one Bronze Cross Medal, two Gold Cross Medals, five Distinguished Service Stars, and numerous Military Merit Medals and Military Commendation Medals.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has even dubbed him as ‘superman’ for topping physical examinations.

As the new AFP chief, Iriberri will be leading 125,000-strong military. He will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 next year.

Aside from Iriberri, other contenders for the top post were Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado, Southern Luzon Command Lieutenant General Ricardo Visaya, and Western Command Chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez. ■

Lt. General Hernando Iriberri is named the new commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

GIL NARTEA / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Acting Makati Mayor prefers Binay spokesman to take leave

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquire MANILA — Acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Pena wants long-time spokesman of Vice-President Jejomar Binay and suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay to take a leave.

Pena said in an interview with ANC Headstart that he prefers Joey Salgado to go on

leave so he could appoint a new spokesman of Makati.

Pena said that Salgado, who receives a monthly salary of about P30,000-P40,000 had not reported for work since the younger Binay stepped down from his post.

He added that Salgado, a paid employee of Makati City has a contract that expired in June.

“We gave him a memo to report to me and I am still waiting

for his reply,” he said in the interview with Karen Davila.

The acting Makati Mayor said that he has no problem with Salgado remaining as the city’s spokesman but agreed that there could be a conflict of interest.

This is because of Salgado’s ties with the Binay’s.

“For me, sa totoong-totoo lang hindi ako ganun…Siguro kung papayag rin lang naman www.canadianinquirer.net

siya mag-aano ako ng OIC or mag leave muna siya.”

(I’m not really like that. Maybe if he will agree that I will appoint an OIC or he will go on leave.)

He also clarified after consulting with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections that he has all the powers of a regular mayor.

“If it is only for 30 days, actu-

ally, wala akong power talaga na mag-appoint, maghire o magtanggal. Pero kasi six months yung binigay sa akin, may power ako na gawin yung mga bagay na yun contrary dun sa mga sinasabi nila,” he said.

(It is only for 30 days actually and I don’t really have the power to appoint, hire or fire. But I was given six months, I have the power to do those things contrary to what they were saying.) ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

11

Fertilizer scam: 17 local execs face raps

BY NESTOR P. BURGOS JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer ILOILO CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge 17 former and incumbent local government and village officials in the Visayas, including Mayor Mariano Malones Sr. of Maasin town in Iloilo province, with violating Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The case stemmed from the alleged diversion of fertilizer funds from the farm input-farm implement program to the 2004 presidential campaign of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Sandiganbayan earlier dismissed the plunder case against former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo and former Agriulture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante in relation to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam for lack of probable case.

Malones said it appeared that he was being “singled out” because he was the only one or among the few mayors facing criminal charges despite the implementation of the controversial project by many other officials and local governments.

“It’s painful for me because I only implemented the project that helped farmers. But now I could go to jail for this,” he told the INQUIRER. Malones said he was also among those charged with the administrative aspect of the case but this was effectively dismissed when he was reelected to his post. He was invoking the “Aguinaldo doctrine,” which extinguishes administrative cases filed against any public official during the official’s previous term immediately after his or her re-election.

No public bidding

But in a 15-page resolution

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approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Malones was indicted for acting “with manifest partiality when he dispensed with public bidding and gave (supplier) Feshan unwarranted benefit by directly contracting it as the municipality’s fertilizer supplier,” the antigraft body said in a statement.

The Ombudsman said Malones and the other respondents allegedly “conspired with one another to facilitate the transaction favoring Feshan.”

In April 2004, Maasin, represented by Malones, entered into a memorandum of agreement with the regional office of the Department of Agriculture for the purchase of “Bionature liquid organic fertilizers” worth P999,000 (666 bottles at P1,500 per bottle) from Feshan.

The Ombudsman said investigation showed procurement violations, including direct contracting to favor Feshan and the availability of substitutes cheaper than the purchased fertilizer.

But Malones said the supplier was referred to the municipality by the agriculture department and was certified to be the sole supplier of the fertilizer.

Also indicted with Malones were Cecilio Montefrio (municipal accountant) and Jimmy Borra (officer-in-charge of the accounting office) and Jose Barredo Jr., representative of Feshan Philippines, Inc. The Ombudsman also found probable cause to indict former and current officials of Tuburan town in Cebu. They include Rose Marie Suezo (for-

www.canadianinquirer.net

mer mayor), Virgilia Undag (accountant), Victoria Verano (agricultural officer) and bids and awards committee members Nicodemus Montecillo Jr., Chito Armecin and Elsa Yosalina.

Also indicted was Marc Gulle, representative of Sikap-Yaman Foundation, which supplied 250 bottles of Fil-Ocean liquid fertilizer costing P1,000 per bottle or a total of P250,000.

Overpriced 426 percent

The purchase was overpriced by 426 percent as the average price in the market was only P180 per bottle, according to the Ombudsman, citing a Commission on Audit (COA) audit observation memorandum.

In a third and separate resolution, the Ombudsman indicted Efren Dela Rose, accountant

of Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental for irregularities in the purchase of 666 bottles of Bio-nature liquid organic fertilizer costing P1,500 per bottle or a total of P999,000 also from Feshan.

Also indicted were officials of an unspecified village in Himamaylan, including Jeremias Ban, Danilo Lamason, Raymund Vincent Besa, Manuel Tancinco, Nile Nelson Arroz, Adelino Plansa and Jonalyn Lauron.

Barredo was also indicted as representative of the supplier.

The Ombudsman cited a COA audit observation memorandum which found the purchase of the fertilizer to be overpriced

by P560,840.91 as the prevailing market price at that time was only P125 per bottle. ■

12

Philippine News

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Arbitral court concludes ARMM gets biggest cut hearing on Philippines of 4Ps budget vs. China case

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquire MANILA — The Peace Palace in Netherlands concluded the hearing on the territorial disputes between the Philippines and China, regarding massive claims in the South China Sea. “Today (July 14), the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands concluded the hearing on jurisdiction and admissibility of the Philippines’ claims against China,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement.

The Peace Palace held two rounds of hearings on the jurisdiction and admissibility case.

The first round of oral arguments was held on July 7 and 8, where the Philippines presented its claims and sought if the arbitral tribunal had jurisdiction over the case. The second round of arguments was held soon after, where the country answered questions of the peace court.

“The hearing concluded with the second round of arguments conducted today for the Philippines to address additional and clarificatory questions from the Tribunal,” Valte said.

With the hearing concluded, the Philippines now has to submit written arguments to strengthen its answers to the Peace Palace’ questions. The country sought a favorable ruling from the arbitral tribunal; for China’s massive claims on the contested Spratly Islands be declared invalid.

“Even if it may just be a jurisdictional issue, every step of the

way, every forward step that we take is important for us,” Valte earlier said in a press briefing.

Repeatedly citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines has been challenging China’s claims on numerous reefs on the South China Sea. China, however, asserted that they would not participate in the legal arbitration case as they believed that ‘what the Philippines does is an obvious political provocation under the cloak of law.’

“By negating China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, the Philippines attempts to attain more illegal interests for itself and force China to make compromise on relevant issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokersperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference.

Even without China’s participation, the Peace Palace disclosed that it would release its resolution on the jurisdiction and admissibility case within this year.

“The arbitral tribunal now enters its deliberations and is conscious of its duty under the rules of procedure to conduct proceedings ‘to avoid unnecessary delay and expense and to provide a fair and efficient process,’” the five-member arbitral tribunal said.

“The arbitral tribunal will endeavor to issue its decision on such issues of jurisdiction and admissibility that it determines appropriate as soon as possible and expects to do so before the end of the year,” it added. ■

The high-powered Philippine team for the UNCLOS arbitration case being heard by an arbitral tribunal in The Hague has begun presenting the arguments for the Philippine position—with emphasis on the tribunal’s proper jurisdiction to hear and decide the case.

PCDSPO

METRO MANILA, home to at least 232,811 “poorest of the poor” families in the country, will get P3.32 billion in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) funds next year, bringing to P6.74 billion the allocations for the National Capital Region (NCR) under the government’s flagship poverty alleviation program in 2015 to 2016.

The amount, however, put the NCR’s two-year budget only in 12th position among 17 regions nationwide, which received a total of P125.05 billion, according to a report furnished the INQUIRER by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lead agency implementing the 4Ps. ARMM.GOV.PH The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) every year, and an education fill its commitments under the got the biggest slice of the bud- grant of P300 per child each United Nations Millennium get pie with P6.02 billion and month and where a household Development Goals of eradiP5.84 billion for 2015 and 2016, may register a maximum of cating poverty and hunger, respectively, or a total of P11.86 three children. achieving universal primary billion.

To get these subsidies, chil- education, promoting gender Bicol was next with P10.34 dren beneficiaries must be en- equality, reducing child morbillion, followed by the Zambo- rolled in school and maintain tality and improving maternal anga Peninsula, P8.85 billion; an attendance of at least 85 per- health care.

Western Visayas, P8.68 billion; cent of class days every month.

The program has nearly 1.8 Southern Tagalog, P8.66 bil- Children aged 5 and below must million family beneficiaries in lion; Central Luzon, P8.3 bil- get regular preventive health Luzon, 898,099 in the Visayas, lion; Northern Mindanao, P7.74 checkups and vaccines while and almost 1.7 million in Minbillion; Eastern Visayas, P7.65 those aged 6 to 14 must receive danao, including 409,637 in the billion; CenARMM. tral Visayas and To determine Davao region, other poor famiboth with P7.41 lies that should billion; SoccskPresident Aquino said the be covered by the sargen, P7.08 bilgovernment had earmarked more 4Ps, the DSWD lion; Mimaropa, funds into the program as an is currently conP5.62 billion; “investment for the future of the ducting the secIlocos, P5.54 country’s youth.” ond round of its billion; Caraga, National HousP5.16 billion; ing Targeting Cagayan Valley, System for PovP3.04 billion; erty Reduction, and the Cordillera Administra- deworming pills twice a year. or “Listahanan.” tive Region, P1.87 billion.

Pregnant women beneficiaThe profiling was prompted Between 2011 and 2016, the ries must avail themselves of by recent typhoons, floods and program budget amounted to pre- and postnatal care, while other natural disasters that had P294.62 billion. parents are required to attend left many families poor, homePresident Aquino said the family development sessions, less and jobless in various parts government had earmarked which include topics on re- of the country, Social Welfare more funds into the program as sponsible parenting, health and Secretary Corazon Soliman an “investment for the future of nutrition. said. It “will help us determine the country’s youth.”

DSWD records showed that who and where the poorest Under the 4Ps, two types of more than 4.4 million poor of the poor are,” she said in a cash grants are given: A health households nationwide had statement. grant of P500 per family per benefited from the 4Ps, which An updated database would month, or a total of P6,000 also helps the government ful- be completed shortly, she said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

13

CBCP wants BBL guided by ‘social moral principles’

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquire MANILA — The Catholic Bishops of the Philippines is eyeing for a Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that is Constitutional and is based on “social moral principles.”

“We do not intend to endorse or not endorse any draft BBL being discussed by the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives. But we intend to envision a BBL that is based on and guided by social moral principles,” the CBCP Plenary Assembly said in a statement.

The Catholic bishops of Mindanao added that they stand on the common moral ground of the issue.

The statement also noted the major grievances of Muslim leaders including the “reduction of their ancestral territory, the erosion of their cultural identity, and the loss of self-determination in the development of their communities.”

The bishops added that an allout war is not the answer to the situation in Mindanao and that both Christians and Muslims in Mindanao aspire for peace.

‘Mistrust’ and the Mamasapano debacle

The bishops added that biases and prejudices has been part of the deep mistrust between Christians and Muslims.

And the said mistrust lead to the tragedy which killed 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.

“It is this climate of mistrust that the horrible human tragedy at Mamasapano, Maguindanao has resurrected. It has placed the peace process and the proposed BBL in limbo.”

Following the incident, the Social Weather Statitons (SWS) found a significant increase on the number of Filipinos who are against the passage of the proposed BBL. The survey conducted last March 20-23, 2015 showed 48 percent of Filipinos are against the approval of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. It shows an increase from only 27 percent who stood against the law’s passage prior to the Mamasapano incident.

The bishops, however, noted that the Mamasapano incident must not affect the passage of the BBL. “But we believe that the Mamasapano disaster must not be equated with the BBL.” Not this BBL

In the same statement, the bishops also noted the kind of BBL that they do not want.

“On our part, viewing the issues from a moral angle, we do not want a BBL that does not effectively address the root causes of social injustice.”

The following are the cases that the bishops they do not want for a version of a BBL: – A BBL that does not achieve the centuries-old Bangsamoro aspiration for self-determination – A BBL that makes the proposed Bangsamoro area of de-

CBCP 111th plenary assembly.

termination less autonomous than the ARMM it is meant to replace – A BBL that discriminates by not effectively protecting and promoting the rights of minorities, indigenous or not.

– A BBL that will foster ethnic, religious, political and economic discrimination BBL rooted in social justice

The bishops said that the Bangsamoro framework must be rooted in the moral principle of social justice.

“At the basis of the deep fun-

damental Bangsamoro aspiration to self-determination in an autonomous region is the moral principle of social justice,” it said.

“Social justice implies the other moral principles of just peace and inter-religious harmony,” it added.

Given the current social climate of “mutual biases and prejudices and mutual charges of injustice,” there lies a demand for “moral consideration.”

The bishops also specifically enumerated the kind of BBL

they want in the same pastoral statement: – A BBL that effectively addresses the injustices suffered by the Bangsamoro as well as the injustices suffered by indigenous peoples and various religious minorities within the proposed Bangsamoro area – A BBL that concretely achieves the self-determination of the Bangsamoro in an identified area that remains part and parcel of the territorial integrity and under the national sovereignty of the Philippine Republic – A BBL that promotes harmonious relationship between peoples of various ethnic groups and of different faiths – A BBL that effectively protects the universal human rights, particularly the rights of IPs already enshrined in law, and the rights of Christian minorities who fear harassment and further marginalization – A BBL that responds concretely to the concerns, hopes, aspirations of all stakeholders, of various Bangsamoro groups, and of non-Moro citizens within the new Bangsamoro autonomous region – A BBL whose provisions are clearly Constitutional, without betraying the intent and spirit of peace agreements “That is the BBL we envision on the basis of social moral principles of social justice, harmony and peace. It is a vision that goes beyond the proposals now being discussed in our legislature,” the bishops added in the statement. ■

household wastes.

The Ontario-based Chronic Inc. shipped the containers to Manila through its Valenzuelabased consignee, Chronic Plastics. The BOC filed criminal charges against Chronic Plastics for violating the Revised Penal Code, the Tariff and Customs Code and the 1990 Toxic Waste Act. It also called on Canada to take back the shipment under a 1995 convention on hazardous waste, which provides that “the exporting country must take back the waste materials if the receiving country refuses to accept them.”

Lina said the shipment had to be disposed of as the containers threatened to clog the port.

“We need containers. The reason why there’s port congestion is because of issues like these... If we’re not able to remove it from the pier, we will have congestion again. What do you want? Port congestion or to dump it? That’s why we dumped it,” Lina said.

He said the BOC was focusing on measures to prevent similar incidents.

“We will design a way so that (shipments like this) would no longer be allowed to enter,” Lina said. ■

CBCPNEWS.COM

Garbage from...

“We have no more problem. The issue is over. Case closed,” Lina told reporters.

He said the illegally imported garbage, which had triggered protests from environmental groups, was being dumped at Philippine government expense.

“It’s being dumped now at our expense just so there won’t be any issue,” Lina said.

The Canadian shipment was found between December 2013 and January 2014 at the Manila port, declared as “scrap plastic materials for recycling” but actually containing garbage, including adult diapers and other ❰❰ 1

A container van full of garbage shipped from Canada.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANGE.ORG

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Philippine News

14

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

All Makati councilors no-show at Peña’s first flag raising as Mayor

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Not one of the 17 councilors of Makati City showed up at Mayor Romulo ‘Kid’ Peña’s first flag-raising ceremony Monday, July 13, at the Makati City Hall.

Peña is now the acting mayor of Makati after Mayor Jejomar Erwin ‘JunJun’ Binay Jr. was preventively suspended by the Ombudsman.

In a report from Rappler, Councilor Marie Alethea Casal Uy said that councilors “don’t regularly attend” the flag cere-

mony at the city hall even when Binay was still the mayor.

Uy clarified that the city council will continue to support programs “for the good of the people.” However, “if it’s just for PR, [they] don’t think that’s right anymore.”

Uy added that said reforms and programs must follow the city’s law and budget because the council wants to make sure that they can follow through.

Makati’s new acting vice mayor Leonardo Magpantay was also absent during the flagraising ceremony, but downplayed his absence, saying he was preparing for his oathtak-

ing.

Magpantay was sworn in by Judge Ronaldo Moreno of the Makati Regional Trial Court on Monday.

He explained that the councilors’ absence should not be a big deal since they are an “independent body” and will continue to operate independently whoever sits as the city mayor.

“The council is an independent body. We create and approve resolutions and ordinances and appropriate funds.

We are different,” he said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, emphasizing their separation from the mayor’s office.

Makati Mayor Kid Pena attends his first flag-raising ceremony at the Makati City Hall on Monday, July 13, 2015.

MARICAR BRIZUELA / TEAM INQUIRER VIA TWITTER

Magpantay and Binay are both members of the United Nationalist Alliance. While

Peña is part of the Liberal Party, the current administration’s coalition. ■

Lawmakers seek higher caps for poll spending

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

CHARI VILLEGAS / SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES

De Lima: PH eyes provisional measures to stop China reclamation

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said that the country might seek provisional relief to stop China from its reclamation activities in the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea. This, De Lima said will be the next step if the arbitration tribunal decide that it has jurisdiction over the case.

“That is being considered by our legal team. If we get a favorable ruling on the issue of jurisdiction, perhaps that’s the next thing we will do. But it is still being carefully studied now,”

she said in an interview.

She added that the idea is following the suggestion of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to seek provisional relief before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

In the mean time, De Lima said that they are still awaiting the tribunal’s ruling on the jurisdictional issue.

“We are still in jurisdictional issue and this is basic and fundamental. We must first hurdle this jurisdictional issue,” De Lima said.

