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SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

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VOL. 9 NO. 185

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Aquino: ‘Serving people does not entail killing’

Aquino against ‘unlimited terms’ for president

PNP: MILF claims without evidences, SAF killed Marwan

Body of father of Amber Alert girl found, police alerted

Trump: US ‘a dumping ground for the rest of the world’

CALL IN THE TANKS Questions over

who can lead the economy expected to come to campaign forefront

BY TERRY PEDWELL The Canadian Press

Like other trapped motorists, an armored personnel carrier en route to Camp Aguinaldo waits for traffic to move as many vehicles choke city streets on Wednesday along Edsa near Nepa Q-Mart in Quezon City. The metro's worsening traffic situation has led the government to field highway patrol troopers to man the streets, although Tuesday night's flooding nightmare prompted some quarters to suggest that the coast guards be brought in as well.

GRIG MONTEGRANDE / PDI

‘Pinoys will refuse to accept anything less’ — P-Noy

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer “WE SEE today a people who have felt the effects of good governance and who

will refuse to accept anything less. My countrymen will continue to demand integrity, accountability and sustainable, inclusive growth even after I have

❱❱ PAGE 20 Questions over

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❱❱ PAGE 41 ❱❱ PAGE 11 ‘Pinoys will’

OTTAWA — Questions about who is best to manage Canada’s economy are set to come to the forefront of the federal election campaign this week, with a key report on the country’s books being released and a leaders’ debate centred on the topic scheduled for Thursday.

The party leaders were gearing up Sunday for a final tabulation by the Finance Department of year-end figures

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Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

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COA: DSWD relief, unused cash donations, epic failure

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

Otherwise, the unutilized funds should be surrendered to the National Treasury and only requested for release when needed, it said.

THE COMMISSION on Audit (COA) has cited total and spectacular failure on the No ‘actual irregularities’ job of the Department of Social Welfare Soliman, in e-mail and text messages and Development (DSWD), including to the INQUIRER, said the COA audit millions of pesos worth of unused cash findings do not mean that there were donations and food aid wasted, chronic “actual irregularities” but that they multiple entries in the conditional cash were part of government routine to entransfer program, and delays and short- hance operations. comings in the delivery of social servicShe explained that the unspent es, among other failings. amount had already been “allocated and According to COA, obligated to liveliP382.072 million hood projects and in local and foreign cash for work.” cash donations for The DSWD manthe victims of SuperThe COA agement said that typhoon “Yolanda” cited abysmal it had reduced the were kept idle and management idled donations to locked in the DSWD’s on the part of P338.519 million as bank accounts. The the DSWD as of June 15 this year. It amount represented it continued to said P150.832 million 33 percent of the procure and has been allocated P1.151 billion that the accept relief goods to the ongoing work DSWD received from without taking into program for Yolanda November 2013 to consideration the victims. It also said December 2014. absorptive capacity that Soliman had “Considering the and condition of ordered that all dolapse of two years its warehousing nated funds should since the amount was facilities and be spent before July received and [that] personnel, available this year. the work and finanstocks, shelf life or Soliman claimed cial plan were laid expiry dates and that there were down for the type of the actual needs of no rotten goods in assistance to be exthe victims.

DSWD warehouses tended to the victims, as these were all disthe unutilized funds tributed to families resulted in benefineeding assistance. ciaries not being pro“Responding to the vided with the immediate assistance needs of disaster victims is of primary due them,” said the COA in its 2014 an- importance to us and that since we take nual audit report on the DSWD, released this responsibility seriously, we ensure Sept. 10. that goods are not wasted and that they benefit the people,” she said.

‘Abysmal management’

Aside from failing to maximize donations, the COA said the DSWD had been left with P141.084 million worth of undistributed and expired or about-to-expire family food packs (FFPs)—a package contains 6 kilograms of rice, four tins of sardines, four tins of corned beef, eight packs of instant noodles and eight sachets of instant coffee.

The COA cited abysmal management on the part of the DSWD as it continued to procure and accept relief goods without taking into consideration the absorptive capacity and condition of its warehousing facilities and personnel, available stocks, shelf life or expiry dates and the actual needs of the victims.

According to COA, it made the recommendation—to which Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman agreed—that the officials concerned be ordered to fast-track the provision of the muchneeded assistance to the victims or beneficiaries.

Threats and calamities

The food packs in question were amassed by the DSWD central office and regional offices in Western and Central Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula in the face of these threats or calamities: the Mayon Volcano eruption in October 2014, Typhoons “Ruby” and “Seniang” in December 2014, and the spillover effects from Yolanda and the Zamboanga siege in late 2013.

The COA cited the following shortcomings: the lack of warehousing facilities for the failure to repack and distribute the food packs for the Mayon Volcano evacuees; half a million noodles were shipped out two months before their expiry date (some regions claimed they did not request for noodles); some of the canned goods were expired, mislabeled (no expiry dates indicated) and/ or with dented or rusty tin cans; poor and careless stockpiling of rice and other perishable goods; mismatch in the

quantity of goods; and miscalculation in the prepositioning of FFPs. Aside from the unused donations and wasted food packs, the COA also cited the lack of documentation in the distribution of relief goods and failure to complete a pilot evacuation center in Oton, Iloilo province.

DSWD reply

In its reply, the DSWD blamed the early decampment of the evacuation center in Legazpi City which led to the glut in family food packs but that these were distributed to other areas. The DSWD said that it has stopped the procurement of instant noodles due to its short shelf life and that it had made steps to improve warehousing.

According to the DSWD, the undistributed goods being referred to were those prepositioned at the National Resource Operations Center, the DSWD’s main warehouse located in Pasay City, intended to replenish family food packs for families affected by the eruption of Mayon Volcano in 2014.

Local authorities then projected a 90day disaster operations in connection with the Mayon eruption.

However, when local authorities announced that evacuees could already re-

turn to their places of origin earlier than what was projected, disaster operations also were terminated. The DSWD’s Field Office V said that their remaining stocks would suffice to cover the recovery efforts for the affected families.

So as to avoid wastage of the noodles in the family food packs which only had a six-month shelf life, the food packs were distributed to the centers and institutions in Bicol region for the foodfor-work program.

“Thus, the goods were not wasted and did not expire at all because these were distributed before the expiration date,” Soliman said.

In its value-for-money audit, the COA cited chronic multiple or double entries of the DSWD’s multibillion-peso cash transfer program, or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which it had pointed out in its 2012 and 2013 audits. It said the deletions and change in addresses of beneficiaries were not synchronized in 2014. In the November to December 2014 4Ps payroll alone, the COA identified 1,872 new multiple or duplicate beneficiaries which got P3.54 million, or an estimated P21.241 million in six pay-out periods. ❱❱ PAGE 10 COA: DSWD relief

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Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Grace Poe wins first round Reopening massacre probe up to Senate

BY NIKKO DIZON AND LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG YESTERDAY said it would be up to the Senate to decide whether to reopen the investigation into the Mamasapano debacle, specifically giving deference to Sen. Grace Poe as chair of the Senate public order committee that earlier found President Aquino ultimately liable for the bloodbath.

“We defer to the senator as to how she intends to proceed with the Mamasapano investigation in the Senate,” was the brief reply of deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte when sought for comment by reporters.

Poe said on Thursday that she was considering reopening the inquiry into the matter.

According to her, she was interested in hearing the alternative version of events. She also said she, like the families of the slain police commandos and civilians, want the whole truth.

But Senate President Frank-

lin Drilon said the Senate would have to vote whether or not to reopen the Mamasapano investigation.

President Aquino himself revealed at the Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum on Tuesday that there was an emerging “alternative truth” in the debacle that cost the lives of 44 elite police commandos, some civilians, and Moro rebels, not to mention the setback in the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) His popularity also suffered heavily as the public could not understand why he consulted then national police chief Director General Alan Purisima on the operation to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias "Marwan" although Purisima was serving a sixmonth suspension.

Mr. Aquino said the photo showing Marwan dead inside his hut “posed many questions and that is what we want to resolve.”

Naked from the waist

“There are certain quarters

who did point out certain questions that arose from viewing that picture. Does this support the so-called official version of what transpired? Now, if it doesn’t support [the official version], can it be explained or not? That is an ongoing process.

There is no conclusion at this point,” he said.

The photo of Marwan, who reportedly engaged SAF commandos in a firefight before he was killed, showed him slain and bloodied inside his hut, naked from the waist down.

Drilon said the joint committee report on the incident had already been submitted to the Senate body.

“The Senate, in plenary session, must calendar the report, and decide by majority vote if it will remand the report to the committee for further hearings,” Drilon said in a text message yesterday when asked if the Senate should reopen the investigation into the incident.

The joint report on the Mamasapano killings was drafted

Sen. Grace Poe at the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano Clash PHOTO COURTESY OF SEN. GRACE POE'S FACEBOOK PAGE

by the committees on public order and dangerous drugs, finance, and peace, unification and reconciliation.

As chair of the public order committee, Poe spearheaded the inquiry, which found President Aquino ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano, Maguindanao mission that ended in a bloodbath.

In the January 25 Mamasapano incident, 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were killed in a clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private

armed groups.

The SAF troopers were on a mission to arrest terror suspects including “Marwan.”

While a team of commandos killed Marwan, scores of their colleagues were killed in a subsequent clash with Moro rebels.

The committee report also said that what took place was a massacre, not an encounter, with the MILF and other armed groups killing and robbing the SAF members. MILF members involved should be charged with murder, frustrated murder, and robbery, the report recommended. ■

HPG, MMDA come up with new traffic schemes

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Still with the aim to ease the worsening traffic congestion on EDSA, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have come up with new solutions such as imposing truck ban hours, closing several Uturn slots and strictly implementing no parking areas, among others.

Beginning today, the U-turn slots on EDSA-West Avenue and EDSA-Santolan service roads have been closed to lessen queuing of vehicles in the areas.

Starting tomorrow, truck ban hours from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. will be reinstated in all Metro Manila www.canadianinquirer.net

roads with exceptions on Sundays and holidays, and a total truck ban will be implemented on EDSA, the Makati and Ortigas business districts and in Fort Santiago.

Moreover, no part of EDSA can be used as a parking space, even for government vehicles.

The highway will also be cleared of obstructions.

More HPG and MMDA traffic enforcers will also be deployed in merging zones along EDSA to ease the heavy influx of vehicles and ensure smooth traffic flow.

A week after the HPG took over as the lead traffic law enforcement agency, several motorists and commuters have noticed some improvements on EDSA’s traffic flow. The traffic marshals, however, acknowledge that the highway’s traffic condition is ‘not yet perfect.’ ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

5

Docs up in arms over withheld PhilHealth fees

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer TWO BIG medical organizations yesterday rallied behind doctors and health workers of the Tarlac Provincial Hospital (TPH) who have been protesting the withholding of their pooled professional fees from the state-owned insurance company.

At a press conference yesterday, the 80,000-strong Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) urged the national government to step into the conflict before it gravely affects the delivery of services to patients and the training of doctors in the hospital.

Some of the protesting TPH doctors and nurses joined the conference.

PMA president Minerva Calimag said the group is opposing any move by local government units (LGUs) to appropriate to themselves professional fees payable to physicians made by PhilHealth

through government hospitals.

Calimag said these actuations are illegal and in contradiction to Republic Act No. 1606 or the Amended PhilHealth Law, which allows government hospitals to retain and pool payments for professional services to be distributed among health personnel.

requisite circular directing all LGUs to respect the law by refraining from taking custody of the professional service fees and to allow government hospitals to distribute these fees among health personnel based on computations in circulars issued by PhilHealth.

Anthony Leachon, PMA advocacy chair, said the gov-

creased from 45 percent to 66 percent.

“This is about the most valued assets of the healthcare system—the health workforce…The problem in the TPH is the tipping point of the health workforce crisis,” said Leachon.

For years, doctors and nonmedical workers of TPH had New scheme been augment“Continued ing their salaviolations of the ries by dividing law by local govamong themernment units This is about the most valued assets selves 30 percent will drive away of the healthcare system—the health of reimbursephysicians from workforce…The problem in the TPH ments from the government is the tipping point of the health the PhilHealth. sector to the workforce crisis.

But in May, Yap more lucrative made a move private sector to amend the and precariously manner of the tip the balance of distribution of health manpower resources in ernment must address the the pooled fees, reducing the the country,” he said.

TPH crisis as this reflects the amount to just 2 percent, citing The new scheme is being real situation of the country’s local autonomy. implemented by Tarlac Gov. healthcare system.

Victor Yap and the hospital’s ofHe said that while the health Precedent ficer in charge, Leonardo Man- budget increased from P28.7 Since March 16, a total of 32 gahas Jr. billion in 2010 to P205 bil- million in pooled professional Calimag called on the De- lion in 2015, the number of fees have been withheld by the partment of Interior and Lo- Filipinos dying without seeing provincial hospital. cal Government to issue the a healthcare worker has inBut the TPH health work-

www.canadianinquirer.net

ers have joined ranks to keep the status quo to avoid setting a precedent for public hospitals like the TPH that were devolved from the Department of Health to LGUs. Antonita de Pano, spokesperson of the TPH Doctors Association, yesterday told reporters that the group has already sent a letter to Health Secretary Janette Garin asking for guidance on the matter. But they have yet to hear from the health chief.

“This is not just about Tarlac.

This is not just about professional fees, but about principle, a right provided by law…This is about local government hospitals robbing all healthcare workers of their rights and just compensation. This is about demoralization and breakdown of healthcare services. This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said De Pano.

She also claimed that the issue has now been compounded with harassment, coercion and violation of human rights.

“At this point, healthcare workers are demoralized,” she said. ■

6

Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Militants rally at Camp Aguinaldo over rape of ‘lumad’ girl

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer A MILITANT women’s group picketed Camp Aguinaldo yesterday to demand that the military jail three soldiers accused of raping a teenaged “Lumad” girl in Davao del Norte instead of just placing them under restricted custody.

Members of Gabriela, also called on the AFP to immediately pull out its troops from areas where indigenous people or Lumad live, citing the series of alleged abuses committed by the military against the lumad.

Joms Salvador, Gabriela secretary general, said it appeared the soldiers were being given special treatment.

“If common, poor people were tagged in this, they would have been jailed and beaten up. But since they are members of the AFP, they are merely restricted to their camp,” Salvador said.

Around 20 members of Gabriela joined the midmorning picket in front of Camp Aguinaldo’s Gate 2 as soldiers wielding shields and truncheons looked on.

Sought for comment, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said the protest was “part of a working democracy.”

“We just hope they will not break the law while expressing themselves,” Detoyato said.

The protesters eventually ended their protest after it began to rain.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Earlier, the Philippine Army said it has placed under re-

stricted custody three of its soldiers allegedly involved in the rape of a 14-year-old lumad girl in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. The Army, through its Human Rights Office, said it was conducting a special investigation.

Salvador argued that the soldiers should be arrested and jailed rather than remain in the custody of the 10th Infantry Division.

The militant group cited a series of abuses against lumad, including the killings of three lumad leaders allegedly by an armed group.

“The prolonged presence of soldiers usually result in sexual offenses. Victims are afraid or ashamed to expose the crime after being threatened and pressured into settlement,” Salvador said.

The militant group urged other lumad victims of sexual abuse to come out and file charges against their attackers, even if they turn out to be with the military.

“Such moves will be a chance to punish these criminals and strengthen the resounding call to pull out military and paramilitary troops from their ancestral lands,” Salvador added. ■

Coloma cites need to tell all about Mamasapano

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer “THERE IS a need to get to the truth of the matter, the complete truth,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said yesterday, referring to claims and counterclaims involving the killing of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, in January.

The controversy followed President Aquino’s disclosure at the Meet the INQUIRER Multimedia forum last week that there was an emerging “alternative truth” to the clash between police commandos and Moro rebels in Mamasapano that the government was investigating.

In a text message to the INQUIRER yesterday, Coloma said there was need to tell all about the Mamasawww.canadianinquirer.net

pano clash, as “clearly stated by the President” during his talk with the paper’s editors and reporters.

But like the President, he did not provide details about the ongoing government investigation. “It may be well to wait for the results of the inquiry,” he said.

Coloma also did not comment on the proposed reopening of a Senate investigation of the police Special Action Force (SAF) mission to Mamasapano to take down Marwan.

The SAF reported that its officers killed Marwan in an exchange of gunfire inside the wanted terrorist’s hut in Barangay Pembalkan, Mamasapano, early on Jan. 25. But the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose forces were involved in a clash with the police commandos, said there were indications that Marwan was executed, most likely by his own aides. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

7

China combat-capable base alarms PH, Pag-asa Island

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

EDSA, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Can you feel it?

Edsa ride cut by ‘10-15 min’ HPG chief claims improvement after 5 days

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer TRAVEL TIME on Edsa has been reduced by 10 to 15 minutes.

So claimed the police officer recently put in charge of traffic management on the country’s busiest highway, as he and other officials spent much of Friday finding more ways to ease the daily nightmare endured by motorists and commuters on the 24-kilometer thoroughfare.

“Two out of 10,” Chief Supt.

Arnold Gunnacao said when asked by reporters to assess the five-day performance of his men in the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), which took over as traffic marshals on Edsa on Sept. 7.

“As a whole, (travel time) was reduced,’’ said Gunaccao, the PNPHPG director. The usual one-hour trip from Monumento to Quezon Avenue, for example, may now take only 45 minutes, he added.

Gunnacao was at the Metropolitan Manila Development

Authority (MMDA) headquarters in Makati City for an interagency meeting on the Edsa traffic situation. The meeting—which began at 1:30 p.m. and was still going on at press time—was also attended by Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board executive director Robert Cabrera. MMDA chair Francis Tolentino joined them at 5:10 p.m.

The police official considered the 10-15 minute reduction an “improvement” and a sign of “progress.”

“The President said that with all those recommendations, he wants immediate results. Within a week, we got results. We reduced travel time,” he said. “We can still improve.”

Among the new measures discussed in the meeting were “engineering” adjustments on Edsa that were aimed at preventing bottlenecks at some Uturn slots.

“There will be closure of some slots, particularly the one in front of Trinoma mall (in Quezon City) that crisscrosses from West Avenue to the mall. So the

U-turn slot that will be used is the one near Landmark,” Gunnacao said.

The bus stop in the Kamuning area which motorists encounter as they go down the flyover on the Kamuning service road will be moved closer to Q-Mart.

At present, the buses making a stop there leave only one lane open for other vehicles, causing a “gitgitan” (congestion), he noted.

Starting Monday, the HPG will be stricter and will flag down private vehicles that will use lanes designated for buses, and vice versa, Gunnacao said.

The MMDA has committed 250 traffic constables for deployment along Edsa while the HPG—which was initially tasked to focus on six “chokepoints”—now has 150 members manning the entire highway, he added.

HPG personnel were also beefed up by around 20 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) troopers on Friday, after the latter completed training in traffic management. “(SAF members) are deployed at two per intersection,” Gunnacao said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Recent satellite photos of the Chinese-occupied Zamora (Subi) Reef showed the construction of a combatcapable base, which included a 60-meter runway, alarming the nearby Pag-asa Island.

The Zamora Reef has been continuously widened, filling its surrounding waters with more sediments and sand. The reef’s growing size can allegedly accommodate a 3,300-meter runway.

Jose Custodio, a military historian, feared that the new air facility would enable China to gain more control over the South China Sea. “We are in danger of losing Pag-asa Island because it’s such a huge base that the Chinese are constructing here. And if they are able to operate this, then they can practically seal off this area,” Custodio said.

“We will be then sucked into what China wants. They can actually hold our garrisons hostage to make us amenable to Chinese dictates… That is the problem of the next administration when this thing kicks in,” he added. “China can threaten and keep on applying pressure on Pag-asa Island that will make us come into terms

with them.”

Pag-asa Island belonged to the Kalayaan Group of Islands, controlled by the Philippines.

The island has about 200 Filipino residents. China, however, claimed that it was illegally occupied.

According to The Diplomat report, China could easily seize Pag-asa Island by disguising an invasion force as a flotilla engaged in combat training exercises. This fleet could veer off from its routine naval exercises and invade the nearby island.

Aside from China’s air facility in Zamora Reef, the country has also been building other structures in Burgos (Gaven), Calderon (Cuarteron), Kagitingan (Fiery Cross), Kennan (Chigua), Mabini (Johnson South) and Panganiban (Mischief ) Reefs — all claimed by the Philippines.

China’s aggressiveness and defiance from calls to halt reclamation and infrastructure building on disputed territories in the South China Sea distressed its relations with the Philippines and other claimant states.

The Philippines, for its part, had filed an arbitration case before a United Nations (UN) tribunal, asserting that China violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). ■

This handout photo taken on March 17, 2015 by satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe and released to AFP by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSSI) think tank shows a satellite image of vessels purportedly dredging sand at Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. AFP PHOTO / CSIS ASIA MARITIME TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE / DIGITALGLOBE

Philippine News

8

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Aquino unfazed by Poe’s impending announcement of presidential candidacy Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Correspondents Lei Fontamillas Jane Moraleda Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Online Media Head Ching Dee ching.dee@canadianinquirer.net Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Photographers Angelo Siglos Solon Licas Vic Vargas For photo submissions, please send to editor@canadianinquirer.net Operations and Marketing Head Laarni Liwanag (604) 551-3360 Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net Emy Rose Figueroa salesphilippines@canadianinquirer,net emy.figueroa@canadianinquirer.net Nelson Wu (1) 647-521-5155 salestoronto@canadianinquirer.net nelson.wu@canadianinquirer.net Amelia Insigne 1-416-574-5121 amelia.insigne@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 400-13955 Bridgeport Rd., Richmond, BC V6V 1J6 Canada Tel. No.: +1 (888) 668-6059, +1 (604) 484-9243 778-889-3518 | Email: info@canadianinquirer.net, sales@ canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly every Friday.

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Member

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO, GIL C. CABACUNGAN, JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE RULING Liberal Party (LP) is not at all worried about Sen. Grace Poe’s announcement of her political plans for 2016.

“Worried? Why should we be worried [about] her announcing her plans?”

President Aquino, titular head of the LP, told reporters Monday in Iloilo City, where he inaugurated the P747-million Iloilo Convention Center and the Richmonde Hotel-Iloilo.

Aquino, however, said the LP would like to hear what Poe had to say.

