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JULY 31, 2015

VOL. 7 NO. 178

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Speak up, INC folk told

Aquino to endorse Roxas on Friday, says LP exec

P-Noy: Lackluster grade on dev’t goals

NDP uses child care benefit donation as fundraising tool

Team Canada: A Great Success Story

Senate priority bills for last regular session

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

TROUBLE WITH SONA IS GOODBYE President Aquino’s final State of the Nation Address inside the plenary hall of the House of Representatives during the joint session of the House and Senate. Beside him are Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. LYN RILLON / PDI

A tale of two SONAs VP Binay vows to deliver the ‘true SONA’

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) delivered his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday afternoon, but Vice President Jejomar ‘Jojo’ Binay believes that he will give the “true SONA.” “In his True SONA, Vice President Jejomar Binay will remove the gloss and

tell the plain truth as experienced every day by ordinary Filipinos,” Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs Atty.

Rico Quicho said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report Tuesday.

Quicho also clarified that Binay does not think that he was the one that PNoy was referring to the part of the SONA where Aquino talked about a staunch

MANILA — What’s in the senators’ todo list for the last Regular Session of the 16th Congress?

Senate President Franklin Drilon revealed the priority bills in the Senate’s list for the remaining months.

As the last session opens, Drilon said that the senators should set aside their political interests and focus on the passage of the bills that will serve the interest of the people.

“We are racing against time. We must set aside political interests and think of solutions to the nation’s pressing problems. Let us remind ourselves that we are here to serve the people, and not special interest groups,” he said National budget The 2016 National budget is on top ❱❱ PAGE 6 Senate priority

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JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Luy tells court of corrections to documents in ‘pork’ scam

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

Luy said there were instances in which he did not input the necessary corrections on the “soft copies” of the documents which were saved in his BENHUR LUY, principal whistleblower computer. in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, yes“It happened several times,” Luy said terday admitted that the financial re- in response to Buenaventura’s question cords he presented as primary evidence on how often Napoles, the suspected against implicated personalities were mastermind in the multibillion-peso not the actual docufund scam, made corments pertaining to rections without Luy the fund scam. inputting the changResuming his teses into his computer. timony at Janet LimLuy said there When the lawyer Napoles’ bail hearing were instances asked him why he did at the Sandiganbayan in which he not make the necesThird Division, Luy did not input sary changes in his also disclosed that the necessary digital files, Luy resome corrections in corrections plied: “Because [the the daily disburseon the “soft documents] were alment records (DDR) copies” of the ready filed.” were not reflected in documents Presiding Justice the digital copies of which were Amparo Cabotajethe documents. saved in his Tang then asked Luy Quizzed by Nacomputer. if the corrections also poles lawyer Dennis included amounts Buenaventura during which the lawmakers the cross-examinaand other individuals tion, the witness said supposedly received Napoles herself would rectify the er- as kickbacks, to which the witness anrors, mostly dates and spelling of names, swered, “Never, because [Napoles] by writing down the corrections on the would always check if the figures in the printed documents. documents and the actual money we

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have in the cash vaults were the same.”

“So there was never an occasion that there was error in the amounts reflected in the documents?” Tang asked. “Yes your honor,” Luy replied. Buenaventura noted that printed copies of DDRs which Luy provided as evidence were not signed, contrary to his previous testimony that he, Napoles and other senior officers of Napoles-owned JLN Corp. would affix their signatures on the documents before Luy would keep them.

Luy explained that the original copies of the DDRs were among the documents shredded by JLN employees upon the instruction of Napoles when the pork barrel issue came out in the media.

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“So how can we be sure that these are faithful reproductions of the original documents?” Buenaventura said.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Cornelio Sumido immediately raised his objection, saying Luy was incompetent to answer Buenaventura’s questions.

“Is that an admission that these DDRs are not faithful reproduction?” the defense lawyer said.

“Leave that to the appreciation of the court,” Tang told Buenaventura.

Associate Justice Samuel Martires also asked Luy if the court “will just take your word” that the copies of the DDRs, which he printed from his external hard drive, were the same as the signed documents. ■

Belmonte embarrassed over some lawmakers’ protest

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT

$7500

Pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.

MANILA — House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was displeased and embarrassed with the demonstration of some lawmakers against President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III done inside the plenary hall.

“I think the mere fact that they saw that everybody were virtually so embarrassed by them I think that’s enough,” Belmonte said. “I was very embarrassed because they are all my people.”

The lawmakers, who belonged to the Makabayan bloc, protested against the President after he delivered his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA). They held placards with the words ‘palpak’ (inefficient) and ‘manhid’ (insensitive) They also uttered ‘Walang

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pagbabago sa ilalim ni Aquino’ (There’s no change under Aquino’s [administration]).

“Alam niya naman kung ito eh…galing siya dito. Nakita naman niyang I was so pissed off by it (He understands this… He was from [the House of Representatives himself ]. He saw I was so pissed off by it),” Belmonte said.

Seeing the demonstration, others in the venue showed support to Aquino by clapping even louder for him. Senate President Franklin Drilon even booed at the lawmakers.

The lawmakers who protested were Act Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio, Anakpawis Representative Fernando Hicap, Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan and Emmi De Jesus and Kabataan Representative Terry Ridon. ■

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FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

Escudero withdraws from 2 Senate panels

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — With the budget deliberation soon to be started, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero resigned as the chairman of two Senate finance panels so that he would not be given the wrong impression of using government resources for political aims.

Escudero left his position as chairman of the Senate committee on finance and as cochairman of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures. He has already sent his resignation letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon.

“I thank the honorable Senate President for entrusting the undersigned with the critical responsibility of managing the Senate’s role in fulfilling Congress’ due to oversee the Executive Department’s use of public funds and to ensure that the allocation of the same is guided by what is in the best interest of our

Without the senator’s formal announcement yet, several speculations arose that he would run as vice president alongside Senator Grace Poe who would run for president in the coming elections.

“Susuportahan ko ang desisyon ni Senator Poe, tumakbo man sya o hindi, anumang pwesto (I will support the decision of Senator Poe, whether she runs or not, whatever position),” Escudero said.

No falling out with Aquino

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

people,” the senator’s letter read.

“However, given my public pronouncements regarding a possible candidacy for higher office in 2016, I believe that it behooves me to step down at this juncture to ensure that deliberations on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) — considered the single most important piece of legislation passed by Congress each year

PHOTO FROM ESCUDERO'S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

— are untainted by suspicions or perceptions of partisan politics,” the letter continued. “It is, Mr. President, what propriety requires; it is, I believe, what our people expect from us all: delicadeza.”

Despite quitting from two Senate panels, Escudero vowed to still continue efforts of ensuring the passage and constitutionality of the GAB. It can

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be recalled that the Supreme Court earlier declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unlawful.

Even after his resignation and consideration of a candidacy, Escudero has yet to officially announce his interest in seeking higher office in next year’s national elections.

Escudero clarified that his irrevocable resignation was only intended to keep the budget deliberations free from politics.

He asserted that it has nothing to do with President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. “Ayaw ko masabi na ang budget ay ginagamit sa personal na interes o partisan politics...

(I don’t want to be told that the budget is being used for personal interests or partisan politics…),” he said. “We remain friends and my support for him (Aquino) continues.” ■

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Philippine News

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Speak up, INC folk told Iglesia threatens to sue renegades

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer “FOR THE sake of our church, be brave and tell the truth about our wayward brethren.”

That was the message posted on Facebook yesterday by Isaias Samson Jr., an expelled minister of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), whose leaders began conducting a loyalty check on members after internal squabbles over finances and control of the 101-year-old indigenous Christian group became public on Thursday.

An INC spokesperson also said yesterday the church was considering filing charges against renegades who were spreading false accusations against its leaders.

In a series of messages posted on Facebook, Samson, in hiding and claiming his family had been threatened, appealed to members of INC to disclose what they knew about alleged corruption and questionable practices by the church’s leaders.

Samson warned that the continued silence of other INC ministers and members was imperiling the entire church when only a few were at fault.

The 7,000 seater Iglesia ni Cristo Central Temple in Quezon City, Philippines.

Samson has emerged as the most vocal critic of the INC leadership amid the public unraveling of the troubles within the politically influential church, run by the Manalo family since its founding in 1914.

The troubles became public on

Wednesday night when Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo, widow of INC executive minister Eraño Manalo, and her son Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Villanueva Manalo posted a video on YouTube appealing for help and claiming their lives were in danger. They also claimed that some INC ministers had been kidnapped.

INC expelled them on Thursday for trying to sow disunity and gain control of the church.

“You have always said how sad and angry you are because of the corrupt practices that some members of the Sanggunian (advisory council), and their actions not just in terms of money but about rules and activities in the Iglesia,” Samson said in a four-minute video, one of three posted since Friday night on a Facebook account under the name “Sher Lock.”

A source from Samson’s group said the page’s administrator was “a person who has the courage to reveal the truth.”

“You know the grievances of our brethren, like those in the Central Office who have been complaining about the burdensome tasks they were being asked to do. But why are you still ignoring it?” Samson said in a video apparently taken using a phone camera just before he escaped Manila on Friday because of alleged threats to his life.

Do something

“God has been giving us opportunities. You might say we should just wait for God to do something. But don’t you think what you’ve been feeling about the situation is God’s way of moving you to do something?,” said Samson, currently in an undisclosed location outside Metro Manila.

The former minister, also removed www.canadianinquirer.net

JG CANLAS / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

as editor in chief of INC’s official publication Pasugo (God’s Message), was the first to come out publicly and speak about the weeklong “torture” he and his family went through while “under house arrest” allegedly ordered by church leaders.

The family was held on July 16, after Samson was accused of writing subversive articles about INC in a blog under the name Antonio Ramirez Ebangelista. While admitting he was a reformist, Samson denied he was Ebangelista.

The family escaped on Thursday, in what Samson described as God’s work.

Samson faced the media on Thursday, hours after his escape, confirming the detention of at least 10 other ministers and detailing corrupt practices of certain members of the INC advisory council.

In his video appeal, Samson called out other INC members for doing nothing.

“We say we love the church, that we want the church to go back to the straight path, to holiness. But why are you not taking action? Why don’t you listen? Prove to God that you are ministers and [workers] of the Iglesia,” Samson said.

He called on other INC members to unite against people responsible for wrongdoings in the church, lest “the entire church will continue to tread the path toward evil, and even we won’t be saved.”

“My only wish is for you to prove, to show, to reveal the corruption that you’ve seen. Only when we’re united could this be done,” he said.

Samson also appealed to INC spokespersons Edwil Zabala and Bienvenido Santiago to stop speaking falsehoods, ❱❱ PAGE 10 Speak up

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Philippine News

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Aquino’s last SONA about ‘story of governance,’ ‘history’ — Palace

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will deliver his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) today at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City where he will report about the ‘story of governance’ and the ‘history’ of his entire six-year term.

The Malacañang has not disclosed any more details about Aquino’s last SONA. It is expected, however, that the President will have a ‘comprehensive report’ about the accomplishments of his administration and the fulfillment of his promises to the people. It is also said that he will include plans for his remaining months in office.

Aquino has always pushed for a ‘daang matuwid’ in his government. He also sought to alleviate poverty and hunger; provide more employment opportunities; improve the education system; attain peace in Mindanao; modernize the Armed Forces; implement numerous policies, programs and projects; and achieve inclusive growth in the Philippines’ economy, among others.

“For the past five years, the average GDP

(gross domestic product) growth of 6.3 percent has been the highest attained by the country in the past four decades. This is the fastest growth rate of any nation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region and the second-fastest in the Asia-Pacific region,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

“From only 800,000 families, there are now more than 4.4 million families that directly benefit from conditional cash transfers that are part of an expanded social safety net and social protection programs. The largest portion of the current national budget is allocated for social development and poverty reduction,” he added in the said report.

Coloma also asserted that more jobs have been made available and the justice system remained apolitical and impartial during the President’s term. “[Aquino is] firmly determined to further improve the delivery of essential public services that strengthen public institutions so that we can build even stronger foundations for a sustainable and inclusive growth and progress that could be its legacy to future generations of Filipinos,” he said. ■

Philippine senators and spouses at the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 16th Congress PHOTO COURTESY OF TG GUINGONA’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Senate priority... of the senate list.

“We will scrutinize the 2016 National Budget. We shall pass it on time as we have done in the past five years so that the government would not operate on a reenacted budget,” he said.

“If you recall, because of the reenacted budget, the previous administration converted the entire GAA into a single lump sum appropriation,” he added.

Drilon also noted that the senators should make sure that the people are assured that there will be no more ‘pork’ in the budget.

“We assure our people that the pork barrel system is a thing of the past.” ❰❰ 1

BBL

“We will continue to promote lasting peace and sustainable development in Mindanao through a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is consistent with our Constitution.”

Drilon earlier said that the Senate will ensure that they will approve a constitutional version of the BBL. The bill seeks to create a Bangsamoro political entity which will replace the ARMM. On Thursday, Drilon said that he is yet to discuss the timetable of the BBL’s passage with the other senators.

“Senator (Bongbong) Marcos told us that he will be ready to file the report on August 3, that is one week after the SONA. When this report is presented, I will ask for a caucus with all senators so that we can set our timetable,” Drilon said.

Other bills

Aside from the national budget, Drilon also said that the Senate should focus on the Customs and Tariff Modernization Act (CTMA).

Citing the estimated P200 billion loss of the government due to smuggling in 2013, Drilon said passing the act will “enhance trade and commerce.”

“This will introduce full automation www.canadianinquirer.net

of customs procedures, and strengthen the Bureau of Customs’ risk management, revenue collection and enforcement systems.”

For transparency, he also mentioned the Tax Incentives Monitoring and Transparency Act (TIMTA).

“The Tax Incentives Monitoring and Transparency Act (TIMTA) will become law in this last session. This will foster transparency and accountability in the grant of fiscal incentives to business entities.”

Drilon is also eyeing for the passage of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the modernization of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration.

In the area of technology, we will create the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to develop ICT systems and enhance communication services. We have the most expensive internet rates, but one of the slowest in terms of speed, outpacing only Afghanistan.

We will modernize PAGASA. We will equip our weather bureau with state-ofthe-art facilities and technologies.

‘Pursuit of good governance’

Drilon then urged his colleagues to continue heeding the people’s “intense calls for meaningful reforms.”

“We have seen the vigor and enthusiasm of our people to participate in the life of our nation. We have heeded their intense calls for meaningful reforms.

All our hard work will rake in huge dividends in improving the life of Juan Dela Cruz, strengthening the economy, creating a stable political system, and providing social protection to our citizens,” he said.

“We should continue in the last regular session of this Congress, and even beyond, the pursuit of good governance and the audacity to implement meaningful reforms, no matter how unpopular they may be,” he added. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

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Formal complaint to be filed against Makabayan lawmakers for ‘flash protest’

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo has ordered his legal team to file a complaint before the House of Representatives Ethics Committee after seven lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc held a “silent protest” inside Batasang Pambansa the minute President Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) finished delivering his State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27.

The crowd wasn’t even done applauding PNoy’s speech when the lawmakers revealed their banners for what they called a “flash protest.” Some banners read “Mapang-aping Asendero (abusive haciendero)”, “Human Rights Violator,” “Serbisyo Palpak (Failed Service),” “Pork Barrel King,” “Tuta ng Kano (Dog/Puppet of Americans),” and “Pahirap sa Mangagawa at Kawani (Burden to Workers and Employees).”

Senate President Franklin Drilon, who was right beside

Several lawmakers from militant groups raised banners saying “Pork Barrel King” & “Pahirap sa Mangagawa at Kawani” after Pres. Aquino finished his speech.

SCREENSHOT FROM PCI LIVESTREAM VIA RTV MALACANANG

PNoy as the flash protest ensued, was seen and heard saying “boo” over the microphone from the plenary hall stage.

Several attendees also booed in chorus.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. clarified later on that the booing was directed at the protesters and not toward Aquino or his SONA. Meanwhile, Belmonte, who

was on the other side of PNoy during the silent rally, admitted later that night that he somehow felt embarrassed by the protest.

The seven lawmakers of the

Makabayan bloc who held the “flash protest” were Rep. Neri Colmenares and Rep. Carlas Zarate of Bayan Muna Partylist, Teri Ridon of Kabataan Partylist, Emmi de Jesus and Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Partylist, Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, and Fernando Hicap of Anakpawis.

“We will review the footage tonight and from there we will decide how we will make the complaint,” Castelo said to members of the media.

Castelo added that the plenary hall where the SONA was held is “sacred” under House policies and acts of protest may be done outside the hall. However, Ridon believes otherwise.

“On part of the Makabayan bloc, we believe that the flash protest was very well within the boundary of our constitutional right to air our grievances,” Ridon said in statement Tuesday.

He added that it is their duty “as representatives of the poor and the marginalized sectors to speak truth to power.” ■

Aquino to endorse Roxas on Friday, says LP exec

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA – According to the Liberal Party (LP) secretary general, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is scheduled to endorse Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as his preferred successor and standard-bearer of his political party in the coming presidential elections.

“It’s going to be a simple affair, but everyone will be there, not only government officials,” LP political affairs chairperson Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

The endorsement rites will be held on Friday at Club Filipino in San Juan City. After the event, another gathering for the formal declaration of support of government officials will be held next week.

LP member Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., however, stated that he was not informed

of the schedule but confirmed his attendance. “[Roxas is] the most qualified person for the presidency… [He is fit for the position in terms of ] achievement, track record, qualifications, and integrity,” he said in the same report.

During Aquino’s sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA), he has already dropped hints that he has chosen Roxas as the presidential candidate he will support. The President has also defended the secretary from his detractors.

“Nasa loob o labas ka man ng gobyerno, hindi tumigil sa panlalait sa iyo ang mga kalaban ng ‘Daang Matuwid.’ Dahil nga may bilang ka, dahil talagang may ibubuga ka, nagpupursigi silang ibagsak ka. Palibhasa hindi nila kayang iangat ang sarili, kaya pilit ka nilang ibinababa. Sa patuloy nilang paninira, ang mga kritiko mo na rin ang nagpapatunay na takot sila sa angkin mong integridad, husay, at kahandaan sa trabaho. Mar, pinatutunayan

DILG Secretary and Liberal Party frontrunner for 2016 Mar Roxas with Pres.

Noynoy Aquino.

PHOTO FROM ROXAS' OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

mo: ‘You can’t put a good man down.’ Tulad ng pagtitiwala ng nanay at tatay ko, magtiwala kang alam ng taumbayan kung sino ang tunay na inuuna ang www.canadianinquirer.net

bayan, bago ang sarili,” he said.

(Whether you are in or out of government, the enemies of the ‘Straight Path’ have not stopped criticizing you. Because you

count, because your words matter, they have continued to do their best to put you down.

Through their constant attacks on your character, your critics themselves have proven that they are afraid of your integrity, skill, and ability to do the job. It’s only because they have nothing to boast of that they’re trying to bring you down. Mar, you are proving: ‘You can’t put a good man down.’ Just as my mother and father had faith, so too should you have faith that our countrymen know who truly puts country before self.)

Prior the President’s decision to support Roxas’ presidential bid, he also held several dinner meetings with Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“I think the result of [the] dialogue assures me – and I have to reiterate – there are really a lot [of candidates] who can continue what we are doing and that is what we are happy about,” he earlier told reporters. ■

Philippine News

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JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

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Member

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his sixth and last State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the Joint Session of the 16th Congress at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives Complex in Constitution Hills, Quezon City on July 27, 2015.

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P-Noy: Lackluster grade on dev’t goals 5.9 on scale of 1 to 10, says coalition scorecard

BY DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer IN HIS FIFTH year in office, President Aquino performed below expectations, especially in areas of managing the economy, public finance, health and agriculture, according to a coalition of good governance advocates.

The President was rated 5.9 for 2014 on a scale of 1 to 10, in which 10 is the highest, the scorecard of the multisectoral Movement for Good Governance (MGG) showed.

MGG started benchmarking the performance of the Aquino administration using a data-based assessment that does not rely on perception, impressions and anecdotes.

“The scorecard is a tool that can track program implementation,” MGG said, noting this benchmarking system can direct attention to strengths as well as gaps that need reinforcement.

“The assessment study is meant not to be a critique but a tool for identifying successes and alerting the government on areas that need strengthening and improvement,” it said.

Based on the report released ahead of Mr. Aquino’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona), the grade in his fifth year was below the minimum score of 7.5 for the promises he made at the be-

ginning of his term to be considered “on track.”

The President’s grade, however, is above 5—which means “something has been accomplished but is lower than expected.”

The latest grade was lower than the 6.58 score given by MGG for 2013 and was the lowest since 2011 when Mr. Aquino scored 5.66.

His scores in the areas of managing the economy, public finance, health and agriculture were lower than those in the previous year.

Governance

One area where he scored relatively better was in governance, where a score of 7.0 was given, the same as the score in 2013.

MGG, chaired by economist Solita Monsod, also has a handful of former government technocrats as proponents: former Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo of Public Finance Institute of the Philippines, former Finance Secretary Milwida Guevara of Synergeia Foundation, former election Commissioner Gus Lagman of Transparency Organization and former Trade Undersecretary Ernesto Ordoñez of Agriwatch.

Among other organizations affiliated with MGG and key representatives are Health Futures’ Foundation (Jimmy Galvez and Raymund Sarmiento), Uni-

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versity of the Philippines’ College of Public Administration (Edna Co), Action for Economic Reforms (Filomeno Sta. Ana III), Youth Vote (Ching Jorge), Galing Pook Foundation (Ed Dorotan), Convergence Team (Ricky Javier), Bukluran ng Maralita sa Taguig (Mar Mercado), Sugod Bulacan (former Mayor of Guiguinto Ambrosio Cruz Jr.), INK (singer Drae Ybañez), Education for Life Foundation (Edicio de la Torre), Transparency and Accountability Network (Vince Lazatin), Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Magsasaka (Socrates Banzuela), and Bikes for the Philippines (Joel Uichico).

Employment generation

The MGG said it “notes with favor the success of the Aquino administration in employment generation, in maintaining macroeconomic stability, the rapid expansion of the National Health Insurance Program, reduction in the incidence of mortality rates for malaria and tuberculosis, and increasing subsidies to the poor to obtain healthcare.”