“What is needed is a good legal strategy, which is as important as the merits of our position,” she added. ■

House committee last week, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said it was about time Congress amended the 25-year-old ReWITH THE full backing of public Act No. 7166, describing the Commission on Elections it as “unrealistic” with the rise (Comelec), the Lower House is in prices of goods and services hoping to increase the cap on in the country. campaign spending by five to 10 Under that law, all candidates times over current rates in time are allowed to personally spend for next year’s elections. only P3 for every voter while Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, presidential and vice presichair of the House committee dential candidates have a P10 on suffrage and electoral respending cap per voter. The forms, said he would file this law permits higher spending week a bill to through political amend Republic parties, authoAct No. 7116 to rizing an addimake the electional P5 spendtion spending At current spending limits, a ing cap for each ceiling “more presidential candidate is allowed voter. realistic and atto spend only as much as P537.862 At current tuned to current million based on P10 cap for each spending limits, conditions.” of the 53,786,223 registered voters a presidential Based on his based on the Oct. 28, 2013 barangay candidate is aldraft bill, Castro elections. lowed to spend proposed that only as much as the campaign P537.862 million spending cap be based on P10 cap raised to P30 for for each of the all candidates; P50 for presi- der a cloud of doubt for failing 53,786,223 registered voters dential bets; and P35 for vice to observe this “unreasonable” based on the Oct. 28, 2013 bapresident and senatorial bets. curb on their campaign spend- rangay elections.

The bill provides that candi- ing.

Political pundits reckon that dates with no political parties Tambunting said the Come- a presidential campaign would be allowed to spend an addi- lec and Congress should sit require at least P2 billion. tional P5 per voter. down together to determine Under Castro’s proposal, the Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus how much adjustment should spending cap would be raised to Rodriguez said he would sup- be made in spending caps.

P2.65 billion for the presidenport the change in spending In a presentation to the tial candidate. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

caps, which was already incorporated in his pending bill to strengthen the political party system in the country by allowing political parties to spend up to P20 per voter for each of its candidate.

He proposed that campaign spending caps be adjusted every election in order to reflect inflation movements.

Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting said the current spending limits had unduly placed several candidates un-

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

15

DepEd memo bans Transco told to return P1.5B Funds for rehab of ‘Yolanda’-damaged transmission lines unused – COA tests, quizzes on bad weather days

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY MARICAR B. BRIZUELA Philippine Daily Inquirer

or on days when moderate to heavy rains is anticipated.

Division chief supervisor for school and governance operaTEACHERS IN both public and tion George Tizon said the orprivate elementary and second- der was expected to reduce the ary high schools in Taguig City anxiety of parents who may be and Pateros have been asked hesitant to let their children not to give tests or even quiz- miss school for fear of missing zes whenever there is a weather an examination or failing to disturbance resulting in heavy meet an important academic rains in the two areas. requirement.

This way, parents can rest easy “In the event that an examinawhen they fail to send their chil- tion, short quiz or long test was dren to school due to bad weath- scheduled and actually adminer for fear that they might miss istered despite the prevalence out on an exam or an important of moderate to heavy rains, stuacademic activity, according to dents who failed to report to the Department of Education school are entitled to take a spe(DepEd) Division cial examination Office of Taguig [on] the next regand Pateros. ular class day in On July 8, the order not to affect DepEd Taguig...parents can his/her academic Pateros division rest easy when performance,” office issued they fail to send the memoranMemorandum their children to dum added.

No. 15 which school due to Class advisleft to parents bad weather... ers can also ask the decision of subject teachers whether or not to to give a makeup let their children test to these stuattend classes dents upon their due to inclement weather. presentation of an excuse letter Signed by Schools Division signed either by the adviser or Superintendent Danilo Guti- the guidance counselor. errez, the memorandum also Should they fail to do so, these ordered all school heads and teachers “will have to explain in teachers in Taguig and Pateros writing the reason for not ac“to refrain from giving examina- knowledging the excuse slip,” tions, short quiz or tests when the memorandum warned. rains are constantly pouring, According to Tizon, they especially when a low pressure would disseminate the inforarea is registered by the Philip- mation stated in the memopine Atmospheric, Geophysical randum through the Parentsand Astronomical Services Ad- Teachers Association groups. ministration (Pagasa).”

Last week, monsoon rains due According to Gutierrez, no to Tropical Storm “Egay” and examination should be admin- Typhoon “Falcon” swamped istered to students whenever Metro Manila, causing floods there is a typhoon signal raised that led to the suspension of

by Pagasa in Metro Manila classes in many areas. ■

THE NATIONAL Transmission Corp. has failed to utilize P1.5 billion in government subsidies for the repair and rehabilitation of transmission lines destroyed by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in November 2013, according to the Commission on Audit.

In its review of Transco’s financial transactions in 2014, the COA said the state-run power distributor also failed to collect more than P803 million from its customers, mostly electric cooperatives.

The COA found that some of the P803 million receivables were taken over by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), a private company which bought Transco’s power transmission business, which it failed to remit to Transco.

“The subsidy of P1.5 billion… for the rehabilitation and restoration of transmission lines damaged by Yolanda remained unobligated and undisbursed as of Dec. 31, 2014… thus defeating the purpose for which it was given,” the COA said in its audit report.

It said the national government released the rehabilitation funds to Transco on Dec. 27, 2013, or more than a month after the catastrophic typhoon flattened communities, toppled power lines and left large swathes of the Visayas without power for several months.

Regarded as the strongest weather disturbance ever to hit land in recent history, Yolanda left more than 6,000 people dead and displaced nearly 2 million residents.

The COA said the funds were transferred to Transco under Special Allotment Release Order No. F-13-01333

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SHUTTERSTOCK

and Notice of Cash Allocation No. NCABMB-F-13-0024890 and were included in Transco’s corporate operating budget for 2014.

But the sum has remained intact and has in fact earned interest income, the state audit agency said. As of Dec. 31, 2014, the account balance for the subsidy had reached P1.503 billion, it said.

Upon verification, the state auditors found that it was NGCP which spent for the restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged power lines.

Return unspent money “Transco did not incur expenses related to the rehabilitation and restoration, hence, to date, no obligations have been charged against the subject subsidy,” the COA said.

Since the public funds were left unused, the COA directed the Transco to return to the state treasury the unspent money including all the interest it has earned.

In response, Transco officials told the COA that they would ask the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel if it could transfer the subsidy to the NGCP.

The COA said that if government lawyers fail to render an opinion on the issue by May 31, Transco should immediately turn over the funds to the Bureau of Treasury.

As for Transco’s P803-million uncollected income from its electric cooperative customers, the COA said the amount included “cost recoveries for services provided” by Transco before it awarded a concession contract to the NGCP. Unpaid for five years

It said some of the receivables, most of which have remained unpaid for five years, were “assumed by NGCP without remitting the portions due to Transco despite repeated collection efforts against NGCP.” The state auditors said 38 electric cooperatives, which supposedly owed P284 million in transmission fees to Transco, sent letters to the state-owned corporation informing it “that they did not have any outstanding accounts.” ■

Opinion

16

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

ANALYSIS

Mayhem in Makati: LP scuttles Binay network

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer ACTING Makati Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. scuttled Vice President Jejomar Binay’s sister cities network swiftly as soon as he took over City Hall last week from suspended Mayor Junjun Binay in a turbulent change of power.

Mayor Binay, son of the embattled Vice President, vacated his office on Wednesday in compliance with the suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman in the course of its investigation of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Science High School building.

This followed a tumultuous twoweek standoff between the national government and the influential Binay family that has ruled Makati, the country’s financial center, for nearly 29 years since 1986.

In March, the Ombudsman issued a six-month suspension order against Mayor Binay in connection with the Makati City Hall Building II, which was also under investigation for alleged overpricing.

Binay then secured a favorable Court of Appeals ruling to justify his stay, just hours after Vice Mayor Peña, a non-Binay protégé, was sworn in as acting mayor on March 16, after Binay

Jr. received the suspension order.

The mayor stepped down on July 1 after he failed to secure a temporary restraining order on the second preventive suspension issued against him by the Ombudsman.

Violence erupted among supporters of Binay and the police after officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had served the suspension order at City Hall.

Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas blamed the violence on the refusal of Mayor Binay to heed the Ombudsman order. This prompted Roxas to warn: “Mayor Binay, you don’t own Makati.”

Roxas also said the DILG was considering filing charges against Vice President Binay’s security staff who allegedly assaulted police authorities on Monday.

Peña, a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), was sworn in on Tuesday after Binay yielded to the suspension order. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales warned that she would not tolerate “mob rule” after supporters of Vice President Binay battled police authorities enforcing the suspension order.

Turbulent exit About 700 riot policemen, armed

with truncheons and shields, descended before dawn on Makati City Hall, and sealed off all its entrances.

Caught inside were the Vice President and his son.

Tensions rose as Binay supporters tried to push their way through the police barricades and started throwing chairs at law enforcers.

Some employees claimed the police started the scuffle and pushed the crowd away from the entrance.

Several people were reportedly injured in the commotion.

According to Roxas, the Philippine National Police had copies of the footage taken by TV networks on the exchange between Binay and the government men, who claimed that the Vice President threatened them and some Binay followers allegedly manhandled some policemen, including a female officer.

In the TV footage, Binay was heard saying, “You have abused the people.”

This episode took place as the Aquino administration was winding down its last year in office, foreshadowing a turbulent exit for his government, and emergence of thuggery by both sides in this transition to the 2016 presidential election.

In the run-up to the election, the Binay political clan is fighting tooth and

nail to prevent being crushed by the resources of the Aquino administration, which is determined to block the election of Binay for President in 2016. Binay, who defeated Roxas, Mr. Aquino’s running mate in 2010, has declared that he is running for President next year.

The election of Binay as Vice President in 2010 has confronted the Aquino administration with the nightmare of giving him a Cabinet portfolio responsible for overseas Filipino workers affairs—something odious like a plague in the house.

Binay has resigned his Cabinet positions after attacking the administration for being “uncaring” and “blundering.”

Incompatible This incompatibility of the political values of the reformist thrust of the “straight path” platform of the administration and of the corruption scandals engulfing the Binay family dynasty in Makati helps explain why the administration is so obsessed in canceling Binay’s sister cities scheme, which the government believes is the key to Binay’s electoral success in the 2010 election.

Acting Mayor Peña didn’t lose time in dismantling the more than 600 city

agreements entered into by Makati City under the Binay administration as the infrastructure of its patronage network financed by Makati City.

This extensive network, with links to grass-roots local governments, is claimed to be responsible for Binay’s electoral success in national elections.

According to the Binay camp, under the sister cities agreements, “Makati City donates vehicles, secondhand books, school chairs and tables supplies to its sister local governments, which are mostly fourthand fifth-class municipalities.”

This has been going on since the 1990s. Upon taking over as acting mayor, one of Peña’s first acts was to suspend the sister city agreements and to have them subjected to an audit.

Last week, Peña also suspended the operations of the Makati Friendship Suites, where local government executives can stay as official guests of Makati City.

Peña explained that an audit of the sister city program was needed to check if Makati’s resources were being spent wisely and if some of the funds allotted to the program could be used instead to “further improve services and benefits” for Makati residents. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

The Greek way: From Solon to Varoufakis

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer Last July 5, Greece went back to its Athenian roots and did what is considered unthinkable in modern times— let the people themselves directly decide what to do with their country’s huge public debt. And decide they did.

In an unprecedented referendum called to determine whether to accept or reject the harsh terms of a third financial bailout, the Greeks voted with a resounding “No!” Europe’s leaders were aghast. This is not how modern governments are supposed to behave, they protested. A nation’s political leaders are elected, they said, precisely to solve its problems and make decisions in the people’s name—not to pass on to their citizens the burden of finding the best solutions.

By any measure, what Greece’s Radical Left government did was bold and risky. Unwilling to bow to the pressure of raising enough money in time to meet loan repayments falling due, its leaders actively campaigned for a “No” vote in a bid to secure a clearer mandate to negotiate a more just settlement of the country’s debts.

Indeed, this was something they could have taken for granted, having been elected into office only last January—

precisely on a platform to renegotiate lation of a significant portion of the he could not accept the conditions stipthe existing austerity program im- public debt—on a principle of justice, ulated by the proposed bailout, he said: posed by the country’s creditors. that greedy bankers that lent impru- “The end result of agreeing with the inBut, they wanted this to be a collec- dently to irresponsible borrowers stitutions on their unsustainable fiscal tive decision. They wanted to make must share in Greece’s debt burden. numbers is that Greece will, yet again, sure the people were aware of the con- In this, the Greeks are simply acting in fail miserably to achieve the promised sequences of fighting back: Every day accordance with the tradition of ethi- growth targets, with appalling effects that passes without a bailout agree- cal governance first articulated by So- on our people and on our capacity to ment with the creditors means less lon, the Athenian poet and lawmaker repay our debts.” His parting words on money available at the banks to meet who lived in the 6th century BC. the day he gave up his post were: “I’ll be withdrawals. Without money, governOf this great statesman, Victor Eh- damned if I will accept another packment operations could shut down. renberg (“From Solon to Socrates”) age of economic policies that perpetuThe whole country could be plunged wrote: “He bound the community ate this same crisis. This is not what I into a deep hole from which it may not as a whole to its laws, that is to say, was elected for.” be able to crawl out. he founded the state on justice. He Unfortunately, the story being A “Yes” vote, on peddled in Europe the other hand, portrays Greece as His parting words on the day he gave up his post were: “I’ll be would have left the an insatiable bordamned if I will accept another package of economic policies that present government rower that immorperpetuate this same crisis. This is not what I was elected for.” of Prime Minister ally used the loans Alexis Tsipras with to support a profno option but to resign. New elec- made the people its executant, and ligate lifestyle than to strengthen tions would then have to be held, and secured the personal freedom as well the country’s economy. It is a seducchances are the unaccountable poli- as the political responsibility of every tive moral tale, says Varoufakis, but ticians that had been responsible for citizen…. He had a strong sense of the a gross simplification of a complex Greece’s unsustainable debt would possible, and at the same time a deep reality. Referring to the system that return to power. That would be tanta- feeling for that balance between free- bound the 19-member Eurozone mount to allowing the troika of the In- dom and responsibility, which was to monetary union, he said: “We built ternational Monetary Fund, the Euro- be the principle in all further devel- an asymmetrical union with rules pean Central Bank and the European opments of the state.” that guaranteed the generation of Commission to run Greece.

That description perfectly suits unsustainable debt…. We are all reArmed with a firm mandate from Yanis Varoufakis, the pugnacious but sponsible for it. Jointly. Collectively. the Greek people to negotiate a new popular finance minister, who led the As Europeans. And we are all redebt relief package, the Tsipras gov- negotiations on Greece’s behalf until sponsible for fixing it. As Europeans. ernment is poised to ask for a cancel- his recent resignation. Explaining why Without pointing fingers at one an-

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other. Without recriminations.”

The Greeks’ reasoned defiance of the gods of global finance somehow recalls the situation we found ourselves in after the collapse of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Marcos had left behind something like $25 billion in foreign debt obligations.

One of the biggest chunks of this debt went to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which was never operated.

I was part of the Freedom from Debt Coalition that was campaigning for the cancellation of the onerous debts incurred by the dictatorship and the rescheduling of payments so as to allow the steady recovery of the economy in the post-Marcos era.

Like the Greeks today, we were keen to explore possible solutions beyond the stale orthodoxies offered by the IMF. But voices in the financial sector vigorously warned against the untold perils of a default. All debate ended when President Cory Aquino, probably the world’s most popular head of state at that point, spoke before a joint session of the US Congress, stating that we would honor all our debts. America responded by giving us $200 million in assistance.

The Greeks are showing the rest of the indebted world what it means to stand up instead, and speak truth to money. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

17

AS I SEE IT

‘Bistek’ continues to mislead public on land-grabbing

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer THE QUEZON City government under Mayor Herbert Bautista continues to mislead the public in its attempt to justify the illegal grabbing of a 7-hectare lot on Quezon Avenue. The lot is owned by the National Housing Authority (NHA) but its usufruct has been delegated to the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation (MSBF).

Reacting to my column of June 12, 2015, Regina A. Samson, assistant secretary to Mayor Bautista and chief of the Communications Coordination Center, in a letter to the editor (“Records show facts, seedling bank tax liability,” 7/6/15), cites a certification of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a decision of the Quezon City regional trial court and a Supreme Court resolution, all purporting to show that the land-grab was legal. All misleading.

I do not blame Samson for the attempt to mislead the public. After all, she must have been ordered by her boss to write the letter containing the misleading legal justifications, most likely fed her by the legal department (also on orders of the mayor). But I refute those justifications one by one: 1. On the SEC certification that

MSBF’s certificate of registration had ernment has all the while recognized, original and exclusive jurisdiction to been revoked. The SEC itself does not treated and transacted with the pass upon the juridical personality of consider the revocation as having be- foundation as a corporation. It tried a corporation belongs to the Securicome final. In fact, in the SEC letter to collect, albeit illegally, real estate ties and Exchange Commission and of Jan. 3, 2014, MSBF was given until taxes from it. It has actually collected not to the courts.

Dec. 31, 2015, to file a petition to lift the from the foundation business permit • The foundation has not been disrevocation of its certificate of registra- fees for 2012, 2013, 2014, and in pre- solved; much less is it in the stage of tion. And on Feb. 4, 2015, the founda- vious years. Besides, in the judicial dissolution as Samson wants to make tion did file a petition in the SEC where actions between the foundation and it appear in her letter. It is gross disit is now awaiting resolution. the Quezon City government, the honesty for Samson to invoke in her 2. On the RTC pronouncement that latter has consistently admitted the letter Section 122 of the Corporathe MSBF is without corporate per- foundation’s juridical personality. tion Code and Article 605 of the Civil sonality because of the alleged revoca• Corporate existence cannot be Code when these provisions of law tion of its certificate refer to a dissolved of registration. The corporation.

RTC disregarded 3. On the foundaNo court has jurisdiction to question a corporation’s juridical the SEC Jan. 3, 2014, tion’s liability for personality. order giving MSBF real estate taxes on until Dec. 31, 2015, to file a petition to the subject of a collateral attack even the NHA’s 7-hectare property unlift the revocation order. The SEC or- as the foundation may be considered der its usufruct. Samson’s citation der clearly shows that the revocation as a de facto corporation under Sec- of the Supreme Court resolution in order has not yet become final. tion 20 of the Corporation Code.

GR 191335, which in effect affirmed • Samson herself does not deny • A corporate personality may be the repeal by the Local Government that the SEC’s revocation order has inquired into under Rule 66 of the Code of 1991 of the foundation’s tax not yet become final.

