Philippine Canadian Inquirer #190

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 23, 2015

VOL. 10 NO. 190

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Bulk COCs indicate dissatisfaction over gov’t

Lando’s death toll reaches 30; damages hit P5-Billion

Santiago refuses to release medical records publicly

Stephen Harper’s legacy

NDP take heart in defeating Conservatives despite losses

Canadian Immigration system to undergo ‘real change’

READY?

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

VICTORY FOR THE LIBERALS. A Trudeau is coming back to 24 Sussex Drive. In his first speech as Prime Minister-designate, Justin Trudeau called for unity

through healing after a “divisive election” period.

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‘WE’RE BACK,’ Justin Trudeau says in message to Canada’s allies abroad

BY JOAN BRYDEN AND JIM BRONSKILL The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau made a tri-

umphant return to the nation’s capital Tuesday and immediately began setting a new tone for the Canadian government, both at home and abroad.

MANILA — With Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party elected as Canada’s new Prime Minister, immigrants who have considered studying, working or settling in the country can expect some changes in its immigration system and policies.

Just like his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 43-year-old Liberal leader also vowed to promote multiculturalism in the country.

In 1971, under the older Trudeau’s ❱❱ PAGE 27 Canadian Immigration

Comelec problem: 130 for President

m info@canadianinquirer.net sales@canadianinquirer.net A (888) 668-6059 facebook.com/ PhilippineCanadianInquirer

❱❱ PAGE 9 ❱❱ PAGE 19 ‘We’re back’

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

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OCTOBER 23, 2015

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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Roxas denies spreading Duterte rumor

BY GIL CABACUNGAN AND MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer IT’S NOT me.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas denied being behind a “black propaganda” campaign against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte, who was being touted as a presidential contender, blamed “the Roxas camp” in a radio interview on Friday as being behind the rumor that he had throat cancer and was therefore unfit to be president.

The feisty mayor was clearly incensed, saying, “I’m waiting for the right time... I will tell the entire Philippines why this person should not be elected president.”

In response, Roxas yesterday issued a statement saying the “LP would not resort to black propaganda to destroy its rivals as claimed by Duterte.”

“I will never wish it be visited on anyone, much more so to Mayor Digong Duterte, whom I regard as my friend. My family

suffered through two tragedies due to cancer,” said Roxas.

Roxas said that in his long years in politics, he had never engaged in a smear campaign against his rivals. “I have always subscribed to the principle that how you campaign is how you will govern. What we are fighting for is the continuation of ‘ daang matuwid’ and not to destroy our rivals,” he added.

In the radio interview, Duterte said he was hurt by the “misinformation” about his health. He denied having been diagnosed with cancer but admitted that he was suffering from ailments caused by excessive drinking and smoking in the past.

He revealed that it was his estranged wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, who had cancer and also underwent a heart bypass operation abroad.

Initially Duterte refused to identify who was behind the rumors of his ill health but later said that “one of the PR personnel from the Roxas camp was behind the black propaganda.”

Duterte said many people

the elections “under any circumstances.”

Still might run

Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas.

wanted him to run because of the “lack of choices” in the coming election—with Sen. Grace Poe likely to be disqualified and Vice President Jejomar Binay likely to be arrested.

LP exec chimes in

LP political affairs chief and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the party respected Duterte’s opinions on Poe and Binay, adding that “he (Duterte) may have some basis for saying that.”

Erice said that Poe’s disqualification case would be decided primarily on the evidence to be

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PCDSPO

presented and not on “external intervention.”

Erice also dismissed speculation that Binay would be jailed during the campaign period on corruption charges. “I doubt it (jailing of Binay) since litigation will take time and there’s an issue of immunity,” said Erice.

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas said the LP would continue with its campaign plans “without thinking that any of the other candidates would be disqualified or would discontinue running for one reason or another.”

Treñas said the LP will win

Duterte frustrated his supporters when he did not file a certificate of candidacy for president before Friday’s deadline. He filed for reelection as mayor of Davao City.

But speculation of Duterte’s possible presidential run continues to churn. His party, Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), fielded its secretary general Martin Dino as its presidential candidate just minutes before the close of filing on Friday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Duterte has until Dec. 10 to change his mind. As a member of PDP-Laban, Duterte could be fielded as a substitute for Dino.

Duterte’s daughter, Sara, told supporters via Instagram on Friday that her father had no money and no machinery to run a presidential campaign.

Her father said he wasn’t interested in becoming president. ■

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Philippine News

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Government appeals to communist rebels to spare Lumads from violence PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Following the killing of a mayor of Agusan del Sur, the government appealed to the New People’s Army (NPA) to spare the Lumads from further violence and restart the peace negotiation with the government without any precondition.

During a press conference at the Palace on Tuesday, Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace said there have been a lot of Lumad killings, and most of them were perpetrated by the NPA. Hundreds of Lumads have been

killed in the past several years and it is unfortunate that the indigenous group is at the center of the violence, Bautista said.

He noted that the Lumads have been dragged into the conflict because the ancestral domains they inhabit host most NPA guerilla bases.

“We appeal to the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) - NPA to please spare the Lumads and we appeal (to them) to end the armed struggle and not to involve the Lumads in this armed struggle,” he said.

“They deserve to live freely in their ancestral domain the way they want to live, and we hope that this is respected.”

Any ideological or political

issue must be resolved through peaceful means and without exploiting any group, he added.

According to Bautista, the rebels have been asking for a resumption of the peace talks but the government could only accept such peace initiative without any precondition.

Previous attempts to restart the talks bogged down because of the guerrillas’ demands for the release of consultants, who remain in government detention.

“Government is always open to the resumption of peace talks. What government is against is the setting of preconditions for these talks to resume,” he pointed out.

“But government is sincere in

resuming the peace talks whenever they are ready and we have always communicated that.”

Malacañang on Tuesday condemned the killing of Mayor Dario Otaza of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, and his son, saying the police and the military have intensified their operations to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Otaza and his son, Daryl, were abducted Monday night from their home by armed men believed to be members of the NPA. Their remains, hogtied with multiple gunshot wounds, were found by authorities at 7 a.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Bitanagan, Butuan City.

Mayor Otaza was a Manobo, a Lumad, and a former NPA rebel himself. He helped the government in running a successful rebel returnee program that en-

According to the Eastern Mindanao Command, the abduction and murder of Loreto town mayor Dario Otaza and his son Daryl is related to violence against the Lumad communities in Mindanao.

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couraged hundreds of NPA rebels to return to the fold of the law. ■

Daang Matuwid denies engaging in smear campaign tactics

BY SAMMY F. MARTIN Philippines News Agency MANILA — Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid has not and will not bite the traditional campaign using the antiquated “smear campaign strategy” for they will focus on issues and platforms and not on personality.

This was emphasized on Tuesday by Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid spokesman and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo to deny allegation of former Senator Dick Gordon that the camp of Daang Matuwid and that of the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay approached him to file disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe. Gordon did not mention the personalities of both camps who approached him and what was the deal.

“LP has not and will not authorize any person from engaging in a smear campaign,” Quimbo said in a statement.

“Winning through a smear www.canadianinquirer.net

campaign will make governance difficult. We don’t want that,” he added.

Quimbo recalled that LP has already started elevating the campaign into a high gear in the recent 2013 election by concentrating on issues and platforms and not on personality.

He said that they have “marching instructions” both from President Benigno Aquino III and standard bearer Mar Roxas on how the campaign should be.

“We have always campaigned on Daang Matuwid and that we are focused on issues and our platform, not on personalities. That is how we practically swept the 2013 Senatorial elections, by entirely avoiding a personality based campaign,” he pointed out.

According to Quimbo, what the they have learned from PNoy’s experience is that “a president can make decisions, however difficult and unpopular they may be, as long as you have a clear and unquestionable mandate.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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NAIA improves to 8th rank in 2015 online airport survey

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 has improved its ranking from being 1st in the “World’s Worst Airport” list from 2011 to 2013 to only 8th in the “Worst Airports in Asia” list this year.

Both surveys, which were conducted by nine-year-old interactive website “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports”, were released last Oct 17.

The website gave credit to rehabilitation efforts which have “helped decongest and clean up Terminal 1”, and the introduction of the Wings Transit Lounge in Terminal 3 which have “helped make things more comfortable.”

However, it did not ignore earlier reports this year on Terminal 1’s leaking ceilings and Terminal 2’s collapsing floors which it noted needs “room for improvement”.

It also pointed out how passengers remain annoyed by the poor customer service, the long

NAIA Terminal 3.

queues, the sub-par food selection, the lack of restrooms and the crowded seating areas.

“There is definitely a long way to go but we’re thrilled to see improvements come along

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bit by bit,” the website said.

The top 10 Worst Airports in Asia 2015 are: (1) Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal (2) Tashkent International

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Airport, Uzbekistan (3) Kabal Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan (4) Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Vietnam (5) Islamabad Benazir

Bhutto International Airport, Pakistan (6) Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China (7) Chennai (Madras) International Airport, India (8) Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines (9) Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh (10) Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka The top 10 Worst Airports in the World 2015 are: (1) Port Harcourt International Airport, Nigeria (2) Jeddah King Abdulaazziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia (3) Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal (4) Tashkent International Airport, Uzbekistan (5) Caracas Simon Bolivar International Airport, Venezuela (6) Port au Prince Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Haiti (7) Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan (8) Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Vietnam (9) Islambad Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Pakistan (10) Paris BeauvaisTille International Airport, Paris, France. ■

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Philippine News

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Erap misses start of Isko’s Senate bid Cites 2010 feud with Chiz Escudero as his reason for skipping event

BY JODEE A. AGONCILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN MANILA Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso formally announced his bid for senator at his alma mater yesterday, one of his most avid supporters, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, was nowhere to be found.

Instead, Domagoso took the stage at Tondo High School with presidential candidate Grace Poe and her running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero. He is the second senatorial candidate to be endorsed by the pair after Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares.

“What I like most about Isko is that he has a real story for people to draw inspiration from. He came from poverty but he did not forget where he came from.

He speaks from the heart. The Filipino people need him: Someone who can understand their plight and a person they can draw inspiration from,” Poe said of Domagoso.

“Meron kang (You have) hugot,” told the Tondo-born official.

Estrada, meanwhile, explained his absence by saying he did not want to share the stage with Escudero who she supported President Aquino in

Incumbent Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno files his certificate of candidacy for senator in the 2016 national elections.

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the 2010 presidential elections.

“I will go onstage with Poe but never with Escudero,” Estrada told reporters.

The former president turned Manila mayor also ran for the country’s highest post in 2010 with then Makati Mayor Je-

jomar Binay as his running mate.

According to Diego Cagahastian— the city government’s public information officer and longtime Estrada ally —Estrada initially wanted to get Escudero as his running mate in 2010. However, Escudero had other ideas, saying he should be the one to run for president with Estrada as his running mate. He later dropped his plans to seek the presidency.

Yesterday, Escudero said he was very proud and honored to endorse Domagoso for the Senate.

“I violated my grandfather’s rule never to sit onstage with anyone more handsome than me,” Escudero told the audience, drawing laughter from them.

“This is the start of his journey to the Senate,” he said of the vice mayor.

Domagoso later filed his certificate his candidacy (COC) at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, under Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino party.

He thanked supporters who told him that they wanted him to run for Manila mayor, saying he was in for a much bigger fight.

When Domagoso ran alongside Estrada in 2013, the latter promised him that he would support him for mayor in 2016, saying he was not interested in seeking reelection, only to change his mind.

When Estrada filed his COC for Manila mayor on Wednesday, he again promised Domagoso that he would be the next mayor in 2019 as he praised him for his achievements as vice mayor.

“Sometimes, we need to take a detour before we can reach our dreams,” Domagoso told reporters yesterday.

“Let’s forget the past. What is important is that we are moving forward now. I have a bigger challenge to face this time.

I need to prove that a ‘Tondo kid’ can serve the country on a national level. I hope people will consider me and my capabilities,” he added. ■

ASG releases kidnapped finance officer in Indanan, Sulu PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Continuing focused military operations has forced the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to release another kidnap victim in Indanan, Sulu Tuesday.

Joint Task Group Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Alan Arrajado said Priscillano Garcia, the finance officer of a TawiTawi-based mining firm, was snatched by the bandits last April 3 in Bongao town, also in Sulu.

Reports regarding Garcia’s release reached the military unit 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, prompting Arrojado to order a search for the victim.

Garcia was spotted by Joint Task Group Sulu and Special Action Force units at the Jolo Pier looking for boat trip to Zamboanga City at 7:40 p.m..

The former was immediately transported to Kutang Heneral Teodulfo www.canadianinquirer.net

Bautista in Jolo for medical checkup and debriefing.

Garcia was brought to the Jolo Pier at 8:45 p.m. and placed aboard a Navy multi-purpose assault craft for his journey to Zamboanga City.

“Accordingly, the KV (kidnap victim) was released hoping that the operation targeting (ASG sub-commander) Radullan Sahiron would ease a little,” Arrojado said.

Meanwhile, troopers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion, on focused military operations, clashed with an estimated 100 ASG members under Sahiron at Sitio Kan Tabia, Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul, Sulu 9:05 p.m.

Tuesday.

The firefight lasted for 20 minutes and resulted in the wounding of undetermined number of bandits and no losses for government troopers. Pursuit operations are still ongoing. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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Binay ‘bagman’ asks CA to lift freeze order

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE ALLEGED bagman and financial officer of Vice President Jejomar Binay has broken his long silence, but is not surfacing just yet.

Gerardo “Gerry” Limlingan Jr. has asked the Court of Appeals to lift its May 11 freeze order against 170 bank and financial accounts supposedly under his name, his associates and members of his family.

In an urgent motion filed on Oct. 12, Limlingan said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions covered by the freeze order had failed to present evidence establishing probable cause that would show his accounts were related to unlawful activities.

He admitted to being a personal friend of the Vice President but said this did not automatically mean Binay owned his bank accounts and properties.

Limlingan’s brother Victor, who appeared before the Senate in August, also denied that he and his brother were dummies of the Vice President.

“Respondent has been maligned, slandered and belittled as nothing more than a lackey, a servant and a blind follower of the Vice President,” Gerry Limlingan said in the motion filed by his lawyers from the Yorac Sarmiento Arroyo Chua Coronel & Reyes Law Firm.

He asked the court to “correct the grave injustice” committed against him.

Unsubstantiated

Limlingan and another of the Vice President’s aides, his personal secretary Eduviges Baloloy, have been ordered arrested by a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee for failing to appear in its hearings. The National Bureau of Investigation has yet to locate the two.

Limlingan said the AMLC was “content to rely on the sweeping and unsubstantiated accusations” of former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado whose testimony was “utterly suspect and clearly motivated by ill will and malice.”

The AMLC petition stemmed from the investigations by the

Senate and the Office of the Ombudsman on alleged corruption committed by Binay, his associates, members of his family and Makati government officials.

The AMLC, through the Office of the Solicitor General, filed on May 7 an ex parte petition seeking a freeze order.

This was granted by the appellate court’s former first division four days later.

The court’s freeze order was directed against 242 bank accounts of, investments made by and insurance policies issued to Limlingan, Mercado, Binay, his son and suspended Makati Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr., among other people.

He said he also engaged in financial repacking services, became a partner in a tobacco firm, acquired a bank he later sold and invested in a Thai restaurant, a popular music bar, a shuttle bus firm and a movie company.

PSE seat

He was also able to purchase a seat on the Philippine Stock

Overpriced buildings?

According to the AMLC, which acted on the request of the Office of the Ombudsman, the funds in the accounts were derived from the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II and Makati City Science High School Building, as well as the alleged 5-percent share from a joint-venture agreement with Alphaland.

In his motion, Limlingan said the AMLC misled the court into believing that he was a man without financial capacity to maintain the bank and investment accounts that he previously and currently owned. He said he was an established businessman and that the funds in his accounts came from legitimate sources and were used for legitimate purposes.

The son of a former Pampanga governor and an economics graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, Limlingan said he had “a long list of accomplishments and vast experience as an entrepreneur and industry expert” for the past 40 years.

Manager to co-founder

From being a product manager in a leading household appliance manufacturer, he said he cofounded a distributor company and headed another machinery-supplying firm catering to Mindanao-based loggers.

He set up another company that provided various products—from slot machines for Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. casinos to construction machinery for the South Luzon Expressway and the Skyway. www.canadianinquirer.net

Exchange in 1989 and participated in the stock market bull run until the late 1990s.

Limlingan said the total of 170 accounts identified by the AMLC to be under his name “while staggering is maliciously misleading.”

He said one Security Bank Equities account was counted three times, two accounts do not exist, while the rest of

the accounts had either been closed, terminated or rendered inactive before the freeze order was issued.

Only around five of his accounts had been confirmed as open and existing at the time the freeze order was issued, he added.

Limlingan said two firms ❱❱ PAGE 9 Binay ‘bagman’

Philippine News

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Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Correspondents Jane Moraleda Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Mavelle Durian Katherine Padilla Community Editor Mary Ann Mandap maryann.mandap@canadianinquirer.net 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 laarni.liwanag@canadianinquirer.net 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

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Passage of social enterprise bill ensures no one is left behind PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

reduction of only 1.4% in six (6) years time.

“We are pushing through the passage of the PRESENT Bill this Aquino administration because this kind of enterprises is actually the best model for achieving poverty eradication and inclusive growth underscored in the SDGs,” said Rep. Cresente Paez, representative of Coop-NATCCCO Party-List and the principal author of the PRESENT Bill.

Social enterprises are mission-driven organizations that seek to benefit the poor and marginalized such as farmers, fishers, persons with disabilities, indig-

n anti-poverty strategy.

“With the potential of social enterprises in bringing development that is felt by MANILA — As the world hails the Interthe poor, we call the government to fastnational Day of Poverty Eradication and track the legislation of the PRESENT Bill the recent adoption of 17 new global goals to influence the strategies it will employ during the United Nations (UN) Sustainin adopting the SDGs,” said Ms. Lisa Daable Development Summit in New York canay, president of the Institute for SoCity, social enterprises call to the Philipcial Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA). pine government to put poverty at zero The PRESENT Bill seeks to grow more rates by fast-tracking the passage of the social enterprises by supporting major Poverty Reduction through Social Entreeconomic subsectors with the most numpreneurship (PRESENT) Bill. ber of poor. It aims to empower the poor The Sustainable Development Goals by giving them proper avenues where (SDGs) is a set of unithey can start and versal agenda critiscale-up their social cal in ending poverty, enterprises through fighting inequality loans, funds for reand protecting the enWe should not let the poor wait any further to search and developvironment across naprovide the support that they need. ment, preferential tions, adding that the procurement for sointegration of goals cial enterprises, linkhinge on people, planage to value chain and et, prosperity, peace, and partnership will enous peoples, and women, among oth- market, trainings and capacity-building set a world where ‘No one is left behind’. ers through provision of goods, services, activities, and insurance for social enterThe SDGs succeeded the Millennium and opportunities and enabling them to prises in times of disasters.

Development Goals (MDGs) and is con- take part in economic activities in which “We call on Congress to gather its resisted of 17 goals and 169 targets serving the profit goes back to the community maining opportunities to see this bill as blueprint for 193 UN member states through transformational services. passed. We should not let the poor wait to work for in the next 15 years, from Under the SDGs, governments are any further to provide the support that 2015 to 2030. First of the goals is poverty encouraged to support policies promot- they need,” said Jay Bertram Lacsamaeradication with other important goals ing the growth and financial access of na, executive director of Foundation for on gender equality, climate change, de- micro-, small- and medium-sized en- a Sustainable Society (FSSI) and co-concent employment, inequality, and jus- terprises in their respective countries. vener of the PRESENT Coalition. tice which were absent in the MDGs. In a research done by the Institute for The Senate version of the bill is filed by In the 2014 country report of the Na- Social Entrepreneurship in Asia, there Sen. Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino III. The bill tional Economic Development Authority are more than 30,000 social enterprises is now waiting for second reading in both (NEDA), achievement in poverty reduc- that are seen to benefit 2.5 million poor houses. The bill is also supported by the tion is dismal from the country’s target for Filipinos if support mechanisms are PRESENT Coalition, an alliance of various MDGS. Poverty incidence declined from available for social enterprises. social enterprise practitioners, advocates, 34.4% to 25.2% from 1991 to 2012 despite Currently, the National Anti-Poverty NGOs, and academes who have joined the MDG target of 17.2% by 2015. The rate Commission and the Department of together to lobby the passing of the bill. of poverty reduction has also been slow for Social Welfare and Development have Conveners of the said coalition are Ateneo the period of 2006 to 2012 with an over-all identified social entrepreneurship as an School of Government (ASoG) and FSSI. ■

Bill to fully automate BOC passed

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer THE HOUSE of Representatives has passed on final reading a bill modernizing the operations and procedures of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to curb rampant smuggling.

On Oct. 9, before it went on recess, the 291-strong lower chamber voted to approve House Bill No. 5525, or the proposed “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” one of the priority measures identified by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. Authored by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, the bill seeks to fully automate BOC operations to reduce

chances for corruption and technical smuggling.

It will also harmonize the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines with the Revised Kyoto Convention, or the blueprint for modern customs procedures developed by the World Customs Organization.

This will make it easier for traders, importers and exporters to comply with border requirements, according to the bill.

The measure will also update the country’s existing tariff and customs law to more effectively address modern business and trade practice, and reduce the cost of doing business due to customs modernization, thus, encouraging more trade investments.

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Another salient feature of the bill is that it ensures transparency and public accountability in the BOC by preventing district officers and frontline employees to hold the same position for more than three years.

It delineates the treatment for free importation, regulated importation, prohibited and restricted importation.

The bill also provides additional remedies for the importers to pay for or redeem their goods pending forfeiture, and simplifies customs procedures on express shipments and relief consignments intended for victims of calamities.

Furthermore, the bill increases the fine and imprisonment penalties for violations. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

Palacio del Gobernador, the COMELEC headquarters at Intramuros, Manila (COMELEC.GOV.PH)

‘Miriam to bring issues, excitement to campaign’

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer

Comelec problem: 130 for President

BY NIÑA P. CALLEJA Philippine Daily Inquirer

with a set of guidelines on how to narrow down the number of candidates who filed COCs, Jimenez said. In the 2010 elections, 99 filed COCs for President but only 10 were declared official candidates.

Jimenez said the Comelec gave all those wishing to file their COCs the opportunity to run.

“The evaluation process is not actually that simplistic.

Obviously, there is a tendency

Election Code. But a candidate cannot be declared a nuisance without undergoing the process, he said.

WITH THE filing of certificates “[Nuisance candidates are] of candidacy (COCs) now offithose who filed their COCs in cially closed, the next big chalorder to make a mockery of lenge for the Commission on the election system; those who Elections (Comelec) is how to have filed their COCs and seek cut down the number of canto confuse voters through a didates qualified to run in the similarity of names [with other] May 2016 elections. candidates; and those who filed “The problem is if we have their COCs without [a] bona 130 presidential candidates fide intention of actually runcome Election ning for office,” Day,” Comelec Jimenez said. spokesperson The ability to James Jimenez run a “meaningtold reporters.