“The initiatives to increase transparency through the mandatory disclosure of budget information by national government agencies, the continuation of the performance incentive scheme for local governments under the Seal of Good Local Governance and the significant strides in the fight against cor-

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

ruption are commended,” the group said in a report issued on Saturday.

It also recognized the benefits of the conditional cash transfer program to the poorest households, saying the program increased per capita consumption of food, clothing and education.

But MGG said lower scores were given to the government’s performance in the economy due to the drop in gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in 2014, inability to increase exports relative to the target (the export to GDP ratio was 45.99 percent in 2014, or below the target of 64.3 percent by 2016) alongside the increase in poverty incidence from 24.7 percent in 2013 to 26.8 percent in 2014.

No sustained growth

did not even match the 8-percent increase in imports.

Bottom-up budgeting

MGG noted the “empowering” potential of “bottom-up budgeting” but cited the need for greater transparency in how the projects proposed by communities get to be approved.

In contrast to “top-down” budgeting, the bottom-up type seeks to determine the underlying costs for each individual segment of an organization and then total up each department. Because it involves grassroots planning, it is traditionally deemed to be accurate and more morale-boosting because it is participatory in nature.

For public finance, the President scored 5.87 in his fifth year in office compared with 6.03 in the previous year.

On health, the score was 5.67, lower than the 6.33 in the previous year due to the following: “Unequal” distribution of health care personnel, resulting in a ratio of about three health personnel for every 10,000 of the population.

“Alarming” 587-percent increase in the incidence of HIV cases.

Inability of the government to meet health targets of its Millennium Development Goals as there are still regions where under-five mortality rate is 30 deaths per 1,000 live births compared with the national average of 22 deaths per 1,000 live births.

“Lack of affordable services,

2.8 percent during the Arroyo administration.

“The inability of the administration to provide agriculture with the needed and strategic support largely affects the very limited success of government to reduce poverty in the rural areas,” the coalition said.

Yield from coconut, MGG said, declined by 1.5 percent annually while livestock production grew at a snail pace of 1.5 percent.

It said the the focus on rice sufficiency deprived other products of better market and income prospects as well as needed support and resources.

In terms of productivity in coconut and sugarcane in Southeast Asia, the Philippines was the worst performer, the coalition said.

The country continued to have the lowest level of agricultural exports in the region at $6.1 billion, an amount that pales in comparison with $47 billion in Thailand.

On economic management, Mr. Aquino scored 5.96 in 2014 compared with 6.58 in the previous year. Although the Philippines remained the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia, GDP growth softened to Highest score 6.1 percent in 2014, down from The area where Mr. Aquino 7.1 percent in 2013 and 6.7 perscored the highest was in govercent in 2012. “It is clear that nance. MGG gave him a score of sustained high growth has not 7, maintaining the score in the occurred,” the report said. previous year.

On public finance, MGG notThe group said gains in the ed that deficit management was fight against corruption were brought about largely by undernotable resulting in a marked spending, which contributed to improvement in the Philipthe inability of government to pine ranking in the Transparmeet growth targets and to proency International Corruption vide adequate service delivery Index. In this benchmark, the in health and support services Philippines ranked 85 out of to farmers.

175 countries in 2014, improvThe report ing from 105th also noted that place in 2012 the Philippine and 94th place in tax effort barely 2013. The score inched up to 13.6 of the Philippercent of GDP The President’s grade, however, is pines in the Ecoin 2014 comabove 5—which means “something nomic Freedom pared with 13.5 has been accomplished but is lower Index improved percent in 2013. than expected.” by 2.1 points to Tax effort refers 62.2 in 2015. to the ratio be“However, cortween the share ruption issues of the actual tax continue to be a collection in GDP and taxable lack of transportation, unavail- serious cause for concern, escapacity, thereby indicating ability of facilities, as well as the pecially in the bureaucracy and how well a country is doing in lack of information on the ben- the judiciary,” MGG said. terms of tax collection, relative efits of health insurance coverWith this scorecard, MGG, to what could be reasonably ex- age, were cited as the reasons which was formed in 2008, said pected given its economic po- why Filipino mothers do not it hoped to contribute to the tential. seek consultation in health care effort of assessing how the adRevenue collection in 2014 facilities,” MGG said. ministration remained faithful reached P1.91 trillion but was In agriculture, the admin- to its contract with the Filipino below the goal of P2.28 tril- istration received a score of 5, people. lion, MGG said. While Bureau lower than the previous 5.5.

“MGG believes in empowof Internal Revenue collection MGG said there was “very ering the citizens through an kept pace with the increase in little” progress, if at all, in the objective assessment of the income and prices, the report agriculture sector as sectoral performance of elected public pointed out that the growth of growth slowed down to 2.1 per- officials based on their platBureau of Customs collection cent annually compared with forms,” it said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

9

Binay camp hits Peña’s ‘purge’ of qualified execs

BY MARICAR B. BRIZUELA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE CAMP of suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay yesterday described the change of leadership at the University of Makati (UMak) and Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) as “a purge of qualified city officials,” not a facelift.

Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado told the INQUIRER in a text message that the two institutions have long been known “for quality and efficient management.”

“In fact OsMak is ISO certified which means it complies with international quality standards of service and management. It [began] during the time of the Vice President and Mayor [Junjun] continued it.

It’s not a facelift, it’s a purge of qualified city officials,” Salgado said.

Last week, acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña announced the appointment of Dalisay Brawner as officer in charge of the government-run UMak to “spearhead needed reforms in the university.” She replaced Tomas Lopez who was probed by the Senate for his ties to the Binay family.

At OsMak, Peña appointed Dr. Danilo Anastacio who will represent the “new leadership” tasked with the hospital’s “facelift” and “needed reforms.”

Through Anastacio, Peña “intends to address persistent complaints from residents about slow service and ineffi-

cient staff, among other problems,” a release from the city government read.

Salgado, however, criticized the appointments, noting that Peña was not the one who chose the new officials but former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, a known critic of Binay and his father, former Makati mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay. Mercado has testified several times in the Senate on the alleged corrupt practices of the Binay family.

“What remains unanswered is the role of former Vice Mayor Mercado in the appointments.

He is really the one choosing OICs,” Salgado claimed. Earlier, Salgado called Peña a “figurehead and a mere front” of Mercado.

“He is not in charge. The ones calling the shots at city hall are Mercado and Engr. Mario Hechanova. These are the two ex-Makati officials who publicly admitted to their corrupt activities,” he added.

Peña took over on July 1 after the younger Binay stepped down from office to serve a sixmonth preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman over allegations that the Makati City Science High School building was overpriced.

Among Peña’s first acts in office were to suspend Makati’s sister city agreements with over 600 local government units nationwide and call for a review of the service and employment contracts at city hall to weed out “ghost” employees. ■

THE OLD AND THE NEW. Then Makati Vice Mayor Romulo 'Kid' Peña (left) with

suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar 'JunJun' Binay.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEÑA'S FACEBOOK PAGE

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FRIDAY

Speak up... saying they also knew about the mismanagement that was plaguing the church.

“We are friends. We were together for a long time. I know you know what’s happening. I just don’t understand why people like you who are ministers would ❰❰ 4

not say what’s truly inside you, what you really see,” Samson said in another video.

“I hope that if you will continue to speak, you will serve as spokespersons of God, not of the people you are defending. Remember, corruption can never be

denied. It will be revealed ... God will reveal it,” he said.

But Zabala said the INC leadership was considering filing charges against the church’s critics.

“At this point, we are not discounting any of the options we’re looking into.

We intend to explore all legal and moral remedies available to us to clear the name and reputation of the INC,” Zabala said in a telephone interview.

He also said the INC would face the allegations against it in a proper forum, where it could present “the truth.” “[T]he INC can answer whatever accusations, whatever proof its accusers supposedly have against it,” Zabala said, challenging INC critics to produce evidence against the church.

He did not say, however, whom the INC was planning to sue.

Loyalty check

An INC member said yesterday that the church leadership appeared to be conducting a loyalty check, with ministers directing followers by text message to report to their local secretariats.

The source showed the INQUIRER a text message from his local minister but asked that the contents of the message not be published.

He said the local minister was also directing followers to submit their latest ID pictures.

“The church is obviously doing a loyalty check. This is not just a way to update our membership since we have mechanisms to do that. And we go to our local churches every week,” the source said.

Other INC members put up a show of unity yesterday ahead of the church’s 101st anniversary on Monday.

Unity games

Thousands of INC followers gathered at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan province, for “unity games” despite the turmoil in their church.

Police deployed 500 officers to the INC’s Ciudad de Victoria, where the stadium and the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena are located.

Chief Supt. Roland Santos, Central Luzon Police director, said the police were expecting protests at the site during the INC anniversary.

But a police officer who is an INC member said the church did not expect problems during the anniversary celebration.

“INC members are forbidden to hold rallies and protests. No one will take part in protests here,” the policeman said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged Catholics to offer prayers for the INC to overcome its troubles.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, said Angel Manalo had asked for prayers “and whoever asks for prayers, we should pray for them regardless of their condition, regardless of their nationality, regardless of their belief.”

Villegas said he hoped INC followers “would be able to surpass this predicament that they are in and that they would be able to find peace.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

11

Business sector cheered Money, info leaks said to have loudest in SONA triggered Iglesia turmoil

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer

in the country.

“Just this past 2013, for the first time in history, the Philippines was upgraded to investMANILA — President Aquino ment grade status by Moody’s, got the loudest cheers from the Fitch, and Standard and business sector during the State Poor’s—the three major credit of the Nation Address (SONA). ratings agencies in the world.”

Aquino’s Sona, the last for “Through their study of our his term, heavily discussed the macroeconomic fundamentals achievements of his adminis- and governance, they detertration. mined that there was less risk, The president compared the which led to a vast increase in country’s situation with the sit- confidence on the part of inuation during the past adminis- vestors. Just this May, they tration. upgraded the Philippines yet “This was our situation in the again.” past: To dream “What this was an absurdity. means: Because We had a sensethe Philippines is less bureaunow investment cracy; padded grade, governcontracts had beThe ment will be able come the norm; President’s to borrow funds and corruption message was for programs was endemic to very clear. He and projects at the system. We emphasized lower interest were known as the gains rates, more busithe “Sick Man of we’ve made nesses will be atAsia.”” in terms tracted to invest Aquino noted of his antiin our country, the kind of ecocorruption and Filipinos nomic landscape campaign will be able to the country has and on the feel the benefits during the past infrastructure of our economic administration. front. resurgence more “The economy quickly.” was weak; indusBanco de Oro try was sparse. strategist JonaWe failed to gain than Ravelas said the confidence in an interview of investors. that Aquino’s The result: very few jobs were administration indeed, focused created. We found a people on boosting the country’s econdeprived of hope. Many of us omy through his anti-corruphad already given up, and were tion flagship. forced to take their chances in “The President’s message other countries. With heads was very clear. He emphasized bowed, we had come to accept the gains we’ve made in terms that we would never be able to of his anti-corruption camrely on our government or our paign and on the infrastructure society.” front,” he said.

He then highlighted the “When you look at his time in achievements he had to im- office, that’s really been his foprove the investment situation cus,” he added. ■

Show of force went pfft

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer A POWER struggle between two families in the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) is the cause of the turmoil in the church, according to a member of the indigenous Christian group.

“The trouble began when Angel Manalo asked to be given the finance position but the council of elders declined his request,” the source said, referring to Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Villanueva Manalo, younger brother of INC executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo.

“It’s the struggle to head the finance group of the INC, which has a say on all the investments and financial activities of the church,” the source said.

The source, who asked not to be identified for fear of expulsion, said the INC finance group was headed by Glicerio Santos Jr., whose son, Glicerio Santos IV, is chief of the group’s legal department.

The Santoses, the source said, were among the earliest members of the INC, which was founded by Felix Manalo in 1914.

“The legal department, in consultation with the 12-member council of elders, usually makes the decision and direction of the investments,” the source said.

Santos Jr. is a member of the council of elders, or advisory council.

Santos IV is also head of Maligaya Development Corp., which runs the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in Santa Maria, Bulacan province.

Social media leaks

The source said that trouble started last year when record-

www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine Arena was built in 2014 for the Centennial Anniversary celebration of Iglesia ni Cristo CROSSLEAGUE / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ings of the meetings attended by the advisory council and top ministers circulated on social media.

“Recordings of the meetings were uploaded to social media and most of the leaks were damaging to Santos,” the source added.

The source did not say who was believed to be behind the leaks, but recent INC statements referred to Angel Manalo and his mother, Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo, as trying to cause disunity and have a say in the running of the church.

The source said church members knew about the power struggle, but left the decision to their leaders.

Eduardo signed expulsion order

To end the power struggle, the INC expelled Angel, Tenny

and two other Manalo siblings, Marco Eraño and Lolita “Lottie” Hemedez, on Thursday after they posted a video on YouTube on Wednesday night appealing for help from other church members.

“We were indoctrinated in the matter that we obey our leaders, not to talk to outsiders about the things discussed among the members and violating this means expulsion from the INC,” the source said.

“That is why the expulsion of the Manalo family after the uploading of the video of Angel did not come as a surprise to the INC members. We were always told that there’s no sacred cow in the INC,” the source added.

The source said the expulsion order was signed by Eduardo Manalo and it was also read in INC churches in 102 other countries. ■

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FRIDAY

Poe: Aquino missed FOI

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — For Senator Grace Poe, President Aquino should have mentioned the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

In an interview after the President made his two-hour report to the nation, Poe said that she was waiting for the President to mention it.

“Kasi sa tingin ko ang mga repormang naumpisahan nya mas mapapangalagaan kung meron tayong FOI kaya nga parang

sayang yung pagkakataon din bagamat syempre nabanggit nya rin yung anti dynasty, may pagkakataon din naman doon, isang malaking bagay na may ganung pagtulak ang ating Pangulo,” she said.

(Through FOI, I think he can protect the reforms that he has started that’s why it should have been a good opportunity to mention it. But of course he also mentioned the anti-dynasty, which is also a good thing that the President is pushing for it.)

Meanwhile, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday

said that the Congress will pass the freedom of information (FOI) bill.

Belmonte included the FOI in the list of bills that he vowed will be passed before the 16th Congress ends.

Poe also said that Aquino failed to acknowledge the hardships of commuters of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

“It would be nice to at least acknowledge the hardships of our riding public and then say, ‘we’re not perfect but were trying to do certain things to correct it,” Poe said. ■

Sen. Grace Poe with President Benigno Aquino III after his last State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2015.

SCREENSHOT FROM @WITHLOVEKRISAQUINO / INSTAGRAM

No Marcos-Duterte Belmonte to senators: tandem in 2016 What gives with BBL?

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Amid continuous speculations of a MarcosDuterte tandem in next year’s national elections, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte simply dismissed such rumors.

In Duterte’s television program, he only responded with ‘Hay, Ginoo ko (Oh, my God)’ when asked about the possible team-up. The mayor also reiterated that he was already ‘too old’ to run for president or vice president and would be ‘retiring from politics’ come election time.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., on the other hand, stated that he would consider joining the presiden-

tial race, believing that he has already gained enough experience in public service.

“At least, I have some experience… I have ideas about reforms,” he said in a radio interview.

The senator, however, has not yet officially announced that he will file candidacy; nor has he mentioned who his preferred running mate was.

Meanwhile, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM) have formed an alliance backing Marcos in the presidential elections and Duterte as his running mate.

With Marcos and Duterte meeting for a couple of times, even more supporters begin to have hope on their team-up. ■

Sen. BongBong Marcos (left) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

PNA PHOTO

PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

now is look at all the bills that are on the verge of being completed, at the committee level, at the second reading level and FRUSTRATED BY the mixed the third reading level, so we can signals from the Senate on the look at what can be done even as status of the draft Bangsamoro we tackle the budget, even as we Basic Law (BBL), Speaker Fetackle the BBL,” he said. liciano Belmonte Jr. has asked “We don’t want to get stuck the upper chamber to state caton those two bills,” he added. egorically if it could pass the Belmonte noted that Conbill so as not to waste everyone gress could only work on prielse’s time. ority legislation until February “Why should we put so much or March, as “after that it will of our time, effort and so forth be too political,” with everyone in it if, at the end of the day, they preoccupied with the 2016 eleccannot pass it? Or they don’t have tions. any desire to do so? We would “In the House, we are not as just be wasting involved in poliour time,” Beltics as the senamonte said. tors, because “If they say they are in effect they can’t do it, Why should we put so much of our opposing each then I’ll tell the time, effort and so forth in it if, at the other. That’s the President: ‘Those end of the day, they cannot pass it? point. They are guys told me in effect opposthey cannot pass ing each other. it, so don’t keep Here, we’re not pressing on us to opposing anyspend our limited time on it,’” especially with the deletion body. But our time constraints Belmonte said in an interview of the controversial “opt-in” are the same,” he said. with the INQUIRER last week. provision allowing contiguous “We want to be in our disTouted as the solution to de- areas to join the envisioned tricts. We want to be talking to cades of armed conflict through Bangsamoro region. our districts, and so forth. For the creation of a new autono“The opt-in provision, in my me, if you can pass it, let us pass mous region in Mindanao, the view, is if we insist on it, we it. Because it’s something this BBL remains on top of legislative probably would not be able to administration wants to do. But priorities in the 16th Congress. pass the bill. But without that if you can’t, tell us,” he said.

On Thursday, in a meeting be- opt-in, we might be able to pass Asked what it would mean for tween House leaders led by Bel- the bill,” he said. the Aquino administration if monte and Senate leaders led “But my point is can the Senate Congress fails to pass the BBL,

by Senate President Franklin do the same?” Belmonte said. he said: “In the 16th Congress, Drilon, the proposed Bangsamit is one of the most important oro law was cited as one of the Until February or March pieces of legislation, but it’s not measures to be rushed in the “What we want to do right the be-all or end-all.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

third and final regular session.

Congress earlier set a June deadline for the passage of the BBL but it failed to meet it. The new target is before the last quarter when lawmakers get busy deliberating on the 2016 national budget.

Belmonte said the Senate leadership should clearly tell the House if it could accomplish this, so they need not waste their time. The House has held several debates on the measure and needs to iron out a few kinks before it goes for second reading.

In the House, Belmonte said the majority coalition could get a favorable vote on the BBL,

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A tale... critic of the adminis- saan ang detalye at kongkretong palagay ko hindi naman ako pitration. mga plano? Basta. Paano ninyo natutungkulan ‘nun. Kasi ang “Mabagal daw tayo. ipatutupad ang inyong mga pagkakasabi meron diyan nagKapag sila raw ang naging Pan- pangako? Basta. Pakiramdam sasalita na giginhawa ang baygulo, sigurado, gaganda ang bu- yata nila nadadaan sa basta- an pero ang salita lage ay basta, hay. Sa mga medyo may edad po, basta ang solusyon sa ating mga basta. Wow na wow naman ang isasagot dito, ‘Ah, ganun?’ problema.” ‘yun!” Binay was quoted saying sabay taas ng kilay. Para naman To this, Quicho said, “From in an ABS-CBN report. sa kabataan, iba na raw po ang the start, the Vice President Binay also advised the media tugon nila sa ganoong pahayag, has articulated that the Makati to wait for his true SONA, which iba na daw po ang uso ngayon eh: experience is his template for a also aims to answer Aquino’s al‘E di wow,’” PNoy lusions. said in front of “The SONA 2,700 attendees [by PNoy] exhibinside the Bataited hubris and sang Pambansa It is a small price to pay for showing lack of appreciain Quezon City. the people the palpak at manhid tion for people in “The Vice governance of the administration that government who President does further marginalized the poor. genuinely served not feel alluded despite the air of to because he has partisanship cresolidly delivered ated by a vindicthe social and tive and callous economic programs that up- caring and competent govern- government,” Quicho said. lifted the lives of the people he ment, the opposite of the manIn his sixth and last SONA, has served as Makati mayor and hid at palpak (insensitive and PNoy expressed his gratitude continue to serve as Vice Presi- failing) government that we by thanking each member of his dent,” Quicho said in response have today... It is a small price to Cabinet and by sharing words to the statement above. pay for showing the people the of appreciation to his famPNoy also said in his SONA, palpak at manhid governance of ily and even his personal hair “Ang tanong natin: Paano nila the administration that further stylist, fashion consultant, and gagawin ang mga pangakong marginalized the poor.” house helper Yolly Yebes. iyan? Ang sagot nila: Basta. Na“Merong isang bahagi doon Binay was not mentioned. ■ ❰❰ 1

FRIDAY

Economic Chacha revived in Congress

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. called for the passage of the economic charter change in the opening of the third regular session on Monday.

Belmonte sought the passage of his Resolution of Both Houses 1 which will ease the foreign ownership restrictions in the Constitution.

Belmonte was proposing to add the phrase “unless otherwise provided for by law” to the provisions requiring 60 percent ownership to Filipinos and only 40 percent to foreigners in investments.

“It is now in that same spirit that I urge you, our dear colleagues, to ensure that we finally pass Resolution of Both Houses 1. By amending the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution., we empower Congress to enact laws that will attract the kind of investments that will reverse the de-industrialization

and de-agriculturalization of our economy,” Belmonte said.

“Only then can we encourage locators and investors to expand our manufacturing sector, the area where the better paying decent jobs can be created. This is the best strategy to ensure that no Filipino be left behind,” he added.

Belmonte also clarified that though he is pushing for revisions in the economic provisions, he is “against extensive change of the Constitution.”

“It’s actually a message. its very tight to revive it, but because of all the talk about it many of the candidates are actually talking about changing the Constitution and so forth,” Belmonte said.

“Let me just make it very plain in my view, I’m against extensive change of the Constitution. But definitely I’m in favor of changing and aligning economic conditions with the rest of the world, particularly our region. And that message will (resonate),” he added. ■

SSS Flexi-fund incentives up by 75% in 2014 A total of 37,612 qualified Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with active accounts under the Social Security System’s (SSS) Flexi-fund Program received 75 percent higher additional income on their savings, driven by increased investment earnings.

Total annual incentive benefit (AIB) disbursements for 2014 amounted to P12.68 million, a P5.44-million jump from the P7.24 million released in 2013, SSS Senior Vice President for International Operations Division Judy Frances See said.

AIBs are additional income on savings of OFW members under the SSS Flexifund Program, a voluntary provident fund and pensionplan scheme exclusively offered to OFWs that was launched in 2001.