But whatever it is, the LP is not worried because the party is “moving away from personality politics to platformbased politics,” Aquino said.

“The party stands on a particular platform,” the President said.

That is why, Aquino said, “whatever her announcement is, we still insist that we will be advocating governance based on a specific platform rather than just any personality.”

Announcement on Wednesday

A source from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) on Monday said Poe would announce her presidential candidacy on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Ang Bahay ng Alumni (Alumni House) on the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

The Inquirer verified the information with the management of Ang Bahay ng Alumni and learned that Poe’s camp had reserved the place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Contacted for comment, Poe’s office did not confirm or deny the information.

In a one-line statement, it said, “We’ll issue an advisory for Tuesday (today).”

But someone from Poe’s camp sent this text message to Inquirer Entertainment: “INQ interested to cover Grace Poe proclamation this week and find out ALL the celebrities backing her bid?

Sept. 16, UP Diliman, 5PM.” A source also confirmed to Inquirer Entertainment that Poe would announce her presidential candidacy on Wednesday.

“It’s a gathering of family and friends,” the source said. “But anyone who wants to support is free to attend.”

Expected are Poe’s friends from show business—longtime supporters of her parents, Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) and Susan Roces, considered King and Queen of Philippine movies.

The source said Poe would run as an independent.

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings at the Rosal Ballroom of the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Thursday (September 10, 2015).

REY BANIQUET / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

“She has no big machinery or party behind her. She is proclaiming on her own.

She has no vice president,” the source said.

The Inquirer also contacted ALL4GP Movement, which placed a full-page ad in this paper last week declaring all-out support for the daughter of FPJ, to ask whether the senator was about to announce her 2016 plans.

“The declaration will be on Wednesday. It will be on that day that you will know the exact [time] and venue so you could avoid any hitches,” ALL4GP Movement replied.

The NPC source said Poe would end the long wait for her decision and all speculations about her political plans, which started in June after she surged to the top of voter preference polls for next year’s presidential election.

Sen. Francis Escudero, Poe’s prospective running mate in the May 2016 elections, said in a radio interview last week that Poe would announce her plans sometime in the next two weeks.

But a source said Poe’s announcement could come as early as this week.

Escudero said he would announce his own plans for 2016 after Poe’s announcement, indicating that his decision hinged on Poe’s.

Poe and Escudero do not belong to any political party and they have long been expected to make an independent run for the presidency and vice presidency.

The Magdalo party-list group of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has promised to back Poe but not Escudero.

Trillanes has said he will seek the vice presidency as an independent candidate.

www.canadianinquirer.net

What now?

The LP tried to get Poe as a running mate for its presidential standard-bearer, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, but now that she is clearly no longer available, Aquino preferred not to say anything, even whether the party had other potential candidates in mind.

“I believe I should not speak at this point,” Aquino said, adding that the choice of a running mate would ultimately be Roxas’ decision.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, a vice chair of the LP, has been saying in recent days that the party should look for another candidate for Vice President because he believes Poe is running for President.

On Monday Drilon said Poe’s expected announcement validated his assertion that the LP should look for another running mate for Roxas.

“We are not worried. From the very start, I have [been saying that we should strengthen] our candidate, Secretary Roxas, rather than rely on the strength of any other person. There is no change in [our] plan. We will continue to build [up] Secretary Roxas,” Drilon told reporters in Iloilo.

There have been reports that the LP, faced with the prospect of a rejection from Poe, is looking at Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and even Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as potential running mates for Roxas. ■ Jerry E. Esplanada, Gil C. Cabacungan and Christine O. Avendaño with m Bayani San Diego Jr. in Manila and Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

9

HPG wish list Aquino on Lumad Killings: ‘Serving includes sunblock, people does not entail killing’ vitamins, toilets

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao asked for the private-sector’s assistance to the requests of the deployed Highway Patrol Group (HPG) traffic marshals, in helping provide sunblock, vitamins and toilets among other necessities.

Staying long hours in the heat and rain while trying to ease the traffic congestion on Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, Gunnacao was concerned with the HPG policemen’s wellbeing.

“My policemen who stay under the sun… They need sunblock, not because they shouldn’t have darker skin, but because of the protection it offers from ultraviolet rays,” he said, adding that he also considered issuing

new uniforms with lighter fabric suitable to the weather.

Upon Gunnacao’s appeal, donations quickly came. The HPG already received 24 heavy duty tents from the Hypro Construction and Development Corp. for use as command posts and shelter for commuters.

They were also given 200 raincoats, 200 rubber boots, 200 reflectorized gloves, 200 face masks, 200 rechargeable flashlights, and six digital cameras from the Management Association of the Philippines.

“This public-private partnership is the essence of the Filipino value of bayanihan. We can only do much about the traffic situation on EDSA, but we know we can do it with your support,” Superintendent Oliver Tanseco said. ■

IN AN interview with INQUIRER Multimedia in its “Meet the Inquirer” forum Tuesday afternoon, President Benigno Aquino III vehemently denied that the government is targeting “Lumad” people in Mindanao.

Lumad people are members of an indigenous tribe in southern Philippines.

Aquino said, “There is no campaign to kill anybody in this country. There is a campaign to go after the culprits of these crimes regardless of who they are.”

When asked by netizens about the government’s measures about the violence against indigenous peoples, Aquino said the authorities are working to arrest anyone proven to have inflicted harm on any member of any indigenous group.

Aquino also mentioned that the government has “an adequate record” to show the “suc-

www.canadianinquirer.net

President Benigno S. Aquino III during the Multimedia Forum with Inquirer editors, columnists, and reporters on Tuesday (September 8) at the Inquirer office in Makati.

JOSEPH VIDAL / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

cesses of people who have long been wanted and have already been apprehended.”

“Serving the people does not entail killing any of our citizens,” Aquino said.

The questions stemmed after reports of violence against Lumads were published.

In Sept 1, Karapatan-Caraga released an official statement saying that a Lumad school director and two others were killed in Lianga, Surigao del Sur after alleged paramilitary elements “opened fire at Dionel

Campos and Aurelio Sinzo” at 4:00 am. Meanwhile, in a separate location, Emerito Samarca “was found in one of the school rooms, tied around the neck and extremities, with a stab wound.”

Samarca is the Executive Director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), while Dionel Campos is chair of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU). Sinzo is Campos’ cousin. ■

Philippine News

10

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Aquino against ‘unlimited terms’ for president

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the LP event, “A Gathering of Friends,” at the Function Room 1 of the SMX Convention Center, Agdao District, Davao City on Wednesday (September 09).

BENHUR ARCAYAN / ROBERT VINAS / BENJAMIN BASUG / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

MANILA — In one of the ruling Liberal Party’s (LP) “gathering of friends,” President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III cautioned the Filipinos to vote wisely and opt for a succeeding president who would not seek ‘unlimited terms’ which could lead to another dictatorship.

“Sa palagay ko parang mali ata ‘yan. Iaasa natin sa isang tao… Tapos bibigyan pa natin ng tulay o pagkakataon ‘yung iba na tulad na noong 1972, di ba? Natapos na ‘yung dalawang terminong puwede niyang takbuhan,

nagkaroon ng Martial Law,” Aquino said, referring to the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (I think that may be wrong.

We will entrust it to one person… We will also give a way or an opportunity like in 1972?

He already completed the two terms he could run for, and then declared Martial Law.) The President encouraged continuity of the programs and projects rather than the term in office.

“Parang may tatakbo diyan, naghahanda na ng hahalinhin sa kanya. Maganda na yata one term… Gawin mo ‘yung dapat mong magawa at ‘yung kaya mong magawa, tapos ipasa mo

‘yung renda para mapakita naman na kaya ng sambayanang Pilipinong magpatuloy sa tamang direksiyon,” he added.

(It’s like there’s someone running, preparing someone else who can take over. One term may be good enough… Do what you need to finish and what you can accomplish, and then pass the rein to show that the Filipino nation can move ahead in the right direction.)

Rallying support, Aquino instead praised LP’s standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who was already tried and tested. The President, elected in 2010, will step down from office next year. ■

COA: DSWD relief...

The DSWD claimed it has taken in action in weeding out the duplicates and updating its database since the COA submitted its findings last April. It said it was also tapping a service provider for data warehousing to improve its database. ❰❰ 3

LandBank windfall

Aside from multiple entries, the COA said the DSWD has yet to resolve the issue of cash grants left idle in its depository banks. In 2014, unutilized grants in the Land Bank of the Philippines have reached P656.907 million. As of June this year, the unclaimed funds have been reduced to P312 million.

The COA also noted that Landbank earned a windfall of P214.022 million in service fees on 4Ps transactions that were done over the counter and not through ATM cards last year.

COA said this amount could have been “reduced, saved and used instead as additional grants for distribution to beneficiaries.” In the last three years, LBP has already earned a total of P744 million in unnecessary service fees.

Delays, failures in services

The COA said the DSWD supplemental feeding program suffered delays because of poor coordination and monitoring between its regional offices and the Department of Education and local government units.

The DSWD blamed lack of

manpower, late submission of project proposals and master list of beneficiaries. It also said that delays in fund releases and warehouse problems of the National Food Authority also compounded the DSWD’s woes in implementing this program meant to ensure the proper nutrition of children.

The COA also said that the DSWD failed to reach the 80 percent performance target for its Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan -Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) aimed at providing capital support to indigent communities.

It said 47 out of 77 municipalities failed to come up with their commitment to shoulder 30 percent of the project costs.

The COA said the DSWD was less than transparent in its reports on the project and failed to sanction erring municipalities.

The DSWD countered that a World Bank Implementation Completion and Results Report showed that the agency exceeded its target, but it did not submit a copy to COA. The COA noted that out of P1.319 billion worth of projects, only 33.47 percent of projects worth P353.693 million were completed. From these completed projects, around 20 percent were not functioning or defective. The DSWD said the KALAHI projects were delayed because of lack of interest among contractors, some projects were affected by Typhoon

WIKIPEDIA

Ruby in the fourth quarter of 2014, and funding preparations were slow.

The DSWD claimed that it has substantially improved its performance under the KALAHI program since it obtained the COA report.

Assistance programs

The COA also criticized the DSWD for delays and nonpayments in its Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program, with 48 percent, or 55,496, of the 116,637 beneficiaries failing to claim their pensions. The DSWD cited the confusion in the implementing guidelines, lack of public information, and failure to locate the beneficiaries who have changed address. www.canadianinquirer.net

The COA cited shortcomings in the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), and in particular the agency’s failure to follow its guidelines such as giving burial, educational and medical aid directly to claimants instead of service providers; and giving assistance more than once every three months without any justification.

The COA said that the DSWD only used 47 percent of the P4 billion allocated for AICS in 2014 even though it served nearly double the 281,079 beneficiaries targeted for the year.

Raise public awareness

“The reported low disbursements exceeding the target beneficiaries could mean that

the projected fund is excessive or the amounts distributed are at the minimum,” said COA which recommended that the DSWD increase public awareness on the AICS and its benefits.

The COA reported that the DSWD was remiss in the fulfilling of its commitment in the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) program as it has only spent P3 billion to serve 142,348 beneficiaries, or just 30 percent of the 468,732 targeted homeless beneficiaries.

Soliman blamed the funding gap for the delayed ESA deployment as the P11 billion remaining funds were only released in May this year. Soliman said that the ESA had been fully deployed as of July this year. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

11

‘Pinoys will...’ stepped down from office. They will demand the continuity of the successes we have reaped.”

These are the words of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III (P-Noy) at the 23rd General Meeting of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) on September 11 (Friday) at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

The PECC is a “tripartite partnership of senior individuals from business and industry, government, academic and other intellectual circles.” The council aims to discuss policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region. ❰❰ 1

Conditional Cash Transfer System Program

In his speech, P-Noy shared the country’s “pursuit of inclusive growth,” emphasizing “the Filipino people are front and center in our governance agenda,” reiterating that the people are his “Bosses.”

According to P-Noy, “inclusive growth fosters stability, which is a necessary factor for continued growth.” By enabling Filipinos, the economy is empowered.

“That is why we have made, and continue to make, massive investments into our countrymen,” Aquino said, mentioning the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) System, one of his administration’s programs.

“Under the CCT, the primary focus of families must be the education and health of their children, in order to receive the cash assistance. The CCT has also been expanded to cover families with children up to eighteen years of age,” he said.

From roughly 786,000 households in 2010, the CCT System now has 4.4 million households.

With an average of five members per family, “this roughly translates to 22 million Filipinos who our government is assisting.” Aquino went on to share the triumph of the CCT

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the LP event, “A Gathering of Friends” at Function Room 1 of the SMX Convention Center in Agdao District, Davao City on Wednesday (September 09). Also in photo is Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, Gov.Toto Mangudadatu and ARMM Gov.Mujiv Hattaman.

BENHUR ARCAYAN / ROBERT VINAS / BENJAMIN BASUG / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Program in terms of its student beneficiaries and upholding children’s right to an education.

Educational Investments

Aquino also mentioned “the extension of our 10-year basic education cycle through K to 12 reform,” which he claims will give the “Filipino youths a solid foundation, after which they can choose to pursue technicalvocational courses, or higher education, or direct employment.”

In terms of educational investments in the Filipinos, he also mentioned the programs of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“TESDA has had much success in partnering with the private sector to implement training programs,” Aquino said. “As an example of the results, let us take a look at a partnership forged with the semiconductors and electronics industry: a 91.26% employment rate has been attained for graduates of TESDA.” The Fruits of Investment

According to P-Noy, the gov-

ernment’s investments in its people have paid off so well “that the Philippines [has become] a true regime of opportunities.”

“We have climbed competitiveness indices at a tremendous pace; we have achieved investment grade—and continued to receive upgrades—from the three major credit ratings agencies… Nowhere is this optimism more evident than in our own countrymen,” Aquino said. “[The] Government is exerting the maximum effort to further engender an atmosphere conducive to business, down to our communities. In the same way that government has invested into the capacities of Filipinos through social services and education,” he continued.

And the President is not just talking about economic fruits.

He also mentioned results like “holding the corrupt accountable, plugging leaks and holes in the system, exercising fiscal prudence,” and reforms leading to a more level playing field when it comes to business opportunities.

More importantly, he adds, “Transparency and account-

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ability are no longer just ideals; they are realities in the Philippines.”

Growth in Infrastructure

Aside from strides in good governance and economic improvement, Aquino also shared the country’s growth in terms of infrastructure—from only 1.8% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2010 to 4% today.

“A task force of different agencies is hard at work to alleviate traffic along Metro Manila’s thoroughfares,” Aquino said, adding that transportation facilities like “seaports, airports, bus terminals, and light rail transport, continue to be upgraded, while big-ticket projects for transportation systems are in the pipeline.”

He adds, “This will not only ensure that the Philippines becomes more competitive, but that the benefits of trade, investment, and growth are able to reach even the most farflung communities of the Philippines.”

A Tough Act to Follow

Aquino, in his speech, seemed

to have outlined the task that is at hand for whoever takes his place in Malacanang—all in all, he encapsulates it as a tough act to follow.

“What our government has done over the last few years has been to stimulate a virtuous cycle of empowerment, where the growth of business, industry, and the wider economy is spurred by the participation of the dynamic, innovative, and hardworking Filipino people,” Aquino said. “At every step of the way, our government is there to provide support. At every step of the way—whether we are studying the plans for a new bridge, or evaluating fiscal policy—we have always asked ourselves, ‘How does this redound to the benefit of our countrymen?’”

To his successor, Aquino leaves these words: “We see today a people who have felt the effects of good governance and who will refuse to accept anything less. My countrymen will continue to demand integrity, accountability and sustainable, inclusive growth even after I have stepped down from office.

They will demand the continuity of the successes we have reaped.”

“Good governance works.

Reform works. Even more encouraging is the fact that transformation has not just taken place in our institutions and our economy; it has taken place in the mindset of Filipinos,” he pointed out.

“Indeed: The task of building a stronger, more inclusive nation—or even, a stronger, more inclusive world—no longer falls only on the shoulders of those in power, or of men and women like yourselves.

For our part, we Filipinos have taken on the responsibility. We will share in the work and its rewards.” ■ Pres. Aquino’s speech transcript courtesy of www.gov.ph

12

Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

MILF report on Mamasapano incident is incomplete — De Lima

BY FERDINAND G. PATINIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Tuesday said that the report of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the Mamasapano incident where 44 members of the elite Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were killed is incomplete.

Likewise, De Lima noted that the DOJ’s investigation on the Mamasapano incident is still not over.

The DOJ panel released part I of their report in April this year where it recommended the

filing of complaints for murder against 90 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members for the death of 35 of the 36 members of the 55th Special Action Company.

It also recommended the filing of a complaint for theft.

The complaint filed was based on the testimony of the government’s witness given the codename “Marathon”.

The National Bureau of Investigation-National Prosecution Service (NBI-NPS) team is continuing with its investigation.

De Lima said that they were given a copy of the MILF report.

However, De Lima said, while

there were findings and conclusions, there are no other evidence to support it.

“Hindi kasi pwede na report lang, conclusions lang at walang affidavits like first-hand witnesses,” she said.

De Lima said that the MILF has formed a commission that conducted the fact-finding investigation.

“The findings and conclusions are found in their report but I have noticed that while there were factual observations, wala yung supporting, sinu-sino ang mga witnesses,” she added.

The Part 2 of the DOJ report is supposed to cover the circumstances surrounding the

MILF Chief Peace Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal at Thursday's (Feb 12, 2015) Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEN. GRACE POE'S FACEBOOK PAGE

death of members of the PNPSAF’s 84th Seaborne Company as well as the death of members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and civilians.

However, De Lima was silent on the “alternative truth” about the Mamasapano incident mentioned by President Benigno S. Aquino III. ■

Kiko Pangilinan resigns Resignation of Cabinet from Aquino Cabinet members not affecting government programs — Malacanang

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

MANILA — Former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan sent a resignation letter to President Benigno Aquino III, quitting his position as the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization.

Pangilinan submitted his resignation last week, and is effective September 30.

“The president expressed his sincerest appreciation to Secretary Pangilinan for his contribution to the government during his stint as PAFSAM and wished him the best in his future endeavors,” Communications Secretary Her-

Kiko Pangilinan.

minio Coloma Jr. told reporters.

According to Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, the food security chief has been considering joining the senatorial race in next year’s general elections.

Pangilinan, for his part, disclosed that an official announcement regarding his plans will come in due time.

He also thanked Aquino for entrusting him with the post.

“The support extended by His Excellency and the Cabinet has been crucial in addressing the challenges in the agriculture sector and the government’s vision of good governance and inclusive growth,” Pangilinan said. ■

OPAFSAM / FACEBOOK

BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippines News Agency

ing “the official announcement will come in due time.”

News about Pangilinan’s resignation came at the heels of MANILA — A Palace official on the resignation of Trade and Tuesday assured the public that Industry Secretary Gregory delivery of government servicDomingo over the weekend. es are not hampered by resignaDomingo’s resignation, on tions of Cabinet officials, some the other hand, has yet to be acof whom plan to seek elective cepted by the President. posts in the 2016 elections.

Coloma said Pangilinan’s resIn a briefignation will not ing, Presidential affect the govCommunications ernment’s food Operations Ofsecurity profice (PCOO) SecColoma said Pangilinan’s resignation grams aimed to retary Herminio will not affect the government’s food address impact Coloma Jr. said security programs aimed to address of the expected what is important impact of the expected worst dry worst dry spell to now is the fact spell to date. date. that government He explained services continthat a Cabinet ues to be delivcommittee, the ered effectively.

Food Security “Lahat ng kalihim, lahat ng sistant for Food Security and Council headed by Socioecomga kagawaran ay puspusang Agricultural Modernization nomic Planning Secretary Aripinapatupad ang mga pro- (OPAFSAM) Secretary Francis senio Balisacan, oversees acgrama ng pamahalaan; at kung Pangilinan effective September tion plans on this issue. meron mang magbibitiw, ti- 30, 2015.

He said the National Econitiyak ang continuity at ‘yung Pangilinan, in a text message, nomic and Development Aupagtutok sa mga mahahalagang said he met with the President thority (NEDA) will have ansuliranin, lalung-lalo na doon two weeks ago to inform the other meeting Wednesday this sa napipintong El Niño (All Chief Executive of his decision. week to strengthen food secuCabinet Secretaries, all agenHe, however, declined to give rity action plans that have been cies continue to implement the details of his future plans say- agreed on. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

government’s programs. And if ever there will be resignations we will ensure the continuity of these programs as well as to put more focus on important issues especially the looming El Nino),” he stressed.

Relatively, Malacanang confirmed that President Benigno Aquino III has accepted the resignation of Presidential As-

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

13

MILF claims without evidences, SAF killed Marwan — PNP

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

An unidentified Caucasian-looking soldier was one of the casualties in the Mamasapano siege in January 2015.

SCREENSHOT FROM INQUIRER ACQUIRED VIDEO

Caucasian soldier one of the casualties in Mamasapano siege?

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — An 8-minute video of the aftermath of the Mamasapano siege has been making rounds online.

The video showed one of the casualties who looked like a caucasian male soldier. The people taking the video were speaking in their native dialect and in English, but referred to the caucasian-looking man as “Buddy.”

‘No Americans or foreigners in Mamasapano siege’

Former Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas vehemently denied any and all alleged participation of foreigners in the Mamasapano operation, which killed international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias ‘Marwan’ and 63 others, including 44 SAF commandos.

In an interview with INQUIRER radio, Napeñas said, “Unang-una — I will say it again — walang foreigner or Americans na nag-participate or namatay sa combat operation...

Isa-isa na winithdraw iyan galing sa field at isa-isa na inautopsy ‘yan ng crime laboratory.

It would be impossible na hindi nila malaman kung ano nga ba ang nationality ng tao na namatay na 44.”

(First of all — I will say it again — no foreigner or Ameri-

cans participated or died in the combat operation. They were individually extracted from the field and separately autopsied by the crime laboratory.

It would be impossible not to know the nationality of the 44 casualties.)

The U.S. Embassy has also released statements in the past denying claims that American soldiers — one blue-eyed man and another African-American man — were killed in Mamasapano. According to Napeñas, the caucasian-looking man could be PO2 Romeo Cempron of SAF. “Iyan ‘yung lumabas na picture din noon, si PO2 Cempron...