Revised Rules of Court only by a di- exemption under Presidential De• The RTC order of Dec. 22, 2014, rect action of quo warranto brought cree No. 1197, is misleading. The rewhich stated that MSBF has no cor- in the name of the Republic of the vocation of PD 1197 is not an issue porate personality on account of the Philippines by the solicitor general. here and the foundation is not claimrevocation of its certificate of regis• No court has jurisdiction to ques- ing tax exemption under the decree. tration, is on appeal and has not be- tion a corporation’s juridical personThe foundation, as the usufructucome final either. ality. In Tongonan Holdings and De- ary of NHA’s 7-hectare property, is • The Quezon City government is velopment Corp. vs Atty. Francisco exempt, under Article 597 of the Civil estopped to deny the corporate per- Escaño Jr. (GR 190994, Sept. 7, 2011), Code, from real property taxes on the sonality of the foundation. The gov- the Supreme Court ruled that the capital (property under usufruct)

during the usufruct; and if money had been advanced by the usufructuary, it shall recover from the landowner the amount at the termination of the usufruct. Because Samson cannot deny Article 697 of the Civil Code, she attempts to confound the issue by citing the repeal of PD 1197 by the Local Government Code of 1991.

The truth is that the NHA is exempt from real property taxes by virtue of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. 7279), while the foundation, as usufructuary, is also exempt from real property taxes under Article 597 of the Civil Code. The attempt of Mayor Bautista to enforce real property taxes on the foundation by forfeiting the 7-hectare property of the NHA, over which the foundation enjoys usufruct, cannot be tolerated as it is a clear circumvention of the tax exemption the NHA enjoys over the property.

In fine, Samson’s attempt to justify the real property taxes she claims to be due from the foundation is just as false and misleading as Mayor Bautista’s letter to President Aquino, which shamelessly inveigled the latter into amending Proclamation No. 2670 to lend his seal of approval on Bautista’s indefensible land-grabbing of the property under usufruct. ■

AT LARGE

When disaster strikes

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer LOOKING AFTER the needs of people is a challenge even in the best of times. Governments and officials have a hard enough time answering the day-to-day needs of populations: food, water, health, shelter, transportation, even education.

But the demand for these basic needs is multiplied a hundredfold in times of disaster, when the daily needs for sustenance, health and safety are exacerbated by the urgency of the situation, the impending or existing risks, and the magnitude of the need.

We need only look back on the devastation wrought by “Yolanda,” or the floods of “Ondoy,” to recall the difficulties that entire cities, provinces and regions had to endure. But if times were hard for families whose houses remained intact though damaged, who had money at hand but who didn’t have a ready supply of food and water, who had survived the disaster but whose health and safety were at constant risk, imagine what it must have been—what it must be—for socalled “special” populations. The homeless, the sick, the elderly, the vulnerable, especially women and chil-

dren, face especially trying challenges in times of hardship and disaster.

Perhaps this is the reason the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) chose to focus this year’s theme for World Population Day on the protection of vulnerable populations especially in disaster preparedness and response.

The UNFPA is calling on humanitarian agencies to “redouble efforts in addressing the special needs of vulnerable populations in preparedness and response measures to disaster.”

Over 75 percent of the over 50 million people displaced by disaster and armed conflict (a human-caused disaster, really) are women, girls and young people, the UNFPA says. “They are constantly exposed to sexual violence, maternal deaths, unwanted pregnancies and the threat of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, because of the absence or lack of reproductive health services and protection mechanisms,” points out UNFPA Country Representative Klaus Beck. *** IN THE wake of Yolanda, for instance, a dismaying number of fatalities, far beyond their share of the population in Eastern Visayas and other regions devastated by the supertyphoon, were elderly, people 60

years old and above.

It is easy to explain their vulnerability. Senior citizens are physically frailer and less mentally alert than their younger counterparts and may not have the capability to flee rising waters or compete for scarce space or relief goods.

One story that emerged from Yolanda is of the parents of a Tacloban resident who chose to house his elders in a hotel in the city, fearing that their home nearer the coast was vulnerable to flood waters. But the unprecedented storm surge flooded the streets even of downtown Tacloban, and the parents were caught in their supposed stronghold by floodwaters.

Would the presence of younger family members have alleviated the danger posed by the Yolanda floods?

But even if the parents had survived the flooding, they would still have been in acute danger as they would have had to compete with younger, abler disaster victims in accessing relief goods, elbowing their way into evacuation centers, or just letting rescuers and relatives know of their plight.

The same problem persists for people with disability (many of whom are elderly, too), whose physical condition may not allow them to struggle equitably with others in need, or even

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communicate sufficiently with people who could help or rescue them. *** WOMEN, especially pregnant women, are also a subset of the especially vulnerable population.

Beck says that in recent humanitarian crises, “pregnant women [have been] giving birth in the most unsanitary conditions without the assistance of skilled birth attendants.” The women and their babies are likewise vulnerable to infections and diseases, while the mothers’ milk supply may be compromised by the sheer strain of the situation in which they find themselves.

Sexual violence is another risk faced by women and young girls, “due to lack of security in the midst of a chaotic situation,” Beck points out.

This is why there is need for continued policing of evacuation centers and communities of temporary housing, the provision of private bathroom amenities and also of street lighting.

“Reproductive health and protection services should be in place at the onset of a humanitarian emergency. They are as important as food, shelter and water; they are life-saving,” Beck says. *** THERE is much talk these days of “The Big One,” the long-overdue

7.2-magnitude earthquake that could devastate Luzon, particularly the National Capital Region.

If such an earthquake does occur, the UNFPA estimates that of the 2.9 million people expected to be displaced, around 700,000 are likely to be women and girls of child-bearing age, with close to 29,000 of them pregnant. More than 100 childbirths are also expected every day.

In our expectedly crowded, cramped and overpopulated evacuation centers and hospitals, will there be enough doctors, nurses, and midwives to look after the mothers and babies?

This is why, as Beck says, the basic infrastructure of health and reproductive health services need to be in place even before disaster strikes. If women already enjoy adequate health services that assure them and their children of good health and nutrition, then their chances of survival when disaster strikes are far better and surer. Still, authorities need to keep on the lookout for vulnerable populations who may need special interventions even in times of crisis and need all around.

If we are all “family,” then we need to include—and see—those least able to help themselves when a crisis strikes. ■

18

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News

Evacuees from Saskatchewan reserve to go home, fires keeping 13,000 out assessed THE CANADIAN PRESS RESIDENTS OF an evacuated reserve in northern Saskatchewan were heading home Sunday, as officials began evaluating forest fires threatening other communities to determine if thousands more could return.

Duane McKay with the province’s emergency management department said fires and thick smoke were no longer posing a risk to Grandmother’s Bay and buses were to transport at least 130 people back to the First Nation.

“That’s a good positive step forward and hopefully over the next couple of days, as we plan for this, we’ll have other opportunities for people to return home,” he said.

Wildfires sparked in the north over the past two weeks

have forced about 13,000 out of fires that have put the remain- and wind was helping to clear their homes in at least 50 com- ing communities at risk might smoke in the east, especially munities. They are staying in be completed Monday. Offi- near La Ronge, one of the larghotels and shelters throughout cials are looking at whether hot est communities evacuated last the province, as well as next spots could flare up and start week when fire came within door in Cold Lake, Alberta. new fires, as well as if commu- two kilometres.

Last week, 200 people from nities still have phone, power Roberts said rain forecast for the Wahpeton Dakota, Stur- and gas services. the next few days could help geon Lake and “significantly.”

Little Red reNearly 60 fireserves north of fighting specialPrince Albert ists from the were allowed to We’ll have other opportunities for United States go home. people to return home. have joined the On Saturday effort to help night, vehicles with fire behavcarrying about iour and manage 150 people from five commu“We want to make sure we crews, heavy equipment and nities in the northeast — Mis- can determine there is no aircraft. sinipe, Otter Rapids, Brabant, threat,” he said.

About 430 soldiers and reSouthend and the Athabasca “In the next 24-hour period servists were working on fire Basin — were escorted back. we’ll have a list that will say in lines and more were being Those communities had not so many days these communi- trained. Armed Forces spokesbeen under evacuation orders ties can start prepping to go man Lt. Derek Reid said, once but fires had cut off their road home.” training is complete, 600 miliaccess.

There were 124 fires burn- tary personnel would be fightMcKay said an assessment of ing in the province Sunday ing fires and 250 would be

working in support roles.

In all, about 1,200 crews are working in the north, added McKay. The province was working to train hundreds more, some from reserves, to join the fire fight in the next few weeks.

McKay met on the weekend with some crews near La Ronge as they checked on burned areas of forest, their boots kicking up dust and ashes with every step.

Temperatures hit 30 C in some areas, and that was without extra heat thrown off from fires.

“It’s extremely dangerous work,” McKay said, adding some firefighters have suffered injuries that include twisted ankles, cuts, burns and dehydration.

“I think it speaks to... the importance that when people show up, they are trained and aware of the conditions,” he said. ■

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 17, 2015

19

B.C. wildfire official calls for vigilance despite arrival of wet weather

BY GEORDON OMAND The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — A change in weather could offer British Columbians a break from an otherwise ferocious start to this year’s wildfire season, but a provincial official says a few days of rain isn’t necessarily enough to hit the reset button on weeks of soaring temperatures and parched conditions.

“It does appear that we’ve got a bit of a temporary reprieve from the current situation... but we are still very early in the summer and the weather is fickle and changing daily,” said Kevin Skrepnek, a B.C. Wildfire Service spokesman. “We need to ensure that people aren’t getting complacent as a result of this rain.”

This shift in weather is expected to continue, said Skrepnek, with cooler temperatures and scattered rain forecast across the province over the coming week.

A campfire ban remains in place provincewide as more than 250 fires rage across B.C.,

almost 50 of which began on Saturday.

So far in 2015, 1,065 fires have consumed nearly 2,800 square kilometres across the province — a substantial jump from this time last year, when 462 fires had burned a mere 200 square kilometres.

B.C. has spent more than $100 million so far this year fighting wildfires, having burned through its annual budget of $63 million by the end of last month.

About 2,400 personnel are busy fighting the flames — whether on the fire line or in support positions — more than 1,000 of which are contract workers.

B.C. has called in about 100 personnel from outside the province, including from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.

On Monday, 52 Australian firefighters are scheduled to arrive into B.C. to help with fire relief efforts, while another contingent of Down Under personnel will soon show up to assist in other Western Canadian provinces.

The provincial government has also signed a one-month contract to use the Martin Mars water bomber, a veteran firefighting plane based in Port Alberni, B.C. “The Mars is an iconic aircraft,” said Skrepnek about the aged air tanker, which can unload 27,000-litre payload in a single flyby. “It has a somewhat limited mission profile (but) in the right situation it is an incredibly effective tool.”

Skrepnek had promising news about the ongoing battle against the province’s top-priority fire.

Crews managed to contain just under a third of the Puntzi Lake fire, an aggressive blaze raging in BC’s central Cariboo Region, about 150 kilometres west of Williams Lake.

The fire more than doubled in size over the weekend, from 30 to 80 square kilometres, thanks to strong winds and an abundance of dry brush and timber.

So far several properties have been destroyed by the flames, including a hunting and fishing lodge. An order to evacuate affects about 90 properties in the

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region, while more than 180 remain on evacuation alert.

As of Monday afternoon, residents along the southern shore of Puntzi Lake can return to their property as the Cariboo Regional District downgrades an evacuation order in the area to an evacuation alert.

B.C. has lifted all of the airquality advisories in southeastern B.C., although smoke advisories remain in place in the province’s northwest and Central Interior, Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall said on

Sunday.

“Depending on local conditions people should be alert for diminishing air quality — they’ll see and smell the smoke,” said the province’s top doctor.

Children, seniors and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

There remain 22 fires of note in British Columbia, six states of local emergency and 143 evacuation orders and alerts, with orders affecting more than 650 homes. ■

Poilievre flogs enhanced child care benefit as boost to the economy THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre is touting the Conservative government’s enhanced child care benefit as boost for the economy while warning that Canadians should take heed of offshore financial chaos.

He used an event on Sunday at an Ottawa-based department store chain to flog the benefits of the lump sum payment, which will be paid out on July

20. The new benefit cheques are retroactive to Jan. 1 and provide a pre-election cash bump for families with children under 18.

With parents and young children, as well as aspiring Conservative candidates as his backdrop, Poilievre said the cash will prompt a welcome boost of consumer spending in the economy at a time of uncertainty, which includes the bankruptcy of Greece and the meltdown of the Chinese stock market.

Although, when asked, if it could be considered economic stimulus, he seemed reluctant to directly characterize it that way.

“This $3 billion injection into the mailboxes and bank accounts of Canadians comes at a perfect time to support not only our families, but our retailers, as they generate thousands of jobs for Canadians,” he said.

The enhanced benefit provides almost $2,000 per child per year in families

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with kids under six years of age, and $720 per year per child between the ages of six and 17.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged this weekend that the Canadian economy is in a downturn, but noted that the rest of the world is in the same boat.

The slump has caused four major banks to state they believe Canada is in recession.

Additionally, a Statistics Canada report last week showed the economy lost 6,400 jobs in

June.

There have been calls for stimulus spending, but Harper rejected the pleas during an event in Pickering, Ont. on Saturday.

Poilievre also made one last pitch for families who’ve not registered for the enhanced to benefit to get their paperwork in. The government estimated in the spring as many as 200,000 families had not signed up and it has been engaged in a PR campaign to get the word out. ■

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Canada News

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada funds ballot box training in addition to battle schools in Ukraine

BY MURRAY BREWSTER The Canadian Press KYIV, UKRAINE — Canada has joined its allies in dusting off a Cold War playbook to push back against Russian influence in Ukraine, but the advance of democratic ideals is fraught with contradictions and qualifications.

The Harper government is pouring millions of dollars into a series of democracy-promoting initiatives and programs intended to build a western-style bureaucracy, spending that’s over and above Canada’s recent commitment to training Ukrainian combat troops.

Ottawa’s contribution — over $49 million — is an attempt to fight Kremlin influence with grassroots ideology rather than tanks, artillery and troops.

That money is in addition to $9.2 million invested through a partnership with Poland, announced with much fanfare in April 2014, designed more generally for east European countries.

Like the use of the Canadian embassy in Kyiv as a safe haven by opponents of former president Viktor Yanukovych, understanding the money trail is integral to the Harper government’s deepening involvement in the war-torn country. It has been the subject of months of research and interviews by The Canadian Press.

That special relationship with Ukraine is expected to take a step forward Tuesday with a visit by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk to Ottawa, where he is expected to sign a free trade deal.

Centralized authority, corruption and cronyism are hallmarks of the political system in the former Soviet republic.

The Canadian Federation of Municipalities is leading one decentralization program meant to train municipal managers. Other organizations, such as the U.S.-based International Republican Institute (IRI), Poland’s Solidarity Fund and the European Endowment for Democracy, are instructing Ukrainian political parties and civil society in political action and engagement.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2014.

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There’s even $3 million set victim of aggression, you are difficult to build a comprehenaside to train investigative going to have judgment calls sive picture. journalists to uncover corrup- that come up on press freeFor example, references to tion _ an extraordinary mea- dom,” said Canada’s ambassa- the International Republican sure considering just weeks ago dor in Kyiv, Roman Waschuk.

Institute were downplayed Ukraine’s parliament wanted “I think overall Ukraine is when Canada announced the to launch an investigation into doing an admirable job on plu- $8.1 million contribution in a Russian-language newspaper ralism in the media. And given July of last year. and strip TV channel Inter of that violent separatism has takThe government background its broadcast licence for creat- en over 6,000 lives in Ukraine, I material describes the group ing a “receptive as a “non-profit, setting” for agnon-partisan orgression. ganization with International the goal of adgroups, such as Like the use of the Canadian vancing freedom the Organization embassy in Kyiv as a safe haven by and democracy.” for Security and opponents of former president Viktor Russian media Co-operation in Yanukovych, understanding the have frequently Europe, have remoney trail is integral to the Harper targeted the orpeatedly raised government’s deepening involvement ganization, atalarms about the in the war-torn country. tacking not only detention and its loose ties with even killing of the U.S. Repubjournalists. lican Party, but Reporters Without Borders think you can understand why accusing it of regime change accused Ukraine last August of promoting that vision, instead tactics when it can “finance, adopting “draconian” restric- of a vision of local autonomy, train, and politically back local tions on press freedom with a might be problematic.” opposition forces around the draft law that gave the National The Harper government’s world that support the AmeriSecurity and Defence Council initiatives have been quietly can agenda.” enormous power to censor and announced over the last year, The Foreign Affairs project suppress information in “se- sometimes only by press re- description, obtained by The curity and national interests” lease and on other occasions Canadian Press, says the IRI is without reference to a court. in speeches to interest groups expected to strengthen multi“In any country that’s in a such as the Ukrainian Canadi- party democracy and “support state of conflict, in this case a an Congress, which has made it political and civil society reprewww.canadianinquirer.net

sentatives to fulfil their roles in the political process in a collaborative manner.”

The institute is taking aim at young politicians from different regions, including the war-torn east and south, to encourage them to effectively play their roles in the political process.

That translates into seminars on door-knocking and grassroots campaigning — something that is hardly nefarious, says Canada’s ambassador.

“Ukraine is a country where the regime has changed and it’s a matter of building local empowerment, authority and grassroots management of economic and municipal needs.

They are learning about outreach techniques.”

The training is imperative for a broad range of elections being held this fall, Waschuk added.

The U.S. has long been in the business of funding democracypromoting initiatives, especially during the Cold War. Former diplomat Bob Fowler says it is a switch for Canada, which in Europe during the 1960s and ‘70s concentrated on military and passive intelligence-gathering.

Robert Miller, the former president and CEO of the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, has written that Canada was slower than the United States in embracing democracy-building as a central part of foreign and development policy.

“There were many reasons for this but they boiled down to a worry that programs of this kind could be seen as interference in the internal affairs of other countries, a matter of the utmost sensitivity in Canada,” he wrote in the spring 2008 edition of the Canadian Parliamentary Review.

In the late 1980s, that sensitivity led the Mulroney government to create an arms-length agency for the job, called Rights and Democracy.

The organization was disbanded in 2012 following a series of controversies in which its funding decisions were questioned. At the time, opposition parties accused the Conservatives of shuttering Rights and Democracy in order to gain more control over how the cash was spent. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

Federal revenue agency writes off billions in ‘uncollectible’ tax debts

BY JIM BRONSKILL The Canadian Press

commissioner Andrew Treusch covered just one segment of the write-offs during the 2014-15 fiscal year, involving 700 accounts totalling more than $306 milOTTAWA — The federal revenue agen- lion. cy has written off at least $4 billion in Magali Deussing, a federal revenue debts in the last two years — including agency spokeswoman, declined to make accounts worth more than $10 million, anyone available for an interview about newly released records show. the figures.