Active Flexi-fund members with no final benefit or full withdrawal claims filed for the year are qualified for AIB. They may receive AIB each year on top of the guaranteed

earnings, depending on the actual year-end investment performance of the Fund.

In 2014, member’s Flexi-fund savings earned at an average guaranteed interest rate of 1.3 percent. Guaranteed earnings are based on the average rates of SSS’ short-term peso placements or 91-day Treasury bills, whichever is higher. “The rates are re-priced quarterly to keep the program in step with prevailing market rates,” See said.

See said, with the AIB disbursement, total earnings credited to individual Flexifund accounts swelled to P18.02-million, thus resulting in a higher average rate of return of four percent for qualified members.

The official explained that the amount of total AIB is determined by deducting the total guaranteed earnings already credited to the accounts of Flexifund members from the actual investment income of the Fund at the end of the applicable year.

The maximum AIB that was credited to a member’s account last year amounted to P95,819.83. As of December www.canadianinquirer.net

2014, total Flexi-fund equity of members grew to P448.3 million, up by 14.4 percent from the same period in 2013,

with membership increasing to 44,626 OFWs as of yearend.

“We hope that more OFW members will choose to save under this program. SSS FlexiFund is safe and secure, which means they will get their savings as well as the interest earned in full to supplement their retirement fund or whatever benefits they will get from the regular SSS program in the future.” See said.

SSS Flexi-fund savings are built from payments of at least P200 remitted on top of the SSS contributions of an OFW member, who is paying the maximum amount of P1,760 per month. A one-time enrollment is required to be able to join the program.

“OFW members may visit the SSS office nearest them to enroll. They can also inquire more about the Flexi-fund with our OFW Contact Center through the service hotlines (02) 364-7796 and (02) 3647798 or by e-mail at ofw. relations@sss.gov.ph,” See said.

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FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

15

Probe of erring eye docs urged

BY JOCELYN R. UY AND GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer A GROUP of doctors yesterday urged the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to penalize erring physicians allegedly engaged in defrauding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) through false reimbursement claims.

Dr. Anthony Leachon, president of the Philippine College of Physicians Foundation, also batted for improved mechanisms within the state insurance firm that would effectively monitor the benefits and claims of PhilHealth members.

“The case of erring doctors has to be addressed as soon as possible. Fraud of this nature is a group crime. For as long as regulatory, justice and penal systems are weak and unpredictable, and the internal controls are leaky and static, collusion will thrive,” said Leachon.

An internal audit of the Department of Health’s and PhilHealth’s P78-billion payout last year to accredited hospitals and healthcare providers prompted an investigation into some questionable claims made by some doctors and clinics.

DRAGON IMAGES / SHUTTERSTOCK

Earlier, Health Secretary Janette Garin and PhilHealth president Alex Padilla said they were looking into P2 billion worth of claims filed last year for fraud, including P325 million worth of “highly suspicious” benefit payments for

cataract surgeries issued to two eye clinics in Metro Manila.

The Senate blue ribbon committee also started its own investigation into the matter.

Leachon said the PRC must step in to punish erring doctors and revoke their licenses.

“It should not happen with just a deviant eye medical doctor... The regulatory agency should proactively flex its big muscles to preserve the integrity of the profession,” he said.

In improving mechanisms within the PhilHealth system,

Leachon said the group was proposing the comprehensive computerization and building of information technology infrastructure to monitor the benefits and claims of PhilHealth members and affiliated healthcare providers.

“We need to rebuild PhilHealth to make it more relevant to the needs of Filipinos. With the huge sin tax funds added to [its] coffers, we deserve a better system,” he said, adding that the sin tax law will be a “total waste” if the earmarked funds to health will not be managed and spent well.

Last year, the state insurance firm received P35 billion in sin taxes, covering premium payments of 14.7 million poor families.

Lawmakers have also criticized PhilHealth for failing to conduct a thorough investigation into eye care centers involved in fraudulent insurance claims.

Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and Abakada Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz said that in its desire to make up for the massive fraud claims that blew up in its face, PhilHealth made sweeping accusations against eye doctors and eye clinics as being responsible for the scam. ■

Congress ‘racing against time’ — Drilon

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Sen. President Franklin Drilon said that the Congress is “raising against time” following the opening of the third regular session on Monday.

Given only six months left to work on the remaining measures, Drilon said lawmakers should set aside political inter-

est and make use of the time left productively.

“We are racing against time.

We must set aside political interests and think of solutions to the nation’s pressing problems. Let us remind ourselves that we are here to serve the people, and not special interest groups.” Drilon said.

He added that senators are expected to work on a range of measures that will help the country attain economic pros-

perity and uplift the life of every Filipino.

“We should continue in the last regular session of this Congress, and even beyond, the pursuit of good governance and the audacity to implement meaningful reforms, no matter how unpopular they may be,” Drilon said.

He said that both the Senate and the House of Representatives will focus on six measures including the Bangsam-

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oro Basic Law; the 2016 National Budget; the creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology; the amendments to the built-operate-andtransfer law to strengthen our private-public partnership; the PAGASA modernization; and the Freedom of Information Bill.

Other measures which will also be monitored in the Congress’ remaining months are

the tariff and customs modernization act; the national ID system; the proposed publicprivate partnership act; acquisition of the right-of-way act; the prepaid SIM card registration, among others. ■

Opinion

16

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

ANALYSIS

Last SONA mirage of lost years

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer ON THE EVE of President Aquino’s sixth and final State of the Nation Address (Sona), his administration refocused Sona’s keynote to his announcement on whom he would endorse as official candidate of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) in the May 2016 general elections.

Weeks ahead of the polls, the nation has been in the throes of febrile anxiety over the issue of the anointment of his successor. In doing so, the President not only shifted public attention to the succession, away from the central function of Sona, that is, rendering an accounting to the people of what his government has done for the nation during the past five years to justify his presidential mandate.

The 2015 Sona is extraordinary in more ways than one: First, it sums up the performance in office of the administration for five years—not just his first, when his slate was clean; secondly, it sets the tone of national discourse for the next 12 months up until the day he steps down because for the first time he will be telling the nation the person to whom he would entrust its leadership for the next six years.

The spectacular atmosphere of this transfer of power is something

like the pageantry surrounding the From the way the administration railways, and food sufficiency. These coronation of the dauphine of the highlighted the Sona in response to are the parameters with which to meaFrench monarchy, as the new king of public clamor to declare the Presi- sure the claims of Sona. They raise France, in ceremonies at Reims Ca- dent’s preferences on who would re- many questions Sona has to address. thedral in medieval France. ceive his endorsement, it appears to The highlight of the succession isSona is more than telling the people us that using Sona as a platform to sue not only trivializes Sona but also who among the aspirants for the high- announce his succession decision is diverts public attention from the est office in the republic enjoys the a glib cop-out to divert public atten- hard issues enumerated above. Sona presidential blessing to be his succes- tion from the serious task of scruti- illustrates the process of Question sor who would ensure the continuity nizing the contents of his last Sona.

Hour in a parliamentary democracy of his good governance reforms. It is through which elected leaders are an extremely important public docuEmphasis on trivia put on the carpet by congressional ment that serves as an inventory of It would be brazenly presumptu- deputies of the people for accountthe performance of a democratically ous for anyone to comment on the ability on their mandate to rule. elected government consisting of contents of Sona until after the PresPrior to its delivery, publicity on what it proposed to the Sona had cendo and failed to do tered on the color It is an extremely important public document that serves as in previous Sonas of and trivia (such as an inventory of the performance of a democratically elected the past five years. the fashion show government consisting of what it proposed to do and failed to do This annual reon the ternos of in previous Sonas of the past five years. port serves to fulfill the congressional the function of accountability of any ident has delivered it to determine ladies and the design of the barong government. But by highlighting the what it claims as the achievements of their spouses), and on the efforts event that the President would use it of his five years in office and what of Mr. Aquino to form a coalition of as a platform to announce his succes- shortfalls it glosses over. political parties that would back his sion preferences after his Sona speech, After the delivery of the last Sona, decision on whom to endorse as the he has downgraded the importance of there will be more than enough docu- administration’s candidates for PresSona as a documentary mechanism of mentary data, consisting of the previ- ident and Vice President next May. rendering public accountability to en- ous Sonas to assess what the President Malacañang handouts emphasizing able the public to determine whether has promised to do and has failed to the selection process left the impreshe has squandered the resources and deliver, on issues such as inclusive sion that it was the centerpiece and powers of the presidency to deliver economic growth, poverty reduction, keynote of Sona—not its contents. benefits for the general public good the threat of China’s territorial aggranaccording to the programs spelled out dizement in the West Philippine Sea, Herded sycophants in previous Sonas. land reform, safe and efficient public Let us not forget that Mr. Aquino

will deliver his last Sona at the twilight of his presidency when his popularity has declined and when his clout to influence events has diminished. There is little time left in last few months to rectify the errors of the past or to push the initiatives proposed in the SONA. It is his swan song.

While we wait for his delivery of the Sona, Malacañang has stepped up the presentation of Sona as a breadand-circus spectacle reminiscent of the triumphal parade of Julius Caesar on the Forum after his conquest of the Gaul region.

We are not sure Mr. Aquino’s Sona will be hailed with accolades of “Ave Caesar” from the adoring multitudes in the streets, but we know from experience the cavernous congressional gallery at the Batasan will be jampacked with herded sycophants who, at the slightest prompting, will explode with thunderous applause every punchline of the speech.

The media will dutifully report the number of applause for the speech, But only the naïve will claim the noise echoes the rabbles’ approval of Sona’s fantastic claims.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the President’s anointment are left hanging whether the endorsement is a kiss of death or a bounty. It’s a blade that cuts both ways. ■

LOOKING BACK

A history of ‘dirty ice cream’

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer SOMEONE STUMPED me last week by asking for the Filipino term for “dirty kitchen.” I replied that there is no Filipino word for something that is as tricky as “dirty ice cream.”

I should ask Filipino architects when they started designing houses with two kitchens—one “clean” and the other “dirty.”

From what I remember from my childhood, the “dirty kitchen” was where actual cooking was done, where the fish was cleaned, and the chicken or pig slaughtered and dressed for specific dishes. When the food was cooked, it was brought to the “clean kitchen” near the dining room to be set in serving dishes or plated before being served. In modern homes there is only one kitchen that fulfills both functions, and sometimes people dine in the kitchen, using the formal dining room for parties. We live in smaller spaces these days and need to be practical, so the “dirty kitchen” and formal comedor are now almost extinct.

A history of food is fascinating, not so much because of the scents, colors and flavors as because of the way in

which food shapes people and how government for tax-free importation seeing the process at the family’s old people shape the food they eat. What I of ice from the United States and a home on R. Hidalgo St. A contraption find fascinating is the relationship be- waiver of customs duties for imported called a garapiñera was used, consisttween household appliances and the materials to be used in building an ice ing of an ice-filled wooden bucket emancipation of women. In the past, house or cold storage house in Manila with a metal cylinder in the middle women spent their days doing house- for the benefit of the public. Then as containing the liquid ice cream mix. hold chores like cooking, washing and now, the government reacted slowly The cover of the cylinder had a bevel ironing, and tending to the children. and cautiously on anything new, so his gear connected to a crank which was Even if they were blessed with help petition was not acted on. turned by hand until the ice cream who did the chores, they still had to The next year, in April 1847, Rus- had attained the desired consistency. manage the household. Imagine the sell & Sturgis requested duty-free im- I was too young to know if ammonia time saved by instant sinigang mix portation of 250 tons of ice from the was added to the ice.” that comes in saGilda Corderochets or bouillon Fernando also called A history of food is fascinating, not so much because of the cubes. (In the past, and referred me to scents, colors and flavors as because of the way in which food the sampaloc had to her essay in the pioshapes people and how people shape the food they eat. be harvested from a neering book “Culitree, boiled, mashed and then strained United States that were to arrive on nary Culture of the Philippines” (Banjust to make sinigang stock.) The time the frigate Hizaine. Ice was then an com, 1976), where she describes the saved by the washing machine, rice unknown commodity in the Philip- garapiñera as: “a bucket freezer with cooker and microwave oven has given pines, so the one-time free import of a crank, which the whole family was women more time for other pursuits. the ice was allowed to test the market drafted to turn. The father filled the My column last Wednesday on the so it could be determined how much wooden bucket with ice from a block introduction of ice in the Philippines to tax it later on. A Royal Order of Oc- which he first placed in a sack and drew a welcome note from Dr. Benito tober 1848 made the importation of cracked with a hammer. Coarse salt Legarda, who referred me to a section ice tax-free. By 1875 Russell & Sturgis was then sprinkled on the ice to hasten in his book “After the Galleons” (At- had an ice plant close to its offices on its freezing. The ice cream took almost eneo Press, 1999) that refers to tra- Calle Barraca, Binondo. But it went an hour of churning to make; and to vails connected with the importation bankrupt in 1881, and was acquired the dismay of the impatient children, of ice. In May 1846, a certain Charles by Julio Witte. it had to sit and chill some more before Mugford, who signed himself as “CarDr. Legarda added: “As for making being declared fully done.” los” in Spanish Manila, petitioned the ice cream at home, I recall as a boy Ice cream flavors of the past—

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mantecado, ube queso helado (not cheese but iced cheese), pinipig, nangka, etc.—live on in our time peddled in the streets by the sorbetero who scoops the stuff into cones or bread buns from wooden pushcarts painted in wild colors like a jeepney.

We all know this as “dirty ice cream,” to differentiate it from store-bought (“clean”) ice cream, yet we continue to buy and eat it without fear.

Old-fashioned ice cream was made from carabao milk, eggs, fresh nangka or ube , and was difficult to make.

Today we can easily buy supermarket ice cream from brand leaders Haagen Dazs, Magnolia or Selecta, to the artisanal ice cream from Arce Dairy and Carmen’s Best, which provide traditional as well as new and wonderful flavors.

We have come a long way from the “dirty ice cream” served in the great Malolos banquet of September 1898, when the First Republic ratified the June 12, 1898, declaration of independence. A history of ice cream in the Philippines is not just a catalogue of taste but also an alternative way of looking at how Filipinos have changed to become the nation we want to be. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

17

PUBLIC LIVES

‘A religion, not a family corporation’

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer “ALL SHOULD know that the Iglesia is not a family corporation. It is a religion that follows the teachings of God found in the Bible.” As unexpected as it came, this declaration, issued by the top leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) a few days ago, is perhaps the most modern statement ever to come out of the Philippines’ largest homegrown Christian religious organization.

Known for its tight internal discipline and the formidable clout it wields in Philippine politics, the church founded by Felix Y. Manalo celebrated its centenary last year, basking in the stability and rapid expansion it attained during the 46year leadership of the founder’s son, Eraño “Ka Erdy” Manalo. So strong has been its association with the Manalo family name that the church is sometimes referred to by outsiders as the “House of Manalo.”

In the press conference urgently called by the INC last Thursday, Bienvenido “Ka Bien” Santiago, who goes by the title “general evangelist” in the Iglesia hierarchy, said in Filipino: “Brother Eduardo Manalo and the general leadership cannot allow meddling by anyone.” Eduardo,

grandson of the founder, assumed bers of the INC to protect the “miss- the country and from abroad are the position of executive minister ing” church officials sympathetic to expected to come together tomorof the INC when his father, Ka Erdy, them who, they suspect, have been row, July 27, to mark the end of the died in 2009. abducted. yearlong centennial celebration. The Speaking for the hierarchy, SanIn an impromptu appearance at event could well signal the advent of a tiago was clearly referring to the the gate of their house just behind deep schism within the organization, late INC executive minister’s wid- the Iglesia Central late yesterday, An- or the modernization of a remarkably ow, Cristina or “Ka Tenny,” as she gel spoke to the media about wrong successful church. is better known in INC circles, and priorities, corruption, and misuse Perhaps it was just a matter of time her two children, Angel and Lottie, of funds committed by members of before the Iglesia Ni Cristo would who were being expelled from the the church’s council who surround come face to face with the challenges church for allegedly sowing discord his brother. He gave as an example of modernity. Since its inception a in the organization. “Although it is the construction at great cost of the hundred years ago, its top leader has painful for Brother Eduardo Mana- gigantic multipurpose venue known been drawn from the same family. lo, the general leadership decided as the “Philippine Arena.” This huge While this lends to the organization to expel those who the aura of unbroare causing diviken leadership, it sion in the Iglesia,” also inescapably Perhaps it was just a matter of time before the Iglesia Ni Cristo Santiago said. Eduassigns a privileged would come face to face with the challenges of modernity. ardo is the eldest status to the memson of Ka Erdy and bers of the foundKa Tenny. project, he said, had caused the di- er’s family. This can be an advantage The telenovela- like sequence of version of funds originally meant for where affinity to the organization events that prompted this action the construction of INC chapels. He is strongly determined by tradition remains vague at this point, but one made it clear he was not challenging rather than by clear doctrine. But, as can get a glimpse of the seriousness the leadership of his older brother, church membership expands, instiof this rift from the desperate pleas who, he said, seems to be getting un- tutionalization becomes imperative. for help that Felix Nathaniel “Angel” sound advice from unaccountable The INC will increasingly find it necManalo, a former church minister persons seeking full control of the essary to differentiate itself from the and younger brother of the current collective affairs of the church’s 2.3 Manalo family. This is what we are executive minister, and his mother million members. seeing today. recently posted on YouTube. They What lends these events the draKa Bien’s pointed statement to the claimed that their lives and those of matic arc they have assumed in the media says it all: “The Iglesia is not INC officials who support them are past few days is the fact that thou- a family corporation.” This loaded in danger. They appealed to mem- sands of INC members from all over statement seems to allude to mem-

bers of the founding family enjoying sinecures in some of the INC’s business enterprises. Whether or not this sharp allusion has any basis, what it abundantly reveals is a dispute not about the doctrine but over material things.

This is the same point I raised in a previous column, “The INC at 100” (Opinion, 7/27/14), in which I puzzled over the religious reasoning behind the Iglesia’s decision to build “the world’s largest indoor multipurpose venue.” Now we know that the construction of the Philippine Arena had nothing to do with religion. It was a purely business proposition that probably got approved in the glow of the church’s centennial preparations.

It is not, of course, the first time a religious organization, lured by visions of a steady source of funds to support its core activities, strayed from its basic purpose. A religious organization’s business venture can become so profitable that it may at some point eclipse the primary mission that inspired it, or be a source of conflict. But, a church could also end up pouring all the precious tithes it collects from its members to pay for a badly conceived venture that has little to do with its basic purposes. ■

AT LARGE

Two ‘Titas’

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer SHE LOST her husband and child early in life—one to an explosive set off by Filipino guerrillas who thought they were targeting a truck filled with Japanese soldiers; the other to a common disease just a year after her husband’s death.

Francisca “Ansing” Jimenez met my uncle Titong in Tacloban during World War II, after he was released from detention by the Japanese who decided to put his engineering training to good use by making him supervise road-building projects. Titong, who had become a guerrilla after surviving the Death March, surrendered to the Japanese to spare his father, my grandfather Ponso, from the rigors of life in a prison camp. And in a bowling alley her family owned, Titong met Ansing, setting off a sweet, heartbreaking wartime romance.

Actually, in the Jimenez family, there were wartime romances galore, between Tacloban natives and members of the family who were caught there by the war. But Tio Titong’s and Tita Ansing’s love story was particularly touching. As children, we never tired of hearing about it.

“So much trouble for all of 35 days!”

Tita Ansing was wont to exclaim when telling the story of how she met, married and lost Tio Titong. With her father, the local judge, sternly disapproving of the brewing romance between his beloved daughter and the interloper, there was subterfuge, hiding, secret dates and confrontations.

And then, a month after their marriage and a few days after finding out she had become pregnant, the guerrillas blew up the truck carrying Tio Titong and his road crew, bringing the love story to a bloody end. *** TITA Ansing recalls that carrying the baby to term, a girl she named Tita, was her sole consolation in the months after Tio Titong’s death. But then a cholera epidemic struck and took the little girl, too, and in her rage, Tita Ansing grabbed all the religious statues within reach and threw them out the window, refusing to even set foot in church.

In time, of course, Tita Ansing recovered her equanimity and her faith. She ended up teaching in a Catholic school where Imelda Romualdez (later Marcos) was one of her favorite students.

I remember her mainly for her dig-

nified presence, always well-dressed and immaculate, hair coiffed, face made up with eyebrows penciled in.

She could be sharp-tongued and brutally frank, but her in-laws were constantly amused and bemused by her.

Though she had many suitors, some of them foreigners, she once declared that she somehow never brought the romances to a logical end because “I wanted to remain a Jimenez.”

She even had enough pluck to survive Typhoon “Yolanda,” clambering atop her dining table in her Tacloban home when the floodwaters rushed in. Tita Ansing recalled loudly berating an image of the Sto. Niño from her perch, until a nephew waded through the high waters and carried her outside.

By then she was almost 90. When the clan gathered around her after evacuating her from Tacloban, she responded after the Thanksgiving Mass with a bitter diatribe against, again, God. I only hope she was able to reconcile with her Maker, for a few days ago, relatives found her unresponsive body on her bed. Tita Ansing survived great loss and bitterness, then made a life filled with fulfillment and family for herself. We will all miss her. ***

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LIKE Tita Ansing, our “Tita” Nenita Masigan-Evans would never allow herself to be seen in public without being impeccably groomed. In her final days, it was said, she refused most visitors because it was too much trouble to get dressed and put on makeup.

She wasn’t really our aunt, but was rather the sister of a late aunt, our Tita Cora, who was married to my uncle Tommy Braganza. But terms like “tita” tend to end up stretched to indefinite limits in Philippine culture, and since Tita Nenita was a constant presence, she ended up our aunt, too.

My Tita Cora passed away soon after giving birth to her youngest child, Tim. In the void left by their mother, stepped in, first, my Tita Salud Garcia, and then Tita Nenita who looked after Tim and his three older siblings: Pat, Liz and Joel.

When Tita Nenita married a retired Meralco executive, an American named Jack Evans, she decided to legally adopt the four, and for a while there, we cousins thought we would never see them again.

But ties of family and kinship are strong, and we kept in touch, spending summers in our hometown of Alaminos, looked after by the stern

yet tender eye of Tita Salud and her daughter Lulu. *** EVEN after our Evans cousins left one by one for the United States, we would bump into Tita Nenita from time to time here. And always we would recall her impeccable grooming, her shining eyes and bright smile.