Caucasian-looking na tao iyan.

Inadmit na namin noon pa na may isang tao kami na Caucasian-looking, si PO2 Cempron nga ‘yun,” Napeñas said.

(That’s the photo that appeared in the past. PO2 Cempron looked Caucasian. We’ve already admitted in the past that we have a soldier who looks Caucasian and that’s PO2 Cempron.)

Napeñas also pointed out that the term “buddy” is used in the military to refer to one soldier’s assigned partner or “buddy” in a mission, or simply the term one uses to refer to their companion.

For those who continue to spread rumors and claims of foreigners’ involvement in the Mamasapano siege in January

25, 2015, Napeñas says, “Kung meron man ‘yung mga tao na nagke-claim na Amerikano kung ano-anong nationality, ilabas na lang nila ang ebidensya — ang witness nila at ebidensya.”

(If there’s anyone claiming [that those who died were] American or whatever nationality, they should show the evidence — their witness and evidence.)

DOJ weighs in

According to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, the authenticity of the video should be established first.

“Let’s take a look at that. If that video is authentic, next question is Caucasian ba talaga?” De Lima said in an ABSCBN report. “Mahirap gumawa ng kung ano-anong mga conclusions, mga speculations na ‘yan.

‘Yun ba talaga hitsurang puti, hitsurang Caucasian? Pwede naman na Pilipino na mestizo, it can be that.”

(It’s hard to jump into conclusions or speculations. If you have fair skin, does that mean you look Caucasian? It could also be a Filipino mestizo, it can be that.)

De Lima reiterated that foreign troops are not allowed to participate in military operations within the Philippines, but she also said that there’s no harm in investigating the matter to verify the authenticity of “information and leads.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Contrary to the findings of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) investigative team, the Philippine National Police (PNP) asserted that the Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos were the ones who killed international terrorist, Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan.”

According to an MILF report, Marwan, whose capture came with a $5 million bounty from the United States, was allegedly killed by his own aides.

He was already dead when the SAF troopers engaged in a gun battle with the Moro rebels.

The investigators then supported their claims by noting that there were no indications of a gunfight inside the hut where the terrorist was residing. Although there were bullet holes in the hut’s walls, the location of these holes could not have targeted his chest, where he got wounded.

The MILF also pointed out that Marwan was shot at the back of his head. They could not, however, provide the identity of the aides who really killed him.

A military source, who requested to remain anonymous, confirmed the MILF claims, stating that Marwan’s aides, Datucan Singgagao and Candao Langalan, were ordered by a foreign agency to capture him.

“The plan was to get Marwan through the two assets.

We know because the project

Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

was initially offered to us, but the consequences and the risks were too high that we did not take the mission,” the source said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) former chief Director Benjamin Magalong, however, stressed that their probe was immediately conducted a day after the incident. Therefore, their findings and evidences were more credible.

“Based on the evidence that we gathered, our SAF teams killed Marwan. They sacrificed so much and risked their lives.

The SAF truly deserves the credit and all the honors,” Magalong said.

Even former police chief Panfilo Lacson also disputed the MILF findings.

“The new twist is just that — twisting the truth… That is the reason why the President has referred to it as the ‘alternative truth,’ which is beyond our comprehension, coming as it did from no less than the Commander-in-Chief,” Lacson said.

It can be recalled that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III earlier disclosed that there was an ‘alternative truth’ speculated regarding Marwan’s killing.

“It is unfortunate because it doesn’t do justice to the to the SAF troopers — whether they belonged to the fallen, wounded or unscathed — whose valor and heroism must not be diminished by [the MILF’s] assertions, which should be regarded as nothing but polluted, he added. ■

WIKIPEDIA

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Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Pictures prove SAF killed Marwan, MILF ‘alternative truth’ a lie

House of Representatives during SONA.

GOV.PH

Solon seeks House probe of shelter aid program

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has called for a congressional investigation of what he describes as the restrictive and abuse-prone Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), particularly in areas hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan).

Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap has filed House Resolution No. 2322 seeking to look into the “unreasonable restrictive guidelines, cases of political abuse and anomaly in the implementation of the shelter program” of the DSWD in calamity areas.

“Nearly two months before the second anniversary of the deadliest typhoon that hit the country, victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda still struggle with anguish,” he said in a statement.

Hicap chided the DSWD for delays in the grant of shelter assistance funds as a result of its restrictive guidelines, as well as its “glaring display of incompetence and negligence, and reported cases of abuse and irregularity, [which] flagrantly defeat the emergency and humanitarian nature of the ESA program.”

In calling for a probe in aid of legislation, he asked Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, chair of the House committee

on good government and public accountability, to invite DSWD officials and representatives from nongovernmental organizations to shed light on the issue.

The ESA program is supposed to grant P30,000 to Yolanda victims whose houses were destroyed and P10,000 to those whose homes were damaged.

But Hicap said poor typhoon victims were doubly distressed as many of them were being disqualified from the ESA because of inordinately stringent conditions set by the DSWD. Under the agency’s Memorandum Circular No. 24, those eligible to get the ESA grant are families who are already renting and have availed themselves of the DSWD Disaster Family Access Card (DAFC); contractual government employees with no housing loans from government and private groups; regular workers from the public and private sectors earning lower than P15,000 a month.

Thus, many calamity victims on the islands of Samar, Leyte and Panay have been denied the ESA grant on technicality, such as the location of their residence, their receipt of aid however little from local officials and the salary cap provision, Hicap said.

He lamented that the salary cap made it seem “as if those earning a little over P15,000 are no longer in dire need of assistance.” ■

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Marwan was killed by his aides, Datucan Singgagao and Candao Langalan.

MANILA — According to a report, photos showing the death of international terrorist Zulkifi bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” were evidences that the Special Action Force (SAF) were the ones who killed him.

An ABS-CBN source provided the photos. Seen in the photos were SAF police commandos inside the hut with the dead body of Marwan.

Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi was also captured cutting the right index finger of the terrorist. The index finger confirmed that the man killed was indeed the wanted Malaysian bomber.

These photos disputed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) claims that

Diverting the truth Retired Director Getulio Napeñas shunned the MILF’s version of Marwan’s killing.

“Pwede naman palang iabot sa silver platter, bakit kinailangan pang pumasok ang tropa namin for operations na ganyan? Namatayan pa kami nang marami,” Napeñas said.

(If they could hand him over in a silver platter, why did our troops have to conduct for operations like that? We lost a lot of men.)

The former SAF chief, however, admitted that they did not obtain evidences and information from Marwan’s camp in their investigations but he believed that the MILF report was only a cover-up from the

fact that the MILF troops killed the 44 SAF men.

“Gusto nilang i-divert yung katotohanan na MILF ang pumatay dun sa 44… Wala pang katarungan sa kanila (They want to divert the truth that the MILF killed the 44… They (SAF 44) have not yet been served justice),” he added.

Forty-four of the SAF troopers were killed in a gun battle with the MILF during the police commandos’ covert operation to capture Marwan.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, for his part, assured that the MILF’s ‘alternative truth’ on Marwan’s death have already been investigated upon.

“There is an ongoing investigation... with the end in view of ferreting out the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” Aquino told reporters in Tagalog. ■

Customs seizes 402 undeclared balikbayan boxes worth over P1-M

BY FERDINAND G. PATINIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized a consolidated shipment at the Manila International Container Port found to have 402 undeclared balikbayan boxes worth over Php 1 million from Singapore.

In a statement, the bureau said the shipment was declared to contain 133 packages of household goods and personal effects but failed to declare the over 400 other boxes, 380 of which contained pre-mixed flour and pork floss consigned allegedly to popular Singaporean brand BreadTalk.

The BOC identified the consolidator as Philbase Express Freight Logistics Corp.

Customs officials verified that the 402 boxes have an estimated value of Php 1,707,243.52, including duties and taxes.

The shipment also contained seven of ball casters consigned to Seek and Find Instaparts Corp.; seven boxes with 200 per carton each of Quebee protecwww.canadianinquirer.net

Bureau of Customs.

tive eyewear consigned to Basic Occupational; and five boxes with 144 pairs of Worksafe protected eyewear consigned to Worksafe.

Enforcement Group Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno issued an alert order on the 1x40’ shipment after it un-

CUSTOMS.GOV.PH

derwent x-ray examination.

On the other hand, the alert order has reportedly been lifted to pave the way of continuous processing of documents and release of the 133 packages, subject to compliance of existing Customs laws, rules and regulations. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

15

Pork scam witness wants evidence back

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer A WHISTLE-BLOWER in a new set of pork barrel scam allegations wants to take back the original copies of the documents she submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation, claiming loss of confidence in the progress of the investigation, according to lawyer Levito Baligod.

Baligod said his client, Bernadette Ricalde, had submitted the documents to the NBI Anti-Fraud and Action Division (AFAD) in connection with the latter’s investigation into the alleged misuse of the pork barrel allocations of San Jose Del Monte Rep. Arturo Robes.

Baligod said they wanted to retrieve the documents because almost a year after Ricalde was called by the NBI investigators, she has not heard from them again.

He also said that his client was concerned that the filing of cases against those involved in the various pork barrel scams has now concluded with the filing of the third batch of cases of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The DOJ filed a third batch of pork barrel scam cases involving the Napoles operation in August. Baligod is concerned because Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was quoted as saying that that would be the last pork barrel scam cases that the DOJ would be filing.

“The quest for justice must continue. We asked that all the evidence submitted by my client to the NBI must be released so we can continue from where the DOJ left off,” Baligod said.

The investigation is also focusing on the alleged bogus nongovernment organizations (NGO) that allegedly carried out the projects funded by Robes’ pork barrel, including

Atty. Levito Baligod.

WorkPhil and Sagip-Buhay People Support foundations, allegedly owned by Robes’ wife, Florida.

Robes is one of 20 former and current legislators that the NBI is investigating in connection with a P500-million pork barrel, or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), scam that is separate from the P10-billion PDAF scam operation allegedly carried out by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, for which three senators have already been charged with plunder.

Killing may be linked to case

The NBI is also said to be looking into the possibility that the killing of Ricalde’s husband, police Chief Insp. Romeo Ricalde Jr., in 2013 may be linked to the Robes NGOs’ alleged illegal activities that Ricalde had exposed. The NBI had started its investigation into the pork barrel scam involving the Robes couple in September 2013, a month before Ricalde’s hus-

MARK MERUEÑAS / @MARCMERU / TWITTER

band was killed.

Ricalde, a former employee of Rep. Robes, has provided the INQUIRER with photocopies of the original documents that she had submitted to the NBIAfad in February 2014.

However, Ricalde now wants these documents returned to her, said her lawyer, Baligod.

“We have written the NBI to return the original copies of documents which were turned over to them in the course of their investigation of the supposed misuse of public funds last year. My client wants to retrieve these documents because we are losing hope,” Baligod said.

Baligod claimed that the documents that are now in the possession of the NBI would implicate Robes and will show that Ricalde was telling the truth when she claimed that the couple controlled the WorkPhil and Sagip-Buhay foundations.

He said that in February 2014, Ricalde received a subpoena from the NBI-Afad ask-

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ing her to appear before them “and to give your evidence in a certain investigation.”

The subpoena, a copy of which was obtained by the INQUIRER, stated that the NBIAfad investigation was based at the request of lawyer Anthony Parungao, an undersecretary at the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Bank receipts

Baligod said that among the documents they wanted retrieved from the NBI were several bank transaction receipts with Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), Banco de Oro and Land Bank of the Philippines.

“These are deposit slips and withdrawal slips bearing the initial of Robes’ wife that would show all transactions should first have her approval,” Baligod said.

He said one of the documents is “a bank certificate regarding the deposit of P10 million to the checking account of Michelle

Imperial, also an employee of the Robeses.”

The bank certification was issued by RCBC on Aug. 25, 2010, at the request of Imperial, Baligod said.

He said the details in the certificate such as the Land Bank check number, the date of issue Feb. 11, 2010, and the amount were exactly the same as the details of the allocation received

by Robes from the President’s Social Fund of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He said an acknowledgment letter sent to Robes by the Presidential Management Staff signed by Racquel de GuzmanBuensalida dated July 21, 2010, for the batch of liquidation documents showed the amount of P10 million given to him on Feb. 11, 2010, through Land Bank check number 230643.

According to Baligod, the money which was for the project, “Improvement of Literacy Level Through the Implementation of Alternative Education Program,” was deposited in the account of Imperial, which could be accessed only by Florida Robes.

Pork barrel conduits

Also being retrieved by Baligod are letters from the National Agribusiness Corp., which was allegedly used as the conduit of Robes’ pork barrel allotments and the two Robeslinked bogus NGOs which also became the recipients of pork barrel funds from other legislators.

Other documents that were submitted to the NBI, Baligod said, were incorporation papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission that would show that the two Robes-linked NGOs’ incorporators were all employees of the Robeses. ■

Opinion

16

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

AT LARGE

Answers to the ‘woman question’

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer TWENTY YEARS after the 1995 International Conference on Women in Beijing, the “woman question” still begs for answers. For Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, the question boils down to such a simple query as: “Why should an 11-year-old girl, on frail legs, have to fetch the water to quench the thirst of a muscular man?”

Speaking Wednesday at the High Level Dialogue on “Economies that Work for Women,” Mlambo-Ngcuka sought to situate the question in the context of “unpaid care work,” which afflicts the majority of the world’s women and is, she said, “a structural cause of gender inequality.” All over the world, she added, “children are made by both men and women. But child care is a woman’s responsibility in almost all countries.” But women are expected not just to look after babies and children; the responsibility of caring for elderly parents and sick members of the family likewise falls on them.

This “caring duty” also extends from family members to the home itself, to “providing household necessities” that include food preparation (and, in many instances, food gathering), fetching water, foraging for fuel, housecleaning, and even providing sexual services—

even as, frequently, a woman must also focused on three areas: the pay gap in and over one-third are in informal agri“contribute” her share of productive laformal labor, informal employment, cultural employment, added Mlambobor with work outside the home. and the “gender penalty.”

Ngcuka.

“In an era of unprecedented global “Women almost universally earn Globally, millions of women in dewealth, millions of women are still less for the same job than men, or do veloping countries make their living trapped in low-paid, poor-quality jobs, precarious work,” Mlambo-Ngcuka through small-scale farming while in denied even basic levels of healthcare, observed. Globally, she noted, women South Asia, 64 percent of women are water and sanitation,” she declared, are paid 24 percent less than men, informally self-employed, with 31 pernoting how “this is particularly true of although the specifics vary widely: cent in informal wage employment. women facing multiple and intersectWomen earn 20 percent less in East Over a lifetime, noted the UN Woming forms of discrimination, based on Asia and the Pacific and 33 percent less en head, such inequalities “add up to factors such as age, income level, ethin South Asia. a devastating loss of security and stanicity and location.”

It isn’t just wages that matter. The tus,” reflecting and reinforcing econoTrue, much has changed since 20 nature of the work works to women’s mies and societies “that chronically years ago, including undervalue girls and the creation of UN women.” This MlamWomen after debo-Ngcuka calls “the Despite the advances gained in the last two decades, cades of campaigngender penalty,” “progress in gaining gender equality overall has been slow and ing among women’s consisting of “fundauneven.” groups and women mental attitudes and within the UN Sysconceptions of relatem for a major and distinct UN body disadvantage, too. “In some developtive human value that play out in sexual devoted to the advancement of women. ing regions,” Mlambo-Ngcuka said, violence, in discrimination, or in the But as Mlambo-Ngcuka admits, de“upwards of 75 percent of women’s decisions about who stays home, who spite the advances gained in the last employment is informal, unprotected misses school, who fetches water and two decades, “progress in gaining genby labor laws or social protection.” An fuel.” der equality overall has been slow and “honorable exception,” she added, is Beyond hand wringing, there are uneven.” the Philippines which till now is “the clear (maybe even easy) steps that gov*** only country in East Asia and Pacific reernments, societies and communities, STILL, bemoaning the situation—and gion that has ratified the ILO Domestic and even employers can take to make stopping at that—was not the reaWorkers Convention adopted in 2011.” an economy work for women. son for Mlambo-Ngcuka’s visit to the *** *** country.

IN East Asia and the Pacific, excluding AMONG these steps: Transform paid What needs to change to make econChina, 78 percent of women are enwork. Governments need to “enact omies work for women? gaged in informal employment (non- policies to implement and enforce The UN Women executive director salaried, impermanent, unrecognized) minimum wages,” ensure that there is

“equal pay for equal work,” and provide women equal access to pensions and social protection.

There is also a need to support the livelihoods of self-employed women, such as market traders (vendors) and small farmers since, she said, 62 percent of women work in family businesses.

It is also imperative, MlamboNgcuka declared, to address the needs of farmer-women, to “make their jobs decent, ensure their control over land, and [give them] access to credit so they can buy seeds and fertilizers to make their land productive.” Just as crucial: “Increase their resilience to climate change.”

There is also a need to “ensure that social protection, such as employment guarantee schemes, reaches rural women to bolster their income security.” In particular, governments must extend social protection to informal workers, since more than 75 percent of women’s jobs are informal in developing regions.

“If women stopped having children, caring for them, or shaping them into productive and creative human beings, there would be no labor force and the global economy would grind to a halt,” Mlambo-Ngcuka reminded her audience, sending a message to all men and women seeking answers to the age-old “woman question.” ■

ANALYSIS

Muddle at the forum

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer CANBERRA—In a wide-ranging forum on Tuesday, President Aquino engaged the editors and reporters of the INQUIRER in a hair-splitting exercise over the secret talks between the government and the Iglesia ni Cristo that led to the pullout last week of INC protesters from Edsa and a stop to other INC mass actions elsewhere.

The President told the forum that lasted for more than an hour that an “understanding” was reached in the talks, contradicting the INC’s earlier claim that there was an “agreement” between the representatives of the sect and the government. The meeting was marked by a lack of transparency, fueling public suspicion that the parties had struck a deal that ended the standoff in the streets.

In response to a public demand for disclosure of details, the President said: “‘Nagkaunawaan’ I think represents clearly what was achieved.” He said that while he had not been able to talk with INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo, emissaries allowed them to communicate with each other. He further

revealed that he had directed Executive agreement? And have you been in touch ligence reports that these people are Secretary Paquito Ochoa “to share with with INC executive minister Manalo? identified with various groups that have the INC the government’s position, and The President said: “I haven’t had been opposed to us even before I startto assure that everybody’s rights will be the opportunity to talk to Ka Eduardo ed office, who were participants in this protected.” personally. We have liaisons that go particular event, trying to exploit it for The government and the INC sought back and forth between us. I did send their own and separate agendas.” to “clarify each other’s position” about the Executive Secretary to clearly state He was asked: So, was it the assur“groups out to create divisions” and that the government’s position was that ance of the government that it would be “exploit the protest,” the President everybody’s rights will be protected... handling fairly the case lodged against said. We are reproducing a summary of There were two points … but in gist, the INC that made them call off their the full text of his remarks at the forum ... ‘nagkaunawaan’ I think represents protest, and is there truth to reports based on the official transcript (which clearly what was achieved. There were that there was an agreement about the I read completely), for the purpose of groups out to create divisions, trying case being eventually dropped by the informing the public of what took place to create fears, etc. And we were able Department of Justice? behind closed doors He said: “The case at the meeting, to [filed by an expelled Mr. Aquino said there were a number of personalities who enable the public to INC minister for illewere not members of the sect but were “identified with various groups determine whether it gal detention against that are opposed” to him even before he took office as president. was shortchanged by eight senior minisa secret deal, whethters in the INC’s higher in the form of an innocuous “underto clarify each other’s positions... So, est administrative council] will stand or standing” or “agreement.” we came to that agreement and they fall on its merits. Look at the affidavits Mr. Aquino was asked about the suprecalled all their followers afterwards.” and see whether or not it proves the acposed groups that were exploiting the The President was asked: Can you cusation. In our system of laws, the acINC. He said there were a number of elaborate more on what you meant cuser has the burden of proof. So, if you personalities who were not members about groups that were “trying to divide accuse someone of doing something, of the sect but were “identified with the INC”? you have to prove it. Does it exist in this various groups that are opposed” to him He said: “It was clear from Edsa that affidavit of complaints or does it not?” even before he took office as president. there were people there who didn’t The case is “under evaluation” by He was asked: How was the impasse appear to be members of the INC and the Department of Justice’s National actually resolved? Was there indeed an making speeches. ... There are intelProsecution Service. Justice Secretary

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Leila de Lima, who has been accused by the INC of bias and of showing extraordinary interest in giving priority to the case, is on the spot and is under test.

De Lima has said she would continue to monitor the complaint filed by former INC minister Isaias Samson Jr. because it is “a high-profile case.”

She earlier told reporters: “I do that—certain cases, high-profile cases, I monitor. This is a high-profile case and—I’m talking in general—in highprofile sensitive cases, public interest is very high. So, I monitor [them]. I consider [it] part of my job to monitor these cases.” She pointed out that the monitoring of cases should not be interpreted as “special attention” or intervention. However, she added, while she regarded the complaint against the INC Sanggunian members as “high-profile,” it would be up to the National Prosecution Service to decide if it should be elevated to the courts.

In fact, according to De Lima, the complaint is still in the stage of preliminary investigation because no prosecutor has yet been assigned to handle it.

Under the DOJ process, once the preliminary investigation starts, her office cannot interfere, she said. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

17

LOOKING BACK

The way Antonio Luna died

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN ANDRES Luna de San Pedro, son of Juan Luna, passed away in Manila in 1952, his American wife Grace offered to sell the paintings in his estate to the Philippine government. The government refused the offer either from lack of funds or lack of interest, and Mrs. Luna packed everything and returned to New York.

When she died, the estate passed to a friend named Beth Troster, who eventually also passed away, leaving all the Luna material in a New York attic.

One of the lawyers handling the estate remembered the name Juan Luna from a Philippines postage stamp and contacted the Philippine mission in New York, which responded with the same indifference displayed by the government in 1952 that led to this treasure leaving the country. Next the lawyers approached an auction house to dispose of the paintings, and were told that these had “no commercial value.”