The number of aspirants who went to ful campaign The numthe Comelec headquarters from Oct. leading to a reaber of aspirants 12 to 16 to make official their intent sonable expectawho went to the to run for President was ‘recordtion of victory” Comelec headbreaking.’ is another quesquarters from tion, he said.

Oct. 12 to 16 to Comelec Chair make official Andres Bautista, their intent to run for President to dismiss the candidates off- in a separate interview, said he was “record-breaking,” he said. hand,” he said. was pleased with the outcome “We have 130, that’s a lot,” he “But at the same time, we of the five-day filing of COCs. said. reserve the right to really cut “I think we were able to preBut the good thing about it (the number) down to those serve the festive atmosphere the system is that it is robust, with a reasonable expectation but still the process was orderJimenez said. of victory,” Jimenez said. ly,” he said.

“It has a strong mechanism According to Jimenez, a He said the Comelec was now for cutting these 130 filers down candidate is disqualified and focused on encouraging voters to the reasonable few,” he said. declared a nuisance based on to register and validate their The Comelec will come up criteria set by the Omnibus biometrics from Oct. 17 to 31. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

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THE ENTRY of a new candidate for President like Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago would make the campaign more issue-oriented and more exciting, according to a political pundit.

University of the Philippines vice president for public affairs and professor Prospero de Vera said, “Candidates must realize that voters are now taking a closer look at their platforms.” ‘’They can see past the mudslinging and are now taking a look at the issues and how these candidates will address them should they be voted into office,” he said.

Santiago just beat the candidacy filing deadline last Friday and announced her run for the presidency. She surprised everyone even more when she announced her running mate was Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the martial law president Santiago had abhorred.

De Vera, however, has chosen Sen. Grace Poe to take off in the presidential race after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte announced with finality on Friday his decision not to run for president.

De Vera said that fewer candidates gave Poe a bigger chance of winning as she has been the consistent topnotcher of major surveys.

De Vera, also the president of the Association of Political Consultants in Asia, cited a survey conducted by Laylo Research Strategies from Sept.

21 to Oct. 1 which showed Poe leading with 47 percent.

Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas were tied at 26 percent each.

“The survey conducted by Laylo shows that Senator Poe would benefit from the decision of Mayor Duterte not to run because she would further increase her lead in a three-way race,” De Vera said.

De Vera made the statement to reporters at the annual corporate governance conference of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines last week.

De Vera said recent survey results showed that Poe and her team were focused on the issues and this was “connecting with voters.”

A wider Laylo survey covering 1,500 respondents from 76 provinces as well as the National Capital Region showed Poe leading Roxas, Binay, Duterte, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Senators Marcos and Santiago and former Sen. Richard Gordon.

Poe garnered 32 percent while Roxas came second at 19 percent, followed by Binay (14 percent), Duterte (10 percent), Estrada (9 percent), Marcos (7 percent), Santiago (6 percent) and Gordon (1 percent). ■

Binay ‘bagman’... identified in the freeze order, Omni Security Investigation and General Services and Meriras Realty and Development Corp.—alleged dummy firms of Binay—were originally Mercado’s companies, which the former vice mayor had incorporated and managed. ❰❰ 7

‘Discovered’

Limlingan said he acquired the two companies as Mercado’s payment for a debt and to help him raise funds for Mercado’s failed mayoral bid in

2010.

The AMLC petition cited a testimony from Mercado, who said he “discovered” that the two companies were Binay’s dummy firms and owned by Limlingan and his wife.

Limlingan said the freezing of his dollar time deposit account was illegal and in violation of Section 8 of the Foreign Currency Deposit Act. He said the AMLC, banks and the financial institutions also froze numerous accounts of individuals and corporations not listed in the freeze order. ■

Philippine News

10

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Urban poor group: Bulk COCs indicate dissatisfaction over gov’t

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — With a total of 130 presidential candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) and sought to join next year’s national elections, urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) asserted that this was not a sign of a vibrant democracy but of dissatisfaction over the present government.

Moreover, there have been 19 vice-presidential aspirants and 172 senatorial candidates who also filed their COCs — majority of them were ordinary citizens or unpopular bets.

KADAMAY president Gloria Arellano claimed that the Aquino administration was flawed and inept, driving many ordinary people to seek elective posts in the coming general elections.

Arellano questioned President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s “daang matuwid” (straight path) type of governance, after several killings and harassment of urban poor leaders sustained

during his term. She also vowed that they would continue to keep a watchful eye in the administration.

Former Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas was among those who filed COCs, stating that he opted to enter politics after the government failed to bring justice to the slain 44 SAF men.

Meanwhile, among the 130 presidential aspirants, Senator Grace Poe emerged as the top preferred successor of Aquino.

Feeling ‘honored and humbled,’ Poe still drew inspiration from the people’s needs rather than the results of the presidential preferences surveys.

“My sincerest gratitude to the people for their unwavering support. I am honored and humbled… Surveys help us check if we’re on the right track but we derive inspiration from the needs and aspirations of our countrymen,” Poe said in a statement.

Notary service to blame

The huge number of candidates in the May 2016 elections has been brought about by

Informal settlers in Metro Manila.

the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) third-party notarial service offered right inside their Project Management Office (PMO) during last week’s filing, according to a lawyer at the agency.

All filed COCs were required to be sworn before notary public or other authorized officials.

The lawyer then believed that the notary service resulted in the record-breaking number of aspirants. He added that the legal department was initially against offering the said ser-

SAIKO3P / SHUTTERSTOCK

vice.

“If we did not make available a notary public inside, many of these nuisance candidates, who lacked this requirement, will be discouraged from pushing through with filing their COCs,” the unnamed lawyer said in an Inquirer.net report.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, however, stressed that the third-party notarial service was offered in good faith as there were legitimate filers who came to Comelec without document stamps

and were assisted.

“It doesn’t matter if we have more nuisance candidates now because the process of filing became more convenient to the legitimate filers,” Jimenez said in the same report.

“We did that for the first time because we wanted to make the experience as easy for the filers as possible. It really means nothing, but the service that was provided to those who didn’t have the document stamps meant everything,” he added. ■

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You often have to pay an annual fee to subscribe to a reward scheme. This fee can often equate to an entire month's interest.

Ultimately this is like having to pay 13 months worth of interest per year. Rather than reduce your debt, rewards programs add to it the very thing you are seeking to avoid. Reward points are also not very good value for money. With some programs it is possible that you have to spend up to $20,000 per year on your card just to recoup the costs of the annual fee.

www.canadianinquirer.net

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Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

11

Gordon: Parties want a disqualification case against Poe

BY KATHERINE PADILLA Philippine Canadian Inquirer FORMER SENATOR Dick Gordon said on Tuesday that two political parties had asked him to file a disqualification case against presidential candidate Grace Poe. “I was approached by members of UNA [and] some members of the Liberal Party. Some of my schoolmates in UP, some of my friends,” Gordon said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart program.

Gordon did not provide the names of the individuals who asked him for a suit against Poe. Three suits for Grace Poe’s disqualification have been filed since her filing of Certificate of Candidacy.

All of these suits are on the basis of her citizenship.

Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Poe’s spokesman, said in a statement released to The Philippine Daily Inquirer that Gordon’s revelation is “a concerted effort to gang up on Senator Grace Poe and pull her ratings down through dirty politics.”

“We know the law is on our side. And in the proper forum, we will face them and answer their allegations point per point,” Gatchalian said in his statement given to The Standard. .

Gatchalian assures the public that Poe is a natural born Filipino.

He also said that the Poe’s camp would focus on enriching the discourse of programs and platforms instead of playing “dirty tactics” as retaliation to her detractors.

Liberal Party spokesman, Cong. Miro Quimbo said in a statement that they don’t engage in any smear campaign.

“We have always campaigned on Daang Matuwid and that we are focused on issues and our platform, not on personalities. That is how we practically swept the 2013 Senatorial elections, by entirely avoiding a personality based campaign,” he added.

Political Analyst Ramon Casiple said in a text interview with The Standard that the camp of another presidentiable, Mar Roxas, “is the natural suspect” in the smears against Poe, Binay and Duterte.

Binay and Duterte have blamed Roxas and Liberal Party in the past for the allegations against them.

Casiple, in his text interview with The Standard, said that whether the smear campaigns against other candidates was done by Roxas’ camp or not, it will have an effect on his candidacy.

“If it found an audience among voters, it may well produce an anti-Roxas sympathy vote,” Casiple said in a text interview with The Standard.

While it may hurt Roxas’ campaign, it

won’t, however, affect either Roxas’ running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, nor LP’S senatorial candidates.

Senator Francis Escudero, Poe’s running mate, said in an interview with The Standard that it is “harder and harder to give the leaders of LP and UNA the benefit of the doubt” because what Gordon has revealed.

“When your leaders say one thing and do another, it does not speak well of their character nor of their capacity to lead the nation. Our people expect

honesty, not doublespeak; integrity, not deceit,” Escudero added.

“C.S. Lewis said that integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Not let’s try this and see if we can get away with it. If Mar believes that Grace is Filipino, he should explicitly tell LP members and supporters to stop making an issue of it. The same holds true for VP Binay, who also invited Grace to be his VP,” Escudero stated.

In a statement issued by Gordon, he cleared that the disqualification peti-

www.canadianinquirer.net

tions against Grace Poe were not caused by partisan politics.

“I would like to think that those who called me about a disqualification case against Senator Poe did so in the context that her disqualification would mean my elevation to the present Senate. I wish to stress that I dismissed such talk out of hand, on the grounds of delicadeza. This was my consistent stance, whether those who discussed the matter were ordinary ❱❱ PAGE 12 Gordon: Parties

12

Philippine News

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

SC asked to junk plunder raps Poe’s camp unfazed by vs. former president Arroyo another disqualification case filed by ex-senator

BY SAMMY F. MARTIN Philippines News Agency

MANILA — Former President and now Pampanga (2nd District) Rep. Gloria MacapagalArroyo has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss the plunder case filed against her and several others before the Sandiganbayan for approving the release of more than P365 million in Confidential/Intelligence Funds (CIF) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during her tenure as Chief Executive.

In a 115-page petition for certiorari dated Oct. 15, 2015, through her lawyer former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, Arroyo asked the SC to expedite the proceedings and to set the case for oral arguments.

She also asked the SC to suspend further proceedings of the case before the Sandiganbayan, through a temporary restraining order (TRO), particularly a hearing to receive the evidence of the accused by way of defense.

Arroyo’s petition was filed several days after the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Human Rights ruled that the detention of the former president is arbitrary under each and all of the three categories of arbitrariness.

“Mrs. Arroyo was denied bail on grounds that are not compatible with international law; she did not benefit from the presumption in favor of bail; she was denied bail exclusively on the basis of the alleged strength of evidence against her; measures alternative to pre-trial detention were not considered and there were undue delays in considering her bail position in the proceedings against her as a whole,” the UN ruling said.

“Accordingly, the UN recommended the reconsideration of Mrs. Arroyo’s application for bail in accordance with the relevant international human rights standards,” it added.

In her petition, Arroyo asked the SC “to render judgment annulling, reversing, and setting aside the resolutions of April 6, 2015 and September 10, 2015 denying petitioner’s Demurrer to Evidence dated August

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency

Former president now Pampanga representative Cong. Gloria MacapagalArroyo.

WIKIPEDIA

27, 2014 for having been issued with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of, or in excess of jurisdiction[.]”

In lieu of this, she also asked the SC to dismiss the criminal case against her and acquit her of the offense charged therein.

Besides Arroyo, also charged with plunder by the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) before the Sandiganbayan were former PCSO General Manager and Vice Chairman Rosario Uriarte; Board of Directors Manuel Morato, Jose Taruc, Raymundo Roquero, Ma. Fatima Valdes; Budget and Accounts Manager Benigno Aguas; Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Reynaldo Villar; and former COA’s CIF Fraud Audit Unit head Nilda Plaras.

The complaint alleged that they conspired and confederated with one another to unlawfully amass, accumulate and acquire ill-gotten wealth [the said amount], through any or a series of criminal acts.

However, all of the accused who were indicted before the Sandiganbayan had already been granted bail for their temporary liberty except Arroyo.

Because of this, Arroyo also sought equal justice under law.

“The Sandiganbayan resolutions denying petitioner Arroyo’s ‘Demurrer to Evidence’, as shown heretofore, in creating a new criminal offense without authority of the Constitution

and the law, and applying the newly created criminal offense ex post facto to petitioner Arroyo, on their face do not render ‘Equal Justice Under Law’,” the petition said.

The petition added that there is no enough evidence to indict the former Chief Executive.

“In point of fact, not a single exhibit of the 637 exhibits offered by the prosecution nor a single testimony of the 21 witnesses of the prosecution was offered by the prosecution to prove that petitioner amassed, accumulated, or acquired even a single peso of the alleged illgotten wealth amounting to P365,997,915.00 or any part of that amount alleged in the Information,” it said.

The petition said that implicitly confirming and aggravating its error, “on the basis solely of the ‘petitioner Arroyo’s authorization of the release of the Confidential/Intelligence Fund (CIF) from PCSO’s accounts, the Sandiganbayan ruled that she has committed the offense of plunder under [Republic Act. No. 7080 of the reason that her release of CIF Funds to the PCSO amount to a violation of Sec. 1(d) [1] of R.A. No. 7080[.]”

It added that “the facts alleged in the Information as to petitioner Arroyo (and indeed, as to all of the accused) do not constitute the crime of plunder and, and as a consequence, all proceedings thereafter held under the Information are void.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Senator Grace Poe will respect another disqualification case filed by former Senator Francisco Tatad on Monday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), according to the lady senator’s legal counsel, Atty. George Garcia.

“Every Filipino has the right to avail of the remedies afforded by law. The former senator is entitled to his opinion and we will respect that,” Garcia said in a press statement.

“In the end, the rule of law prevails and the vibrancy of our democracy is sustained,” he added.

Garcia insisted that Poe has met all the requirements to run for president in the 2016 national elections.

Tatad reportedly claimed that Poe should not be allowed to run for higher post due to her failure to meet all the requirements provided under Article 7, Section 2 of the Philippine Constitution.

The former senator claimed that Poe is not a natural-born Filipino citizen because she is a foundling adopted by the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces.

Tatad also said the lady senator did not meet the 10-year residency requirement as prescribed by the Constitution.

It was the third disqualification case filed against Poe, with losing senatorial candidate Rizalito David in the 2013 elections filing the first petition before the Senate Electoral Tri-

bunal.

Both Tatad and David were represented by lawyer Manuelito Luna.

Last Friday, at the close of the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs), for next year’s polls, Atty. Estrella Elamparo filed a petition to disqualify Poe for alleged “material misrepresentation in stating that she is a natural-born Filipino.”

Like Tatad and David, Elamparo said Poe is not a naturalborn Filipino citizen because she is a foundling.

Elamparo argued that international treaties on stateless persons are not sufficient to grant Poe the status of a natural-born citizen.

Meanwhile, Poe’s spokesperson, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said Poe and her running mate Senator Francis Escudero will not indulge in ugly personal attacks but instead focus on track record and platform of government.

“It is our duty to educate the voters and help them analyze the track record and performance of each candidate,” Gatchalian said.

Poe and Escudero are scheduled to visit Tacloban City, Leyte, and Virac, Catanduanes on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

In Tacloban, Poe and Escudero will be the guests in a Cocofest at the Leyte Park while in Virac, they will grace the Regional Conference of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) Region V at the Provincial Capitol Dome. ■

Gordon: Parties... citizens, or politicians from the administration or opposition side,” Gordon in a statement released to The Standard.

“I believe that the matter of Senator Poe’s qualifications for national office has already been referred to the proper legal venues, and I deem it counter-productive to say anything more about this ❰❰ 11

issue, aside from the statements I have already made,” Gordon added.

Gatchalian, in an interview with The Standard, complimented Gordon’s integrity, calling the former senator “esteemed public servant.”

Dick Gordon, the chairman of the Philippine Red Cross is seeking a seat in the Senate for the 2016 elections. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

13

Lando’s death toll reaches 30; damages hit P5-Billion

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD T. CALIWAN Philippines News Agency MANILA — Thirty persons were killed while 36 others were wounded and three missing persons due to the onslaught of typhoon Lando in several areas of Luzon, separate reports from regional offices of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), show.

Lt. Edison Diaz, commander of Coast Guard Station Iloilo reported big waves overturned a boat in Iloilo, killing eight persons.

Diaz identified the eight fatalities as CJ Gamutia, who was retrieved at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday from waters off Brgy Sawang, Buenavista, Guimaras.

The Office of Civil Defense -Cordillera Autonomous Region (OCD-CAR) reported five fatalities: One in Bakun, Benguet who was buried by landslide; two in Tinoc, Ifugao due to soil erosion and landslide; one in Tineg, Abra, who was previously reported to be missing since he was swept by swollen river; and one in Buguias, Benguet, who was drown after being swept away by creek.

The OCD in Region 1 reported two fatalities in Pangasinan who were pinned by fallen trees. The Pangasinan police also reported that four persons were drowned after their boat capsized at 4 p.m. Monday in Bani town. Their bodies were recovered at about 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Baguio City police reported that two girls, aged seven and six, died due to landslide.

In Central Luzon, OCD Region 3 reported seven fatalities: Three in Aurora, two of whom were pinned to death by fallen trees while one died of drowning; two were drowned in Gen-

Nueva Ecija submerged in flood.

SCREENSHOT FROM INQUIRER AERIAL FOOTAGE

eral Tinio, Nueva Ecija; one or 446,322 individuals were 4.651 million; Region 1 with was electrocuted in Moncada, evacuated to higher grounds: Php 146.556 million, CAR with Tarlac; one drowned and an- 3,467 / 15,954 (Ilocos region); Php 27.732 million; and Region other pinned by collapsed wall 40,276 / 158,608 (Cagayan Val- 2 with Php 10.071 million). in Zambales. ley); 53,891 / 266,125 (Central Meanwhile NDRRMC figure Meanwhile, three missing Luzon). as of Tuesday afternoon shows persons were reported-- one The National Disaster Re- the death toll due to tropidue to boat mishap in Iloilo, duction and Risk Management cal storm “Lando” nationwide one carried away by swollen Council (NDRRMC) reported reached 18 while 16 injured and creek after falling off a hanging that 191 families, or 680 per- one missing in Regions 1, 2, 3, bridge in Nueva 4-A at CAR. Vizcaya, and one NDRRMC Exdrowned in Laecutive Director guna.

Alexander Pama The OCD also Disaster officials said the damages said that 88 road said that 36 peowere expected to rise as assessments sections and 25 ple were hurt: continued as infrastructure projects bridges were three from Quesuch as roads, bridges and buildings impassable in zon City due to were excluded in the assessment.

Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, fallen tree; one and CAR. in Nueva Vizcaya He also said while trying to that a total of rescue sibling 1,078 passenwho fell off a hanging bridge; sons were evacuated in Que- gers, 54 vessels, and 59 rolling three hit by fallen trees in Pan- zon and Cavite. In Cordillera, a cargoes were stranded due to gasinan; 27 in Central Luzon, total of 1,179 families or 4, 955 rough sea condition caused by 14 of whom in Aurora, one in persons were also evacuated. tropical storm Lando.

Nueva Ecija, 12 in Zambales The OCD estimated initial He also noted that damages to and two in CAR; one in Ifugao damage to rice and corn crops, agriculture in affected regions due to landslide; one in Kalinga fishponds and other fishery reached Php 5,304,636,650.37. who was hit by fallen tree. utilities reached Php 189.010 Disaster officials, led by DeA total of 99,004 families, million (Region 3 with Php fense Secretary Voltaire Gaz-

www.canadianinquirer.net

min, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, flew to Aurora province, the hardest hit among provinces affected by “Lando, on Tuesday to personally assess the devastation wrought by the typhoon.

Gazmin, who is also NDRRMC chairman, also oversaw the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Aurora province.

Gazmin and Sarmiento’s visit on the ground came as the Offices of Civil Defense in Regions 1, 2 and 3 reported that nearly a total of Php 5-billion worth of fishery and agriculture products had been damaged or destroyed in the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Quirino.

Disaster officials said the damages were expected to rise as assessments continued as infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and buildings were excluded in the assessment. ■

14

Philippine News

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

BI issues deportation order against Pemberton PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued a deportation order against American soldier Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is the prime suspect in the death of Filipino transgender Jeffery “Jennifer” Laude in October 2014.

In a five-page resolution, the BI Board of Commissioners issued the deportation order against the foreigner for undesirability.

“Wherefore, we find respondent Joseph Scott Pemberton, American national, to be an undesirable alien and order his deportation, subject to the issuance of a clearance from the Regional Trial Court, Branch

74, Olongapo City and other appropriate government agencies,” said the resolution dated Sept. 16, 2015.

The order also included the name of the foreigner in the bureau’s blacklist which bars him from reentering the country.

The BI also cited the testimonies of Mark Clarence “Barbie” Gelviro before the Senate hearing and Elias Galamos, the cashier of the Celzone Lodge, Olongapo City, and the finding of probable cause by the City Prosecutor and Regional Trial Court, Branch 74, Olongapo City.

“In deportation cases, even an iota of evidence showing that an alien is unfit to remain in the country is sufficient. Considering all the attendant circumstances: (1) Gelviro’s statement

US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton mugshot.

OLONGAPO CITY POLICE

before the Senate hearing is credible, clear, and consistent as he directly and categorically narrated how, when, and where

Respondent murdered Laude; (2) Elias Galamos, the cashier of the lodge, corroborated Gelviro’s statement. He allegedly

saw Pemberton walk out of the room and leave the lodge less than an hour after they checked in; (3) the finding of probable cause by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Olongapo City; (4) the finding of probable cause and issuance of a warrant of arrest by the regional Trial Court, Branch 74, Olongapo City – is to our mind more than an iota of proof of his undesirability,” the decision added.

The decision stemmed on the case filed by the BI’s Law Division against Pemberton for posing a risk to public interest (undesirability) and included his name in the bureau’s watch list on Oct. 26, 2014.

Pemberton is detained at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Quezon City. ■

DOTC to add 120 trains for LRT-1

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) will be having an additional 120 brand new light rail vehicles (LRVs) to be procured by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) through an official development assistance (ODA) funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“With the upcoming 11.8-kilometer extension of LRT-1 comes the need to add more trains to the system. This will enable us to meet demand, and to maintain the right headway between arriving trains at the stations,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya said in a statement.

“This is part of the massive modernization and upgrading efforts that have started not only for LRT-1 but for all our railways,” Abaya added.

Receiving an ODA loan from JICA, the bidding would be exclusive to Japanese train suppliers which will be submitting project management plans, design and development plans and inspection, testing and commissioning plans.