One time, she sent through my cousin Joel an envelope filled with pictures of my parents, back in the day when Papa was administrator of a government office and Tita Nenita worked as his social secretary.

It was a hoot (at least for me) shuffling through photos of my parents in various social events, with Mama in a fancy terno and Papa in a shiny barong. And always there was Tita Nenita, poised and smiling.

And that is how I prefer remembering her, the Tita Nenita of my youth, who was a shining example of tita- hood long before the “titas of Manila” became a byword for matronly poise.

How apt that two women so alike, and such iconic presences in the lives of us young Jimenezes and Braganzas, would pass away within days of each other. I can just imagine their chikas up there. ■

18

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News Finance minister criticizes Liberals, but doesn’t respond to call for update

BY STEVE LAMBERT The Canadian Press

LISA S / SHUTTERSTOCK

NDP uses mother’s child care benefit donation as fundraising tool THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The federal NDP seems to be encouraging parents who don’t need the newly enhanced universal child care benefit to donate the money to the party.

The party’s latest fundraising email blast cites the example of Ella, a financially-secure single mother who intends to donate her UCCB windfall to the NDP. “Ella’s not the only one who feels this way,” the email blast concludes.

“After a decade of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, Canadians want change in Ottawa. If you can, please donate to help build the campaign.”

The party denies the missive is designed to encourage people to follow Ella’s example; it is simply using Ella’s “inspiring story” to make its latest solicitation for donations more interesting.

But deputy Liberal leader Ralph Goodale said the pitch is “tawdry.”

“You’re turning a social support program into a political

milch cow and that is very offensive,” he said.

Goodale said the missive underscores the “fundamental flaw” in the UCCB: the fact that the benefit goes equally to wealthy parents, whether or not they actually need it.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has promised that a New Democrat government would keep the enriched UCCB in place.

The NDP fundraising missive comes during a week in which Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has stepped up his criticism of Mulcair for perpetuating a Conservative benefits regime that gives equal payouts to parents, regardless of income.

It reproduces an email sent to Ottawa MP Paul Dewar by Ella, in which she says she was disgusted by Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre’s “offensive partisan announcement” earlier this week, touting the boost in UCCB payments which parents started receiving this week in a lump sum back-dated to January.

She says she got her cheque but can’t bring herself to cash it because it “feels tainted… like

a dirty little attempt to buy my vote.”

“Fortunately, I am a welleducated, financially secure single mom and cashing this cheque (or not) will not materially affect my daughter’s opportunities,” she says.

“But feeling like my household’s votes could be bought by some character in a Conservative golf shirt may.”

She volunteers to sign over her cheque to Dewar or, if that isn’t an option, to cash it and provide him with a donation.

NDP spokesman George Soule said Ella encouraged the party to share her story, so it did.

Trudeau said earlier this week he would give his family’s UCCB windfall to a charity in his riding.

He is proposing to replace the UCCB with a progressive, tax-free child benefit that he says would give all parents with household incomes of less than $150,000 more money than they currently get. However, his benefit would be gradually reduced for those earning more and cut off entirely for those with incomes over $200,000. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

OTTAWA — The federal government is “well ahead” of its own projections for a balanced budget this year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday, two days after the federal budget watchdog warned a slower-thanexpected economy will keep Ottawa in the red until at least 2016.

And while Finance Minister Joe Oliver didn’t respond to a call from the Liberals to prove his projections for a small surplus are intact, Harper insisted his government’s balanced budget pledge isn’t merely an election-year fairytale.

“I think it’s more than speculating,” Harper told a news conference in Regina.

“We are well ahead of track, we’ve run a significant surplus — $4 billion in the first two month of this fiscal year,” he said.

“Our budgeting is very conservative and we are well on track to realize a balanced budget this year.”

Liberal finance critic Scott Brison has called on the government to back up that claim by making public the Finance department’s latest budgetary projections in front of a parliamentary committee.

While Oliver responded to the request Friday, he didn’t say whether he’ll provide a fiscal update before the expected Oct. 19 election — or at all.

In a letter to Brison, laden with Conservative party talking points, Oliver noted the federal treasury reported a $3.9 billion surplus in April and May of this year.

He also repeated his monthsold mantra — that the government remains on track for a balanced budget this year.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer warned on Wednesday that Ottawa could see a budget deficit of $1 billion in the current fiscal year, based on a

downgraded Bank of Canada economic forecast.

The Conservatives tabled a budget in April that predicted a $1.4-billion surplus this year, but the budget officer’s calculation raised doubts about the projection.

And without updated numbers, the opposition parties are shying away from making their own pledges to balance the books in 2015.

Brison has said he can’t say with certainty that the Liberal party, if elected to govern, will produce a balanced budget this year without updated numbers from Finance.

“Then, and only then, are we able to predict with certainty what we’re capable of doing in terms of balancing,” Brison said in an interview Thursday.

The New Democrats had said they would deliver a small surplus in 2015-16 under their policy platform.

But NDP Leader Tom Mulcair appeared to step away from that pledge Friday, saying in a television interview his party will have to make “tough choices,” and will balance the federal books over time.

“Over the life of our promises… we’ll be able to balance the budget,” Mulcair told the CBC, giving the example of his party’s child-care plan, which he said the NDP would roll out over eight years.

Oliver cast doubts on the policies of both opposition parties, repeating in his letter a link the Conservatives have been trying to make between the opposition fiscal platforms and the economic crisis that has recently plagued parts of Europe.

“The situation in Greece is another reminder that we remain in a fragile global economy,” said Oliver.

“Both the Liberals and NDP would have had Canada join the list of countries now owed billions by Greece.” ■

Canada News

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

19

Will not entrench status quo: Harper announces moratorium on Senate appointments

BY STEVE LAMBERT The Canadian Press REGINA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Friday a moratorium on Senate appointments — formalizing his practice over the past two and a half years of refusing to fill vacancies in the scandal-plagued upper house.

Harper said the moratorium will save taxpayers’ money and “force” the provinces to come up with a plan to reform or abolish the discredited, unelected, upper chamber.

“The government is not going to take any actions going forward that would do anything to further entrench that unelected, unaccountable Senate,” he said Friday at a news conference in Regina alongside Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, a champion of Senate abolition.

“It will be our policy to formalize that. We will have a moratorium on further Senate appointments.”

But the prime minister’s ploy is constitutionally debatable.

Vancouver lawyer Aniz Alani has already gone to court seeking a declaration that Harper has a constitutional duty to fill Senate vacancies within a reasonable time. And constitutional experts have warned that one or more provinces could also take Harper to court over his failure to ensure they have the Senate representation to which they are constitutionally entitled.

Moreover, the Supreme Court of Canada has made it clear that letting Senate vacancies pile up can not continue indefinitely. In a landmark ruling last year, the top court said the Senate cannot be abolished indirectly by letting its numbers drop to zero.

However, Harper asserted

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Friday that the Constitution gives the prime minister “the authority to appoint or not appoint” senators.

He stopped appointing senators in March 2013, just as the scandal over improperly claimed expenses was engulfing the Senate. There are now 22 vacancies in the 105-seat chamber — a development Harper said has already saved taxpayers $6 million.

One quarter of Quebec’s 24 Senate seats are now empty, as are seven of Ontario’s 24 and half of Manitoba’s six.

Letting the vacancies continue to mount “will force the provinces… to either come up with a plan of comprehensive reform or to conclude that the only way to deal with the status quo is abolition,” Harper said, adding that he expects pub-

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lic pressure will mount on the provinces to act.

“The ball’s in their court, they can now propose reforms. In the meantime, the membership in the Senate is going to continue to shrink and Canadians are going to ask the question, ‘If you don’t have a program for reform and we’re not missing the senators, why not just abolish it?’ And I think that’s the pressure that’s going to rise.”

Other than senators and those who want to be senators, Harper asserted that “no one is going to complain” about increasing vacancies.

He attached a caveat to his moratorium on appointments, however: it will apply only as long as the Conservatives have the numbers in the Senate to ensure passage of his government’s legislation, which Harp-

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er said “should not be a problem for several years.”

In its ruling last year, the Supreme Court said reforming the Senate requires a constitutional amendment approved by seven provinces with at least 50 per cent of the population. It put the bar even higher for abolition: unanimous provincial consent.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard last month said his province will never agree to abolition. Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne is also opposed, as are Atlantic premiers.

Quebec’s intergovernmental affairs minister, Jean-Marc Fournier, said Friday that his province is willing to take part in any constitutional negotiations on Senate reform but he repeated that it would insist on including other long-standing

constitutional issues, such as recognition of Quebec’s distinctiveness.

“Refusing to name new senators is not a solution to the current situation,” Fournier said in a statement.

Wynne’s office released a statement indicating that constitutional wrangling over the Senate is not high on her list of priorities.

“Today’s announcement distracts from the urgent priorities facing Canadians, like infrastructure investments and retirement security,” the statement said.

Wall fully supported the prime minister’s move.

“It will be up to premiers… to respond to this now,” he said.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, doing some pre-election campaigning in Vancouver, said Harper is trying to deflect attention from his sorry economic record. He also said that Harper promised during the 2006 election campaign not to appoint any unelected senators and has since appointed 59 of them.

“The fact is we can’t believe him on that.”

Trudeau said he’s the only leader who’s come up with a practical plan to restore the Senate to its intended role as an independent chamber of sober second thought — without fruitless constitutional haggling. He’s kicked senators out of the Liberal caucus and promised to create a blue chip advisory body to recommend non-partisan Senate nominees in future.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has promised to launch constitutional negotiations to abolish the Senate. ■ With files from Joan Bryden in Ottawa

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Helicopter pilot rescued from Arctic ice floe tells tale of survival THE CANADIAN PRESS IQALUIT, NUNAVUT — A Russian helicopter pilot who spent more than 30 hours on an ice floe after ditching his small helicopter into frigid Arctic waters says he's not sure he would have survived much longer had searchers not seen his remaining warning flare.

Sergey Ananov, 49, was on a solo, around-the-world journey in his single-engine aircraft and was about halfway between Iqaluit and Greenland when his Robinson R22 helicopter went down in the Davis Strait on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking via satellite phone from the coast guard vessel Pierre Radisson following his rescue Monday, Ananov related a tale that involved quick thinking, a visit from three inquisitive polar bears and a fortunate

break in the weather.

“I was on the edge,” said Ananov of his condition when he was rescued. “Luckily for one or two hours the fog disappeared.”

Ananov said his helicopter went down after one of two rubber belts leading from the engine to the rotor exploded. He said he was able to partially pull on his survival suit and scramble into a small life raft before the aircraft sank in a matter of about 30 seconds.

It was then a short, cold swim to an ice floe.

Ananov said the raft provided his only means of shelter as he waited to be rescued, a prospect that proved difficult with thick fog and a low ceiling in the area.

At one point he fired one of his three flares as a Canadian military Hercules aircraft flew overhead.

“It was absolutely useless because they couldn't see any-

thing,” he said.

Ananov said the same thing happened when an aircraft approached for a second time.

“So I spent another day on the ice trembling, freezing and struggling ... to think, to manoeuvre.”

Ananov said at one point he was approached by three polar bears that got to within a metre of him. He said he waited and then managed to chase them off by acting as aggressively as he could to startle the animals.

“They had never seen a creature dressed with a red survival suit ... with two legs, two arms waving and roaring. It was like a red devil.”

He said the bears jumped into the water and swam to a nearby floe.

As Ananov struggled with the conditions with no food and water, the search — which had been triggered after picking up

a beacon on board the helicopter — began to close in.

Capt. Stephane Julien, commanding officer of the Pierre Radisson, said fog and ice conditions hindered progress and his vessel took 25 hours to reach the area of the crash site.

He said visibility was poor Sunday until conditions suddenly cleared and he decided to use the ship's helicopter.

It was the noise of the aircraft that alerted Ananov who set off his last flare.

“My third officer from the corner of her eye she saw a flare on the ice,” said Julien. “We took a bearing and called the helicopter.”

Julien said Ananov was found in ``good shape'' despite his 32hour ordeal. He said he believes his vessel would have found Ananov without the flare, but probably not until sometime Monday morning.

“The flare made the difference,” said Julien.

He said the Pierre Radisson was expected to sail into Iqaluit sometime Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral John Newton said Ananov's flight was risky even by military standards.

“When we fly our big Cormorant search and rescue, multiengine helicopters over the ocean, we fly a Hercules (plane) on top to make sure our helicopter is safe,” he said during an interview at the search and rescue centre in Halifax.

The admiral said the military search centre worked on the assumption that Ananov was alive throughout the rescue attempt, but knew that heaving oceans and extreme cold posed risks as the hours went by. ■ With files from Keith Doucette and Michael Tutton in Halifax.

Colleagues appear to bail out finance minister from testifying on Canada's books

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — A Conservativedominated parliamentary committee voted against a process Monday that would have likely called on Finance Minister Joe Oliver to testify in public about the state of Canada's finances amid a troubled economy.

Before Monday's closed-door meeting, opposition members of the finance committee had been urging the Harper government to study a recent report that said Ottawa was on track to run a budget deficit this year.

Last week, the parliamentary budget office released an analysis based on downgraded Bank of Canada projections that showed Ottawa was headed for a $1-billion shortfall in 2015-16.

The budget watchdog's calculation raised doubts about the ruling Conservatives' longstanding pledge to balance the election-year books — including their $1.4-billion surplus projection for this year.

The freshly crunched numbers were released after the struggling economy contracted

over the first four months of 2015, a recoil triggered by the collapse in world oil prices and the failure of Canada's nonenergy sectors to pick up the slack.

Some experts have said Canada has slipped into recession, though that remains the subject of heated debate.

Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his government was “well ahead” of its own forecast for a balanced budget this year — despite Canada's economic struggles to start 2015.

Harper pointed to the data for the first two months of the fiscal year, which show a $3.95-billion surplus thanks to a $1-billion boost from a onetime asset sale of General Motors shares.

Oliver has insisted the government is “very comfortable” it will produce a budgetary surplus this year, citing forecasts from experts — including the Bank of Canada — that say the economy will rebound later this year.

“It definitely would be interesting to hear the finance minister actually explain how he can claim there will be a bal-

Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver.

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anced budget,” New Democrat MP Guy Caron said after Monday's 15-minute committee meeting.

“We're going into an election this fall. I think Canadians are actually entitled to know exactly where we stand in terms of our economic situation, and right now it's clear that the Conservatives aren't interested in bringing the light to this.”

Last week, Liberal finance critic Scott Brison called on the government to back up its renewed balanced-budget promise by releasing the Department of Finance's latest projections to the committee.

“Ministers of finance have a responsibility during times of uncertainty of providing information to Canadians,” Brison said after the meeting.

www.canadianinquirer.net

“The Conservatives have gone from wanting to run on the economy to running from the economy.”

But Conservative MP and committee chairman James Rajotte said it's important to look at hard numbers when trying to predict the future, rather than putting so much energy into following ever-shifting economic forecasts.

Rajotte pointed to the $3.95-billion surplus the government books showed for the first two months of the fiscal year, though he acknowledged it was due in large part to the asset sale.

“So, to predict the next 10 months, it's a lot like predicting the weather — it's a very challenging thing to do,” Rajotte said.

“The Bank of Canada consistently changes its projections depending on economic circumstances, as does the parliamentary budget officer, as do governments around the world. So, speaking for myself personally, I don't know how helpful it is for us to continually debate what it will be then as opposed to actually debating what it is.” ■

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Somalia hotel truck bomb Paris police open fire on car death toll rises to 15 at Tour de France barricades

BY ABDI GULED The Associated Press MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — The massive truck bomb that killed 15 people, including a Kenyan diplomat, and wrecked Somalia's premier hotel has stunned the capital and raised fears Monday that the Islamic extremist al-Shabab rebels are escalating their violence.

Senior police official Capt.

Mohammed Hussein said the toll has risen to 15. "This is a very worrying situation," he said as he stood outside the Hotel Jazeera near a dead body.

"This happened despite all the security precautions in place."

In a visit to neighboring Ethiopia, U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday the bombing is a reminder "we have more work to do" in stemming terrorism in the region and that groups like al-Shabab offer nothing but destruction.

The scene at the site was grisly, with the front sheared off of the five-story luxury hotel that once housed diplomats, journalists and visiting heads of state. The damage echoed the decades of conflict in Mogadishu that once left much of the city as rubble.

Desperate relatives searched

the bloodstained rubble with their bare hands looking for survivors while to the side lay a large sack of body parts.

The bomb was made of a ton of explosives and destroyed dozens of nearby homes, said police.

"It's a criminal and cowardly act but that will not disrupt our struggle toward peace," Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Omer told The Associated Press by phone from Djibouti.

The toll from the attack including a Kenyan diplomat, a Chinese embassy guard and two journalists, Abdihakin Mohamed Omar, a producer for Somali Broadcasting Corporation and Mohamed Abdikarim Moallim Adam, a reporter for the London based Universal television, who were driving near the hotel at the time of the attack.

Authorities say that the toll could have been much higher since the truck exploded outside the hotel's blast walls, but bombs of such magnitude are a new phenomenon.

Security officials link the attack to setbacks by al-Shabab in the field where they have been driven out of Mogadishu and strongholds in the countryside by combined African Union and Somali forces. ■

BY ELAINE GANLEY The Associated Press PARIS — Paris police were searching for a car that struck a taxi and crashed through barricades set up near the Tour de France finish line on Sunday morning, drawing police fire hours before the arrival of the cyclists and spectators. Police said they didn’t suspect terrorism.

The car escaped with at least two occupants who were apparently unharmed after police opened fire on the vehicle in the Place de la Concorde, where the cyclists make their final triumphant rounds to conclude the race, said a union police official and a government official with knowledge of the incident.

Tour de France officials said the race wouldn’t be affected by the incident. Paris has been on edge since double attacks in January by Islamic extremists on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a Kosher grocery killed 20 people, including the three attackers.

Thousands of police and soldiers were deployed on the streets after the attack to protect sensitive sites and tourists attractions.

The official said police saw little chance of links between

Sunday’s incident and the Tour de France, or terrorism, but cautioned that prudence was necessary as long as the car’s occupants were on the loose.

The official said the running hypothesis was that the car’s occupants had left one of the nightclubs in the ritzy neighborhood, were intoxicated or had taken illegal substances and didn’t want to submit to a police check.

The official said the car was first spotted on a street that feeds into the nearby ChampsElysees, the famed avenue where thousands gather to watch the final laps of the Tour de France, and where crowd control barriers were being put in place.

The car skirted the area and struck a taxi at the Place de la Concorde near the start of the Tuileries Gardens, the official said. Police officers then opened fire.

The official provided details on condition he not be identified because an investigation was ongoing.

It is extremely rare for gunfire to be heard at the Place de la Concorde, a luxury tourist haunt across the Seine River from the National Assembly, the lower chamber of the French Parliament.

The official put the time of the incident at 7:50 a.m. (0550 GMT) – just under 10 hours before riders are due in the French capital. Initial reports put the time at a few hours later, around 11 a.m. (0900 GMT, 5 a.m. EDT).

Luc Poignant, spokesman for the SGP police union, said officers were finishing setting up the barricades for the race when the car tried to crash through the barriers. Officers opened fire on the car, which ultimately drove away. Poignant told the BFM television network that no officers were injured.

The final stage of the Tour de France is due to begin at 4:35 p.m. (1435 GMT; 10:35 a.m.

EDT), leaving from Sevres, a town southwest of Paris. The riders are due to arrive in the French capital at around 5:30 p.m. (1530 GMT; 11:30 a.m.

EDT) and do 10 laps around the Champs-Elysees before finishing at Place de la Concorde at about 7 p.m. (1700 GMT; 1 p.m.

EDT).

Hundreds of thousands of people gather in the Place de la Concorde and the ChampsElysees for the race’s final leg. ■ Lori Hinnant in Paris and Jamey Keaten with the Tour de France contributed to this report.

Small plane crashes in Tokyo neighborhood; 3 dead, 3 survive

BY MARI YAMAGUCHI The Associated Press TOKYO — A small plane crashed into a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo on Sunday, killing the pilot, a passenger and a woman on the ground, while three people were pulled alive from the wreckage, officials said.

The single-engine propeller plane plowed into and set ablaze a row of houses just minutes after takeoff from an airport used by small aircraft about 500 meters (yards) away in Tokyo’s western suburb of Chofu.

Television footage showed a mangled plane, broken up with its tail upside down, resting on a crushed car in a residential lot as

dozens of firefighters battled the blaze and treated the victims.

The roofs of the two houses next to the site were also damaged.

Tokyo Fire Department spokesman Teruaki Seki said the dead included the pilot, one of the four passengers and a woman who was inside the house where the plane crashed into, setting it ablaze. Five others, including the three remaining passengers and two people on the ground, were taken to hospitals, but their conditions were not immediately known.

The plane was operated by a private company for aviation training and other activity, not for commercial air travel, said Hideaki Kobayashi, the Tokyo metropolitan government offi-

cial in charge of the Chofu Airport.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Minako Akiyama, a resident in the neighborhood, said that after the crash, she heard the loud sound of something being torn. “I ran upstairs, then I saw the house just over there on fire, with a tail of the plane sticking out of it,” she said.

The PA-46 Mirage plane, produced by Piper Aircraft, was flying to Izu Oshima Island, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Chofu Airport.

The airport was opened in 1941 for Japan’s Imperial Army during World War II and is now administered by the Tokyo metropolitan government. www.canadianinquirer.net

BOLDG / SHUTTERSTOCK

The plane that crashed Sunday also experienced an accident in October 2004, when it crashed into a field in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo in a failed takeoff, accord-

ing to a transport ministry report. Nobody was injured in that accident, which the ministry attributed to operational error. The aircraft had since been repaired. ■

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Malaysia, Cuba taken off US human trafficking blacklist

BY MATTHEW PENNINGTON The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The State Department on Monday took Malaysia and Cuba off its blacklist of countries failing to combat modern-day slavery, leaving the U.S. open to criticism that politics is swaying the oftencontentious rankings in its annual human trafficking report.

Thailand, downgraded with Malaysia last year because of pervasive labor abuses in its lucrative fishing industry, remained on the blacklist. That will add to the growing strains in its once-strong relations with Washington. Critics contend that Malaysia's upgrade is related to its participation in a U.S.-backed trade agreement among Pacific Rim countries.