To make a long story short, expatriate Filipino writer Alberto Florentino and his wife Eva were able to access the collection and brokered its return to the Philippines through

Mario Alcantara of the Heritage lowed to examine the boxes of papers Art Gallery in Cubao, Quezon City. and personal effects of which nobody Most of the paintings were acquired took notice. In one box, for example, I by the Far East Bank and Trust Co. saw the painting frock of Juan Luna as (FEBTC) and donated to the Na- well as his brushes and palette. In antional Museum, where they are cur- other box, I saw the bloodied uniform rently displayed in a dedicated hall of Antonio Luna that was preserved in the National Gallery of Art. Some by his mother as a grisly reminder of of the paintings were retained by the his tragic death. In another box were FEBTC that was eventually acquired architectural plans and all sorts of by the Bank of the Philippine Islands; plaques and awards that once bea selection of these are currently on longed to the famous architect Andres exhibit at the Ayala Museum.

Luna de San Pedro.

What many people do not know is I focused on a box that contained that an even bigger treasure was neSo much history lost in a freak accident. glected in the Heritage Art Gallery— the papers and memorabilia not just Antonio Luna’s papers—his student of Juan Luna but also of his brother, notebooks (which came complete the ill-fated Gen. Antonio Luna, who with fine drawings of specimens he was assassinated in Cabanatuan in observed through a microscope) and 1899 by soldiers he had disarmed and the papers of his mature life: letters discharged. These soldiers were loyal (including a batch of racy love letters to Emilio Aguinaldo, who took most from a woman named “Paquita”), of the blame for Luna’s assassination parts of a journal, official military pawhen the list of conspirators should pers, etc. Since I was then a student on include others in his cabinet who an allowance, I asked to borrow some wished Luna dead. papers to photocopy. To my surprise, While everyone was busy going over Mario Alcantara, without even asking the Juan Luna paintings and speculat- me to sign a receipt, let me cart home ing on the scads of money these would the whole balikbayan box of papers. command in the art market, I was alThat weekend, I sorted out what I

felt were the most important papers and had them photocopied. I had to wait a month for my next allowance to have the rest photocopied. And since I didn’t want to be responsible for the whole lot, I returned it to the Heritage Art Center, where everything was eventually destroyed in a fire triggered by a lightning bolt. It is all quite sad when you think that these papers survived the PhilippineAmerican War and the Battle for Manila in 1945, as well as being consigned to the trash in New York in the 1980s. So much history lost in a freak accident.

Antonio Luna’s papers could have given us more information on the context in which his tragedy played out. When I was watching the film “Heneral Luna,” I waited for the assassination scene and got more than I bargained for.

The violence in the last part of the movie would definitely merit an “R” rating in my book, but in the Philippines, people are more offended, or pretend to be offended, by sex in the cinema.

I went through my notes after watching the film, and wondered why the assassins were never punished. It

is odd to even think that it was a case of self-defense because it was one man against a company of soldiers. One would think that once wounded, Luna was easy to disarm and contain, but that he received more than 30 wounds from bolos and gunshots is proof that much anger was released in that killing. One or two fatal wounds would have been enough for an ordinary murder, but 30? Then, of course, we have heard of Aguinaldo’s mother watching the murder from a window in the convent and, when all was done, shouting for confirmation that Luna had indeed been killed: “Nagalaw pa ba yan?”

Luna’s last will and testament were found in his papers after his death. It is dated March 31, 1899, and written en route from San Fernando to Calumpit: “1. I leave whatever I have to my mother. 2. If they will kill me, wrap me in a Filipino flag with all the clothing with which I was dressed when killed, and bury me in the ground. 3. I wish to state freely that I would die willingly for my country, for our independence, without thereby looking for death.”

With his tragic death Luna will be remembered for a long time because the way he died continues to our time. ■

and in other cities in Turkey,” she tells narrow space meant for pedestrians, The burden of adjusting to the acan interviewer from Turkish Review weaving in and out of the uneven cumulation of obstacles to mobility (July-August 2015), “the parents of pavement that is usually occupied by in this dynamic environment is then middle-class families grew up with- double-parked vehicles. What makes passed on to the individual comout cars. The car is a social aspiration it worse is the emission from vehicles muter. Walking, that most natural now…. People tend to drive instead of that are kept on perpetual idling by means of human mobility, becomes walking for 15 or 20 minutes. We work their drivers while they await their the deadly chore it should not be. to convince cities of the benefits of re- passengers. It is hellish.

Often, to negotiate a distance of no ducing car usage and try to show that It slowly dawns on you that you more than 200 meters, people find it can be changed by clever policies.” need a car not so much to bring you it necessary to hop into a tricycle on I know what she means. I have from one place to another as to shut the illusion that it is safer and saves lived on the University of the Philip- out a world made ugly by the unthink- time. In fact, in view of their erratic pines Diliman campus for close to 50 ing behavior of others. The roots of behavior on the road, tricycles slow years, and have seen the mind-bog- the problem and the solutions are not down traffic and endanger lives. They gling transformation of its environs. that hard to figure out. No one should should have no place in a major road Katipunan Avenue like Katipunan, or in the 1960s was in any highway for The burden of adjusting to the accumulation of obstacles a drab and sleepy that matter. to mobility in this dynamic environment is then passed on to strip that hardly But the last time the individual commuter. Walking, that most natural means of contained any coma public official human mobility, becomes the deadly chore it should not be. mercial activity. It made an attempt was a pleasure to to set things right, walk the windy tree-lined stretch be able to open a store or a shop with- he was pilloried by those who were from the Balara gate just behind the out providing adequate parking for directly affected by his draconian campus to the corner of E. Rodriguez. its customers. No one should be able measures. As chair of the Metro MaI would dread walking along Kati- to register any vehicle without proof nila Development Authority, Bayani punan these days. From the corner of of available private parking. Indeed, Fernando reclaimed the sidewalks CP Garcia all the way to E. Rodriguez, no one should be allowed to use side- by ordering establishments to tear the southbound sidewalk abruptly walks except pedestrians. These are down extensions that encroached disappears, taken over by the spill- basic principles that, I am sure, are on public space. He painted a pink over business of assorted shops, and already integrated into our building line demarcating the boundaries of by tricycles, waiting cars and deliv- laws and city ordinances. But, with- sidewalks and penalized owners of ery vans. Small motorcycles seeking out consistent enforcement, they vehicles found ignoring the line. He a way out of the slow-moving traffic are quickly forgotten and breaching banned tricycles from Katipunan and think nothing about invading the them becomes normal. waged a relentless campaign against

vendors illegally occupying sidewalks and portions of major streets like Edsa. His bold efforts to restore order in the use of the city’s public spaces were promptly denounced as anti-poor, and this image hounded him when he ran for higher office.

A well-traveled man, Fernando was familiar with what made global cities functional. He tried to promote what he called “urbanidad,” insisting that the city demanded a change in the way we live. He knew that as more and more people poured into the cities, it was essential to rethink the way the city moved. Accordingly, he thought that anything that prevented or discouraged people from walking was a problem that directly affected the city’s transport and traffic system. He was right.

The first thing that a Filipino who visits a modern city like Tokyo or Singapore, or New York or London, immediately realizes after a day or two is the amount of walking people regularly do. They stay on one side of the sidewalk and keep a brisk pace, as though always in a hurry to catch a bus or a train. Time in these places is scarce, and everything is done to optimize its use. In contrast, we waste it sitting unproductively inside vehicles that have become monuments to modern immobility. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

The lost art of walking

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer LAST TUESDAY’S nightmarish traffic in Metro Manila’s major roads forced commuters to do what many of them have forgotten: walk home.

Walking to and from work has become such a rare phenomenon in the city that some residents try to recover the health benefits from this lost habit by marking time on treadmill machines inside enclosed gyms. In such surreal circumstances, walking is stripped of its practical relationship to life and becomes yet another contrived ritual of modern living.

By comparison, it is reported that 48 percent of the people commute to work in the modern city of Istanbul in Turkey. Yet, urban planners think this number is too low and must be raised by paying greater attention to the city’s pedestrian infrastructure.

Many sidewalks are perceived to be narrow, or broken, and people complain that pedestrian crossings are often ignored. Even healthy people report having difficulty navigating their neighborhood streets.

Arzu Tekir, who works with a global network that promotes sustainable cities, has been waging a campaign against “car-centric” transportation cultures. “In the cities where we work

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18

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News

Refugee crisis, seniors’ health, tax issues begin new week of campaigning THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Party leaders are attempting to shift the public’s focus to domestic issues including taxation and health care as another week of campaigning in the federal election begins.

But questions surrounding Canada’s role in alleviating the refugee crisis in the Middle East continue to dominate headlines.

And the trial this week of a former top aide to Conservative Leader Stephen Harper accused of influence peddling could also cast a pall over the campaign.

But the Tories will be doing

everything they can to cast light on their fiscal record while in office as the Finance Department unveils year-end figures for fiscal 2014-15, which could show that the government was on track to balance the budget.

Last month, the department reported a $5-billion surplus for the April-June quarter, though Harper’s opponents said that data was not up to date.

Harper repeated his party’s pledge to lower small business tax rates during a campaign stop in Ottawa’s west end Sunday, where he attacked the Liberals and New Democrats over their proposed tax plans.

While campaigning in Vancouver, where his party hopes

to make gains on Oct. 19, the NDP’s Tom Mulcair announced that a government under his leadership would spend $1.8 billion over four years bolstering health care for seniors.

The NDP is hoping to frame week seven of the 11-week campaign around health ahead of the next leader’s debate on Thursday in Calgary.

But it was Mulcair’s promise to help Syrian refugees that had some of his party’s supporters calling for even greater action.

Many New Democrats are urging their party to increase its election commitment to resettle 46,000 people over four years to as high as 100,000.

An emotional debate over

War refugees at the Keleti Railway Station on 5 September 2015 in Budapest, Hungary. Refugees are arriving constantly to Hungary on the way to Germany.

ALEXANDRE ROTENBERG / SHUTTERSTOCK

how best to help some of the four million refugees who have fled fighting in Syria was fuelled earlier this month by the images of a dead three-year-old boy from Syria washing up on a Turkish beach.

In the meantime, former Harper senior adviser Bruce Carson goes on trial Monday in an Ottawa court on one charge of influence peddling related to his work with a company that

was trying to sell water-filtration systems to First Nation reserves.

The Carson case follows on the heels of the trial of Sen. Mike Duffy, which forced the Tories off of their message at the beginning of the campaign in August.

Carson has pleaded not guilty to the influence peddling charge, as well as other accusations of illegal lobbying. ■

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Canada News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

19

Federal government balances books one year early, posts surprise $1.9B surplus

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The federal government posted a surprise $1.9-billion surplus in 2014-15 — bringing the country’s books back into balance a year earlier than expected.

The Finance Department released year-end figures Monday for a period that was supposed to instead generate a $2.0-billion shortfall.

The number ends a streak of six deficits under the Conservatives and is certain to reverberate on the campaign trail.

The fiscal report also tees up Thursday’s leaders’ debate, which will focus on the economy.

Political leaders have jockeyed to portray themselves as the best managers of the public piggy bank as the economy has struggled amid the steep slide in commodity prices.

The result pleased Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, whose government had forecasted a $2.0-billion deficit for 2014-15 in its April budget.

Harper issued a statement crediting “careful economic stewardship” for guiding the budget to balance a year ahead of schedule.

The Finance Department said the $3.9-billion swing from the expected shortfall to surplus was largely due to higher revenue — from personal and corporate income taxes — that rang in $3.0 billion higher than projected as well as positive year-end adjustments.

The report also found expenditures were lower. Program spending was $800 million lower than forecast, while public debt charges were $100 million lower than expected.

Looking forward, the Tories have predicted a $1.4-billion surplus for the current 2015-16

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fiscal year — a projection oppo- early numbers released by the tors shares. nents insist the government is Finance Department as eviGovernment officials rouunlikely to hit. dence the country is on track. tinely warn that a few months Political rivals charge that Last month, the Finance of information do not necesOttawa is instead on track to Department reported a $5-bil- sarily paint the picture for the run a shortfall in whole year. the current fisIn July, the cal year because parliamentary the economy budget officontracted over The debate over balancing the cer released an the first two budget has, at times, dominated analysis based quarters of 2015 political discourse during the election on downgraded and pushed the campaign.

Bank of Canada country into a projections that technical recesshowed Ottawa sion. was headed for a Harper, who has noted that lion surplus for the April-June $1-billion shortfall in 2015-16. experts have predicted the quarter.

The calculation whipped up economy to bounce back over Harper’s opponents have dis- doubt about the Conservatives’ the second half of the year, has missed it as preliminary data, a long-standing promise to balinsisted the government will tally that received a $1-billion ance the election-year books. produce a surplus in 2015-16. boost from a one-time asset The debate over balancing He has repeatedly pointed to sale of taxpayers’ General Mo- the budget has, at times, domi-

www.canadianinquirer.net

nated political discourse during the election campaign.

“According to a wide range of experts, we are in deficit right now — Mr. Harper has put us in deficit this year,” Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Monday when asked about the 2014-15 numbers.

Trudeau accused Harper of implementing billions of dollars in underspending and cuts to veterans, seniors and aboriginal programs in order for him to balance the books before the election.

“It was a political goal that actually has helped us slide into the recession,” he said.

Trudeau has set his party apart from the Conservatives and the NDP by committing to run shortfalls before balancing the budget in 2019. He says his plan, which includes investing in infrastructure, will spur economic growth.

The New Democrats have pledged to balance the books next year despite their big-ticket promises that include a plan to create one million $15-a-day child-care spaces. Once fully implemented, the program would cost taxpayers an estimated $5 billion annually.

To help pay for its commitments, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has vowed to erase the Tories’ controversial $2-billion-a-year income-splitting measure for families with kids.

Mulcair is also pledging to raise corporate tax rates by an as-yetunspecified amount and close a tax loophole on CEO stock options.

The NDP, which has come under pressure to release its numbers, has said it will unveil its costed platform before a debate Thursday.

The Finance Department the 2014-15 surplus follows the $5.2-billion deficit posted by Ottawa in 2013-14. ■

20

Canada News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Questions over... for fiscal 2014-15.

The fiscal update being released Monday could show the government was on track to balance the budget by the end of March.

Last month, the department reported a $5-billion surplus for the April-June quarter, though Harper’s opponents said that data was not up to date.

The federal government predicted in last spring’s budget that it would reduce the deficit to around $2 billion for 201415, and said Ottawa would see a small budget surplus for this fiscal year.

But the collapse in oil prices and international fiscal turmoil raised doubts about those forecasts.

Stephen Harper played up his party’s economic strengths at a rally in the Ottawa area Sunday, driving home his message that the Conservatives are the only stewards of the country’s finances.

He also warned that, given continued economic uncertainty around the globe, Canada needs to be prudent and adjust its fiscal plans accordingly.

“Although we predicted a surplus for $2 billion, we’re already at $5 billion, so we’re always cautious,” Harper said, referring to the 2015-16 year.

He said the Liberals and New Democrats would only drive up taxes and set Canada on a path ❰❰ 1

of never-ending deficits.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, whose party has campaigned on a commitment to balance the government’s books by 2019, enlisted the aid Sunday of former prime minister Jean Chretien, who harkened back to the days when his Liberal government boasted massive surpluses.

Chretien praised what he called the honest approach of the Trudeau Liberals — that of borrowing money in the short term to prop up Canada’s crumbling infrastructure.

“It’s not spending, it’s investment,” Chretien said to cheers and applause from supporters.

“To borrow money for food is bad. But to borrow money for a house is good.”

Chretien also took shots at the NDP, accusing their leader of being dishonest with Canadians about his ability to balance the books.

“You know he’s making promises in the billions of dollars, but he will not have a deficit,” Chretien said of Mulcair’s campaign pledges.

“Come on. Canadians, Mr. Mulcair, know how to add.”

The NDP is hoping to frame this week’s campaign around health ahead of the leader’s debate Thursday in Calgary.

While campaigning Sunday in Vancouver, where his party hopes to make gains on Oct. 19, Mulcair announced he would spend $1.8 billion over four

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and NDP leader Tom Mulcair.

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years on health care for seniors.

The party said more healthrelated announcements were expected throughout the week.

Mulcair also played up his party’s other promises, including bringing back eligibility for old age security from 67 to 65 and lifting 200,000 low-income seniors out of poverty by increasing the guaranteed income supplement.

“But it’s not just financial health that matters. Canadian seniors need access to quality health care, where they need it, when they need it,” Mulcair said.

Mulcair also criticized Trudeau for openly advocating deficit spending.

“This is where Justin Trudeau and I are very different,” he said.

“Unlike Justin Trudeau’s reckless promise of multiyear deficits, the NDP will balance the budget and improve seniors’ care by asking corporations to pay their fair share. Justin Trudeau simply won’t.”

The trial this week of a former Harper senior adviser accused of influence peddling could also cast a pall over the campaign.

Bruce Carson goes on trial Monday in Ottawa on one charge of influence peddling related to his work with a company that was trying to sell wa-

ter-filtration systems to First Nation reserves.

The Carson case follows on the heels of the trial of Sen. Mike Duffy, which forced the Tories off of their message at the beginning of the campaign in August.

Carson has pleaded not guilty to the influence peddling charge, as well as other accusations of illegal lobbying.

Harper’s campaign heads west Monday to a rally in Kamloops, B.C., while Trudeau takes his campaign to Toronto where he will meet with a group representing retired Canadians.

Mulcair will continue campaigning in British Columbia before heading to Alberta. ■

Information commissioner taking PMO to court over withholding Senate documents

BY ALLISON JONES The Canadian Press TORONTO — The information commissioner is taking the Prime Minister’s Office to court, accusing it of refusing to release documents about four senators embroiled in scandal.

The Canadian Press filed an access-to-information request to the Privy Council Office, the central bureaucracy serving the prime minister and cabinet, in August of last year asking for any records created since March relating to sena-

tors Mike Duffy, Mac Harb, Patrick Brazeau or Pamela Wallin.

The PCO identified 28 pages of responsive records, but withheld 27 of those pages, releasing just two emails in which its staff discussed similar access-to-information requests.

PCO claimed every single word on every single one of those 27 pages might jeopardize solicitor-client privilege, or reveal personal information, or third-party information, or details on secret deliberations.

The Canadian Press went to the federal information

commissioner, who found the complaint well-founded and recommended the prime minister release “a significant amount” of additional information.

But the Prime Minister’s Office withheld the “vast majority” of the records and the information commissioner is now asking Federal Court to order the prime minister to disclose any records that don’t warrant being withheld under certain sections of the Access to Information Act. The Prime Minister’s Office “erred in fact and in law” in relying on the aforementioned www.canadianinquirer.net

sections of the act to withhold the records, the information commissioner said in the court application.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper deferred comment to the PCO, but a spokesperson there was not immediately available to respond on Monday evening.

Brazeau, Wallin and Duffy were suspended over their expense claims while Harb resigned.

Duffy, Brazeau and Harb have been charged with fraud and breach of trust. Duffy pleaded not guilty to 31 counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery at

his trial, which is set to resume in November.

Brazeau’s trial is scheduled to begin March 29, 2016. He has already pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Brazeau is also facing a separate set of charges — assault and sexual assault — arising from an alleged incident two years ago in the western Quebec city of Gatineau and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

That trial resumes Tuesday when he is expected to take the stand in his own defence.

Wallin has been under lengthy RCMP investigation but has not been charged. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Body of father of Amber Alert girl found, police suspect homicide THE CANADIAN PRESS BLAIRMORE, ALTA. — Mounties were searching Monday for a missing two-yearold girl after her father was found dead inside a home in southwestern Alberta.

Police said Terry Blanchette, 27, was killed in a suspected homicide Monday morning in a home in Blairmore, Alta., and his daughter, Hailey DunbarBlanchette has not been seen since.

Police said they found Blanchette’s body shortly before noon, but investigators believe the girl has been missing since 3:30 a.m.

Blairmore is about 220 kilometres southwest of Calgary in the Crowsnest Pass area near the B.C.-Alberta boundary.

Police issued an Amber Alert for the youngster Monday afternoon and quickly expanded it to British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Montana.

Tony Hamori, RCMP assistant district commander for southern Alberta, said both the death and the disappearance of the little girl is very troubling.

“This type of incident combined with the scene at the residence that we found is concerning to the highest degree both to the RCMP and to the communities in the Crowsnest Pass,” he told reporters.

“We’re just hopeful that this media release and the information we’ve gotten so far will be enough for the public to put as much energy into this as we are in terms of trying to locate this van or any other information that could be helpful to our investigation.”

Terry Blanchette with daughter Hailey.

Police have not identified any suspects in the abduction of the girl, but were looking for a newer model newer model white van with a large rear antenna and a flag flying from it.

“We’ve spoken to family members and we’re open to all possibilities,” Hamori said.

They said the van was spotted fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed heading west.

Hamori said police do not have a licence plate, make or model for the van, nor do they know what kind of antenna flag was on the van.

Extra police resources were being brought into the area, including tactical officers to secure the scene and the air unit to help with the search.

Hamori did say there is no safety risk to the public, but added if the van is spotted that people should call police and not engage with anyone in the vehicle.

Blanchette worked as a cook at Pure Country Bar and Grill in Frank, a nearby town in the Crowsnest Pass.

Monday was his day off, said manager Tammy Tracey.

“He was a good worker and a good father. He did anything for his daughter, he loved her dearly. He was a good dad.

He lived for her.”

Tracey said Blanchette had worked at the bar for the last three years.

“He would never miss a day of work, he had to support a daughter. He was a good kid. He had responsibilities, right?”

She said he was a single parent.

“He shared custody and there wasn’t any problem with that either, not that we were aware of.” ■

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World News

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

North Korea warns it has restarted all nuclear bomb fuel plants

BY ROD MCGUIRK The Associated Press PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA — With a big anniversary drawing near, North Korea declared Tuesday it has upgraded and restarted all of its atomic fuel plants — meaning it could possibly make more, and more sophisticated, nuclear weapons.

The statement, coming just a day after it said it is ready to conduct more rocket launches any time it sees fit, has heightened concerns the North may soon either conduct a launch — which Washington and its allies see as a pretext for testing missile technology — or hold another test of nuclear weapons that it could conceivably place on such a rocket.

Either would be sure to get world attention and be milked

by North Korea’s state media as major achievements by Kim Jong Un and his ruling regime.