“The winning bidder will cover the technical design of the coaches, procurement of materials required for manufacturing the LRVs (light rail ve-

Photo of LRT-1 train taken from Metro Manila Roadway, an MMDA initiative .

hicles), and ensure compliance with technical specifications through testing,” DOTC said, adding that interested bidders may purchase bid documents starting on October 16 and participate in a pre-bid conference on October 30.

“The winning bidder will have three years to complete the delivery of the new LRVs, which will be done in two branches: the first delivery is set in 2017 and the second in

2018,” they added.

Once delivered, the 120 LRVs will be assembled into 30 trains.

The LRT-1 will then be fully operational by 2020.

Aside from the procurement of the new LRVs, the LRT-1 will also be pushing through with its P64.9-billion Cavite Extension Project, which aimed to extend the current 20.7-kilometer railway to a 32.4 rail line reaching Bacoor, Cavite from its Baclaran, Pasay City station. www.canadianinquirer.net

MMROADWAY.COM

Once the LRVs are assembled and the extension project is completed, LRT-1 will then have 250,000 daily passengers on top of its average daily commuter count of 500,000.

MRT-3 procurement

The Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3), on the other hand, has already received on August three prototypes of the 48 LRVs from Chinese firm CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock

Co. Ltd. also procured by the DOTC. The new LRVs will undergo dynamic testing in November.

“We’re trying to speed up the deliveries as well… It’s more really on assembling all the components to speed up delivery,” Abaya earlier said.

The newly assembled trains for MRT-3 were similar to old trains, except that they had slightly wider spaces to accommodate more passengers. ■

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

Philippine News

Santiago refuses to release medical records publicly

It’s final: Duterte not running for president

BY MAVELLE DURIAN Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

MANILA — Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago refused to take the challenge for her to release her medical record publicly for it is against her right to privacy.

In an open letter of Sylvia Estrada — Claudio, director of the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies, she dared Santiago to release her medical records, which the voters would like to know, even the records are confidential.

In a telephone interview, Miram Santiago said Claudio should not seek for medical records from her but from St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City, Taguig branch, where Santiago’s records were kept. Santiago also said that she does not know the intention of Claudio in summoning her.

Santiago’s long absence in the Senate raised questions on her true state of health. When she returned to office, she declared that she already survived a stage-four lung cancer.

Claudio, who is also a physician and psychologist, said that it was Santiago who broke her medical confidentiality after announcing her ailment to the media last year.

Santiago took offense on allegations that she’s faking her ailments for her to gain political mileage.

“What is she trying to say, that I never had cancer? Why would I be absent for one and a half years (from the Senate)?

I have no record of truancy. In fact, I was a consistent honor student and I was even given several awards for excellence, meaning hard work in my profession,” Santiago said in a report by Marvin Sy of The Phil-

MANILA — Still not filing a certificate of candidacy (COC) on the last day, Davao Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte muted calls for him to join the presidential race in next year’s national elections.

“A little over two years ago, I posted in the government website over the Internet that I was not interested in the presidency. Nothing has changed… I am comfortable where I am now,” he said in a statement.

“If Inday Sara would want it, she has the choice of running in 2016 or the next election. Personally, the earlier the better. I want to retire. I am tired.

Give the presidency to the one who wants it. I don’t,” he added.

Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, earlier posted a photo of her holding a signed COC for Davao mayor. She recently gave her father the gosignal to run for president despite previously being openly against it. She also shaved her head to show support.

Duterte’s son, Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, also allowed his father to seek the country’s highest post after being visited by his grandmother in a dream.

The tough-talking mayor earlier cited his family as one of the reasons why he could not run in the coming general elections.

Yesterday, one of Duterte’s executive assistants filed his candidacy for mayor. Filing the COC at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of-

Veteran Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

ippine Star.

“So I am not supposed to be on the defensive. She is supposed to present her case first.

She must state her reason for doing this,” she said.

“It is as if she is saying it is my burden to prove that I am healthy for the presidency,” she added.

“She can formally ask in writing, then St. Luke’s will follow their protocol and abide by it. I will abide by whatever the hospital says about it but under our Civil Code and Criminal Code, a lawyer cannot compel a patient to reveal in court his relation to his doctor. All of these are covered by private human rights,” Santiago exclaimed.

The report said that Santiago’s team of local and foreign doctors can vouch for the veracity of her claim regarding her health.

Giving in to Claudio’s demand would oblige any candidate to expose their personal records such as health and

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mental issues, and financial records, which the law does not require.

Former health secretary Esperanza Cabral (cerdiologist), together with other panel of doctors including Gary Lorenzo (oncologist) and Ruth Divinagracia (pulmonologist), said that Santiago was in and out of St. Luke’s Hospital, Global City for a year and a half, as she undergone for treatment.

Citing the findings of Mark Kris, head of the Thoracic Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in New York, he visited Santiago at the hospital last July after studying her case. Kris informed Santiago that the cancer growth in her left lung had been arrested.

“He is known to be the most famous of all the lung cancer specialists in the world. He took a look at my records and he told me what else I should do. It seems that everything he said was accurate and now I feel almost normal,” she said in the report. ■

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fice in Manila, the aide wore a shirt with the text: “No is no” in front, and “Sinabi ko na ayaw ko, ang titigas ng ulo niyo — Rody Duterte” (I said that I didn’t want to, you are heardheaded — Rody Duterte) printed at the back.

Duterte earlier apologized to those who urged for his candidacy.

“I am sorry to disappoint those who spent much and worked hard and long in support of me as I went around the country espousing the benefits and advantages of federalism,” he said.

“I therefore beg for everyone’s kind understanding and acceptance of my sincerest apologies… After all, there was no ambition for me to aspire for presidency. The country does not need me. I find no need for it. I guess it is fate that wills that our long journey together should end this way,” he further said.

The local chief executive’s refusal to join the presidential race disappointed many of his supporters who trooped to the Comelec office, hoping that he would still change his mind and finally run for president.

“I’m downhearted. The country needs him and the mayor has the commitment for service to the country,” Duterte’s legal counsel and Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod secretarygeneral Lawyer Melchor Quitain said in an interview, adding that he respected Duterte’s decision. ■

Opinion

16

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

AT LARGE

At Large: Why we need ‘kababawan’

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer “KABABAWAN” (shallowness) it may be, as Lea Salonga put it. But the current mania over the “AlDub” love team of that local television staple “Eat Bulaga” may be the distraction we all need to lighten the heightening passions being stirred by next year’s elections.

Certainly, if entertainment were all we demanded as voters, there was plenty of it the past week, as candidates—“serious” as well as the usual cast of crackpots and clowns— trooped to the Commission on Elections offices in Intramuros and elsewhere in the land. They were there to file their certificates of candidacy, with some of the better-known conducting press conferences and interviews, while a few settled for their proverbial 15 minutes of fame.

To be sure, there were those who sought public attention, with one coming in a “superhero” costume, while others brandished crosses, religious images and even anting-anting.

One said he would call on his “alien friends” to defend our islands in the event of an invasion from China, while another said he would “enact” a law “legalizing” the four temperate seasons—spring, summer, fall and

winter—in our tropical isles. ed pairing. The prevailing sentiment But there is about the opening salvo One party-list nominee, of the leftist seemed to be of betrayal on Miriam’s of the 2016 elections something antiBayan Muna, came arrayed in a military part, of how a senator who once ran climactic about it. All the sound and uniform reminiscent of revolutionary for president on an anticorruption fury of the previous months reduced general Antonio Luna, doubtless bank- platform could now be pairing with to this bureaucratic procedure, the ing on the residual popularity of the the son of a man who, for more than pro forma filing of COCs and the usual movie telling the general’s tragic story. a decade, institutionalized not just pap about serving the country.

Candidates’ supporters massed in corruption in the system but also Sure, the fire and brimstone are front of the Comelec headquarters, repression, torture and “salvaging,” sure to follow once the stump begins. lending a “fiesta” atmosphere to the a word used as code for forced disap- In fact, another “concerned citizen” area as the hours ticked by last Fri- pearances and executions that gained has suddenly emerged to file another day, the last day for COC filing. Bands popular usage during martial law. petition for the disqualification of Sen. and cheerleaders filled the plaza with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Grace Poe as a presidential candidate. music and mayhem, while followers stayed put in his bailiwick, but still And I’m sure that once the rhetoric levcheered on their candidates. All that managed to capture a lot of media els up, even more mud will be hurled was missing were at competing cansome elephants, didates and parties. [...] maybe we do need to distract ourselves from the horses and clowns And if harsh words disheartening reality we confront. on stilts. TO be sure, are exchanged, espethere were clowns a-plenty. Even attention with his enigmatic stance cially at the local level, can violence and public figures who once commanded regarding a possible presidential run. viciousness be far behind? We might a modicum of respect sought pub- Toward the close of Friday’s office need more than alien allies to referee lic attention with embarrassing and hours, he sounded peeved and impa- the expected melee. cringe-worthy gimmicks. tient, saying he had “never said” he The Comelec is seeking to mediate Count among them Sen. Miriam was going to run for president, even if the electoral dispute, especially at Defensor Santiago who caught most he’d dropped tantalizing hints about the national level, by offering to host everyone by surprise with her sud- it in previous weeks. This left Sen. a debate among the major contendden announcement of a run for the Alan Peter Cayetano, a vice presi- ers. Perhaps this is an effort to raise presidency and then, as if this were dential candidate who was publicly the level of discourse, now mired in not shocking enough, declaring that courting Duterte to be his running issues of citizenship and class orishe was taking on Sen. Bongbong mate, not just orphaned of a princi- gins, skin color and political loyalties, Marcos as her running mate. pal, but with virtual egg on his face. and move on to more substantial isSocial media lit up with tweets, *** sues like platforms and principles, hashtags and posts on the unexpectAND so we’re off! plans and performance. Unfortu-

nately, none of the major contenders, including administration candidate Mar Roxas, appears willing to take part in the debate, dashing our hopes for a more substantial campaign, and thus more substantial choice, this time around. *** AND so we surrender our attention and time to the increasingly complicated—and, let’s admit it, kilig pa more—story of the AlDub pair, who appear to be moving closer to fulfilling the promise of their unlikely romance.

Of course, this is no time for wrong priorities, for kababawan, for letting the evolving story of two young lovers-to-be get in the way of a serious evaluation of all our futures. But then, given the way the election scenario is playing out, with politicians trading on our goodwill and dreams for our future to catapult themselves to power, maybe we do need to distract ourselves from the disheartening reality we confront.

But if, as AlDub fans believe, there is such a thing as “forever,” maybe there are also such things as the myths of governance we are enticed with: honesty, competence, vision, and desire to serve. Is it possible these really exist and are not just buzzwords to bedazzle us? ■

PUBLIC LIVES

A nonnegotiable narrative

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer SEN. MIRIAM Defensor Santiago, who took a leave from her Senate duties because of illness, surprised everyone by filing at the last minute her candidacy for the presidency in the 2016 election.

On the same occasion, she sprang an even bigger surprise on her young awestruck fans: Bongbong Marcos is her choice for vice president.

Visibly flattered, Bongbong, who had earlier filed his candidacy for the vice presidency, issued a statement confirming he had indeed talked to Miriam’s husband, Jun Santiago.

Yet, he would not categorically say that they had reached an agreement.

That, to me, is significant.

Facing her supporters after the brief filing process at the Commission on Elections, Miriam conceded that the partnership with the scion of the martial law dictator might appear “strange,” but that she would rather call it “a new development.” She, no doubt, had in mind critics of the Marcos dictatorship who are offended that Bongbong staunchly defends his father’s record as president and dismisses the human rights violations and corruption committed under his rule as things from which we should all move on.

Miriam appears to echo the young Miriam-Bongbong match-up seems a of judicial autonomy under martial Marcos’ line in some of her pro- perfect carrier for the message of na- law made her an instant hero to the nouncements. For example, on the tional unity and reconciliation. anti-dictatorship movement. That longstanding controversy over the This last one is worth discussing at decision established her credentials Marcos family’s persistent demand length if only because Bongbong an- as a brave professional lawyer and for a hero’s burial for its patriarch, chors his entire political ambition on subsequently launched her political she said: “Why should we let a dead his improbable claim to being a figure career in the post-Marcos years. But, man control the actuations of the of national unity. I think the only way to my knowledge, she was never an living and its new millennial genera- this claim can gain some credibility active participant in the long camtion? We should let go of the past.” is if Bongbong can find individuals paign to topple the dictatorship, nor, Indeed, from one standpoint, who have been victims of martial for that matter, was she ever a victim there may be nothing strange at all law who are prepared to endorse his of the atrocities of martial law. about a possible team-up between bid for higher office. Juan Ponce EnIndeed, I could sense a little unMiriam and Bongbong. This partner- rile, who recently raised Bongbong’s easiness—perhaps, even ambivaship meets all the criteria by which hand, would not count as a credible lence—on Miriam’s part as she tried the chances of a to defend the right presidential-vice of the Marcoses not I doubt if Bongbong shares that view, as benign as it may presidential tanto apologize for the be. Let us not forget that he was not exactly an outsider to what dem are convenabuses committed was happening in Malacañang, particularly in the last years of the tionally measured. during martial law.

Marcos regime.

First, there is the I surmise this is hoped-for fusion of two large voting endorser even if he turned against due in large part to the fact that she regions: in this case, the Ilocano base Marcos in the dying days of the dic- knows she has no right to speak for of the Marcoses and the Visayan base tatorship, because he was the chief the victims of martial law. But, there of Miriam. Second, there is the im- martial law administrator for the could be a more important reason. plicit attractiveness of an alliance of greater part of that regime. But, then, She knows that netizens, who adtwo generations, the old and the new. neither would Miriam. When she mire her for her irreverence and who Third, there is the underlying mes- was a judge, Miriam ruled against the constitute the bulk of the millennial sage of two politicians of widely dif- enforcers of martial law by allowing generation she claims as her confering backgrounds coming together student activists from the University stituency, are not totally indifferent for a common cause—one coming of the Philippines and Ateneo, who or clueless about martial law. She is from a middle-class professional were charged with illegal assembly, aware that they deserve a more confamily, and the other from the tradi- to post bail so they could return to vincing account of that period than is tional political elite. And, finally, the their classes. This singular assertion contained in her legalistic attempt to

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cut the Marcos children some slack by suggesting they did not participate in policy decisions.

Miriam said: “It is still important to go over the details of martial law in the country so we will know what path we shall take for the millennials. I do not especially agree, and I beg the pardon of Mr. Marcos, that the details of martial law deserve to be buried and forgotten. No. On the contrary, the historians of tomorrow should make the study deeper so that we will know what lessons they held for our future.”

I am sure her fans cannot agree more. But, I doubt if Bongbong shares that view, as benign as it may be. Let us not forget that he was not exactly an outsider to what was happening in Malacañang, particularly in the last years of the Marcos regime. He adores his father. To this day, he believes that his father did what was necessary when he declared martial law in 1972, and that he was on the right track until the Americans intervened to drive him out of office during the crisis that followed the brutal assassination of Ninoy Aquino. I don’t know if Miriam is ready to say that.

Unless Bongbong finds a presidential candidate who will subscribe to this nonnegotiable narrative, I think he will be running alone. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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LOOKING BACK

Madhouse and lunatics

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN I first visited the Philippine National Archives in the 1980s, I was given a folder with a list of archival documents classified by topics and arranged in bundles. Some materials had been photocopied and bound, so you could pick these off a shelf; these volumes were marked, in Spanish, “Sediciones y rebeliones” and “Erreccion de Pueblos.” A drawer had big typewritten cards describing the “Cedulario de Manila,” the earliest documents in the archives. If you chose from the list in the folder, a bundle or bundles would be found for you on the upper floors of the National Library building and brought to your table. Documents were wrapped in thick Manila paper and tied with straw. On the wrapper you would sometimes see, aside from the rubber stamp of the archives, small handwritten initials, signatures and dates—reminders to some absentminded researchers like myself that we had worked on the bundle before.

Digitization of the collection has been ongoing for decades since I last visited, so I presume research

is easier, faster and more comfortable these days. While there is a certain romance to handling original, centuries-old documents, or trying to make sense of 17th-century handwriting and abbreviations, I prefer working on scanned documents simply because you can enlarge, enhance and manipulate them. Working with originals is an issue for me because one of the ironies of my life is that I amallergic to book and document dust.

One of the first document groups I visited was marked “Dementes,” and in it I had hoped to find the prototype of Jose Rizal’s enduring creation “Sisa,” or a 19th-century equivalent of National Artist BenCab’s muse “Sabel.” I was not disappointed because there was not one but many Sisas and Sabels documented by the Guardia Civil at the time. In 1893 a certain “Memen” roamed the streets of Binondo, frequently causing scandal in the church. In 1895 Brigida Villaruel, an orphan left in the care of an old and poor relative, was caught roaming Quiapo. She was later committed to the Hospicio de San Jose.

In 1892 a vagabond was arrested in Manila who could not provide a

name or address when questioned.

Since the Guardia Civil could not tell whether she was deaf, dumb, or demented, she was turned over to the Hospicio de San Jose.

These documents made me wonder whether some normal but homeless people were committed to an asylum by the Guardia Civil simply to get them off the streets. According to the Guardia Civil, the arrested women exhibited symptoms of madness, but since they were neither doctors nor psychiatrists, how could they tell? I did not look into the bundles for prisons to check on the numbers, but I suspect it was temptingly easy for the police to commit vagrants to San Jose. Perhaps there was a separate bundle for it, but not a single document in the Dementes bundle showed someone committed to the Hospicio de San Jose by a relative or friend; this responsibility was left to the government and the Guardia Civil. If relatives cared for and kept their demented kin at home, then those in San Jose were, literally, rejects of society.

In April 1895 the capitan municipal, parish priest, and prominent citizens of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya,

wrote the governor to complain about one Nicolas Umli Libanan, who, for two years, had been observed to be suffering from mental illness. At certain times of the year he was so disturbed that he was unable to do any kind of work except the most rudimentary. He was always kept on a short leash, restrained by an iron chain and collar. When beset by his illness he spoke incoherently, or he would pray and from time to time burst into boisterous laughter or loud guffaws. Frequently he had a fainting spell followed by a normal state, when he spoke well and became quiet and very timid. After examination by a government doctor, he was declared mentally ill and was diagnosed with monomania religiosa, meaning he would mimic the actions of a priest.

In a similar case, preventive detention was ordered by a judge in Bayombong against one Macaria Cariño, who, aside from unspecified but frequent scandalous behavior, was a pyromaniac! To protect the community from the permanent danger she posed, she was committed to a madhouse. The fact that she was examined in Bilibid prior to her entry

into the Hospicio de San Jose suggests that she was indeed considered harmful.

In 1891 Agustin Gabayani of Tigbauan, Iloilo, was branded a real menace to the community because he loved to burn down houses. Expert medical opinion on his case deemed him incurable. Even his relatives had given up on him, and since Iloilo had no mental hospital the governor requested that he be taken to Manila and admitted to San Jose.

Not everything in the Dementes bundle was engaging; for the examples given above, most of the documents were impersonal medical records from the Hospicio de San Jose on the admission of mental patients.

From these documents one could sense that patients were received and processed very much like delivered furniture.

These documents help us understand why the Hospicio de San Jose was built in 1810 on the Isla de San Andres on the Pasig—an island renamed the “Isla de Convalecencia.”

Some patients from San Juan de Dios hospital were quarantined here with the mentally ill swept away from the rest of society.. ■

ANALYSIS

The return of the Marcos nightmare

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer ON SEPT. 23, the 43rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines by President Ferdinand Marcos, Filipinos were stunned to read on the front page of their newspapers, flaunting the picture of the leading functionaries of the martial law regime assembled on a stage, that Sen. Bongbong Marcos, the dictator’s son, was running for the vice presidency in the 2016 elections.

The picture showed former first lady Imelda Marcos and former Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, the martial law administrator, gloating and unrepentant for their roles in that darkest hour of Philippine democracy.

It was a wrong time for the Marcos heirs to reappear in the spotlight, and for Bongbong Marcos to proclaim his vice presidential bid. Their return to the front page was a cynical display of their attempt to revise the history of martial law, rehabilitate their image and blot the stigma of martial rule on the Marcos regime.

To most Filipinos who suffered the rigors of the dictatorship for 14 years, the imposition of martial law was a day of infamy, not an event to remember with triumphalist commemoration by the Marcos family and their cohorts.

Insensitivity the Filipino people when he imposed a top secret plan by Marcos to place Outside of that stage, memories of martial law to launch his New Society, Metro Manila and outlying areas the victims of atrocities and abuses of against the background of military under control of the Philippine Conthe military-backed regime flooded marches, was that he falsified history. stabulary as a prelude to martial law. the press, speaking of the realities He signed Proclamation No. 1081 on Marcos was going to use a series of under martial law.

Sept. 21, l972, placing the Philippines bombings in Metro Manila, includNothing could match the contempt under martial law. The proclamation ing the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing, and insensitivity of the Marcos heirs was announced on national television as justification for his takeover and to the democratic tradition than their on Sept. 23. By that time, troops had subsequent authoritarian rule. In his own commemoration of the event in raided and shut down Congress and diaries, Marcos wrote on Sept. 14, 1972, which they announced they were back newspaper offices and arrested 200 that he informed the military that he on the center stage of Philippine poli- targets, mostly opposition leaders and would proceed with the proclamation tics, returning from disgrace and exile critical journalists. of martial law. The US Embassy knew in Hawaii after they had been driven Throughout the martial law period, as early as Sept. 17 about Marcos’ plans. out by the Edsa People Power Revolu- Marcos perpetuated the myth that tion of 1986, with impunity and with- Sept. 21 was the date of the foundation Martial law study out being punished for the colossal cor- of his New Society. The propaganda In his memoir, then Justice Secreruption and pillage tary Juan Ponce Enof the nation’s wealth rile recalled that on a Throughout the martial law period, Marcos perpetuated the and for the deaths of late afternoon in Demyth that Sept. 21 was the date of the foundation of his New Society. and atrocities comcember 1969, Marcos mitted against thouinstructed him to sands of regime opponents, both from effort succeeded in deluding the Fili- study the presidential powers as Comthe left and the center. pino people that martial law was pro- mander in Chief under the 1935 ConIn the presentation of Bongbong’s claimed on Sept. 21, 1972. It was not. stitution. Marcos made the instruction aspirations for no less than the secondIn reality, a week before the actual as he “foresaw” the “escalation of viohighest office in the land, the Marcos declaration, a number of people, in- lence and disorder in the country.” He family swept under the carpet all the cluding journalists, had received infor- ordered that the “study must be done sordid records of human rights abuses mation that Marcos had already drawn discreetly and confidentiality.” and violations and judicial investiga- up a plan to completely take over the At about the same time, Marcos tions into the looting and “crony capi- government and gain absolute power. also instructed Executive Secretary talism” of the martial law regime.

In fact, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., Alejandro Melchor and Brig. Gen. in a privilege speech on Sept. 13, ex- Jose Almonte to study how martial History falsified posed what he called Oplan Sagittari- law was implemented in different The first fraud foisted by Marcos on us. He disclosed that he had received parts of the world. Marcos wanted to

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to know the consequences of declaring martial law. The result of their study stated that “while martial law may accelerate development, in the end, the Philippines would become a political archipelago, with debilitating, factionalized politics.”