Thailand is not part of the proposed agreement.

Secretary of State John Kerry formally launched the annual U.S. assessment of how 188 governments around the world have performed in fighting the flesh trade and other forms of

exploitative labor.

Cuba has for several years been stuck on the lowest ranking, "tier 3," amid allegations, denied by Havana, of coerced labor with Cuban government work missions abroad. Its upgrade comes a week after the U.S. and Cuba formally restored diplomatic relations after a half-century of estrangement.

The U.S. also removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in late May. Undersecretary of State Sarah Sewall cited Cuba's progress in addressing sex trafficking but voiced concern the island nation's government has failed to recognize the problem of forced labor. She denied political considerations had come into play in the rankings.

The Trafficking in Persons Report is one of several annual assessments issued by the department on human rightsrelated topics, but it's unusual in that it ranks nations, which can ruffle diplomatic feathers.

It is based on the actions governments take, rather than on the scale of the problem in their countries. Globally, more than

SHUTTERSTOCK

20 million people are believed to be affected in industries such as mining, construction, the sex trade, and domestic service.

President Barack Obama now has 90 days to determine whether to apply sanctions against tier 3 governments. The president can block various types of aid and could withdraw U.S. support for loans from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. But the U.S. often chooses not to, based on its

national security interests, as it did last year for both Thailand and Malaysia, which Washington views as important partners in its strategic outreach to Asia.

Among the 23 nations still stuck at tier 3 are Iran, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Zimbabwe.

Uzbekistan was promoted after two years on the blacklist.

The department cited a government prohibition on forced

labor of children in the 2014 cotton harvest, although it said government-compelled use of adults in the harvest remained "endemic."

Other nations upgraded from tier 3 were the Democratic Republic of Congo, Papua New Guinea and Saudi Arabia.

Those downgraded to tier 3 were Belarus, Belize, Burundi, Comoros, the Marshall Islands and South Sudan.

Malaysia's upgrade is likely to raise the most hackles in Congress and among human rights activists. Earlier this month, 19 U.S. senators wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry urging that Malaysia stay on the blacklist. One hundred and sixty House members also registered concern, arguing that an upgrade would not be merited and would appear driven by "external considerations."

Malaysia is one of 12 nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the key economic plank of Obama's Asia policy. The nations' trade ministers are meeting in Hawaii this week, hoping ❱❱ PAGE 27 Malaysia, Cuba

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PM announces expanded and modernized Free Trade Agreement with Israel OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that negotiations toward an expanded and modernized Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) have concluded.

The modernized CIFTA will notably provide expanded market access opportunities for agricultural, fish and seafood products through the reduction or elimination of Israeli tariffs on a large number of products, and duty-free access under tariff rate quotas for certain products.

Four existing areas of the current CIFTA have been modernized, namely market access for goods, rules of origin, institutional provisions, and dispute settlement. In addition, seven new chapters have been included in the areas of trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual

A modernized CIFTA will facilitate expanded bilateral commercial flows by reducing tariffs and other barriers, enhancing cooperation and increasing transparency in regulatory matters. A modernized agreement also stands to reduce transaction costs for businesses and create new opportunities for Canadian agriculture, agri-food, fish and seafood companies in the Israeli market.

Quick Facts

Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

property, electronic commerce, labour, and environment.

This robust CIFTA will support Canadian businesses and

PM.GC.CA

investors, deepen trade and investment linkages, and further strengthen Canada’s bilateral relationship with Israel.

- Canada values its longstanding relationship with Israel, which is based on shared values, common interests and strong political, economic, cultural and social ties.

- CIFTA is the cornerstone of Canada’s commercial relationship with Israel. An expanded and modernized agreement will further enhance Canada’s visibility and terms of access in

the Israeli market, while supporting the close bilateral relationship more generally.

Israel is a priority market for Canada under the Global Markets Action Plan.

- Since CIFTA came into force in 1997, Canada’s two-way merchandise trade with Israel has tripled to $1.6 billion in 2014.

- Key opportunities for Canadian companies exist in sectors such as defence, information and communications technology, life sciences, sustainable technologies, agriculture and agri-food, and fish and seafood.

- The modernized CIFTA will provide expanded market access opportunities for Canadian businesses through the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers, and help in creating new sources of jobs, growth and prosperity for both of our countries in the years ahead. ■

Federal Gas Tax Fund PM Announces J. Michel Doyon Delivers for Thornhill, as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Markham and Vaughan The first installment of the annual $2 billion federal transfer is now available for municipal infrastructure THORNHILL — The Honourable Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities, and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced today that the first installment of the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) for 2015 is being made available to support municipal infrastructure in Markham and Vaughan and communities across Ontario.

The Government of Canada’s annual $2-billion GTF for municipal infrastructure provides predictable, long-term funding for Canadian municipalities to help them build and revitalize their local infrastructure while creating jobs and long-term prosperity. Each year, the federal GTF assists municipalities

by providing funding for local infrastructure projects. In 2015-2016, more than $8 million dollars each will be made available to Markham and Vaughan with a total of almost $800 million dollars flowing to municipalities across Ontario.

Quick Facts

Between 2014 and 2024, close to $22 billion in funding will flow to communities across Canada through the GTF. Of this, Ontario municipalities will receive an estimated $8 billion in new federal infrastructure funding.

Since the program began, the federal GTF has made $15 billion available to support local infrastructure from coast to coast to coast, including $2 billion in 2015-2016 alone. ■

GATINEAU, QUEBEC — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of J. Michel Doyon as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.

Dr. Doyon is an accomplished lawyer, historian, professor and author. He has considerable experience in business law and commercial arbitration and has practiced at Gagné, Letarte for over 30 years. He served as President of the Barreau du Québec where, as the chief executive officer, he oversaw the governing body of the province’s lawyers.

Dr. Doyon has a Doctorate in History and, before practicing law, he taught at the Cégep de Sainte-Foy and has been a lecturer at Laurentian University, Laval University and the Bar School of the Barreau du Québec. He was also the creator and a member of the production committee for, Le Droit de savoir television series.

He has received numerous distinctions throughout his career, including Queen’s Counwww.canadianinquirer.net

PM.GC.CA

sel and Advocatus Emeritus of the Barreau du Québec. He also served as an Honorary Colonel of 3 Wing Bagotville and is a Governor of 3 Wing Bagotville.

This appointment is the culmination of a process undertaken by the non-partisan Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments, which was first announced by the Prime Minister in November 2012.

Lieutenant Governors are appointed by His Excellency

the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

They serve terms of no fewer than five years, during which they act as the province’s viceregal representative.

Prime Minister Harper also took the opportunity to thank the Honourable Pierre Duchesne for his outstanding service as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec since June 7, 2007. ■

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GLOBAL FILIPINO:

The Grandeur of Traveling: Deo Baraan

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer FOR MANY medical professionals, traveling is a luxury that nobody has time for. But for Dr. Amadeus Baraan, it is a necessity to keep him sane.

Fondly called ‘Deo’ by friends and family, he fell in love with traveling—oddly enough—in medical school because he believes “youth only comes once.”

Traveling ‘keeps me sane’

“My first semi-backpacking trip to Europe fueled my wanderlust,” Deo recalled.

“I actually started traveling when I was young, but the peak of my travel was in college and medical school. When I finally finished medical school, I decided that my mind and body needed a break,” he added, so he took a few trips around the United States as well.

“My love for travel grew stronger and nothing could stop it,” he added.

Today, Deo is currently training as a dermatologist in a Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) accredited hospital in Manila where he serves as the chief resident.

“Despite my seemingly impossible schedule, I make sure that most weekends (especially the long ones) are devoted to traveling. Those days keep me sane,” Deo explained.

But how does he balance his demanding workload and his love of traveling?

“People always wonder how I can juggle all my work, but the secret is quite simple. At the end of the day, it’s all about time management,” he answered. ”The thought of getting stuck and having regrets was the most frightening thing,” he said. “I always told myself I didn’t want to spend most of my prime years in the hospital.”

The birth of the Grandeur Traveler

His passion for traveling gave birth to his successful website “Grandeur Traveler” (www. grandeurtraveler.com) where he documents his trips. In fact, he considers his website as his “biggest investment aside from [his] medical career.”

He’s also gained quite a fol-

“In my life, the magic of travel will never fade. It is an addiction with one simple cure: Travel More -- Grandeur Traveler style!” @GRANDEURTRAVELER / INSTAGRAM

Doc Deo Baraan during his recent trip to exotic India.

Doc Deo Baraan touring the breathtaking Taj Mahal temple in India.

@GRANDEURTRAVELER / INSTAGRAM

lowing on social media because of his amusing stories and gorgeous photos. As of posting, Deo has over 46,000 ‘Likes’ on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ grandeur-traveler) and more than 4,900 followers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/ grandeurtraveler).

“Documenting my travels through my travel blog was a product of passion. It seemed like a natural course,” he shared. “There was something about blogging before the rise of social media that made it more personal. In a way, that made it more exciting. I wanted to share my stories, both the good and the bad. I eventually learned how to take better photos since it was a necessary skill for a blogger.”

Today, Deo said that he couldn’t travel without his iPhone, DSLR camera, and powerbanks (yes, plural) be-

cause he loves taking photos so much.

On Deo’s website is his catchphrase: “Because traveling is anything but ordinary,” which is one of the reasons how his moniker—the Grandeur Traveler—came to be. But if he’s all about grandeur, does that mean money’s no problem when it comes to traveling?

“Considering my career as a travel blogger, I would say that this ‘job’ has helped me save money,” he said. “I don’t necessarily have techniques on saving money, but I think the best advice I can give is to be smart about travel.”

Deo was gracious enough to share his traveling tips with us.

“First, when I book hotels, I am always loyal to one booking engine. You can become a VIP member and you get special rates and discounts. The same concept goes for airlines. You www.canadianinquirer.net

@GRANDEURTRAVELER / INSTAGRAM

need to stick to one that has good partnership with other airlines. I also use my credit cards that have the best travel programs and benefits,” he explained.

He also pointed out that he’s received sponsorships from various establishments, which enabled him to travel more.

“Through my blog, I have received a lot of sponsors that have literally taken me to many beautiful places, from Palawan to Los Angeles. I consider myself lucky in that sense,” he said.

Captivating destinations, daring adventures

Deo has traveled extensively within the Philippines and even abroad, but when asked about his favorite destination in the country, he had only one place in mind.

“El Nido (Palawan) is on the top of my list,” he said without

batting an eyelash.

“All those towering limestones, pristine waters, sandy beaches and secret coves are the ingredients of the perfect tropical getaway,” he explained. “I once heard a tourist say, ‘I can’t believe something like this exists in the world.’ I couldn’t agree more with him.”

Aside from El Nido, Bohol is Deo’s second favorite spot in the country. “[Bohol] has a captivating geographical landscape, unique fauna, and laidback atmosphere that will make you want to live there,” he said.

Despite having reached numerous destinations, Deo still has dream destinations—three to be exact.

“I still want to see Morocco and get lost in its culture and history. I am thrilled that this trip will be happening later during this year. Galapagos Islands

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and Antarctica—two destinations that have a special place in my travel book, will hopefully be next,” he answered.

“I [also] want to explore more of India again soon,” he adds.

“My trip there a few months ago has opened my eyes to India's unique way of living—something that I have never strongly felt in other countries… India is a feast for the senses.”

“Aside from the beautiful chaos and its people's spirituality, I have found the life of the Maharajas particularly interesting. I may have one in my past life,” he laughed.

While staying in Oberoi in India, Deo said he would never forget what one of his fellow guests told him. Deo shared, “[She said,] ’People go to India to find themselves but it is India who ends up finding them.’ It is what I may have unknowingly wanted to get from traveling.”

He adds, “I don’t think traveling will ever end for me. Even after seeing some of my dream destinations, there’s always something out there that will continue to inspire, fascinate and move me.”

When asked about his most dangerous and/or daring escapade, Deo recalled his trip to Bohol.

“The Plunge in Danao Adventure Park in Bohol was quite mad,” he said, referring to the “three-second free fall” where you swing like a pendulum.

“There was a silent scream from start to end,” he shared.

But when it comes to his most unforgettable trip, he always goes back to the place where he first fell in love with traveling.

“All my travels are unforgettable—especially my recent trip to India and Maldives—but nothing could beat my first trip to Europe because curiosity got the best of me,” he answered.

“When I went to the Red Light District near Moulin Rouge, I decided to enter one of

the ‘clubs’ there with so much naiveté that it almost got me killed. And before that, we got mugged in Amsterdam, and my things were stolen at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris,” Deo shared.

“It was Murphy’s Law at its best,” he said, adding that since his European trip, he has “become a wiser traveler.”

What’s next for Doc Deo?

With the success of his travel blog and his residency program’s nearing conclusion, what’s next for Doc Deo? “For now, I am just finishing my residency program, which will be done in a few months.

If everything falls in its proper place, I will start my dream clinic,” he said.

So what does this have to do with his traveling?

“Since I will be controlling my time, I can have bigger plans for my blog. Perhaps I can get writers to contribute for my site. I have always wanted to have an online magazine.”

Oh, that. That’s a great plan.

But how would Doc Deo encourage Filipinos—and foreign tourists—to go out and explore the Philippines?

“For Filipinos and foreigners alike, I always say the same thing: An open mind is important,” he said.

“Beyond the traffic and the urban pollution, this country’s natural beauty is unparalleled and mesmerizing. You only need to start exploring one place and you will just fall in love with this country,” Deo shared.

For those who are struggling to find the inspiration to travel or starting their own travel blog, Deo says, “Love everything you do. Everything stems from that… In my life, the magic of travel will never fade… It is an addiction with one simple cure–travel more, Grandeur Traveler style!” ■

Doc Deo at the famous Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia. @GRANDEURTRAVELER / INSTAGRAM

Government of Canada working hard to support homeless seniors OTTAWA, ONTARIO — The or registered charitable orgaHonourable Alice Wong, Min- nizations and municipalities ister of State (Seniors), was can apply to act as third-party pleased today to highlight the administrators of CPP and/or Government of Canada’s ongo- OAS benefits for homeless seing efforts with organizations niors. As a third-party adminissuch as The Salvation Army, trator, qualified individuals and to help improve the lives of se- organizations can apply for and niors across the country. receive CPP and/or OAS beneThrough programs such as the fits on behalf of the senior they new Supporting Homeless Se- serve and represent, and then niors Program, the Government pay out the benefits in the best of Canada is committed to helping vulnerable seniors—particularly those who The Government of Canada is are homeless or committed to the well-being of at risk of becomCanada’s seniors. ing homeless, and who are incapable of managing their own affairs—to receive interest of that person. the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) The Salvation Army gives and Old Age Security (OAS) ben- hope and support to vulnerefits for which they are eligible. able people, including seniors The Government is under- in over 400 communities across taking targeted efforts, work- Canada. They offer assistance to ing closely with municipali- seniors, tending to the basic neties, community organizations cessities of life, which includes and front-line outreach and providing shelter for those who service providers, to increase are homeless, as well as other their capacity to assist seniors supports and services for homewho are homeless or at risk of less, vulnerable seniors. becoming homeless. Through the Supporting Homeless Se- Quick Facts niors Program, community orThe Government of Canada ganizations that are non-profit is committed to the well-being

of Canada’s seniors by working with all levels of government, seniors’ organizations and stakeholders to develop policies and programs that support seniors.

The Supporting Homeless Seniors Program builds on other activities the Government has undertaken to support vulnerable seniors, who are often socially isolated. Ongoing initiatives include: The New Horizons for Seniors Program, which funds projects that will help prevent and reduce social isolation among seniors; and, The Homelessness Partnering Strategy, a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 designated communities, as well as Aboriginal, rural and remote communities across Canada.

Social isolation is commonly defined as a low quantity and quality of contact with others.

Social isolation involves a situation of few social contacts, few social roles and the absence of mutually rewarding relationships. ■

Malaysia, Cuba... to close on the agreement after years of negotiations. Malaysia's ranking is contentious as an anti-trafficking amendment to legislation crucial for the deal's eventual ratification by Congress limits the president's ability to secure free trade agreements with countries assigned to tier 3.

"By upgrading Malaysia, the U.S. is selling out victims of human trafficking," said Melysa Sperber, director of the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking. "It also undermines the integrity of the report and jeopardizes the credibility that has been built up over many years."

Sewall cited the strengthening of Malaysia's anti-trafficking law and the increase in the number of trafficking investigations and prosecutions in the ❰❰ 23

www.canadianinquirer.net

period covered by the report which ended March 31. But she said the number of convictions remained low - decreasing from 2013.

Like Thailand, Malaysia has faced intense international criticism over trafficking of stateless Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar and Bangladesh aboard overcrowded boats.

Dozens of graves as well as pens likely used as cages for migrants have been found in abandoned jungle camps on both sides of the Thai-Malaysian border.

Sewall said the discovery of the mass graves in Malaysia happened almost two months beyond the current reporting period. She said Malaysia still has "much room for improvement."

The Thai Embassy in Washington "strongly disagreed" with its retention on tier 3. It

said in a statement the evaluation "does not accurately reflect the reality and fails to take into account significant efforts undertaken by the Thai Government on all fronts during the past year."

On Friday, Thai state prosecutors recommended charges against more than 100 people, including a Thai army general, implicated in trafficking of migrants.

Thailand also remains under the spotlight over slavery in Southeast Asia's fishing industry. A year-long Associated Press investigation has led to more than 800 people being rescued or repatriated in recent months. In April, the EU gave Thailand six months to drastically combat illegal and unregulated fishing or face a seafood import ban. ■

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Community News

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Quadriplegic worker welcomes positive news from CIC ON THE evening of July 24, Maria Victoria “Vicky” Venancio received good news from the office of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander. She will receive a two-year open work permit. This means she will be able to work legally in Canada in the next two years, effective immediately. This news was delivered by Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Sherwood Park Tim Uppal.

“I am very happy to receive this amazing news,” Vicky said.

“I got two years and am legally able to stay in Canada,” she added.

Vicky is the quadriplegic

Vicky Venancio.

temporary foreign worker who came to Canada in 2011, to work and was seriously injured in a car accident on her way to work in 2012. Vicky lost her immigration status along with Alberta Health Care benefits and was told to leave Canada.

“This is great news and I was very happy for Vicky, her tenacity along with the relentless efforts of our community specially in Edmonton really paid off,” said Tess Agustin, chairperson of Migrante Canada. “We welcome this development but we remain vigilant. This is the first step towards Vicky’s struggle to permanently stay in Canada”, Agustin added.

“Thank God for this wonderful blessing, to family, friends, church communities and organizations who’s been supporting me. Our hard work really paid off. This victory is not only for me, but for us. I can’t make it without your help and support. I think tonight is the best sleep I will ever have after three years,” said Vicky.

The ‘Justice 4 Vicky,’ which is composed of individuals and organizations, continue its support through petition signing, getting letters of support from organizations and individuals and raising necessary funds for Vicky’s legal, medical and personal expenses. Migrante

Classical songbirds hold rousing farewell concert PHILIPPINE SOPRANO Kay Balajadia-Liggayu and tenor Nazer Salcedo held their farewell concert in Vancouver on July 25, at St. Faith’s Anglican Church in Vancouver B.C. The final performance was their 10th concert. They also performed in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Victoria, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver.

The “Summer Encore Concert” completed their classical music outreach in Canada.

Kay Balajadia-Liggayu is a graduate of the College of Music at the University of the Philippines, major in Voice. This multi-awarded soprano soloist has performed as lead role in operas such as, “Michaela” in the Peter Brooks adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen with the Philip-

pine Opera Company and also with Lyricopera Philippines Inc., as Miriam in Molina’s “Bulaklak ng Kabundukan,” “Violetta” in an adaptation of La Traviata to name a few.

Kay is also a practicing lawyer in the Philippines, and currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Music Performances at the Philippine Women’s University under Professors Fides Cuyugan Asensio and Mercedes Dugan.

Tenor Nazer Salcedo is a stage actor, director and faculty member of De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila.

The grand national prize winner at the Kundiman Fiesta in 1994, he was one of the very first Filipinos to perform in the Avignon Theatre Festival in France. Named ‘Best Featured

Classical Songbirds Kay Balajadia-Liggayu and Nazer D. Salcedo.

Theatre Actor in a Musical’ by Inquirer’s Bravo in 2006, 2007 and 2010, Nazer’s performances bring music to life.

Completing his Masters Degree in Theatre at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, he continues to mentor aspiring actors as trainer and artistic director of Teatro LaSalliana.

During Kay and Nazer’s twomonth visit to Canada, they have met a few local artists whom they invited to join them at the Summer Encore Concert.

Local artists include accompanying pianist Ruben Federizon together with singers Michael and Micaela Unso, Jeremiah Carag and Cecilia Federizon.

Their repertoire included popular kundiman songs, broadway and classical music. ■

PHOTO BY CHAREN D. CUSI

www.canadianinquirer.net

SSS Representative Roberto Roldan.

SSS establishes office in Canada

BY ROMEO AYSON ZETAZATE AND DINDO ORBESO THE PHILIPPINE Social Security System has officially put-up an office in Canada to take care of the agency's pensioners who have settled in this part of the world, former members who would like to continue their memberships, and Overseas Flipino workers (OFW) who would like to avail themselves of both the retirement and housing benefits.

Bobby V. Roldan is the head of the SSS branch in Canada, which is located at Suite 202, second floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East, Toronto, Ont. with email address: bob_roldan@yahoo. com, telephone numbers (416) 485 - 2999 and 416 - 485 - 2888.

Filipinos working and living in other provinces, cities, and towns in Canada, can communicate with Roldan either by electronic mail (internet), by telephones, and/or by sending letters through the Canada Post offices.

Roldan cited the different benefits for the members of the Philippine Social Security System which include sickness, maternity, retirement, disability, death, and funeral. Salary and housing loans are included including house repair and improvement.

Roldan works from Monday to Saturday although during Saturdays he can be reached at the I-remit office located at 3776 Bathurst St. cor. Wilson St., Toronto, Ont., with telephone no. 647 - 932-6407 and 647-800 - 6726. ■

29

FRIDAY JULY 31, 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 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment

Willie: ‘Kapag mababa ang ratings mo, iba na ang tingin sa’yo’

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA – “’Pag wala ka nang ratings, hindi ka na bida. Kapag mababa ang ratings mo, iba na ang tingin sa’yo.” (When you no longer have ratings, you’re no longer the star. When your ratings are already low, they look differently at you.)