But North Korea’s recent statements also fit a pattern of using claimed improvements in its nuclear and missile programs — many of which don’t lead to launches or nuclear tests — to push for talks with the United States that could eventually provide the impoverished country with concessions and eased sanctions, or

backfire and deepen its standoff with the U.S. and its allies.

North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons.

It is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles. But it has yet to demonstrate that it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver their bombs to faraway targets.

Still, it has conducted three nuclear tests and a series of steadily improving long-range rocket launches, and some analysts see the announcements as foreshadowing another launch ahead of the anniversary celebration or a fourth nuclear test, which would push North Korea further along in its nuclear aims.

North Korea said Tuesday in its state media that, as it pledged to do in 2013, the plutonium and highly enriched uranium facilities at its main Nyongbyon nuclear complex have finally been “rearranged, changed or readjusted and they started normal operation.” It said its scientists had improved “the levels of nuclear weapons with various missions in quality and quantity.”

North Korea, an autocracy run by the same family since

1948, closely controls information about its nuclear program.

As a result, just what is happening at Nyongbyon is unclear.

North Korea booted out international inspectors in 2009, and independent assessments by outside experts since then have been spotty.

At various points in the decades-long standoff over its nuclear ambitions, North Korea has said it has shut down or restarted its atomic fuel production. In 2013, it said it would restart a plutonium reactor that had been shuttered under a 2007 disarmament agreement.

Satellite imagery earlier this year showed signs it still wasn’t operating fully. A uranium enrichment facility unveiled to a visiting American scientist in 2010 presumably gives North Korea a second way to make fissile material for bombs.

On Monday, the North’s aerospace agency said it is ready to launch new satellites aboard long-range rockets. Many analysts abroad have expected North Korea would launch a rocket as part of celebrations of the Oct. 10 ruling Workers’ Party founding anniversary.

The world will “clearly see a series of satellites soaring into the sky at times and locations determined” by the Workers’ Party, an unidentified director at the North’s National Aero-

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space Development Administration director was quoted as saying by state media.

North Korea has said its satellite launches are peaceful and meant for weather observation.

The United States and its allies consider them covers for banned tests of long-range missiles.

Ballistic missiles and rockets used in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it had not detected any sign indicating North Korea is preparing a rocket launch.

Analysts in Seoul, meanwhile, said North Korea’s announcements suggest an imminent nuclear test, although that is far from clear at this point.

After several failures, North Korea put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in late 2012. The U.N. said it was a banned test of ballistic missile technology and imposed sanctions.

North Korea conducted its third nuclear test in February 2013, inviting further international condemnation and sanctions. Later that year it threatened Seoul and Washington with nuclear strikes.

Despite the domestic propaganda gains and value to the North’s military, a rocket launch or especially a nuclear test could come at a heavy cost for its regime.

China, North Korea’s last major ally and aid benefactor, made it clear that it doesn’t

want to see a rocket launch by North Korea.

“As a sovereign country, North Korea has the right to the peaceful use of outer space, but it’s restricted by relevant resolutions by the U.N. Security Council,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing Tuesday.

“The resolutions by the U.N. Security Council should be fully implemented.”

North Korea’s latest announcements also raise doubts about recent signs of easing animosities between the rival Koreas, which agreed to hold reunions next month of families separated by the Korean War. Before a thaw, the two Koreas had threatened each other with war in August in the wake of mine explosions blamed on the North that maimed two South Korean soldiers earlier that month.

The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea.

Washington and Seoul say the troops must remain as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea, but the North says they must be removed if there is to be peace on the peninsula. ■ Associated Press writers Hyungjin Kim and Foster Klug in Seoul, South Korea, and news assistant Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.

World News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Clashes at Jerusalem holy site for 3rd straight day

BY ROD MCGUIRK The Associated Press JERUSALEM — Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters on Tuesday in a third straight day of unrest at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said police entered the Al-Aqsa mosque compound early in the morning to disperse a group of protesters who had holed up inside the mosque overnight.

The protesters threw rocks, fireworks, concrete blocks and a firebomb at the officers, she said, adding that two Palestinians were arrested and five police officers were slightly injured in the violence.

A firebomb thrown at police from within the mosque ignited a rug and planks of wood stockpiled by the protesters, Samri added. Mosque officials later extinguished the fire, she said.

Police released photos showing piles of charred rubble outside the mosque.

Police later managed to restore calm and open the site for visitors, Samri said, but a group of protesters remained inside the mosque.

Azzam Khatib, the director of the Waqf — the Islamic religious authority that oversees the compound — said Israeli police entered deep inside the mosque in what he called “a very dangerous development.”

Police denied the allegation and said officers only removed the barricade that protesters had set up at the entrance.

The director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Omar Kiswani, blamed Israeli police for the tensions and said the gate used for visitors to access the site should be shut. He did not comment on the protesters’ alleged use of firebombs from within the sacred place, the third holiest site in Islam. Police have said that firecrackers and firebombs thrown from within the mosque have caused fires. Muslim authorities at the site have blamed damage on sparks from police sound grenades.

Nearby, more Palestinian protesters gathered and police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them. Later, police said a Palestinian attacked two young Jews in Jerusalem’s Old City, then ran away. The attack was caught on security camera and he was later arrested, police said.

The compound in Jerusalem’s Old City is a frequent flashpoint and its fate is a core issue at the heart of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. It is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, site of the two biblical Jewish temples. Muslims revere it as the Noble Sanctuary, where they be-

lieve the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.

Non-Muslim visitors are only allowed to enter the site at specific hours and are banned by police from praying there.

Muslims view these visits as a provocation and accuse Jewish extremists of plotting to take over the site. The compound often becomes the center of tensions on major Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, which ends Tuesday night.

The site is so holy for Jews that they traditionally have refrained from praying on the hilltop, congregating instead at the adjacent Western Wall.

Israel’s chief rabbis, as well as the rabbi of the Western Wall, have issued directives urging people not to ascend the Temple Mount, arguing that Jews could inadvertently enter the holiest area of the once-standing temple, where it was forbidden to tread.

But there is a movement advocating the rights for Jews to pray at the hilltop. Some try and get around the ban on prayers by secretly mumbling the words.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene an emergency meeting Tuesday evening after the holiday ends to discuss ways to deal with the violence at the site, as well a recent increase in Palestinian rock throwing attacks. One such attack claimed the life of an Israeli man on Monday.

Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, blamed Israel for the unrest, claiming that Netanyahu “is trying to push us to the cycle of violence, extremism, bloodshed and chaos, taking advantage of preoccupation of the world with other issues.”

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon rejected the allegations, insisting that Israel seeks to preserve the status quo at the site. He said the recent skirmishes are “an attempt by Palestinians to change the status quo in a violent way.”

Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, administers Muslim religious affairs at the site and Jordanian King Abdullah II warned Israel on Monday night to restore calm.

“Any more provocations in Jerusalem, will affect the relationship between Jordan and Israel; and Jordan will have no choice, but to take action, unfortunately,” he said.

The current round of tensions at the site erupted Sunday morning hours ahead of the Jewish new year holiday.

Police said clashes erupted after they entered the area to ensure security following reports that protesters were planning to disrupt visits to the area and had stockpiled firecrackers and rocks. ■

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World News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Australia’s new prime minister battles rich, privileged tag

BY ROD MCGUIRK The Associated Press CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — Australia’s new prime minister has long battled a public perception that his wealth puts him out of touch with ordinary folk. His nickname is “The Silvertail,” a pejorative Australian term for the privileged elite, and cartoonists often depict him wearing a top hat.

Malcolm Turnbull, the 60-year-old, selfmade multimillionaire who was sworn in as prime minister on Tuesday, now faces the challenge of revamping his image to a wary public after his conservative Liberal Party colleagues voted for him to replace Tony Abbott as the nation’s leader.

The reaction from some to the change in leadership — which marked the nation’s fourth prime minister in just over two years — was predictably cynical.

“With Malcolm, it will always be about Malcolm,” opposition leader Bill Shorten said. “Australians rejected Malcolm Turnbull when he was opposition leader because he was out of touch and he was arrogant — and he hasn’t changed.”

Deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek accused Turnbull of having a “slick merchant banker approach to public life.” And the Northern Territory

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

News, Australia’s most colorful newspaper, was the bluntest of all: “RICH DUDE BECOMES PM,” blared its front page headline.

Still, opinion polls have shown that the moderate Turnbull is more popular than the ultra-conservative and gaffeprone Abbott.

“This is a turn of events I did not expect, I have to tell you,” Turnbull told reporters.

“But it’s one that I’m privileged to undertake and one that I’m certainly up to.”

Turnbull wasn’t born into privilege. His father, Bruce Turnbull, was a Sydney hotel broker who became a single father after

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his wife, Coral Lansbury — a radio actress, academic and cousin of the British actress Angela Lansbury — abandoned the family when Turnbull was 9 years old.

He attended Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney before attending Brasenose College, Oxford, as a Rhodes scholar.

Turnbull became a household name in Australia as a lawyer in the 1980s when he succeeded in blocking a British government attempt to prevent Australian publication of “Spycatcher,” a memoir by former British intelligence officer Peter Wright.

He also worked as a journalist, investment banker and venture capitalist before he was elected to Parliament in 2004 to represent the Sydney electoral division of Wentworth, the wealthiest in Australia. Turnbull was the richest member of Parliament until mining magnate Clive Palmer was elected in 2013.

Turnbull was party leader for two years before he was ousted in 2009 by Abbott by a single vote in a similar leadership ballot. He was always assumed to have his eye on the top political prize, which he has achieved in a relatively quick 11 years.

He led the Australian Republican Movement, which argues for severing Australia’s constitutional ties with Britain and appointing an Australian citizen as president. The status quo was maintained in a referendum in 1999, largely because Australians were divided over whether the president should be appointed by the government or popularly elected. His sometimes abrasive style was blamed by some as contributing to the referendum’s failure.

Turnbull’s wife, Lucy Turnbull, is a former Lord Mayor of Sydney and her father, Tom Hughes, is a prominent Sydney lawyer and a former AttorneyGeneral in a conservative federal government. ■

Bo Sanchez Speaks

BY LUCY LOMBOS GOD SPEAKS through His people.

The plethora of Gospel preachers are God’s chosen people, His instruments to spread His word. He conveys His saving, forgiving and healing message. Isn’t this a perfect love both in words and actions through His present commissioned ones?

Don’t miss the newest spiritual talk of the town on the day of the Holy Angels on high!

Bo Sanchez, a modern-day evangelist will come to bring God’s wonderful message of love and hope that will truly inspire and touch hearts on October 2, 2015, Friday, at the Broadway Church in Vancouver, 6:00-9:00 pm.

Bro. Bo is one of the most sought-after international speakers, best-selling author, and founder of the Light of Jesus (LOJ) Family. He will speak at the much awaited Kerygma Grand Feast Vancouver, themed “Lifted High.” With him is LOJ co-founder and fellow international speaker Bro. Pio Espanol, head of all LOJ’s International Feasts.

Come and share with us an experience of powerful worship, life-changing talks, a night of fellowship, and a celebration www.canadianinquirer.net

of praise and thanksgiving as well. Everyone is invited!

You can buy tickets online at www. loj-vancouver.com or call Bro. Allen Espejo at 778-322-5941 or Bro. Edwin Cruz with this cellphone number- 778928-9644. Tickets are also available at St. Mary’s Parish Office, 5251 Joyce St. Vancouver, 604-435-9611 ext. 5. Tickets are sold for $20 only.

See you there! ■

World News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

25

Trump: US ‘a dumping ground for the rest of the world’

BY STEVE PEOPLES The Associated Press DALLAS — Renewing his charge against illegal immigration, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday called the United States “a dumping ground for the rest of the world” as he rallied thousands of Texas supporters behind his fiery candidacy and promised Republican leaders he’s just getting started.

Despite calls from GOP officials to tone down his rhetoric on the sensitive issue, the GOP front-runner decried “anchor babies” and gang members among the immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, drawing huge ovations from a rowdy audience packed into Dallas’ American Airlines Center. The 20,000-capacity venue that was at least three-quarters full for the evening rally.

“You people are suffering,” Trump told the Texans. “I’m in New York, but they’re in New York, too. They’re all over the place.”

“It’s disgusting what’s happening to our country,” Trump continued as he called for more legal immigration.

Provocative rhetoric on immigration has defined Trump’s presidential campaign from the very beginning, when the billionaire businessman called Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals in his June announcement speech. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, among others, has encouraged Trump to soften his tone, yet the former reality television star has refused.

The strategy may play well among the GOP’s more conservative voters — those who filled the Dallas sports arena among them — yet threatens to hurt the party’s standing among a

growing group of Hispanic voters in the general election.

“This is a movement that’s happening,” he declared, confronting critics who think he’s not running a serious campaign. “Now it’s time to really start, because this is going to happen, I’m telling you, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Unless I win, it’s been a waste of time for me, folks,” he continued.

Monday night’s crowd ate it up.

They waved miniature American flags, munched nachos and drank $13 cups of beer from plastic cups as they interrupted Trump repeatedly with applause.

“Sometimes he puts his foot in his mouth, just like everybody,” said Barbara Tomasino, a 65-year-old retired elementary school librarian from Plano, Texas, who donned a dress, shoes and a purse plastered with pictures of Trump’s face.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Donald Trump.

“If he gets elected, he might need to tone it down a little bit.”

Still, the crowd cheered wildly when Trump bashed immigrants in the country illegally, the media, Republican opera-

CHRISTOPHER HALLORAN / SHUTTERSTOCK

tives such as Karl Rove, and the energy levels of his rivals.

“I have tremendous energy,” Trump said. “Tremendous. To a point where it’s almost ridiculous if you think about it.”

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Immigration

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

B.C. population growth propelled by international immigration in 2014 CPAs say B.C. remained an attractive place for new Canadians VANCOUVER — B.C.’s population increased by 1.06 per cent, or 48,677 people to reach 4.63 million in 2014.

According to BC Check-Up, an annual publication by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), most of this growth was propelled by international immigration.

The destination of choice for most of these immigrants was Southwest B.C., which is not surprising given that the region is the hub of economic activity for the province. In 2014, B.C.’s labour market saw its fifth consecutive year of job gains and most of this growth occurred in Southwest B.C., which saw 28,700 new positions created; this job creation was largely due to increased demand for exports and the expansion of manufacturing and accommodation and food services industries.

B.C., and in particular Vancouver, continues to attract new residents as the city has consistently been ranked as one of the most livable in the world. However, the rising cost of living has made British Columbians more vulnerable to fi-

nancial risk. In 2014, consumer debt in B.C. reached $58,621 per capital, which was the highest in Canada. However, last year’s 0.5 per cent increase was the smallest in almost a decade, and the consumer insolvency rate also declined by 6.3 per cent to 3.0 reports per 1,000 adults. Lower unemployment rates, positive job creation, and historically low interest rates likely contributed to the slowing of B.C.’s consumer debt increase and decline of consumer insolvencies.

Looking at B.C.’s investment climate, in 2014, private sector non-residential building investment declined by 7.3 per cent to $3.9 billion, which was largely due to a slowdown in industrial building. However, the value of B.C.’s major projects reached $405.7 billion, which was a 2.4 per cent increase between December 2014 and March 2015. This was largely driven by interests in B.C.’s rich and diverse resources sector.

These projects include private and public construction projects that are either proposed, under construction, or completed and are valued at $15 million or higher.

Quote

“While our province is a costly place to live, people from other countries still consider B.C. a good place to work and invest.

Our province’s triple-A credit rating provides foreign investors with reassurance that B.C. is a safe place for investment, and as our economy grows, B.C. will continue to be a desirable destination for those who are looking to relocate and start a new life in a different country.”

- Richard Rees, FCPA, FCA, President and CEO of CPABC Quick Facts on B.C.’s economy in 2014

The value of B.C.’s exports increased by 6.3 per cent to reach almost $36 billion. Increased residential construction in the US and a growing market for B.C. products in the Pacific Rim drove up the value of B.C. exports of forest products, energy, metallic minerals, and machinery and equipment.

Real compensation per worker grew by 2.1 per cent to $52,321, compared to the national average of $55,841.

B.C.’s government net debtto-GDP ratio increased slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 17.0

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per cent, but remained significantly below Canada’s debt-toGDP ratio of 31.2 per cent.

Long-term unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points to 0.7 per cent, compared to the national average of 0.9 per cent.

However, this is still well above the pre-recession level.

About CPA British Columbia

The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) was formed through the amalgamation of the Institute of Chartered Ac-

countants of BC (ICABC), the Certified General Accountants Association of BC (CGA-BC), and the Certified Management Accountants Society of BC (CMABC). CPABC was officially established when the CPA Act came into effect on June 24, 2015. CPABC represents over 32,000 members and almost 6,500 legacy and CPA students and candidates. ■ Republished with permission from Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia.

#RefugeesWelcome responds to Emergency Relief Fund announcement on Syria

SCREENSHOT OF WWW.REFUGEESWELCOME.CA

TORONTO, VANCOUVER — Organizers of #RefugeesWelcome respond to the the $100 million emergency matching fund announcement.

“This fund would not have saved Alan, Ghalib and Rehaana’s lives - what we need is to immediately bring refugees and migrants to Canada,” says Tings Chak of No One Is Illegal - Toronto.

According to Harsha Walia of No One Is Illegal-Vancouver “This emergency relief fund is a band aid solution. The federal government needs to implement emergency measures, as it has done in the past, to immediately welcome Syrian refugees as well as re-unite www.canadianinquirer.net

family members from Syria.

More importantly, the refugee crisis highlights how this government needs to completely overhaul our exclusionary immigration and refugee system so that all refugees and migrants can arrive and remain in safety.” #RefugeesWelcome is also calling for the $100 million dollar emergency relief fund be redirected from the $500 million being spent on military intervention in Syria. Walia further adds “We must put an immediate end to Canada’s role in creating an unprecedented crisis of refugees and displaced peoples. We must resolve the refugee crisis because we have a

hand in worsening it.”

Refugees Welome actions have taken place in over 30 communities during the past week including in Antigonish, Ajax, Calgary, Charlottetown, Dauphin, Edmonton, Fredericton, Hamilton, Halifax, Inuvik, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Regina, Saskatoon, St. Catharines, St John’s, Sydney, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.

Further responses including educational forums and actions are being called across the country to be coordinated through a website expected to launch Monday at www.refugeeswelcome.ca ■

Immigration

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

27

From O-Level & A-Level Results to Studying in Canada CIC NEWS OVER THE last few weeks millions of students around the world have received GCSE OLevel and A-Level results. With this highly sought-after credential in hand, a large number of ambitious students are seeking to continue on to higher education, with many looking abroad for the best opportunities.

Canada, as ever, presents some unique advantages. For individuals interested in studying in Canada in 2016, the big question is how to best leverage their O- or A-Level results for entry into a quality Canadian college or university.

Canadian Education: A Primer

Generally speaking, successful university admission in Canada is predicated on only two things: evidence of high school (secondary school) completion and a specific combination of classes in a candidate’s final two years. The first is evidenced by a Canadian high school diploma, while the second is established through a student’s academic records, called transcripts.

There are no national university exams, such as the SAT or ACT. Receiving schools will check both these required courses (called provincially-examinable subjects) and establish a GPA (grade point average).

This forms the basis of admission for nearly all post-secondary schools in Canada.

Direct Entry to a Canadian College or University with a combination of O- and A-Level Results

At a minimum, successful completion of the GCE with five O-Level subjects plus a minimum of two A-Levels are required to determine a student’s admission average for direct entry to a Canadian college or university. For students with AS-Levels, four of these are required in the absence of the two A-Levels.

O-Level Results and what they mean for Admission

O-Levels, in and of themselves, will not qualify a student for entry into a Canadian college or university, because the GCSE O-Level is roughly equivalent to Grade 11 (and the Canadian secondary system finishes

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with the successful completion should play this to their full ad- education in their home counof Grade 12). vantage, advocating, if possible, tries, it may be more sensible There are, however, certain for any transfer credits. The financially to fast-track an enadvantages for those seeking to savings are worth both time try to Canadian post-secondary enter the Canadian education and money, and it’s best to cov- through one of a number of high system with O-Levels. For ex- er this sooner — before these school completion programs. ample, instead of remaining in classes are repeated at greater Language Proficiency: GCSE their home countries and com- expense.

O-Level English (or GCSE Engpleting a full two-year cycle of lish Language B) is commonly A-Levels, eligible graduates Things to Remember: used to meet the English lanoften receive credit towards Many universities and nearly guage requirement.

Grade 11, and Always submany complete mit certified just one year true copies of remaining when perfecting equivalent studFor individuals interested in studying your applicaies before entry in Canada in 2016, the big question tion. However, to a competitive is how to best leverage their O- or many schools Canadian postA-Level results for entry into a quality will accept PDF secondary instiCanadian college or university. scans for the tution. For those basis of initial looking at these acceptance, so options, there students should are also accelerstart with those. ated “high-school” completion all public colleges have January Canada presents some programs at participating col- intakes. The deadlines begin as unique post-graduation adleges. early as the end of September, vantages over other developed 2015, so all candidates should countries, including the threeA-Level Results and what they begin the research and discov- year post-graduation open mean for Admission ery process immediately. work permit and options for Students who have taken AInternational students will permanent immigration. Click Levels have historically done have wait for acceptance let- here to learn more. very well on Canadian cam- ters arrive before applying for Each institution may chose puses. The simple reason is that a study permit, which can take to arbitrate foreign credentials A-Levels, when completed, put considerable processing time differently. Schools will be the the student at a higher academ- (depending on the visa office). final arbiter of what’s accepted ic level to their Canadian counIn addition to general admis- for credit in Canada. terparts. Moreover, individuals sions requirements, each facWithin Canada there are rewho have completed A-Levels ulty (Science, Arts, Business, gional differences in the deare usually slightly older. Not for example) will have its own livery of education. Notably, surprisingly, many schools specific entrance averages and Quebec uses its own Senior across Canada give some trans- on occasion, supplemental re- Secondary and College/Prefer credit (for first year univer- quirements, such as essays or University system, while each sity) to A-Level subject groups. an interview. of the other provinces has slight Students who have recently For families investing in pri- variations on the delivery of sereceived their A-Level results vate A-Level boarding school nior secondary coursework. For www.canadianinquirer.net

that reason, students and their families are encouraged to get in touch with Eligo to find out what their specific options are, particularly if they are comparing more than one location.