Almonte recalled that the findings led to the conclusion that “the nation would be destroyed because, apart from the divisiveness it would cause, martial law would offer Marcos absolute power, which would corrupt absolutely.”

By the end of January 1970, Enrile, with the help of Efren Plana and Minerva Gonzaga Reyes, submitted the only copy of the confidential report on the the legal aspects and extent of martial law to Marcos. A week later, Marcos summoned Enrile and instructed him to prepare the documents for the implementation of martial law.

On May 8, 1972, Marcos wrote that the had instructed the military to update its plans, including the list of personalities to be arrested, and had met with Enrile to finalize the paperwork.

On Aug. 1, 1972, Marcos met with a few of his most trusted military commanders to discuss tentative dates for the declaration of martial law—to fall within the next two months. The dates they considered either ended in 7 or were divisible by 7, which Marcos considered his lucky number. ■

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OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Canada News

Trudeau emerges as political force in own right, out from father’s shadow

BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — It seems somehow fitting that the son of the man who first fired up political passion in Stephen Harper should be the person to usher him out of politics.

In besting Harper, Justin Trudeau has created Canada’s first national political dynasty, following in the footsteps of his late father, Pierre Trudeau, one of the country’s most revered — and reviled — prime ministers.

In the process, he’s scored another record for the history books, vaulting his party from a distant third place into first in a single election. And now he’ll be the first prime minister to return to the home where he grew up, 24 Sussex Drive.

No one ever likes to lose. But Harper is likely to find it particularly humiliating that he should meet his political end at the hands of a Liberal leader he’s held in barely concealed contempt as a privileged, empty-headed pretty boy. That he should be the eldest son of the man who represented everything Harper hates about liberalism must make it even more galling.

When Trudeau pere died 15 years ago, Harper, then head of the National Citizens’ Coalition, penned a snarky column about running into the “tired out, little old man” a year earlier, “a living legend who had provoked both the loves and hatreds of my political passion.”

He recounted how as a teenager in 1977 he had adored Pierre Trudeau, only to discover wisdom in later years as he watched Trudeau put the country on the road to perdition with “huge deficits, a mammoth national debt, high taxes, bloated bureaucracy, rising unemployment, record inflation, curtailed trade and declining competitiveness.”

“I think losing to Justin Trudeau will be a pretty bitter pill for Stephen Harper,” says

Gerry Nicholls, who worked father was. But he’s shown powith Harper at the National litical smarts his father never Citizens’ Coalition. had, says historian and for“The Trudeau Liberals repre- mer Liberal MP John English, sent everything Stephen Harp- Pierre Trudeau’s biographer. er went into politics to oppose.”

As party president from Moreover, Justin Trudeau 1979-80, English attended nuhas foiled Harper’s grand plan merous rallies and events headto annihilate the Liberal par- lined by Trudeau senior. Yet he ty, doing to Canada’s former never actually met the man unnatural governing party what til years later because Trudeau, the Romans did to Carthage: who hated the retail side of “razed the city to the ground politics, never stuck around to and sowed salt in the fields so meet his fans. nothing would ever grow there By contrast, English was again,” as Calgary political sci- amazed to see the younger ence professor Tom Flanagan Trudeau at a recent rally, hangonce put it. ing around afterwards shaking Flanagan, formerly one of hands and taking selfies with Harper’s top campaign advis- anyone and everyone. ers, now calls Harper’s longWhereas Pierre was “an interm project to destroy the trovert,” English says Justin REAL CHANGE. Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau.

FACEBOOK Liberals “a noble attempt” that is “gregarious ... He just loves “didn’t quite work.” meeting people.” As a politi- his father’s legacy: the Charter success down to four primary He almost succeeded. The cian, Trudeau himself says he of Rights and Freedoms, bilin- factors: the leader’s strong Liberal party was left for dead takes after his late grandfather, gualism and multiculturalism. performance in the leaders’ after the 2011 election, re- longtime MP Jimmy Sinclair, In his memoirs, Trudeau re- debates; the decision to run duced to a humbling 34 seats, rather than his dad. counted his struggle to emerge modest deficits for three years, surpassed even by the perenThe elder Trudeau also had from the long shadow cast by which allowed him to out-flank nial losers, the NDP. And even little time for the drudgery of his father. But being the son of NDP Leader Tom Mulcair with though Trudeau’s famous name party affairs. His son had no a man who’s been ranked as one pricey promises to stimulate put the Liberals back in con- choice but to take an intimate of the top five Canadian prime the stagnant economy and give tention the moment he won interest in the mechanics of the ministers has obviously not the middle class a tax cut; his the leadership in 2013, insiders party, rebuilding the decimated hurt his political fortunes. steadfast refusal to respond in knew one misstep on the cam- machine from the ground up, “Very clearly, Justin is there kind to nasty personal attacks paign trail — particularly during exorcising the ghosts of inter- — and this isn’t diminishing by his opponents; and his apthe crucial leadership debates, necine feuds past, raising mon- him — he’s there because of peal to Canadians’ better naas his opponents his father,” says tures in response to Harper’s fully expected English. attempts to play to anti-Mus— would have That said, lim sentiment. sounded the English believes Whatever the precise recipe death knell for But being the son of a man who’s Trudeau has for success, English believes the party. been ranked as one of the top emerged as a there was a “transformation” Flanagan susfive Canadian prime ministers has political force in Trudeau at some point in the pects former obviously not hurt his political in his own right campaign, a point at which he friend Harper fortunes. over the course became “more self-confident, will actually be of the marathon far more comfortable and rephilosophical election, run- laxed, more himself.” He exuded about losing to ning a “flawless” authenticity, sunny optimism Trudeau: it’s not, after all, as if ey, amassing a volunteer army, campaign that has “stunning and youthful energy, becoming he’s been beaten by someone recruiting an impressive roster parallels” to the 1993 campaign in many ways the personifica“more strategic or smarter.” of candidates and putting to- that vaulted Jean Chretien into tion of the anti-Harper.

“Justin just has such differ- gether a coherent platform. power: a underestimated but In his university classes, ent attributes.”

Still, the younger Trudeau “is likeable leader exceeding low English says his students know Indeed, for all that his celeb- very much in the tradition of expectations, quelling qualms little about Pierre Trudeau; rity has boosted his political his father” when it comes to his by emphasizing team and plat- they already judge his son on career, Trudeau’s attributes values, his love of the outdoors, form and offering hope for his own merits. Now that Justin are much different than his fa- his physical fitness, his theat- recession-battered voters with Trudeau is prime minister himther’s. ricality and his willingness to the promise of massive infra- self, the historian suspects it He’s made no secret that he’s take risks, English says. And structure investments. won’t be long before others do not the towering intellect his he proudly carries the torch of Party insiders put Trudeau’s the same, for better or worse. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Canada News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

19

‘We’re back...’

To those around the world who may have had difficulty recognizing the Canada of old during a decade of combative, militaristic Conservative rule under Stephen Harper, the Liberal prime minister-designate had a direct message.

“Many of you have worried that Canada has lost its compassionate and constructive voice in the world over the past 10 years,” Trudeau told a boisterous partisan rally in Ottawa.

“Well, I have a simple message for you. On behalf of 35 million Canadians, we’re back.”

At a news conference later, he also had a reassuring message for civil servants, many of whom complained of being muzzled and ignored by the Harper regime. Trudeau promised to run “a government that listens to, works with and respects the public service.”

And he had another message for the parliamentary press gallery, which has been shunned and vilified by the Harper Conservatives, that he intends to run a more open, media-friendly shop.

Fresh from his stunning victory in Monday’s election, Trudeau held a formal news conference in the national press theatre — something Harper did only handful of times and not at all since late 2008. Trudeau said “it’s important to underline the important role that the media fills in public discourse and public life” and, when the news conference was over, he vowed: “I’ll be back. I promise.”

For now, though, tone is all Trudeau can set. He will not officially take office until Nov. 4, when he plans to swear in a new cabinet.

He would not commit to recalling Parliament before Christmas, only to doing so “as quickly as is reasonable.”

His schedule for the next two months is anything but reasonable, with four back-to-back international summits sched❰❰ 1

Canada’s new prime minister Justin Trudeau is the leader of the Liberal Party.

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uled starting in mid-November. running at the same time.

Canada’s military involvement Trudeau suggested he may not Nevertheless, Trudeau is al- should be restricted to training attend all of them. ready getting a quick introduc- missions only.

He said he’s “committed” tion to international affairs, “We talked about Canada’s to attending the United Na- fielding congratulatory phone continued engagement as a tions climate change confer- calls from U.S. President Barack strong member of the coalition ence with the premiers in Paris Obama, as well as the leaders of against ISIL. And I commitat the end of November. That the United Kingdom, France, ted that we would continue to leaves the Liberals just weeks Mexico and Italy. engage in a responsible way,” to come up with Trudeau said. a national posi“But he undertion based on the stands the comparty’s promise mitments I’ve to join with the Many of you have worried that made around provinces and Canada has lost its compassionate ending the comterritories to put and constructive voice in the world bat missions.” a price on carbon over the past 10 years. Well, I have a At the rally and reduce carsimple message for you. On behalf of earlier, Trudeau bon pollution.

35 million Canadians, we’re back. used the occaAs for the G20 sion to thank summit in Turstaff in party key and a meetheadquarters ing of leaders of Pacific Rim While he and Obama had a and the 80,000 volunteers countries in the Philippines, “warm conversation” in which whom he credited with makTrudeau said only that he hopes the president teased him about ing nearly 12 million phone to attend. He did not mention his lack of gray hair, Trudeau calls and door knocks over the the Commonwealth heads of said they also discussed his course of the longest campaign government meeting in Malta, commitment to withdraw Ca- in modern Canadian history. saying he’d have to see how nadian fighter jets from the But as gruelling as the cammany international trips he U.S.-led aerial bombing mission paign was, he acknowledged the can squeeze in while trying to against Islamic radicals in Syr- hard part starts now. get his new government up and ia and Iraq. Trudeau believes “This afternoon we can cele-

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brate, but our hard work is only beginning.”

Both at home and abroad, Trudeau faces several pressing priorities and a raft of longerterm promises.

On the horizon domestically loom key promises from his party’s successful campaign: lower taxes for the middle class, the legalization of marijuana, and a slate of democratic reforms including a new electoral system to replace the venerable first-past-the-post regime under which he won a majority of the seats with just under 40 per cent of the vote.

He will also have to move quickly to institute the reforms he’s promised to the disgraced Senate, where the Conservatives still hold sway and could prove a roadblock to Liberal legislation. Tory dominance of the chamber could be instantly diluted by filling the 22 vacancies left by Harper.

Trudeau has kicked senators out of the Liberal caucus and has vowed to create a blue chip advisory body to recommend non-partisan Senate nominees in future, a move designed to return the institution to its intended role as an independent chamber of sober second thought.

Trudeau has said the first piece of legislation his government would put forward is one to lower taxes for the middle class and raise taxes for the wealthiest Canadians.

A Liberal government is also committed to revamping the recently enacted omnibus security bill, known as C-51, that gave Canada’s spy agency substantial new powers and angered civil libertarians.

Trudeau has also promised the largest new infrastructure investment in Canadian history. The plan would nearly double federal spending on public transit, affordable housing, recreational facilities and other items to almost $125 billion over the next decade. ■

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Canada News

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Trudeau, fresh from majority Liberal win, now must turn to implementing plan THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau is expected to give his first press conference today as prime minister-designate, hours after he steamrolled his Liberal party to a convincing majority victory.

Trudeau will no doubt be riding on an electoral high from the 184 seats the Liberals captured — an increase of a whopping 149 ridings from the last election — but he will already be facing tough questions on how and when he will implement his plan.

He has said that the first piece of legislation his government would put forward is one to lower taxes for the middle class and raise taxes for the wealthiest Canadians.

The Liberal party becomes the first to vault directly from thirdparty status to government. Even the Liberals’ internal pollster, who foresaw a majority, hadn’t imagined a total so high.

Elections Canada says 68.5 per cent of eligible voters cast

ballots, the largest turnout in more than 20 years.

Preliminary figures indicate the Liberals captured 39.5 per cent of the vote, the Conservatives 31.9 per cent and the New Democrats 19.7.

Trudeau, 43, completes the first father-son dynasty in Canada’s federal government history, as the first-born of Pierre Elliott Trudeau follows in his father’s footsteps.

Trudeau faced more than two years of Conservative attack ads before defeating Harper, including a barrage of “just not ready” ads so ubiquitous that schoolage children could recite them.

Notwithstanding an appeal to Canadians’ “better angels” in his victory speech, the Liberal leader made a lengthy denunciation of what he called the politics of division and fear, including a defence of veiled Muslim women who became an unlikely wedge issue during the campaign.

“Canadians have spoken,” Trudeau said.

“You want a government with

a vision and an agenda for this country that is positive and ambitious and hopeful. Well, my friends, I promise you tonight that I will lead that government?

I will be that prime minister.”

During the October crisis of 1970, Pierre Trudeau famously told an inquiring reporter “Just watch me,” when asked how far he would go in limiting civil liberties to combat separatist terrorists. The elder Trudeau went on to shape much of the modern Canadian state that Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to power in 2006 in part to remake.

The Conservative leader called the 78-day election, the longest in modern Canadian history, on Aug. 2 after almost 10 years in power. His party will form the official Opposition with 99 seats — 60 fewer than when Parliament was dissolved.

With the magnitude of the loss still sinking in, Harper is stepping down as Conservative leader, according to a statement from party president John Walsh.

“The prime minister indicated

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that he will continue to sit as a member of Parliament and asks that a process to both select an interim leader and initiate the leadership selection process in our party begin immediately,” says the Walsh letter.

Harper, 56, did not announce his resignation in a concession speech to party faithful in Calgary, stating only that the “disappointment you also feel is my responsibility and mine alone.”

But he offered gracious congratulations to his younger opponent.

“While tonight’s result is certainly not the one we had hoped for, the people are never wrong,” said the prime minister, adding he had called Trudeau and “assured him of my full cooperation during the process of transition in the coming days.”

Finance Minister Joe Oliver, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, Veterans Minister Julian Fantino and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt were among the Conservative cabinet ministers rejected by voters.

New Democratic Party Leader

Tom Mulcair, who had aspired to lead Canada’s first NDP federal government, instead dropped to 44 seats from 95 — losing the party’s hard-won 2011 grip on official Opposition status.

Mulcair, however, managed to hold on to his Montreal seat despite a tough Liberal challenge.

NDP stars including deputy leader Megan Leslie and foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar fell to Liberal challengers. Olivia Chow, whose late husband Jack Layton led the NDP’s so-called “orange crush” four years ago — succumbed to Liberal Adam Vaughan in downtown Toronto.

Green Leader Elizabeth May was re-elected on Vancouver Island but the party lost its only other incumbent — Ontario’s Bruce Hyer — and failed to make a long-awaited breakthrough.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe went down to defeat, but his party emerged with 10 seats, injecting new life into a party that had almost withered after once holding official Opposition status. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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Harper’s legacy: smaller government, NDP take heart in unified party, targeted benefits defeating Harper Conservatives despite their own losses

BY JORDAN PRESS The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — On election night 2006, Stephen Harper walked out in front of a room full of supporters and smiled at the country that had just voted for change.

The incoming prime minister told the crowd that the party would clean up Ottawa with the Accountability Act. They would cut the GST to five per cent.

And the Conservatives would scrap the Liberal child care program and give money directly to parents.

He spoke of the big picture, saying the Canadian identity was not forged by government policy, nor did it flow from any one party or leader.

“The result tonight signals a change of government, not a change of country,” Harper said in his victory speech.

Yet after nine years in office, much has changed.

The federal government, in particular, has shrunk.

Taxes, such as the GST, have gone down and the tax code is sprinkled with tax credits.

The federal government has become less active in the daily lives of Canadians, with direct benefits replacing big government programs, for instance.

On the benefit front, the Conservative approach has become convention. Today’s Liberals promised a new child benefit of their own to replace the existing universal program. And the other parties have started to understand how to target pocketbook issues during elections that Harper used so effectively — and that voters are now acutely aware of.

“You can take it as a recognition of clarity of leadership and purpose when the other parties call for similar policies or small incremental change,” said Tim Hudak, the former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives.

There is also one clear change that Harper has left on the political map:a unified Conservative party with a track record that spans a decade.

Observers say his efforts have inched federal politics to the right — although not as radically as some think, said Richard

BY JORDAN PRESS The Canadian Press

Former prime minister Stephen Harper has stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party.

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Nimijean, who teaches Canadian studies at Carleton University in Ottawa. Harper, he said, continued a path of slashing federal spending and tax cuts that started in the 1990s under the Liberal government of Jean Chretien.

The provinces have become bigger spenders, with provinces like Ontario still running deficits as the tax burden has shifted.

Moving the federal government back into a more activist role won’t be easy because the money to pay for new programs has to come from somewhere, said David McGrane, an associate professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

Cutting the GST by two points eliminated about $14 billion in annual government revenues. No government will want to increase the GST to pad the bottom line, McGrane said.

“That’s the largest thing that Stephen Harper has changed in Canada: just shrinking the size of government and doing so by reducing the tax base,” McGrane said.

(The Liberals instead have vowed to run deficits and raise taxes on the wealthiest Canadians; they still plan to lower taxes on small businesses as the Conservatives planned, and cut employment insurance rates, but not as much as Harper proposed.)

His crime agenda, embedded in legislation, won’t be easily undone, even as the courts acted as a check on government power. Calls for Senate reform, which Harper once championed, grew louder as the upper chamber was engulfed in a spending scandal sparked by Harper appointees.

He recognized Quebec as a distinct society --looking to eliminate separatist sentiment in the province — and apologized to the survivors of residential schools, even though his government’s relationship with First Nations was problematic.

The residential school apology and the Truth and Reconciliation commission, combined with general prudence on spending and heavily investing to stabilize the economy during the recession six years ago will “all stand the recollection of this government well,” said Hugh Segal, a former Conservative senator.

There were also mistakes during Harper’s time in office, Segal said, pointing to anti-labour legislation and the cancellation of the long-form census.

“But governing for 10 years is a rare privilege, and Conservatives have no reason to be bitter,” Segal said. “Conservatives need to be thankful, respectful of the voters’ choice and reflect on how to regain the broad moderate centre clearly deserted in this campaign.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MONTREAL — The so-called “orange wave” created in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada by former NDP Leader Jack Layton went down the drain Monday night, taking much of the left-leaning party’s political strength with it.

A visibly deflated Tom Mulcair, who prevailed in a long, difficult fight for his own riding of Outremont, delivered a subdued but gracious concession speech to a few hundred supporters at Montreal’s Palais de Congres.

“With this election, Canadians have asked us all to work for them. We will not let them down,” the NDP leader said, hinting that the party will, at least during a majority Liberal government, resume its role as the conscience of Parliament.

“We will be unwavering in our pursuit of better health care for Canadians. We will stand strong in our fight against climate change and to protect our land, air and water. We will be resolute in our efforts to build a true nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.

“It’s on these priorities and many more that New Demo-

crats will make real and lasting progress.”

The party, which had taken such pride in being elevated to Official Opposition status four years ago, saw its seat count reduced to 2008 levels with 41 MPs elected and 19 per cent of the popular vote.

Although disappointing, it returns New Democrats to the more traditional levels of support they saw after the 2011 campaign, when they captured 30.9 per cent of the popular vote.

How much of that implosion was due to the perception that the party had veered too far right and away from its traditional base is up for debate, although at the party’s last rally in Toronto, left-leaning supporters were handing out pamphlets and magazines to remind New Democrats who made up their constituency.

Party insiders said that despite the devastating collapse of the party’s base of support, Mulcair intends to stay on as leader.

The NDP will need all of the help it can get.

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal tide swept away a number of the party’s experienced, articulate, incumbent MPs, some of whom ❱❱ PAGE 39 NDP take

“I thank Mr. Harper for his service & congratulate Mr. Trudeau. His win tonight is a significant achievement for his party. Today, millions of Canadians voted for the NDP to keep fighting for them — and that's exactly what we'll do.” - NDP’s Tom Mulcair FACEBOOK

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OCTOBER 23, 2015

E H T N I N O O S G N I RIS S E N I P P I L I H P

W E N A F O THE DAWN

Y G R E N E N A E L C N I A R E

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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Many Uruguayans fed up with complaints from Syrian refugees

BY LEONARDO HABERKORN The Associated Press JUAN LACAZE, URUGUAY — When Uruguay announced last year that it would be taking in five families fleeing Syria’s devastating civil war, residents of this small town pulled together and lobbied to host one.

Then in November, locals welcomed a newly arrived Merhi Alshebli, his wife and their 15 children with food and seeds to plant vegetables. People in Juan Lacaze, a coastal city of fishermen and paper factory workers in southwestern Uruguay, wanted to do their part to help a country where more than 200,000 have been killed in the fighting.

But after months of the Syrians’ complaints about their living conditions and demands to be sent to another country, many Uruguayans in this town and elsewhere have come to see the refugees more as rude, ungrateful guests. This month the 51-year-old Alshebli shocked locals by dousing himself in gasoline in protest, furthering Uruguayans’ indignation and sense that this South American nation’s humanitarian gesture has gone off the rails.

“I’m outraged,” said Monica Benitez, who works at a shoe store in Juan Lacaze’s tiny downtown. “What they are doing is offensive.”

The Syrians’ discontent is playing out as hundreds of thousands of their compatriots are risking their lives to migrate to Europe and world leaders from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Pope Francis have urged nations to open their doors to the flood. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to take in 10,000 Syrians over the next year.

Uruguay’s attempt to help by sheltering 42 refugees — a largely symbolic gesture given that over 4 million Syrians have fled since civil war broke out in 2011 — appears to be backfiring, just as earlier this year the ups and downs of six former Guantanamo Bay detainees taken in by the country hogged headlines.

Like the ex-detainees, the refugee families complain that life in Uruguay is expensive and authorities aren’t doing enough to support them. But unlike the former prisoners, who refused jobs offered to them, the adult Syrians have worked.

The Syrians’ biggest beef is that they can’t make ends meet even though the government provides housing and gives each family a monthly stipend. Both government officials and the families have declined to say how much that is.

“I like Uruguay. I like Uruguayan families. My young children all go to school here,” Alshebli said in halting Spanish, standing in the living room of his sparsely furnished, multi-room home

Refugees arriving in Lesvos, Greece in September.

on the outskirts of Juan Lacaze. “But food is very expensive. How can I feed 15 children?”

He showed The Associated Press a two-month winter electricity bill totaling $475 and said everyone in the family who is able works. For example his 19-year-old daughter Nada sells Arab food downtown and recently worked in an assisted living facility, but earned just $68 in a little under a month there.

Alshebli also complained that the government won’t let him farm beyond the modest vegetable garden the family has planted.