These were the words of variety show host Willie Revillame as he shared his sentiments and gave advice to fellow artists during the 15th anniversary celebration of YES! Magazine on Monday.

Revillame then told them to love themselves first and to prepare for what the future may bring.

“Mahalin n’yo ang sarili n’yo… Maraming nagmamahal sa iyo sa industriya pero mas mahalin mo ang sarili mo. Kasi,

at the end of the day, kapag may sakit ka na dapat may pera ka sa bulsa para hindi tayo nagmumukhang kawawa mga artista, lalapit kung kani-kanino, manghihingi ka ng gamot, pera.

Maraming ganyan sa industriya,” he said.

(Love yourselves… A lot of people in the industry love you but you love yourself more.

Because, at the end of the day, when you get sick [and you’ll need money], you’ll have money in your pockets. So that you will not be pathetic artists, asking for help from anyone, asking for medicine, money.

There’s a lot of people like that in the industry.)

“Tandaan ninyo, ang industriyang ito, ‘pag matanda na tayo may bago nang lumalabas,” he added.

(Remember, this industry, when you’re already old, a new [artist] replaces you.)

Revillame also advised fellow artists not just to rely in the industry as their sole source of income so that when they are no longer offered any project, they will still have money to provide for themselves.

“Siguro isang lesson sa ating mga artista sa showbiz na ‘pag nagkakapera ka, properties kaagad, investment kaagad…

I’m so blessed na nung nasa TV5 ako, nakabili ako ng properties sa Tagaytay, not being mayabang… Bumili ako ng eroplano.

During my time in ABS, bumili ako ng yate, hindi ito pagyayabang. I just want to enjoy ‘yung pinagpapaguran kong pera,” he said.

(Maybe one lesson to us artists in showbiz is that when you have money, immediately [buy] properties and investments… I’m so blessed that when I was with TV5, I was able to buy properties in Tagaytay,

‘Wowowin’ host Willie Revillame.

I’m not intending to be boastful… I bought an airplane. During my time in ABS, I bought a yacht, again, I’m not boasting. I just want to enjoy the money I worked hard for.)

Revillame gave these state-

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ments amid speculations that his weekly show “Wowowin” in GMA-7 will be discontinued soon. The show has only aired for about three months now but is said to be replaced by another game show. ■

‘Ant-Man’ inches past ‘Pixels’ to take first-place spot

BY LINDSEY BAHR The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — “Ant-Man” crept past new opener “Pixels” to claim the top spot at the box office this weekend by an antsized margin. The Disney and Marvel superhero pic brought in $24.8 million over the weekend, bringing its domestic total to $106.1 million according to Rentrak estimates Sunday.

“Pixels,” meanwhile, just barely missed first place with a $24 million debut. While studios always hope for the bragging rights of a No. 1 debut, the real issue here is whether or not the Adam Sandler end of the world comedy will make up its $88 million production budget.

“It’s been a little competitive in the marketplace when you consider the extent of the performance of ‘Jurassic’ and ‘Inside Out,’“ said Sony’s Presi-

dent of Worldwide Distribution Rory Bruer. “To get to where we opened to was quite good.”

Critics were not fond of “Pixels,” which shows 1980s video arcade game characters attacking Earth, but younger audiences still turned out to theaters — an estimated 62 percent were under the age of 25.

Paul Dergarabedian, Rentrak’s senior media analyst, said Sandler can still attract an audience, but the expensive film has a lot of ground to make up.

“They’re really going to have to count on the international component. That’s going to be key,” he said.

Overall, the box office is down 3 percent from the same weekend last year, when “Lucy” opened particularly strong. Dergarabedian said that though some are attempting to link last week’s theater shootings to any dip in the box office this weekend, “the numbers just don’t bear it out.”

Holdovers “Minions” and “Trainwreck” took the third and

The cast of Ant Man at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con. GAGE SKIDMORE / FLICKR

fourth spots with $22.1 million and $17.3 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, the R-rated boxing drama “Southpaw” surpassed expectations and landed a place in the top five with its $16.5 million opening.

Dergarabedian said that its performance is likely due to star Jake Gyllenhaal’s enthusiastic promotion of the film and also the fact that it provides an alternative to the standard www.canadianinquirer.net

summer blockbuster fare. “‘Southpaw’ felt like a really good fall movie,” he said.

“Paper Towns,” an adaptation of John Green’s coming-of-age novel, opened in sixth place with $12.5 million. The Fox film only cost $12 million to produce, but considering Green’s fan base and last year’s massive $48 million debut of “The Fault in Our Stars,” which Green also wrote, it’s a bit disappointing.

A straight comparison isn’t

entirely fair, though. “The Fault in Our Stars” had a much bigger following and transcended age and gender groups with its story of two teens dying of cancer and falling in love. “Paper Towns” is a more narrow and lighthearted high school tale.

According to exit polls, 71 percent of the “Paper Towns” audience was female and 78 percent were under age 25.

Also, Shailene Woodley was a much bigger name when “The Fault in Our Stars” came out, whereas Cara Delevingne and Nat Wolff are somewhat lesser known.

Woodley’s “Divergent” association took the modest film “to another level,” Dergarabedian said.

“I think we have a job ahead of us in the coming weeks to find more of our potential audience who we weren’t able to reach this weekend. But I think we can do that,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s domestic distribution president. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

31

Camille Prats happy to be given a second chance

BY DOLLY ANNE CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE LOVE story of Camille Prats and VJ Yambao makes us want to believe in second chances.

It’s been four years since Camille’s first husband, Anthony Linsangan, passed away. They have a 7-year-old son, Nathan.

VJ surprised Camille with a marriage proposal on July 18 at the Prats family’s resort, Nayomi, complete with fireworks and AVP of their pictures by top studio Nice Print Photo (NPP), which also covered the happy occasion.

With the NPP team, celeb couples like Camille and VJ are rest assured that their precious memories will be recorded for posterity.

The childhood friends, who

crossed paths again two years ago, are all set to love happily ever after.

Did you ask for a sign from your late husband before accepting VJ’s proposal?

It was a surprise proposal and it would be awkward to ask for a sign. Although I did ask before.

When I first met VJ, I asked [Anthony] if he was the right guy for me and Nathan. Anthony did give us a sign. Things have been going smoothly since then.

What lessons from the first marriage would be applicable now?

I learned so many things from the first one, even though it was brief. I learned to adjust, compromise and choose battles, not to make a big deal of little things.

How’s your son’s relationship with his future stepdad?

They are very close. My son adores his Tito VJ. They play games and basketball.

What excites you most about getting married again?

I want more kids. I’ve always dreamed of having a big family.

I feel blessed with this second chance.

What scares you about getting hitched again?

Nothing… I am excited and happy.

Please share some of your wedding plans.

We plan to tie the knot in the first quarter of 2017. That’s how far our planning goes, for now.

Where will your honeymoon be?

We plan to visit Europe.

How has your fiancé redefined love for you?

You should pray and never lose hope in finding the right kind of love! ■

Kapuso actress Camille Prats with fiance VJ Yambao PHOTO COURTESY OF NICEPRINT PHOTOGRAPHY VIA GMA KAPUSO PRESS RELEASE

Kris Aquino with sons Josh and Bimby on their way to attend P-Noy’s SONA. @WITHLOVEKRISAQUINO / INSTAGRAM

Kris Aquino on Phillip Salvador: He has no active role in Joshua’s life

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA – When asked about why she doesn’t include Phillip Salvador in her social media posts with their son Joshua, Kris Aquino explained that she does so because Salvador doesn’t play an active role as a father to Joshua.

“To clarify, we don’t communicate and he has no active role in Kuya Josh’s life,” she said.

“Together with my siblings, and with much gratitude to my mom, we all took on the responsibility of raising Kuya, and I have always been open about his having special needs,” she added.

Aquino also frankly stated that she has solely financially provided for Joshua as well. She made clear, however, that she does not want to raise this matter to Salvador nor is she asking

any support from him.

“I have been solely financially responsible for Kuya’s upbringing for most of his life. Let me emphasize, I’m not calling anybody out. God truly blessed me with the financial capacity to care for my panganay (eldest),” she said.

“This is my [Instagram] account and this chronicles my life and my family… Why will I mention someone who isn’t part of our lives?,” she added.

“Parenting requires effort. And it’s a choice on how involved you’ll choose to be.”

Aquino then hoped that the issue will no longer be raised.

After all, they were ‘peaceful and that’s what’s important.’

The queries about Salvador were raised when Aquino posted a short video of Joshua in Instagram last week. Several of her followers then asked for Salvador’s involvement in raising Joshua. ■

Ruffa wants big project with John Lloyd Cruz

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Ruffa Gutierrez shared that she and her ex-boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz are in a good relationship.

“Okay naman, we’re friends,” she said when asked how her

meeting with John Lloyd went.

The two met at the set of the “Home Sweetie Home,” an ABSCBN show starring John Lloyd.

Ruffa is set to have a guesting in the July 26 episode of the show.

She said that she is looking forward to having a bigger project with the actor.

“I have a good relationship now

with JL. So sana makasama ko siya ulit sa mas mahaba at mas malaking project,” she added.

(I have a good relationship now with JL. So I am hoping to work with him in a longer and bigger project.)

The two had lost communication following their breakup in February 2010. www.canadianinquirer.net

Ruffa Gutierrez and John Lloyd Cruz. @ILOVERUFFAG / @JOHNLLOYDCRUZTM / INSTAGRAM

Ruffa is now in a relationship with Jordan Mouyal and John

Lloyd with actress Angelica Panganiban. ■

Entertainment

32

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Reconciliation with Autopsy planned Ruffa ‘not from the for Bobbi Kristina Brown heart’ — Annabelle

BY JONATHAN LANDRUM JR. The Associated Press

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Annabelle Rama revealed that she and her daughter Ruffa Gutierrez have not completely reconciled.

Annabelle said this is because their reconciliation was not coming “from the heart.”

“Hindi galing sa puso kasi ang pagbabati namin,” she said

during the press conference of “It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez” on Friday.

(Our reconciliation was not coming from the heart.)

The two were reported to have reconciled during the wedding Elvis, Ruffa’s sibling.

“Parang ang wish ni Elvis, magbati kami ni Ruffa, hindi talaga bati na talagang nangyayari. Parang basta bigla-bigla lang,” she added.

(Elvis’ wish was for me and Ruffa to reconcile. But that was not a reconciliation that’s real. It was something that just happened in an instant.)

Annabelle also shared that she and Ruffa had been arguing ever since Ruffa was five years old.

“Actually, she was five years old, ‘di na kami magkasundong dalawa. Ano gusto ko, ayaw niya. Ganun lagi. (We can’t get along. She always disagrees with what I want.)” ■

Ai-ai vows to bring Jiro Manio to Japan to meet his father

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Ai-ai delas Alas promised former child actor Jiro Manio that she will bring him to Japan so he could meet his biological father.

“Gusto niyang makita yung [biological] daddy niya, so gagawan ko ng paraang makita yung daddy niya,” Delas Alas shared after visiting Manio, who is in a rehabilitation facility.

(He wants to see his biological father so I’m going to find ways for him to meet his dad.)

“At sinabi ko naman sa kanya na gagawin ko ang lahat na ma-

meet ang daddy niya,” she added.

(I told him that I will do everything for him to meet his dad.)

He also shared how Manio seems to be excited to go home.

“Si Jiro, cute din minsan.

Sabi niya, ‘Uwi na ako?’ Akala niya uuwi na siya,” Delas Alas shared.

(Jiro is cute, sometimes. He said ‘Am I going home?’ He thought he’s already going home.)

“Sabi ko, ‘Anak, tulungan mo ang sarili mo para makalabas na tayo rito,’ ‘tapos tumatango lang siya,” she added.

(I told him, “Son, you should help yourself so we can get out of here.” And then he will just nod.) ■

ATLANTA — An autopsy will be needed to evaluate what led to the death of Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of singer Whitney Houston, authorities said Monday, the day after her death.

In a statement Monday morning, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office says the time that elapsed from when she was found unresponsive in January until her death Sunday will “complicate” its effort to reconstruct events.

“Interpretation of autopsy findings and other information will also be challenging,” the medical examiner’s office said in the statement. “However, an autopsy could be helpful to address questions which may arise about the cause of her unresponsiveness and eventual death.”

Bobbi Kristina died Sunday at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth, Georgia, about six months after she was found Jan. 31, face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her suburban Atlanta townhome.

She was 22.

A police report described it as a drowning.

Bobbi Kristina was the only child of Houston and R&B singer Bobby Brown.

“Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away July, 26 2015, surrounded by her family. She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months,” Kristen Foster, a representative for the Houston family said Sunday.

She had been hospitalized for months in Atlanta — eventually being placed in hospice care — after being found in a manner grimly similar to the way her megastar mother died three years earlier.

Nick Gordon, who shared her townhome with her, said at the time it seemed Bobbi Kristina wasn’t breathing and lacked a pulse before help arrived.

“The Roswell Police Department continues its investigation into the circumstances preceding and surrounding the www.canadianinquirer.net

Whitney Houston performing "My Love Is Your Love" with her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown on Good Morning America in 2009.

ASTERIO TECSON / FLICKR

time of the original incident leading to her death,” the medical examiner said in Monday morning’s statement.

The medical examiner did not release a timeframe for the autopsy, but said additional lab testing might take several weeks.

Born and raised in the shadow of fame and litigation, shattered by the loss of her mother, Bobbi Kristina was overwhelmed by the achievements and demons of others before she could begin to figure out who she was.

Bobbi Kristina — the sole heir of her mother’s estate — did have dreams.

She identified herself on Twitter as “Daughter of Queen WH,” “Entertainer/Actress” with William Morris & Co., and “LAST of a dying breed.” She told Oprah Winfrey shortly after her mother’s death in 2012 that she wanted to carry on her mother’s legacy by singing, acting and dancing. But her career never took off.

She became a social media sensation, sending more than 11,000 tweets and attracting 164,000 followers.

As the news of her death spread across social media, several celebrities tweeted their condolences.

Grammy-winning performer Missy Elliot tweeted, “My heart is truly heavy. May u rest in peace with your mommy (hash) BobbiKristina sending prayers 2 the Brown/Houston family.”

“Empire” star Taraji P. Henson tweeted, “Rest in heaven.”

“RIP (hash)BobbiKristina

My deepest sympathies 2 your father (hash)BobbyBrown n your GrandMa (hash)CissyHouston We will miss ya 4sho darling ;) Actress Vivica A. Fox said on Twitter.

And Winfrey tweeted, “Peace at Last!”

Whitney Houston, known as “America’s Sweetheart,” was an impossible act to follow.

The late singer sold more than 50 million records in the United States alone during her career.

Her voice, an ideal blend of power, grace and beauty, made classics out of songs like “Saving All My Love For You,” “I Will Always Love You” and “The Greatest Love of All.” She earned six Grammys and starred in the films “The Bodyguard” and “The Preacher’s Wife.”

Bobby Brown, who had a bad-boy image, also became a huge star, selling platinum records with New Edition and going solo before drugs and legal woes derailed his career.

Bobbi Kristina appeared alongside both parents in 2005 on the Bravo reality show “Being Bobby Brown,” which captured her parents fighting, swearing and appearing in court. The Hollywood Reporter said it revealed that Brown was “even more vulgar than the tabloids suggest,” and managed “to rob Houston of any last shreds of dignity.”

After their divorce in 2007, Houston kept custody of Bobbi Kristina and raised her along❱❱ PAGE 37 Autopsy planned

33

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

Lifestyle

Why Vigan won as one of New 7 Wonders Cities

BY CONSTANTINO C. TEJERO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE UNITED Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has just released its latest batch of World Heritage (WH) sites — 24 cultural properties, 2 natural, 1 mixed.

These range from the controversial (the Alamo; the Meiji Industrial Revolution sites) to the long-overdue (Ephesus).

France, Iran, Denmark and Turkey lead with two sites each. The United States, China, Japan and the United Kingdom have one each. Russia has none.

The “politicization” of the listing as well as the effects of tourism resulting from the designation are being decried in some quarters. After all, these are supposed to be “the world’s most precious landscapes.”

In 1989, Vigan’s bid for WHinscription was rejected as, reportedly, “it couldn’t compare with other Spanish colonial cities like Cartagena in Colombia and Trinidad in Cuba.”

(Some point out Vigan isn’t like any Spanish colonial town in Latin America since it also has strong Chinese and Filipino influences, thus “should actually be compared with other Asian colonial trading cities like Hoi An, Malacca and Macau.”)

Unique fusion

“Born on the Fourth of July,” the Oscar-nominated Oliver Stone movie starring Tom Cruise shot here and released that year, was the first to bring Vigan to international attention, particularly the half-kilometer Calle Crisologo, the nerve center of the heritage district.

It took a full decade before Unesco relented and gave the Ilocos Sur capital the WH inscription, recognizing that “it represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning”; and “it is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East

Calle Crisologo busy with tourists.

and Southeast Asia.”

(It took longer for the ancient Greco-Roman city of Ephesus in Turkey, site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the original 7 Wonders of the World. It first attempted for the inscription in 1993 and got it after 22 years.)

And it took over three decades before the whole world paid proper attention and gave Vigan full recognition, when it was also declared one of the New 7 Wonders Cities on Dec. 7 last year.

Maintaining legacy

The official ceremony for the declaration on May 7 was attended by no less than N7W Foundation president Bernard Weber himself.

Weber says it was a rigorous and exhausting process. While 103-million votes went to the first listing (New 7 Wonders of Nature) five years ago, there were 550-million votes for the second listing (New 7 Wonders Cities).

Some 4,000 cities were nominated by people worldwide, and the top cities of each country were selected. From the Top 225, a panel of experts chose 77, then by polling gradually reduced that to seven.

“Why Vigan won? It is largely

CHING DEE / PCI

because of the arrogance of other cities,” says Weber. “They’d say, We don’t need this [designation]. They don’t look to the future. To maintain the legacy.

That’s why small cities like Vigan won [over cities like Paris, London and New York].”

(Surely, the reputed texting capability of Filipinos in no small way helped in swelling its rank on the poll.)

Global memory

A Swiss-Canadian, Weber clarifies his foundation is not affiliated with Unesco.

“We cannot collaborate with Unesco,” he says. “We have different aims. They have that scope and we have this scope.”

That is, the two have opposite goals — reduction and expansion. While the N7W listing has reduced thousands of sites to just seven, Unesco now has 1,034 inscribed sites since it started its annual WH-listing in 1978.

N7W was launched in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics. Weber says he was inspired by the original listing of wonders of the ancient world.

He wanted to “revive the Greek idea of ancient wonders,” just like the Olympic Games was revived in the last century. He chose the number 7 not only for www.canadianinquirer.net

its mystical quality but also for practical reason, as it is a quantity “people can remember.”

Hesays this is his millennial project: to motivate people to protect and preserve the planet’s legacy for future generations. It is in line with his concept of global memory.

“Just take five minutes a day,” he says, “and think about things not connected to you personally.”

Weber first visited the country in 2010 when he presented to President Aquino the New 7 Wonders of Nature certificate of candidacy of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which won the votes the following year.

Grandest celebration

Vigan’s official N7W declaration was set during the weeklong Binatbatan Festival of the Arts. It must be the city’s grandest celebration in its history.

There were traditional games and religious rituals, streetdancing showdown, boating and fishing competitions, fashion show and dog show, art exhibits, food fest and trade fair, Santacruzan, calesa parade of overburdened horses.

In the plaza at night, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

conducted by Olivier Ochanine wowed visitors and locals with celebratory music ranging from Shostakovich to Bernstein, from Piazzolla’s “Libertango” to Smetana’s Overture to “The Bartered Bride.”

On the last day of the festival, after a motorcade in the morning, the N7W monument in front of the city hall was unveiled. A Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Orlando Cardinal Quevedo at the Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul.

In the evening, Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina hosted a thanksgiving dinner at the Vigan Convention Center, a cavernous place wrapped around with a mural depicting the history of the Ilocanos.

Performed in front of the cathedral was a theater piece interpreting in songs and dances the story of Vigan from preHispanic times to the present.

It was a graceful performance participated in full force by local talents, though rather gruelling for its length.

The people patiently waited in the plaza until the official proclamation by Weber at midnight, to the cannon volleys and galloping horses of the “1812” ❱❱ PAGE 35 Why Vigan

34

Lifestyle

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

As more Canadians survive strokes, more live with stroke induced disabilities

Lifestyle changes may guard aging brain against Alzheimer’s

BY HELEN BRANSWELL The Canadian Press

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD The Canadian Press

TORONTO — A new study suggests the number of Canadians living with stroke-induced disabilities will rise substantially over the next couple of decades.

More people are surviving strokes — a good news story about what can be a devastating and even fatal attack on the brain.

But the study authors say that with an aging and expanding population, this country will face a significant increase in the number of people who need stroke rehabilitation and other forms of post-stroke support.

The study estimates that there were about 405,000 people living with a stroke disability in this country in 2013 — nearly 30 per cent more than was previously estimated.

And it says that number could increase to between 654,000 and 726,000 by 2038.

Dr. Mark Bayley, who is one of the authors, says more research is needed to find ways to help people overcome or cope with the after-effects of stroke.

“The good news is that more people are surviving their stroke,” says Bayley, the medical director of the brain and spinal cord rehabilitation program at the Toronto Rehab Institute.

“And therefore we’re concerned that we need to be ready for how those people are going to need to be supported and also cared for and how we can optimize their quality of life while they’re recovering from their stroke or after their stroke.”

The study was published Thursday in the journal Stroke.

It was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery.

There are two major types of strokes. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain breaks open or leaks blood, putting pressure on nearby brain tissue. The more common ischemic strokes are caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies oxygenated

WASHINGTON — The latest Alzheimer’s research has a clear theme: Change your lifestyle to protect your brain.

It will take several years for scientists to prove whether some experimental drugs could at least delay Alzheimer’s disease, and an aging population is at risk now.

Whatever happens on the drug front, there are generally healthy everyday steps people can take — from better sleep to handling stress to hitting the books — that research suggests just might lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Making these lifestyle changes “looks more promising than the drug studies so far,” said Dr. Richard Lipton of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, whose lab researches what makes up healthy aging.