An important life decision

“To all the motivated and highly intelligent people who received their O- and A-Level results over the summer, I offer my full congratulations. Completing a level of education is no easy task, especially British Patterned Education, which is noted for placing strong demands on students I order to bring out their full potential,” says Attorney David Cohen.

“Students who are interested in continuing on to higher education abroad face an important life decision. The connections that can be made at this time, both on- and off-campus, can shape one’s life and career path.

“Not only does Canada offer internationally-renowned higher education institutions in some of the world’s most dynamic cities and environments, but Canada also wants its cohort of international students — the best and brightest — to establish their lives here permanently. With the right perspective and tools – and a bit of expert guidance – this exciting journey can be navigated with increased clarity and ease.” ■ Published with permission from CIC News. For more information, visit canadavisa.com.

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Community News

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Ambassador Garcia launches Winter Escapade 3 TEAM PHILIPPINES-CANADA led by Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia rolled out this month, the highly-anticipated package for ‘Winter Escapade 3 – It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ taking place in Manila, the Bicol region and Palawan from Feb. 3 to 12, 2016.

Unveiled for the first time in Calgary on Sept. 5, in conjunction with the first-ever Fiesta Filipino in Canada’s energy capital, the launching of Winter Escapade 3 moved on to Ottawa where over 30 Filipino-Canadians signed up for the tour on the very first day registration opened on Sept. 9. Some registrants travelled from as far as Montreal and Kingston to secure their slots for the tour.

In her launch remarks, Ambassador Garcia extended her personal invitation for visitors from Canada to join her in an exceptional travel experience that promises VIP treatment throughout a fun-filled tour of Albay, Camarines Sur/Sorsogon, Puerto Princesa and Manila over 10 days and nine nights. At CAD $1,550 per person on twin sharing, the package offers the best value for money with de luxe resort and hotel accommodations, two roundtrip domestic flights, daily breakfast and most meals,

Ambassador Garcia welcomes potential registrants at the launching of Winter Escapade 3 in Ottawa.

travel insurance, domestic terminal and porterage fees as well as transportation and guided tours included in the basic tour package.

Winter Escapade is an economic diplomacy initiative of Team Philippines-Canada which is composed of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, consulates general across and attached agencies including the Department of Tourism. Now on its third year, the tour is supported by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) which, together with local government units in selected destinations, work to treat participants to famed Filipino hospitality as they take in the unique sights, sounds and flavors of Philip-

Tourism Attache Purificacion Molintas presents the tour package to the audience LAARNI LIWANAG-DE PAULA

Toronto Consul General Rosalita Prospero (2nd from L) mingles with guests during the Winter Escapade launch in Toronto.

pine tourism.

The roll-out continued at the Philippine Consulates General in Toronto on Sept. 10 and 12,

and in Vancouver on Sept. 11.

The Philippine Embassy sources estimate that Winter Escapade 2 in February this

year, generated P35.5 million for the Philippine economy.

Ambassador Garcia surmises that Winter Escapade 3 in 2016, with its multiplier effect, has the potential to exceed the 2015 figure.

“Winter Escapade is about having fun in the Philippines while helping tourism-dependent communities grow their local economy. Tourism is a proven engine for job creation.

Our initiative keeps in mind the hotel housekeeper, the bus driver, the tour guide, the boatman, and the shopkeepers and other stakeholders whose lives could be uplifted by the wealth generated from tourist receipts,” Ambassador Garcia said. ■

Dr. Holmes talks about love, lust and relationships RICHMOND PUBLIC Library is hosting an author talk by Filipino psychologist Dr. Margie Holmes on the topic of Love, Lust and Relationships. The program takes place at 1 to 3 p.m., on Sept. 25, at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, in the living room, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond. Program is drop-in and suitable for adults.

Dr. Holmes will discuss defining values about women, men and intimacy. This year is the 25th anniversary of the publication of Dr. Holmes’ first book, Life, Love, Lust: Straightforward Answers to Provocative Questions.

“Most people are intrigued by love, lust and relationships, so this should be a fascinating talk,” said library communications officer, Shelley Civkin. www.canadianinquirer.net

Dr. Margie Holmes.

Dr. Holmes, who is a professor at the University of the Philippines, and a clinical psychologist in private practice, has written 18 books, nine in English and nine in Tagalog. She is also a columnist for Abante and

Abante Tonite; Rappler.com; and Playboy. Her work has been featured in Newsweek, Time, Asiaweek, and Far Eastern Economic Review, and she is a regular contributor on Philippine TV. ■

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

www.canadianinquirer.net

30

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment

Jessy Mendiola’s mom defends her from bashers

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

John Lloyd Cruz stars in "Honor Thy Father."

STAR CINEMA / FACEBOOK

Honor Thy Father gains positive reviews from Toronto Film Festival

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA – Honor Thy Father, a Filipino crime thriller film directed by Erik Matti and starred by award-winning actor John Lloyd Cruz, had its international premiere at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The Filipino film received positive reviews from foreign critics.

Steve Gravestock of the TIFF praised the film which he regarded as a ‘suspenseful story of betrayal and retribution, a drama about familial reconciliation, and a commentary on the tenuous nature of newfound wealth.’

Honor Thy Father was written by Michiko Yamamoto and starred Cruz, Meryll Soriano and Tirso Cruz III. Portraying a married couple,

Cruz and Soriano gained millions through swindling. Deceiving churchgoers into investing in a get-quick scheme, the couple found their daughter Angel kidnapped with the return of the investments as the ransom asked.

Gravestock lauded Matti’s directing skills and Cruz’ performance.

“Holding everything together are Matti's fluid, skilled direction and the tightly wound performance by Cruz, whose Edgar – disgusted by the greed and hypocrisy he encounters – seems always on the verge of exploding,” he said.

Another movie critic, Harry Windsor of The Hollywood Reporter, also gave a positive feedback to the film which showed the ‘inequality and vigilante justice in the modern Philippines.’ ■

MANILA — Jessy Mendiola’s mother, Didith Garvida, defended the actress from bashers.

Jessy recently posted in her Instagram account a photo with the text,’Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.’

She also captioned it, ‘The truth will always come out no matter how you lie about it. You know what you did, so don’t try to squeeze yourself out by fabricating stories. Even trying to ruin other people’s relationship

with your twisted mind. Someone heard and saw what you did. What goes around comes back around brother.’

Believing that Jessy’s post was addressed to Enrique Gil, the actor’s fans reacted negatively. They quickly defended the actor from the drunken incident which occurred when several Kapamilya stars were aboard a plane on their way to London, England for a show by ASAP. In the actress’s post, Enrique’s fans called her ‘papansin’ (attention-seeker) and ‘walang career’ (having no career), among other insults.

Kapamilya love team Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano @ENRIQUEGIL17 / INSTAGRAM

www.canadianinquirer.net

Jessy’s mother then commented, ‘It was not settled in London and you better stop now. There might be consequences for you bashing Jessy…

Stop na.Kayo ang overacting.

Itigilniyona’yan. Warning you again ha.’

(It was not settled in London and you better stop now. There might be consequences for you bashing Jessy… Stop now.

You’re the ones who are overacting. Stop it. Warning you again.)

Enrique, for his part, made a public apology to Jessy, which was aired in ABS-CBN’s news program, TV Patrol. ■

Kapamilya actress Jessy Mendiola with Luis Manzano. @SENORITA_JESSY / INSTAGRAM

Entertainment

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

31

‘Mocha Girls’ arrested in Malaysia for work-permit violations

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Filipina pop group “Mocha Girls” were arrested and detained in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for performing in the country without the necessary work permit. They were eventually released without facing criminal charges.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Mocha Girls were arrested by the Malaysian immigration au-

thorities on September 4 and were released on September 10, serving a 6-day detention.

The pop group worked under a ‘social visit pass,’ which did not permit them to perform professionally. Two Philippine embassy officials then assisted them and were able to secure their early release before the prescribed 14-day detention for work-permit violators.

The Mocha Girls returned to Manila on September 11. They immediately released a statement in their Facebook page.

“As our producer failed to produce the work permit that his contractual commitment with us mandated him [to do], we were taken into custody and detained in the Malaysian Immigration,” the statement read.

“Mocha Girls [are] legitimate artists and professional performers in the Philippines... We were not detained for sexy performances as some would speculate,” the statement continued.

The pop group’s manager planned to take ‘appropriate legal action’ against the producer. ■

Mocha Girls.

FACEBOOK

Enrique Gil’s drunken brawl: Julia Barretto Truth or Fabrication denies snubbing fans in London

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

ACTOR JAKE Cuenca has denied participation in the incident involving an allegedly drunk Enrique Gil who caused a commotion on board a passenger plane to London.

“I was asleep the whole time it happened,” said Jake, the lead actor of “Pasion de Amor” on ABS-CBN. “I was surprised when I read the report saying I was involved in the controversy. I had nothing to do with it.”

A gossip blog reported about the incident on Thursday, naming Jake and fellow ABSCBN contract artist Paulo Avelino as those who egged Enrique to drink the liquor Johnnie Walker Black Label in the plane.

The young actor reportedly got drunk and rowdy, and then tried to hit on actress Jessy Mendiola.

According to the blog, TV host Luis Manzano came to Jessy’s rescue and tried to pacify Enrique but failed.

In another online report, Enrique’s screen partner Liza Soberano, reportedly also tried to intervene but the young actor cursed her. Liza allegedly reacted to the insult by slapping Enrique.

“I can’t be their spokesperson. I can’t answer for them. You have to understand that the people in the report are my friends,”

Jake told reporters during the recent press conference promoting “Pasion de Amor” Book 2. “I think you should interview the people involved. Besides, there should be witnesses who would be willing to talk.”

Host IC Mendoza, in his TV5 chismis program “Showbiz Konek,” interviewed an eyewitness who claimed to be on the same flight as the controversial Kapamilya artists. The witness said Enrique continued to be unruly all the way to London airport and that a companion even tried to cover his mouth.

Couple of drinks

While he admitted to having a couple of drinks with Paulo when they landed in London, Jake denied being drunk in the plane. Some 40 Kapamilya artists performed at the “ASAP Live in London” concert on Sept. 6.

“You can even ask the flight attendants if you want,” Jake insisted. “I had breakfast and a few drinks with Paulo when we arrived in London. I slept early and then went to work the following day.”

Meanwhile, at the press conference for Paulo’s latest movie “Resureksyon,” the 27-year-old actor declared that “everything written about the issue was fabricated. It’s not the real story.”

The actor refused to elaborate on the issue, and said it would be better for reporters to hear

the whole story from Enrique.

“I don’t know why I am being blamed for it. It’s better to just wait for Enrique’s official statement,” Paulo pointed out.

Jake likewise said Enrique should own up to his actions.

“Enrique is a great guy. I’ve worked with him on ‘ASAP’ and I can say that he has a pure heart. My advice to him in times like this is to take responsibility for his actions.”

Jake added: “It is normal for young men to go through problems like this. I know because I went through the same thing. I’ve been involved in a lot of controversies when I was younger, but I’m mature now.

I’m speaking to you with a clean conscience. I was not part of the incident.”

As for Paulo, he said Enrique should “just live life…He should learn from his mistakes and then move on. Enrique is a good kid.”

Instagram post

On her Instagram account, Jessy captioned a photo with this: “The truth will always come out no matter how you lie about it. You know what you did, so don’t try to squeeze yourself out by fabricating stories. Even trying to ruin other people’s relationship with your twisted mind. Someone heard and saw what you did. What goes around comes around, brother.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Actress Julia Barretto denied that she snubbed her supporters in London, England when she went there to perform for ASAP 20 together with other Kapamilya stars.

Julia explained that she greeted her fans but this was not shown in the controversial video which was uploaded on Instagram.

The actress tried to defend herself through a series of statements on her Twitter account. She also apologized for the incident but clarified that she did not intend to snub anyone.

“Not everything you see in pictures or videos

is what really happens in real life. Many things happen also behind the camera,” her tweet read.

“The video did not capture the time I acknowledged the fans,” it continued.

Julia then asked the public not to judge her quickly when they did not know what really happened during the incident. She also thanked those who understood her. ■

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Entertainment

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney reunite at TIFF THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing, with A-listers George Clooney and Sandra Bullock among those hitting the circuit on Day 3.

Top-line screenings include the Rathergate-inspired film “Truth,” Tom Hooper’s “The Danish Girl” with Eddie Redmayne as a transgender painter; and “Trumbo” with Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren.

Here’s a look at some of the festival highlights from Saturday: After being stranded in outer space together for “Gravity,” co-stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney reunited on solid ground in Toronto to talk about their longtime friendship on- and off-screen.

“George and I have known each other since long before we actually had jobs in this busi-

ness, literally out of college.

We’ve seen each other through many facets and stages of life and this is just another one of those facets and stages. And the nice thing is we still like each other at the end of it, we still admire each other,” Bullock said.

“We disagree well. We disagree and we fight fair, so that’s a nice thing after all these years to be able to still say.”

“And we have fun,” added Clooney.

“Our Brand is Crisis,” which was produced by Clooney, is about American political strategists trying to rig a Bolivian presidential election.

Bullock’s role was originally imagined as a male character but Clooney was happy to adapt it for his old friend.

“It actually made sense and the minute (co-producer Grant Heslov) called me up and said, ‘Sandy had an idea’ we were like, ‘God, that’s a great idea.’”

Bullock was thrilled to convince Clooney and Heslov about the last-minute change.

“I was able to say, Would you be willing to take a role that was written and you guys have cherished and worked on for a long time and developed a long time and change it,” she said.

“And there was not a lot of hesitation, the only hesitation was could the writer do it, so that hopefully shows a shift in the climate for women in film.”

Clooney and Bullock were asked about American politics and to comment on presidential hopeful Donald Trump and his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants looking to start a life in the U.S. “I think we’re trying not to get into American or Canadian politics or anybody’s politics at a press conference because it ends up just being about that suddenly,” Clooney said.

“Anybody who says as intol-

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock attend 'Gravity' Premiere and Opening Ceremony during the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2012 in Venice, Italy @SENORITA_JESSY / INSTAGRAM

erant words as those should be laughed at and that’s pretty much, I think, what eventually history will do.”

When asked which of Bullock’s past roles Clooney thinks

he could’ve played better he didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“I think we all know it’s ‘Miss Congeniality,’” he said.

“I rock a swimsuit better than almost anyone — a one piece.” ■

Toronto film festival has titles from several Canadian journalists

BY VICTORIA AHEARN The Canadian Press TORONTO — Several Canadian journalists are reversing roles at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Brian D. Johnson, Katherine Monk and Michelle Shephard are among the reporters who are taking questions rather than asking them as they promote their own films.

“It’s brighter on this side of the fence,” says Johnson, a prominent film critic and contributing editor at Maclean’s, who is at the fest with his debut feature documentary “Al Purdy Was Here.”

“It’s humbling and it’s thrilling. I’ve been a writer all of my life and it’s kind of a solo act.

When you make a film, even a small film like this, it’s a collaboration.”

“Al Purdy Was Here” is billed as “a cinematic and musical portrait” of the late pioneering Canadian poet.

Toronto International Film Festival.

Literary luminaries Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje are among the interviewees who reminisce about Purdy’s cabin in Ontario’s Prince Edward County, which he and many Canadian authors used as a writing retreat. There’s now a movement to preserve it for a new generation of writers.

Atwood and Ondaatje are also among the performers who recorded original music for “The

CKCHIU / SHUTTERSTOCK

Al Purdy Songbook,” along with Leonard Cohen, Bruce Cockburn, Gord Downie, Gordon Pinsent and Tanya Tagaq.

Atwood is “a big part” of the film, says Johnson, noting she has some fun anecdotes about her friendship with Purdy.

“Margaret Atwood poured a bottle of beer over Al Purdy’s head the very first time they met because he called her an academic. I mean, never a truer www.canadianinquirer.net

word was said. And then he went out and peed on her car tire.”

In Monk’s debut short doc “Rock the Box,” she puts the spotlight on Rhiannon Rozier, a Vancouver-raised female DJ in an industry dominated by men. Feeling she’d hit the glass ceiling, she posed for Playboy in order to get into the franchise’s club circuit as a DJ. “I think it’s a movie about how society assigns value to people, and if a woman is valued more for her boobs than for her skill sets, then that was interesting to me,” says Vancouver-based Monk, an author and regular contributor to CBC Radio, Global Television and Corus Radio.

“It seemed to take a microscope to some of the inherent sexism, institutional sexism out there that we just don’t see.”

Shephard, an investigative reporter with the Toronto Star, codirected “Guantanamo’s Child.”

She also wrote the 2008 book that inspired it, “Guantanamo’s Child: The Untold Story of

Omar Khadr,” about the then15-year-old Canadian citizen who was captured by American forces in Afghanistan in 2002 and spent a decade imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay. Shephard, who co-directed with Patrick Reed, says she spent 12 years covering Khadr’s case and finally got to meet him over his first few days of freedom.

“I think there was this real euphoria, for somebody who had spent almost half of his life growing up behind bars,” she says.

“He didn’t want to do this film, he wants nothing more than to just fade away, not be in the headlines and live as much of a normal life as he can — and I believe him when he says that.

I think he really does not seek attention. I think he’s got a difficult road ahead. I think he’s a public figure and ... he’s grown up in custody, so he’s got a lot to learn.”

The film festival runs through Sept. 20. ■

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Lifestyle

Neoprene with applique, calligraphy on a gown slit–Cebuano fashion glams up APEC Members of Fashion Council Cebu show exquisite creations, not necessarily Filipiniana-inspired

BY ALEX Y. VERGARA Philippine Daily Inquirer TEN OF Cebu’s leading fashion designers showed guests, including delegates to the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in Cebu City, what exquisite clothes are all about in “Exquisitely Filipino,” a recently concluded trade exhibit organized by SM City Cebu that featured the best of the island province’s furniture, accent pieces and fashion accessories.

It culminated with a fashion show at the mall’s North Wing featuring the clothes of 10 members of Fashion Council Cebu, including such wellknown names in Manila as Philip Rodriguez, Jun Escario, Cary Santiago, Arcy Gayatin and OJ Hofer. “‘Exquisitely Filipino’ isn’t just an ordinary exhibit, but a special one for us, as it showcases the best of the Philippines through Cebuano fashion, furniture and home accessories,” said Marissa Fernan, vice president of SM Prime Holdings.

For accessories like soft leather clutches and eye-catching minaudiéres, the designers sourced from exhibit participants Doro Barandino and BonAce. “This is a historic time for Cebu, and SM wants to be part of it by helping promote our designs to the world through Apec delegates,” Fernan said.

Contemporary edge

Known for his updated takes on classic and romantic evening wear, Rodriguez used black and white neoprene with beaded appliqué to give his long Filipiniana dresses a contemporary edge.

He also produced men’s suits with fine horizontal stripes and black accents reminiscent of the Philippine revolution.

“I drew inspiration from

The APEC Women’s Business and Smart Technology Seminar is one of the side events of the APEC Women and the Economy 2015 Fora happening from September 15-18, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center. In the photo during the conferment ceremony are (from left to right): Yong Ja Kim, Vice President, GWIN; Hon. Nora K. Terrado, Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry; and Myonghee Kim, Director, APWINC. PCOO EDP / GOOGLE+

the Maria Clara for one of the shift dress with an intricate the car,” she said. looks,” he said. “It’s an updated cutout overlay.

Apart from their respective version, of course, that shows strengths, the featured designplenty of skin.”

Neutral-colored ers also drew inspiration from Albert Arriba also went roGayatin also opted for neu- their chosen themes. mantic by embellishing his tral-colored neoprene, which Yvonne Quisumbing, for insatin gowns, including a copper she combined with polka- stance, chose bayanan, the Ceserpentina, with floral appli- dotted silk fabrics, to produce buano word for shell. This was ques or metal studs in various loose separates that can be chic reflected in the glass beads and sizes. ribbons that acEscario also cented her soft opted for “classee-through sic” dresses, intops. She paired cluding a ball ‘Exquisitely Filipino’ isn’t just an them with leopskirt with lace ordinary exhibit, but a special one for ard-printed top, that comus, as it showcases the best of the shorts and slim bined new and Philippines through Cebuano fashion, pants made of old materials and furniture and home accessories. wool and linen. treatments such Mia Arcenas as neoprene, soft presented part of tulle and callado her holiday colembroidery. lection inspired Santiago paid homage to Ce- evening alternatives to the usu- by sidlak, the Cebuano word for bu’s woodcarvers by producing al gowns. shine. gray silk gazar numbers that reExcept for the palazzo pants, To emphasize the feminine sembled fretwork. every piece was cut on the bias. form, she used soft jersey and With nude stretch tulle as She designed the collection stretched tulle embellished canvas, he accented one of his with the modern woman in with gold sequins and beads. A dresses with cutouts and pail- mind. sequin-beaded robe, seemed lette-like details that formed “It’s something I would wear like it came out of a ‘70s disco the visage of a Hindu goddess. to a black-tie event without scene.

One look consisted of a plain worrying how I could get out of www.canadianinquirer.net

Eastern philosophy

Hofer used silk satin to produce a citrine robe and pants, and ochre column with cowl back. A citrine bamboo column with calligraphy on the slit was made of tulle and accented with paillettes. All three looks, he said, were inspired by Eastern philosophy on “emptiness.”

Philipp Tampus drew inspiration from Anglo-African patterns and artworks to produce three earth-toned looks, including an updated and rustic take on the classic baby doll dress. Each dress was heavily accented with embroidery and lace trimmings.

Mark Rothko’s 1956 blue and gray painting inspired men’s wear designer Edwin Ao’s tailored pieces, including a navy dress with pleated skirt and twisted neckline made of jacquard and cashmere wool.

Ao’s dress had a detachable tartan overskirt while his loose men’s suits made of gray wool were a total departure from the tight-fitting men’s silhouette so in these days. ■

34

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Jimmy Choo introduces customized bridal shoes The bride and her entourage can choose the material, color, style and personalized monogram

BY CHECHE V. MORAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

Jimmy Choo store in the U.S.

MATTHEW G. DICKER / SHUTTERSTOCK

FOR THE first time since Jimmy Choo introduced its bespoke service in Europe last year, it’s now offering the bridal customization service to Filipino brides.