“No sheep. No cows. No land,” said Alshebli, recounting what he said officials told him.

Political analyst Daniel Chasquetti said the government underestimated cultural differences between Uruguay and the refugees’ homeland and failed to take into account their limited job skills.

“And it’s not like Uruguay is a country bursting with opportunities,” Chasquetti said.

The economy of this nation of 3.3 million people is largely based on agricultural and textile exports, and about 40 percent of workers earn around $500 a month, according to a leading union.

In August one of the Syrian families tried to travel to Serbia, only to be detained 23 days at the airport in Istanbul because they didn’t have the right documents. Ultimately they returned to Uruguay.

The refugees do not have Syrian passports and cannot get Uruguayan ones because they are not citizens. The government has given them national ID cards, but they’re insufficient to cross many of the world’s frontiers and Uruguay says it can’t force other countries to accept the documents.

Their frustration at a boiling point, the Syrians protested for several days last month in front of the Uruguayan presidency to demand help getting to another country.

MALCOLM CHAPMAN / SHUTTERSTOCK

Then came the incident at Alshebli’s home on Oct. 6, when he poured gasoline over himself in protest in the presence of officials from Uruguay’s Human Rights Secretariat. According to a statement from the agency, he did so after being told that Uruguay doesn’t have the authority to issue him a visa for another country.

It’s unclear whether Alshebli intended to light himself on fire or sim-

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ply scare the officials, who later filed a police complaint. Alshebli declined to discuss the incident, and the head of the rights body did not respond to requests for comment.

One of Alshebli’s sons, 21-year-old Ibrahim, said his father simply lost his temper and didn’t mean any harm. The elder Alshebli was briefly detained and taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

Self-immolation has special symbolism today in the Middle East. A major catalyst for the Arab Spring, which began in 2011 in Tunisia, was a poor and frustrated fruit vendor who set himself on fire.

But many Uruguayans were shocked and appalled.

Lourdes Schneck, who serves the Uruguayan specialty of fried pies in downtown, said she wasn’t sure whether to be angry with her government or the Syrians.

“I get the feeling they thought they were coming to a different class of country, with more wealth,” said Schneck, who periodically hires one of Alshebli’s teenage sons, 15-year-old Mohammed.

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World News

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Russians support airstrikes in Syria, despite Afghan legacy

BY KATHERINE JACOBSEN The Associated Press KUBINKA, RUSSIA — A vast workshop that upgrades warplanes of the kind Russia is using in Syria is this town’s lifeblood, and support for the Syria campaign is strong.

“We’ve extended a helping hand and that’s how it should be,” said 70-year-old Tamara Vlasenko, a resident of the town 65 kilometers (40 miles) outside Moscow. “Those who started the conflict will pay handsomely, as they should.”

Like Vlasenko, more than 70 percent of Russians support President Vladimir Putin’s decision to begin airstrikes, which Russia says are directed against the Islamic State extremist group, according to a poll from the independent Levada Center.

Although many Russians are still unsettled by the grisly and humiliating Soviet involvement in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the new foreign military campaign doesn’t faze Kubinka’s people.

“I don’t think Syria will turn

into another Afghanistan for Russia,” said Tatyana Okhapkina, 43, bouncing her 7-monthold granddaughter on her lap.

“I’m not too worried it will affect my grandchildren, or even my children. I really believe in our president. He knows what he is doing.”

Only about 14 percent of Russians are against the airstrikes in Syria, according to the Levada Center poll, which was conducted Oct. 2-5 nationwide and has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

An opposition-organized protest against the Syria campaign on Saturday in Moscow attracted about 250 people.

Among them was Alexandra Bukvaryova, 29, who said she feared Syria would become a second Afghanistan.

“I am disappointed that so few people are here,” said Bukvaryova, who works for a non-governmental organization. “Because our people don’t understand that this will affect them. As it was said here (at the rally), their children will die in Syria. And it is not clear for what.”

Coalition forces hitting to ISIS target in Kobani district in Syria in October 2014 ORLOK / SHUTTERSTOCK

Russia’s aerial campaign in Syria has necessitated military-to-military dialogue between Russian and the Western coalition that is running a separate campaign against IS, while simultaneously driving a wedge between the two sides.

The coalition, which includes the United States and France, has accused Russia, a longtime ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, of conducting “indiscriminate military operations against the Syrian opposition” under the pretext of eliminating terrorist threats in Syria.

Putin reaffirmed that the Russian bombing blitz against the Islamic State group and other radicals in Syria, which began Sept. 30, will continue “for the period of the Syrian troops’ offensive operations against terrorists.”

Around lunchtime on weekdays, the main street in Kubinka becomes animated as a stream of employees pours out of the airplane parts factory.

Vasily Perets, who has worked in the factory for 30 years, said Russia’s vigilance in the Middle East was necessary.

He dismissed concerns that Russia’s airstrikes would prompt retaliatory terrorist acts at home, saying extremist sentiment has long been brewing.

“Haven’t you seen the news about Central Asia?” he said, referring to recruits from former Soviet republics fighting for IS. “The threat is already on its way.”

To buoy public support for military intervention in Syria after long decrying Western intervention, the Russian government, in tandem with the media, began presenting the distant threat of Islamic State as something more tangible for Russians: radicalized fighters returning home to Central Asia and the North Caucasus region in southern Russia.

Last week in Kazakhstan, Putin said that between 5,000 and 7,000 citizens of Russia and other former Soviet republics were fighting alongside Islamic militants.

Perets, the Kubinka factory worker, said he felt safe, but Russia “needs to destroy evil before it comes here to us.” ■

Lawyer tried to keep Somali rape victim in Australia

BY ROD MCGUIRK The Associated Press CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — A lawyer for a pregnant Somalia refugee rape victim said Monday that he wanted to seek a court order keeping her in Australia before the government suddenly flew her to Nauru without providing the abortion she had requested.

The case of the 23-year-old woman, known by the pseudonym Abyan, has amplified criticisms of the government’s tough policy of refusing to allow asylum seekers who arrive by boat to settle in Australia under any circumstances.

Asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australian shores are transferred to Australia-run immigration detention camps on the impoverished Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

Abyan alleges she became pregnant at a detention camp on Nauru when she was raped in July.

She requested an abortion and the Australian government flew her to Sydney on Sunday last week on a commercial flight from the tiny atoll for the 14-week pregnancy to be terminated.

But she was flown the 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) back to Nauru on Friday in a chartered private jet, in what some critics suspect was a hastily arranged bid to beat a potential court order allowing her to stay.

Government officials said she was sent back because she had decided to not proceed with the termination. Abyan said in a statement from Nauru she had not changed her mind, but had been denied an interpreter and counselling.

“I have been very sick,” she wrote in a signed statement. “I

have never said thate (sic) I did not want a termination.”

Lawyer George Newhouse said Monday that he had started preparing an application for a temporary court injunction keeping her in Australia when he discovered Abyan was to be sent back to Nauru. She was gone before he could make the application.

“When we heard an hour before she was being removed from the country without treatment — that that was going to happen — of course we tried to stop her for going back without treatment,” Newhouse told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio, adding it was a temporary injunction and not an effort to keep her in Australia permanently.

Newhouse could not be immediately contacted for comment. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton denied Abyan’s claims that she was not given acwww.canadianinquirer.net

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cess to doctors or an interpreter.

He said 240 asylum seekers who have come to Australia for medical treatment from Nauru had succeeded in getting court injunctions preventing their return.

Neil Skill, first assistant secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, told a Senate committee on Monday that he decided

to charter a flight because there were no commercial seats available on the day and he was worried about the disruption that Abyan might cause on a commercial flight if she did not want to return to Nauru.

Abyan could later decide to return for an abortion in Sydney, Skill said. Abortions are legal for the first 20 weeks of pregnancy in Australia. ■

World News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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Cybersecurity firm: Indian capital struggles to Chinese hacking on US control dengue fever outbreak companies persists

BY KATHERINE JACOBSEN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Chinese hacking attempts on American corporate intellectual property have occurred with regularity over the past three weeks, suggesting that China almost immediately began violating its newly minted cyber-agreement with the United States, according to a newly published analysis by a cybersecurity company with close ties to the U.S. government.

The Irvine, California-based company, CrowdStrike, says it documented seven Chinese cyberattacks against U.S. technology and pharmaceuticals companies “where the primary benefit of the intrusions seems clearly aligned to facilitate theft of intellectual property and trade secrets, rather than to conduct traditional national security-related intelligence collection.”

“We’ve seen no change in behavior,” said Dmitri Alperovich, a founder of CrowdStrike who wrote one of the first public accounts of commercial cyberespionage linked to China in 2011.

One attack came on Sept. 26, CrowdStrike says, the day after President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced their deal in the White House Rose Garden.

CrowdStrike, which employs former FBI and National Security Agency cyberexperts, did not name the corporate victims, citing client confidentiality. And the company says it detected and thwarted the attacks

before any corporate secrets were stolen.

A senior Obama administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to discuss the matter publicly, said officials are aware of the report but would not comment on its conclusions. The official did not dispute them, however.

The U.S. will continue to directly raise concerns regarding cybersecurity with the Chinese, monitor the country’s cyberactivities closely and press China to abide by all of its commitments, the official added.

The U.S.-China agreement forged last month does not prohibit cyber-spying for national security purposes, but it bans economic espionage designed to steal trade secrets for the benefit of competitors. That is something the U.S. says it doesn’t do, but Western intelligence agencies have documented such attacks by China on a massive scale for years.

China denies engaging in such behavior, but threats of U.S. sanctions led Chinese officials to conduct a flurry of lastminute negotiations which led to the deal.

CrowdStrike on Monday released a timeline of recent intrusions linked to China that it says it documented against “commercial entities that fit squarely within the hacking prohibitions covered under the cyber-agreement.”

The intrusion attempts are continuing, the company says, “with many of the China-affil❱❱ PAGE 27 Cybersecurity firm

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BY KATY DAIGLE AND RISHABH R. JAIN The Associated Press

NEW DELHI — At dusk, the foggers come out to spray their sticky-sweet clouds of diesel smoke and insecticide across the Indian capital. Mothers scold their children for wearing short sleeves. Posters glued to signposts warn about the perils of neighborhood puddles.

Such efforts to stop mosquitoes from spreading dengue fever in New Delhi have failed to keep the city from its biggest outbreak in almost two decades: more than 10,190 registered cases, including 32 deaths. Experts say it didn’t need to be this way, and blame health officials for being slow on both prevention work and medical response.

They say, for example, that the Delhi municipal government should have started much sooner and anticipated a longerthan-usual mosquito-breeding season months ago, when weather forecasters predicted this year’s monsoon would extend beyond September.

“If they clean up in time, if they have those anti-mosquito, anti-larval measures on time, they can contain dengue,” general physician Devendra Jain said in the small single room, crammed with patients, where he operates his private practice in south Delhi.

Some officials reject the idea that the high numbers are a result of neglect, and instead say they prove the city is simply conducting more tests. Some infections go unreported every year because some people with dengue fever don’t seek medical treatment, and others visit doctors who don’t report cases.

Health officials also note that while the number of cases this year has almost surpassed the 1996 high of 10,252, the death toll is far lower than the 423 who died from dengue 19 years ago. There are no statistics on dengue for years before 1996.

Three weeks into October, new cases were still being reported. The Holy Family Hospital alone said it was still detecting about 27 cases a day on average, down from a September peak of 75 cases a day. www.canadianinquirer.net

Dengue leaves its victims exhausted and in great pain, though it is rarely fatal, claiming less than 1 percent of those infected. There is no cure; patients need rest and to be monitored and treated for symptoms, including high fever, dehydration, skin rash, exhaustion and a low blood platelet count.

“It is not rocket science,” said Manish Kakkar, a researcher at the Public Health Foundation of India, a research and consulting group. “We know what we have to do, but what happens in India is that the public health measures are not adequate both in terms of quantity and quality.”

The dengue outbreak has highlighted India’s striking healthcare inequalities. It is home to a $4 billion medical tourism industry — offering everything from bargain tummy tucks to experimental stem-cell treatments — and to hundreds of millions of impoverished Indians who still have no access to trained doctors or basic medicine.

When two young boys died last month after their parents said they were denied treatment at private hospitals, India’s Health Minister warned the government would yank licenses from any hospitals who turned patients away.

State-run hospitals canceled doctors’ vacations, ordering them back to work. Delhi capped the cost of lab tests at 600 rupees ($10) and set up 55 “fever and dengue clinics” to handle the throngs of patients crowding into hospital foyers. Just one of those clinics, near Jamia Millia Islamia university on the southern outskirts of New Delhi, reported screening 800 patients a day.

Some doctors complain that many people seeking medical attention don’t need it, and blame the media for hyping the outbreak.

“Basically there is a panic and patients are very scared,” said Dr. Sonika Bali, the medical officer in charge at one government clinic, whose own 12-year-old daughter was among those infected. “We can’t have every patient come in and ask for a blood test. It is becoming very difficult to convince patients that their symptoms are not that of dengue.”

Some who truly have dengue,

meanwhile, wait before seeking treatment, worsening their symptoms.

Noor Jehan had aches and pains for days before seeking help. By the time she finally visited the clinic, she had become so weak her husband had to pick her up from her housekeeping job and take her home in a wooden cart.

“My legs hurt,” the 40-yearold Jehan said. “I would get chills at night.”

Tejaswi Sharma, a 34-yearold software engineer, waited even longer for a diagnosis — until his body went into shock and his kidneys malfunctioned.

“When I first had a fever, I went to my doctor,” but he didn’t test for dengue and instead told Sharma he probably had the flu, he said. “My health deteriorated so fast that I started having breathing problems.”

That’s when Sharma’s mother took him to Holy Family.

Argentine lawyer Laura Vassallo was struck with dengue during the first week of her sixmonth “dream trip” to India, and said her own country was much more proactive in fighting dengue. No water is left to stagnate, she explained. “They are very, very strict with the cleaning, and no throwing garbage on the streets.”

People who live outside the areas covered by the city’s antimosquito program try to ward off mosquitoes any way they can — including hiding under mosquito nets or generating plumes of smoke by burning egg crates, incense or whatever is at hand.

“Certainly this is a peak year for dengue,” said Babita Bisht, chief entomologist of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Her teams are working through weekends to visit all city neighborhoods, fumigating foliage to kill mosquitoes and spraying puddles to kill their larvae.

They also hold events to inform citizens of the risks, urging them to cover up in clothing and mosquito repellent.

Newspapers, meanwhile, carry full-page discussions on which perfumes or house plants might keep mosquitoes at bay.

“Spraying outside in the open may not kill so many mosquitoes,” Bisht said, “but it makes the public aware.” ■

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OCTOBER 23, 2015

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

27

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

Xi to ink nuclear power deal as UK seeks Chinese investment

BY JILL LAWLESS The Associated Press LONDON — China's state visit to Britain moves from warm toasts and ceremony to cold, hard cash Wednesday, with business deals including a major Chinese investment in the U.K.'s first nuclear power station since the 1980s.

President Xi Jinping is expected to sign an agreement that will lead to his country financing 30 percent of the cost of the Hinckley Point plant in southwest England. It is set to be completed by 2025 and will be built by Electricite de France and a group led by China's state-owned nuclear company.

EDF sought investors after it was unable to cover the cost of the deal alone.

The British government has agreed to underwrite 2 billion pounds ($3.1 billion) in Chinese financing to secure the deal and pave the way for majority Chinese ownership of a second nuclear plant planned for England's southeast.

The deal has faced criticism from those who suggest Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron has been wooing the Chinese for trade deals while ignoring the country's human rights record.

Xi has been welcomed with lavish ceremony on his visit, which began Tuesday with a day of pomp that culminated in a banquet at Buckingham Palace during which Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, toasted the Chinese leader.

On Wednesday he is due to hold talks with Cameron at 10 Downing St. Steve Hilton, a former close adviser to Cameron, called the visit "one of the worst national humiliations we've seen."

"I think that we have to be much tougher," he told the BBC. "I think that we should consider sanctions on China, not rolling out the red carpet."

The nuclear investment is the highest-profile of some 30 million pounds ($46 million) in business deals that Britain hopes will be signed during Xi's four-day stay.

Others include a 325 million-pound ($502 million) package of partnerships in the creative and technology, including a 50 million-pound ($77 million) deal between Aston Martin and China Equity to develop its zero-emission RapidE sports car.

Britain also plans to slash the price of visas for Chinese tourists in hopes of attracting more visitors. ■

Canadian Immigration... term, Canada adopted an official multiculturalism policy, which later on became an actual law.

This policy advocated the acceptance and respect of the identities, traditions and religions of various races and ethnicities in the country. All had equal rights and the law favored no individual or group.

Having been associated with multiculturalism, the Liberal Party abruptly addressed and eased immigration issues. Calling for ‘real change,’ Trudeau sought to introduce reforms to the present Canadian immigration system — prioritizing economic opportunity and family reunification.

“Immigration is critical to job creation and long-term economic growth for the middle class. In so many ways, Canada is what it is today thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of those who chose to build their lives here,” the newly-elected Prime Minister said during one of his meetings with the voters.

“During the Harper (former Prime Minister Stephen Harp-

er) decade, our immigration system has been mismanaged, politicized and re-oriented away from welcoming those who choose to make Canada their new and permanent home,” he added. ““Liberals will reform our immigration system and make family reunifications a core priority of our government.”

Here are Trudeau’s proposed reforms in the immigration system: *Nearly double the budget for processing family class sponsorship *Double the number of applications allowed for parents and grandparents to 10,000 each year *Cut down wait times — which currently average almost four years for parents and grandparent applications *Provide more opportunities for applicants who have Canadian siblings by giving additional points under the Express Entry system *Restore the maximum age for dependents to 22 from 19, to allow more Canadian to bring their children to Canada

lier this year.

CrowdStrike and other companies have tracked Deep Panda back to China based on the malware and techniques it uses, its working hours and other intelligence.

In 2013, another cybersecurity company, Mandiant, published a report exposing what it said was a hacking unit linked to China’s People’s Liberation Army, including identifying the building housing the unit in Beijing. Those findings were later validated by American intelligence officials. ■

PHILIPPINES CANADA Trade Council members endorse MPs Alice Wong and Kenny Chiu.

❰❰ 1

*Grant immediate permanent residency to new spouses entering Canada, eliminating the two-year waiting period *Make it easier for international students and other temporary residents to become Canadian citizens by restoring the residency time credit *Make changes to the Canadian Experience Class, to reduce the barriers to immigration imposed on international students *Make it easier and more affordable to hire caregivers by eliminating $1,000 Labour Market Impact Assessment fee for Canadian families looking for caregivers *Work with provinces and territories to develop a system of regulated companies to hire caregivers on behalf of families, protecting caregivers by allowing them to change employers in the case of bad relations or abuse *Renew and expand commitment to helping resettle more refugees and deliver a refugee program that is safe, secure and humane ■

Cybersecurity firm... iated actors persistently attempting to regain access to victim networks even in the face of repeated failures.”

CrowdStrike did not explain in detail how it attributes the intrusions to China, an omission that is likely to draw criticism, given the ability of hackers to disguise their origins. But the company has a long track record of gathering intelligence on Chinese hacking groups, and U.S. intelligence officials have often pointed to the company’s work. ❰❰ 25

“We assess with a high degree of confidence that these intrusions were undertaken by a variety of different Chinese actors, including Deep Panda, which CrowdStrike has tracked for many years breaking into national security targets of strategic importance to China,” Alperovich wrote in a blog posting that laid out his findings.

The hacking group known as Deep Panda, which has been linked to the Chinese military, is believed by many researchers to have carried out the attack on insurer Anthem Health ear-

www.canadianinquirer.net

28

Community News

Consulate warns public against recruitment scam THE PHILIPPINE Consulate General in Vancouver advises the public against transacting with a person introducing himself as “Dr. Tex Kissoon,” claiming to represent the British Columbia (BC) Children’s Hospital in Vancouver and actively recruiting medical professionals from the Philippines.

This Dr. Kissoon also works through a company called Triple One Human Manpower Resources Corp.

A number of individuals have reported being victimized by this “Dr. Kissoon,” who demands cash payments, in exchange for non-existent jobs at the hospital.

According to the BC Provin-

cial Health Services Authority, BC Children’s Hospital is in no way associated with this scheme and does not conduct its recruitment in this manner.

Members of the Filipino community are strongly advised to warn friends, relatives and family members in the Philippines against falling victim to this fraudulent practice.

Persons who have been approached or offered jobs by this “Dr. Kissoon” at the BC Children’s Hospital are also advised to immediately report the matter to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch or other concerned government agencies. ■

Sen. Enverga joins frat anniversary SEN. TOBIAS C. Enverga, Jr. joined the Triskelion Alumni Organization of Canada at the Montecassino Hotel in Toronto to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the founding of their fraternity, Tau Gamma Phi. "Filipinos in Canada are among the most employable and productive members of Canadian society. We are growing in number, and we are making positive contributions to our new home, and for that, Canada will always be grateful," said Senator Enverga in his address at the event. "Triskelions all over the world are known for their community involvement and passion for service. Please do continue in your civic endeavours.

As we make our marks, let us do so in a compassionate and selfless manner," he continued.

The fraternity is one of the largest in the Philippines and has over 800,000 members in numerous chapters all over the world. Tau Gamma Phi's civic projects are highly appreciated in the communities in which they are present, including Toronto, where Triskelions make positive contributions to Canadian society.

After his remarks, Senator Enverga presented the organization with a certificate of recognition to honour their charitable contributions and good work, and he wished them all the best in their future endeavours. ■

OCTOBER 23, 2015

Trade council and Consulate to feature world-class Philippine artists THE PHILIPPINES Canada Trade Council (PCTC), in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, will present a gala performance entitled, “Autumn Serenade” at the Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver on Nov. 27, at 6 p.m.

The show will feature artists from Manila and the Lower Mainland performing a repertoire of light classics, popular musicals, among others.

PCTC, a non-stock, non-profit organization registered under the Federal Laws of Canada and operating in British Columbia, continues to work to promote and assist trade and business between Canada and the Philippines through various networking, trade and information events.

“The purpose of the PCTC is to bring businesses together, promote fellowship, and foster goodwill among Filipino and Canadian professionals and businessmen,” said PCTC president Jorge Miguel Marcó.

“Music brings people together, and much business is conducted in social settings. So we see this as an excellent avenue for building productive business relations and networks.”

Alfredo Lagman, Jr., PCTC director and chairman of this project, adds that this event gives the council the opportunity to meet multiple objectives.

“Autumn Serenade will feature multi-awarded artists from the Philippines and, thus, will help to promote worldclass Filipino talent,” Lagman explained. “At the same time, it will enhance PCTC’s profile in the business community and help the Council raise much needed funds for its operations and programs for the year.”

Projects slated for the year include the ongoing PCTC Speaker Sessions, entrepreneurship forums, and joint activities with the various boards of trade.

Performers

Triskelion alumni.