The findings on stress prompted Lipton to take up yoga.

Here are five tips to guard your brain against memory loss, based on research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference:

SHUTTERSTOCK

blood to the brain.

For the latter, drugs that break up clots can restore blood flow to the brain and minimize the damage, but they must be given within a few hours of the stroke to have benefit.

It’s estimated that about 36 per cent of people who survive a stroke will still have significant disabilities five years after the event. Those can include problems with mobility, speech and brain functioning.

Bayley says the 36 per cent figure is probably low because it may not capture people who are living with the more subtle effects of what are known as mini-strokes or TIAs — transient ischemic attacks. The blockages that cause TIAs are short-lived and not as devastating as a full stroke. But damage can accrue over time.

Previously it had been estimated that about 315,000 Canadians are living with after-effects of a stroke. But Bayley and his co-authors believed that number was out of date.

It was arrived at using data from the Canadian Community

Health Survey, which is conducted by Statistics Canada.

But the survey does not collect information on children under the age of 12, a population in which strokes, though rare, do occur. And it doesn’t include data on people living in longterm care facilities, a demographic at high risk of experiencing strokes.

So the researchers recalculated to include those overlooked groups, coming up with the higher figure.

Bayley suggests the need for health services to help stroke victims recover and function is an issue of serious public health concern.

“We think that research is crucial and that investment in research into living with the effects of stroke are really critical at this time,” he says.

“The problem is that access to rehabilitation, both as an early inpatient and as a later person living in the community, is highly variable in Canada.

And some people, unfortunately, do not get access to the best practice.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Dr. Kristine Yaffe of the University of California, San Francisco: “Sleep disorders are so common, and we think many are quite treatable.”

Exercise your gray matter

Seniors often are advised to work crossword puzzles, take music lessons or learn a new language to keep the brain engaged.

The protective effects of learning may start decades earlier in life.

In Sweden, researchers at the Karolinska Institute unearthed school report cards and work histories of more than 7,000 older adults. Good grades as young as age 10 predicted lower risk of dementia later in life. So did getting a job that required expertise with numbers or, for women, complex interactions with people — occupations such as researchers or teachers.

Why? Learning and complex thinking strengthen connections between nerve cells, building up “cognitive reserve” so that as Alzheimer’s brews, the brain can withstand more damage before symptoms become apparent.

Get better shut-eye

Studies of more than 6,000 people linked poor sleep quality — and especially sleep apnea — to early memory problems called mild cognitive impairment, which in turn can raise the risk of later Alzheimer’s.

Other research showed poor sleep can spur a brain-clogging protein named amyloid that’s a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

Talk to your doctor if you’re having sleep problems, advises

Get moving

What’s good for the heart is good for the brain, too, and physical activity counters a list of damaging problems — high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol — that can increase the risk of memory impairment later in life.

Get started early: One study tracked the habits of 3,200 ❱❱ PAGE 38 Lifestyle changes

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Travel

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

35

Why Vigan... ❰❰ 33

Overture amid fireworks illuminating the nightscape.

opened in January as “the premier regional repository of the historical, cultural and artistic heritage of Ilocos.” It has state-of-the-art displays of Ilocano life, from fossils to primitive implements, arts and crafts, from the making of basi and burnay to the weaving of abel Iloko.

Running through one long stretch of gallery is a series of 14 newly restored paintings in oil on canvas depicting the Basi Revolt of 1807, done by Esteban Villanueva y Pichay in 1821.

Wealth of artworks

An artwork limning Vigan’s cityscape and couching its rich heritage can be found in Hotel Luna, an upscale establishment in the heritage district.

“A Tribute to Hotel Luna” is an interactive painting by National Artist BenCab, Rene Robles, Romulo Galicano, Demetrio de la Cruz, Fidel Sarmiento, Cid Reyes, Fred Baldemor and Grace Singson. Done on Feb. 7 to commemorate the hotel’s first anniversary, the large-scale work has been prominently installed in the function hall.

When Weber visited the hotel, he was overwhelmed by the wealth of artworks of Filipino masters it contained, from the entranceway through the lobby, the atrium, the staircase, to the grand salon.

Not to say the hotel setup itself, a heritage house creatively reconstructed into the only museum-hotel in the country.

Even here Weber was confronted by the effects of tourism, branding and advertising brought about by the international awareness immediately following the N7W recognition. The hotel had been fully booked for days.

General manager Dennis Doroja says there was a 10-percent jump in the number of their foreign guests five months after the announcement. Peak season averages an 80-percent occupancy.

Drastic change

Doroja relates that, before the declaration, by 8 p.m., there were no longer activities in the streets and plazas. But on the first week of December, around the time it was announced, there was a drastic change. Now the heritage district is open 24 hours a day.

“After the declaration, naubos lahat ng hotels, even the inns and transients,” Doroja recalls. “Hindi pa nangyari ’yan before. From 5 p.m. till midnight, ’di nauubos ang tourists sa Crisologo. We lent our staff to assist people sleeping in cars [parked outside]. Hospitality is part of our culture, the core value of the hotel.”

Kristine S. Meehan, the hotel’s vice president for operations, says there was a three-hour wait in restaurants all over the city last December.

“If you were with a big group, you couldn’t get a seat,” she adds. “It took 40 minutes for vehicles just to move inside the city, and two hours if you were outside trying to get in.”

The boom resulted in the launching of new hotels and the adding of rooms of old ones. Hotel Luna has put up an annex a block away, with 17 rooms and a 200-capacity function hall.

Main problem

“You can see Vigan in one day,” says Doroja. “So we devise some program

Commitment to culture

Calle Crisologo at night.

CHING DEE / PCI

to make people stay longer. Foreigners have preconceived idea of what to see here, such as the rich culture of the Filipinos, our love of art and the family.

These they can experience in the hotel itself. Gracious hosting is part of the hotel culture. They appreciate our art collection. Also our paella with Ilocano ingredients, Vigan longaniza, the bagnet, the pinakbet.

“There’s no problem with foreign guests. They’re easier to please. You can wow them with a lot of things. With Filipino guests, you have to tap their connection to the native culture and tradition. But, especially now that we’re known in the international market, we have to elevate our service for foreign guests because they’re accustomed to a certain level of convenience.”

Doroja, who has been with the hotel industry for some 20 years, says the main problem in Vigan is, it has no room for expansion. The area can’t have roadwidening, so this sudden boom results in impossible traffic, and parking is a challenge.

“Ginagawan na raw ng paraan ng local government,” he says. “I think they’re planning to construct a three-story building for parking near the marketplace.”

integrity of the city’s heritage structures through the years.

In the wake of the boom, many of these old buildings have been transformed into bed-and-breakfasts and boutique hotels, souvenir shops and convenience stores, restos and cafés — while still preserving their historical authenticity.

Premier repository

An exemplar of this adaptive reuse is the old provincial jail. Built in 1657, the building stands behind the city hall and just beside the house of Padre José Burgos, one of the three priests whose execution for being revolutionaries inspired the writing of José Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere.”

The building has historical import as it is the birthplace of Elpidio Quirino.

His father was then jail warden. Reportedly, one time the pregnant wife brought merienda for him and his staff, her water broke, and she unceremoniously gave birth to the future president of the republic.

After the inmates were transferred to a new provincial jail in May last year, the historic structure was transformed into the Ilocos Regional Museum, the core of a complex which includes the Padre Burgos House.

Managed by the National Museum, it

Price of recognition

Weber cites four studies that estimate the N7W recognition can generate revenues of up to $1.8 billion per country over five years. But there’s always a price for such coveted designation.

Witness the negative impact of tourism wrought on communities and locales by the WH inscription, among the most prominent being the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, even Niagara Falls.

Oman’s antelope sanctuary and Dresden’s Baroque palaces were duly stripped of their WH status when surrounding areas were destroyed by resulting development.

The chief achievement of Vigan’s local administration is in maintaining the www.canadianinquirer.net

Heritage in this city isn’t just those Hispanic houses and antique artifacts, however. It is also the distinctive cultural traits of the people, including their indigenous foodstuff.

A few blocks away from Hotel Luna is Café Isabelita, owned by Raymundo Florentino, an architect-restorer and a great-great grandnephew of proto-feminist poetess Leona Florentino.

His commitment to cultural heritage is double-barreled. He has built a pension-café out of recycled materials from demolished old structures; and he is trying to preserve Ilocano heritage delicacies such as salapusop, kibin-kibin, bibingka pascua, canatillo, masa podrida.

Those heirloom kakanin are served freshly prepared in the café. Florentino takes pride in telling guests his cook Lita is the last remaining salapusop-maker around.

Food is also precious heritage of humanity. This is affirmed by Unesco’s inclusion for its newly inscribed cultural properties the vineyards and wine cellars of the Champagne and Burgundy regions; and the meat-processing factory in Uruguay that produced corned beef, meatballs, steak-and-kidney pie.

It is about maintaining the legacy, as Weber insists. Because our heritage is our future.

Of the original 7 Wonders of the World, only one exists — the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is that kind of status Vigan must aspire for, no less, to ensure that global memory will last. ■

36

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

Good governance seen as Aquino legacy But economic actions fall short of expectations

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer

According to Perfecto, the Aquino administration’s efforts to institutionalize reforms were highly commendable and have been recognized globally as well. The economic reform agenda, he added, has also led to successive credit-rating upgrades and improvements in various global competitiveness rankings for the country. These gains will now allow the next administration to have much firmer foundations to build on.

“On failure, probably the biggest disappointment is that the administration let go of [former Customs Commissioner John Phillip P. Sevilla]. The business sector was generally happy with his handling of the Bureau of Customs, but political accommodation apparently became more important. That was an extremely unfortunate development for the ‘tuwid na daan.’ Also, the PPP program was a huge letdown as it was from day 1 touted to be the centerpiece of the infrastructure

steps down. Everyone believes they could have done much better,” Perfecto pointed out.

Henry J. Schumacher, vice ADDRESSING CORRUPTION president for external affairs and instituting good goverat the European Chamber of nance reforms were seen as the Commerce of the Philippines Aquino administration’s most Inc. (ECCP), agreed that gains crucial achievements during were achieved with the implethe past five years that could mentation of good governance provide a “firmer foundation” and anticorruption reforms, for the next Cabinet, the local the passage of the Philippine and foreign business commucompetition law, the amendnity said last Friday. ments to the cabotage law (reHowever, President Aquino, laxed rules on domestic shipwho has delivered his last State ping) and in addressing the of the Nation Address (Sona), need for peace in Mindanao. was deemed to have fallen On the negative side, howshort in delivering results in ever, Schumacher noted that key areas, the biggest letdown the Aquino administration of which was the failure to ease failed to implement the Data the restrictions on foreign inPrivacy Act and to set up a Devestors under the Constitution partment of Information and as well as in gaining a more sigCommunications Technology nificant headway in the public(DICT). private partnership program “Infrastructure implementa(PPP), touted as the centertion [is] basically not happenpiece of the administration’s ing [and there is] unwillingness infrastructure program. to open the economy to more “The greatest achievement of competition,” Schumacher the Aquino adadded. ministration is John D. Forbes, without doubt its senior adviser good governance at the Amerireform agenda.

Though there is still much more that can Chamber of It has rekindled has to be done, the seeds of a culture Commerce of people’s hope of integrity have been sown. the Philippines for a corruption(AmCham), said free government.

President AquiThough there is no was able to still much more lay the foundathat has to be done, the seeds of program. Daang Hari-South tions of “better governance and a culture of integrity have been Luzon expressway project and improved physical and social sown,” Peter V. Perfecto, ex- the classroom building will infrastructure which, if susecutive director of the Makati probably be the only PPPs that tained for several presidencies, Business Club (MBC), said in a will be completed by the time will see the Philippines become text message Friday. the Aquino administration a much bigger and more inclu-

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President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivers his last State of the Nation Address, July 27, 2015.

MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

sive economy.”

President Aquino, however, “neglected opportunities to develop agriculture and mining, where the country is underperforming,” Forbes added.

Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) president Francisco F. del Rosario Jr. also shared the view of other business groups in saying that the main successes of this administration were the implementation of corporate governance reforms and addressing

corruption issues.

Other notable achievements, according to Del Rosario, included economic improvements as seen in the Philippines’ credit ratings, foreign direct investment inflow growth, controlled inflation, increased tourism arrivals, the roll out of PPP projects, the signing of the competition and cabotage laws, strong gross international reserves and strong and liquid banking system, among other indicators. ■

As of July 29, 2015 from ca.finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

1.2951 35.1331 1.4301 2.0203 1.1043 0.7314 123.5730

+0.0028 -0.0584 +0.0005 +0.0025 -0.0020 -0.0030 -0.0320

+0.2132% -0.1660% +0.0348% +0.1254% -0.1785% -0.4085% -0.0259%

www.canadianinquirer.net

Business

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

CEOs pressed to change their management style

Autopsy planned...

BY KATE PEDROSO Philippine Daily Inquirer

SHUTTERSTOCK

which value the contribution of teamwork to end goals,” the study noted.

“Reinforcing the need to overcome the challenge of executing on innovative ideas, executives believe that by 2020, the most important innovation skill the future CEO will have is the ability to create organizational structures that support innovation and change,” the study added.

The study also found that the changing times have also called for new roles to address changes in areas of focus and new lines of business.

“The most commonly added new Clevel roles hold responsibility for customer experience (1st), commercial activities (2nd) and innovation (3rd),” the study said, adding that by 2020, new C-level roles would also be added for the areas of big data and digital.

By 2020, CEOs are also likely to invest in customer experience, cloud services and big data analytics, the study also showed, though the way these investments will be made will vary.

“For customer experience, most (93 percent) plan to invest in in-house strategies while 23 percent plan to outsource, indicating some will deploy a hybrid approach. For cloud services, most (73 percent) plan to outsource, while 43 percent

side Gordon, an orphan three years older than her daughter. Houston brought Gordon into her family, and while she never formally adopted him or included him in the will, both teenagers called her “mom.”

The threesome’s tight bond was shattered when Houston’s assistant found the singer’s lifeless body face-down in a foot of water in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel just before the Grammy Awards in 2012.

Authorities found prescription drugs in the suite, and evidence of heart disease and cocaine in her body, but determined her death was an accidental drowning.

Bobbi Kristina, then 18, was at the hotel and became so hysterical she had to be hospitalized. “She wasn’t only a mother, she was a best friend,” she told Winfrey.

She and Gordon then went public with their romance, posting defiant messages online after the tabloids accused them of incest.

Relations between Gordon and some other relatives soured over the past year after Bobbi Kristina was hospitalized. A protective order barred him from being within 200 feet of Pat Houston, Bobbi Kristina’s aunt. A feud erupted over whether Gordon could visit Bobbi Kristina while she stayed in the hospital.

On June 24, Bobbi Kristina’s court-appointed representative sued Gordon, accusing him of misrepresenting his relationship with Bobbi Kristina.

The complaint accused him of being violent toward her and taking more than $11,000 from her account while she was in a medically induced coma.

The lawsuit also accused Gordon of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unjust enrichment and conversion. ❰❰ 32

‘The 2020 CEO should be driven by a passion for innovation,’ says Amdocs study

TO STAY successful by 2020, chief executive officers must be passionate about innovation, and be able to execute change, a new global survey by customer experience solutions provider Amdocs showed.

“CEOs will need to change their management style in order to remain successful five years from now,” Amdocs said in a statement.

Four in every five (83 percent) CEOs and other senior management executives included in the study described such change as “necessary” in the midst of rapid innovation by traditional and new players, which has “revolutionized the way we communicate and consume information and entertainment.”

The study, which covered 100 communications service providers around the world, also found the majority of executives (73 percent) saying that the 2020 CEO “should be driven by a passion for innovation, and would provide the most value to the organization through driving ideas and strategy (1st) and innovation (2nd), ahead of good corporate management (3rd) and good operational management (6th),” the study, conducted for Amdocs by strategy consultancy Telesperience, said.

“Risk-taking ranked very low (10th), implying CEOs are expected to focus on keeping the numbers right,” the study also noted.

The study also found that the biggest barriers to a CEO’s success in 2020 were lack of strategy and the inability to execute change.

“To address this, CEO management styles will need to change, shifting from the currently favored pacesetting (1st) and visionary (2nd) management styles in which the CEO is expected to know where the company is going and lead it there by example, to coaching (1st) and affiliative (tied 2nd place with pacesetting) styles,

37

plan on in-house investment, with here too some taking a hybrid approach,” the study said.

“In the areas of digital services, omni-channel operation and big data analytics, more than 40 percent plan to invest in outsourcing strategies, the same level as insourcing strategies in these areas,” the study added.

“While innovation is regarded as critical to service providers’ future success, and therefore to the reputation of its CEO, this study raises concerns as to how the industry will deliver the required innovation,” said Teresa Cottam in a statement.

Cottam is chief strategist and founder at Telesperience, who led the research.

“The study shows customer experience is becoming increasingly critical, with CEOs of the largest service providers in the world viewing it as a top investment area in 2020,” Eric Updyke, group president of System Integration and Operations at Amdocs, said in a statement.

Global company Amdocs offers software solutions and services for the world’s largest communications, entertainment and media service providers. It has more than 22,000 employees and operates in over 80 countries. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said he and his office are interested in reviewing the investigative file to determine whether any charges will be filed.

Bobbi Kristina was fabulously wealthy for a teenager, but her money was in a spendthrift trust, designed to keep creditors and predators from taking advantage of people who can’t manage their money. Bobbi Kristina’s grandmother, Cissy Houston, and aunt, Pat Houston, eventually took over control of the trust and then took Bobbi Kristina to court to protect the estate.

The size of Houston’s estate is a privately held secret.

In May, a judge appointed Bobby Brown and Pat Houston as co-guardians of Bobbi Kristina, giving them joint responsibility in decisions related to her care and medical needs. Lawyer Bedelia Hargrove was appointed conservator to oversee Bobbi Kristina’s assets, including her rights and legal claims.

By January 2014, the young couple who grew up as brother and sister were sharing a townhome and calling themselves husband and wife.

They posted images of their hands wearing wedding rings, with the caption “(hash)HappilyMarried. So (hash)InLove.

If you didn’t get it the first time that is.” They got identical “WH” tattoos with flying doves on their wrists, and Gordon added a large portrait of Houston’s face on his arm.

Their marriage announcement troubled Pat Houston, who obtained a restraining order against Gordon two months later. ■ Associated Press writers Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, Florida; Jeff Martin and Kathleen Foody in Atlanta and Mesfin Fekadu in New York contributed to this report.

F ill Unused Capacity C ash Savings B ill More Hours E xtra Income If you want new customers, more sales and are looking for ways to save cash, call First Canadian Barter Exchange.

38

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

Viloria stops old foe Tim Cone pressured but also Soto this time excited with Ginebra fans PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER BRIAN VILORIA boosted his bid for another crack at a world title with a savage first-round knockout of former nemesis Omar Soto Saturday night at Florentine Gardens in Hollywood, California.

Aggressive from the opening bell, Viloria knocked down Soto, who held him to a split draw in their first encounter at Ynares Sports Arena in 2010, twice with right hooks before finishing off the Mexican with left hooks to the body and head.

With Soto down for the third time, referee Zachary Young did not bother to count and halted the bout at the 2:02 mark, according to Rich Mazon of Philboxing.com.

The 34-year-old Viloria, a Fil-Am from Hawaii, posted his fourth straight win, the last three by stoppage, and stayed on track toward regaining the WBA and WBO flyweight crowns he yielded to Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada by split decision in 2013 in Macau.

Viloria, now 36-4 with 22 KOs, may also get a crack at the WBC flyweight title being held by Nicaraguan Roman Gonzales. ■

Lifestyle changes... young adults for 25 years, and found those who were the least active had the worst cognition when they were middleaged. Sedentary behaviours like TV watching played a role.

Yaffe — who just had her desk raised so she can spend more time standing — worries about kids’ screen time. ❰❰ 34

Don’t forget mental health

Late-life depression is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Harvard researchers found loneliness is, too, accelerating cognitive decline in a study that tracked more than 8,000 seniors for over a decade.

Stress is bad for the brain as well, Lipton said. It’s not just experiencing stress — we all do — but how we cope with it.

Brooding over stressful events, for example, prolongs the harmful effects on brain cells.

One study found seniors with the poorest coping skills were much more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment over nearly four years than seniors who could shrug off the stress.

Eat healthy

Diets high in fruits and vegetables and lower in fat and sugar are good for the arteries that keep blood flowing to the brain.

Type 2 diabetes, the kind linked to excess weight, raises the risk of dementia later in life.

Weight aside, Lipton’s lab recently found a healthy diet lowered seniors’ risk of impaired “executive function” as they got older — how the brain pays attention, organizes and multitasks. ■

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Now playing on Barangay Ginebra’s side, coach Tim Cone shared that he was beyond excited to impress the fans.

“I know that when we play Ginebra, we always felt that because of the great attention, this is where you make your name, this is where you want to play well. People will remember that because they will be watching. There’s so much passion and desire on the floor.

The time you want to shine is when you have the most attention, and that’s always a great motivating tool for the other teams,” Cone said.

“Our whole gameplan against Ginebra was to keep the crowd out of the game. Don’t let them get crazy. I had that with Purefoods, and it was exciting and a lot of fun. The crowd really helped you coach through momentum because the crowd gives you momentum,” he added, remembering playing against the Gin Kings.

PBA’s ‘winningest’ coach admitted being pressured but at the same time motivated.

“The one thing you don’t wanna do is to let down the fans. Hopefully, we’ll handle it well and we can delight them at some point by getting into the Finals and winning a championship,” he said.

“And now to do that with Ginebra? I’m really excited about that, on how can we let the crowd help us, create mo-

www.canadianinquirer.net

Coach Tim Cone.

mentum for us. Coaching Ginebra brings a different pressure than other teams because of the social media and the close contact with the fans, the microscope you’re always under, the pressure the players are always under. They’re just a great motivating tool,” he added.

Cone also wanted to adopt former coach Sonny Jaworski’s style.

“I think one of the reasons Sonny Jaworski was successful in coaching Ginebra that was that he took the pressure all by himself and kept the pressure away from the play-

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ers. Because he’s such a polarizing figure, he could absorb all the pressures and his players could just go out and play.