The made-to-order bridal shoes service allows the bride to choose the style, the material and color, as well as personalize her pair with her monogram or a date plaque to commemorate her wedding day.

The London-born Jimmy Choo brand has a vast selection of wedding styles, from flat sandals for beach weddings

and taller brides, as well as the sexier high-heeled stilettos and classic pumps, and in an array of wedding-appropriate shades—white, off-white, ivory, champagne, silver, gold, glitter—and fabrications—suede, lace, satin, calf and kid leather, as well as exotic skins like crocodile and snake. Some are even bejeweled. But for the bespoke bridal service, there are only five styles to choose from: the Anouk, a pointy pump with 4.7” spike heels; the Abel, also a pointy pump with a slightly shorter heel at 3.9”; the Lance, a tall, sexy stiletto with delicate crisscrossing straps; the Luna, a classic peep-toe pump with low platform; and the Cosmic,

a round-toe pump with a .98” platform and 4.5” heels.

The base style, usually of satin, costs from P49,500 to a high of P400,000 for the exotic skins.

The service, according to Stores Specialists Inc., the exclusive local distributor of Jimmy Choo in the Philippines, is being offered not just to brides, but also to their mothers and the bridal entourage.

If you’re set to wed in December, however, it may be a bit late as orders take four to six months to deliver. All shoes are made in Italy.

Brides can place their orders at Jimmy Choo in ShangriLa Plaza Mall East Wing and Rustan’s Makati. ■

Filmmaker Rob Cohen tackles canards of being a Canuck in ‘Being Canadian’ documentary

BY RYAN NAKASHIMA The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — In “Being Canadian,” Los Angeles-based comedy writer and director Rob Cohen seeks to dispel, or at least poke fun at, some of the canards about being a Canuck. A native of Calgary, Cohen takes a crosscountry road trip, tackles the assumption that all Canadians are “nice,” examines their perennial inferiority complex toward the U.S., and unravels why for much of its history, the Canadian Football League had only eight names for its nine teams.

Cohen interviews such famous Canadians as Dan Aykroyd, Mike Meyers, Seth Rogen and Alex Trebek in the documentary, which debuts in the U.S. on Friday in a few theatres and online outlets.

Since this reporter is also a Canadian based in Los Angeles, we probed the depths of Cohen’s Canadian-ness with our own list of questions. The interview has been edited for brevity.

Q: What’s your favourite beer: Kokanee, Molson Canadian, Labatt’s Blue, Budweiser, Tecate, Big Rock’s Grasshopper, Moosehead, or Sleeman’s Cream Ale?

A: My favourite beer is not in that pile: Lethbridge Pilsner.

But out of that pile, I take Sleeman’s. I like Kokanee too, but I think Sleeman’s tastes better.

Q: Is pilsner a style of beer or a brand of beer?

A: Pilsner is a style and they made that in Lethbridge. I just thought Labatt’s and stuff was OK, but for some reason, I mean, when you’re a kid, you’ll drink anything. There are some very blurry time periods in Grade 9 that I attribute to that.

Q: What’s your favourite memory from the 1988 Calgary Olympics?

A: It was watching Alberto Tomba win the men’s giant downhill right in front of me. I climbed the hill, got to the finish line and thought it was a crappy spot. And then Alberto Tomba won, and swished to a finish right there.

Q: I think I saw one of the big ski jump things. Who was that guy, Eddie the Eagle?

A: Yeah, I think he did OK, but he was more of a character. Everybody loved him. He looked like Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys. Crazy Coke bottle glasses. I remember seeing him in a mall in Calgary and it was very exciting. Just having the Olympics in Calgary was crazy and seeing the Calgary

Rob Cohen in ‘Being Canadian.’

Tower lit up like a torch was really cool.

Q: Where were you when Wayne Gretzky was traded to the LA Kings?

A: I was sadly here in LA. As a Calgarian, I was thrilled. As a Canadian, I couldn’t believe it.

It was like our Princess Di accident. I literally made a bet with my friend that it would never happen and I felt so cocky. And then he got traded.

Q: When did you stop paying taxes to Canada?

A: When I shot something there, which was in 2010.

Q: There is some kind of tax-sharing agreement where even if you make income here and you’re a Canadian citizen, you’re supposed to kick some www.canadianinquirer.net

SCREENSHOT FROM ‘BEING CANADIAN’ CLIP

money back, but nobody does it.

A: That’s so weird.

Q: If you did, you would get 500 points for being super Canadian.

A: I’ll apologize for not doing it. That’ll shore up some of my Canadian-ness.

Q: Have you ever been in a hockey pool?

A: Yes. Fantasy hockey? Oh yeah.

Q: Have you ever won your hockey pool?

A: No. It’s impossible. There are too many teams, there’s too many games, there’s too many players, there’s too many injuries. The season’s really long, so you can’t do it. But football, limited positions, short sea-

son. Usually your quarterback makes it all year and points are easier to come by than in hockey.

Q: Who is Connor McDavid?

A: Is he a Canadian tennis player? I don’t know, I guess a Canadian hockey player.

Q: I had to look it up. He’s the top draft pick, now with the Oilers, 18 years old.

A: If he’s an Edmonton guy, then I think I’m provincially prohibited from being interested.

Q: Have you ever been at a sporting event between American and Canadian teams and found yourself singing the “Star Spangled Banner?”

A: Never. Even though I know it, I have never sung it. I challenge any American to sing “O Canada” top to bottom because every Canadian can sing “Star Spangled Banner” top to bottom.

Q: How’s your French?

A: Terrible. My French stopped in Grade 8. I know “un petit peu.” I know enough to sort of apologize my way through Quebec.

Q: I’ll have to go back to the panel of judges and see what your score is.

A: A sweeping failure.

Q: No, sounds legit. I think you’re Canadian. That’s my initial diagnosis. ■

35

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Travel

Cavite is for the curious, coffee — and just chilling

BY CONSTANTINO C. TEJERO Philippine Daily Inquirer IT HAS a history museum with photos and prints of 19th-20th century Philippines; the world’s biggest puzzle museum; and organic farms WE ARE mountainous,” says Maragondon tourism officer Ronald Unas of his remote Cavite town, “so visitors come here for nature-tripping.

“The bigger portion of Pico de Loro is here. Its more popular side is in Batangas, but here the way up is steeper, so it’s more challenging for mountain climbers.”

They are planning to have leisure parks, zip lines, water activities, a cruise along Maragondon River.

“We don’t have much to offer,” says Unas.

That is, aside from selling history: The political conflict of Emilio Aguinaldo and Andrés Bonifacio reached its climax here. As is typical of a Cavite town, its historical landmarks have become major tourist attractions.

A permanent record of history can be found in General Trias town, at the GBR Museum in Gateway Business Park, the 174-hectare industrial estate of tycoon Geronimo Berenguer de los Reyes Jr. The museum houses in five pavilions over 3,000 vintage photographs and prints of 19th and 20th century Philippines; old paintings, antiquarian maps; scale models of early airplanes and spacecraft; imperial glass pieces from China.

It is an extensive collection, tracing our history from the Spanish period through the American and Japanese occupations to the space age, including the martial law years and People Power.

Particularly interesting is Pavilion A: 1860-1900, containing rare items from British photographer Albert Honiss and Spanish war correspondent Manuel Arias Rodriguez, recording the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War. The latter’s photographs are an eyeopener as, with “uncanny exactitude,” they chronicle the Spanish side of events and “illuminate the final days of empire and the epic of a people determined to be free.”

Fronting the museum is a granite memorial of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, engraved with the names of the 154 Filipinos involved in that turning point in our history.

International attention

One museum that attracts interna-

preoccupied with doing puzzles. Her bedroom was designed and the furniture rearranged for her hobby. She had a big table with a plywood board on which the jigsaw pieces were laid — “paikot-ikot siya d’yan.”

Museum-inn

The Puzzle Mansion.

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tional attention is the Puzzle Mansion in Tagaytay, a looming structure on a sloping lot of over a hectare amid wildflowers and grass, trees, pineapple plantation.

In its hall are displayed over 1,300 jigsaw puzzles, proclaimed in 2012 by the Guinness World Records as the biggest collection of jigsaw puzzles in the world.

This is the handiwork of Georgina GilLacuna.

It was her hobby after office — doing puzzles while watching news on TV, says son Gino Orda, who’s running the place.

Lacuna was already 35 when she started with a Mickey Mouse puzzle she bought in Hong Kong, since Disney characters were a favorite of the then 2-yearold Gino. She thought she had bought a puzzle of 500 pieces but was shocked on opening the box to find there were 5,000 pieces. She promised her son to finish it before his birthday, though.

Each item finished was fixed with a special glue, varnished over, then framed. Many became handy gifts for friends and relatives.

The most grueling to do, says Orda, was the 10,000-piece copy of Diego Velázquez’s “Las Hilanderas,” on which her mother spent 300 hours over seven months, because it is mostly in black,

and pieces in solid colors are the hardest to fit.

“My favorite is, of course, ’yung ginawa n’ya for me,” says Orda. “She retired early, so she had time to do puzzles. Mahilig siya mag-travel. She bought puzzles or ordered them from abroad. Since I’m an only child, pinasa sa akin ang business.”

He now handles the family company, which is into real estate and the manufacture of maternity dresses.

For about 30 years, his mother was

www.canadianinquirer.net

The idea of a museum came in 2011, as the collection was growing and they had a problem where to put it. When they checked on the Internet, they found out the biggest collector of jigsaw puzzles in the world was a Brazilian woman, with over 230 items.

“But Mom at that time already had over 800 puzzles,” says Orda. “She told me: ‘Huwag muna natin siyang talunin.

Let’s make it at least 1,000, para amazing ang number.’”

By the time she was proclaimed by Guinness, she already had 1,020 puzzles finished. Guinness officials were more amazed to learn only one person did it.

She didn’t rest on her laurels. The last puzzle she finished, in six months, is composed of 32,000 pieces.

She died from cardiac arrest at 62 last year.

The biggest items are displayed along the terrace on the second level, where a souvenir shop sells jigsaw puzzles of various sizes, genres and artforms.

Here is a puzzle station where guests can do it on a table. Orda’s tip: Sort out the colors first, then get all the sides fitted so you can estimate the size of the frame.

Here also is a lounging area where one can relish Tagaytay’s moderate climate while having steaming native coffee and freshly baked coconut cream pie.

The mansion has been turned into a bed-and-breakfast, with four family ❱❱ PAGE 37 Cavite is

36

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

Malampaya tax dispute goes to Singapore court COA stance on firm’s tax dues

BY RIZA T. OLCHONDRA Philippine Daily Inquirer

the same amount is taken out of the government receivables (60 percent share of proceeds) from the Malampaya gas operations.

Back-channel talks are ongoing, however, to try to resolve the issue between the consortium and the Philippine government “in a collaborative way,” sources said.

DOE officials confirmed that talks are ongoing between the parties to try to resolve the issue out of court.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in decisions dated April 6 and May 11 this year, ordered the

the DOE out of the 60 percent government share in the net proceeds. This is expressly provided under SC38 and COA’s THE DEPARTMENT of Energy order saying otherwise had left confirmed that the operators the consortium with no other of the Malampaya gas platform choice but to initiate internahad sought international arbitional arbitration, Henry said. tration on the issue involving In an exclusive interview, Royal their alleged unpaid tax obligaDutch Shell’s upstream intertions to the government. national director Andy Brown, DOE officer in charge Zenaida who leads Shell’s upstream (oil Monsada said the Malampaya conexploration, production, and sortium had “served notice” that it LNG) business, stressed that the had initiated international arbi“sanctity of contracts,” as well as tration on the issue. An arbitration good regulatory and investment panel is now being climates, were assembled for the needed to sustain proceedings that investor interest will take place in in the Philippines.

Singapore.

The two sides will next agree on In 2014 and Both the Malamwho the chair of the three-person early 2015, the paya consortium arbitration panel will be.

Philippine govand the governernment faced ment have named arbitration cases their respective initiated by wanominees. The two sides will next DOE to collect income tax of $2.9 ter services providers Maynilad agree on who the chair of the three- billion (about P53 billion) from and Manila Water Co. Inc. in person arbitration panel will be. the Malampaya consortium, say- response to the Metropolitan The consortium serving as ing that this should be paid on Waterworks and Sewerage Syscontractor of SC38 (Malampa- top of the government’s 60 per- tem’s (MWSS) reinterpretation ya) is composed of Shell Philip- cent share in the net proceeds, of their concession contract, dispines Exploration B.V. (SPEX; that is, after allowable expenses allowing the concessionaires to 45 percent), Chevron Malampa- are deducted. The DOE appealed recover corporate income taxes. ya LLC (45 percent), and PNOC COA’s order but was rejected.

Maynilad won in local arbitraExploration Corp. (10 percent).

In a letter to President Aqui- tion and has moved to the interAt the DOE budget hearing in no in May, Royal Dutch Shell national court in Singapore to Congress last week, Monsada plc CFO Simon Henry said the claim losses as the MWSS drags explained to legislators that the COA’s order to collect the $2.9 its feet in implementing a water department was implementing billion was “erroneous.” rate hike incorporating proviService Contract No. 38 (SC38), As far as the consortium is sions for income tax payments. under which the consortium concerned, he said, income tax- Manila Water lost and was disalpays taxes directly to the Bu- es payable over the period 2002 lowed to tuck in corporate income reau of Internal Revenue and to 2014 were deemed paid by tax provisions in its water rates. ■

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

Cautious trading seen

BY DORIS DUMLAOABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer CAUTIOUS TRADING is seen to persist at the stock market this week as all eyes are on the US Federal Reserve’s much awaited policy meeting.

Although global markets have tempered expectations that the first US interest rate increase would be sanctioned this week, the uncertainties on the timing of such much anticipated rate increases keep many investors on the sidelines.

Last week, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gave up 140.4 points or 1.99 percent to close at 6,911.38.

“Expect the market to range within the 6,800 to 7,200 levels in the week ahead,” said Banco de Oro Unibank chief strategist Jonathan Ravelas.

Ahead of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Sept. 16 to 17, US stocks rallied on Friday, with the S&P 500

chalking up the biggest weekly gain in two months. If the US Fed will hold back from raising interest rates for the first time in a decade, US equities markets are seen to rally, although this will only prolong uncertainties in emerging markets.

“Corrective pressures are expected to persist this week as various technical indicators increase the bearishness on the PSEi’s short- term trend,” said Luis Gerardo Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp. “Prices need to stage a bounce and overcome resistance at 7,110 to confirm its higher low pattern and set up for a reversal. Take note, however, that since our trend bias this week is bearish, the odds of prices moving lower during intraday is higher—and the lower the index goes, the harder it is to establish a support base.”

On the positive side, Limlingan said the index would likely see less volatile movements this week. ■

SHUTTERSTOCK

As of September 16, 2015 from ca.finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

1.3236 35.2761 1.4952 2.0324 1.1294 0.7139 120.2450

-0.0016 +0.0252 +0.0023 -0.0005 +0.0028 +0.0003 -0.1800

-0.1173% +0.0715% +0.1538% -0.0250% +0.2485% +0.0357% -0.1495%

www.canadianinquirer.net

Business

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

37

Peso resilient amid US rate hike prospects

BY PAOLO G. MONTECILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer VOLATILE GLOBAL financial market conditions will affect the Philippine peso the least, owing to the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals and steady streams of dollar revenue.

Capital Economics, a think tank based in London, said Brazil’s real, Turkey’s lira and Colombia’s peso face the sharpest declines amid market swings.

Meanwhile, the Indian rupee, Czech koruna and the Philippine peso are seen as the most resilient currencies among emerging market units.

This comes ahead of the prospect of a US Federal Reserve’s

meeting later this week. The US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets later this week to decide on what could be the first rate hike in nearly a decade.

Analysts are mixed as to whether the rate hike would come this week or later this December.

“Net capital outflows from emerging markets reached almost $250 billion in the three months to August—only a touch less than during the depths of the global financial crisis,” Capital Economics said in a report.

Overall, the research firm said emerging market currencies would fare better than in past bouts of volatility. “The current situation is not as bad as it was in 2008 and 2009,”

Cavite is... ❰❰ 35

rooms and five deluxe rooms, a 400-personcapacity function hall and an infinity pool.

One hectare is devoted to the cultivation of several varieties of orchids. The hydroponics area is 1.5 hectares.

Odds and ends

Organic farming

Another mind-boggling museum is Yoki’s Treasure, a mammoth collection of odds and ends in a cavernous structure in Mendez town. It is the lifetime accumulation of the late businessman Wilson Ong. The wild assortment of collectibles includes sacred objects of various religions; fiberglass and ceramic pieces; rotary telephones, antique typewriters, computer prototypes; items ranging from Manny Pacquiao’s boxing gloves to Efren “Bata” Reyes’ billiard table, to recycled costumes of a Miss Gay beauty pageant. All bases are covered.

The 2,000-square-meter warehouse stands behind a huge Buddha of fiberglass at Yoki’s Farm, which Ong established in the 1990s.

The farm started its hydroponics method in 2004 and is now the province’s showcase of that alternative farming system of growing plants without soil, using only mineral-nutrient solutions in water.

It has since grown into a corporation and the largest hydroponics production in the area, supplying fresh produce to local restaurants, with outlets in Imus, Dasmariñas, and Mahogany Market in Tagaytay.

Rowed in several greenhouses are lettuce (Romaine, Green Ice, Lollo Rosso), kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, cherry tomato, bell pepper, French beans.

Little pots and shallow boxes of soil thrive with scented herbage: coriander, mint, basil, tarragon, dill, chives, Italian oregano.

Harvest time is before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m., all year round.

With lettuce, “pinakamaganda from December to March,” says manager Loren Co, who’s been with the farm for 15 years.

They tried growing strawberry but for some reason the fruit came out sourish.

There seems to be a rash of organic farming in the area, obviously targeting the tourist market. Tagaytay’s restaurants are supplied by these farms: fruits and vegetables from Silang and Mendez; coffee and cacao from Amadeo and Alfonso.

If anything, it hints at the cosmopolitanism the province has attained. Mendez is known as “taniman ng kape at langka” — but look at it now. Imagine planting on the backyard your sitaw, bataw, patani side by side with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. ■

SHUTTERSTOCK

Capital Economics said.

“And it seems that much of the recent outflow has been due to Chinese individuals accumu-

lating foreign currency deposits, and not necessarily a reason to panic,” it said.

China’s recent stock market

crash, coupled with Beijing’s decision to devalue the yuan, put pressure on Asian currencies late last August. The peso dropped to its lowest point in five years and was down 4.5 percent from its level at the start of 2015.

Despite the drop, the peso still performed relatively better than its counterparts in neighboring countries. During the same week, the Thai baht was down 8.01 percent, Singapore’s dollar by 6.23 percent, and Malaysia’s ringgit by 17.57 percent.

Local officials said the peso’s firmness was a result of, among others, steady remittance flows from overseas Filipino workers and income from dollar-earning industries such as outsourcing and tourism. ■

Security firms dealing with uptick in oilfield theft, vandalism amid downturn

BY LAUREN KRUGEL The Canadian Press CALGARY — Oilfield security firms say they’ve been dealing with more troublemakers in recent months with the crude price cratering and bringing drilling activity and jobs down with it.

Thieves have been nabbing diesel, generators and other odds and ends that aren’t bolted down from oilfield sites, said Joden Dorner, security operations manager at Prospector Energy Services Inc. in Bezanson, Alta., in the province’s northwest.

He’s also seen kicked-in doors and broken windows.

“There has a little bit of equipment theft, but mostly things under $10,000,” said Dorner, whose firm provides on-site guards and surveillance.

“It’s all minor theft and vandalism as of now.”

But he said those sorts of calls have been increasing “steadily” since early spring. Year-overyear, he estimates those instances are up by about a quarter.

“If this keeps on going at this rate, I would think it would double by next spring.”

The oilpatch has been struggling through a prolonged downturn in crude prices since late last year, with the U.S. www.canadianinquirer.net

benchmark hovering at around US$45 a barrel. Around this time last year, it was worth more than twice as much.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers estimates that at least 35,000 jobs have been lost in Alberta’s oil and gas sector this year.

Danish Tahir, an operations manager with Security Services Group, said his firm has been dealing with copper wire theft at construction and oilfield sites lately.

“The economy is a factor,” said Tahir, whose company controls access to sites and screens employees at various locations throughout Alberta. “Sometimes it is internal. People get laid off. They get mad.”

Damian Radcliffe, CEO of Sherwood Park, Alta.-based Titanium Defence Corp., said he’s also seen more reports of theft, vandalism and even violence as economic conditions in the oilpatch deteriorate and ex-employees feel they have “less to lose.”

“When you have large numbers of people getting laid off or getting their walking papers, they’ll often think they’re entitled to things, taking home certain items they think belong to them,” like fuel or safety gear.

However, Radcliffe wonders whether the actual thefts are on the rise — or if it’s just that his cli-

ents are noticing as they pay keener attention to their bottom lines.

“I believe that stuff always happens, but it’s only when things slow down that people actually start having the opportunity track that, or care enough to actually try and stop that from happening.”

Mark Salkeld, president and CEO of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada, said the situation hasn’t been bad enough that oilfield service firms have raised it with him.

“It’s been quiet. It’s probably still going on to a certain degree, but it hasn’t been enough throughout our membership to elevate it to our attention,” he said. “You hear about it every now and again.”

Over the years, the industry has devised “tricks” to prevent theft when oilfield activity slows down — normally during “spring break-up” when the ground in northern Alberta thaws and becomes too mushy for heavy equipment to operate.

That could mean moving equipment from remote locations to a trucking yard where there are more eyes on it. Failing that, Salkeld said some operators weld the doors shut or park pieces of equipment so tightly side-by-side that a person can’t squeeze in. ■

38

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

Toronto won’t bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games: Source

BY PAOLA LORIGGIO The Canadian Press TORONTO WILL not enter the bidding process to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

A source with knowledge of the discussions told The Canadian Press late Monday that Mayor John Tory made the decision after he received a lack of firm support from the province and lukewarm enthusiasm from potential sponsors.

The mayor is expected to announce his decision at a news conference on Tuesday, which is the deadline for cities to submit a letter to the International Olympic Committee to register as possible candidates to host the Games.