Debts were declared uncollectible A decision on whether an account is because those owing had died, gone uncollectible and can be written off is bankrupt, could not be located or lived based on rules set out in the Financial outside Canada, according to Canada Administration Act and other legislaRevenue Agency records obtained un- tive authorities such as the Bankruptcy der the Access to Information Act. and Insolvency Act, Deussing said in an In other cases, officials considered emailed statement. it not worth the exUnder the law, an pense to track down account may be subthe money owing, or mitted for write-off they reached a comonly if “there is no promise settlement reasonable prospect with the debtor.

The newly of recovery,” she said.

The revenue agendisclosed The heavily cency says it makes every revenue agency sored revenue ageneffort to collect all records do not cy records say the tax debts from those align neatly department’s Uncolwho do not pay volwith fiscal lectible Debts Comuntarily. years, but span mittee examined all Murray Rankin, the period relevant documents the NDP’s deputy from Jan. 12, in coming to their derevenue critic, ques2013, through cisions. tioned whether the Oct. 10, 2014, The records indigovernment is dowhen just over cate that between ing enough to collect $4 billion was July and October last the substantial sums written off. year, there appeared owed to the federal to be at least two treasury. cases in which the “They are not going write-offs exceeded after international $10 million apiece. tax debt the way they The emphasis a should be,” Rankin government places said in an interview after reviewing the on debt collection is “all about political newly disclosed documents. priorities,” Rankin said. “Are they going The outstanding balance in undis- after them as aggressively as they might puted, unpaid taxes was $29 billion as in other countries?” of March 31, 2012, the federal auditor Allowing debtors that owe more than general reported in a 2013 examination $10 million off the hook with “a stroke of the issue. of the pen appears to be disturbing,” he According to the latest federal public added. accounts, the Canada Revenue Agency Concerns surrounding international wrote off $3.4 billion in debts in 2013-14, tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidrepresenting the lion’s share of $3.7 bil- ance using offshore accounts are not exlion in total federal write-offs. clusive to Canada — they are worldwide The newly disclosed revenue agency problems, Deussing said. records do not align neatly with fiscal The government’s latest budget inyears, but span the period from Jan. 12, cluded additional monies to address tax 2013, through Oct. 10, 2014, when just avoidance by large organizations as well over $4 billion was written off. as offshore non-compliance, she noted.

Names and other identifying inforWhen a debt is declared a write-off, it mation have been stripped from the re- does not eliminate the taxpayer’s obligacords for privacy reasons. However, they tion to pay, Deussing added. provide insight into the scope, nature The revenue agency “has the right and frequency of the revenue agency’s to collect the debt in the future, if and decisions. when the taxpayer is located or the taxA January 2015 memo to revenue payer’s financial situation improves.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

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World News

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Formal nuclear deal has been reached with Iran

BY GEORGE JAHN AND MATTHEW LEE The Associated Press VIENNA — A landmark Iran nuclear agreement was reached Tuesday after clearing final obstacles, and a senior diplomat said it included a compromise between Washington and Tehran that would allow U.N. inspectors to press for visits to Iranian military sites as part of their monitoring duties.

But access at will to any site would not necessarily be granted and even if so, could be delayed, a condition that critics of the deal are sure to seize on as possibly giving Tehran time to cover any sign of non-compliance with its commitments.

Under the deal, Tehran would have the right to challenge the U.N request and an arbitration board composed of Iran and the six world powers that negotiated with it would have to decide on the issue.

Still, such an arrangement would be a notable departure

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from assertions by top Iranian officials that their country would never allow the U.N’s International Atomic Energy Agency into such sites. Iran has argued that such visits by the IAEA would be a cover for spying on its military secrets.

On Tuesday morning, the European Union announced that the final plenary of Iran and the six countries negoti-

ating with it will take place at 10:30 Vienna time, followed by a news conference. A Western diplomat said they will endorse the deal, reached in the early morning hours. He demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the confidential talks.

While access is a key part of monitoring envisaged cuts on Tehran’s present nuclear

China slams human rights lawyers as rabble-rousers

BY OMAR FAROOQ The Associated Press

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condemned the detentions and in a statement called for the release of what it called lawyers “seeking to protect the rights of Chinese citizens.”

China’s nationalist newspaper Global Times responded Tuesday by calling the U.S. crit-

Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi contributed from Tehran.

Stampede kills 22 during religious festival in India

BY DIDI TANG The Associated Press BEIJING — China’s state media on Tuesday accused more than two dozen human rights attorneys rounded up in recent days of being troublemakers intent on illegal activism as foreign governments and rights groups expressed growing concern over the arrests.

In its latest tally late Monday, the human rights watchdog Amnesty International said 25 human rights lawyers and civil activists had been detained or were missing in the crackdown since last Thursday. Dozens more have been warned not to speak up or act on behalf of those detained.

The crackdown appears to target lawyers who have criticized China’s Communist Party-controlled legal system and used social media to voice their opinions.

The U.S. state department

activities, it is also important for the IAEA as it tries to kickstart nearly a decade of stalled attempts to probe allegations that Iran worked on nuclear arms. Washington says that Iran must cooperate with the IAEA’s probe as part of any overall deal before all sanctions on it are lifted.

The Iranians insist they have never worked on weapons and

have turned down IAEA requests to visit sites where the agency suspects such work was going on, including Parchin, the military complex near Tehran where the agency believes explosives testing linked to setting off a nuclear charge was conducted.

Iran’s acceptance in principle of access to military sites will give the agency extra authority in its attempts to go to the site and its demands — previously rejected by Tehran — to interview scientists it suspects were involved in the alleged nuclear weapons work.

Any deal will go to the U.N. Security Council, which is expected to endorse it by the end of the month, to start the mechanics of implementation — long-term, verifiable limits on Iranian nuclear programs that could be used to make weapons in exchange for an end to sanctions on the Islamic Republic. ■

icism uncomfortable but inconsequential - like having “chewing gum stuck to your shoe” — and said it was up to Chinese courts to decide whether the lawyers acted illegally. ❱❱ PAGE 47 China slams

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HYDERABAD, INDIA — At least 22 people were killed and dozens injured in a stampede on Tuesday during a Hindu religious bathing festival in southern India.

The stampede occurred in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh state as tens of thousands of people pushed forward to bathe in the Godavari River during the Pushkaralu festival, said Arun Kumar, a state administrator.

The stampede was triggered by some pilgrims who were trying to retrieve their shoes, which had fallen off in the rush to the river bank, police said.

Kumar said the incident happened not long after the 12-day bathing festival started in the early morning hours.

An additional 34 people were hospitalized with injuries, Kumar said.

Festival participants believe a bath in the river can rid them of their sins.

Rajahmundry is 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Hyderabad, the joint capital of Andhra Pradesh and newly created Telangana state.

Nearly 24 million people are expected to take part in the 12day festival at varying points along the Godavari River, which flows through the two states.

Deadly stampedes are fairly common during Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with few safety or crowd control measures.

In October 2013, a stampede in Madhya Pradesh state in central India killed more than 110 people, mostly women and children. ■

World News

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

23

Pluto close-up: Spacecraft makes flyby of icy, mystery world

BY DIDI TANG The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. — We’ve made it to Pluto by NASA’s calculations, the last stop on a planetary tour of the solar system a half-century in the making.

The moment of closest approach for the New Horizons spacecraft came at 7:49 a.m. EDT Tuesday, culminating a journey from planet Earth that spanned an incredible 3 billion miles and 9½ years.

Based on everything NASA knows, New Horizons was straight on course for the historic encounter, sweeping within 7,800 miles of Pluto at 31,000 mph. But official confirmation won’t come until Tuesday night, 13 nerve-racking hours later. That’s because NASA wants New Horizons taking pictures of Pluto, its jumbo moon Charon and its four little moons during this critical time, not gabbing to Earth.

NASA marked the moment live on TV, broadcasting from flight operations in Maryland.

"This is truly a hallmark in human history," said John Grunsfeld, NASA’s science mission chief.

"It’s a moment of celebration," added principal scientist Alan Stern from Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, the spacecraft’s developer and manager. "We’ve just done the anchor leg, we have completed the initial reconnaissance of the solar system, an endeavor started under President Kennedy more than 50 years ago."

The United States is now the only nation to visit every single planet in the solar system. Pluto was No. 9 in the lineup when New Horizons departed Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2006, but was demoted seven months later to

dwarf status. Scientists in charge of the $720 million mission, as well as NASA brass, hope the new observations will restore Pluto’s honor.

"It’s a huge morning, a huge day not just for NASA but for the United States," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said from NASA headquarters in Washington.

Inside "countdown central" at Johns Hopkins in Laurel, Maryland, hundreds jammed together to share in the remaining final minutes, including the two children of the American astronomer who discovered Pluto in 1930, Clyde Tombaugh. The actual flight control room was empty save for a worker sweeping up; the spacecraft was preprogrammed for the flyby and there was nothing anyone could do at this point but join in the celebration.

Stern led the festivity, joined on stage by his team and Tombaugh’s two children.

The crowd waved U.S. flags and counted down from nine seconds, screaming, cheering and applauding. Chants of "USA!" broke out.

It takes 4½ hours for signals to travel one-way between New Horizons and flight controllers, the speed of light.

The last time controllers heard from the spacecraft was Monday night, according to plan, and everything looked good.

New Horizons already has beamed back the best-ever images of Pluto and big moon Charon. Pluto also has four little moons, all of which were expected to come under New Horizons’ scrutiny.

The pictures are "mind-boggling to put it mildly," Bolden said.

As Stern told reporters Monday, "The Pluto system is enchanting in its strangeness, its alien beauty."

The newest pictures, from the actual flyby, won’t be transmitted until well

After 9 years and over 3 billion miles, NASA spacecraft New Horizons complete Pluto flyby on July 14, 2015. @NASA / INSTAGRAM

afterward so the seven science instruments can take full advantage of the encounter. In fact, it will take more than a year to get back all the data.

On the eve of the flyby, NASA announced that Pluto is actually bigger than anyone imagined, thanks to measurements made by the spacecraft, a baby grand piano-size affair. It’s about 50 miles bigger than estimated, for a grand total of 1,473 miles in diameter.

China urges Philippines to ditch its tribunal case over South China Sea claims THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING — China urged the Philippines on Tuesday to ditch its attempt to solve South China Sea territorial disputes with an international tribunal and instead negotiate with Beijing directly, following the arbitration panel’s latest request for input from China.

The Philippines has asked the tribunal in The Hague to declare China’s claims to virtually all the South China Sea invalid, saying Beijing’s actions have trampled on other nations’ rights.

China contends the tribunal doesn’t have jurisdiction, and has refused to participate. The tribunal, which operates ❱❱ PAGE 28 China urges

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Pluto is now confirmed to be the largest object in the so-called Kuiper Belt, considered the third zone of the solar system after the inner rocky planets and outer gaseous ones. This unknown territory is a shooting gallery of comets and other small bodies.

If a mission extension is granted, New Horizons will seek out another Kuiper Belt object before heading out of the solar system — for good. ■

24

Immigration

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

British Columbia Launches New Entrepreneur Program For Canadian Immigration THE CANADIAN province of British Columbia has opened its doors to business immigrants from around the world, with a new online registration system allowing interested candidates to express their interest in the program.

Successful applicants will obtain a work permit and, if the business operation in British Columbia fulfills the requirements of the program on an ongoing basis, they, along with their families, will be able to apply for permanent residence in Canada through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

This provides a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for experienced businesspeople who can establish themselves in B.C. and invest in and operate a commercially viable business that can provide significant benefits to the provincial economy.

How it works

The BC PNP is attempting to attract as many registrations from eligible candidates as it can so that it may select the most attractive applicants. In order to do this, a pool of candidates has been established with individuals in the pool competing to get as many points as possible, out of a maximum of 200. Only 200 candidates are accepted into the pool each month, and the BC PNP will periodically invite the highestscoring registrants to submit applications for the Entrepreneur Immigration program.

An Entrepreneur Immigration Registration is not an application to the Entrepreneur Immigration stream or a guarantee that a candidate will be invited to apply. Registrations that qualify for the selection pool are valid for up

to six months. If a candidate is not invited to apply within six months of qualifying, his or her registration will expire. At that time, he or she may submit a new registration.

If a candidate is invited to apply, he or she will have four months to submit a complete application. If the application is approved, he or she will sign a Performance Agreement and will have up to 20 months to implement a business proposal in B.C. Learn more about the invitation to apply.

If the individual meets the requirements of the Performance Agreement within the 20 months while on a temporary work permit, the BC PNP will nominate him or her for permanent residence. He or she, along with his or her dependent family members can then apply for permanent residence under the BC PNP with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Learn more about the transition to permanent residence.

Requirements

Applications are assessed on a number of factors, including: • Business and/or work experience; • Personal net worth and source of funds; • Adaptability; and • Business proposal, which includes proposed investment and job creation in B.C. Personal Requirements: Personal net worth of at least $600,000 (including cash, assets in bank accounts, fixed deposits, real properties, investments, etc) under the candidate’s name or candidate’s spouse’s name. The net worth must be legally obtained and verifiable; A minimum of two years of post-secondary education or experience as an active busi-

Planning on moving to Canada and opening a business? Check out CanadaVisa. com for more details.

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ness owner-manager with 100 percent ownership of the business for at least three of the past five years; and Work experience — the candidate must demonstrate that he or she has sufficient knowledge and experience to successfully establish his or her business in B.C. The candidate must have a minimum of: more than three years of experience as an active business owner-manager, or more than four years of experience as a senior manager, or a combination of at least one year of experience as an active business owner-manager and at least two years of experience as a senior manager.

Business requirements: The registration must include a short business concept that will be assigned points based on proposed commercial

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viability, transferability of the candidate’s skills, and economic benefits. If the candidate is subsequently invited to apply, he or she will be required to submit a comprehensive business plan.

The BC PNP will consider registrations to establish a new business, purchase of existing business, form a partnership with an existing business, and partner with a local or foreign entrepreneur to establish a new business.

Investment requirements: In order to register, the candidate must demonstrate that he or she will make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD $200,000 in the proposed business. If the candidate is proposing a Key Staff Member and wishes for that person to also work for the business in B.C, he or she must demonstrate that he or she will make

an eligible personal investment of CAD $400,000.

Job requirements: Candidates must demonstrate that they will create at least one permanent new fulltime equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in the proposed business.

Job creation requirements differ for candidates who proposed to include a Key Staff member on their application.

If a candidate is invited to apply, he or she will have four months to submit a complete application. If the application is approved, he or she will sign a Performance Agreement and will have up to 20 months to implement a business proposal in B.C. Once the successful applicant is living and working in B.C., he or she must demonstrate the following in order to be eligible to make an application for permanent residence under the BC PNP: • Active and ongoing management of the day-to-day business operations; • Demonstrated residence in B.C.; and • Admissibility to Canada.

Entrepreneur Immigration Registration: Scoring

Each section of the registration has a minimum eligibility score. Candidates must meet the minimum scores in each section in order to be entered into the selection pool. The maximum total score available is 200. There is no minimum overall score threshold; as long as candidates make the minimum score for each section, they are eligible to enter the pool of candidates.

Candidates are ranked according to their scores for busi❱❱ PAGE 26 British Columbia

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FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

GLOBAL FILIPINO:

Why Music Matters: Christine White

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer SOME SAY music speaks to the soul. When words fail, music sends a message that touches one’s very core where no word can reach.

Such is the importance of music in the life of Christine Adela White, this week’s Global Filipino.

“Music has been my saving grace during a very difficult time when I lost my sister in 2002,” Christine testified.

Like many achievers, Christine started young and she strived hard to get to where she is right now — enjoying her two greatest passions: music and teaching.

Young Christine

Born to an immigrant mother from Pangasinan, Philippines, Christine learned the importance of hard work and empathy at an early age.

“She instilled a sense of empathy in me at an early age by having me realize and appreciate what I could easily take for granted,” Christine recalled about her mom.

“Nakong, please finish your rice, otherwise the rice will cry,” her mom would often tell her, rehashing stories of how her mom’s family plowed the fields and planted rice back in Pangasinan.

“She is referring to her own difficult experiences planting and harvesting rice from its soggy environment, especially when the weather was merciless,” Christine shared. “It’s these stories that have seemingly shaped my own beliefs — having an appreciation for modesty and an understanding of the value of education.”

Christine earned her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of British Columbia, where she also minored in psychology. Due to her perseverance and great value for education, she was inducted to the Golden Key Honour Society for graduating within the top 15% of her class.

Making Music that Matters

Today, Christine is the director of CW Music — “an education facility that offers private lessons in piano, voice, guitar,

drums, bass, theory in a holistic environment” — where she also teaches music.

CW Music also offers music therapy and lessons in recording and mixing, music theory, and preparatory courses for RCM exams.

“Unique to our studio are our ‘combination lessons’ where students will learn to self-accompany themselves on the piano or guitar while singing,” Christine added.

“I am grateful to being doing what I’m doing,” she said.

“Teaching music has always been my passion.”

“It has always been a dream of mine to open up an education facility where students are provided with the knowledge and tools to gain a better sense of music appreciation while honing their own ability and skill as a performer and enthusiast,” Christine added, giving thanks to her fellow teachers and therapists who help out by offering services to children and adults with special needs who want to study music.

“We create a non-competitive environment in the studio, and strive for the excellence of each individuals’ musical abil-

ity and potential,” she said. “I have been teaching for over a decade and three of my students are now teachers in the studio, which makes me so happy and proud of them.”

The Importance of Multiculturalism

Despite growing up in Canada, the Filipino heritage is greatly engraved in Christine’s spirit. In fact, for her, one of the best things in Canada is living in a community that accepts multiculturalism.

“One of the best things about living in Canada is the proud identity of being [in] a multicultural country,” she said. “Because of our celebration of other cultures, we learn to embrace and respect others’ beliefs and traditions alongside our own, which in turn makes us a more loving and accepting society.”

For Christine, living in a country that accepts different cultures “allows for a coming together of all people for greater causes to benefit all people, no matter their background.”

On Giving Back to the Community

When asked how she incorpowww.canadianinquirer.net

rates her Filipino background in her daily life, Christine turned to the community who embraced her and her family.

“I am happy to be involved with Filipino events that are selfless and giving to the community,” she shared.

Christine not only involves herself and her family in events for the Filipino community.

She also makes sure that her students participate as well. In fact, one of her students performed at the Philippine Independence Day in New Westminster in June 2015.

“We were so happy to contribute to the joy and fun of that day,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the event organizers who invited them and who worked so hard to put the event together.