It’s a difficult thing to find that balance and not get overwhelmed,” he said.

“One of the great things of coming to Purefoods was following the legend of Baby Dalupan because I can say I coached on Baby Dalupan’s team. Now I’m going to Ginebra and I’m able to follow the legend of Sonny Jaworski. It’s such a motivating tool to think that I’m following the legend of Sonny,” he added. ■

Sports

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

39

Team Canada’s Record Medal Count Caps a Great Success Story The outstanding performance of Canadian athletes has topped off the most successful Pan Am Games ever TEAM CANADA’S Record Medal Count Caps a Great Success Story The outstanding performance of Canadian athletes has topped off the most successful Pan Am Games ever.

Team Canada won a record 217 medals at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. Ontario athletes had a strong showing, with 109 medals, and helped Canada finish in the top two at the largest international multisport event the country has ever hosted.

The Games were also a success beyond the field of play: More than one million tickets were sold for the 36 sporting events in 15 municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Millions of fans across Ontario and Canada cheered on our athletes as they competed for a spot on the podium; More than one million people attended celebrations at seven sites, such as PANAMANIA Live at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, to enjoy a wide ar-

ray of arts, sport, cultural and Games are expected to create teams, and will also be available culinary programming; 26,000 jobs and boost Ontario's for public use.

More than 23,000 volunteers real GDP by $3.7 billion from From August 7 to 15, Ontario welcomed 7,100 athletes and 2009 to 2017. will again host top athletes officials from 41 countries and The Games will leave behind from the Americas and the Caterritories, as well as nearly a far-reaching legacy that will ribbean. About 3,200 athletes 250,000 visitors from around continue to enrich Ontario for and officials from 28 countries the world; decades. This includes the Ath- and territories will compete More than 85 per cent of letes' Village, which will trans- in 16 sports at the largest-ever spectators said they were satis- form into the Canary District, a Parapan Am Games. fied with their transportation vibrant and diverse new ToronSupporting the success of experience. GO the 2015 Pan Am Transit buses and Parapan Am using temporary Games is part High Occupancy of the governVehicle (HOV) ment's plan to lanes regularly The Games will leave behind a farbuild Ontario arrived ahead reaching legacy that will continue to up by investing of schedule, and enrich Ontario for decades. in people's talmore than 95 per ents and skills, cent of Games making the largvehicles arrived est investment on or ahead of in public infraschedule. Travel times in gen- to neighbourhood. The 25 new structure in Ontario's history, eral-purpose lanes improved and renovated sports facilities creating a dynamic, innovative as drivers adapted to the intro- — such as the Cisco Milton Pan environment where business duction of the HOV lanes; Am/Parapan Am Velodrome thrives, and building a secure The Games provided an op- and the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan retirement savings plan. portunity to showcase Ontario Am Aquatics Centre and Field to an international audience House — will serve as world- Quick facts and attract tourists, jobs and class training sites for the comOf the 719 Pan Am athletes on new business investments. The munity and for future national Team Canada, 289 (40 per cent)

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were from Ontario.

Team Canada won 78 gold, 69 silver and 70 bronze medals at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games and finished second overall, as compared to 30 gold, 40 silver and 49 bronze and fifth overall at the 2011 Pan Am Games.

Ontario athletes won 40 gold, 33 silver and 36 bronze medals for Team Canada.

Quest for Gold has provided Ontario athletes and coaches with more than $90 million in support since the program began in 2006. Ontario provided more than $26 million in 201415 to promote participation and excellence in sport across Ontario.

The Pan Am Games are the world’s third-largest international multi-sport Games.

The Parapan Am Games torch relay will feature two torches — a Parapan first. The torchbearers will carry the flames, starting in Ottawa and Niagara Falls on August 3, to the Opening Ceremony in Toronto on August 7. ■

40

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Technology

Earth and Kepler-452b side by side.

NASA

Scientists find closest thing yet to Earth-Sun twin system

BY MARCIA DUNN The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — Scientists have identified a “close cousin” to Earth that’s orbiting a sun-like star and might harbor life.

“It is the closest thing that we have to another place that somebody else might call home,” said Jon Jenkins from NASA’s Ames Research Center in California.

The researchers announced their discovery Thursday based on observations from NASA’s Kepler space telescope.

This older, bigger cousin to Earth is called Kepler-452b.

What makes this planet remarkable is that it orbits its star at about the same distance that Earth orbits the sun. What’s more, its home star looks to be similar to our sun. Based on what scientists know today, Jenkins noted it’s the nearest thing to another Earth-sun twin system.

“Today the Earth is a little

less lonely because there’s a and has nearly 5,000 potential about 6 billion years old, 1.5 bilnew kid on the block,” Jenkins exoplanets to its credit – worlds lion years older than Earth, and said during a news conference. beyond our solar system. It is 60 percent larger in diameter He led the team that discovered helping to address such funda- than our home planet. Its star, Kepler-452b. mental questions as where do Kepler 452, is also older and The last Kepler discovery we come from and where are bigger, as well as brighter than that had scientists gushing was we headed, and arguably the our sun. just over a year ago. That close- biggest question of all: Are we If the planet is indeed rocky, to-Earth-size planet, Kepler- alone in the universe? geologists believe its mass 186f, also was in the habitable Grunsfeld said thanks to Ke- would be five times that of zone of its star.

Earth and its But that faint gravity would dwarf star was be twice Earth’s. unlike our sun.

(That’s right, J o h n What makes this planet remarkable you would weigh Grunsfeld, NAis that it orbits its star at about the twice as much SA’s science missame distance that Earth orbits the there.) Its atmosion chief, emsun. What’s more, its home star looks sphere would be phasized that the to be similar to our sun. thicker and have exoplanet sysmore clouds, and tem identified any volcanoes Thursday – “a would likely still pretty good close be active. cousin to the Earth and our pler’s latest finding, we’re takPlanet 452b takes 385 days to sun” – is the closest so far. “And ing “one small step in answer- orbit its star, just a little more I really emphasize the ‘so far.’” ing that question today.” than Earth takes for a one-year The planet-hunting Kepler While scientists are un- lap. It’s just a bit farther from will keep churning out new certain whether Planet 452b its star than Earth is from our discoveries, Grunsfeld noted, is rocky like Earth, they be- sun. That’s important because and possibly find even better lieve there’s a better than even it makes the planet ripe, potenmatches for “Earth 2.0.” chance it is. tially, for liquid water on the Kepler was launched in 2009 As for the age and size, it is surface. And water could mean www.canadianinquirer.net

life.

The planet is in a solar system that is 1,400 light years from our own, located in the Constellation Cygnus, or swan.

“So pack your bags, it’s a long trip,” joked Jenkins.

Planet 452b is among more than 500 new entries listed in the Kepler team’s latest catalog of exoplanet candidates released Thursday. Kepler identifies potential planets by looking for periodic blips against the brightness of stars – some 150,000 stars to be exact.

Of those 500-plus new potential planets, 12 are less than twice Earth’s diameter and also orbiting in the so-called habitable zone of their star, also known as the just-right Goldilocks zone.

Kepler 452b is the first of those 12 to be confirmed as a true planet, thanks to ground observations.

Altogether, the catalog now includes 4,696 exoplanet candidates. Slightly more than 1,000 of them – 1,030 – are confirmed to be planets. ■

Technology

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

41

TECH TIPS

How to secure sensitive files— even deleted ones

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer IF YOU want to protect personal data and keep everything private on your computer, here’s how to do it.

First off, have user accounts with passwords for each person who uses your computer. If your computer is only for personal use, it is still advisable to have a guest account should anyone need to borrow your device.

The good thing with user accounts is that the C:/Users directory can only be accessed by the user who created it, if you leave the settings to default.

That is, only your user account can open files in My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, etc.

Now that you’ve done the first step to protect private data, you may now opt for additional security measures to eliminate all evidences of computer activities.

Encrypting the hard drive

Bitlocker is a full-disk encryption already built into the

newer versions of Windows.

Encrypting your hard drive will make it accessible only through typing in your user password.

The software, however, is not enabled by default. Simply go to the Control Panel, System and Security then Bitlocker Drive Encryption.

If you’re using an older version of Windows, you can install TrueCrypt which offers a free full-drive encryption to secure all or just some of your files. Another feature this software offers is that it will not only encrypt with a password, it will also make your encrypted files invisible.

Deleting personal files

PrivaZer is a powerful free privacy tool. It is capable of securely removing everything downloaded, installed, deleted, and opened, as well as the temporary files and cookies. You can use its basic or enhanced features, install the software or download a portable version, and then all you ever need to do is launch a full scan. The software will then track all traces

of computer use including internet history, opened folders, software use, thumbnail cache and even the contents of the recycle bin. It will then give you the option to choose which ones to remove using various secure deletion methods.

CCleaner, another program, is useful for checking temporary files and registry entries that may have been left behind by primary privacy tools.

But aside from this popular program, there are also other similar reputable programs like nCleaner, System Ninja, Glary Utilities, Advanced Uninstaller and Xleaner and DriveTidy. You may not find leftover files, but double checking is still safer to ensure extra traces and everything unwanted is gone.

After deleting unwanted files and checking for remnants, it’s time to perform a wipe of all open spaces and overwrite deleted files from the thumb drive to make sure that they will be unrecoverable. Eraser Portable is a data wiping utility which completely removes sensitive data from the hard

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drive by overwriting it several times. Files which are deleted but not overwritten can still be retrieved with a disk maintenance or a recovery utility. But with overwritten files, the magnetic fields on the disk platter surface can no longer be stud-

WEATHER UPDATE VANCOUVER

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ied and undeleted. The file is finally forever gone from the hard drive.

There you have it. Follow these tips and rest assured that your sensitive files are well secured and unrecoverable when deleted. ■

Long term forecast from www.theweathernetwork.com CALGARY

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Events

42

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, 264-6455 Macleod Trail, SW, Calgary, AB Afridadey! 2015 World Music Festival WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Aug. 5 to 8, at Prince Island Park, Calgary, A.B. MORE INFO: Tickets available at

JULY 31, 2015

Safeway Stores, Sloth Records and Mayfair Foods Calgary Christian Festival By the Hope Mission WHEN/WHERE: 3 to 7:30 p.m., Aug. 8, Prairie Winds Park, 223 Castleridge Blvd., NE, Calgary, AB One Kapamilya Go

By The Filipino Channel WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Aug. 8 at Stampede Corral, Calgary, AB

YUKON

BRITISH COLUMBIA MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

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 Hiring Fair

By Safeway WHEN/WHERE: 1:30-3:30 p.m. July 28, at Community Rm., Capilano Mall, 935 Marine Dr., North Vancouver; 1:30-3:30 p.m., July 29, at Rm., 136 Coquitlam Library 1169 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam; 1:30-3:30 p.m. July 30, at Rm 120, City Centre Library, 10350 University Dr., Surrey MORE INFO: All lower mainland stores are currently hiring for entry-level positions.

CANADA EVENTS

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

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, On MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355

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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

ALBERTA

FRIDAY

ONTARIO

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

Community BBQ

By Christ for Life Ministries WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Christ for Life Ministries, 3607 Wolfedale Rd., Mississauga, Ont. MORE INFO: Call (905)-566-1208

Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, 2015 Manitoba Filipino Street NEWFOUNDLAND every Saturday, Filipino Centre Festival Toronto

By Filipino Street Festival MORE INFO: For registrations, call WHEN/WHERE: Aug. 22 at Sears QUEBEC 416-928-9355. The office, at 597 Garden City, Manitoba

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.

There is a $25 fee for each one hour session.

Improving Job Search Skills for Work Permit Holders: Tips for Writing Various Types of Cover Letters

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 1:30–3:30 p.m., July 31 at MOSAIC, 312–2555 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call – 604-254-9626 ext 258 PR Application Workshop

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: August 3, 10a.m.–12 nn, MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call - Michelle 604-438-8214 ext 123

Post-Arrival NOVA Orientation Seminar

By PCG-Vancouver SCOTIA and Phil. Labor Office in Vancouver with Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers Association WHEN/WHERE: 2 p.m., Aug. 8; 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at Bayanihan Centre, 1709 Blanshard St., Victoria, B.C. MORE INFO: Topics include labour and immigration updates, workers’ rights and responsibilities, consular services, career alternatives and Philippine government benefits.

3rd Traditional Chinese Medicine Symposium

By Tzu Chi International Medical Association WHEN/WHERE: 8 a.m. to 5:50 p.m., Aug. 8 & 9, at Tzu Chi Foundation National Head Office, 8850 Osler St., Vancouver, B.C. Tela: Philippine Fashion Show & Exhibit

By Sinag and the Philippine Consulate GeneralVancouver WHEN/WHERE: Aug. 10 to 13, Riverside Grand Ballroom, 1231 Burdette St., Richmond, B.C.

Canadian Citizenship Application Process

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 112 nn, Aug. 5, Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call - Solmaz 604-438-8214 ext. 120

Pagtitipon: A Gathering WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Aug. 10 to 13 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Artists Reception: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Aug. 11, Roundhouse Community Centre. Contact Lenore- Lenorerslim@gmail.com or Esmie – esmie@ meld-arts.com

Canadian Citizenship Preparation

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10am–1pm, Aug. 5 & 6, at New Westminster Public Library, Main Branch, 716–6th Ave. NW, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Faustin 604-438-8214 ext 112

2015 Ancop Walk

By Ancop Canada WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m., Aug. 23, Holland Park, 13428 Old Yale Rd., Surrey, B.C. MORE INFO: Register and join at www. ancopcanada.org

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JULY 31, 2015

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CANADA

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44

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

Food RECIPES

Grilled Gochujang Chicken Thighs with Feta and Fresh Mint

BY J.M. HIRSCH The Associated Press GOCHUJANG IS increasingly popular in the U.S., and that’s making it easier to find. Check the international aisle at most larger grocers. It’s also widely available online and at Asian grocers.

Start to finish: 20 minutes, plus marinating Servings: 6 3 tablespoons gochujang 3 tablespoons rice or cider vinegar 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 1/2 lemon Ground black pepper Flatbread (optional)

In a large zip-close plastic bag, combine the gochujang, vinegar and soy sauce. Mix and mash until well combined, then add the chicken. Seal the bag, then overturn several times, or until all of the chicken is well coated with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.

When ready to cook, heat the grill to medium-high. Just before cooking, use an oil-soaked paper towel held with tongs to coat the grates.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches 165 F at the thickest part. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Top the chicken with the tomatoes, then sprinkle the feta and mint over them. Squeeze the juice of the lemon over everything, then season with pepper. Serve with flatbread, if desired.

J.M. Hirsch is the food editor for The Associated Press. He blogs at www.LunchBoxBlues.com.

RECIPES

Korean Kimchee Pancake with Apple

BY AARTI SEQUEIRA The Associated Press THIS RECIPE fits perfectly into a 12inch nonstick skillet. Also, make sure the water is very cold; I sometimes add a couple ice cubes to the water while I’m prepping the rest of the ingredients. Ice cold water makes for crispy pancakes.

Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings: 4 starters or 2 mains 1 cup finely chopped Napa cabbage kimchee, drained 3 tablespoons kimchee juice (from the jar) 2 tablespoons minced yellow onion 3 tablespoons minced Fuji apple (peel on) 1 scallion, finely chopped (greens and whites) 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup chilled sparkling water 3 to 4 tablespoons sunflower or grapeseed oil For the dipping sauce: 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon rice vinegar Big pinch toasted sesame seeds In a medium bowl and using a fork,

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stir together the chopped kimchee, kimchee juice, onion, apple, scallion, sugar and salt. Sprinkle in the flour and stir together again until the flour is evenly incorporated. Add the water, a little at a time, until a very slight batter forms. It should look very thick, mostly kimchee with hardly any batter pooling around it.

Set a large cast-iron skillet over high heat and let become very hot. Add the sunflower oil, turning the pan to spread it evening. Working in batches, add 1/2 cup of the batter and use the back of a spoon to spread the batter flat to form a 4-inch pancake. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on the bottom and the top is set up.

Use a spatula to flip the pancake and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, or until crispy on the bottom. Flip one more time and cook for another minute. You’re aiming to get brown and even black bits on the surface of the pancake. Transfer the pancake to a wire rack lined with paper towels and let cool slightly before cutting into wedges. Repeated with remaining batter.

Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce.

In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar and sesame seeds. Serve the pancake wedges with the dipping sauce.

Food Network star Aarti Sequeira is the author of “Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul.” She blogs at www.AartiPaarti.com.

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

45

CAREGIVER CONFERENCE The Multi-Cultural Helping House Society led by Tatay Tom conducted a seminar entitled, “Caregivers…What’s Next?” during the 7th Caregivers’ Conference held July 25, at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Centre.

MIGRANTE BASKETBALL Team Budget played its very best on the court and won the Championship of the Men’s Friendship Basketball League organized by Migrante BC. Team players with coach Ben Lopez and corporate sponsor Bob Akehurst from Budget posed proudly with their medals and trophy to the loud cheers of their families and friends. The second place went to Team D’ Hipers and third place to Team Black Riders.

Mable Elmore, MLA of Vancouver-Kensington and Erie Maestro from the Vancouver Public Library presented the trophies and medals to the players and teams.

Koiffee Break by Danvic Briones

Wisteria by Lenore Lim

Sneaking Up by EG Mclaren

Wild Garden by Bert Monterona

'PAGTITIPON' The Filipino Music and Art Foundation in B.C., in co-operation with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver and Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada, will present a special art exhibition of a selected group of outstanding Filipino artists based in Canada and the United States.

Entitled, Pagtitipon, the exhibit will be held on Aug. 10 to 14, at the Roundhouse Community Centre in downtown Vancouver.

Pagtitipon literally translated from Tagalog, is “a gathering” and appropriately describes the coming together of a group of 10 talented Filipino-Canadian and Filipino-American artists who for the first time together will showcase original body of works in varied art medium. www.canadianinquirer.net

46

Seen and Scenes

JULY 31, 2015

FRIDAY

MISS CAREGIVER The 2015 Ms. Caregiver Pageant of the Fil-Core Support Group was held recently at the St. Michael College School Centre for the Arts. Through this event, caregiver participants were put in the limelight. Seven diverse individuals showcased their beauty, talents and flairs namely Rhea Suares from Initao, Misamis Oriental; Beth Advincula from San Agustin, Isabela; Hergen Silvano from Bacolod City; Mayla Manata from Gumaca, Quezon; Maria Dina Romano from Albay; Anna Liza Pidlaoan from Bayambang, Pangasinan; and Mary Joy Guilab from Guimaras, Iloilo (Photos by Ariel Ramos).

COURTESY CALL Simeon M. Sarte, branch manager and marketing officer of the I-Remit Ontario, and his wife Cherry Sarte, are shown in photo as they pay a courtesy call to Philippine Consul General Rosalita S. Prospero (middle) (St. Jamestown News Service, Manuel Papa).

KNIGHTS OF RIZAL A trip to Niagara fundraising event was recently organized by the Knights of Rizal headed by Bing Marasigan and Joe Damasco (Photos by Amelia Insigne).

SAMAHANG SAMBLENYO

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

Photo shows Ores Espinosa Ting, a well-known Filipino community leader in Toronto, together with Joy Pangilinan, of I-Remit participating in the Samahang Samblenyo event on July 25, at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall.

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Food

FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015

47

Passionate advocate for homegrown food helms Food Day Canada

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press TORONTO — A uniquely Canadian meal for 7,000 people is just one of the events being hosted as part of the country’s largest culinary party.

Chef Andrew Hodge is gearing up to feed hungry oilsands workers near Fort McMurray, Alta., a special menu this Saturday to mark Food Day Canada.

Meanwhile, Roary MacPherson at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland aims to be first to celebrate Food Day Canada by kicking off a two-day party on Friday.

Food Day Canada organizer and founder Anita Stewart expects some 250 restaurants across the country will mark the occasion with special menus.

She says the annual event is a chance for Canadians to celebrate the country’s farmers, fishers, chefs, researchers and home cooks.

Hodge’s meal for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., workers is the largest Stewart has seen in the dozen years she’s been co-ordinating Food Day Canada.

The chef has divided his menu into main and side dishes from western, eastern and central Canada, while the dessert tray will also feature sweets from across the country.

His interpretation of food from the west includes sweet and sticky saskatoon berry barbecue ribs, corn on the cob and maple and bacon roasted brus-

sels sprouts. From the Atlantic region is seafood stew, while a poutine bar represents central Canada.

MacPherson has invited chefs from the region and several provinces to take part in his East Coast party in St. John’s.

The public can mingle with the chefs at the hotel on Friday, while the main event Saturday is called “The Great Canadian Food Market.’’

Diners can check the Food Day Canada website for participating restaurants in their area along with their stories and menus.

Home cooks too are invited to “cook their own stories” at backyard barbecues and picnics and share them via social media, Stewart said from Elora, Ont. “The goal is to create a strong culinary nation. That’s what we have to do and having a national food party is the best way to do it,” says Stewart, author and food laureate at the University of Guelph.

Stewart says many Food Day Canada chefs “are doing pretty cool things in terms of sustainability, harvesting the wild and preserving the harvest.”

Chef Derek Bendig of Siwash Lake Ranch, at 70 Mile House, B.C., forages and creates condiments using rosehips, crab apples, spruce tips and wild mint, juniper- and spruce-scented mustards and pestos with wild onion and dandelion.

Chris Stewart at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery’s Terrace Restaurant in Kelowna, B.C., mitigates waste by drying car-

Food Day Canada means great food to share.

rot peels and pulverizing them into powder, which is then used to give a blast of flavour to the carrots he serves.

At Manoir Hovey’s Le Hatley restaurant in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, chef Francis Wolf uses birch syrup made from tapping the abundant trees on the property in the spring.

“These chefs want to differ-

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entiate themselves and make something special and they also want to celebrate where they’re at,” says Stewart.

You don’t have to go to major cities to find great restaurants, she adds.

“There are little clusters of excellence across the country that cross all genres of cooking and a variety of price points,”

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Stewart says.

Food Day Canada was initially called the World’s Longest Barbecue and was launched

by Stewart in 2003 to support farmers whose livelihoods were threatened in the wake of the mad cow crisis. ■ Visit Food Day Canada online at www.fooddaycanada.ca.

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JULY 31, 2015

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FRIDAY