Talk of another bid emerged after this summer’s Pan Am Games, and Tory has since been consulting with politicians, sports officials and other stakeholders on what’s involved in vying for the Olympics.

After an initial wave of enthusiasm, many began to express concerns in recent weeks about the implications of an Olympic bid, particularly on the financial front.

Members of city council voiced misgivings about the costs of bidding for and hosting the Games, while neighbouring Mississauga said it would not support a Toronto pitch. And critics sounded the alarm about what they called unprecedented secrecy surrounding the discussions.

Opponents of a bid applauded the news Monday, but said they worried the same issues would surface should the city make an attempt in the future.

VERVERIDIS VASILIS / SHUTTERSTOCK

“It looks like Mayor Tory will keeping details of the consulta- about it to people sooner,” she make the right call by saying tions under wraps undermined said. “To keep it secret for so no,” Ann Harwood of the group support for a possible bid. long, you’re only doing damage NoTO2024 said. to yourself.”

“But in the fuU l t i m a t e l y, ture, we encourshe said, holding age the mayor to off was the right honour his camEconomically, it’s not worth it, unless decision. paign pledge of you can change the host city contract “Economicaltransparency in so the public isn’t backstopping the ly, it’s not worth all civic matters.” costs. it, unless you can Janice Forchange the host syth, director of city contract so the Internationthe public isn’t al Centre for Olympic Stud“One of the mayor’s criti- backstopping the costs.” ies at Western University, said cal mistakes was in not talking And new rules recently en-

www.canadianinquirer.net

acted by the IOC make it unclear what’s expected of host cities and how the bidding process will unfold, she said.

The Canadian Olympic Committee — which had pushed for Toronto to throw its hat in the ring and even, according to a city councillor, offered to pay the $150,000 application fee — would not comment Monday.

A municipal study previously estimated bidding alone would cost between $50 million and $60 million, and hosting the Games would cost between $3.3 billion and $7 billion.

Toronto made two unsuccessful bids for the Games — in 1996 and in 2008 — and Tory has said he doesn’t want to lead a third failed attempt.

His decision could nonetheless affect the city’s chances to host the Olympics down the line — at least one councillor has suggested trying for the 2028 Summer Games.

However, the IOC typically rotates between continents in awarding the Summer Games, and a municipal report published last year warned that “if Toronto does not bid for 2024 and the Summer Games are awarded to a U.S. city, it is likely that Toronto will not have a reasonable chance of winning until at least the 2036 Summer Games.”

Boston also withdrew from the race recently amid concerns over who would foot the bill for cost overruns, but Los Angeles has announced it will apply instead.

Paris, Rome, Budapest, Hungary and Hamburg, Germany have also said they would be in the running. The winning city will be chosen in 2017. ■

Sports

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

39

Mayweather allegedly took IV infusions before Pacquiao megabout

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr.

@FLOYDMAYWEATHER / INSTAGRAM

MANILA — Still undefeated American boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. was reportedly given retroactive exemption for the controversial multivitamins he took before fighting Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in their May 2 bout billed as the “Fight of the Century.”

According to an SB Nation report, Mayweather received IV injections three weeks before

More perks await national athletes and coaches

BY SAMMY F. MARTIN Philippines News Agency

bronze medals in international sports competitions shall be entitled to cash awards.

Gold medalists will receive Php10 million for Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Php5 million for Youth and Paralympic Games, Php2 million for Asian Games.

Silver medalists will receive Php5 million for Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Php2.5 million for Youth and Paralympic Games; Php1 million for Asian Games.

Bronze medalists shall receive Php2 million for Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Php1 million for Youth and Paralympic Games; Php400,000 for Asian Games.

Furthermore, coaches of national athletes shall also be entitled to cash awards the same that the winning athlete gets..

The measure also provides 20 percent discount from selected establishments such as transportation services, restaurants, medicines, medical and dental consultations from government hospitals, coverage from National Health Insurance Program and scholarship from state universities and colleges and from TESDA. “Representing the country in sports competitions is a tall order and due recognition should be extended to our hardworking athletes for the honor and sacrifice that they bring to the country. Just like our OFWs, our national athletes are our modern-day heroes who bring pride and glory to the nation” Gatchalian said in a statement.

“We should instead be nurturing and assisting our athletes to motivate them further to excel” he pointed out.

Joining the panel chairman is the main author of the bill Davao del Norte Rep. Anthony Del Rosario, while their Senate counterpart is headed by Senator Sonny Angara. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

the intravenous medication by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Mayweather’s camp, for their part, admitted that the boxer took IV fluids which contained a mixture of multivitamins and salines. They clarified that these were not banned.

“I did not commit any violations of the Nevada or USADA drug testing guidelines… I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada and USADA, the gold standard of drug testing,” Mayweather asserted. ■

Australian boxer Davey Browne Jr. dies from injuries suffered in regional title bout THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Australian boxer Davey Browne Jr. has died of injuries suffered in Fr i d a y ’s IBF super-featherweight regional title bout against C a r l o Magali of the Philippines.

Browne, a 28-year-old father of two, was knocked out

30 seconds from the end of the final round of the 12-round bout. He regained confidence but later collapsed and was rushed to Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital in critical condition, s u f fering from a brain injury.

P o l i c e c o n firmed Davey’s death on Monday and said a post-mortem would be conducted. ■

@FLOYDMAYWEATHER / INSTAGRAM

MANILA — National athletes and coaches winning in international competition can now expect additional allowances and incentives after it was approved by both house of Congress.

Alay Buhay Party-list Rep. Wes Gatchalian chairman of the House committee on Youth and Sports Development, said they had reconciled and approved in the Bicameral Conference Committee the conflicting version of House Bill 5912 and Senate Bill 2898.

“I am pleased that after almost 12 years, the measure proposing to increase the incentives and benefits of athletes and coaches winning in international competitions has finally been approved in the bicameral committee level, subject to ratification by both houses.

It is only now in the 16th congress that a bill on sports had been passed of which previous Congresses have failed to do” Gatchalian said.

In a text message, Gatchalian said that once ratified by both Houses, it will be considered enrolled bill and awaiting for President Benigno Aquino III’s signature to become a law.

The young solon said the bill would also expand its benefits

to include athletes with disabilities in accordance with the law on “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons”.

Under the approved bicameral conference version adopted last Sept. 3, 2015, national athletes recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), who won gold, silver, and

the megafight. This did not conform to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines.

“Wada has justified the inclusion of IV infusions on the Prohibited List given the intent of some athletes to manipulate their plasma volume levels in order to mask the use of a prohibited substance,” the organization maintained, referring to its 2015 Wada Prohibited Substances and Methods List.

Still, the American poundfor-pound king was granted a therapeutic use exemption for

40

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

Technology

Digital privacy concerns ‘the new normal’ as users pay with personal information

BY PETER HENDERSON The Canadian Press TORONTO — Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system has been praised for improving upon the flaws of its predecessor, but the company is facing widespread criticism for what some are calling invasive data collection.

Under its default privacy settings, Windows 10 tracks the way users type, what applications they use, their browsing history and other personal information.

Windows 10 also sends a weekly “activity update” on children’s web browsing and computer history to their parents. Some parents have publicly described receiving those emails from Microsoft as “creepy,” while others warn it could serve to humiliate teens at a vulnerable period in their lives.

Users have to actively turn off the features to stop the tracking.

Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment, but the company has said it uses the information to improve its services, and insists the information is anonymized.

Some experts argue that personal information is the new currency of the digital age, and the track-everything default settings of Microsoft’s latest operating system are the new normal for digital privacy.

The company is hardly alone in using personal data to track its users, technology analyst Carmi Levy points out.

“Most people see a free service like Facebook or Twitter and they assume that it has absolutely no strings attached,” he said.

Microsoft is offering Windows 10 as a no-cost upgrade for many of its users, yet Levy says there’s no such thing as a free launch.

“We pay with our data, we pay with our personal information,” he said, adding most tracking is benign and can im-

prove the user experience by remembering individualized settings or passwords.

Google uses the search terms of its users to provide autocorrect suggestions for those with sloppy fingers, and many websites simplify the sign-on process by allowing you to log in with your own social media accounts.

Yet personal data can be used for more commercial purposes, and Levy said users are simply pawns in the mammoth world of online advertising.

Ad networks use personal information to track viewing and spending habits across a wide variety of websites, so someone who searches for the latest in denim styles will soon see ads for ripped jeans wherever they browse.

“The better targeted an ad is, the more you can charge for the privilege,” Levy said.

In response to the Windows 10 privacy concerns, German developer Jonas Zimmerman has released a free program givwww.canadianinquirer.net

ing users access to all of its privacy options in a single window.

In an email, Zimmerman said that while Microsoft’s operating system gives users broad choices about their data, many of the settings he found during the development of DoNotSpy10 weren’t easily accessible or clearly defined.

“It took weeks to really understand what Windows does under the hood,” he said.

Zimmerman says that even if users opt out of all of Microsoft’s data collection during the Windows 10 setup, there are still hidden data-sharing features that only those who buy the Enterprise version of the operating system — or use his software — can disable.

Tobi Cohen, a spokeswoman for federal privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien, said her office is looking at Windows 10 to make sure it complies with Canada’s privacy laws.

But lawyer David Fraser said government intervention won’t necessarily improve digital pri-

vacy. Instead, he said, the responsibility rests with companies and consumers.

“Privacy law is about giving consumers choices and making sure they’re informed about what they’re agreeing to,” he said.

Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act requires companies to get consent before they use personal information, and requires more sensitive information to have more explicit consent.

Fraser said that gives companies some flexibility to innovate, adding that social media platforms like Twitter would never have taken off if every user was set to total privacy by default.

Yet he adds that online services need to be careful that they don’t end up in the headlines for violating users’ privacy despite staying within the letter of the law.

“Privacy law doesn’t define creepy,” he said. ■

Technology

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

41

Out with the old… iPhones?

4 Ways to Reuse, Resell, Recycle THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ceeds to buy international calling cards for soldiers so they can talk to their loved ones back home.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence works in a similar manner.

About 60 percent of the phones it collects are refurbished and resold. The money goes toward supporting the coalition. The remaining 40 percent of the phones are recycled, according to the group’s website. It pays for shipping if you are mailing three or more phones. The group also accepts other elec-

bucks, if you are lucky. There will likely be a flood of the gadgets soon after people start NEW YORK — Each year, getting their new phones, so Apple dazzles its devoted fans it might make sense to wait a with faster, sleeker, more powlittle. erful iPhones with better camThere are also plenty of otheras and a bevy of bells and er options. A company called whistles. So, what’s to become Gazelle will make an offer for of last year’s model? your old phone based on its Instead of sentencing it to a condition, your phone carrier lonely existence in a desk drawand other information. For er, there are plenty of ways to example, a 64 gigabyte iPhone reuse, recycle or resell older 6 on AT&T in good condition phones. Here are a few: (no cracks, major scratches or scuffs, turns on and makes Donate to charity calls), would get you $305 this Several chariweek. The same ties accept old phone on Sprint, phones for donameanwhile, tion, though it’s would rake in worth rememThere will likely be a flood of the $220. bering that these gadgets soon after people start Glyde.com groups probably getting their new phones, so it might also offers to won’t physically make sense to wait a little. help you resell give your old your old phone. phones to people A recent check in need. Rather, showed the same they work with phone recyclers tronics such as laptops, video iPhone, with charger included, and sell your donated phones to game systems and digital cam- getting you $376.10 - provided them. eras. there is a buyer.

A nonprofit group called Cell Phones for Soldiers will Sell for some cash Trade in for something else take your “gently used” phone You can always join the eBay Apple will give you store and sell it to a recycling com- hordes and sell your phone credit for old devices that you pany. It will then use the pro- on the site for a few hundred can then use for new gadgets.

What to do with your old iPhone?

You can do this in a retail store or online, where you’ll get an estimate before mailing in your phone. An online check for the phone above yielded an estimated $325 Apple Store gift card this week.

The video game retailer GameStop, meanwhile, offers cash or store credit for old iPhones (along with iPods and iPads).

WEATHER UPDATE VANCOUVER

19 Sat

20 Sun

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GEORGE DOLGIKH / SHUTTERSTOCK

Reuse, repurpose

Even without cellular service, you old phone will be able to get on Wi-Fi, so you can use it to stream music, post on Facebook or do pretty much anything else you want provided you are in Wi-Fi range. Keep it for yourself, or load it up with kid-friendly apps and games and hand it down to your children. ■

Long term forecast from www.theweathernetwork.com CALGARY

EDMONTON

WINNIPEG

TORONTO

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32°C

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www.canadianinquirer.net

Events

42

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Freestyle

By Below Zero WHEN/WHERE: Sept. 18, Century Casino Calgary, 1010 42 Ave., SE Calgary, AB

CANADA EVENTS

PCG-Labor Office Outreach WHEN/WHERE: Sept. 22 to 24, Days Inn Hotel, 2828 Macleod Trail South Calgary S. MORE INFO: Email at polo. vancouver@yahoo.ca

YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

NUNAVUT

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, On MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

FRIDAY

ONTARIO

Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, ON MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-928-9355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, Tagalog Class is open on Mondays, Tuesdays,

By FCT Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 NEWFOUNDLAND WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., p.m. every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, QUEBEC Toronto

NOVA SCOTIA

Artist Chito Maravilla Solo Exhibit WHEN/WHERE: Exhibit run: Up to Sept. 30, Newton Cultural Centre 13530- 72Ave., Surrey, B.C. MORE INFO: www.chitomaravilla.com or call 604716-9143

Free Drop-In English Conversation Circle

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., up to Sept. 21, Vancouver Community Room, 1720 Grand St., Grd. Flr. MORE INFO: Call Pia at 604-254-9626 ext 487

Dinner Dance By the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Sept. 19 at St. Patrick’s Recreation Hall, 2881 Main St., Vancouver, B.C.

Seniors’ Vision Workshop WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 nn, Sept. 21, Mosaic Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant St. Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Daisy 604-254-9626 ext 273

Temporary Foreign Workers Uncontested Divorce Clinic

By Law Courts Center 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/text 778-322-2839 or email: tfw.divorce@gmail.com

Dr. Holmes on Life, Love & Lust

By Vancouver Public Library and the U.P. Alumni Association in B.C. WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Sept. 24, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: The subject of sex remains deeply personal--even taboo--in this day and age. It is a social minefield capable of inducing both distress and hysterical laughter. Sex therapist, clinical psychologist, and author Dr. Margarita 'Margie' Holmes, a popular no-nonsense sex therapist in the Philippines, tells us why through her dazzling humour and straightforward answers to the provocative questions.

Pro Bono Legal Clinic

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 21, at Mosaic Vancouver MORE INFO: Pro Bono lawyers from Access Pro Bono provide a 30-minute free legal consultation on employment, family, human rights and immigration issues for temporary foreign workers. Clients must book an appointment by phoning MOSAIC at 604-254-9626 ext. 487 Changes in Citizenship Application

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 nn, Sept. 22 at Mosaic Vancouver, 2nd Flr. 1720 Grant St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Know about application process and timeframe; eligibility criteria; language requirements; documentation needed for citizenship applications; differences between the old and new Citizenship Act. Call Joy at 604-2549626 ext 484.

Seniors Book Club By the Richmond Public Library WHEN/WHERE: Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 12 nn, at the Brighouse Main Branch, the Living Rm., 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: Seniors ages 55 and older are invited to read books and exchange ideas with likeminded. To register visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-231-6413 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/events Practise Your English at the Richmond Public Library

By Richmond Public Library WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 12 nn, Sept. 18 to Dec. 11, the English Corner, Richmond Public Library, Brighouse (Main) Branch, 2nd floor Community Place Room, 7700 Minoru Gate. www.canadianinquirer.net

Afternoon Delight with Margie

By UPAABC WHEN/WHERE: 4 p.m., Sept. 26, at the Frat House (2800 No. 4 Rd., Richmond, B.C.) MORE INFO: Potluck Dinner Ely Buendia Greatest Hits Live in Vancouver

By TFC and Aller Granado Lim Productions WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27, at Massey Theatre, 735 Eight Ave., New Westminster, B.C.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

43

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Tel: (1) 647-521-5155

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

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FRIDAY

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

ASEAN FESTIVAL 2015 The Association of Southeast Asian Consuls General Committee in Vancouver composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand held last Sept. 5, the First Asean Festival with the theme, “Southeast Asia, Feel the Warmth� at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver.The festival featured the finest products, delicious food and vibrant cultural performances.

www.canadianinquirer.net

45

46

Seen and Scenes: Toronto

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

FRIDAY

FCCH 11TH ANNIVERSARY Filipino-Canadian Community House (FCCH) celebrated its 11th anniversary and induction of the board of directors at the Holy Rosary Parish Hall on Sept.

12. Guest speaker was Finance Minister Joe Oliver. Other special guests were Marnie McDougall and Senator Tobias Enverga (Photos by Ariel Ramos).

WINTER ESCAPADE 3 The Winter Escapade 3 was launched simultaneously by the Philippine Embassy and the Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver to attract Canadian snowbirds to this Philippine tour package. Here are some scenes during the Ottawa and Toronto events. (Photos by the Philippine Embassy and Amelia Insigne).

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

Food

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

47

Chef Michael Smith preaches ‘spend time to save time’ in book ‘Make Ahead Meals’

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press TORONTO — Chef Michael Smith says his new cookbook, “Make Ahead Meals,” is all about his own dichotomy.

The busy father of three, who recently purchased and opened the Inn at Bay Fortune in Prince Edward Island with his wife Chastity, is a working chef and the family cook.

With his “crazy schedule,” which includes appearing on TV and writing cookbooks, Smith has to be super organized in his own kitchen to prepare three meals daily for the family, including packing school lunches.

His key tip to take the stress out of cooking yet still serve a delicious meal: “Spend time to save time.”

“Obviously the things I learn and do in the professional kitchen have sort of found their way into my home kitchen and really the best way to summarize that is there’s one thing just woven into the DNA of being a chef. It’s something you learn the first day at work and that is we spend time to save time,” says Smith.

Chef Michael Smith.

FACEBOOK

“We do things in advance. We do things efficiently so we can really get ahead of the curve.”

For other home cooks who need strategies to help with organization, he provides tips in his ninth cookbook, such as: “What can you do today for tomorrow?

What part of this recipe can you do ahead of time? How long can you hold the recipe after you’ve done it? Should you cook the entire thing?” Smith ticks off.

“Make Ahead Meals” (Penguin Canada)

features 100 simple, healthy recipes with make-ahead components and storage suggestions. There are ideas on how to prep items so a dish can be finished quickly.

“I’ve met a lot of folks that understand how important it is that when they get home from work, from the moment they walk in the door, the clock is ticking. How fast can they get dinner on the table?” says Smith, who judges on Food Network Canada’s “Chopped Canada” and has hosted “Chef Michael’s Kitch-

en,” “Chef Abroad,” and “Chef at Home.”

“There’s no time to cook at that point.

There’s only time to finish. So a lot of families will do the finish work and then after dinner cook tomorrow’s dinner.”

Another of Smith’s favourite tips is a weekend cooking rally.

“Just turning on some jazz and pouring a glass of wine and spending Sunday afternoon just cooking up a bunch of different things for the week ahead,” says Smith, who led the team of chefs that cooked in the Whistler Athletes Village at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Double up on preparation. If you’re making one lasagna, it doesn’t take much longer to make two pans and freeze one.

During the school year when Smith is concocting soup, stew or pasta for supper, he gets lunches ready.

“As I’m dishing up dinner for the kids I grab a couple of the squat, wide-mouth, one-cup mason jars and I fill them right up with whatever it is, put a big ladleful right into the jar, screw on the lid and put those directly in the refrigerator,” he says.

“We’re sitting down eating dinner and I’ve already got the kids’ school lunch ready to go for the morning.” ■

Rosemary and Lemon Roasted Chicken Thighs

BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press DOES BACK-TO-SCHOOL time have you humming a few bars of the weeknight dinner blues?

I get it. I know you’re tired. I know that when 5 p.m. rolls around you aren’t always feeling inspired. I know that the notion of chicken again makes you roll your eyes. How can we get excited about chicken over and over?

Just make this recipe and then see if you don’t have a little spring in your weeknight step. The bracing herbal flavour of fresh rosemary (do try and get fresh for this, as it makes a big difference)! The citrusy sharpness of the lemon zest! The tartness of the lemon juice! These simple flavours turn everyday chicken thighs into something special. Also, the quick dredge in flour and saute in a bit of oil creates a dish something between fried chicken and roasted chicken — crisp and moist.

And the choice of bone-in, skin-on thighs means you will have a great juicy chicken dinner. In fact, it’s one that is pretty hard to overcook. You can serve these right in the pan at the table (as long as everyone knows the pan is hot).

These would be great with some rice or any kind of grain to soak up some

of the pan sauce you’ll have once the chicken is cooked. Round out the plate with a simple green vegetable, like sauteed Broccolini or Swiss chard, or some roasted asparagus.

ROSEMARY AND LEMON ROASTED CHICKEN THIGHS

Start to finish: 45 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: 4 • 3 lemons • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary • Kosher salt and ground black pepper • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds) • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh chives or parsley (optional)

about half of the rub mixture for this.

In a shallow bowl, blend the flour with a hefty pinch each of salt and pepper.

Dredge the chicken thighs through the flour mixture and shake off any excess.

In a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high, heat the oil. Working in batches if necessary, add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the skin starts to brown. Flip the thighs and cook for another 4 minutes or so on the bottoms, or until the bottoms start to turn golden. If you cooked the chicken in batches, fit all of the chicken

Heat the oven to 400 F. Wash and zest the lemons. Cut the lemons in half, then set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the lemon zest and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper.

Use your fingers to gently loosen the skin from the chicken thighs. Insert a hefty pinch of the rosemary-lemon zest mixture under the skin of each thigh and rub it to coat the meat. You will use www.canadianinquirer.net

back into the pan, transfer to the oven and roast for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165 F at the thickest part.

Squeeze the reserved lemon halves over the chicken as desired, then sprinkle the remaining lemon zest and rosemary mixture over it. Serve hot. Sprinkle with chives or parsley, if desired. ■ Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at www.themom100.com

48

SEPTEMBER 18, 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

FRIDAY