FRIDAY

Soprano Kay BalajadiaLiggayu, a graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music, is the 1996 National Champion for Voice (Category C) of the tough and highly regarded National Music Competition for Young Artists www.canadianinquirer.net

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

(NAMCYA) in the Philippines and a participant in the 1997 Francisco Viñas International Singing Contest held in Barcelona, Spain. She became the soprano soloist of the internationally awarded UP Concert Chorus in 1992. Having had the opportunity to participate in many musical events, her repertoire of opera, art songs and musical theatre pieces is wide and diverse. Kay polishes her craft by attending classes conducted by Philippine masters.

Additionally, participation in acting workshops honed her skills on-stage. In playing her roles, she believes her experiences in being a wife and mother of three cultivates in her a “heart” that provides credibility to her performances.

Nazer Degayo Salcedo, stage actor, teacher, director and classical singer (tenor), is a Grand National winner of the 1994 Kundiman Fiesta in the Philippines and one of the first Filipino artists to perform in the Avignon Theatre Festival in France. He is among those chosen by the Philippine Daily Inquirer Lifestyle column “BRAVO!” in the 2006, 2007 and 2010 “Best of Theater” selections under the “Best Featured Actor-musical” category. He was nominated for “Best Classical Performer” in the 2015 “Aliw Awards,” which is highly regarded in the Philippines.

He had worked with various theatre companies, including the highly acclaimed Repertory Philippines, Trumpets and Tanghalang Pilipino, among others and thereby compiled a substantial list of theatre credits for himself. Nazer is a faculty member of the De La Salle

University–Dasmariñas and artistic director of its Teatro LaSalliana. He is finishing his Masters in Theatre at the UP. Pianist Daniel Furtado is a laureate of the coveted National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) Piano Competition in the United States. Multiawarded winner Mr. Furtado earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the State University of Sao Paolo. He pursued his Master’s Degree and Professional Performance Certi_cate in Piano Performance at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. He is also active in teaching. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the UBC and serves as a faculty member at the Mozart School of Music-Vancouver.

Tenor Jeremiah Mari Carag is soon to complete his studies at the UBC School of Music under renowned tenor James Patrick Raftery. Prior to UBC, Jeremiah never had any formal training in music.

Passionate about singing, he even auditioned for the 2008 season of “Canadian Idol” and garnered a Golden Ticket. UBC Opera and Voice Chair Nancy Hermiston noticed Jeremiah’s gift, when he participated and became a finalist in “UBC’s Got Talent.” The professor convinced him that opera was the way to go from there. Among his musical credits are playing the roles of Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Quasimodo in Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, and Roger Davis in Rent.

The $35-tickets to the event may be purchased directly at Kay Meek Theatre or anyone from the PCTC Board. ■

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 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 “FilipinoCanadian in Focus.”

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

- Who can nominate? Anybody.

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

www.canadianinquirer.net

30

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Entertainment

Enrique and Liza: ‘We’re exclusive’

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer ENRIQUE GIL, the other half of ‘LizQuen,’ has admitted that he and teen actress Liza Soberano are in an exclusive relationship.

"Kahit hindi pa kami, basta exclusive. Alam mo ‘yung bawal siya sa iba, bawal rin ako sa iba.

(We’re not together yet, just exclusive. She can’t date others, neither can I),” said Gil in an interview with Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP).

LizQuen love team rose to stardom in 2014 when Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano starred in the hit series, Forevermore, where they captured the hearts of Kapamilya primetime viewers.

Set in the picturesque town of La Presa, Benguet, Liza Soberano played a beautiful and hardworking daughter of a strawberry farmer, named Agnes Calay. A complete opposite of Xander Grande (Enrique Gil), a rebellious and arrogant son of a hotelier.

Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano admitted their feelings for each other in February 2015.

In an interview with DZMM, Soberano shared what she likes about Enrique.

"Lagi siyang nandiyan kapag may problems ako at magaling siyang magbigay ng advice.

(He is always there when I have problems, and he good with giving advice,) " she said.

She also appreciates that Enrique Gil is a family-oriented person.

By April, in an interview with DZMM , the 23-year old actor admitted to courting Soberano.

was beside him. I don’t want to relive the issue because it has been long over),” said Soberano in her PEP interview “Iba’t ibang istorya yung lumalabas. At least kami, alam naming magkasundo kami. So, yun na yun. (Different versions of the story are coming out. At least, we know that we have reconciled),” said Enrique to PEP. “Well, alam po ninyo, sa industry po natin, dapat sanay na tayo [sa intriga]. (Well, as you know, in our industry, we should be used to it [issues]),” he added.

Sulking

TEAM FOREVER. Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano

@LIZASOBERANO / INSTAGRAM

In an interview with PEP in being truthful, yun po. (We just to have been “drunk and disMay, Soberano revealed Gil’s have an agreement that he will orderly” when he boarded a courting style. wait for me. While I, as long as plane, and allegedly disrespectShe said that Enrique isn’t I am truthful, that’s it,)” Sober- ed women aboard the London the type who shower gifts but ano said in a statement released flight. a guy who uses words and ges- to PEP. Liza stands by Enrique’s tures to woo a throughout the lady. issue. She hints Since Liza is that what really only 17 years happened is difold, and has ferent from what expressed her We just have an agreement that he the public has reluctance of will wait for me. While I, as long as I been led to bejumping in a ream truthful, that’s it. lieve. lationship before “Alam ko kung turning 18, Enano po talaga ang rique has promnangyari. Katabi ised to wait for po niya ako. Yun her.

Through thick and thin lang po ang masasabi ko. Ayaw “Parang may usapan lang Enrique and Liza has recent- ko nang balikan pa yung issue kami na parang hihintayin niya ly been involved in a incident kasi matagal nang tapos na. (I po ako. Ako po, as long as I’m where Enrique was reported know what really happened. I

www.canadianinquirer.net

Liza has admitted that when she and Enrique are sulking, she’s the one who fixes up the problem.

“Ako ang madalas unang mag-sorry. (I’m the one who often apologizes first),” said Liza to PEP. Liza has also admitted to being cranky to Enrique sometimes.

“Pero wala lang yun. Parang kiddie fight lang. (But that is nothing. Like kids’ fight only),” explained Liza to PEP. Secret to their chemistry

“Sinasabi nila, ‘Anong secret ninyo sa chemistry ninyo?’

(They were saying, ‘What’s the secret to your chemistry?)” Enrique said in an interview with PEP. “We [have] love for each other, [we’re the] best of friends,” Lisa answered.

“Ang secret ay walang secret.

Ang secret, natural lang. (The secret is that we don’t have a secret. The secret (to their chemistry), is that we’re just natural),” Enrique revealed. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

31

Kim: Respect Kris’ decision

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer “SHE HAS decided not to push through with the project. Let us respect that decision,” said actress Kim Chiu, reacting to the news that Kris Aquino has opted not to work on the Star Cinema project “All You Need Is Pagibig.”

The film, which is an entry in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival in December, was originally for Kris and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.

It will now feature Kim with Xian Lim, confirmed Star Cinema ad prom officer Roxy Liquigan.

“We haven’t discussed it yet. Let Tita Malou (Santos, head of Star Cinema) be

the one to formally announce it,” Kim told reporters at the 10th anniversary celebration of ATC Healthcare, which she endorses, at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Excited about Papa P

She will pair up with Piolo Pascual for a movie, early in 2016. “I’m excited for that. Who wouldn’t want to work with Papa P? The idea [was brought up] when he did a cameo in ‘Etiquette for Mistresses.’ We were so happy that he agreed to do it.”

Xian and “KimXi” supporters will be happy as well. “Our fans will see us together in another soap series next year. Besides, Xian will be paired with Angel Locsin in his next movie.” ■

TV host Willie Revillame.

FACEBOOK

Willie Revillame ordered ‘arrested and arraigned’ over child abuse

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — The Court of Appeals (CA) Thirteenth Division ordered for the ‘arrest and arraignment’ of game show host Willie Revillame over a child abuse complaint filed against him by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The DSWD filed the complaint in 2011 at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in connection to the March 12, 2011 episode of Revillame’s previous variety show “Willing Willie” when he was still under TV5.

In the said episode, the television host allegedly encouraged a six-year-old boy to do “macho-dancing” (lewd dancing) during one of the show’s segment. The child was even raised on a platform and was joined by the show’s female dancers in his performance.

Quezon City RTC Branch 86 Judge Roberto Buenaventura then ordered for Revillame’s arrest on October 4, 2013 on grounds of child abuse and exploitation.

The host’s camp, however, asserted

that it was not his intention to abuse the boy and claimed that his freedom of expression was restrained in the case.

They also clarified that he only referenced to the 1977 film “Burlesk Queen.”

Revillame then filed a petition before the CA but the Court only affirmed the lower court’s decision after finding ‘probable cause for the petitioner’s commission of a crime.’

The CA’s resolution, which was penned by Associate Justice Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla on September 7, ordered for the host’s ‘arrest and arraignment’ so that ‘this case may properly proceed to trial, where the merits of both parties’ evidence and allegations may be weighed.’

The appellate Court also clarified that Judge Buenaventura have not committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the warrant of arrest in 2013.

Following the incident, “Willing Willie” was defunct come April 2011, airing for only six months. It was reformatted as “Wil Time Bigtime” after a month and was eventually replaced by “Wowowillie” in 2013. ■

Many Uruguayans...

Lacaze, thinks they never should have been taken in.

“Uruguay isn’t in a financial position to be receiving refugees,” she said, echoing a common criticism. “It was obvious they wouldn’t be comfortable here.”

Former President Jose Mujica, who left office in March, was the driving force behind inviting the Syrians and the ex-Guantanamo prisoners. Mujica, who was jailed for 13 years during the country’s dictatorship, took pride in ❰❰ 23

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opening Uruguay’s doors to people in need.

His successor, Tabare Vazquez, has shown much less enthusiasm. In his inaugural speech, Vazquez said a “profound analysis” was necessary before Uruguay accommodated more Syrian refugees.

A second group of 72 refugees was supposed to come in February but never did. Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa has insisted they’ll arrive later this year. ■

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Entertainment

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Bill Cosby suffers Dispute over 1999 hit an ongoing series of setbacks problem for rapper Jay-Z in sex assault cases

BY ANTHONY MCCARTNEY The Associated Press

BY DENISE LAVOIE The Associated Press BOSTON — In both the court of law and the court of public opinion, the case is growing against Bill Cosby.

A year after allegations of sexual assault resurfaced and snowballed, women who’ve accused him of sexual assault are giving emotional interviews en masse, judges are ruling against him and colleges are continuing to revoke honorary degrees bestowed upon him when he was one of the country’s most admired entertainers.

Cosby, 78, now faces five separate lawsuits, including one filed last week by a woman who says Cosby repeatedly sexually assaulted her beginning when she was 16. Earlier this month, a judge in California refused to throw out a lawsuit filed by a woman who accuses Cosby of molesting her when she was 15. Days later, a federal judge in Massachusetts rejected Cosby’s bid to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by three women who’ve accused him of sexually abusing them decades ago.

He spent a day being deposed in Boston in connection with a lawsuit by attorney Gloria Allred. And more depositions are likely in the weeks ahead.

If that weren’t enough, 27 of the women who say Cosby sexually assaulted them were interviewed together on “Date-

Bill Cosby.

line NBC.” Ebony magazine ran a cover with a photo of “The Cosby Show” cast under broken glass. And at least three more universities rescinded honorary degrees in the past week.

Tufts University in Massachusetts delivered a double blow, withdrawing both an honorary doctorate of arts and an award for excellence in children’s media, saying Cosby has “demonstrated a lack of character and integrity.” It joined a growing list of schools - including Fordham, Marquette and Brown University - that have sought to erase any affiliation with Cosby.

All this comes after a year of Cosby and his attorneys denying or refusing to comment as dozens of women went public with stories of sexual assault dating back to the 1960s. Cosby, a comedian and actor who first rose to fame in the ‘60s, starred as Dr. Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992, a role that cemented his image as an upright family man.

“It appears it’s catching up to him now. There’s a tsunami of women who have allegedly been affected by Mr. Cosby and are wanting to be heard,” said Joseph Cammarata, who represents the three women in the federal defamation suit filed in Massachusetts, where Cosby has a house in Shelburne Falls.

Things could get even worse ❱❱ PAGE 39 Bill Cosby

RANDY MIRAMONTEZ / SHUTTERSTOCK

LOS ANGELES — There’s no dispute that Jay Z’s 1999 hit “Big Pimpin’“ includes elements of a 1950s Egyptian love ballad, yet the flute notes taken from “Khosara Khosara” have created a lingering problem for the rapper and a hit-making producer.

For two days last week, Jay Z and producer Timbaland sat in a courtroom in downtown Los Angeles, listening as lawyers and witnesses picked apart their song and the actions that led to its creation.

The men, who have a combined 25 Grammy Awards between them, are being sued by the nephew of the late Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi, who wrote the distinctive flute notes that ended up in “Big Pimpin’.”

An attorney for Hamdi’s heir contends the artists and their labels never obtained the proper permission from Hamdi’s heirs to use “Khosara Khosara.”

Lawyers for the pair, however, say proper permission to use the flute notes was obtained in 2001, Hamdi’s nephew has been paid for its usage and the case should be decided in Jay Z and Timbaland’s favor.

Testimony in the case will draw to a close on Tuesday, and then it will be up to an eight-person jury to wade through a complicated series of contracts, correspondence and agreements that span three continents.

They’ve heard directly from Jay Z and Timbaland, who explained how “Big Pimpin’” came together and why they believe they have the right to use the “Khosara Khosara” notes.

Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Mosley, paid $100,000 in 2001 to settle an out-of-court claim from a record company with rights to distribute Hamdi’s music outside Egypt. It would be another six years before Hamdi’s nephew, Osama Ahmed Fahmy, sued Mosley and Jay Z for copyright infringement. Fahmy also asserts the raunchy lyrics of “Big Pimpin’” violate the “moral rights” of his uncle’s work, although that legal concept is enforceable only in Egypt and Jay Z’s lyrics are not an issue in the case. www.canadianinquirer.net

Rap mogul Jay Z.

Toward the end of his testimony Wednesday, Mosley told jurors his reaction to Fahmy’s lawsuit when it emerged so many years after “Big Pimpin’“ was created: “So, who did I pay 100 grand to?”

Paying other artists to sample their work is commonplace, especially in the rap and hip-hop genres.

Mosley’s payment is how the system should work, said Jonathan Steinsapir, an intellectual property lawyer with the firm Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert.

“It sure seems like Jay Z, Timabaland and their legal team in good faith thought they had a license,” he said. “They were doing what we want people to do.”

He added, “That’s not an insignificant fee at all,” Steinsapir said.

“That’s a big fee. They paid it.”

Jay Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, also said he believed they had all the appropriate rights for “Big Pimpin’.”

“We have the rights as you can see on the bottom of the CD,” Carter testified Wednesday, referencing liner notes that credit “Khosara Khosara.”

Whether jurors will see the claim in such simple terms remains to be seen.

Trials over song copyrights are rare, yet the “Big Pimpin’” case is the second major case to get argued to a jury in Los Angeles this year. In March, a jury awarded Marvin Gaye’s children $7.4 million from Pharrell and Robin Thicke after determining their 2013 hit, “Blurred Lines” copied Gaye’s hit “Got to Give It Up.”

LANDMARK MEDIA / SHUTTERSTOCK

A judge later trimmed the verdict to $5.3 million, but the case remains mired in post-trial motions and will likely face years of appeals.

The cases are different.

While there’s no dispute that “Khosara Khosara” is sampled on the Jay Z song, Pharrell denied he copied Gaye’s music.

He acknowledged he was influenced by Gaye’s music and trying to recreate its feel, but said he didn’t copy it outright.

On Friday, a defense music expert testified that in his opinion the “Khosara Khosara” notes included on “Big Pimpin’” were not an essential element of the song despite their repetition throughout. Fahmy’s expert, however, told jurors early in the trial that Hamdi’s notes are a significant part of “Big Pimpin’,” and moreover they would be instantly recognizable to an Egyptian audience.

“They light up because they’re lively,” said Scott Marcus, a professor of ethnomusicology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who has studied Arab music extensively.

No matter the verdict, the case won’t be the last one musicians face when their hit songs share elements with other music - whether they’re licensed or not. But Steinsapir said the case could have implications for future sampling claims, which are already pricey.

“It makes the costs of making hip hop music and other related music go up considerably,” Steinsapir said. “There are whole genres of music that are priced out.” ■

33

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

Lifestyle

Cost of funding IVF in Quebec a cautionary tale for other jurisdictions

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — The cost to Quebec taxpayers for a single baby born to a woman aged 40 and older ranges from almost $45,000 to more than $100,000 under the province’s publicly funded IVF program, a study has found.

And while no live births were recorded for women age 44, the mean cost of failed in-vitro fertilization among this age group hit almost $600,000.

Those findings, say researchers, represent a cautionary tale for any other jurisdiction considering whether to fund a similar program.

In 2010, Quebec became the first jurisdiction in North America to cover the costs of IVF for couples unable to conceive on their own. The program funds three cycles of the procedure — stimulating ovulation, egg retrieval and embryo transfer — that results in a live birth.

The actual cost is higher: the program does not reimburse patients for medications needed for IVF, which typically run between $3,000 and $5,000 per cycle and are often paid for by private insurance.

In all, 246 babies were born to women 40-plus during the 2010-2012 study period, said lead researcher Dr. Neal Mahutte, medical director of the Montreal Fertility Centre.

Researchers found that each live birth achieved through IVF for women aged 40, and using their own eggs, cost the government $43,153, a figure that increased exponentially with age, reaching almost $104,000 for 43-year-olds.

In contrast, IVF treatment that resulted in a live newborn for women under age 35 averaged $17,919, say the researchers, whose study will be presented Monday at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) annual meeting in

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Baltimore.

Because the Quebec government didn’t put an upper age limit on its program, older women whose prognosis for conception even with IVF continues to diminish with each birthday are also eligible for funding.

“So you had an awful lot of patients in Quebec who actually underwent more than three egg retrievals, and particularly in your 42-year-old and older patients, where they have high cycle-cancellation rates, they can have high rates of having a retrieval but no egg, or an egg that doesn’t fertilize or nothing to transfer,” Mahutte said.

“You had patients who would repetitively cycle because they had basically everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying again.”

Mahutte said there’s a clear relationship between the live birth rate per IVF cycle start and a woman’s age.

“And because the live birth rate per cycle start goes down quite substantially at age 40 and above, funding those cycles comes at a very substantial financial cost to the public,” he told a media telebriefing.

“So our conclusion was that any government that’s planning to introduce public funding should be aware of this relationship and should at least consider age eligibility criteria in order to maximize return on their investment.”

Ontario recently announced it will begin funding one cycle of IVF to achieve egg retrieval and one-at-a-time transfer of all viable embryos to allow for the possibility of multiple chances for pregnancy. Women age 42 and under are eligible for coverage, which begins in December.

Meanwhile, the Quebec government is poised to overhaul its program under Bill 20, which would remove most IVF coverage from the provinces’ health coverage.

Bill 20 would cap the eligibility for IVF at age 42. Women older than that would have to pay for the assisted reproduction procedure out of their own pockets.

Under the proposed legislation, women who qualify for IVF would be offered tax credits based on family income. Those with an annual family income of less than $50,000 would rewww.canadianinquirer.net

ceive an 80 per cent tax credit to cover the cost of treatment, while those with higher earnings could receive a credit as low as 20 per cent.

While clearly expensive for Quebec’s public purse — IVF coverage was initially budgeted at $30 million a year, but had hit $70 million by 2013 — it did manage to achieve one of its major goals.

In part, the program was aimed at reducing the number of multiple-fetus pregnancies from transferring more than one embryo at a time in the hope of producing a singleton birth.

That’s because twin, triplet and other multiple pregnancies often result in premature and underdeveloped newborns whose fragile health can be costly for the already overburdened health system — initially for neonatal intensive care and sometimes due to lifelong medical conditions.

A second study to be presented Monday at the ASRM meeting found Quebec’s IVF program met its goal of reducing the multiple birth rate to less than 10 per cent of all IVF deliveries — down from 25 per

cent before the program began.

“The first incomplete year of the program, it goes down to 13.1 per cent, then it goes down to 9.5 per cent the first full year of the program,” said lead researcher Dr. Michael Dahan, a fertility specialist at McGill University’s Reproductive Centre.

Provincial health records show there were just over 1,000 IVF babies born per year before public funding, a number that jumped by 64 per cent to 1,723 in the first full year of the program, while births from spontaneous conceptions continued to hover around 84,000 each year.

Pre-program, there were 218 multiple births resulting from IVF treatment in the year coverage was instituted; that figure fell by 60 per cent to 165 in the first year after, said Dahan.

“Even though more IVF is being done and more babies are being born, the number of multiple births is going down.”

Yet despite that drop, the study found the proportion of women admitted to hospital after becoming pregnant through IVF rose each year after the program’s introduction.

“We thought because the multiple pregnancy rate dropped so substantially that we would see a decreased rate in the antepartum (pre-delivery) admission. In fact, we did not,” said Dahan. “It was a little surprising and we have a little trouble explaining it.”

Researchers say the publicly funded IVF program has had another positive effect — raising the province’s live birth rate by almost 0.8 per cent — “a very significant increase,” said Dahan.

Quebec’s fertility rate in 2011 was close to the national average of 1.61 children per woman, according to the most recent figures from Statistics Canada, but fell below the two children needed to maintain population levels without immigration. ■

34

Lifestyle

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

WWW.MBSTARTUP.COM

Eye on the Prize: Emerging designers vying for $30,000 in Mercedes Benz Start-Up

BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press TORONTO — Six emerging Canadian labels will be vying for the top prize at Mercedes-Benz Start Up, an annual contest for upand-coming homegrown talents.

They’re competing for a lucrative prize package which includes a $30,000 bursary and a fully produced runway show during at Toronto’s World MasterCard Fashion Week next March.

Here’s a look at the designers heading to the runway for the competition finale on Tuesday.

Designer: Nikki Wirthensohn Label: Narces Location: Toronto Their line in a line: “It’s an eveningwear line that specializes in special occasion ... but at the same time it’s meant to suit the different lifestyles of a confident, strong, sensual woman and really fit into their multifaceted lifestyles.”

Plans for the prize: Wirthensohn has already established a red carpet presence, with “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) among those seen in her creations.

The designer is hoping to be able to direct part of her potential winnings to helping broaden exposure for Narces.

“We do find our growth has

come from our dresses being at certain events, on certain people. That gets the word out in terms of our line and it gets the recognition. At this point we need to further that. This will give us an opportunity for us to actually have a team on the ground when we are doing PR for a red carpet that we can make those changes. ...

“The other part that we see that’s going to be important for us is our online business to really make an upgrade to our online platform.”

Designers: Jose Manuel StJacques and Simon Belanger Label: UNTTLD Location: Montreal Their line in a line: “We’ve got key words that we hang onto,” said Belanger. “Unique, personality, some sense of craftmanship and a sense of history of where we come from and where we’re going.”