“I am so proud of my students who help fundraise for the BC Cancer Foundation and other charities, including Bikes for the Philippines,” she said, referring to a charity in the Philippines that supports underprivileged students who dropped out of school.

“My heart is called to be a fundraising activist in our community, as I have cycled 240KM

annually from Vancouver to Seattle in the Ride to Conquer Cancer,” she shared. “I do this in memory of my sister who passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and I also cycle in hopes of seeing this disease conquered in my lifetime.”

“With my students, we raise awareness for Bikes for the Philippines, a charity in the Philippines that helps children get to school on bikes… Seeing the success stories of the benefactors of Bikes for the Philippines really warms my heart,” Christine said, even recalling her last visit to the Philippines where she had the honour of attending the graduation ceremonies of some benefactors of Bike for the Philippines.

Christine continues to serve the Filipino community — both in Vancouver and back home in the Philippines — through her music and her passion for teaching, and she plans to keep on serving as long as there’s music in her.

“Music is God’s blessing and I am happy to share my knowledge and skill of the discipline with all those who value music as an instrument of creativity, self-expression and love.” ■

Immigration

26

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

So, what really matters in an informational interview? tacts and new friends, meaning that he is beginning to be part of this new place. Talking, laughing, agreeing and disagreeing on basic human issues at work during the interview process is INFORMATIONAL INTERso reassuring that this new place VIEWING BENEFITS BOTH will not seem so strange after all.

THE INTERVIEWEE AND People talk. They laugh. They THE INTERVIEWER IN can agree or disagree. Do you WAYS BEYOND THE IDEA OF ever realize what that does to WORK OR JOB HUNTING. a person who, like every other To my mind, this is an exerperson, wants to be welcomed cise that benefits both particihere and find acceptance? pating parties.

For a new immigrant, the From the point of view of the thing that matters is his own interviewee, even if the person realization that he can do this. on the swivel chair appears to If he has been scared of job inbe luckier than you are because terviews or hasn’t done one in he is now on a a long time, then more enviable the ability to do position of powan informational er and strength, interview will he certainly Talking, laughing, agreeing and mean that perstands to benefit disagreeing on basic human issues at haps he can go from your conwork during the interview process is through the next versation. so reassuring that this new place will opportunity to It should alnot seem so strange after all. sit down in a real ways be a welinterview for a come experience job he aspires for the interfor. By that next viewee to hear time, perhaps he out young and new profession- to find his place in the work- will be more confident and in als and gather their insights. In ing world. He dreams, to feed complete control. so doing, he is able to refresh a family, to pursue a career, to When you are an interviewhis own thoughts and ideas. The gather back his strength, to re- er, it feels so different to be in resource person gains a differ- coup his self-esteem. control of the situation, to be ent outlook perhaps. Or, maybe From the point of view of the able to steer the discussion to he comes to appreciate the fact interviewer, the interview adds where you want it headed and that he is already up there and another person to his list of con- concluded. To be a stranger and BY BOLET AREVALO

has successfully pulled through the challenges of the career climb and his life in general.

As he meets or talks to people, the world around takes on a more meaningful perspective because the exercise opens his mind and broadens his point of view. He begins to see real people’s concerns, enthusiasm, and maybe even fears. But most of all, he comes face to face with a real person who dreams.

No matter how we define informational interviewing, both the interviewer and the interviewee know that this is an activity that touches on an innermost desire of one person

SHUTTERSTOCK

unemployed, yet still able to assume control of an intelligent exercise, is such a boost to one’s sense of significance.

If success is not yet ready to embrace you, then significance can at least complete you.

To me, therefore, informational interviewing is an exercise that brings significance to two complete strangers. And the result that matters most is that, at the end of the exercise, they become strangers to each other no more, stronger in character and more confident to face whatever lies ahead.

The interviewee, or the resource person, an informational interview grows from the exercise in that he also is able to gather new insights and fresh outlook, and perhaps renewed interest in his own job.

The interviewer, while finding himself unemployed, goes into a situation where he takes control and achieves a certain level of significance. If success is not yet ready to embrace you, then this significance can at least complete you. ■ Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion.

She is author-publisher of the book: The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts. The book is available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, the Reading Room and other online bookshops worldwide, and in National Book Store and Power Books in the Philippines.

British Columbia... ness experience, net worth, personal investment, proposed job creation, adaptability (including age, language proficiency, education, previous visits to B.C., and previous work or study in Canada), and business concept. Up to 80 of the 200 total points may be awarded for the business concept.

Learn more about the scoring system, including an in-depth points breakdown for each factor.

a breath of fresh air,” says Attorney David Cohen.

“With a strategic location, low taxes, competitive operating costs and a multicultural workforce that is well-educated, highly-skilled and productive, British Columbia is arguably not just one of the most dynamic and attractive places to do business in Canada, but also the entire continent of North America. The province represents unique opportunities for entrepreneurs.”

A unique business opportunity

To find out if you are eligible for the British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration Program, as well as other Canadian business immigration programs, please

❰❰ 24

“At a time when the entrepreneur program at the federal level is suspended, this revitalized British Columbia option is

fill out a business eligibility assessment form today.

British Columbia profile

Population: 4,667,000 (January, 2015) Largest city: Vancouver Capital city: Victoria Official language: English (de facto) Combined federal-provincial corporate tax rate: The general business tax rate is 26.00%, among the lowest in G7 countries. On the first $500,000 of business income, however, the combined federal-provincial corporate tax rate is just 13.00%.

Economy: B.C. has the highest percentage of service inwww.canadianinquirer.net

dustry jobs in Western Canada, comprising 72% of industry.

The largest section of this employment is in Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Corporate Management. Many areas outside metropolitan areas, however, are still heavily reliant on resource extraction.

GDP per capita is CAD $50,121 (2013).

Location: West coast of North America. The Canadian province of Alberta is to the east, the states of Washington and Montana (U.S.) lie to the south, the Pacific Ocean and the state of Alaska (U.S.) lie to the West, and the Canadian territories of Yukon and Northwest Territories lie to the north.

Climate: The coast, as well as Metro Vancouver and certain valleys in the south-central part of the province, experience mild weather, encouraging outdoor recreation and long growing seasons. The interior has some of the warmest and longest summer climates in Canada. Colder climates, similar to other regions of Canada, are found in the central and northern areas of the province. ■ © 2015 CICnews All Rights Reserved To learn more about Canadian immigration programs and processes, visit www.CanadaVisa. com.

Immigration

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

27

PM announces the expansion of Canada’s First National Urban Park CEO of T&T Supermarket is Invited

by Small Business BC to Share Her Experience PICKERING, ONTARIO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced a significant expansion of Rouge National Urban Park which is located in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario. He was joined by Members of Parliament from the Durham and Greater Toronto Area.

Under the announcement made today, the Government of Canada will more than double its initial contribution by adding an additional 21 square kilometres of new lands to Rouge National Urban Park, featuring a mix of natural, cultural and agricultural lands. This expansion will increase the boundaries of Canada’s first national urban park by over 36 per cent, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America, spanning 79.5 square kilometres once fully established.

The new lands, which include forests, meadows, streams, creeks, important archaeological sites and large tracts of farmland, are located in the City of

Pickering and the Township of Uxbridge. They will be under the protection of Parks Canada and preserved for the enjoyment of Canadian families and international visitors. The Rouge National Urban Park will be afforded the strongest protections of any urban park in the world, with its very own legislation — the historic Rouge National Urban Park Act — providing multimillion dollar investments to conserve and restore it, and ensure year-round enforcement.

The expansion of Rouge National Urban Park was informed by broad consultations with municipal, regional, provincial, Aboriginal and community stakeholders. The urban park will provide real and significant benefits to Canada’s environment, including protecting drinking water, agricultural lands, rare ecosystems such as some of the best remaining examples of Carolinian forests and wetlands in the Greater To-

ronto Area, and rich biodiversity including over 1,700 species of plants and animals.

Since 2006, our Government has focused on real action that is balanced and built on meaningful partnerships with those who share our vision for a healthy environment.

Quick Facts

- A national urban park is a new category in the family of Parks Canada’s protected areas alongside national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

Rouge National Urban Park’s close proximity to 20 per cent of Canada’s population will create unprecedented opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area for a broad diversity of Canadians to learn about and connect with Canada’s natural, cultural and agricultural heritage, serving as a gateway for discovering ❱❱ PAGE 37 PM announces

www.canadianinquirer.net

VANCOUVER, BC — Small Business BC will be inviting T&T Supermarket’s CEO Ms. Tina Lee to share her management philosophy on July 16.

As the CEO of Canada’s largest Asian supermarket chain, Tina will base on the topic “Succession Planning: Staying Connected with the Family Business” to discuss her journey in taking on the family business, she will also talk about understanding the Asian community and consumer, overcoming challenges of developing new customer base and being an ambassador of

Asian food and culture.

Small Business BC estimates more than 200 small business entrepreneurs will be attending the event which will be held in downtown Cordova Street between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.

There will be networking and interactive Q&A session on top of Tina’s sharing which enable small business entrepreneurs to share each other’s experience. For details, please refer to http://smallbusinessbc.ca/ event/ local-leaders-with-tina-lee-tt-supermarkets-inc/ or contact Mark Blendheim (blendheim.mark@smallbusinessbc.ca). ■

28

Community News

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

LBC celebrates A Glance at Traditions of Motherland Philippine Independence Day across the globe THOUGH MOST celebrations for the country’s 117th Independence day are held in the Philippines, LBC Express, Inc., the leading courier service, logistics, and money remittance provider has brought festivities to Filipinos across the globe. In celebration and commemoration of Philippine freedom, LBC Express held a series of games, raffles and freebies across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, North America and Europe.

Middle East

“Among the regions, the Middle East is one of the most popular choice for overseas Filipinos,” said Barty Espino, Vice President for Middle East Operations. “So it only makes sense that we bring a touch of home, even if we’re thousands of miles away.”

Over 20,000 Filipinos attended the Independence Day celebrations in malls in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Kuwait, and Qatar, with the support of the Philippine Embassy and Consulate offices in the GCC. Asia-Pacific

In the Asia-Pacific region, LBC held fun-filled activities in Malaysia and Hong Kong. In Malaysia, LBC set up booths offering exciting games and freebies, and a colorful fiestathemed parade. In Hong Kong, LBC also had booths loaded with freebies and a stage where games were held. The courier service gave free LBC Plus cards to over 150 Filipino registrants in both countries.

Asia-Pacific

In the Asia-Pacific region, LBC held fun-filled activities in Malaysia and Hong Kong. In Malaysia, LBC set up booths offering exciting games and freebies, and a colorful fiestathemed parade. In Hong Kong, LBC also had booths loaded with freebies and a stage where games were held. The courier service gave free LBC Plus cards to over 150 Filipino registrants in both countries.

North America

In the United States and Canada, the company delivered personalized cakes to consulate offices in Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, British Columbia and Toronto.

“Our role at LBC Express is to serve as the bridge between overseas Filipinos and their loved ones back home,” said Patricia Garcia, Brand Head for North America. “So wherever there is a Filipino, you can always expect LBC to be there to be their partner in sending the love back home.”

Europe

Kababayans and Ka-LBCs in Europe also joined the Independence Day festivities in the region, where LBC is present: the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Austria.

A series of Barrio Fiestas were held in UK cities where there are large Filipino communities: Manchester, Yorkshire, Bradford, Bristol, Manchester, Swansea, Scotland, Birmingham, London, and Hounslow had games, raffles, and pageants, while Newcastle, Morden, Oxford, and Milton Keynes held their own celebrations.

The Filipino communities in Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Napoli, and Paris also organized events; the German cities of Recklinghausen, Oberhausen, and Wilhemsfeld had festivities with a beach party, a Santacruzan, a gala night, and a celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s birthday. The Filipinos in Belfast, Dublin, and Vienna toasted to a new year of independence as well.

LBC’s partnerships with Filipino communities is part of its commitment to serve overseas Filipinos across the globe. In total, the courier service has over 4,400 branches, partners, and agents in over 30 countries, ready to serve as the bridge between the more than 10 million Filipinos overseas and their loved ones in the Philippines.

With LBC’s global presence, any country can feel like home. ■

HONORABLE MINISTER, excellencies, distinguished guests, fellow artists, mga kababayan, ladies and gentlemen.

The Philippines marks its 117th anniversary of the proclamation of independence with pride in our history as a sovereign nation. I am so proud and honored to be a part of the cultural program of the Philippine Consulate General here in Vancouver headed by the honorable Neil Frank R. Ferrer.

I can’t tell you how elated I am finding myself presenting my series of paintings, “A Glance at Traditions of Motherland.” These works are the expressions of my emotions translated into forms and colors of my people. The preserved folksy ambience, the richness of its festivals, the antique charm of its rituals and the delightful wonders of its lore and magical legends.

The Philippines is an archipelago composed of 7,107 islands and about a hundred ethnic groups and a mixture of foreign influence which molded a unique Filipino culture.

I was born and raised in an artistic town called Paete, Laguna, located in the island of Luzon, about 115 km. away from Manila.

Like all artists, I was trained to be a keen observer of people and nature.

Works of art is many things

Manny Baldemor.

PHOTO BY ANGELO SIGLOS

to many men.

To the artists, it is a record of himself at a certain point of his artistic life. To the sensitive beholder, it is an object beyond price, a joy forever.

To the practical men, it is a piece of valuable property, an investment. And to the art students and historians, it is a record of man’s experience, aspirations and glory.

After all art and culture has no border.

If I could live my life all over again, I would change very little to absolutely nothing. I would still be an artist and travel to the far corners of the world searching and digging like an archaeologist. I would still paint every city, every mountain, every ocean and every person that struck my fancy. I would still be mesmerized and be spellbound, time and time again by the diversity of myriad cultures.

In fact, I start moving around Canada observing, absorbing and recording in

my own visual language, the land and the people of this glorious free country.

Someday, I will share my visions about Canada thru the eyes of a Filipino artist.

I hope that everything I have accomplished will somehow strengthen the cultural understanding and friendships between Canada and my country, Philippines.

I feel quite fortunate in having the assistance of our own consular staff who assisted me in all of my endeavors. Maraming salamat po!

To the Filipino group of artists living and working here in Vancouver who participated in our painting interaction yesterday, maraming salamat po!

To my brother-in-law Pepito and Emma Daelo, both medical workers who chose Vancouver as their permanent home, they opened their hearts and their residence for me as an extension of my art studio, maraming salamat, Pitong at Emboy.

And to all of you, thank you very much for your time and for gracing this occasion.

Maraming salamat po.

Merci beau coup! and Mabuhay! ■ Speech of world-renowed artist Manuel D. Baldemor during the 117th Philippine Independence Day Reception at Coast Coal Harbor Hotel on July 13.

China urges... under the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea, held a weeklong hearing ending Monday to address China’s contention. It said that Beijing has until Aug. 17 to comment on the hearing, and that it should make a ruling on the issue this year.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Tuesday reiterated China’s opposition to the arbitration, and said China “will never accept the unilateral attempts to turn to a third party to solve the disputes.”

“China urges the Philippines to come back to the right track ❰❰ 23

www.canadianinquirer.net

of resolving disputes through negotiation and consultation,” she said in a statement.

The Philippines praised the tribunal’s effort to prod China again to join the case, saying the five-man arbitration body has been fair and transparent in its handling of Manila’s complaints against Beijing.

“We have asked China to participate and we continue to extend the invitation for them to explain their side,” Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said by phone in Manila.

China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and

Taiwan have been contesting ownership of the resource-rich South China Sea. The United States and other countries have expressed concerns over China’s island-building in the region that they say has been provocative and has damaged vast coral reefs in the disputed waters.

Beijing says fears that it would eventually limit freedom of navigation and overflight to back its claims are unfounded. ■ Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

29

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

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

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

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

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

- Who can nominate? Anybody.

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

www.canadianinquirer.net

30

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment

Jennylyn Mercado wows at FHM Victory Party, shrugs off absence of other Kapuso stars

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Kapuso star Jennylyn Mercado set the runway on fire at the FHM 100 Sexiest victory party 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City Saturday night.

Mercado was named the sexiest woman in the Philippines after earning 1,017,586 votes from the FHM poll.

"Kinabahan talaga ako. Kasi first time ko itong ginawa talaga for FHM. Sa rehearsals pa lang namin, gusto kong maging maayos na," Mercado said in an interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph).

(I was really nervous because it’s my first time to do this for FHM. Even during our rehearsals, I wanted everything to be okay.)

Mercado also performed a song and dance number at the

Jennylyn Mercado tops FHM Philippines’ Sexiest Women list.

victory party.

"Paraan ko ito para magpasalamat sa mga fans na walang sawang sumuporta sa akin from the start of my showbiz career," she said. "Utang na loob ko sa kanila ito kaya yung promise ko

na gagawin ko ito, heto na ‘yon.

Kung hindi dahil sa pagmamahal nila, hindi ako magiging number one sa FHM." (This is my way of saying thanks to my fans who tirelessly supported me from the start

@NICEPRINTPHOTO / INSTAGRAM

of my showbiz career. I owe this to them, so I promised them that I’ll do this and this is it. If not for their love, I wouldn’t be number one on FHM.) Half of the Top 10 Sexiest are Kapuso actresses, but only

Mercado made it to the victory party.

Andrea Torres (#2), Sam Pinto (#4), Solenn Heussaff (#5), and Max Collins (#9) were noshows at the party on Saturday night, leading some fans to believe the Kapuso actresses were "boycotting" Mercado.

When asked about the other actresses’ absence, Mercado said she doesn’t know why they didn’t make it.

"Mas naka-focus ako sa sarili ko," she said. "Kung hindi man sila nakarating, siguro naman may dahilan. Ang importante ay nandito ako at napasaya ko ang mga umaasang rarampa ako."

(I am more focused on myself. If they weren’t able to attend, I’m sure they have their reasons. What’s important is that I’m here and I made the fans — who were expecting me to strut the runway — really happy.) ■

Julia loved to laugh, draw, hug pals

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer PRODUCERS OF the ABSCBN series “Oh My G!” would still discuss the fate of the character played by the late young actress Julia Buencamino, the network’s adprom department announced on Wednesday.

Julia Louise Buencamino, youngest child of character actors Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino, was found lifeless by a helper at the family home in Quezon City on Tuesday night. She was 15.

She played Aimee Chua, best friend of the series’ lead character Sophie (Janella Salvador).

“The entire team is saddened,” said adprom specialist JC Bagio. “The producers will still discuss what will happen to Aimee.”

Meanwhile, Salvador said

she was shocked by her costar’s death.

Salvador recalled: “She seemed normal to me. Last week, we were even playing games with the other teens. She was her usual jolly self. I did notice (during our last taping) that she would rather sleep instead of talk to us. I thought she was just tired.”

Spiritual crisis

For Salvador, suicide is “a spiritual attack.” “I got bothered at first. I thought maybe if Julia and I talked more... I could’ve said something to help her.”

To other teenagers who may be going through the same crisis, Salvador said “always remember that... even if you feel like you have no one to talk to, there are people around you who are willing to listen.”

Salvador described Julia as

someone who “loved to laugh.

She was affectionate and liked hugging people. She loved to draw, too.” She didn’t really open up to her coworkers, Salvador said. “I never heard her mention any problem... My deepest condolences to her family. I am praying for their strength.”

Filmmaker Jose Javier Reyes said he could not “approximate the pain” that Julia’s family is feeling now. “I wish I could find the right words and construct them in comforting sentences to ease the pain of friends who must be in such a state of grief,” he wrote on Facebook. “But I cannot fathom the pain.”

TV producer Kat de Castro said, “Having depression is similar to hearing voices in your head. The voices tell you to end your sadness in the most unimaginable way possible.” www.canadianinquirer.net

On her Facebook page, De Castro encouraged her followers to “reach out [to others]. Those suffering... do not need your judgment. They need your understanding.”

On Tuesday, Julia’s dad Nonie was on the set of the film “Larawan” in Taal, Batangas, while her mom Shamaine was rehearsing for a new play, “33 Variations.”

“Our hearts... on the set of ‘Larawan’ go out to the Buencamino family,” said producer Alemberg Ang. He then offered prayers for Julia and her family “in this time of grief.”

Filmmaker Jun Robles Lana told the INQUIRER, “Like many others, I am shocked and at a loss for words. I can only pray for Shamaine and Nonie and their loved ones.” The Buencaminos were part of the cast of Lana’s award-winning film “Barber’s Tales.”

On Facebook, actress Ces Quesada said her “heart is crushed.” Quesada was Shamaine’s coteacher at the University of the Philippines.

Actress Malou Crisologo said she sympathized with her friends. On her Facebook page, she said: “I pray for forgiveness and for wounds to heal... We all love you.” She last worked with Nonie in the drama series “Honesto.”

For talent manager Noel Ferrer, the recent string of tragedies “teaches us that death is a communal thing.”

Wake is at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine, in New Manila, Quezon City. Julia is survived by siblings Delphine, Gorio and Jose.

Nonie and Shamaine have extended their gratitude to those who sent their condolences, according to their manager Ricky Gallardo. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

31

MTRCB requires PBB to establish self-regulatory measures

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) required the management of “Pinoy Big Brother 737 to undergo audience-sensitivity seminars and establish self-regulatory measures.

The board is also requiring the ABS-CBN reality show to collaborate with them closely following complaints of offended viewers.

Among the possible violations are the disturbing

scenes, flirtatious talks and actions and the perceived “bromance” (brotherly romance) between two male housemates.

The show draw criticisms from netizens after pictures of 18-year-old Karlo Lorenzo “Kenzo” Gutierrez and 12-yearold Bailey Thomas May showing their alleged “physical intimacy” inside the house went viral.

MTRCB ordered PBB to “institute remedial and self-regulatory measures to ensure the protection, welfare, and development of all the participants.”

It cited Republic Act 7610

Bea Alonzo on Zanjoe Marudo: We’re trying to work things out

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Actress Bea Alonzo admitted that she has been facing some problems in her relationship with Zanjoe Marudo but has denied reports of being pregnant.

Zanjoe recently travelled to Madrid, Spain alone which started speculations that the two were not okay as he usually went to trips with Bea. Just last year, the couple had a vacation in Japan.

When asked about the current status of their relationship, Bea shared that they have been trying to work things out after Zanjoe returned

to the Philippines.

“Siyempre, who doesn’t want to stay in a beautiful relationship? So, nando’n kami,” Bea said in an interview in “TV Patrol.”

(Of course, who doesn’t want to stay in a beautiful relationship? So, we’re there) Bea and Zanjoe have been together for four years now. ■

and mandated the reality show to “immediately cease and desist from requiring participants to engage in activities and tasks which may be deemed to be hazardous to their life and safety, or prejudicial to their physical, psychological, emotional, moral, spiritual, and social well-being.”

The ABS-CBN earlier issued a statement condemning “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.” ■

SCREENSHOT FROM PBB 737

Apl.de.Ap thinks beyond success, gives back through charity work

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Amid his international success, Black Eyed Peas Filipino member Apl.de.Ap does not forget looking back to his roots as he continues reaching out to Filipino kids through his foundation’s charity works.

“I think beyond the success and accolades that I’ve received, this is what brings me joy… This is what motivates me because I was one of those kids that was helped out, was sponsored and brought to the U.S., and became a Black Eyed Peas,” he said, referring to Apl.de.Ap Foundation.

“So, I’m just following the footsteps of my adoptive father, Joe Ben Hudgens, and his foundation that helped me get sponsored… I’m one of those kids that used to run around with my tsinelas (slippers) and play basketball,” he added.

Remembering how blessed he is, Apd.de.Ap desires to give other Filipino kids ‘an opportunity to become somebody’ like him.

“And I think, me being adopted and having the success in life, I think I’m supposed www.canadianinquirer.net

Drawing from his own life experiences and putting action behind his words, Black Eyed Peas Filipino member Apl.de.Ap established the Apl.de.ap Foundation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF APL.DE.AP FOUNDATION

to give back and follow dad’s footsteps,” he said in the press launch of BMBX Entertainment, his artist development and brand marketing company.

“It’s so joyful to see that now we have 14 scholars in Angeles… And these kids, they’re like valedictorian, summa cum laude,” he added.

For Apl.de.Ap, beyond any-

thing else, helping others makes him feel most fulfilled.

“It’s very fulfilling. It’s beyond anything… That’s what keeps me going, that’s what gives me a smile on my face…

And then you think back, ‘Wow, these kids, they’re actually doing it!’ And now they’re doing their own outreach programs,” he said enthusiastically. ■

32

Entertainment

JULY 17, 2015

Comic Con cosplay could turn into Hollywood costuming career

BY SANDY COHEN The Associated Press SAN DIEGO — For now, it may be just a hobby, but for the costumed fans at the ComicCon pop culture expo this past weekend, dressing up can be a first step toward an entertainment career.

Costume play - or cosplay has become a huge component of Comic-Con. Thousands of fans, and some celebrities, too, elaborately disguise themselves as their favorite characters from comic books, movies, TV, video games and anime. Taking photos of the coolest cosplayers is part of the convention experience.

Celebrities can enjoy the festival in anonymity by wearing a mask like so many other fans - just like Daniel Radcliffe did when he secretly dressed as Spider-Man last year. Jessica Chastain considered a mask as a means to invisibly attend Comic-Con’s finale event - Saturday night’s Masquerade Ball.

Part costume contest, part stage show, contestants embody their characters for up to 2 1/2 minutes in front of an audience of more than 4,000.

The judges are Hollywood and Broadway professionals, and many entrants are entertainment hopefuls.

“I would love to make a career out of this,” said selftaught artist Jose Davalos, 20, who traveled from Jalisco, Mexico, to show off his “Hades from Disney’s ‘Hercules’“ costume, which featured a screenworthy, hand-sculpted silicone mask.

“My main goal is to be able to be on a movie or maybe work for Disney making things,” said Davalos, who won a craftsmanship award for his work.

Costume designer Joe Kucharski, who moderated a Costume Designers Guild panel and served as a judge of the Masquerade Ball, said the event is a realistic showcase for emerging artists.

“I would hire somebody based on their work (here),” he said.

Costume design pros say the skills cosplayers need to create

‘Game of Thrones’ cast dodges Jon Snow, Season 6 questions

BY LINDSEY BAHR The Associated Press

A couple cosplaying as Furiosa and Max from the film Mad Max Fury Road.

LAUREN ELISABETH / SHUTTERSTOCK

their characters are often the same ones professionals use to help make TV and film characters come to life.

“A lot of things that people are doing at Comic-Con are actually what’s being done professionally,” said Jared Marantz, who helped create the superhero suits for “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” “People here are making fake armor out of foam. Well, professionals do that all the time.”

Scooti Harper, who handstitched every stripe on her Victorian corset-and-bustle gown, said she hopes to become “a seamstress in the costume industry.”

“That’s the ultimate goal for me,” said the 26-year-old, who belonged to the “Women of the Haunted Mansion” ensemble that won best in show at the ball.

The Masquerade is also a place for aspiring directors: Katie Forman, 29, who conceived of and directed the winning sketch, said she was driven by the performance aspect of the event and brought friends talented in fashion on board.

Dorothy Thicket won a prize from UCLA’s Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design for her Victorian take on Pokémon’s Leafeon character. The 20-year-old University of Calgary computer-science student

said she came to California for a “double-con trip,” showing off her outfit in contests at ComicCon and the Anime Expo in Los Angeles earlier this month.

“I always try to enter competitions wherever I can because I love showing off my work,” she said. “I love talking to the people backstage, talking to the judges and getting feedback.”

Thicket studies fashion design online and dreams of a future in costuming.

“I’m hoping that eventually I can turn this into a career, but I always do want something to fall back on which, is why I still want to try to continue with my computer science (degree),” she said.

Comic-Con helped make Oksana Nedavniaya’s Hollywood dreams come true. Fresh out of college, the aspiring concept artist met “Chronicles of Narnia” costume designer Isis Mussenden, a guest at a Costume Designers Guild panel. The recent graduate approached Mussenden and offered her portfolio, then went off to enjoy the convention.

“She contacted me three days later and said, ‘Do you remember me?’” Nedavniaya recalled.

“They were about to start preproduction on ‘Prince Caspian’ ... and she asked me if I wanted to illustrate for her. That was my big break.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

SAN DIEGO — Jon Snow isn’t the only one who knows nothing. Fans who attended the “Game of Thrones” panel at Comic-Con found themselves in a similar position Friday afternoon.

The large cast who gathered at the annual comic book convention danced around questions about the future of the story, Jon Snow’s fate, and even the hotly debated treatment of its female characters in Season 5.

Showrunners David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and “Game of Thrones” author George R. R. Martin were not present to help tease out even the slightest bit of information about Season 6 of the popular HBO show.

“We’ve always tried to maintain a level of surprise for people who watch the show,” said “Game of Thrones” producer Carolyn Strauss. They were not going to abandon that premise even for the large Hall H crowd, many of whom waited overnight for the panel.

Host Seth Myers joked that, as a fan of the show, he also tried to mine answers from the cast backstage to no avail.

“And I’m kind of famous,” he laughed.

Instead, the panel functioned more as a retrospective, with an amusing audition reel from many of the cast reciting some of their most famous lines and a montage of how “Game of Thrones” has permeated pop culture with appearances on everything from “South Park” to “Sesame Street.”

Audience members still tried their best to glean any information from the large ensemble, including actors Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Alfie Allen and Liam Cunningham, especially about Kit Harington, who was not present.

Fans were left hanging at the end of Season 5 when the pivotal Jon Snow was stabbed to death, but many believe that Harington will still be back for the upcoming season somehow. The cast was little help though, mumbling and laughing nervously when a man in the audience asked, pointedly, what they’ll miss most about working with Harington.

Their silence might be telling, but as far as we know for certain, Jon Snow is still dead.

Director David Nutter even told President Barack Obama as much. “Jon Snow is deader than dead,” he recalled telling the president just a few weeks ago.

The audience was also eager to discuss some of the treatment of the show’s female characters in Season 5, which included rape, death by burning and a naked walk of shame through town.

When asked if they’ll more overtly address the criticisms in Season 6, Strauss gave a cryptic answer about just trying to find the best stories to tell in the world. “Things were not great for a lot of people, male and female,” she said.

As for the burning of Princess Shireen, Strauss said that, “just because it’s painful doesn’t mean it’s not a good point in the story. It wasn’t done because of the pain, it was done in spite of the pain.”

Nutter recalled that day on set as a particularly difficult one.

“Everyone needed to feel what was going to happen to this young girl,” he said. “It was an amazingly powerful moment that turned out just right.”

Actress Lena Headey was not on hand to discuss her character’s extended nude shame walk.

And yet, although answers were few, there is still one inevitability with “Game of Thrones”: Winter is coming, even if we don’t know when. ■

33

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

Lifestyle

What do fitness trackers and gym memberships have in common? Enthusiasm and usage often drop

BY ANICK JESDANUN The Associated Press

cording to the NPD Group.

Investors and analysts are bullish on Fitbit’s prospects.

Its stock value has more than doubled since the initial public offering. Analyst William Power at Baird Equity Research said Fitbit had room to grow worldwide, as only a quarter of its revenue came from outside the U.S. last year. Power also wrote that Fitbits remain popular among employers and insurance companies looking for ways to keep people healthy.

Fitbit is also profitable, earning $132 million last year on revenue of $745 million.

The company’s market valuation of $8.7 billion is high compared with earnings so far, which could point to enormous growth potential — or simply overvaluation.

Fitbit now has competition from Apple Watch and other smartwatches that do what fitness trackers do and more, such as showing news updates and boarding passes for flights.

In a statement, Fitbit said

regularly use their devices make healthier choices.

The statement didn’t address Fitbit owners who’ve stopped NEW YORK — Deepak Jayausing the device. simha’s fitness tracker is now If people aren’t using their with his father-in-law in India, trackers, they won’t recomwhere it sits unused. Annabel mend them to friends and famKelly foisted hers off on the ily or upgrade when a new modkids. Virginia Atkinson took el comes out, said Dan Ledger, hers off to charge the battery who tracks wearable devices at and hasn’t picked it up since Endeavour Partners. They also February. won’t pay for premium subAlthough sales of Fitbit and scription packages, a potential other fitness trackers are strong, growth area for Fitbit. many of their owners lose enJayasimha, a New Yorker thusiasm for them once the who walks three to four miles novelty of knowing how many a day, said his Jawbone Up steps they’ve taken wears off. stopped giving him informaOne research firm, Endeavour tion he didn’t already know. AfPartners, estimates that about a ter it stopped working one day, third of these trackers get abanhe didn’t bother getting it fixed doned after six months. A health for months. Even then, he never care investment fund, Rock used it again. His wife used it Health, says Fitbit’s regulatory for two weeks before sending it filings suggest that only half of off overseas to her dad, who has Fitbit’s nearly 20 million regisyet to use it. tered users were still active as of “I was just carrying through the first quarter of 2015. with the motion,” Jayasimha “The question for investors is said. “For someone who is not how long the market will conphysically active, I think it will tinue to grow be useful. But at this rate, and once you get to a whether Fitbit state where you can execute on are happy with growing engageAlthough sales of Fitbit and other the activities you ment before... fitness trackers are strong, many of do, it loses its efthe number of their owners lose enthusiasm for ficacy.” devices sold per them once the novelty of knowing With smartyear reaches sathow many steps they’ve taken wears phones, tablets uration,” Malay off. and game conGandhi, a mansoles, IDC anaaging director lyst Ramon Llaat Rock Health, mas said, you can wrote on a blog. download a new Abandonment affects all it intends to remain a market app or game to give them new manufacturers of fitness track- leader through new features life. ers, which are relatively cheap and services to boost user enThat’s not to say all of these at about $100 and are com- gagement and revenue. The trackers get abandoned. monly given as gifts. Fitbit gets company said it keeps users -- Eric Leverett, 52, a producthe spotlight because it started motivated by offering ways to tion manager in Birmingham, trading publicly last month and compete with friends and fam- Alabama, got a Fitbit Charge as has 76 per cent of the U.S. mar- ily and awarding virtual badges a gift and engages in a friendly ket share by revenue, up from for hitting fitness milestones. competition with his 82-year64 per cent a year earlier, ac- Fitbit added that people who old dad on who walks more. www.canadianinquirer.net

SHUTTERSTOCK

Though the initial excitement has worn off, he said, wearing the Fitbit encourages him to walk the dog more often and shun the golf cart while playing a round.

-- Shari Winston, a high school counsellor in Falls Church, Virginia, credits her Fitbit Flex with getting her to exercise regularly. She considered devices that do more, but she’s sticking with the Fitbit for now for its simplicity.

It comes down to expectations. Atkinson, a writer in Adrian, Michigan, was expecting a cheerleader but found monotony. She likened her Fitbit Flex to gyms people join as part of New Year’s resolutions, but drop out of by February or March. Except in her case, she still goes to the gym.

Kelly, a researcher in New Canaan, Connecticut, won two Activite Pops from Withings at a conference. She wore it for a day and got frustrated that she wasn’t credited for cross-training at the gym. She made her 5and 7-year-old daughters wear them to make sure they were getting exercise. (Unlike Kelly,

the kids didn’t have a choice.)

Withings CEO Cedric Hutchings said the company tried to design a device that was primarily a watch, so people will want to wear it regardless of its tracking capabilities. Withings is also gradually adding functionality, such as swimming though a recent software update.

Simply selling hardware would be a failure, Hutchings said, if people don’t use it.

In a statement, Jawbone didn’t directly address product abandonment, but said it sees “high levels of user engagement,” given that the more time one spends with it, the more data Jawbone has to offer personalized coaching and guidance.

Makers of fitness trackers are already thinking ahead with higher-end models at double the price. The Fitbit Surge with GPS tracking and message notification costs $250 and Jawbone’s Up 4 with mobile payments costs $200. But Android smartwatches cost about as much, and Apple Watch just a bit more, starting at $350. ■

Lifestyle

34

JULY 17, 2015

Makati underpass painted with bright murals.

FRIDAY

@TOURISMPHL / INSTAGRAM

Ad-like murals grace underpasses

BY ERIC S. CARUNCHO Philippine Daily Inquirer AS FAR as art openings go, the recent unveiling of four Makati underpass murals was refreshingly free of irony, as well as the usual mad scramble for the open bar and the hors d’oeuvres.

In fact, it resembled nothing so much as a marketing presentation for a new ad campaign which, for all intents and purposes, it was.

Each of the four murals had a different corporate sponsor: Nestlé for the Sedeño underpass, Security Bank for the Paseo de Roxas underpass, Shell for the Salcedo underpass and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) for the Rufino underpass.

The process of creating the murals was also very much adlike: creative teams—in some cases from actual advertising agencies—were assembled to brainstorm, come up with a concept, pass it up through the usual chain of committees for

approval and execute the final design.