Plans for the prize: “Here in Quebec, we have a good following, but we’re trying to grow our business within all of Canada,” said Belanger. “We just got an agent in Toronto, and with part of the money what we would like to do is organize trunk shows with retailers that we’d like to partner with in the rest of Canada. ...

“We would like really to open a boutique our own store so that we can do some direct selling because for designers it’s

very difficult to survive only on wholesale.”

Designer: Spencer Badu Label: S.P. Badu Location: From Toronto, but attending school in Calgary Their line in a line: “I’d say there’s a futuristic, minimalist approach to it,” Badu said of his unisex label. “We like to focus on detail, but the main idea of the brand is to corrupt the conservative connotation of gender and perception of how a man or woman can dress.”

Plans for the prize: “Being an emerging brand, there’s a lot of things that money factors into in terms of creation and reproduction and employees and equipment; so that money could just help elevate everything we’re currently doing.

“Currently I’m in school, so the first thing would be a space to work out of. And then I would say production is the most important thing for us. It really comes down to the clothes.

“Right now, it’s mainly me.

I do everything from pattern drafting to sewing samples to sketching and designing,” he added. “I have people to help me out here and there, but when I graduate, I’m going to be looking to expand the team.”

Designer: Daniel Beaudet Label: Leinad Beaudet Location: Montreal Their line in a line: “Eccentric www.canadianinquirer.net

minimalism,” said Beaudet. “ The whole background or core of my collection the starting point is always related to Quebec because I live in Quebec. ...

And it always plays on our history, our culture.”

Plans for the prize: “I want to use a part of it to participate in a trade show in New York. That’s my biggest ambition. For the rest, I’d like to use it to create a financial cushion, to have a bigger line of credit and help get future investment and financing.”

Designer: Laura Siegel Label: Laura Siegel Location: Toronto Their line in a line: “I collaborate with artisans in rural villages around the world to sustain culture through craft.”

Plans for the prize: “We don’t have any funds to spend on marketing right now, so that would be great. But at the same time, things are looking good for our spring-summer ‘16 orders, so I guess we’ll probably need that to go towards production because that’s going to be larger than it usually is, which is a good thing.”

Designers: Chloe and Parris Gordon Label: Beaufille Location: Toronto Their line in a line: “Our brand Beaufille means ‘handsome girl,’ and it’s a line about the cross between masculine and feminine,

hard and soft, edgy and romantic. We try to encapsulate that ethos in everything we make,” said Parris of the sister duo’s made-in-Canada collection.

“Because both of our backgrounds are kind of different — Parris being in jewelry design and metalsmithing, and myself textiles and fashion — we always wanted to merge those two and have evidence of decoration or metal or hardware on the garments to tie the two collections together,” added Chloe.

Plans for the prize: “Within Canada, there’s not a lot of funding for the arts period, especially with fashion. It’s a struggle for any Canadian designer to have enough cash flow to stay afloat,” said Chloe.

“Right now, we’ve had a really good year in terms of sales and getting a lot of new doors on board. Part of that money would really help us be able to facilitate those orders.

“Really, it just goes back into the cash flow for a business like ours. For what we do as well, we have to spend money on production about six to eight months before ever receiving it back from the store. That’s definitely something any new business needs and something we definitely need because we’re definitely in the growth period of our business. For us right now, the cash is pretty essential to even just continuing what we’ve started.” ■

35

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

Travel

Essentials: Honolulu offers hikes through rain forests and snorkeling as well as rich history

BY AUDREY MCAVOY The Associated Press

Tuesday through Saturday nights. During the day, it has free lessons in ukulele, lei making, hula dancing and lauhala weaving.

HONOLULU IS a bustling metropolis with great restaurants just minutes from rain forest hiking trails and snorkeling spots. The state of Hawaii’s capital, located on the island of Oahu, is also an excellent place to learn about World War II as well as Hawaiian history and culture.

Hanging out

Whats new

Fans of surfing will want to see a new Bishop Museum exhibit on Duke Kahanamoku — www.bishopmuseum.org — said to be the father of the ancient sport’s modern incarnation. The Honolulu-born waterman won five Olympic swimming medals in the 1910s and 1920s and popularized surfing while travelling the world. The display, up through Feb. 28, includes his surfboard and ukulele as well as photos and film.

Riding on a new protected bike lane on King Street is a nice way to enjoy a less touristy part of Honolulu. You can rent a bike at The Bike Shop on King Street, www.bikeshophawaii.com. (A reservation will guarantee you a bike, but walkins are welcome.)

Shortly before the lane begins at the South King/Alapai intersection, you’ll find Iolani Palace, home of Hawaii’s last reigning queen until U.S.-backed businessmen deposed the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. Heading east toward the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a good place to stop for beer is the gastropub Pint and Jigger — www.pintandjigger. com. Next door are excellent Japanese udon noodles at Jimbo.

Farther down a vegan restaurant called Peace Cafe is so delicious meat-lovers are among its regular customers, www. peacecafehawaii.com. Shortly after the path ends is Da Spot, which serves smoothies as well as tasty, reasonably priced Mediterranean and North African food, daspot.net.

Classic attractions

The USS Arizona, a battleship that sank in the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, tops many lists for places to visit on Oahu. A boat will take you from the National Park Service’s visitor centre to the white memorial that sits atop the vessel’s submerged hull. The remains of nearly 1,000 Arizona sailors

The view of Pali Coast on Kauai Island of Hawaii on a sunny day.

and Marines killed in the attack are entombed in the ship. A museum and video at the visitor centre tells about those on board and the history of World War II. A few elderly survivors of the attack are sometimes around to meet visitors, www.nps.gov.

The nature preserve at Hanauma Bay offers white sands fronting aquamarine waters packed with coral and tropical fish. It’s a good spot for snorkeling or just enjoying the sun. Admission is $7.50 (free for Hawaii residents and children 12 and under), www.honolulu.gov. A hike inside one of Honolulu’s most recognizable symbols — the jewel-shaped volcanic crater called Diamond Head — provides dramatic views of Waikiki, Oahu’s green mountains and blue ocean.

Much of the 1.6-mile path to the crater’s rim is made of stairs. The trail is hot, so bring water and use sunscreen. Admission is $1 for pedestrians and $5 per car, www.dlnr.hawaii.gov.

Across town, the trail to Manoa Falls takes you through a lush forest to a waterfall at the back of a verdant valley.

The hike is less than a mile and good for families, www.hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov.

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Arizona Memorial up to two months in advance. Walk-in visitors may get tickets on a first-come, first-served basis; reserving ahead guarantees a seat and helps you plan your day. Tickets are free, but those reserving online must pay a $1.50 per ticket processing fee.

Save money: Honolulu can be pricey, but there’s lots to enjoy for nothing.

Beaches are free and open to the public, for example. Just bring a towel and picnic lunch. The Royal Hawaiian Center shopping complex near Waikiki’s hotels offers free live Hawaiian music and hula

Tips

Save time: Go to recreation.gov to reserve tickets for the boat to the USS www.canadianinquirer.net

Explore the quiet end of Waikiki by strolling down Kalakaua Avenue to the Waikiki Aquarium, one of the few places in the world where you can see fish from the most remote atolls in the Hawaiian archipelago. A 4,000-gallon display tank has species abundant in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands but rarely found around Oahu, Maui and the other islands where most people live. The aquarium also has two Hawaiian monk seals, an endangered species.

Next door, you’ll be able to peek at the ruins of a now-closed saltwater swimming pool that was built to honour the 101 people from Hawaii killed in World War I and the 10,000 others from the islands who served in the conflict. Duke Kahanamoku opened the pool with the first ceremonial swim in 1927. The Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium has since fallen into disrepair and is the subject of a long-running debate over whether it should be demolished or restored to its former glory.

Across the street is the vast expanse of Kapiolani Park, which initially hosted horse races when it opened in 1877.

Take a bag lunch to eat on the grass or at one of the picnic tables scattered under shady trees. If you prefer being served, try the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant at the nearby New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. It’s a great place to watch the sun set while you savour fresh ahi sashimi or sauteed mahimahi. ■

36

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Business

Ex-Microsoft CEO says he’s taken 4% stake in Twitter

BY MARLEY JAY The Associated Press

Makati City -- PHL’s business hub.

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Japanese cite obstacles in doing business in PH

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer

Japan established to promote trade, industry and business between Osaka and various parts of the world.

In an interview on Friday, Perlada also said investor outlook for the Philippines still remained positive given the investors’ expressions of interest in doing business here.

He also cited an earlier survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro), which showed that at least half of the Japanese firms operating in the Philippines are looking to pursue their respective expansion plans over the short

of 13 cities including Manila.

Member-delegates from Osaka, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh, DIFFICULTIES IN refundamong others, have expressed ing taxes and the impact of the interest in the fresh and proManila port congestion on local cessed food, manufacturing, operations are among the bigand the IT-business process gest concerns raised by close to outsourcing industries, Perlada 80 prospective investors from said.

Japan and other key markets.

The Philippines, meanwhile, “They are happy with the Philwill also be sending a delegaippines in the sense that we have tion this week to Osaka for a [higher] credit ratings and we food and beverage exhibition have eased doing business here. and to discuss business with But there were issues that have foreign buyers. come up such as the port conForeign groups, over the gestion and the monetization of years, have slammed the govtax credits. While ernment for these issues making it more won’t stop them difficult for taxfrom investing paying investors here, these reForeign groups, over the years, to exercise their main a concern have slammed the government for right to refund. that must be admaking it more difficult for tax-paying This does not dressed,” said investors to exercise their right to only breach the Senen M. Perrefund. trust of the comlada, director of panies operating the Export Marin the country, keting Bureau but also hampers (EMB) at the Department of term despite perceived chal- the entry of crucial foreign diTrade and Industry. lenges in the local business and rect investments, they said.

The businessmen were in the regulatory environments.

The congestion at the Port country last week to scout for Perlada said the business del- of Manila last year, meanwhile, potential investment opportu- egation that the IBPC Osaka was said to have cost local businities. brought here were representa- nesses as much as P70 billion.

The delegation was organized tives from cities that are part of Delays in shipments have reby the Osaka International the so-called Business Partner sulted in production halts, work Business Promotion Center City (BPC). The BPC, initiated stoppages, and higher logistics (IBPC Osaka), a subsidiary of by the Osaka Municipal Gov- costs, which then raised the end the Osaka City Government in ernment in 1988, is a network prices of goods and services. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

NEW YORK — Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has bought a 4-percent stake in Twitter, a vote of confidence in the struggling messaging company.

That makes Ballmer one of Twitter’s largest shareholders.

A Twitter account that identified itself as Ballmer’s said Friday morning that he bought stock in Twitter in the last few months. Seth Burton, a representative for the Clippers, confirmed that Ballmer had made the investment.

The high-profile investment comes as Twitter is trying to win more users and turn a profit. This month, its cofounder Jack Dorsey returned as its permanent CEO. Then the company announced that it would lay off up to 8 percent of its workforce and unveiled a new feature, “Moments.” Those packages of commentary, video and photos about major events are an attempt to make Twitter more accessible and broaden its appeal.

The company’s shares lost about half their value between late April and late August as investors worried about Twit-

Steve Ballmer.

ter’s disappointing financial performance and slowing user growth. The nine-year-old company has never reported an annual profit.

The stock has recovered some of those losses as the broader markets rose in October, and is up $1.51, or 5.1 percent, to $31.22 in afternoon trading.

Ballmer also said he liked that Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and his investment company bought more shares of Twitter. The prince and his firm said this month the stake had doubled over a six-week period to more than 5 percent.

Dorsey was the San Francisco company’s CEO during its early years and became interim CEO in July, when Dick Costolo stepped down. Twitter said on Oct. 5 that he would become its permanent CEO. Ballmer tweeted that day that Twitter “is remarkable” and called Dorsey an “impressive dude.”

According to FactSet, Ballmer’s holdings would make him the third-largest individual owner of Twitter shares after company co-founder Evan Williams and bin Talal. Ballmer, who was Microsoft’s CEO for 14 years ending last year, is also the largest individual owner of Microsoft stock with a 4.2-percent stake. ■

WIKIPEDIA

Business

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

37

Seeking love on Wall Street: Match.com owner files for IPO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Match Group is swiping right and hopes investors will do the same: The parent of Tinder, Match. com and OkCupid is filing for an initial public offering of stock.

The company valued the offering at $100 million, although that is an estimate made for purposes of calculating a filing fee and could change. Match Group Inc. says it will list its

shares on Nasdaq under the symbol “MTCH.” Match Group is a unit of IAC/InterActiveCorp, which is controlled by billionaire Barry Diller. IAC/InterActiveCorp will still have majority control of Match after the offering. It also owns Web properties like Vimeo, HomeAdvisor, About. com and CollegeHumor.

Match Group says it has turned a profit in each of the last three years. The Dallasbased company says it had $1 billion in revenue over the 12

months ended June 30. Before the end of the year it expects to buy yet another site, PlentyOfFish, for $575 million.

According to a filing with regulators, as of Sep. 30 Match had about 59 million active monthly users, 4.7 million of them paid, using its “dating products” in 38 languages in more than 190 countries.

The filing comes at a time of slowing IPO activity because of concerns about the health of the global economy,

Canadian business leaders mull impact of massive Liberal victory THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Ready or not for another Canadian prime minister named Trudeau, the business community seems unphased by the overwhelming Liberal parliamentary majority that will be taking over from Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

The Canadian dollar was up overnight, but not by much, and even one of groups that has been most supportive of the Conservative pro-business agenda expressed eagerness to work with prime minister elect Justin Trudeau.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business was quick to congratulate Trudeau early Tuesday but emphasized that its top priority is to reduce the corporate tax rate for small businesses as well as to control the overall burden of payroll taxes.

“We are eager to sit down with Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party and get to work on the issues that matter most to Canada’s small businesses,” CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a statement.

At least two CEOs of Canadian companies had expressed jitters earlier this month about the possibility of a change in government.

Grant Fagerheim of Calgarybased oil and gas producer Whitecap Resources Inc. said he was “very concerned” about the possibility of Canadians

which has led to turmoil on Wall Street. IPOs are currently at their slowest pace in about four years, according to Renaissance Capital, and many of the companies that have gone public have seen their stocks start trading at lower prices than they had hoped.

This week, payment technology company First Data Corp. went public with the largest U.S.-listed IPO of the year, but the $2.56 billion offering was smaller than the company had expected. Supermarket opera-

New development goals under threat by climate change – NEDA

BY BEN O. DE VERA Philippine Daily Inquirer

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. FACEBOOK

electing another Prime Minister Trudeau.

Fagerheim cited the national energy program introduced in 1980 by the Liberal leader’s late father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, as a point of concern for Canada’s oilpatch.

He said it took 15 years for the industry to recover from the program.

Meanwhile, Blackberry CEO John Chen said Stephen Harper’s Conservatives had been helpful to the tech company and said he’d like to see the “status quo.”

However, medical marijuana producers were excited about the change, noting that the Conservatives were the least marijuana-friendly of all three major parties.

The changing of the guard in Ottawa could result in recreational access to the drug — a move that would fuel rapid growth in Canada’s burgeoning cannabis industry.

“I think what you’ll see perhaps, after this election ... is a recognition that there is an opportunity to collect taxes on something that is already being sold into the market illegally or illicitly,” said Bruce Linton, the CEO of Canopy Growth Corp.

Canopy’s shares were rising ahead of the federal election.

At the close of trading Monday, shares were up nine per cent, or 18 cents, to $2.18.

The company’s stock has shot up nearly 30 per cent since Oct. 13, when it closed at $1.75. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

tor Albertsons Cos. postponed its IPO because of the state of the markets. Albertsons, the owner of Safeway and other chains, had said it expected to raise as much as $1.7 billion.

That would have been the second-largest offering of the year so far.

Competing dating site and app operator Zoosk filed for an IPO in April 2014, but withdrew its plans the following month.

At the time Zoosk said it had $178 million in revenue and had yet to turn a profit. ■

THE PHILIPPINES is calling for a renewed fight against the growing threat of climate change, saying this could derail the implementation of new development goals set by the United Nations.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the country is throwing its full support to the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which would replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that have drawn mixed reviews.

Neda Director General and Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, who attended the 70th UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York last month, told the meeting’s closing session that “if we are to achieve our development goals, we need to take urgent action to combat climate change.”

The “more ambitious and comprehensive” SDGs cover 17 goals and 169 targets that encompass economic, social and

environmental sustainability.

Over 150 UN member-countries are aiming to pursue these goals starting next year until 2030.

“We have seen extreme weather disturbances occurring with greater frequency and intensity. These calamities can negate our gains in reducing poverty, and even push back development,” Balisacan said.

The Neda chief told the UN forum economies should hike investments in climate resiliency while establishing climate change adaptation and mitigation mechanisms not only on a national scale but also at the community level.

“As president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, we will also work in the upcoming Paris Conference to ensure that we adopt a new legally binding climate agreement, that is universal and equitable,” Balisacan said.

The Philippines’ chief economist also expressed appreciation that the UN included in the SDGs measures to conserve and responsibly use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. ■

38

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Sports

National U nails 2 titles; UP shines

BY JASMINE W. PAYO Philippine Daily Inquirer

FACEBOOK

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY picked up two titles and University of the Philippines copped one in separate UAAP action on Saturday.

Most Valuable Player Peter Gabriel Magnaye powered the Bulldogs to their second straight men’s badminton championship, while the Lady Bullpups also completed a back-to-back title romp in girls’ high school volleyball.

The Lady Maroons also reigned for the second straight season in women’s badminton behind skipper Bea Bernardo.

“All our hard work paid off,”

Magnaye, the 23-year-old national team mainstay, said after the Bulldogs disposed of La Salle, 3-1, in the Finals to cap an unbeaten season at Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

The Bulldogs, now with three crowns in the last four years, first scored through Roslee Pedrosa in the first singles and the second doubles with Paul Gonzales.

Magnaye also partnered with Alvin Morada in the other doubles triumph.

In the women’s Finals, Bernardo teamed up with Mary Ann Maranon to lead the Lady Maroons to a 3-1 victory over Ateneo.

The pair triumphed in the second doubles following the first doubles win of Rookie of

the Year Lea Inlayo and Jessie Francisco. Maranon also scored in the second singles.

In girls’ volleyball, the Lady Bullpups outlasted University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 1425, 23-25, 26-24, 15-8, at Adamson gym.

Faith Nisperos, last season’s MVP, fired back-to-back aces for a 7-4 lead that sparked the Lady Bullpups’ surge in the deciding set.

Thea Gagate (Rookie of the Year), Sheena Toring (Best Blocker) and Joyme Cagande (Best Setter) likewise shone for NU. The boys Finals between defending champion University of the East and unbeaten National U has been rescheduled due to Typhoon “Lando.” ■

Rookie race could boil down to TNT teammates

BY JASMINE W. PAYO Philippine Daily Inquirer HORSING AROUND during a break in practice, Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, this season’s top two PBA rookie picks, look all set for a solid team-up.

And even if they are now teammates, the question still pops up: Who’s better?

“That’s what people want (a rivalry),” said Tautuaa. “People like that kind of stuff, but we don’t think about it. We’re in it together. I have his back.”

Pitted against each other in pre-draft talks, Tautuaa and Rosario undoubtedly stand as the best low-post prospects in their rookie class. Yet somehow, the two wound up togeth-

er in one team.

Talk ’N Text made the Filipino-Tongan Tautuaa its No. 1 pick, while Mahindra (formerly Kia) selected Rosario second overall. But the Tropang Texters later acquired the former National University star in a multiplayer trade.

“There are still adjustments with the team, but we’re welcome here,” said Rosario, who helped power the NU Bulldogs to their first UAAP championship in 60 years last season.

“We know we’ll learn a lot here. They’re easy to get along with. We’re rookies, but they don’t treat us like rookies. They tell us to just play your game.”

TNT coach Jong Uichico noted that both are skilled, promising big men—Rosario gifted

with athleticism, Tautuaa armed with strength.

Debates can go on, but the PBA may get to answer who’s the best between them. Come season’s end, the league bestows the PBA Rookie of the Year award to the top freshman.

“Whoever gets it, gets it.

We’re a team,” said Tautuaa.

“I’m going to be happy if he gets it. And I think he’d reciprocate if I get it. We’re on the same team, we have the same jersey.

If he wins, we win.”

Although there had been surprises—think Larry Fonacier, the second-round draft pick who wound up winning the 2005-06 rookie plum—Tautuaa and Rosario are expected to lead the ROY race.

“If Mo wins [the Rookie of

www.canadianinquirer.net

Troy Rosario and Moala Tautuaa.

PBA-ONLINE.NET / SCREENSHOT FROM SLAM BASKETBALL YOUTUBE CLIP

the Year], he deserves it,” said Rosario. “In the PBA Draft, he deserves to be No. 1. His skills are there, his maturity for the game is there. He doesn’t play like a rookie. He’s one of the most talented players in the Draft. He’s versatile, he has his

shooting and strength.”

“Troy plays with a lot of heart, he doesn’t give up,” said Tautuaa. “He never stops. His motor never stops. He’s a hustle player, he plays smart. If he’d get it (Rookie of the Year), I think that’s how he’ll get it.” ■

Sports

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

39

NDP take... have served in the House of Commons since 1997.

If there was an upside, it is that the Conservatives are no longer in power, said Karl Belanger, a senior NDP strategist.

“The first objective the NDP campaign set — the No. 1 priority — was to defeat Stephen Harper,” said Belanger.

“Sounds like Canadians made that choice tonight. The Conservative government is gone, so now we can start to fix the damage Mr. Harper has created.”

The party entered the 78-day campaign riding high in the polls, but saw its lead evaporate halfway through, forcing it to spend the rest of the writ period ❰❰ 21

Donnie Nietes defeats Gilberto Parra.

SCREENSHOT FROM BOXING SPHERE YOUTUBE VIDEO

Nietes eyes global fame vs Alejo

BY ROY LUARCA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE DOOR to global acclaim is now open for Donnie “Ahas” Nietes.

Whether the longest reigning Filipino world champion will barge into it or be denied entry will depend upon his showing against Mexican challenger Juan “Pinky” Alejo in their showdown for the World Boxing Organization light flyweight crown Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) at StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Nietes is strutting his stuff in the United States, boxing’s mainstream, for the first time and Nietes ought to impress in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 33: Philippines vs the World to line himself for bigger and juicier fights abroad.

The 33-year-old Nietes, unbeaten in 28 fights since 2004 en route to a 36-4 card with 21 knockouts, hopes to add Alejo, who is on a 21-win run, 13 by KO, after dropping his first three bouts, to his Mexican victims.

Thus far, the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental, has beaten 12 Mexicans (Moises Fuentes twice), three of them right at their homeland, in defense of the 108-pound title he wrested from Mexican Ramon-Garcia Hirales in 2011 in Bacolod City.