The collision of art and advertising has of course been one of the central themes of postmodern culture, at least since Andy Warhol painted his Campbell’s Soup cans and Brillo boxes in the early 1960s—coincidentally the golden age of advertising celebrated in “Mad Men.” Time has dulled pop art’s ironic edge, however, and its critique of consumer culture has grown more and more ambiguous as advertising becomes omnipresent in the media-saturated world that we now inhabit.

Advertising mediums

The corporate invasion of public space (which is also one way of looking at the underpass murals) has also advanced at a relentless pace, with every visible surface in the urban landscape now being seen as a potential medium for messages selling products or ideas.

The debate as to whether advertising can be art is still controversial. Some critics

now consider advertising the modern age’s true vernacular art form. Even those who say advertising can’t be art (mainly because it serves a commercial purpose) admit that ads can be aesthetic artifacts and works of creative expression. In any case, pop art has all but obliterated the divide between “high art” and “low culture” by drawing inspiration from consumer and celebrity culture.

As one character in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” says: “You’ve got to choose between happiness and what people used to call high art. We’ve sacrificed the high art.”

Sponsored by Nestlé and developed by a creative team from J. Walter Thompson, the Sedeño underpass mural is perhaps the most overtly “ad-like”; it even incorporates the tagline “everyone deserves a break” that echoes the famous Kit Kat chocolate line “have a Kit Kat break.”

The RCBC mural for the Rufino underpass was developed by an in-house creative team and illustrated the bank’s fiwww.canadianinquirer.net

nancial products and services, with an emphasis on the company’s “green” projects and its corporate social responsibility programs.

Likewise, the Shell mural for the Salcedo underpass illustrated the company’s operations, including its chain of service stations and the Malampaya natural gas project which the company operates.

To create the mural, the company enlisted the services of 10 previous winners of its annual art competition.

The Security Bank mural for the Paseo de Roxas underpass created by graphic designer Daniel Tingcungco showed various young people reaching for their dreams as a rocket blasts off from the Security Bank building, illustrating the Security Bank Foundation’s institutional thrust which is supporting education through scholarships, teacher training and classroom building.

Ostensibly, the development of the “murals” for four underpasses in the Makati Central Business District was part of

the Makati Commercial Estate Association’s (Macea) push for the “pedestrianization” of the city.

“We want to promote the city’s walkability by enhancing the pedestrian experience of Makati,” said Dave Balangue, president of Macea.

“The underpass murals will make walking more pleasurable for the 300,000 pedestrians who pass them daily,” went the press release for the event.

“Moreover, beyond aesthetics, efforts such as this create an opportunity to let people be aware that creating pedestrian-friendly walkways makes a great livable city. Quite simply, people will become more inspired and uplifted as they traverse to work or to the diverse establishments in Makati.”

In fact, the murals are just part of a larger campaign by Macea and Ayala Land, Inc. called “Make It Happen, Make It Makati” which is intended to “strengthen Makati’s position as the leading city for business, lifestyle, entertainment and culture.” ■

Travel

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

35

DOT-Bicol to send tourism, trade, investment mission to US

BY DANNY O. CALLEJA Philippines News Agency LEGAZPI CITY — The regional office for Bicol here of the Department of Tourism (DOT) is sending this month a mission to the United States (US) to promote the region’s potentials as a tourism, trade and investment destination.

This will be the “14th Tourism, Trade and Investment Mission to the USA” wherein the delegates will be coming from three Bicol provinces that comprise the Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon Tourism Alliance (AlMaSorTA), the tourism road map conceptualized to achieve further development in the area, DOT Regional Director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said over the weekend.

The alliance, formed two years ago by the Bicol Regional Tourism Council (BRTC), calls for a more integrated and comprehensive promotion strategy to market the potentials of the regional tourism industry, eyeing around six million tourist arrivals by 2016, according to Ravanilla.

The mission that will stay in Miami, South Florida for one week, from July 8 to 15, will be composed of a four-man team from this city led by Vice-Mayor Vittorio Roces; Gov. Vicente Homer Revil and Vice-Gov. Jo Kristine Revil of Masbate; Albay Vice-Governor Harold Imperial; and Ravanilla herself who, apart from representing her office, will also act as representative of the province of Sorsogon.

On their arrival on July 8, the mission will meet with Miami-based cruise liner companies that offer Caribbean cruises in a series of benchmarking conferences on the upcoming establishment of an international cruise terminal here in support to the International Cruise Development Plan of the DOT, Ravanilla said.

The cruise terminal project conceptualized by the city government under Mayor Noel Rosal was recently approved by the DOT and endorsed to the Tourism Industry and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for funding and immediate implementation.

It will be located within a vast site along the scenic Legazpi Boulevard, a four-kilometer seaside roadway along Albay Gulf now serving as a key tourism spot in the city.

On July 10-12, the group will be at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center in Tampa, Florida for the 34th Annual Convention of the Bicolano National Association of America (BNAA) where Roces’ team — composed of city councilors Raul Rosal, Alex Sy and Allan Rañola, chair of the city legislative council’s Committee on Tourism — will present

the city’s tourism products and investment opportunities.

“We will be there on invitation of the BNAA for us to entice our fellow Bicolanos in the US to visit and stay in the city during their vacations or homecomings for them to see for themselves and experience why Legazpi is now known in the travel industry world as the City of Fun and Adventure and officially, one of the three most livable cities in the Philippines,” Roces said.

The invitation, signed by BNAA president-elect Helen Piloneo, is an offshoot of the successful hosting by the city government of the association’s 33rd Annual Convention at the Oriental Hotel and Resort here on July 19-21 last year, which was attended by over 500 representatives from the organization’s various chapters across the Continental USA. In this grand Florida gathering, Roces said, he and the members of his team will be presenting to the BNAA delegates, expected to be around 10,000 Bicolanos presently living in the US, the tourism development gains that the city has achieved over years of hard work by the city government in partnership with other industry stakeholders.

“We will be there to show that indeed, the city government has specialized in eco-tourism and action tourism, providing the combinations of safety, adventure, fun and comfortable facilities that make the industry such an exciting proposition today,” Roces said.

The stimulating new horizons in tourism in the city’s outskirts allow visitors to push themselves to new levels of adventure and endurance while soaking up natural marvels and dramatic cultural attractions from the natural world, he said.

The city has great comparative advantage in this sector, based on several assets—guaranteed peace and order, healthful environment, hospitable communities and a base of powerful cultural attractions plus a wide range of very different, often stunning natural environments that are easily accessible and virtually undiscovered by the tourism industry.

Roces said quality hotels and restaurants throughout the city mean that thrill-seekers who want to pamper themselves in-between the adventure treks and fun engagements have a wide range of facilities to choose from.

Nature enthusiasts, according to him, have many options in the city: the magnificent Mayon that offers a silent drama of mountaineering; ATV (all-terrain vehicle) rides around its lava-laden rugged terrain; or burying feet at the fine black volcanic sand bordering its beaches with enticing waters that provide relaxing in-

Mayon Volcano and the ruins of Cagsaua Church in Albay.

terludes.

Besides, the sparkling lower slopes surrounding of the Mayon, the world’s most perfect coned volcano, beckon hikers who seek new adventures over unconquered terrains, he said, adding that all of these await tourists on a 24/7 engagements.

Convincing the BNAA or its businessminded members to put up investments or do business in the city is another part of their mission, he added.

In the same gathering, Ravanilla said, Masbate Vice-Gov. Revil will present the province as the “Home of Cowboys” that plays host to the yearly international rodeo competitions, the province’s top tourist drawer apart from its exciting eco-tourism sites.

Ravanilla said she will present Sorsogon province as the “Cradle of Natu-

www.canadianinquirer.net

SHUTTERSTOCK

ral Beauty” owing to its stunning innate attractions like the whale sharks of Donsol, Bulusan Lake, Subic Beach of Matnog and hot springs at the foot of Mt. Bulusan.

Imperial, assisted by board member Herbert Borja, chair of the provincial legislative board’s committee on tourism, will present the “Colors of Albay” — featuring festivals highlighted by colorful cultural merrymakings and prestigious pageants participated in by beautiful women, good-looking young men and talented gays.

The rest of the mission’s stay, Ravanilla added, will be devoted to Business to Business (B2B) activities on investment and tourism among the BNAA, other Florida-based business parties and the Legazpi, Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon representatives. ■

36

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

SM Prime, Net One exec bag top property awards

BY DORIS DUMLAOABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer SOUTHEAST ASIAN property giant SM Prime Holdings was cited as this year’s “Best Developer” while green building advocate Ramon Fernando Rufino, executive vice president of premium office property developer Net Group, was honored as “Real Estate Personality of the Year” at the Philippine Property Awards 2015.

The Sy family-led SM Prime edged out last year’s champion Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and fellow nominee Megaworld Corp.

SM Prime was also declared winner in several other categories, including “Best Retail Development “and “Best Retail Architectural Design,” both for Mega Fashion Hall (SM Megamall expansion).

The SM group’s residential arm SM Development Corp. also won “Best Landscape Architectural Design” for Shell Residences and “Best Affordable Condo Development (Metro Manila)” for Mezza II Residences.

ALI brought home a “Special Recognition in CSR (corporate social responsibility)” for its commitment to building sustainable communities in the Philippines, plus another award for “Best Residential Architectural Design” for its Park Terraces project. Subsidiary Alveo Land Corp. was declared two-time winner for its latest condominium and residential projects in Cebu (Solinea) and Davao (Abreeza Residences).

CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE. SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) also received the KPMG Executive Leadership Team of the

Year in 2014.

SMCARES.COM.PH

Megaworld also took multiple trophies, including “Best Luxury Development (Resort)” for its Boracay New-CoastOceanway Residences project and “Best Residential Interior Design” for Three Central.

Vista Land and Landscapes’ Amore@Portofino was named “Best Housing Development (Metro Manila)” and “Best Housing Development (Philippines).” Camella Puerto Princesa also won “Best Midrange Development Resort.”

WJGlobal Inc. picked up two awards for “Best Hotel Development” and “Best Hotel Architectural Design” both for Ascott BGC.

Robinsons Land Corp.’s “The Sapphire Bloc” won “Best Midrange Condo Development (Metro Manila)” and “Best Condo Development (Philippines).”

BDO Unibank’s new BDO Corporate Tower in Ortigas reaped “Best Office Development,” “Best Office Architectural Design” and “Best Commercial Development (Philippines)” awards.

Other winners were Agujo Land’s Kandaya Resort in Cebu (“Best Hotel Interior Design”); Primary Homes’ Argao Palm (“Best Housing Development in Cebu”); Flinvest’s Botanika Nature Residences (“Best

EXCHANGE RATES CDN/USD CDN/PHP CDN/EUR CDN/GBP EUR/USD AUD/USD USD/JPY

Luxury Condo Development (Metro Manila)”), and Monte de Tesoro Corp.’s Ore Central (“Best Green Development.”)

The “Real Estate Personality of the Year” was the only award not chosen by the judging panel. Rufino, a young and dynamic figure with valuable contributions to the advancement of green building and sustainable architecture, was honored for his achievements as chair of the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC), which was recently recognized by the World Green Building Council as an emerging member.

“I hope this award brings

added visibility to the efforts of PHILGBC so we can receive even greater support and participation from the real estate industry,” Rufino said. “The environment wins with reduced impact and resource strain from projects, users win as they get healthier spaces with lower operating costs, and owners win by attracting customers, future-proofing their projects and enhancing their corporate social responsibility. While we are still far behind many countries, the good news is there is growing momentum.”

Rufino said the awareness and desire for sustainability were already strong, but noted that the country would still need to improve on the level of commitment and action.

“It’s easy to market and advertise real estate projects as ’green’ but only certification provides the users, the public and the government with the assurance that a project is truly green and sustainable— performing above and beyond minimum standards for green building design, construction, performance and operation,” Rufino said.

Over 350 leaders and talents in real estate, architecture and design gathered in Manila last week to honor the best in the property sector at the third annual property awards. Top winners from the Philippines will go on to compete in the regional stage at the Asia Property Awards grand finals on Oct. 21 at the fifth annual South East Asia Property Awards 2015 to be held at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. ■

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

CHANGE

% CHANGE

1.2726 35.4962 1.4003 1.9916 1.1003 0.7475 123.4200

-0.0008 +0.0232 -0.0014 +0.0006 -0.0004 +0.0025 +0.0500

-0.0636% +0.0654% -0.1011% +0.0321% -0.0386% +0.3322% +0.0405%

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Business

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

37

Too many high end retailers Microsoft cuts 7,800 jobs setting up shop in Canada: and will write down $7.6 billion Retail Consultant in phone business restructuring THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL — An explosion in the number of high-end retailers in Canada could lead to tough times for the segment down the road in a classic case of too many sellers chasing too few buyers, according to retail consultant Trendex.

“Over the past two years, the Canadian expansion plans of both Nordstrom and Saks have come into focus as have the expansion/remodelling plans for Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen,” Trendex said in a newsletter.

Together the total number of stores operated by the four banners will increase from 24 in 2014 to 36 in 2017, including 16 stores in the Toronto market alone.

“While these store counts alone rightly raise concerns, they are only part of the story,” says Trendex, which estimates that more than 40 new high-end doors under various brands have opened in Canada over the past three years, with 30 more to be added between 2015 and 2017.

Besides the risk to the segment from too many competitors and the possibility of a domestic or global economic downturn, Trendex noted that “luxury/better retailers will also continue to experience problems finding and training competent sales personnel.”

“By the end of 2017, the majority of new Canadian luxury/ better apparel retailers will shake their heads and wonder how they fell for the... pitch of Canadian developers.”

Meanwhile, Trendex described the first four months of 2015 as a “mixed bag” for Canada’s clothing retailers.

While FGL Sports, Mark’s, Reitman’s, Walmart and HBC’s DSG Division reported stronger results, many others continued to struggle.

Danier Leather, American Apparel, Gap, and Sears Canada all sustained double-digit sales decreases. Le Chateau lost $12.4 million as sales were down less than the prior year but samestore sales were lower. ■

PM announces...

Canada’s incredible network of protected heritage areas.

- The Rouge National Urban Park Act was passed by the House of Commons on January 26, 2015, and by the Senate on April 2, 2015; it received Royal Assent from the Governor General on April 23, 2015. The Act came into force — formally establishing Rouge National Urban Park — via Order-inCouncil on May 15, 2015.

- The Government of Canada announced its intention to create Rouge National Urban Park in the 2011 Speech from the Throne.

- The addition of 21 km2 (2,104 hectares) of new land will make Rouge National Urban Park one of the largest urban parks of its kind in North America. With the addition of these new lands, a total of 79.5 km2 (7,956 hectares) of land have been committed to the park — making it 19 times larger than Stanley Park in Vancouver, 22 times larger ❰❰ 27

than Central Park in New York, and close to 50 times larger than Toronto’s High Park.

- Rouge National Urban Park is home to a unique combination of natural, cultural and agricultural features including: 1,700 species of plants, birds, fish, mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians; more than 10,000 years of human history; and large tracts of Class 1 farmland, the rarest, most fertile and endangered in the country.

- On May 15, 2014, Prime Minister Harper launched the National Conservation Plan, which provides a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across the country. The Government is further expanding our protected areas and will be taking the final steps to establish Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area — the world’s largest freshwater marine conservation area — and the Qausuittuq National Park on Bathurst Island in Nunavut in the near future. ■

BY BRANDON BAILEY The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft is cutting 7,800 jobs and writing off $7.6 billion in connection with its purchase of Nokia’s phone business, as the giant software maker tries to narrow its focus and pull back from a series of ill-fated forays onto rival tech companies’ turf.

The cuts announced Wednesday come on top of 18,000 jobs that Microsoft trimmed last year, just months after the company paid $7.3 billion for Nokia in the hope of expanding its footprint in the smartphone hardware business where Apple and Samsung are market leaders.

Three years ago, Microsoft wrote off another big sum, $6.2 billion, on its purchase of digital advertising firm aQuantive.

Microsoft bought aQuantive for $6.3 billion in a bid to increase its role in the online ad sector that was dominated by the likes of Google and Yahoo.

Both the Nokia and aQuantive deals were engineered by former CEO Steve Ballmer, who sought to compete against younger, faster-growing tech companies by expanding beyond Microsoft’s original business of making software for desktop computers.

But Microsoft’s new boss, Satya Nadella, has been pulling back from phone hardware and digital advertising after seeing little success in those ventures.

Last month, he announced a deal to hand over most of Microsoft’s remaining display advertising business to AOL Inc. Wall Street seems to prefer Nadella’s strategy of focusing on software and Internet services. Analysts have said the Nokia business was a drag on Microsoft’s profits. The company’s stock slipped 2 cents to $44.28 in afternoon trading Wednesday.

“We believe these cuts are positive for Microsoft as they help streamline the business by getting rid of non-core components,” said Mark Moerdler, an investment analyst with Bernwww.canadianinquirer.net

KEN WOLTER / SHUTTERSTOCK

stein Research, in a note to investors.

“The new CEO has got to right the ship,” agreed David Mitchell Smith, an industry analyst with the Gartner research firm. “They were heading in some directions that needed course correction, and he’s doing it.”

That doesn’t mean Microsoft is out of the woods. The company has struggled to adapt as consumers have increasingly turned away from personal computers, in favour of smartphones and tablets that run software made by Apple and Google.

Analysts say Nadella is making a big bet that people will use new versions of Microsoft’s software on a wide variety of computing devices — including tablets, gaming consoles and even holographic headsets. In recent months, Microsoft has released new versions of its popular Office software for Apple and Android devices, while preparing to launch a major overhaul of its flagship Windows operating system at the end of this month.

“Our reinvention will be centred on creating mobility of experiences across the entire device family including phones,” Nadella wrote in an email to employees that sought to explain the latest cuts.

When added to last year’s layoffs, Microsoft will have trimmed roughly the number of employees it added when it acquired the Nokia business.

Microsoft said it had 118,000 workers at the end of March.

While the company did not provide specifics, Nadella said the latest cuts will primarily affect the Nokia phone business, which has several thousand workers in Finland. The operation has struggled for profitability and seen little growth in its share of the global phone market.

Along with writing down the value of that business, Microsoft said it will incur $750 million to $850 million in restructuring costs related to the cuts.

Wednesday’s announcement was not entirely a surprise.

Nadella has warned in recent months that the company would have to make “some tough choices in areas where things are not working.”

Microsoft isn’t getting out of the hardware business altogether. Nadella said the company will still make some phones, along with its Surface tablets, Xbox gaming consoles and its new HoloLens augmented reality headsets. ■ AP Technology Writer Mae Anderson contributed from New York.

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JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

Parks: Kobe Paras has potential to play in NBA someday

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Dallas Mavericks player Bobby Ray Parks was confident that Kobe Paras will make it to the National Basketball Association (NBA). In fact, he believed that any Filipino player can make it to the big league. All they need to do is grab opportunities along the way.

Paras is committed to play for the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins in the US NCAA Division 1 ball next season.

“Actually kausap ko si Kobe nung isang araw. Yeah, kaya naman ni Kobe (Actually, I talked to Kobe the other day. Yeah, Kobe can do it),” Parks told reporters in a press conference after playing two games in the NBA Summer League.

Parks has earlier been bypassed in the NBA rookie picked but saw an opportunity by playing for the Dallas Mav-

BASKETBALL RISING STAR Kobe Paras.

ericks in the Summer League.

Like him, Parks advises Paras and other Filipino players to seize opportunities.

“Actually lahat tayo, may opportunity. It’s just being in the right place talaga… Malay mo?

May bata diyan sa Pilipinas, nagsho-shooting gamit tsinelas

FACEBOOK

niya (at kinuha ng NBA),” Parks said. “Depende talaga sa plano ni God.” (Actually, we all have opportunities. It’s really just being in the right place… Who knows?

There could be a kid there in the Philippines shooting with his slippers on and would later

on be noticed by NBA teams and be taken as a recruit… It all depends in God’s plans.)

Right now, Parks feels so blessed with his Summer League stint.

“Blessing naman ‘yun na masuot ‘yung jersey, na kada sagundo sa court. Malaking

accomplishement na ‘yun,” he said.

(It’s a blessing wearing the jersey, spending every second in the court. It’s already a big accomplishment.)

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers player Jordan Clarkson has offered an advice to Paras. He urges the college-bound basketball player to work hard and compete as much as possible until he makes it to the NBA. “Just keep working. Put your time in and just go hard on the court and that’s all you can do, compete, every time you get on the floor. You know, he’ll fall in the right places,” Clarkson said in a separate press conference.

Clarkson also believes that playing for the Bruins under head coach Steve Alford will give Paras a chance in the NBA draft and turn pro.

“I haven’t seen that much of him, but, you know, if he goes to UCLA and does what he’s supposed to, he’s on the right stage to do that (become a lottery pick),” Clarkson added. ■

Pacquiao ready to fight next year, but no rematch with Mayweather

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao recently announced his return to boxing, but a rematch with American boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. was unlikely.

“I’m ready to fight, next year.

I’m fine,” Pacquiao was quoted by various websites.

The Filipino boxing champ fought undefeated Mayweather in their multimillion megabout earlier this year, with the American boxer winning the fight via unanimous decision.

Pacquiao later on admitted

that he endured a shoulder injury during the fight which he claimed affected his performance. Mayweather, on the other hand, simply ridiculed Pacquio’s injury.

Months after their megafight, The Pacquiao claimed to be open for a rematch but his tight schedule did not make it seem possible. ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

People's Champ Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao.

HBO.COM

Sports

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

39

Nietes seeks ‘fly’ title after outpointing Mexican

BY ROY LUARCA Philippine Daily Inquirer CEBU CITY — It’s time for Donnie Nietes to move up in weight and bring his act elsewhere.

Nietes dominated Mexican Francisco Rodriguez in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 31 at Waterfront Hotel and Casino here Saturday night, asserting his mastery of the World Boxing Organization junior flyweight division and enhancing his legacy as the longest reigning Filipino world champion.

During the post-fight press conference, also held at the ballroom where Nietes silenced the Mexican on scores of 115113, 119109 and 118-110, ALA Promotions president-CEO Michael Aldeguer bared a plan for the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental, to campaign in the highly competitive flyweight division.

Aldequer, however, remains in a quandary whether to pit the 33-year-old Nietes against the 112-pound champions outright or to test his mettle first with a non-title fight at a catchweight

Defending World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes.

RYAN SONGALIA / THE RING TV ON FACEBOOK

of 110 lb.

“Definitely we’re looking at

the bigger weight next year,” Aldeguer said. “We’re going to

www.canadianinquirer.net

reassess if he’s ready to go up in weight next year.”

Nietes said he wants to defend his 108 lb title one more time and, if possible, to do it in his hometown. Aldeguer is expected to grant Nietes’ request.

“We’re looking at November in Bacolod,” said Aldeguer, noting that the last time Nietes fought in Bacolod was in 2011.

“They [Negrenses] want to watch him again. He’s a legend right now, and it will be something like a homecoming for him. It has always been the plan for the last few years.”

But an interesting offer to fight former light flyweight champion Giovani Segura in the United States might get in the way.

“Now it may happen,” said Aldeguer. “We’re looking at October, most probably second week.

ALA Promotions is now licensed to stage fight cards in the US, with the initial foray set at StubHub in Carson, California.

For 2016, four cards have been calendared, including a major promotion that would

likely feature Nietes.

As a flyweight, Nietes will have to contend with the likes of World Boxing Council king Roman Gonzalez (43-0 with 37 knockouts), World Boxing Association and WBO titlist Juan Francisco Estrada (32-2, 23 KOs) or International Boxing Federation champion Amnat Ruenroeng (16-0, 5 KOs).

International stints are also up for Mark Magsayo (11-0, 9 KOs) following his fifth-round stoppage of Mexican Rafael Reyes in their battle for the IBF Youth featherweight title.

In Saturday’s special bout, Kevin Jake Cataraja made an auspicious professional debut, knocking out Indonesian Ardi Tefa in the sixth and final round of their featherweight encounter.

Cataraja, a 14-time gold medalist in regional and national competitions, took the air out of Tefa (6-5) with a left to the body.

The fight card, graced by WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, was a joint undertaking of ALA Promotions, headed by Michael Aldeguer, and ABS-CBN Sports. ■

40

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Technology

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata dies of tumor

BY YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press TOKYO — Satoru Iwata, who led Japanese video game company Nintendo Co. through years of growth with its Pokemon and Super Mario franchises, died on the weekend of a bile duct tumor, the company said Monday. He was 55.

There was an outpouring of sorrow on Twitter for Iwata as a person who carved out an entertainment legacy. Fans thanked him for childhood memories and for bringing families together.

“He didn’t just create technology. He created a whole culture,” said Nobuyuki Hayashi, a consultant and technology expert. “It wasn’t just a consumer product that he had delivered. He brought to people something that’s eternal, what people remember from when they were kids. He was special.”

Iwata, president from 2002, died Saturday in a Kyoto University hospital. He had not been seen recently at game events, such as E3 in Los Angeles, where he was usually a participant.

Iwata led Nintendo’s development into a global company, with its hit Wii home console and DS handheld, and also through its recent woes caused by the popularity of smartphones.

His replacement was not immediately announced, but the company said star game designer Shigeru Miyamaoto will remain in the leadership team along with Genyo Takeda, who is also in the game development

THANK YOU, IWATA-SAN. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata passed away Saturday. An outpour of support flooded social media this week.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NINTENDO ON FACEBOOK

field.

Iwata had been poised to lead Nintendo through another stage after it recently did an about-face and said it will start making games for smartphones, meaning that Super Mario the plumber would soon start arriving on cellphones and tablets.

The falloff in appetite for game machines in the past few years was partly because people are increasingly playing games or doing social media and other activities on smartphones.

Nintendo has repeatedly had to lower prices on gadgets to woo

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buyers.

One machine. Both companies Nintendo chief. He was tapped Until the recent shift in have done better in adapting as president at a surprisingly strategy, company officials in- to the era of online and mobile young age, in his early 40s, for a cluding Iwata had repeatedly games.

Japanese company. rejected the idea of developIwata succeeded Hiroshi Iwata was a respected and poping games for mobile devices, a Yamauchi, who ruled over the ular figure in the game industry, market that they partly because brushed off for he was relatively years as irrelmore approachevant. able than execuIn March, tives at other JapNintendo anIt wasn’t just a consumer product anese companies, nounced an that he had delivered. He brought to who tend to be alliance with people something that’s eternal, what aloof and rigid in Japanese mobile people remember from when they demeanor. game company were kids. He was special.

Miyamoto, the DeNA Co. to deNintendo game velop games for designer, said he mobile devices. was shocked and The company saddened. returned to profit in the fiscal Kyoto-based company for half “We will upkeep the develyear ended March 2015 after a century, transforming it from opment approach that we built several years of losses. a traditional playing-card com- with Iwata, and we in the deNintendo pioneered game pany to a technological power- velopment team hope to keep machines since the 1980s, de- house. Yamauchi died in 2013 working as one to build toward veloping one of the first ma- at 85. the future,” he said in a statechines and the hit Game Boy Iwata was picked, with Yam- ment. hand-held machine. auchi’s blessing, and YamauA funeral service will be held Its main rivals in the busi- chi remained adviser for many on July 17. He is survived by his ness are Sony Corp. with the years. Iwata had been employed wife Kayoko. The company dePlayStation machines and Mi- at an innovative software com- clined to disclose other details crosoft Corp. with the Xbox pany before he was recruited as of his family. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Technology

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

41

Facebook makes it easier to tweak what you see in your feed

IBM announces computer chip breakthrough, the world’s first 7-nanometer semiconductor

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY The Associated Press

THE CANADIAN PRESS

NEW YORK — Facebook wants you to see more of what you want to see.

New tools will help you weed through the clutter of boring, unwanted information, often from long-forgotten acquaintances, and surface the gems from close friends and interesting pages.

You’ll now be able to choose the friends and pages you want to see on your news feed first.

To do this, go to the friend’s profile. Click on the box that says “following” and select “see first.”

Facebook’s computer software uses a wide range of information you provide to decide what to show. This includes what friends you interact with and how often, or whether you tend to like photos, videos or text updates more.

In announcing the new tools Thursday, Facebook acknowledged that its automated system isn’t perfect, so it wants to give users a way to set their own preferences.

In addition to selecting who or what page you will see first, you’ll still to be able to “unfollow” friends so you won’t see them at all. This option has been available before to people who don’t want to take drastic step of unfriending someone but would rather not read about their lives.

For the rest, though, Facebook will continue to use its software to choose what to show you. So unless you want to see someone’s posts all the time or not at all, you’re stuck with what you’ve got.

The update is available Thursday on iPhones and iPads and is being rolled out in the coming weeks to Android phones and personal computers. ■

our wired lives demand. At the same time that computer chips have grown more powerful, though, they have also gotten smaller, to the point where you can now hold in your hand a computer many times more powerful than computers that

Polytechnic Institute, says it’s figured out how to create 7 nanometer chips.

NEW YORK — IBM says it has To get to the width of a huachieved a breakthrough in man hair, you’d need roughly making computer chips even 10,000 of them. A strand of husmaller, creating a test version man DNA, in comparison is 2.5 of the world’s first semiconducnanometers. tor that shrinks The company down the circuitlast year anry by overcoming nounced a $3 “one of the grand billion investchallenges” of ment over five the tech indusCompanies are racing to create years to advance try.The microsmaller, more powerful chips to chip technolchip industry perform the increasingly complex ogy to meet the has consistently task that our wired lives demand. growing demand created smaller that cloud comand more powerputing, big data, ful semiconducmobile products tors. However, and other new the more chips technologies are shrink the greater the physical used to fill a room. placing on semiconductors. and technological hurdles beToday’s servers are powered The chip is still development come. by microprocessors that use and IBM did not say when it Companies are racing to 22-nanometer or 14-nanome- expects to put it on the market. create smaller, more power- ter node chips.

IBM will still have to figure out ful chips to perform the inIBM, working with a de- how to manufacture large numcreasingly complex task that velopment partners at SUNY bers of the chips cheaply. ■

WEATHER UPDATE VANCOUVER

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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 Tagalog Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre

YUKON

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

Toronto Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-928-9355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

CANADA EVENTS

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

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

NUNAVUT

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

NEWFOUNDLAND

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

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., up to Sept. 21, Vancouver Community Rm, 1720 Grand St., Grd. Flr. MORE INFO: Call Pia at 604-254-9626 ext 487 Photo Easy Class for Seniors

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 nn, Fridays, up to July 31, at MOSAIC Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Gerardo at 604-254-9626 ext 227

ONTARIO

QUEBEC

Succession Planning: Staying Connected with the Family Business

By T & T Supermarket and Small Business BC WHEN/WHERE: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., July 16 at Downtown Cordova St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Mark Blendheim at blendheum.mark@smallbusinessbc.ca Images of the Homeland, an exhibit by Manny Baldemor By the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: Up to 17, Richmond City Hall, Richmond, B.C. 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 Walk with the Dragon

By Success WHEN/WHERE: July 19, Lumberman’s Arch, Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: The Walk will feature colorful dragon dance, carnival games, food booths, and stage performances represented by different cultures, including Japanese, Korean, Philippine, Chinese and Mexican.

Annual Iced-Tea Off

By Tea Sparrow WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., July 19, Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St., Vancouver, B.C. www.canadianinquirer.net

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

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

NOVA

MORE INFO: SCOTIA 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 Teeoff – 1 p.m., July 24, 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., July 25, at 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 Temporary Foreign Workers Uncontested Divorce Clinic

By Law Courts Centre WHEN/WHERE: Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Justice Education Society at the Provincial Court of BC Room 260 800 Hornby St., Vancouver B.C. MORE INFO: To book an appointment, call: 778.322.2839 or text: tfw.divorce@gmail.com Trained paralegals will help write your application.

No legal advice is given. There is a $25 fee for each one hour session.

JULY 17, 2015

43

CANADA

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JULY 17, 2015

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

CONSULAR RECEPTION The Philippine Consulate in Vancouver hosted the 117th Philippine Independence Day reception at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel on July 13.

In celebration of the national day, multi-awarded Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor’s works depicting traditions of the Motherland were exhibited (Photos by Laarni Liwanag).

Conservative Party MP Wai Young, Consul General Neil Ferrer and North Burnaby MLA Richard Lee

Baldemor unveils the painting collage done by him, Dimasalang artists and Vancouver-PCG officers.

Officials and spouses of the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver welcome guests.

Kumare Restaurant & Bakery Owner Mary Loa, Edward Teodoro of RBC, PAL Country Manager Allan Coo, Sunshine Woods Golf Centre Owners Rob & Ellen Cordero and Richmond Community Leader Lita Nuguid

Vancouver-based music artist Joey Albert with the man of the hour Manuel Baldemor

Baldemor’s brother-in-law Pepito Daelo (L) and friends

An art exhibit by Filipino artist Manuel D. Baldemor entitled, “A Glance at Traditions of Motherland,” are on display during the reception. More artworks are put on show at the Richmond City Hall Lobby until July 17.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Baldemor with PCI Operations and Marketing Head Laarni Liwanag-de Paula

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Seen and Scenes

JULY 17, 2015

FRIDAY

KEEP ON DANCIN' Senator Enverga graced the recent Quezon National High School Alumni Association during it’s ‘Keep on Dancin' Dinner Dance’ (Photos from Senator Enverga’s FB).

JOURNEY FRONTMAN Journey band main man Ariel Pineda supports Mabuhay Calgary (Photo

by Mel Lana).

KALAYAAN CULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTRE Guests during the recent Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre dance held July 10, in Mississauga, Ont.

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

Food

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

Blistered Corn Salad

RECIPES

Griddled Chicken Salad Sandwich on Rye

BY J.M. HIRSCH The Associated Press 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds 1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce, to taste 1/4 cup bread and butter pickle slices, finely chopped 1 stalk celery, finely chopped 1 cup shredded cooked chicken meat 2 tablespoons butter, softened 4 large slices rye bread 4 deli slices cheddar cheese 4 thick slice tomato In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, fennel seeds and hot sauce. Mix in the pickles, celery and chicken until everything is well coated.

Use the butter to coat 1 side of each slice of bread. For each sandwich, top the unbuttered side of 1 slice of bread with a slice of cheese, then half of the chicken salad. Gently press 2 tomato slices into the chicken salad, then top with another slice of cheese and a second slice of bread, buttered side up.

Heat a medium skillet over mediumhigh. Set the sandwiches in the skillet, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly golden.

Use a spatula to carefully flip the sandwich and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board and let rest for 2 minutes. Cut into halves and serve immediately. ■ J.M. Hirsch is the food editor for The Associated Press. He blogs www.LunchBoxBlues.com.

BY ELIZABETH KARMEL The Associated Press GRILLING FRESH corn until the kernels are blistered and the natural sugars are caramelized makes this salad burst with flavour. This little bit of effort makes all the difference in this colorful summer recipe.

1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2/3 cup olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons, divided Kosher salt and ground pepper 8 ears of corn 1/2 cup diced Spanish onion 1/2 cup finely chopped scallions (about 1 bunch) 1/2 cup minced jalapeno peppers 1 cup chopped heirloom tomatoes or quartered cherry tomatoes 1 to 2 tablespoons mixed minced fresh herbs, such as chives, basil, cilantro and parsley Heat the grill to medium-high.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and mustard. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the 2/3 cup of oil until

China slams...

Other state media reports depicted the lawyers as a group of self-promoters intent on spreading rumors and arranging protests outside court venues. The official state Xinhua news agency said lawyers should uphold the law, not engage in “rabble-rousing” and “mob rule.”

Many of the detained lawyers belong to Beijing law firm Fengrui, which has defended many human rights activists and practitioners of the banned spiritual group Falun Gong.

Other detainees have defended dissident artist Ai Weiwei and Uighur (WEE❰❰ 22

47

gur) scholar Ilham Tohti. Uighers are a Muslim minority community in China’s for western region of Xinjiang.

The Public Security Ministry accused the lawyers of disrupting public order, seeking illegal profits, illegally hiring protesters and trying to unfairly influence the courts, Xinhua said, saying there have been more than 40 such controversial incidents since July 2012.

It was unclear what prompted last week’s crackdown, however, because some of the incidents cited in state media have long been publicly known. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

the mixture is smooth and emulsified.

Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Husk the ears of corn, then brush them all over with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Set the ears directly over the heat on the grill and cook, turning occasionally, until all sides are blistered and lightly charred, 15 to 20 minutes. Set the corn aside until cool enough to be easily handled.

Cut the kernels from the ears of corn.

To do this, one at a time cut each ear in half across the centre. Stand each piece on its wide, cut end and use a very sharp knife to cut down the length of the cob, cutting just deep enough to remove the kernels. Rotate and continue cutting until all of the kernels have been removed.

In a large bowl, toss the warm corn kernels with the vinaigrette. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well, then set aside to cool to room temperature. Before serving, taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed. ■ Elizabeth Karmel is a barbecue and Southern foods expert. She is the chef and pitmaster at online retailer CarolinaCueToGo.com and author of three books, including "Taming the Flame."

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JULY 17, 2015

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FRIDAY