Installed the favorite in the 12round bout to be aired by ABS-CBN Sports Sunday, Nietes hopes to reap the benefits of over 100 rounds of sparring,

including six with two-time Fil-Am world champion Brian Viloria at the famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, to extend his eight-year reign, dating back to 2007 when he won the vacant WBO minimumweight title in Cebu City.

As proof of their preparedness, the protagonists both came in under the weight limit in Friday’s official weigh-in, Nietes checking in at 107.9 lb and Alejo 107.4.

Three other Filipino rising stars—brothers Jason and “Prince” Albert Pagara and Mark Magsayo—are seeing action in Pinoy Pride 33, ALA International Promotions’ first foray in the United States, just like its homegrown talents.

The younger Albert (24-0, 17 KOs) will dangle his International Boxing Federation inter-continental super bantamweight against Nicaraguan knockout artist William Gonzalez (25-5, 23 KOs). Albert tipped the scales at 121.8 lb, slightly heavier than Gonzalez (120.6).

Jason (36-2, 22 KOs) will tangle with Santos Benavides (2572, 19 KOs) at light welterweight.

They both weighed 143 lb.

Generating a lot of attention is Magsayo’s defense of the IBF Youth featherweight crown against the cocky Suarez.

During the final press-conference Friday, Suarez boasted that their fight could be over in just two rounds.

The 20-year-old Magsayo did not specify a round, but promised a knockout. ■

trying to regain the upper hand.

The momentum shifted for the NDP in mid-September, when the Conservatives chose to use the issue of women wearing the niqab at citizenship ceremonies as a wedge issue.

Mulcair was forced to oppose it, a position unpopular among voters in the party’s base of power in Quebec.

It not only blew up the NDP campaign, but it wrecked the Conservatives’ as well, Belanger said.

“The Conservatives decided to blow up our campaign with the niqab. So they used that weapon and in the process they blew up their own campaign, so they have only themselves to blame.”

Belanger said the NDP’s stand on the niqab was not unlike the one the NDP took against the Conservative anti-terror bill, Bill C-51, which he says was initially accepted by the public before the details became widely understood.

The party placed a lot of emphasis on building a political machine during their time as Official Opposition — a fundraising and organizational structure that will survive the dramatic collapse.

“We hoped this investment would bring good results,” said Belanger. “This kind of operation takes a lot of time and resources to build, but once it’s built you can rely on this election and the next election.” ■

Los Angeles on the date originally provided by her attorneys.

Another lawsuit was filed on Wednesday. Renita Hill accuses Cosby of drugging her drinks and assaulting her at hotels in several cities in the 1980s, beginning when she was still in high school. Her lawsuit alleges that Cosby defamed her when he, his wife, Camille, and his attorney made statements portraying her as a liar. None of the statements mentioned Hill by name.

Singer did not return calls or emails for comment, and Monique Pressley, another Cosby attorney, declined to comment.

They have repeatedly denied some of the women’s allegations. Cosby has never been charged with a crime.

“What I am saying is that Mr. Cosby has denied the accusations that have been lodged thus far. The sheer volume or number of people who are saying a particular thing does not make it true,” Pressley said on “Good Morning America” in July.

Cosby’s accusers say his once-impeccable image has been shattered.

“He has created his legacy, and his legacy has taken a shift,” said Barbara Bowman, who was a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985 when she says Cosby sexually assaulted her.

Bowman was one of 13 women who had planned to testify for Constand in a civil suit Cosby settled in 2006 before it

went to trial.

In a deposition in that case, Cosby acknowledged he gave Quaaludes to young women he wanted to have sex with, “the same as a person would say, ‘Have a drink.’“ He maintained that the sexual activities were consensual and that none of the women took Quaaludes unknowingly.

The lawsuits against Cosby are in the early stages and have a long way to go before they go to trial. Cosby’s attorneys will still have additional opportunities to try to get them dismissed.

Tamara Rice Lave, an associate professor at the University of Miami School of Law who was written extensively about sex offenders, said she expects Cosby “is going to be paying a lot of money” in civil judgments. But she said she is concerned that the current climate against Cosby could pressure prosecutors to file criminal charges.

“I think prosecutors might be less careful in reviewing criminal charges because they’re so happy to have a case that falls within the statute of limitations and they also know that they’re very likely to get a conviction because they have all of this propensity evidence,” Lave said. ■

Bill Cosby... for Cosby in the next few months. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania and California could still bring criminal charges.

Although the statute of limitations has expired in most of the cases, the release this year of Cosby’s deposition in a 2005 sex-assault lawsuit in Pennsylvania seemingly prompted the current prosecutor to reopen the criminal case.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman won’t confirm her office is reinvestigating the complaint

by Andrea Constand, a former director of women’s basketball operations at Temple University, where Cosby was a longtime trustee. However, Ferman said in a recent statement that prosecutors must review prior decisions if new evidence comes to light.

And a well-known Philadelphia defense lawyer confirmed that Cosby’s camp asked him to represent the actor in a Montgomery County criminal probe.

The statute of limitations for felony sexual assault in Pennsylvania is 12 years, which means Ferman has until January - the same month she leaves office - to file charges.

In California, Los Angeles County prosecutors are reviewing allegations by model Chloe Goins, who sued Cosby this month, claiming he drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2008.

Cosby’s lawyer, Martin Singer, has denied Goins’ allegations, saying Cosby wasn’t in ❰❰ 32

www.canadianinquirer.net

Associated Press writers Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia and Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

40

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Technology

How to spot a fake online review

SHUTTERSTOCK

Back off, tablets: PC companies plan a $70-M ad campaign

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — So many people have gone so long without buying a new personal computer that the industry’s biggest players are trying something different: a quirky advertising campaign. The $70 million marketing push aims to highlight how much better PCs have gotten since smartphones and tablets came along.

Rival PC makers HewlettPackard, Dell and Lenovo are joining forces with Microsoft and Intel to revive languishing PC sales with ads that don’t promote specific brands.

They’ll be punctuated with the slogan, “PC does what?”

It’s a concept similar to earlier campaigns by beef and dairy producers that sought to extol the virtues of their products.

The PC campaign will tout the increased versatility of laptops that have slimmed down while adding more powerful chips, longer-lasting batteries and higher resolution screens that also respond to touch commands. Many of the screens also detach from keyboards so they can function as tablets, too. Most new PCs are now

powered by Windows 10, which Microsoft bills as its best operating system yet.

“With this perfect storm of innovation, we felt it was the time to tell our story,” said Steve Fund, Intel’s chief marketing officer. “People think having something good is good enough because they are unaware of how much better the PCs are now.”

The campaign, scheduled to begin Monday in the U.S. and China, will include TV commercials on major networks and online ads. The participating companies will split the $70 million cost of the campaign, which will run through November in an effort to entice holiday shoppers.

The ads are primarily targeting consumers who haven’t bought a new PC in at least four years - a potential audience of about 400 million people, estimated technology industry analyst Patrick Moorhead.

The PC push comes amid a 3 1/2-year decline in sales that has been driven by a shift to smartphones and tablets able to handle many of the tasks that previously required desktop and laptop computers.

Even the late July release of Microsoft’s Windows 10 oper-

ating system couldn’t reverse the slide. Worldwide shipments of PCs fell by 8 percent from the previous year during the three-month period ending in September, according to the research group Gartner. Lenovo, HP and Dell were the top three PC makers in the quarter.

But the pendulum may be poised to swing in the other direction.

About half the consumers polled in Gartner’s personal technology survey said they plan to buy a new PC during the next year, compared to just 21 percent who said they have a tablet on their shopping list.

In an effort to reverse a recent decline in iPad sales, Apple introduced a larger version of its trendsetting tablet that’s designed to behave much like a laptop. The iPad Pro will sell for $800 and an accompanying keyboard will cost an additional $169.

Consumers who have owned the same PC for several years can now buy a vastly improved model for $500 to $700, Moorhead said, making it more likely the marketing campaign will win converts.

“I think the PC might have its best hand in the past five to seven years,” Moorhead said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY SARAH SKIDMORE SELL The Associated Press

who has never been to a location might have a tough time describing it accurately.

DO YOU trust online reviews?

Now that Amazon is suing more than 1,000 people who allegedly offered to write glowing product reviews for cash, you might reasonably be concerned.

Deceptive reviews are commonplace online. Fortunately, there are a few good techniques that can help you tell truth from fiction.

Junk the jargon

Don’t trust yourself

A team of researchers at Cornell University created a computer algorithm for detecting fake hotel reviews by analyzing the language used in legitimate and phony write-ups. The computer program, Review Skeptic, is accurate about 90 percent of the time, but humans alone performed poorly at determining the truth teller.

“People are terrible,” said professor Claire Cardie, who helped develop the system. “I was very surprised. We just cannot tell the difference much more than chance.”

On the flip side, beware of recommendations that read like product manuals. Reviews that repeat the full product name or model number may be an attempt to game the search engine system. And if they use excessive technical or marketing jargon, odds are they aren’t providing a genuine review — most real people don’t talk like that.

Review the reviewer

Check out the profile of the person providing the review, said Louis Ramirez, senior features writer with online deal site DealNews. If they only write reviews for a particular company, that’s a huge warning sign they could have a vested interest in that business. Some sites let people upload pictures of the item they bought, which can help add credibility.

A m a z o n verifies some of its reviewers, indicating they actually bought the product (although some of the people it’s suing allegedly found ways around that). Some other sites only allow posts from people who’ve made a purchase there.

Look closely on the site for their review policies.

!

Listen to the language

Beware of extremes — overly enthusiastic or negative reviews are red flags. False reviews tend to use more extreme language to get their message across. So if someone says “It is the most comfortable bed ever,” perhaps in all caps, take pause.

Additionally, the Cornell researchers found that when it comes to hotels, fake reviewers tended not to talk about the spatial details — such as the floor or bathroom. Instead, they focused on the reason they were there, such as describing a recent fake vacation or business trip. In practice, this makes sense because someone

Pay attention to detail

If you think about your own experiences with an unpleasant experience or product, you can probably explain exactly why it was bad. Ramirez suggests if you’re unsure about a review, put more stock in someone who provides details of why they didn’t like a product (“Oh, the battery only lasted four hours”) than in someone who complains more generally (“I hated this laptop. It was horrible”). ■

Technology

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

41

Kanye West’s ranting tweets on in app purchases highlight problem in kids’ games

BY VICTORIA AHEARN The Canadian Press TORONTO SINGLE mom Robyn Holmes sympathizes with Kanye West.

Like the hip-hop star, who recently dropped an F-bomb on Twitter over in-app purchases for kids’ mobile video games, Holmes has been burned by her young child inadvertently racking up a bill on her tablet.

In Holmes’s case, her thenfour-year-old daughter was playing “Angry Birds” and clicked on over a dozen in-app purchase prompts to advance to new levels.

“Then I start receiving these emails on my device, ‘Thanks for your purchase,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what purchase?”‘ recalls Holmes, an IT problem manager.

“I look and all of a sudden I’ve got this $80 bill for stuff that she’s bought.”

Holmes didn’t realize that certain settings on the tablet allowed her daughter to make in-app purchases. She’s since learned her lesson — one that West clearly just did as well, based on his recent tweet that

started with an expletive and then derided “any game company that puts in-app purchases on kids games!!!”

“That makes no sense!!! We give the iPad to our child and every 5 minutes there’s a new purchase!!!” West continued in another tweet.

“If a game is made for a 2 year old, just allow them to have fun and give the parents a break for Christ sake.”

Actor Jack Black has also been affected by costly in-app purchases, lamenting on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in May that his young son spent $3,000 on just one game.

In-app purchasing is typically available in games that are advertised as free to download. Sometimes just the first few minutes of play are free, or users may be tempted with the option to buy more lives, bonus features or premium content with real money.

Digital media expert Aimee Morrison, associate professor of English at the University of Waterloo, says the problem improved somewhat after developers of “free” games started indicating in app store descrip-

SHUTTERSTOCK

tions when in-app purchases were available.

But the total cost of in-app purchases can vary wildly, she adds. Some games offer dozens of hours of fun for just a few bucks, while others require substantially more.

The biggest piece of advice from experts is for parents to change settings on their devices to prevent children from making such purchases.

Parents can also seek out kids’ games that don’t have such traps.

Toronto-based studio Sago Sago, for instance, makes apps

that are free of in-app purchases and third-party ads for children ages two to four. Instead, most of the apps cost $2.99 for the entire game upfront.

“It creates challenges for us but the reality is that we’ve won the trust of a lot of parents,” says CEO Jason Krogh.

Morrison says she would like to see more transparency from developers, with kids’ apps disclosing how much it would cost to achieve full functionality in a game.

The Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy & Public Interest Clinic, based at the

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University of Ottawa, has defended several clients dealing with this very issue.

Director David Fewer says one client had a child rack up over $800 in purchases on what was at the time a popular kidfocused gaming platform.

“Usually the first response is to go back to whoever it is that’s taking your money and say, ‘We didn’t agree to this. You shouldn’t be charging me this.

This is outrageous,”‘ says Fewer.

“And usually the companies are good enough to reverse the charges.”

Fewer says he’d like to see more safeguards in place, such as a secondary confirmation prompt telling the card holder that their account is about to be used.

“Because it is abusive of consumers,” he says. “Most people will contest an $800 bill, but how many people will contest an $8 bill or even an $80 bill?”

Count Holmes among those who “ate the cost” of the bill and learned from it.

“I should’ve been more aware,” she says. “I went online and I told all my friends ... and they were all like, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t even think of that.’” ■

Long term forecast from www.theweathernetwork.com CALGARY

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Events

42

OCTOBER 23, 2015

Embassy Chef Challenge

By IBD Foundation WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Nov. 5, Victoria Hall John G. Diefenbaker Bldg., Sussex Dr. Ottawa Location : Victoria Hall John G. Diefenbaker Building, 111 Sussex Drive Contact : http://www.ibdfoundation.org/embassy_chef_ challenge.html Support the Filipino community’s very own Chef Jill Aranas!

Embassy Chef Challenge is an exceptional fundraising event where executive chefs from multiple international embassies present signature epicurean delights for charity.

YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

FRIDAY

CANADA EVENTS

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, On MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355

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View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

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, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

Tagalog Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto

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Teleserye Bida Tour – One Magical Night in Toronto

By Relaks Entertainment WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m., Oct. 23 at 190 Princes’ Blvd. Toronto, ON NEWFOUNDLAND Homework/Tutorial Class MORE INFO: Featuring Gerald

By FCT Anderson, Enchong Dee, Enrique WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, Gil, Xian Lim, Rayver Cruz and Liza QUEBEC every Saturday, Filipino Centre Soberano

NOVA SCOTIA

Special Worship Celebration

By SDA FilCan Burnaby Church and the SDA Bayanihan New Westminster Church WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 24, at SDA Bayanihan Church, 930 Cumberland St. (cor.

10th Ave.), Mount Zion Lutheran Church Bldg. New Westminster, B.C. MORE INFO: Main Speaker – Freddie Bagunu Pinoy Connect

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: Sundays until Dec. 20. Settlement services:12 to 2 p.m.; Bayanihan Support Circle: 2 to 4 p.m.; Employment Law Clinic: By appointment only at Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-254-9626 Public Speaking Without Panic: Learn Effective Strategies to Communicate with Confidence

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays, up to Nov. 10 at 1522 Commercial Dr., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Learn strategies and techniques for building self-confidence to communicate your ideas and opinions in a group setting. Call 604-254-9626 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 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 Vancouver Auditions

By World Championships of Performing Arts 2016 — Team Canada WHEN/WHERE: 12 nn to 4 p.m., Freshgroove Studios, 2620 Viscount Way, Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Janice Lozano, regional director, at wcopa.westerncanada@gmail.com or (778)-772-5847.

Retro Mania: Goldie 2015 Halloween Retro Costume Party

By Goldie Bugayong Castro-Dituri WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Oct. 30, at Seven Dining Lounge, 53 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. The Voice of Timmy Pavino

By Even 8 Events Management Production www.canadianinquirer.net

WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 p.m., Nov. 6, Hyatt Hall, 843 Seymour St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: With special guests Russel Figueroa and Jerrica Santos Philippine Fest

By Symphony Hill Management and Even 8 Events Management Production WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Nov. 7, at Aberdeen Centre, Alderbridge Way, Richmond, B.C. MORE INFO: Featuring the Fashion Designs of Jaki Penalosa, renowned Filipino fabric couturier. Free Event.

Dance N’ Love

By Bukas Loob sa Diyos WHEN/WHERE: 5:30 p.m., Nov. 7, at Fraserview Church Gym, 11295 Mellis Dr., Richmond, B.C. Disco Fever

By New Westminster Philippine Festival Society WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., Nov. 7, at Our Lady of Mercy Gym, 7481 10th Ave., Burnaby, B.C. Karoling Festival Showcase

By Karoling Festival Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. Nov. 15, 7200 Cariboo Road, Burnaby, B.C. MORE INFO: A night of music and fun where various groups will showcase their “Karolings” — Christmas Carol Filipino way.

OCTOBER 23, 2015

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44

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

Food Baked Spinach Gnocchi with Parmesan Cream Sauce

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press YOU PROBABLY associate gnocchi with the Italian dumplings made from potatoes.

Making that kind of gnocchi takes time and patience and is not something most people would undertake on a weeknight.

But potato gnocchi aren’t the only kid on the gnocchi block. There are several other varieties, including a ricotta-based type and a batter-based one, the latter of which starts with a batter similar to the one French cream puffs and eclairs are made from. That’s the one I’ll teach you here. But there are a few things to keep in mind when preparing these gnocchi.

Typically, cream puff dough — also known as pate a choux — starts with a pot of boiling water. Here, I am substituting chicken broth and milk for the water, which give the gnocchi a nice savory flavour. After the flour is dumped in, you need to work quickly and aggressively with a wooden spoon to beat the mixture until it is smooth. Don’t worry if you get a few tiny lumps of flour in the dough; they will get worked out when you add the eggs and beat the dough with electric beaters.

The gnocchi can be made ahead and chilled. Just let them sit at room temperature for about an hour so they can warm up a bit, then top them with the cream and cheese and bake them off.

This is the essence of comfort food; your family will love you.

BAKED SPINACH GNOCCHI WITH PARMESAN CREAM SAUCE

Start to finish: 1 hour 10 minutes (50 minutes active) Servings: 4 • 11-ounce package baby spinach • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, divided • 1/2 cup whole milk • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces • 1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour • 3 large eggs, beaten lightly • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 1 ounce finely grated Parmesan cheese • 1 1/2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) coarsely grated Gruyere cheese www.canadianinquirer.net

Pour 1/3 cup water into a 12-inch skillet. Top it with the spinach, then set over high heat. Cook, covered and stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Transfer the spinach to a colander and run cold water over it to cool it. Working with a handful at a time, squeeze the spinach with your hands over the sink to remove excess water.

Finely chop the spinach; you should have about 1/2 cup packed. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the chicken broth, the milk and the butter and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the flour and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until smooth. Return the pan to medium heat and cook the paste, stirring, until it pulls away from the sides of the pan and leaves a thin film in the bottom of the pan, 1 to 2 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl and, using an electric mixer, beat the mixture for a few minutes to cool it down. Add the eggs, a third of the mixture at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the salt, pepper, nutmeg and reserved spinach.

Heat the oven to 425 F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Lightly butter a 9-by-9-inch shallow baking dish or gratin dish.

Working in batches of 8 at a time, drop walnut-size balls of the dough into the water, using either a small 1/8-cup ice cream scoop or a tablespoon (you will need to mound the dough if using a tablespoon), dipped in warm water each time. Maintain the temperature of the water at a simmer and cook the gnocchi for 3 minutes.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the boiled gnocchi, shaking off the excess water, to the buttered baking dish. Repeat with the remaining dough.

In a small bowl, mix together the remaining chicken broth and the heavy cream, then pour the mixture over the gnocchi. Sprinkle both cheeses over the top and bake on the oven’s upper shelf until the liquid has reduced slightly and is bubbling around the edges, about 15 minutes. Increase the heat to broil and broil the gnocchi until the top is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Serve right away. ■ Sara Moulton was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years, and spent a decade hosting several Food Network shows. She currently stars in public television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals” and has written three cookbooks, including “Sara Moulton’s Everyday Family Dinners.”

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

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AUTUMN SERENADE Autumn Serenade media launch with Philippines Canada Trade Council board, Vice Consul Ma. Charmaine D. Guevara, and FilCan media in B.C. (Photos by Jorge Marco).

ATENEO FELLOWSHIP NIGHT

Ateneo Alumni Association of B.C. fellowship event with Fr. Primitivo "Jun" Viray, SJ, president of Ateneo de Naga at the Beach Grove Golf Club, Tsawwassen, B.C. (Photos by Ed Faelnar).

Alya Manansala, Amado Mercado III and Anja Echavez

CALENDAR GIRL Luzvimin Bisaya Association Calendar Girl 2015-2016 Coronation Gala at St. Patrick’s Elementary School Gymnasium in Vancouver, B.C. with the following winners: Shawna Warhurst - Calendar Girl 2015-2016; Nikka Bagasbas – 1st runner-up; Shanika Ortega - 2nd runner-up (Photos by Angelo Siglos).

Mike and Esper Calingo with Fr. Jun Viray

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Seen and Scenes: Toronto

OCTOBER 23, 2015

FRIDAY

I-REMIT Awarding of “Pera o Bayong” game winner Jocelyn Sumaya at the 2015 Taste of Manila by I-Remit Manager & Marketing Officer Sime Sarte, Canada Managing Director Belinda Herrera, and former Sexbomb Star Evette Onayan.

An Ipad mini was awarded to Gerry Lazaro by I-Remit at its Bathurst Branch, Toronto. Present during the awarding were I-Remit employees (from L) Jeddah Gandalera, Remirose Taruc, Eric Santos, Mr. Lazaro, Joy Pangilinan, Donna Barit, ang Managers Sime Sarte and Rommel Simbulan.

Awarding of iQuestion game winner at Pinoy Radio stage located the stretch of Bathurst during the culmination of 2015 ‘Taste of Manila.’ Sime Sarte awarded the prize of free I-remit visa card opening load and cash to Geraldine Tabion. Also present were Joy Pangilinan, Jeddah Gandalera and Rommel Simbulan.

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

SSS OUTREACH SSS Foreign Representative Roberto Roldan provides members with information updates during the SSS Outreach Program on Oct. 16 to 18, in Winnipeg, MN. Social Security System Foreign Representative Roberto Roldan with Winnipeg Honorary Consul General Orlando Marcelino and Rene Estabillo, former SSS Foreign Representative to Malaysia.

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2015

Don’t limit your dreams Be different!

Become an Independant Financial Consultant Becoming an independent financial consultant has been a huge stepping stone for many who join Greatway Financial.

This has enabled them to achieve their financial goals and dream bigger. It is not full-time but part-time. They do it at their own time. You too can have that opportunity to write your own pay cheque! What do Greatway financial consultants do? They passionately share their blessings with others by educating others about finances.

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OCTOBER 23, 2015

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY